Patent Publication Number: US-2020282528-A1

Title: Key and corresponding method of use

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: German Patent Application No. 20 2019 101 317.6, filed Mar. 8, 2019. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention concerns the use of a key to remove at least one part of a sanitary attachment, where the part has a non-circular outer contour and can be adjusted through a rotational movement around an axis of rotation between a fixed position, in which the part is held in place, and a released position, in which the part can be detached in the direction of detachment. 
     The invention also concerns a key that can be used to remove at least one part of a sanitary attachment with a receiver determining the direction of attachment, which has a non-circular inner contour. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well-established that sanitary attachments, which serve, for example, to act as jet regulators or jet formers can be attached onto or into an outlet opening of a sanitary fitting. In this context, it has been suggested that part of the attachment or the entire attachment should be manufactured from plastic. For hygiene reasons, it is necessary in some circumstances to replace the part or the entire attachment regularly. This can be achieved, for example, by clipping the part or the entire attachment onto or into the outlet opening. 
     It has since become clear that the reverse movement—namely the movement involved in loosening at least one part—is more difficult to achieve. This is due to the fact that in conditions with particularly hard water, calcification causes the part to bond very firmly to the supporting metal part. 
     Keys for removing jet regulators or similar attachments are already known and are used, for example, to screw outlet nozzles or other parts into outlets on the fitting. A common feature of previous solutions is the use of a thread to enable the connection to the fitting or supporting part. 
     This invention is concerned with simplifying the replacement of at least one part during this process. 
     SUMMARY 
     A key having one or more features of the invention is provided to resolve the issue set out above. In particular, this invention provides that when using a fitting of the type described, a receiver on the key which corresponds to the non-circular contour is positioned onto the part, allowing the key to be rotated around an axis of rotation, so that, first, the part is rotated into the released position and, second, the receiver grips the non-circular outer contour from the back, and that the key can be detached with the part in the direction of detachment. The advantage of this is that there is no need for a thread to automatically generate an axial movement to loosen the part when the part is turned. 
     The at least one part of the sanitary attachment may either be combined with another part to form the sanitary attachment, or the sanitary attachment may itself form only one part. It is preferable for the at least one part of the sanitary attachment to be the part that is intended for frequent replacement, i.e. due to the choice of material for this part. Here, it has been established that for reasons of hygiene and/or stability, components made of plastic and/or rubber require more frequent replacement than components made of metal. In particular, the key for removing the sanitary attachment could therefore be used, for example, when the at least one part is the only component of the sanitary attachment. 
     One preferable design could allow for the part to be clipped into the fixed position. This would mean that the key could be used for sanitary attachments that are simple to attach. 
     One preferable design could allow for the part to be attached in the fixed position without the use of a thread connection. This would mean that the key could be used for sanitary attachments that are simple in design and/or have smooth surfaces to prevent contamination. In particular, it is not necessary for a thread to be used in cases where a metal support is used for the part. 
     One preferable design could include a non-circular outer contour that features an indentation, at least in some sections. This would provide an efficient contact surface for the key to remove the part. 
     One preferable design could allow for the part to be inserted into or onto an outlet opening of a sanitary fitting. As such, the key could be used for sanitary fittings where the part being replaced has or will have an effect on the flow of water through the outlet opening as part of its design. 
     One preferable design could allow for the part to be designed with a particular outlet structure. As such, the key could be used for sanitary attachments where the final water jets are produced using a particular outlet geometry. 
     One preferable design could allow for the part to be fitted with a jet regulator and/or a jet former. As such, the key could be used for sanitary attachments that provide a desired flow rate and/or jet quality (for example, ventilated or non-ventilated jets). 
     One preferable design could allow for a rotation stop to be formed as part of the receiver, which rests against the part when the receiver grips onto the back of the part. This would mean that the part could be rotated using the key, for example, to turn the part into the released position and/or to bend the part—in particular through the use of a spring tongue to be described in more detail—in order to reach the released position. It is preferable for the rotation stop to be placed downstream of the receiver in the direction of detachment. This makes achieving coordination between the impact of the rotation force and the detachment effect more straightforward. 
     One preferable design could allow for the movement of the key to be triggered by a lever that corresponds to the axis of rotation. This would allow for increased torque to be applied to the at least one part. 
     One preferable design could allow for a locking tongue on the part to be bent during the movement of the key to release the part. One advantage of this is that it allows for the at least one part to be released, even where complete rotation is obstructed, for example. 
