Sanitary fitting and seal for mounting in a through hole of a sanitary installation

Abstract

A sanitary fitting (10) which features: a) a housing base (18) with a contact surface (20); b) a fixing stud (26) designed to be inserted into a fixing through hole (14) of a sanitary installation (12), wherein the fixing stud (26) is arranged eccentrically with respect to the contact surface (20) on the housing base (18); c) a seal (34) designed to be inserted between the contact surface (20) of the housing base (18) and a support surface (16) around the mounting through hole (14); d) a retaining element (28) which is designed to be attached to the fastening stud (26) on one side of the fastening through hole (14) of the sanitary installation (12) opposite the housing base (18) in order to fasten the sanitary fitting (10) to the sanitary installation (12); characterized in that e) the seal (34) is asymmetrical such that a first part (46) of the seal (34) yields to a lesser extent than a second part (48) of the seal (34) under the load of forces acting on the seal (34) through the contact surface (20) and the support surface (16) when the retaining element (28) is attached to the fastening stud (26), wherein the seal is substantially ring-shaped, wherein the first part (46) of the seal extends along a part of the circumference of the seal and the second part (48) of the seal extends only along another part of the circumference, wherein - the seal (34) has an essentially rotationally symmetrical geometry, wherein the first part (46) is made of a material that has a lower elasticity than the material of the second part (48) or - the seal (34) in the two parts (46, 48) has a cross-section such that the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a different cross-section than the second part (48), wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a radial cross-section which has an approximately rectangular shape, and wherein the second part (48) of the seal (34) has a cross-section which is essentially L-shaped.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a sanitary fitting comprising: a) a housing base with a contact surface; b) a fixing stud adapted to be inserted into a fixing through hole of a plumbing fixture, the fixing stud being arranged eccentrically with respect to the contact surface on the housing base; c) a seal adapted to be inserted between the contact surface of the housing base and a support surface around the fastening through-hole; d) a retaining element adapted to be fastened to the fastening stud on a side of the fastening through-hole of the sanitary installation opposite the housing base in order to fasten the sanitary fitting to the sanitary installation.

[0002] The invention further relates to a seal for a sanitary fitting, wherein the seal is designed to be inserted between a contact surface of a housing base of the sanitary fitting and a support surface around a fastening through-hole of a sanitary installation. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0003] A plumbing fixture typically has water connections that protrude from a body base for connecting the fixture to the household plumbing. Furthermore, such a plumbing fixture has a mounting stud with a male screw thread that protrudes from the body base for fastening purposes.

[0004] When installing such a plumbing fixture, the mounting stud and water connections are inserted into a through hole of a plumbing fixture, such as a vanity unit, sink, wash basin, wall-mounted installation, or pedestal installation. In the next step, the retaining element is attached to the mounting stud on the opposite side of the mounting through hole. Due to the tightening of the retaining element, a contact surface of the housing base is pressed against a support surface surrounding the mounting through hole, and the plumbing fixture is secured to the plumbing fixture.

[0005] To prevent splash water from flowing between the contact surface of the plumbing fixture and the support surface of the plumbing fixture and further through the mounting hole, a seal is inserted between the contact surface and the support surface. Such a seal also compensates for any unevenness in the support surface of the plumbing fixture, which is necessary because plumbing fixtures are typically made of ceramics, which have a rather undefined surface smoothness.

[0006] The seals used for this purpose are typically rotationally symmetrical rings or similar. One such seal can be found, for example, in DE 10 2008 018 508 A1. However, it has sometimes been found that it is difficult to properly secure the plumbing fitting using such rotationally symmetrical seals.

[0007] Therefore, for example, from DE 10 2010 044 420 A1 a centering sealing ring is known in which centering segments project axially downwards from the actual sealing ring into the through hole.

[0008] Furthermore, DE 93 04 056 U1 discloses a sanitary fitting in which the stud bolt can be screwed tight from above before inserting a cartridge into the fitting body. The seal above the sink is adapted to the fitting body, which has an asymmetrical contact surface. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary fitting and a corresponding seal that allow for improved fastening of the sanitary fitting. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a way to more evenly distribute the forces exerted on the seal by the fastening of the retaining element.

[0010] This object is achieved by a sanitary fitting according to claim 1.

