EP3115517B1 - Device for the assembly of a tap and method for the assembly of such a device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for mounting a valve on a partition. This device also allows the connection of the tap with one or two water supply pipes, which are arranged behind the partition. The faucet can be a sanitary faucet, such as a shower, bathtub or sink faucet. It can also be the faucet of a household appliance, such as a washing machine faucet.

For example, for a bathtub, the device provides the connection between the hot and cold water supply pipe (s) and the bathtub mixer. The water supply pipes and the bathtub are arranged on either side of a partition made from plasterboard, for example of the plasterboard or plasterboard type (registered trademarks).

The faucet of a bathtub is mounted on male nozzles ¾. However, some devices are delivered with a ½ female outlet. You therefore need an adapter with a ½ male inlet and a ¾ male outlet to fix the valve. Otherwise, EP-A-2 280 123 discloses a mounting device, or fitting kit for plasterboard valves, with a male outlet ¾. This device includes fittings with a threaded male end, for connection to the tap, and a plate to fix each fitting to the bulkhead. The plate defines openings in the form of a keyhole. Indeed, each opening comprises a portion with a circular contour for positioning the connector and a straight portion, for immobilizing the connector in rotation about its axis. Each connector is provided with two lateral slots provided to receive the two parallel edges of the straight portion of the opening of the plate. Thus, the end piece is immobilized in rotation about its axis inside the opening by cooperation of the slots with the opposite edges of the straight portion of the opening. During assembly, each fitting is inserted horizontally inside the openings and then slid vertically in the right portion of the opening. A nut is screwed around the nozzle to prevent vertical displacement of the fitting.

In the device of EP-A-2 280 123 , the length over which the end piece protrudes from the plate cannot be adjusted because it is defined by the position of the side slots arranged on each connector. Thus, the length over which the nozzle protrudes from the plate cannot be adapted depending on the thickness of the wall covering used, which can lead to the valve being fitted with a clearance. In addition, once the coating is applied, there is no possibility to adjust the length over which the end piece protrudes from the plate.

It is to these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a device making it possible to adjust the length over which the end piece protrudes from the plate.

EP-A-0 733 745 discloses a system for mounting a fitting on a wall. This fitting is elbow and includes a threaded end. The mounting system includes a turntable for attachment to a wall wall and a disc that is attached to the turntable. The connector comprises a hexagonal flange intended to cooperate with an opening of complementary shape delimited by the disc. The connection is then locked in rotation with respect to the disc. A nut is screwed around the threaded end. The nut makes it possible to immobilize the threaded end in the direction of the axis. The plate defines a hexagonal opening through which the end piece passes. The tip is not configured to be moved axially within the opening and the distance with which the tip projects from the plate is not adjustable. In addition, the nut is not fixed on the plate, that is to say that the mounting system does not include fixing means, such as screws, for fixing the nut on the plate.

US-A-2009/0322073 discloses a system for fixing a shower hose to a wall. The system comprises a plate defining an opening and a threaded end piece which is screwed, at one end, inside a water supply pipe and, at the other end, inside a nut. The nut comprises threads intended to receive fixing screws. A fitting is fitted to the end of the shower hose. The fitting includes a flange screwed onto the nut. The opening of the plate is not shaped to immobilize the tip in rotation about its axis. In addition, there is no means for fixing the nut on the plate.

EP-A-1 124 018 discloses a device for fixing hot and cold water pipes to a wall. The device comprises two hexagon-shaped connection tubes which pass through the wall. Two nuts are screwed on either side of the wall around the pipes.

• au moins un raccord, comprenant un embout fileté de raccordement au robinet,
• une platine pour fixer chaque raccord sur la cloison, cette platine délimitant au moins une ouverture, conformée pour immobiliser l'embout en rotation autour de son axe, et
• au moins un écrou, prévu pour être vissé autour de l'embout.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for mounting a valve on a partition, this device comprising:

• at least one connector, comprising a threaded connection to the tap,
• a plate for fixing each fitting on the partition, this plate defining at least one opening, shaped to immobilize the end piece in rotation about its axis, and
• at least one nut, designed to be screwed around the end piece.

According to the invention:

• the end piece is configured to be moved axially inside the opening,
• the device comprises means for fixing the nut on the plate, in a position where the nut axially immobilizes the end piece relative to the plate, in the configuration engaged in the opening, and
• the fixing means comprise at least one self-tapping screw for fixing the nut on the plate, each screw passing through a hole made in the nut and being tightened inside a bore of the plate.

