GB2136923A

GB2136923A - A tap with a dispenser for washbasins or sinks

Info

Publication number: GB2136923A
Application number: GB08316672A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gianpaolo Rocchelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-18
Filing date: 1983-06-20
Publication date: 1984-09-26
Also published as: DE3321405A1; GB8316672D0; IT8305132A0; JPS59185237A; IT1172014B

Abstract

A tap for the delivery of fluids has an outlet (1) for delivering a pressurised liquid from a distribution system and at least one additional outlet (5) for the separate or simultaneous, but independent, delivery of an unpressurised fluid substance from a container or reservoir (8) which is independent of the distribution system for the pressurised liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A tap for washbasins or sinks The present invention relates to a tap for washbasins or sinks which has an outlet for the delivery of a liquid under pressure, generally water, at least one additional outlet for the delivery of a liquid which is, in its normal state, not under pressure from a reservoir. This liquid is usually liquid soap but could equally be shampoo, a deodorant or a perfume or any other liquid cosmetic preparation.

Various types of dispensers for liquid soap are known. These are, however, generally designed to be free-standing to be fixed to walls or to be supported on a shelf as independent units which are not connected to any other device.

Suck known soap dispensers causes, however, the vicinity of the washbasin or sink to be crowded without the possibility of the use of such a device being closely adjacent other devices and the use thereof coordinated with such other devices.

In the present state of the art, it is believed that there are no taps which are capable of delivering, simultaneously, an unpressurised liquid or other substance such as a liquid soap as well as pressurised such as water from the mains in which unpressurised liquid utilises, at least in part, the same conduit as the water. Neither do there appear to be any known taps for washbasins or sinks which support or are assembled with, devices for the delivery of unpressurised liquids or substances from tanks or containers independently of the system for the distribution of the liquid under pressure, that is to say, the water.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a tap for washbasins, sinks or baths which is capable of delivering an unpressurised fluid substance within the confines of the outlet for the delivery of a pressurised liquid, that is to say, mains water in which, at least in part, the normal channels utilised for the passage of water generally provided in the stem or post of the delivery outlet of a tap are utilised.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a tap in accordance with the present invention in which a liquid soap dispenser is fitted to a washbasin, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the washbasin shown in Figure 1 so as to show in order to indicate a possible and indeed preferred, location for the liquid soap container, and Figure 3 shows, on an enlarged scale relative to Figures 1 and 2, a vertical cross-section through the tap and the means for delivering liquid soap.

In Figure 1, there is shown a tap in accordance with the present invention which includes an outlet 1 for the delivery of water into washbasin or sink 2. The outlet shown in Figure 1 is a common or mixer outlet for a pair of taps 3 although it could equally be an outlet from a single tap or, indeed, from any other type of tap. In each of these cases, the outlet for the delivery of water is fixed to the body of the washbasin or sink by means of a pedestal or post 4 to which the conduits 4' for the delivery of water under pressure are connected.

In the tap in accordance with the present invention shown in'the drawings, the delivery outlet for the water is provided with at least one additional outlet 5 intended for delivering liquid soap or any other fluid substance which is not pressurised, such delivery being separate and independent of the delivery of water Such additional outlet 5 may be provided at the side, above or below the outlet 1 and, although it may be suitably mounted on the latter, it is preferably designed to form an integral unit with the water outlet 1.

The additional outlet 5 is designed to cap a delivery device 6 which draws up and distributes the liquid soap, which outlet is connected to a tube 7 which dips into a soap container or reservoir 8 located and fixed below the washbasin or sink. Advantageously, the delivery device 6 and the tube 7 are, as shown in the drawings, housed in a tubular component 9 which is sealed into the water delivery outlet 1 and which extends coaxially within the column or post 4 affixed to the washbasin or sink. This delivery device arrangement is similar to that provided in, for example, a riser plug for washbasins or sinks in such a way as to use at least part of the water conduits as a housing for the tube 7 for the passage of soap or fluid material therethrough.

