Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C1/0404—Constructional or functional features of the spout
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C1/0412—Constructional or functional features of the faucet handle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
  • F16K31/60—Handles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
  • F16K31/60—Handles
  • F16K31/605—Handles for single handle mixing valves
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/02—Plumbing installations for fresh water
  • E03C1/04—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths
  • E03C2001/0414—Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths allowing different orientations of the spout or the outlet nozzle

Definitions

• the invention relates to a faucet.
• the invention concerns a faucet which allows adjustment of the water temperature and/or flow rate, with little input force or movement.
• the invention may have particular application for kitchen or bathroom taps but it need not be limited to this use.
• Prior art faucets require significant rotation or movement of a handle, which must often be gripped with some force to allow movement . These faucets can be difficult to use, especially for elderly or disabled users with reduced manual dexterity.
• a faucet comprising a base and a spout, wherein the spout is arranged to be deflected relative to the base by a user and to return to its initial position after the deflection.
• Deflection of the spout may effect a change in fluid flow rate and/or in fluid temperature from the spout.
• the fluid flow rate and/or fluid temperature may change by a predetermined amount in response to a deflection.
• Displacement of the spout may effect only a change in fluid flow rate, only a change in fluid temperature, or both.
• a single deflection may turn fluid flow "off” if it is “on", and “on” if it is “off”.
• vertical displacement of the spout turns the fluid flow "on” and “off”
• vertical displacement may be possible in only one direction from the initial position, for example, only upwards or downwards. In this arrangement consecutive deflections in the same direction from the initial position may switch the flow from “off to "on” and “on” to “off.
• vertical displacement of the spout turns the fluid flow "on” and “off
• vertical displacement may be possible in both directions from the initial position. For example, displacement in one direction from the initial position may turn fluid flow "on” if it is “off and further displacements in the same direction may increase the fluid flow up to a maximum while displacements in the opposite direction may reduce fluid flow until the flow is turned "off. In this arrangement consecutive deflections in one direction increase flow and consecutive deflections in the opposite direction reduce flow.
• displacement of the spout in one direction may increase fluid temperature and displacement in the opposite direction may decrease fluid temperature.
• the fluid temperature may be set to a predetermined value irrespective of any fluid temperature set in any previous use.
• the pre-determined value may be set between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature.
• the spout may be configured for displacement in two mutually perpendicular directions. Displacement in one direction may control fluid flow rate and displacement in the other direction may control fluid temperature. In alternative embodiments this may be reversed. Displacement in one direction may be substantially vertical and displacement in the other direction may be substantially horizontal.
• vertical displacement may effect a change in fluid flow rate and horizontal displacement may effect a change in fluid temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.
• the spout may be configured to effect return to its initial position following deflection.
• the spout may be sprung and/or otherwise biased to return to its initial position.
• a method of adjusting the fluid flow rate and/or temperature through a faucet comprising a spout which returns to an initial position after deflection, the method comprising deflecting the spout away from its initial position one or more times.
• Each deflection may increase or decrease the temperature or flow rate by a predetermined amount.
• the method may comprise deflecting the spout vertically to effect a change in flow rate, and/or deflecting the spout horizontally to effect a change in flow temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.
• the method may comprise repeating the same deflection to effect a larger change in flow rate or temperature than is effected by a single deflection.
• Figure 1 shows a faucet according to an embodiment
• Figure 2 shows the faucet of Figure 1 with the combined handle/spout portion in its rest position
• FIG 3 shows the faucet of Figure 1 with the combined handle/spout portion vertically deflected away from the rest position
• Figure 4 shows a front view of the faucet of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 shows a back view of the faucet of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 shows a plan view of the faucet of Figure 1 ;
• Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show a plan view of the faucet of Figure 1 in three different positions, with the rest position shown in Figure 7B and left and right horizontal deflections shown in Figures 7A and 7C respectively.
• a faucet 100 comprising a base 102, and a spout 104 which also serves as a handle.
• water enters the faucet from a water supply (not shown) via the base 102.
• water is ejected from an outlet 106 in the underside of the handle/spout portion 104.
• the base 102 is angled slightly forward from the vertical, towards the outlet. This is not essential and the orientation of the base 102 may differ from that shown in other embodiments.
