EP3717710B1

EP3717710B1 - Rotatable tap head device

Info

Publication number: EP3717710B1
Application number: EP18815562.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger HORNUNG; Christophe DOHR; Jean-Thierry BATT
Original assignee: Thesimple X GmbH
Current assignee: Thesimple X GmbH
Priority date: 2017-11-28
Filing date: 2018-11-28
Publication date: 2022-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-28
Also published as: WO2019106044A1; EP3717710A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a water tapping apparatus and particularly to an adjustable water tapping apparatus that allows vertical and horizontal water or fluid flow in both directions. More particularly, the invention relates to sanitary installations and apparati providing health, secure and highly hygienic facilities for drinking in combination with drinking water faucets.

Background of the Invention

Water is an essential element that is required by all organisms in order to perform the metabolic processes required to grow, reproduce, and respond to their environments. Not surprisingly, the provision of safe drinking water is a fundamental concern. The need and easy access for fresh water is particularly important, where ever a tap is used in the context of drinking water. There is a large body of prior art in the field of tapping water systems. However, conventional tap delivers (at their distal end) water or fluids mainly vertically, from up to down. As a daily life example: when finishing teeth brushing, several people reach out to the tap to drink water or rinse their months. With conventional tap, it is difficult for people to reach the water flows with their months at the distal exit of the tap and they need to bend their neck to reach properly the water flow or use a glass to fill it with water prior rinsing their months. It is to note that tap spout exists to slightly modify the water flow laterally, nonetheless those systems never modify the flow laterally and at the same time upwards in a form of an inverted U-shaped curve or parabolic shaped curve.
In the prior art, tapping sleeves are known to be positioned around a water tap for connecting the water tap to the further transferring branch. A tapping valve can thus be connected between the tapping sleeve and the connecting branch for regulating water flow in the branch. The water tap is then tapped in a sealed manner allowing water to flow into the branch via the tapping sleeve and the tapping valve combination. Tapping sleeves are typically comprised of steel and are attached to the tapping valve by means of a flange welded to the tapping sleeve's branch pipe and connected to the tapping valve by nut and bolt combinations. The tapping valves are attached to the tapping sleeve with by fixed means, usually bolts or other fixed means.
In some cases, a stainless steel flange is incorporated in the tapping sleeve for connection to the flanged joint of the tapping valve. In any event, the orientation of the tapping valve is fixed relative to the tapping sleeve and hence fixed relative the overlying surface.
In this arrangement, positioning the tapping sleeve on the water tapping is done with some difficulty. In addition, the orientation of the tapping sleeve and tapping valve combination is dictated by the orientation of the water tap. It would be advantageous to provide an adjustable tapping valve that allows vertical orientation of the fluid flow in both directions of the tapping valve after installation of the combination on a water tap.
Further, the patent application WO 2017/085031 A1 shows a tap head device attachable to a spout of a water tap. The tap head device comprises a pipe body with a first channel which allows to use the tap in a conventional manner such that water is discharged in vertical direction. The tap head device comprises additionally a main body rotatable from a closed position to an open position around the pipe body. In the open position, an aperture in the pipe body matches a second channel in the rotatable main body such that water can deviated into the channel and is ejected laterally and upwards such that a user can easily drink water from the tap. The tap head device comprises a head with a threaded inner side to enable fixing the tap head device to the spout of the water tap. US 3335957 shows another prior art faucet providing a drinking fountain attachment for water faucets. The faucet comprises a valve body having an interior valve seat, the valve body including aperture means centrally of said valve seat. Further, it comprises a valve gate threaded within the interior of said valve body and selectively engaging said valve seat. Holding means are secured to said valve gate for rotationally displacing the latter within the valve body. In this device, the valve gate includes a passageway continually communicating with the aperture means of the valve body. The valve body further includes a lateral passageway communicating between the valve gate and the valve body, if the former is withdrawn from the valve seat a predetermined degree. A water flow exit is secured to the valve body having the passageway communicating with the lateral passageway of the valve body. DE1914807A1 shows a further rotatable tap head attachable to a spout of a water tap. The rotatable tap head comprises an aerator and a drinking attachment combined with a common water pressure reduction. The rotation of the tap head brings an internal channel of the drinking attachment in an on-off alignment providing on-off of a drinking fountain. US1336401 shows a further faucet comprising a casing attached to the water faucet. The casing has an inlet there through and an outlet in alignement with the inlet and a bearing seat adjacent to the latter, an independent valve seat movable in axial alinement with the inlet and the outlet having a passage there through between the axis thereof and its periphery, a rotatable valve bearing wholly on the bearing seat on the casing and on the independent valve seat. The rotatable valve has two passages aligned only one at a time. In alignment, both are centrally positioned within the passage in said valve seat, wherein one is aligned with the outlet and the other passage adapted at other times to align with the passage through said independent valve seat and adapted to direct water transversely thereto. A pipe is provided with a drinking head and connected with the valve to communicate with its transverse passage and extending transversely to the valve. Finally, US512711A shows a faucet with a drinking fountain attachment for the faucet with a tubular body having a wall opening which coaxially connects to the discharge end of the water faucet. A sleeve having a wall port, rotatively surrounds the body. A laterally and upwardly extending tube, connected with the sleeve around its port, ejects water when in register with the body opening.

