EP2169125A1

EP2169125A1 - Device for opening a plug for sink and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2169125A1
Application number: EP08016843A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio Nobili
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-25
Filing date: 2008-09-25
Publication date: 2010-03-31

Abstract

Device (10) for opening a spring plug (2) insertable in a watertight manner into a drain (7) associated to a rod or lever (8) to raise the spring plug (2) characterised in that it comprises an electric actuator (20) for actuating the rod (8).

Description

Field of application

The present invention refers to a device for opening a spring plug for sinks and the like.

Prior Art

As well known by a man skilled in the art, a device for opening a spring plug for a sink, bath tub, bidet and the like, comprises a rod, generally associated to a mixer, and actuatable to remove the spring plug from a discharge hole of the sink.
For example and with reference to figure 1 and 2 schematically represented is a device 1 of a spring plug 2 for a sink 3 comprising a rod with a knob 5, associated to a mixer 4 mounted on a sink plane 3a, actuatable to remove the spring plug 2 from a discharge hole 6 arranged in a basin 3b of the sink 3.
In particular, arranged in the discharge hole 6 of the sink 3 is a body 7 substantially cylindrical and hollow, technically referred to with the term drain 7, into which the spring plug 2 is inserted in a watertight manner, under the pressure of its own weight and the weight of the water supplied by the mixer 4. When the rod with a knob 5 is actuated, it pushes the spring plug 2 out of the drain 7, allowing water to flow out of the basin 3b, through the discharge hole 6.
Even more in particular, the opening device 1 comprises a second rod 8 arranged beneath the sink 3, having a first portion 8a associated to the rod with a knob 5 and a second and opposite portion 8b inserted into the drain 7, through a lateral opening of the drain, in such a manner to interfere radially therewith. When the rod with a knob 5 is actuated, it moves the portion 8b of the rod 8 axially with respect to the drain 7 and pushes the spring plug 2 out of the drain 7.
Figure 1 schematically represents the spring plug 2 inserted in a watertight manner into the drain 7 and figure 2 represents the spring plug 2 lifted off the drain 7 by means of the portion 8b of the rod inserted thereinto.
Also known are other opening devices wherein the rod with a knob 5 moves the rod 8 radially in the drain; in this case a lever is hinged onto the rod 8, such lever being lifted axially with respect to the drain when the rod 8 is extracted radially therefrom, pushing the spring plug 2 off the drain.
The opening device 1 of the abovementioned type is analogously used for opening or closing a spring plug 2 of a bidet, a bath tub and the like.
However, such device is quite complex given that the rod with a knob 5 must be suitably fixed onto the rod 8 in order to transmit the force exerted by an operator on the knob to the portion 8b of the rod 8 and push the spring plug 2 off the drain 7.
Furthermore, the installation of the device 1 is quite complex given that, in order to fix the rod with a knob 5 onto the rod 8, a portion of the rod with a knob 5 must be inserted into a hole 9 of the mixer 4, and through it, into a hole 10 on the plane of the sink 3a, through which the hydraulic connection between the mixer 4 and the flexible pipes for supplying water are provided for.
Lastly, such device 1 occupies a lot of space and it has poor aesthetic properties given that, on the plane of the sink 3a, the mixer must be associated to the rod with a knob 5 which, beneath the plane of the sink 3a, must be associated to the second rod 8 inserted into the drain 7.
The technical problem on which the present invention is based is that that of providing a device for opening a spring plug for sinks and the like, such device being considerably simple in terms of structure, easily applicable even in common bathroom installations and actuatable without exerting pressure on a rod with a knob, as well as having a small overall dimension and high aesthetic value, overcoming the drawbacks observed on opening devices of the prior art up to date.

Summary of the invention

The solution idea on which the present invention is based is that of moving a rod for drains, through an actuator operated electrically by a button, for example arranged on the plane of the sink. The button can be actuated through a slight pressure, is of small dimensions and has a considerable aesthetic value.
In particular, a substantially rigid cable connected to the actuator, can be associated to the rod for the drain, to transmit the movement of the actuator to the rod. Advantageously, the space occupied beneath plane of the sink is considerably reduced given that the rod for the drain is moved by means of the cable which does not require the presence of a rod with a knob.
Additionally, the opening device according to the present invention can be used in a common bathroom or kitchen installation by simply removing the connection between the rod with a knob and the relative rod for the drain and associating the latter to the cable. In addition, in order to reduce the space occupied beneath the plane of the sink further, the rod for the drain can be replaced by a pin short in size, which is connected to the cable of the actuator. Such device is particularly functional and easy to install.
According to such solution idea, the abovementioned technical problem is resolved by a device for opening a spring plug, the device being insertable in a watertight manner into a drain associated to a rod for lifting the spring plug characterised in that it comprises an electric actuator for actuating the rod.
In particular, the present invention also refers to the use of a cable, preferably a bowden cable, for the actuation of the rod. The cable is inserted into a sheath, substantially rigid, having opposite ends in abutment with a fixed structure of the opening device and the drain. The cable and the rod are deformable in such a manner to be applied according to a mixtilinear path, for example beneath the plane of the sink.
Further characteristics and advantages of the device according to the present invention shall be clear from the description, provided hereinafter, of one of its embodiments provided for indicative and nonlimiting purposes with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the attached drawings

