DK3173539T3 - METHOD OF CHECKING SANITARY EQUIPMENT AND SANITY EQUIPMENT WITH TWO KEY FUNCTIONS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Method for controlling a sanitary fitting and sanitary fitting with two button operation

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a sanitary fitting as well as to a sanitary fitting which serves particularly for tapping water. Such sanitary fittings are regularly used in relation to washbasins, sinks, showers and/or bathtubs.

In the state of the art there are known sanitary fittings whereby cold water with a cold-water temperature and hot water with a hot-water temperature can be mixed into a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature, and whereby the mixed water can be provided in a desired amount. In addition, in the state of the art there are known sanitary fittings whereby, in addition to mixed water, hot water with a temperature up to 100°C (Celsius) can also be tapped. Such sanitary fittings must have an operational concept having scalding protection, such that safe operation of the sanitary fitting by means of a user is ensured. At the same time, operation of the sanitary fitting should be easy and intuitively revealed for the user. For this purpose, in the state of the art there are known mechanical solutions, for example, which can be levers or actuators of the sanitary fitting, for example. Displacement of these actuators for activating a hot water withdrawal requires a large effort, such that unintentional activation of the hot water withdrawal is prevented. The large effort can be generated by means of a barrier or the like of the actuator, for example, which must be overcome before activating the hot water withdrawal. However, one drawback of these mechanical solutions is that they have reduced operating comfort.

Patent document EP 2 672 027 Al discloses a water tap for extracting hot water and cold water as required and a device for preparing and extracting water. Patent document DE 10 2007 050519 Al discloses a water fitting having an electrical heating element and at least one water connection and one water outlet, as well as a method for operating a water fitting. Patent document WO 2009/103596 Al discloses an operating device for operating sanitary objects having a water withdrawal point. Patent document GB 2 395 899 A discloses a water tapping head unit which contains con- duits for hot and cold water. Patent document US 3 222 690 A discloses a combined, manual-automatic water regulation means for a bathtub-shower installation.

Therefore, an objective of the invention is to at least partially solve the problems explained in relation to the state of the art, and particularly to indicate a method for controlling a sanitary fitting whereby the sanitary fitting can be operated in a safe and comfortable manner. In addition, a sanitary fitting which can be operated in a safe and comfortable manner should also be indicated.

These objectives are achieved by means of a method and a sanitary fitting according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous configurations of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. It must be noted that the features set forth individually in the dependent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically reasonable manner and define further configurations of the invention. Furthermore, the features indicated in the claims are specified and explained in further detail in the description, with further preferred configurations of the invention being described.

The method according to the invention for controlling a sanitary fitting has at least the following steps: a) pressing of an activation button of the sanitary fitting to activate a function button to start withdrawal of hot water from the sanitary fitting; b) activation of the function button if during step a) the activation button is pressed with a first operating force which exceeds a first minimum operating force, and if during step a) the activation button is pressed for longer than a first minimum time period; c) pressing of the function button; d) activation of the withdrawal of the hot water from the sanitary fitting if in step c) the function button is pressed with a second operating force which exceeds a second minimum operating force, and if in step c) the function button is pressed for longer than a second minimum time period.

The method according to the invention particularly serves for controlling a sanitary fitting which serves for tapping water in a washbasin, a sink, a shower or a bathtub. The sanitary fitting has particularly on a fitting housing an activation button to activate a function button and a function button to start withdrawal of hot water from the sanitary fitting. The activation button and/or the function button can particularly be electronic buttons, such as capacitive buttons or piezoelectric buttons, for example. In addition, with the sanitary fitting, particularly a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature of 0°C - 37°C, for example, can be provided. The mixed water can be mixed, for example, by means of a mixing valve or a thermostat cartridge from cold water with a cold-water temperature of 0°C - 20°C, for example, and hot water with a hot-water temperature of 20°C - 80°C, for example. In any case, with the sanitary fitting it is (also) possible to tap hot water with a hot-water temperature of 40°C -100°C, preferably 60°C - 100°C, or particularly preferably 80°C - 100°C. To avoid an undesired activation of the withdrawal of the hot water and thus putting a user of the sanitary fitting at risk, for activating the withdrawal of the hot water it is first required according to step a) to press the activation button of the sanitary fitting whereby a function button of the sanitary fitting can be activated to start the withdrawal of the hot water. Without pressing the activation button, the function button is inactive, such that by means of the (single) pressing of the function button it is not possible to activate the withdrawal of the hot water. According to step b), the function button is activated by means of pressing the activation button only if during step a) the activation button is pressed with a first operating force which exceeds a first minimum operating force, and if during step a) the activation button is pressed for longer than a first minimum time period. This particularly means that when pressing the activation button during step a), the first operating force with which a user presses the activation button is measured or determined and compared with the first minimum operating force. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting can have a controller which is configured as a microcontroller, for example. In addition, the activation button can also be (mechanically) configured in such a way that it only triggers a switch signal if the first operating force exceeds the first minimum operating force. In other words, the function button is not activated if the activation button is pressed with a first operating force which is lower than the first minimum operating force, or if it is pressed for a first time period which is shorter that the first minimum time period. The first minimum operating force can be particularly 0.5 N (Newton) - 10 N, preferably .5 N - 10 N, or particularly preferably 5 N - 10 N. In addition, the activation of the function button depends on whether or not the activation button during step a) is pressed for longer than a first minimum time period. The first minimum time period can be 1 second to 5 seconds, preferably 2 seconds to 5 seconds, or particularly preferably 3 seconds to 5 seconds, for example. Thus, the activation of the function button takes place in step b) only when the activation button is pressed in step a) with a sufficient first operating force and for longer than the first minimum time period. Activation of the function button by means of an unintentional pressing of the activation button can hereby be prevented.

