FITTING, PIECE OF BATHROOM OR KITCHEN FURNITURE COMPRISING SAID FITTING, AND METHOD FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A DRAIN IN A PIECE OF BATHROOM OR KITCHEN FURNITURE

Abstract

A fitting (10), in particular for a piece of kitchen or bathroom furniture (40), having a main body (11) which in the assembled state of the fitting (10) protrudes substantially perpendicularly from an assembly face (30), and having an activation device for a drain, which activation device is disposed on the fitting (10) and interacts with a force-transmission element (13) by which a drain plug (20) is able to be operated, and which activation device includes a handling element (13) which is disposed on the fitting (10) so as to be movable, preferably rotatable or pivotable, relative to the rest of the fitting (10). The fitting (10) is distinguished in that the handling element (13) is movable, preferably rotatable or pivotable, about an activation axis which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the main body (11), so as to mechanically act on the force-transmission element (15).

Claims

1. A fitting (10), comprising: a main body (11) which in an assembled state of the fitting (10) protrudes substantially perpendicularly from an assembly face (30); an activation device for a drain, the activation device interacts with a force-transmission element (15) by way a drain plug (20) is operable, and which activation device comprises a handling element (13) which is disposed on the fitting (10) so as to be movable, relative to a remainder of the fitting (10); and the handling element (13) is movable about an activation axis (B) which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (L) of the main body (11), so as to mechanically act on the force-transmission element (15).

2. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling element (13), conjointly with a mixing lever (12) of the fitting (10), is disposed on the activation axis (B) which in the assembled state of the fitting (10) runs substantially parallel to the assembly face (30).

3. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling element (13) has at least one of a profiled or structured external circumferential face.

4. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the external circumferential face is circular-cylindrical.

5. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the external circumferential face has a display structure (13a) for displaying a movement position relative to a remainder of the fitting (10).

6. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force-transmission element (15) is at least in portions rigid, and/or is at least in portions flexible.

7. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force-transmission element (15) is at least in portions guided within a casing (15b, 16a).

8. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the force-transmission element (15) has a sliding part (15d), the sliding part (15d) is movable within the casing (15b, 16a), and an elastomer element which ensures a sufficient degree of friction in terms of the casing (15b, 16a) disposed on the sliding part (15d).

9. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force-transmission element comprises a plurality of at least two parts (15.1, 15.2), which parts (15.1, 15.2) are releasably connected or connectable to one another.

10. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force-transmission element (15) is operatively connected mechanically to the handling element (13) at a spacing from the activation axis (B).

11. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling element (13) on an internal side thereof facing the fitting main body (11) has a clearance (17), the force-transmission element (15) engaging in said clearance (17) by way of a fastening end (15a).

12. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the force-transmission element (15) on the fastening end (15a) thereof has a pin (18) which extends perpendicularly to the force-transmission element (15).

13. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the clearance (17) is curved, and a profile of the clearance (17) deviates from a profile of a circle which is concentric with the activation axis (B).

14. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the profile of the clearance (17) is longer than a corresponding dimension of the fastening end (15a).

15. The fitting (10) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fastening end (15a) is guided in the clearance (17) when the handling element (13) is rotationally activated.

16. A piece of bathroom or kitchen furniture (40), comprising: a water basin (42) which has a drain that is closed, or closeable, by a drain plug (20); an assembly face (30) for a fitting (10); the fitting (10) according to claim 1 assembled on the assembly face (30), and by way of the force-transmission element (15) is connected to at least one of the drain plug (20) or an opening and closing device (21) for the drain plug (20); and wherein the activation axis (B) of the fitting (10) is preferably oriented substantially parallel to the assembly face (30).