Summary of the Invention

It is one object of the present invention to provide an easy accessibility of the water (or fluids) flow of tap systems by deviating the flow laterally and upwards (from its initial direction), thereby providing a hygienic sanitary drinking fountain. It should allow the users to reach the water/fluids with their mouth in an easier and more hygienic way compared to conventional taps, in particular in way that the user does not have to bend the neck and back as much as with conventional tap systems. Further, the sanitary installation and apparatus shall be provided in such a manner which may be quickly, securely and removably attached to the discharge end of a faucet or pump whereby water ejected from such faucet or pump will be in the form of a jet discharged in an upward direction to enable the user of the fountain to obtain a drink in a convenient and sanitary manner. Thus, the access of water should be facilitated for all, especially for the elderly with back problems or people with back injuries. In addition, it should not be required anymore to fill a glass with water prior rinsing the mouth. However, the invention should allow the user not to get in contact directly with the tap, thus also improving the hygiene factor. In addition, the tap should be easy to install. Thus, it is a further object of the invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a portable or at least removable mountable, sanitary drinking fountain which is simple in its construction and arrangement, compact, strong, durable, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently attached and removed when occasion requires, readily assembled and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the present invention, these objects are achieved, particularly, with the features of the independent claims. In addition, further advantageous embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims and the related descriptions.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned objects for a tap or spray head device are achieved, particularly, in that, by means of the present invention, a tap or spray head device is provided comprising a pipe body with a first canal where the fluid passes through, wherein the pipe body enables the fluid flow to exit of the tap head device vertically downwards when in closed position, and a head with a union nut with a thread inside the union nut that enables the tap head device to be mounted on a tap system, further comprising a junctional body connecting the union nut to the pipe body, wherein the junctional body and the connected the pipe body comprise a lateral passage allowing for a fluid exit and a central screw hole, further comprising a rotating main body encompassing the pipe body and being rotatable around the pipe body, the pipe body and the rotating main body are kept together by a screw inserted in the screw hole and preventing the rotating main body from falling apart from the pipe body, while at the same time enabling the rotating main body to rotate around the pipe body, further comprising a second canal and a third canal of the rotating main body that enable to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards in an open position disabling a vertical fluid exit, wherein the rotation of the rotating main body moves the tap head device from the closed position that enables a vertical fluid exit and that closes a connecting aperture of the second canal hermetically, to the open position that enables to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards and that closes a forth canal disabling the vertical fluid exit; and further comprising a trench milled in a base part of the rotating main body, said forth canal being part of the trench thereby providing for a smooth transition of the fluids flow between the closed and open position, and the aperture being situated vis-à-vis or at least offset to the trench, wherein for the open position, the main body is rotatable in such a way that the aperture communicates with the first canal inside the pipe body. In particular, the tap or spray head device comprises a body with a first canal where the fluid passes through, a body to enable the fluid flow to exit the tap head device vertically downwards when in the position that enables a vertical fluid exit, a rotating body including a second canal and a spout that enable to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards in the position that enables a derivated fluid exit, a spout to enable the fluid flow to exit the tap head device laterally and upwards in the position that enables a derivated fluid exit, and an union nut with a thread inside that enables the tap head device to be mounted on an existing tap system. The tap head device can e.g. derivate laterally a water/fluids flow in a new trajectory having the shape of an inverted U-shaped curve or a parabolic shaped curve at the exit of the tap head device. An inclined channel (compared to the horizontal axis) can e.g. enable the fluid to pass through and then exit the device via a spout. A combination of main body, pipe body, gasket rings and gasket disk that e.g. enable the tap head device to be hermetic to undesired fluid leakage. The tap head device can e.g. be directly incorporated in a tap system. At least parts of the tap head device can e.g. be realized as plastic or metals and still presenting the same function as described previously. The tap head device's