EP0808952B1

EP0808952B1 - Device for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0808952B1
Application number: EP96830394A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Testori
Original assignee: ARGO Srl
Current assignee: ARGO S.R.L.
Priority date: 1996-05-23
Filing date: 1996-07-15
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-15
Also published as: ITMI961047A0; ES2206554T3; DE69629915D1; ITMI961047A1; DE69629915T2; IT1283068B1; EP0808952A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like.
This device, in particular, can be applied to an edge of a basin or in a recess therefor.
As is known, faucet assemblies are conventionally applied to sanitary articles by a hole which is made on the body of the sanitary article and, usually, by means of a wall-type of application.
In order to perform such a coupling, the faucets are provided with threaded end pieces or other threaded elements allowing the faucet body to be clamped to the sanitary article by means of a clamping operation which must be performed from the bottom of the sanitary article.
With such an arrangement, as the faucet body is to be removed, it is necessary to perform very complex disassembling operations and, mainly, it is necessary to detach the faucet coupling assembly from the water system.
Another drawback is that the assembling and disassembling operations must be performed in very difficult positions, since the clamping of the ring nut about the threaded portion of the faucet body, passing through the throughgoing hole, or the clamping of the nuts provided on the rod elements coupled to the base of the faucet, is usually performed in a region spaced away from an easily accessible region, thereby these operations are very difficult to be carried out.
In the case of a wall recessed faucet, moreover, it is necessary to break away the wall plaster and tiles which compels the operator to frequently remake the overall tiled construction.
The document EP-A-0 293 655 discloses a coupling device for faucets substantially according to the preamble of Claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, by providing a device for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like which allows to fully modify the conventional assembling concept, so as to perform the fixing operations for coupling the faucet body without the need of accessing the bottom portion of the sanitary article or the like.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a coupling device which affords the possibility of performing a very quick coupling, with the interposition of sealing elements which can be assembled without the need of using assembling tools or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a coupling device which allows to remove the faucet driving and adjusting block, without affecting the fittings of the water system. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a coupling device which is very reliable and safe in operation.
According to the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like, according to claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment, of a device for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the device according to the present invention as applied to a faucet for a wash-basin provided with a shower assembly;
Figure 2 is an exploded view illustrating the faucet and shower assembly arrangement;
Figure 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating the device according to the present invention provided for the application of a faucet;
Figure 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a faucet for bidets;
Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation view illustrating the fitting body or base for coupling a bidet or lavabo faucet;
Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the fitting body or base for a bidet or lavabo faucet;
Figs 7 to 19 show embodiments not according to the invention but useful for understanding the invention, and, more specifically :
Figure 7 is a top plan view, as partially cross-sectioned, illustrating the coupling device preset for coupling a bath-tub faucet;
Figure 7a illustrates a modified embodiment of figure 7;
Figure 7b illustrates a fitting body provided with a fixing screw for fixing said fitting body to a wall;
Figure 8 is a partially cross-sectioned view illustrating a bath-tub faucet;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a bath-tub faucet, before the application thereof;
Figure 10 is a side partially cross-sectioned view illustrating the fitting body or base for a recessed assembling, provided with a bath-tub switching element;
Figure 11 is a front view illustrating the fitting body or base provided for a recessed assembling, with a bath tub switching element;
Figure 12 is a side view illustrating the fitting body or base, provided for a recessed assembling, with a bath-tub switching element;
Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fitting body or base for a recessed assembling;
Figure 14 is a front view illustrating the fitting body or base, for a recessed assembling, without the switching element;
Figure 15 is a partially cross-sectioned view illustrating a coupling fitting element;
Figure 16 is a front view illustrating a fitting body or base, for a recessed assembling, without the switching element, and which can be coupled, by a fitting element, to the driving and adjusting block of the faucet;
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view substantially taken along the section line XVII-XVII of figure 16;
Figure 18 illustrates the connecting ring nut element for connecting the fitting body or base, provided for a recessed assembling, either with or without the switching element or driving and adjusting block;
and
Figure 19 is a further cross-sectional view substantially taken along the section line XIX-XIX of figure 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the above mentioned figures, the device for coupling a faucet assembly to sanitary articles, such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like, according to the present invention, is provided to be coupled to a faucet assembly having a hollow space for the concealed mounting of the upper part of the coupling device therein, and comprises a fitting body, which has been indicated generally by the reference number 1, and can be fixed to a sanitary article, generally indicated by the reference number 2, by fixing means, comprising a fixing bracket 5, which can be arranged under the sanitary article and can be clamped by a screw 6 which can be accessed from the top part of the fitting body 1.
To said fitting body 1 are connected warm water and cold water supplying ducts, which have been generally indicated by the reference number 7.
The main feature of the present invention is that on the top surface of the fitting body are provided sealing plug-in seats or recesses, indicated by the reference number 10, arranged with a mutually adjoining relationship and provided for taughtly engaging therein a coupling fitting, generally indicated by the reference number 11, which is constituted by a first length 12, which can be engaged in the plug-in seat 10, and a second length or portion 13, possibly having different diametrical dimensions, which can be engaged in the coupling seat or recess 14 correspondingly formed on the faucet body or driving and adjusting block therefor, which can be coupled to the fitting body 1.
On the portions 12 and 13 are applied sealing O-rings 16, which operate on the side surfaces of the respective seats, or gaskets operating butt-wise on the two end portions.
