IE49895B1

IE49895B1 - A single-lever sanitary-water mixing valve

Info

Publication number: IE49895B1
Application number: IE1034/80A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Ideal Standard
Priority date: 1979-05-19
Filing date: 1980-05-16
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: ATA611379A; GR66397B; GB2051318B; FR2457426A1; SE441619B; NO801459L; IE801034L; AT383883B; GB2051318A; BE883370A; ES484913A1; CH640621A5; FR2457426B1; DK434379A; IT7946906A0; DE2920373A1; SE8003610L; IT1126142B; NL7907900A

Abstract

A hand-operable lever 2 for a water valve 1 comprises an elongate portion having a face which when the lever 2 is mounted on a water valve 1 faces generally away from the water valve 1 whereby the face is visible to a user. The face is provided at the free end of the lever with a visually distinctive indication 3 in the form of a part spherical protection or faceted projection adapted to serve for indicating how best the elongate portion can be gripped for actuation of the lever 2. A similar cooperating projection is provided at the opposite face of the elongate portion of the lever.

Description

This Invention relates to a sanitary water mixing valve with a single hand-operable lever, a so-called one-hand mixer valve unit or single-lever ¢. mixer. With a mixer unit of this type, generally ' both the quantity and the temperature of the outflowing water are adjusted with one hand by means of the single lever. For tbe temperature adjustment the lever is turned, i.e. swivelled. If the lever is pivoted about an axis at right angles to its turning or swivelling axis, the quantity of water delivered is altered.

According to the present invention there is provided a sanitary water mixing valve with a single hand-operable lever mounted for actuation by movement in two directions generally at right angles to each other to operate the valve, the lever comprising an elongate portion which is adapted to be grasped by a user, the elongate portion having a face, referred to as the front face, which faces generally away from the water valve whereby the face is visible to a user, there being provided on the front face at or adjacent the free end of the lever a visually distinctive indicator adapted to indicate to the user that the elongate portion of the lever should be gripped for actuation of the lever.

The visually distinctive indicator offers the user help as to how best he should grip the lever in order to be able to control the movements of the lever easily and securely. The invention enables the elongate portion of the lever preferably to have a smooth and/or recess-less and/or slim appearance preferably with straight constructional lines. The elongate portion may thus have a striplike appearance.

The presencfeof the visually distinctive indicator near to the free end of the lever directs a user to grasp the elongate portion of the lever with his thumb on the front face of the elongate portion and, behind the lever, with one or more fingers on the rear face along a fairly large part of the length of the elongate portion; that is, because of the presence of the visual indicator, the lever is grasped over a substantial part of its length beyond its free end where the visual indicator is located.

Preferably the visually distinctive indicator Is provided by a projection at the front face.

Another projection may be provided at the rear face. Projections improve the gripping capacity of the lever, which may be difficult to operate securely if it has largely smooth surfaces, particularly with a wet and/or soapy hand.

The visually distinctive indicator and, where provided, the rear face projection, may be coloured to enhance visual distinctiveness.

The or each projection may be generally in tbe form of a button or stud.

The or each projection may extend across the associated face of the elongate portion to an extent which is less than the width of the elongate portion.

The visually distinctive indicator and/or, where provided, the projection at the rear face, may be provided by an element which is physically distinct from the elongate portion. Alternatively, they may be integral portions thereof. Where a physically distinct element is concerned, it may be held directly or indirectly (for example by a bushing) in a recess or opening in the elongate portion. It may be held therein by use of a snap-in connection or a tight fit or by adhesive.

An improvement in gripping capacity can be achieved in a simple manner, if where one or more physically distinct elements are concerned, the or each element is held In an opening in the elongate portion, and the element or the elements projects or project from both sides of the opening to provide the projections at the two faces of the elongate portion.

The or at least one element may be in the form 5 of a push-in button.

The or at least one projection may be circular in plan view, and may be generally in the form of part of a sphere. Such a construction makes a fast and safe assembly possible where the projection is in the form of a physically distinct push-in button element. Moreover the sphere shape improves gripping capacity .

The or at least one projection may have a faceted appearance similar to that of a cut diamond. This is particularly visually distinctive and also may improve gripping capacity.

The or at least one projection may be made of transparent plastics or glass and may be formed to provide a magnifying effect. Again this is particularly visually distinctive. The or at least one projection of this type may be provided with a mark or symbol (for example a company mark or symbol) which can be viewed through the projection. Preferably the mark or symbol is provided between two halves of a member formed to provide the magnifying effect.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a wall-mounted single lever sanitary water mixing valve unit according to invention ; Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along line I-I of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of another hand lever for a valve according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4; and - 5 Figure 6 is a section along line II-II of Figure 4.

The first embodiment shows a valve unit 1 on which is mounted a lever 2 comprising an elongate portion projecting beyond the valve unit 1. The elongate portion has a front face (seen in Figure 1) which faces generally away from the valve unit 1 to be visible to a user.

Figures 4 to 6 show the second lever , also referenced 2, demounted ; it is generally similar to the first embodiment lever. Both elongate portions have in general a smooth, recess-less and slim appearance with straight constructional lines, giving a stiip-like appearance.

