EP2821555B1 - Water drain fitting with flexible outlet guide - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a water outlet fitting with a base, a hose device with a hose and a water outlet head and with a holding device, wherein the holding device allows flexible guidance of the water outlet in at least two handling variants, and a corresponding holding device.

From the US 5,749,179 a pre-purging device is known, which is a wall mount, a vertically arranged riser for receiving an upward water flow, for example, from a tap or a valve of a sink in which dishes are washed, and a hose extending from the riser to a spray valve on End of the hose extends, has. The hose is formed from a flexible outer sheath made of stainless steel. Further, a spring mechanism is disposed around the hose, which is mounted on the riser to elastically support a substantially vertical portion of the hose.

In the EP 1 944 418 B2 a water outlet fitting is described with a flexible water guide hose which is connected at one end to a water supply line and connected at the other end with a shower head, and with a surrounding the water supply hose, bendable, shaping jacket element. The jacket member has two rectilinear axis portions and a curved third portion with a curved axis disposed between these two portions. The jacket element is also surrounded by a flexible, tubular protective jacket. In particular, the jacket element is characterized by a Coil spring formed, the turns abut each other at rest in the spring sections with rectilinear spring axis and abut each other in the third spring portion with a curved spring axis on the inside of the third spring portion and are arranged on the outside at a mutual distance.

From the US 2003/0146307 A1 a water fitting according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. This document discloses in particular a faucet with a flexible hose for guiding water and with a holder for the flexible hose known. The holder includes along its length a channel with an open mouth. The flexible hose is detachably mounted in the channel such that it is supported along at least the major part of its length and that it can be removed by lifting it out of the mouth of the channel. When removed from the bracket, the flexible hose increases the reach of the faucet, and when held in the bracket, it is held in an orderly position in which it does not interfere with washing and cooking. The faucet can be upright or mounted on the wall. Preferably, the channel is U-shaped and has a semi-circular cross-section, which is adapted to the shape of the tube.

The above-described water outlet fittings are relatively expensive to manufacture and are only able to provide a limited by the respective holder variability in the application. In addition, in the known water outlet fittings generally the operating lever relative to the base or the outlet are arranged so that they can be actuated by the operator only from certain positions.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective to produce water outlet fitting or holding device by means of which a greater variety in the application can be achieved.

This object is achieved by a water outlet fitting with a base, a hose assembly with a hose and a water outlet head and a holding device, wherein the holding device comprises: a mounting portion for attaching the holding device to the base of the water outlet fitting; a locking portion at the free end of the holding device for producing a releasable locking of the hose device; and a guide portion for connecting the locking portion to the attachment portion and, if necessary, providing a bearing surface for the hose assembly; wherein in a first handling variant (initial position) the tube device is locked to the holding device, wherein in a second handling variant, the tube device is removed from the holder device and freely movable relative to the holding device, wherein the tube device is guided along the underside of the holding device and wherein the holding device an at least partially elastic material is formed, which has a restoring force, which automatically returns the hose and the holding device after a deflection back into the starting position. Preferably, the guide portion has a curved contact surface, which encloses less than half of the circumference of the correspondingly configured hose. The wording according to which the hose device is freely movable relative to the holding device here means that the range of motion of the hose device is practically not limited by the holding device. Only the attachment portion placed on the pedestal presents a minimal limitation. However, the length of the attachment portion typically accounts for less than 1/10 of the overall length of the retention device.

The formulation according to which, in any case, the guide section has a curved contact surface, which is less than half the circumference of the Correspondingly configured hose encloses, means in the present case that a hose with a corresponding contact surface of the guide portion curvature or a corresponding radius at full contact with the contact surface of the guide portion of this regularly less than half is surrounded. The hoses used have the usual sizes or diameters in the area of the water outlet fittings, in particular the kitchen and bathroom fittings.

According to the invention, the holding device is formed from an at least partially elastic material. In this way, it is possible that in the locked state, the hose assembly can be deflected or pivoted together with the holding device from the initial position (third handling variant), if it is not worth due to the specific application, the hose device of the holding device and the Hose device and the holding device can automatically return to the starting position due to the restoring force of the at least partially elastic material.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least partially elastic material is a plastic material, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This has proved to be extremely favorable in terms of the required flexibility on the one hand and the necessary stability on the other hand. In particular, the required deflectability and recovery is ensured and at the same time a sufficient breaking strength, detergent resistance and UV and temperature resistance. Between the two aforementioned properties can be such a special balance. Incidentally, such a material is optically more beautiful than, for example, metal, and moreover also has ergonomically favorable properties. The use of metal is conceivable in principle.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking portion provides a positive and / or non-positive connection with the hose device. This creates the possibility of detachment and Wiederarretierung the hose device or the water outlet head relative to the holding device. This can be done by means of a clamping, Einschnapp- or Einklick connection - such as in the form of two more or less compliant or resilient side parts at the front end of the locking portion, which in any case partially surround the hose device or the water outlet head. A magnetic connection between the hose device or water outlet head and possibly the front end of the locking portion is also conceivable.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the initial position, an axis X is defined which is oriented substantially orthogonal to a water exit surface of the water discharge head. This axis X preferably forms an angle α between 0 ° and 90 °, preferably between 30 ° and 60 ° with a vertical S forms, which extends through the water outlet head.

