Drain device for sanitary fixtures with adjustable overflow mechanism

Abstract

A drain for sanitary fixtures comprising a drain body extending along a longitudinal axis and a shutter comprising a shutter body movable axially, with respect to the drain body, between a raised position corresponding to the drain closed, and a lowered position corresponding to the drain completely open, is described. The drain has a click-clack mechanism for the snap opening and closing of the drain, designed to bring the shutter body from the raised position to the lowered position, or vice-versa, in response to a force applied manually by a user on the shutter along the longitudinal axis and always directed in the same direction. An overflow mechanism, designed to be automatically triggered and to bring the shutter body to an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position, corresponding to the drain partially open, in response to reaching a threshold value of the pressure exerted onto the shutter by the water column which, in use, presses on the shutter, is further present. The shutter body is movable telescopically between the raised position and the lowered position on a support rod of the shutter constrained to the drain body on the longitudinal axis. The drain is provided with manual calibration means of the overflow mechanism. Such manual calibration means of the overflow mechanism extend concentrically around the support rod and are accessible from outside the shutter.

Description

[0001] DRAIN DEVICE FOR SANITARY FIXTURES WITH ADJUSTABLE OVERFLOW MECHANISM

[0002] ***

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] Field of the invention

[0005] The present invention concerns a drain for sanitary fixtures, for example washbasins or tubs, comprising an adjustable overflow mechanism.

[0006] Known art

[0007] In the industry of sanitary fixtures, it is known to make sinks, washbasins and tubs which, for aesthetic purposes, are devoid of the overflow hole, i.e. are not provided with the hole for draining the excess water, a hole which, in most sanitary fixtures, is formed in the side wall of the sanitary fixture so as to prevent the level of water contained in the sanitary fixture from exceeding a maximum limit and overflowing on the outside.

[0008] For this reason, drains to be installed in the sanitary fixtures which are not provided with the overflow hole and comprise a mechanism allowing the water to be automatically drained when the level of water in the sanitary fixture actually exceeds a maximum preset limit, were designed. Such mechanism is generally known under the name of “overflow mechanism" .

[0009] EP-A-2281955, in the name of the Applicant, describes a drain 1 comprising a cylindrical body 10 having a bottom grid 12 at the base and, at its top 14, an annular rosette delimiting the mouth 16 for the passage of water through the drain body 10. A shutter 18 is housed in the drain body 10 and is axially movable between a lowered position, in which the head 22 of the shutter 18 is below the annular rosette 14 and does not intercept the mouth 16, therefore allowing the passage of water, and a raised position, in which the head 22 of the shutter 18 intercepts the annular rosette 14 and prevents the passage of water through the mouth 16.

[0010] The drain integrates a snap mechanism for opening and closing the drain, generally defined as “click-clack," which allows the shutter to move between two extreme positions of closing and fully opening. In practice, this mechanism works similarly to the actuator usually used in ballpoint pens for controlling the extraction of the tip from the body of the pen, by pressing a button with the thumb, always in the same direction. In the case of drains, the user must act directly on the plug, with a finger, to impart an axial thrust on the plug, always downwards, so that to trigger the click-clack mechanism and cause the switching of the plug from the closed position to the open one, and vice- versa. An example of such mechanism is described in EP-A-1338707.

[0011] In addition to a click-clack mechanism, the shutter described in EP-A- 2281955 further integrates an overflow mechanism.

[0012] The overflow mechanism described in EP-A-2281955 can be exclusively mechanical, based on a helical spring, or exclusively magnetic or, still, it can be a mechanical and magnetic hybrid, whenever a helical spring cooperates with the magnets to control the raising of the shutter.

[0013] Actually, according to a first embodiment, the shutter 18 rests onto the bottom grid 12 of the drain body 10 by means of a helical spring 30 which is calibrated such as to yield, by being compressed, at the exceeding of a preset pressure threshold value. In practice, when the volume of water contained in the sanitary fixture reaches and exceeds a threshold value corresponding to the maximum tolerable level of water, the pressure acting on the shutter overcomes the resistance provided by the helical spring 30, which helical spring yields, thus causing the shutter to lower and, thus, the water to be drained through the drain body 1 .

[0014] Whenever the pressure exerted by the water drops below the threshold value (because the level of water has lowered), the helical spring 30 extends and automatically brings back the shutter to the closed position; this because the pressure of water is no longer able to counter the thrust exerted by the helical spring 30.

[0015] In paragraph 30, EP-A-1338707 generically describes that it is possible to adjust the countering force of the helical spring 30 so as to select the maximum level of water allowed in the sanitary fixture. According to a further embodiment, the overflow mechanism is of the magnetic type, i.e. magnets are used instead of the helical spring. More in detail, the drain comprises two magnetic elements 50, 52 combined with the shutter 18 and a magnetic element 54 combined with the drain body 10; the magnetic elements are adapted for cooperating to allow / prevent the lowering of the shutter. The operation is equivalent to the one described previously: at the exceeding of a preset pressure threshold value, the magnetic elements separate and the shutter lowers to drain the water. Also in this embodiment, the operation of the overflow is automatic: the magnets cooperate to bring the shutter back to a closed position when the pressure of water acting on the shutter drops below the threshold value, without the need for a user to intervene.

[0016] Finally, EP-A-2281955 describes a further embodiment in which the magnetic overflow mechanism further comprises, instead of the magnetic element 54, an elastic return element 30’ acting on the shutter 18. In practice, the elastic return element 30’ is designed to facilitate the return of the shutter 18 to the closed position once the pressure of the water drops below the preset threshold value.

[0017] Such elastic return element 30’ rests onto the back cover 64 of the grid wall 56.

[0018] The possibility of removing the back cover 64 from the grid wall 56 and inserting one or more spacers 70 adapted for increasing the preload of the spring between the spring 30’ and the back cover 64 is described in paragraph 58. This way, it is possible to vary the return force exerted by the spring and, consequently, the level of water needed in the sanitary fixture for making the overflow mechanism snap.

[0019] US 5,819,328 discloses a drain which integrates an overflow mechanism. The drain comprises a shutter element 6, a bell-shaped element 19 (“shroud”) and a hub 25.

[0020] The shutter element 6 in turn comprises a head 12 and a cylindrical shaft 17 jutting out downward from the head 12. The cylindrical shaft 17 crosses the bell-shaped element 19 and the hub 25 at respective openings 22 and 9.

[0021] The head 12 of the shutter 6 is supported by a resilient element 21 , i.e. a spring, which rests onto the bell-shaped element 19 and which, as shown in figure 1 , remains housed inside a circular wall 18. The bell-shaped element 19 is supported by the hub 25 which is in turn constrained to the drain body 1 at the supporting means 7.

[0022] By selecting a resilient element 21 with a suitable spring modulus, it is possible to ensure that the shutter 6 lowers itself when the water in the sanitary fixture exceeds a preset limit, thus allowing the water to flow through the drain.

[0023] Although not shown, US 5,819,328 describes the possibility of integrating in the drain compressing means configured as a spacer or threaded collar positioned on the cylindrical shaft 17. This way, it is possible to selectively vary the preset level of water above which the overflow mechanism is triggered and the shutter 6 lowers itself.

[0024] US 10,865,552 describes, with reference to figures 3-10, a drain 10 which comprises a shutter 24 which integrates a click-clack mechanism, defined as “tip-toe" mechanism, and an overflow mechanism.

[0025] In particular, the shutter 24 comprises an upper portion 26 and a lower portion 28: the upper portion is movable reciprocally with respect to the lower portion between a raised position corresponding to the drain closed, and a lowered position corresponding to the drain open.

[0026] The shutter 24 further comprises a spring 32 arranged between the upper portion 26 and the lower portion 28, which spring pushes the upper portion 26 away from the lower portion 28 into the raised position. The spring 32 is the only resilient element present in the shutter 24.

[0027] In practice, whenever the water exceeds a preset level in the sanitary fixture, the spring contracts due to the pressure exerted by the water column onto the shutter and the upper portion 26 lowers itself, thus allowing the water to be drained through the drain. With particular reference to figure 10, an embodiment in which a small disc 52 is arranged between the spring and the lower portion is described in US 10,865,552. The small disc 52 is combined with a screw 54 which is inserted into the lower portion 28 and can be rotated from the outside to push the small disc 52 and compress the spring.

