GB2322434A

GB2322434A - Faucet timer unit

Info

Publication number: GB2322434A
Application number: GB9703888A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helen Lorraine Honey; Steven James Head
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-07
Filing date: 1997-02-25
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Also published as: CA2198403A1; GB9703888D0; AU1492297A

Abstract

A faucet timer unit (10) having a valve assembly (22) interrupted by a timer mechanism (26) for operation in an ON period, a DELAY period and an OFF period. During the ON period the valve assembly (22) is activated and water can flow from the faucet, whereas during the DELAY period the valve assembly (22) is deactivated for interrupting the flow of water from the faucet and can not be restarted. During the ON period and the DELAY period a timer control knob (78) is set to "free-wheel" so that it can not be used to reset the valve assembly (22) and hence the operation of the faucet timer unit (10) is not able to be defeated by tampering with the timer control knob (78). The faucet timer unit (10) also has a ringer mechanism (28) which includes a three piece cam (142) which controls the relatively complex sequencing of the operation of the valve assembly (24) and a bell (152).

Description

TITLE FAUCET TIMER UNIT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a faucet timer unit particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use in inhibiting forced resetting of the timer unit during use. The faucet timer unit is typically used in controlling the supply of water from a faucet to a shower rose whereby water is allowed to flow to the shower rose for a predetermined time and then prevented from flowing for a further predetermined time before the shower rose can be used again.

The purpose of the invention is to decrease the usage of water, particularly during showing by ensuring that the water supply is interrupted after a predetermined period of time, such as, for example about 10 minutes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the use of showers it is a common problem that persons operate the shower for excessive periods of time which leads to wastage of water and increased costs in the heating of such water.

It is known to override the operation of shower roses by a unit which requires the insertion of the a token, such as a coin. The token enables operation of the shower rose for a predetermined period of time. Thereafter, the shower rose can be re-used by the insertion of a further token. Such units have the disadvantage that there is no delay time between operational periods of the shower rose and hence the units do not reduce the amount of water and power consumed if the person using the shower is prepared to pay. This makes the units particularly unsuited to domestic use since usually there is only one or two people who ultimately pay. Also, the units must be periodically emptied of the tokens.

In our Patent Application No. 57551/94 there is shown a faucet timer unit which is used in controlling water supplied from a faucet in an "ON" period of operation, for allowing flow of water from the faucet, a "DELAY" period of operation during which operation in the "ON" period is prevented, and an "OFF" period of operation during which operation in the "ON" period is allowed. A disadvantage of the design of the timer disclosed in Application No. 57551/94 is that it may be possible to force the operation of the timer and so override its operation of interrupting the supply of water from the faucet.

We have now developed a mechanism to, practically speaking, prevent overriding of the timer and hence more reliably meet the purpose of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a faucet timer unit for controlling the flow of water from a faucet whilst inhibiting overriding of its operation.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a timer mechanism for use in controlling a valve means between an ON period of operation and an OFF period of operation, the timer mechanism comprising: a timer control knob arranged for activating the valve means for disabling interruption of a flow of water from the valve means; a timer means for timing the said ON period for maintaining operation of the valve means to allow the flow of water during the ON period; and, an engaging means coupling the timer control knob to the timer means for allowing engagement of the timer control knob with the timer means for initiating operation of the valve means from an OFF position to an ON position so that the water flow is not interrupted, and the engaging means allowing disengagement of the timer control knob from the timer means when the timer means is operative in timing the ON period of operation of the valve means so that further operation of the timer control knob does not result in a change in the time during which the valve means is in the ON position.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a faucet timer unit for use in interrupting the flow of water from a faucet, the faucet timer unit comprising: a valve means for interrupting the flow of water from the faucet, the valve means being operable in an ON position for allowing the flow of water from the faucet and the valve means being operable in an OFF position for interrupting the flow of water; and, a timer mechanism comprising a timer means, an engaging means and a timer control knob, the timer means being in operative association with the valve means for controlling the period of time for which the valve means is in the ON position, the engaging means coupling the timer control knob to the timer means for allowing engagement and disengagement of the timer control knob with the timer means so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means when the valve means in the ON position so that further operation of the timer control knob does not alter the period of time for which the valve means is in the ON position so that the period of time set by the timer means for the period that the valve means is in the ON position elapses fully, and so that the timer control knob is engaged with the timer means when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the timer means can be restarted for setting the valve means to the ON position again.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a three piece cam means comprising a primary bell cam, a secondary bell cam and a valve cam, the primary bell cam carrying the secondary bell cam and the valve cam, the primary bell cam being able to rotate such as by driving with a timer means, the secondary bell cam being rotatable on the primary bell cam, and the valve cam being fixed to the primary bell cam so as to retain the secondary bell cam onto the primary bell cam, the valve cam being shaped to operate a valve between an ON position and an OFF position as the primary bell cam rotates, and the secondary bell cam being shaped to hold a bell striker in a loaded position ready to strike a bell to warn that the period of timing of the timer means is about to the completed, and the secondary bell cam being able to remain stationary as the primary bell cam rotates whilst the timer means times out the timing period of the ON position of operation of the valve, so that the secondary bell cam can release the bell striker at a predetermined time interval before the timer means times out the ON period to allow striking of the bell as a warning to the completion of the ON period of the valve.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a ringer mechanism including a bell and a three piece cam means comprising a primary bell cam, a secondary bell cam and a valve cam, the primary bell cam carrying the secondary bell cam and the valve cam, the primary bell cam being able to rotate such as by driving with a timer means, the secondary bell cam being rotatable on the primary bell cam, and the valve cam being fixed to the primary bell cam so as to retain the secondary bell cam onto the primary bell cam, the valve cam being shaped to operate a valve between an ON position and an OFF position as the primary bell cam rotates, and the secondary bell cam being shaped to hold a bell striker in a loaded position ready to strike a bell to warn that the period of timing of the timer means is about to the completed, and the secondary bell cam being able to remain stationary as the primary bell cam rotates whilst the timer means times out the timing period of the ON position of operation of the valve, so that the secondary bell cam can release the bell striker at a predetermined time interval before the timer means times out the ON period to allow striking of the bell as a warning to the completion of the ON period of the valve.

