OPERATING DEVICE

Abstract

An operating device includes a device main body, and an operating body operated by a user. The operating body is movable between a first position and a second position and enables activation of a water-related appliance by moving from the first position to the second position. The device main body includes a marker part that is different in outer surface color from a neighboring area of the device main body. When the operating body is placed at the first position, the operating body hides the marker part from the outside, and, when the operating body is placed at the second position, the operating body exposes at least part of the marker part to the outside.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese Application No. 2019-015153, filed Jan. 31, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an operating device used to operate a water-related appliance.

Patent Document 1 describes an operating mechanism comprising a button that is movable between a lower position and an upper position according to a press operation, and a guide part for guiding the button. When the drain valve is in the closed state, the button is located at the lower position to be flush with the upper surface of the guide part, and, when the drain valve is in the open state, the button is located at the upper position, protruding from the upper surface of the guide part. In the operating mechanism, a marker part is formed on the button and is exposed to the outside only when the button is located at the upper position so that the open and closed states of the drain valve can be visually recognized easily.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-97426

In the technology of Patent Document 1, when a press operation is performed on the button located at the lower position and the hand is then released from the button, the button moves to the upper position, and, at the time, the marker part of the button is first exposed. In other words, the marker part of the button is not exposed during the operation on the button. Accordingly, how much the button should be operated to activate the drain valve cannot be grasped, and some users may feel uncomfortable about the usability. This is a problem in common to activate a water-related appliance using an operating body, such as a button or a lever, and the inventors have recognized that there is room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an operating device with favorable usability to recognize that a water-related appliance has been activated.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, an operating device is provided. The operating device includes a device main body, and an operating body operated by a user. The operating body is movable between a first position and a second position and enables activation of a water-related appliance by moving from the first position to the second position. The device main body includes a marker part that is different in outer surface color from a neighboring area of the device main body. When the operating body is placed at the first position, the operating body hides the marker part from the outside, and, when the operating body is placed at the second position, the operating body exposes at least part of the marker part to the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a water-related appliance, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a partially magnified sectional view of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows a state of an operating body moved from the position thereof shown in FIG. 1, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cylindrical member, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a water-related appliance, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the water-related appliance, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of part of an operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of part of the operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of part of the operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a diagram that shows a state of a first operating body moved from the position thereof shown in FIG. 7, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water-related appliance according to some embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a sectional side view of the operating device, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a diagram that shows a state of a second operating body moved from the position thereof shown in FIG. 12, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 16 is a diagram that shows a state of the first operating body moved from the position thereof shown in FIG. 14, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 17 is a front view of a marker member, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 18 is a sectional side view of part of a device main body, according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional side view of part of the operating device, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, during or after the move of the operating body from the first position to the second position, activation of the water-related appliance can be recognized by visually recognizing the exposed marker part of the device main body, without releasing the hand from the operating body. Accordingly, compared to the case where the marker part is first exposed when the user releases the hand from the operating body, how much the operating body should be operated to activate the water-related appliance can be grasped more easily. Therefore, the usability of the operating device can be made favorable to recognize that the water-related appliance has been activated.

In the following, embodiments operating devices will be described. Same reference characters denote same constituting elements, and repetitive description will be omitted. In each drawing, part of the constituting elements may be appropriately omitted, or the size of a constituting element may be appropriately enlarged or reduced, for the sake of convenience. Each drawing is to be viewed according to the direction of the reference characters. With regard to “fixing” and “attaching” in the present specification, besides the case where two subject components directly satisfy a relevant condition, the case where the two subject components satisfy the relevant condition via another member is also included, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 provides a configuration diagram of a water-related appliance 10 according to some embodiments. The water-related appliance 10 according to some embodiments is a water faucet. The water-related appliance 10 includes an appliance main body 12, and an activation mechanism 20 activated by an operating body 56 of an operating device 14 (described later). The activation mechanism 20 of some embodiments includes a valve mechanism 22.

The appliance main body 12 of some embodiments includes a water discharge part 24 which can discharge water, and, within the appliance main body 12, water supply passages 26 for supplying water to the water discharge part 24 are provided. The water supply passages 26 include upstream-side water passages 28 which supplies water to the valve mechanism 22 provided on the water supply passages 26, and a downstream-side water passage 30 that leads water supplied from the valve mechanism 22 to the water discharge part 24. The upstream-side water passages 28 of some embodiments includes a hot water supply passage 32 which supplies hot water, and a cold water supply passage 34 which supplies cold water.

The appliance main body 12 of some embodiments includes a spout part 36, a main pipe part 38, and a cylindrical member 40, and the water discharge part 24 is provided on a tip part of the spout part 36, the spout part 36 protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the main pipe part 38, and the cylindrical member 40 serves as a cap that covers a tip opening part of the main pipe part 38. The cylindrical member 40 will be detailed later.

The valve mechanism 22 of some embodiments constitutes a flow control valve. With the valve mechanism 22, the opening degree of each upstream-side water passage 28 can be changed using the operating body 56, and, with such a change, the flow volume of water supplied to the downstream-side water passage 30 can be adjusted. The valve mechanism 22 of some embodiments also constitutes a hot and cold water mixing valve. With the valve mechanism 22, the ratio between the opening degrees of the hot water supply passage 32 and the cold water supply passage 34 can be changed using the operating body 56, and, with such a change, the temperature of water supplied to the downstream-side water passage 30 can be adjusted. Since the valve mechanism 22 of this kind is publicly known, the explanation thereof is provided simply.

In FIG. 2, appliance main body 12 includes a housing 42 that is fixed within the main pipe part 38 of the appliance main body 12 and houses the valve mechanism 22, and a fixing nut 44 that is screwed into the main pipe part 38 and fixes the valve mechanism 22 within the housing 42.

The valve mechanism 22 of some embodiments includes a case 46, a fixed valve disc 48 fixed to the case 46 and having a disc shape, a movable valve disc 50 disposed within the case 46 and having a disc shape, and a rotating holder 52 rotatably housed within the case 46. The movable valve disc 50 moves in conjunction with the operating body 56, thereby changing the opening degrees of the hot water supply passage 32 and the cold water supply passage 34 formed in the fixed valve disc 48, and also changing the ratio between the opening degrees, as described previously.

The operating device 14 includes a device main body 54, the operating body 56 operated by a user, and a transmission part 58 that transmits external force received at the operating body 56 to the activation mechanism 20. In some embodiments, the appliance main body 12 of the water-related appliance 10 also serves as the device main body 54. Accordingly, the device main body 54 of some embodiments includes the spout part 36, the main pipe part 38, and the cylindrical member 40, for example.

The operating body 56 of some embodiments is a lever, which functions as a so-called single lever. The operating body 56 includes a cover part 60 that covers part of the device main body 54, and an operation receiving part 62 that receives a user's operation. The operation receiving part 62 of some embodiments has an elongate shape protruding from the cover part 60.

The transmission part 58 of some embodiments is an elongate body provided separately from the operating body 56 and fixed to the cover part 60 of the operating body 56. The transmission part 58 of some embodiments is supported, by the rotating holder 52 via a support shaft 64, to be rotatable about a first axis line La1 passing through the support shaft 64. The operating body 56 is supported such as to be tilted with rotating about the first axis line La1 via the activation mechanism 20 (valve mechanism 22) and the transmission part 58 with respect to the device main body 54. Accordingly, the operating body 56 is supported to be rotatable about the first axis line La1 with respect to the device main body 54.

The transmission part 58 is provided such that movement of the transmission part 58 can be transmitted so that, when the transmission part 58 rotates about the first axis line La1, the movable valve disc 50 of the activation mechanism 20 linearly moves. When the position of the movable valve disc 50 is changed according to a change of the tilting position of the operating body 56, the opening degrees of the upstream-side water passages 28 are changed by the movable valve disc 50.

The transmission part 58 is supported to be rotatable about a second axis line La2 perpendicular to the first axis line La1, via the rotating holder 52 with respect to the device main body 54. Accordingly, the operating body 56 is supported to be rotatable about the second axis line La2 via the activation mechanism 20 (valve mechanism 22) and the transmission part 58 with respect to the device main body 54.

