AU727330B2

AU727330B2 - A rotatable spout assembly

Info

Publication number: AU727330B2
Application number: AU52154/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Branko Klicek; Howard Schultz
Original assignee: Caroma Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Caroma Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1997-01-20
Filing date: 1998-01-20
Publication date: 2000-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-20
Also published as: AU5215498A

Description

S F Ref: 399901

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Caroma Industries Limited GWA House, 13th Floor Market Street Brisbane Queensland 4000

AUSTRALIA

Branko Klicek and Howard Schultz Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL [31] Application No(s) P04680 A Rotatable Spout Assembly APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[32] Application Date 20 January 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 -1- A ROTATABLE SPOUT ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a rotatable spout assembly.

Rotatable spout assemblies are used when it is necessary for a spout to be able to be rotated about an axis to provide increased access or clearance to, for example, a basin or sink. Generally, the rotatable spout assemblies are comprised of a connector having one end able to be rotatable mounted to the spout and another end non-rotatably mounted to a supply of water.

A known arrangement for achieving the rotatable mounting between the connector and the spout involves the connector having a cylindrical portion sized to be a clearance fit within a cylindrical bore in the bottom of the spout. The cylindrical portion of the connector includes a circumferential recess or groove. A grub screw *.passes through the wall of the spout to engage the groove and stops relative axial displacement between the spout and the connector, as is caused by the water pressure developed inside the spout in use. The shank of the grub screw is generally a clearance fit within the circumferential groove so the spout can be rotated with the shank of the screw travelling along or in the groove.

S"This known mounting arrangement has several disadvantages. Firstly, the head of the grub screw is accessible on the outside of the spout and, as such, may be easily removed by thieves or vandals wishing to dismantle the spout assembly. This is a particular problem in hotels and public facilities.

Secondly, the head of the screw is visible on the outside of the spout which is unsightly and adversely affects the overall appearance and visual appeal of the spout assembly. An attempt to ameliorate this problem has involved placing the grub screw at the rear of the spout assembly. However, this is ineffective when the spout assembly is installed in front of a mirror, as is often the case in bathrooms and the like.

Another disadvantage is that the grub screw can work loose over time causing the spout assembly to separate from the connector.

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above disadvantages of the prior art.

[N:\Iibd]OOO87:DMB -2- Accordingly, the present invention discloses a rotatable spout assembly, the assembly includes: a spout having a hollow proximal portion; a connector having a first end mounted for rotation relative to the proximal portion and a second end shaped to engage a water supply, the proximal portion and the first end being locked against relative axial displacement by a grub screw assembly; and a bell portion adapted, upon assembly, to cover the proximal portion of the spout and thereby conceal the grub screw assembly from view.

Preferably, the proximal portion includes a cylindrical bore and the first end of the connector is a tube sized to be a clearance fit within the bore.

Preferably also, a sealing means, for example one or more O-rings, is provided between the adjacent surfaces of the tube and bore. In an embodiment, the tube includes two circumferential grooves, each of the grooves being adapted to seat an 15 O-ring. In another embodiment, the bore includes two circumferential grooves, each of the grooves being adapted to seat an O-ring.

S.The second end of the connector is desirably threaded so it can be connected to a water supply. In an embodiment, the second end includes an internally threaded bore. In another embodiment, the second end includes an externally threaded spigot.

In a preferred form, the connector includes a circumferential groove or recess adapted to receive the shank of the grub screw for travel therein. In this form, the proximal portion of the spout includes a threaded radial bore which is engaged by the threads of the grub screw. In another preferred form, a partial annular slider is provided to slide within the groove in the connector. In this form, the slider includes a threaded radial bore which is engaged by the shank of the grub screw. The head of the grub screw is located within a radial aperture provided in the proximal portion of the spout.

Desirably, the proximal end of the spout includes a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter which forms the proximal portion and which terminates in a shoulder.

[N:\IibdOOO87:DMB -3- Desirably also, the bell portion includes a cylindrical bore adapted to receive the reduced diameter cylindrical portion therein and which terminates in an annular edge adapted, upon assembly, to abut the shoulder such that the external surface of the bell portion becomes a smooth prolongation of the external surface of the spout.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded partial sectional side view of the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, after assembly; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the second embodiment, after assembly; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional top view along line 4-4 of Fig. 5 of a slider member S. used in the second embodiment; and ooooe Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional side view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 of the slider is member shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown the first embodiment of the rotatable spout assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a spout 12 having a hollow proximal portion in the form of cylindrical portion 14 which terminates at a shoulder 16. The o:ooo assembly also includes a connector 18 having a first end 20 mounted for rotation relative to the cylindrical portion 14 and a second end 22 having an external thread 24 for engaging a water supply. The first end 20 includes a cylindrical portion 26 sized to be a clearance fit within a bore 28 of the cylindrical portion 14. The cylindrical portion 26 includes two circumferential grooves or recesses 30 in which is seated 0-rings 32 and 34. Upon assembly, the O-rings 32 and 34 provide a water tight seal between the bore 28 and the cylindrical portion 26. The cylindrical portion 26 also includes a circumferential groove or recess 36 which, upon assembly, aligns with a radial threaded bore 38 provided in the cylindrical portion 14. A grub screw 40 having a slotted head 41 engages the radial bore 38 with a threaded shank 42 which is received within the groove 36 for travel therein. The grub screw is used to lock the cylindrical portion 14 [N:\Iibd]OOO87:DMB -4to the first end 20 of the connector 18 to prevent relative axial displacement therebetween.