orientation in any of the 360° direction of the horizontal plan can be defined during the attachment step of the tap head device to the body of an existing tap, thus enabling the tap head device to be used for right or left handed users, or to deviate the water/fluid flow in any 360° direction of the horizontal plan. One of the advantages of the present system is that it enables to ease the process for people to reach the water or fluids flow with their months by deviating the water or fluids flow upwards and/or laterally from its initial direction. One of the advantages of the present system is that it enables to stop the vertical water or fluids flow while in the position where the fluid is derivated laterally in a new trajectory. Since the vertical water or fluid flow is stopped during the use of the derivated flow, the invention allows to save water. The invention does not allow to have a vertical water or fluid flow and at the same time a derivated water or fluid flow.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the present invention showing the position where the wafer/fluids flow is not deviated and exit the present invention at the bottom;
Figure 3 is a top view of main body of the present invention;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention belongs to the field of faucet accessories. The present invention relates to a tap spray head which is mounted (via screwing) on an existing tap, instead of the original spray head. The mounting of the present invention can be done with the help of a universal adapter that can be added info present invention union nut 1. It is to note that several alternative versions of the same present invention can be manufactured, current section of this patent application will focus on providing the detailed description on one possible embodiment. The present invention consists of a pipe body 2 with a first canal 4 where the fluid flow can pass through, a union nut 1 that enables the present invention to be mounted on an existing tap system, a main or rotating body 3 that can be rotated left or right by the users, the rotation will enable the derivation of the fluid flow, an aperture 6, a second canal 7 and a third canal 8 (with an optional filter) that enable the exit of the deviated fluid flow when the present invention is in the position that enables a derivated fluid exit. A junctional body 9 enables to connect the union nut 1 to the pipe body 2. The junctional body 9 is pressed inside the pipe body 2. The aperture 6 is hermetically sealed when the present invention is in the position that enables a vertical fluid exit. An optional filter 12 that can be mounted at the distal end of the main body 3 (for example, this filter 12 can be a frother filter) . For example, filter in third canal 8 can be a frother filter.
The present invention consists of a pipe body 2 assembled together with a main body 3. The main body 3 is assembled via a screw 13 at the bottom of the pipe body 2. The main body 3 is a piece that can rotate around the pipe body 2. In the position that enables a vertical fluid exit, meaning the main body 3 is rotated in such a way that the aperture 6 is hermetically closed, the present invention lets the water or fluids flow pass through it vertically downwards through the forth canal 15 inside the main body 3. The water or fluids flow will then exit at the distal end of the main body 3 through an optional filter 12. The present invention does not allow to have a vertical water or fluid flow and at the same time a derivated water or fluid flow. Or in another words the present invention enables to stop the vertical water or fluids flow while in the position where the fluid is derivated laterally in a new trajectory. Thus saving water, since the vertical water or fluid flow is stopped during the use of the derivated flow. A trench 16 is milled in the main body 3, this trench 16 allows for a smooth transition of the water/fluids flow between the two positions (position that enables a vertical fluid exit & position that enables a derivated fluid exit). When the present invention is in the position that enables a derivated fluid exit, meaning the main body 3 is rotated in such a way that the aperture 6 communicates with the first canal 4 inside the pipe body, the present invention lets the water or fluids flow pass laterally through the aperture 6 and go inside the second canal 7, then exit via third canal 8. Finally, the water or fluids flow will exit at the distal end of the main body 3 through third canal 8 (with an optional filter). It is to note that the water or fluids flow movement inside the present invention are dictated by gravity force, whereas the path that the water or fluids flow will follow is dictated by the canals' design as explained in the current patent application. At the exit of the present invention the water/fluids trajectory will form an inverted U-shaped curve or a parabolic shaped curve. This parabolic shaped curve of water/fluids flow will first go upwards then inclines downward. It is to note that, when the present invention is in the position that enables a vertical fluid exit, the aperture 6 is hermetically closed and no water/fluids will be able to exit via the third canal 8. In the position that enables a vertical fluid exit, the side wall of the pipe body 2 will come in contact with the aperture 6 and closes the aperture 6 hermetically.