     In accordance with the invention, a solution to the issue set out above is provided through the use of a key with additional features described herein. In particular, it is provided that in the case of a key of the type described above, a raised ridge can be included downstream of the receiver in the direction of attachment. This ridge allows for an indentation formed on a non-circular outer contour corresponding to the inner contour of a part inserted into the receiver to be gripped from behind when the inner contour is rotated around an axis of rotation relative to the outer contour. This results in a coupling between the key and the at least one part, in which both a rotational movement and an independent axial movement are achieved by the part and the key. 
     In accordance with the invention, the key described here can therefore be installed or used for the purpose described above. 
     One preferable design could allow for a rotation stop to be fitted onto the receiver. This would allow for the at least one part to be easily rotated with the key. It is particularly advantageous if the rotation stop is placed downstream in the direction of attachment. This makes it easy to ensure that the inner contour engages with the back of the at least one part, while the rotation stop rests against and thus engages the at least one part. A combined twist-pull movement—similar to a bayonet lock movement—can therefore be carried out to remove the part with the key. 
     One preferable design could allow for a lever to be fitted relative to the receiver. This would allow sufficient breakaway torque to be easily applied. 
     One preferable design could allow for the receiver to be designed such that it is fully enclosed. This would allow for the at least one part to grip the receiver securely on all sides. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described in greater detail below through the use of an example, but it should be noted that its scope is not restricted to the example given. Further possible embodiments can be achieved by combining the features of one or more claims with one another and/or with one or more features of the design example. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  a view of a key according to the invention, shown from below, i.e. on its side facing away from the sanitary fitting in the position of use, 
         FIG. 2  the key from  FIG. 1 , shown from above, i.e. on its side facing the sanitary fitting in the position of use, 
         FIG. 3  a part of the sanitary fitting with attachment attached, 
         FIG. 4  the sanitary fitting as shown in  FIG. 3  in oblique view from above, with an enlarged detail view of a cross-section of the attachment, 
         FIG. 5  the key from  FIG. 1  attached to an attachment according to  FIG. 3 , shown from above, 
         FIG. 6  the elements of  FIG. 5 , shown in a perspective view from below, 
         FIG. 7  the elements of  FIG. 5 , shown from the outlet side, 
         FIG. 8  a reproduction of  FIG. 5  with a rotated key, 
         FIG. 9  a reproduction of  FIG. 6  with a rotated key, 
         FIG. 10  a reproduction of  FIG. 7  with a rotated key, 
         FIG. 11  a reproduction of  FIG. 5  with a key that has rotated further than in  FIG. 8 , 
         FIG. 12  a reproduction of  FIG. 6  with a key that has rotated further than in  FIG. 9 , 
         FIG. 13  a reproduction of  FIG. 7  with a key rotated further than in  FIG. 10 , 
         FIG. 14  a reproduction of  FIG. 5  with one part removed, 
         FIG. 15  a reproduction of  FIG. 6  with one part removed, and 
         FIG. 16  a reproduction of  FIG. 7  with one part removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The figures are described together below. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a key marked  1  in its entirety, using which a part  2  of a sanitary attachment  3  can be removed from a sanitary fitting  25 . 
     As can be seen—particularly from the detailed illustrations in  FIGS. 4 and 11  and in the dismantled form shown in  FIG. 14 —the part  2 —here made of plastic—is held in the position of use on a support  4 —here made of metal. As shown in this example, the support  4  can be part of the sanitary fitting  25  and can, for example, be made as a single piece or as a separate piece that is then connected to it, in particular, screwed on to it. The support  4  can also form a further component of the sanitary attachment  3 . 
     In the design example shown in  FIGS. 1 to 16 , the sanitary attachment  3  is therefore identical to the at least one part  2 . 
     On the outer circumference of the support  4  there is a groove  26  which is restricted to one part of the circumference. The support  4  on both sides of the groove  26  has a flat surface. Three further grooves are featured on the support  4  and offset by 90°. 
     On the part  2 , a locking catch  27  forms part of a locking tongue  22 . In the position of use, the locking catch engages the groove  26  and therefore attaches the part  2  axially to the support  4 . The locking catch  27  and the groove  26  are positioned in such a way that they interlock as a click-on connection  12  and can securely withstand even greater pressure, which may arise, for example, from the working pressure sustained by the sanitary fitting  25  during operation. This working pressure is essentially transferred to the part  2  because it has considerable flow resistance by virtue of its jet regulator  17  (for example, a quantity control device, known per se) and/or a jet former  18  (for example a steel aerator, known per se). The part  2  has an outlet structure  16  (known per se) located on the outlet side. 
     Three further locking catches engage in the same way in the additional grooves on the support  4  already mentioned. 
