SANITARY ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sanitary arrangement.

[0002] Such a sanitary arrangement could, for example, be a shower unit where one can switch between a hand shower and an overhead shower. A user unfamiliar with a specific installation, such as a hotel guest using the shower in a hotel room for the first time, may be unclear as to which water outlet the water flows from when the tap is opened.

[0003] US 1 112 261 A describes a tap fitting with a valve body having an outlet nozzle on its underside and a male threaded nipple on the opposite top side, a screw-type union nut that adjustably engages in the threaded nipple to receive the pin when the nipple is inserted into it, a distributor tube extending from the body, an arm on the distributor tube, and an adjusting screw that is screwed into the arm and can engage with the pin at its head to lock the nipple in place.

[0004] EP 0 363 657 A2 describes a device comprising mixing devices for mixing cold and hot water and automatic diverting devices for selectively directing the mixed water to one of at least three outlets connected to the shower distributor, the spout for filling a bathtub, or a hand shower. The mixing device and the diverting device, which consists of two valves, are housed in a single unit that can be manufactured by assembly or by casting.

[0005] US 2009 / 000022 A1 describes a child / user shower water construction system that also functions as a shower system and uses an existing bath / shower unit as a supporting structure. The construction system includes a master control valve to divert water from an existing shower water pipe trunk, a pressure regulator to limit water pressure to downstream components, child / user control and divert valves to turn the system on and off and divide water flow between components, semi-rigid and flexible tubing, Y-connectors, suction cups, and brackets. Other components, such as a handheld shower head, a spray bath mat, and a spray shower curtain, can also be incorporated / connected to the system.

[0006] DE 10 2010 018671 A1 describes a sanitary mixing valve, in particular for a shower device. This valve is equipped with a housing that has a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and mixed water outlets. The sanitary mixing valve has a mixing valve comprising a cold water inlet opening in fluid communication with the cold water inlet, a hot water inlet opening in fluid communication with the hot water inlet, a valve body for changing the cross-sectional areas of the cold and hot water inlet openings to produce mixed water, and a mixed water outlet opening to which a mixed water channel arranged in the housing is connected.Furthermore, the sanitary mixing valve is equipped with a multi-way diverter unit. This unit has an inlet port connected to the mixing valve's outlet port via the mixed water channel, and outlet ports, each connected to a mixed water outlet on the housing. A switching element allows for the selective connection of the inlet port to one or more of the outlet ports of the multi-way diverter unit. The housing has an additional mixed water outlet. The mixed water channel running between the mixing valve's outlet port and the diverter unit's inlet port has a branch port connected to this additional mixed water outlet. A shut-off valve is provided for opening and / or closing this additional mixed water outlet.

[0007] The object of the invention is to further develop a sanitary arrangement.

[0008] This problem is solved by a sanitary arrangement having the features of claim 1.

[0009] Accordingly, the sanitary arrangement according to the invention has in particular at least two diverters, each diverter having a water inlet and at least two water outlets, the first water outlet of the first diverter being fluidically connected to the water inlet of the second diverter, and at least one water outlet of the second diverter having a detachable interface for fluidic connection with a water dispensing device.

[0010] In this way, a series connection of diverters can be implemented, allowing switching between different water outlets.

[0011] The detachable interface also allows any commercially available water dispensing device, such as a hand shower, to be connected to and used with the sanitary arrangement.

[0012] In one version, the second water outlet of the first diverter is a safety outlet.

[0013] This helps prevent scalding or other unpleasant thermal experiences. For this purpose, the safety outlet can be positioned or oriented so that a person is not usually directly in the spray zone of the safety outlet.

[0014] In an alternative design, the second water outlet of the first diverter has a detachable interface for fluidic connection with a safety outlet.

[0015] The safety outlet can be, for example, a bathtub filler tap, a toe tester, or a shower head. This allows for easy and safe testing of the water temperature.

[0016] According to the invention, a diverter valve is either monostable or bistable. A monostable diverter valve can be characterized, for example, by the fact that it automatically returns to its initial position without water pressure. Conversely, when water pressure is applied, it is difficult or impossible to manually switch back to the initial position.

[0017] A bistable diverter can be switched both without pressure and under pressure, whereby the respective switching position is maintained with and without water pressure.

[0018] According to the invention, the first diverter is a monostable diverter. The safety outlet can then be set to the initial or default position of the diverter. In this way, the safety outlet can always be selected first, requiring an active switch to the second diverter. After the water is turned off, the first diverter always returns to the safety outlet. This reliably prevents burns or other unpleasant incidents.

