Clamping device that can be installed on a rod and clamping device for a handheld shower head in a bathroom

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clamping device that can be mounted on a rod, which has: a rod coupling member that is configured to be movably disposed on the rod and has a base body and a clamping unit that is guided to move on the base body between a rod clamping position and a rod release position; an operating unit that is used to move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position under the manipulation of a user; and an object clamping member that is connected to the rod coupling member in a manner that can rotate at least between a first rotation position and a second rotation position. And it relates to a hand-held shower head clamping device for a bathroom equipped with such a clamping device. According to the present invention, the operating unit is arranged on the object clamping member and is configured to move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position under the manipulation of a user not only when the object clamping member is in its first rotation position but also when the object clamping member is in its second rotation position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamping device that can be mounted on a rod. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod includes: a rod coupler that is configured to be placed on the rod and has a base body and a clamping unit that is guided to move on the base body between a rod clamping position and a rod releasing position; an operating unit that is configured to move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod releasing position when manipulated by a user; and an object gripper that is connected to the rod coupler in a manner that can rotate at least between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. The present invention also relates to a bathroom hand shower clamping device equipped with such a clamping device. Background Art

[0002] Such a clamping device can be fixed to a rod by means of its rod coupler, and the clamping device is configured to grip an object, i.e., an article, by means of its object gripper. In other words, the clamping device functions as an independent device or binding element for placing the relevant object or article on the rod. In many applications, the clamping device is configured to be mounted on the rod in a manner that can move along the rod, which means that the object clamped by the clamping device can move along the rod accordingly. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping device is mounted on the rod in a non-movable or at least non-movable-along-the-rod manner.

[0003] Here, the property of being mountable on a rod means for the clamping device that it is configured to be mounted on a rod, that is, equipped with corresponding devices so as to be able to mount the clamping device on the rod. The rod can be any type of rod, especially, but not limited to, a rod that can be mounted on a wall, such as a shower head rod for a bathroom hand shower. In the last-mentioned case, the object clamped by the clamping device on its object gripper is the hand shower body. In other bathroom wall rod applications, an object, such as a shelf for soap, etc., can be clamped on the rod by the clamping device. In addition, the clamping device can also be used for any other, even non-bathroom, purposes in which an object should be mounted on a rod, especially in such a way that the clamping device together with the object clamped thereon can move along the rod.

[0004] The mounting of the clamping device on the rod is achieved by clamping and fixing it with the aid of the clamping unit. For this purpose, the clamping unit is moved from its rod release position into its rod clamping position. If the clamping device is mounted on the rod and is to be moved along the rod or removed from the rod, the clamping unit releases this movement or this removal process by moving the clamping unit from its rod clamping position into its rod release position. The user can correspondingly manipulate the clamping unit via the operating unit. Here, the clamping unit is mostly arranged in such a way that it is elastically preloaded into its rod clamping position, so that the user can move the clamping unit into the rod release position against the preloading force by manipulating the operating unit. Once the user no longer manipulates the operating unit, the clamping unit automatically returns from the rod release position to its rod clamping position. The rod can have any cross-section, for example a circular, oval, polygonal or trapezoidal cross-section. It goes without saying that the clamping unit and the rod holder are formed in a manner that appropriately matches the cross-section of the rod on which the clamping device is to be mounted.

[0005] For example, various conventional rod-mounted brackets with such clamping techniques are disclosed in patent documents EP 0 965 699 B1, DE 23 42 613 B2, EP 2 703 569 B1, EP 0733 747 B1 and US 8,448,270 B2, in published documents DE 103 03 169 A1, EP 1 921 214 A1, WO2011 / 088763 A1, US 2015 / 0233101 A1, JP 2008-184765 A, DE 197 05 285 A1 and DE 102010 063 968 A1, and in utility model document DE 20 2004 006 168 A1, especially brackets in the form of hand-held shower head brackets.

[0006] For the type of clamping device, i.e., the type mentioned at the beginning, the object holder is connected to the rod coupling in such a way that it can rotate at least between two different rotational positions. This enables the user to twist the object holder, such as a hand-held shower head holder, if necessary, to position the item to be clamped thereon, such as a hand-held shower head body, in a different orientation relative to the rod. Usually, especially for this type of clamping device, the operating unit is also arranged on the rod coupling, and the user can manipulate the clamping unit via the operating unit. Such clamping devices are disclosed in published documents DE 10 2015 226 624 A1 and DE 10 2018 209 985 A1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a clamping device that can be mounted on a rod of the type mentioned at the beginning, which provides advantages especially in terms of functionality, operating comfort and / or manufacturing cost compared to the conventional clamping devices mentioned above, and to provide a hand-held shower head clamping device for a bathroom equipped with such a clamping device.

[0008] The present invention solves the above problem by providing a clamping device that can be mounted on a rod having the features of claim 1 and a hand-held shower head clamping device for a bathroom having the features of claim 10. Advantageous improvements of the present invention contribute to solving this problem and other problems and are given in the dependent claims, the content of which includes all combinations of features obtained by reference to the claims and thus becomes the content of this specification by reference in its entirety.

