GB2146412A

GB2146412A - Anti-vandal indices

Info

Publication number: GB2146412A
Application number: GB08320623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Anderson
Original assignee: Armitage Shanks Ltd
Current assignee: Armitage Shanks Ltd
Priority date: 1983-07-30
Filing date: 1983-07-30
Publication date: 1985-04-17
Also published as: GB8320623D0; GB2146412B

Abstract

A water tap is rendered vandalproof by hiding the screw 18 which fixes the knob 10 to the spindle by means of an indicia plug 30 with footed prongs 32, which have a ratchet or one-way action on assembly which resists the plug being prised out by the vandal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-vandal indices This invention relates to water taps of the known construction having a valve operated by a spindle turned by a knob. The knob is fixed to the spindle by an axially extending screw. A washer fits between the head of the screw and the surface of the knob to distribute the clamping force over a relatively large area. The head of the screw lies in a recess in the knob and is hidden by a plug which serves to close the recess for aesthetic purposes and easy cleaning. Usually the plug is coloured, for example red or blue to indicate hot or cold water, or is made distinctive in some other way for like purposes, and the plug is therefore called an "indicia". A water tap having all of these features is herein referred to as "of the kind mentioned".

In the past, as suggested in the description of the prior art contained in BP 572431 the indicia (therein called a."platter") was permanently fixed in position by making the knob part of metal and rolling the metal over the rim of the platter which was made of ceramic.

In order to enable indicia to be changed, for example from hot to cold, said Patent 572431 suggested a spring engagement of the platter. More recent proposals to the same effect, for example in BP 1599531 have used an indicia holder having leg-like prongs with enlarged tips or feet to be snap-engaged through aligned slots in the knob and in an adaptor inside the knob, but in this latter instance the indicia itself was a disc merely located in the holder and said Patent is silent as to the means of fixing the indicia in the holder: in actual manufacture according to BP 1599531 the disc was held in place by adhesive. If necessary to gain access to the screw the indicia and holder could be prized out as a unit by a screwdriver or knife inserted under the holder. Alternatively the indicia disc could be prized out of the holder and subsequently reglued in position.

It has now be found that taps installed in public places are subject to vandalism by persons who for example prise off the indicia and remove the knobs and screws thus making it difficult or impossible to turn the tap on, or even to turn the tap off when the vandal has left the tap running.

A construction of relatively permanently fixed indicia is therefore desirable to prevent access to the screw. The construction suggested in BP 572431 is considered unsuitable for today's manufacturing methods because relatively massive knobs having sufficient thickness of actual metal to enable a rolling operation to take place are not employed. The knobs are made of sheet metal as in BP 1599531, or as plastics mouldings, or as light alloy die-castings, where a rolling operation would be an impossibility.

According to the invention a tap of the kind mentioned has slots provided to receive prongs on the indicia, feet provided on the ends of the prongs to engage beyond the ends of said slots, and is characterised in that the slot and/or foot shapes are arranged to provide a lower resistance to relative movement in the direction required during assembly than in the reverse direction.

Hence the foot can have a ratchet action in that it slips relatively easily through the slot in the assembly, but reverse or dis-assembly is resisted.

According to a feature of the invention, the slots are provided in the periphery of the washer.

It is preferred to provide a non-standard screw head to hold the washer in place so that in the event of an unauthorised removal of the indicia revealing the screw, a difficulty will be found in removing the same.

The constructions proposed by the present invention are based on acceptance of the apparent disadvantage that in the event of it being necessary for authorised persons to gain access to the valve spindle it may be necessary for them to drill through the indicia: a recognition that this is an acceptable penalty preferable to the greater vulnerability to vandalism inherent in a more readily accessible design.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view showing the knob, washer, screw and indicia; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on a reduced scale showing components part assemhled; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the assembly completed; and Figure 4 shows the screw and a tool for use with the same.

The knob 10 has a central generally cylindrical recess 12 in its upper end and the washer 14 has a generally cylindrical head which substantially 4.

fills the diameter of that recess. The lower face of the washer 16 seats on the base of the recess in the knob and clamps the knob to the spindle (not shown) when the screw 18 is inserted through the part 14 and tightened into the end of the spindle.

The screw is intended to be rendered tamperproof, as far as possible, by making its head nonstandard so that it cannot be turned by conventional screwdrivers or the like. To this end it is, for example, provided with a suitable non-circular shape, for example as shown, and a key 20, Figure 4, having a complementary end is used to tighten the screw. It will be appreciated that the screw head has a diameter sufficiently smaller than the internal recess 22 in the part 14 to receive the operating barrel 24 of the key. In addition, the screw may be provided with a patch of synthetic resin of some kind on its threads, which can bond the screw and lock it in place.

The head of the part 14 is provided with a number, for example four, equi-spaced slots 26 in its periphery. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 the slots are of maximum width at the top and of minimum width at the bottom nearest to the base of the recess 12 in the knob.

The assembly is completed by an indicia 30 in the form of a disc which substantially fills the top of the recess 12 and has a number of prongs ex tending generally parallel to one another therefrom, each prong being dimensioned and positioned to be registered with a corresponding one of the slots 26 in the part 14.

Each prong 32 comprises a pair of legs 34, 36 and each leg has a lateral projection or foot extending away from the other leg. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the prongs are arranged and dimensioned so that in assembly the feet fit closely within the corresponding slot 26 and in order for the feet to pass through the slot and engage under the slot (Figure 3) it is necessary for the prongs to flex towards one another. The critical factor enabling the assembly force required to be less than the force necessary to move the parts from the Figure 3 position to the Figure 2 position is the relative angles of the feet faces 38, 40. Thus the face 38 ideally is inclined at the same angle as the corresponding slot face, but the face 40 may be at right angles to the length of the prongs, although the drawing illustrates an angle which is slightly obtuse rather than a precise right angle.

The use of a slightly obtuse angle enables the face 40 to engage the corner between the slot face and the underside of the head of the part 14 so as to provide a better grip and hold against even slight axial movement of the indicia, when in the engaged position.Desirably the indicia is flush with the knob and fits as closely as possible to the recess, making it difficult or impossible for any vandal to insert a driving tool generally into the position of the arrow 44 Figure 3.

An authorised person requiring to gain access to the screw 18 may be instructed to drill a hole in the part 30 of a diameter equal to the recess 22, thus enabling the key 20 to be employed through the drill hole; and when the knob has been removed, it will be possible to remove the parts 14 and 30 as a unit for subsequent replacement.

Claims

1. A water tap having a valve operated by a spindle turned by a knob, the knob being fixed to the spindle by an axially extending screw, the head of the screw lying in a recess in the knob and being hidden by an indicia plug, slots are provided to receive prongs on the indicia, and feet are provided on the ends of the prongs to engage beyond the ends of the slots, characterised in that the slot and/or foot shapes are arranged to provide a lower resistance to relative movement in the direction required during assembly than in the reverse direction.

2. A tap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a washer fits between the head of the screw and the surface of the knob to distribute the clamping force over a relatively large area, and said slots are provided in the periphery of the washer.

3. A tap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a non-standard screwhead is provided.

4. A water tap constructed and arranged substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.