SCOPE OF APPLICATION
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The present invention relates to a universal closure device for a drain, suitable for a washbasin, bidet, bathtub, shower, and kitchen sink.
STATE OF THE ART
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As is well known, drain plugs are fitted into the drain holes of washbasins, bidets, bathtubs, showers, and kitchen sinks. They are closed by the user, as needed, by applying closure caps actuated by corresponding movement mechanisms.
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Lever-operated mechanisms exist, external to the closure caps, actuated by levers positioned adjacent to the faucet body associated with the washbasin, bidet, bathtub, shower, and kitchen sink. However, these devices are inconvenient to operate, tend to become difficult to operate over time, and often detract from the overall aesthetics of the faucet.
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Therefore, there are snap-action opening/closing mechanisms that are housed directly within the drain and can thus be operated by the user by simply pressing down on the closure cap with their fingers. These devices offer the advantage of not requiring the use of external levers; however, they necessitate a series of technical measures to ensure correct and durable operation.
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Therefore, a primary reliability issue arises, particularly because these devices are directly exposed to water and accumulated debris within the sink, bidet, bathtub, shower, and kitchen sink, necessitating the assurance of their hermetic integrity.
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Furthermore, the movement of the snap mechanism may become jammed over time and/or prove uncomfortable to apply or noisy. Therefore, there is also a problem of reliability and ease of use.
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Furthermore, the known solutions with an internal snap mechanism are not universal. Indeed, the closure cap is equipped not only with the snap mechanism but also with the corresponding sealing gasket; therefore, it must be custom-made to match the diameter of the drain in use.
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Therefore, it is necessary to manufacture caps and closure devices in all sizes suitable for the corresponding drains available on the market. This increases the costs of the devices themselves.
PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION
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Therefore, there is a need to address the drawbacks and limitations cited in reference to the prior art.
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This requirement is satisfied by a universal drain plug closure device for washbasins, bidets, bathtubs, showers, and kitchen sinks, in accordance with claim 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description of its preferred, non-limiting embodiments, wherein:
- Figure 1 depicts perspective views, in partial exploded configuration, of closure devices, in accordance with possible embodiments of the present invention;
- Figure 2 depicts top plan and side views, in an assembled configuration, of the closure devices shown in Figure 1.
- Figure 3 depicts a perspective view, in separate parts, of a closure device in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 4 depicts a plan view from above, in an assembled configuration, of the closure device shown in Figure 3.
- Figure 5 depicts a sectional view, in an assembled configuration, of the closure device of Figure 3, along the section plane V-V indicated in Figure 4;
- Figure 6 depicts a sectional view, in an assembled configuration, of the closure device of Figure 3, along the section plane VI-VI indicated in Figure 4;
- Figure 7 depicts a partially exploded perspective view of a closure device in an open configuration, associated with a drain and a drain in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 8 depicts a sectional view of the closure device of Figure 7, in an assembled configuration;
- Figure 9 depicts a partially exploded perspective view of a closure device in a closed configuration, associated with a drain and a drain outlet in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 10 depicts a sectional view of the closure device shown in Figure 9, in an assembled configuration.
- Figure 11 depicts a perspective view of the central body of an opening/closing mechanism, in accordance with a form of embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 12 depicts the enlarged detail XII of Figure 11.
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The elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described below will be indicated with the same numerical references.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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With reference to the aforementioned figures, 4 globally indicates a universal closure device for a drain plug 6 suitable for a washbasin, bidet, bathtub, shower, and kitchen sink. In turn, the drain plug 6 is fluidically connected to a drain 7 and is fitted within a drain hole 40 of an associated sink, bidet, bathtub, shower, or kitchen sink, in a known manner.
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The closure device 4 comprises an opening/closing mechanism 8, having a hollow central body 12, which can be fixed to an associated drain plug 6, and a hollow containment body 16, coaxial and axially movable with respect to the central body 12 along a vertical direction Y-Y, by means of snap-action means 20, to pass stably from an open or raised configuration to a closed or lowered configuration.
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Typically, the central body 12 features a lower thread 24 that engages with a corresponding nut of the drain plug 6. Preferably, said lower thread 24 is fabricated from a wear-resistant metal.