[0009] According to the invention, the operating unit is arranged on the object holder and is designed to move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position in the case of user manipulation not only when the object holder is in its first rotational position but also when the object holder is in its second rotational position.

[0010] The clamping device according to the invention that can be mounted on a rod provides advantages especially in terms of functionality, operating comfort and / or manufacturing cost compared to the prior art mentioned above. Therefore, for manufacturing the clamping device, the design of its clamping rod can be carried out as independently as possible from the operating unit arranged on the object holder. In addition, if the user wants to manipulate the clamping unit to loosen the clamping device from the rod or move it along the rod, the operating unit can be accessed by the user without any problem due to its positioning on the object holder. Because usually the user can already access the object holder well, since for a clamping device mounted on a rod it should be possible for the user to remove and reposition without any problem the object clamped by the clamping device on the object holder.

[0011] Since the operating unit can move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position not only in the first rotational position of the object holder but also in its second rotational position, the user can manipulate the clamping unit in both cases to loosen or restore the clamping state of the clamping device on the rod. This enables the clamping device to be used very flexibly in two or more rotational positions of its object holder relative to its rod coupling and thus in different orientations of its object holder relative to the rod while fully maintaining the operating function for clamping the clamping device on the corresponding rod or loosening it from the corresponding rod.

[0012] The clamping of the clamping device on the rod can be provided or at least supported, as required and depending on the application, by the form-fitting and / or force-fitting interaction of corresponding clamping contact surfaces on the clamping unit on the one hand and on the rod on the other hand. Furthermore, the clamping unit can be guided on the rod coupling in a pre-tensioned manner into its rod clamping position by means of an assigned pre-tensioning element, such as a pre-tensioning spring, if required.

[0013] In an improvement of the invention, the first and second rotational positions of the object gripper have a rotational angular spacing of at least 90° from one another. This enables the clamping device to be used in correspondingly different rotational positions of its object gripper relative to its rod gripper. Depending on the need and the application, the object gripper can optionally be positioned only in the first or second rotational position relative to the object gripper, or alternatively can also be positioned additionally in one or more intermediate positions.

[0014] In these embodiments of the invention, the maximum rotational angular spacing of the different adjustable rotational positions of the object gripper relative to the rod gripper is at least 90°, and can be selected as any larger angle, for example at least 180° or 270°, as required or depending on the application, where in extreme cases the circumferential rotatable adjustability of the object gripper relative to the rod gripper can also be provided without angular limitation. Optionally, the object gripper can be positioned in one of two rotational positions that differ by 90° relative to the rod gripper, which, for example, when using the clamping device as a hand-held shower head holder, can, with the spatial orientation of the object gripper remaining unchanged, clamp the clamping device, for example, onto a shower head rod with a vertically or horizontally oriented rod gripper that is spatially offset by 90° in both cases, so that in both cases the hand-held shower head body can be inserted into the object gripper in a clamped manner from above as the object. In an alternative embodiment, the rotational angular spacing between the two final rotational positions of the object gripper is less than 90°, for example a maximum of 45° or a maximum of 30°. This can, for example, meet the following application cases, in which the restricted positional orientation of the object to be clamped on the rod is sufficient, or in which it is intended to optionally install the clamping device only on rods with substantially the same or only relatively slightly deviated spatial positions.

[0015] In an improved embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position is a linear translational movement of the clamping unit, and the linear translational movement of the clamping unit extends with a perpendicular main direction component with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rod receiving portion of the rod coupling. This allows the clamping unit to be structurally advantageously and easily designed as a member guided on the rod coupling in a linearly translatable manner. The translational movement of the clamping unit extends here with a majority of direction components perpendicular to and thus in most cases with a minority of direction components parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod receiving portion for the rod constructed on the rod coupling, on which the clamping device can be mounted.

[0016] In the presence of the mobility of the clamping device along the rod, this movement occurs along this longitudinal direction of the rod receiving portion, and correspondingly the movement of the clamping unit for establishing or releasing the clamping connection of the clamping device on the rod is at least mainly oriented perpendicular to the movement direction of the clamping device on the rod. This represents a generally advantageous movement characteristic for the movement of the clamping unit on the one hand and the clamping device on the rod on the other hand. In the special case of a perpendicular orientation, the translational movement of the clamping unit occurs perpendicular to the movement direction of the clamping device on the rod, where this movement direction is usually given by the longitudinal axis direction of the rod. In an alternative embodiment, for example, a rotational movement can be provided for the clamping unit, or the linear translational movement of the clamping unit occurs substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod receiving portion of the rod coupling.

[0017] In an improved embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position is a linear translational movement of the clamping unit, and this linear translational movement of the clamping unit occurs with a parallel main direction component with respect to the rotational axis of the object clamping member. The choice of the linear translational movement of the clamping unit has the advantages already mentioned above. The course of the translational movement of the clamping unit, parallel to or at any rate mainly parallel to the rotational axis of the object clamping member, represents an optimal coordination in many cases of the movement of the clamping unit with the rotatable adjustability of the object clamping member. Thereby, the clamping movement of the clamping unit occurs completely or substantially along the direction of the rotational axis of the object clamping member, which, for example, makes it easier to achieve the following purpose, namely: to avoid an unwanted torque load on the object clamping member due to the clamping force that may act on the clamping unit. In an alternative embodiment, for example, a rotational movement can be provided for the clamping unit, or the translational movement of the clamping unit occurs substantially in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the object clamping member.

