EP2228494B1

EP2228494B1 - Water tap system

Info

Publication number: EP2228494B1
Application number: EP09014675A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rino Frogiolini
Original assignee: Rubinetteria Eurorama SpA
Current assignee: Rubinetteria Eurorama SpA
Priority date: 2009-03-06
Filing date: 2009-03-06
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-06
Also published as: EP2228494A1; EP2226431A1

Description

The present invention relates to a kit for a tap system of the type specified in the preamble of Claim 1.
Modules for kits to set up a tap system are currently known, for example from patent applications EP-A-1728931 , DE-U-20319169 and GB-A-453386 .
They generally comprise water delivery and regulation means, such as nozzles, taps, mixers, spouts of various shapes and disposed in various positions, for example for a shower, or to deliver water into a bathtub, a wash-hand basin or the like.
These systems are frequently installed buried, or partly embedded or installed inside a wall, so that only the necessary elements, such as tap or mixer controls, spouts and the like, project from the wall.
Buried systems are particularly appreciated for the aesthetic qualities they achieve.
In fact, in buried systems no portions of pipes and the like which are not aesthetically pleasing are visible.
However, the aforesaid prior art presents some important drawbacks.
In fact, buried systems must be sized and structured for the type of installation required.The modules need to be aligned or arranged perpendicular to each other.
For example, in a bathtub with shower, diverters to a first spout to fill the tub and to a second spout for the shower are required. Currently the outlets from the mixer body are in fixed positions which oblige the installer to provide piping works to reach the spout positions desired by the Customer's project.
Moreover, in many circumstances it is necessary to adapt the structure of the system to the available spaces.
In particular, at times it is necessary to interpose a corner of a wall between spout and mixer in showers.
Due to these drawbacks it is necessary to provide a plurality of different tap systems suitable for all situations.
This plurality of systems necessarily translates into considerable costs and surpluses to keep the warehouse stocked.
Moreover, the plurality of systems also gives rise to errors in the layout and installation thereof. Above all, a variation of the water systems requires significant works to replace existing systems.
In this situation the technical aim underlying the present invention is to devise a tap system suitable to be buried or embedded, capable of substantially overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks.
Within said technical aim, an important object of the invention is to obtain a kit for a tap system which facilitates different installations according to use and available spaces.The correct angle between the modules is facilitated by the parallelepiped shaped elements which allow simple visual coupling.
Another important object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive tap system.
The technical aim and the objects specified are achieved by a kit for a tap system as claimed in Claim 1.
Preferred embodiments are specified in the sub-claims.
The features and advantages of the invention are better explained below in the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a tap system according to the invention in a first configuration;
Fig. 2 shows a tap system according to the invention in a second configuration;
Fig. 3 shows a tap system according to the invention in a third configuration;
Fig. 4 shows a first detail of the tap system;
Fig. 5 shows a second detail of the tap system; and
Fig. 6 shows a third detail of the tap system.