[0011] The inventor recognized that the mounting stud is typically positioned eccentrically with respect to the contact surface of the housing base to provide sufficient space for connecting the water connections in the housing base. However, due to the eccentric positioning of the mounting stud, the distribution of forces acting on the seal between the contact surface and the base is uneven, as the distribution of the acting forces is defined by a system of lever arms of different lengths. Therefore, the part of the seal contacted by the side of the housing base corresponding to the shorter lever arm (usually the side facing the back of the plumbing fixture) is compressed more strongly than the remaining part, which corresponds to the longer lever arm.As a result, the plumbing fixture tilts to the side of the shorter lever arm and the body base eventually contacts the plumbing at a single point, exerting a high point load on the plumbing, which is usually made of ceramic.

[0012] By using an asymmetric seal, this imbalance can be counteracted by providing a larger counterforce for the shorter lever arm and a smaller counterforce for the longer lever arm. Generally speaking, a first part of the seal will yield to a lesser extent than a second part under the load of the forces acting on the seal through the contact surface and the support surface.

[0013] Or to put it another way, the first part of the seal is stiffer than the second part.

[0014] This prevents the plumbing fixture from tipping during installation, and the housing base and contact surface are pressed flat against the gasket. This results in reduced point load on the plumbing, which can prevent any ceramic components from breaking. Furthermore, it results in greater resistance to twisting of the plumbing fixture, as the plumbing fixture rests primarily on the gasket, which typically has a higher coefficient of friction than just a small metallic back edge of the housing base.

[0015] Since the general shape of the seal depends on the shape of the body base of the plumbing fixture, the seal can have any of the commonly used ring shapes, such as a substantially circular ring shape, an elliptical ring shape, a rectangular ring shape, or the like. Even asymmetric ring shapes can be used, although in the context of this invention, an asymmetric seal primarily concerns the distribution of the counterforces exerted by the seal when inserted between the contact surface and the support surface.

[0016] The seal may or may not contain additional parts that are not relevant to the distribution of forces.

[0017] According to the invention, the seal has a substantially rotationally symmetrical geometry, but the first part is made of a material with lower elasticity than the material of the second part. In particular, the seal can be provided with different Shore hardnesses on the first and second parts. This can be achieved, for example, by subsequent thermal curing of the first part of an originally symmetrical seal.

[0018] As an alternative variant, also according to the invention, the first part of the seal has a different cross-section than the second part. A different cross-section also provides different stiffness, even if the same material is used for both parts of the seal.

[0019] Furthermore, the cross-section of the first part can have a larger area than the cross-section of the second part. This makes the first part of the seal more solid than the second part of the seal and consequently stiffer if it is made of the same material.

[0020] Furthermore, the seal comprises a reinforcing element, in particular ribs or beads. The stiffness of the different parts of the seal is determined not only by the total area of ​​the cross-section but also by its shape. Therefore, the first part of the seal can be stiffened by providing reinforcing elements that add an additional area to the cross-sectional area or by providing a reshaped cross-section with the same cross-sectional area as the second part.

[0021] The eccentric arrangement of the fastening stud with respect to the contact surface defines two lever arms with different lengths. Therefore, it is advantageous if the stiffness of the first part and the stiffness of the second part of the seal are selected such that the opposing forces exerted by the first and second parts compensate for the different lengths of the lever arms. This can be achieved by using the ratio of the lever arm lengths to determine the ratio of the stiffness values ​​of the first and second parts.

[0022] Furthermore, the seal includes an orientation element that allows the seal to be correctly oriented with respect to the eccentric arrangement of the fastening stud. Such an orientation element can, for example, be a tab that has a through hole for the fastening stud and protrudes inward from the seal.

[0023] Furthermore, the first part of the seal runs along an angle of less than approximately 120°, in particular 90°, in particular 40°, and the second part correspondingly runs along an angle of at least approximately 240°, in particular 270°, in particular 320° in the circumferential direction.

