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(11) | EP 1 512 800 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Control device for the opening and closing of two separate pop-up drain plugs |
| (57) The manually operated device for opening and closing the pop-up drain plugs of two
adjacent kitchen sinks comprises knobs (3b,4b) revolving around a single central axis,
wherein each of said knobs (3b,4b) is capable of operating a respective Bowden cable
(B) controlling the opening and closing of the pop-up device of the outlet holes of
kitchen sinks. According to the invention, the device comprises a box body (1) which
can be fixed to the sink, two flanged-bell rotating bodies (3,4), co-axially housed
within said box body (1) and each integral with a respective operation knob, and at
least one anti-friction gasket (11), placed between said two rotating bodies (3,4).
Preferably, there are provided at least two anti-friction gaskets (10,11) placed between
said box body (1) and a first (3) of said two rotating bodies, and between the latter
and the other rotating body (4), respectively. |
[0001] It is known that in double kitchen sinks, i.e. equipped with two adjacent bowls, each of which has a respective outlet hole with a corresponding plug, the operation of said plug - during opening and closing, respectively - is controlled by a control device which can be operated from the top of the sink and acts on a pop-up waste in the lower portion of the same sink.
[0002] The most widely adopted prior art for this device provides to use Bowden-type transmission cables to connect the pop-up waste on one side, i.e. the plug-lifting rod mounted below the sink, with a manual mechanism in a position above the sink plane on the other side. Alternatively to the flexible transmission system employing Bowden cables, rigid rod transmission systems are also known to have been used. Here and in the following, for simplification purposes, reference is always made to Bowden-type transmission systems, but this reference is to be intended as applying in a general sense to any type of transmission, hence to rigid rod transmission systems, too.
[0003] The present invention specifically relates to a pop-up waste control device of the type mentioned above and, more precisely, to a double control, i.e. one with two individual Bowden cables, intended for the two pop-up wastes of the two waste assemblies of a double-bowl sink.
[0004] Devices of this type are known in the art and provide for example a single control knob operating a cam, which in turn operates the two Bowden cables; the cam has a 4-position profile, said positions in practice corresponding to the possible positions that can be taken on by the two pop-up wastes of the respective sinks, i.e.: both open, both closed, only the right one open, only the right one closed. A device of this type has disadvantages of two types: on the one hand, in order to bring a first plug from the open into the closed position, the cam control must necessarily pass through a position interfering with the position of the second plug and, on the other hand, the selection of the opening and closing positions of the plugs is not immediately detectable by the user, except through marks on the sink which often become invisible after a short period of use of the sink itself.
[0005] To overcome these disadvantages a different control device has been suggested, equipped with two levers revolving around two vertical axes, positioned diametrically opposite at a reciprocal distance, one on the right hand side and the other on the left hand side of the central axis of the device, for the operation of plugs on the left and right sink, respectively. Although more practical, however, this device is bulkier and the operation of the lever with a vertical rotation axis implies that the Bowden cables are fitted horizontally, which remarkably complicates the mounting of the device, further requiring a larger working space.
[0006] Furthermore, a control device comprising two knobs revolving around a common central axis has been suggested recently: this device is certainly less space-consuming above the sink plane, even though in the lower portion it has again operation levers which imply a horizontal coupling of the Bowden cables. Moreover, the operation of one of the two knobs often causes dragging of the other knob due to friction.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to propose a double control of the type featuring knobs revolving around a single central axis, hence of a compact design, but which overcomes the prior art disadvantages, in particular preventing the friction-dragging of one of the knobs upon operation of the other, and further allowing vertical operation of the Bowden cables. This result is obtained thanks to the features mentioned in the attached claims.
[0010] figg. 2 and 3 are prospective views illustrating the respective rotating bodies for the operation of the Bowden cables;
[0011] fig. 4 is a highly enlarged prospective view, with partially removed parts, of a flanged cylindrical box which is part of the device according to the invention;
[0013] fig. 6 is a prospective, only partially exploded view, of the device according to the invention.
[0014] In fig. 1 is illustrated a cylindrical box 1, with its top part ending in a ring flange 1a, from whose periphery a pin 2 projects, with an axis parallel to the axis of the box 1.
[0015] This box 1 is intended to house a first bell 3 and, concentrically, a second bell 4; both bells 3, 4 have their top parts ending in a ring flange 3a, 4a. It is worth pointing out here that, whereas the cylindrical bodies of the bells 3 and 4 have smaller - or rather, decreasing - outer diameters in respect of the inner diameter of the box 1, in order to be housed one inside the other, the ring flanges 1a, 3a, 4a all have an identical outer diameter, for the function better illustrated in the following.
[0016] Furthermore, from the ring flanges 3a and 4a, overhanging appendages 3b, 4b project radially, with the function of manoeuvring knobs allowing to control the rotation of the bells 3 and 4 in respect of the box 1. Both the flanges 3a, 4a have an arch-shaped window 3c, 4c, its centre coinciding with the axis of the box 1. Said window 3c, 4c is intended to engage on said pin 2, which is integral with the flange 1a of the box 1; the arch width of the windows 3c, 4c allows - in cooperation with the pin 2 acting as a stop - to define the width of the rotation movement which may be performed by the individual bell 3, 4 in respect of the box 1. To perform this stopping function, the pin 2 has a height at least equal to the thickness of the overlapping flanges 3a, 4a, as better described in the following.