The transmission part 58 is provided such that movement of the transmission part 58 can be transmitted so that, when the transmission part 58 rotates about the second axis line La2, the movable valve disc 50 also rotates. When the rotation amount of the movable valve disc 50 is changed according to rotation of the operating body 56, the ratio between the opening degrees of the hot water supply passage 32 and the cold water supply passage 34 is changed by the movable valve disc 50. The ratio between the opening degrees is changed such that, as the operating body 56 is moved closer to one end side of a rotatable range thereof, the opening degree of the hot water supply passage 32 is increased, and, as the operating body 56 is moved closer to the other end side of the rotatable range, the opening degree of the cold water supply passage 34 is increased.

FIGS. 1 and 3 are now referred to. FIG. 1 shows a state where the operating body 56 is placed at a first position Ps1 described below, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the operating body 56 is placed at a second position Ps2 described below. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the operating body 56 is placed at one end position of a possible tilting range thereof, and FIG. 3 shows an example in which the operating body 56 is placed at the other end position of the possible tilting range.

When the operating body 56 is placed at the first position Ps1 on one end side of the possible tilting range, the water-related appliance 10 is placed in a first state (water stop state) in which water discharge from the water discharge part 24 is stopped. When the operating body 56 is placed at the second position Ps2, which is closer to the other end side than the first position Ps1 in the possible tilting range, the water-related appliance 10 is placed in a second state (water discharge state) in which water is discharged from the water discharge part 24. Thus, the operating body 56 is moved from the first position Ps1 to the second position Ps2, thereby activating the activation mechanism 20. Accordingly, the operating body 56 can activate the water-related appliance 10 such that the state of the water-related appliance 10 is switched. When the operating body 56 is placed at the second position Ps2, the water flow volume is increased as the operating body 56 is moved closer to the other end side of the possible tilting range, and the water flow volume is decreased as the operating body 56 is moved closer to the one end side of the possible tilting range. The operating body 56 of some embodiments is maintained in a still state at each of the first position Ps1 and the second position Ps2.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 are now referred to. The cylindrical member 40 constitutes part of the device main body 54 (appliance main body 12) and is attached to another part of the device main body 54. The “another part” in some embodiments means the main pipe part 38 of the device main body 54, and the cylindrical member 40 is mounted on the tip opening part of the main pipe part 38 to be attached to the main pipe part 38. Into the cylindrical member 40, the transmission part 58 is inserted.

The cylindrical member 40 includes a lower-side portion 40a inserted into the tip opening part of the main pipe part 38, and an upper-side portion 40b provided closer to the operating body 56 side than the lower-side portion 40a in a cylinder axis direction Dca of the cylindrical member 40. The upper-side portion 40b of some embodiments includes a reduced diameter part 40c having a shape of which the diameter is reduced toward the operating body 56 side in a cylinder axis direction Dca. As an example, the reduced diameter part 40c may form a spherical band shape. On an outer periphery part of the cylindrical member 40, a step part 40d is provided between the lower-side portion 40a and the upper-side portion 40b. The step part 40d is mounted on the tip opening part of the main pipe part 38.

The cylindrical member 40 includes a main body member 66 and a marker member 68 that each have a shape obtained by dividing the cylindrical member 40. The main body member 66 and the marker member 68 have shapes obtained by dividing the cylindrical member 40 when a midway position in a cylinder axis direction Dca of the cylindrical member 40 is set as a first boundary part 70a, and two midway positions in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical member 40 are set as second boundary parts 70b. The first boundary part 70a and the second boundary parts 70b in some embodiments are set such as to be positioned only within the reduced diameter part 40c of the cylindrical member 40.

The main body member 66 may be made of a material such as resin, ceramic, or metal, for example. The main body member 66 includes a cylindrical part 72 formed continuously along the entire periphery of the cylindrical member 40. Part of the cylindrical part 72 constitutes a base part 74 on which the marker member 68 is mounted. Accordingly, the position of the marker member 68 in a cylinder axis direction Dca of the cylindrical member 40 can be determined by the base part 74 of the main body member 66.

The marker member 68 is fixed to the main body member 66. The marker member 68 of some embodiments is fixed to the main body member 66 via a fixing structure 76. The fixing structure 76 includes a receiving part 76a provided in the main body member 66, and a received part 76b provided in the marker member 68. The receiving part 76a of the main body member 66 receives the received part 76b of the marker member 68, thereby the fixing structure 76 fixes the marker member 68 to the main body member 66. The receiving part 76a of some embodiments is engaged with the received part 76b, thereby receiving the received part 76b. One of the receiving part 76a and the received part 76b of some embodiments is a convex part, and the other thereof is a concave part. In some embodiments, the receiving part 76a is a concave part, and the received part 76b is a convex part.

The receiving part 76a and the received part 76b are provided at positions facing each other at the first boundary part 70a of the cylindrical member 40. More specifically, the receiving part 76a is provided on an outer surface (upper surface) of the base part 74 of the main body member 66, and the received part 76b is provided on an outer surface (a lower surface) of the marker member 68, which faces the outer surface of the base part 74. The receiving part 76a and the received part 76b are provided such as not to be exposed to the outside or visually recognized in the state where the marker member 68 is fixed to the main body member 66.

FIGS. 1 and 3 are now referred to. The marker member 68 constitutes a marker part 82 that is different in outer surface color from a neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54. The neighboring area 80 in some embodiments is constituted by the main body member 66. When the operating body 56 is placed at the first position Ps1 (hereinafter also referred to as a hiding position Ps1), the operating body 56 hides the marker part 82 from the outside; when the operating body 56 is placed at the second position Ps2 (hereinafter also referred to as an exposing position Ps2), the operating body 56 exposes at least part of the marker part 82 to the outside. These conditions may be satisfied when the operating device 14 is externally observed from one point of view. Accordingly, the case will be acceptable where, when the point of view for observation is changed, the marker part 82 is slightly seen through a space between the operating body 56 at the hiding position Ps1 and the device main body 54. In some embodiments, the abovementioned conditions are satisfied when the operating device 14 is observed from an arbitrary direction along the direction of a normal to the external surface of the marker part 82.

The “hiding” as used herein means to hide the entirety of the marker part 82 such that the marker part 82 is not exposed to the outside. The operating body 56 placed at the hiding position Ps1 also hides the boundary parts 70a and 70b between the marker member 68 and the main body member 66 from the outside. In some embodiments, the cover part 60 of the operating body 56 hides the marker part 82 from the outside. Thus, the marker part 82 is exposed to the outside when the operating body 56 is moved from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, thereby functioning as a marker for indicating that the water-related appliance 10 has been activated.

In some embodiments, at least part of the neighboring area 80 in the device main body 54 is exposed to the outside in both cases where the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1 and where it is placed at the exposing position Ps2. When the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 72 of the main body member 66 is exposed to the outside in a range over the entire periphery in a circumferential direction.

In order to make the colors of the neighboring area 80 and the marker part 82 in the device main body 54 different, the color of the material of the marker part 82 may be made different from that of the neighboring area 80, for example. Some embodiments employ this means. The marker member 68 is formed of a material having the color of the outer surface of the marker part 82, and the main body member 66 is formed of a material having the color of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80. Alternatively, in order to make the colors of the neighboring area 80 and the marker part 82 in the device main body 54 different, whether or not surface treatment is performed or the color provided by the surface treatment may be changed for each of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80, for example. The “surface treatment” as used herein means coating, plating, or vapor deposition, for example.

The color of the outer surface of the marker part 82 is set as a first color, and the color of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80 is set as a second color. In some embodiments, the color of the dotted area of the outer surface is the first color, and the color of the other area of the outer surface is the second color. In some embodiments, the first color is blue, and the second color is silver. When the marker part 82 indicates that the water-related appliance 10 has been activated, the blue is displayed, giving users an idea of water. Accordingly, activation of the water-related appliance 10 can be easily recognized. The “blue” as used herein means that the Munsell hue is within the range of 5 PB to 5 BG. The second color is a color with a hue outside the range of the blue as the first color.

