AU2009100154A4

AU2009100154A4 - Mixer fitting

Info

Publication number: AU2009100154A4
Application number: AU2009100154A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pil-Won Bong
Original assignee: BONG PIL WON
Current assignee: BONG PIL WON
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-02-18
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-20
Also published as: AU2008100258A4

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s) Pil-Won Bong Invention Title: MIXER FITTING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P77103AU.1 PartSetFing Application 2009.2-18doc (S) MIXER FITTING (,i SField of the Invention 00 The invention relates to tap fittings.

Background Art Typical plumbing installations, such as those in a shower, bath or sink, utilise Stwo mounted taps, one to control hot water and one to control cold water. These taps include a spindle and cock fitting. The spindle is mounted in the cock fitting and carries a handle and a valve washer at its opposite end. Rotational movement of the spindle causes linear movement of the washer towards or away from the valve seat within the cock fitting. In use water entered cock fitting through and inlet, is controlled in its flow through the valve formed by the valve seat and valve washer and flows out of the cock fitting through an outlet and subsequently mixes with another water flow before discharge through an outlet such as a shower head or tap outlet. The cock fittings are commonly installed within a masonry wall, or at least installed behind a wall that is sheeted with ceramic tiles or the like.

If a user wishes to change the workings of the tap by installing a single mixer tap to replace the two taps, the user is required to break open the wall to replace the system. As multiple pipes must then extend to a single mixer, the size of the mixer and fittings may be too great for the existing holes in the masonry or porcelain sink to handle.

Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the present invention comprises a mounting arrangement for mounting a tap to a surface, the mounting arrangement having an interior channel to allow fluid communication between a water source and the tap through the mounting arrangement.

In one form the mounting arrangement comprises a bolt having an inner passage that forms at least part of the interior channel, the bolt being securable to the tap; and a -2nut, the nut being securable to the bolt and arranged in use to clamp the tap to the surface.

C4 00 In one form the mounting arrangement further comprises a coupling adapted to connect the mounting arrangement with a hose which is in fluid communication with the water source.

The mixer fitting allows for a tap to be affixed with or retrofitted to a surface Swhile minimizing the hole required in the surface to allow for the tap to be mounted and water to be connected with the tap.

Io In a second aspect, disclosed is a tap arrangement, comprising a tap and a mounting arrangement, the mounting arrangement having an interior channel to allow fluid communication between a water source and the tap through the mounting arrangement.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective base view of the fitting of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a fitting of one embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the figures, disclosed is a mounting arrangement 1 for mounting a tap 6 to a surface (not illustrated) such as a sink, bath, or wall. The mounting arrangement 1 allows the tap to be mounted to the surface while connecting water sources to the tap 6.

The tap 6 comprises a body 3, a valve, in this case a mixer valve, 7, and an outlet 8.

The mounting arrangement 1 comprises a bolt 10 which extends through the interior cavity 4 of the cover 3. The bolt 10 is affixed with the tap at a point internal to -3the tap body 3, typically through a threaded engagement or a boss. The bolt 10 is also securable with a fixing nut 12 and a fixing plate 11.

SThe bolt 10 extends into the surface and its rigid nature allows for the support 00 and mounting of the tap 6. The bolt is also engaged with the fixing nut 12 and fixing s plate 11. The fixing plate 11 is positioned to abut the surface on the opposite side from zthe tap such that the tap 6 is clamped to the surface.

The bolt 10 is thus adapted to connect the outlet 8, body 3 and mixer 7 with a Ssurface. The bolt 10 is composed of metal or plastic or any other material strong and water resistant enough for the purpose.

The bolt 10 is hollow and includes a channel 13 extending therethrough. The channel 13 is adapted to allow water to flow therethrough. The channel 13 has an outlet within the region of the valve 7 interior to the body 3 of the tap 6.

The bolt 10 is also adapted to be affixed with a water source 20. The water source 20 is in the form of a pipe or tube from a hot or cold water system. The water source 20 is affixed with the bolt 10 by means of a connecting nut 21. In use, a second water source 22 is positioned to extend through the body 3 into the interior cavity 4 of the tap 6.

The bolt thus acts to engage the outlet 8 and the mixer 7 with the surface while allowing a flow of water therethrough. The interior channel 13 of the bolt 10 is in fluid communication with the water source 20 and the outlet 8 while the second water source 22 is in fluid communication with the outlet 8. The fluid communication of the water sources 20 and 22 with the outlet 8 is controlled by the mixer 7.

It can seen that the connector of the present invention allows for two water sources 20 and 22 to be introduced into the interior cavity 4 of the tap 6 and controlled by the mixer 7 to be expelled from the outlet 8. The connection of the mounting arrangement 1 with the water source means that the mounting arrangement can be simply mounted on a surface without requiring space for both water sources and a bolt or other engaging means to affix the tap with the surface. Instead only a single water pipe or hose and the bolt 10 are required.

In use the mounting arrangement 1 allows for a mixer and tap to be retrofitted onto an old style sink. Rather than each water source and 20 and 22 being connected with independent valves and then connected with the tap, the water sources 20 and 22 -4are connected through the mounting arrangement 1 and mixer 7 to the outlet 8.

However because the bolt 10 is utilised as both a fluid channel to outlet 8 and an Sengagement means between outlet 8, mounting arrangement 1 and the surface of the 00 sink, bath or wall, the mounting arrangement 1 can be utilised with a small sized hole s such as that for a single tap in an old style tap system. This means in retrofitting the bathroom or kitchen with the mounting arrangement 1 and associated mixer and outlet there is no need to cut the stainless steel sink or porcelain basin or into the wall to increase the size of the hole to allow fluid flow into the connector.

It is to be understood that a reference herein to a prior art document does not constitute an admission that the document forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

2. A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1 comprising: Sa bolt having an inner passage that forms at least part of the interior channel, the bolt being securable to the tap; 1o a nut, the nut being securable to the bolt and arranged in use to clamp the tap to the surface.
3. A mounting arrangement as defined in either of the preceding claims, further comprising a coupling adapted to connect the mounting arrangement with a hose which is in fluid communication with the water source.
4. A tap arrangement comprising: a tap; a mounting arrangement as defined in any of the preceding claims. A mounting arrangement as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.