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(11) | EP 2 101 003 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Water dispensing device |
| (57) A water dispensing device designed to be installed on a wall comprises a framework
(4) stably fixed to the wall (2), a main body (3) hinged on the framework (4) and
a water pipe made in the main body (3) and terminating with a respective water dispensing
outlet (11). [Figure 6]
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[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a water dispensing device for domestic use designed to be mounted on a wall of a building.
[0003] Water dispensing devices for domestic use are usually fixed to the respective sanitary fixtures, washbasins and the like, from which they emerge with portions, called spouts, which direct the water towards collecting basins located below.
[0004] For example, a washbasin normally installed in a domestic bathroom has a flat more or less extended rim, from which the water dispensing spout emerges. The need to provide the rim on the washbasin in order to position the dispensing device, with or without a mixer, obviously significantly increases the overall dimensions of the washbasin which, therefore, projects from the wall by several tens of centimetres.
[0005] Said circumstance, taking into account the high costs of real estate and therefore the consequently increasingly limited space in current apartments, means that users often find bathrooms and other rooms containing the above-mentioned washbasins cramped and difficult to use.
[0006] Moreover, the often complex and not very linear shapes of prior art dispensing devices make them quite difficult to clean, partly due to calcareous residues deposited in the gaps and in their less accessible parts.
[0007] The present invention has for an aim to provide a dispensing device which is free of the above-mentioned disadvantages and which, at the same time, has a simple structure, compact dimensions and practical and effective operation.
[0008] The technical features of the present invention, with reference to the above aim, can be easily inferred from the appended claims, in particular claim 1, and preferably any of the claims that depend, whether directly or indirectly, on claim 1. The advantages of the present invention are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example and without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view with some parts cut away, of a preferred embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention;
- Figures 2 and 3 are bottom perspective schematic views of the device of Figure 1 in two different operating configurations;
- Figure 4 is a side elevation schematic view of the dispensing device in a configuration for use;
- Figure 5 is a front elevation schematic view of the device of Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a cross-section according to the line VI - VI illustrated in Figure 5;
- Figure 7 is a cross-section according to the line VII - VII illustrated in Figure 5.
[0009] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a water dispensing device made in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] The dispensing device 1 comprises a main body 3 and a framework 4 on which the body 3 is hinged.
[0012] The framework 4, only partly visible in Figure 1, advantageously consists of a quadrangular frame 5 stably fixed, directly or indirectly, to the wall 2.
[0013] Advantageously, the frame 5 is obtained from a metal section bar with suitable cross-section, of the type illustrated in Figure 6.
[0014] With reference to Figure 6, the movable body 3 is hinged to the framework 4 by two hinge elements 6, 7, respectively upper and lower, so that it can rotate about a respective axis of rotation R.
[0015] As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the main body 3 preferably has, although without limiting the scope of the invention, the shape of a parallelepiped with one dimension, the thickness, being less than the other two and, therefore, has the two main faces 8, 9 opposite each other.
[0016] The two faces 8, 9 are advantageously flat and one of them, labelled 8, is designed to be positioned substantially coplanar with the wall 2, as illustrated in Figure 2, when the main body 3 is in a predetermined position.
[0017] The main body 3 therefore mainly extends along two axes at right angles to each other: a first axis A1, at a right angle to the axis of rotation R and a second axis A2, at a right angle to A1 and parallel with the axis of rotation R.
[0018] As illustrated in Figure 7, in the main body 3 there is a plurality of holes, through holes and non-through holes, designed to form a water pipe 10 terminating with a respective water dispensing outlet 11.
[0019] The embodiment of the main body 3 illustrated by way of example, where the holes are obtained by means of a stock removal machine process, has a plurality of screw plugs 12, used to block machining holes which, when the device 1 is used, must advantageously be closed.
[0020] If different manufacturing technologies are used, for example pressing metal alloys, some of the plugs 12 may not be necessary.
