[0001] The invention relates to a button assembly for activating a drain device of a flushing
tank, according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] As it is known, a flushing tank for sanitary fixtures is usually provided with a
drain device, which is housed inside the tank and is used to drain water from the
tank. Generally speaking, a drain device comprises: a support structure, which is
fixed to a bottom wall of the tank; a shutter member, which usually also works as
an overflow pipe, can slide in the support structure and is provided with a sealing
end portion cooperating with a sealing seat; and an activating mechanism, which is
mechanically connected to the shutter member or overflow pipe.
[0003] The activating mechanism is commonly controlled by means of a button assembly, which
can comprise one button (if the drain device is designed to operate in one single
draining mode, namely to drain a fixed amount of water) or two buttons (in case the
drain device is designed to operate in two different draining modes, thus draining
different amounts of water).
[0004] It is known, in particular, that the button assembly can be directly installed on
the flushing tank, precisely on an upper lid of the flushing tank.
[0005] In this case, the button assembly is usually fixed, for example through a threaded
coupling, to an upper end of the support structure of the drain device and also locks
the lid on the tank. In order to have access to the inside of the tank, you need to
remove the button assembly in order to take off the lid.
[0007] In particular,
US2016/153182A1 discloses a button assembly comprising a base casing, a movable slider housed in
the casing and provided with fastening teeth axially engaging the casing, and a pair
of operating buttons connected to the slider. This document, selected as representing
the closest prior art, describes all the technical features mentioned in the preamble
of claim 1.
[0008] Both the installation and the removal of known button assemblies are not particularly
simple and fast operations.
[0009] The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above, which affect
prior art devices.
[0010] In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a button assembly for activating
a drain device of a flushing tank, which allows a simple and quick access to the inside
of the drain device, also - for example - in order to recharge a possible water treatment
device integrated in the drain device.
[0011] Therefore, the invention relates to a button assembly for activating a drain device
of a flushing tank as defined, in its essential aspects, in appended claim 1 and,
in its additional features, in the dependent claims.
[0012] The button assembly according to the invention is simple and economic to be manufactured
and installed and offers the chance to access the inside of the tank in a simple and
quick manner, without requiring particularly long and complicated operations.
[0013] The invention will now be described in detail in the following non-limiting embodiment,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 is a perspective view of a button assembly according to the invention, in
an assembled condition;
- figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity,
of the button assembly of figure 1;
- figure 3 is a further exploded perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity,
of the button assembly of figure 1 in a partially assembled condition;
- figure 4 is a perspective view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of the button
assembly of figure 1 in a partially assembled condition;
- figure 5 is a perspective view in longitudinal section of the button assembly of the
invention.
[0014] In the accompanying drawings, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a button assembly,
which can be installed on a flushing tank and can be manually operated by a user.
[0015] In particular, the button assembly 1 can be fitted on an upper lid of a flushing
tank and can be connected to a drain device of the flushing tank so as to cooperate
with an activating mechanism of the drain device.
[0016] For the sake of simplicity, neither the drain device nor the flushing tank are shown,
as they can be of a known type.
[0017] The button assembly 1 substantially extends along an axis A (which, in use, is vertical)
and comprises a base casing 2, a pair of movable sliders 3, 4, which are housed so
as to slide parallel to the axis A in the casing 2 and are connected to respective
operating buttons 5, 6, which can be pressure-operated by a user, and a connection
element 7.
[0018] The casing 2 consists of an internally hollow tank body, which is shaped so as to
be housed in a suitable seat obtained in the flushing tank, for example on the lid
of the flushing tank.
[0019] The casing 2 has a bottom wall 8 and a lateral wall 9, which extends from a peripheral
edge of the bottom wall 8 around the axis A and delimits an inner chamber 10, which
is open at the top.