The present invention will hereinafter be described with particular reference to use in relation to a faucet in a shower and hence will be referred to as a shower timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a shower timer unit in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a cross-sectional side view and a rear view of the shower timer unit of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a part cross-sectional plan view of the shower timer unit of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a body of the shower timer unit of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a part cross-sectional side view of the body of Figure 1 with a valve mechanism shown in a closed mode of operation; Figure 7 is a part cross-sectional side view of the body of Figure 6 with the valve mechanism shown in an open mode of operation; Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and a side view of a timer hub of a timer mechanism of the shower timer unit of Figure 1; Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a plan and a side view of a ratchet hub of the timer mechanism; Figures 12 and 13 are respectively a plan and a side view of a ratchet spring of the timer mechanism; Figures 14 and 15 are respectively a plan and a side view of a ratchet pawl of the timer mechanism (not both shown to the same scale); Figures 16 and 17 are respectively a cross-sectional side view and a rear view of a control knob of the timer mechanism; Figures 18 to 20 are respectively a rear, a side and a front view of a ringer plate of a ringer mechanism of the shower timer unit of Figure 1; Figures 21 to 23 are respectively a rear view, a cross-sectional side view and a front view of a primary bell cam of the ringer mechanism; Figures 24 and 25 are respectively a plan and a cross-sectional side view of a secondary bell cam of the ringer mechanism; Figures 26 and 27 are respectively a plan and a cross-sectional side view of a valve cam of the timer mechanism; and, Figures 28 to 30 are respectively a side, a front and a plan view of a bell striker of the ringer mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODDIENT(S) In Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a shower timer 10 in accordance with the present invention. The shower timer 10 comprises a body 20, a valve cap 22, a valve assembly 24, a timer mechanism 26 and a ringer mechanism 28.

The body 20, as also shown in Figure 5, has an inlet 40, an outlet 42, a passageway 44 connecting the inlet 40 with the outlet 42, and a diaphragm cavity 46. The inlet 40 is typically attached to a faucet such as in a shower recess. The outlet 42 is typically attached to a shower rose. The body also has a wall 47 blocking the inlet 40 from the outlet 42.

The wall 47 typically has a bleed hole 47a in it to allow a very small amount of water to flow from the inlet 40 to the outlet 42. The body 20 also has cavity 48 for receiving the timer mechanism 26 and a cavity 50 for receiving the ringer mechanism 28. The body 20 further has a stop post 52 which serves as a part of the timer mechanism 26 as described hereinafter. The body 20 is typically made from glass filled nylon or the like.

The valve cap 22 is fixed upon the body 20 with screws or the like. The valve cap retains the valve assembly 24 in the body 20.

