SANITARY DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of DE 10 2024 108 560.6, filed Mar. 26, 2024, the priority of this application is hereby claimed, and this application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sanitary device comprising a wash basin or a washstand made of ceramic, porcelain or cast mineral material and a vanity unit which bears the wash basin or the washstand.

Such sanitary devices consisting of a combination of a wash basin or washstand and a vanity unit are enjoying increasing popularity. The wash basin or the washstand is usually produced from ceramic, porcelain or cast mineral material and generally has a rectangular shape, when viewed from above. The wash basin or the washstand is positioned on the vanity unit, which is generally designed as a cabinet and provides an additional receiving space which is accessible, for example, via one or two pivoting doors, wherein the shape of the vanity unit corresponds to the shape of the rectangular wash basin or washstand, i.e. is also rectangular. Such a sanitary device is disclosed, for example, in EP 2 896 334 A1. In this known sanitary device, the outer surface of the front and the two side walls of the rectangular wash basin or washstand are mechanically machined such that they are flush with the outer surfaces of the front wall and the two side walls of the vanity unit, which is also rectangular, wherein all of the surfaces of the wash basin or washstand and the vanity unit are covered in each case by a common veneer which extends over the surfaces adjoining one another and which is adhesively bonded to the respective surface, which veneer extends as far as the right-angled upper edge of the wash basin or washstand. The wash basin or the washstand and the vanity unit accordingly form a fixedly installed unit. A further sanitary device is disclosed in EP 3744214 A1, also comprising a wash basin or a washstand and a vanity unit having a rectangular basic shape. In this sanitary device, the vanity unit has at least one drawer, comprising a front wall and two side walls which are aligned with the front wall and the side walls of the wash basin or washstand, wherein all of the surfaces are covered in each case by a separate veneer so that the drawer can be moved relative to the wash basin or washstand. As set forth above, in each case exclusively rectangular basic shapes on the part of the wash basin or washstand and the vanity unit form the basis of the embodiments described therein, which limits the possibilities for design and adaptation to local conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem underlying the invention is to specify a sanitary device which is improved relative thereto.

In order to solve the problem, according to the invention a sanitary device is provided, the sanitary device comprising a wash basin or a washstand made of ceramic, porcelain or cast mineral material and a vanity unit which bears the wash basin or the washstand, which wash basin or washstand has a rim protruding laterally from a basin region and having a planar upper face, wherein the vanity unit has an outer shape which circulates in a curved manner over at least 180° at least in the upper region bearing the wash basin or the washstand and which has a first laminate layer or first paint coating forming a first visible surface, wherein the rim of the wash basin or the washstand has a conical rim shape which also circulates in a curved manner over at least 180° and which has a second laminate layer or second paint coating forming a second visible surface, wherein the lower outer edge of the rim and the upper outer edge of the vanity unit are located on the same radius.

In the sanitary device according to the invention, both the wash basin or the washstand and the vanity unit are designed to be curved and thus have an arcuate or bulged visible surface. The vanity unit bears the separate wash basin or the separate washstand, wherein the vanity unit circulates in an arcuate manner over at least 180° at least in the upper region in which the wash basin or the washstand is positioned, i.e. describes at least a semicircle, or extends even further. Preferably the vanity unit exhibits this curved shape over its entire height, i.e. is designed as a whole at least in the manner of a half barrel. The rim of the wash basin or washstand is designed with a similar shape thereto, i.e. this rim also circulates in an arcuate manner over at least 180°. The arc angle about which the rim extends and the arc angle about which the vanity unit extends are equal. Moreover, the rim of the wash basin or washstand is not only arcuate but has a specific, namely conical, shape via which it tapers from the upper end of the rim to the lower end of the rim.