     If the part  2  is rotated 45° around an axis of rotation  7 , which corresponds approximately to a longitudinal axis of the sanitary attachment  3 , the locking catches  27  are released from the grooves  26  into a flat-surface area  28  (see  FIG. 14 ), in which the part  2  can be detached in the axial direction. (The terms axial, radial and circumferential direction refer here to the axis of rotation  7 ). Here, the locking tongues  22  are bent upwards because the flat-surface area  28  is designed to have a larger radius than the bottom portion of the groove  26 . 
     The position of the part  2  on the support  4 , where the locking catches  27  hook onto the groove  26 , can be described as being in a fixed position  8 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . To reach this position, the part  2  can be placed onto the support  4  and therefore into an outlet opening  15  (see  FIG. 15 ) of the sanitary fitting  25 , and moved axially so that the locking catches  27  fall into the grooves  26 . 
     The position of the part  2  on the support  4 , where the locking catches  27  are on the flat-surface area  28  and therefore outside the grooves  26 , can be described as being in the released position  9 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . In the detailed illustration, the locking catches have been lifted out of the groove  26 . This is due to the locking catches  27  extending beyond a particular circumferential section. In the illustration, they are already resting on the flat-surface area  28  behind the section plane, which is radially raised in relation to the bottom part of the groove  26 . In this position, the part  2  can be detached in the direction of detachment  10 , which often coincides with or is parallel to the axis of rotation  7 . 
     In other possible design examples, securing the part  2  to the support  4  is resolved using another method. However, these examples also define fixed and released positions. 
     The part  2  has a non-circular outer contour  5 , which means that it can be turned by hand. Often, however, the part  2  will be so tightly secured to the support  4  that it cannot be loosened by hand. 
     In order to increase the torque, the key  1  is provided, which has a receiver  11  that is inserted into the part  2  in the direction of attachment  19 . Here, the key  1  features an additional length onto which a lever  21  can be attached. Further, an additional receiver  32  may be designed as part of the key  1 , for example for unscrewing the support  4  or for a conventional, screw-in sanitary attachment  3 . 
     This results in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     The receiver  11  has an inner contour  23 , which fits together with the outer counter  5  of the part  2 . In particular, the inner contour  23  has four protrusions  30  that match those on part  2 , which act as a handle for manual rotation. 
     A number of brackets  29  are designed behind the inner contour  23  in the direction of attachment  19 , which form a ridge  24  relative to the inner contour  23 . (In contrast, the additional receiver  32  has no indentations and thus no ridge). 
     The part  2  has an indentation  14  on the outer circumference of each protrusion  30 . The ridge  24  is shaped so as to correspond with the indentation  14 . 
     When the key  1  is now turned or rotated around the axis of rotation  7 , the configuration shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10  is produced: the outer contour  5  of the part  2  engages with the inner contour  23  on the receiver  11  using its indentations  14  by the ridge  24 . This is possible because the inner contour  23  allows sufficient rotation clearance for the outer contour  5 . 
     On each of the brackets  29  there is a rotation stop  20 , which now comes into contact with the respective protrusion  30 . 
     When the key  1  is turned further in the same direction, the part  2  moves around the axis of rotation  7 . This continues until the released position  9  is achieved as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 . 
     In this released position  9 , the click-on connection  12  is released, because each of the locking catches  27  has reached the flat-surfaced area  28 . 
     The part  2  can now be detached from the support  4  by an axially aligned detaching movement in the direction of detachment  10 . Since the receiver  11  engages behind the part  2  as described above, this detaching movement can be transferred from the key  1  to the part  2 . 
     This results in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 14 to 16 . The part  2  has been removed and can now be replaced. 
     In the case of a sanitary attachment  3 , in which at least one part  2  can be transferred by a rotational movement from a fixed position  8  to a released position  9 , it is provided that a receiver  11  should be provided on a key  1 , which will allow the part  2  to be rotated, as well as for a ridge  24  to be provided in order to ensure a grip on the back of part  2  using an indentation  14  and thus to detach it axially. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Key 
               2  Part 
               3  Sanitary attachment 
               4  Support 
               5  Outer contour 
               6  Rotational movement 
               7  Axis of rotation 
               8  Fixed position 
               9  Released position 
               10  Direction of detachment 
               11  Receiver 
               12  Click-on connection 
               13  Non-threaded area 
               14  Indentation 
               15  Outlet opening 
               16  Outlet structure 
               17  Jet regulator 
               18  Jet former 
               19  Direction of attachment 
               20  Rotation stop 
               21  Lever 
               22  Locking tongue 
               23  Inner contour 
               24  Ridge 
               25  Sanitary fitting 
               26  Groove 
               27  Locking catch 
               28  Flat-surface area 
               29  Bracket 
               30  Protrusion 
               31  Recess 
               32  Additional receiver