Abstract
A mounting device for a fitting panel has a base element (20) and at least one fluid connection element (50). The base element includes, at a front side, a device (21, 22) for fastening a fitting panel and, at a rear side, an at least substantially planar bearing surface, at least one through-opening (23) for a fastening device being arranged in the base element and extending from the rear side of the base element to the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fastening device may be passed through the base element at the at least one through-opening. The fluid connection element includes a throughflow channel (51) and a pressing surface (53), wherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least its maximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least one cross-sectional extension of the through-opening, and wherein the at least one through-opening is provided and configured such that a stub (52) of the fluid connection element may be passed, as a fastening device, through the base element at at least two different positions on the base element.
Claims
1. A mounting device for a fitting panel, which mounting device comprises: a base element and at least one fluid connection element; wherein the base element has a front side comprising means for fastening the fitting panel, and a rear side comprising an at least substantially planar bearing surface; at least one through-opening in the base element and extending from the rear side of the base element to the front side of the base element, in such a way that a fastening means may be passed through the base element at the at least one through-opening; wherein the at least one fluid connection element comprises a throughflow channel and a pressing surface, wherein the throughflow channel intersects a plane of the pressing surface and wherein the pressing surface is dimensioned such that at least its maximum entire cross-sectional extension is greater than at least one cross-sectional extension of the through-opening; wherein the at least one fluid connection element comprises a stub extending from the plane of the pressing surface, and the throughflow channel extends through the stub; and wherein the at least one through-opening is configured and provided such that the stub may be passed, as a fastening means, through the base element at at least two different positions on the base element.
2. The mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising an external thread formed on the stub.
3. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one through-opening comprises a slotted hole.
4. The mounting device according to claim 3, wherein the slotted hole has a longitudinal axis which runs in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the base element.
5. The mounting device according to claim 3, further comprising: a second slotted hole with a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the two slotted holes being parallel.
6. The mounting device according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one through-opening comprises at least two individual through-openings arranged in a row; and the distance between the at least two through-openings, measured between opposing edges of two adjacent openings, is less than five times a cross-sectional dimension (D) of a through-opening measured at right angles to the orientation of said row.
7. The mounting device according to claim 6, wherein the row extends along a transversal extension or a longitudinal extension of the base element.
8. The mounting device according to claim 6, comprising at least two parallel rows of openings.
9. The mounting device according to claim 8, comprising at least one row of slotted holes, the longitudinal axes of which run at least approximately at right angles or parallel to the orientation of the row.
10. A fitting unit, comprising: a mounting device according to claim 1; and a fitting panel comprising means for attaching the fitting panel to corresponding means of the baseplate of the mounting device, and at least one fitting having a fluid connector; and flexible pipes for connecting the fluid connector of the fitting to a fluid connector provided on a fluid connection element.
11. A fluid connection element for a mounting device comprising: a pressing surface and a throughflow channel; a first end face and a second end face between which an axial extension is defined; a first channel running from the first end face in the direction of the axial extension within the fluid connection element; a flute on an outer side of the fluid connection element running transversally to the axial extension and delimited by two axial delimiting walls; a second channel extending from the flute into the fluid connection element, the second channel being in fluid communication with the first channel within the fluid connection element in such a way that the first channel and the second channel together form the throughflow channel; a stub extending from the first end face towards the second end face, wherein the first channel extends through the stub, the stub including a cross-sectional expansion at an axial end of the stub and towards the second end face, whereby a radial step with an end face is formed, wherein said end face formed by the radial step forms said pressing surface.
12. The fluid connection element according to claim 11, comprising: cylindrical rims delimiting the axial delimiting walls; and an annular element surrounding the cylindrical rims and which, on an outer thereof surface, comprises a connection opening between a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface of the annular element, wherein a fluid-tight arrangement between the cylindrical rims and the annular element is provided in such a way that the flute provides for fluid communication between the throughflow channel of the fluid connection element and the connection opening of the annular element.
13. The fluid connection element according to claim 11, further comprising a thread formed on the outer surface of the stub.
14. A method for mounting a fitting unit according to claim 9 on a surface, the method comprising: selecting a desired position of a fitting; determining the position of a pipe connector on the surface; based on the distance between said positions, determining a required fastening position that the pipe connector must have on the base element so that the fitting achieves the desired position; placing the base element, by its rear side, on the surface, in such a way that the pipe connector coincides with a through-opening of the base element at the required fastening position; and connecting, in particular screwing, the fluid connection element to the pipe connector from the front side of the base element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] The facts presented here will be explained in more detail in the following, using selected exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. This shows in detail as follows:
[0048] FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a sanitary fitting unit using a mounting device described here;
[0049] FIG. 2 a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a base element of a mounting device described here;
[0050] FIGS. 3a, b further exemplary embodiments of a base element of a mounting device described here;
[0051] FIG. 4 an exemplary fluid connection element;
[0052] FIG. 5 a sectional view of the fluid connection element of FIG. 4; and
[0053] FIG. 6 an example of the fastening of a base element to a wall, wherein a connection socket is used.