[0024] With regard to the seal, the object of the invention is achieved by a seal according to claim 8. The advantageous features mentioned above for the sanitary fitting also apply accordingly to the seal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Various features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, which refers to the following drawings, in which: Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of a sanitary fitting mounted on a sanitary installation by interposing a seal; Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of a sanitary fitting having a prior art seal when a retaining element is attached; Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a seal according to the invention; Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective bottom view of a seal according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a bottom view of the seal; Fig. 6 shows a section along the section line AA, which in Fig. 5 is shown Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a seal according to a second embodiment; Fig. 8 a perspective bottom view of the seal according to Fig. 7 shows; Fig. 9 a bottom view of the seal according to Fig. 7 shows; Fig. 10 shows a section along the section line AA, which in Fig. 9 is shown; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a sanitary fitting 10 which is attached to a mounting plate 12 of a washbasin as an exemplary sanitary installation.

[0027] For this purpose, the mounting plate 12 of the washbasin has a mounting through-hole 14. The area adjacent to the mounting through-hole 14 defines a support surface 16, which essentially supports a housing base 18 of the sanitary fitting 10.

[0028] Often, the housing base 18 of the plumbing fixture 10 has a sleeve shape having an inner shoulder that slightly recesses in the axial direction, thereby providing a contact surface 20 oriented toward the mounting plate 12 and adapted to receive a gasket 34. The contact surface 20 has a substantially annular footprint in accordance with the general shape of the housing base 18.

[0029] For connecting the sanitary fitting 10 to domestic piping, the sanitary fitting 10 has water connection lines 22 and 24 which protrude from the housing base 18.

[0030] Furthermore, the sanitary fitting 10 includes a mounting stud 26, which protrudes from the housing base 18 as an integral part of the sanitary fitting 10 or is screwed into the sanitary fitting 10. The mounting stud 26 has a male screw thread to which a retaining element 28 can be secured against the mounting plate 12 using a lock nut 30.

[0031] However, due to the space required for the water supply lines 22, 24, the fastening stud 26 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the contact surface 20 of the housing base 18. In particular, the fastening stud 26 is displaced radially toward the rear of the sanitary fitting 10, i.e., the side opposite a projecting water outlet 32.

[0032] In order to prevent splashing water from flowing between the housing base 18 and the mounting plate 12, the seal 34 is inserted between the contact surface 20 of the housing base 18 and the support surface 16 around the mounting through hole 14 of the mounting plate 12.

[0033] As from Fig. 2, which shows the use of a seal 34 according to the prior art, the forces acting on the seal 34 through the contact surface 20 and the support surface 16 when the fastening element 28 is tightened are unevenly distributed due to the different lengths of the lever arms A and B with respect to the fastening stud 26.

[0034] Therefore, the seal 34 is compressed more strongly by a rear edge 36 of the housing base 18 than by a front edge 38 of the housing base 18. Consequently, the rear edge 36 contacts the mounting plate 12 long before the front edge 38, resulting in tilting of the plumbing fixture 10 toward the rear edge 34 and difficult mounting of the plumbing fixture when using a prior art seal 34.

[0035] Therefore, the Fig. 3-7 illustrates an exemplary seal 34 according to the present invention, having a substantially circular annular shape with a planar cover surface 40, from which a circumferential sleeve 42 projects axially at the outer periphery. This provides a free shoulder 44 facing the inside and extending circumferentially over an angular range of approximately 320°.

[0036] Along the remaining 40° angle section of the seal 34, the seal 34 is so massive that the space above the shoulder 44 is filled at the peripheral sleeve 42. This is best seen from Fig. 6, which shows a cross-section of the seal 34. The radial cross-section of the seal 34 within the 40° angular section, which defines a first part 46 of the seal 34, has an approximately rectangular, in particular square, shape. In contrast, the cross-section within the other 320° angular section, which defines a second part 48 of the seal 34, has a substantially L-shape. Therefore, the area of ​​the cross-section of the first part 46 is larger than the cross-section of the second part 48. Consequently, the first part 46 is stiffer than the second part 48.

[0037] Furthermore, the seal 34 has a tab 50 which projects radially inward from the general ring shape and which provides a through hole 52 for receiving the fastening stud 26 of the sanitary fitting 10.

[0038] When the sanitary fitting 10 is assembled with the seal 34 according to the invention, the first portion 46 of the seal 34 yields to a lesser extent than a second portion 48 of the seal 34 under the load of forces exerted by the contact surfaces 20 and the support surface 16 when the retaining element 28 is tightened to the mounting stud 26. Accordingly, the seal 34 is compressed more evenly, even though the mounting stud 26 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the contact surface 20 of the housing base 18.

[0039] The Fig. 7-10 show a second embodiment of the seal 34, wherein elements having the same structural function have the same reference number.