The neighboring area 80 and the marker part 82 being “different in outer surface color” means that at least one of the hue, chroma, and value is different between the first color and the second color. In order to facilitate visual identification of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80, the hue difference between the first color and the second color may preferably be 5 or greater in the Munsell color system, for example. From a similar point of view, the value difference between the first color and the second color may preferably be 4 or greater in the Munsell color system, for example. Also, from a similar point of view, the chroma difference between the first color and the second color may preferably be 4 or greater in the Munsell color system, for example. Satisfying such conditions can facilitate the identification of the marker part 82 even when the range of the marker part 82 exposed to the outside is small.

In some embodiments, the face of an area of the device main body 54 adjacent to the neighboring area 80 and exposed to the outside has a color equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80. The “exposed area” is an outer peripheral surface of the main pipe part 38 of the device main body 54 in some embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, the face of an area of the operating body 56 exposed to the outside also has a color equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80. Being “equivalent” includes the case where the color difference ΔE in the Lab color space is 1.5 or less.

There will now be described effects of the operating device 14 set forth above.

(A) When the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, the operating body 56 hides the marker part 82 of the device main body 54 from the outside, and, when the operating body 56 is placed at the exposing position Ps2, the operating body 56 exposes the marker part 82 to the outside. Accordingly, the fact that moving the operating body 56 from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2 has activated the water-related appliance 10 can be recognized by visually recognizing the exposed marker part 82. Also, during or after the move of the operating body 56 from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, activation of the water-related appliance 10 can be recognized by visually recognizing the exposed marker part 82, without releasing the hand from the operating body 56. Accordingly, compared to the case where the marker part 82 is first exposed when the user releases the hand from the operating body 56, how much the operating body 56 should be operated to activate the water-related appliance 10 can be grasped more easily. Therefore, the usability of the operating device 14 can be made favorable to recognize that the water-related appliance 10 has been activated.

(B) When the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, the operating body 56 hides marker part 82 from the outside. Accordingly, the marker part 82 can be made indistinctive, obtaining favorable design properties. Also, the operating body 56 hiding the marker part 82 from the outside allows the user to recognize that the operation of the water-related appliance 10 has been stopped.

(C) The marker member 68 is formed of a material having the color of the outer surface of the marker part 82, and the main body member 66 is formed of a material having the color of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80. Accordingly, without the influence of peeling off of the coating, the different colors can be presented by the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 for a long period of time.

The neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54 is constituted by the main body member 66 obtained by dividing the cylindrical member 40, and the marker part 82 is constituted by the marker member 68 obtained by dividing the cylindrical member 40. Accordingly, the main body member 66 and the marker member 68 constitute the cylindrical member 40 and can present different colors. Particularly, two-color molding is unnecessary for presenting different colors for the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80, so that there is the advantage of reduced manufacturing cost.

In some embodiments, as the operating body 56 is moved from the first position Ps1 side to the second position Ps2 side, the flow volume of water from the water discharge part 24 is increased, and the exposed area of the marker part 82 is also increased. On the other hand, as the operating body 56 is moved from the second position Ps2 side to the first position Ps1 side, the flow volume of water from the water discharge part 24 is decreased, and the exposed area of the marker part 82 is also decreased. Thus, by visually recognizing an increase or a decrease in the exposed area of the marker part 82 due to a change in the position of the operating body 56, the water flow volume can be grasped.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are now referred to. The water-related appliance 10 according to some embodiments is a tank device, which is an example of a flush water supply device for supplying flush water to a toilet 90. The water-related appliance 10 includes a tank 92 as the appliance main body 12, the activation mechanism 20 activated by operating bodies 56 (56-A and 56-B in the drawings) of the operating device 14, and a water supply device 94 capable of supplying water into the tank 92 until the water level therein reaches a predetermined water level. The water supply device 94 may be a ballcock, for example.

The tank 92 of some embodiments is disposed above a rear part of the toilet 90 and formed integrally with the toilet 90. The tank 92 can store flush water therein, and a drain outlet 92a is formed in a bottom part of the tank 92. The tank 92 includes a tank main body 96 that stores flush water, and a lid body 98 that covers an upper surface opening part formed on the tank main body 96. The lid body 98 forms an upper surface part of the tank 92 and is detachably provided on the tank main body 96.

The activation mechanism 20 of some embodiments includes the valve mechanism 22, and a transmission mechanism 100 that transmits external force received from an operating body 56 to the valve mechanism 22.

The valve mechanism 22 of some embodiments constitutes an on-off valve that can open and close the drain outlet 92a of the tank 92. The valve mechanism 22 may be constituted with a float valve, for example. The transmission mechanism 100 of some embodiments is a link mechanism that converts external force in a pressing direction Dd1 (described later) at an operating body 56 into force in a direction De in which the valve mechanism 22 opens the drain outlet 92a. The valve mechanism 22 is configured such that, after the drain outlet 92a is opened, when a predetermined set flow volume of flush water is discharged from the tank 92, the drain outlet 92a is closed. Accordingly, the set flow volume of flush water is supplied from the tank 92 to the toilet 90. Thus, upon reception, at the activation mechanism 20, of external force from an operating body 56, the water-related appliance 10 starts a flush water supply operation for supplying a set flow volume of flush water to the toilet 90.

FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 are now referred to. The operating device 14 of some embodiments includes the device main body 54, multiple operating bodies 56 operated by a user, and transmission parts 58 that transmit external force received from the operating bodies 56 to the activation mechanism 20. The device main body 54 of some embodiments also serves as the appliance main body 12 of the water-related appliance 10. Accordingly, the device main body 54 of some embodiments includes the tank main body 96 and the lid body 98. The lid body 98 includes a face member 102 that forms a face of the tank 92 exposed to the outside, and a reinforcement member 104 fixed to the back side of the face member 102.

The device main body 54 includes a housing hole 106 that opens on an upper surface of the device main body 54 as a face of the device main body 54. The housing hole 106 of the some embodiments opens on the upper surface of the lid body 98. The device main body 54 includes the main body member 66 that constitutes a face of the device main body 54 on which the housing hole 106 opens, and the marker member 68 disposed deeper than the opening area of the housing hole 106 on the main body member 66. The main body member 66 of some embodiments is constituted by the face member 102 of the lid body 98. The marker member 68 of some embodiments is disposed on the back side of the main body member 66.

Each operating body 56 is disposed inside the housing hole 106 of the device main body 54. Each operating body 56 is a button that is movable by receiving a press operation by a user, and is supported to be movable in depth directions Dd of the housing hole 106 with respect to the device main body 54. The “depth directions Dd” means directions along the central axis line of the housing hole 106. Each operating body 56 of some embodiments is movable such as to linearly move to one side of the depth directions Dd (hereinafter also referred to as the pressing direction Dd1) by receiving a press operation by a user.

Each operating body 56 includes the operation receiving part 62 that receives a press operation by a user. Each transmission part 58 of some embodiments is formed of the same member as the operating bodies 56 and protrudes from the operation receiving part 62 of the corresponding operating body 56 in the pressing direction Dd1 of the operating body 56. Each transmission part 58 is capable of moving forward and backward through a through hole 68a formed in the marker member 68. With the through holes 68a, the transmission parts 58 can be guided such as to move forward and backward.

When the operation receiving part 62 of an operating body 56 receives a press operation and moves from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, the external force is transmitted from the operation receiving part 62 to the activation mechanism 20 via the corresponding transmission part 58. In the activation mechanism 20, a biasing member 180 is built to return the operating body 56 from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1. The biasing member 180 is an elastic member, such as a coil spring. When the external force applied to the operating body 56 is released, the operating body 56 returns from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1 by means of the biasing member 180.

The multiple operating bodies 56 include a first operating body 56-A and a second operating body 56-B. In some embodiments, with regard to such multiple constituting elements having a feature in common, the feature in common will be described using a collective name of the constituting elements, and a feature different for each constituting element will be described using the name of each constituting element. The “collective name” is a name without “first or second” at the beginning of the name or “-A or -B” at the end of the name.