[0054] Details that are unnecessary for an understanding of the objects described have been omitted. Furthermore, the drawings show only selected exemplary embodiments and may not be taken as a restriction of the objects set forth in the claims. Objects not shown may to all intents and purposes be covered by the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0055] FIG. 1 shows a fitting unit 1, having a fitting panel 10 and a mounting device, wherein the mounting device includes a base element 20 and a fluid connection element 50. The base element 20 has a front side, pointing towards the fitting panel, and an opposing rear side. This rear side has a planar bearing surface, with which the base element may be provided on a wall or another surface that are not shown. On the fitting panel 10, a fitting is provided in a manner known per se, in the example shown a mounting fixture 11 for a shower head. A fitting connector 12 is also provided, via which water may be supplied to the shower head. Not shown, for reasons of clarity, but nevertheless easily understandable for a person skilled in the art, there is a connection between the fitting connector 12 and the fluid connection element 50. This may be provided for in a similarly known manner by flexible and, in particular, pressure-resistant hoses. The fluid connection element 50 of the mounting device includes a hollow-drilled stub 52, in which a channel 51 is provided. The drill hole in the stub is connected to a radial drill hole opening into a flute which acts as a fluid distributor in the fluid connection element. The fluid connection element 50 is explained in more detail below. On the stub 52, an external thread is provided. By means of this external thread, the fluid connection element 50 may be screwed into a pipe connector, not shown. In this way a fluid, for example water in the shown example of a shower panel, may flow from the pipe connector into the fluid connection element 50 and from there, as described above, be passed to the fitting connector 12. By screwing the fluid connection element 50 or the stub 52 into a pipe connector, which, by way of example, is provided in a wall, a pressing surface 53 of the fluid connection element comes to rest on the front side of the base element 20. When the screw joint between the fluid connection element 50 and the pipe connector is tightened further, a force is exerted on the base element, which presses the base element against the wall, not shown, and fixes it there through friction. Even if the wall and the pipe connector are not shown for reasons of clarity, this will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Between the wall and the base element, at another location of the base element, a device may also be provided which is fastened to the wall through adhesion, thus preventing rotation of the fitting unit about the fastening point provided by the fluid connection element. This adhesive connection may, by way of example, be provided by a suction pad or by adhesive bonding. As may be seen, in this way, the base element may be fastened to a wall very simply and without drilling dowel holes. The fitting panel 10 is connected to the base element in a similarly known manner by means of suitable devices 13 and 14 and corresponding devices 21 and 22. In this way, the fitting panel is fixed on the wall.
[0056] The view of a front side of the base element 20 in FIG. 2 discloses an arrangement of a plurality of through-openings 23 in a row or along a straight line, wherein the orientation of the row or the straight line runs in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the base element. The through-openings 23 are provided with a center-to-center distance or pitch t. This pitch is constant for all through-openings, which, while not necessary, is convenient. Through these through-openings, as shown in FIG. 1, a fastening element, thus for example a stub of a fluid connection element, may be passed, in order to fasten the base element to a wall or another surface, as described in connection with FIG. 1. Here, each of the through-openings 23 provides a discrete fastening position. The increments of the fastening positions are determined by the pitch t or, for a predetermined diameter D of the through-openings shown, by the distance s between opposing edges of the through-openings. This distance s is selected to be significantly smaller than the diameter D. The diameter D is, by way of example, selected in a range of 23 to 25 millimeters. The pitch may, by way of example, be 30 mm, resulting in a distance s of approximately 6 mm. The distance s is approximately a quarter of the diameter of the through-openings. These dimensions should, of course, not be deemed limiting; the respective dimensions, in particular the cross-sectional dimensions of the through-openings, may be selected to be convenient for each individual case and dependent, for example, on the external diameter of the element to be passed through.