Thanks to the invention, the end piece of each connector can be moved axially inside the openings, while ensuring that the connectors are immobilized in rotation inside the openings. The installer can then adjust the length over which the end piece projects axially relative to the plate, depending on the thickness of the wall covering, such as tiling, intended to cover the partition. When the installer reaches the desired position, he screws the nut around the end piece then secures the nut to the plate to axially immobilize each fitting with respect to the plate. If, however, the length over which the end piece must protrude from the plate is not correct and the wall covering is installed, the installer can unscrew the nut and pull or push axially on the end piece, in order to '' adjust the length of the protruding end piece.

• Chaque ouverture de la platine présente une forme polygonale ;
• L'embout comporte une surface extérieure à section polygonale ;
• Le dispositif comprend en outre au moins un contre-écrou pour supprimer le jeu fonctionnel entre l'écrou et l'embout fileté ;
• Chaque contre-écrou délimite au moins un trou pour la réception d'un ergot d'un outil de montage ;
• L'écrou est manipulable au moyen de l'outil de montage, par insertion de l'ergot dans le trou ménagé dans l'écrou ;
• L'outil de montage est un capuchon de protection, destiné à protéger l'embout fileté avant le montage du robinet ;
• Le dispositif comprend en outre :
  • au moins un jeu de coins, prévu pour être disposé à l'intérieur d'un trou ménagé dans la cloison,
  • au moins une bague d'expansion, qui est prévue pour être fixée à la platine et qui est mobile axialement de façon à pousser, dans son déplacement, chaque coin du jeu de coins selon une direction radiale centrifuge par rapport à un axe central de la bague.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a device may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken in any technically acceptable combination:

• Each opening of the plate has a polygonal shape;
• The end piece has an outer surface with a polygonal section;
• The device further comprises at least one locknut to eliminate the functional play between the nut and the threaded end;
• Each locknut defines at least one hole for receiving a lug of an assembly tool;
• The nut can be handled by means of the assembly tool, by inserting the lug in the hole made in the nut;
• The mounting tool is a protective cap, intended to protect the threaded end before mounting the valve;
• The device also includes:
  • at least one set of wedges, designed to be placed inside a hole made in the partition,
  • at least one expansion ring, which is intended to be fixed to the plate and which is axially movable so as to push, in its movement, each corner of the set of wedges in a centrifugal radial direction with respect to a central axis of the ring.

1. a) accoupler un coude de chaque raccord à l'extrémité libre d'un tube,
2. b) insérer l'embout de chaque raccord à travers une ouverture de la platine,
3. c) fixer la platine sur une paroi intérieure de la cloison,
4. d) ajuster la longueur sur laquelle chaque embout dépasse axialement par rapport à la platine,
5. e) une fois la longueur désirée atteinte, visser un écrou autour de chaque embout jusqu'à parvenir en contact avec la platine, et
6. f) fixer l'écrou sur la platine par l'intermédiaire des moyens de fixation pour immobiliser axialement l'embout par rapport à la platine.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a device as described above on a partition, comprising steps consisting in:

1. a) couple an elbow of each fitting to the free end of a tube,
2. b) insert the tip of each fitting through an opening in the plate,
3. c) fix the plate on an interior wall of the partition,
4. d) adjust the length over which each end piece protrudes axially from the plate,
5. e) once the desired length is reached, screw a nut around each end piece until it comes into contact with the plate, and
6. f) fix the nut on the plate by means of the fixing means to axially immobilize the end piece relative to the plate.

• la figure 1 est une coupe schématique représentant un appareil sanitaire et des tubes d'alimentation en eau, qui sont disposés de part et d'autre d'une cloison,
• la figure 2 est une vue à plus grande échelle selon la flèche 2 de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un dispositif de montage conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un outil de montage faisant aussi office de capuchon de protection appartenant au dispositif de montage de la figure 3,
• les figures 5 à 8 représentent les étapes successives de montage du dispositif de la figure 3 sur la cloison,
• la figure 9 représente une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de montage conforme à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, qui est monté sur une cloison, et
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective éclatée du dispositif de la figure 9.

