Filling limiting device of concealed type for sanitary facilities and a sanitary facility using the same

Abstract

 The present invention regards a filling limiting device of concealed type for sanitary facilities and a sanitary facility using the same. The filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facilities (50) according to the present invention comprises a first pipe (11), connectable at a first end (12) thereof to the base of the filling tank (51) of the sanitary facility (50) and connected at a second end (13) thereof to a second pipe (14) for water drainage, the first pipe (11) being shaped in a manner such that its second end (13) is positioned at a greater elevation with respect to its first end (12), the second pipe (14) comprising a first end (15) connected to said second end (13) of said first pipe (11) and a second end (16) positioned at a lower elevation than said first end (12) of said first pipe (11), at the connection between said second end (13) of said first pipe (11) and said first end (15) of said second pipe (14) a vent pipe (17) towards the environment being provided for and provided with, at an open end (18) thereof, a vent control valve (19) for the exit and/or entry of air.

Description

[0001] The present invention regards a filling limiting device of concealed type for sanitary facilities and a sanitary facility using the same.

[0002] In order to avoid overflowing when filling currently known sanitary facilities (sinks, wash-tubs, bidets or bath tubs), it is provided that the filling tank of such sanitary facility is provided with one or more closely-positioned openings at the maximum level that the water can attain.

[0003] In such case, when the water level rises to the openings provided for in the filling tank, the excess water flows through the same openings, thus preventing the filling level from rising further.

[0004] The currently known solution has various disadvantages in terms of reliability, production and aesthetics.

[0005] The openings made on the wall of the filling tank at the maximum filling level are exposed to inadvertent clogging, especially in case of elements floating on the water surface, such as sponges and the like. When the water - once it has reached the maximum filling level - begins to flow through such openings, the floating elements are transported by the current towards the same openings, which they are capable of clogging.

[0006] Otherwise, said openings might be clogged by dirt or other sediment material.

[0007] Moreover, such openings are subject to intentional tampering, given that they are accessible to users.

[0008] Last but not least, the production of tanks with openings at the maximum admissible filling level, in addition to requiring a more substantial/difficult production process, are weaker overall and are less aesthetically pleasing with respect to tanks without openings.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and in particular to make a filling limiting device of sanitary facilities which has considerable reliability over time.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling limiting device of sanitary facilities which is not accessible to users.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to make a filling limiting device which is strong and easy to make at a low cost.

[0012] These and other objects according to the present invention are attained by making a filling limiting device for sanitary facilities as described in claim

1. Likewise, said objects are achieved by a sanitary facility according to claim 6. Further characteristics of the filling limiting device for sanitary facilities and the sanitary facility using the same device are the object of the dependent claims.

[0013] The characteristics and advantages of the filling limiting device for sanitary facilities according to the present invention and a sanitary facility using the same device shall be more evident from the following description given as exemplifying and nonlimiting with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic section view of a filling limiting device for sanitary facilities according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a section view of a sanitary facility using the filling limiting device of figure 1;
• Figure 3a is a schematic representation of a sanitary facility employing the filling limiting device of figure 1 during filling and at the beginning of excess water discharging;
• Figure 3b is a schematic representation of the sanitary facility of figure 3a during filling and steady-state excess water discharging;
• Figure 3c is a schematic representation of the sanitary facility of figure 3a at a state of filling equilibrium;
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the sanitary facility of figure 3a during emptying;
• Figure 5a shows a top view of a filling limiting device element according to the present invention;
• Figure 5b is a section view of the element of figure 5a;
• Figure 6 illustrates a structural detail of the sanitary facility according to the present invention.

[0014] With reference to the figures, a filling limiting device for sanitary facilities is shown and indicated in its entirety with 10.

[0015] The filling limiting device 10 comprises a first pipe 11 connectable at a first end 12 thereof to the base of a filling tank 51 of a sanitary facility 50 and connected at a second end 13 thereof to a second pipe 14 for water drainage. The first pipe 11 is shaped in a manner such that its second end 13 is positioned at a higher elevation with respect to its first end 12.

