Single-lever mixer tap with open / close function for energy and water saving

Abstract

The present invention relates to a single-lever mixer tap provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap, formed of a movable single lever (a') and a fixed part (c'). The movable part of the movable single lever has a protuberance and a ring nut (e') with recess or cavity (d') is introduced into the fixed upper part of the tap (c'), the ring nut (e') rotates on the upper fixed part of the tap (c') in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, so that closing of said tap occurs through coincidence of the protuberance (b') with the cavity or recess (d') located on the rotating ring nut (e') in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing. According to a preferred embodiment, the ring nut (e') has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the upper fixed part of the tap (c'), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of the ring nut (e'). The ring nut has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which the recess or cavity (d') is located, a set of interlocks (g') on all or part of the inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the fixed upper part of the tap (c') a pin (f') of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g') is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g'), so that, during use, the ring nut (e') is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between said interlocks (g') and the pin (f'). According to a second embodiment, the single-lever mixer tap has the protuberance (b") on the ring nut (e") and the cavity or recess (d") for insertion of the protuberance (b") similarly to the first embodiment of the invention. Similarly, the ring nut (e") has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the fixed upper part of the tap (c"), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of the ring nut (e") and a set of interlocks (g") on all or part of the inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the upper fixed part of the tap (c") a pin (f") of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g") is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g").

Description

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to single-lever mixer taps for opening / closing of the tap.

[0002] The present invention relates to a single-lever mixer tap, provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap, formed of a movable single lever and a fixed part.

[0003] The object of the invention is to avoid thoughtless consumption of energy / water, by forcing the user to obtain a correct opening and closing position of the single-lever mixer tap.

[0004] The technical field is plumbing, and in particular an innovation on the current single-lever mixer taps.

[0005] The change contributed by the present invention to the single-lever mixer taps according to the prior art will force the user to open / close the tap itself in the "cold water" position or in the "hot water" position or to memorise an intermediate hot water / cold water mixing position, since the mixer tap is adjustable with a ring nut or, alternatively, it will be the user themselves who memorises the opening / closing of the mixer tap that is most suited to them.

[0006] Every day, in fact, often only for brief needs for cold water, we lift the single-lever mixer tap from the position in which it was previously left and, if this is on "hot water", the system will automatically activate the boiler, even if, as said, we need to use "cold" water at that precise moment.

[0007] This seemingly insignificant gesture automatically activates a waste of hot water in apartment buildings with centralised hot water and even more so for possessors of independent water heaters, since once the hot water is activated, it will automatically trigger start-up of the boiler, which will continue to operate for 30 / 60 seconds, consuming electricity and gas even if the lever of the mixer tap is immediately rotated into the cold water position.

[0008] Document WO 2024 / 074691 A1 describes a single control mixer provided with a forced opening / closing system of said tap, formed of a movable lever and a fixed part, in which said movable part of said movable single lever has a protuberance and said fixed part of said tap has a cavity or recess for insertion of said protuberance situated on the movable part of said movable single lever, so that closing of said tap occurs due to correspondence of said protuberance with the cavity or recess.

[0009] For this purpose, the object of the invention is a single-lever mixer tap, provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap, formed of a movable single lever (a) and a fixed part, in which the movable part of the movable single lever has a protuberance and a ring nut with recess or cavity is introduced into the upper fixed part of the tap, said ring nut rotates on said fixed upper part of the tap in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, so that closing of the tap occurs through coincidence of the protuberance with the cavity or recess located on said rotating ring nut, in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing. Other preferential embodiments of the mixer tap according to the invention are described in the dependent claims and relate to the fact that the protuberance is located in any position on the bottom front semi-circumference of said single lever.

[0010] In particular, the ring nut with recess or cavity rotates in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, and the cavity or recess will preferably have a size and shape adapted to insertion of the protuberance, whereas the protuberance will preferably have a semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular shape.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the ring nut has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the upper fixed part of the tap, in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of the ring nut.

[0012] Furthermore, the ring nut has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which the recess or cavity is located, a set of interlocks on all or part of the inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the fixed upper part of the tap a pin of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of the interlocks is placed at a height corresponding with the interlocks, so that, during use, the ring nut is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between the interlocks and the pin.

[0013] According to a further preferred embodiment, the single-lever mixer tap, provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap formed of a movable single lever and a fixed part, said fixed part of said tap has a ring nut with protuberance and said movable part of the single lever has, at the fixed part, a cavity or recess for insertion of said protuberance located on said ring nut with protuberance of said fixed part of said tap, so that closing of the tap occurs through coincidence of said protuberance with said cavity or recess.

[0014] Similarly, this preferred embodiment of the mixer tap according to the invention is described in the dependent claims, which relate to the fact that the cavity or recess is located in any position on the front semi-circumference of the single lever of the tap.

