GB1588407A

GB1588407A - Domestic water flow control tap

Info

Publication number: GB1588407A
Application number: GB4592876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BARKING GROHE Ltd
Current assignee: BARKING GROHE Ltd
Priority date: 1976-11-04
Filing date: 1976-11-04
Publication date: 1981-04-23

Description

(54) DOMESTIC WATER FLOW CONTROL TAP (71) We, BARKING-GROHE LIMITED (formerly BARKING BRASSWARE COMPANY LIMITED) a British Company, of 5-13 River Road, Barking, Essex, IGi 1 0HD, do here by declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to domestic water flow control taps and has particular refer ence to the coupling of an operating mem ber to the shaft of the tap to enable the latter to be rotated by the operating mem ber.

In the past, it has been necessary, where an operating member is coupled directly to the shaft of a tap, to machine, to fine toler ances, the engaging surfaces on these two components if "rock" and wear are to be avoided. Even when the fine tolerances are observed, it is sometimes necessary to in dude a clip, for example a strainless steel clip, between the operating member and the shaft, to reduce "rock" and wear to acceptable values. By fitting a resilient in sert between the components the machin ing tolerances can be increased. If the in sert is made of a suitable plastics material, it also provides a degree of thermal insula tion between the components.

The present invention provides a domes tic water flow control tap having an oper ating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a component of a resilient plastics material, the com ponent having a central bore that extends a-t least partially through the component, both interior and exterior surfaces of the component being so constructed that the interior surface is non-rotatively coupled to the operating member.

The present invention further provides a domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a generally cylindrical component of a resilient plastics material, the curved outer surface of the component having a plurality of axiallyextending splines coupling the insert to the operating member, the component having a bore which extends at least partway through the component and into which the shaft is inserted, the bore being of noncircular cross section in a plane transverse to its length and having a plurality of axial grooves separated by surfaces which engage the surface of the shaft.

In the insert of the preceding paragraph, the surfaces may be spaced at regular intervals round the inner surface of the bore and at least two of the surfaces which lie opposite to one another may have small axial ribs which project inwardly into the bore.

The present invention further provides a domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an isert comprising a component of a resilient plastics material having a central bore that extends at least partway through the component, the interior and exterior surfaces of the component being contoured in such manner that one surface is non-rotatively coupled to the operating member and the other surface is non-rotatively coupled to the shaft, the component having a set of axially-extending resilient fingers which are capable of radially-directed flexural movement and which grip either the shaft or the operating member.

In an embodiment. of the invention described in the preceding paragraph, the component has two sets of axially-extending fingers, one set gripping the shaft and the other set gripping the operating member.

The sets of fingers may be formed at opposite ends of the cylindrical member or they may extend from the same end.

In an embodiment in which the fingers grip the operating member (at least), a locking member may be employed to "lock" those fingers to prevent flexural movement thereof. The locking member may be in the form of a sleeve or plug and may seat upon a supporting surface, for example a transverse wall, in the bore of the insert.

By way of example, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a view from beneath an insert for one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 4 of another embodiment part only of which is shown in the drawing, Fig. 4 is a view from beneath of the in sert shown in Fig. 3 and part of the operat ing member, Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sections of other embodiments with shafts shown separated, Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, a vertical section and view from above of an insert for a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the em bodiment, part only of which is shown, in corp orating the insert of Figs. 8 and 9, and Fig. 11 is a vertical section of part of another embodiment of the invention and including also a perspective view of an ex traction tool.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an insert 1 which is of a somewhat pliable plastics material, for example that known under the Trade Mark 'MARANYL' Grade A190, is a generally tubular form being closed at one end 2 and open at the other.

The outer surface of the insert has a series of axial splines 3 equi-spaced round its circumference. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the splines do not extend over the full axial length of the insert, there being an unsplined portion 4 at each end.

The bore 5 of the insert is approximately square in transverse cross-section as can be seen from Fig. 1, each side of the square having two parallel axial grooves 6 with inner surfaces of semi-cylindrical shape.

The corners of the square are rounded. It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the grooves 6 in each side of the bore are equi spaced from one another and from the mid point of the rounded ends of the side. Be tween the grooves 5 each wall has a cen tral bearing flat 7. Two opposed flats 7 have small axial ribs 8 projecting inwardly of the bore.

The insert is used to couple an operating member (the handle) of a water fitting, to a shaft to be rotated by the operating mem ber. The operating member has an internal bore with splines complementary to the splines 3 on the outer surface of the insert.