[0016] The second pipe 14 comprises a first end 15 connected to the second end 13 of the first pipe 11 and a second end 16 positioned at a lower elevation than the first end 12 of the first pipe 11. Preferably, the second pipe 14 is connected at its second end 16 to the discharge pipe 113 of the sanitary facility 50.

[0017] At the connection between the second end 13 of the first pipe 11 and the first end 15 of the second pipe 14, a vent pipe 17 towards the environment is provided for. At the open end 18 of such vent pipe 17, a vent control valve 19 is arranged and provided with a membrane 20 which allows exit and/or entry of air into the filling limiting device 10.

[0018] According to a preferential embodiment of the invention, the membrane has at least one coupling seat 22 with the open end 18 of the vent pipe 17 and is made of elastically deformable material in order to selectively make a sealed coupling with such end.

[0019] In addition, the membrane is provided with a centrally-arranged, preferably cross-shaped cut 21; such membrane also advantageously is of negligible weight.

[0020] A bath tub 50 is shown in the figures provided with the filling limiting device 10 according to the present invention. In an entirely analogous manner, such filling limiting device 10 can also be employed for sinks, wash-tubs, bidets or other similar sanitary facilities.

[0021] Such sanitary facilities 50 are preferably provided with a discharge closure set 110 comprising a plug 111 free to move between a first raised opening position and a second lowered closed position.

[0022] The plug 111 is provided with at least one portion complementary to a discharge mouth 112 of the sanitary facility 50, which, in closed position, cooperates with such discharge mouth 112, completely closing it. Advantageously, the discharge mouth 112 or the complementary portion are provided with a gasket 114 adapted to maintain a watertight closure which prevents the discharge of the water 52 present in the sanitary facility 50.

[0023] Furthermore, the discharge closure set 110 is provided with opening/closing means 115 which cooperate with the plug 111 in order to move it into either the open or closed position.

[0024] The opening/closing means 115 comprise an element 118 which can be moved between a first magnetic coupling position with said plug 111 and a second uncoupled position.

[0025] Preferably, the moveable element 118 is a first permanent magnet and the plug 111 comprises a second permanent magnet 119 of the same polarity, thus generating a repulsion effect with the moveable element 118.

[0026] In addition, guide and stop means 120 are provided for which cooperate with the plug 111 in order to define and delimit the distance which can be covered by the same.

[0027] Such guide and stop means 120 cooperate with the lower portion of the plug 111 in order to make a stop for the opening movement of the plug 111.

[0028] The moveable element 118 of the opening/closing means 115 is preferably connected to actuation means 116 outside the sanitary facility 50 and arranged such that it can be activated by a user.

[0029] The external actuation means 116 operate on the moveable element 118 to control its movement through suitable motion transmission means 117, such as for example a rigid rod connected to a lever, which, constrained to rotate around a pin, moves the moveable element 118 between the two positions.

[0030] Advantageously, the moveable element 118 is positioned outside the discharge pipe 113; therefore, the motion transmission means 117 do not have to come into contact with water.

[0031] Conveniently, the vent control valve 19 of the filling limiting device 10 faces a wall of the sanitary facility 50 at the external actuation means 116. In such a manner, such valve 19 is concealed from sight and protected against clogging due to accumulation of dirt or any other sediment material.

[0032] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the plug 111 of the discharge closure set according to the present invention and the discharge mouth 112 are housed in a quick-mounting water discharge group 210. Such water discharge group 210 comprises a first element 212 which is pre-coupled in a non-removable manner with the sanitary facility 50, and a second element 213 which can be easily coupled with the first 212 during the assembly stage of the same group 210, for example during the installation of a sanitary facility 50.

[0033] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the first element 212 of the discharge group is mushroom-shaped and can be applied in a hole 54 present in a portion under the sanitary facility 50.

