Patent Description:
Sanitary cisterns for collecting flush water for toilets of various types have generally been known for a long time. They are adapted to be connected to a water supply line, normally a rigid tubing arranged within a wall of a building. For said filling, a valve fitting is used which provides for the connection to the water supply and also include a filling valve. The filling valve is adapted for filling the cistern in terms of starting and stopping a filling procedure in response to the water level in the cistern. For example, the filling valve may include a float element, the height of which varies with the water level and induces and stops the filling of the cistern.

Usually, such a filling valve can be dismounted from a water supply connection element of the valve fitting, the latter being adapted for the connection to the water supply. Further parts may, but need not be arranged there between. A standard technique to implement such a dismountable connection is by means of a male element to be inserted into a female element, this plug-in connection being secured for example by means of a sleeve nut.

The prior art <CIT> discloses a valve fitting of the above described type. Therein, a shut-off valve is arranged between the water supply connection element and the filling valve by means of two mutually opposed plug-in connections. These are provided with a respective securing element which can be moved in a transverse direction relative to the local waterflow direction, that is to say "radially" with regard to the respective portion of the water line.

The document <CIT> discloses a valve fitting for a sanitary cistern comprising a plug-in connection having a sleeve nut as a securing element. The sleeve nut comprises radially outward projecting gripping surfaces and completely embraces the line of the water flow of the valve fitting. The same applies to <CIT>. Further, reference is made to <CIT>. The DE document discloses the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The present invention is based on the problem to disclose an improved valve fitting of the above described type having a securing element for securing a plug-in connection.

This problem is solved in that the securing element of the valve fitting according to the invention comprises a rotatable lever, the rotation of which serves for securing and releasing the plugged-in state of the plug-in connection. In other words, in one state of rotation, the plug-in connection cannot be disconnected but only in another state of rotation of the lever. This is in contrast to the above cited WO document and some others in which a shiftable securing element is proposed.

According to the invention, a complete rotating part of the securing element, namely the complete part rotating with the lever, is arranged in a way not to encompass or surround or embrace the water line (the line of the waterflow in the valve fitting) completely, in contrast to for example a sleeve nut or the like. The rotating part is not arranged on all sides of the water line but for example just on one side thereof or, as in the preferred embodiment, around a bit more than half of the circumference of the water line. Further, it is preferred that the rotation axis is at an angle of at least <NUM>° to the local water flow direction, again in contrast to a sleeve nut and the like. For illustration, the preferred embodiment is referred to.

A first advantage of the rotating lever is an enhanced security and simplicity of the operation thereof because a rotating lever can easily be grasped by the hand and is easier to recognize in a tactile sense (when operating "blindly" due to bad illumination or a visual obstruction). In case of a visual control, it is easier to distinguish the rotation state of a lever in comparison to the shifting position of a securing element according to the WO citation.

In addition, it can be easier to implement a rotating lever in a substantial dimension, compare for example the shut-off valve actuation lever in the WO citation compared to the securing element therein.

Finally, the inventors have found that a rotation axis can be better protected against dirt or is less sensitive in this regard in comparison to a shiftable securing element according to the prior art.

Preferably, the above-mentioned plug-in connection is adapted to be connected and disconnected (opened or closed) by a merely linear movement, in other words without a rotational component of the movement. Thus, the operation of plugging-in is very simple and straight forward compared to screws, nuts or bayonet type couplings. A simple male / female combination with adequate sealing may be sufficient.

In another preferred embodiment, the securing function of the securing element as operated by the lever rotation is based on the establishment and release of a form closure of the securing element with another part of the valve fitting. A form closure is safer in function and operation than a frictional mechanism.

In many cases, also in the cited prior art, a shut-off valve is included in the valve fitting in order to alleviate the closing of the water flow in case of maintenance or other works. This also applies to a preferred implementation of the invention. The shut-off valve can preferably be integrated with a connection element. Thus, the connection element is the structure penetrating the cistern wall. Preferably, a manipulating element of the shut-off valve can be arranged within the cistern and can for example be operated via a standard revision opening of the cistern to the front side.

In a further advantageous implementation of the invention, the securing element has the additional function of blocking the manipulation element of the shut-off valve in the non-securing position of rotation of the lever. In particular, the lever can have a part extended such as to cover the manipulating element in a projection thereof, in this state of rotation as can be seen in the preferred embodiment.

In another preferred implementation, the securing element serves for securing a provisional fixing of the plug-in connection. In particular, spring means projecting from one of the elements to be connected can be provided and can for example engage over or behind the other one of the two elements to be plug-in connected. In this embodiment, the spring means could provisionally hold the two not yet completely secured elements, before the securing is performed.