FIGS. 7-10 are now referred to. Each of FIGS. 7 and 8 shows a state where the operating bodies 56-A and 56-B are placed at the hiding position Ps1, and FIG. 10 shows a state where the first operating body 56-A is placed at the exposing position Ps2. The operation receiving parts 62 of the multiple operating bodies 56 are housed in the housing hole 106 of the device main body 54. The operation receiving parts 62 of the multiple operating bodies 56 of some embodiments are fitted into the single housing hole 106. The multiple operating bodies 56-A and 56-B are provided adjacently to each other in first directions Da viewed from a depth direction Dd. Hereinafter, viewed from a depth direction Dd, the directions perpendicular to the first directions Da (hereinafter referred to as lateral directions Da, for the sake of convenience) will be referred to as second directions Db (hereinafter referred to as longitudinal directions Db, for the sake of convenience).

Upon reception of a press operation by a user, each operating body 56 is moved toward the deeper side in the housing hole 106, thereby moving from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2. When the operating bodies 56 are placed at the hiding position Ps1, the water-related appliance 10 is placed in the first state in which supply of flush water is stopped. When an operating body 56 is moved from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, the water-related appliance 10 starts the flush water supply operation. Thus, an operating body 56 is moved from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, thereby activating the activation mechanism 20. Accordingly, the operating body 56 can activate the water-related appliance 10 such that the water-related appliance 10 starts the flush water supply operation. The first operating body 56-A and the second operating body 56-B are different in set flow volume for activation of the water-related appliance 10. The set flow volume for the water-related appliance 10 activated by the first operating body 56-A is larger, and the set flow volume for the water-related appliance 10 activated by the second operating body 56-B is smaller.

The marker member 68 includes a peripheral wall part 110 that surrounds an axis line of the depth directions Dd of the operating bodies 56, a bottom wall part 112 provided at a position faced by the operating bodies 56 in the pressing direction Dd1, and a fixed part 114 fixed to the main body member 66. The fixed part 114 of some embodiments protrudes outward from the peripheral wall part 110 and fixed to the main body member 66 by means of a fixture 116, such as a screw.

The marker member 68 constitutes the marker part 82 that is different in outer surface color from the neighboring area 80. The marker part 82 of some embodiments constitutes an inner surface of the housing hole 106, more specifically an inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106. Accordingly, the marker part 82 can be exposed during a press operation on an operating body 56. The “neighboring area 80” in some embodiments is constituted by the main body member 66 and is provided closer to the inlet side of the housing hole 106 than the marker part 82. The neighboring area 80 is constituted by an area of the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106, and the area is closer to the inlet side of the housing hole 106 than the marker part 82. The neighboring area 80 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106, in a range over the entire periphery.

With regard to each of the multiple operating bodies 56, when the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, the operating body 56 hides a corresponding area of the marker part 82 from the outside, and, when the operating body 56 is placed at the exposing position Ps2, the operating body 56 exposes at least part of the corresponding area of the marker part 82 to the outside. An area 118 of the marker part 82 corresponding to the first operating body 56-A (hereinafter referred to as a first corresponding area 118) is a portion along a circumferential direction of the marker part 82. Also, an area 120 of the marker part 82 corresponding to the second operating body 56-B (hereinafter referred to as a second corresponding area 120) is another portion along a circumferential direction of the marker part 82, more specifically a remaining portion other than the first corresponding area 118 in the marker part 82. Accordingly, also in the case where multiple operating bodies 56 are provided, the aforementioned effect (A) can be obtained.

The areas 118 and 120 of the marker part 82 respectively corresponding to the multiple operating bodies 56 are constituted by the single marker member 68. In short, the first corresponding area 118 and the second corresponding area 120 are constituted by the single marker member 68. Accordingly, the number of necessary parts can be reduced, compared to the case where separate members are used for the areas of the marker part 82 respectively corresponding to the multiple operating bodies 56.

The color of the outer surface of the marker part 82 (first color) is blue, and the color of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80 (second color) is white. In some embodiments, the face of an area of the device main body 54 adjacent to the neighboring area 80 and exposed to the outside has a color equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80 (white). The “exposed area” is an upper surface of the lid body 98 in the present embodiment. Also in some embodiments, the face of an area of each operating body 56 exposed to the outside also has a color equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80.

When the operation receiving part 62 of an operating body 56 as described above receives a press operation and moves from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, the external force is transmitted to the activation mechanism 20 of the water-related appliance 10, thereby activating the water-related appliance 10, as described previously. At the time, the operating body 56 exposes, to the outside, the marker part 82 of the device main body 54, which has been hidden from the outside. By visually recognizing the marker part 82 thus exposed, the user can recognize that the water-related appliance 10 has been activated. When the external force applied to the operation receiving part 62 of the operating body 56 is released, the operation receiving part 62 of the operating body 56 automatically returns from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1 by means of the biasing member 180 of the activation mechanism 20. At the time, the operating body 56 hides, from the outside, the marker part 82 of the device main body 54, which has been exposed to the outside. By visually recognizing the marker part 82 thus hidden from the outside, the user can recognize that the operation of the water-related appliance 10 has been stopped.

Also with the operating device 14 of some embodiments, the aforementioned effects (A)-(C) can be obtained.

The neighboring area 80 adjacent to the marker part 82 in the device main body 54 is provided closer to the inlet side of the housing hole 106 than the marker part 82. Accordingly, the marker part 82 is provided in a deeper area in the housing hole 106, so that the marker part 82 is less likely to be visually recognized from the outside, obtaining favorable design properties.

Other features of the operating device 14 will be described.

The operation receiving part 62 of each operating body 56 includes an inlet-side surface part 130 that is provided on the inlet side in a depth direction Dd of the housing hole 106 and that receives a press operation. The device main body 54 includes a peripheral edge part 132 provided along a peripheral edge of the opening area of the housing hole 106, on the face of the device main body 54. The inlet-side surface part 130 of each operating body 56 is provided such as to be flush with the face of the peripheral edge part 132 when the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1. Being “flush” as used herein includes, besides the case where neighboring surfaces are arranged without a step, the case where neighboring surfaces are arranged almost without a step.

On the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106, guide parts 134 (134-A and 134-B in FIG. 8) are provided. The guide parts 134 of some embodiments are provided on the neighboring area 80 and the marker part 82 in the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106. In some embodiments, multiple guide parts 134 are provided for the respective multiple operating bodies 56. The multiple guide parts 134 include first guide parts 134-A for the first operating body 56-A, and second guide parts 134-B for the second operating body 56-B. A first guide part 134-A is constituted by a portion along a circumferential direction of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54, and a second guide part 134-B is constituted by another portion along the circumferential direction of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80.

Each operating body 56 includes guided parts 136 each provided on an area facing a guide part 134 of the housing hole 106. Each guided part 136 is provided on an outer peripheral surface part of the operation receiving part 62 of an operating body 56, in an area facing the housing hole 106. There are multiple guided parts 136 provided, with a space in between, along a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface part of each operating body 56. The outer peripheral surface part of the operation receiving part 62 of each of the operating bodies 56-A and 56-B includes a first surface part 62a that faces a side opposite to the other of the operating bodies 56-A and 56-B in the lateral directions Da, a pair of second surface parts 62b that face the both sides in the longitudinal directions Db, and a facing surface part 62c that faces the other of the operating bodies 56-A and 56-B in the lateral directions Da. In some embodiments, at least two guided parts 136 are provided on each of the first surface part 62a and the second surface parts 62b of each operating body 56. Accordingly, a guided part 136 is provided on at least each of the areas facing the both sides in the second directions Db of the outer peripheral surface part of the operation receiving part 62 of each operating body 56.

Each guided part 136 of some embodiments has a convex shape extending in a depth direction Dd. On the outer peripheral surface part of an operation receiving part 62, no guided part 136 is provided in a partial range from the inlet-side end part along a depth direction Dd, and each guided part 136 is provided in a range from a midway position along a depth direction Dd to the deeper-side end part. Each guided part 136 forms an arc shape that is outwardly convex on a cross section perpendicular to the depth directions Dd.