After activating the function button, the function button can be pressed for withdrawing the hot water from the sanitary fitting according to step c). The withdrawal of the hot water from the sanitary fitting is activated according to step d) if in step c) the function button is pressed with a second operating force which exceeds a second minimum operating force, and if in step c) the function button is pressed for longer than a second minimum time period. This particularly means that when pressing the function button, the second operating force with which the user presses the function button in step c) is measured or determined and compared with the second minimum operating force. In addition, the function button can also be (mechanically) configured in such a way that it only triggers a switch signal if the second operating force exceeds the second minimum operating force. The controller can also be used for this purpose. In other words, the withdrawal of the hot water is not activated by means of the function button if the function button is pressed with the second operating force which is lower than the second minimum operating force, or if it is pressed for a second time period which is shorter than the second minimum time period. The second minimum operating force is particularly 0.5 N - 10 N, preferably 2.5 N - 10 N or particularly preferably 5 N - 10 N. The second minimum time period can be 1 second to 5 seconds, preferably 2 seconds to 5 seconds or particularly preferably 3 seconds to 5 seconds, for example. The withdrawal of the hot water from the sanitary fitting being activated by unintentionally touching the function button can hereby be prevented.

In addition, it is advantageous if in step b) the activation of the function button takes place if the activation button is pressed for shorter than a first maximum time period, and wherein in step b) there is no activation of the function button if the activation button is pressed for longer than the first maximum time period. The first maximum time period can be (at least) 5 seconds, preferably (at least) 10 seconds or particularly preferably (at least) 15 seconds, for example.

In addition, it is advantageous if after the activation of the function button in step b) a light source of the sanitary fitting flashes with light of a first colour. The light source is particularly a LED which can be arranged particularly on the fitting housing of the sanitary fitting. The first light colour can be the colour red, for example.

It is also advantageous if during the activation of the withdrawal of the hot water in step d) a first light source is permanently illuminated with light of a first colour. The light source can particularly be the LED. The first light colour can also be the colour red.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if in step d) the withdrawal of the hot water takes place until the function button is no longer being pressed or until the function button is pressed for longer than a second maximum time period. The second maximum time period can be (at least) 5 seconds, preferably (at least) 10 seconds or particularly preferably (at least) 15 seconds, for example.

In addition, it is advantageous if by pressing the activation button again after step b) a potfiller mode of the sanitary fitting is activated, by means of which the withdrawal of the hot water in step d) is limited to a preset withdrawal amount of the hot water. In other words, the sanitary fitting is arranged in the potfiller mode in such a way that it only gives off a preset withdrawal amount of the hot water. This particularly means that the withdrawal of the hot water is automatically stopped after achieving the preset withdrawal amount. The preset withdrawal amount can be 1 1 (litre) - 3 1, for example. The potfiller mode particularly serves for automatically filling a saucepan with hot water.

In addition, it is advantageous if during the activation of the potfiller mode a light source of the sanitary fitting flashes with light of a second colour. The light source can particularly be the LED. The second light colour can be the colour orange, for example.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if during the withdrawal of the hot water in potfiller mode in step d) the light source is permanently illuminated with a first colour or the second colour.

It is also advantageous if the activation button or the function button is a capacitive button having an air chamber and wherein to determine the first operating force of the activation button or to determine the second operating force of the function button a pressure in the air chamber is measured. In this respect, the capacitive button is particularly configured as a condenser. The capacitive button can have two (metallic) surfaces or (metallic) sheets, between which the air chamber is configured.

Following a further aspect of the invention, a sanitary fitting which has an activation button, a function button and a controller is also indicated, the controller being arranged and provided for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The activation button and the function button are arranged particularly on a fitting housing of the sanitary fitting. In addition, the activation button and the function button are particularly connected in a data transferring manner to the controller. The sanitary fitting particularly serves for tapping water in a washbasin, a sink, a shower or a bathtub. For further details, reference is made to the description of the method according to the invention.

The invention and technical field are explained in further detail below by means of the drawings. It must be indicated that the drawings show a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is not limited thereto.