Particularly as shown in Figures 6 and 7 the valve assembly 24 comprises a diaphragm 60, a pilot valve 62, a spring 64 and a push rod 66. The diaphragm 60 sits in the diaphragm chamber 46 and is able to be deformed between a CLOSED position as shown in Figure 6 and an OPEN position as shown in Figure 7. The pilot valve 62 is biased by the spring 64 to urge the diaphragm 60 to the CLOSED position, whilst the push rod 66 can be pushed to raise the diaphragm 60 in the diaphragm chamber 46 against the force of the spring 64 so as to deform the diaphragm 60 to its OPEN position. In the CLOSED position the passageway 44 is closed off from the inlet and hence water is inhibited from flowing from the faucet to the shower rose, whereas in the OPEN position the passageway 44 is opened so that the water can flow from the faucet to the shower rose.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8 to 17 the timer mechanism 26 comprises a timer hub 70, a ratchet hub 72, a ratchet spring 74, a ratchet pawl 76, a timer control knob 78 and a clock movement 79. The timer hub 70 is generally toroidal in plan and relatively flat in elevation, except that it has a post 80 referred to as a start post 80 since it is involved with the starting of the ON period of the timer mechanism 26. The timer hub 70 also has holes 82 referred to as timer holes 82. In the present embodiment each adjacent one of the timer holes 82 correspond to an increment of 5 minutes. The present embodiment will hereinafter be described particular with reference to the hole 82 which is second furthermost from the start post 80. This hole 82 is known as the 10 minute hole 84. The timer hub 70 has a central hole 86 for locating over a shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26.

When so located the 10 minute hole 84 receives the stop post 52 of the body 20 and the timer hub 70 rests against the body 20. The purpose of the timer hub 70 is to allow a variation in the predetermined timing period of the timer mechanism 26 such as in 5 minute increments.

The ratchet hub 72 has an aperture 90 for engaging with and turning with the shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26. The ratchet hub 72 also has a head 92 with a start recess 94 for seating about the start post 80 of the timer hub 70 and a stop recess 96 located opposite the head 92 from the start recess 94 for seating about the stop post 52 of the body 20. The ratchet hub 72 also has a pivot post 98 located on the head 92 and arranged substantially parallel with an axis of the aperture 90 for pivotably supporting the ratchet pawi 76. The ratchet hub 72 sits upon the timer hub 70 and rotates with the shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26. The purpose of the ratchet hub 72 is to limit the rotation of the shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26 to between the start post 80 and the stop post 52 so as to set the time of operation of the timer mechanism 26.

The ratchet spring 74 has a central aperture 100 for engaging upon and rotation with the shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26. The ratchet spring 74 also has a spring member 102 which is generally C-shaped and extends most of the way around the ratchet spring 74.

The spring member 102 has a toe end 104 having a shoulder 106 for engaging with the ratchet pawl 76 for biasing the ratchet pawl 76 away from engagement with the timer control knob 78. The ratchet spring 74 sits on top of the ratchet hub 72 with the toe end 104 disposed proximate the pivot post 98. The purpose of the ratchet spring 74 is to bias the ratchet pawl 76 away from engagement with the timer control knob 78.

The ratchet pawl 76 has a head 110, a spring 112, a flange 114 located upon the spring 112, a wedge 116 and a knob 118. The head 110 is shaped to engage with the timer control knob 78. The ratchet pawl 76 also has a hole 120 for location upon the pivot post 98 of the ratchet hub 72 so that the ratchet pawl 76 can pivot with respect to the ratchet hub 72 between a first position in which the head 110 engages with the timer control knob 78 and a second position in which the head 110 does not engage with the timer control knob 78. The flange 114 is disposed so that its shoulder 122 bears against the toe end 104 of the ratchet spring 74 to cause the ratchet pawl 76 to be biased in an anticlockwise direction upon the pivot post 98 of the ratchet hub 72. The wedge 116 is arranged to ride over the stop post 52 of the body 20 for forcing the head 110 into engagement with the timer control knob 78 when the ratchet hub 72 has reached the stop post 52 so that the timer mechanism can be restarted.

The timer control knob 78 is generally circular in plan and has a central hole 130 and a plurality of teeth 132 located on a inner wall 134 of a skirt 136. The hole 130 allows attachment of the knob 78 to the rest of the timer unit 10 and also allows the knob 78 to rotate freely upon the shaft 88 of the timer mechanism 26, whilst the teeth 132 allow engagement with the head 110 of the ratchet pawl 76 so that rotation of the knob 78 causes rotation of the shaft 88 and hence allows winding up of the timer mechanism 26.

