Cover flange

Abstract: A cover flange intended for covering offset union fittings of water faucets mounted through walls. The cover flange is provided with a holder (1) for hanging the hand-held shower head.

Description: The present invention relates to a cover flange for mounting on an offset joint fitting protruding from a wall. Hand-held shower heads are frequently used in conjunction with water faucets or mixers, and a holder is mounted on the wall for such hand-held shower heads. It is usually necessary to drill holes which is especially cumbersome when the wall is covered with tiles. AU-B-583 248 discloses the preamble of independent claim 1 and relates to a fitting for connecting a hand-held shower head to a water outlet pipe projecting through a wall. The fitting comprises a main body portion which, at one end thereof is provided with a cover flange and a thread which enables the fitting to be threadedly engaged with and supported by the outlet pipe, and at the other end thereof comprises a connector portion for a flexible pipe and a holder for the shower head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for placing a hand-held shower head whereby it is not needed to drill holes. It is another object of the invention that such a holder should be easily mounted in the correct position on the wall. A cover flange according to the invention is disclosed in claim 1. The invention is characterized by said holder being integral with said cover flange surface between said outer and inner rims, Such a cover flange, which in the present case can appropriately be called a flanged holder, can be fabricated at low cost and simple methods using injection moulding of plastic material. An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the holder is comprised of a bushing-like element, said bushing-like element having a quarter segment of its circumference removed. Thus, the hand-held shower head is easy to place on the holder, whereby the hose connected to the hand-held shower head can be inserted into the holder via said removed quarter section of the holder bushing-like element. A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cover flange is provided with a set screw for tightening the cover flange onto the offset union fitting after being adjusted to its final position. Therefore, the cover flange is fixed in position with the help of said set screw, whereby a correct position of the cover flange and thus, the holder, can be assured. In the following, the invention is described with the help of an exemplifying embodiment by making reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the cover flange in a section of Fig. 2 taken along the line I-I; and Figure 2 shows the cover flange in a front view. Said cover flange, which is intended for covering offset joint fittings mounted through walls for connecting water faucets, is provided with a holder 1 for placing a hand-held shower head. The cover flange and the holder 1 are fabricated into a single, integral piece by plastic injection moulding methods. The cover flange is tightened onto the offset union fitting in its final position. The embodiment of the cover flange made of a plastic material has a metal ring 3 for the purpose of bearing the stress imposed by the tightening. The holder 1 is comprised of a bushing-like element with a quarter of its circumference removed. Thus, the hand-held shower head is easy to place on the holder 1. The cover flange is conventionally mounted on the right-hand offset joint fitting, but it is a readily mountable on the left-hand offset joint fitting, e.g., to serve left-handed users.

Claims: A cover flange for mounting on an offset joint fitting protruding from a wall, said cover flange comprising a holder (1) for placing a handheld shower head and that said cover flange and holder form a single, integral part, said cover flange having an outer rim and an inner rim for surrounding said fitting, characterised by said holder (1) being integral with said cover flange surface between said outer and inner rims. A cover flange as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said cover flange and holder (1) are made of a plastic material. A cover flange as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said cover flange and holder (1) are fabricated by injection molding from a plastic material. A cover flange as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said holder (1) is comprised of a bushing-like element (1) having a quarter segment of its circumference removed. A cover flange as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover flange has a set screw (2) by means of which said cover flange can be tightened onto an offset joint fitting in a predetermined position. A cover flange as defined in claim 5 when dependent on claim 2 characterized in that said cover flange comprises a metal ring (3) for the purpose of bearing the stress imposed by the tightening of said set screw (2).

Inventors: KOPPANEN JORMA TAPANI, SAARISALO RISTO, KOPPANEN, JORMA TAPANI, SAARISALO, RISTO
Applicants: ORAS OY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E03C1
IPC codes: E03C1