[0028] In light of what is set forth above, it is clear that drains in which the overflow mechanism can be adjusted depending on the tolerable level of water in the sanitary fixture are already known.

[0029] The solutions of the known art are not free from drawbacks.

[0030] For example, EP-A-2281955 describes a solution in which the adjustment of the overflow mechanism is very difficult and laborious. Actually, it requires that the operator disassembles and reassembles, also only partially, the drain during the production step: during these operations, it can happen that the operator does not reassemble the drain right, thus damaging it.

[0031] Moreover, such solution implies that the operator in charge of the assembly must have a stock of spacers of different thicknesses.

[0032] Above all, it is unlikely to think of being able to change the preload of the spring of the overflow mechanism once the drain has been sold or installed on the sanitary fixture. Also, when providing the packages sold with a second spacer, the final user will hardly try to replace the spacer in order to obtain a different adjustment of the overflow mechanism.

[0033] The same can be said of the solution suggested in US 5,819,328, which provides the possibility of using a spacer to adjust the overflow mechanism.

[0034] US 10,865,552 describes a drain in which the overflow mechanism can be adjusted in an easier and quicker way than in EP-A-2281955, because an installer can rotate the screw from the outside without having to disassemble the shutter.

[0035] A similar adjustment is described in EP-A-1617000. In this document, a drain in which the shutter is supported by a screw 9, on which the elastic element 6 of the overflow mechanism is positioned, is described. The screw is constrained to the drain body and, via a corresponding nut 8, it is possible to screw and unscrew the screw to / from the drain body, so as to modify the preload of the elastic element 6.

[0036] The solution described in these documents however involves the presence of a screw jutting out axially from the drain, i.e. protruding downward from the drain. Such screw increases the size of the drain in axial direction and is an area at which, during installation, it could scratch and damage components of the sanitary fixture or where, in use, dirt can accumulate (hair or fabric fibers for example).

[0037] Summary of the invention

[0038] Object of the present invention is thus to provide a drain provided with an overflow mechanism, which is compact and allows to manually calibrate the overflow mechanism in an easy and quick way, without having to disassemble the shutter or having to resort to external components, such as spacers.

[0039] In its first aspect, the present invention thus concerns a drain for sanitary fixtures, such as a washbasin or tub, according to claim 1 .

[0040] In particular, the drain for sanitary fixtures comprises a drain body extending along a longitudinal axis and adapted for being constrained to a sanitary fixture, in particular for being inserted into a siphon of a sanitary fixture.

[0041] The drain further comprises a shutter. The shutter in turn comprises a shutter body which is movable axially, i.e. on the longitudinal axis, with respect to the drain body between a raised position, corresponding to the drain closed, and a lowered position, corresponding to the drain open.

[0042] Aboard the shutter there are a click-clack mechanism and an overflow mechanism.

[0043] The click-clack mechanism is a mechanism for the snap opening and closing of the drain and is prearranged to allow the shutter body to translate from the raised position to the lowered position, or vice-versa, to close or open the passage of water through the drain. The switch from the raised position to the lowered position, or vice-versa, is subjected to the exertion of a force by a user onto the shutter itself, directed along the longitudinal axis and still in the same direction, in particular downward.

[0044] It is clear that in the context of the present invention, the expressions “downward” or “upward," or other similar terms, refer to how a shutter is generally inserted into a drain and how a drain is combined with a siphon of a sanitary fixture, i.e. vertically and with a drain head positioned above the shutter fastening means provided in the drain body. This way of interpreting these terms would also be the one used by a technician of the field.

[0045] For the purposes of the present invention, the shutter may incorporate any type of click-clack mechanism made according to the known art or in light of the contents of the present patent application.

[0046] The overflow mechanism is instead designed to be automatically triggered, i.e. without the need for a user to intervene, to bring the shutter body to an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position, in response to reaching a threshold value of the pressure exerted onto the shutter by the water column which, in use, presses on the shutter. Such intermediate position corresponds to the drain open, or partially open. In practice, the overflow mechanism comprises yielding means which yield when the pressure acting on the shutter, or in particular on the shutter body, reaches a threshold value. During use, the pressure acting on the shutter, or on the shutter body, is actually the one exerted by the water column which accumulated in the sanitary fixture.

[0047] The click-clack mechanism and the overflow mechanism are not separate from the shutter but are integral with the shutter itself, i.e. are incorporated therewith.

[0048] During the translation movements between the raised position and the lowered position or during the movements between the raised position and an intermediate position, the shutter body is movable telescopically on a shutter support rod which is constrained to the drain body on the longitudinal axis. The support rod can simply be fit onto a pin of the drain body, otherwise it can be screwed or interlockingly inserted into a hole provided in a bridge-shaped element of the drain body.

[0049] Moreover, the drain comprises manual calibration means for calibrating the overflow mechanism, which allow to modify the threshold value of pressure at which the overflow mechanism is triggered, i.e. at which the yielding means of the click-clack mechanism lower themselves or yield.

[0050] The manual calibration means are so defined because they are operable manually by a user to actually adapt the overflow mechanism to the specific needs of the sanitary fixture in which the drain is mounted.

[0051] The manual calibration means of the overflow mechanism are also aboard the shutter, i.e. are integrated into the shutter, and extend concentrically around the support rod. In practice, the manual calibration means are not separate from the shutter and are not elements external to the shutter itself, such as could be some spacers, but extend on the same support rod at which the rest of the shutter is also combined with the drain body.

[0052] Moreover, the manual calibration means are accessible from outside the shutter, i.e. are not hidden inside the shutter from the sight of a user, and these manual calibration means are operable without having to disassemble the shutter itself.

[0053] The drain, or in particular the drain body, comprises fastening means at which the support rod of the shutter is constrained. Moreover, a drain head or cover is coupled to the shutter on the opposite side with respect to the fastening means themselves.

[0054] Advantageously, the manual calibration means are arranged axially between the head of the drain and the fastening means. In other words, the manual calibration means do not protrude beyond the fastening means, i.e. do not extend beyond or below the fastening means. Or else, the manual calibration means are arranged axially between the shutter body and the fastening means.

[0055] It is thus clear that the manual calibration means do not form encumbrances along the axial direction.

[0056] The drain according to the invention thus allows to overcome the drawbacks of the known art.

[0057] Actually, the drain is compact because the manual calibration means do not protrude axially below the drain body but extend on the same support rod of the shutter. In practice, the presence of the manual calibration means does not cause spatial encumbrances because the manual calibration means are aboard the shutter itself. Therefore, the possibility that the manual calibration means can damage the sanitary fixture itself during the steps of inserting the drain into the sanitary fixture is nullified and the possibility that, while using the drain, dirt can accumulate at the manual calibration means is limited. Moreover, since they are accessible from outside the shutter, the user can easily and quickly calibrate the overflow mechanism without having to disassemble the shutter.

[0058] In practice, the shutter extends on the longitudinal axis and has an upper end at which the drain head, or cover, is coupled, and a lower end at which the shutter is constrained to the fastening means of the drain body.

[0059] The manual calibration means are preferably movable between a position proximal to the shutter body and a position distal from the shutter body, and vice-versa, so as to be able to calibrate the overflow mechanism according to need.

[0060] In particular, the manual calibration means in a position proximal to the shutter body correspond to a first calibration level of the overflow mechanism and to a first pressure threshold level of the water column which, in use, acts on the shutter and can make the overflow mechanism snap; the manual calibration means in a position distal from the shutter body correspond to a second calibration level of the overflow mechanism and to a second pressure threshold level of the water column which, in use, acts on the shutter and can make the overflow mechanism snap.

[0061] Preferably, the first pressure threshold level corresponds to a height of the water present in the sanitary fixture equal to 13 cm, whereas the second pressure threshold level corresponds to a height of the water present in the sanitary fixture equal to 6 cm. The overflow mechanism can obviously be configured so that the first pressure threshold level and the second pressure threshold level correspond to different water height values.

[0062] Depending on the tolerable level of water in the sanitary fixture, the overflow mechanism can thus be calibrated by the respective manual calibration means in order to be better adapted to the sanitary fixture in which the drain is mounted.