When an operating body 56 is moved in a depth direction Dd with positional deviation in a direction perpendicular to the depth direction Dd, a guided part 136 of the operating body 56 is guided by a corresponding guide part 134 with a slide over the guide part 134. Each guided part 136 is provided such that, when the corresponding operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, at least part of the guided part 136 is positioned deeper in a depth direction Dd than a boundary part 70c between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54. Since such guide parts 134 are provided in the marker part 82, the marker part 82 can be provided with, besides the function as a marker for indicating activation of the water-related appliance 10, a function to guide the operating bodies 56.

The multiple guide parts 134-A and 134-B set forth above are provided on the single marker member 68. Accordingly, the number of necessary parts can be reduced, compared to the case where separate members are used to provide guide parts 134 for the multiple operating bodies 56 in the marker part 82.

The peripheral edge part 132 of the device main body 54 has a color equivalent to that of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80. Accordingly, the marker part 82 of the device main body 54 can be made more distinctive, compared to the peripheral edge part 132 and the neighboring area 80. Therefore, activation of the water-related appliance 10 by an operating body 56 can be recognized more easily by means of the marker part 82.

On an inlet-side end surface in a depth direction Dd of each guided part 136, an inclined surface 136a extending such as to continuously come closer to the housing hole 106 toward the deeper side in a depth direction Dd is provided. The inclined surface 136a is provided such as to be, when the corresponding operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, positioned closer to the inlet side in a depth direction Dd than the boundary part 70c between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54 (see FIG. 7). The inclined surface 136a is provided also such as to be, when the corresponding operating body 56 is placed at the exposing position Ps2, positioned deeper in a depth direction Dd than the abovementioned boundary part 70c (see FIG. 10).

It is assumed here that a step part is provided at the boundary part 70c of the device main body 54 and, when an operating body 56 returns from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1, the step part in contact with the inlet-side end surface of a guided part 136 limits the movement of the operating body 56. In this case, the inclined surface 136a of the guided part 136 slides over the step part at the boundary part 70c to guide the operating body 56 such that the operating body 56 moves away from the step part at the boundary part 70c. Accordingly, even when a step part is provided at the boundary part 70c of the device main body 54, a guided part 136 of an operating body 56 will not be caught by the step part, and the operating body 56 can be moved.

The tank main body 96 and the toilet 90 of the aforementioned tank 92 are made of ceramic, and the lid body 98 is made of resin. The aforementioned operating bodies 56 are disposed inside the housing hole 106 of the lid body 98. No other members are disposed between the housing hole 106 of the lid body 98 and an operating body 56. The “other members” do not include the operating bodies 56. This means that, between one operating body 56-A and the housing hole 106, the other operating body 56-B may be disposed. The housing hole 106 of the lid body 98 is formed on the face member 102 of the lid body 98. The entirety of the face member 102 is constituted by a single member, in a range including the peripheral edge part 132 of the housing hole 106. Advantages of this configuration will be described.

It is assumed here that, as with the tank main body 96, the lid body 98 of the tank 92 is also made of ceramic. In this case, the lid body 98 made of ceramic is affected by shrinkage caused by drying in the molding process, and the shape of the housing hole 106 thereof is likely to largely vary. If the operating bodies 56 are disposed inside the housing hole 106 of such a lid body 98, since the spaces between the housing hole 106 and the operating bodies 56 are largely different, the operating bodies 56 will be likely to wobble in directions perpendicular to the depth directions Dd. As a countermeasure thereto, when the lid body 98 made of ceramic is used, a frame member made of resin or metal is generally disposed inside the housing hole 106 to absorb the manufacturing errors of the housing hole 106, and the operating bodies 56 are attached to the lid body 98 via the frame member. In this case, there is a problem in that dirt is likely to build up at a joint between the lid body 98 and the frame member.

According to some embodiments, however, since the lid body 98 is made of resin, the influence of shrinkage in the molding process can be reduced, and the variation in the shape of the housing hole 106 can also be reduced, compared to the case of the lid body 98 made of ceramic. Accordingly, even if the operating bodies 56 are disposed inside the housing hole 106 without the frame member, since the differences among the spaces between the housing hole 106 and the operating bodies 56 can be made smaller, the wobble of the operating bodies 56 can be restrained more easily. In addition to such an effect, since the frame member need not be disposed inside the housing hole 106 of the lid body 98, the number of necessary parts can be reduced. There are further advantages that occurrence of dirt at the peripheral edge part 132 of the housing hole 106 of the lid body 98 can be restrained, and such dirt can be easily wiped off.

FIG. 11 is now referred to. The water-related appliance 10 according to some embodiments is also a tank device for supplying flush water to a toilet (not illustrated). In some embodiments, the water-related appliance 10 also includes the tank 92 as the appliance main body 12, the activation mechanism 20 activated by the operating bodies 56 (the operating bodies 56-A and 56-B in the drawings) of the operating device 14, and the water supply device 94.

In some embodiments, the activation mechanism 20 in some embodiments also includes the valve mechanism 22, and the transmission mechanism 100 that transmits external force received from an operating body 56 to the valve mechanism 22. In some embodiments, the transmission mechanism 100 in some embodiments is also a link mechanism that converts external force in a pressing direction from an operating body 56 into force in a direction De in which the valve mechanism 22 opens the drain outlet 92a.

FIGS. 12-14 are now referred to. The operating device 14 of some embodiments includes the device main body 54, the multiple operating bodies 56 operated by a user, and the transmission parts 58 that transmit external force received from the operating bodies 56 to the activation mechanism 20. The device main body 54 of some embodiments is provided separately from the appliance main body 12 of the water-related appliance 10.

The device main body 54 of some embodiments constitutes a wall-mounted panel. The device main body 54 includes a base member 142 fixed to an in-room wall part 140 that defines a room space, and a cover member 144 fixed to the base member 142 and exposed to the room space. The base member 142 is fixed to the in-room wall part 140 by means of a fixture 146, such as a screw member.

The device main body 54 includes the housing hole 106 that opens on a front surface of the device main body 54 as a face of the device main body 54. The housing hole 106 of some embodiments opens on the front surface of the cover member 144. The device main body 54 includes the main body member 66 that constitutes the face of the device main body 54 on which the housing hole 106 opens, and the marker member 68 disposed on the back side of the main body member 66. The main body member 66 of some embodiments is constituted by the cover member 144. The main body member 66 includes a face part 148 that constitutes the face of the device main body 54, and a cylindrical part 150 that protrudes from an opening area of the housing hole 106 in the face part 148 to the back side of the face part 148. The cylindrical part 150 constitutes part of an inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106.

Each operating body 56 is a button that is movable by receiving a press operation by a user. Each operating body 56 includes the operation receiving part 62 that receives a press operation by a user, and an arm part 152 that extends from the operation receiving part 62. The arm part 152 is supported, by the main body member 66 via a support shaft 64 provided at a tip part of the arm part 152, to be rotatable about a first axis line La1 passing through the support shaft 64. Accordingly, each operating body 56 is supported to be rotatable about the first axis line La1 with respect to the device main body 54. Each operating body 56 of some embodiments is supported to be movable in the depth directions Dd with respect to the device main body 54 and is rotatable about the first axis line La1 by receiving a press operation by a user.

The transmission parts 58 of some embodiments are elongate bodies provided separately from the operating bodies 56. Each transmission part 58 is inserted into a support hole 142a formed on the base member 142 and is supported by the base member 142 to be capable of moving forward and backward.

In some embodiments, when the operation receiving part 62 of an operating body 56 receives a press operation and moves from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, the external force is transmitted from the operation receiving part 62 to the activation mechanism 20 via the transmission part 58. In some embodiments, when the external force applied to an operating body 56 is released, the operating body 56 automatically returns from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1 by means of the biasing member 180 of the activation mechanism 20.