[0018] In a design solution of the present invention, the clamping unit has two jaws that are opposed to each other and translate transversely to the linear movement of the clamping unit. A rod receiving portion is reserved between the jaws themselves. The width of the rod receiving portion, which is defined by the distance between the facing end regions of the jaws, decreases in the direction away from the rod receiving portion. This embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention provides an advantageous solution, namely: the clamping device can be reliably and easily clamped to the rod by its rod clamping member and the clamping unit guided thereon, and the clamping device is mounted on the rod.

[0019] The clamping device should be mounted on a rod that can be received in the rod receiving portion reserved between the jaws, where the jaw spacing of the jaws defines the corresponding width of the rod receiving portion. Due to the special jaw design, the jaw spacing of the jaws decreases in the direction away from the rod receiving portion in their facing end regions. Thus, in order to establish a clamping connection between the clamping device and the rod, the jaws can reliably, fixedly and clampingly abut against the rod there and almost catch the rod from behind. To release the clamping connection, it is sufficient to move the jaws linearly in the direction away from the rod receiving portion. Additional spreading of the jaws is not necessarily required, and thus the operating force required to release the clamping connection can also be kept relatively small. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping unit can be of another conventional structural type, for example, a structural type having one or more clamping springs that completely or at least mainly wind around the rod receiving portion.

[0020] In an improved solution of the present invention, the operating unit has at least one operating element. The clamping unit is coupled to the operating element by mechanical coupling, and the operating element is guided on the object holder in such a way that it can move between a stationary position where clamping takes effect and a manipulation position where clamping is released. In the stationary position, the operating element holds the clamping unit in its rod clamping position, and in the manipulation position where clamping is released, the operating element manipulates the clamping unit to its rod release position. This mechanical coupling of the clamping unit to the operating unit requires relatively little manufacturing effort and is very functionally reliable and fault-proof. In an alternative embodiment, the clamping unit can be coupled to the operating unit, for example, by conventional electrical and / or hydraulic or pneumatic coupling devices.

[0021] In a design of the present invention, the actuating element can move between its stationary position where it acts in a clamping manner and its actuating position where the clamping is released in a linear translational motion, wherein the translational motion of the actuating element is carried out with a perpendicular main direction component with respect to the translational motion of the clamping unit, and the mechanical coupling includes an inclined surface coupling of a coupling surface of the actuating element on the actuating element and a clamping unit coupling surface on the clamping unit that acts together with the coupling surface of the actuating element, wherein the coupling surface of the actuating element is an actuating element inclined surface and / or the clamping unit coupling surface is a clamping unit inclined surface. In an alternative embodiment, for example, a rotational motion can be provided for the clamping unit, or the linear translational motion of the clamping unit is carried out substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod receiving portion of the rod coupling member.

[0022] With the linearly translatable actuating element, the operating unit has advantages in terms of simple and reliable functionality and less structural overhead, and in the same way, it is advantageous to implement a mechanical coupling with an inclined surface coupling between the actuating element on the one hand and the clamping unit on the other hand not only in terms of simple and reliable functionality but also in terms of manufacturing overhead. Here, depending on the needs and application scenarios, the inclined surface coupling can include only an inclined surface on the actuating element, only an inclined surface on the clamping unit, or inclined surfaces on both of these components. In the case of having only one inclined surface, the inclined surface can act together with, for example, an edge surface or a curved surface of the other component as a contact surface. In an alternative embodiment, for example, a rotational motion is provided for the actuating element, and / or the mechanical coupling between the clamping unit and the actuating element includes, for example, a chute guiding mechanism or a lever arm coupling mechanism without an inclined surface instead of an inclined surface coupling mechanism.

[0023] In another design of the present invention, the clamping unit coupling surface has at least one first and one second clamping unit coupling surface section on the clamping unit, wherein the actuating element coupling surface interacts with the first clamping unit coupling surface section in the first rotational position of the object gripper and with the second clamping unit coupling surface section in the second rotational position of the object gripper. This represents a functionally and structurally advantageous implementation of the inclined plane coupling obtained by the interacting coupling surfaces on the actuating element on the one hand and on the clamping unit on the other hand. Since the coupling surfaces are made such that they interact not only in the first rotational position of the object gripper but also in its second rotational position, an active coupling of the operating unit and the clamping unit is produced in both rotational positions of the object gripper. Thus, in both rotational positions of the object gripper, the user can, if necessary, release or re - establish the clamping state of the clamping device on the rod by actuating the operating unit, although the position, i.e., the orientation, of the operating unit arranged on the object gripper and thus its actuating element relative to the clamping unit guided on the rod coupling differs by the corresponding rotation angle between these two rotational positions. In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided, for example, that the actuating element is also used to change the orientation of the clamping unit on the rod gripper, in that the clamping unit is arranged on the rod gripper in a manner guided in two correspondingly different positions or is arranged on the rod gripper in a manner twist - able between these two positions.