[0063] The manual calibration means are preferably movable to one or more intermediate axial positions between the position proximal to the shutter body and the position distal from the shutter body. Such one or more intermediate axial positions correspond to one or more calibration levels, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism. It is clear that such one or more calibration levels are intermediate between the first calibration level and the second calibration level. Having one or more intermediate calibration levels available allows to calibrate the overflow mechanism in an even more precise way.

[0064] The manual calibration means are preferably part of the overflow mechanism itself, i.e. are not means external to the overflow mechanism. For this reason, when the manual calibration means move away from the shutter body, the threshold value of the pressure exerted onto the shutter by the water column which, in use, triggers the overflow mechanism, drops. In practice, manually moving the manual calibration means away makes the components of the overflow mechanism become more yielding.

[0065] In the preferred embodiment, the manual calibration means are coupled to the shutter body with a threaded or screw coupling.

[0066] In practice, the shutter body has a thread which is engaged by a corresponding reverse thread of the manual calibration means.

[0067] As an alternative, the manual calibration means can be coupled to the shutter body via another type of coupling which anyhow allows the manual calibration means to translate towards or away from the shutter body. The manual calibration means are preferably rotatable with respect to the shutter body in a first direction (clockwise for example), from the position proximal to the shutter body to the position distal from the shutter body, and in a second direction (counterclockwise for example) opposite the first direction, from the position distal from the shutter body to the position proximal to the shutter body.

[0068] As mentioned above, the proximal position and the distal position respectively correspond to a first calibration level and a second calibration level, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism.

[0069] Being able to be screwed to and unscrewed from the shutter body, the manual calibration means are rotatable to a plurality of intermediate axial positions between the position proximal to the shutter body and the position distal from the shutter body. Such intermediate axial positions correspond to several calibration levels, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism which are intermediate between the first calibration level and the second calibration level.

[0070] The user can thus select between a plurality of threshold values of the pressure of the water column which triggers the overflow mechanism.

[0071] In the preferred embodiment, the shutter comprises a rod-shaped element housed in the shutter body, which thus has a cavity.

[0072] The rod-shaped element comprises a body from which said support rod extends. The body of the rod-shaped element is preferably housed in the shutter body and the support rod juts out from a lower portion of the shutter body through a corresponding hole.

[0073] The shutter body and the manual calibration means are movable with respect to the rod-shaped element which remains stationary with respect to the drain body instead, between the raised position and the lowered position, and vice-versa. In practice, when the shutter body lowers or raises itself due to the manual triggering of the click-clack mechanism or the automatic triggering of the overflow mechanism, the shutter body and the manual calibration means translate with respect to the rod-shaped element.

[0074] The support rod preferably juts out from both the shutter body and said manual calibration means. In practice, the shutter body and the manual calibration means each have a respective axial hole which is crossed by the support rod.

[0075] The shutter preferably comprises a plug which closes the shutter body on top. In practice, the shutter body has a cavity extending axially and the plug of the shutter closes such cavity of the shutter body from the top. In other words, the plug of the shutter is constrained to the shutter body and closes the shutter body on the opposite side with respect to the fastening means of the drain.

[0076] The click-clack mechanism for the opening and closing of the drain can be configured in any way. However, it is preferably configured as described hereunder.

[0077] The shutter preferably comprises a ring fit onto the body of the rodshaped element and a resilient element of the click-clack mechanism, defined as first resilient element and functionally interposed between the rod-shaped element and a plug of the shutter constrained to the shutter body. Essentially, the plug keeps the first resilient element housed in the shutter body.

[0078] The ring is rotatable on the longitudinal axis with respect to the rodshaped element itself in response to pressure exerted at the plug of the shutter, along the axial direction and always directed towards the rod-shaped element, i.e. downward.

[0079] In practice, when a user provides to exert a thrust on the shutter to trigger the click-clack mechanism, the first resilient element is compressed during the lowering of the shutter body from the raised position to the lowered position or extends to bring back the shutter body from the lowered position to the raised position.

[0080] The ring preferably comprises at least one tooth, or protrusion, which engages a corresponding profile provided on an outer surface of the body of the rod-shaped element or on an inner surface of the shutter body. The profile has at least one upper seat and at least one lower seat, so that:

[0081] - the shutter body is in the raised position whenever the ring engages the at least one upper seat, and

[0082] - the shutter body is in the lowered position whenever the ring engages said at least one lower seat.

[0083] In an embodiment, the profile is provided on an outer surface of the rodshaped element. In practice, the ring engages, with the at least one tooth or protrusion, a corresponding circuit formed on the outer surface of the rodshaped element.

[0084] The circuit defines a seat and a recess for housing the at least one tooth or protrusion: the recess is axially positioned between the seat and the support rod of the shutter, i.e. it is in an axial position lower than that of the seat.

[0085] When the at least one tooth, or protrusion, is housed in the seat of the circuit, the shutter body is thus in the raised position, whereas the shutter body is in the raised position when the at least one tooth, or protrusion, is housed in the recess.

[0086] As an alternative, the click-clack mechanism can be configured as in EP- A-1338707.

[0087] In the preferred embodiment, the shutter includes an overflow mechanism of hybrid type, i.e. mechanical and magnetic. Actually, the shutter can comprise:

[0088] - a resilient element of the overflow mechanism, defined as second resilient element, at least partly housed in the shutter body and functionally interposed between the rod-shaped element and the plug of the shutter, and

[0089] - at least one first magnet housed in the rod-shaped element, in particular preferably in the body of the rod-shaped element, and at least one second magnet housed in the manual calibration means.

[0090] The second resilient element constantly exerts a thrust on the plug, which tends to bring the shutter body towards the raised position; moreover, an attractive force, which tends to bring the shutter body to the raised position, is exerted between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet.

[0091] In practice, the second resilient element, the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet are yielding means of the overflow mechanism. Actually, the overflow mechanism is triggered (i.e. the shutter body moves to an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position) when the pressure of the water acting on the shutter, and in particular on the plug, exceeds the force exerted by the second resilient element and the attractive force of the two magnets.

[0092] The manual calibration means can be rotated by a user to modify the axial position of the at least one second magnet with respect to the first magnet, i.e. to move it closer or away from the at least one first magnet. In practice, the axial position of the at least one second magnet is movable between the position proximal to the shutter body and the position distal from the shutter body, which respectively correspond to the first calibration level and the second calibration level, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism.

[0093] When at least one second magnet is moved away from the at least one first magnet, the reciprocal attractive force decreases and the overflow mechanism thus becomes more yielding. In other words, rotating the manual calibration means away from the shutter body makes the absolute value of the threshold value of water pressure that triggers the overflow mechanism drop.

[0094] As an alternative, the overflow mechanism is exclusively magnetic. In this embodiment, the way with which the overflow mechanism is calibrated is similar to the one described above, the second resilient element is however replaced by a couple of magnets comprising a third magnet positioned at an upper portion of the rod-shaped element and a fourth magnet positioned at the plug of the shutter: a repulsive force, which pushes the plug towards the raised position, is exerted between the fourth magnet and the third magnet.

[0095] Or else, the overflow mechanism is exclusively mechanic: the shutter comprises a third resilient element instead of said at least one first magnetic element and said at least one second magnetic element. In this case, the overflow mechanism is calibrated by adjusting the extension or the compression of the third resilient element.

[0096] Regardless of how the overflow mechanism is made, the manual calibration means are preferably configured as a bell-shaped bushing. The bushing preferably comprises a base, at which the at least one second magnet is positioned, and a cylinder-shaped side wall with a thread at which the bushing can be screwed or unscrewed to / from a corresponding thread provided on the shutter body.

[0097] The magnets preferably have a toroidal shape; moreover, the first resilient element preferably has a greater spring modulus than the second resilient element: this allows the click-clack mechanism to be triggered when a force greater than the one needed to trigger the overflow mechanism is exerted on the plug by a user.

[0098] The shutter body is preferably substantially cylindrical and comprises:

[0099] - a thread formed on a lower portion of the shutter body and at which the manual calibration means can be screwed or unscrewed and

[0100] - a rib delimiting the thread on top.

[0101] The manual calibration means comprise one or more hooks jutting out towards the shutter body, i.e. upward, and, when the manual calibration means are at a position proximal to the shutter body, the hooks are positioned above the rib and separated therefrom, whereas when the manual calibration means are at a position distal from the shutter body, the hooks are in abutment on the rib. This way, the risk that the manual calibration means could completely be unscrewed from the shutter body when rotating the manual calibration means away from the same is prevented or limited.