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The closure device 4 further comprises an adapter 28 mechanically connected to the containment body 16 of the opening/closing mechanism 8 and externally provided with an annular gasket 32 which, in said closed configuration, is configured to form a hydraulic seal against an internal perimeter edge 36 of the drain plug 6 engaged in the drain hole 40 of an associated washbasin, bidet, bathtub, shower, or kitchen sink. Specifically, adapter 28 hermetically seals containment body 16.
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The closure device 4 further comprises a cover cap 44, removably associated with said adapter 28, on the side opposite the opening/closing mechanism 8, so as to constitute a top cover for the adapter 28 itself. Therefore, the cover cap 44 serves solely an aesthetic function and does not provide a hermetic seal, which is instead ensured by the annular gasket 32 of the adapter 28.
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In accordance with one embodiment, the central body 12 defines an internal track 48 extending from a track start position 52 to a track end position 56. Said track start position 52 and track end position 56 respectively define the open configuration and the closed configuration of the opening/closing mechanism 8.
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Specifically, the snap-action means 20 comprise an upper cover 60, associated with the containment body 16, a thrust spring 64 that influences the central body 12 and the upper cover 60 in reciprocal distancing, and a fork 68.
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The fork 68 is integral with the upper cover 60 and has a fixing end 70, through which it is fixed to the upper cover 60, and a cantilevered guide end 72, which engages in said internal track 48 so as to guide the upper cover 60 between the open or raised configuration, corresponding to the achievement of the track start position 52, and the closed or lowered configuration, corresponding to the achievement of the track end position 56.
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In accordance with one embodiment, said internal track 48 is configured such that, upon the fork 68 reaching the track start 52 and track end 56 positions, the fork 68 moves to different planes or steps. For example, four distinct planes or steps 91, 92, 93, and 94 are provided. The provision of said different planes or steps 91, 92, 93, 94 prevents the fork 68 from returning to the internal track 48 from which it arrived, and guarantees advancement in the subsequent portion of the internal track 48, until reaching the end-of-track position 56, and then continuing to return to the track position 52, thereby generating a continuous loop. In other words, upon reaching each plane or step 91, 92, 93, 94, the fork 68 moves downward, i.e., towards the lower thread 24.
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Preferably, said fork 68 is constructed from steel, and the guide end 72 features a reduced diameter, thereby minimizing the contact surface area with the internal track 48. This configuration facilitates a reduction in the operational noise generated by the opening/closing mechanism 8.
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In accordance with an embodiment, said containment body 16 comprises longitudinal guides 76 that prevent its rotation about the vertical direction Y-Y.
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In accordance with one embodiment, the central body 12 comprises limit stops 80 to prevent the thrust spring 64 from stressing the fork 68 as it moves along the internal track 48. In other words, the internal limit stops 80 prevent overloading the internal thrust spring 64, which serves to reach and maintain the two positions of track start position 52 and track end position 56.
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In accordance with one embodiment, the containment body 16 comprises coupling means 84 with the adapter 28, structured so as to render the assembly of the two parts solid and indivisible in use. In any case, the coupling means 84 permit the disassembly and reassembly of the entire opening/closing mechanism 8 for the purpose of cleaning the drain, without compromising its functionality.
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For example, said coupling means 84 are snap coupling means.
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Preferably, said coupling means 84, together with the longitudinal guides 76, prevent the adapter 28 from rotating about the vertical direction Y-Y; in this way, they ensure that the entire opening/closing mechanism 8 can always be unscrewed from the drain 6 for its maintenance.
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In accordance with one embodiment, the upper cover 60 is assembled by means of two hooks 88 present in diametrically opposite positions, which allow the pre-assembly of the fork 68, without undergoing the load of the thrust spring 64; subsequently, the thrust spring 64 is compressed and the upper cover 60 can be hooked to the containment body 16.
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Preferably, the thrust spring 64 is positioned externally to the internal track 48. This particular arrangement confers greater stability to the system, contributes to reducing the overall play of the opening/closing mechanism 8, because it operates on a wider thrust surface and on the axis of movement, and allows the use of thrust springs 64 having superior mechanical characteristics that guarantee to reach and far exceed the number of opening and closing cycles required by the regulations, and to be able to use the opening/closing mechanism 8 in tub applications.
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As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the solutions described above overcome the drawbacks presented in the prior art.