The assembly 10 also includes a bell portion 44. The bell portion 44 includes a cylindrical bore 46 adapted to receive the cylindrical portion 14 therein. The bore 46 terminates at an annular edge 48. As shown in Fig. 2, upon assembly, the bell portion 44 covers the cylindrical portion 14 thereby concealing the grub screw 40 from view.

The annular edge 48 abuts the shoulder 16 such that external surface 50 of the bell portion 44 becomes a smooth prolongation of external surface 52 of the spout 12.

The bell portion 44 also includes a threaded bore 54 which engages the threaded shaft 24 of the connector 18 to retain the bell portion in position concealing the grub screw assembly from view.

The spout 12 also has a filter 58 and aerator A second embodiment of the spout assembly 70 is shown in Fig. 3. Like •••oo reference numerals to those used in describing the first embodiment will be used to 15 indicate like features. In this embodiment, the connector 18 has a threaded internal bore 72 for engaging a water supply and an external nut section 76 to facilitate installation and tightening of the connector by a wrench, spanner or like tool. The spout 12 includes a cylindrical proximal portion 78 having a radial bore .••ooi therethrough.

A partial annular slider 82 having a threaded radial bore 84 is provided to slide within and along groove 36. The threaded shank 42 of the grub screw 40 engages the bore 84 of the slider member 82 and the slotted head 41 of the grub screw 40 is slidably received within the bore 80 of the proximal portion 78. In this way, the proximal portion 78 of the spout 12 is locked to the cylindrical portion 20 to prevent relative axial displacement therebetween.

As with the first embodiment, the bell portion 44 covers the grub screw upon assembly thereby concealing the grub screw 40 from view.

The spout assemblies 10 and 70 possess many advantages over those of the prior art. Firstly, as the grub screw 40 is concealed by the bell portion 44 it is not [N:\Iibd00O87:DMB accessible from the outside of the spout making thereby preventing easy removal or damage by thieves or vandals.

Secondly, as the grub screw is not externally visible the overall appearance of the spout assemblies 10 and 70 are improved.

Thirdly, even if the grub screw 40 becomes loose it is prevented from completely disengaging from the spout 12 or the slider member 82. This is because the radial travel of the head 41 is limited by abutment with the inside bore 46 of the bell portion 44 before the grub screw 40 can become disengaged from the spout 12 or slider member 82. This stops the spout 12 inadvertently separating from the connector 18.

The foregoing describes only two embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the present invention.

9* .9 9 9 9 9.

[N:\libd00087:DMB

Claims

1. A rotatable spout assembly, the assembly includes: a spout having a hollow proximal portion; a connector having a first end mounted for rotation relative to the proximal portion and a second end shaped to engage a water supply, the proximal portion and the first end being locked against relative axial displacement by a grub screw assembly; and a bell portion adapted, upon assembly, to cover the proximal portion of the spout and thereby conceal the grub screw assembly from view.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal portion includes a cylindrical bore and the first end of the connector is a tube sized to be a clearance fit within the bore.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein a sealing means is provided between the adjacent surfaces of the tube and bore.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sealing means comprises one or more O-rings.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube includes two circumferential grooves, each of the grooves being adapted to seat an O-ring.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bore includes two circumferential grooves, each of the grooves being adapted to seat an O-ring.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end of the connector is threaded for connection to a water supply.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second end includes an internally threaded bore.

9. An assembly as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the second end includes an externally threaded spigot. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector includes a circumferential groove or recess adapted to receive the shank of the grub screw for travel therein.

IN:\libd100087:lzg -7-

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the proximal portion of the spout includes a threaded radial bore which is engaged by the threads of the grub screw.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein a partial annular slider is provided to slide within the groove in the connector.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the slider includes a threaded radial bore which is engaged by the shank of the grub screw.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the head of the grub screw is located within a radial aperture provided in the proximal portion of the spout.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proximal end of the spout includes a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter which forms the proximal portion and which terminates in a shoulder.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bell portion includes 0.. a cylindrical bore adapted to receive the reduced diameter cylindrical portion therein and which terminates in an annular edge adapted, upon assembly, to abut the shoulder such that the external surface of the bell portion becomes a smooth prolongation of the S: external surface of the spout.

17. A rotatable spout assembly substantially as described herein with 0.. reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this Seventh Day of January 1998 Caroma Industries Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON [N:\IibdOOO87:DMB