[0102] Generally, the drain body is preferably hollow and comprises:

[0103] - an upper portion provided with a rosette delimiting a water inflow mouth through which the water can drain from a sanitary fixture, and - a lower portion at which there are fastening means for fastening the shutter.

[0104] The shutter body is thus movable axially between the raised position, at which it intercepts the mouth thus preventing the passage of the water, and the lowered position, at which it does not intercept the mouth, thus allowing the passage of the water.

[0105] The drain body preferably comprises a circular body and a cage-shaped body inserted into the circular body. The shutter is constrained to the cageshaped body at the fastening means provided on the cage-shaped body itself, preferably configured as a pin.

[0106] Brief list of the figures

[0107] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the review of the following detailed description of a preferred, although not exclusive, embodiment illustrated by way of example and without limitations with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0108] - figure 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the drain according to the present invention, with the shutter body in the raised position;

[0109] - figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the drain shown in figure 1 , considered with respect to the sectional plane AC-AC of figure 1 ;

[0110] - figure 3 is a front elevation view of the drain shown in figure 1 , with the shutter body in the snap position;

[0111] - figure 4 is an axial sectional view of the drain shown in figure 3, considered with respect to the sectional plane AD-AD of figure 3;

[0112] - figure 5 is a front elevation view of the drain shown in figure 1 , with the shutter body in the lowered position;

[0113] - figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the drain shown in figure 5, considered with respect to the sectional plane AE-AE of figure 5;

[0114] - figure 7 is an axial sectional view of the drain shown in figure 1 , with the overflow mechanism triggered;

[0115] - figure 8 is an exploded view of the cage-shaped body and of the shutter of the drain shown in figure 1 ;

[0116] - figure 9 is a sectional view of the components shown in figure 8, considered with respect to the plane AP-AP of figure 8;

[0117] - figures 10A-10D are axial sectional views of the drain shown in figure 1 , wherein the ring 28 is shown in transparency. The sequence for triggering the click-clack mechanism is shown in these figures. In particular, there is shown: a drain in a closed configuration with the shutter body in a raised position (fig. 10A), a drain with the shutter body in a first snap position (fig. 10B), a drain in a completely open configuration and with the shutter body in a lowered position (fig. 10C), a drain with the shutter body in a second snap position (fig. 10D);

[0118] - figure 11 is an axial sectional view of the drain shown in figure 1 , wherein the ring 28 is shown in transparency, with the overflow mechanism triggered;

[0119] - figure 12 is a front elevation view of the drain shown in figure 1 , with the shutter in a first configuration of use;

[0120] - figure 13 is a sectional view of the drain shown in figure 12, considered with respect to the plane AH-AH of figure 12;

[0121] - figure 14 is a side elevation view of the drain shown in figure 1 , with the shutter in a second configuration of use;

[0122] - figure 15 is a sectional view of the drain shown in figure 14, considered with respect to the plane AJ-AJ of figure 14.

[0123] Detailed description of the invention

[0124] With reference to figure 1-15, a preferred embodiment of the drain according to the invention is described hereunder. The drain is denoted in these figures by the reference number 1 .

[0125] Figure 1 shows the drain 1 in a front elevation view, while figure 2 depicts a section of the drain 1 considered with respect to the sectional plane AC-AC of figure 1.

[0126] In figures 1 and 2, it is possible to observe that the drain 1 comprises a body, generically denoted by the reference number 2, extending along a longitudinal axis X. In the embodiment described herein, the body 2 comprises a cylindrical body 2a and a cage-shaped body 2b (visible in figure 2) inserted into the cylindrical body 2a.

[0127] The cylindrical body 2a is preferably made of metal, while the cageshaped body 2b is preferably made of a plastic material.

[0128] The cylindrical body 2a is provided with a threaded portion 3 positioned at the bottom in figures 1 and 2 and which is designed for screwing the drain 1 to the respective sanitary fixture, a washbasin or tub for example. On top, the cylindrical body 2a is provided with a rosette 4 which delimits a mouth 5 for the passage of water through the drain 1 .

[0129] When the drain 1 is properly installed in the sanitary fixture, the water to be drained from the sanitary fixture crosses the drain from top to bottom (seeing figure 1 ).

[0130] The cylindrical body 2a preferably has on the inside a sectional narrowing 6 extending circumferentially, ring-shaped, with respect to the longitudinal axis X. In practice, the cage-shaped body 2b is inserted into the cylindrical body 2a through the mouth 5 and rests with its top at the sectional narrowing 6.

[0131] The drain 1 is preferably equipped with a removable ring 8 positioned in a seat of the cylindrical body 2a formed at the rosette 4 and which rests on top of the cage-shaped body 2b. The removable ring 8 contributes to define the mouth 5 together with the rosette 4.

[0132] In practice, when assembling the drain 1 , the cage-shaped body 2b is inserted into the cylindrical body 2a through the mouth 5 and the removable ring 8 is subsequently positioned in the respective seat above the cage-shaped body 2b. In practice, the removable ring 8 ensures that the shutter of the drain remains housed in the body 2 of the drain 1 .

[0133] The drain 1 actually comprises a shutter 9 extending on the longitudinal axis X and designed for opening and closing the passage of water through the drain 1 . The shutter 9 is inserted into the cylindrical body 2a and is hinged on a pin 10 of the cage-shaped body 2b, which pin extends along the longitudinal axis X, as shown in figure 2.

[0134] As an alternative, the drain 1 can be devoid of a cage-shaped body 2b and the cylindrical body 2a can comprise fastening means for fastening the shutter 9, which are configured as a bridge-shaped element at which the shutter 9 itself can be fastened.

[0135] The shutter 9 is movable, with respect to the body 2, on the axis X-X between a raised position, or closing of the drain, and a lowered position, or opening of the drain. In particular, it is a component of the shutter 9, i.e. the shutter body 19, which is movable axially between the raised position and the lowered position.

[0136] In particular, in figures 1 and 2, the shutter body 19 is shown in a raised position, whereas in figures 5 and 6, the shutter body 19 is shown in a lowered position.

[0137] As shown in figure 2, when the shutter body 19 is in a raised position, the mouth 5 is closed and the water contained inside the sanitary fixture cannot be drained through the drain 1 ; figure 6 instead shows that when the shutter body 19 is in a lowered position, the mouth 5 is open (i.e. is not intercepted by the shutter 9) and the water contained in the sanitary fixture can be drained through the drain 1 .

[0138] For such purpose, the shutter 9 can be equipped with a gasket 11 , for example of the O-ring type, especially intended for closing the mouth 5. By comparing figure 2 and figure 6, it is actually possible to observe that when the shutter body 19 is in the raised position, the gasket 11 is in abutment on the removable ring 8, whereas when the shutter body 19 is in the lowered position, the gasket 11 is away from the removable ring 8.

[0139] The shutter 9 comprises a so-named click-clack mechanism and, in particular, the click-clack mechanism is integrated into the shutter 9.

[0140] In practice, the shutter 9 comprises a mechanism for the snap opening and closing of the drain 1 . As described in relation to the known art, a click-clack mechanism has the task of allowing the user to voluntarily and selectively control the displacement of the shutter body 19 from the raised position to the lowered position, and vice-versa. The user just has to exert a first thrust on the shutter 9, from top to bottom, to make the click-clack mechanism snap and to bring the shutter body 19 from the raised position to the lowered position. The shutter body 19 remains in a lowered position until the user intervenes again by applying a second thrust on the shutter 9, still from top to bottom, to make the click-clack mechanism snap again and to bring the shutter body 19 from the lowered position to the raised position, where it remains until the user intervenes once more. In practice, the user always exerts the thrust in the same direction and in the same way, thus causing movements of the shutter body 19 in opposite directions.

[0141] Generally, the shutter body 19 is combined with a head of the drain 12, or cover 12, precisely visible in figures 1-2 and 5-6. The head of the drain 12 can, for example, be screwed to a threaded portion 52 of the shutter 9 itself and has an aesthetic function, i.e. that of covering and not making the shutter 9 and the inside of the drain 1 visible to users. It is precisely at the head of the drain 12 that a user can exert a thrust on the shutter body 19, always directed downward, to bring it to the lowered position or the raised position and thus to open or close the drain 1 .