[0057] FIGS. 3a and 3b show further exemplary embodiments of the arrangement of at least one through-opening on a base element of a mounting device of the type described, which in each case allow a stub of a fluid connection element to be passed through the base element at various positions on the base element. FIG. 3a shows an embodiment in which a single slotted hole 24 with a longitudinal axis, running at least substantially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the base element 20, is provided and covers the entire adjusting range. Compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this has the advantage that the fastening position may be selected continuously and steplessly along the longitudinal axis of the slotted hole 24. On the other side, the base element is not fixed on a surface until the fastening element is tightened with a minimum tightening toque, in such a way that a sufficient connection through friction between the base element 20 and the surface to which it is intended to be fastened is provided. FIG. 3b shows an embodiment which is suitable for fastening a fitting unit requiring two pipe connectors, for example for hot water and cold water, or for the supply of different gases. Two rows of through-openings 25 and 26 are provided. Here, in one row, slotted holes 25 are provided the longitudinal axes of which are oriented along the orientation of the row, or a straight line, on which the slotted holes 25 are provided. In a second row of slotted holes 26, these are provided with their longitudinal axis transversal and, in particular, substantially at right angles to the orientation of the row. By means of one of the slotted holes 26, the base element may be fastened to a first pipe connector, wherein an ability of the base element 20 to shift laterally is ensured, so that tolerances in the lateral distance of two pipe connectors may be compensated for. By means of a corresponding slotted hole 25, a connection with the second pipe connector may then be provided, wherein the form and arrangement of the slotted holes also allows tolerances in the position of the pipe connectors in the vertical direction to be compensated for.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the fluid connection element 50. The fluid connection element 50 has a first end face 65 and a second end face 66. Between the end faces 65 and 66, an axial extension of the fluid connection element along a longitudinal axis 57 is defined. On the first end face, the fluid connection element includes a stub 52, provided with an external thread 54. From the first end face 65, a first flow channel, not visible in the present representation, extends axially through the stub and within the fluid connection element. On an axial end of the stub 52, a radial step is formed, including a front face 53, which forms the pressing surface explained in connection with FIG. 1. On the fluid connection element, a circumferential flute 56 is also arranged. On the base of the flute, a second, radially extending channel 55 is provided, connected to the first channel, as explained below in more detail in connection with FIG. 5. The flute 56 is delimited by two axial delimiting walls 58 and 59. Each delimiting wall 58 and 59 is provided on a cylindrical rim 60 or 61. On each of the rims, a further circumferential flute 62 and 63 is provided to accommodate a sealing element. Tool carriers 64 are also provided on the second end face 66, which serve to screw the external thread 54 to a counterpart, for example to a thread formed within a connecting pipe within a wall.
[0059] FIG. 5 shows the fluid connection element 50 in a section along A-A in FIG. 4, wherein an annular element 70 is also shown, which covers and seals the flute 56. The first channel 51 is realized as an axial blind hole emanating from the first end face 65. A second channel 55 starts from the base of the flute 56 and intersects the first channel 51, in such a way that fluid communication between the first end face 65 and the flute 56 of the fluid connection element 50 is provided for. The annular element 70 covers the flute 56 and surrounds the cylindrical rims 60 and 61. O-rings 71 and 72 are inserted in the accommodating flutes explained in connection with FIG. 4 for accommodating a sealing element. These provide a fluid-tight arrangement between the annular element and the rims. On the annular element, a connector opening 73 is provided, which extends from a radially inner to a radially outer wall of the annular element. The opening 73 is realized as a drill hole with an internal thread. The annular element also includes a second threaded bore, in which a screw 74 is provided. By means of the screw 74, which protrudes into the flute 56, the position of the annular element 70 is fixed axially on the rims 60 and 61, and may, if necessary, also be fixed in the circumferential direction by screwing the screw further in. Due to the fluid-tight arrangement of the annular element on the rims, a fluid, which, by way of example, flows from the end face 65 of the fluid connection element 50 through the throughflow channel formed by the first channel 51 and the second channel 55 into the flute 56, is distributed in the circumferential flute 56 and is able to flow out through the opening 73 of the annular element 70. As is now easily understandable, the circumferential position of the radial bore 55 is predetermined when the fluid connection element is screwed into a counterpart and tightened during mounting of the mounting device. On the other hand, the annular element 70 on the rims may be brought to a suitable and easily accessible position on the circumference of the fluid connection element for connecting a pipe. Here, by way of example, a hose end may be directly screwed into the thread of the opening 73, or a suitable coupling element for connecting a pipe may be screwed in. By tightening the screw 74, in particular following the step described above, the circumferential position of the annular element may be secured, if required.
