OUTLET ELEMENT

Abstract

An outlet element (1) for a sanitary fitting is provided, which outlet element (1) has a main element (2) and a valve device (3) which is connected to the main element (2) and can be adjusted relative to the main element (2) between at least two switching positions in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits (4, 5). In order for it to be possible for the outlet element (1) to be fixed to an outlet of a sanitary fitting in as simple a way as possible, the outlet element (1) has a threaded coupling (13) with an external thread (19), the threaded coupling (13) being formed on the main element (2).

Claims

1. An outlet element (1) for a sanitary fitting, the outlet element comprising: a main element (2) adapted for connection to the sanitary fitting outlet of the sanitary fitting, the main element (2) including at least one outlet opening (6); a valve device (3) which interacts with the main element (2); an actuating element (15), by which the valve device (3) is adjustable relative to the main element (2), in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits (4, 5); and a threaded coupling (13) with an external thread (19), the threaded coupling (13) being formed on the main element (2) and being configured for holding the main element (2) captively to the sanitary fitting outlet.

2. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (15) is arranged on an outflow side of the threaded coupling (13).

3. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on an outflow side (11) which faces away from the threaded coupling (13), the main element (2) has a projection (14), via which the valve device (3) is connected to the main element (2).

4. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projection (14) is formed on the main element (2).

5. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the valve device (3) or the projection (14) of the main element (2) is arranged at least partially within a receiving space (16) defined by the actuating element (15).

6. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (15) is fixed axially on the valve device (3).

7. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating element (15) is configured to actuate the valve device (3) such that one of the two separate water conduits (4, 5) is switched on and remains switched on until a switchover is carried out by a user again to an other of the water conduits (4, 5).

8. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, at least one notch (20) and at least one matching protrusion (21) being configured between the main element (2) the valve device (3), the notch (20) and the protrusion (21) define at least one switching position of the valve device (3) relative to the main element (2) in a latched position.

9. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one notch (20) is configured on the main element (2), and the at least one protrusion (21) is configured on the valve device (3).

10. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the main element (2) has a projection (14), via which the valve device (3) is connected to the main element (2), and the at least one notch (20) is located on the projection (14).

11. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve device (3) is rotatable relative to the main element (2).

12. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projection (14) is annular.

13. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve device (3) is plugged onto the projection (14).

14. The outlet element (1) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the valve device (3) at least one of engages over or surrounds an outer side of the projection (14).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will be described in greater detail in the following text on the basis of exemplary embodiments, but is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments which are shown. Further exemplary embodiments result from combination of the features of individual or multiple claims among one another and/or in a combination of individual or multiple features of the exemplary embodiments.

[0019] In the figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an outlet element,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a partially broken-open side view of the outlet element shown in FIG. 1,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective exploded illustration of the outlet element which is shown in the two previous figures,

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a main element of the outlet element with a sealing element, and a valve device, assigned to the main element, of the outlet element, which valve device is adjustable between at least two switching positions relative to the main element in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the valve device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,

[0025] FIGS. 6 and 7 show plan views of an inflow side of the main element,

[0026] FIG. 8 shows a perspective plan view of an outflow side of the main element; a seal seat and an hourglass-shaped sealing element can be seen,

[0027] FIGS. 9 and 10 shows perspective plan views of the outflow side of the main element shown in FIGS. 6-8 with a sealing element which is positioned in the seal seat,

[0028] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of an inflow side of the valve device,

[0029] FIG. 12 shows a side view of the valve device, sectioned along the marked sectional line denoted by XII-XII in FIG. 11,

[0030] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the valve device, sectioned along the marked sectional line denoted by XIII-XIII in FIG. 11,

[0031] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the valve device, sectioned along the marked sectional line denoted by XIII-XIII in FIG. 11,

[0032] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the outlet element with a valve device which is situated in a spray position,

[0033] FIG. 16 shows an inflow-side plan view of the illustration shown in FIG. 15,