[0142] The click-clack mechanisms, i.e. the mechanisms for the snap opening and closing of the drains, are known in the art: examples are described in the documents of the known art set forth above.

[0143] For the purposes of the present invention, it is not specified which specific click-clack mechanism is incorporated in the drain 1 , since different click-clack mechanisms are known.

[0144] By way of example, the click-clack mechanism integrated into the shutter 9 of the drain 1 will be described hereunder. For the sake of completeness, the reader is invited to shift his attention to figures 3 and 4, which show the drain 1 with the shutter body 19 in a snap position. In particular, figure 3 shows the drain 1 in a front elevation view, whereas figure 4 depicts a section of the drain 1 considered with respect to the sectional plane AD-AD of figure 1 .

[0145] The shutter body 19 in the snap position is almost in abutment on the cage-shaped body 2b, as shown in figure 4. Actually, by comparing the position of the shutter body 19 in the lowered position shown in figure 6 and the position of the shutter body 19 in the snap position shown in figure 4, it is possible to note that, in figure 4, the shutter body 19 is in a position more proximal to the bottom of the cage-shaped body 2b.

[0146] Operationally, the snap position is an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position of the shutter. In practice, in order to open the drain 1 , the user must exert a first downward force onto the shutter 9, for example at the head of the drain 12, to bring the shutter body 19 from the raised position to the snap position.

[0147] Once the snap position has been reached, the shutter makes a typical “click” sound, which precisely suggests that the click-clack mechanism has snapped. The user can at this point stop pushing the shutter which, at this point, automatically moves to the lowered position, corresponding to the drain 1 open.

[0148] The shutter body 19 remains in the lowered position until the user provides to exert a second downward thrust aimed at bringing back the shutter to the snap position. Upon reaching the snap position a second time, the shutter emits a typical “clack” sound which, also in this case, suggests that the clickclack mechanism has snapped a second time. The user thus provides to stop the downward thrust and the shutter automatically moves back to the raised position, thus closing the drain 1.

[0149] Thus, if the user does not provide to exert a force onto the head 12 sufficient to push the shutter body 19 to the snap position, the click-clack mechanism will not be triggered and the shutter will not snap from the raised position to the lowered position, or vice-versa.

[0150] In addition to a click-clack mechanism, the shutter 9 further integrates an overflow mechanism, i.e. a mechanism which allows the shutter body 19 in the raised position to automatically lower itself whenever the pressure of the water column acting on the head 12 is equal to or exceeds a preset threshold value, so as to allow the drain 1 to drain the excess water in the sanitary fixtures. When the value of the pressure drops below the preset threshold value, the shutter body 19 automatically returns to the raised position, thus closing the drain 1 .

[0151] Unlike the triggering of the click-clack mechanism which requires the intervention of a user, the operation of the overflow mechanism is thus automatic.

[0152] The operational principle of the overflow mechanism of the drain 1 is thus similar to the one described with reference to the known art.

[0153] Figure 7, in which the drain 1 with the overflow mechanism triggered is depicted, i.e. in an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position, is shown herein by way of example. As known, the triggering of the overflow mechanism does not lead to the triggering of the click-clack mechanism because the pressure of water in a sanitary fixture is never sufficient to push the shutter body 19 up to the snap position.

[0154] The operation of the drain 1 can be illustrated more precisely after having described the components shown in figures 8 and 9.

[0155] In particular, figure 8 shows an exploded view of the shutter 9 and the cage-shaped body 2b and figure 9 shows a sectional view of the components shown in figure 8, which is considered with respect to the plane AP-AP of figure 8.

[0156] Once assembled and inserted into a drain, such components share the longitudinal axis X, also shown in figure 8 for this reason, therewith.

[0157] Firstly, it is possible to observe that the cage-shaped body 2b is defined as such because its shape actually looks like a cage.

[0158] The cage-shaped body 2b is substantially cylindrical and extends in height along the longitudinal axis X. It comprises vertical elements 13 parallel or almost parallel to the longitudinal axis X and circular elements 14 arranged circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The vertical elements 13 and the circular elements 14 actually make the net-shaped structure of the cage-shaped body 2b. The vertical elements 13 and the circular elements 14 delimit spaces 15 among one another, which spaces, in use, are crossed by the water coming from the mouth 5 and drained through the drain 1. In the embodiment shown, the body 2b comprises four vertical elements 13 and two circular elements 14 arranged axially at different heights.

[0159] The cage-shaped body 2b has a top 16 constituted by one of the circular elements 14, and a circular-shaped base 17 from which the vertical elements 13 extend radially for a first segment and upward for the remaining segment.

[0160] At the top 16, the circular element 14 has a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the other circular element 14. This allows the cage-shaped body 2b to remain in abutment on the sectional narrowing 6 of the cylindrical body 2a described with reference to figure 2.

[0161] Teeth 18, which ensure that the cage-shaped body 2b abuts on the sectional narrowing 6, are preferably present at the top 16.

[0162] The pin 10, already shown in figure 2, juts out upward from the base 17. It extends in height in the direction of the top 16, along the longitudinal axis X; the shutter 9 is precisely fit onto the pin 10.

[0163] The shutter 9 comprises a shutter body 19, or cup-shaped body 19 of cylindrical shape with an upper end 19a and a base 19b.

[0164] The shutter body 19 is hollow, i.e. has a cavity 20 extending along the longitudinal axis X and which crosses the shutter body 19 from the upper end 19a to the base 19b.

[0165] A ring 23 juts out downward from the base 19b, away from the upper end 19a. The ring 23 has a diameter smaller than the one of the rest of the shutter body 19 and the ring 23 has, at the inner surface, one or more ribs 27 jutting out towards the longitudinal axis X and which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X itself. In the embodiment shown herein, the ribs 27 are two and face one another. On the outer surface, at the base 19b and on the opposite side with respect to the ring 23, the shutter body 19 has a thread 21 .

[0166] The thread 21 is delimited on top by a ribbing 22 which is in relief and circumferentially runs along the outer surface of the shutter body 19.

[0167] Grooves 24, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis X, are formed just above the ribbing 22. Although only one groove 24 is shown in figure 8, the shutter body 19 preferably has four grooves 24 formed on the outer surface so as a 90° angle with respect to the longitudinal axis X is defined between two adjacent grooves 24.

[0168] At the inner surface, the shutter body 19 has an abutment surface 25 extending circularly with respect to the longitudinal axis X and which is due to the sectional narrowing of the cavity 20 at the ring 23.

[0169] At the upper end 19a, the shutter body 19 has blind holes, i.e. cutouts 26. Four cutouts 26 are preferably provided.

[0170] The shutter 9 further comprises a circular-shaped ring 28 which has one or more protrusions 29 jutting out from the inner surface of the ring 28 itself. In the embodiment described herein, the ring 28 has two protrusions 29 arranged one in front of the other. One of these protrusions 29 is shown in figure 9.

[0171] In figures 8 and 9, it is possible to see that there is also a rod-shaped element 30. The rod-shaped element 30 comprises a cup-shaped body 31 and a rod 32, or stem, which juts out downward from the body 31 along the longitudinal axis X. The rod 32 preferably extends inside the body 31 to form a pin 33 visible in figure 9. The rod 32 is preferably hollow.

[0172] On the outer surface of the body 31 , the element 30 has one or more circuits 34 in which, in use, the protrusions 29 of the ring 28 run. The circuits 34 are preferably two and are formed on opposite sides in the body 31 , as shown in figure 9. The circuits 34 are substantially grooves formed on the outer surface of the body 31 and which extend between an upper end 31a of the body 31 and a lower end 31 b of the body 31 .

[0173] The two circuits 34 are identical to one another and reference will thus be made to the circuit 34 only, visible in figure 8, for the description.

[0174] The circuit 34 has a central relief 35; the circuit 34 is thus delimited by an outer wall defined at the outer surface of the body 31 , and an inner wall defined at the central relief 35.

[0175] At the upper end 31a of the body 31 , the circuit 34 has a seat 38 provided in the outer wall. On the opposite side, the circuit 34 comprises a first concavity 39 and a second concavity 40 separated by a cusp 41 .

[0176] In figure 8, it is possible to appreciate that the second concavity 40 opens outward at the lower end 31 b of the body 31 .

