Water mixer

Abstract

 A water mixer comprising an internal water mixing unit (11) to which an interchangeable outer shell (12) is coupled detachably, the outer shell (12) being uncoupleable with respect to the internal water mixing unit (11) very easily, by sliding it off after releasing simple reversible locking means.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a water mixer.

[0002] The most widely used water mixers are currently substantially of two types: single-lever mixers and two-lever mixers.

[0003] In both cases, such mixers comprise an outer shell, typically produced by casting, which is constituted by a main body that accommodates internally the plumbing components that adjust the mixing of the water that arrives from two pipes that carry hot and cold water, by a spout, on which the outlet is formed, and by means for actuating the mixer.

[0004] Considering for example a single-lever mixer, the plumbing components are mainly constituted by a mixing cartridge, which is functionally connected to the water feed pipes and to the outlet; the mixer actuation means are constituted by a lever, which is connected to the pivot for actuating the mixing cartridge.

[0005] In a mixer as described above, the component that has the highest aesthetic and economic value is the outer shell.

[0006] Such outer shell is the part that characterizes the appearance of the mixer and therefore has a strong design aspect.

[0007] Like most items that are highly characterized by their design, the aesthetics of mixers also is subject to swift changes caused by fashion.

[0008] The costs of mixers can be highly variable, depending on the sophistication of the design.

[0009] Anyone who wishes to change one's mixers might therefore have to bear substantially onerous expenses.

[0010] Moreover, due to questions of conformity in furnishing, the mixers of the various fixtures all belong to a same product line within a same room, for example a bathroom; if a mixer needs to be replaced for any reason, because the cast part (outer shell) is damaged and the corresponding product is no longer available because it is out of production, it becomes necessary to replace all the mixers.

[0011] Replacing a mixer, as mentioned, is onerous and entails losing the plumbing components located inside the outer shell, since they are dedicated to the particular mixer.

[0012] Another problem linked to mixers relates to their installation in buildings during construction.

[0013] In building yards, which generally lack adequate protection systems, once mixers are installed they are often stolen.

[0014] Another problem linked to the wide variety of aesthetic shapes of commercially available mixers relates to their storing.

[0015] Due to market satisfaction issues, a dealer (and also a manufacturer) in fact must have available many different models (of considerable weight for each individual model), thus locking up a substantial amount of capital.

[0016] The aim of the present invention is to provide a water mixer that solves the problems linked to known types of mixer.

[0017] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a water mixer that can be easily, and at low cost, replaced.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a water mixer that allows to reduce the number of thefts of mixers and damage to them in building yards.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a water mixer that allows to reduce the overall cost of models held in store.

[0020] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a water mixer that can be manufactured with known systems and technologies.

[0021] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a water mixer, characterized in that it comprises an internal water mixing unit to which an interchangeable outer shell is coupled detachably.

[0022] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a mixer according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional front view of a mixer according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the mixer of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a mixer according to the invention.

[0023] With reference to the figures, a water mixer according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0024] The mixer 10, in this embodiment of the single-lever type, comprises an internal water mixing unit 11, to which an interchangeable outer shell 12 is coupled detachably.

[0025] The outer shell 12 is formed monolithically, for example by metal die-casting, and is constituted by a main body 16 and by a first outlet 13.

[0026] The internal water mixing unit 11 comprises a hollow base body 17, inside which water mixing means 14 are arranged.

[0027] A receptacle 15 is formed inside the main body 16 and in this embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0028] The base body 17 is arranged inside the receptacle 15 so as to be coupled detachably to the outer shell 12.

[0029] The water mixing means 14 comprise, in this embodiment, a mixing cartridge 18 (of the per se known type), which is functionally connected to two flexible pipes 19 that respectively convey hot and cold water.

[0030] In this embodiment, the base body 17 has a substantially cylindrical tubular shape formed by a main cylindrical shaft 20, which is open at the top by means of an opening 21, and by a lower cylindrical portion 22, which has a smaller diameter than the main cylindrical shaft 20 and is designed for insertion in a suitable seat 23 formed in a supporting structural element 24, such as for example the ceramic of a washbasin (not shown in the figures).

[0031] The cartridge 18 is locked upward by a cartridge pressing ring 25, which is screwed onto the base body 17 at the opening 21.

[0032] In a lower region, the cartridge 18 rests on a supporting element 26, which has a cylindrical cross-section and in turn is arranged in a lower region in abutment against a shoulder 27 of the base body 17.

[0033] The supporting element 26 has two holes 28, inside which the ends of the pipes 19 are fixed respectively.

[0034] The cartridge 18 is functionally connected by means of respective connecting channels (not shown in the figures) to the ends of the pipes 19.

[0035] A space 30 is formed on the bottom of the cartridge 18, is delimited downward by the supporting element 26, designed to receive the possibly mixed water that arrives from said cartridge, and laterally by the wall of the base body 17.