Other conventional taps deliver water or fluids downward vertically. Eventually conventional taps can be modified with a tap head that slightly modifies the water flow laterally. Nonetheless the flow will remain downward and is still hardly accessible to people that desire to reach the water flow with their mouth to drink or rinse their mouth.
A gasket ring 5 is placed around the pipe body 2. This gasket ring 5 is placed within a furrow. This furrow is carved around the pipe body 2. Another gasket ring 14 is placed within another furrow carved inside the main body 3. The function of gasket ring 14 is to avoid fluid leakage between pipe body 2 and main body 3. Another gasket ring 10 is placed on the junctional body. The function of the gasket ring 10 is to avoid fluid leakage at the level of the screw 13. All gasket rings 5, 10 & 14 help prevent undesired water/fluids leakages. A gasket disk 11 is placed between the pipe body 2 and the main body 3. The gasket disk 11 is glued to the pipe body 2. The function of the gasket disk 11 is to enable the main body 3 to glide over the pipe body 2.
A screw 13 is used in order to avoid the main body 3 from falling apart from the pipe body 2. The screw 13 enables to keep the pipe body 2 and the main body 3 together, while at the same time enabling the main body 3 to rotate around the pipe body 2. The mounting of the present invention to an existing tap can be realized with the help of a universal adapter that can be added into present invention union nut 1.
In summary, the tap head device comprises a pipe body 2 with a first canal 4 where the fluid passes through. The pipe body 2 enables the fluid flow to exit of the tap head device vertically downwards when in closed position. A head with a union nut 1 with a thread inside the union nut 1 enables the tap head device to be mounted on a tap system. A junctional body 9 connects the union nut 1 to the pipe body 2. The junctional body 9 and the connected the pipe body 2 comprise a lateral passage 18 allowing for a fluid exit and a central screw hole 19. A rotating main body 3 encompasses the pipe body 2 and is rotatable around the pipe body 2. The pipe body 2 and the rotating main body 3 are kept together by a screw 13 inserted in the screw hole 19 and preventing the rotating main body 3 from falling apart from the pipe body 2, while at the same time enabling the rotating main body 3 to rotate around the pipe body 2. A second canal 7 and a third canal 8 of the rotating main body 3 enable to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards in an open position disabling a vertical fluid exit. The rotating of the rotating main body 3 moves the tap head device from the closed position that enables a vertical fluid exit and closes a connecting aperture 6 of the second canal 7 hermetically, to the open position that enables to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards and that closes a forth canal 15 disabling the vertical fluid exit. A trench 16 is milled in a base part 17 of the rotating main body 3. The forth canal 15 is part of the trench 16 thereby providing for a smooth transition of the fluids flow between the closed and open position, and the aperture 6 being situated vis-à-vis or at least offset to the trench 16. For the open position, the main body 3 is rotatable in such a way that the aperture 6 communicates with the first canal 4 inside the pipe body 2.
The present invention can be installed as an addition to an existing tap: for water taps with a female distal end, the use of a universal adapter enables the fixation of present invention to the water tap. In this case, the universal adapter firstly needs to be installed to the female end of the tap, then the present invention can be screwed via the union nut 1 to the universal adapter. In some cases, the present invention can be directly mounted via the union nut 1 to the tap and without needing a universal adapter. Besides the above installation, the present invention could be an all in one solution meaning manufacturing a water tap including the present invention.
The position of the deviated water flow can be easily defined during the original installation of the present invention: the user only needs to position the aperture 6 in the direction where the deviated water flow should come out. The aperture 6 position within the pipe body 2 could be signalized to the user with the help of a mark on the outside of the pipe body 2, the mark can be any given possible symbol e.g. a dot engraved on the proximal section of the pipe body 2. After installation, the deviated water/fluids flow will come out in the region where the aperture 6 meets the second canal 7 of the main body 3. This is realized by rotating the main body 3 around the pipe body 2. It is to note also, that the strength of the deviated water/fluids will be maximal when the aperture 6 and the second canal 7 are perfectly aligned. By this mean, the user is able to regulate the strength of the deviated water/fluids while rotating the main body 3 around the pipe body 2: the more the aperture 6 is aligned with the second canal 7 the stronger the deviated water/fluids flow is.
As an additional embodiment variant, an adapted shell, in particular for example a plastic shell, can be added on top of the invention. The shell enables a user to customize the device: for example the shell could be in any possible color with an elephant (or any other kind of printing) on it, if e.g. the use of the invention is intended for kids, etc...