The multiple operating bodies 56 of some embodiments also include the first operating body 56-A and the second operating body 56-B. FIGS. 12 and 14-16 are now referred to. Each of FIGS. 12 and 14 shows a state where the operating bodies 56 are placed at the hiding position Ps1, FIG. 15 shows a state where the second operating body 56-B is placed at the exposing position Ps2, and FIG. 16 shows a state where the first operating body 56-A is placed at the exposing position Ps2. In some embodiments, the operation receiving parts 62 of the multiple operating bodies 56 are housed within the housing hole 106 of the device main body 54. In some embodiments, each operating body 56 is moved from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, thereby activating the activation mechanism 20. Accordingly, each operating body 56 can activate the water-related appliance 10 such that the water-related appliance 10 starts the flush water supply operation.

The marker member 68 includes the peripheral wall part 110 of a cylindrical shape that surrounds an axis line of the depth directions Dd of the device main body 54, and a hook part 154 that protrudes from the peripheral wall part 110. Into the peripheral wall part 110, the cylindrical part 150 of the main body member 66 is fitted. The hook part 154 of the marker member 68 comes into contact with an operating body 56, thereby functioning as a stopper for limiting the movable range of the operating body 56 in the pressing direction.

The marker member 68 constitutes the marker part 82 that is different in outer surface color from the neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54. The marker part 82 of some embodiments is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106. In some embodiments, the “neighboring area 80” in some embodiments is also constituted by the main body member 66 and is provided closer to the inlet side of the housing hole 106 than the marker part 82.

In some embodiments, with regard to each of the multiple operating bodies 56, when the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1, the operating body 56 hides a corresponding area of the marker part 82 from the outside, and, when the operating body 56 is placed at the exposing position Ps2, the operating body 56 exposes at least part of the corresponding area of the marker part 82 to the outside. Also in some embodiments, the areas of the marker part 82 respectively corresponding to the multiple operating bodies 56 are constituted by the single marker member 68.

The color (first color) of the outer surface of the marker part 82 is blue, and the color (second color) of the outer surface of the neighboring area 80 is white. In some embodiments, the face of an area of the device main body 54 adjacent to the neighboring area 80 and exposed to the outside has a color (white) equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80. The “exposed area” is a face (front surface) of the cover member 144 in some embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, the face of an area of each operating body 56 exposed to the outside also has a color equivalent to that of the neighboring area 80.

When the operation receiving part 62 of an operating body 56 as described above receives a press operation and moves from the hiding position Ps1 to the exposing position Ps2, the external force is transmitted to the activation mechanism 20 of the water-related appliance 10, thereby activating the water-related appliance 10, as described previously. At the time, the operating body 56 exposes, to the outside, the marker part 82 of the device main body 54, which has been hidden from the outside. By visually recognizing the marker part 82 thus exposed, the user can recognize that the water-related appliance 10 has been activated. When the external force applied to the operation receiving part 62 of the operating body 56 is released, the operation receiving part 62 of the operating body 56 automatically returns from the exposing position Ps2 to the hiding position Ps1 by means of the biasing member 180 of the activation mechanism 20. At the time, the operating body 56 hides, from the outside, the marker part 82 of the device main body 54, which has been exposed to the outside. By visually recognizing the marker part 82 thus hidden from the outside, the user can recognize that the operation of the water-related appliance 10 has been stopped.

Also with the operating device 14 described above, the aforementioned effects (A)-(C) can be obtained.

Other features of the operating device 14 will be described.

Also in some embodiments, the inlet-side surface part 130 of each operating body 56 is provided such as to be flush with the face of the peripheral edge part 132 of the device main body 54 when the operating body 56 is placed at the hiding position Ps1.

FIGS. 13 and 17 are now referred to. On the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106, a guide part 134 is provided. The guide part 134 of some embodiments is provided on the marker part 82 in the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106. In some embodiments, a guide part 134 in common is provided for the neighboring operating bodies 56. The guide part 134 of some embodiments is a concave part.

Each of the neighboring operating bodies 56 includes the guided part 136 (136-A and 136-B in the drawings) provided on an area facing the guide part 134 in common. The guided parts 136 include a first guided part 136-A provided on the first operating body 56-A, and a second guided part 136-B provided on the second operating body 56-B. Each guided part 136 of is a convex part disposed inside the concave part formed by the guide part 134. Alternatively, the guided part 136-A of the neighboring operating bodies 56 may be formed as a concave part, the guide part 134 in common may be formed as a convex part, and the convex part may be disposed inside the concave part. Such convex part and concave part extend along the depth directions Dd.

When an operating body 56 is moved in a depth direction Dd with positional deviation in a direction perpendicular to the depth direction Dd (a lateral direction in FIG. 17 viewed according to the direction of the reference characters therein in this example), the guided part 136 of the operating body 56 is guided by the guide part 134 in common with a slide over the guide part 134. Providing a guide part 134 in common for the neighboring operating bodies 56 can reduce the number of guide parts 134 in the device main body 54 used to guide the operating bodies 56, thereby simplifying the structure of the device main body 54.

FIG. 18 is now referred to. The inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106 is constituted by an upper surface 106a, a lower surface 106b, and a pair of side surfaces 106c. The marker part 82 includes an upper surface constituent part 108a that constitutes the upper surface 106a of the housing hole 106, a lower surface constituent part 108b that constitutes the lower surface 106b of the housing hole 106, and side surface constituent parts 108c that constitute the side surfaces 106c of the housing hole 106.

The depth dimension of the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82 is defined as Lu, the depth dimension of the lower surface constituent part 108b of the marker part 82 is defined as Ll, and the depth dimension of the side surface constituent parts 108c of the marker part 82 is defined as Ls. The depth dimension as used herein means a dimension in a depth direction Dd of the housing hole 106. The depth dimension Lu of the upper surface constituent part 108a is smaller than the depth dimension Ll of the lower surface constituent part 108b. In some embodiments, the depth dimension Lu of the upper surface constituent part 108a is also smaller than the depth dimension Ls of the side surface constituent parts 108c. The depth dimension Ls is equivalent to the depth dimension Ll. Thus, the depth dimension of the marker part 82 is set differently according to the position on the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole 106.

Accordingly, when the operating device 14 is disposed at a position lower than the head of a user in a standing posture, a position (the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82) where the depth dimension of the marker part 82 is short cannot be visually recognized by the user easily. Therefore, even though the upper surface constituent part 108a and the lower surface constituent part 108b of the marker part 82 are different in depth dimension, such a difference will be indistinctive, and favorable design properties can be obtained. It is assumed here that the “user” has an average physical size in a country where the operating device 14 is sold.

The arm part 152 of an operating body 56 is disposed at a position facing, in a depth direction Dd, a part 82a (see FIG. 14) of the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82. The depth dimension Lu of the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82 is shorter than the depth dimension of each part other than the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82. Accordingly, compared to the case where the depth dimension Lu of the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82 is set to the depth dimension of a part other than the upper surface constituent part 108a of the marker part 82, interference with the arm part 152 of the operating body 56 can be avoided more easily.

Also, as described previously, the depth dimension of the marker part 82 is set differently according to the position on the inner surface of the housing hole 106. Accordingly, compared to the case where a shorter depth dimension at a part of the marker part 82 is set to a longer depth dimension at another part of the marker part 82, the amount of the use of members can be reduced.

FIG. 19 is now referred to. FIG. 19 also shows the first operating body 56-A and the marker member 68 on a cross section taken along line A-A of FIG. 17. A boundary part 70d between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 of the device main body 54 constitutes a stopper 170 for limiting the movable range of an operating body 56. Between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80, the boundary part 70d of some embodiments forms a step shape such that the inside dimensions are broadened toward the deeper side in the housing hole 106. The movable range of each operating body 56 is limited as the guided part 136 of the operating body 56 comes into contact with the stopper 170.

Thus, the boundary part 70d between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 can also be provided with a function as the stopper 170. Accordingly, compared to the case of providing the stopper 170 separately from the boundary part 70d, the structure of the operating device 14 can be simplified.