[0020] The bottom wall 8 has a central opening 11, which is substantially positioned along
the axis A and is connected to a service seat 12, which projects from the bottom wall
8 on the outside of the chamber 10 substantially along the axis A (or parallel to
the axis A) ; and a pair of lateral openings 13, which are positioned on opposite
sides of the opening 11 and are connected to respective sliding seats 14, which project
from the bottom wall 8 on the outside of the chamber 10 substantially parallel to
the axis A.
[0021] The lateral wall 9 is provided with a top end radially outer flanged edge 15 and
has one or more slots 16, which are elongated parallel to the axis A and are angularly
spaced apart from one another on the lateral wall 9; each slot 16 has an axial upper
shoulder 17.
[0022] The casing 2 is provided with fixing members 21, which project - for example - from
the lateral wall 9 so as to engage the lid of the flushing tank and connect the casing
2 to the flushing tank, thus reducing or eliminating excessive clearances between
the casing 2 and the lid. In the non-limiting example shown herein, the fixing members
21 comprise elastic teeth, which radially project on the outside of the casing 2.
[0023] Each one of the sliders 3, 4 comprises a head plate 22, which is housed in the chamber
10, and a stem 23, which projects from the head plate 22 and is inserted in one of
the sliding seats 14 through one of the openings 13.
[0024] The head plates 22 have respective overlapping contact portions 24, from which respective
tubular sleeves 25 project, which are coaxial to each other and inserted one inside
the other. The sleeves 25 are housed in the service seat 12 through the opening 11
and are axially open so as to define a through duct 26.
[0025] The slider 3, which has the contact portion located above the contact portion 24
of the slider 4, is provided with one or more outer fastening teeth 27.
[0026] The fastening teeth 27, for example, project radially outwards from a perimetral
edge 28 of the head plate 22 and are located inside respective slots 16 so as to axially
engage respective shoulders 17 of the casing 2.
[0027] Each fastening tooth 27 is connected to the perimetral edge 28 by a tie 29 and is
spaced apart from the perimetral edge 28 by a gap 30. The fastening teeth 27 are radially
flexible with respect to the axis A so as to selectively engage and release the shoulders
17.
[0028] The sliders 3, 4 have respective upper profiles 31, which project from the head plates
22 and are shaped so as to receive respective buttons 5, 6.
[0029] The buttons 5, 6 are housed in the chamber 10 above respective sliders 3, 4 and have
respective bottom edges 32, which are shaped so as to engage respective profiles 31
of the sliders 3, 4, thus mechanically cooperating with the sliders 3, 4.
[0030] The button 5 has locking elements 33, which project from the bottom edge 32 in the
area of respective fastening teeth 27 so as to cooperate with the fastening teeth
27 and radially lock the fastening teeth 27.
[0031] In particular, the locking elements 33 are inserted in the gaps 30 and are interposed
between the fastening teeth 27 and the perimetral edge 28, so as to prevent the fastening
teeth 27 from radially flexing.
[0032] The connection element 7 comprises an internally hollow tubular body 35, which extends
along the axis A, and a radially outer flange 36, which is placed at an open upper
axial end 37 of the tubular body 35.
[0033] A lower axial end 38 of the element 7 is also open and is optionally provided with
a nozzle 39. The tubular body 35 has an outer thread 40.
[0034] The tubular body 35 is placed through the service seat 12 with the flange 36 abutting
against the bottom wall 8. On the inside of the tubular body 35 there are the sleeves
25, which can slide inside the tubular body 35.
[0035] During the assembly phase, the button assembly 1 is fitted on the flushing tank in
the following manner.
[0036] The casing 2 is placed in its seat on the flushing tank, for example on the lid of
the flushing tank.
[0037] The casing is fastened to the flushing tank by means of the fixing members 21 and
the flanged edge 15.
[0038] Then the connection element 7 is inserted through the opening 11 into the service
seat 12 with the flange 36 abutting against the bottom wall 8; the tubular body 35
rotates in the service seat 12 and can be rotated so as to be screwed into a threaded
seat formed by a support structure (which is known and, therefore, not shown) of the
drain device of the flushing tank.