Particularly preferably, in particular, the guide section and the locking section are configured such that - in the initial position - when operating and in the operating state of the water outlet fitting, the water outlet head in Essentially aligned along the axis X remains. In other words, the material of the holding device whose geometric configuration and possibly the design of the resilient or resilient side parts is coordinated such that on the one hand the hose device can not unintentionally release from the holding device or the Arretierabschnitt when the operating lever of the water outlet fitting is pressed and water begins to flow and on the other hand, it does not come by the pressure of (continuously) flowing water to a significant deflection of the hose and holding device relative to this X-axis. In other words, there is some flexibility even when parked; Although the holding device is stiff, but not as stiff as, for example, metal.

The force that has to be applied by an operator for manually removing the hose device from the locking section or for deflecting the holding device and the hose device from the starting position must therefore be greater than the pressure force respectively by the currently employed or continuously flowing water the holding device or the respective positive and / or non-positive connection acts on the front end of the locking portion.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding device has recesses, webs, ribs and / or metal inlays. The various design possibilities are used, individually or in combination, the adjustment or fine adjustment of the respectively required stability and / or flexibility properties. These can vary depending on the type of application and the specific geometric Configuration of the holding device vary.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portion is designed substantially sleeve-shaped. In this way, the mounting portion of the holding device completely surrounds a, corresponding protrusion projecting from the base of the water outlet fitting, so that a particularly firm mounting to the base can be achieved. In particular, however, by means of the sleeve-shaped or closed attachment portion, soiling and calcification in the connection area with the base can be avoided.

On the other hand, it is also possible that the mounting portion is designed so that it can be snapped onto a corresponding projection on the base, i. the attachment portion has in this case about two resilient side portions. Thus, the fixture can be timed quickly against another, e.g. different colored, holding device to be replaced.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion has an arcuate portion and a straight portion. This has proven to be particularly favorable in terms of the leadership of the hose device. The guide portion is preferably concavely curved to provide a corresponding abutment surface for the hose assembly.

The tube device is guided and locked along the underside of the guide section or the holding device. The concave curvature of the Guide section is aligned accordingly. The guide portion is arranged on the rear side of the attachment portion, so that the rounding of the attachment portion and the curvature of the guide portion are aligned with each other.

The arcuate portion and the straight portion further preferably have approximately the same length. Preferably, the length L2 of the arcuate section is about 1.5 to 2 times as large as the length L1 of the straight section. The straight section is preferably wider than the arcuate section. Preferably, it encloses the circumference of the tube in about twice as long as the arcuate portion.

In a further preferred embodiment, the straight portion has two elongated recesses and the arcuate portion has an elongated recess. The elongated recesses of the straight section are each slightly wider than the elongated recess of the arcuate section. This allows a particularly well-balanced ratio of flexibility on the one hand and stability on the other hand.

The honeycomb structure produced by the recesses serves, together with the respective material and the wall thickness of the holding device, to set the desired flexibility. The wall thickness of the holding device is preferably the same in all sections (except, if applicable, in the connection region, where the attachment section may have a smaller wall thickness than the rest of the holding device).

The wall thickness D of the holding device is preferably between 2 and 8 mm, more preferably 3 to 7 mm and more preferably 4 to 6 mm.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tube is formed from a substantially dimensionally stable material. This is particularly advantageous in terms of a rich concern of the hose on the guide portion and the holding device.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding device has a greater rigidity than the tube. This is expedient in particular with regard to the most variable possible handling of the water outlet fitting.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portion is rotatably mounted on the base of the water outlet fitting. In this way, if necessary, the variability of the water outlet fitting can be increased.

In an embodiment not according to the invention, the bow handle is formed from an at least partially elastic plastic material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This is one in the shape of free and due to the relatively low weight of the bow handle self-closing can be practically prevented. Due to the flexibility of the plastic material, the strap handle springs under heavy load something and can protect the cartridge.

According to a further embodiment not according to the invention, the bow-type handle is aligned with respect to the water outlet and / or base in such a way that all-sided operation is made possible irrespective of the orientation of the water outlet opening without the water jet having to be crossed. This is especially important in medical applications, e.g. in hospitals, of importance. Preferably, the bow handle is hinged on the rear top of the base so that it encloses the base forward and to the sides with approximately the same distance. This results in an approximately elliptical shape of the bow handle. The bow handle does not cross the X axis.

