Patent Description:
This invention relates to a control plate assembly for a flushing tank and a system and method for assembling control plate assemblies for flushing tanks.

In general, a control plate assembly of a walled or enclosed flushing tank comprises a mounting counterplate, shaped like a frame and fixed to the wall or front wall of the tank, about an inspection opening that provides access to the inside of the tank and to the flush valve housed in it; and a cover plate, removably fixed to the counterplate and provided with one or two control buttons that cooperate with the actuating members of the flush valve.

The buttons are usually hinged to the plate, while the actuating members of the flush valve are supported by the counterplate and arranged through the inspection opening.

This type of assembly, with the buttons hinged to the plate and the actuating members supported by the counterplate, is not completely satisfactory, posing problems of effective coupling between the buttons and the actuating members.

In addition, the plate and its buttons are the visible parts of the control plate assembly and take on various forms. A multitude of different plates are produced, therefore, with different buttons, for essentially for aesthetic reasons.

In general, each plate requires a specially designed counterplate, because each plate is provided with buttons of different shapes and sizes and placed in different positions, and, consequently, the counterplate must support the actuating members in position so as to interact with the buttons borne by the plate.

Ultimately, to change the aesthetic appearance of a control plate assembly, practically all its main components (counterplate, plate, and buttons) need to be replaced.

It is, therefore, necessary to manage (produce, store, and transport, etc.) a large quantity of different pieces, with consequent manufacturing and logistics problems.

A possible solution to the problems now highlighted is provided by <CIT>, which describes a control plate assembly for a flushing tank comprising a mounting counterplate, a cover plate joined to the counterplate by a releasable fastening system, and at least one control button, cooperating, in use, with an actuating member of a flush valve of the flushing tank. The button is hinged to the counterplate by means of a support fixed to the counterplate. In accordance with <CIT>, several control plate assemblies can be assembled by producing just one type of counterplate and a plurality of cover plates, which are different from each other, interchangeable on the counterplate, and can be mounted on the counterplate by means of the releasable fastening system.

<CIT> discloses a control plate assembly comprising a mounting counterplate, supporting actuating buttons, and a detachable cover plate, fastened to the counterplate and formed by several parts. The cover plate is fastened on a fastening frame and a decorative plate is fastened on the cover plate. The decorative plate is supported in a holding frame and forms a decorative element, which is detachably superimposed on the cover plate.

<CIT> discloses a flushing tank operating plate/counterplate assembly formed by a mounting counterplate, a substantially flat plate, and a fastening device for fastening the plate to the counterplate. Some components of the assembly are provided in alternative embodiments to be used instead of one another, so as to provide a system for fitting a plate-counterplate assembly which allows a large variety of different solutions to be assembled.

However, specific components still need to be produced to assemble, for example, pneumatic or mechanical flushing systems, as well as to change the aesthetic appearance of the assembly.

One purpose of this invention is to provide a control plate assembly of a flushing tank that is free of the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a system and method for assembling a control plate assembly of a flushing tank that makes it possible to produce different control plate assemblies in a simple and economical way, with a reduced number of different components.

This invention, therefore, relates to a control plate assembly of a flushing tank as defined in essential terms in the attached claim <NUM>.

This invention also relates to a system and method for assembling a control plate assembly of a flushing tank as defined in its essential terms in the appended claims <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The control plate assembly of the invention is simple and economical to produce and assemble, as well as totally efficient and reliable.

In addition, the control plate assembly of the invention is produced with a system and method for assembly that make it possible to produce a variety of different control plate assemblies (in particular having different aesthetic appearances, but also different operations) in a simple and economical way, with a reduced number of different components.

The invention thus makes it possible to change the aesthetic finish of the control plate assembly (by selecting the cover plate and the visible part of the control buttons from a plurality of different models) and also to change the flush valve's activation mode (in particular, from a mechanical to a pneumatic mode).

The invention also makes it possible to reduce the chromium-plated parts, thus reducing production costs: in fact, chrome-plating can be eliminated from the base plate, which bears the button supports.