The clock movement 59 is located in the cavity 48 and sealed therein by O-ring seals to inhibit corrosion. The clock movement 59 is typically a spring based movement which receives the shaft 88 so that the shaft 88 rotates with a winding shaft 139 of the movement 59.

The ratchet hub 72, the ratchet spring 74, the ratchet pawl 76 and the teeth 132 of the shirt 136 of the timer control knob 78 constitute the engaging means of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 18 to 30 the ringer mechanism 28 comprises a ringer plate 140, a three piece cam 142 (see Figure 2) including a primary bell cam 144, a secondary bell cam 146 and a valve cam 148, a bell striker 150 and a bell 152 (see Figure 2). Technically the valve cam 148 is a part of the timer mechanism 26 since it is the valve cam 148 which controls the push rod 66 for operating the valve assembly 24. The three piece cam 142 is the combination of the primary bell cam 144, the secondary bell cam 146 and the valve cam 148.

The ringer plate 140 has a circular flange 160 defining an O-ring seat 162 for receiving an O-ring 164 (see Figure 2) to seal the ringer mechanism 28 over the clock movement 59.

The ringer plate 140 has a ringer spring retainer 166 for carrying a spring 168 (see Figure 2) for driving the bell striker 150 against the bell 152. The ringer plate 140 has a central hole 170 for receiving one end of the winding shaft 139 of the clock movement 79. The hole 170 is surrounded by an O-ring cavity 172 for sealing the ringer plate 140 against moisture. The ringer plate 140 also has a push rod guide 174 for guiding one end of the push rod 66 as it moves against the valve cam 148 during rotation of the winding shaft 139.

The primary bell cam 144 has a base 180, a post 182 extending from one side of the base 180, a carrier 184 extending from the other side of the base 180, and a flange 186 for driving the secondary bell cam 148. The carrier 184 attaches to the winding shaft 139 of the clock movement 79 and carries the secondary bell cam 146 and the valve cam 148. The carrier 184 also has an O-ring seat 188 for sealing into the O-ring cavity 172 of the ringer plate 140. The carrier further has two flats 190 and a key 192 for engaging with the valve cam 148 for ensuring that the valve cam 148 rotates with the primary bell cam 144. The base 180 has a cam face 194 for engaging with the bell striker 150 for pivoting the bell striker 150 to a loaded position against the bias of the spring 168.

The secondary bell cam 146 has a hole 200 and a surrounding boss 202 for seating over the carrier 184 ofthe primary bell cam 144. The secondary bell cam 146 also has a lug 204 and a flange 206 for bearing against the flange 186 of the primary bell cam 144. The lug 204 and the flange 206 are spaced apart so that there is a dead zone where pivoting of the primary bell cam 144 causes no pivoting of the secondary bell cam 146. The flange 206 has a notch 208 for engaging with the bell striker 150 and remaining stationary with respect to the bell striker 150 whilst the primary bell cam 144 rotates under the action of the shaft 139 of the clock movement 79. The space between the lug 204 and the flange 206 is essential for allowing this secondary bell cam 146 to remain stationary. The flange 186 of the primary bell cam 144 bears against the flange 206 as the timer mechanism 26 is wound up, and the flange 186 bears against the lug 204 when the bell 152 is about to be sounded.

The secondary bell cam 146 remains stationary only until the flange 186 bears against the lug 204. Thereafter, the flange 206 releases the bell striker 150 and the secondary bell cam 146 rotates with the primary bell cam 144.

The valve cam 148 has an ON cam face 220, a DELAY cam face 222 and an OFF cam face 224 located about its periphery. Each of the cam faces 220 to 224 bear against the push rod 66. The ON cam face 220 is located outermost and the OFF cam face 224 is located in a notch 226. The valve cam 148 has a keyway 228 and a substantially rectangular aperture 230 for ensuring that the valve cam 148 rotates with the primary bell cam 144.

The bell striker 150 has a flange 240 for bearing against the cam face 194 of the primary bell cam 144 for urging against the force ofthe spring 168. The flange 240 is locked in the notch 208 of the secondary bell cam 146 until the push rod 66 comes into contact with the DELAY cam face 222 of the valve cam 148. The bell striker 150 also has a hammer end 242 for striking against the bell 152 for causing a ringing sound about 2 minutes before the timer mechanism 26 activates the vale assembly 24 to interrupt the flow of water from the inlet 40 to the outlet 42.