In turn, the corresponding device parts are covered by a laminate layer or a paint coating, i.e. an application of paint of any color. Both parts can be coated in the same manner, i.e. the wash basin or the washstand and the vanity unit are both provided with a laminate layer or painted, or one component is provided with a laminate layer and the other component is painted. The vanity unit is covered by a first laminate layer or first paint coating which extends as far as the upper edge of the vanity unit which the wash basin or the washstand directly adjoins. The wash basin or the washstand or its rim is also covered by a second laminate layer or second paint coating which extends over the entire height of the conical rim surface and terminates with an upper edge on the upper end and with a lower edge on the lower end of the rim. Due to the conical shape of the rim or the rim surface, the laminate layer is arcuate, when considered in a developed view, since its initial shape has to be designed such that the second laminate layer entirely covers the conical surface of the rim, i.e. it encompasses both the arcuate shape and the cone shape. In the case of a paint coating, the entire conical surface is painted. In the installed position, the wash basin or the washstand or the rim is arranged above a narrow gap or optionally also arranged so as to be directly positioned on the outer surface of the vanity unit, so that the lower edge of the rim or the second laminate layer or the second paint coating is located immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the vanity unit or the first laminate layer or paint coating. The two arcuate edges run on the same or virtually the same radius, i.e. the two edges run, to an extent, congruently to one another, when viewed vertically. The edges are thus virtually aligned with one another, wherein this aligned arrangement has only a small tolerance and thus the two edges are offset to one another only in the region of a few tenths of a millimeter up to a maximum of 1.5 mm, for example. In principle, in the present case, “arcuate” or “on the same radius” is understood to mean not only a circular shape or circular arc shape but also an oval or, to an extent, elliptical shape, i.e. in any case a curved geometry deviating from a straight or rectangular shape. “On the same radius” is also to be understood to mean with a tolerance of +/−5% of the radius since, for example, a small difference in radius is produced in the case of a complete cone shape of the sanitary device, in order to avoid a step or a break in the transition from the wash basin or washstand to the vanity unit, in particular when there is a narrow gap there.

This shape of the wash basin or washstand and the vanity unit permits a significantly greater freedom of design, which also improves the adaptation to specific local conditions where such a sanitary device is intended to be installed.

The two laminate layers are, to an extent, veneer-like coverings which are fastened or arranged in a suitable manner on the respective component. The vanity unit is generally formed in its parts from multi-layered glued plywood, which is brought into shape directly during the manufacturing process, i.e. is correspondingly bent. At the same time, the first laminate layer is incorporated therewith, i.e. glued thereto. The second laminate layer is adhesively bonded to the rim via a suitable adhesive. The two laminate layers can be, for example, a genuine wood veneer, or a plastics veneer for example with a genuine wooden appearance, and a paint coating or a gel coat can also be applied to the laminate layer, and the like, instead of a wooden appearance or a wood veneer. In the case of a paint coating, the components are correspondingly painted after their manufacture or surface treatment in the case of the wash basin rim or washstand rim, wherein the paint is then dried and optionally heat-treated.

While the rim of the washstand or wash basin has a conical outer surface, i.e. tapers toward the vanity unit over a corresponding height (for example in the range of 1.0-10.0 cm) as described, the vanity unit in the adjoining region can have different bulged or curved shapes. Preferably, the vanity unit is also conically designed in the upper region, or preferably over its entire height, so that as a whole a common conical shape, which tapers from top to bottom, is produced from the upper to the lower end of the sanitary device. It is also conceivable, however, that the outer surface or outer shape of the vanity unit with the conical geometry widens again toward the bottom, i.e. runs, to an extent, in the opposing direction to the conically tapering shape of the rim. In the view, accordingly the sanitary device initially narrows from top to bottom over the wash basin or the washstand and then widens again downwardly over the vanity unit. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that a contour deviation is produced in the region of the transition from the wash basin or washstand to the vanity unit, and the vanity unit does not continue, or receive, the conical shape of the rim of the wash basin or washstand. The vanity unit can have, for example, a cylindrical shape, i.e. run, to an extent, without tapering from the upper to the lower end, but it can also be bulged outwardly for example, i.e. have, to an extent, a bulbous shape. In both cases, a break in terms of geometry is produced in the transition from the wash basin or washstand to the vanity unit.

The angle of the conical rim shape of the rim of the wash basin or washstand and, if provided, the angle of the conical outer shape of the vanity unit, should be between 85°-60° relative to the upper face of the planar rim of the wash basin or washstand.

The embodiment, according to which both the rim of the wash basin or washstand and the vanity unit have a conical outer shape in the respective curved region, is preferred. The angle which the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer or the first paint coating and the second paint coating adopt relative to the horizontal should be equal, such that the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer or the first and the second paint coating are aligned with one another. The conical visible face or outer surface of the vanity unit accordingly lengthens the conical visible face or outer surface of the rim of the wash basin or washstand, so that in the view, to an extent, a closed, continually tapered end of conical outer shape is produced.

As described, the curved geometries on the wash basin or the washstand and on the vanity unit circulate over at least 180°. According to a first alternative of the invention, the region bearing the wash basin or the washstand, or the vanity unit over its entire height, and the rim of the wash basin or washstand, circulate over 360°. In this case, therefore, both the wash basin or the washstand has a circular shape, for example, and the vanity unit has a correspondingly adapted, for example circular, shape. This sanitary device can be installed so as to be freestanding, for example, i.e. with a spacing from the wall. The sanitary device thus has, to an extent, a complete barrel shape. According to an alternative, the region bearing the wash basin or the washstand and the rim of the wash basin or washstand circulate over less than 360° and in each case have a straight rear face which bears against a wall in the installed position. The components thus have, to an extent, a sectioned circular shape or elliptical shape with a visible surface or visible face extending over more than 180° and, to an extent, a planar installation face or bearing face with which the sanitary device bears against a wall. The sanitary device accordingly has the shape of, to an extent, a sectioned barrel.

