OUTLET ELEMENT FOR A DRINKING WATER DISPENSER

Abstract

An outlet element for a drinking-water dispenser containing a first water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a first exit plane, water flowing through the first water route being dispensed via the outlet element, a second water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a second exit plane, water flowing through the second water route being dispensed via the outlet element, the second water route differing at least sectionally from the first water route, a third water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a third exit plane, water flowing through the third water route being dispensed via the outlet element, the third water route extending separately from the first water route and the second water route through the outlet element and the third exit plane having a distance of at least 1 mm from the first exit plane and the second exit plane.

Claims

1. An outlet element (1) for a drinking-water dispenser (2), which can be used to optionally dispense at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water from the outlet element (1), wherein a first water route (3) is formed by the outlet element (1) and opens on a first exit plane (4), from which water flowing through the first water route (3) can be dispensed via the outlet element (1), wherein a second water route (5) is formed by the outlet element (1) and opens on a second exit plane (6), from which water flowing through the second water route (5) can be dispensed via the outlet element (1), wherein the second water route (5) differs at least sectionally from the first water route (3), wherein a third water route (7) is formed by the outlet element (1) and opens on a third exit plane (8), from which water flowing through the third water route (7) can be dispensed via the outlet element (1), wherein the third water route (7) extends separately from the first water route (3) and the second water route (5) through the outlet element (1) and wherein the third exit plane (8) has a distance (9) of at least 1 mm from the first exit plane (4) and from the second exit plane (6).

2. The outlet element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the third exit plane (8) has a distance (9) of at least 3 mm from the first exit plane (4) and from the second exit plane (6).

3. The outlet element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outlet element (1) comprises a mechanical control element (10) for the manual selection of either the first water route (3) or the second water route (5).

4. The outlet element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge element (1) comprises an electronic control element (11) for the manual selection of the third water route (5).

5. The outlet element (1) according to claim 4, wherein the electronic control element (11) comprises a non-contact sensor (12).

6. A drinking-water dispenser (2) for dispensing selectively at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water, comprising a water faucet (13) having an outlet element (1) according to claim 1, from which the drinking water or the mixed water can be selectively dispensed, and a drinking-water treatment device (14) that can be connected to a drinking-water channel (15) of the water faucet (13), wherein the first water route (3) and the second water route (5) of the outlet element (1) can be connected to a mixing chamber (16) of the water faucet (13) and wherein the third water route (5) of the outlet element (1) can be connected to the drinking-water channel (15).

7. The drinking-water dispenser (2) according to claim 6, wherein the drinking-water dispenser (2) comprises a control device (17), which is provided and set up to check whether the drinking-water dispenser (2) is currently being used to dispense mixed water and to enable dispensing of drinking water using the drinking-water dispenser (2) only if the drinking-water dispenser (2) is currently being used to dispense mixed water.

8. A method for using a drinking-water dispenser (2) to tap at least partially treated drinking water according to claim 6, comprising at least the steps outlined below: a) recognize a user request to dispense drinking water, b) check whether the drinking-water dispenser (2) is currently being used to tap mixed water, c) open a flow of drinking water through the third water route (7) if the drinking-water dispenser (2) is currently not being used to tap mixed water.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a non-contact sensor (12) is used to detect the user's request to dispense drinking water.

10. A usage of an outlet element (1) according to claim 1, for selectively dispensing drinking water via the third water route (8) or mixed water via the first water route (3) or via the second water route (5).

Description

[0024] The invention and its technical environment presented here are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be restricted by the shown exemplary embodiments. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in or in the context of the Figures and combine them with other components and/or findings from other Figures and/or this description. In an exemplary and schematic manner

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a drinking-water dispenser described here,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a detailed side view of an outlet element described here,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a detailed perspective view of an outlet element described here,

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an example of an outlet element described here, and

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a further example of an outlet element described here.

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a drinking-water dispenser 2 described herein, by way of example. The drinking-water dispenser 2 is used to dispense optionally at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water. The drinking-water dispenser 2 has a water faucet 13 with an outlet element 3 described herein, which can be used to dispense either the drinking water or the mixed water, and a drinking-water treatment device 14, which can be connected to a drinking-water channel 15 of the water faucet 13. The drinking-water dispenser 2 can be used in a kitchen, for instance. The water faucet 13 may be, for instance, a kitchen faucet, such as a sink faucet. The drinking-water treatment device 14 may, by way of example, be provided and arranged for filtering, cooling and/or carbonating (cold) water.

[0031] The outlet element 1 forms a first water route 3. The first water route 3 opens into a first exit plane 4, from which (mixed) water flowing through the first water route 3 can be dispensed via the outlet element 1. The outlet element 1 forms a second water route 5. The second water route 5 opens into a second exit plane 6, from which (mixed) water flowing through the second water route 5 can be dispensed via the outlet element 1. The second water route 5 differs at least sectionally from the first water route 3. The outlet element 1 forms a third water route 7. The third water route 7 opens into a third exit plane 8, from which (drinking) water flowing through the third water route 7 can be dispensed via the outlet element 1. The third water route 7 extends (completely) separately from the first water route 3 and the second water route 5 through the outlet element 1.

[0032] The third exit plane 8 has a distance 9 of at least 1 mm, in this case by way of example even of at least 3 mm to the first exit plane 4 and the second exit plane 6. However, the first exit plane 4 and the second exit plane 6 can basically lie on the same plane, as illustrated here by way of example. The distance 9 advantageously contributes to a good separation of the (treated) drinking water from the (possibly contaminated) mixed water.