17. A method for opening and closing a drain in a piece of bathroom or kitchen furniture (40) having a water basin (42), which drain is closed, or closeable, by a drain plug (20), the method comprising: a) attaching the fitting (10) as claimed in claim 1 to an assembly face (30) of the piece of furniture (40); b) connecting the force-transmission element (15) of the fitting (10) to at least or of the drain plug (20) or an opening and closing device (21) for the drain plug (20); and c) moving the handling element (13) of the fitting (10) about the activation axis (B) of the fitting (10), wherein the activation axis (B) of the fitting (10) is oriented so as to be substantially parallel to the assembly face (30).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention are derived from the description hereunder of exemplary embodiments by means of the drawing. In the figures:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a fitting according to the invention conjointly with a drain plug to be operated;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows two operating procedures which can be carried out by means of the fitting from FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows sectional views in the region of the handling element in a fitting according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows sectional views in a plane perpendicular to the illustration in FIG. 3;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows in particular further details of a piece of furniture according to the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 6 shows further details of the fitting according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] A fitting 10 according to the invention is illustrated conjointly with a drain plug 20 in FIG. 1, wherein the latter also comprises an associated opening and closing device denoted by the reference sign 21.

[0046] The fitting 10 is specified for assembly on a horizontal assembly face 30, which assembly face 30 is only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 (cf. FIG. 5). The fitting 10, in its assembled state, by way of a longitudinal axis L of its main body 11, extends perpendicularly to the assembly face 30. A single mixing lever 12 is provided laterally on the fitting 10; a handling element 13 for activating the drain plug 20 is located exactly opposite. The handling element 13 is rotatable about an activation axis B, which activation axis B is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of the fitting main body 11. An outflow of the fitting 10, which is fundamentally of any arbitrary shape, adjoins the fitting main body 11 in a manner known per se, which outflow is denoted by the reference sign 14 in FIG. 1.

[0047] The fitting 10, or the handling element 13, respectively, is operatively connected to the drain plug 20, or the opening and closing device 21, respectively, by way of a force-transmission means 15 designed as a Bowden cable. The force-transmission means 15 is able to be divided into two parts 15.1, 15.2 at reference sign 16, in particular by releasing a corresponding threaded connection. The first part 15.1 is connected to the handling element 13, the second part 15.2 is connected to the drain plug 20. The first part 15.1 can be designed as a rigid bar, while the second part 15.2 can preferably be designed as a flexible element (in particular a Bowden cable).

[0048] Two possible activations of the fitting 10 are illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 2, when viewed in the direction along the activation axis B (cf. FIG. 1). The mentioned activations are symbolized by arrows P1 and P2, respectively. The partial image a) (left) shows a rotating of the handling element 13 according to the arrow P1, in the counter-clockwise direction, as a result of which the drain plug 20 is raised according to the stipulation by the force-transmission means 15 (arrow P3). The reverse is illustrated in the partial image b) (right): when the handling element 13 is rotated in the clockwise direction according to the arrow P2, the drain plug 20 is lowered according to the stipulation by the force-transmission means 15 (arrow P4).

[0049] FIG. 3 shows detailed illustrations of the fitting 10 according to FIG. 2 in a sectional view in the region of the handling element 13, wherein the sectional plane is in each case oriented perpendicularly to the activation axis B (cf. FIG. 1). As can be seen, the handling element 13, on its internal side facing the main body 11, has a curved clearance 17 in which the force-transmission means 15 engages by way of a pin 18 disposed on an end (on a corresponding fastening end). The clearance 17 represents a type of gate guide for the pin 18 so that the latter, and conjointly the force-transmission means 15, moves substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the main body 11 when the handling element 13 is rotated. The left partial image a) herein corresponds to the partial image a) in FIG. 2, while the right partial image b) corresponds to the partial image b) in FIG. 2. When the handling element 13 is rotated, the pin 18 initially moves within the clearance 17 until said pin 18 stops at the end of said clearance 17 and is correspondingly entrained, this resulting in a corresponding movement of the force-transmission means 15.