The second laminate layer, as already described, is preferably adhesively bonded, via an adhesive which is waterproof, onto the outer surface of the mechanically machined rim, i.e. the rim ground to a precise conical shape. Since naturally in this region a water covering always has to be accounted for, naturally the use of a waterproof adhesive is particularly expedient, in particular in the region of the upper edge of the second laminate layer, in order to prevent it from becoming detached.

The second laminate layer in its developed view is slightly arcuate, as described, according to the cone angle of the conical rim surface shape. In the case of a wash basin or washstand circulating over 360°, the second laminate layer is dimensioned such that it can be butt-joined in the region of the rear face of the wash basin or washstand. The two end edges thus preferably adjoin one another virtually without gaps, wherein any minimal joint gap, where present, is filled with the adhesive, so that this gap, which can be in the region of a few tenths of a millimeter, is also closed. The laminate layer is cut out from a correspondingly large arcuate covering sheet via a suitable stamping or milling method in order to obtain a reproducible strip shape. Since the conical rim surface is mechanically machined and ground with maximum accuracy to a defined measurement, as set forth above, an extremely high dimensional stability is present on the part of the wash basin or washstand, so that a precise bonding of the laminate layer is possible.

The upper edge of the second laminate layer (the same applies to the upper edge of the second paint coating) preferably terminates flush with the planar upper face of the rim of the wash basin or washstand. The upper edge extends precisely up to the rim edge and, in the case of the laminate layer, does not protrude thereover. Optionally the upper edge of the laminate layer can be ground to size in the course of a post-machining step, should there be an overhang. Due to this arrangement, the upper edge of the laminate layer is accordingly in the visible region, which is why a laminate layer which is fully colored right through is expediently used so that a uniform color is displayed to the observer, even on the upper edge.

As in the case of the upper edge, the lower edge of the second laminate layer (the same applies to the upper edge of the second paint coating) can terminate flush with a lower edge of the rim. Accordingly a precise adaptation of the edge can also be provided here, wherein the lower edge can also be slightly post-machined, if required.

A precise path also the lower edge is advantageous, the upper edge of the first laminate layer or the first paint coating of the vanity unit running immediately adjacent thereto, as described, wherein there can be a narrow gap between the two edges. If the adjacent edges run in a precise manner, a precise gap dimension can be set around the periphery of the curvature, which is beneficial for the appearance.

One or more spacers can be provided on the vanity unit for setting such a gap. The wash basin or the washstand is borne via the spacer, or preferably the spacers, i.e. is positioned on the spacers. The spacers in turn are variable in terms of their shape, for example, so that the positioning point itself can be set, any adjustment of the wash basin or washstand on the vanity unit, and thus the gap width, being able to be set thereby if required. The gap is preferably set with a gap width which, if provided, corresponds to a gap width between a drawer or a door or a flap, or the like, on the vanity unit. In other words, the vanity unit can have at least one drawer or at least one door or at least one flap which is spaced apart via a narrow gap from the remaining body of the vanity unit.

If at least one door is provided, at least one receiving device for depositing an external object, in particular at least one shelf, can be provided in the interior of the vanity unit. This shelf is fixed to corresponding brackets which are provided on the inner face of the body of the vanity unit.

As already described, the first and the second laminate layer can have, to an extent, any appearance. The first and the second laminate layer can have a wooden appearance, by consisting of a genuine wood veneer or having such a genuine wood veneer, or a wooden appearance as a plastics layer, for example. Alternatively, paint or a gelcoat can be applied. The paint coatings can be in any colors, wherein the first and the second paint coating can be in the same color but can also have different colors.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sanitary device according to the invention of a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows the sanitary device of FIG. 1 in a perspective top view,

FIG. 3 shows a front side view of the sanitary device of FIG. 1 with open doors,

FIG. 4 shows a basic view, in section, of the wash basin of the sanitary device of FIG. 1 during the course of attaching the second laminate layer,

FIG. 5 shows a partial view of the arrangement of FIG. 4 with the wash basin located in a pressing tool for fixing the laminate layer,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a sanitary device according to the invention of a second embodiment,