The shaft indicated at 9 in Fig. 1 is of sub stantially square cross-section in a plane transverse to its length, the edges of the shaft being chamfered as shown at 10. When in position in the bore of the operating member, the portion 4 adjacent the closed end 2 abuts a complementary surface in the bore thus limiting inward movement of the insert into the bore.

The ribs 8 ensure that the shaft 9 fits tightly in the bore 5 of the insert and that the latter cannot rattle. If the shaft 9 is slightly oversize, the ribs or a part of them may be sheared off as the shaft 9 is in serted into the bore 5.

The inherent pliability of the insert 1 is enhanced by the grooves 6 in the bore 5 and a greater degree of resiliency is imparted to the insert.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown an insert 11 of generally tubular form also made of a resilient plastics material for example that known under the Trade Mark 'MARANYL' Grade A190.

The insert has an outwardly directed flange 12 at one end and a central bore 13 whose surface is splined in an axial direction over the major part of its axial length as shown.

At the end remote from the flange 12, the insert has two sets of fingers which extend axially of the member. A first set com prises four fingers 14 while the second set also comprises four fingers, these being re ferenced 15 in Figs. 3 and 4, and they lie be tween the fingers 14 being spaced therefrom by circumferential gaps as seen in Fig. 4.

The gaps permit movement in a radial direc tion of the fingers 14 and 15.

Each of the fingers 14 has a smooth in ner surface but is formed on its outer sur face with a step 16. The radial thickness of the finger decreases with increasing distance in a downward direction from the step 16.

Each of the fingers 15 has a smooth outer surface but is formed on its inner surface with a rounded projection 17.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the insert engages a shaft 18 of a domestic water tap whose upper end is splined to register with the splined bore of the insert and which has a circumferential groove 19 just be low the splines.

The insert 11 couples the shaft 18 to an operating member 20 having a central bore 21 into which the insert 11 fits. Rotation of the insert 11 relatively to the operating member 20 is prevented because the insert 11 is of square transverse cross-section over that part lying between the flange 12 and the roots of the fingers 14 and 15. The bore 21 has a complementary portion of square transverse cross-section.

The bore 21 has an internal shoulder 22 on which rests the flange 12. The bore 21 also has a second internal shoulder 23 which co-operates with the steps 16 to hold the- insert 11 in position within the operating member. Below the shoulder 23, the bore 21 is flared outwardly somewhat to accom modate outward flexural movement of the fingers 15 as will be described later.

To assemble the components, the insert 11 is pressed into the bore 21 from the up per end (as seen in Fig. 3) thereof. Initially, the fingers 14 of the first set flex inwardly to allow entry of the steps 16 into the bore 21, that entry being eased by the tapered contour of the fingers 14. Continued inward movement of the insert brings the flange 12 into contact with the shoulder 22 at which point, steps 16 spring outwardly into engagement with the second internal shoul der 23 in the bore 21. In that way the in sert is held firmly in the bore but can be re moved by applying an upward force to the lower end thereof to cause the fingers 15 to move radially inwards until the steps 16 clear the shoulder 23.

The upper end of the bore 21 in the operating member is closed by a disc 24 which may bear a decorative motif and/or colour indication showing, for example, whether the tap is controlling the flow of hot or cold water.

After the insert 11 has been coupled to the handle, the combination is coupled to the shaft 18 by inserting the latter into the bore of the insert and applying sufficient force to cause the fingers 15 to flex outwardly, into the clearance provided by the flared part of bore 21, until the shaft has entered into the bore sufficiently far to enable the rounded projection 17 on the finger to snap into the circumferential groove 19 so retaining the combination on the shaft 18.

The combination may be uncoupled from the shaft 18 by applying an upward pull sufficient to cause the rounded projections 17 to be forced out of the groove 19.

In Fig. 5 is shown an embodiment in which the sets of fingers are formed at opposite ends of an insert 25 of generally tubular form.

The insert 25 has a splined bore but as can be seen the splines extend over a part only of the length of the latter and termin ate about midway of the axial length of the bore.

The external surface of the insert 25 is also splined and has, at one end, an external flange 26. At the other end, the insert has a first set of axially extending fingers 27 spaced from each other by gaps 28 thereby allowing flexural movement of the fingers in a radial direction. Each finger 27 has a tapered upper portion, the taper terminating in an outward step 29.

Below the flange 26 extend a second set of axially extending fingers 30 separated by gaps 31 thereby allowing flexural movement of the fingers 30 in a radial direction. Each finger 30 has an inwardly extending rounded projection 32.