[0034] As illustrated in figure 6, the first element 212 comprises a head portion 215 which, when said first element is pre-assembled onto the sanitary facility 50, cooperates with the internal wall of the such sanitary facility 50, substantially completely covering the hole 54 provided for at the base of the same, and being extended beyond it for a short section.

[0035] Furthermore, the first element 212 also comprises a tubular portion 216 for coupling with the hole 54 which is extended from the head portion 215 up to beyond the lower wall of the sanitary facility 50 through the hole 54.

[0036] In order to maintain the first element 212 firmly constrained in such position, a lower closure ring 240 is provided for, preferably equipped with a sealing gasket 230, which laterally operates against the tubular portion 216 and on the upper side against the external lower wall of the sanitary facility 50.

[0037] Such lower closure ring 240 can be advantageously screwed onto the tubular portion 216 projecting below the sanitary facility 50. In such case, complementary threaded surfaces 246, 247 are provided for both on the external tubular portion 216 and on the internal surface of the lower closure ring 240.

[0038] In addition, the portions 215 and 216 of the mushroom-shaped element 212 can be integrally made, as previously described, or they can be two separate elements such as a conical body 216 equipped with a lower threaded end 246, and an upper covering cap 215.

[0039] The second element 213 of the water discharge group 210 can be coupled with the first element 212 below the sanitary facility 50.

[0040] In particular, such second element 213 is a box-shaped element internally defining two compartments selectively communicating through the discharge mouth 112.

[0041] The second element 213 comprises a first upper opening 217, a second opening 218 towards the water discharge pipe 113 positioned downstream of the discharge mouth 112, a third opening 233 towards the first pipe 11 of the filling limiting device 10, positioned upstream of the discharge mouth 112 and a fourth opening 234 towards the second pipe 14 of the filling limiting device 10, positioned downstream of the discharge mouth 112.

[0042] When assembling the discharge group 210, the first upper opening 217 is stably coupled with the lower closure ring 240 constrained to the tubular portion 216 of the first element 212 projecting below the wall of the sanitary facility 50.

[0043] The bond between the two elements, first 212 and second 213, of the discharge group 210 is such that the lower part of the first element 212 is directed towards the inside of the second element 213 itself.

[0044] Preferably, the first upper opening 217 and the related contact portion of the lower closure ring 240 can be snap coupled due to the presence of an annular projection 241 equipped with a tooth-shaped end 220 capable of interlocking with the annular seat 245 made on the external surface of the opening 217.

[0045] Once the tooth-shaped end 220 is coupled, a water passage is made starting from the first element 212 through to the second element 213 and, more generally, from the sanitary facility 50 interior to the discharge pipe 13.

[0046] Below is a description of how the filling limiting device 10 operates according to the present invention.

[0047] When the external actuation means 116 are guided to closure position, the moveable element 118 is brought by the motion transmission means 117 to a distal position with respect to the plug 111 so that there is substantially no coupling between the permanent magnet 119 provided for on the plug and the moveable element 118 itself.

[0048] In such configuration, illustrated in figure 3, substantially no force is exerted on the plug 111 which consequently falls due to gravity, guided by the guide and stop means 120, until the plug is positioned on the discharge mouth 112 present in the discharge group 210.

[0049] When in closure position, the plug 111 is at least partially inserted in the discharge mouth 112 and completely closes it in a substantially watertight manner.

[0050] The discharge mouth section 112 is preferably frustoconically shaped, with the larger base turned upwards, like the section of the plug 111 portion complementary to the same. In such a manner, on one hand, greater interference and thus sealing between the plug 111 and such mouth 112 is ensured, while on the other hand the mouth 112 acts as a stop for the closing movement of the plug 111.

[0051] In such configuration, the filling tank 51 collects water up to a first maximum filling level delimited by the height at which the first and the second pipe 11, 14 of the filling limiting device 10 are joined, as illustrated in figure 3a.