Moreover, the fitting body is provided, near the bottom or base thereof, with a circumferential recess 20 in which a fixing dowel 21 defined on the faucet of the body can be engaged.
The disclosed coupling method can be applied to several types of faucets, by suitably modifying the base fitting thereof.
For example, as is clearly shown in figures 1 and 2, it is possible to apply a wash-basin faucet 30, provided with a shower element 31 which is coupled, through flexible hose 32, passing through a seat formed in the fitting body 1.
Figure 7a illustrates a modified embodiment of figure 7 in which the fitting body 1 is provided with water supply ducts 80 and 81 formed by flexible and extensible tubular elements.
In particular, the mentioned ducts can be coupled to the fitting body 1 both laterally and at the bottom portion of said fitting body.
The fitting body 1 is coupled to a wall by means of a plug element or threaded element 6', or it is coupled to a sanitary article by means of a flange 5 and a screw 6.
Figures 3 to 6 show a bidet faucet 40, which is provided with a driving rod 41 for driving an associated pawl, having an enlarged portion 42 provided for abutting on an abutment element 43 defined in the fitting body, so as to hold the pawl driving rod at a set position even if the faucet body is disassembled.
In order to disassemble the faucet body, in particular, a knob 44 and dowel 45 assembly is provided, which can be removed from the enlarged portion 42 of the driving rod 41, thereby the assembly can be easily removed.
For application to a bath tube or to a bath tube edge or outer shower, the fitting body or base, which has been still indicated by the reference number 1, is provided with side clutch elements 50, 80 and 81 for coupling to the water system by fittings coming from the wall.
Moreover, a slanted panel 51 is provided for allowing the bath tube faucet 55 to be locked by means of a locking dowel provided in the bottom portion thereof.
If desired, it would be also possible to provide a flush-mounted body, indicated by the reference number 60, which can be provided with a switching element 61 for changing the water delivery region, so as to cause the water to be supplied through a water delivery outlet arranged, for example, at the overflow outlet or through a shower element or the like.
Even in this embodiment, the faucet body is connected by using the connecting fittings 11 which are provided with sealing O-ring elements, allowing to perform a quick tightly coupling to the water system.
With reference to figures 16 to 19, the fitting body 60, to be assembled with a flush or recessed relationship is provided, at the front portion thereof, with threaded seats 70 for engaging therein fixing screws, which are introduced through the elongated slots 71 of a ring nut 72 having a tooth element 73 engaging with a rim portion 74 defined by the fitting element to the driving and adjusting block 75.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the ring-nut 72 can be rigid with said driving and adjusting block 75.
The connection to the water system is performed by the connecting fittings 11 engaging in suitable seats.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular, it is pointed out that a coupling device has been provided, for coupling faucet assemblies to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like which is easy to use and very functional since it is possible to remove the faucet body or driving and adjusting block therefor, independently from its function, without the need of disassembling the connection with the water system by using tools or the like.
The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A device for coupling a faucet assembly to sanitary articles such as wash-basins, lavabos, bidets, bath-tubs and the like, said faucet assembly being of the type having a hollow space for the concealed mounting of the upper part for the coupling device therein said device comprising a fitting body (1) to be fixed to a sanitary article (2) said fitting body (1) is adapted to be arranged and removably fixed inside said hollow faucet assembly body, a fixing screw (6, 6') being moreover provided passing through a passage in said fitting body, whereby the fixing screw is arranged to be accessed from the upper side of the fitting body for cooperating with a fixing bracket (5) under the sanitary article (2), characterized in that said fitting body (1) is being connectable to cold water and warm water supply ducts (7), and further comprising connecting fittings, said fitting body (1) including plug-in seats (10) for sealing engaging therein the connection fittings (11), in turn engageable in coupling seats (14) defined in a driving and adjusting block (75) of said faucet assembly, each said connection fitting (11) comprising a first portion (12) to be engaged in a said plug-in seat (10) and a second portion (13) to be engaged in a mating said coupling seat (14), on said first (12) and second (13) portions being applied sealing O-rings or gaskets (16) for providing a sealing relationship with said plug-in seats and said coupling seat, that said fitting body (1) is provided with a channel for allowing a shower element flexible hose or a pawl rod to pass therethrough, in that said first and second portions of said connecting fittings have possibly different diametrical dimensions, and that said fitting body (1) is provided with a circular groove (20) at the bottom thereof for removably fixing said fitting body by a fixing dowel inside said faucet assembly body.
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said fixing screw (6) can be engaged with a bottom bracket (5) to be coupled with a bottom portion of the sanitary article.
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said plug-in seats (10) are formed at the top surface of said fitting body (1).
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said throughgoing channel allows a flexible hose (32) of a shower element (31) to pass therethrough.
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said throughgoing channel allows a pawl rod (41) to pass therethrough said pawl rod (41) being provided with an enlarged portion (42) engageable with an abutment (43) formed on the top of said fitting body (1), a driving knob (44) being provided for driving said pawl rod (41), said driving knob (44) being coupled, through a dowel (45) to said pawl rod (41).
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said fitting body is provided with side clutch elements (50, 80, 81).
A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said fitting body (1) comprises water supply ducts constituted by flexible and extensible tubular elements.
A device according to Claim 7, characterized in that said ducts are coupled to said fitting body (1) either laterally or at the bottom of said fitting body.