The invention and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of two embodiments of a mounting device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made in reference to drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic section showing a sanitary device and water supply pipes, which are arranged on either side of a partition,
• the figure 2 is a view on a larger scale according to arrow 2 of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembly tool also serving as a protective cap belonging to the assembly device of the figure 3 ,
• the figures 5 to 8 represent the successive stages of assembly of the device of the figure 3 on the partition,
• the figure 9 shows a perspective view of a mounting device according to a second embodiment of the invention, which is mounted on a partition, and
• the figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the figure 9 .

On the figure 1 is shown a sanitary device, in this case a bathtub B, which is mounted near a double partition. This double partition comprises an internal partition 1 arranged on the side of the bathtub B and an external partition 1 'arranged on the opposite side. The partition 1 has an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 16. As can be seen in figure 2 , two holes O10 and O12 are drilled through the partition 1 for the passage of two water supply pipes T, respectively water hot and cold water. The two holes O10 and O12 have a diameter D10 equal to approximately 67 mm. They each define a central axis X10 or X12 perpendicular to the partition 1. The center distance E between the axes X10 and X12 is in the example 150 mm, which corresponds to the standard center distance of a bath / shower mixer. The T pipes extend between the partitions 1 and 1 '. In the example, the T pipes are multilayer pipes comprising an aluminum core covered internally and externally with a layer of crosslinked polyethylene (PER).

On the figure 3 is shown a device D for mounting a valve not shown on the partition 1. This device D also allows the connection of the valve with the water supply tubes T. Device D is a fitting kit for plasterboard taps.

The device D comprises two elbow connectors 4a and 4b, each comprising a threaded end 40 for connection to the valve and an elbow portion 42 for connection to a free end of a pipe T. The end piece 40 and the elbow 42 are integral with the one from the other, in particular one-piece. The end piece 40 has an outer surface with a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, section. We are talking about a "hexagonal" bit. The end piece 40 has an external thread 40.1 which is discontinuous on the periphery of the end piece 40, that is to say that it does not extend over the flat edges of the end piece 40. The end piece 40 is a male end ¾ for taps. Thus, a mixer type tap can be mounted directly on device D, without an intermediate part. Each end piece 40 defines a longitudinal central axis X40.

The device D also comprises a plate 2 for fixing each connector 4a and 4b and thus immobilize each connector 4a and 4b with respect to the partition 1. The plate 2 is a rectangular metal plate, adapted to be fixed against the wall 14 of the partition. 1. It defines two openings 20, in which the male ends 40 of the connectors 4a and 4b can be immobilized in rotation about their axis X40. In fact, each opening 20 has an anti-rotation shape, that is to say it has a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, contour which prevents the end piece 40 from rotating about its axis X40 when it is inserted into an opening 20.

The plate 2 delimits holes 26 for the passage of hollow body plugs, not shown, which allow the fixing of the plate 2 on the wall 14. The plate 2 also delimits bores 22 which are distributed at regular intervals around the openings 20. There are six holes 22 around each opening, in the example.

The device D comprises two nuts 5 designed to be screwed each around a tip 40. Each nut 5 has an internal thread 52 complementary to the thread 40.1 of the male ends 40. Each nut 5 further defines through holes 50 which are six in number and which are distributed regularly around a central axis X5 of the nut 5. The holes 50 are arranged correspondingly to the bores 22 of the plate 2, so that the holes 50 and holes 22 can be aligned two by two. The holes 50 form passage holes for self-tapping screws11, which allow each nut 5 to be fixed on the plate 2.

The device D further comprises two locknuts 7 to eliminate the functional play between the nut 5 and the corresponding threaded end 40. Each locknut 7 defines handling holes 70. These holes 70 are through in the example. There are six of them and are distributed evenly around a central axis X7 of the locknut 7.

The device D finally comprises two identical caps 9 provided to cover the male end pieces 40 before the fitting of the valve. A cap 9 is best seen at the figure 4 . It comprises a tubular hollow body centered on an axis X9, a bottom wall 94 perpendicular to the axis X9 and a collar 96 disposed at one end of the hollow body opposite to the bottom wall 94. The interior surface of the tubular body is frustoconical. . It converges towards the bottom wall 94 at an angle of a few degrees. Lugs 90 project, relative to the collar 96, on the side opposite the bottom wall 94. These lugs 90 are six in number. They are distributed evenly around the axis X9 and correspondingly to the holes 70 of the locknuts 7 and to the holes 50 of the nuts 5. The pins 90 can therefore be aligned two by two with the holes 50 or with the holes. 70, i.e. the lugs 90 can be engaged in the holes 70 to rotate the locknut 7 around the axis X7 or in the holes 50 to rotate a nut 5 around the axis X5. The tubular body of each cap 9 has internal ribs 92 which project radially inwards with respect to the axis X9. These ribs 92 are ten in number and extend parallel to the axis X9. The section of the ribs 92 is triangular and decreases in the direction of the bottom wall 94. The ribs 92 make it possible to immobilize each cap 9 axially on the end piece 40. The caps 9 are nevertheless movable in rotation around the end pieces 40.

