GB2109507A - A tap - Google Patents

Abstract

A tap 1 comprises a spout 3 provided with an outlet socket 5 which is internally screw-threaded adjacent its outlet end, and a liquid flow modifier 6 having a screw- threaded external surface for screw- threaded engagement with the outlet socket 5 to enable the liquid flow modifier to be detachably connected to the outlet socket to modify liquid flow therethrough during normal use of the tap. To enable a hose to be connected to such a tap, a hose connecting means 11 is detachably connectible to the outlet socket 5 when the liquid flow modifier 6 is disconnected therefrom. The hose connecting means 11 comprises a tubular spigot member 19, and externally screw-threaded collars 11, 20 designed to make screw-threaded engagement with the outlet socket 5 and one another to retain the spigot member in its operative position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Atap This invention relates to a tap, for example a tap for a sink, and in particular to a tap having means enabling a hose to be connected thereto.

It is desirable for a sink tap to have an aesthetic appearance and to be capable of discharging liquid from its spout in a coherent stream. In order to provide the desired coherent liquid stream, or to provide a liquid stream of a particular form, e.g. a fan-shaped or conical discharge, it is often necessary to fit a liquid flow modifier at the outlet end of the tap spout. Such a liquid flow modifier is usually fitted inside the spout outlet so as not to spoil the aesthetic appearance of the tap to any great extent, the liquid flow modifier being externally screw-threaded and being screwed into an internally screw-threaded portion of the spout outlet.

One problem associated with a tap having a liquid flow modifier screwed into the outlet of its spout is that it is difficult to connect a hose to the tap. A solution to this problem is to fit a known type of compression hose connector around the outlet of the tap spout. However, often the type of tap to which a liquid flow modifier is fitted has only a short downwardly extending spout outlet portion which is not long enough for the securement of such a known type of compression hose connector. Even if the spout outlet portion has sufficient length to enable such a known type of compression hose connector to be secured thereto, it may have a non-circular, e.g.

rectangular or trapezoidal, external cross-section making it unsuitable for the connection thereto of the known type of compression hose connector.

Another solution to the problem is to provide the outlet of the spout with an externally screwthreaded surface to enable the internally screwthreaded collar of a conventional type of spigot and collar hose connector to be screwed to the outlet of the spout. However, this solution is only feasible when the external surface of the spout outlet has a circular cross-section. Moreover, the provision of an externally screw-threaded spout outlet is not aesthetically pleasing.

The present invention seeks to provide a novel solution to the above-identified problem.

According to the invention a tap has a spout provided with an outlet socket which is internally screw-threaded adjacent its outlet end, a liquid flow modifier having a screw-threaded external surface for screw-threaded engagement with said internally screw-threaded outlet socket to enable the liquid flow modifier to be detachably connected to the outlet socket to modify liquid flow therethrough during normal use of the tap, and hose connecting means detachably connectible to the outlet socket when the liquid flow modifier is disconnected therefrom, the hose connecting means comprising a tubular spigot member positionable in an operative position in said outlet socket, and an externally screwthreaded collar designed to make screw-threaded engagement with said internally screw-threaded outlet socket and, when so engaged, to encircle the tubular spigot member and to retain the spigot member in its said operative position.

Conveniently the said outlet socket comprises an inner portion of circular cross-section and an internally screw-threaded, outer portion for making selective screw-threaded engagement with said liquid flow modifier or said collar.

Typically the said outer and inner portions of the outlet socket are joined by an annular portion.

Suitably the spigot member comprises an inner part designed to be encircled by the inner portion of the outlet socket when the spigot member is positioned in its operative position, an outer part designed to be connected to a hose end, and an intermediate, flanged part having a diameter which is greater than that of the said inner portion of the outlet socket for limiting the axial insertion of the spigot member into the outlet socket and which is greater than that of the bore of said collar for preventing removal of the spigot member from the outlet socket when the collar is screwed into the outlet socket.Preferably a sealing ring, e.g. an O-ring seal, is positioned in the annular gap formed between the said inner part of the spigot member and the side walls defining the said inner portion of the outlet socket, the said sealing ring being seated in an annular groove formed in either the external surface of the said inner part of the spigot member or in the internal surface of the inner portion of the outlet socket. Alternatively, or in addition, annular sealing means may be positioned between the intermediate flanged part of the spigot member and the annular portion of the outlet socket.