[0034] FIG. 17 shows the element shown in FIG. 16 in a side view which is sectioned in FIG. 16 with a sectional line denoted by XVII-XVII,

[0035] FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the outlet element, the valve device being set in such a way that the outlet element outputs a central single jet,

[0036] FIG. 19 shows a plan view of an inflow side of the outlet element shown in FIG. 18,

[0037] FIG. 20 shows an illustration, sectioned along the sectional line denoted by XX-XX in FIG. 19, of the outlet element shown in FIG. 19,

[0038] FIG. 21 shows a perspective illustration of the valve device of the outlet element shown in the previous Figures in order to illustrate fixing of the actuating element on the valve device, and

[0039] FIG. 22 shows a sectional illustration of the valve device shown in FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] All of the Figures show at least parts of an outlet element which is denoted overall by 1. The outlet elements 1 are suitable for use in or on a sanitary fitting. Each outlet element 1 has a main element 2 which is intended for connecting to an outlet of the sanitary fitting. Furthermore, each outlet element 1 comprises a valve device 3 which interacts with the main element 2 and is adjustable (rotatable in the specific exemplary embodiments of the outlet elements 1) relative to the main element 2 between at least two switching positions in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits 4 and 5.

[0041] Each main element 2 has at least one outflow-side outlet opening 6. In the specifically shown embodiments of the outlet element 1, there are two outlet openings 6. Each water conduits 4 and 5 are assigned in each case two inflow-side inlet openings 7 and 8 of the valve device 3.

[0042] It is provided in all the outlet elements 1 which are shown that the respective main element 2 has a sealing element 9, by way of which, in each of the at least two switching positions, a transition between the two outflow-side outlet openings 6 of the main element 2 and the two inflow-side in the openings 7 and 8 of the respectively connected water conduits 4 and 5 can be sealed.

[0043] The Figures show that the respective main element 2 has a seal seat 10, in which the sealing element 9 is arranged. It becomes clear on the basis of FIGS. 22 and 23, for example, that the seal seat 10 and the sealing element 9 are arranged and configured in such a way that, in each of the at least two switching positions, right-angled projections of two of the inlet openings 7 and 8 lie on the main element 2 within an outer edge of the seal seat 10 and also the seal element 9 and, in addition, within a cross section, delimited by the seal seat 10, of the main element 2.

[0044] FIG. 22 shows the seal seat 10 with the sealing element 9 in the case of a valve device 3 which is situated in a first switching position. It can be clearly seen that the inflow-side inlet openings 7 of the valve device 3 are arranged in such a way that perpendicular projections of the inlet openings 7 lie on the main element 2 within the outer edge of the seal seat 10 and the outer edge of the sealing element 9 and, in addition, within a cross section, delimited by the seal seat 10, of the main element 2.

[0045] The same applies in the case of a valve device 3 which is situated in a second switching position with the inflow-side inlet openings 8 of the second water conduits 5 of the valve device 3. This can be seen clearly in FIG. 23.

[0046] According to FIGS. 8-10, the seal seat 10 is configured on an outflow side 11 of the main element 2. The inlet openings 7 of the water conduits 4 noticeably differ with regard to their shape and size from the inlet openings 8 of the second water conduits 5 of the valve device 3.

[0047] The two outlet openings 6 of the main element 2 and at least one of the inlet openings 7 and 8 of one of the at least two water conduits 4, 5 of the valve device 3 have the same cross section or at least approximately the same cross section. According to FIGS. 22 and 23, they are the inflow-side inlet openings 8 of the second water conduits.

[0048] The seal seat 10 is configured as an endless receiving groove and receives the sealing element 9 within itself. The sealing element 9 can be called a seal ring in a figure-of-eight shape or else an hourglass-shaped seal ring.

