AU727874B2 - Faucet with moveable spout - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 FAUCET WITH MOVEABLE SPOUT The present I'Vertl'dt-rr -drretCe fc iaucets and in particular but not exclusively to faucets for use with domestic bath tubs.

Hitherto showering of infants, babies and toddlers in bathtubs has required that the mother hold the infant with one hand and operate a hand held shower with the other.

This operation often limits the mother's ability to safely hold the infant, hold the shower, and at the same time use a brush, soap, shampoo or other items or accessories to facilitate effective washing of the infant. The use of conventional fixed shower heads has proven ineffective in these situations in that the shower heads are generally fixed at a height suitable for adults and children, particularly infants, toddlers and babies, often find the prospect of water hitting them from this height frightening.

Additionally, typical bathtub faucets direct fluid downwardly towards a bottom edge margin of the bathtub directly below the faucet. This provides a limited space into which users can place objects or limbs to be washed and at the same time be exposed to the downwardly flowing stream of free running water issuing from the faucet. For example, it is often difficult to wash one's feet under a bathroom faucet.

An object of the present invention is to address one or more of the above identified deficiencies of the prior art.

In a preferred aspect, the present invention was devised particularly but not exclusively to replace conventional bath tub faucets.

The present invention provides a faucet having a housing provided with a spout, the spout being swingable between at least two discrete positions, the spout further being releasably lockable at each of said at least two SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/A U98/00513 2 positions and wherein in use, the spout is swingable about a substantially horizontal axis.

It is preferred that the spout is releasably lockable by means of an arresting mechanism having a release mechanism activatable by a push button or a pivotally mounted lever arm.

The spout may be provided with a camming surface upon which an arresting member is adapted to slide. The camming surface may be provided with a number of notches into which an end of the arresting member may be ensconced to prevent swinging movement of the spout and lock the spout into one of the said at least two discrete positions.

In another embodiment pawl and ratchet means may be used to arrest movement of the spout at each of said discrete positions.

It is preferred that the spout is releasably lockable at three discrete positions, being a first position to direct fluid downwardly along a substantially vertical axis, a second position to direct fluid downwardly at an inclined angle and a third position to direct fluid substantially horizontally.

A spring biased push button or pivotally mounted lever arm may be provided to release the arresting mechanism to enable the spout to be swung to another position.

It is preferred that the spout is releasably locked in any one of the three positions to direct flow downwardly in a substantially vertical direction, downwardly at an outwardly inclined angle of 450 to the vertical and substantially horizontally, respectively.

A shower head may be attached to the spout outlet to facilitate hand free showering of infants et al.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 3 Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a faucet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the faucet of figure 1 with the spout locked at another discrete position to that of figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the faucet of figure 1 with the spout locked at yet another discrete position to that of figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the faucet of figure 3 provided with a detachable shower head.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a faucet 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the faucet 1 being formed of a housing 2 having a spout 3 hinged for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis extending through the housing 2.

The spout 3 is swingable between three discrete positions, and releasably lockable at each of said positions being a first position to direct a stream of water downwardly along a substantially vertical axis, a second position to direct a stream of water downwardly at an inclined angle and a third position to direct a stream of water substantially horizontally as illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

The spout 3 is releasably lockable by means of an arresting mechanism having a release mechanism (not shown) activatable by a push button 4.

A spring biased push button 4 is provided to release the arresting mechanism to enable the spout 3 to be swung from one discrete position to another position.

The spout 3 is provided with a camming surface (not shown) upon which the arresting member is adapted to slide.

The camming surface is provided with three notches (not shown) into which an end of the arresting member may be SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 4 ensconced to prevent swinging movement of the spout 3 and to positively lock the spout 3 into one of the said three discrete positions.

As illustrated in the drawings the spout 3 is releasably locked in any one of the three positions to direct flow downwardly in a substantially vertical direction, downwardly at an outwardly inclined angle of 450 to the vertical and at substantially horizontally, respectively.

Appropriate sealing means (not shown) are provided between the spout and the housing 2.

In another embodiment, the inlet end of the spout 3 may be directly connected to the outlet of the water supply 7 of the housing 2 by means of a flexible conduit (not shown) to reduce the risk of leakage between the housing and the spout, the valve controlling flow of water being upstream of the conduit.

As illustrated in figure 4 a shower head 5 may be attached to the spout 3 outlet to facilitate hand free showering of infants et al.

As discussed previously, hitherto showering of infants, babies and toddlers in bathtubs has required that the mother hold the infant with one hand and operate a hand held shower with the other. This operation often limits the mother's ability to safely hold the infant, hold the shower, and at the same time use a brush, soap, shampoo or other item or accessory to facilitate effective washing of the infant.