[0021] In detail, again with reference to Figure 7, the water pipe 10 has a first, substantially vertical stretch 10a, a horizontal intermediate stretch 10b and a final stretch 10c which is also substantially vertical and which leads to the water dispensing outlet 11.
[0022] The final stretch 10c of the water pipe 10 partly occupies the lower part of a vertical through hole 13.
[0023] A feed duct 14 feeds the water to the pipe 10 in the main body 3. The duct 14 comprises an end portion 14a, connected to the water pipe 10, said end portion 14a being made in the lower hinge element 7.
[0024] The vertical through hole 13 has watertight divider means 15, between its lower part, occupied by the final stretch 10c of the pipe 10, and its upper part housing a light source 16.
[0025] The light source 16, advantageously of the LED (light emitting diode) type, is powered by a respective electrical cable 17 and is designed to produce a beam of light F which emerges through the dispensing outlet 11 and which is at least partly directed in the direction of the water jet G issuing from the outlet 11.
[0026] The upper hinge element 6 has a respective hole 6a for the passage of the electrical cable 17 to the outside of the main body 3.
[0027] The dispensing device 1 according to the present invention also comprises valve means designed to regulate both the flow of water along the water pipe 10, and the consequent dispensing of the water through the outlet 11. Said valve means are described in more detail below, in the description of the functional features of the device 1.
[0028] In practice, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the main body 3 can move between a first limit position, illustrated in Figure 2, in which it is positioned with the first axis of extension A1 substantially parallel with the wall 2 and in which the valve means prevent the water from flowing along the water pipe 10 and coming out of the outlet 11, and at least a second operating position, in which it is rotated relative to the first position through an angle α, visible in Figure 3, in which the dispensing outlet 11 is moved away from the wall 2 and in which the valve means allow the water to flow along the pipe 10 and come out of the dispensing outlet 11.
[0029] The valve means, not illustrated, are therefore designed to regulate the flow of water through the dispensing outlet 11 and, for that purpose, comprise suitable valves and/or cocks (not illustrated) of the substantially known type which complement each other or are alternatives to each other.
[0030] According to a first embodiment, the valve means comprise an electrically controlled valve, also not illustrated, which is closed when the body 3 is in its first position or near to it, so that it does not allow water to be dispensed through the outlet 11. In contrast, when the main body 3, starting from its first portion, is rotated about its axis R through a predetermined angle α, the electrically controlled valve allows water to flow through the pipe 10 and consequent dispensing through the outlet 11. The opening/closing of the above-mentioned valve, not illustrated, is controlled by a suitable element, also not illustrated, which detects the angular position of the main body 3 relative to its axis of rotation R.
[0031] According to an alternative embodiment, the opening/closing of the electric valve is controlled by a presence detector element, not illustrated, able to open the valve when a user approaches the device, for example placing his hands near to it. By way of example only, the presence detector element comprises a photoelectric cell or an equivalent electronic apparatus.
[0032] According to another embodiment, the valve means comprise an automatic mechanically controlled valve, also not illustrated, which is closed when the body 3 is in its first position or near to it, so that it does not allow water to be dispensed through the outlet 11. In contrast, when the main body 3, starting from its first portion, is rotated about its axis R through a predetermined angle α, the valve, advantageously releasing the flow of water through the pipe 10, allows dispensing through the outlet 11.
[0033] Experiments have shown that optimum operation of the dispensing device 1 disclosed is achieved with values of the angle α greater than 10 sexagesimal degrees and, advantageously, with values of between 45° and 90°.
[0034] As illustrated in Figure 6, to allow rotation of the main body 3 on the wall 2 a compartment 18 is made into which the electrical cable 17 and the water feed duct 14 also lead. The compartment 18 also makes it easier for the user to grip the body 3 to rotate the body about the respective axis R.