[0024] In another design of the present invention, the clamping unit inclined plane is formed circumferentially around the rotational axis of the object gripper, wherein the first and second clamping unit coupling surface sections are integral parts of the circumferential clamping unit inclined plane. This represents a functionally and manufacturing - technically simple and advantageous solution, namely, to provide two coupling surface sections of the clamping unit as inclined plane sections with which the coupling surface of the actuating element interacts in the corresponding rotational positions of the object gripper. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling surface sections of the clamping unit can be formed, for example, as separate surface sections of the clamping unit, either as corresponding inclined planes or as other types of coupling surfaces.

[0025] In a design solution of the present invention, the operating unit includes at least two operating elements that are opposed to each other with respect to the rotation axis of the object holder and their respective buttons, and the buttons are integral with the assigned operating elements or are mechanically rigidly coupled thereto. This represents an advantageous implementation of the operating unit in terms of operating functionality and operating comfort. The user can activate the clamping unit by simply pressing two opposed buttons with this operating unit, and the operating force can be symmetrically and thus correspondingly evenly transmitted to the clamping unit through the operating elements with respect to the rotation axis of the object holder. Optionally, pressing and operating one of the two buttons may already be sufficient. The axial end side of the object holder can be kept free of the operating elements of the operating unit and can thus be designed according to other viewpoints, for example, from a pure design viewpoint or for constructing a clamping device for the object to be clamped there. In an alternative embodiment, the operating unit can have, for example, a knob instead of buttons, one or more operating elements are appropriately coupled to the knob, and / or only a single button is provided for the operating unit, and this single button can be located, for example, on the end side of the object holder.

[0026] In an improved solution of the present invention, the clamping device has a locking coupling mechanism between the object holder and the rod coupling member, and through this locking coupling mechanism, the object holder is lockingly coupled to the rod coupling member in a first rotational position and a second rotational position in a manner that can be disengaged along the rotational direction. This represents an advantageous implementation of the rotational coupling between the object holder and the rod coupling member. The locking coupling mechanism fixes its position relative to the rod coupling member in the first or second rotational position of the object holder, so that the object holder only leaves this rotational position when the required disengagement force is applied. This avoids the object holder inadvertently rotating out of the relevant rotational position, but allows the user to twist the object holder relative to the rod coupling member when needed against the disengagement force, for example, to reorient the object holder in space after the clamping device is installed on the same or another rod with its rod coupling member oriented differently, or to reorient the object holder together with the object clamped thereon in space, for example, from a vertical position to a position inclined with respect to the vertical line, while the position of the rod coupling member of the clamping device on the rod remains unchanged. In an alternative embodiment, the locking mechanism is abandoned for the rotational coupling of the object holder relative to the rod coupling member, and instead, for example, a position-fixed clamping mechanism can be provided, through which the object holder is held in its corresponding rotational position relative to the rod coupling member in a manner that can be loosened.

[0027] The hand-held shower head clamping device of the sanitary ware according to the present invention includes a shower head rod of the sanitary ware that can be installed on a wall and a clamping device according to the present invention that can be movably installed on the shower head rod, wherein the object clamping member of the clamping device has a hand-held shower head receiving opening for clamping and loading a clamping section of the hand-held shower head of the sanitary ware. This represents an advantageous application of the clamping device according to the present invention for variably clamping the hand-held shower head body on the shower head rod. If the clamping device is used, and the two respective rotational positions of the object clamping member of the clamping device have a corresponding rotational angle spacing of 90° between each other, then for example, the hand-held shower head body can be optionally clamped not only on a vertically oriented shower head rod but also on a horizontally oriented shower head rod with the same spatial orientation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] An advantageous embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings. This embodiment of the present invention and other embodiments will be explained in more detail below. Here:

[0029] Figure 1 A perspective view of the clamping device that can be installed on a rod in a first installation position on a vertically oriented rod is shown,

[0030] Figure 2 An inclined side view shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the clamping device in a rod installation position according to Figure 1 ... of the rod installation position,

[0031] Figure 3 A front view shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the clamping device in a rod installation position according to Figure 1 ... of the rod installation position,

[0032] Figure 4 A perspective view of the clamping device in a second installation position on a horizontally oriented rod is shown,

[0033] Figure 5 A perspective view of the rod coupling member of the clamping device installed on the rod is shown,

[0034] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the clamping unit and the operating unit of the clamping device installed on the rod in the rod installation position is shown,

[0035] Figure 7 A perspective view of the object clamping member of the clamping device is shown, and

[0036] Figure 8 A perspective view of the operating unit and the clamping unit of the clamping device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] As becomes clear with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, the rod-mountable clamping device according to the invention comprises, as components, a rod coupling 1, an operating unit 4 and an object clamping part 5, wherein the rod coupling 1 comprises a base body 2 and a clamping unit 3, and the object clamping part 5 is at least capable of being mounted on a rod. Figure 1 The first rotational position 5 is shown 1 With Figure 4 The second rotational position 5 is shown 2 The rod coupling 1 of the clamping device is connected to the rod coupling 1 in a rotationally movable manner. The rod coupling 1 of the clamping device is designed together with the base 2 and the clamping unit 3 for placement on the rod, for which the clamping unit 3 is guided on the base 2 in such a way that it can move between a rod clamping position 3k and a rod release position (not explicitly shown). Preferably, the clamping unit 3 is guided on the rod coupling 1 in such a way that it is prestressed into its rod clamping position 3k. For this purpose, a clamping unit 3 is used in the example shown. Figure 2 and 6 A preload spring device 14 can be schematically shown in FIG. 1 , which is supported on the one hand on the clamping unit 3 and on the other hand on the base body 2 of the lever coupling 1 and can be formed, for example, by one or more preload springs.