The insert 25 is shown in Fig. 5 fitted in the bore 33 of an operating member 34 and, in use, couples the member 34 to a shaft 35.

The bore 33 is splined to engage the splines on the external surface of the insert 25 so preventing rotation of the insert relatively to the member. The bore 33 has anointernal shoulder 36.

The insert 25 is entered into the bore 33 from below (as viewed in Fig. 5) and sufficient force is applied to cause the fingers 27 to move radially inwardly. Movement of the insert 25 continues until the flange 26 abuts the lower end of the member 34 at which point the outward steps 29 on the fingers snap over the shoulder 36 and the insert 25 is then held in position. The insert 25 can be removed by applying a downward force to it to cause to fingers 27 to move inwardly until the steps 29 disengage the shoulder 36.

The insert 25 couples the operating member 34 to the shaft by inserting the latter into the bore of the insert and applying sufficient force to cause the fingers 30 to flex radially outwardly. Movement of the shaft 35 into the bore continues until the rounded projections 32 on the fingers snapl into a circumferential groove 37 on the shaft 35 just below the splined end thereof. Further inward movement of the shaft is prevented when the shaft end reaches the end of the splines in the bore of the insert 25.

The operating member 34 may be removed from the shaft 35 by pulling upwardly on the member 34 sufficiently strongly to cause the rounded projections 32 to ride up out of the groove 37 as the fingers 30 flex radially outwardly.

As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper end of the bore 33 in the operating member may be closed by disc 38.

The insert 39 shown in Fig. 6 has fingers at one end only. The insert 39 is of generally tubular shape with longitudinal splines on both its internal and external surfaces.

At one end the insert 39 has an external flange 40 while at its other end it has a number of axially extending fingers 41 separated by gaps 42 which permit the fingers to flex in a radial direction. Each finger has an inwardly-extending rounded projection 43.

In Fig. 6, the insert 39 is shown positioned in the bore 44 of an operating member 45, the flange 40 on the insert seating on a shoulder 46 in the bore 44 and the fingers 41 projecting therefrom. The insert 39 couples the operating member 45 to a shaft 47 whose upper end is to co-operate with the splines in the bore 44 of the member 45. Coupling is achieved by entering the shaft 47 into the bore in the insert arid applying sufficient force axially to cause the fingers 41 to move radially-outwardly.

Movement of the shaft 47 into the bore of the insert continues until the rounded projections 43 on the fingers 41 snap into the groove 48.

The shaft 47 may be disengaged from the insert 39 by pulling upwardly on the member 45 to force the projections 43 on the fingers 41 to disengage the groove 48.

The insert 39 may be removed from the member 45 by simply pressing the insert upwardly through the bore 44.

As before, the open upper end of the bore 44 of the member 45 is closed by a suitable disc 49.

The insert 50 shown in Fig. 7 is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 6 being of tubular form with a splined bore and splines on its outer surface. The lower (as seen in Fig. 7) end of the insert has fingers 51 separated by gaps (not shown) to allow flexural movement of the fingers in a radial direction. Each finger 51 has an inwardlyextending rounded projection 52.

One end of the insert 50 is almost closed as shown, there being a central hole 53 by means of which the insert is coupled to an operating member 54.

The operating member 54 has a splined bore 55 closed at its upper (as viewed in Fig. 7) end except for a central aperture in which is located a fixing stud 56. The stud has a head 57 which seats on a shoulder 58 in the aperture. The stud also has depending from its lower end a series of fingers 59 separated by gaps 60, each finger having an outwardly-extending rounded projection 61.

To couple the insert 50 to the operating member 55, the insert is entered into the bore 55 and the fingers are forced through the hole 53, the fingers flexing inwardly to allow passage of the projections 61. After the projections 61 have passed through the hole 53 they snap outwardly so retaining the insert in position in the bore 54.

The insert is coupled to a shaft 62 having a splined upper end by means of the fingers 51 the projections 52 of which engage a circumferential groove 63 in the shaft 62 below its upper splined end. Sufficient force has to be employed when entering the shaft 62 into the bore of the insert to flex the fingers outwardly prior to the engagement of the projections 52 with the groove 63.

The stud 56 is uncoupled from the insert 50 and the latter from the shaft 62 by following a sequence of events which is the reversal of those described above for coupling together the components just mentioned.