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The salient aspects characterizing the invention are the presence of a universal mechanism capable of achieving and maintaining two distinct positions, namely open and closed, and an adapter comprising a gasket that forms a seal with the respective washbasin, bidet, bathtub, shower, and kitchen sink. The adapter is, in fact, always inclusive of a gasket that is not on the mechanism; in other words, the adapter, when combined with the mechanism, closes the drain even without the presence of the cover. In this manner, the external cover or cap serves a purely aesthetic function and is also interchangeable, thereby enabling customization by the user. Therefore, the upper or external cap is not a hermetic closure cap (as guaranteed by the underlying adapter), but rather a simple cover cap serving a purely aesthetic function.
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Specifically, a primary advantage of the present invention is the standardization of the opening and closing mechanism, which enables the manufacturer of faucet components to reduce inventory, thereby managing only the various adapters to accommodate all existing "vessel" types on the market.
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The system also enables the management of multiple closure caps, i.e., customized covers for each customer, consistently mounted on a universal base platform.
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Therefore, starting from a single mechanism, the assembly of different adapters creates 'n' product platforms; on each individual product platform, multiple covers can be assembled, generating a high number of possible combinations, without exponentially increasing inventory and allowing for extreme customization for the end user. Therefore, the mechanism is singular and universal, and serves the technical function, while the cover has only an aesthetic function and can be of any shape and material, and can therefore be customized. The adapter may exhibit varying shapes and dimensions to ensure the universal mechanism's applicability across all existing drain types.
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The covers are suitable for mounting on all adapters.
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The mechanism and the adapter, when assembled together, form a single body capable of opening and closing the drain of the drain plug 6, thereby creating a functional base platform that performs the technical function and is completed by the cover, which serves an exclusively aesthetic function.
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The systems currently available on the market are designed for a single type of application, such as for a sink or a bathtub, or they are categorized as either "small" or "large" caps, and therefore do not provide the advantages described above.
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To date, there is no truly universal system in the art that can be used on all existing types of vessels.
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The adapter of the present invention can be manufactured in various shapes and heights, enabling the mounting of the opening/closing mechanism on a wide range of commercially available vessels (washbasin - bidet - bathtub - shower - kitchen sink). It also facilitates the installation of an "aesthetic cover," which is the visible component and can be of diverse shapes, sizes, and materials.
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This is because, owing to the opening/closing mechanism at the base, which performs all mechanical and operational functions, the cover serves no technical function, but is solely aesthetic. Therefore, the cover cap can be manufactured from various materials, as it is not subject to any mechanical tolerances regarding shape or position.
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Advantageously, the cover or covering cap of the present invention, is very low and is adjacent to the ceramic, i.e., to the drain plug 6 for washbasins, bidets, bathtubs, showers, and kitchen sinks, without compromising its functionality.
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The universality of the present invention enables mounting on both "deep" and "reduced" drains for varying ceramic/plane thicknesses.
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The overall size of the mechanism, reduced in terms of diameter, enables the achievement of the discharge flow rate required by the regulations.
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Furthermore, due to the minimal contact surface area between the fork and the internal track, the operating noise is significantly reduced. Therefore, the opening/closing mechanism is particularly quiet.
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Advantageously, the particular conformation of the opening/closing mechanism, specifically the structure of the fork and the internal track, enables the elimination of axial play in the cover cap during its ascent or opening and descent or closing movements.
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A person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the solutions described above.
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The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims.
List of References
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- 4:
- universal closure device
- 6:
- drain plug
- 7:
- drain
- 8:
- opening/closing mechanism
- 12:
- central body
- 16:
- containment body
- 20:
- snap-action means
- 24:
- lower thread
- 28:
- adapter
- 32:
- annular gasket
- 36:
- internal perimeter edge
- 40:
- drain hole
- 44:
- cover cap
- 48:
- internal track
- 52:
- track start position
- 56:
- track end position
- 60:
- upper cover
- 64:
- thrust spring
- 68:
- fork
- 70:
- fixing end
- 72:
- guide end
- 76:
- longitudinal guides
- 80:
- limit stops
- 84:
- coupling means
- 88:
- hooks
- 91,92,93,94:
- distinct planes or steps
- Y-Y:
- vertical direction