Figure 1 schematically shows a sanitary fitting; and

Figure 2 schematically shows a flow diagram of an operational concept of the sanitary fitting.

Figure 1 shows a sanitary fitting 1 having a fitting housing 6 and an outlet 7. An activation button 2, a function button 3 and a light source 4 are arranged on the fitting housing 6. In addition, the sanitary fitting 1 comprises a controller 5 whereby withdrawal of hot water from the outlet 7 of the sanitary fitting 1 can be controlled.

Figure 2 shows an operational concept of the sanitary fitting 1 shown in Figure 1 as a flow diagram. The operational concept is implemented particularly in the controller 5 shown in Figure 1 as a program code. The flow diagram begins at the upper left comer of Figure 2. The light source 4 shown in Figure 1, which is a FED in this case, is initially switched off. If the activation button 2 (designated as “enable button” in Figure 2) is pressed according to step a), according to step b) an analysis takes place first to determine if the activation button 2 is pressed with a first operating force which exceeds a first minimum operating force. This takes place either by means of a corresponding mechanical configuration of the activation button 2 or when accordingly determining or measuring the first operating force. In the event that the first operating force falls below the first minimum force, there is no activation of the function button. In spite of the fact that the analysis of a sufficient first operating force takes place, this is not depicted in the flow diagram shown in Figure 2. The flow diagram only depicts the analysis whether the activation button according to step b) is pressed for longer than a first minimum time period (designated as “M1NPRESST1ME” in Figure 2). If the activation button 2 was pressed with a first operating force which is higher than the first minimum operating force, and the activation button was pressed for longer than the first minimum time period, the light source 4 starts to flash in red in the flow diagram. In addition, if the activation button 2 is pressed for shorter than a first maximum time period (designated as “MAX PRESS TIME” in Figure 2), the function button 3 (designated as “function button” in Figure 2) is activated according to step b). If the function button 3 is now pressed with a second operating force which exceeds a second minimum operating force, and according to step d) for longer than a second minimum time period (designated as “M1N PRESS T1ME” in Figure 2), the withdrawal of the hot water from the sanitary fitting 1 is activated until either the function button 3 is no longer being pressed or is pressed for longer than a second maximum time period (designated as “MAXACTIVETIME” in Figure 2). If the function button 3 is not pressed after the activation thereof according to step b), by pressing the activation button 2 again after step b) a potfiller mode (designated as “potfiller” in Figure 2) can be activated. For this purpose, the activation button 2 is to be pressed for longer than a third minimum time period and for shorter than a third maximum time period. During activation of the potfiller mode, the light source 4 flashes in orange. If afterwards the function button 3 is pressed for longer than a fourth minimum time period, a preset withdrawal amount of the hot water is released by the sanitary fitting 1. The invention is particularly characterized by a high operating comfort with high operating safety at the same time.

List of reference numbers 1 sanitary fitting 2 activation button 3 function button 4 light source 5 controller 6 fitting housing 7 outlet

Claims (10)

METHOD OF CHECKING SANITARY EQUIPMENT AND SANITATION EQUIPMENT WITH TWO KEY FUNCTIONS 1. The method of controlling a sanitary equipment (1) has at least one of the following steps: a) Pressing a release button (2) of the sanitary equipment (1) to activate a function key (3) to initiate a retraction of the hot water from the sanitary equipment (1); b) activating the function key (3) during step a) the activation button (2) is pressed down to the first operational force exceeding the first minimal force and if in step a) the activation button (2) is longer than the first minimum period; c) pressing the function button (3); d) activating the withdrawal of the hot water from the sanitary equipment (1) by pressing in step c) (2) with another operational force exceeding another minimal force and if in step c) the function key (3) is longer than another minimum period. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step b) activation of the function key (3) takes place on the control button (2), the pressure is pressed down less than a first maximum period of time and where in step b) there is no activation of the function key (3). (2) is pressed for longer than an initial maximum period of time. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after activating the function key (3) in step b) a light source (4) of the sanitary equipment (1) flashes with light of a first color. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during the activation of the hot water extraction in step d) a first light source (4) is permanently illuminated with light of a first color. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step d) the extraction of the hot water continues until the function key (3) is no longer pressed or until the function key (3) is longer than another maximum time period. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein by pressing the activation button (2) again after step b) a pot sole function of sanitary articles (1) is engaged, wherein the withdrawal of hot water in step d) is limited to a preset amount of hot water. The method of claim 6, wherein during the operation of pot soles operation, a light source (4) of the sanitary equipment (1) lights up with a different color. A method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein during withdrawal of the hot water in pot soles operation in step d), the light source (4) is constantly illuminated with a first color and a second color. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating button (2) or function key (3) is a capacitive button with an air chamber and wherein determining the first operational force of the actuating portion button (2), or determining the second operational force of the button operation (3) in which a pressure in the air chamber is calculated. Sanitary appliances (1) with an activation button (2), a function button (3) and a control (5), wherein the controller (5) is arranged to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.