Sanitary fitting with an illuminated outlet consisting of transparent material

• US 7,819,541 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Original Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG (Paasikivi Family)
• Inventors: Kunkel, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US11/885,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/234, 362/84, 362/253, 362/551, 362/555, 362/562, 362/101, 239 17- 20
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0407 Spouts for unpressurized outflow of water
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like

Abstract

A sanitary fitting has a water inlet, at least one operating element and an outlet, the outlet consisting, at least in part, of a transparent material. Also provided is an illuminating device which incorporates light into the transparent material. In this way, straightforward technical means provide for a large number of new design possibilities which increase the attractiveness of the sanitary fitting for the user.

Claims

1. A sanitary fitting having a water inlet, at least one operating element and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes, at least in part, a transparent material, and an illuminating device which incorporates light into the transparent material and,

wherein the outlet is constructed as a channel that is open at the top and is at least partially lined with the transparent material.

2. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein illuminating device incorporates light into an end face of the transparent material.

3. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the illuminating device is embedded in the transparent material.

4. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the illuminating device comprises one or more light-emitting diode(s).

5. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the channel is open at the top and of which the base is made of the transparent material.

6. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, further comprising a controller which controls a property of the illuminating device as a function of the operating state of the operating element.

7. The sanitary fitting of claim 6, wherein the controller switches the illuminating device on if a flow of water has been triggered via the operating element.

8. The sanitary fitting of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the colour of incorporated light as a function of the water temperature adjusted via the operating element.

9. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the surface of the transparent material comprises light exit surfaces.

10. The sanitary fitting according to claim 1, wherein the transparent material tapers in a lengthwise direction.

11. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the transparent material comprises a partially mirrored surface.

12. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the transparent material comprises a mirrored underside.

13. The sanitary fitting of claim 1, further comprising a minor provided at a defined spacing below the transparent material and the illuminating device is arranged in such a way that the light is incorporated into the transparent material by multiple reflection between the mirror and the transparent material in a lengthwise direction.

14. A sanitary fitting having a water inlet, at least one operating element and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes, at least in part, a transparent material, and an illuminating device which incorporates light into the transparent material, and,

wherein the outlet is constructed as a channel that is open at the top and of which the base is made of the transparent material.

15. A sanitary fitting having a water inlet, at least one operating element and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes, at least in part, a transparent material, and an illuminating device which incorporates light into the transparent material, and,

wherein the outlet comprises an outlet disc made of the transparent material and in which the water supply ends through a hole arranged in the disc surface of the outlet disc, and in that the illuminating device is coupled inside the hole.

16. A sanitary fitting having a water inlet, at least one operating element and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes, at least in part, a transparent material, and an illuminating device which incorporates light into the transparent material, and,

further comprising a mirror provided at a defined spacing below the transparent material and the illuminating device is arranged in such a way that the light is incorporated into the transparent material by multiple reflection between the minor and the transparent material in a lengthwise direction.