[0052] The water 52 reaches such level also in the first pipe 11 of the filling limiting device 10. Once such level has been reached, the excess water tends to flow, pushed by the weight of the water 52 present in the filling tank 51, from the first pipe 11 of the filling limiting device 10 to the second pipe 14 of the same, thus flowing towards the discharge pipe 113, connected downstream of the second pipe 14.

[0053] In such circumstances, if water continues to flow into the filling tank 51 at a greater flow rate than the flow rate with which the water flows from the second pipe 14, the water level in the filling tank 51 and in the first and second pipes 11, 14 tends to rise. This leads to higher pressure inside the first and the second pipe 11, 14 which slightly lifts the membrane 20, in such a manner permitting the excess air to exit through the vent control valve 19.

[0054] When the filling tank 51 reaches the second filling level illustrated in figure 3b, the pipes 11, 14 are completely emptied of air. This triggers the communicating vessels effect and the filling tank 51 tends to empty up at the maximum flow rate.

[0055] If, in such condition, the additional inflow of water ceases, the filling tank 51 continues emptying until a third predetermined filling level is reached, as illustrated in figure 3c, in which depression is created in the pipes 11, 14 such to induce the membrane 20 to open its cross-shaped cut. This leads to a small inflow of air which compensates for the depression created in the pipes 11, 14 and disables the communicating vessels effect.

[0056] However, when the external actuation means 116 are guided to open, the moveable element 118 is moved by the motion transmission means 117 to a position overlapping with the plug 111, as shown in figures 2 and 4.

[0057] In such position, the permanent magnet 119 of the plug 111 and the permanent magnet of the moveable element 118 generate a magnet repulsion against each other, since they have been deliberately chosen of the same polarity.

[0058] Thus, there is a magnetic force acting on the plug 111 which pushes it upwards.

[0059] Subsequently, the plug 111 rises, guided by the guide and stop means 120, until it interferes with the same, thus leaving the discharge mouth 112 at least partially open.

[0060] Hence the water can flow directly into the discharge pipe 113 through the second opening 218 of the discharge group 210 without being forced to pass through the first pipe 11.

[0061] The descriptions above clearly show the characteristics and the advantages of the device according to the present invention.

[0062] The filling limiting device for sanitary facilities made according to the present invention is not accessible from the wall of the sanitary facility and is therefore not subject to clogging caused by elements floating on the surface of the water or clogging caused by sedimentation (of dirt, for example). Hence, the filling limiting device for sanitary facilities according to the present invention ensures remarkable reliability over time.

[0063] In addition, the filling tank for the sanitary facility shall not have openings, thus it can be achieved in a simple and convenient manner, moreover with greater strength.

[0064] Lastly, it is obvious that the device according to the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and variants, all of which fall within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent components. In practice, the material used, as well as the sizes, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1. A filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facilities (50) comprising a first pipe (11) connectable at a first end (12) thereof to the base of a filling tank (51) of said sanitary facility (50) and connected at a second end (13) thereof to a second pipe (14) for water drainage, the first pipe (11) being shaped in a manner such that its second end (13) is positioned at a higher elevation with respect to its first end (12), said second pipe (14) comprising a first end (15) connected to said second end (13) of said first pipe (11) and a second end (16) positioned at lower elevation than said first end (12) of said first pipe (11), a vent pipe (17) towards the environment being provided at the connection between said second end (13) of said first pipe (11) and said first end (15) of said second pipe (14), said vent pipe (17) comprising a vent control valve (19) for the exit and/or entry of air, at an open end (18) thereof.

2. A filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facilities (50) according to claim 1 characterised in that said vent control valve (19) comprises a membrane (20) provided with a cut (21).

3. A filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facility (50) according to claim 2 characterised in that said cut (21) of said membrane (20) is cross-shaped and arranged centrally with respect to the same.