Such a marker part 82 is constituted by the marker member 68, and the neighboring area 80 is constituted by the main body member 66 provided separately from the marker member 68. Accordingly, the stopper 170 can be configured merely by combining the marker member 68 and the main body member 66, without providing a concave or convex as a stopper on a single member.

Also, as shown in FIG. 17, a convex part 172 is provided on each operating body 56 such as to be brought into contact with another stopper constituted by the marker member 68 and the main body member 66. Meanwhile, concave parts 174 are provided on the marker member 68, and the convex parts 172 are disposed respectively inside the concave parts 174. With such concave parts 174 provided, the contact area between the convex part 172 of each operating body 56 and a stopper can be secured more easily. This is also an effect obtained by forming the aforementioned guide part 134 as a concave part.

Other modifications of individual constituting elements will be described.

The water-related appliance 10 may be any appliance used in an area where water is used, and specific examples thereof are not particularly limited. The water-related appliance 10 may also be a toilet, bathtub, washstand, washbasin, sink, or water shut-off valve, including accessories thereof. Also, a flush water supply device as the water-related appliance includes a flush valve.

The operating device 14 may include three or more operating bodies 56. The number of operating bodies 56 is not limited. Although a button and a lever have been described as examples of the operating body 56, the structure is not limited thereto, and the operating body 56 may be a handle, a toggle switch, or the like.

Each operating body 56 has only to be able to activate the water-related appliance 10 by moving from the first position Ps1 to the second position Ps2. The “activating the water-related appliance” as used herein includes, besides the case of activating the water-related appliance such that the state of the water-related appliance is switched, also the case of activating the water-related appliance such that the water-related appliance starts an operation, as described above. Also, the “state” as used herein includes, besides a state where the water-related appliance is performing a specific operation, a state where the water-related appliance stops the specific operation, i.e., a state where the water-related appliance is not operating.

In the examples described above, when an operating body 56 is moved from the first position Ps1 to the second position Ps2, the operating body 56 is not maintained at the second position Ps2 and is returned from the second position Ps2 to the first position Ps1 by means of external force applied from the activation mechanism 20 of the water-related appliance 10, in conjunction with the movement of the water-related appliance 10. Also, the operating body 56 may automatically return from the second position Ps2 to the first position Ps1 by means of a biasing member 180 provided separately from the activation mechanism 20. The biasing member 180 may be constituted by an elastic body, such as a spring, for example.

The position of each operating body 56 may be maintained between the first position Ps1 and another position by means of a position maintaining mechanism, and the maintained position may be changed each time the operating body 56 is operated. The position maintaining mechanism may be a thrust lock mechanism, heart cam mechanism, rotary cam mechanism, or ratchet cam mechanism, for example. The “operation on the operating body 56” may be a press operation on the operating body 56, for example. The “another position” may be the aforementioned second position Ps2, or a position closer to the first position Ps1 than the second position Ps2. In any case, it may be acceptable as long as, when the operating body 56 is moved from the first position Ps1 to the second position Ps2, the water-related appliance 10 is activated such that the water-related appliance 10 starts an operation or such that the state of the water-related appliance 10 is switched.

Although each transmission part 58 of the operating device 14 mechanically transmits external force received at an operating body 56 to the activation mechanism 20 of the water-related appliance 10 in the examples described above, the transmission part 58 may also electrically transmit the external force. In this case, each transmission part 58 may detect a move of an operating body 56 from the first position Ps1 to the second position Ps2 by means of a sensor, and may drive the activation mechanism 20 by means of a drive source based on the detection result, so as to transmit the external force received at the operating body 56, for example. The detection mechanism may be a contact on a circuit board or a proximity sensor, for example. The drive source may be a motor or an actuator, for example.

The neighboring area 80 adjacent to the marker part 82 in the device main body 54 may be exposed or may be hidden by an operating body 56 or another member in both cases where the operating body 56 is placed at the first position Ps1 and where it is placed at the second position Ps2.

The marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 are constituted by different members (the marker member 68 and the main body member 66) in the examples described above. Alternatively, the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 may be constituted by the same member. In this case, the colors of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 may be made different by changing whether or not surface treatment is performed or the color provided by the surface treatment, for each of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80, as described previously.

The combination of the outer surface colors of the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 is not particularly limited. Although the combination of blue and silver is employed as an example, a combination of two colors selected from among yellow, red, black, and white, or a combination of one of those colors and water white may also be employed, for example.

The cylindrical member 40 of some embodiments may constitute the device main body 54 of the operating device 14 formed separately from the appliance main body 12 of the water-related appliance 10. The area of the device main body 54 to which the cylindrical member 40 is attached is not particularly limited. Also, the dividing position between the main body member 66 and the marker member 68, which constitute the cylindrical member 40, is not particularly limited, and the main body member 66 need not necessarily include the base part 74.

With regard to the fixing structure 76 of some embodiments, the receiving part 76a and the received part 76b are provided as a combination of a convex part and a concave part in the example described above. Alternatively, the receiving part 76a and the received part 76b may be a combination of a hook part and a hook receiving part, for example.

In the device main body 54, the areas of the marker part 82 respectively corresponding to the multiple operating bodies 56 may be constituted by separate marker members.

The stopper 170 of some embodiments may be provided at a boundary part between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 that are constituted by a single member.

Although the depth dimension of the marker part 82 in some embodiments is smallest on the upper surface of the housing hole 106 in the example described above, the area of which the depth dimension becomes smaller is not particularly limited.

Optional combinations of the abovementioned constituting elements may also be employed as additional modes of the present disclosure. Examples of such combinations will be described.

The depth dimension of the marker part 82 of the operating device 14 in some embodiments may also be set differently according to the position on the inner surface of the housing hole 106. A boundary part between the marker part 82 and the neighboring area 80 may constitute a stopper in the operating device 14 also in the first and second embodiments. The operating device 14 may also include the cylindrical member 40 of some embodiments. The operating device 14 in some embodiments may also include multiple operating bodies 56.

The embodiments and modifications have been described in detail. Each of the abovementioned embodiments and modification merely describes a specific example. Various design modifications, including changes, addition, and deletion of constituting elements, may be made to the embodiments and modifications. In the aforementioned embodiments, matters to which design modifications may be made are emphasized with the expression of “embodiment”, but design modifications may also be made to matters without such expression. Also, the hatching provided on the cross sections in the drawings is not provided to limit the materials of the objects with the hatching.

When the embodiments and modifications set forth above are generalized, the following technical ideas are derived.

With regard to the operating device of a second mode, in the first mode, the operating body may be a button that is movable by receiving a press operation by a user.

With regard to the operating device of a third mode, in the second mode, the operating body may be supported to be rotatable with respect to the device main body.

With regard to the operating device of a fourth mode, in the first mode, the operating body may be a lever supported to be rotatable with respect to the device main body.

With regard to the operating device of a fifth mode, in any one of the first through third modes, the device main body may comprise a housing hole that opens on a face of the device main body, the operating body may be movable from the first position to the second position by moving toward a deeper side in the housing hole, and the marker part may be provided on an inner surface of the housing hole. According to this mode, the marker part can be exposed during a press operation on the operating body.

With regard to the operating device of a sixth mode, in the fifth mode, the neighboring area may be provided closer to an inlet side of the housing hole than the marker part. According to this mode, the marker part is provided in a deeper area in the housing hole, so that the marker part is less likely to be visually recognized from the outside, obtaining favorable design properties.

With regard to the operating device of a seventh mode, in the sixth mode, the device main body may include a peripheral edge part provided along a peripheral edge of the opening area of the housing hole, on a face of the device main body, and the peripheral edge part may have a color equivalent to that of the outer surface of the neighboring area. According to this mode, the marker part of the device main body can be made more distinctive, compared to the peripheral edge part and the neighboring area, so that the activation of the water-related appliance by the operating body can be recognized more easily by means of the marker part.

With regard to the operating device of an eighth mode, in the fifth mode, the device main body may include a main body member that constitutes a face of the device main body on which the housing hole opens and the neighboring area, and a marker member that is disposed deeper than the opening area of the housing hole on the main body member and that constitutes the marker part.