With reference to the aforesaid Figures, the tap system according to the invention is indicated as a whole with the number 1.
It comprises, in the most complete configuration thereof, a control device 2, at least one diverter element 6, a branching element 9 and spout means 3 suitable to deliver fluid.
The spout means 3 can be realized by a spout for a shower 3a, for a wash-hand basin, for a bathtub 3b, by nozzles for whirlpool baths and showers and the like.
Said elements and devices 2, 6 and 9 are mutually composable and connectable in a plurality of different configurations adaptable for any requirement.
In particular, in some configurations some of the elements and devices 2, 6, and 9 can be omitted, while in others they more than one of these can be provided, as better specified below and illustrated in Figs. 1 - 3.
Moreover, they are made of materials for taps such as stainless steel, brass or the like.
Furthermore, the tap system 1 is suitable to be installed buried and defines a main extension plane 1a substantially parallel to the extension plane of a wall 21 in which said system is disposed.
Moreover, said elements and devices 2, 6, 9 are mutually engageable in fluid communication along an axis of alignment 1 b lying in the extension plane 1 a.
In more detail, the control device 2 is suitable to regulate the delivery of fluid, i.e. the quantity and temperature thereof, and comprises an actuator 2a, commonly a tap or a mixer, which extends perpendicular to the main extension plane 1 a.
Moreover, it comprises first inlet connections 4 suitable to connect, in fluid communication, the control device 2 with inlet ducts 20 suitable to supply fluid to the tap system 1, and a plurality of first outlet connections 5 suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, to the spout means 3.
Said connection 5 is preferably indirect, and therefore other elements are preferably interposed as described in more detail below.
Moreover, the first outlet connections 5 are oriented parallel to the main extension plane 1 a.
In the present text, the term direction of orientation of the connections is intended that said connections are suitable to allow the passage of fluid which moves in the same directions. In substance, the connections define a port whose area is perpendicular to the direction of orientation of these connections. In particular, the control device 2 comprises an inner body 2b substantially parallelepiped in shape and suitable to be disposed inside a wall 21 and connected along a first face to the actuator 2a.
The inner body 2b comprises said inlet connections 4, realized by known pipe connections, preferably two of which are present, for hot and cold water, preferably disposed along a face perpendicular to said first face, and three outlet connections 5 each disposed along the remaining faces perpendicular to said first face, as shown in Fig. 4.
The diverter element 6 instead comprises a second inlet connection 7 suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, with a first outlet connection 5 and a second outlet connection 8 suitable to be connected to spout means 3.
Said connection 8 is preferably direct, and therefore other elements are not interposed between it and the spout means 3.
The diverter element 6 can preferably be disposed entirely inside a wall and the second inlet 7 and outlet 8 connections are preferably oriented in perpendicular directions.
The diverter element 6 is also preferably parallelepiped shaped, as shown in Fig. 5.
The branching element 9 in turn comprises a third inlet connection 10 suitable to be connected, mechanically and in fluid communication, with a first outlet connection 5, and a plurality of third outlet connections 11 each suitable to be connected, directly or indirectly, to spout means 3.
Preferably, only two third outlet connections 11 are present, oriented one in a parallel direction and one in a perpendicular direction to the third inlet connection 10.
The branching element 9 also comprises a valve 12 suitable to select at least one, and preferably only one, of the third outlet connections 11.
The valve 12 is of known type and preferably comprises a control button 12a and a valve body 12b suitable to divert the flow of the fluid.
It extends mainly in a direction perpendicular both to the direction of the third inlet connection 10 and to the directions of the third outlet connections 11.
The branching element 9 also preferably comprises a main body 9a substantially parallelepiped in shape suitable to be disposed inside a wall 21 and shown in Fig. 6.
Moreover, conveniently, the third outlet connections 11 can be connected, mechanically and in fluid communication, to the second inlet connection 7.
More preferably each of the second and third inlet connection 7, 10, can be connected, mechanically and in fluid communication, with one among the first, second and third outlet connections 5, 8, 11.
In this way, the system is completely modular and composable according to requirements.
Moreover, said inlet and outlet connections can preferably be connected to standard pipes 22, rigid or flexible, so that the system is even more variable.
These are realized structurally in the same manner as conventional connections of pipes for fluids, i.e. comprising threaded couplings and seals, preferably compatible with standard threaded couplings and seals for water pipes.
Operation of the tap system 1, the structure of which is described above, is as follows.
The control device 2, the diverter element 6, the branching element 9, any pipes 22 and the spout means 3 are variedly composed according to spaces and needs.
Moreover, at the intersection between the wall 21 and portions projecting therefrom, such as spout means 3 or the control device 2 or yet again the valve 12, insulating plates 13, having an aesthetic function, can be provided. Moreover, the insulating plates 13, shown in Fig. 3, can be provided separate for each projecting portion or a single plate can be provided. The first solution achieves advantages of further modularity of the system.
In particular, the spout means 3 are preferably constrained to the diverter element 6, which allows the spout means 3 to be oriented directly towards the outside of the wall 21. Alternatively, pipes 22 which cover greater distances are used.
Fig. 1 shows a tap system 2 for a bathtub with shower including two spouts 3a and 3b. Therefore, a branching element 8 is provided to allow selection of the spout 3a.
Fig. 2 instead shows a system 1 for a shower including only one spout 3a. Therefore, there is no branching element 8, which is also absent in Fig. 3 showing a system 1 for a wash-hand basin or bathtub.
Therefore, different elements and positions thereof can be used for each configuration.
Moreover, different first outlet connections 5 of the control device 2 can be used, to position the spouts in different positions.
The first outlet connections 5 can therefore be closed using specific fluid-tight caps.
It must also be specified that the diverter element 6 can have a second outlet connection 8 facing in the direction of the plane 1a, to be connected to a pipe 22 or the like, or in a direction perpendicular to the plane 1a, to be constrained directly to a spout 3a or 3b.
The correct angle is facilitated by the presence of parallelepiped shaped elements which allow simple visual coupling between parts to be produced.
For the purpose of further improving this feature, the parallelepipeds forming the diverter element 6, the branching element 9 and conveniently also the control device 2 have a square base, as shown in Fig. 1.
The invention achieves the objects proposed and allows important advantages.
In fact, the tap system 1 allows different installations according to use and available spaces.
Moreover, it is simple, inexpensive and easy to install.
In fact, it is completely modular and composable according to requirements.
The invention is susceptible to variants falling with the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

Claims

Kit for setting up a tap system (1) comprising:
- a control device (2) suitable to regulate the delivery of fluid, and comprising first inlet connections (4) suitable to connect, in fluid communication, said control device (2) with inlet ducts (20) suitable to supply said fluid to said tap system (1), spout means (3) suitable to deliver said fluid and a plurality of first outlet connections (5) suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, to said spout means (3);

- a diverter element (6) including a second inlet connection (7) suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, with one of said first outlet connections (5), and a second outlet connection (8) suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, with said spout means (3);

- a branching element (9) including a third inlet connection (10) suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, with one of said first outlet connections (5) of said control device (2), a plurality of third outlet connections (11) each suitable to be connected, in fluid communication, with one of said spout means (3) and with one of said second inlet connection (7), and a valve (12) suitable to select at least one of said third outlet connections (11), and

- characterized in that said branching element (9), said diverter element (6) and said control device (2) present substantially parallelepiped shaped bodies which can be aligned with one another in mutually mating positions.
Kit according to claim 1, wherein there is defined a main extension plane (1 a) of the tap system (1) substantially parallel to the extension plane of a wall (21) in which said system is disposed and wherein said first outlet connections (5) are oriented parallel to said main extension plane (1 a).
Kit according to claim 2, wherein said control device (2) comprises an actuator (2a) mainly extending in a direction perpendicular to said main extension plane (1 a).
Kit according to one or more of preceding claims, wherein said second inlet connection (7) is oriented perpendicular to said second outlet connection (8).
Kit according to one or more of preceding claims, wherein two of said third outlet connections (11) are selectively oriented parallel and perpendicular to the direction of said third inlet connection (10) and wherein said valve (12) extends mainly in a direction perpendicular to said direction of said third inlet connection (10).
Kit according to claim 5, wherein each of said second and third inlet connections (7, 10) can be connected, in fluid communication, to one of said first, second and third outlet connections (5, 8, 11).
Kit according to one or more of preceding claims, wherein said branching element (9), said diverter element (6) and said control device (6) can be mutually engaged in fluid communication along an axis of alignment (1 b) lying in the main extension plane (1 a) of the tap system (1).