Any other form of mounting for the soap delivery device and any other arrangement of the container 8, above, below and/or spaced from the washbasin or sink is, of course, also possible.

The delivery device 6 may, per se, be of any suitable type, even though it is adapted to the arrangement of the present invention. Thus, for example, the delivery device 6 may include a plunger 10 projecting upwardly from tubular member 9. The plunger 10 operates a piston or small pump 11, and draws liquid soap from container 8 through the tube 7 and valve means (not shown) and delivers it through the additional outlet 5. When located below the washbasin or sink or the like, the container 8 may be retained or suspended by means of a strap 13' so that it can be removed and replaced. The container 8, as shown is connected to the tube 7 by means of a screw-threaded plug 1 3. The container 8 may also be provided with a laterally disposed springloaded plug 14 which opens and closes an aperture 1 5 to allow air to enter the container 8.

This prevents the formation of a vacuum in the container whilst generally preventing the entry of air into the container which might result in the oxidation of the substance contained therein.

Thus, the above-described device provides the advantage of delivering liquid soap or other substances directly to the vicinity of the outlet for the delivery of water independently of, or simultaneously with, but separately from, the water itself.

If it is intended that the tap should also be provided with means for the control of a riser plug, the tap may be provided with two parallel tubular members to enclose the means for control of the plug and the means for delivery of the soap and supply tube respectively.

If desirable, the tubular member 9 may itself constitute the body of dispenser 6 and the dip tube which is intended to extend towards the container 8. The additional outlet 5 for the delivery of the soap or other material may also be designed to extend into the water outlet 1 although the possibility of delivering this substance separately from the water must be retained.

It is readily apparent that two or more additional outlets for the delivery of differing substances such as shampoo, deodorants, creams or perfumes from corresponding reservoirs to which dispenser means are connected may be provided in association with the outlet 1 for the delivery of the water.

Claims

1. A tap for the delivery of fluids having an outlet for delivering a pressurised liquid from a distribution system and at least one additional outlet for the separate or simultaneous, but independent delivery of an unpressurised fluid substance from a container or reservoir which is independent of the distribution system for the pressurised liquid.

2. A tap for washbasins or sinks of a grouped, single outlet or mixer type comprising an outlet for the delivery of water, wherein at least one additional outlet for the delivery of an unpressurised fluid substance is provided, which addition outlet is in communication with a pump dispenser leading into a container or reservoir for the fluid substance.

3. A tap for washbasins or sinks comprising an outlet for the delivery of water affixable to the washbasin or sink by means of a pillar or post, a tubular member being sealed into the water outlet and extending axially within the pillar or post wherein the outlet for the delivery of water has at least one additional outlet for the delivery of an unpressurised fluid substance from a container associated therewith, the additional outlet being locatable and affixable below or spaced from the washbasin or sink, the said additional outlet being in communication with a pump dispenser device for drawing up and distributing the unpressurised liquid substance, the dispenser device being connected to a tube or conduit dipping into the container the said dispenser device and the tube or conduit being located in the tubular number and being coordinated with the outlet for the delivery of water.

4. A tap according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the additional outlet for the delivery of the fluid substance is affixed to the outlet for the delivery of the pressurised liquid.

5. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the additional outlet for the delivery of the fluid substance is formed integrally with the outlet for the delivery of the pressurised liquid.

6. A tap as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the additional outlet for the delivery of the fluid substance is located externally of or concentric with the outlet for the pressurised liquid under pressure.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which two or more outlets for the delivery of different unpressurised substances are coordinated with the outlet for the delivery of the liquid under pressure, a separate dispenser dipping into a corresponding separate container being provided for each of the additional outlets.

8. A tap as claimed in claim 3 in which a second tubular member acting as a guide means for the control of a riser plug is provided parallel to the tubular member housing the dispenser device for the unpressurised fluid substance and the tube dipping into the container for such substances.

9. A tap constructed and arranged to operate substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.