The use of conventional fixed shower heads may often be ineffective in these situations because of the height at which the shower head is typically fixed. This is generally too high to be comfortable for babies, toddlers and invalids and it has been found that toddlers and babies can be frightened excessively by being showered under fixed shower heads.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 The present invention may facilitate hands free operation of a shower head in a bathtub by enabling the flow of water from the shower head to be at a level commensurate with the height at which an infant can be safely seated in a bathtub and effectively, comfortably and enjoyably showered.

Additionally, typical bathtub faucets direct a stream of water downwardly towards a bottom edge margin of the bathtub directly below the faucet. This provides a limited space into which users can place objects or limbs to be washed and, at the same time, exposed to the stream of running water issuing from the faucet.

However, the preferred embodiment of the present invention enables the spout to be swung and releasably locked at a position to provide a larger space under the spout into which the feet or other object may be placed with the stream of water directed to flow freely thereon.

Installation of the faucet 1 in accordance with the invention is not dissimilar to installation of conventional faucets.

The faucet housing 2 is typically connected to a water pipe 7 and fixed in position with the spout 3 oriented to direct a stream of water downwardly in a substantially vertical direction.

Installation of the present invention differs from this only in that the spout 3, once the housing 2 has been installed, may be swing about a horizontal axis to at least two other discrete positions and releasably lockable thereat.

A faucet according to the invention may be substituted for most conventional faucets and may be retro-fitted to standard conventional domestic water outlets.

As illustrated in the drawings a faucet 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is installed on a wall 6 at one end of a bathtub. The housing 2 is fixed to SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 6 the wall 6 with the spout 3 directed towards the bathtub.

The above described preferred embodiment may facilitate hands free operation during showering of babies, toddlers, infants and invalids.

A faucet according to the invention may be used at locations other than with bathtubs. For example, at beaches, where conventional faucets are provided for washing sand off feet. Typically the conventional faucets are attached to an upright support, and as such, the space between the support and the location at which downwardly flowing water is directed is somewhat limited.

A faucet according to the invention having a shower head may be installed in shower recesses at a height intermediate a conventional shower head and the floor at a height which is more suitable for children and other persons of small build.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the spout may be provided with quick release coupling or other detachable fastening means to enable the spout to be readily disconnected from the housing for replacement.

The arresting mechanism may, for example, comprise a pivotally supported lever arm having one end spring biased towards the canrning surface of a shoulder of the spout so that it may enter one of the notches to lock the spout into one of the respective positions and the other end operable to withdraw the one end from the notch to enable the spout to swing to the next position.

The spout may, for example, be provided with a pair of shoulders (not shown) of annular cross-section which cooperates with corresponding recesses in the housing to provide for rotational movement between the spout and the SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 7 housing about a substantially horizontal axis.

One shoulder may provide a camming surface against which an arresting arm is spring biased. The camming surface may be provided with three notches, into which the arm may enter to positively lock the spout into one of said three positions.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", ie the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

Claims (9)

1. A faucet having a housing provided with a spout, the spout being swingable between at least two discrete positions, the spout further being releasably lockable at each of said at least two positions and wherein in use, the spout is swingable about a substantially horizontal axis.

2. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein the spout is releasably lockable by means of an arresting mechanism having a release mechanism activatable by a push button or a pivotally mounted lever arm.

3. A faucet as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein a spring biased push button or pivotally mounted lever arm is provided to release the arresting mechanism to enable the spout to be swung to another of said discrete positions.

4. A faucet as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spout is provided with a camming surface upon which an arresting member is adapted to slide and the camming surface is provided with a number of notches into which an end of the arresting member may be ensconced to prevent swinging movement of the spout and to positively lock the spout into one of the said at least two discrete positions.

5. A faucet as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein pawl and ratchet means are provided to arrest movement of the spout.

6. A faucet as defined in any one of the preceding claims SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) WO 99/36181 PCT/AU98/00513 9 wherein the spout is releasably lockable at three discrete positions, being a first position to direct fluid downwardly along a substantially vertical axis, a second position to direct fluid downwardly at an inclined angle and a third position to direct fluid substantially horizontally.

7. A faucet as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spout is releasably locked in any one of the three positions to direct flow downwardly in a substantially vertical direction, downwardly at an outwardly inclined angle of 45° to the vertical and at substantially horizontally, respectively.

8. A faucet as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spout is provided with a shower head to facilitate hand free showering of infants.

9. A faucet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of the accompanying drawings SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26)