figure 1 schematically shows a device for opening a spring plug, in one of its operation steps, according to the prior art;
figure 2 schematically shows the opening device of figure 1, in another of its operation steps, according to the prior art;
figure 3 schematically shows a device for opening a spring plug, in one of its operation steps, according to the present invention;
figure 4 schematically shows the opening device of figure 3, in another of its operation steps, according to the present invention;
figure 5 schematically shows an actuator of the opening device of figure 3;
figure 6 shows the actuator of figure 5 according to a different schematic view.

Detailed description

Referring to figure 3, schematically shown is a device 10 for opening a spring plug 2 according to the present invention, comprising a rod or lever 8 for the drain, arranged beneath a sink 3, and slidingly inserted through an opening of a drain 7.
In particular, the drain 7 is fixed into a discharge hole 6 of the sink 3 and the spring plug 2 is inserted in a watertight manner thereinto, under the pressure of its own weight and the weight of the water supplied by a mixer 4 mounted on a plane 3a of the sink 3.
The rod or lever 8 slides perpendicularly with respect to an X axis of the discharge hole 6 and it is associated to a lever 15 having a spindle 16 fixed onto the rod or lever 8 through a hinge 18, and a sleeper 17, hereinafter also indicated as a hook 17, firmly fixed onto the spindle 16 with a preset angled with respect to it.
A blocking element arranged between the rod 8 and the spindle 16, not represented in the figure and per se conventional, blocks a rotation of the spindle 16 around the hinge 18 at a preset angular width w from a perpendicular one y to the rod 8.
The drain 7 delimits a sliding seat 7b for the rod 8 and comprises a shaped surface 7a which comes into contact with the spindle 16 when a portion of preset length L of the rod 8 is inserted into the seat 7a.
In particular, when the shaped surface comes into contact with the spindle 7, a further insertion of the rod 8 into the drain 7 rotates the spindle 16 around the hinge 18, in a first position of maximum rotation with respect to the perpendicular Y to the rod 8, delimited by the blocking element.
As observable in figure 3, the rotation of the spindle 16, corresponds to a lowering of the hook 17 along the X axis of the discharge hole 6 into which the spring plug 2 is inserted. When the hook 17 is lowered as in figure 3 it does not support the stem 2a of the spring plug 2 which is entirely inserted into the discharge hole 6 and supported by a head 2b with a larger diameter with respect to a diameter of the hole 6, provided with a gasket of the known type.
Vice versa, when the rod 8 is extracted from the drain 7, perpendicularly with respect to the X axis, the hook 17 is engaged by the stem 2a of the spring plug 2, under the action of its weight and the weight of the supplied water, and the spindle 16 rotates around the hinge 18 at a second position of maximum rotation with respect to the perpendicular Y, opposite to the first one and delimited by the blocking element.
Such rotation of the spindle 16 comprises a projection of the hook 17 along the X axis of the discharge hole 6, as shown in figure 4, and corresponds to a removal of the spring plug 2 from the hole 6, allowing water to flow out of the basin 3b through the discharge hole 6.
According to the present invention, the opening device 10 comprises an electric actuator 20 for actuating the rod 8. In particular, the opening device 10 comprises a sheath 50, substantially rigid, having a first end 50a in abutment with a fixed structure of the device 10 and a second end 50b fixed against the drain 7.
The device 10 also comprises a cable 19, sliding in the sheath 50 and having a first end 19b in abutment with the electric actuator 20 and an opposite end 19a in abutment with the rod 8.
The cable 19 is of the push-pull type, for the transmission of a low friction force, both traction and thrust, preferably a bowden cable.
In particular, as schematically represented in figures 5 and 6, the electric actuator 20 comprises an electric motor 30 having a threaded rotating shaft 31, and a guided slider 32, fixed integrally with the cable 19 and comprising a female screw 33 into which the threaded rotating screw 31 is engaged.
A rotation of the shaft 31 in the female screw 33 causes a sliding of the slider 32 in a guide G integral with the actuator and a corresponding sliding of the cable 19 and the rod 8.
In particular, when the electric motor 30 is actuated, the threaded rotating shaft 31 rotates in a predetermined direction, for example clockwise, ending up screwed in the female screw 33 and, the guided slider 32 slides axially in the guide G, until it reaches a position of minimum excursion with respect to threaded rotating shaft 31, which corresponds to the abovementioned second position of maximum rotation of the spindle 16 with respect to the perpendicular Y, as schematically illustrated in figure 4. As mentioned, in such position of minimum excursion, the spring plug is raised, by means of the hook 17, off the drain 7.
The device 10 comprises a button 22 for actuating the electric motor 30, to rotate the threaded rotating shaft 31 for a preset number of rotations, substantially corresponding to a preset excursion of the guided slider 32.
When the threaded rotating shaft 31 is actuated towards the opposite direction with respect to the predetermined direction, for example anticlockwise, is unscrewed from the female screw 33 and the guided slider 32 slides in the guide G up to a position of maximum excursion with respect to the threaded rotating shaft 31, which corresponds to the first position of maximum rotation of the spindle 16 with respect to the perpendicular (figure 3). In particular, in the position of maximum excursion of the guided slider 32, the hook 17 is not in contact with the stem 2a of the spring plug 2, which is inserted in a watertight manner in the drain 7.
Also in this case, it is provided for that upon pressure, the button 22 rotates the shaft 31 by a preset number of rotations, in particular, preventing the shaft 31 from exiting from the female screw 33.
In an embodiment of the of the present invention, the opening device 10 comprises only one actuation control for the electric motor 30 which operates the electric motor 30, in an alternating manner, towards one direction of rotation or the other.
The electric actuator 20 comprises a circuit board 40 with a power input I and at least one pressure sensor S associated to the button 22, as well as receiving a plurality of electrical cables connected to the electric motor 30, for sending the commands received by the pressure sensor to the electric motor 30.
In particular, the circuit board 40 and the electric motor 30 are mounted on a body 41 substantially cylindrical and insertable through a hole F of a preset diameter made on the plane of the sink 3a, with the threaded rotating shaft 31 and the guided slider 32 facing downwards, in such a manner that the end 19b of the cable 19 is sliding through the hole F.
The body 41 comprises a flange 44 whose diameter is larger than the diameter of the hole F and a threaded portion 42 of preset length, couplable to a threaded nut 43.
Mounting the opening device 10 in a common kitchen installation is performed by inserting the body 41, with the electric motor 30 and the circuit board 40, as well as the guided slider 32, already mounted thereonto, through the hole F and by screwing the threaded nut 43 onto the threaded portion 42 of the body 41, with the sink plane substantially interposed between the flange 44 and the threaded nut 43.
The button 22 is engaged onto the body 41 above the pressure sensor S and closing, in a watertight manner, the circuit board 40 whose power input I is connected to a power supply cable 46 which slides through the hole F. Preferably, the button 22 is flushed with the plane of the sink 3a.
Advantageously, the device 10 according to the present invention considerably reduces the space occupied both on top and beneath the plane of the sink. As a matter of fact, the device 10 can be associated to the plane of the sink, for example with the button 22 projecting from plane and the electric actuator fixed therebeneath. The mixer 4 is substantially free of hindrances represented by a rod with a knob and has considerable aesthetic properties.
Advantageously, the power supply cable 46 is concealed beneath the plane of the sink and protected against water.
Also the space occupied beneath the sink is considerably reduced in that it is not necessary to connect a rod with a knob to the rod 8 of the drain in that all that is required is connecting the rod 8 to the electric actuator, through the cable 19. Furthermore, the overall dimensions of a traditional bathroom or kitchen installation are further reduced given that the rod for the drain, usually tens of centimetres long, can be replaced by a pin of preset length, smaller with respect to the to the length of a rod for the drain of the known type, for example radially projecting by a few centimetres from the drain 7 and connected to the cable 19.
Advantageously, the opening of the spring plug 2, as well as its closure, are considerably easy in that only a slight pressure on the button 22 is all that is required to operate the electric actuator 20.

