Sanitary fitting with a lightguide outflow pipe

• US 7,467,874 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KWC AG (Michael Pieper, MBA)
• Original Assignee: KWC AG (Michael Pieper, MBA)
• Inventors: Brunner, Stefan, Gautschi, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US11/372,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/149, 362/154, 362/156, 362/276, 362/800, 239 16- 18, 239/548, 461/5, 137/801
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• 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]

Abstract

A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe.

Claims

1. A sanitary fitting comprising:

a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face; and

a light source disposed against the input face,

wherein light from the light source is input into a wall of the outflow pipe at the input face, is guided in the wall, and emerges at the end face, and

the input face lies opposite the end face.

2. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein light is output from an outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe.

3. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source has one or more light emitting diodes (LED) which are designed as a surface-mountable component.

4. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outflow pipe and the light source are built into a water outflow head.

5. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sanitary fitting has (i) a fitting housing and (ii) a guide pipe which projects from the fitting housing and which has, in a free end region, a receptacle for the water outflow head.

6. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 5, wherein an extendable hose connected to the water outflow head runs in the guide pipe, the extendable hose having a water hose and an electrical line in order to supply water and power to the water outflow head.

7. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 6, wherein the water outflow head, together with the extendable hose, can be pulled out of the receptacle and can be inserted into the receptacle again.

8. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sanitary fitting has a fitting housing which is intended to be fastened to a holding face, an end region of the outflow pipe lying opposite the end face is inserted into the fitting housing, and the outflow pipe projects out of the fitting housing.

9. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 8, wherein a surface area, lying outside the fitting housing, of the outflow pipe is exposed.

10. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sanitary fitting has a switching element for controlling the light source.

11. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the switching element controls, on the one hand, the light source and, on the other hand, a valve for controlling the water flow.

12. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 10, wherein an actuation element for actuating a mixer cartridge for controlling the water flow is operatively connected to the switching element for the actuation of the switching element.

13. The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the switching element is arranged on a water outflow head.