The inner portion of the outlet socket may be externally screw-threaded for engagement in the outlet end of the spout. In addition the inner end of the outlet socket may be adhered in the outlet end of the spout.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a partly-sectioned side view of a known tap having a liquid flow modifier fitted to the outlet end of its spout, Figure 2 is a view, taken in the direction of arrow A of Figure 1, of the outlet end of the spout of the tap shown in Figure 1 but with the liquid flow modifier removed, Figure 3 is a plan of the liquid flow modifier shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a partly-sectioned side view of the tap shown in Figure 1 which has been modified by fitting, to the outlet end of the spout, an adaptor in place of the liquid flow modifier, Figure 5 is a view, taken in the direction of arrow B of Figure 4, of the outlet end of the spout of the tap shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a partly-sectioned side view of a tubular spigot member and a collar of hose connecting means prior to attachment to the adaptor shown in Figure 4, and Figure 7 is a secional view of the tubular spigot member, collar and adaptor shown in Figure 6 when assembled together.

Figure 1 shows a sink tap, generally designated 1, having a screw-threaded inlet connection 2, a spout 3 of non-circular, e.g. rectangular or trapezoidal, external cross-section and a turnable valve-operating head 4. The outlet end of the spout 3 is in the form of a short, downwardly depending screw-threaded outlet socket 5 (see Figure 2) into which is detachably screwed a liquid flow modifier 6 having an external screw-threaded surface 6a. The liquid flow modifier 6 has a greater axial length than the outlet socket 5 and thus, when fully screwed into the outlet socket 5, projects from the end of the outlet socket.The projecting portion of the external surface of the liquid flow modifier 6 is preferably not provided with screw-threads but is formed to define a pair of diametrically opposed flats 7a, 7b (see Figure 3) for facilitating gripping of the liquid flow modifier 6, e.g. by means of a tool (not shown), when screwing the liquid flow modifier 6 into or out of the outlet socket 5.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the liquid flow modifier 6, which is suitably moulded from a plastics material, has a central orifice 8 and a plurality of radial arms 9 defining therebetween a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings 10. In use the liquid flow modifier 6 ensures that liquid flows from the spout outlet in a coherent, downwardly directed stream.

In order to convert the tap 1 into a tap in accordance with the invention, the liquid flow modifier 6 is removed from the outlet socket 5 and a tubular adaptor 11 (see Figures 4 to 7) is fitted into the outlet socket 5 to provide the outlet of the spout 3 with a modified outlet socket 12.

The external surface of the adaptor 11 comprises an externally screw-threaded inner portion 13 (see Figure 6), which enables the adaptor 11 to be screwed into the outlet socket 5, and a larger diameter, cylindrical outer portion 14.

To prevent leakage of liquid between the adaptor 11 and the outlet socket 5, a jointing compound or adhesive is preferably applied to the screwthreaded joint so that the adaptor 11 is permanently fitted into the outlet socket 5. The diameter of the cylindrical outer portion 14 is chosen to blend aesthetically with the non-circular cross-section of the external surface of the spout outlet (see Figures 4 and 5). The tubular adaptor 11 comprises a cylindrical inner portion 15 defining an inner portion 1 2a of the outlet socket 12, an externally screw-threaded, outer portion 16, and an annular portion 17 connecting the inner and outer portions 15 and 16, respectively.

The portions 1 6 and 17 of the internal surface of the adaptor 1 1 define an outer portion 1 2b of the outlet socket 12. This outer portion 1 2b has substantially the same dimensions as the outlet socket 5 and the liquid flow modifier 6 can thus be detachably screwed therein to ensure, in normal use of the tap, that liquid flows from the spout outlet in a coherent, downwardly directed stream.