[0177] A recess 42, which is positioned in front of the cusp 41 and of the second concavity 40 and which is in an intermediate angular position between that of the first and second concavities, is formed on the inner wall.

[0178] Grooves 43 which run along the entire length of the rod 32, parallel to the longitudinal axis X, are preferably formed on the outer surface of the rod 32.

[0179] One or more magnets kept in place by a respective bushing are housed inside the cup-shaped body 31 .

[0180] Two magnets 45 and 46 of toroidal shape and a bushing 47 are preferably used. The magnets 45, 46 and the bushing 47 are fit onto the pin 33 of the rod-shaped element 30.

[0181] The two magnets 45 and 46 are positioned one with respect to the other with concordant polarities, i.e. they attract one another.

[0182] The shutter 9 further comprises two resilient elements: a first resilient element 48 and a second resilient element 49. The two resilient elements have different spring moduli: in particular, the first resilient element 48 has a greater spring modulus than the second resilient element 49. As will be set forth hereunder, the first resilient element 48 is involved in the triggering of the clickclack mechanism, whereas the second resilient element 49 in the triggering of the overflow mechanism.

[0183] The second resilient element 49 preferably has a length greater than that of the first resilient element 48. At one end, the one positioned at the bottom in figures 8 and 9 for example, the resilient elements 48 and 49 are housed in the shutter body 19 and are fit onto the pin 33. At the opposite end, i.e. the one positioned at the top in figures 8 and 9, the resilient elements 48 and 49 are housed in a plug 50 of the shutter.

[0184] In practice, the plug 50 keeps the resilient elements 48 and 49 housed in the body 31. The plug 50 has teeth 51 intended for being inserted into the cutouts 26 of the shutter body 19 and is provided with a threaded portion 52 at which the head of the drain 12 is screwed.

[0185] In practice, the assembly of the shutter 9 occurs in the following way.

[0186] The ring 28 is fit onto the rod-shaped element 30 by inserting the rod 32 into the ring 28 itself. Each protrusion 29 is aligned with a respective second concavity 40 and is inserted into a circuit 34. The protrusions 29 are positioned in a respective seat 38.

[0187] The ring 28 and the rod-shaped element 30 thus combined are inserted into the shutter body 19, by aligning the ribs 27 of the shutter body 19 with the grooves 43 of the rod 32. The ring 28 and the body 31 of the rod-shaped element rest on the abutment surface 25. This way, the rod 32 protrudes from below the shutter body 19, i.e. juts out from the ring 23.

[0188] The resilient elements 48 and 49 are inserted into the body 31 of the rodshaped element, resting on the bushing 47 which keeps the magnets 45 and 46 in place. At this point, the plug 50 is fit onto the resilient elements 48 and 49 and is pushed into the body 31 until the teeth 51 are inserted and remain locked in the respective cutouts 26.

[0189] As is clear in figures 8 and 9, the shutter 9 further comprises a bushing 55 designed for being combined with the shutter body 19. The bushing 55 is also preferably cup-shaped and hollow.

[0190] As better illustrated below, in the preferred embodiment the manual calibration means, generically denoted by the reference number 65, are configured as such bushing 55. The bushing 55 preferably has a base 56 and a side wall 57.

[0191] The base 56 has a central hole 58 delimited by a ring-shaped surface 59.

[0192] The side wall 57 is substantially cylindrical and has, at the inner surface, a thread 60 complementary to the thread 21 of the shutter body 19.

[0193] Two hooks 61 , arranged one in a position opposite the other and whose function will be made clearer below, preferably extend from the upper edge of the side wall 57.

[0194] The shutter 9 is further equipped with a third magnet 62 of toroidal shape and which is positioned on the ring-shaped surface 59 of the base 56.

[0195] The bushing 55 with the third magnet 62 is also combined with the components of the shutter as assembled above.

[0196] In practice, the bushing 55 is fit onto the rod 32 which protrudes from the shutter body 19 and is screwed at the thread 21 .

[0197] The shutter 9 thus assembled is fit onto the pin 10 of the cage-shaped body 2b; in particular, the rod 32 of the rod-shaped element 30 is fit onto the pin 10; for this reason, the rod 32 can also be defined as support rod 32 of the shutter 9.

[0198] In light of the description set forth above, the operation of the click-clack mechanism can be better understood. For example, figures 10A-10D show the path of the protrusion 29 in the circuit 34 of the rod-shaped element. Such path is correlated to the opening and closing of the drain 1 .

[0199] Starting from figure 10A, it is possible to see that when the shutter body 19 is in the raised position (and the drain is closed), the protrusion 29 is housed in the seat 38.

[0200] When the user exerts a first downward thrust on the head 12 (in the direction denoted by the arrow in figure 10b) to close the drain 1 , the shutter body 19 moves to a first snap position and the protrusion 29 goes into abutment in the first concavity 39, as shown in figure 10B; simultaneously, the first resilient element 48 is compressed.

[0201] As is possible to see in figure 10C, once the user ceases to exert the downward thrust, the shutter body 19 automatically raises itself from the snap position to the lowered position, which corresponds to the protrusion housed in the recess 42. The automatic raising is due to the thrust exerted by the first resilient element 48. When the shutter body 19 is in this position, the drain is in the open configuration. The shutter body 19 remains in the lowered position until the user provides to exert a second downward thrust.

[0202] Actually, if the user wants to bring back the drain to the closed configuration, he must exert a second downward thrust on the head 12, in the direction denoted by the arrow shown in figure 10D. In this circumstance, the first resilient element is compressed a second time and the shutter body 19 moves to a second snap position. This second time, the protrusion 29 is placed in the second concavity 40.

[0203] Upon reaching the snap position, the user can stop exerting the downward thrust and, this way, the first resilient element 38 brings back the shutter to the raised position (figure 10A), thus closing the drain 1 .

[0204] Comparing figures 10A-10D, it is possible to observe that when the shutter body 19 switches from the raised position to the lowered position, and vice-versa, the rod-shaped element 30 remains stationary with respect to the cage-shaped body 2b, whereas the shutter body 19, together with the ring 28 and the plug 50, move axially from the raised position to the lowered position, and vice-versa, in a telescopic way.

[0205] It is thus possible to identify an upper portion (comprising at least the shutter body 19, the ring 28 and the plug 50) that moves axially and telescopically with respect to a lower portion (which comprises the rod-shaped element 30) from the raised position to the lowered position, and vice-versa, by passing through the snap position.

[0206] As an alternative to the click-clack mechanism shown in the accompanying figures, it is possible to configure the click-clack mechanism according to what is described, for example, in EP-A-1338707.

[0207] It is clear however that it is possible to configure the click-clack mechanism according to any other teaching of the known art.

[0208] It is possible, for example, to provide a series of teeth inside the ring 28 and a series of abutment surfaces, complementary to the teeth, on the inner surface of the shutter body 19, at different heights. Moreover, it is possible to provide a profile complementary to the teeth also on top of the rod-shaped element 30.

[0209] As mentioned above, the shutter 9 further integrates an overflow mechanism. The click-clack mechanism and the overflow mechanism are both integrated into the shutter 9, i.e. are aboard the shutter 9.

[0210] For example, figure 11 shows a section of the drain 1 in which the overflow mechanism is triggered.

[0211] Actually, it is possible to note that the shutter body 19 is in an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position. Actually, the protrusion 29 of the ring 28 is axially in an intermediate position between the seat 38 and the first concavity 39.

[0212] In practice, as mentioned above, when the pressure exerted by the water present in the sanitary fixture onto the head 12 reaches or exceeds a threshold value, the shutter body 19 lowers itself, thus allowing the drain 1 to discharge the excess water. In this circumstance, the drain 1 anyhow allows to drain the excess water from the sanitary fixture.

[0213] Once the pressure exerted by the water returns below the threshold level, the shutter body 19 automatically returns to the raised position, thus closing the drain 1.

[0214] When the overflow mechanism is triggered, the shutter body 19 axially moves downward or upward. In particular, the upper portion (i.e. at least the shutter body 19, the ring 28 and the plug 59) axially moves downward or upward with respect to the lower portion, i.e. with respect to the rod-shaped element 30.

[0215] The overflow mechanism integrated into the shutter 9 described herein is of the hybrid type, i.e. mechanical and magnetic. Actually, going back to the components described with reference to figures 8 and 9, the shutter 9 comprises a second resilient element 49 and three magnets 45, 46 and 62.

