EP0480098A2

EP0480098A2 - Faucet

Info

Publication number: EP0480098A2
Application number: EP90121673A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heikki Laiho
Original assignee: HEIKKI LAIHO Oy
Current assignee: HEIKKI LAIHO Oy
Priority date: 1990-10-09
Filing date: 1990-11-13
Publication date: 1992-04-15
Also published as: EP0480098A3; FI904972A0; FI904972A; NO904776D0; NO904776L

Abstract

The invention relates to a faucet which can be mounted on a base (13), such as a wall, and which comprises a frame (1) provided with one or more inlet ports (11) for the entry of a liquid into the faucet and one or more outlet ports (3) for the exit of the liquid out of the faucet, and with means (12) for controlling and stopping the flow of the liquid. The invention is so implemented that the faucet comprises an anchorage part (2) which is separate from the frame (1) and can be secured on the base (13), that one or more liquid pipes (4) are connected to the anchorage part (2), and that the frame (1) can be fitted to the anchorage part (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a faucet which can be mounted on a base such as a wall and which comprises a frame provided with one or more inlet ports for the entry of a liquid into the faucet and one or more outlet ports for the exit of the liquid out of the faucet, and with means for controlling and stopping the flow of the liquid.
Conventional faucets are mounted by attaching the frame directly to a wall or water pipes. Such faucets usually protrude quite far from the wall surface. Therefore, they occupy an unduly large space e.g. in small shower stalls. These conventional faucets are difficult to replace and repair as the demounting and remounting of the faucet always necessitates the presence of a skilled person.
The object of the present invention is to produce a new type of faucet which is free of the drawbacks referred to. The faucet of the invention is characterized in that the faucet comprises an anchorage part which is separate from the frame and can be secured on a base, that one or more liquid pipes are connected to the anchorage part, and that the frame can be fitted to the anchorage part.
A preferred embodiment of the faucet of the invention is characterized in that the anchorage part and the frame are provided with matching jointing means allowing the frame to be fitted to the anchorage part.
Another preferred embodiment of the faucet of the invention is characterized in that the jointing means are provided with a channel for passing the liquid from the anchorage part into the frame.
A third preferred embodiment of the faucet of the invention is characterized in that the jointing means consist of one or more holes provided in the anchorage part and protrusions provided in the frame, said protrusions being fitted in said holes.
Yet another preferred embodiment of the faucet of the invention is characterized in that the frame can be interlocked with the anchorage part by means of one or more fastening means.
The advantages offered by the faucet of the invention include the following. The frame of the faucet is easy to mount and replace. The faucet occupies less space. Moreover, replacing the frame of the faucet does not require the skill of a craftsman.
In the following, the invention is described by the aid of an example by referring to the drawings attached, wherein

Fig. 1: presents the faucet of the invention partly sectioned
Fig. 2: presents the anchorage part of the faucet of the invention along line II - II in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3: presents a section through the faucet in Fig. 1 along line III - III.

The faucet consists of a frame 1 provided with one or more inlet ports 11 for the entry of a liquid into the faucet and one or more outlet ports 3 for the exit of the liquid out of the faucet, and means 12 for controlling and stopping the flow of the liquid.
The figures present an embodiment of the faucet of the invention, provided with a single control lever. The action of the faucet is in itself conventional. Both the temperature and the rate of flow of the water is controlled by a single lever 12. The cold and warm water flowing from the water pipes 4 is passed into the faucet, where the water it mixed by means of regulating elements known in themselves to produce a mixture of a desired temperature, which is passed out through the outlet port 3. The principle of opertion of the faucet is not relevant to the invention. Similarly, the number of water pipes 4 connected to the faucet, the number of control means 12 and the number of outlet ports 3 are also irrelevant.
The faucet comprises an anchorage part 2 which is separate from the frame 1. The anchorage part is designed to be attached to a mounting base, such as a wall. The frame 1 can be easily fitted to the anchorage part 2. In the example of a preferred embodiment illustrated by the figures, the frame has been fitted by pressing it from above into the anchorage part 2. The frame is interlocked with the anchorage part 2 using one or more fastening means 8. The fastening means may be e.g. a screw or a spline.
One or more water pipes 4 are connected to the anchorage part 2. In the example of a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the faucet is mounted on a wall surface 13 by means of screws 7 and the water pipes 4 are connected from below to the connectors 5 of the anchorage part 2. The anchorage part 2 and the frame 1 are provided with matching jointing means 6, 9 allowing the frame 1 to be fitted to the anchorage part 2. Inside the jointing means 6, 9 is a channel for passing the water from the anchorage part 2 into the frame 1, said channel consisting of a passage 11 inside the protrusion 6 and the hole 9.
The jointing means 6, 9 preferably consist of a hole 9 provided in the anchorage part 2 and a protrusion 6 formed in the frame 1, said protrusion being fitted in said hole. A joint is made simply by inserting the protrusion 6 into the hole 9. The joint between the frame 1 and the anchorage part 2 is sealed by means of suitable sealing elements. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the sealing elements consist of gaskets 15 or equivalent mounted on the protrusion 6 or in the hole 9. The water is passed from the water pipe 4 through the hole 9 in the anchorage part 2 and through the passage 11 in the protrusion 6 into the frame 1 of the faucet.
By closing the water pipes 4, the frame 1 of the faucet can be easily replaced by removing the fastening means 8 and lifting up the frame 1. This feature makes it considerably easier e.g. to replace a damaged faucet. The construction of the invention also significantly facilitates the mounting of the faucet.
In another preferred embodiment, the anchorage part 2 is provided with closing means 14 enabling the passage of water from the water pipes 4 into the frame 1 of the faucet to be closed and opened. The closing means preferably consist of a valve 14, e.g. a ball valve, placed in the anchorage part 2 between the connector 5 and the protrusion 6 of the frame.
In the case illustrated by the figures, where the frame 1 is fitted essentially on top of the anchorage part 2, the faucet takes up less space than conventional faucets. The faucet of the invention does not jut out so far from the wall surface as conventional faucets. This feature is important especially in narrow spaces, such as shower stalls.
It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the examples of its embodiments described above, but that it may instead be varied within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the frame of the faucet may be placed essentially on one side of the anchorage part or below it.

Claims

Faucet which can be mounted on a base (13), such as a wall, and which comprises a frame (1) provided with one or more inlet ports (11) for the entry of a liquid into the faucet and one or more outlet ports (3) for the exit of the liquid out of the faucet, and with means (12) for controlling and stopping the flow of the liquid, characterized in that the faucet comprises an anchorage part (2) which is separate from the frame (1) and can be secured on the base (13), that one or more liquid pipes (4) are connected to the anchorage part (2), and that the frame (1) can be fitted to the anchorage part (2).
Faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchorage part and the frame are provided with matching jointing means (6, 9) allowing the frame (1) to be fitted to the anchorage part (2).
Faucet according to claim 2, characterized in that the jointing means (6, 9) consist of one or more holes (9) provided in the anchorage (2) part and protrusions (6) provided in the frame, said protrusions being fitted in said holes by inserting.
Faucet according to claim 2, characterized in that the jointing means (6, 9) are provided with a channel for passing the liquid from the anchorage part (2) into the frame (1).
Faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (1) can be interlocked with the anchorage part (2) by means of one or more fastening means (8).
Faucet according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchorage part (2) is provided with means (10) for stopping the flow of water from the water pipe (4).
Faucet according to any one of the preceding claims, charcterized in that the frame (1) is fitted essentially on top of the anchorage part (2).