EP3505690B1

EP3505690B1 - Vertical faucet water distribution device

Info

Publication number: EP3505690B1
Application number: EP18188444.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Tres Casas
Original assignee: Caspro SA
Current assignee: Caspro SA
Priority date: 2017-12-29
Filing date: 2018-08-10
Publication date: 2021-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-10
Also published as: ES2863948T3; PL3505690T3; ES1204212Y; EP3505690A1; ES1204212U

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vertical faucet water distribution device formed by a main faucet located at one end of a main column incorporating a water outlet to a second faucet that supplies water to a handheld showerhead, according to the preamble of claim 1.
The invention is especially applicable to the faucet and bathroom component industry.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art, bathtubs are preferably secured to the corner formed by two walls and even, if possible, secured to the two corners, thereby occupying the entire front of the room where it is installed.
However, there are situations in which it is necessary to install a bathtub separate from the wall or even when secured to a wall, sometimes they cannot access the water pipes through the wall, given they run through the floor.
In these cases, the general trend is to use faucets located in a vertical structure that is installed on the pavement or floor supporting the bathtub. This type of facilities must have a highly resistant floor mounting that must also allow the water pipes to be easily and effectively connected.
However, the faucets located in these facilities way exhibit a series of problems that are difficult to solve. The main problem is deciding how to connect the lateral intake to incorporate the handheld showerhead and for said handheld showerhead to be properly aligned once it is placed in its support, such that the water falls into the bathtub if the handheld showerhead is turned on.
This is the reason why these types of faucets usually do without the handheld showerhead and only have a faucet. This way, the main need is satisfied, which is to incorporate a faucet for filling the bathtub, and the structure of the faucet is made less complex without the handheld showerhead, which involves rather high manufacturing costs as it is fundamental to properly seal all water connections.
The present invention solves these problems, which have not been solved in the present state of the art, by providing a device for connecting to the main column in a perpendicular manner the faucet that incorporates a second adjustment faucet for the handheld showerhead which, in addition, incorporates a support for placing the handheld showerhead so that the water outlet is always directed towards the inside of the bathtub.
From the state of the art it is known document US7114202B1 , representing the closest prior art, which discloses a portable multi-point fluid delivery system including a conduit assembly having a stationary conduit and a positionable conduit in fluid communication with one another. A fluid control assembly is described including at least a fixed fluid delivery member and a positionable fluid delivery member, and being structured to regulate fluid flow from the fixed fluid delivery member and the positionable fluid delivery member, either independently or simultaneously. It also includes a flexible conduit extension structured to permit the positionable fluid delivery member to be disposed in a spaced apart relation from the stationary fluid delivery member, thereby permitting fluid to be delivered to any of a plurality of spaced apart locations utilizing a single system.
Document CN104226504B describes a water-saving shower device comprising a water pipe with a top shower nozzle, a lateral shower nozzle branch pipe connected to one side of the water pipe and a top shower nozzle switch valve. The lateral shower nozzle branch pipe comprises a horizontal section one end of which is provided with a water outlet connected with a lateral shower nozzle through a hose. The other end of the horizontal section inclines downwardly to form an inclined section, and a lateral shower nozzle switch valve is disposed on said inclined section. The tail end of the inclined section is connected with the lateral side of the water pipe. A residual water recycling pipe comprising a residual water recycling valve are also described. The water-saving shower device allows collecting the residual water in the water pipe after the shower device is used and reducing the aging speed of the water by discharging the residue water.
Also US2014259383A1 is known from the state of the art. This document describes a tub filler faucet assembly for coupling to a floor. The tub filler faucet assembly includes a spout, a mounting assembly, and a rough-in assembly. The mounting assembly is coupled to the spout and the rough-in assembly. The rough-in assembly is positioned below the floor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned above, the present invention describes a vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 1 by which water is conveyed to a main faucet and to a second faucet that supplies water to a handheld showerhead.
The main faucet is joined to a main column solidly joined by means of reversible fixing means to a fixed column that is coupled to the pavement by a fixing device. To achieve this, the main column incorporates joints fixed to each one of the ends of the two water pipes of the main column for an easy coupling to the corresponding pipes of the fixed column.
The second faucet is joined to the main column through a branch body having a frustoconical and staggered end housed inside the main column.
The branch body is fixed to the main column by means of a clamping element that passes through the wall of the main column to reach the frustoconical end of the branch body, which immobilizes the branch body, on the one hand, and on the other, makes it easy to disassemble the same.
Furthermore, the branch body is surrounded by a cover that provides protection and improves its appearance in the form of a frame. The cover is fixed to the branch body by means of the fitting to the hose of the handheld showerhead, which immobilizes the two parts.
The cover of the branch body furthermore comprises a support for fixing the handle of the handheld showerhead. Since the cover has a fixed position with respect to the main column, just as the support does, if the showerhead is fixed to the support and the faucet is opened, the water will fall into the bathtub and will not splash outside.
The branch body also comprises a calibrated cartridge to prevent the passage of water to the second faucet at a temperature higher than a set value, to prevent a user from suffering burns.
The main column is reversibly joined to a fixed column, such that the two faucets form a single, removable assembly. Both the fixed column and the main column house a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe that are fixed by means of joints. The branch body also comprises channels through which the respective cold and hot water pipes of the main column and branch channels, connected to the water channels, are joined for supplying water to the second faucet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the description of the invention and provide a better understanding of its characteristics according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings has been attached, where the following figures have been represented in an illustrative rather than limitative manner:

Figure 1 represents an elevation view of the vertical faucet water distribution device object of the present invention.
Figure 2 represents a side view of the vertical faucet water distribution device object of the present invention in the position of use next to a bathtub.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view of the joint of the water distribution body to the faucet of the handheld showerhead with the main water supply column to the main faucet.
Figure 4 represents a sectional view of the water distribution body to the faucet of the handheld showerhead.
Figure 5 represents a plan view of the device of the invention sectioned at the height of the second faucet.

Below is a list of the references used in the figures:

1.: Main column.
2.: Branch body.
3.: Support.
4.: Handheld showerhead.
5.: Main faucet.
6.: Calibrated cartridge.
7.: Second faucet.
8.: Cover.
9.: Clamping element.
10.: Showerhead hose.
11.: Fixed column.
12.: Cold water pipe.
12'.: Hot water pipe.
13.: Cold water branch channel.
13'.: Hot water branch channel.
14.: Cold water channel.
14'.: Hot water channel.
15.: Joint.
16.: O-rings.
17.: Floor.
18.: Pavement.
19.: Main body.
20.: Fastening.
21.: Levelling element.
22.: Hole.
23.: Frame.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 represents the vertical faucet water distribution device of the invention showing a fixed column (11) anchored to the floor to which the main column (1) of the device of the invention is fixed. Said main column (1) contains the main faucet (5) and the branch body (2) for supplying water to the second faucet (7) connected to the handheld showerhead (4).
Figure 3 shows how, inside the fixed column (11), there are two pipes (12, 12') for transporting cold water and hot water, respectively. These pipes (12, 12') are joined to others that match up with the main column (1) to bring hot and cold water to the main faucet (5). The pipes (12, 12') of the fixed column (11) are joined to the pipes (12, 12') of the main column (1) by means of joints (15) incorporated by the pipes (12, 12') of the main column (1) at the free ends thereof. These joints (15) further incorporate O-rings (16) to improve sealing.
Figure 3 also shows how the one of the ends of the branch body (2) has a frustoconical and staggered shape by means of which it joins the main column (1) through a hole. The frustoconical structure has two channels (14, 14'), one for cold water (14) and the other for hot water (14') to provide hydraulic communication between the cold water pipe (12) and the hot water pipe (12') of the fixed column (11) and the corresponding pipes (12, 12') of the main column (1) towards the main faucet (5). Each of these channels (14, 14') exhibits branch channels (13, 13') along the branch body (2) to convey the water from the fixed column (11) to the second faucet (7).
In figure 3 it is possible to see how the branch body (2) is fixed to the main column (1) by means of a clamping element (9) which, by means of an opening in the main column (1), is fixed to the end of the frustoconical structure of the branch body (2). Being so fixed makes it possible to axially immobilize the branch body (2) to the main column (1). This fixing system also makes it possible to easily access the inside of the main column (1) and the branch body (2) in the case of a breakdown. The branch body (2) is connected to the main column (1) by means of a hole in the main column (1) in which the frustoconical end of the branch body (2) is inserted until it is fixed by the clamping element (9), while a protective cover (8) that surrounds the branch body (2) abuts tightly on the outside of the main column (1), for which it has the corresponding curved shape. In addition, the cover (8) is fixed to the branch body (2) by means of the fitting to the hose (10) of the handheld showerhead (4). This way, the joint is immobilized in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the branch body (2).
The main column (1) can incorporate a thermostatic cartridge for controlling the temperature of the water leaving the main faucet (5), such that it can be adjusted.
However, the temperature of the water leaving the branch body (2) is not yet adjusted, due to which, in order to prevent the water from passing through at a temperature higher than a previously set value so as to avoid burns through the water coming out of the handheld showerhead (4), the channels of the branch body (2) end in a calibrated cartridge (6). This limitation does not occur in the main faucet (5), since it is very common to need water at a high temperature to fill the bathtub quickly, due to which a cartridge without any temperature limits is usually incorporated.
The calibrated cartridge (6) is located at one end of the branch body (2) forming part thereof, and is also surrounded by the cover (8), which provides protection and acts as a frame.
The mixture of cold and hot water produced in the calibrated cartridge (6) is controlled by the second faucet (7) which, therefore, controls the temperature of the water coming out of this calibrated cartridge (6) by means of a channel that leads to an opening in which the hose (10) of the handheld showerhead (4) is located.
The cover (8) of the branch body (2) incorporates a support (3) for housing the handle of the handheld showerhead (4). Since the cover (8) has a fixed position with respect to the axis of the main column (1), just as the support (3) does, the water outlet through the handheld showerhead (4) is always directed towards the inside of the bathtub and will not splash outside.
A fixing device is required for fixing the fixed column (11) to the floor. This device is composed of a body (19) from which fastenings (20) protrude, each with a levelling element (21) and an opening (22).
The levelling elements (21) level the device and ensure the fixed column (11) remains vertical, regardless of the type of pavement (18) on which it is located. There are holes made in the pavement (18) positioned in relation to the openings (22) to introduce chemical plugs which ensure the device is firmly fixed to the pavement (18). Subsequently the device is covered to the floor (17) with mortar and the mouth of the device, which protrudes from the floor (17), is covered with a frame (8) incorporating the fixed column (11).
It is to be understood that the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be executed by experts in the art in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