Preferably, the plug-in connection discussed in this description is between the water supply connection element and a further element of the valve fitting, this further element connecting the water supply connection element to the filling valve. Generally, this further element could be a shut-off valve as in the cited prior art. If, however, the shut-off valve is integrated with the water supply connection element, it is still preferred not to connect the filling valve directly to this combined structure but still to use an additional element there between. This can, for example, be an elbow piece implementing an angular flow direction change of the water line by for example <NUM>°.

With this implementation, it may be easier to adapt the valve fitting to special applications by changing for example the angle or dimensions of such a further element. Also, it might be advantageous to assemble the valve fitting from a plurality of individual pieces to alleviate or enable the introduction through a revision opening or another geometrical restriction during mounting.

Finally, a preferred implementation can provide for a conventional screw connection element on the opposed side of the further element in relation to the plug-in connection. Here, "opposed" relates to the water flow, not necessarily to a straight direction, compare the elbow piece of the preferred embodiment. The conventional screw connection can for example be a plug-in connection with a sleeve nut. The cited WO document has two similar plug-in connections on both opposed sides of the shut-off valve between the water supply connection element on the one side and the filling valve on the other side which might lead to confusion and mixing up whereas the clear difference of the two connections eliminates such causes of error.

Hereunder, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described for illustration, the details of which are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. The explanations as to the embodiment shall be understood with regard to the valve fitting and the cistern.

<FIG> show the valve fitting according to the embodiment and comprising a water supply connection part <NUM>, an elbow piece as a further element <NUM> and a filling valve <NUM>. These parts are shown separated from each other in <FIG> and b and mounted to each other in the other figures.

The filling valve <NUM> is as such unconventional and serves for filling the inside volume of a sanitary cistern <NUM> (compare <FIG> and <FIG>) with a water volume for flushing a toilet. Hereto, the filling valve <NUM> has a float <NUM> operating a valve mechanism integrated in the structure shown by a gear mechanism known as such. When flushing the toilet, the float <NUM> opens the integrated valve mechanism by its sinking down and closes the valve mechanism when having reached a predefined (and adjustable) height of the water level.

Replacement water for this filling operation is fed into the filling valve <NUM> by means of the water supply connection element <NUM> and the elbow piece <NUM> and thus enters the filling valve <NUM> via a connection socket shown in <FIG> and directed towards the elbow piece <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water supply connection element <NUM> can be mounted or is mounted to a portion of the wall of the cistern <NUM> by a combination of an abutment ring <NUM> on the outside of this wall and a screw ring <NUM> on the inside thereof. On the outside of the wall, there is also a standard fitting <NUM> for connecting a water feed line to the water supply connection element <NUM> in the usual manner.

The elbow piece <NUM> receives replacement water via the water supply connection element <NUM> from above and thus vertically and delivers the replacement water horizontally to the filling valve <NUM> as just explained. The respective interconnection between the elbow piece <NUM> and the filling valve <NUM> is a screw connection of a standard type comprising an externally threaded member <NUM> on the filling valve <NUM>, a respective male insertion member <NUM> on the elbow piece <NUM> and a sleeve nut <NUM> concentrically thereon. This screw connection <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be connected for example after insertion of parts <NUM> and <NUM> through a revision opening of the cistern <NUM> therein. In contrast to the plug-in connection between elements <NUM> and <NUM> described hereunder, it will often not be necessary to open it again thereafter or at least less frequently than the plug-in connection.

In <FIG>, a male insertion element <NUM> of the plug-in connection can be seen which is obstructed from view in other figures, in particular in <FIG> by one arm of spring means <NUM>. This male part <NUM> is to be inserted into a female receiving part <NUM> shown in <FIG> in a vertical direction and makes up a watertight connection therewith provisionally fixed by the two arms of spring means <NUM> latching above and at the water supply connection element <NUM> as best shown in <FIG>. Hereto, the two arms of spring means <NUM> can elastically be extended away from each other to snap in after the insertion has been completed. <FIG> shows this state particularly clearly.

The plug-in movement is just linear, there is no rotational component necessary such as with a screw connection or a bayonet mechanism.

The fixing is provisional in that the water supply connection element <NUM> and the elbow piece <NUM> could still be separated in a vertical direction by overcoming the elastic latching just explained. When it is intended to secure the plug-in connection to eliminate this option/risk, a lever <NUM> shown in all figures can be rotated from a horizontal position shown in <FIG> and <FIG> into a vertical position shown in <FIG>. The axis of the lever rotation is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in <FIG> and <FIG> and vertical in this plane in <FIG> as well as horizontal in this plane in <FIG>.