4. A filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facilities (50) according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that said membrane (20) is made of elastically deformable material and comprises a coupling seat (22) with said open end (18) of said vent pipe.

5. A filling limiting device (10) for sanitary facilities (50) according to one of the claims 2 - 4 characterised in that said membrane (20) is of negligible weight.

6. Sanitary facility (50) comprising a filling tank (51) provided on its lower part with a discharge mouth (112) which can be selectively blocked, characterised in that it comprises a filling limiting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the maximum filling level of said tank (51) is determined by the elevation at which the second end (13) of said first pipe (11) has been positioned.

7. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 6 characterised in that it comprises a discharge closure set (110) of the sanitary facilities (50) comprising a plug (111) free to move between a first opening position and a second closing position of said discharge mouth (112), and opening/closing means (115) adapted to cooperate with said plug (111) in order to move it to one of said two opening or closing positions, said closing/opening means (115) comprising at least one element (118) which can move between a first coupling position with said plug (111) and a second uncoupled position characterised in that at said first coupling position, said moveable element (118) and said plug (111) are magnetically coupled.

8. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 7 characterised in that said plug (111) comprises at least one first permanent magnet (119) and said moveable element (118) comprises at least one second permanent magnet, said first and second magnet having the same polarity.

9. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 7 or 8 characterised in that said closure set (110) comprises guide and stop means (120) for defining and limiting the travel of the said plug (111).

10. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 9 characterised in that said guide and stop means (120) cooperate in abutment with a lower portion of said plug (111).

11. Sanitary facility (50) according to any one of claims from 7 to 10 characterised in that said closing/opening means (115) comprise actuation means (116) accessible from outside, connected to said moveable element (118) through motion transmission means (117).

12. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 11 characterised in that said motion transmission means (117) comprise a rod connected downstream to a lever (121) constrained to rotate around a pin (122), said lever (121) transmitting a translational motion to said moveable element (118).

13. Sanitary facility (50) according to any one of the claims from 11 to 12 characterised in that said vent control valve (19) is positioned at said actuation means (116) accessible from outside.

14. Sanitary facility (50) according to any one of the claims from 6 to 13 characterised in that it comprises a quick-mounting water discharge group (210) comprising a lower closure ring (240) and a first and second element (212, 213), in which said first element (212) is mushroom shaped and can be coupled with a hole (54) of said sanitary facility (50) and comprises a head portion (215), which can be coupled to the internal wall of said sanitary facility (50) and shaped to substantially cover said hole (54), and a hollow tubular portion (216) which can be coupled with said hole (54) and which is extended from said head portion (215), said second element (213) being a box-shaped element and comprising a first upper opening (217) and at least one second water discharge opening (218), said lower closure ring (240) being constrainable along an internal portion (242) in a lower portion of said hollow tubular portion (216) and in an external portion (241) snap-coupled with said first upper opening (217), so to create a water passage from said first element (212) to said second element (213) when said group (210) is mounted in the said hole (54) of said sanitary facility (50).

15. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 14 characterised in that said snap-coupling is achieved by a tooth-shaped end (220) of said external portion (241) of said ring and a related annular seat (245) made in an upper portion of said first opening (217).

16. Sanitary facility (50) according to claims 14 or 15 characterised in that said water discharge group (210) comprises a third and fourth opening (233, 234), said third opening (233) being connected to said first end (12) of said first pipe (11) and said fourth opening (234) being connected to said second end (16) of said second pipe (14).

17. Sanitary facility (50) according to any one of the claims from 14 to 16 characterised in that said plug (111) is arranged in said second element (213), said second element (213) internally defining two compartments selectively communicating through said discharge mouth (112).

18. Sanitary facility (50) according to claim 17 characterised in that said second opening (218) is positioned downstream of said discharge mouth (112), said third opening (233) is positioned upstream the discharge mouth (112) and said fourth opening (234) is positioned downstream of said discharge mouth (112).

Drawing