[0017] According to a first feature of the present invention, the flanged bells 3, 4 have an oblique cam slot 5 in the vertical surface of their cylindrical wall.
[0018] Correspondingly, the box 1 houses two sliding bodies 6, 7, each having a pin 6b, 7b at its top end, capable of cooperating with said oblique cam slots 5: the pin 6b is able to engage with the oblique cam slot 5 in the wall of the bell 3, from the inside thereof (fig. 1), and the pin 7b is able to respectively engage with the slot 5 in the wall of the bell 4, from the outside thereof, for the function better described in the following.
[0019] More specifically, the pin 6b of the slide 6 projects from a thin top part thereof, which is intended to be housed in the space between the bell 3 and the bell 4 (as is evident from fig. 2); the pin 7b projects instead from the wall of the slide 7, which is intended to be housed between the bell 4 and the inner wall of the box 1, in a recess 3d obtained by indenting the wall of the bell 3 (as is evident from fig. 5).
[0020] The slides 6, 7 further have, at their bottom end, a coupling 6a, 7a for a Bowden-type transmission cable (marked with B in figure 6). Preferably, said coupling is of a removable type, for ease of mounting and/or replacing of the Bowden cable.
[0021] Each of the two slides 6 and 7 further has a pair of rectangular-section axial ribs 8, projecting from the side opposite to the pin 7b and from the same side as the pin 6b, respectively (as is again evident from fig. 1). Both the ribs 8 of the slide 6 and the ribs 8 of the slide 7 are capable of engaging with guide slots formed between thin axial ribs 9 projecting from the inner wall of the box 1 (see fig. 4). As is immediately clear from fig. 4 (which illustrates the box 1 in a highly enlarged scale, with part of its wall removed to better show its inner structure), the thin guide ribs 9 allow the slides 6, 7 to move vertically only.
[0022] The function of this arrangement, in particular of the cooperation on one hand between pins 6b, 7b and the oblique cam slot 5, and on the other hand between ribs 8 and the guide slots of ribs 9 is, - as immediately understandable - to transform a rotation movement, imparted to the bells 3 and 4 by acting on the knobs 3b and 4b, into a vertical movement of the slides 6 and 7, and hence to allow vertical operation of the Bowden cables B.
[0023] According to another essential feature of the present invention, the box 1 houses anti-friction gaskets, and precisely a first gasket 10 and a second gasket 11, both having a shape determined by the combination of an anular disc and a cylindrical guide appendage 10a, 11a. These gaskets are arranged between the box 1 and the first bell 3, and between the first bell 3 and the second bell 4, respectively. Thanks to these gaskets 10 and 11, any direct contact of the bells between each other and with the box 1 is prevented, so as to aid the free rotation of the bells, independently from one another. The rotation movement is further aided by the fact that the gaskets 10, 11 are made, as mentioned, of an anti-friction material, such as for example PTFE or PEH plastic.
[0024] Furthermore, to categorically avoid that the rotation of one of the bells drags the other bell, in the disc surface of the gaskets 10, 11 there are provided apertures 12 capable of engaging in turn with the pin 2, with minimal slack, obtaining the effect of locking into position the gaskets themselves, whereas the bells 3 and 4 are free to move.
[0025] The mounting into each other of the components described so far is immediately understandable from the exploded view of fig. 1. A lower locking element 13 and a top closing plate 14, linked to one another by a screw connection (not shown), hold in position the parts described so far. In the arrangement illustrated in figure 4, a guide hole 15, formed axially in the box 1, provides a quicker and safer coupling of the connection screw and guiding thereof up to the top closing plate 14.
[0026] For increased functionality, a further disc anti-friction gasket 16 is provided, it too featuring a slot 12 identical to the slots 12 of the gaskets 10, 11; the gasket 16 is placed between the flange 4a of the bell 4 and the top closing plate 14.
[0027] From the description given above the operation is also clear: to the rotary movement of the individual manoeuvring knob 3b or 4b corresponds the rotation of the whole bell 3 or 4, and hence also of the respective oblique cam slot 5. Due to the rotation of the bell 3 or 4 and to the oblique arrangement - usually at 45° - of the slot 5, the latter imparts to the respective pin 6b or 7b a push which may translate into two movement components, a horizontal one and a vertical one; however, since the respective slides 6 or 7 are prevented from moving horizontally, i.e. from revolving around the axis of the box 1 due to the engagement of their ribs 8 between the guiding ribs 9, it derives that the slides can only perform a vertical movement.
[0028] To each of the slides 6 or 7 is connected, as said, a respective Bowden cable B, which consequently controls the opening or the closing of the respective pop-up waste in a manner known per se.