The lever <NUM> has roughly an inverted U-shape, compare <FIG> and <FIG> and is articulated to the elbow piece <NUM> on two sides of the above-mentioned male element <NUM>, compare <FIG>. In the upright vertical position, the lever <NUM> contacts or at least is adjacent to the respective outsides of both arms of spring means <NUM> and thus inhibits any substantial outward movement for releasing the above explained elastic latch fixing, compare <FIG>.

Further, a respective shoulder <NUM> of both inner sides of the two legs of the U-shape, which contact the arms, also rest upon the uppermost ends of the arms of spring means <NUM> so that these ends inhibit a downward movement of the lever <NUM> and thus of the elbow piece <NUM> relative to the water supply connection element <NUM>.

Further, each of the arms has an outwardly protruding lock structure <NUM> in a lower region thereof which engages into a respective recess of the inner sides of the legs of the U-shape as can also be seen in <FIG>. This recess is somewhat larger in the vertical direction in the section shown in order to enable a rotation of the lever <NUM> to engage the lock structure <NUM> into the recess. Again, the connection between water supply connection element <NUM> and elbow piece <NUM> is secured hereby. All in all, there are three form closures on each of both sides as shown in <FIG> for the securing of the plug-in connection in its plugged-in state and both the lever <NUM> and the spring means <NUM> are part of the securing element.

The securing vertical position of the lever <NUM> is secured with regard to the rotational movement by a latch ramp <NUM> quite clearly visible in <FIG> and <FIG>, over which a portion <NUM> of the respective inner side of the legs of the lever <NUM> can slide to be latched there behind and between this latch ramp <NUM> and a stop proximate thereto. The latched condition can be seen in <FIG> in limited extent and the respective portion <NUM> of the lever <NUM> can best be seen in <FIG>.

The U-shape of lever <NUM> and the complete rotating structure do not completely embrace or encompass the water line being locally vertical in <FIG> between the two articulations of lever <NUM> in any rotational position.

At a base part interconnecting both legs of lever <NUM>, a plate-like arm <NUM> is arranged which protrudes therefrom in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the U-shape of lever <NUM>, wherein the plate-shape is vertical in the horizontal position of lever <NUM> and horizontal in the vertical position thereof, compare <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> illustrate that this arm <NUM> inhibits the insertion of a tool for operating a manipulating element <NUM> of the water supply connection element <NUM>. The manipulating element <NUM> has a shape adapted for the insertion of a hexagonal wrench and a slotted screwdriver, both tools requiring a certain free space before the manipulating element <NUM> which is blocked or obstructed in the projection direction required for the tool insertion.

This manipulating element <NUM> serves for operating a shut-off valve integrated in water supply connection element <NUM> and adapted for closing and opening the water flow through the water line integrated therein and feeding water (in the open state) to the elbow piece <NUM>. Consequently, the shut-off valve <NUM> can only be operated if the plugged-in state of water supply connection element <NUM> and elbow piece <NUM> is secured as in <FIG>. In this condition, usually a completely mounted state is present wherein the open state of shut-off valve <NUM> is adequate.

If an operating person should forget to close shut-off valve <NUM> before opening the plug-in connection, the shut-off valve <NUM> would still be on the line and thus could be closed very quickly. Any inadvertent opening during a just provisional fixing of the plug-in connection is impossible.

For any usual service operation, it is normally sufficient to separate the filling valve <NUM> just by opening the plug-in connection (and the leaving the screw connection <NUM> to <NUM> closed).

Claim 1:
A valve fitting for filling a sanitary cistern, comprising
a water supply connection element (<NUM>) for connecting the cistern via the valve fitting to a water supply,
a filling valve (<NUM>) for filling the cistern with water from the water supply,
the filling valve (<NUM>) being connectable to and disconnectable from the water supply connection element (<NUM>) by a plug-in connection (<NUM>,<NUM>),
the plug-in connection being provided with a securing element (<NUM>,<NUM>) adapted for securing the plug-in connection (<NUM>,<NUM>) in a plugged-in state thereof,
wherein the securing element (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprises a rotating structure (<NUM>, <NUM>), the rotating structure comprising a lever (<NUM>) as a part thereof and the rotating structure (<NUM>, <NUM>) not embracing a water line of the valve fitting completely,
wherein a water line is the line of a water flow in the valve fitting, the rotating structure (<NUM>, <NUM>) including the lever (<NUM>) being rotatable for securing and releasing the plugged-in state of the plug-in connection (<NUM>,<NUM>).