The bow handle with its embodiments described above can also be used together with the inventive holding device. Since both components have the same flexibility, a release of the hose or the water outlet head can be prevented if necessary even in a very jerky operation of the water outlet fitting.

Another advantage of the inventive water outlet fitting is that virtually no noise in the return / return of the hose device and possibly the holding device occur.

Overall, the water outlet fitting according to the invention offers easy accessibility and good service friendliness.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be exemplified in the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserauslaufarmatur;
• Fig. 2 eine Frontalansicht eines bevorzugten Ausführungsforms einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserauslaufarmatur;
• Fig. 3 eine Rückansicht eines bevorzugten Ausführungsforms einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserauslaufarmatur;
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf einen bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserauslaufarmatur;
• Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines bevorzugten Ausführungsforms einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserauslaufarmatur;
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer Haltevorrichtung einer erfindungsgemässen Wasserarmatur.

Show it:

• Fig. 1 a side view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive water outlet fitting;
• Fig. 2 a front view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive water outlet fitting;
• Fig. 3 a rear view of a preferred embodiment of a water outlet fitting according to the invention;
• Fig. 4 a plan view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive water outlet fitting;
• Fig. 5 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive water outlet fitting;
• Fig. 6 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a holding device of a water fitting according to the invention.

In the Fig. 1 a side view of a water outlet fitting with a holding device 1 is illustrated. The base 2 of the water outlet fitting is common arranged on a washstand, which is presently not shown. On the upper side of the base 2, a bow-shaped handle 14 is articulated with a handle head part 15. Upon actuation of the bow handle 14 in the upward direction, the water begins to run. In the connection region 19, the holding device 1 connected by means of their attachment section 6 with the base 2. Usually, the attachment portion 6 is thereby attached to the base 2. In this connection, the attachment portion and the corresponding base part are formed correspondingly so as to be aligned with each other.

A guide section 8 adjoins with a straight Teilabschitt 11 to the attachment portion 6 of the holding device 1 at. The transition is stabilized by support struts 18 on both sides. The straight section 11 of the guide section 8 has a length L1, including the support struts 18 and a transition region 20, in which the width of the guide section 8 is reduced. Following this transition region 20, the straight section 11 merges into the arc-shaped section 10, which has a length L2.

At the arcuate portion 10 of the guide portion 8 now closes the locking portion 7 of the holding device 1 at. At the locking portion 7, the hose device 3 or in the present embodiment, the hose 4 is held. The water outlet head 5 of the hose device 3 projects from the locking section 7 of the hose device 3 and furthermore has a changeover button 16. By means of the Umstellknopfes 16, the spray pattern of the water outlet fitting can be changed from a (softer) purge jet to a (harder) spray jet.

At the free end of the water outlet head 5 is the water outlet surface 17. This will usually be designed in the form of a filter element. The water outlet head 5 is aligned so that its longitudinal axis X with a vertical S (which at right angles to the horizontal W) forms an angle α. The angle α is regularly between 0 ° and 90 °, preferably between 30 ° and 60 °.

In the frontal view according to Fig. 2 in turn, one recognizes the base 2 of the water outlet fitting and the bow-type handle 14 arranged thereon. The attachment portion 6 in turn adjoins the base 2 in the connection region 19 against the base 2. As can be seen, the support struts 18 of the guide section 8 are slightly bent. The arcuate portion of the guide portion 8 has an elongated recess 12 which extends approximately to just before the locking portion 7 of the holding device 1. The locking portion 7 in turn comprises two resiliently configured side parts 13 with which, in the present embodiment, the hose 4 of the hose device 3 receives a frictional and positive connection. The water outlet head 5 abuts against the resilient side parts 13 of the locking portion 7. At the free end of the water outlet head 5 can be seen again the water outlet surface 17 and the filter element.

In the rear view according to Fig. 3 can be seen the back of the base 2 and the handle head part 15, with which the bow handle 14 is hinged to the base 2. The guide section 8 adjoining the attachment section 6 of the holding device 1 has, in the region of its straight section 11, two elongated recesses 12 which extend over the greater part of the straight section 11 of the guide section 8 of the holding device 1 according to the invention. Again, it can be seen in the transition region 20, the width change of the holding device. The subsequent to the straight portion 11, arcuate portion 10 of the Holding device has no recess in the area shown, but it has a significantly smaller width than the straight section 11 or as the water outlet head fifth

In the plan view according to Fig. 4 can be seen in particular as the bow handle 14 is hinged by means of the handle head part 15 to the base 2 of the water outlet fitting. The bow handle 14 encloses the base and the attachment portion 6 and the guide portion (at least partially) of the inventive holding device. The radii shown R of approximately elliptically shaped bow handle 14 are approximately equal in size.