[0039] The sliders 3, 4 are inserted into the chamber 10, with the respective contact portions
24 overlapping one another; the stems 23 are inserted into the sliding seats 14 through
the openings 13; the sleeves 25 are inserted into one another and, together, into
the service seat 12 and inside the tubular body 35.
[0040] The slider 3 is fastened, through the fastening teeth 27, to the casing 2 and also
locks the slider 4.
[0041] Finally, the buttons 5, 6 are installed.
[0042] The button 5 radially locks the fastening teeth 27, thus preventing the fastening
teeth 27 from being released from the casing 2.
[0043] In fact, the locking elements 33, which are inserted in the gaps 30, are interposed
between the fastening teeth 27 and the perimetral edge 28, so as to prevent the fastening
teeth 27 from flexing and being removed from the casing.
[0044] In order to have access to the inside of the tank, for example to fill a service
liquid (sanitizer), you simply have to remove the button 5 so as to have access, through
the opening 11, to the tubular body 35.
[0045] If, on the other hand, you want to remove the lid of the flushing tank, after having
removed the button 5, the fastening teeth 27 can be disengaged from the casing 2 and,
hence, the sliders 3, 4 can be removed, followed by the connection element 7.
[0046] The button assembly described and explained herein can be subjected to changes and
variants, which do not go beyond the scope of protection set forth in the appended
claims.
1. Button assembly (1) for activating a drain device of a flushing tank, extending substantially
along an axis (A) and comprising a base casing (2), at least one movable slider (3)
housed in the casing (2) and sliding parallel to the axis (A) with respect to the
casing (2), at least one operating button (5) connected to the slider (3); wherein
the slider (3) is provided with one or more fastening teeth (27) which are housed
inside respective slots (16) of the casing (2) for engaging axially respective shoulders
(17) of the casing (2); characterized in that the button (5) has locking elements (33) projecting from a bottom edge (32) of the
button (5) and corresponding to respective fastening teeth (27) for cooperating with
the fastening teeth (27) and locking radially the fastening teeth (27).
2. A button assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening teeth (27) project from
a perimetral edge (28) of the slider (3) and are radially flexible with respect to
the axis (A) so as to selectively engage and release the respective shoulders (17).
3. A button assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each fastening teeth (27) is
connected to the perimetral edge (28) by a tie (29) and is spaced apart from the perimetral
edge (28) by a gap (30); and the locking elements (33) are housed inside the gaps
(30) and interpose themselves between the fastening teeth (27) and the perimetral
edge (28) so as to prevent the fastening teeth (27) from flexing radially.
4. A button assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of movable
sliders (3, 4) housed in the casing (2) and sliding parallel to the axis (A) with
respect to the casing (2) and connected to respective operating buttons (5, 6).
5. A button assembly according to claim 4, wherein the casing (2) has a bottom wall (8)
and a lateral wall (9) extending from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall (8) about
the axis (A) and delimiting an inner chamber (10) which is open at the top; and the
bottom wall (8) has at least one central opening (11), positioned substantially along
the axis (A) and connected to a service seat (12), and a pair of lateral openings
(13) positioned on opposite sides of the central opening (11) and connected to respective
sliding seats (14) which receive respective stems (23) of the sliders (3, 4) .
6. A button assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sliders (3, 4) comprise respective
head plates (22) having respective overlapping contact portions (24) from which respective
tubular sleeves (25) project, which are coaxial to each other and inserted one inside
the other and inside the service seat (12).
7. A button assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fastening teeth (27) are positioned
on a first slider (3), having the contact portion (24) positioned above the contact
portion (24) of the other slider (4).
8. A button assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a connection
element (7) having a internally hollow tubular body (35) and extending along the axis
(A), and a radially outer flange (36) positioned at an open upper axial end (37) of
the tubular body (35); the tubular body (35) being positioned through the service
seat (12) with the flange (36) abutting against the bottom wall (8), and the sleeves
(25) being housed inside the tubular body (35).