[0015] According to preferred embodiments, the ring nut with insertion protuberance rotates in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, or the cavity or recess has a size and shape adapted to insertion of the protuberance. In particular, the protuberance has a semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular shape.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the ring nut has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said upper fixed part of the tap, in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of said ring nut.

[0017] Furthermore, the ring nut according to this preferred embodiment has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which the protuberance is located, a set of interlocks on all or part of the inner circumference of said hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the fixed upper part of the tap a pin of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of the interlocks is placed at a height corresponding with the interlocks, so that, during use, the ring nut is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between the interlocks and the pin.

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the tap according to the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting illustration thereof.Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Figure 1 describes the tap with compulsory opening / closing according to the prior art. Figure 2 describes the single-lever mixer tap according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 describes the mixer tap according to the invention which represents a further embodiment of the invention according to Figure 2. Figure 4 shows an embodiment detail of the rotating and liftable ring nut described in Figure 3. Figure 5 describes the single-lever mixer tap according to a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 describes the mixer tap according to the invention which represents a further embodiment of the invention according to Figure 5. Figure 7 shows an embodiment detail of the rotating and liftable ring nut described in Figure 6.

[0020] The present invention is described below in reference to the appended drawings, in which specific embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention can be manufactured in many different forms and must not be interpreted as limited to the embodiments described herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this illustration is comprehensive and complete, and fully conveys the scope of the invention to people skilled in the art.

[0021] Figure 1 describes the embodiment according to the prior art for a fixed position of the single-lever mixer tap.

[0022] In this embodiment according to the prior art, the compulsory opening / closing system of the tap consists of the introduction of a protuberance (b), situated in the movable part of the movable single lever (a), and in insertion of a cavity or recess (d) in the fixed part (c) of the tap. In this manner, the protuberance (b) must necessarily be made to coincide with the cavity or recess (d) in order to close the tap. The protuberance (b) can be located in any position on the movable single lever (a), in particular on the front semi-circumference (bottom part) of the single lever itself. This opening and closing system allows the tap to be closed only in the cold water position. During a shower, the user frequently opens and closes the tap to avoid wasting water while soaping. When the tap is opened again for rinsing, the user must once again adjust the lever to find the right water temperature, causing a waste of hot and cold water until the desired mixing is achieved.

[0023] The adjustable opening / closing system according to the invention, and illustrated in Figure 2, consists of introducing, into the upper fixed part of the tap (c), a ring nut (e) with a recess or cavity (d), which can rotate in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing.

[0024] In this manner, the protuberance (b') must necessarily be made to coincide with the cavity or recess (d') located on the ring nut (e') in order to close the tap.

[0025] The protuberance (b') can be located on the front semi-circumference (bottom part), in any position of the movable single lever. The protuberance (b') can have any size and shape, semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular.

[0026] The cavity or recess (d') in the fixed part of the tap (c') can be located on the front semi-circumference (bottom part) in any position. The cavity or recess (d) can have any size and shape adapted to insertion of the protuberance (b').

[0027] Figure 3 shows an improvement of the invention according to Figure 2.

[0028] The rotating nut (e') is formed of a hollow cylinder shown in detail in Figure 4. The hollow cylinder (e') constitutes the rotating ring nut that is inserted into the fixed body (c'), as shown in Figure 3, between the movable lever (a') and the tap spout.

[0029] The rotating ring nut is able to rotate freely in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction and to be lifted and lowered in the space comprised between the movable lever (a') and the tap spout on the body (c'). The movable ring nut (e') has a recess (d'). The ring nut (e') has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the upper fixed part of the tap (c'), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of said ring nut (e').

[0030] The ring nut (e') has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which the recess or cavity (d') is located, a set of interlocks (g') on all or part of the inner circumference of said hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the fixed upper part of the tap (c') a pin (f') of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g') is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g'), so that, during use, the ring nut (e') is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between the interlocks (g') and the pin (f').

[0031] The adjustable opening / closing system according to a further embodiment of the invention, and illustrated in Figure 5, consists of introducing into the movable single lever (a") a recess or cavity (d"), and, in the upper fixed part of the tap (c"), a ring nut (e") with a protuberance (b") which can rotate in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing.

[0032] In this manner, the cavity or recess (d") located on the movable single lever (a") must necessarily be made to coincide with the protuberance (b") located on the ring nut (e") in order to close the tap.

[0033] The protuberance (b") located on the ring nut (e") can be located in any position of the ring nut (e") on the upper semi-circumference. The protuberance (b") can have any size and shape, semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular.

[0034] Figure 6 shows a further improvement of the invention according to Figure 5.

[0035] The rotating ring nut (e") is formed of a hollow cylinder shown in detail in Figure 7. The hollow cylinder (e") constitutes the rotating ring nut that is inserted into the fixed body (c"), as shown in Figure 6 between the movable lever (a") and the tap spout.

