Water fitting

• US 6,671,898 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geberit International Ag (Geberit AG)
• Original Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Inventors: Eggenberger, Walter, Hauser, Christoph, Marquart, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US10/111,300
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 251/128, 251/129.04, 462/3, 469/5, 137/801
• US Class Current: 4/623
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

The invention relates to a water fitting including a pipe having at least one water hook-up that is connected to a valve. A housing is detachably connected to the pipe and has a spout line that, when installed, is connected to the outlet of the valve. A screw secures the housing on the pipe. A sensing device is fitted inside the pipe. When the screw is removed, said sensing device automatically closes the valve and blocks the same in the closed position. This reliably prevents water from flowing out when the housing is disassembled.

Claims

1. A water fitting, comprising:

a pipe having at least one water connection;

a valve fastened to the pipe, which valve is connected with the at least one water connection and when the valve is turned on connects the at least one water connection with an output channel;

a housing detachably connected with the pipe and having a delivery line for the water, which delivery line is connected via another line with the output channel;

a mechanical securing element which secures the housing to the pipe; and

a sensor which registers the presence of the securing element and, when said securing element is removed, switches the valve into a closed position and locks the valve in said closed position.

2. The water fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing element is a screw.

3. The water fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein a free end of the screw, when said screw is installed, interrupts an optical connection between a transmitter diode and a receiver diode of a photoelectric barrier.

4. The water fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photoelectric barrier also forms a proximity sensor to open the valve at the approach of an object.

5. A method to interrupt the water feed to a delivery line in a housing of a water fitting as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

automatically turning off the valve by a mechanical display means when the display means are moved from their installed position.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a part of a fastening screw is scanned by a photoelectric barrier which controls the valve.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the photoelectric barrier is a proximity sensor for an object.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the fastening screw is removed, the valve is held in the closed position.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the photoelectric barrier is a proximity sensor for an object.