With regard to the operating device of a ninth mode, in the fifth mode, a depth dimension of the marker part may be set differently according to the position on an inner peripheral surface of the housing hole. According to this mode, compared to the case where a shorter depth dimension at a part of the marker part is set to a longer depth dimension at another part of the marker part, the amount of the use of members can be reduced.

With regard to the operating device of a tenth mode, in the ninth mode, the housing hole may open on the front surface of the device main body, the marker part may include an upper surface constituent part that constitutes the upper surface of the housing hole and a lower surface constituent part that constitutes the lower surface of the housing hole, and the depth dimension of the upper surface constituent part may be smaller than the depth dimension of the lower surface constituent part. According to this mode, when the operating device is disposed at a position lower than the head of a user in a standing posture, a position where the depth dimension of the marker part is short cannot be visually recognized by the user easily. Therefore, even though the upper surface constituent part and the lower surface constituent part of the marker part are different in depth dimension, such a difference will be indistinctive, and favorable design properties can be obtained.

With regard to the operating device of an eleventh mode, in any one of the first through fourth modes, the device main body may comprise a guide part, the operating body may comprise a guided part guided by the guide part, and the guide part may be provided on the marker part. According to this mode, the marker part can be provided with, besides the function as a marker for indicating activation of the water-related appliance, a function to guide the operating body.

With regard to the operating device of a twelfth mode, in the eleventh mode, the guide part may be a concave part or a convex part.

With regard to the operating device of a thirteenth mode, in any one of the first through fourth modes, a boundary part between the neighboring area and the marker part may constitute a stopper that limits a movable range of the operating body. According to this mode, the boundary part between the marker part and the neighboring area in the device main body can also be provided with a function as a stopper, so that, compared to the case of providing a stopper separately from the boundary part, the structure of the operating device can be simplified.

With regard to the operating device of a fourteenth mode, in the thirteenth mode, the device main body may include a main body member that constitutes the neighboring area, and a marker member that constitutes the marker part. According to this mode, the stopper can be configured merely by combining the marker member and the main body member, without providing a concave or convex as a stopper on a single member.

With regard to the operating device of a fifteenth mode, in any one of the first through fourth modes, the operating device may comprise a plurality of the operating bodies, and, with regard to each of the plurality of the operating bodies, when the operating body is placed at the first position, the operating body may hide a corresponding area of the marker part from the outside, and, when the operating body is placed at the second position, the operating body may expose at least part of the corresponding area of the marker part to the outside. According to this mode, also in the case where multiple operating bodies are provided, the effects of the aforementioned first mode can be obtained.

With regard to the operating device of a sixteenth mode, in the fifteenth mode, the device main body may comprise a single marker member that constitutes areas of the marker part respectively corresponding to the plurality of the operating bodies. According to this mode, the number of necessary parts can be reduced, compared to the case where separate members are used for the areas respectively corresponding to the multiple operating bodies in the marker part.

With regard to the operating device of a seventeenth mode, in the sixteenth mode, the device main body may comprises a plurality of guide parts provided respectively for the plurality of the operating bodies, each of the plurality of the operating bodies may comprise a guided part guided by a corresponding one of the plurality of guide parts, and the plurality of guide parts may be provided on the single marker member. According to this mode, the number of necessary parts can be reduced, compared to the case where separate members are used to provide guide parts for multiple operating bodies in the marker part.

With regard to the operating device of an eighteenth mode, in the sixteenth mode, the device main body may comprise a guide part, and each of the operating bodies adjacent to each other may comprise a guided part guided by the guide part in common. According to this mode, the number of guide parts of the device main body used to guide the multiple operating bodies can be reduced, thereby simplifying the structure of the device main body.

With regard to the operating device of a nineteenth mode, in the eighteenth mode, the guide part in common may be a single concave part or convex part provided on the device main body.

With regard to the operating device of a twentieth mode, in any one of the first through fourth modes, the device main body may comprise a cylindrical member, the cylindrical member may comprise a main body member and a marker member that each have a shape obtained by dividing the cylindrical member, and the marker member may constitute the marker part. According to this mode, the main body member and the marker member constitute the cylindrical member and can present different colors.

With regard to the operating device of a twenty-first mode, in the twentieth mode, the main body member may comprise a base part, and the marker member may be mounted on the base part. According to this mode, the position of the marker member in the cylinder axis directions of the cylindrical member can be determined by the base part of the main body member.

With regard to the operating device of a twenty-second mode, in any one of the first through fourth modes, the device main body may include a marker member that constitutes the marker part and that is formed of a material having the color of the outer surface of the marker part. According to this mode, without the influence of peeling off of the coating, the color of the outer surface of the marker part can be presented for a long period of time.

Also, when the embodiments and modifications set forth above are generalized, it can be said that the technical ideas described in the following items are included.

A tank device, comprising a lid body made of resin that covers an upper surface opening part formed on a tank main body, and a button made of resin disposed inside a housing hole formed on the lid body.

The tank device of First Item, wherein no other members are disposed between the housing hole of the lid body and the button.

The problem related to the technical ideas described in the above items is as follows.

As described previously, when a lid body made of ceramic is used, the lid body is affected by shrinkage caused in the molding process, and the shape of the housing hole thereof largely varies. If such variation is caused, a countermeasure thereto, such as disposing a frame member inside the housing hole, will be required, as described previously, so that improvement therefor is desired.

A purpose of the technical ideas described in the above items is to provide a tank device in which variation in the shape of the housing hole can be reduced.

Claims

1. An operating device, comprising:

a device main body; and

an operating body,

wherein the operating body is movable between a first position and a second position and enables activation of a water-related appliance by moving from the first position to the second position,

wherein the device main body comprises a marker part that is different in outer surface color from a neighboring area of the device main body, and

when the operating body is placed at the first position, the operating body hides the marker part from the outside, and, when the operating body is placed at the second position, the operating body exposes at least part of the marker part to the outside.

2. The operating device of claim 1, wherein the operating body comprises a button that is movable when pressed.

3. The operating device of claim 2, wherein the operating body is configured to be rotatable with respect to the device main body.

4. The operating device of claim 1, wherein the operating body comprises a lever supported to be rotatable with respect to the device main body.

5. The operating device of claim 1, wherein:

the device main body comprises a housing hole that opens on a face of the device main body,

the operating body is movable from the first position to the second position by moving toward a deeper side in the housing hole, and

the marker part is provided on an inner surface of the housing hole.

6. The operating device of claim 5, wherein the neighboring area is provided closer to an inlet side of the housing hole than the marker part.

7. The operating device of claim 5, wherein a depth dimension of the marker part is set differently according to the position on an inner peripheral surface of the housing hole.

8. The operating device of claim 1, wherein the device main body comprises a guide part, the operating body comprises a guided part guided by the guide part, and the guide part is provided in the marker part.

9. The operating device of claim 1, wherein a boundary part between the neighboring area and the marker part constitutes a stopper that limits a movable range of the operating body.

10. The operating device of claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises a plurality of the operating bodies, and when a first operating body of the plurality of operating bodies is placed at the first position, the first operating body hides a corresponding area of the marker part from the outside, and, when the first operating body is placed at the second position, the first operating body exposes at least part of the corresponding area of the marker part to the outside.

11. The operating device of claim 10, wherein the device main body comprises a single marker member that constitutes areas of the marker part respectively corresponding to the plurality of the operating bodies.

12. The operating device of claim 11, wherein the device main body comprises a plurality of guide parts provided respectively for the plurality of the operating bodies, each of the plurality of the operating bodies comprises a guided part guided by a corresponding one of the plurality of guide parts, and the plurality of guide parts are provided on the single marker member.

13. The operating device of claim 10, wherein the device main body comprises a guide part, and each of the operating bodies adjacent to each other comprises a guided part guided by the guide part in common.

14. The operating device of claim 1, wherein the device main body comprises a cylindrical member, the cylindrical member comprises a main body member and a marker member that each have a shape obtained by dividing the cylindrical member, and the marker member constitutes the marker part.

15. The operating device of claim 14, wherein the main body member comprises a base part, and the marker member is mounted on the base part.