[0036] The rotating ring nut is able to rotate freely in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction and to be lifted and lowered in the space comprised between the movable lever (a") and the tap spout on the body (c"). The movable ring nut (e") has a protuberance (b"). The ring nut (e") has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said upper fixed part of the tap (c"), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of said ring nut (e").

[0037] The ring nut (e") has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which the protuberance (d") is located, a set of interlocks (g") on all or part of the inner circumference of said hollow cylindrical ring nut and on the fixed upper part of the tap (c") a pin (f") of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g") is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g"), so that, during use, the ring nut (e") is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between the interlocks (g") and the pin (f").

[0038] Similarly to the embodiment of Figure 5, in the embodiment of Figure 6, the cavity or recess (d") located on the movable single lever (a") must necessarily be made to coincide with the protuberance (b") located on the ring nut (e") in order to close the tap.

[0039] Other embodiments are possible insofar as concerns the positioning of the ring nuts, protuberances and cavities.

[0040] In particular, these embodiments provide for the ring nut (e) with cavity being positioned in the movable part of the lever, the ring nut (e) with cavity being positioned in the fixed part of the tap (c), the ring nut (e) with protuberance (b) being positioned in the fixed part of the tap (c), the ring nut (e) with protuberance (b) being positioned in the movable part of the lever, the protuberance (b) being positioned in the movable part of the single lever (a), the protuberance (b) being positioned in the fixed part of the tap (c), the cavity or recess (d) being positioned in the movable part of the single lever (a), the cavity or recess (d) being positioned in the fixed part of the tap (c).

Claims

1. A single-lever mixer tap, provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap, formed of a movable single lever (a') and a fixed part (c'), characterised in that said movable part of said movable single lever (a') has a protuberance (b') and a ring nut (e') with recess or cavity (d') is introduced into said fixed upper part of the tap (c'), said ring nut (e') rotates on said upper fixed part of the tap (c') in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, so that closing of said tap occurs through coincidence of said protuberance (b') with said cavity or recess (d') located on said rotating ring nut (e') in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing.

2. The mixer tap according to claim 1, wherein said protuberance (b') is located in any position on the bottom front semi-circumference of said single lever.

3. The mixer tap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said ring nut with recess or cavity (d') rotates in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

4. The mixer tap according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said cavity or recess (d') has size and shape adapted to insertion of the protuberance (b').

5. The mixer tap according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said protuberance (b') has a semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular shape.

6. The mixer tap according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said ring nut (e') has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said upper fixed part of the tap (c'), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of said ring nut (e').

7. The mixer tap according to claim 6, wherein said ring nut has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which said recess or cavity (d') is located, a set of interlocks (g') on all or part of the inner circumference of said hollow cylindrical ring nut and on said fixed upper part of the tap (c') a pin (f') of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g') is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g'), so that, during use, the ring nut (e') is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between said interlocks (g') and said pin (f').

8. A single-lever mixer tap, provided with a compulsory opening / closing system of said tap formed of a movable single lever (a") and a fixed part (c"), characterised in that: said fixed part (c") of said tap has a ring nut (e") with protuberance (b") and said movable part of the single lever (a") has, at the fixed part, a cavity or recess (d") for insertion of said protuberance (b") located on said ring nut (e") which rotates on said upper fixed part of the tap (c") in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, so that closing of said tap occurs through coincidence of said protuberance (b") located on said rotating ring nut (e") with said cavity or recess (d") located on said movable single lever (a") in order to memorise the desired water opening / closing.

9. The mixer tap according to claim 8, wherein said recess or cavity (d") is located in any position on the front semi-circumference of said single lever (a") of said tap.

10. The mixer tap according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said ring nut with protuberance (b") rotates in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

11. The mixer tap according to claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein said cavity or recess (d") has size and shape adapted to insertion of the protuberance (b").

12. The mixer tap according to claims 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein said protuberance (b") has a semi-circular, semi-elliptical, wedge, parallelepiped or triangular shape.

13. The mixer tap according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein said ring nut (e") has a hollow cylindrical shape with inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said upper fixed part of the tap (c"), in order to allow free rotation in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction of said ring nut (e").

14. The mixer tap according to claim 13, wherein said ring nut has, in the inner hollow cylindrical part opposite to the edge on which said protuberance (b") is located, a set of interlocks (g") on all or part of the inner circumference of said hollow cylindrical ring nut and on said fixed upper part of the tap (c") a pin (f") of dimensions and shape corresponding with the shape and measurements of said interlocks (g") is placed at a height corresponding with said interlocks (g"), so that, during use, the ring nut (e") is unlocked and lifted upwards, is rotated and is allowed to fall into the intended position for the desired mixing of hot water / cold water, and fixed through falling and cooperation between said interlocks (g") and said pin (f").

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