[0049] The Figures illustrate that the main element 2 has, on its inflow side 12, a threaded coupling 13, by way of which it can be screwed, for example, to an outlet piece of a sanitary fitting. An external thread 19 is configured on the threaded coupling 13, by way of which external thread 19 the outlet element 1 can be fastened via its main element 2 to an outlet of a sanitary fitting. The threaded coupling 13 is formed on the main element 2 and is configured to hold the main element 2 captively on an outlet of a sanitary fitting.

[0050] On its outflow side 11, the main element 2 has a projection 14, by which the valve device 3 is connected to the main element 2. The projection 14 is of annular configuration and is formed on the main element 2, namely on the outflow side 11. In the use position, the valve device 3 is plugged onto the projection 14 of the main element 2. The valve device 3 thus engages over the projection 14 and surrounds it on the outer side.

[0051] The outlet element 1 has an actuating element 15, by way of which the valve device 3 is adjustable, namely rotatable, relative to the main element 2, in order to switch over between the two separate water conduits 4 and 5. In all the embodiments which are shown of the outlet element 1, the actuating element 15 is arranged on the outflow side of the threaded coupling 13.

[0052] In the case of the two outlet elements 1 which are shown in the figures, the actuating elements 15 are configured in such a way that the valve device 3 and the projection 14 of the main element 2 are arranged at least partially within a receiving space 16 defined by the actuating element 15. The actuating elements 15 are therefore actuating sleeves which can receive the valve device 3 and the projection 14 of the main element 2 at least partially within themselves.

[0053] The actuating elements 15 of the outlet elements 1 which are shown are fixed axially on the respective valve device 3.

[0054] Each of the actuating elements 15 has at least one actuating wing 17.

[0055] The respective actuating element 15 is configured to actuate the valve device 3 which is connected to it, in such a way that one of the at least two separate water conduits 4, 5 is switched on and remains switched on until a switchover is carried out again by the user to the other water conduits 4 or 5.

[0056] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a jet splitter 18 which, according to the exploded illustrations of the outlet element 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4, is part of the valve device 3 of the outlet element 1.

[0057] FIGS. 4 and 8 to 10 show that a total of four notches 20 which are offset at a 90 angle with respect to one another are configured on the projection 14 of the main element 2. The notches 20 define switching positions of the actuating element 15 and the valve device 3.

[0058] Two inwardly directed protrusions 21 which match the notches 20 are configured on an inner side of the valve device 3. The protrusions 21 latch into the notches 20 when the valve device 3 is moved into the switching positions by way of the actuating element 15.

[0059] It can be seen in the sectional illustration of FIG. 22 how the actuating element 15 is fastened to the valve device 3. Furthermore, FIG. 22 shows that the main element 2 is snapped to the valve device 3.

[0060] The invention is concerned with improvements in the field of sanitary technology. An outlet element 1 for a sanitary fitting is thus provided, which outlet element 1 has a main element 2 and a valve device 3 which is connected to the main element 2 and can be adjusted relative to the main element 2 between at least two switching positions in order to switch over between at least two separate water conduits 4, 5. In order for it to be possible for the outlet element 1 to be fixed to an outlet of a sanitary fitting in as simple a way as possible, the outlet element 1 has a threaded coupling 13 with an external thread 19, the threaded coupling 13 being formed on the main element 2.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0061] 1 Outlet element [0062] 2 Main element [0063] 3 Valve device [0064] 4 First water conduit [0065] 5 Second water conduit [0066] 6 Outflow-side outlet opening on 2 [0067] 7 Inflow-side inlet opening of 4 [0068] 8 Inflow-side inlet opening of 5 [0069] 9 Sealing element [0070] 10 Seal seat [0071] 11 Outflow side of 2 [0072] 12 Inflow side of 2 [0073] 13 Threaded coupling [0074] 14 Projection [0075] 15 Actuating element [0076] 16 Receiving space of 15 [0077] 17 Actuating wing [0078] 18 Jet splitter [0079] 19 External thread [0080] 20 Notch [0081] 21 Protrusion