Each hand lever 2 is provided on its front face with a visually distinctive coloured indicator adapted to serve for indicating how best the elongate portion of the lever can be gripped for actuation of the valve. The indicator 3 forms a projection on the front face, and in the Figures 1 to 3 case there is a cooperating identical projection on the rear face of the elongate portion of the hand lever 2. The projections 3 are constructed as button or stud like projections rising from the front surface of the hand lever 2, the diameter of the projections being smaller than the width of the hand lever 2. The projections 3 are formed by elements which are physically distinct from the levers 2 and which are each held in an opening 4 of the hand lever 2 directly or indirectly, each being constructed like a push-in button. Each element consists of transparent plastics or glass. The projections 3 are circular in plan view.

In the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the two projection elements are in the forms of parts of a sphere which is held directly in the opening 4 by means of a snap-in or tight-fit connection. As can be seen the elements are so dimensioned and arranged that they project from both sides of the opening 4 with respect to the surfaces of the hand lever 2, and hence form two projections on the opposed faces of the elongate portion of the lever. The sphere member as a whole is constructed as a - 6 magnifying glass and consists of two halves between which there is a visible oompany mark or indication 5.

With the second sribodiroent of Figures 4 to 6, there is a single projection element held indirectly in the opening 4 by interposing a cup-shaped bushing 6.

As can be seen it forms, only on the front face of the elongate portion of the hand lever 2, a circular projection whose surface has a faceted appearance like a cut diamond.

The indicators 3 are each located at the free end of the lever 2 and each serves to indicate to a user that the elongate portion of the lever should be grasped with the thumb on the front face, i.e. beyond the indicator 3 which occupies the end region, and with one or more fingers behind the elongate portion contacting a fairly large part of the length of the elongate portion.

The indicators 3 may alternatively each be adjacent the free end of the lever 2, The embodiments shown and described are merely examples for realisation of the invention and tbe latter is not restricted to these. There are, within the scope of the basic idea of the invention, other possibilities also with regard to the arranganent and construction of the visually distinctive grip indicators. Sane of these possibilities are discussed before the foregoing description of the drawing.

It will be appreciated that if the projections as described were not provided, the surfaces of the elongate portions of the levers would be snooth and not very easy to hold, particularly with a wet and soapy hand. If the elongate portions were themselves shaped to provide an inproved gripping capacity, they would be considerably less visually attractive than the elongate portions illustrated, which have a substantially slim snooth appearance without any recess or ledge.

Tbe illustrated and described levers can he easily produced at a relatively low cost, and are particularly aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Claims

1. A sanitary water mixing valve with a single handoperable lever mounted for actuation by movement in tw directions generally at right angles to each other to operate the valve,the lever comprising an elongate portion which is adapted to be grasped by a user, the elongate portion having a face, referred to as the front face, which faces generally away frcm the water valve whereby the face is visible to a user,there being provided on the front face at or adjacent the free end of the lever a visually distinctive indicator adapted to indicate to a user that the elongate portion of the lever should be gripped for actuation of the lever.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is visually distinctive at least partially owing to its colour.

3. A valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the indicator is provided by a projection at the face.

4. A valve according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elongate portion has a further face which faces generally in the opposite direction to that in which the firstmentioned face faces, the further face being provided with aprojection which, in conjunction with the said visually distinctive indicator, is adapted to serve for indicating how best the elongate portion can be gripped for actuation of the lever.

5. A valve according to claim 4, wherein the projection at the further face is visually distinctive.

6. A valve according to claim 5, wherein the projection at the further face is visually distinctive at least partially owing to its colour.

7. A valve according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the or at least one projection is generally in the form of a button or stud.

8. A valve according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the or at least one projection extends across the associated face of the elongate portion to an extent which is less than the width of the elongate portion.

9. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visually distinctive indicator and/ or where provided, the projection at the further face, is - 49895 is provided by an element which is physically distinct from the elongate portion.

10. A valve according to claim 9, wherein the or at least one element is held directly or indirectly in a recess or opening in the elongate portion.

11. A valve according to claim 10, wherein the or each element held in a recess or opening is held therein by use of a snap-in connection or a tight fit.

12. A valve- according to claim 10, wherein the or each element held in a recess or opening is held therein by use of adhesive.

13. A valve according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said the or at least one element is held indirectly in the recess or opening by the interposition of a bushing.

14. A valve according to any one of claims 10 to 13, when claim 9 is appendent to claims 3 and 4, wherein the or each element is held in an opening in the elongate portion, and the element or the elements projects or project from both sides of the opening to provide the projections at the two faces of the elongate portion.

15. A valve according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the or at least one element is in the form of a push-'in button.

16. A 'valve according to any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein the or at least one projection is circular in plan view.

17. A valve according to claim 16, wherein the or at least one projection is generally in the form of part of a sphere.

18. A valve according to any one of claims 3 to 17, wherein the or at least one projection has a faceted appearance similar to that of a cut diamond.

19. A valve according to any one of claims 3 to 18, wherein the or at least one projection is made of transparent plastics or glass.

20. A .valve according to claim 19, wherein the or - 10 at least one projection which is made of transparent plastics or glass is formed to provide a magnifying effect.

21. A valve according to claim 20, wherein the 5 or at least one projection whicb has a magnifying effect is provided with a mark or symbol which can be viewed through the projection.

22. A valve according to claim 21, wherein the mark or symbol is provided between two halves of a 10 member formed to provide the magnifying effect.

23. A valve according to claim 4, or any claim appended to claim 4, wherein the projection at the further face is provided at or adjacent to a free end of the lever. 15

24. A water valve having a lever substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 2 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.

25. A lever for a valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.