GB2283665A

GB2283665A - A portable vessel for use in the handwashing of eg. crockery and cutlery items

Info

Publication number: GB2283665A
Application number: GB9323068A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horace William Dowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-09
Filing date: 1993-11-09
Publication date: 1995-05-17
Also published as: GB9323068D0

Abstract

A portable vessel (for washing garments, crockery, cutlery etc. and designed mainly for use in conjunction with bath or sink taps) is provided with a water outlet (11, Fig. 1) in one corner, together with an extended plug (17, Fig. 3) for control above the vessel, and a curved shield (12, Fig. 1) to protect the outlet (11, Fig. 1) and plug (17, Fig. 3) from obstruction by the contents during the washing operation. The shield (12, Fig. 1) which can have a solid or perforated face, stops above the base sufficient to allow water to be discharged through the outlet (11, Fig. 1) and feet (13, Fig. 1) on the vessel permit this to flow freely to the bath or sink outlet. A further feature of the bath model is the provision of a removable dividing plate (14, Fig. 1) to give twin compartments for single or dual purpose use. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDWA5H VESSEL This invention relates to a portable vessel for washing items by hand.

Soaking and washing of garments, crockery and cutlery etc. is an everyday chore in households which do not possess washing machines and the only vessels currently available for this task appear to be the simple bucket or bowl. These are, generally, used in conjunction with the taps of a bath or kitchen sink and are emptied by lifting and tipping the vessel whilst, at the same time, trying to restrain the contents. This procedure is very difficult for one person to manipulate and, consequently, places a constraint on the size of vessel that can be used.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable handwash vessel for use in conjunction with bath/sink taps (or any water supply) and incorporating an outlet with extended plug both protected by an integral shield.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings 1/2 and 2/2 in which : Figures 1 and 2 show a plan and elevation on a vessel 10 intended for use in a bath. The outlet 11 is protected by a shield 12 which prevents the contents of the vessel from obstructing the outlet but, by means of a gap between it and the base, allows water to be discharged into the bath. Feet 13 raise the vessel to permit this to pass freely to the bath outlet. A removable dividing plate 14 gives the facility of twin compartments, slots for this being provided in a thickening of the vessel casing 15.

Figure 3 shows a split cross-section through the vessel 10. The lefthand side shows one half of the dividing plate 14, which is symmetrical and incorporates a handle 16. The right-hand side shows the shield 12 with the outlet plug 17 on a shaft for operating above the vessel. In addition to protecting the outlet, the shield also prevents disturbance of the plug shaft. (N.B. Although shown solid, the shield face could be perforated if this provided a cost saving.) Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of the outlet and cross-section through the plug and shaft. The base of the vessel is shown thickened locally to receive a tapered plug but, alternatively, this could be a threaded fitting or a suction cup type.

Figure 5 shows a perspective sketch of the vessel intended for use in a bath.

Figure 6 shows a perspective sketch of the vessel suitable for use in a square kitchen sink but the same features could be provided in a circular vessel to suit a round sink.

Claims

1. A portable handwash vessel for use in conjunction with bath/sink taps (or any water supply) and incorporating an outlet with extended plugboth protected by an integral shield.

2. The use of a shield as claimed in Claim 1 within any portable vessel where it protects the outlet from obstruction by the contents, wherever the outlet is positioned.

2. A portable handwash vessel as claimed in Claim 1 and incorporating a removable dividing plate to provide twin compartments.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A portable vessel, either rectangular, square or rounded and of any practical size, for washing garments by hand and incorporating an outlet in the base combined with an integral immersed shield which separates the outlet from the vessel contents. The shield, in this arrangement, protects the outlet from obstruction by the contents and allows it to be fitted with a plug on an extended shaft controlled from above the vessel.

By being perforated, either with small holes or by a gap at its base, the shield becomes totally immersed when the vessel is filled and, thus, is not subjected to lateral water pressure.

Consequently, the water,when released, will reduce in level under vertical pressure only, i.e. without a horizontal flow drawing light garments towards the outlet which would be the case in a vessel witha side outlet.