GB2206951A

GB2206951A - Water outlets

Info

Publication number: GB2206951A
Application number: GB08715670A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neville Naylor
Original assignee: Bonsack Baths Ltd
Current assignee: Bonsack Baths Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-03
Filing date: 1987-07-03
Publication date: 1989-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-03
Also published as: FR2617564B1; GB8715670D0; FR2617564A1; GB2206951B

Abstract

A water outlet of the kind known as a "waterfall spout", comprises an elongate chamber (6) with an outlet (8) partly defined by an elongate, positionally-adjustable element 22. As shown, the elongate chamber (6) is defined by a base part (6a) and an upper part (6b). One or more inlet members (12) may be provided, by which water may be conducted into the chamber (6). The position of the element (22) may be adjusted to produce a desired waterfall effect, in accordance with the water pressure prevailing at the installation site. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Water Outlets" Description of invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to water outlets, of the kind known as waterfall spouts.

Conventionally water has been delivered (such as to a bath or washbasin) by a spout having an outlet of generally circular or ovoid crosssection. More recently however a spout has come into use having an outlet in the form of an elongate narrow slot, such a spout being commonly known as a "waterfall spout". Typically the outlet has a length of 100 mm when intended for use with a washbasin, and 500 mm when intended for use with a bath.

Difficulty is however encountered in the provision of waterfall spouts, in that the pressure at which water is delivered to the spout varies from place-to-place, and this results in the problem that, in areas subject to high water pressure, water flows from the outlet in the form of a spray, whilst in areas subject to iow water pressure, water flows out as a trickle, or from only part of the length of the outlet.

According to this invention, there is provided a waterfall spout having an elongate chamber to which water under pressure is delivered, and an elongate outlet, the outlet being defined on one side thereof by an elongate, positionally-adjustable element.

Thus where the spout is installed in an area having a relatively low water pressure, the position of the adjustable element may be set as appropriate to the production in use of the spout of a desired waterfall effect. Alternatively where the water pressure is high, the outlet may be opened to prevent spraying.

The chamber may be afforded with separate inlets for hot and cold water, mixing taking place within the chamber, or a single inlet may be provided through which both hot and cold water are admitted to the chamber.

Advantageously the former arrangement is utilised on larger spouts (200 mm to 700 mm) and the latter arrangements is utilised on smaller spouts (100 mm to 200 mm).

Advantageously the positionally-adjustable element is afforded by an elongate plate which is slidable in the direction of the width of the slot, and retained in a desired position by screws or bolts.

Advantageously the positional ly-adjustab le element affords an inner edge to the slot, that is on the side most remote from the main area of the bath or washbasin to which water is being delivered. In this manner the means by which the adjustable element may be released for and secured against adjustment movement may be rendered less visible to a user.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two embodiments of waterfall spout which have been selected for the purposes of illustrating this invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the first embodiment; FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3; and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 3.

The waterfall spout which is the first embodiment of this invention comprises a chamber 6 defined by a base part 6a, an upper part 6b, and a cover member 6c which may be decorative. The chamber is elongate, and in the embodiment illustated is in the order of 100 mm in length, and the upper part 6b defines the front edge of an outlet 8 which extends predominately for the whole of the length of the chamber 6.

Extending into the chamber 6 at a generally central region thereof is a single inlet member 12, retained in position relative to the base part 6a by being threadedly received within a manifold 13. At its lower end the inlet member 12 is provided with a cross piece 14, from opposites sides 14a, 14b of which supplies of hot and cold water respectively are connected, taps being provided to control the flow of water.

The base part 6a, in a region thereof adjacent to the outlet 8, is provided with an elongate slot 20, extending over which there is provided an adjustable element in the form of an elongate plate 22, the plate 22 similarly extending the full length of the outlet 8.

An inner portion 22a of the plate is provided with either an elongate slot or a plurality of apertures, whereby bolts 26 may be passed through the slot 20, through the portion 22a and into threaded bores of an elongate inner clamping plate 24, the heads of the bolts 26 acting against an elongate outer clamping plate 28 to urge the plate (22) against the underside of the base part 6a.

A forward portion 22b of the plate 22 extends generally parallel to the leading edge of the upper part 6b, and defines the inner edge of the outlet 8.

By slackening the bolts 26, the assembly of clamping plates 24, 28, bolts 26, and adjustable plate 22 may be moved relative to the base part 6a, the shank of the bolts 26 moving laterally within the slot 20, to vary the width of the outlet 8.

In this manner when the waterfall spout which is the first embodiment of this invention is installed, the plumber may test the spout by fully opening the taps, and adjust the position of the plate 22 to vary the width of the outlet 8 until the desired waterfall effect is produced. Thereafter the bolts 26 may be tightened to retain the plate 22 in its set position.

The waterfall spout which is the second embodiment of this invention,not illustrated, has a width of 700 mm, being intended for use in the supply of water to a bath. The second embodiment is similar to the first, with the exception that the supply of water to the chamber is afforded by separated hot and cold inlet members.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A waterfall spout having an elongate chamber to which water under pressure is delivered, and an elongate outlet, the outlet being defined on one side thereof by an elongate, positionally-adjustoble element.

2. A waterfall spout according to Claim I wherein the chamber is afforded with separate inlets for hot and cold water.

3. A waterfall spout according to Claim I wherein a single inlet is provided through which both hot and cold water are admitted to the chamber.

4. A waterfall spout according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the positionolly-adjustoble element is afforded by an elongate plate which is slidable in thedirection of the width of the slot.

5. A waterfall spout according to Claim 4 wherein the elongate plate is retained in a desired position by screws or bolts.

6. A waterfall spout according to one of Claims I and 4 wherein the adjustable element affords an inner edge of the slot.

7. A waterfall spout according to one of Claims I and 2 and any of Claims 4, 5 and 6 as are appendant to Claim 2 wherein the outlet has a length of between 200 mm and 700 mm.

8. A waterfall spout according to one of Claims I and 3 and any of Claims 4, 5 and 6 as are appendant to Claim 3, wherein the slot has a length of between 100 mm and 200 mm.

9. A waterfall spout constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.