# US 8,783,651 B2 · Sanitary fitting with a joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,651 B2 - Document ID: US8783651B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/707,230 - Filed: 2010-02-17 - Published: 2010-08-19 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-17 - Assignees: Kwc AG - Applicants: Christian Gautschi; Daniel Baumann - Inventors: Christian Gautschi; Daniel Baumann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783651B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/0404: {Constructional or functional features of the spout} - E03C 1/0412: {Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle (valve actuating members as such F16K31/60)} - E03C 1/055: {Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like} - G05G 9/047: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} - E03C 2001/0416: {using a socket for mounting of faucet} - G05G 2009/04733: {with a joint having a nutating disc, e.g. forced by a spring} - Y10T 137/87925: Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A sanitary fitting includes a joint arrangement having a support connection piece that defines an abutment face that is at least approximately flat; a joint part that rests flat against the abutment face by way of an at least approximately flat mating face, and defines a neutral position; a spring that is supported at one end against the support connection piece and at the other end against the joint part, the spring using a spring force to push the joint part against the abutment face by way of the mating face; and a rod-like extremity that is arranged on the joint part at a fixed angle in relation to the mating face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sanitary fitting comprising: a mixing valve unit with an input for a cold water line and a hot water line and an output on which a mixed water line is connected; a water outlet connected to the mixed water line; and a joystick to steplessly choose at least the water temperature by controlling the mixing valve unit, wherein the joystick contains a joint arrangement including: a support connection piece that defines an abutment face that is approximately flat; a joint part that rests flat against the abutment face by way of at least an approximately flat mating face, and defines a neutral position; a spring that surrounds the joint part on the outside, and includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the spring is supported against the joint part, the second end of the spring is fixedly supported relative to the abutment face, and the spring uses a spring force to push the joint part against the abutment face by way of the mating face; and a rod-like extremity being in the form of an operating lever and arranged on the joint part at a fixed angle in relation to the mating face, with the joint part maintaining the neutral position when an external lateral force acts on the extremity until the lateral force exceeds a limit value that is predefined by the spring, the abutment face and the mating face and, in the process, partially lifts the mating face away from the abutment face, and the flat contact between the abutment face and the mating face becomes at least one of either a line contact and a point contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring is designed as a helical compression spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support connection piece defines a longitudinal axis as a neutral axis that runs at a right angle to the abutment face. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in the neutral position of the joint part, the longitudinal axis of the joint part coincides with the neutral axis, and the extremity runs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the joint part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint part has an outer side wall as a radial stop that interacts with an inner side wall, as a mating stop, which is firmly arranged with respect to the support connection piece, as a result of which the joint part is held in a defined radial position in each pivoting position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic flange that rests against the extremity in a sealing manner by way of an inner edge, the elastic flange being connected to the support connection piece by way of its outer edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a sensor that is firmly arranged with respect to the support connection piece detecting the deflection of the joint part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board which is firmly connected to the support connection piece, and said sensor comprises individual sensors which interact with a permanent magnet that is rigidly connected to the joint part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein a light signal can be emitted in the free end region of the tubular operating lever, with a light source being arranged either in the free end region and being supplied with power by a current conductor in the interior of the operating lever, or alternatively light being conducted into the free end region by means of a light guide which runs through the operating lever, and the free end region being selectively closed by a transparent covering. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein by deflecting the operating lever an operator control unit converts the deflection to an electrical signal and by means of an electronic control system this electrical signal is converted to an actuating signal for the mixing valve unit. ### Claim 11 A joint arrangement comprising: a support connection piece that defines an abutment face that is approximately flat; a joint part that rests flat against the abutment face by way of at least an approximately flat mating face, and defines a neutral position; and a spring that surrounds the joint part on the outside, and includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the spring is supported against the joint part, the second end of the spring is fixedly supported relative to the abutment face, and the spring uses a spring force to push the joint part against the abutment face by way of the mating face; wherein an extremity is arranged on the joint part at a fixed angle in relation to the mating face, with the joint part maintaining the neutral position when an external lateral force acts on the extremity until this lateral force exceeds a limit value that is predefined by the spring, the abutment face and the mating face and, in the process, partially lifts the mating face away from the abutment face, and the flat contact between the abutment face and the mating face becomes at least one of either a line contact and a point of contact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spring is designed as a helical compression spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support connection piece defines a longitudinal axis as a neutral axis that runs at a right angle to the abutment face. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein, in the neutral position of the joint part, the longitudinal axis of the joint part coincides with the neutral axis, and the extremity runs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the joint part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the joint part has an outer side wall as a radial stop that interacts with an inner side wall, as a mating stop, which is firmly arranged with respect to the support connection piece, as a result of which the joint part is held in a defined radial position in each pivoting position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the contour of the outer side wall, as a radial stop for the first joint part, is in the form of a first polygon and interacts with an inner side wall, as a mating stop, of which the contour forms a second polygon, in such a way that the first polygon engages in the second polygon, with radial play being provided to such an extent that deflection of the joint part is still possible without this leading to tilting and provides security against twisting. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an elastic flange that rests against the extremity in a sealing manner by way of an inner edge, the elastic flange being connected to the support connection piece by way of its outer edge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support connection piece has an annular centering disk that forms the abutment face and, possibly, the radial mating stop by way of its inner side wall, and the annular centering disk includes plastic. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A sanitary fitting comprising an outlet unit having an outlet pipe, the outlet pipe being connected to a mixed water line and the joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 19, wherein a connection part forms a flow connection with the outlet pipe and, for its part, has a connection for the mixed water line. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outlet pipe is rotatably mounted in the second joint part. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 19, wherein a further light source is present, with the light from said further light source being emitted into the outlet pipe, with a light guide additionally being provided in the outlet pipe such that it starts from said further light source. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 19, wherein the mixing valve unit has an input for a cold water line and a hot water line and has an output on which the mixed water line is connected. ### Claim 24 (depends on 11) A sanitary fitting comprising a joystick to steplessly choose at least a water temperature by controlling a mixing value unit, wherein the joystick includes the joint arrangement as claimed in claim 11. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 24, wherein the joystick steplessly chooses the water temperature and a quantity of water by actuating the mixing valve unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 24, wherein the joint arrangement of the joystick includes an extremity in a form of an operating lever. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The sanitary fitting as claimed in claim 26, wherein a light signal can be emitted in a free end region of the operating lever, with a light source being arranged either in the free end region and being supplied with power by a current conductor in an interior of the operating lever, or alternatively light being conducted into the free end region by means of a light guide which runs through the operating lever, and the free end region being selectively closed by a transparent covering.