FIG. 7 shows the sanitary arrangement of FIG. 6 in a front side view,

FIG. 8 shows a basic view of a third embodiment of a sanitary device according to the invention in a front side view,

FIG. 9 shows a basic view of a fourth embodiment of a sanitary device according to the invention in a front side view, and

FIG. 10 shows a basic view of a fifth embodiment of a sanitary device according to the invention in a front side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a sanitary device 1 according to the invention, comprising a wash basin 2 made of ceramic, porcelain or cast mineral material and a vanity unit 3, preferably made of glued plywood material. The vanity unit 3 has an upper region 4 which bears the wash basin 2, for example via spacers, not shown in more detail. The wash basin 2 in turn has a rim 6 which adjoins a basin region 5 and which has a planar upper face 7, see the sectional view according to FIG. 4. Both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 have a round cross-sectional shape, as FIG. 2 illustrates. In the final installed position, shown here, a water tap 8 is arranged on the wash basin 2, the water tap naturally being connected to a water supply via a suitable pipeline which is supplied via a through-hole 9 provided on the rear face in the vanity unit 3, see FIG. 4. A trap, which is connected downstream and which is located in the interior of the vanity unit 3, is connected to a drain pipe which is supplied via the through-hole 9.

As the side view according to FIG. 1 shows in particular, the entire sanitary device has a cone shape, wherein the round shape extends around the entire circumference, i.e. around 360°. The sanitary device can thus be arranged slightly spaced apart from a wall, i.e. to an extent as a freestanding object. In order to produce this cone shape, which extends from the upper face of the wash basin 2 to the bottom of the vanity unit 3, on the one hand the vanity unit 3 is designed in a conical manner with its outer surface, i.e. the body of the piece of furniture inherently has a conical shape. The outer surface itself is covered as a whole with a first laminate layer 10, for example a genuine wood veneer. The shape is provided via a suitable bonding and forming process, the genuine wood veneer also being directly incorporated therewith during the course of said bonding and forming process. Two doors 11 are integrated in this cone shape, which make it possible to open the vanity unit 3, see FIG. 3, wherein, in the example shown, a receiving device 12 for depositing objects in the manner of a shelf is integrated in the interior of the vanity unit 3.

The visible outer face of the wash basin 2 also has a cone shape. To this end, the rim 6 is designed in a conical manner on its outer face 13, as FIGS. 4 and 5 show. This outer face 13 is machined via a suitable material-removing process, in particular by grinding, in an exceptionally dimensionally stable and precise manner. Via the machining, an exact angle α is set between the upper face 7 of the rim 6 and the outer surface 13. A second laminate layer 14 is bonded to this outer face 13 by means of an adhesive, wherein this second laminate layer 14 is the same layer material as in the first laminate layer 10. This second laminate layer is, to an extent, strip-shaped and, in the developed view, it has an arcuate shape corresponding to the cone shape of the rim surface 13 so that it can be precisely bonded and entirely covers the rim surface 13. The second laminate layer 14 is arranged on the rear face with its end edges abutting. The arcuate second laminate layer 14 is cut out from a larger arcuate sheet, for example in a milling method, and it can have a slight overhang on the upper face and lower face relative to the respective upper and lower edge of the rim surface 13, which overhang is milled off in a post-machining step, so that the upper edge and the lower edge of the second laminate layer 14 terminate flush with the upper face 7 and also flush with the region of the lower face of the rim.

The attachment of the second laminate layer 14 preferably takes place manually. After applying the adhesive and positioning the second laminate layer 14, the wash basin 2 is passed into a suitable clamping device 15 in which the wash basin 2 bears with its rim 7, as FIG. 5 shows. The angle β of the bearing surface 16 of the clamping device 15 is slightly smaller than the angle α so that, to an extent, this results in a point bearing which is sufficient for the clamping and fixing. In other words, the clamping force is brought into the region of the upper joint between the second laminate layer and the wash basin, since in particular this region which is wetted during use is completely sealed.

In FIG. 5 the second laminate layer 14 is shown slightly overhanging the upper face 7 and the lower face 17 of the rim 6. These overhangs are milled off in a subsequent step, as already described. Naturally it is also conceivable to dimension the second laminate layer 14 inherently in a correspondingly precise manner, so that there is no overhang of the upper edge and lower edge of the second laminate layer 14 toward the rim 6 and a milling step can be dispensed with.