[0060] The fluid connection element presented here has a one-piece, integral embodiment. As explained above, the fluid connection element may also include a pressing element and a bolt on which the stub is formed, which are joined in a detachable manner. The pressing element includes the area between the pressing surface 53 and the second end face 66 in this case. The bolt is, by way of example, screwed into an internal thread of the pressing element, and the joint is suitably sealed in such a way that no fluid leakage can take place from the throughflow channel formed by the channels 51 and 55 via the joint. This embodiment will be readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art in the light of the present explanations, so that an explicit description is omitted.
[0061] FIG. 6 explains an exemplary mounting of a base element 20 on a wall 100 according to an embodiment of the wall mounting, wherein only half of the substantially rotationally symmetrical arrangement is shown. In the wall 100, a wall connector 101 is provided, which is provided with an open end pointing to an opening in the wall. The wall connector 101 is predefined onsite. It is, for example, a standard wall water connector, wherein this should not be deemed restrictive. A connection socket 40 is screwed into the wall connector 101. The threaded connection between the internal thread of the wall connector 101 and the corresponding external thread of the connection socket 40 may be sealed by a suitable sealing material. At this point, hemp is, in particular, used as a sealing material in the normal manner known per se for sanitary installations. The tubular connection socket includes, on its inner wall, a flute, in which an O-ring 41 is inserted. The connection socket also includes an internal thread. A fluid connection element 50 of the type described above is screwed into the internal thread and makes a seal with the connection socket 40 by the O-ring 41. The internal thread of the connection socket corresponds with the external thread of the fluid connection element 50. The fluid connection element presented here differs from the design presented in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 in that the external thread extends over only part of the axial extension of the stub 52, while a further section of the outer surface of the stub is smooth and is intended for providing a fluid-tight configuration with the O-ring 41 of the connection socket. It also differs in that an external hexagon 67 is provided as a seating for a tool for screwing in the fluid connection element. In this way, a fluid can flow from the wall connector into the channel 51 of the fluid connection element 50 and from there, via the channel 55, into the fluid distribution flute 56 sealed by the annular element 70. The fluid connection element rests with the pressing surface 53 on the base element. Between the base element 20 and the wall 100, a spacer plate 103 is provided. The spacer plate 103 ensures a defined transfer of the force with which the base element 20 is pressed against the wall and connected thereto through friction by the fluid connection element through the through-opening 23 of the base element 20 when the arrangement is tightly screwed in the connection socket. In certain cases, the arrangement of the connection socket allows to simplify the mounting of the base element or of the fitting panel on the wall 100, and, in particular, to ensure the tightness of fluid communication between the wall connector 101 and the fluid connection element 50. The thread of the wall connector is predetermined onsite, and may possibly show significant signs of wear. The connection socket 40 includes a suitable thread, wherein thread tolerances caused by possible unevenness in and damage to the thread of the wall connector may be compensated for and sealed off by the abovementioned use of a sealing material. On the other hand, the mating of the threads between the connection socket and the fluid connection element may be freely and conveniently designed for the intended use. A seal between the connection socket and the fluid connection element may then be provided by suitable means, such as for example the O-ring. Similarly, the connection socket 40 is suitable for compensating for positional tolerances of the free end of the wall connector 101 in the wall 100.
[0062] Although the object of the present disclosure has been explained using selected exemplary embodiments, it is not intended that these should restrict the claimed invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0063] 1 Fitting unit [0064] 10 Fitting panel [0065] 11 Fitting [0066] 12 Fitting connector [0067] 13 Connection device [0068] 14 Connection device [0069] 20 Base element [0070] 21 Connection device [0071] 22 Connection device [0072] 23 Through-opening [0073] 24 Through-opening, slotted hole [0074] 25 Through-opening, slotted hole [0075] 26 Through-opening, slotted hole [0076] 40 Connection socket [0077] 41 O-ring [0078] 50 Fluid connection element, fastening element [0079] 51 Channel [0080] 52 Stub [0081] 53 Pressing surface [0082] 54 External thread [0083] 55 Channel [0084] 56 Flute, fluid distribution flute [0085] 57 Longitudinal axis, direction of axial extension [0086] 58 Axial delimiting wall [0087] 59 Axial delimiting wall [0088] 60 Rim [0089] 61 Rim [0090] 62 Flute, sealing flute [0091] 63 Flute, sealing flute [0092] 64 Tool carrier [0093] 65 End face [0094] 66 End face [0095] 67 External hexagon [0096] 70 Annular element [0097] 71 O-ring [0098] 72 O-ring [0099] 73 Connector opening [0100] 74 Screw [0101] 100 Wall [0102] 101 Wall connector predetermined onsite, pipe connector [0103] 103 Spacer plate [0104] D Cross-sectional dimension, diameter [0105] s Distance [0106] t Pitch, center-to-center distance