Claims

A tap head device comprising a pipe body (2) with a first canal (4) where the fluid passes through, wherein the pipe body (2) enables the fluid flow to exit of the tap head device vertically downwards when in closed position, and a head with a union nut (1 ) with a thread inside the union nut (1) that enables the tap head device to be mounted on a tap system characterized by
a junctional body (9) connecting the union nut (1 ) to the pipe body (2), wherein the junctional body (9) and the connected pipe body (2) comprise a lateral passage (18) allowing for a fluid exit and a central screw hole (19),

a rotating main body (3) encompassing the pipe body (2) and being rotatable around the pipe body (2), the pipe body (2) and the rotating main body (3) are kept together by a screw (13) inserted in the screw hole (19) and preventing the rotating main body (3) from falling apart from the pipe body (2), while at the same time enabling the rotating main body (3) to rotate around the pipe body (2),

a second canal (7) and a third canal (8) of the rotating main body (3) that enable to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards in an open position disabling a vertical fluid exit, wherein the rotation of the rotating main body (3) moves the tap head device from the closed position that enables a vertical fluid exit and that closes a connecting aperture (6) of the second canal (7) hermetically, to the open position that enables to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards and that closes a forth canal (15) disabling the vertical fluid exit;

a trench (16) milled in a base part (17) of the rotating main body (3), said forth canal (15) being part of the trench (16) thereby providing for a smooth transition of the fluids flow between the closed and open position, and the aperture (6) being situated vis-à-vis or at least offset to the trench (16), wherein for the open position, the main body (3) is rotatable in such a way that the aperture (6) communicates with the first canal (4) inside the pipe body (2).
The tap head device according†o claim 1 , characterized, in that the tap head device deviates laterally a water/fluids flow in a new trajectory having the shape of an inverted U-shaped curve or a parabolic shaped curve at the exit of the tap head device.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 2,
characterized, in that the open position enables to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards wherein the forth canal (15) is closed hermetically disabling the vertical fluid exit.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 2,
characterized, in that the open position enables to deviate the fluid flow laterally and upwards wherein the forth canal (15) is closed only partially, while partially disabling and partially enabling the vertical fluid exit.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
characterized, in that the tap head device is directly incorporated in a tap system.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
characterized, in that at least parts of the tap head device are realized as plastic or metals.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
characterized, in that the junctional body (9) connecting the union nut (1) to the pipe body (2) is pressed inside the pipe body (2) and vertically aligned and fixed with the pipe body (2).
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 7,
characterized, in that a filter (12) is mounted at the distal end of the main body (3).
The tap head device according to claim 8, characterized, in that said filter (12) is realized as a frother filter.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 9,
characterized, in that a filter is realized within the third canal (8).
The tap head device according to claim 10, characterized, in that said filter of third canal (8) is realized as a frother filter.
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 11,
characterized, in that a gasket ring (5) is placed around the pipe body (2), wherein the gasket ring (5) is placed within a furrow, the furrow being carved around the pipe body (2).
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 12,
characterized, in that a gasket ring (14) is placed within a furrow carved inside the rotating main body (3), wherein the gasket ring (14) provides avoidance of fluid leakage between pipe body (2) and rotating main body (3).
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 13,
characterized, in that a gasket ring (10) is placed on the junctional body (9), wherein the gasket ring (10) provides avoidance of fluid leakage at the level of the screw (13).
The tap head device according to one of the claims 1 to 14,
characterized, in that a gasket disk (11) is placed between the pipe body (2) and the rotating main body (3), the gasket disk (11) enabling the rotating main body (3) to glide over the pipe body (2).