[0035] Advantageously, as illustrated in Figure 2, the compartment 18 is at least partly closed by the main body 3 when the main body is in its first position.
[0036] Advantageously, the beam of light F emitted by the light source 16 through the dispensing outlet 11 is switched on and off automatically, by suitable control elements, not illustrated, depending on the angular position adopted by the main body 3.
[0037] According to a preferred method of operation of the dispensing device 1, the light source 16 is switched off when the main body 3 is in its first position, that is to say, when, as illustrated in Figure 2, the main body 3 is positioned with its axis A1 parallel with the wall 2 of the building.
[0038] Advantageously, the beam of light F emitted by the light source 16 is designed to indicate that water is being dispensed.
[0039] The valve means described herein are advantageously controlled according to the angular position of the body 3. However, obviously simplified forms of the present invention, without departing from the inventive concept, may have valve means which are controlled irrespective of the angular position of the body 3.
[0040] In other words, according to alternative embodiments not illustrated, the dispensing device 1 comprises mechanically or electromechanically or electronically controlled valve means which require a separate activation operation substantially irrespective of the angular position of the body 3. However, in that case there are convenient safety means designed to automatically interrupt the flow of water at least near to the first position of the body 3.
[0041] In embodiments of the dispensing device 1 according to the present invention which are alternatives to that illustrated and described, but which still fall within the scope of the inventive concept, the main body 3 is hinged by a single hinge element, which may be placed in any position.
[0042] Moreover, the orientation of the axis of rotation R may also be either vertical, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or horizontal.
1. A water dispensing device designed to be installed on a wall, comprising:
- a main body (3) hinged to the wall (2) and designed to rotate about a respective axis of rotation (R), the body (3) extending at least along a first axis (A1) at a right angle to the axis of rotation (R),
- a water pipe (10) made in the main body (3) and terminating with a respective water dispensing outlet (11),
- valve means for regulating the flow of water along the pipe (10); the main body (3) being able to move between a first limit position in which it is positioned with the first axis of extension (A1) substantially parallel with the wall (2) and in which the valve means prevent the water from flowing in the pipe (10) and coming out of the outlet (11), and at least a second operating position, rotated relative to the first position, in which the dispensing outlet (11) is moved away from the wall (2) and in which the valve means allow the water to flow along the pipe (10) and to come out of the dispensing outlet (11).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a framework (4) stably fixed to the wall (2), the main body (3) being
hinged on the framework (4) by means of at least one hinge element (6, 7).
3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises two hinge elements (6, 7), respectively upper and lower.
4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the framework (4) comprises a quadrangular frame (5).
5. The device according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, characterised in that it comprises a duct (14) for feeding water to the pipe (10), the duct (14) being
at least partly made in a hinge element (7).
6. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterised in that the main body (3) comprises a flat face (8) designed to be positioned substantially
so that it is coplanar with the wall (2) when the body (3) is in its first limit position.
7. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterised in that the main body (3) has the shape of a parallelepiped.
8. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a light source (16) designed to make a beam of light (F) emerge at the
water dispensing outlet (11).
9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the light source (16) is positioned inside the main body (3) and the beam of light
(F) emerges through the dispensing outlet (11).
10. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 9, characterised in that the valve means comprise an electrically controlled automatic valve, the valve being
closed near to the first limit position of the main body (3) and being designed to
allow water to flow through the pipe (10) following rotation of the main body (3)
through a predetermined angle (α) about the axis of rotation (R).
11. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 9, characterised in that the valve means comprise a mechanically controlled automatic valve, the valve being
closed near to the first limit position of the main body (3) and being designed to
allow water to flow through the pipe (10) following rotation of the main body (3)
through a predetermined angle (α) about the axis of rotation (R).
12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the predetermined angle (α) is greater than 10 sexagesimal degrees.
13. The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 9, characterised in that the valve means comprise an electrically controlled valve and a presence detector
element able to activate the valve when a user approaches the device.