The insert shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is also of a somewhat pliable plastics material, for example that known under the Trade Mark "MARANYL" Grade A190. The insert is of generally tubular form with a lower (as seen in Fig. 8) part 64 whose outside diameter is greater than that of a central part 65 and that of an upper part 66. The upper part 66 consists of a number (six in Figs. 8 and 9) of fingers 67 separated by radial gaps 68 to enable the fingers to flex.

Each finger has an outwardly-extending projection 69. The fingers are disposed around a part 70 of the bore of the insert whose internal diameter is greater than that of the part 71 of the bore whose internal diameter is less than that of the part 72 of the bore.

The outer surface of the part 65 of the insert has a series of longitudinal splines formed in it as indicated at 73. The surface of the part 72 of the bore also has a series of longitudinal splines formed in it as indicated at 74.

Fig. 10 shows the way in which the insert shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is used to couple an operating member 75 - a tap handle - to the shaft 76 of a domestic water tap part -of the headwork of which is shown at 77.

The operating member 75 has a central, hollow, inner boss 78, the bore of which is splined as at 79 and which has an inwardly extending shoulder 80. The upper (as seen in Fig. 10) part of the bore opens outwardly with a ledge 81 on which seats a disc 82 colour indication showing, for example, which may have a decorative motif and/or whether the tap is controlling the flow of hot or cold water.

The insert is coupled to the operating member by inserting, from below, the upper end of the insert into the bore of the boss 78. The splines 73 and 79 engage as the insert moves into the bore and as the fingers 67 engage the shoulder 80, they flex in wardly until the shoulder 80 is cleared by the projections 69 when the fingers snap outwardly, the shoulder 80 then being posi tioned beneath (as seen in Fig. 10) the projections. The contour of the projections 69 facilitates movement of the latter over the shoulder 80.

To secure the insert to the shaft 76, a screw 83 is inserted through the open end of the bore in the boss 78 and is screwed into a threaded longitudinal bore in the shaft 76. Finally the disc 82 is pressed into position to close the open end of the bore and conceal the upper part of the insert and the screw 82.

The tap, part of which is shown in Fig.

11, incorporates an insert 83 of generally tubular form with a bore having an upper (as seen in Fig. 11) part 84 separated from a lower part 85 by a transverse wall 86 integral with the remainder of the insert.

The internal diameter of the part 84 is slightly less than that of the part 85.

The wall 87 of the insert surrounding the part 85 of the bore is of greater external diameter tha'n the wall 88 surrounding the part 84 of the bore, there being an inclined surface 89 merging one wall into the other.

The wall 87 is formed by a series of longitudinally extending fingers 90 separated from one another by radially extending gaps 91 and each having an inwardly-extending projection 92 at its lower end. The wall 87 is externally splined as at 87a.

The wall 88 is also formed by a series of longitudinally-extending fingers 93 separated one from another by radially-extending gaps 94. Each finger 93 has an outwardly-extending projection 95 adjacent its upper end.

In Fig. 11, the insert 83 is shown coupled to an operating member 96 - a tap handle - and to the shaft of a domestic water tap part of whose headwork is shown at 97.

The member 96 has a hollow inner boss 98 whose bore is splined over its lower part as at 99 and has an inwardly extending shoulder 100 whose upper and lower surfaces are inclined as shown.

To couple the insert 83 to the operating member 96, the insert 83 is advanced from below into the hollow boss 98, the splines 87a and 99 interengaging. As the fingers 93 come into contact with the lower inclined surfaces of the shoulder 100 they flex inwardly until the projections 95 have cleared the shoulder and the latter is located in the position shown in Fig. 11. A retaining sleeve 101 is then forced into the part 84 of the bore of the insert and a disc (not shown) is positioned in a recess 102 in the upper surface of the operating member, the disc seating on a ledge 103 in the recess and having downwardly extending pins which fit tightly into holes 104.

The assembly comprising the insert and the operating member is then coupled to the tap by inserting the shaft thereof into the part 85 of the bore of~the insert. Some force is required to carry out this operation as the projections 92 have to be forced outwardly to permit entry of the shaft. The projections 92 eventually located in a circumferential groove in the shaft of the tap, the groove being similar to the groove 19 in the embodiment described above with reference to Fig. 3, with relative rotation between the shaft and the insert being prevented (as in that embodiment) by interengaging splines 108.

The presence of the sleeve 101 (which may, alternatively, be a solid plug) prevents inward movement of the fingers 93 and thus removal of the operating member 96.

It will be appreciated that removal of the sleeve even when its presence has been revealed by removal of the concealing disc cannot readily be effected -- a special tool is needed. Alternatively, the sleeve (or plug) may be fixed in position permanently.