The moulds of the various components, in particular the cover plates and the counterplates, are more economical and simpler to produce and maintain.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG>, a control plate assembly <NUM> of a flushing tank (not illustrated) comprises a mounting counterplate <NUM>, provided with supports <NUM> for at least one actuating member <NUM> of a flush valve (not illustrated) of the flushing tank; a cover plate <NUM>; a base plate <NUM> that can be fixed to the cover plate <NUM> by means of a coupling system <NUM> and to the counterplate <NUM> by means of a releasable fastening device <NUM>; at least one control button <NUM>, which cooperates, in use, with the actuating member <NUM>.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the control plate assembly <NUM> comprises two control buttons <NUM>, which cooperate, in use, with corresponding actuating members <NUM> of the flush valve, to activate different flush modes and precisely to selectively activate a complete flushing or a partial flushing of the water contained in the flushing tank.

The control plate assembly <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is also intended for the mechanical activation of the flush valve, so that the actuating members <NUM> cooperate, in use (i.e. they can be connected), with a mechanical actuating system (known in itself and not illustrated) of the flush valve, activated by means of the buttons <NUM> and the corresponding actuating members <NUM>.

The counterplate <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>, e.g. basically rectangular, with a pair of basically flat opposite faces <NUM> and, for example, basically level and parallel; an internal perimeter edge <NUM> that protrudes orthogonally from the frame <NUM> and delimits a central opening <NUM>; and an external perimeter edge <NUM>.

With reference also to <FIG>, the counterplate <NUM> is provided with fastening seats <NUM> formed on the counterplate <NUM>, e.g. on the frame <NUM> and/or appendages <NUM> that project from the frame <NUM> into the opening <NUM>, to fix the counterplate <NUM> to the flushing tank; the fastening seats <NUM> are shaped so as to receive coupling members <NUM>, which engage the fastening seats <NUM> and their corresponding additional fastening seats on the tank (or on a component fixed to the tank).

The supports <NUM> for the actuating members <NUM> are defined by their corresponding portions <NUM> of the counterplate <NUM>, which project, for example, into the opening <NUM> from the edge <NUM>; each support <NUM> has a support seat <NUM>, defined by a through hole formed in the portion <NUM> and that houses an actuating member <NUM>.

In the example illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, each actuating member <NUM> comprises a stem <NUM>, which is housed smoothly in the seat <NUM>. The stem <NUM> has a head <NUM> that protrudes from the seat <NUM> towards the cover plate <NUM> to cooperate with a button <NUM>, and engages, at one end opposite the head <NUM>, an element of the mechanical actuating system of the flush valve (known and not illustrated for simplicity).

With reference also to <FIG>, the cover plate <NUM> can have various shapes and aesthetic finishes. In general, the plate <NUM> comprises a front wall <NUM> and a peripheral edge <NUM> folded orthogonally to the wall <NUM>.

The cover plate <NUM> has at least one window <NUM>, formed through the wall <NUM> to receive the buttons <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> as well, the base plate <NUM> comprises a basically flat back wall <NUM> and a perimeter edge <NUM> folded orthogonally to the wall <NUM>.

The wall <NUM> of the base plate <NUM> preferably has two basically level and parallel opposite faces 33a, 33b and the edge <NUM> is perpendicular to the faces 33a, 33b.

The edge <NUM> of the base plate <NUM> is housed inside the edge <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> and the edge <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> externally surrounds the edge <NUM> of the base plate <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> has an auxiliary window <NUM> formed through the wall <NUM> between the faces 33a, 33b. The auxiliary window <NUM> faces and is aligned with the window <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> and is (slightly) larger than the window <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> is provided with a plurality of rotation supports <NUM> configured to support the buttons <NUM> in a rotary manner.

In particular, the supports <NUM> project from a rear face 33b, opposite a face 33a turned towards the cover plate <NUM>, of the base plate <NUM>.

Each support <NUM> has, for example, a pair of side brackets <NUM> that project from the face 33b, on opposite sides of a slot <NUM> formed through the wall <NUM>, and a transverse pin <NUM> that extends between the brackets <NUM> opposite the slot <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> is defined by a separate piece from the cover plate <NUM> and is joined to the cover plate <NUM> by means of the coupling system <NUM>, which is, for example, a snap-on coupling system.

The cover plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> consist of corresponding monolithic pieces.

In particular, the cover plate <NUM> consists of a monolithic piece that is fixed directly to the base plate <NUM> by means of the coupling system <NUM> and, precisely, by means of the coupling members <NUM> formed directly on the cover plate <NUM> (i.e. on the monolithic piece that constitutes the cover plate <NUM>).