In use, the faucet timer 10 of the invention is typically installed into a shower recess to control the time that people are able to have a continuous shower. To install the faucet timer 10 the shower arm and its rose are first removed by unthreading from the pipe to which they are fixed. The inlet 40 is then threaded onto the pipe and the shower arm is then threaded onto the outlet 42.

The faucet timer 10 is in the OFF position when it is inactive, or when it has not been used.

In the OFF position the valve assembly 24 interrupts the flow of water out of the pipe in the shower. Hence, normal operation of the faucet taps which conventionally control the supply of water to the shower rose does not result in water spraying out of the shower rose.

When a person desires to have a shower under the rose they rotate the timer control knob 78. During the OFF position of operation the pawl 76 is in engagement with the timer control knob 78 and hence rotation of the timer control knob 78 results in actuation of the clock movement 79. Simultaneously, this causes rotation of the primary bell cam 144 and the valve cam 148 which respectively loads the striker 150 and lifts the diaphragm 60 (see Figure 7) so that water can flow from the pipe in the sower recess through the valve assembly 24, through the outlet 42 and out of the shower rose.

Operation of the faucet taps in the shower recess then results in water spraying out of the shower rose.

The person can then have a shower for a period of time as set by the location of the start post 80 in the timer hub 70. Typically, the start post 80 is set to provide a showering time of say 10 minutes.

As the timer mechanism 26 times out the showering period (the ON period of operation) the primary bell cam 144 rotates and when the flange 186 meets the lug 204 further rotation of the primary bell cam 144 causes rotation of the secondary bell cam which causes the secondary bell cam 146 to release the bell striker 150 which strikes the bell 152 to ring a warning that the water will soon be shut off. By the location of the lug 204 the time that remains is typically about 1 minute - which is considered sufficient time for the person in the shower to remove the soap from their body and hair.

As the primary bell cam 144 continues to rotate it causes the valve cam 148 to rotate so that the push rod 66 ceases to bear against the ON cam face 220. This lowers the diaphragm 60 and the valve assembly 24 closes to interrupt the flow of the water. The clock movement 79 then continues to time out the DELAY period. During this period the push rod bears down the DELAY cam face 222. Typically, the DELAY period is between 2 to 5 minutes. Once the DELAY period has expired the clock movement 79 winds down and there is no further rotation of the cams 144 and 148. The push rod 60 then bears against the OFF cam face 244.

When the faucet timer 10 is in the OFF position the head 110 of the pawl 76 rests against the pivot post 98 of the ratchet hub 72 which causes the head 110 to engage with the teeth 132 of the timer control knob 78. Once the timer control knob 78 is turned and released after winding up the clock movement 79 the head 110 is no longer in contact with the pivot post 98 and so that head 110 pivots in an anticlockwise direction under the force of the ratchet spring 74. This pivoting of the head 110 causes the pawl 76 to disengage from the teeth 132 of the timer control knob 78 when the timer control knob 78 is released at the end of winding up the clock movement 79.

At the completion of the DELAY period the clock movement 79 causes the ratchet pawl 76 to pivot back to the position where the head 110 engages with the teeth 132 of the timer control knob 78 so as to allow a new ON period of operation to be initiated at any time.

The faucet timer unit 10 of the present invention has the advantage that it can control the operation of the faucet in an ON period, a DELAY period and an OFF period so as to conserve the use of water and wherein the operation of the faucet timer unit 10 can not be overridden or reset during the DELAY period by virtue of the disengagement of the ratchet pawl 76 from the timer control knob 78.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the timer holes 82 could be other than corresponding to 5 minutes, such as, for example, 1 minute or 10 minutes. Other forms of clock mechanisms 79 could be used, including electronic movements, movements based on the energy of the water pressure or of the movement of the water and the like.