[0019] According to the invention, the second diverter is a bistable diverter. In this way, switching between the two water outlets is possible during operation without having to turn off the water beforehand.

[0020] In particular, the combination of monostable diverter and bistable diverter enables testing of the water temperature at a non-critical point as well as a comfort function in which switching back and forth between two outlets, for example a shower head and a hand shower or the like, is possible under load, while one temperature remains preset.

[0021] Another advantage is that three outlets can be selected, although only one outlet is active at any given time. This allows compliance with country-specific standards, such as those of the USA.

[0022] In one embodiment, at least one water outlet of the second diverter is designed as a water dispensing device. This can, for example, be structurally connected to the diverter.

[0023] A water delivery device can be, for example, a bathtub inlet, a shower head, a shower spray, a hand shower, a waterfall shower or a massage panel.

[0024] In another embodiment, both water outlets of the second diverter have a detachable interface for fluidic connection to a water dispensing device. This allows two commercially available water dispensing devices, even different ones, to be connected to and used with the sanitary installation.

[0025] In one embodiment, at least one detachable interface is arranged on a pipe or hose that is fluidically connected to the second diverter. This allows for a flexible arrangement of the water dispensing devices. The pipe or hose can be structurally or detachably connected to the diverter.

[0026] In one embodiment, the detachable interface to the fluidic connection features a screw connection or a plug connection. Such a screw connection could, for example, be a standardized screw connection, such as a G ½ fitting.

[0027] A plug connection can be, for example, a pipe or hose plug connection.

[0028] In one version, at least one of the two switches features a push-push mechanism. This allows for simple switching by pressing a button.

[0029] In one design, a valve is fluidically connected upstream of the water inlet of the first diverter. The advantage of this is that switching between the water outlets is possible without operating the valve. This is particularly important if a temperature setting has been made via the valve, which would be lost if the valve were switched off.

[0030] The valve can be designed with a push-push mechanism. This allows for easy on / off switching, where, for example, a temperature setting, mixing ratio, and / or flow rate can remain unchanged when the water flow needs to be interrupted.

[0031] In one embodiment, the water inlet of the first diverter has a detachable interface for fluidic connection to the valve. This allows for flexible arrangement of the valve and the diverter.

[0032] The valve can be designed, for example, to regulate flow and / or temperature. It can also incorporate a push mechanism.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0034] It shows: Fig. 1: a sanitary arrangement, Fig. 2: a sanitary arrangement according to the invention with detachable interfaces, Fig. 3: a sanitary arrangement with an additional valve, Fig. 4: a detachable interface with a screw connection, Fig. 5: a detachable interface with a pipe push-fit connection, and Fig. 6: a detachable interface with a hose push-fit connection.

[0035] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a sanitary arrangement 1, which serves to illustrate the invention, with a first diverter 2 and a second diverter 3.

[0036] Diverters 2 and 3 each have a water inlet 4, a first water outlet 5 and a second water outlet 6.

[0037] The first water outlet of the first diverter 2 is fluidically connected to the water inlet 4 of the second diverter 3. This can be achieved structurally within a fitting. However, it is also possible to establish a fluidic connection via detachable interfaces.

[0038] The second diverter 3 has two water outlets 5, 6, which could be different shower heads or similar water delivery devices.

[0039] The second water outlet 6 of the first diverter 2 is designed as a safety outlet 7. This safety outlet 7 can be, for example, a bathtub filler tap, a toe tester, or a shower head.

[0040] In the example, the safety outlet 7 is shown as being integrated with the first diverter 2 in a single unit. For example, the first diverter 2 can be directly integrated into a bathtub filling valve.

[0041] Alternatively, the first diverter 2 can also have a detachable interface for fluidically connecting the safety outlet to a water dispensing device, whereby this water dispensing device then serves as the safety outlet.

[0042] The first diverter 2 is preferably a monostable diverter, wherein the second water outlet 6 represents the monostable switching position, such that the safety outlet 7 is the default position of the first diverter 2. In this way, scalding or other unpleasant thermal experiences can be avoided.

[0043] The second diverter 3 is preferably a bistable diverter, so that switching between the different water outlets 5, 6 is possible without interrupting the water flow.