1. Tastenbaugruppe (1) zur Aktivierung einer Ablassvorrichtung eines Spültankes welche
sich im Wesentlichen entlang einer Achse (A) erstreckt, umfassend ein Basisgehäuse
(2), zumindest einen beweglichen Schieber (3), der in dem Basisgehäuse (2) untergebracht
ist und parallel zu der Achse (A) in Bezug auf das Gehäuse (2) gleitet, zumindest
eine Betätigungstaste (5), die mit dem Schieber (3) verbunden ist; wobei der Schieber
(3) einen oder mehrere Befestigungszähne (27) aufweist, die in entsprechenden Schlitzen
(16) des Gehäuses (2) untergebracht sind um in entsprechende Schultern (17) des Gehäuses
(2) axial einzugreifen; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Taste (5) Verriegelungselemente (33) aufweist, die von einer untere Kante (32)
der Taste (5) vorstehen und den entsprechenden Befestigungszähnen (27) entsprechen
um mit den Befestigungszähnen (27) zusammenzuwirken und um die Befestigungszähne (27)
radial zu verriegeln.
2. Tastenbaugruppe nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Befestigungszähne (27) von einer Umfangskante
(28) des Schiebers (3) vorstehen und radial flexibel in Bezug auf die Achse (A) sind,
um wahlweise in die entsprechenden Schultern (17) einzugreifen und diese freizugeben.
3. Tastenbaugruppe nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei jeder Befestigungszahn (27) mit der
Umfangskante (28) über einen Steg (29) verbunden ist und von der Umfangskante (28)
durch einen Spalt (30) beabstandet ist; und die Verriegelungselemente (33) innerhalb
der Spalte (30) angeordnet sind und sich zwischen den Befestigungszähnen (27) und
der Umfangskante (28) befinden, um zu verhindern, dass sich die Befestigungszähne
(27) radial verbiegen.
4. Tastenbaugruppe nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend ein paar von Schiebern
(3, 4), die im Gehäuse (2) untergebracht sind und parallel zu der Achse (A) in Bezug
auf das Gehäuse (2) gleiten und die mit entsprechenden Betätigungstasten (5, 6) verbunden
sind.
5. Tastenbaugruppe nach Anspruch 4, wobei das Gehäuse (2) eine Bodenwand (8) und eine
Seitenwand (9) aufweist, welche sich von der Außenkante der Bodenwand (8) aus entlang
der Achse (A) erstreckt, und einen Innenraum (10) begrenzen, der nach oben offen ist;
und die Bodenwand (8) zumindest eine zentrale Öffnung (11) aufweist, die im Wesentlichen
entlang der Achse (A) positioniert und mit einem Wartungssitz (12) verbunden ist und
zwei seitliche Öffnungen (13) aufweist, die auf gegenüberliegend Seiten der zentralen
Öffnung (11) angeordnet und mit entsprechenden Gleitsitzen (14) verbunden sind, welche
entsprechende Schäfte (23) der Schieber (3, 4) aufnehmen.
6. Tastenbaugruppe nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Schieber (3, 4) entsprechende Kopfplatten
(22) aufweisen, die entsprechende überlappende Kontaktbereiche (24) aufweisen, von
denen aus sich rohrförmige Hülsen (25) erstrecken, die koaxial zueinander angeordnet
sind und wobei eine in die andere Hülse (25) und in den Wartungssitz (12) eingeführt
ist.
7. Tastenbaugruppe nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Befestigungszähne (27) auf einem ersten
Schieber (3) angeordnet sind, der einen Kontaktbereich (24) aufweist, der oberhalb
des Kontaktbereiches (24) des anderen Schiebers (4) angeordnet ist.
