The present invention relates to the flush mounted connection systems for the valves used in the connection of the faucets, which deliver the water to a user, with the municipal water distribution network.

Prior Art

The water received from the municipal water distribution network is delivered to the users via faucets having various structures. The connection of said faucets with the municipal water distribution network is in turn provided by means of various valves. Said valves are disposed as concealed within a wall (flush mounting) for the purpose of both minimizing the requirement for space as well as providing a visually pleasant arrangement for the users. The positioning of the valve inside a wall is realized by way of fixing the same within a box that is secured under the plaster in the wall. Said box is secured inside the wall via various connection members and the valve in turn is positioned in the box by way of being fixed via the parts of said connection members that remain inside said box. However, since the box and the connection members are fixed to the wall, the box and the wall may suffer damage during the interventions on the valve that are performed in case a malfunction occurs in said valve. Moreover, it becomes also necessary to subject the wall to deformation when it is required to remove the valve from its mounting position, which in turn leads to great labor costs as well as a prolonged procedure. Brief Description of the Invention

The connection system developed according to the present invention is suitable for use in the flush mounting, inside a wall, of at least one valve, which provides the connection of a faucet, where the water coming from the municipal water distribution network is delivered to a user, with a line conveying the municipal water and which enables the control over the output, from the faucet, of the water coming from the municipal water distribution network, wherein said connection system comprises at least one mounting box, which has at least one partition suitable for enabling said valve to be positioned therein and at least one hole on at least one side wall of the partition, and at least one connection apparatus comprising at least one outer piece, which has a hollow structure with at least one opening on at least one side thereof and which is passed through said hole such that said opening remains within the partition to thereby be secured to the wall; at least one inner piece, which is located inside said outer piece, is capable of moving inside said outer piece in a way to approach the partition from the opening and/or move away from the partition and is fixed to said valve by the side inside the outer piece that extends to the partition; and at least one fixing member, which enables the outer piece to remain stationary within said hole and which is fitted to said outer piece.

Owing to the connection system developed according to the present invention, the valves providing the connection between the municipal water lines and the faucets are enabled to be positioned in a flush mounted manner without the necessity to mount the same to a wall, thereby reducing both the labor costs and the time required for the mounting. Further, owing to this connection system, the customer satisfaction is increased by eliminating the need to cause demolition in the wall.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to develop a connection system for the flush mounting of the valves that supply water from the municipal water distribution network to a faucet.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a connection system, which enables a flush mounted valve to be removed from its mounting position without the need to cause demolition in the wall where the valve is to be mounted.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a connection system, in which the need is eliminated to fix the valve to a wall.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a connection system, which reduces the labor cost and mounting time for the flush mounting of the valves. Description of the Figures

The representative embodiments of the connection system developed according to the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the connection system developed.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the connection system developed. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the detail "D" shown in Figure 2.

The parts in the figures are individually assigned with reference numerals and the designations for the reference numerals are provided below:

Mounting box (K)

Partition (K1 )

Hole (K2)

Valve (V)

Connection apparatus (B)

Outer piece (B1 )

Inner piece (B2)

Fixing member (B3)

Leakproof piece (B4)

Outer body (1 a)

Holder piece (1 b)

Inner body (2a)

Fixing head (2b)

Sealing member (3)

Detail (D)

Description of the Invention

The faucets, which enable the water coming from the municipal water distribution network to be delivered to a user, are connected via various valves to the line, which conveys the water coming from the municipal water distribution network. Such valves are usually disposed in a flush mounted manner inside a wall with a view to save space and satisfy the visual requirements of the users. During such positioning, various connection systems are employed, via which the valve is mounted to the wall; however, the use of such connection systems results in the necessity to demolish the wall when it is required to intervene with the valve (for example, when it is required to replace a malfunctioning valve). This in turn constitutes an inconvenience for the users as well as leading to the labor costs. In addition, the process of troubleshooting becomes prolonged and thus the customer dissatisfaction results. In this regard, a connection system is developed according to the present invention with a view to provide a solution to said problems, wherein the need to mount the valve to a wall is eliminated.

