Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Drain – overflow or trap for a sink or bath – Drain and overflow
Patent
1997-03-27
1998-10-13
Phillips, Charles E.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Drain, overflow or trap for a sink or bath
Drain and overflow
403400, E03C 1232
Patent
active
058193375
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a link joint for drain fittings with a pull knob for wash stands, bidets or similar plumbing fixtures for making an adjustable connection between the pull rod for actuating the closing member in the drain fitting and the plunger rod.
Wash stands, bidets or other plumbing fixtures of a higher standard and increased operating ease are supplied with drain fittings whose closing member can be moved into an open and closed position by means of a plunger rod, which in most cases is a component of a single outlet combination tap. In this case the pull rod and the plunger rod are connected by link elements so they are movable at an angle. These link elements must be adjustable and arrestable on the pull rod and on the plunger rod in order to assure the total functional capability of the closure device and an exact adaptation of the actuating device, consisting of the pull rod, the link element and the plunger rod, as a function of the conditions at the installation site following installation or following repairs to the plumbing fixture. It must furthermore be assured that the pull rod in the link and connecting element cannot be rotated around its own axis or even pulled out of the connecting element during actuation. To meet these requirements, a link joint in accordance with the species - DE 78 29 075 U1--consists of several partial elements, which are clamped on the pull rod by means of an attachment screw, wherein the plunger rod and the pull rod are connected with each other by means of a joint. This type of a link joint meets the requirements regarding dependable functioning of the drain fittings, however the outlay for these link elements on the manufacturing as well as the installation side is comparatively great.
Other designs for producing an adjustable connection between the pull rod and the plunger rod use resiliently embodied clamping pieces made of sheet metal, wherein the connecting element is a U-shaped resilient clasp with slit-shaped openings cut into the legs for receiving the pull rod. So-called tabs are provided in the bar portion of the U-shaped clasp, which are used for receiving and exactly fixing the plunger rod in place - DE 40 37 844 A1, DE 30 39 042 C2. Handling and mounting these connecting elements is extremely simple. The outlay in production technology is relatively high, even though some of these are connecting elements embodied as single pieces, in particular if it is intended to achieve the clamping between pull rod and plunger rod by means of resiliently embodied elements. In addition, there is the danger of injury in connection with such clamping elements formed of U-shaped bent clasps or which operate by means of sheet metal pieces. It is possible, for example in connection with cleaning operations of the plumbing fixtures, that the adjusted setting can be very quickly inadvertently changed, which is aided by slackened or too weak spring forces.
A clamp-like coupling element is known from GB 926 154 for clamping and fixing in respect to each other rods and tubes of lab equipment, whose longitudinal axes cross, when setting up a test arrangement in a lab. Sections of at least one of the intersecting lab elements are enclosed by the clamp, while the other equipment piece rests against the enclosed element with its exterior surface. The elements to be connected with each other are clamped together at the point of their crossing by means of a clamping screw, which is a part of a clamp-like connecting element and is screwed into a bridge element which connects both halves of the clamp. Only a solid, rigid connection between the equipment used in the lab, such as rods and tubes, is possible with the proposed solution in accordance with GB 926,154. A relative movement of the clamped parts in respect to each other, such as is necessary, for example with a plunger rod and a pull rod, because of their function, cannot be realized with this solution.
A U-shaped block of plastic, which has two crossing bores for receiving the rods, is
REFERENCES:
patent: 948033 (1910-02-01), Allingham
patent: 1597459 (1926-08-01), Muend
patent: 3169254 (1965-02-01), Lantz et al.
Ideal-Standard GmbH
Phillips Charles E.
Striker Michael J.
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