Claims

The Claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A timer mechanism for use in controlling a valve means between an ON period of operation and an OFF period of operation, the timer mechanism comprising: a timer control knob arranged for activating the valve means for disabling interruption of a flow of water from the valve means; a timer means for timing the said ON period for maintaining operation of the valve means to allow the flow of water during the ON period; and, an engaging means coupling the timer control knob to the timer means for allowing engagement of the timer control knob with the timer means for initiating operation of the valve means from an OFF position to an ON position so that the water flow is not interrupted, and the engaging means allowing disengagement of the timer control knob from the timer means when the timer means is operative in timing the ON period of operation of the valve means so that further operation of the timer control knob does not result in a change in the time during which the valve means is in the ON position.
2. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 1, in which the engaging means comprises a ratchet paw which is disposed to allow rotation of the timer control knob in one direction when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the valve means can be activated, and the ratchet pawl being disposed to be disengaged from the timer control knob when the valve means is in the ON position so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means.
3. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 1, in which the timer means includes a DELAY period of operation during which the engaging means disengages the timer control knob from the timer means so that further operation of the timer control knob during the DELAY period of operation does not result in initiation of the valve means to the ON position.
4. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 3, in which the engaging means comprises a ratchet pawl which is disposed to allow rotation of the timer control knob in one direction when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the valve means can be activated, and the ratchet pawl being disposed to be disengaged from the timer control knob when the valve means is in the ON position and the during the DELAY period of operation so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means.
5. A faucet timer unit for use in interrupting the flow of water from a faucet, the faucet timer unit comprising: a valve means for interrupting the flow of water from the faucet, the valve means being operable in an ON position for allowing the flow of water from the faucet and the valve means being operable in an OFF position for interrupting the flow of water; and, a timer mechanism comprising a timer means, an engaging means and a timer control knob, the timer means being in operative association with the valve means for controlling the period of time for which the valve means is in the ON position, the engaging means coupling the timer control knob to the timer means for allowing engagement and disengagement of the timer control knob with the timer means so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means when the valve means in the ON position so that further operation of the timer control knob does not alter the period of time for which the valve means is in the ON position so that the period of time set by the timer means for the period that the valve means is in the ON position elapses fully, and so that the timer control knob is engaged with the timer means when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the timer means can be restarted for setting the valve means to the ON position again.
6. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 1, in which the timer means includes a DELAY period of operation during which the engaging means disengages the timer control knob from the timer means so that further operation of the timer control knob during the DELAY period of operation does not result in initiation of the valve means to the ON position.
7 A faucet timer unit according to Claim 1, in which the engaging means allows the timer control knob to rotate freely with respect to the timer means when the valve means is in the ON position.
8. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 2, in which the engaging means allows the timer control knob to rotate freely with respect to the timer means when the valve means is in the ON position and when the timer means is in the DELAY period of operation.
9. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 1, in which the engaging means comprises a ratchet paw which is disposed to allow rotation of the timer control knob in one direction when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the valve means can be activated, and the ratchet pawi being disposed to be disengaged from the timer control knob when the valve means is in the ON position so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means.
10. A faucet timer unit according to Claim 2, in which the engaging means comprises a ratchet pawl which is disposed to allow rotation of the timer control knob in one direction when the valve means is in the OFF position so that the valve means can be activated, and the ratchet pawl being disposed to be disengaged from the timer control knob when the valve means is in the ON position and the during the DELAY period of operation so that the timer control knob is disengaged from the timer means.
11. A three piece cam means comprising a primary bell cam, a secondary bell cam and a valve cam, the primary bell cam carrying the secondary bell cam and the valve cam, the primary bell cam being able to rotate such as by driving with a timer means, the secondary bell cam being rotatable on the primary bell cam, and the valve cam being fixed to the primary bell cam so as to retain the secondary bell cam onto the primary bell cam, the valve cam being shaped to operate a valve between an ON position and an OFF position as the primary bell cam rotates, and the secondary bell cam being shaped to hold a bell striker in a loaded position ready to strike a bell to warn that the period of timing of the timer means is about to the completed, and the secondary bell cam being able to remain stationary as the primary bell cam rotates whilst the timer means times out the timing period of the ON position of operation of the valve, so that the secondary bell cam can release the bell striker at a predetermined time interval before the timer means times out the ON period to allow striking of the bell as a warning to the completion of the ON period of the valve.
12. A three piece cam means according to Claim 11, in which the valve cam is shaped to also provide a DELAY period of operation of the valve during which time the timer means can not be reset.
13. A ringer mechanism including a bell and a three piece cam means according to Claim 11, the ringer mechanism providing a warning sound at a predetermined period before the timer means reaches the completion of the ON period of operation of the valve so as to warn a user of the timer means that the timing period will soon be completed.
14. A ringer mechanism comprising a bell and a three piece cam means according to Claim 12, the ringer mechanism providing a warning sound at a predetermined period before the timer means reaches the completion of the ON period of operation of the valve so as to warn a user of the timer means that the timing period will soon be completed.
15. A faucet timer unit for use in interrupting the flow of water from a faucet, the faucet timer unit being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
16. A timer mechanism for use in controlling a valve means between an ON period of operation and an OFF period of operation, the timer mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
17. A three piece cam means substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
18. A ringer mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.