It will be understood that the sleeve (or plug) is fitted only when the tap is likely to be tampered with or is exposed to vandalism.

Removal of the operating member from the shaft requires the use of a special tool one form of which is shown iri Fig. 11 and referenced 105.

The tool is of U-shaped form, the inner edges of the limbs of the U being inclined as indicated at 106.

To remove the operating member and insert from the shaft, the tool is advanced sideways towards the tap and the edges 106 are entered into the space 107 between the lower surface of the operating member and an adjacent surface on the body of the tap. It is then possible to lever off the operating member.

If, subsequently, it is desired to re-position the operating member on the shaft, this can be achieved by following the process described above.

In all cases the use of a resilient insert allows an increase in the tolerances to which the shaft and operating members have to be manufactured and this reduces their cost.

The use of a nylon insert of the material known under the Trade Mark ARANYL' Grade A 190 (a glass-filled nylon) is particularly valuable when used to couple a brass shaft to an operating member of an acrylic material. The insert can be moulded into the operating member without giving rise to stress cracking of the operating member which is found to occur when the acrylic member is moulded on to a brass insert. The moulding method is used with an insert of the form described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the other forms of insert being coupled to an operating member by means of resilient fingers.

The resiliency of the plastics material must be sufficient to allow flexing of the fingers without making removal of the insert too easy.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a component of a resilient plastics material, the component having a central bore that extends at least partially through the component, both interior and exterior surfaces of the component being so constructed that the interior surface is non-rotatively coupled to the shaft and the exterior surface is nonrotatively coupled to the operating member.

2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, in which the component is of generally cylindrical form, the bore being located on the longitudinal axis of the component.

3. A domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a generally cylindrical component of a re

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. part 84 of the bore, there being an inclined surface 89 merging one wall into the other. The wall 87 is formed by a series of longitudinally extending fingers 90 separated from one another by radially extending gaps 91 and each having an inwardly-extending projection 92 at its lower end. The wall 87 is externally splined as at 87a. The wall 88 is also formed by a series of longitudinally-extending fingers 93 separated one from another by radially-extending gaps 94. Each finger 93 has an outwardly-extending projection 95 adjacent its upper end. In Fig. 11, the insert 83 is shown coupled to an operating member 96 - a tap handle - and to the shaft of a domestic water tap part of whose headwork is shown at 97. The member 96 has a hollow inner boss 98 whose bore is splined over its lower part as at 99 and has an inwardly extending shoulder 100 whose upper and lower surfaces are inclined as shown. To couple the insert 83 to the operating member 96, the insert 83 is advanced from below into the hollow boss 98, the splines 87a and 99 interengaging. As the fingers 93 come into contact with the lower inclined surfaces of the shoulder 100 they flex inwardly until the projections 95 have cleared the shoulder and the latter is located in the position shown in Fig. 11. A retaining sleeve 101 is then forced into the part 84 of the bore of the insert and a disc (not shown) is positioned in a recess 102 in the upper surface of the operating member, the disc seating on a ledge 103 in the recess and having downwardly extending pins which fit tightly into holes 104. The assembly comprising the insert and the operating member is then coupled to the tap by inserting the shaft thereof into the part 85 of the bore of~the insert. Some force is required to carry out this operation as the projections 92 have to be forced outwardly to permit entry of the shaft. The projections 92 eventually located in a circumferential groove in the shaft of the tap, the groove being similar to the groove 19 in the embodiment described above with reference to Fig. 3, with relative rotation between the shaft and the insert being prevented (as in that embodiment) by interengaging splines 108. The presence of the sleeve 101 (which may, alternatively, be a solid plug) prevents inward movement of the fingers 93 and thus removal of the operating member 96. It will be appreciated that removal of the sleeve even when its presence has been revealed by removal of the concealing disc cannot readily be effected -- a special tool is needed. Alternatively, the sleeve (or plug) may be fixed in position permanently. It will be understood that the sleeve (or plug) is fitted only when the tap is likely to be tampered with or is exposed to vandalism. Removal of the operating member from the shaft requires the use of a special tool one form of which is shown iri Fig. 11 and referenced 105. The tool is of U-shaped form, the inner edges of the limbs of the U being inclined as indicated at 106. To remove the operating member and insert from the shaft, the tool is advanced sideways towards the tap and the edges 106 are entered into the space 107 between the lower surface of the operating member and an adjacent surface on the body of the tap. It is then possible to lever off the operating member. If, subsequently, it is desired to re-position the operating member on the shaft, this can be achieved by following the process described above. In all cases the use of a resilient insert allows an increase in the tolerances to which the shaft and operating members have to be manufactured and this reduces their cost. The use of a nylon insert of the material known under the Trade Mark ç ARANYL' Grade A 190 (a glass-filled nylon) is particularly valuable when used to couple a brass shaft to an operating member of an acrylic material. The insert can be moulded into the operating member without giving rise to stress cracking of the operating member which is found to occur when the acrylic member is moulded on to a brass insert. The moulding method is used with an insert of the form described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the other forms of insert being coupled to an operating member by means of resilient fingers. The resiliency of the plastics material must be sufficient to allow flexing of the fingers without making removal of the insert too easy. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a component of a resilient plastics material, the component having a central bore that extends at least partially through the component, both interior and exterior surfaces of the component being so constructed that the interior surface is non-rotatively coupled to the shaft and the exterior surface is nonrotatively coupled to the operating member.