[0216] As mentioned above, the second resilient element is functionally arranged between the rod-shaped element 30 and the plug 50, the magnets 45 and 46 are housed in the body 31 of the rod-shaped element 30, while the magnet 62 is positioned in the bushing 55 and has a polarity concordant with that of the magnets 45 and 46, i.e. the magnet 62 and the magnets 45 and 46 attract each other.

[0217] When the pressure of the water in the sanitary fixture reaches or exceeds a preset threshold value, the second resilient element 49 yields and the magnet 62 moves away from the magnets 45 and 46, with the consequent lowering of the shutter and the partial opening of the drain 1 .

[0218] In this circumstance, the pressure of the water present in the sanitary fixture overcomes both the thrust exerted by the second resilient element 49 and the attractive force between the magnets 45-46 and the magnet 62.

[0219] As an alternative, it is possible to make an exclusively magnetic overflow mechanism, i.e. wherein the second resilient element 49 is replaced by a couple of magnets that repel each other. Or, it is possible to make an exclusively mechanical overflow mechanism, wherein the magnets 45, 46, 62 are replaced by a resilient element, such as a spring for example: in this case, the calibration of the overflow mechanism occurs by adjusting the extension or compression of this resilient element.

[0220] As described with reference to the known art, it is useful to be able to adjust the calibration of the overflow mechanism, i.e. to be able to selectively configure the overflow mechanism so that, depending on the need of the user and of the sanitary fixture in which the drain must be mounted, it is possible to decide, from time to time, at which water pressure threshold value the overflow mechanism must be triggered.

[0221] Manual calibration means 65 of the overflow mechanism are thus provided. In the drain 1 described herein, the manual calibration means 65 are configured as a bushing 55, i.e. the overflow mechanism is calibrated by screwing or unscrewing the bushing 55 to / from the shutter body 19 at the thread 21.

[0222] In figures 2, 4, 6, 7, 10A-10D, the overflow mechanism is in a first configuration of use, which corresponds to the bushing 55 completely screwed to the shutter body 19 and to the minimum distance possible between the magnets 45, 46 and the magnet 62.

[0223] The shutter 9 with the overflow mechanism in a first configuration of use is also depicted in elevation in figure 12 and in section in figure 13 with respect to the plane AH-AH of figure 12.

[0224] In figure 13, the distance between the top of the bushing 55 and the rib 22 of the shutter body 19 is denoted by the letter d’. Correspondingly, the distance between the magnet 62 and the magnets 45 and 46 is denoted by the letter s’ in figure 13. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the distance d’ is 0.3 mm and the distance s’ is 1 .9 mm.

[0225] Although not visible in figure 13, in the first configuration of use, the hooks 61 of the bushing 55 are not in abutment on the ribbing 22 of the shutter body 19 but are away from it, thus forming an interstice.

[0226] By unscrewing the bushing 55 from the shutter body 19 in a first direction, clockwise for example as denoted by the arrow in figure 15, the shutter 9 is brought to a second configuration of use, corresponding to the bushing 55 screwed at the minimum to the shutter body 19. The shutter 9 in such configuration is shown in elevation in figure 14 and in section in figure 15 with respect to the plane AJ-AJ of figure 14.

[0227] As shown in figure 15, in the second configuration of use, the hooks 61 of the bushing 55 are in abutment on the ribbing 22 and prevent, or make it more difficult for, the bushing 55 to be completely unscrewed and separated from the shutter body 19.

[0228] In figure 15, the distance between the top of the bushing 55 and the ribbing 22 of the shutter body 19 is denoted by the letter d”. Correspondingly, the distance between the magnet 62 and the magnets 45 and 46 is denoted by the letter s” in figure 15. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the distance d” is 1 .4 mm and the distance s” is 3.0 mm.

[0229] By comparing figure 13 and figure 15, it is clear that when the shutter 9 is in the first configuration of use, the bushing 55 is in a configuration proximal to the shutter body 19, and that when the shutter 9 is in the second configuration of use instead, the bushing 55 is in a position distal from the shutter body 19. For this purpose, note that the interstice 66 visible in figure 15 is between the lower part of the shutter body 19 and the base 56 of the bushing 55.

[0230] Actually, when the shutter 9 is rotated to the second configuration of use, the magnets 45 and 46 are at a distance from the magnet 62 which is greater than when the shutter 9 is in the first configuration of use. This means that by rotating the bushing 55 to the second configuration of use, it is possible to decrease the reciprocal attractive force between the magnets 45, 46 and the magnet 62 and, this way, to modify the calibration of the overflow mechanism.

[0231] Actually, a greater distance between the magnets corresponds to a lower capacity of the shutter to resist the pressure of water acting on the shutter. By thus rotating the bushing 55 from the first configuration of use to the second configuration of use, there is a drop of the pressure threshold value of water acting on the shutter able to trigger the overflow mechanism.

[0232] For example, in the first configuration of use, the overflow mechanism is triggered when the water reaches a height of 13 cm, whereas in the second configuration of use, the overflow mechanism is triggered when the water reaches a lower height, i.e. of 6 cm.

[0233] The overflow mechanism can obviously be configured so that the overflow mechanism is triggered when the water reaches a different height in the first configuration and the second configuration.

[0234] In order to operationally facilitate the calibration operations of the overflow mechanism, it is possible to use the grooves 24 formed in the shutter body 19 every quarter turn as reference.

[0235] In the embodiment shown, it is necessary to rotate the bushing 55 by 360° to rotate the bushing 55 from the first configuration of use to the second configuration of use. For this purpose, it is good to precise that hooks 61 are shown in section in figure 15 and are instead not visible in section in figure 13, because the two sections are considered with respect to two sectional planes orthogonal to one another.

[0236] It is clear that a person skilled in the art can configure the coupling between the bushing 55 and the shutter body 19 in a different way than the one shown in the accompanying figures. For example, he can provide for a greater or smaller number of turns of the threads 21 and 60 or can provide for a different way of coupling the bushing 55, or the manual calibration means 65 in general, to the shutter body 19, anyhow allowing to be able to calibrate the overflow mechanism.

[0237] It is good to precise that the switching from the first configuration of use to the second configuration of use, and vice-versa, is reversible, meaning that by rotating the bushing 55 in a second direction opposite the first direction, in the counterclockwise direction for example, it is possible to return from the second configuration of use to the first configuration of use.

[0238] Although not shown in the figures, it is possible to rotate the bushing 55 to a plurality of intermediate positions between the first configuration and the second configuration. For this purpose, it is possible, starting from the shutter in the first configuration of use, to rotate the bushing 55 by 90°, 180°, 270° or to intermediate angular positions with respect to these angles, for example.

[0239] The distances dnand snintermediate between the distances d’, d” and s’, s” of the first and second configurations and, consequently, also pressure threshold values intermediate between those related to the first and second configurations correspond to these intermediate configurations.

[0240] Moreover, the bushing 55 is easily accessible from outside the cageshaped body 2b. In practice, if a user, or an installer, wants to calibrate the overflow mechanism so that it is triggered at a different pressure threshold value, it is sufficient for them to extract the cage-shaped body 2b from the cylindrical drain body 2a and to rotate the bushing 55 in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first one by inserting the fingers into the spaces 15 of the cage-shaped body 2b. The solution described herein thus allows to easily and quickly calibrate the overflow mechanism, without having to disassemble the shutter 9 or to insert additional elements, such as inserts (as disclosed in the known art).