Below is described, with reference to figures 5 to 8 , a method of mounting device D on the partition 1.

Upstream, an installer assembles the elbows 42 of the connectors 4a and 4b at the ends of the T tubes by the chosen means (crimping, sliding, compression, welding) before installing the partition 1. The installer then installs the partition 1 and drills holes O10 and O12 by means of a hole saw, to find the tubes T. The installer then pulls the fittings 4a and 4b through the two holes O10 and O12 of the partition 1.

Once the fittings 4a and 4b have been passed through holes 010 and 012 of partition 1 and fitted to the free ends of the pipes T, the installer passes the end piece 40 of the fittings 4a and 4b through the openings 20 of the plate 2 and fixes the plate 2 on the wall 14 of the partition 1. For this, it is necessary to place the plate 2 against the wall 14 and to drill holes in the plasterboard 1 at the places indicated by the location of the holes 26. We then insert hollow body plugs into partition 1, then tighten screws inside the plugs. As explained above, the nozzle 40 of the connectors 4a and 4b can be moved axially inside the openings 20, so that the installer can adjust the length L40 over which the nozzle 40 protrudes from plate 2. In practice, this length L40 is adjusted as a function of the thickness of the wall covering intended to be placed on the wall 14 of the partition 1. More precisely, the length L40 is all the greater as the covering is thick. The length L40 is chosen so that the tap can be mounted without axial play with respect to this wall covering. This wall covering is, for example, a tile.

Once the installer reaches the desired length L40, he screws a nut 5 by hand or with a cap 9 around each tip 40 to position each tip 40 axially relative to the plate 2. The screws 11 are then inserted to through the openings 50 of the nuts 5 and are tightened with a screwdriver in the holes 22 of the plate 2 to immobilize the nuts 5 in rotation, around the axes X5 and X40 which are then merged, and thus fix the connectors 4a and 4b on the plate 2, in axial translation along the axes X40.

A locknut 7 is then locked against each nut 5 with a cap 9 around the thread 40.1 of each end piece 40 to eliminate the functional play between the external thread 40.1 of the end piece 40 and the internal thread 52 of the nut 5.

The two caps 9 are then left in position around each end piece 40 to protect the end pieces 40 before laying the wall covering and fitting the taps.

Once the device D is mounted, the tiler covers the wall 14 of the partition 1 with the wall covering, for example with tiling, and adjusts the tiling by cutting as close as possible to the nuts 5 and the locknuts 7.

It may happen that the installer has to adjust the length L40, for example following a change in the choice of tiling. Device D allows adjustment of the length L40 if necessary, that is to say after the installation of the wall covering. To do this, all you have to do is unscrew the two locknuts 7 using the caps 9, inserting the pins 90 into the holes 70. Then remove the screws 11 and unscrew the nuts 5 by inserting the pins 90 into the holes 50. The installer can then adjust the length L40 again to make up for the initial assembly error. Each cap 9 therefore forms a means for unscrewing a nut 5 and a locknut 7, that is to say a handling key. Without the use of the caps 9, that is to say by hand, the nuts 5 and the locknuts 7 could not be unscrewed and then re-screwed after the passage of the tiler because the tiles prevent screwing and unscrewing the nuts 5 and the locknuts 7 with your fingers, as can be done before laying the tiles.

On the figures 9 and 10 is shown a second embodiment of a mounting device D, or kit for fixing a valve on plasterboard. Device D is comparable to that of FR1456306 . In the rest of the description, mainly the differences compared to the FR1456306 are described for brevity. In addition, the elements of the device which are analogous to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference numerals, while the other elements bear other reference numerals.

Device D of figures 9 and 10 comprises a plate 2 in the shape of an 8, in which the openings 20 for passage of the end piece 40 of the connector 4a and 4b have a polygonal contour, in particular a dodecagonal.