[0033] The first water route 3 and the second water route 5 of the outlet element 1 can be connected to a mixing chamber 16 of the water faucet 13. The third water route 5 of the outlet element 1 can be connected to the drinking-water channel 15. Thus, an advantageously separate routing of mixed water and (treated) drinking water can be implemented inside the drinking-water dispenser 2. Thus, the outlet element 1 described herein can be used to selectively dispense (treated) drinking water via the third water route 8 or mixed water via the first water route 3 or the second water route 5.

[0034] FIG. 1 further illustrates that the outlet element 1 can have a mechanical operating element 9 for a manual selection of either the first water route 3 or the second water route 5. The mechanical control element 9 may be formed, for instance, as a rocker button for manual switching between a laminar jet and a shower jet.

[0035] FIG. 1 further shows that the outlet element 1 may comprise an electronic control element 11 for the manual selection of the third water route 5. For instance, the electronic control element 11 may comprise a non-contact sensor 12. For instance, the sensor 12 may be provided and set up for (electronically) activating a delivery of (treated) drinking water.

[0036] The dashed lines in FIG. 1 indicate that, for instance, cold water can be supplied to both the water faucet 13 (directly) and to the drinking-water treatment device 14. In addition, hot water can also be supplied (directly) to the water faucet 13 to be able to generate mixed water at a desired temperature in the mixing chamber 16 of the water faucet 13. The connection of the drinking-water treatment device 14 to the supply of cold water and the connectivity of the drinking-water treatment device 14 to the third water route 7 can be used in an advantageous manner for discharging treated, for instance filtered, cooled and/or carbonated, drinking water on demand by means of the drinking-water dispenser 2.

[0037] The drinking-water dispenser 2 may further comprise, for instance, a control device 17, which is provided and set up to check whether mixed water is currently being dispensed by the drinking-water dispenser 2. In addition, the control device 17 can be provided and set up to permit the tapping of drinking water using the drinking-water dispenser 2 only if the drinking-water dispenser 2 is currently not being used to tap mixed water.

[0038] In particular, the control device 7 can be used to perform a method for dispensing at least partially treated drinking water using the drinking-water dispenser 2 described herein, following at least the steps outlined below: A user request to dispense drinking water may be detected, for instance, via a signal from the electronic control element 11 or the sensor 12. Thus, by way of example, a non-contact sensor 12 may be used to perform the detection of the user request to dispense drinking water. After that, it can be checked whether the drinking-water dispenser 2 is currently being used to tap mixed water. Thereafter, a release of a flow of drinking water through the third water route 7 can occur if the drinking-water dispenser 2 is not currently being used to tap mixed water.

[0039] FIG. 2 schematically shows a detailed side view of an outlet element 1 described here by way of example. The reference numerals are used uniformly to be able to make reference to the explanations above. In FIG. 2, the distance 9 from the third exit plane 8 to the first exit plane 4 and the second exit plane 6 can be seen particularly well.

[0040] FIG. 3 schematically shows a detailed perspective view of an outlet element 1 described here by way of example. The reference numerals are used uniformly to be able to make reference to the explanations above. In FIG. 3, the view from below is directed towards the different mouths of the various water routes 3, 5, 7. For instance, a laminar jet (of mixed water) may be discharged from the outlet element 1 through the mouth of the first water route 3. Furthermore, for instance, a shower jet (of mixed water) can be discharged from the outlet element 1 through the mouth of the second water route 5. Thus, the first water route 3 and the second water route 5 may differ from each other at least in the area of their respective mouths or in their respective end sections or mouth sections. In addition, by way of example, (treated) drinking water can be discharged from the outlet of the third water route 7 from the outlet element 1.

[0041] FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of an outlet element 1 described herein by way of example. The reference numerals are used uniformly to be able to make reference to the explanations above. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of the control element 10. In addition, FIG. 4 shows an example of the outlet element 1, in which the water routes 3, 5, 7 exit from the outlet element 1 with a downward directional component.

[0042] FIG. 5 schematically shows a perspective view of a further example of an outlet element 1 described here by way of example. The reference numerals are used uniformly to be able to make reference to the explanations above. FIG. 5 shows an example of outlet element 1. in which the water routes 3, 5, 7 exit from the outlet element 1 with a forward directional component.

[0043] Thus an outlet element for a drinking-water dispenser, which can be used to optionally dispense at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water from the outlet element, a drinking-water dispenser for dispensing optionally at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water, a method for dispensing at least partially treated drinking water using such a drinking-water dispenser, and a use of such an outlet element for optionally dispensing drinking water or mixed water can be specified, which at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular an outlet element for a drinking-water dispenser, which can be used to optionally dispense at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water from the outlet element, a drinking-water dispenser for dispensing optionally at least partially treated drinking water or mixed water, a method for dispensing at least partially treated drinking water using such a drinking-water dispenser, and a use of such an outlet element for optionally dispensing drinking water or mixed water, each of which at least contributes to improving the drinking-water quality of drinking water discharged by means of the drinking-water dispenser, can be specified.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0044] 1 outlet element [0045] 2 drinking-water dispenser [0046] 3 first water route [0047] 4 first exit plane [0048] 5 second water route [0049] 6 second exit plane [0050] 7 third water route [0051] 8 third exit plane [0052] 9 distance [0053] 10 mechanical control element [0054] 11 electronic control element [0055] 12 sensor [0056] 13 water faucet [0057] 14 drinking-water treatment device [0058] 15 drinking-water channel [0059] 16 mixing chamber [0060] 17 control device