As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, hose connecting means, in the form of a tubular spigot member 19 and a collar 20 can also be detachably connected to the adaptor 11 when the liquid flow modifier 6 is not connected thereto. (For the sake of simplicity in Figures 6 and 7, the adaptor 11 has not been shown connected to the outlet socket 5.) The tubular spigot member 19 comprises a cylindrical, inner part 21 having an annular groove 22 formed in its external surface in which a flexible O-ring seal 23 is received, a ribbed, outer part 24 intended to form a push fit connection with the end of a hose (not shown) to be connected to the tap 1, and an intermediate, flanged part 25.The spigot member 19 is inserted into the outlet socket 12 so as to occupy an operative position (as shown in Figure 7) in which the flanged part 25 abuts against the annular portion 1 7 of the internal surface of the adaptor 11. When the spigot member 19 is in its operative position, the O-ring seal 23 is resiliently pressed into liquid-tight sealing engagement with the inner surface of the cylindrical inner portion 1 5 of the internal surface of the adaptor 11 thus preventing the flow of liquid through the annular gap defined between the external surface of the inner part 21 of the spigot member 1 9 and the confronting surface portion 1 5 of the adaptor 11. The spigot member 19 is retained in its operative position by the collar 20 which has an externally screwthreaded tubular portion 26 and a knurled flange 27.The collar 20 surrounds the spigot member 19 and the tubular portion 26 is screwed into the outer portion 1 2b of the outlet socket 1 2. When the collar 20 is fully screwed into the outlet socket 12, the annular end face 28 of the tubular portion 26 abuts against the flanged part 25 of the spigot member 19 so that the spigot member is retained in its operative position.

It will be appreciated that the adaptor 11 lengthens the downwardly extending portion of the stem of the tap 1 ensuring that, when the hose connecting means is fitted to the tap, the spigot member 19 does not block the flow of liquid through the spout. Moreover the inner portion 1 5 of the adaptor 11 can be accurately machined to provide a smooth surface against which the O-ring seal 23 is able to provide efficient liquid-tight sealing. Since it is not essential for the collar 20 to be screwed tightly into the outlet socket 12 it is possible for the tubular spigot member 1 9 to have a certain amount of freedom of movement in the axial direction without affecting the efficiency of the liquid-tight sealing provided by the O-ring seal 23. This enables the tubular spigot member 19 to be turned relative to the adaptor 11 when in its operative position whilst still providing good liquid-tight sealing.

Claims (9)

1. A tap comprising a spout provided with an outlet socket which is internally screw-threaded adjacent its outlet end, a liquid flow modifier having a screw-threaded external surface for screw-threaded engagement with said internally screw-threaded outlet socket to enable the liquid flow modifier to be detachably connected to the outlet socket to modify liquid flow therethrough during normal use of the tap, and hose connecting means detachably connectible to the outlet socket when the liquid flow modifier is disconnected therefrom, the hose connecting means comprising a tubular spigot member positionable in an operative position in said outlet socket, and an externally screw-threaded collar designed to make screw-threaded engagement with said internally screw-threaded outlet socket and, when so engaged, to encircle the tubular spigot member and to retain the spigot member in its said operative position.

2. A tap according to claim 1, in which said outlet socket comprises an inner portion of circular cross-section and an internally screw-threaded, outer portion for making selective screw-threaded engagement with said liquid flow modifier or said collar.

3. A tap according to claim 2, in which said outer and inner portions of the outlet socket are joined by an annular portion.

4. A tap according to claim 2 or 3, in which said spigot member comprises an inner part designed to be encircled by the inner portion of the outlet socket when the spigot member is positioned in its operative position, an outer part designed to be connected to a hose end, and an intermediate, flanged part having a diameter which is greater than that of the said inner portion of the outlet socket and which is greater than that of the bore of said collar for preventing removal of the spigot member from the outlet socket when the collar is screwed into the outlet socket.

5. A tap according to claim 4, comprising a sealing ring positioned in the annular gap formed between the said inner part of the spigot member and the side walls defining the said inner portion of the outlet socket, the said sealing ring being seated in an annular groove formed in either the external surface of the said inner part of the spigot member or in the internal surface of the inner portion of the outlet socket.

6. A tap according to claim 4 or 5, comprising annular sealing means positioned between the intermediate flanged part of the spigot member and the annular portion of the outlet socket.

7. A tap according to any of claims 2 to 6, in which the inner portion of the outlet socket is externally screw-threaded for engagement in the outlet end of the spout.

8. A tap according to claim 7, in which the inner end of the outlet socket is adhered in the outlet end of the spout.

9. A tap constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.