[0036] A second outlet 32 is provided in the base body 17 at the space 30.

[0037] The second outlet 32 is functionally connected to the cartridge 18 by means of the space 30 and to the first outlet 13.

[0038] The first outlet 13, in this embodiment, is arranged at the end of a spout 33 that protrudes from the main body 16.

[0039] Annular slots for accommodating first gaskets 34, such as for example O-rings, which form a seal with respect to the water that is present in the space 30, are formed in the cartridge 18 and in the supporting element 26.

[0040] The second outlet 32 opens directly onto an annular volume 35 that is delimited laterally by the cylindrical walls of the main body 16 and of the base body 17 and is delimited above and below by annular shoulders 36 that protrude from the cylindrical walls of the main body 16.

[0041] Grooves for accommodating second gaskets 37 are formed in the annular shoulders 36.

[0042] The annular volume 35 is directly connected to the spout 33 by means of an intermediate outlet 38.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown in the figures, the annular shoulders 36 protrude from the cylindrical walls of the base body 17.

[0044] The base body 17 is associated with means 40 for fixing to the supporting structural element 24, which comprise a threaded fixing ring 41 which is screwed onto a complementary thread (not shown in the figures) formed on the lower cylindrical portion 22 of said base body.

[0045] The fixing ring 41 keeps the shoulder 42, formed by the change in diameter between the main cylindrical shaft 20 and the lower cylindrical portion 22, pressed toward the supporting structural element 24, thus locking the body 17.

[0046] The mixer 10 further comprises means 45 for preventing the rotation of the outer shell 12 about the base body 17.

[0047] The rotation-preventing means 45 comprise a rotation-preventing washer 46, which is locked between the shoulder 42 and the supporting structural element 24.

[0048] The rotation-preventing washer 46 has, on its peripheral region, mutually opposite wings 47 that are folded upward.

[0049] The wings 47 are inserted in complementarily shaped recesses 48 formed in the lower rim of the main body 16, locking the rotation of the shell 12 about the base body 17.

[0050] A plain washer 50 is arranged between the fixing ring 41 and the supporting structural element 24; third gaskets 51 are provided respectively between the rotation-preventing washer 46 and the supporting structural element 24 and between the plain washer 50 and the supporting structural element 24.

[0051] Means 52 for reversibly locking the coupling of the interchangeable outer shell 12 with respect to the water mixing unit 11 are provided above the cartridge presser ring 25.

[0052] The reversible locking means 52 are constituted for example by an upper closure ring 53, which is screwed onto the lateral rim of the cartridge presser ring 25.

[0053] Means 54 for actuating the mixer 10 are associated with the cartridge 18 and consist of a lever 55, which is stably coupled to the pivot 56 for actuating the cartridge 18 by way of removable threaded couplings of a known type, which are not shown in the figures.

[0054] The mixer 10 further comprises a rod 57 for actuating the mechanism (not shown in the figure) for closing the drain of the ceramic fixture with which said mixer is associated.

[0055] The actuation rod 57 is partially arranged inside the base body 17 and partially arranged outside the shell 12.

[0056] The actuation rod 57 passes from the inside to the outside of the mixer by means of two holes, respectively a first hole 58 formed in the base body 17 and a second hole formed in the main body 16.

[0057] The operation of the mixer is similar to the operation of known mixers.

[0058] The advantage of a mixer such as the one described is that the outer shell 12 can be uncoupled (very easily: it is sufficient to slide it upward) with respect to the internal body 17 that supports all the plumbing components.

[0059] In this manner it is possible to interchange the outer shell, which is the component that has aesthetic functions, without replacing all the plumbing components, which remain fixed to the ceramic fixture to which they are applied, thus saving on labor costs and on the costs of said components.

[0060] Advantageously, the base body operates independently of the outer shell and therefore can dispense water even without the outer shell.

[0061] It is evident that a structure such as the one described can be applied to mixers of all types, such as mixers for washbasins, sinks, bidets, bathtubs, showers, et cetera.

[0062] In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems noted in known types of mixer.

[0063] It should also be noted that with the present invention it is possible to install mixer units in buildings under construction without the risk of theft of said mixers, which is typical in building yards.

[0064] If only the base body with the cartridge and the various plumbing components is fitted (this assembly constituting 99% of the necessary work), the main attraction for thieves is eliminated, since the most valuable part of the mixer is the cast portion, which in the case of the present invention is constituted by the outer shell.

[0065] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0066] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0067] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2003A000108 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0068] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A water mixer, characterized in that it comprises an internal water mixing unit (11) to which an interchangeable outer shell (12) is coupled detachably.