[0241] In order to meet contingent and specific needs, a person skilled in the art can make numerous changes and modifications to the present invention or embodiments shown and described, all thereby comprised in the protection scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drain (1 ) for sanitary fixtures comprising:- a drain body (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X);- a shutter (9) comprising a shutter body (19), said shutter body (19) being movable axially, with respect to said drain body (2), between a raised position corresponding to the drain (1 ) closed, and a lowered position corresponding to the drain (1 ) completely open;- a click-clack mechanism for the snap opening and closing of the drain (1 ), prearranged to bring said shutter body (19) from the raised position to the lowered position, or vice-versa, in response to a force applied manually by a user on the shutter (9) along the longitudinal axis (X) and always directed in the same direction;- an overflow mechanism prearranged to be automatically triggered and to bring said shutter body (19) to an intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position, corresponding to the drain (1 ) partially open, in response to reaching a threshold value of the pressure exerted onto the shutter (9) by the water column which, in use, presses on the shutter (9),- manual calibration means (65) of the overflow mechanism, wherein the click-clack mechanism and the overflow mechanism are integrated into the shutter (9), i.e. are aboard the shutter (9), and wherein said shutter body (19) is movable telescopically between the raised position and the lowered position on a support rod (32) of the shutter (9), constrained to the drain body (2) on the longitudinal axis (X), wherein the manual calibration means (65) of the overflow mechanism extend concentrically around said support rod (32) and are accessible from outside the shutter (9), wherein said drain body (2) comprises fastening means (10) at which said support rod (32) of the shutter (9) is constrained, wherein a drain head (12) is coupled to said shutter (9) on the opposite side with respect to said fastening means (10),characterized in that said manual calibration means (65) are arranged axially between said drain head (12) and said fastening means (10) and do not protrude cantileverly beyond said fastening means (10).

2. Drain (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said manual calibration means (65) are movable between a position proximal to said shutter body (19) and a position distal from said shutter body (19), and vice-versa, respectively corresponding to a first calibration level and a second calibration level, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism.

3. Drain (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said manual calibration means (65) are movable to one or more intermediate axial positions between the position proximal to the shutter body (19) and the position distal from the shutter body (19), said one or more intermediate axial positions corresponding to one or more further calibration levels, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism which are intermediate between the first calibration level and the second calibration level.

4. Drain (1 ) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said manual calibration means (65) are part of the overflow mechanism and wherein a displacement of the manual calibration means (65) moving away from the shutter body (19) corresponds to a decrease of the threshold value of the pressure exerted onto the shutter (9) by the water column, which, in use, triggers the overflow mechanism.

5. Drain (1 ) according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein said manual calibration means (65) are rotatable with respect to said shutter body (19) in a first direction, from said proximal position to said distal position, and in a second direction opposite the first direction, from said distal position to said proximal position, said manual calibration means (65) preferably being coupled to said shutter body (19) by a threaded or screw coupling.

6. Drain (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1-6, wherein said shutter (9) comprises a shutter plug (50) constrained to said shutter body (19) and which closes said shutter body (19) on top, wherein said shutter (9)further comprises a rod-shaped element (30) provided with a body (31 ) from which said support rod (32) extends, wherein said body (31 ) of the rod-shaped element (30) is housed in said shutter body (19) and said support rod (32) juts out from said shutter body (19) from the opposite side with respect to said plug (50) of the shutter, wherein said shutter body (19) and said manual calibration means (65) are movable axially with respect to said rod-shaped element (30) which remains stationary with respect to the drain body (2).

7. Drain (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein said shutter (9) comprises a ring (28) fit onto said body (31 ) of the rod-shaped element (30), and a resilient element of the click-clack mechanism, defined as first resilient element (48), housed in said shutter body (19) and functionally interposed between said rodshaped element (30) and said plug (50) of the shutter, said ring (28) being rotatable on the longitudinal axis (X) with respect to the rod-shaped element (30) itself in response to a pressure exerted at the plug (50) of the shutter, along the axial direction and always directed towards said rod-shaped element (30), wherein said first resilient element (48) is designed to be compressed during the lowering of the shutter (9) from the raised position to the lowered position and to be extended, bringing back the shutter (9) from the lowered position to the raised position.

8. Drain (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein said ring (28) comprises at least one tooth, or protrusion (29), engaging a corresponding profile provided on an outer surface of the body of the rod-shaped element (30) or on an inner surface of the shutter body (19), wherein said profile has at least one upper seat and at least one lower seat, and wherein: said body of the shutter (9) in the raised position corresponds to said ring (28) engaged in said at least one upper seat, said body of the shutter (9) in the lowered position corresponds to said ring (28) engaged in said at least one lower seat.

9. Drain (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein said profile is provided on an outer surface of the rod-shaped element (30), wherein the ring (28) engages,by said at least one tooth or protrusion (29), a corresponding circuit (34) formed on the outer surface of the rod-shaped element (30), said circuit (34) defining a seat (38) and a recess (42) for housing said at least one tooth or protrusion (29), wherein said recess (42) is axially positioned between the seat (38) and the support rod (32) of the shutter (9) and wherein said shutter body (19) in the raised position corresponds to said at least one tooth or protrusion (29) housed in said seat (38) and said shutter body (19) in the lowered position corresponds to said at least one tooth or protrusion (29) housed in said recess (42).

10. Drain (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 6-9, wherein said overflow mechanism is of both mechanical and magnetic type, wherein said shutter (9) comprises: a resilient element of the overflow mechanism, defined as second resilient element (49), housed in said shutter body (19) and functionally interposed between said rod-shaped element (30) and said plug (50) of the shutter, and at least one first magnet (45, 46) housed in the rod-shaped element (30) and at least one second magnet (62) housed in the manual calibration means (65), wherein said second resilient element (49) constantly exerts a thrust on said plug (50) of the shutter which tends to bring the plug (50) of the shutter towards the raised position, wherein an attractive force, which tends to bring the shutter body (19) to the raised position, is exerted between said at least one first magnet (45, 46) and said at least one second magnet (62) and wherein the manual calibration means (65) are operable by a user to change the axial position of the at least one second magnet (62) between a position proximal to the shutter body (19) and a position distal from the shutter body (19), respectively corresponding to a first calibration level and a second calibration level, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism.

11. Drain (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 6-9, wherein said overflow mechanism is of the exclusively magnetic type, wherein saidshutter (9) comprises: at least one first magnet (45, 46) housed in a lower portion of the rod-shaped element (30) and at least one second magnet (62) housed in the manual calibration means (65), a third magnet positioned at an upper portion of the rod-shaped element (30) and a fourth magnet positioned at said plug (50) of the shutter, and wherein a repulsive force, which pushes said plug (50) of the shutter to the raised position, is exerted between the fourth magnet and the third magnet, wherein an attractive force, which tends to bring said shutter body (19) to the raised position, is exerted between said at least one first magnet (45, 46) and said at least one second magnet (62), and wherein the manual calibration means (65) are operable by a user to change the axial position of the at least one second magnet (62) between a position proximal to the shutter body (19) and a position distal from the shutter body (19), respectively corresponding to a first calibration level and a second calibration level, or configurations, of the overflow mechanism.

12. Drain (1 ) according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein said manual calibration means (65) are configured as a bell-shaped bushing (55) comprising a base (56), at which said at least one second magnet (62) is positioned, and a cylinder-shaped side wall (57) with a thread (60) at which said bushing (55) can be screwed or unscrewed to / from said shutter body (19).

13. Drain (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1-12, wherein said shutter body (19) is substantially cylindrical and comprises: a thread (21 ) formed on a lower portion thereof and at which said manual calibration means (65) can be screwed or unscrewed and a rib (22) delimiting said thread (21 ) on top, wherein said manual calibration means (65) comprise one or more hooks (61 ) jutting out towards the shutter body (19), i.e. upward, and wherein said one or more hooks (61 ) positioned above said rib (22) and separated therefrom correspond to said manual calibration means (65) in a position proximal to saidshutter body (19), and said one or more hooks (61 ) in abutment on the rib (22) on the opposite side with respect to said thread (21 ) correspond to said manual calibration means (65) in a position distal from the shutter body (19).

14. Drain (1 ) according to any one of preceding claims 1-13, wherein the drain body (2) is hollow and comprises: an upper portion provided with a rosette (4) delimiting a water inflow mouth (5) through which the water can drain from a sanitary fixture, and a lower portion at which there are said fastening means (10) for fastening the shutter (9), wherein said body of the shutter (9) is movable axially between said raised position, at which the shutter (9) intercepts the mouth (5) thus preventing the passage of the water through the drain (1 ), and said lowered position, at which the shutter (9) does not intercept the mouth (5) thus allowing the passage of the water through the drain (1 ).

15. Drain (1 ) according to claim 14, wherein the drain body (2) comprises a circular body (2a) and a cage-shaped body (2b), wherein the cageshaped body (2b) is inserted into the circular body (2a) and wherein the shutter (9) is constrained to the cage-shaped body (2b), said fastening means (10) being provided on the cage-shaped body (2b) itself and preferably configured as a pin.

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