[0038] The operating unit 4 is arranged on the object holder 5 and is designed to move the clamping unit 3 between its lever clamping position 3k and its lever release position when actuated by a user. For this purpose, the operating unit 4 is designed more specifically to: not only when the object holder 5 of the clamping device is in its first rotational position 5 1 and if the object holder 5 is in its second rotational position 5 2 In the case of actuation by a user, the clamping unit 3 is moved between its rod clamping position and its rod releasing position.

[0039] In the example shown, the clamping device is a clamping device for clamping a common type of hand-held shower head body, in particular the following clamping device 21, which can be movably mounted on a rod 20 in the form of a bathroom shower head rod that can be mounted on a wall. Figure 1 and Figure 4shows the corresponding hand-held shower head clamping device of a sanitary ware in two of the different mounting orientations mentioned. The hand-held shower head clamping device of the sanitary ware has a shower head rod 20 of the sanitary ware that can be mounted on a wall and a clamping device 21 that is movably mounted on the shower head rod of the sanitary ware. In this application, the object clamping member 5 of the clamping device 21 has a hand-held shower head receiving opening 22 for clamping and receiving a clamping section of the hand-held shower head body of the sanitary ware. For the hand-held shower head body and its clamping section not shown, any conventional structural form can be used. The clamping section can be formed, for example, by a frustoconical hose connection section of the hand-held shower head body or a shower head hose connected thereto, and the shape of the hand-held shower head receiving opening 22 is suitably coordinated with the shape of the clamping section, for example, having a correspondingly frustoconical opening edge.

[0040] In an alternative application scenario, the clamping device 21 can be used in the same or a modified embodiment for mounting on other, for example, non-sanitary ware rods for other, for example, non-sanitary ware use purposes, where an object should be movably or immovably mounted on the rod in a releasably clamped manner by means of the clamping device 21. Here, the rod can have any cross-section, for example, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or trapezoidal as in the shown example. The rod clamping member 1 has a rod receiving portion 19, the shape of which is suitably coordinated with the cross-section of the rod on which the clamping device should be mounted, so that the rod can be inserted into the rod receiving portion 19 for mounting the clamping device and, if necessary, moved along it. It goes without saying that the object clamping member 5 is provided with object clamping means that are respectively coordinated with the object to be clamped, and the object clamping means can be any other conventional object clamping means instead of the receiving opening, such as a hand-held shower head receiving opening 22, such as a releasable clip connection, a clamping connection, or a threaded connection, etc.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the shown example, in the first rotational position 5 of the object clamping member 5 1 and the second rotational position 5 2 the angular spacing between them is at least 90°. Figure 1 shows the clamping device 21 in the first rotational position 5 of the object clamping member 5 1 in the case of, Figure 4 shows the clamping device 21 in the second rotational position 5 of the object clamping member 5 2 in the case of. More specifically, Figure 1 represents mounting the clamping device 21 on the rod 20 in the vertical orientation of the rod 20, while Figure 4This indicates that the clamping device 21 is mounted on the rod 20 in the horizontal orientation of the rod 20. According to the orientation in which the rod 20 is rotated by 90°, the rod coupling 1 of the clamping device 21 is also oriented in space with a 90° offset in the two orientations of Figure 1 and 4 , while Figure 1 and 4 show the situation of the object holder 5 in the same spatial orientation when the hand-held spray head receiving opening 22 is tilted upward. For this purpose, in the installation situation of Figure 4 , the object holder 5 is twisted by 90° relative to the rod coupling 1 relative to the installation situation of Figure 1 . If necessary, in the corresponding implementation of the clamping device 21, the object holder 5 can also be rotatably oriented relative to the rod coupling 1 in the following rotational positions, and the rotational positions are between the first and second rotational positions 5 1 , 5 2 , or the rotational positions are separated from the first rotational position 5 1 by a rotational angular spacing greater than 90°. The twisting of the object holder 5 relative to the rod coupling 1 is carried out around the rotational axis D A . In the illustrated example, the rotational axis D A is generated by the bolt axis of the support bolt 15, and the object holder 5 is rotatably held on the base 2 of the rod coupling 1 by this support bolt. In order to improve the guiding relative to each other, and especially to improve the rotational guiding, the base 2 and the object holder 5 can respectively have sleeve-shaped protruding bolt guide sleeves 16, 17 as in the illustrated example, as can be seen especially from the Figure 5 or Figure 7 showing the object holder 5 separately. The bolt guide sleeves 16, 17 fit into each other and the support bolt 15 extends through these bolt guide sleeves.