As in FR1456306 , the device D comprises two sets of wedges 6a and 6b intended to be each placed inside a hole O10 or O12 formed in the partition 1 and two expansion rings 8a and 8b intended to be fixed to the plate 2 The rings 8a and 8b are axially movable inside the sets of wedges 6a and 6b respectively so as to push each corner of the sets of wedges 6a and 6b in a centrifugal radial direction with respect to a central axis of the ring. During assembly, the corners are therefore pressed against the edges of the holes O10 and O12, so that the plate 2 holds by adhesion. The plate 2 delimits lights 21 to visualize the expansion of the corners of each set of corners 6a or 6b. Advantageously, the sets of corners 6a and 6b and the expansion ring 8a and 8b are therefore provided in different colors and easily visible to a user.

This system with expansion rings and sets of wedges therefore makes it possible to dispense with the use of hollow body plugs to fix the plate 2 to the partition 1. Once the plate 2 is fixed to the partition 1, the process of mounting the device D according to this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, described above with reference to figures 5 to 8 .

As a variant not shown, the number of holes 50, 70 and the number of pins 90 is different from six. However, the number of holes 50, 70 and the number of pins 90 remain the same.

According to another variant not shown, the openings 20 of the plate comprise a polygonal outline having a number of sides other than six or twelve. Likewise, the polygonal section of the outer surface of the nozzle 40 may have a number of sides other than six.

The invention also covers a device, not shown, for mounting an insulated tap, such as the tap of a household appliance or a simple tap. This so-called “single-hole” device comprises a plate defining a single opening for the passage of a fitting. Such a device is described in FR1456306 and is transposable to the present system.

According to another variant not shown, the device D does not include any locknuts 7 and / or caps 9.

According to another variant not shown, the cap or caps 9 do not act as assembly tools, that is to say they do not allow the locking nuts 7. The assembly kit then comprises a separate tool for tightening and loosening each locknut 7. Thus, a rotation of this cap around the nozzle 40 does not cause rotation of the locknut 7 and the installer does not risk unintentionally unscrewing the locknut 7 by wanting to remove the cap by a rotary movement, that is to say as if the installer wanted to unscrew the cap.

Claims (9)

1. A device (D) for mounting a tap on a partition (1), this device comprising:

   - at least one coupler (4a, 4b), comprising a threaded endpiece (40) for connecting to the tap,

   - a platen (2) for fastening each coupler on the partition, this platen delimiting at least one opening (20), configured to immobilize the endpiece in rotation about its axis (X40),

   - at least one nut (5), provided to be screwed around the endpiece, the endpiece (40) being configured to be moved axially inside the opening (20), and

   - fastening means (11) for fastening the nut (5) on the platen (2), in a position where the nut axially immobilizes the endpiece relative to the platen, in the configuration engaged in the opening,

   characterized in that the fastening means (11) comprise at least one self-tapping screw (11) to fasten the nut (5) on the platen (2), each screw (11) passing through a hole (50) arranged in the nut and being gripped inside a piercing (22) of the platen.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each opening (20) of the platen has a polygonal shape.
3. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the endpiece (40) includes a polygonal cross-sectional outer surface.
4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one locknut (7) to eliminate the functional clearance between the nut (5) and the threaded endpiece (40).
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that each locknut (7) delimits at least one hole (70) for receiving a lug (90) of a mounting tool (9).
6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the nut (5) can be manipulated using the mounting tool (9), by inserting the lug (90) into the hole (50) arranged in the nut (5).
7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mounting tool (9) is a protective cover, intended to protect the threaded endpiece (40) before mounting the tap.
8. The device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device further comprises:

   - at least one wedge set (6a, 6b), provided to be arranged inside a hole in the partition,

   - at least one expansion ring (8a, 8b; 8), which is provided to be fastened to the platen and which is axially movable so as to push, in its movement, each wedge of the wedge set in a centrifugal radial direction relative to a central axis of the ring.
9. A method for assembling a device according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising steps of:

   a) coupling an elbow (42) of each coupler to the free end of a tube (T),

   b) inserting the endpiece (40) of each coupler (4a, 4b) through an opening (20) of the platen (2),

   c) fastening the platen (2) on an inner wall (14) of the partition (1),

   d) adjusting the length (L40) over which each endpiece protrudes axially relative to the platen, and

   e) once the desired length is reached, screwing a nut (5) around each endpiece (40) until coming into contact with the platen, and

   f) fastening the nut on the platen via the fastening means (11), to immobilize the endpiece axially relative to the platen.

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