In the example illustrated, the coupling system <NUM> comprises snap-on coupling members <NUM>, defined, for example, by a plurality of teeth <NUM> (<FIG>) that project from the edge <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> and engage corresponding seats <NUM> (<FIG>) on the edge <NUM> of the base plate <NUM> (or vice versa).

The teeth <NUM> are spaced along the edge <NUM> and the corresponding seats <NUM> are correspondingly spaced along the edge <NUM>.

Advantageously, each tooth <NUM> has a front chamfer that cooperates when guided by a seat <NUM> to facilitate the coupling of the teeth <NUM> in the seats <NUM>.

Optionally, additional teeth 42b project from an inner face <NUM>, turned towards the base plate <NUM>, of the wall <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> and engage corresponding seats 43b formed through the wall <NUM> of the base plate <NUM>, e.g. near the window <NUM>.

The buttons <NUM> are hinged to the base plate <NUM> by means of supports <NUM> and are housed through the windows <NUM>, <NUM>.

As illustrated in more detail in <FIG>, each button <NUM> has a base body <NUM> extending between a root end <NUM>, hinged to a pair of supports <NUM>, and a free end <NUM>, opposite the root end <NUM> and provided with a driving portion <NUM>, inserted in the windows <NUM>, <NUM> so as they can be operated by a user.

The root end <NUM> is provided with a pair of coupling seats <NUM> shaped to couple the corresponding pins <NUM> of the supports <NUM> in a rotary manner, defining a rotation axis of the button <NUM> in relation to the supports <NUM>. The pins <NUM> can preferably be snapped into the coupling seats <NUM>.

Each button <NUM> is advantageously provided with a cover element <NUM> that covers the driving portion <NUM> and is releasably fixed to, e.g. by means of (snap-on or mechanically interfering) coupling teeth that project from an inner face of the cover element <NUM>, turned towards the base body <NUM>, and couple the corresponding seats formed in the driving portion <NUM> of the base body <NUM> (or vice versa).

The cover element <NUM> is housed in the windows <NUM>, <NUM> and defines the visible part of the button <NUM>, having a finish and appearance coordinated with the cover plate <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> is removably fixed to the counterplate <NUM> by means of the fastening device <NUM>.

For example, the fastening device <NUM> comprises coupling teeth 53a (<FIG>) that engage the corresponding seats 54a (<FIG>), borne by the counterplate <NUM> and base plate <NUM> respectively, or vice versa, at one first end <NUM> of the control plate assembly <NUM>; and a releasable locking element <NUM> (<FIG>), loaded by a spring <NUM> and mounted on the counterplate <NUM> and provided with additional coupling teeth 53b that engage corresponding seats 54b (<FIG>) formed on the base plate <NUM> (or vice versa) at a second end <NUM>, opposite to the first end <NUM>, of the control plate assembly <NUM>.

In accordance with the invention, as described above, the counterplate <NUM> (which supports the actuating members <NUM> connected to the flush valve) is not fixed directly to the cover plate <NUM>, but to the base plate <NUM>, which is provided with supports <NUM> for the buttons <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> is placed between the cover plate <NUM> and the counterplate <NUM>.

In this way, it is possible to use just one base plate <NUM> with different counterplates <NUM> and/or different cover plates <NUM>.

It should be noted that the base plate <NUM> with its corresponding supports <NUM> for the buttons <NUM> is the most complicated component to build, so having only one type of it is certainly advantageous from the point of view of the manufacturing process.

The same base plate <NUM> can, therefore, be used with different counterplates <NUM>, in particular: with a counterplate <NUM> intended for the mechanical activation of the flush valve, thus provided with actuating members <NUM> that cooperate with a mechanical actuating device of the flush valve (<FIG>); with a counterplate <NUM> intended for the pneumatic activation of the flush valve, thus provided with actuating members <NUM> that cooperate with a pneumatic actuating device of the flush valve (<FIG>), etc..

In the embodiment in <FIG>, for example, the control plate assembly <NUM> is intended for the pneumatic activation of the flush valve, so that the actuating members <NUM> cooperate with a pneumatic actuating system (known in itself) of the flush valve, activated by means of the buttons <NUM> and the corresponding actuating members <NUM>.

The counterplate <NUM> is still provided with supports <NUM> for the actuating members <NUM>.