[0042] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the illustrated example, the movement of the clamping unit 3 between its rod clamping position 3k and its rod release position is a linear translational movement T K , which is an upward or downward movement in the cross-sectional views of Figure 2 , 3 and 6, where the clamping device is shown in its rod clamping position 3k in all the illustrations. In a more specific embodiment, the linear translational movement T K of the clamping unit 3 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L SA of the rod receiving portion 19 formed on the rod coupling 1 of the clamping device for receiving the corresponding rod, or in any case relative to this rod receiving portion longitudinal direction L SAThe vertical main direction component, that is, along the longitudinal direction L of this rod receiving part SA has a larger direction component than along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of this rod receiving part SA to extend. As a supplementary or alternative solution, the translational movement T of the linear clamping unit K extends parallelly or in any case with a parallel main direction component with respect to the rotation axis D of the object holder 5 A as is the case in the illustrated example.

[0043] In an advantageous embodiment, as in the illustrated example, the clamping unit 3 includes two jaws 8, 9 opposed transversely to the translational movement T of the linear clamping unit K which hold the rod receiving part 19 therebetween. Here, the two jaws 8, 9 are opposed at their facing end regions 8a, 9a with a spacing which defines the corresponding width Ws of the rod receiving part 19 in this region. This jaw spacing or this width Ws of the rod receiving part 19 decreases along the direction emerging from the rod receiving part 19, as can be seen for example by Figure 3 as visible, in Figure 3 this width Ws decreases from a larger value W at the inner edges of the facing jaw end regions 8a, 9a S1 to a relatively smaller value W at the outer edges of the jaw end regions 8a, 9a S2 . This enables the rod coupling 1 and thus the clamping device as a whole to be clamped to the corresponding rod to a certain extent from behind. In the illustrated example, this is achieved in that the facing jaw end regions 8a, 9a are configured as corresponding inclined surfaces, as can be seen in particular by Figure 2 , 3 and 6.

[0044] This releasable clamping structure of the clamping device on the rod is well-suited, for example, to clamping the clamping device onto a rod having a trapezoidal cross-section, as in the case of the rod 20 shown. However, this clamping is also suitable for use with other rod cross-sections, such as circular, elliptical or polygonal rod cross-sections. If required, the clamping connection between the clamping device and the rod can be supported by a special force and / or form-fit configuration of the mutually acting faces of the clamping device and / or the rod. In the example shown, for this purpose, a serrated profiling 17 is provided on the side edge of the rod 20, and the corresponding profilings of the mutually facing end regions 8a, 9a of the jaws 8, 9 cooperate with this profiling 17 so that the clamping device is fixedly clamped onto the rod 20 to prevent movement along the rod 20. For this purpose, when the clamping unit 3 is moved into its rod clamping position 3k, the profilings on the jaw end regions 8a, 9a lockingly engage into the profiling 17 on the side edge of the rod 20. By moving the clamping unit 3 in the opposite linear translational movement of its jaws 8, 9 (upward in Figure 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 or leftward in Figure 1 ) back into its rod release position, the profilings on the jaw end regions 8a, 9a disengage from the profiling 17 on the rod side edge, so that the clamping device 21 can be moved along the rod 20. As a supplementary or alternative solution to this form-fit coupling, a force-fit coupling can be provided, for example, by a corresponding frictional contact between on the one hand the clamping unit 3 or its jaw end regions 8a, 9a and on the other hand the rod 20. Figure 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 upward or in Figure 1 Figure 1 leftward)

[0045] In an advantageous embodiment of the clamping device, the operating unit 4 comprises at least one actuating element 6, as in the example shown, and the clamping unit 3 is coupled to the actuating element 6 by a mechanical coupling. Here, the actuating element 6 is guided on the object gripper 5 in such a way that it can move between a stationary position K P in which clamping takes effect and an unshown actuating position for releasing the clamping. In the stationary position K P P in which clamping takes effect, the actuating element 6 holds the clamping unit 3 in its rod clamping position 3k, while in its actuating position for releasing the clamping it actuates the clamping unit 3 into its rod release position. In other words, the user can move the actuating element 6 on the operating unit 4 from its stationary position K P to its actuating position to move the clamping unit 3 from its rod clamping position 3k to its rod release position. In the example shown, the operating unit includes two actuating elements 6 1 , 6 2, the user can individually or jointly manipulate these two actuating elements to move the clamping unit 3 in a desired manner between its rod release position and its rod clamping position 3k. Figure 6 The clamping unit 3, the rod 20 and the actuating element 6 are specifically shown 1 , 6 2 and Figure 8 The clamping unit 3 and the actuating element 6 are specifically shown 1 , 6 2 .

[0046] The respective actuating element 6 or 6 1 , 6 2 Optionally, it can be held in its rest position K in an elastically preloaded manner by means of the assigned preloading element 12, such as a preloading spring or a return spring, as in the illustrated example P . In this case, the user can move the respective actuating element 6 or 6 1 , 6 2 from its rest position K P into its actuating position to cancel the clamping of the clamping unit, and after the user releases the operating unit 4, the respective actuating element 6 automatically returns to its rest position K P , whereby the clamping unit 3 can again assume its rod clamping position 3k.