2. The water mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal water mixing unit (11) comprises a hollow base body (17), inside which water mixing means (14) are arranged and are functionally connected to pipes (19) that respectively convey hot and cold water and to a first outlet formed in said interchangeable outer shell.

3. The water mixer according to claim 2, characterized in that said interchangeable outer shell (12) comprises a main body (16) and a first outlet (13), a receptacle (15) being formed inside said main body (16) and containing said hollow base body (17), said base body (17) further having at least one second outlet (32), which is functionally connected to said water mixing means (14) and to said first outlet (13) and being associated with means (40) for fixing to a supporting structural element (24), means (54) for actuating said mixer (10) being associated with said water mixing means (14), said mixer (10) further comprising means (52) for the reversible locking of the coupling of said interchangeable outer shell (12) with said water mixing unit (11).

4. The water mixer according to claim 3, characterized in that said water mixing means (14) comprise a mixing cartridge (18), which is locked inside said base body (17).

5. The water mixer according to claim 4, characterized in that said cartridge (18) is locked in an upper region by a cartridge presser ring (25), which is screwed to said base body (17), said cartridge (18) resting, in a lower region, on a supporting element (26), which in turn is arranged in a lower region in abutment against a shoulder (27) of said base body (17), said supporting element (26) having two holes (28) inside which the ends of said pipes (19) are fixed respectively, said cartridge (18) being functionally connected by means of respective connecting channels to said ends of said pipes (19).

6. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base body (17) has a substantially cylindrical tubular shape and is formed by a main cylindrical shaft (20), which is open upward by means of an opening (21), and by a lower cylindrical portion (22), which has a smaller diameter than said main cylindrical shaft (20) and is designed for insertion in a suitable seat (23) formed in a supporting structural element (24).

7. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a space (30) is formed in the outer bottom of said cartridge (18), is delimited laterally by the wall of said base body (17) and is designed to accommodate the water that arrives from said cartridge (18), a second outlet (32) being provided in said base body (17) at said space (30), said second outlet (32) being functionally connected to said first outlet (13) and to said cartridge ( 18) by means of said space (30).

8. The water mixer according to claim 7, characterized in that said space (30) is delimited in a lower region by said supporting element (26) and in an upper region by said outer bottom of said cartridge (18), first gaskets (34) for providing a seal for the water that is present in said space (30) being arranged between the side wall of said base body (17) and said cartridge (18) and also between said side wall of said base body (17) and said supporting element (26).

9. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first outlet (13) is provided at the end of a spout (33) that protrudes from said main body (16).

10. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second outlet (32) opens directly onto an annular volume (35), which is delimited laterally by the cylindrical walls of said main body (16) and of said base body (17) and is delimited above and below by second gaskets (37).

11. The water mixer according to claim 10, characterized in that said second gaskets (37) are accommodated in annular shoulders (36) that protrude from the cylindrical walls of said main body (16).

12. The water mixer according to claim 11, characterized in that said second gaskets are accommodated in annular shoulders that protrude from the cylindrical walls of said base body.

13. The water mixer according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that said annular volume (35) is connected directly to said spout (33) by means of an intermediate outlet (38).

14. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base body (17) is associated with means (40) for fixing to said supporting structural element (24).

15. The water mixer according to claim 14, characterized in that said fixing means (40) comprise a threaded fixing ring (41), which is screwed onto a complementary thread provided on said lower cylindrical portion (22) of said base body (17).

16. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (45) for preventing the rotation of the outer shell (12) about said base body ( 17).

17. The water mixer according to claim 16, characterized in that said rotation-preventing means (45) comprise a rotation-preventing washer (46), which is locked between the shoulder (42) formed by the change in diameter between said main cylindrical shaft (20) and said lower cylindrical portion (22) and the structural supporting element (24), said rotation-preventing washer (46) having, on its peripheral region, mutually opposite wings (47), which are folded upward and are inserted in complementarily shaped recesses (48) formed in the lower rim of said main body (16).

18. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means (54) comprise a lever (55), which is stably coupled to a pivot (56) for actuating said mixing cartridge (18) by means of removable threaded couplings.

19. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rod (57) for actuating the mechanism for closing the drain of the ceramic fixture with which said mixer (10) is associated.

20. The water mixer according to claim 19, characterized in that said actuation rod (57) is partially arranged inside said base body (17) and partially arranged outside said outer shell (12), the passage of said actuation rod (57) from the inside to the outside of said mixer (10) being provided by means of two holes, respectively a first hole (58) formed in said base body (17) and a second hole formed in said main body (16).

21. The water mixer according to one or more of claims 5 to 20, characterized in that said means (52) for reversible locking of the coupling of said interchangeable outer shell (12) to said water mixing unit (11) comprise an upper closure ring (53), which is screwed onto the lateral rim of said cartridge presser ring (25).

22. The water mixer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said receptacle (15) is substantially cylindrical.

Drawing