• the spout 104 has a rest position, as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 6, which may also be referred to as its initial position.
• the upper surface 104a of the spout 104 is substantially horizontal when the faucet is in the rest position. This is not essential and the orientation of the spout 104 in the rest position may differ from that shown in other embodiments .
• the base 102 and spout 104 are connected such that the spout can be deflected left, right or upwards from the rest position, and will return to the rest position when the deflecting force is removed.
• the spout 104 is configured such that it automatically returns to its rest position when the deflecting force is removed.
• the spout 104 may be sprung or otherwise biased to achieve the automatic return to its rest position.
• the faucet is arranged such that an upward deflection of the spout 104 will turn the water flow "off if it is currently "on", and "on” if it is currently “off. The upward deflection therefore provides a simple on -off switch.
• Figure 3 illustrates the faucet with the spout 104 in the upwardly deflected position.
• the deflection required is small to facilitate use.
• a small displacement may be a displacement of up to 20 ° , and may be, for example, 5 ° , 10 ° , 12 ° , 15 ° or 20 ° .
• the spout 104 may be deflected vertically upwards or downwards. Upward deflection may increase flow rate, and downward deflection may decrease flow rate, or vice versa . After each deflection, the spout 104 returns to its rest position. The spout 104 can then be deflected again to further increase or decrease flow rate, or to counteract the previous change. In some embodiments, the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be fixed giving the same deflection providing a predetermined step change in flow rate for each actuation of the spout. In this way, multiple actuations of the spout may be required to reach maximum or minimum flow rate.
• the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be variable allowing different deflections providing different step changes in flow rate to be achieved when actuating the spout. In this way, a single actuation of the spout may be sufficient to reach maximum or minimum flow rate or any intermediate flow rate.
• the faucet is arranged such that horizontal deflection of the spout 104 increases or decreases the water temperature. In the embodiment being described, deflecting the spout 104 leftwards decreases the temperature and deflecting it rightwards increases the temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.
• the spout 104 After each deflection, the spout 104 returns to its rest position. It can then be deflected again to further increase or decrease water temperature, or to counteract the previous change.
• the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be fixed giving the same deflection providing a predetermined step change in temperature for each actuation of the spout. In this way, multiple actuations of the spout may be required to reach maximum or minimum temperature.
• the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be variable allowing different deflections providing variable step changes in temperature to be achieved when actuating the spout. In this way, a single actuation of the spout may be sufficient to reach maximum or minimum temperature or any intermediate temperature.
• the resulting change in flow rate and/or temperature from each actuation can be controlled. This may reduce the likelihood that a user will accidentally effect a large change in flow rate and/or temperature and splash or scald himself or herself. This may be desirable for users having reduced manual dexterity.
• the resulting change in flow rate and/or temperature from each actuation can be controlled to produce large or small changes in flow rate and/or temperature as desired. This may be desirable to allow a required flow rate and/or temperature to be achieved more quickly through a large change and/or to permit more precise control of flow rate and/or temperature through a small change.
• the temperature setting reverts to a predetermined temperature.
• the predetermined temperature is around 40 ° C; advantageously this provides warm water without a risk of scalds or discomfort.
• the spout 104 can therefore be tapped, knocked, flicked or "clicked” to effect a change in flow rate or temperature.
• vertical displacement may affect temperature
• horizontal displacement may affect flow rate.
• the faucet only allows control of temperature or flow rate by deflection and return of the spout 104, not both.
• Front and back surfaces 102a, 102b of the base 102 are curved and the side surfaces 102c are flat.
• the surfaces of the base 102 are curved where it connects to the spout 104.
• the spout 104 has semi-circular edge portions 108 and curved underside (not shown) where it meets the base 102 to facilitate horizontal and vertical displacement.
• the semi-circular edge portion 108 and curved underside fit to the curved portion of the base 102.
• the correspondence of shapes of the base 102 and spout 104 may prohibit movement beyond a small displacement.
• the spout 104 can be displaced by up to 10 ° by a horizontal or vertical deflection away from the rest position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=55311275

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2015
  • 2015-12-18 GB GB1522445.4A patent/GB2545502A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2016
  • 2016-12-02 EP EP16808783.1A patent/EP3390735A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-12-02 WO PCT/GB2016/053809 patent/WO2017103569A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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