In this way, a particularly advantageous operability is provided, in particular with regard to applications in the medical field, i. For example, in hospitals where such a handle may have to be operated by persons who have only one hand available. Again, the arcuate portion 10 of the Führungsabschitts 8 of the inventive holding device on an elongated recess 12, which extends approximately to the resilient side portions 13 of the locking portion 7. This is followed in turn by the water outlet head 5.

Fig. 5 provides a perspective view of the water outlet fitting with the holding device 1 ready. Here again, in particular, the good accessibility of the bow handle 14 is illustrated from the front.

In the Fig. 6 the holding device is again shown individually in a perspective view. It can be seen above all the two superposed, elongated recesses 12 in straight section of the guide section 8 and the elongated recess 12 in the arcuate section of the guide section 8, which extends to about the locking portion 7. The recesses 12 each serve to increase the flexibility of the holding device 1 and support - after a deflection by a user - the return to the starting position.

Instead of the recesses may be provided depending on the application, metal inlays, webs or combined versions thereof. The attachment section 6 is designed sleeve-shaped in the present case, i. closed. However, in another embodiment (not shown here), it can also consist of two non-connected, resilient side parts, which are snapped onto the base.

It is important in any case that the holding device is configured so that even with an abrupt actuation of the bow handle the tube device does not fall out of the locking portion or is released from this (unintentionally) and that the holding device in operation, no significant deviation from the in Fig. 1 illustrated X-axis of the water outlet head allowed.

The resilient side parts 13 of the locking portion 7 preferably have stop surfaces or stop shoulders 21 for the water outlet head in order to ensure a secure support thereof. The recesses in the straight portion 11 of the guide portion 8 are usually slightly wider and slightly shorter than the elongated recess in the arcuate portion 10th

The attachment portion 6 and the locking portion 7 make up less than 1/8, preferably less than 1/10 of the total length of the holding device. The wall thickness D of the holding device 1 is essentially the same in all sections. It is preferably between 2 and 8 mm, more preferably 3 to 7 mm and more preferably 4 to 6 mm.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

holder

2

base

3

hose device

4

tube

5

Water outlet head

6

attaching

7

locking section

8th

guide section

9

stop shoulders

10

arcuate section

11

straight section

12

recesses

13

resilient side panels

14

bow handle

15

Handle headboard

16

diverter

17

Water exit area

18

support struts

19

connecting area

20

Transition area

21

contact surface

D

Wall thickness

L1

Length of the straight section

L2

Length of the curved section

R

radius

S

vertical

W

horizontal

X

axis

α

angle

Claims (14)

1. A water outlet fitting with a pedestal (2), a hose device (3) with a hose (4) and a water outlet head (5) and with a support (1), wherein the support (1) includes:

   a mounting section (6) for mounting the support (1) on the pedestal (2) of the water outlet fitting;

   a locking section (7) at the free end of the support (1) for producing a releasable locking of the hose device (3); and

   a guide section (8) for connecting the locking section (7) to the mounting section (6) and optionally for providing an engagement surface for the hose device (3);

   wherein

   in a first use variant (starting position) the hose device (3) is locked to the support (1), wherein

   in a second use variant the hose device (3) is removed from the support (1) and is freely movable with respect to the support (1), characterised in that the hose device (3) is guided along the underside of the support (1) and that the support (1) is formed of an at least partially elastic material, which has a restoring force, which automatically returns the hose device and the support back into the starting position after a displacement.
2. A water outlet fitting in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the at least partially elastic material is a plastic material, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
3. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the locking section (7) provides a positive and/or frictional connection with the hose device (3).
4. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that in a third use variant the support (1) is pivotable together with the locked hose device (3) out of the starting position.
5. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that an axis X is defined in the starting position, which is aligned substantially orthogonally to a water outlet surface (17) of the water outlet head (5).
6. A water outlet fitting in accordance with Claim 5, characterised in that the axis X defines an angle a between 0° and 90°, preferably between 30° and 60°, with a vertical S, which extends through the water outlet head (5).
7. A water outlet fitting in accordance with Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that particularly the guide section (8) and the locking section (7) are configured such that, in the starting position, the water outlet head (5) remains aligned substantially along the axis X on the initiation of use and in the use condition.
8. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the support (1) includes openings (12), webs, ribs and/or metal inlays.
9. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the mounting section (6) is of substantially sleeve shape.
10. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the guide section (8) includes an arcuate subsection (10) and a straight subsection (11).
11. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the hose (4) is formed of a substantially shape-stable material.
12. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the support (1) has a greater rigidity than the hose (4).
13. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the mounting section (6) is rotatably mounted on the pedestal (2) of the water outlet fitting.
14. A water outlet fitting in accordance with one of Claims 1-13, characterised in that the guide section (8) affords a curved engagement surface (21), which surrounds less than half of the periphery of the correspondingly constructed hose (4).

Images