[0047] In an advantageous embodiment, the one actuating element 6 or the plurality of actuating elements 6 1 , 6 2 can move in a linear translational motion T, as in the illustrated example B between the rest position K where the clamping takes effect P and the actuating position where the clamping is released, wherein the translational motion T of the actuating element B extends with a perpendicular main direction component with respect to the translational motion T of the clamping unit 3 K , and in the illustrated example, the translational motions T B , T K are particularly perpendicular to each other. Here, the mechanical coupling between the actuating element 6 and the clamping unit 3 includes a bevel coupling of the actuating element coupling surface 6 on the actuating element 6 K and the clamping unit coupling surface 3k on the clamping unit 3 that acts together with this actuating element coupling surface 6 K , where at least one of the two coupling surfaces 3 K , 6 K is constructed as a bevel. In the illustrated example, on the one hand, the two coupling surfaces 3 on the clamping unit 3 and on the other hand, the two coupling surfaces 3 on the actuating element 6 K , 6K are each configured as inclined planes, as can be seen in particular from Figure 3 and 6 .

[0048] In the respective implementation, the clamping unit coupling surface 3 K includes at least one first and one second clamping unit coupling surface section 3 on the clamping unit 3, as in the example shown K1 , 3 K2 . Here, when the object gripper 5 is in the first rotational position 5 1 , the actuating element coupling surface 6 K cooperates with the first clamping unit coupling surface section 3 K1 . When the object gripper 5 is in the second rotational position 5 2 , the actuating element coupling surface 6 K cooperates with the second clamping unit coupling surface section 3 K2 . In the example shown, the first and second clamping unit coupling surface sections 3 KI , 3 K2 are arranged offset from each other by 90°, as can be seen from Figure 8 , which matches the corresponding angular spacing of rotation of the first and second rotational positions 5 1 , 5 2 .

[0049] In an advantageous implementation, the clamping unit coupling surface 3 K is configured as a circumferential inclined plane around the axis of rotation D of the object gripper 5, as in the example shown A , as can also be seen from Figure 8 , wherein the first and second clamping unit coupling surface sections 3 K1 , 3 K2 are an integral part of this circumferential clamping unit inclined plane.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment, the operating unit 4 includes at least two actuating elements opposed with respect to the axis of rotation D of the object gripper 5 A , as is the case for the actuating elements 6 2 , 6 2 in the example shown, and the operating unit 4 includes the respectively assigned buttons 10, 11. In the example shown, the respective buttons 10, 11 are integrally formed with the assigned actuating elements 6 1 , 6 2 and are inherently coupled thereto in this way. In an alternative embodiment, the buttons 10, 11 are configured to be connected to the actuating elements 61 and 6 2 separate components and are mechanically and rigidly coupled thereto, for example, by corresponding fixed connections such as threaded connections, adhesive connections, etc. In the illustrated example, the buttons 10, 11 are held in a latching manner on the object holder 5 by means of latching projections 18a, where the latching projections 18a cooperate with latching stops 18b configured on the object holder 5, as can be seen especially from Figure 7 as shown. Here, the latching stops 18b limit the buttons 10, 11 and thereby limit the operating element 6 integrated therewith 1 and 6 2 from performing its translational movement opposite to the operating position and thereby define the rest position K P , and the operating element 6 1 and 6 2 and the buttons 10, 11 are elastically preloaded by one or more preloading elements 12 into the rest position.

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping device includes, as in the illustrated example, a latching coupling mechanism 7 between the object holder 5 and the rod coupling 1, by means of which the object holder 5 is latched to the rod coupling 1 in a releasable manner along the rotational direction at least in a first rotational position and a second rotational position 5 1 and 5 2 Thereby fixing the object holder 5 in its respective rotational position to prevent accidental twisting relative to the rod coupling 1. On the other hand, the user can easily twist the object holder 5 relative to the rod coupling 1 from its current rotational position to another rotational position against the relevant latching force, and then can fixedly hold the object holder 5 again in an engaged manner in the other rotational position.

[0052] In the illustrated example, the latching coupling mechanism 7 is achieved by constructing a circularly surrounding latching guide 13 on the object holder 5, which is provided with semi-circular latching gaps at appropriate positions, four latching gaps 7a as can be seen in Figure 7 and one or more latching pins, two latching pins 7b as can be seen in Figure 5 are elastically preloaded with spring force towards the latching guide with hemispherical ends, where the latching pins 7b are supported on the rod coupling 1 or its base 2. The latching pins 7b can be seen especially in Figure 5 as shown, Figure 5Specifically shown is the base body 2 of the rod holder 1. If the object holder 5 is in the desired rotational position, one or more latching pins 7b always engage in a latching manner in the latching gap 7a. If the user rotates the object holder 5, the latching gap 7a rotates away from the latching pin 7b and the latching pin 7b is pushed back from the latching gap 7a by the latching guide 13.