[0044] The Fig. 2 shows a sanitary arrangement 1 according to the invention, which essentially consists of Fig. 1This corresponds to the previous description. The difference, however, lies in the fact that the two water outlets 5, 6 each have a detachable interface 8 for fluidically connecting a water dispensing device. Such an interface 8 can be any known or standardized interface. In this way, any water dispensing device 9 can be connected to and used with the sanitary arrangement. Thus, in particular, the end user can also replace water dispensing devices 9 without requiring complex modifications to the sanitary arrangement 1. Accordingly, a water dispensing device 9 has a complementary interface 8.

[0045] The Figs. 4 to 6 Three different embodiments of such an interface are shown by way of example and illustration 8.

[0046] In Fig. 4A water dispensing device 9 is schematically indicated, which has an external thread 10. On the side of the second diverter 3, a pipe 11 with a matching internal thread 12 is arranged. The pipe 11 can be structurally connected to the second diverter 3 or via a detachable fluidic interface.

[0047] In Fig. 5 The water dispensing device 9 has a mounting area 13, which is designed as a pipe extension. Two O-rings 14 are spaced apart from each other in the mounting area 13. A pipe 11 can be mounted onto this mounting area 13. For securing it, the pipe 11 has a fixing 15 in this example, which can be designed, for example, as a setscrew, the tip of which presses into the mounting area 13.

[0048] In Fig. 6The water dispensing device 9 has an insertion area 18 which has an O-ring 14 and a retaining projection 16 on its inner circumference. A hose 17 can be inserted into this insertion area 18, the retaining projection 16 engaging in the, preferably elastic, hose 17 and thus preventing the hose 17 from being forced out of the insertion area 18.

[0049] In addition to the embodiments shown here, numerous other interfaces are known in the prior art. For example, a hose can be connected to a threaded union nut. Furthermore, other push-fit connections are known, which is why the application is in no way limited to the embodiments shown here, but rather to the attached claims.

[0050] The Fig. 3 shows another sanitary arrangement 1, which is essentially the Fig. 2This corresponds to the first diverter 2. However, in this sanitary arrangement, a valve 19 is fluidically connected upstream of the first diverter 2. This valve 19 can be a flow regulator, a thermostat, or another type of valve. The advantage is that a flow rate and / or a temperature setting can be adjusted independently of the water outlet setting. Therefore, such a setting is retained even when the various diverters are switched. Instead of a single valve, several separate valves with different functions can also be connected upstream. Reference symbol list

[0051] 1. Sanitary arrangement 2. First diverter 3. Second diverter 4. Water inlet 5. First water outlet 6. Second water outlet 7. Safety outlet 8. Detachable interface 9. Water dispensing device 10. External thread 11. Pipe 12. Internal thread 13. Push-in area 14. O-ring 15. Fixing 16. Retaining projection 17. Hose 18. Insertion area 19. Valve

Claims

1. Sanitary arrangement (1), having at least two diverters (2, 3), wherein each diverter (2, 3) has a water inlet (4) and at least two water outlets (5, 6), wherein the first water outlet (5) of the first diverter (2) is fluidically connected to the water inlet (4) of the second diverter (3), and wherein at least one water outlet (5, 6) of the second diverter (3) has a releasable interface (8) configured for fluidic connection to a water dispensing device (9), characterized in that the first diverter (2) is a monostable diverter and in that the second diverter (3) is a bistable diverter.

2. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second water outlet (6) of the first diverter (2) is a safety outlet (7) or has a releasable interface for fluidic connection to a safety outlet (7).

3. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the safety outlet (7) is a bath tub outlet, a toe tester or a foot spray.

4. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one water outlet (5, 6) of the second diverter (3) is configured as a water dispensing device (9).

5. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both water outlets (5, 6) of the second diverter (3) have a releasable interface (8) for fluidic connection to a water dispensing device (9).

6. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one releasable interface (8) is arranged on a pipe (11) or hose (17) which is fluidically connected to the second diverter (3).

7. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a water dispensing device (9) is a bath tub inlet, a head spray, a shower spray, a hand spray, a surge spray, or a massage field.

8. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the releasable interface (8) has a screw connection or a plug connection for the fluidic connection.

9. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first diverter (2) switches to the or a safety outlet (7) in its basic position.

10. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the two diverters (2, 3) has a push-push mechanism.

11. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve (19) is connected upstream of the water inlet (4) of the first diverter (2) in the fluidic system, in particular wherein the water inlet (4) of the first diverter (2) has a releasable interface for fluidic connection to the valve and / or wherein the valve (19) can be switched using a push-push mechanism.

12. Sanitary arrangement (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the valve (19) is designed for flow rate and / or temperature control.