Claims

Device (10) for opening a spring plug (2) insertable in a watertight manner into a drain (7) associated to a rod (8) to raise the spring plug (2) characterised in that it comprises an electric actuator (20) for actuating the rod (8).
Opening device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a sheath (50) having a first end (50a) in abutment with a fixed structure of said device (20).
Opening device (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a cable (19) in abutment with the electric actuator (20) and slidable in said sheath (50).
Opening device (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that said sheath (50) is substantially rigid.
Opening device (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that said cable (19) is a bowden cable.
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said electric actuator (20) comprises:
- an electric motor (30) having a threaded rotating shaft (31),

- a guided slider (32) integrally fixed to the first end (19b) of the cable (19) and comprising a female screw (33),
the female screw (33) being engaged to the threaded rotating shaft (31) to convert a rotation of the shaft (31) into a sliding of the cable (19), corresponding to a sliding of rod (8) in the drain (7).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a circuit board (40) comprising at least one pressure sensor for the operation of said actuator (20).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a substantially cylindrical body (41) mounted into which are said electric circuit (30), said circuit board (40) and said guided slider (32).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (41) comprises a guide (G) for said guided slider (32).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (41) comprises a flange (44) and a threaded portion (42).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (41) is insertable into a hole (F) made in a plane of a sink (3a), said flange (44) lying on a surface of the plane (3a) and a threaded nut (43) being screwed onto said threaded portion (42), against an opposite surface of said plane (3a).
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a button (22) coupled to said pressure sensor.
Opening device (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said button (22) is substantially flushed with the plane of the sink (3a).