[0053] As shown and clearly demonstrated by other embodiments explained above, the present invention provides a clamping device that can be mounted on a rod, which is suitable for being mounted on a corresponding rod with different positional orientations of its object holder relative to its rod coupling, and for which the operating unit is advantageously arranged on the object holder for user manipulation of the clamping unit. The clamping device is particularly suitable for clamping a hand-held shower head body on a wall-mounted shower rod in a bathroom, however the clamping device can also be used in the same way for other similar bathroom and non-bathroom applications, in which there is a need to be able to arrange an object in a releasable and optionally movable manner on a rod.

Claims

1. A clamping device that can be mounted on a rod, having - a rod coupler (1) which is configured to be placed on the rod and has a base body (2) and a clamping unit (3) guided in a manner that it can move on the base body between a rod clamping position (3k) and a rod release position, - an operating unit (4) which is used to move the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position when manipulated by a user, and - An object gripper (5), which is connected to the rod coupling in such a way that it can rotate at least between a first rotational position (5 1 ) and a second rotational position (5 2 ). characterized in that - The operating unit (4) is arranged on the object gripper (5) such that the operating unit (4) changes its position with the object gripper (5) when the object gripper (5) rotates between its first rotational position (5 1 ) and its second rotational position (5 2 ), and the operating unit (4) is configured to move the clamping unit (3) not only when the object gripper is in its first rotational position (5 1 ) but also when the object gripper is in its second rotational position (5 2 ) between the rod clamping position (3k) and the rod release position of the clamping unit in the case of user manipulation.

2. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to claim 1, furthermore characterized in that - the first rotational position and the second rotational position of the object gripper have a rotational angular spacing of at least 90° from each other, and / or - The movement of the clamping unit between its rod clamping position and its rod release position is a linear clamping unit translation movement (T K ), the linear clamping unit translation movement (T K ) extending with a perpendicular main direction component with respect to the longitudinal direction (L SA ) of the rod receiving portion of the rod coupling and / or extending with a parallel main direction component with respect to the rotation axis (D A ) of the object gripper.

3. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to claim 2, furthermore characterized in that the clamping unit has two jaws (8, 9) opposed to each other transversely to the linear translational movement of the clamping unit, and a rod receiving portion (19) is left between the jaws themselves, wherein the width (Ws) of the rod receiving portion, defined by the spacing between the facing end regions (8a, 9a) of the jaws, decreases along the direction emerging from the rod receiving portion.

4. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to any one of claims 1 to 3, furthermore characterized in that The operating unit has at least one actuating element (6), the clamping unit is coupled to the actuating element (6) by mechanical coupling, and the actuating element (6) is guided in such a way that it can move on the object holder between a stationary position (K P ) in which clamping takes effect and an actuating position in which clamping is released, wherein in the stationary position in which clamping takes effect, the actuating element holds the clamping unit in its rod clamping position, and in the actuating position in which clamping is released, the actuating element actuates the clamping unit into its rod release position.

5. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to claim 4, furthermore characterized in that The actuating element can move in a linear translational movement (T B ) between its stationary position in which it acts in a clamping manner and its actuating position in which the clamping is released, wherein the translational movement of the actuating element extends with a perpendicular main direction component with respect to the translational movement of the clamping unit, and the mechanical coupling includes an inclined surface coupling of an actuating element coupling surface on the actuating element and a clamping unit coupling surface (3 K ) on the clamping unit that interacts with the actuating element coupling surface, wherein the actuating element coupling surface is an actuating element inclined surface and / or the clamping unit coupling surface is a clamping unit inclined surface.

6. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to claim 5, further characterized in that the clamping unit coupling surface has at least one first clamping unit coupling surface section and at least one second clamping unit coupling surface section (3 KI 3 K2 ) on the clamping unit, wherein the actuating element coupling surface interacts with the first clamping unit coupling surface section in the first rotational position of the object gripper and with the second clamping unit coupling surface section in the second rotational position of the object gripper.

7. The clamping device mountable on a rod according to claim 6, further characterized in that the clamping unit coupling surface is formed as a clamping unit inclined surface surrounding the rotation axis (D A ) of the object holder, wherein the first clamping unit coupling surface section and the second clamping unit coupling surface section are integral components of the surrounding clamping unit inclined surface.

8. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to any one of claims 5 to 7, furthermore characterized in that The operating unit includes at least two actuating elements (6 1 , 6 2 ) which are opposed to each other with respect to the axis of rotation of the object holder, and the respective buttons (10, 11), which are integrally or mechanically rigidly coupled to the assigned actuating elements.

9. The clamping device that can be mounted on a rod according to any one of claims 5 to 7, furthermore characterized in that a latching coupling mechanism (7) between the object gripper and the rod coupler, by which the object gripper is latched to the rod coupler in a manner that it can be disengaged along the rotation direction in the first rotational position and in the second rotational position.

10. A hand-held shower head clamping device for a bathroom, having - a bathroom shower head rod (20) that can be mounted on a wall and - the clamping device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 that can be movably mounted on the shower head rod, wherein the object gripper of the clamping device has a hand-held shower head receiving opening (22) for clamping and loading a clamping section of a hand-held shower head body for a bathroom.

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