GB2312267A

GB2312267A - Lever operated self closing tap

Info

Publication number: GB2312267A
Application number: GB9607841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Raymond Sherratt; Howard William Parry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-16
Filing date: 1996-04-16
Publication date: 1997-10-22
Also published as: GB9607841D0

Abstract

A self-closing tap comprises a lever arranged such that when depressed the lever moves a spindle downwards allowing activation of the tap. When released the spindle and lever return under spring load to the closed position. The lever may be secured such that it can move horizontally through 360{. A gate or wedge (figure 4) may be provided to allow the tap to be held in its open or closed position. The tap may be an existing tap adapted using an adaptor.

Description

IMPR(MMTS IN (I RELATfl To This invention relates to improvements in or relating to tap adaptors.

Self closing press taps are well knows and in long use giving many advantages in water-saving economy. They are however sate times difficult to operate especially for the young and the infirm who do not have the strength or ability to operate the press tap. This problem also applies to conventional pillar taps which are sometimes difficult for the young and the infirm to operate and are also sometimes left running because of their inability to shut them off. Conventional pillar taps are sometimes left running through negligence or wanton neglect. This invention incorporates a lever which makes operation much easier whilst still retaining the benefits of a self-closing action.

According to the present invention there is a lever as part of the headworks which can be variously fixed with a fulcrum point internal or external to the headworks cover.

In one particular form the lever fulcrum point is within the headworks cover. The fulcrum pin being located in a slot or hole within the headworks cover.

In another form the lever fulcrum point is within a separate removable insert which incorporates the fulcrum pin. In this form advantages in assembly and manufacture may be gained.

In another form the lever and fulcrum point are totally external to the headworks cover with a fulcrum point attached to the headworks cover or the headworks cover spacer ring.

In another form the lever is both internal and external to the headworks cover and the fulcrum point external to the headworks cover and attached to the headworks cover or the headworks cover spacing ring.

A specific embodiment of the invention is the incorporation of a cylindrical spacer ring at the base of the headworks cover - Figure 1.

This cylindrical spacer ring - IA -is set within a recess - 1B - at the base of the headworks body - 1C - such recess incorporating an anular groove - 1D. The headworks cover is attached to the cylindrical spacer ring by various means. One such attachment means could be by using grub screws - 1E. An alternative method could be pins rivets or pegs. In any of the fixing methods the screw/pin/rivet/peg extends through the cylindrical spacer ring and into but not in contact with the anular groove in order to allow horizontal rotational movement but prohibiting vertical movement. This feature allows the tap to be operated through 3600 horizontally. It also allows the lever to be parked in any position for safety and convenience. An important feature of this improvement is that the lever can be moved horizontally in either direction without unscrewing the headworks body.

A further embodiment is shown in Figure 4 wherein various methods of locking the lever in an on/off position are shown. One method is by means of a "gate" incorporated in the lever slot. Another method is by the use of a peg or wedge.

The various embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the headworks cover and lever fulcrum point set within the headworks cover. Figure 1 also shows detail of the cylindrical spacer ring and a means of fitting to the headworks and headworks cover.

Figure 2 shows the headworks cover and lever totally external with the fulcrum point attached te the headworks cover spacer ring.

Figure 3 shows the headworks cover and lever both external and internal with the fulcrum point attached to the headworks cover or the headworks cover spacer ring.

Figure 4 shows the headworks cover and lever with a means of locking by a gate or peg.

Claims

CLAIM I A lever operated self-closing tap - part of the lever being incorporated within the headworks and said lever resting on the top of the actuating spindle. When the lever is depressed the tap actuating spindle moves in a downward direction thus allowing actuation of the tap. When the lever is released the tap actuating spindle and the lever return under spring load to a closed position.

CLAIM 2 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claim 1 wherein the fulcrum point is within the headworks cover such cover being fixed in a vertical plane but allowing full horizontal rotational movement through 3600.

CLAIM 3 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 and 2 wherein the fulcrum point and pin are placed within a separate housing such housing being located within the headworks cover such cover being fixed in a vertical plane but allowing full horizontal rotational movement through 3600.

CLAIM 4 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 and 3 wherein the fulcrum point is external to the headworks cover such cover being fixed in a vertical plane but allowing full horizontal rotational movement through 360".

CLAIM 5 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 3 and 4 wherein the headworks cover be attached to the headworks body by means of a cylindrical spacer ring set within a recess at the base of the headworks body. Such recess incorporating an anular groove to enable the headworks cover to be fixed by means of grub screw/pin/rivet or peg to make it fixed so as not to allow vertical movement but to allow the headworks cylindrical spacer ring and fixing pins to rotate freely through 360 in a horizontal mode.

CLAIM 6 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 3 4 and 5 with an amendment to the anular groove in Claim 5. In this embodiment the groove becomes a recess extending through the lower edge of the headworks body thus allowing the headworks cover to be moved vertically in a downward position but preventing it fran being moved upwards or vertically thus keeping the headworks cover captive fran being removed.

CLAIM 7 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 3 4 5 and 6 wherein the lever can be locked in a downward (or open) position by means of a gate incorporated in the lever slot in the headworks cover.

CLAIM 8 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 3 4 5 and 6 wherein the lever can be locked in an upward (closed) or downward (open) position by means of a peg inserted in the lever slot above or below the lever.

CLAIM 9 A lever operated self closing tap as outlined in Claims 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8 wherein the headworks and headworks cover are fitted to a tap base to form a complete lever operated self closing tap.