A vertical faucet water distribution device comprising
- a main column (1) incorporating a main faucet (5) and intended to be firmly joined to a pavement,

- a branch body (2) and

- a second faucet (7) joined to the branch body (2)
characterised in that
the branch body (2) joins the main column (1) by a frustoconical and staggered-shaped end of the branch body that is housed inside the main column (1) thereby joining the second faucet (7) to the main column (1), wherein the frustoconical and staggered-shaped end is fixed by means of a clamping element (9) passing through the wall of the main column (1),
in that it comprises

- a cover (8) that surrounds the branch body (2) and has a curved-shaped end abutting tightly the outside of the main column (1) while the branch body (2) is inserted in the main column (1) and fixed by the clamping element (9), which immobilizes the branch body (2) and makes it easy to disassemble the same, and
in that it further comprises

- a support (3), intended to house a handle of a handheld showerhead (4), the support being fixed to the cover (8) of the branch body (2) and with a fixed inclination with respect to the main column (1), which is determined when the cover (8) is fixed on the main column (1).
The vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that the branch body (2) comprises a calibrated cartridge (6) that prevents the passage of water to the second faucet (7) at a temperature higher than a set value.
The vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (8) is fixed to the branch body (2) by means of a fitting for fixing a hose (10) of the handheld showerhead (4) to the device.
The vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 2, characterized in that the main column (1) is fixed to an in use fixed column (11) in a reversible manner, so that the two faucets (5, 7) form a removable assembly.
The vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 4, characterized in that both the fixed column (11) and the main column (1) house a cold water pipe (12) and a hot water pipe (12') that are fixed by means of joints (15).
The vertical faucet water distribution device according to claim 5, characterized in that the branch body (2) comprises channels (14, 14') that provide continuity to the cold water pipe (12) and the hot water pipe (12 ') of the main column (1) and branch channels (13, 13') connected to the respective cold water (14) and hot water (14') channels for supplying water to the second faucet (7).