silient plastics material, the curved outer surface of the component having a plurality of axialiy-extending splines coupling the insert to the operating member, the component having a bore which extends at least part-way through the component, and into which the shaft is inserted, the bore being of non-circular cross section in a plane transverse to its length and having a plurality of axial grooves separated by surfaces which engage the surface of the shaft.

4. A tap as claimed in claim 3, in which the bore extends axially through the component.

5. A tap as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the surfaces are spaced at equal intervals round the inner surface of the bore and in which at least two of the surfaces that lie opposite to one another have axial ribs that project into the bore.

6. A domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert comprising a component of a resilient plastics material having a central bore that extends at least partway through the component, the interior and exterior surfaces of the component being contoured in such manner that one surface is non-rotatively coupled to the operating member and the other surface is non-rotatively coupled to the shaft, the component having a set of axially-extending resilient fingers which are capable of radiallydirected flexural movement and which grip either the shaft or the operating member.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 6, in which the component has a further set of axiallyextending resilient fingers which are capable of radially-directed flexural movement and which grip the operating member, the first mentioned set of fingers gripping the shaft.

8. A tap as claimed in claim 7, in which both sets of fingers extend axially from the same end of the component.

9. A tap as claimed in claim 8, in which each finger of one set is located between two fingers of the other set.

10. A tap as claimed in claim 7, in which one set of fingers extends axially from one end of the component and the other set extends axially from the other end of the component.

11. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, in which each finger has a radially-extending projection shaped in such manner that it is engageable by a surface of the operating member or the shaft to urge the finger to flex away from the member or shaft.

12. A tap as claimed in claim 6, in which each finger has a radially-extending projection which engages in a groove in the shaft.

13. A tap as claimed in claim 7, in which each finger of the further set has a radiallyextending projection which engages the operating member.

14. A tap as claimed in claim 7, in which each finger of the further set is engages by a radially-extending projection on the operating member.

15. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 14, in which the component is of generally cylindrical form, the bore extending axially through the component and having on its surface a plurality of axially extending splines coupling the insert to the shaft.

16. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, in which the component has an outwardly extending flanges which engages the operating member.

17. A tap as claimed in claim 16, in which the flange is located at one end of the component and the or each set of fingers extends axially from the other end of the component.

18. A tap as claimed in claim 6, in which the fingers extend axially from one end of the component and grip the shaft, the bore extending through the component and being partially closed at the other end, the partial closure leaving an aperture located centrally on the axis of the bore, and in which the operating member is releasably secured to the insert by a fastener engaged in the aperture.

19. A tap as claimed in claim 18, in which the fastener has a series of resilientlyflexural fingers which engage in the aperture.

20. A tap as claimed in claim 6, in which the set of fingers grips the operating member and in which the insert further includes a locking member for preventing a flexural movement of the fingers.

21. A tap as claimed in claim 20, in which the bore includes a surface for supporting the locking member.

22. A tap as claimed in claim 21, in which the surface is a transverse wall in the bore.

23. A tap as claimed in claim 6, in which the set of fingers grip the operating member and in which the component is releasably secured to the shaft.

24. A tap as claimed in claim 23, in which the component is secured to the shaft by a screw located in the bore and in screwthreaded engagement with the shaft.

25. A tap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the insert is formed of nylon.

26. A tap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the insert is formed of glass-filled nylon.

27. A tap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the operating member is formed of an acrylic material.

28. A domestic water flow control tap having an operating member coupled to the shaft of the tap by an insert substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs.

3 and 4, or Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 or Fig. 7 or Figs. 8, 9 and 10 or Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.