GB2286028A

GB2286028A - A Tap

Info

Publication number: GB2286028A
Application number: GB9500595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zanten Solleveld Frank Roe Van
Original assignee: Cobra Watertech Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cobra Watertech Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-01-14
Filing date: 1995-01-12
Publication date: 1995-08-02
Also published as: DE19500698A1; AU1020395A; GB9500595D0; ITMI950059A1; FR2715206A1; FR2715206B3; ZA95183B; ITMI950059A0

Description

0 2286028 THIS INVENTION relates to a tap.

The Applicant is aware of quick-release couplings such as those available in South Africa under the Trade Marks GARDENA and 140SELOK which are used particularly in horticultural applications for the connection of flexible hose pipes to water outlets. Each quick-release coupling typically comprises complementary male and female members which are releasably and snap-lockingly engageable to form a fluid tight connection. In order to connect a hose pipe fitted with one of the members, typically the female member of a quick-release coupling, to a tap, use is made of an adapter which comprises a tap engaging portion whereby the adapter is mountable on the tap, and a coupling portion, typically in the form of a male member of a quick-release coupling, to which the female member in releasably is and snap-lockingly connectable.

in view of the different configuration& of taps which are available it is necessary for a range of adapters to be manufactured. In addition, in an area, e.g. a garden, where a plurality of taps Is provided, an adapter must be mounted on each tap. Alternatively, the adapter must be transferred from one tap to another which is inconvenient and time consuming.

these problems.

It is an object of this invention to at least alleviate Rroadly according to the invention there is provided a tap which includes a tap body and a coupling member of a quickrelease coupling integral witt& the body.

More specifically according to the invention the tap body may have an inlet which is connectable to a supply of water, and an outlet spaced from the inlet, the body being shaped, adjacent to the outlet, to form at least part of the integral coupling member which is snap-lockingly and releasably engageable by a complementary coupling member to form a quick-release coupling.

Hence, a hose pipe on which a complementary coupling member is mounted can be connected directly to the tap without is requiring the use of an adapter.

In the context of this specification the term tap is to be interpreted broadly to include water outlets such as water mixers and the like.

The tap body may be of unitary construction, e.g. it may be cast.

in a preferred embodiment of the invention the coupling member is in the f orm of a male member of the quick-release coupling.

The coupling member may include at least one retaining formation which is engageable by means of complementary gripping formations forming part of a complementary female coupling member to retain the male and female members releasably in engagement.

The retaining formation may be in the form of a circumferential outwardly protruding ridge.

4 The coupling member may include sealing means conf igured to cooperate with a complementary female coupling member and provide a fluid tight seal between the coupling members. The sealing means may be in the form of an annular seal mounted in a complementary annular recess on an outer surf ace of the tap body.

The tap may include a valve mechanism mounted on the tap body and configured, in use, to regulate the flow of water between the inlet and outlet.

is The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which shows a side view of a tap in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a tap in accordance with the Invention.

The tap 10 includes a tap body 12 of unitary construction defining an outlet 14, and an integral coupling member, generally indicated by reference numeral 16, adjacent to the outlet 14. The coupling member 16 Is configured to be snaplockingly and releasably engageable by means of a complementary coupling member to form a quick-release coupling similar to the type which is available in South Af rica under the Trade Marks 11GARDENA11 and 11HOSELOK11. At least part of the coupling member 16 is formed integrally with the tap body 12, e.g. by casting.

The coupling member 16 is generally of tubular shape and includes a ridge 17 extending circumferentially around and protruding outwardly f rom. a radially outer surface of that portion of the tap body 12 forming the Coupling member 16. The ridge 17 is snap-lockingly and releasably engageable by means of complementary gripping formations (not shown) forming part of a complementary coupling member 18.

Further, the coupling member if includes sealing means in the form of an C-ring 20 of an elastomeric material, e.g. rubber. The 0-ring 20 is mounted in an annular groove in the radially outer surface of the coupling member 16.

In the embodiment shown, the coupling member 15 is formed by providing an outer surface of the tap body adjacent to the outlet 14 with the desired shape and then mounting the 0-ring 20 in position.

The tap body 12 defines an inlet 22, spaced from the outlet 14, and a screw-threaded connecting formation 24, whereby the inlet 22 is connectable in flow communication with a water supply, e.g. a mains water supply. A flow passage (not shown) extends through the tap body 12 from the inlet 22 to the outlet 14 to connect the inlet and outlet in flow communication. A is conventional valve arrangement, generally indicatedby reference numeral 26, is mounted so as to permit the flow of water from the inlet 22 to the outlet 14 to be regulated.

In use, with the inlet 24 connected to a water supply, the complementary coupling member IS is mounted on an end of a hose pipe or other conduit 28.

The complementary coupling member 18 is then positioned over the coupling member 16 until. the gripping formations of the complementary coupling member IS snap-lockingly engage the ridge 17 to retain the coupling members 16, 18 in a coupled condition.

in this condition, the tap 10 can be operated in a conventional fashion, to permit water to flow through the tap outlet 14 into the hose pipe 28 for distribution as desired. The 0-ring 20 sealingly engages a radially inner surface of the complementary coupling member 18 and thereby inhibits leakage of water from between the coupling members 16, 18.

- S' - When desired, the complementary coupling member 18 can be disconnected from the coupling member 16 in the usual manner and the tap 10 can be used as a conventional tap.

The Applicant believes that a tap 10 in accordance with the invention will obviate the need for fitting an adapter to permit the use of the quick-release coupling systems, such as those available under the Trade Marks GARDENA and ROSELOK, thereby rendering the use of such systems more convenient.

Claims

1. A tap which includes a tap body and a coupling member of a quickrelease coupling integral with the body.

2. A tap as claimed in Claim 1, in which the tap body has an inlet which is connectable to a supply of water, and an outlet spaced from the inlet, the bodly being shaped, adjacent the outlet, to form at least part of the integral coupling member which is snap-lockingly and releasably engagable by a complementary coupling member to form a quick-release coupling.

3. A tap as claimed in Claim 2, in which the coupling member is in the f orm of a male member of a quick-release coupling.

4. A tap as claimed in Claim 3, in which the coupling member includes at least one retaining formation which is engagable by means of complementary gripping formations forming part of a complementary female coupling member to retain the male and female members releasably in engagement.

A tap as claimed in Claim 4, in which the retaining formation is in the form of a circumferential outwardly protruding ridge.

6. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, inclusive, in which the coupling member includes sealing means configured to cooperate with a complementary female coupling member and provide a fluid tight real between the coupling members.

7. A tap as claimed in Claim 6, in which the scaling means is in the form of an annular seal mounted in a complementary annular recess on an outer surface of the tap body.

d R $. A tap as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, which includes a valve mechanism mounted on the tap body and configured, in use, to regulate the flow of water between the inlet and outlet.

9.

A tap substantially as described and illustrated here.