[0050] The movement of the force-transmission means 15 can be influenced by the type of the curvature and the profile/the length of the clearance 17. The length of the clearance 17 ensures that a force does not act immediately on the force-transmission means 15, especially when the rotating direction of the handling element 13 changes.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows sectional views of the fitting 10 from FIG. 1 in two partial images a) and b), wherein the sectional plane is in each case oriented perpendicularly to the sectional plane according to FIG. 3 (the sectional plane in FIG. 4 extends parallel to a plane which is defined by the axes L and B). The partial images a) and b) correspond to the partial images in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0052] Only those particularities from FIG. 4 that are relevant to the invention are to be discussed in more detail at this point:

[0053] The pin 18 and its interaction with the clearance 17 of the handling element 13 can readily be seen in FIG. 4. The pin 18 is disposed on a fastening end 15a of the force-transmission means 15 and extends perpendicularly to an extent of the force-transmission means 15. Only the first part 15.1 of the force-transmission means 15 is illustrated in FIG. 4. A threaded connection for connecting the second part 15.2 of the force-transmission means 15 can be seen at reference sign 16 (cf. FIG. 1). It can furthermore be seen that the actual force-transmission means 15 (presently a rigid bar 15c) is guided within a casing 15b in the region 15.1. The bar moves within the casing 15b and in this way ensures (indirectly) an activation of the drain plug 20 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0054] The two possible activations of the fitting 10, or of the handling element 13, respectively, are finally likewise illustrated again in two partial images a) and b) in FIG. 5 (cf. FIG. 2).

[0055] The right partial image b) in FIG. 5 additionally schematically shows a piece of bathroom or kitchen furniture 40 having an upper worktop 41, the upper side thereof forming the assembly face 30 which has already been schematically shown in FIG. 1. The piece of furniture 40 comprises at least one (water) basin 42 having a drain which is not illustrated in more detail, the drain plug 20 including the opening and closing device 21 being disposed in the region of said drain. This device 21 has a suitable lever assembly at reference sign 22, said assembly being in mechanical terms operatively connected to the force-transmission means 15. In this way, rotating the handling element 13 according to the arrows P1, P2 ensures opening or closing of the drain plug 20 according to the arrows P3, P4as has already been described.

[0056] Shown at reference sign 13a is in each case also an elevation on the periphery of the handling element 13, or on the external circumferential face thereof, which elevation as a display structure displays in which movement position relative to the rest of the fitting 10 the handling element 13 is currently situated, or in which position (open/closed) the drain plug 20 is currently situated.

[0057] FIG. 6 highlights a few further particularities of a design embodiment of the fitting 10 according to the invention. The force-transmission means 15 in its first part 15.1 again has a rigid bar 15c which is guided in the casing 15b. A sleeve 16a, which functions as an extension of the casing 15b and has an external thread 16b, is disposed on the lower end of the casing 15b. A sliding part 15d is disposed on a lower end of the bar 15c, which sliding part 15b is movable within the sleeve 16a and has a mechanical interface 15e for connecting to a Bowden cable 15f, which Bowden cable 15f forms the second part 15.2 of the force-transmission means 15. The sliding part 15d can be screwed onto the end of the bar 15c. The connection to the Bowden cable 15f is performed by hooking in a thickening 15fa on the end of the Bowden cable in the region of the interface 15e (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 6).

[0058] The external thread 16b serves to screw on a further sleeve 15fb which is disposed on the Bowden cable 15f. For this purpose, the sleeve 15fb is pushed upward and tightly screwed in a manner known per se, after the thickening 15fa has been hooked in.

[0059] An elastomer element or the like, in particular an annular seal or O-ring 15g, which ensures a sufficient degree of friction in terms of the sleeve 16a, is disposed on the external circumference of the sliding part 15d. It can be prevented as a result that the drain plug closes itself (cf. FIG. 1, reference sign 20).

[0060] FIG. 6 also shows the following in the region of the handling element 13: the actual handling element 13 sits in the manner of a cap on an inner (plastic) part 13b having a hollow-cylindrical protrusion 13cb which can have a cross section as illustrated. By a suitable selection of the (plastic) material for the part 13b and the sizing of the latter in terms of the handling element 13, it can be likewise achieved by ensuring sufficient friction that the drain plug does not close itself (cf. FIG. 1, reference sign 20).