As show in greater detail in <FIG>, in this case too, the supports <NUM> are defined, in particular, by the corresponding portions <NUM> of the counterplate <NUM>, which project, for example, into the opening <NUM> from the edge <NUM>; and each support <NUM> has a support seat <NUM>, defined by a through hole formed in the portion <NUM> and that houses an actuating member <NUM>.

Each actuating member <NUM> also comprises a stem <NUM>, which is smoothly housed in the seat <NUM>. The stem <NUM> has a head <NUM> that protrudes from the seat <NUM> towards the cover plate <NUM> to cooperate with a button <NUM>. The stem <NUM> then cooperates, at one end opposite the head <NUM>, with a pneumatic assembly <NUM> with an outlet <NUM> that can be connected to a pneumatic actuator system of the flush valve.

The other components of the control plate assembly <NUM> are similar or equal to those already described.

The same base plate <NUM> can be used not only with different counterplates <NUM>, but also with different cover plates <NUM>, having different aesthetic appearances and finishes and coordinated with the corresponding buttons <NUM>, of which just the cover element <NUM> can be changed while maintaining the base body <NUM>.

The invention therefore makes it possible to assemble different control plate assemblies <NUM> (both with different aesthetic appearances and different operating modes, in particular mechanical or pneumatic ones) with a reduced number of components.

In fact, the invention also provides a system for assembling control plate assemblies with different appearances and/or operations.

The system comprises: one base plate <NUM> (i.e. just one type of base plate <NUM>); two base bodies <NUM> of the buttons <NUM>; a plurality of mounting counterplates <NUM> (in particular, at least one counterplate <NUM> for mechanically activating the flush valve and at least one counterplate <NUM> for pneumatically activating the flush valve); a plurality of cover plates <NUM>, which are different from one another, interchangeable on the base plate <NUM>, and can be mounted on the base plate <NUM> by means of the coupling system <NUM>; a plurality of cover elements <NUM> of the buttons <NUM>, coordinated with the cover plates <NUM>.

The base body <NUM> of the buttons <NUM> is always the same, only the cover element <NUM> changes, coordinated with the different cover plates <NUM>.

Thus, it is possible to provide different control plate assemblies <NUM>, changing both the activating mechanism of the flush (for example, from mechanical to pneumatic), by changing the counterplate <NUM>, and changing the aesthetic appearance, by changing the cover plates <NUM> and the corresponding cover elements <NUM> of the buttons <NUM>.

The control plate assembly <NUM> is, therefore, assembled with the method that comprises the following steps:.

Claim 1:
A control plate assembly (<NUM>) for a flushing tank, comprising a mounting counterplate (<NUM>), provided with at least one actuating member (<NUM>) for cooperating, in use, with a flush valve of the flushing tank and supported by the counterplate (<NUM>) by means of at least one corresponding support (<NUM>) formed on the counterplate (<NUM>); a cover plate (<NUM>) having at least one window (<NUM>) formed through the cover plate (<NUM>) and inside which at least one control button (<NUM>), cooperating with the actuating member (<NUM>), is housed; a base plate (<NUM>) fixable to the cover plate (<NUM>) by means of a coupling system (<NUM>) and to the counterplate (<NUM>) by means of a releasable fastening device (<NUM>) and provided with an auxiliary window (<NUM>) formed through opposite faces (33a, 33b) of the base plate (<NUM>) and facing towards and aligned with the window (<NUM>) of the cover plate (<NUM>) to house the button (<NUM>); wherein the base plate (<NUM>) is provided with rotation supports (<NUM>) configured for supporting in a rotary manner said at least one button (<NUM>) and the button (<NUM>) is hinged to the base plate (<NUM>) by means of said supports (<NUM>); and wherein the button (<NUM>) has a base body (<NUM>) extending between a root end (<NUM>), hinged to a pair of supports (<NUM>), and a free end (<NUM>), opposite to the root end (<NUM>) and provided with a driving portion (<NUM>), inserted in the window (<NUM>) and in the auxiliary window (<NUM>) so as to be operated by a user; characterised in that the button (<NUM>) is provided with a cover element (<NUM>) covering the driving portion (<NUM>) and fixed thereto in a releasable manner; the cover element (<NUM>) being housed in the window (<NUM>) and in the auxiliary window (<NUM>) and defining a visible part of the button (<NUM>).