The connection system developed according to the present invention, exemplary views of which are provided in Figures 1 -3, is suitable for use in the flush mounting, inside a wall, of at least one valve (V) (preferably a solenoid valve), which provides the connection of a faucet, where the water coming from the municipal water distribution network is delivered to a user, with a line conveying the municipal water and which enables the control over the output, from the faucet, of the water coming from the municipal water distribution network, wherein said connection system comprises at least one mounting box (K), which has at least one partition (K1 ) suitable for enabling said valve (V) to be positioned therein and at least one hole (K2) on at least one side wall of the partition (K1 ) (preferably at least two holes with one hole being present on each of the opposing side walls). The connection system developed further comprises at least one connection apparatus (B) comprising at least one outer piece (B1 ), which has a hollow structure with at least one opening on at least one side thereof and which is passed through said hole (K2) such that said opening remains within the partition (K1 ) to thereby be secured to the wall; at least one inner piece (B2), which is located inside said outer piece (B1 ), is capable of moving inside said outer piece (B1 ) in a way to approach the partition (K1 ) from the opening (in other words, move away from the outer piece (B1 )) and/or move away from the partition (K1 ) (in other words, approach the outer piece (B1 )) and is fixed to said valve (V) by the side inside the outer piece (B1 ) that extends to the partition (K1 ); and at least one fixing member (B3), which enables the outer piece (B1 ) to remain stationary within said hole (K2) and which is fitted to said outer piece (B1 ).

According to a representative embodiment of the connection system developed according to the present invention, which is suitable for use in the flush mounting of the valves (V), the outer piece (B1 ) is passed through said hole (K2) such that said opening remains within the partition (K1 ) and the outer piece (B1 ) is thus secured to the wall where the valve (V) is to be positioned. The inner piece (B2) in turn moves inside the outer piece (B1 ) and is secured to said valve (V) by the side of the outer piece (B1 ) that remains inside the partition (K1 ). In this way, the need to fix the valve (V) to the wall is eliminated. Owing to the ability of the inner piece (B2) to move within the outer piece (B1 ), when it is required to move the valve (V) away from the wall (for example, when it is required to replace the valve due to malfunction), the connection of the valve (V) with the inner piece (B2) is abolished and the inner piece (B2) moves within the outer piece (B1 ) to enter said outer piece (B1 ). Thus, the valve (V) becomes released and is able to be readily removed from the mounting box (K). Consequently, the flush mounted valve (V) is enabled to be removed from its mounting position in a manner that reduces both the labor cost and mounting time, without any demolition being required in the wall. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer piece (B1 ) included in the connection system developed comprises at least one outer body (1 a) with a hollow structure with said opening being present on at least one side thereof, wherein the outer surface of said outer body in contact with the wall has a threaded structure. In this way, the outer piece (B1 ) is enabled to securely fasten onto the wall, thereby achieving a reliable connection system. In this embodiment, said fixing member (B3) has preferably a threaded inner surface in a form that conforms to the threaded outer surface of the outer body (1 a).

According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the outer piece (B1 ) included in the connection system developed comprises at least one holder piece (1 b), which extends in a way to move away from said opening and which is suitable for being positioned in a way to contact the region around the hole (K2) on the surface of the hole (K2)-containing wall of the mounting hole (K) that faces towards said partition (K1 ), when the outer piece (B1 ) is passed through said hole (K2). In this way, the outer piece (B1 ) is enabled to be positioned in a stable manner within said hole (K2). In this embodiment, said holder piece (1 b) is preferably positioned in the outer body (1 a).

According to another representative embodiment of the invention, the inner piece (B2) included in the connection system developed preferably comprises at least one inner body (2a), which is positioned within the outer piece (B1 ) (preferably within the outer body (1 a)) and which preferably has a rod form. Accordingly, the outer piece (B1 ) supports said motion of the inner piece (B2) to ensure the smooth operation of the connection system.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner piece (B2) included in the connection system developed preferably comprises at least one fixing head (2b), which is suitable for being fixed to said valve (V) and which preferably has a structure with a threaded inner surface (or outer surface). Thus, it becomes possible to ensure a robust fixing with the valve (V). In this embodiment, said fixing head (2b) is preferably positioned in the inner body (2a).

According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the connection apparatus (B) included in the connection system developed preferably comprises at least one leakproof piece (B4) (preferably a gasket), which is positioned in the inner piece in a way to be located between the inner piece (B2) and the valve (V). Accordingly, the waterproofing feature is provided for the connection system to enable the system to become long lasting.

According to another representative embodiment of the invention, the connection system developed preferably comprises at least one sealing member (3) (preferably an o-ring), which is positioned in a way to be located between the outer piece (B1 ) and the inner piece (B2). In this way, the waterproofing feature is provided for the connection apparatus (B) to prolong the useful lifetime for the same and thus a durable connection system is obtained. Owing to the connection system developed according to the present invention, the valves (V) providing the connection between the municipal water lines and the faucets are enabled to be positioned in a flush mounted manner without the necessity to mount the same to a wall, thereby reducing both the labor costs and the time required for the mounting. Further, owing to this connection system, the customer satisfaction is increased by eliminating the need to cause demolition in the wall.