[0040] As can be seen from the Fig. 7 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 10, the seal 34 according to the second embodiment has a frustoconical centering shoulder 80, which projects back from the flat cover surface 40. Furthermore, the cover surface 40 is surrounded at its periphery by a small sealing lip 81, which projects axially upward from the cover surface 40.

[0041] Furthermore, the seal 34 has a centering skirt 82 which is provided radially inward and projects downward to center the seal 34 in the fastening through-hole 14.

[0042] In this embodiment of the seal 34, the first part 46 is formed by a filled space between the centering skirt 82 and the peripheral sleeve 42.

Claims

[1] A sanitary fitting (10) comprising: a) a housing base (18) with a contact surface (20); b) a fastening stud (26) adapted to be inserted into a fastening through-hole (14) of a sanitary installation (12), the fastening stud (26) being arranged eccentrically with respect to the contact surface (20) on the housing base (18); c) a seal (34) adapted to be inserted between the contact surface (20) of the housing base (18) and a support surface (16) around the fastening through-hole (14); d) a retaining element (28) adapted to be fastened to the fastening stud (26) on a side of the fastening through-hole (14) of the sanitary installation (12) opposite the housing base (18) in order to fasten the sanitary fitting (10) to the sanitary installation (12); characterized by , that e) the seal (34) is asymmetrical such that a first part (46) of the seal (34) yields to a lesser extent than a second part (48) of the seal (34) under the load of forces acting on the seal (34) through the contact surface (20) and the support surface (16) when the retaining element (28) is fastened to the fastening stud (26), wherein the seal has a substantially annular shape, wherein the first part (46) of the seal extends along a part of the circumference of the seal and the second part (48) of the seal extends only along another part of the circumference, wherein - the seal (34) has a substantially rotationally symmetrical geometry, wherein the first part (46) is made of a material which has a lower elasticity than the material of the second part (48) or - the seal (34) in the two parts (46, 48) has a cross-section such that the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a different cross-section than the second part (48), wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a radial cross-section which has an approximately rectangular shape, and wherein the second part (48) of the seal (34) has a cross-section which has a substantially L-shape. [2] The sanitary fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) is stiffer than the second part (48). [3] The sanitary fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-section of the first part (46) has a larger area than the cross-section of the second part (48). [4] The sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a reinforcing element, in particular ribs or beads. [5] The sanitary fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the eccentric arrangement of the fastening stud (46) with respect to the contact surface (20) defines two lever arms (A, B) having different lengths, and wherein the stiffness of the first part (46) and the stiffness of the second part (48) of the seal (34) are selected such that counterforces exerted by the first part (46) and the second part (48) compensate for the different lengths of the lever arms (A, B). [6] The sanitary fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (34) comprises an orientation element (50) which allows the seal (34) to be correctly oriented with respect to the eccentric arrangement of the fastening stud (26). [7] The sanitary fitting according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) extends in the circumferential direction along an angle of less than approximately 120°, in particular 90°, in particular 40°, and the second part (48) correspondingly extends along an angle of at least approximately 240°, in particular 270°, in particular 320°. [8] A seal (34) for a sanitary fitting (10), wherein the seal (34) is adapted to be inserted between a contact surface (20) of a housing base (18) of the sanitary fitting (10) and a support surface (16) around a fastening through-hole (14) of a sanitary installation (12), characterized by , that a) the seal (34) is asymmetrical such that a first part (46) of the seal (34) yields to a lesser extent than a second part (48) of the seal (34) under the load of forces exerted on the seal (34) by the contact surface (20) and the support surface (16) when a retaining element (28) is fastened to the fastening stud bolts (26) of the sanitary fitting (10), wherein the seal has a substantially annular shape, wherein the first part (46) of the seal extends along a part of the circumference of the seal and the second part (48) of the seal extends only along another part of the circumference, wherein - the seal (34) has a substantially rotationally symmetrical geometry, wherein the first part (46) is made of a material that has a lower elasticity than the material of the second part (48) or - the seal (34) in the two parts (46, 48) has a cross-section such that the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a different cross-section than the second part (48), wherein the first part (46) of the seal (34) has a radial cross-section which has an approximately rectangular shape, and wherein the second part (48) of the seal (34) has a cross-section which has a substantially L-shape.

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