In the installed position, the wash basin 2, which is configured in such a manner, is inserted from above into the body of the vanity unit 3, which is open on the upper face, and preferably rests with the rim 6 on spacers which are arranged on the vanity unit 3. A precise width of a gap 19 which is present between the lower edge of the second laminate layer 14 and the upper edge of the first laminate layer 10, i.e. between the lower edge of the rim 6 and the upper edge of the vanity unit 3, can be precisely set via these spacers, wherein preferably the width of the gap 19 corresponds to the width of further gaps 20 which are present, for example, in the region of the overhangs of the doors 11 relative to the body.

The finished sanitary device 1 exhibits, to an extent, a closed cone shape, continually tapering from top to bottom. There is no break in terms of geometry in the transition from the wash basin 2 to the vanity unit 3, i.e. the outer face of the second laminate layer 14 forming a second visible surface transitions, to an extent, continually into the outer face of the first laminate layer 10 forming a first visible surface. In order to permit this, both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 have the same angle α in the region of the cone shapes thereof, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3. Since the outer lower edge 21 of the rim 6 of the wash basin 2 and the outer upper edge 22 of the vanity unit 3 are also located on virtually the same radius, there is no edge or step here. In this regard, the two edges 21, 22 have only a marginal difference in the radius, as required by the width of the gap. However, since the gap is in the region of 1-3 mm, for example, ultimately there is a virtually identical radius, the change in radius being, to an extent, in the tolerance range of +/−5%, for example. Accordingly, an outer face of the entire sanitary device, which tapers continually from top to bottom, is produced without a break in terms of geometry in the transition of the wash basin 2 to the vanity unit 3, with the sanitary device having at the same time a barrel shape.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further exemplary embodiment of a sanitary device 1 according to the invention, once again comprising a wash basin 2 and a vanity unit 3. The construction and the design of both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 are identical to the above-described embodiment. Only the geometry of both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 is different here. While in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1-3 both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 have a circular shape, i.e. the outer or visible surface circulates over a full 360°, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is, to an extent, a sectioned barrel shape. The wash basin 2 visibly extends with its outer rim 6 over less than 360° and is, to an extent, flat or straight on the rear face 23. The same applies to the vanity unit 3 which is also flat or straight on its rear face 24. This makes it possible to arrange this sanitary device 1 with the respective rear face 23, 24 directly on a planar wall, from which the sanitary device 1 then, to an extent, bulges to the front.

While FIGS. 1-7 show embodiments of the sanitary device 1 in which the vanity unit 3, corresponding to the shape of the rim 6 of the wash basin 2, also has a cone shape which continues the conical shape of the rim 6, FIGS. 8-10 show sanitary devices in which the respective vanity unit 3 has a different geometry.

In FIG. 8 the wash basin 2 is shown once again with its rim 6 which once again has a conical outer shape which bears the second laminate layer 14. The vanity unit 3, which is shown here only in a stylized manner, has a cylindrical shape of the body which is covered by the first laminate layer 10. Both the wash basin 2 and the vanity unit 3 can once again circulate over a full 360°, but they can also have a planar rear face, as described in FIGS. 6 and 7. In any case, in the transition from the wash basin 2 to the vanity unit 3, the lower edge 21 of the wash basin 2 and the adjacent upper edge 22 of the vanity unit 3 are located once again on the same radius so that a step is produced here merely due to the geometry (transition from cone shape to cylinder).

In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, a wash basin 2 is provided once again with its conical rim shape bearing the second laminate layer 14, as well as a vanity unit 3, the outer face being covered by the first laminate layer 10. However, the vanity unit 3 is designed here, to an extent, as a slightly outwardly bulged barrel, as FIG. 9 illustrates. However, the edges 21, 22 are also located on the same radius. This embodiment can also be planar on the rear face, for example either circulating over 360° in cross section, or following the example according to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 10 finally shows a sanitary device 1 in which a wash basin 2 is provided with a significantly higher rim 6, which is covered by the second laminate layer 14. The rim 6 also has a corresponding conical rim shape here, as the figure illustrates. While in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 the rim has a height of 1-3 cm for example, the rim according to FIG. 9 can have a height of 5-10 cm for example. The vanity unit 3, the outer face thereof once again being covered by the first laminate layer 10, also has a cone shape which runs in reverse, however, compared with the cone shape of the rim 6. In other words, the cone shape of the vanity unit 3 widens from top to bottom and does not taper, as in the rim 6. Accordingly, the opposing geometry shown in FIG. 10 is produced, wherein once again the upper edge 21 and the lower edge 22 are located on virtually the same radius, so that a step is not produced in the transition region.

The geometries which are shown are merely by way of example and non-limiting. In principle, other geometries or other combinations of the above-shown geometries are also conceivable.

Although two laminate layers are described in the examples, the embodiments apply equally in the case of paint coatings.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.