EP2584106A1

EP2584106A1 - A quick coupling device for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2584106A1
Application number: EP12184941.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ildiko Bakine Torok
Original assignee: Oberdin Srl
Current assignee: Oberdin Srl
Priority date: 2011-10-18
Filing date: 2012-09-19
Publication date: 2013-04-24
Also published as: ITMI20111892A1

Abstract

A quick coupling device (1), for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like, comprises a central body (2) engageable in a threaded cylinder (3) which in turn is engageable by a locking ring nut (4), said central body (2) comprising resilient engagement means (6) allowing the central body (2) to be introduced into the threaded cylinder (3) and to automatically reversibly lock said central body (2) in said cylinder (3), said central body (2) being adapted to be associated with a bottom end portion of a faucet body and to, receive therein the end portions of at least a pair of hydraulic system coupling pipes, said cylinder (3) being adapted to be locked with respect to a wash basin (12) or the like through the locking ring nut (4) including ring nut adjusting means (14).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quick coupling device, for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like.
As is known, faucet systems conventionally comprise constructional assemblies including a faucet body having a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, as conventionally fixed to a wall, in a case of a bath tube assembly, or to a basin or sink and being coupled to the water system.
In the case of single control-lever faucets for wash-basins and sinks, the cold and hot water ducts are directed to the mixing zone, where a mixing cartridge is adapted to be controlled by the user for mixing exiting cold and hot water is arranged.
The single-control lever assembly comprises a bottom endpiece which is threaded in a hole formed on the sink surface.
Since, usually, the single control lever assembly engagement hole is arranged on the back of the sink, and near the wall, the fitting of the two hot and cold water tubes, for connection to the water system, is very difficult and causes the sink installing time to be undesirably increased.
Another drawback of a conventional system for assembling the faucet body is that the undersurface of the sink is frequently a uneven one which, in some cases, makes very difficult to achieve a perfectly vertical arrangement of the faucet assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a quick coupling device, for assembling sanitary fittings, in particular faucets for sinks and the like.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a quick coupling device adapted to greatly facilitate the installation of the sanitary fitting.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a quick coupling device which has a small size thereby allowing it to be used in any water systems.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a quick coupling device which may be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a quick coupling device which, owing to its specifically designed structural features, is very reliable and safe in operation.
According to one aspect of 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 quick coupling device, for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like, characterized in that said quick coupling device comprises a central body engageable in a threaded cylinder, which in turn is engageable by a locking ring nut.
Said central body comprises resilient engagement means allowing the central body to be introduced into the threaded cylinder and to automatically reversibly lock said central body in said cylinder.
Said central body is adapted to be associated with a bottom end portion of a faucet body and to receive therein the end portions of at least a pair of hydraulic system coupling pipes.
Said cylinder being adapted to be locked with respect to a wash basin or sink or the like, through a locking ring nut including ring nut adjusting means.

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 the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the quick coupling device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially cross-sectioned side elevation view of a sink faucet installed by the quick coupling device according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectioned front elevation view of the faucet of figure 1;
Figure 4 is a further perspective view, showing operating steps for installing the faucet assembly of the preceding figures;
Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view showing the quick coupling device in a use position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the quick coupling device for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a central body 2 engageable in a threaded cylinder 3 in turn engageable by a locking ring nut 4.
Said central body 2 comprises resilient engagement means, comprising a pair of levers 5 which are held by a spring 6 at a spread apart condition thereof.
Said central body 2 is clamped by fixing clamping screws, but may be an integral portion of the faucet.
The spring 6 allows the lever 5 to mutually reclose when the central body 2 is engaged in the threaded cylinder 3, and to be again opened at the end of the insertion, in order to lock said central body 2 with respect to said cylinder 3.
As shown, said cylinder 3 is so shaped, for example with a quadrangular cross-section, as in the shown embodiment, to prevent the central body from rotating with respect to said cylinder.
The central body 2 comprises at least two slots 7 adapted to receive respective end portions of respective pipes 8 for coupling the faucet assembly 9 to the water system.
Said threaded cylinder 3 comprises a flange 10, adapted to bear on the surface 11 of a wash-basin or sink 12, and to operate against the locking ring nut 4, through an interposition of a washer element 13.
Advantageously, said ring nut 4 comprises adjusting dowels 14 preferably three adjusting dowels, which are arranged axially of said ring nut and are adapted to operate against said washer element 13 to balance a possible planarity lacking of the bottom surface of said wash-basin 12.
The quick coupling device according to the present invention operates as follows.
The cylinder 3 is at first engaged in the hole of the sink 12, thereby locking it by the ring nut 4 with the interposition of the washer 13.
Thus, by said adjusting dowels 14, a possible unevenness of the bottom surface of the sink thereagainst abuts the washer 13 is leveled out or adjusted.
Then, after having engaged the tube 8 in the cylinder 3, the end portions of the tubes or pipes 8 are connected to the bottom portion of the faucet assembly 9, after having preliminarily applied the device central body 2, thereby it will be sufficient to snap engage the central body 2 in the cylinder 3, to achieve an automatic locking thereof by the elastic levers 5.
In fact, the elastic or resilient levers 5 tend to reclose, as the central body 2 is engaged in the cylinder 3, against the urging spring 6 which, successively, will spread apart again said lever as the bottom end portion of the central body exits the cylinder 3.
To disassemble the faucet assembly 9 it is sufficient to press by two fingers the end portions of the levers 5 and unthread or disengage the central body associated with the faucet assembly 9 and pipes 8.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention has provided a quick coupling device allowing to easily and quickly engage and optionally disengage the faucet body in/from the sink or wash-basin hole.
The adjusting system, comprising the adjusting dowels 13 operating on the washer 13, allows to properly arrange the cylinder 3 at a perfectly vertical position, even if the bottom surface of the sink is a very uneven one.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

A quick coupling device, for assembling sanitary fittings, such as faucets and the like, characterized in that said quick coupling device comprises a central body engageable in a threaded cylinder which in turn is engageable by a locking ring nut, said central body comprising resilient engagement means allowing the central body to be introduced into the threaded cylinder and to automatically reversibly lock said central body in said cylinder, said central body being adapted to be associated with a bottom end portion of a faucet body and to receive therein the end portions of at least a pair of hydraulic system coupling pipes, said cylinder being adapted to be locked with respect to a wash basin or the like through a locking ring nut including ring nut adjusting means.
A quick coupling device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said resilient engagement means comprise a pair of levers which are held by a spring at a spread apart condition thereof, said spring allowing said levers to be reclosed as the central body is engaged in said threaded cylinder and to be again opened at the end of the insertion, to lock said central body with respect to said cylinder.
A quick coupling device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylinder is so shaped in as to prevent the central body from rotating with respect to said cylinder.
A quick coupling device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said central body comprises at least two slots adapted to receive respective end portions of respective pipes for coupling the faucet assembly to the water system.
A quick coupling device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said threaded cylinder comprises a flange adapted to bear on the wash basin surface and to operate against the locking ring-nut, through an interposition of the washer element.
A quick coupling device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring-nut comprises adjusting dowels, which are arranged axially of said ring-nut and are adapted to operate against said washer element to balance a possible planarity lacking of a bottom surface of said wash basin.