8. Tastenbaugruppe nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend ein Verbindungselement
(7), welches einen innen holen, rohrförmigen Körper (35) aufweist und sich entlang
der Achse (A) erstreckt und einen radial außenliegenden Kragen (36) aufweist, der
an einem oberen, offenen, axialen Ende (37) des rohrförmigen Körpers (35) angeordnet
ist; wobei der rohrförmige Körper (35) durch den Wartungssitz (12) hindurch angeordnet
ist, wobei der Kragen (36) an der Bodenwand (8) anschlägt und die Hülsen (25) innerhalb
des rohrförmigen Körpers (35) untergebracht sind.
1. Ensemble bouton (1) pour activer un dispositif de vidange d'un réservoir de chasse
d'eau, s'étendant sensiblement le long d'un axe (A) et comprenant un boîtier de base
(2), au moins une glissière mobile (3) logée dans le boîtier (2) et coulissant parallèlement
à l'axe (A) par rapport au boîtier (2), au moins un bouton de commande (5) raccordé
à la glissière (3), dans lequel la glissière (3) est prévue avec une ou plusieurs
dents de fixation (27) qui sont logées à l'intérieur des fentes (16) respectives du
boîtier (2) pour mettre axialement en prise des épaulements (17) respectifs du boîtier
(2), le bouton (5) ayant des éléments de blocage (33) faisant saillie d'un bord inférieur
(32) du bouton (5) et correspondant aux dents de fixation (27) respectives pour coopérer
avec les dents de fixation (27) et verrouiller radialement les dents de fixation (27)
.
2. Ensemble bouton selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les dents de fixation (27) font saillie d'un bord périmétral (28) de la glissière
(3) et sont radialement flexibles par rapport à l'axe (A) afin de mettre sélectivement
en prise et libérer les épaulements (17) respectifs.
3. Ensemble bouton selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que chaque dent de fixation (27) est raccordée au bord périmétral (28) par une attache
(29) et est espacée du bord périmétral (28) par un espace (30), les éléments de blocage
(33) étant logés à l'intérieur des espaces (30) et s'intercalant eux-mêmes entre les
dents de fixation (27) et le bord périmétral (28) afin d'empêcher la flexion radiale
des dents de fixation (27) .
4. Ensemble bouton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant
une paire de glissières mobiles (3, 4) logées dans le boîtier (2) et coulissant parallèlement
à l'axe (A) par rapport au boîtier (2) et raccordées aux boutons de commande (5, 6)
respectifs.
5. Ensemble bouton selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le boîtier (2) a une paroi inférieure (8) et une paroi latérale (9) s'étendant à
partir d'un bord périphérique de la paroi inférieure (8) autour de l'axe (A) et délimitant
une chambre interne (10) qui est ouverte au sommet, la paroi inférieure (8) ayant
au moins une ouverture centrale (11) positionnée sensiblement le long de l'axe (A)
et raccordée à un siège de service (12), et une paire d'ouvertures latérales (13)
positionnées sur les côtés opposés de l'ouverture centrale (11) et raccordées aux
sièges de coulissement (14) respectifs qui reçoivent des tiges (23) respectives des
glissières (3, 4).
6. Ensemble bouton selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les glissières (3, 4) comprennent des plaques de tête (22) respectives ayant des
parties de contact (24) chevauchantes respectives à partir desquelles des manchons
tubulaires (25) respectifs font saillie, qui sont coaxiaux entre eux et insérés l'un
à l'intérieur de l'autre et à l'intérieur du siège de service (12).
7. Ensemble bouton selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les dents de fixation (27) sont positionnées sur une première glissière (3) ayant
la partie de contact (24) positionnées au-dessus de la partie de contact (24) de l'autre
glissière (4) .
8. Ensemble bouton selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant un élément
de raccordement (7) ayant un corps tubulaire intérieurement creux (35) et s'étendant
le long de l'axe (A) et une bride radialement externe (36) positionnée au niveau d'une
extrémité axiale supérieure ouverte (37) du corps tubulaire (35), le corps tubulaire
(35) étant positionné à travers le siège de service (12) avec la bride (36) qui vient
en butée contre la paroi inférieure (8), et les manchons (25) étant logés à l'intérieur
du corps tubulaire (35).