[0029] However, it is understood that the protection of the invention described above must not be considered limited to the particular embodiment illustrated here, but is applicable to any other technically equivalent manufactured variant. In particular, it was said that the double-control device comprises three anti-friction gaskets 10, 11 and 16; however, it was verified in practice that especially the gasket 11 placed between the two bells is essential, whereas the other two gaskets 10 and 16 only have an improvement function of the device working smoothness.
1. Manually operated device of the type comprising knobs revolving around a single central
axis, wherein each of said knobs is capable of operating a respective Bowden cable
controlling the opening and closing of the pop-up waste of the outlet holes of kitchen
sinks, characterised in that it comprises a box body (1) which can be fixed to the sink, two rotating bodies (3,
4), housed coaxially within said box body (1) and each integral with a respective
operating knob, and at least one anti-friction gasket (11) placed between said two
rotating bodies (3, 4).
2. Device as claimed in claim 1), characterised in that it comprises at least two anti-friction gaskets (10, 11) placed between said box
body (1) and a first one (3) of said two rotating bodies, and between the latter and
the other (4) rotating body, respectively.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1), characterised in that said two rotating bodies each consist of a cylindrical bell (3, 4), ending in its
top part in a ring flange (3a, 4a) equipped with a manoeuvring lever (3b, 4b) projecting
radially, said flange and lever forming said operation knob.
4. Device as claimed in claim 1) or 3), wherein said rotating body (1) in turn has a
cylindrical shape, ending in its top part in a ring flange (1a).
5. Device as claimed in claim 4), wherein the ring flanges (1a, 3a, 4a) of said box body
(1) and of said bell bodies (3, 4) all have the same outer diameter.
6. Device as claimed in claim 1) or 2) and 3), wherein each of said anti-friction gaskets
(10, 11) has the shape of an anular disc with a cylindrical extension appendage (10a,
11a).
7. Device as claimed in claim 6), wherein the anular disc part (10, 11) of said anti-friction
gaskets is placed between the ring flanges (1a, 3a) of the flanged box (1) and of
the first flanged bell (3), and between the ring flanges (3a, 4a) of the first (3)
and of the second (4) flanged bell, respectively.
8. Device as claimed in claim 6), wherein the cylindrical part (10a, 11a) of said anti-friction
gaskets is placed between the cylindrical walls of the flanged box (1) and of the
first flanged bell (3), and between the cylindrical walls of the first (3) and of
the second (4) flanged bell.
9. Device as claimed in any one of the claims 1) to 7), wherein a further anti-friction
gasket (16) is provided, shaped as a disc, placed between the second flanged bell
(4) and a top closing plate (14) of the box body (1).
10. Device as claimed in any one of the claims 1) to 9) wherein said anti-friction gaskets
(10, 11, 16) are made of a plastic material, such as PTFE or PEH.
11. Device as claimed in any one of the claims 1) to 9) wherein said box body (1) has
a pin (2), projecting parallel to the axis of the box body (1) itself, from a position
close to the periphery of its ring flange (1a), said pin passing through corresponding
arch windows (3c, 4c) formed in the ring flanges of the bells (3,4).
12. Device as claimed in claim 11), wherein said windows (3c, 4c) are formed at the periphery
of said ring flanges (3a, 4a) of the bell bodies (3, 4) and have an arched shape with
its centre coinciding with the axis of the box body (1), said pin (2) engaging with
a wide slack into said arch windows (3c, 4c), the arch width of said windows (3c,
4c) determining the width of the revolving movement of the individual flanged bell
(3, 4) in respect of the box body (1).
13. Device as claimed in any one of the claims 1) to 12), wherein the disc portion of
each of said gaskets (10, 11, 16) is equipped with an anchoring aperture (12), said
pin (2) engaging with a minimal slack in said apertures (12) of said anular discs
of the anti-friction gaskets (10, 11, 16), to hold them locked in a fixed position
in respect of the box body (1).
14. Device as claimed in claims 1) or 3), characterised in that each of said bell bodies (3, 4) cooperates, through a respective oblique cam slot
(5), with a corresponding slide (6, 7) sliding axially, at whose lower end is anchored
one of said Bowden control cables (B).
15. Device as claimed in claim 14), characterised in that each of said oblique cam slots (5) is formed along the cylindrical vertical surface
of each of the bell bodies (3, 4), each of said slides (6, 7) being equipped with
a pin (6b, 7b) which engages into a respective oblique cam slot (5).
16. Device as claimed in claim 14) or 15), characterised in that said box body (1) has axial guide slots formed between parallel ribs (9), projecting
from its inner surface, and in that each of said slides (6, 7) has a pair of ribs (8) which engages into said axial guide
slots.
17. Device as claimed in claim 16), characterised in that each of said slides (6, 7) has at its lower end a removable coupling (6a, 7a) for
said Bowden cable (B).
18. Device as claimed in claim 1) or 2), wherein there are provided a lower fixing element
(13) and a top plate (14) closing the box body (1) and the elements therein contained,
connected with each other by means of a screw/nut screw connection which passes axially
through said box body (1).
19. Device as claimed in claims 17) and 18), wherein said removable couplings (6a, 7a)
for said Bowden cables are guided into said lower fixing and closing element (13).