AU2005100961A4 - A tap handle - Google Patents

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: A tap handle The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: O A TAP HANDLE OFIELD OF THE INVENTION O The present invention relates to a tap handle. More particularly the present invention relates to a handle for connecting with the spindle of a tap. The

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handle is especially suited to tap operating spindles which extend outwardly though an aperture in a surface such as a shower wall, basin or sink. It will IND therefore be convenient to describe the invention in relation to this kind of spindle.

0 It should be understood however that the invention is intended for application and Suse on other forms of tap operating spindles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION N Taps used in connection with basins, showers, kitchen sinks or the like are in most instances operated via a rotatable handle which is connected with a tap operating spindle to control fluid flow through an outlet associated with the tap.

Tap handles used in these environments usually have a series of outwardly projecting wings to enable the handle to be grasped and rotated by a user during operation. As tap handles are made of a metal or ceramic material the outwardly projecting wings are very solid and can therefore be particularly hazardous if accidentally impacted by the user.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a tap handle which overcomes or ameliorates the above mentioned problem with the prior art.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in or any other country on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a handle for connecting with a tap operating spindle. The handle includes a first portion for engaging with a user's hand and a second portion for engaging with the spindle, wherein at least the first portion is made of a resilient material.

Preferably, the second portion includes a central aperture for locating the handle over an end portion of the spindle, and the second portion is made of a substantially non-resilient material.

0 In a preferred embodiment, the first portion substantially encases the c second portion and the second portion includes at least one protuberance o extending radially outwardly with respect to the spindle axis which engages with a Z corresponding recess in the first portion.

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In one preferred embodiment, the resilient material from which the first portion is made is silicone rubber, but other resilient materials such as natural or synthetic rubber or foam materials may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS _A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described which should not be considered as limiting any of the statements in the previous section. The preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tap handle according to an embodiment of the invention attached to a tap operating spindle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tap handle according to an embodiment of the invention attached to a tap operating spindle with the outer section of the handle not shown; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tap operating spindle with a circular flange mounted thereon; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tap operating spindle illustrated in Figure 3 with the circular flange removed; and Figure 5 is a side view of the tap handle attached to a tap operating spindle shown in Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a handle 1 for connecting with a tap operating spindle 3. The handle 1 includes a first portion for engaging with a user's hand a second portion for engaging with the spindle 3. The first portion of the handle 1 is in the form of an outer section which is made of a resilient material, for example silicone rubber (otherwise known as polydimethylsiloxane).

The second portion of the handle 1 is in the form of an inner section 7 which is substantially encased by the outer section 5. The inner section 7 includes a central aperture into which an end portion 11 of the spindle 3 is O located. The inner section 7 is made of a non-resilient material, for example 0 N plastic, metal or a ceramic material, such that the inner section 7 remains O substantially rigid, during rotation of the handle 1 about the axis of the spindle 3.

Z The inner section 7 further includes a plurality of protuberances 13 which extend 00 radially outwardly with respect to the axis of the spindle 3. Each protuberance 13 of the inner section 7 engages with a corresponding recess 15 in the outer section 5. The protuberances 13 can be arranged in any particular form and function to assist the outer section 5 to retain its shape during rotation of the handle 1 by a user.

0 10 The outer section 5 is preferably transparent such that the inner section 7 Ncan be seen. The inner section 7 is preferably coloured blue or red to represent that the handle 1 is for operating a cold or hot tap respectively. The handle 1 is secured to the tap operating spindle 3 by a fastener which extends through a tubular member 17 which extends from the exterior of the handle 1 to the central aperture in the inner section 7 of handle 1. By placing a fastener within the tubular member 17 the handle 1 can be fixed in position on the spindle 3 by the engagement of the fastener with a cut-out portion 19 on the spindle 3.

Further, one or more of the handles 1 can be associated with water delivery products such as a basin spout and/or shower rose. In this respect the basin spout and/or shower rose is provided with an outer layer of resilient material, such as silicone rubber, to compliment the appearance of the associated tap handle/s 1. Preferably, the basin spout has an inner nylon delivery tube which is encased by the outer layer of silicone rubber.

The present invention advantageously provides a tap handle 1 which is more aesthetically pleasing than prior handles as the resiliency of the outer section 5 enables a user to grip the outer section 5 to rotate the handle 1 without the need for outwardly protecting wings. Further, the resiliency of the outer section 5 of the handle 1 alleviates the likelihood of injury to the user in the event of an impact with the handle 1.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing form the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above-described embodiment should not be considered to limit the present invention but rather should be construed broadly. Various 4 modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the c-I spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the outer section 5 of the handle 1 may be spherical, rather than cylindrical as depicted in the drawings or any other ;Z shape. Similarly, the protuberances 13 on the inner section 7 of the handle 1 00 may be of any shape, orientation and number.

Claims (4)

1. A handle for connecting with a tap operating spindle, the handle including Z a first portion for engaging with a user's hand and a second portion for engaging 0_ with the spindle, wherein at least the first portion is made of a resilient material.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a C* central aperture for locating the handle over an end portion of the spindle, the Ssecond portion being made of a substantially non-resilient material.

3. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first portion substantially encases the second portion, the second portion further including at least one protuberance extending radially outwardly with respect to the spindle axis which engages with a corresponding recess in the first portion.

4. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first portion is made of a natural or synthetic rubber material. A handle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 18th day of November 2005 ROBERT WATSON WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA UIP1104AUOO