GB2327255A

GB2327255A - Tap and valve tool

Info

Publication number: GB2327255A
Application number: GB9714731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin William Frederic Gratton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-15
Filing date: 1997-07-15
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-15
Also published as: GB2327255B; GB9714731D0

Abstract

A device for operating a tap or valve (3) having an actuating cross bar (2), the device comprising a cross bar engaging member (1) with a hole (6) for engaging one arm of the cross bar (2) and a slot (7) for engaging an opposing arm of the cross bar (2), the device further including a pivotal actuating handle (4) for rotating the cross bar engaging member (1) and thereby turn the tap or valve (3). A lever bar (5) enables increased leverage to be obtained. Devices of the invention can be used to operate taps or valves which are in inaccessible places and/or have become stiff as a result of not having been operated for a long period of time.

Description

TaP and Valve Tool This invention concerns tools for operating taps and valves and in particular taps and valves having a single cross bar, for example stop taps.

Stop taps and valves are widely used to control water supplies to buildings. However, once turned on such taps and valves are usually left for long periods without being operated, periods of years between operation being common. The result is that when these taps and valves are to be operated they have often become very stiff and difficult to turn. This difficulty is frequently compounded by stop taps and valves being located in positions were access to them is limited.

Turning off such stop taps and valves in a hurry, for example if there is a leak, using conventional tools such as a spanner is therefore often difficult if not impossible even for an experienced plumber.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for operating a tap or valve having an actuating cross bar, the device comprising a cross bar engaging member with a hole for engaging one arm of the cross bar and a slot for engaging an opposing arm of the cross bar, the device further including a pivotal actuating handle for rotating the cross bar engaging member and thereby turn the tap or valve.

The cross bar engaging member is preferably generally tubular, and the hole and the slot are preferably substantially radially opposed to each other with respect thereto. The pivotal actuating handle preferably includes a lever bar for providing increased leverage for turning the tap. It is generally preferred that the devices include an indication of the direction in which to turn the device to turn the tap or valve on or off.

An embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the device; Fig. 2 is a part cut away view of the device as shown in Fig. 1 engaging the head of a tap; Fig. 3 is a view of the device from above; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the device with its operating handle folded for storage.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device consists of a tubular portion 1 for engaging the cross bar 2 of a stop tap or valve 3, and an operating handle 4 and lever bar 5.

The tubular portion 1 has a radial hole 6 and a diametrically opposed slot 7 therethrough for engaging the cross bar 2 of the tap 3. As can be seen from Fig. 2, one end of the cross bar 2 passes through the hole 6 in the tubular portion 1 and the other end of the cross bar 2 is located in the slot 7. The use of a hole 6 and a slot 7 enables the device to be positively locked on to the cross bar 2, thereby reducing the risk of the device slipping off the cross bar 2 as would occur if the hole 6 were to be replaced by a second slot.

The operating handle 4 is generally "U" shaped with inwardly extending end portions 8 which are pivotal in radial holes 9 in the tubular body 1. This enables the angle of the handle 4 relative to the tubular portion 1 to be changed in use according to the leverage required and the access to the tap 3 which is available.

A lever bar 5 has a loop 10 at one end which serves to retain the bar 5 on the handle 4, the bar 5 being free to move along the length of the handle 4 so that leverage can be applied to the bar 4 using the bar 5.

When not in use, the lever bar 5 can be positioned within the "U" shape of the handle 4 as shown in Fig. 4.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 the end of the tubular portion 1 remote from the hole 6 and the slot 7 is closed and has an indication of the direction in which the device is to be turned in order to turn the tap 2 on or off.

The illustrated device is simple to use, the tubular portion 1 being slipped over the top of the tap 3 so that one end of the cross bar 2 of the tap 3 goes into the hole 6, the tubular portion 1 then merely being rotated until the other end of the cross bar 2 is located in the slot 7. The handle 4, and if necessary the lever bar 5, can then be used to turn the tap 3.

Claims

1. A device for operating a tap or valve having an actuating cross bar, the device comprising a cross bar engaging member with a hole for engaging one arm of the cross bar and a slot for engaging an opposing arm of the cross bar, the device further including a pivotal actuating handle for rotating the cross bar engaging member and thereby turn the tap or valve.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cross bar engaging member is generally tubular and the hole and the slot are substantially radially opposed to each other with respect thereto.

3. A device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the pivotal actuating handle includes a lever bar for providing increased leverage for turning the tap.

4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, including an indication of the direction in which to turn the device to turn the tap or valve on or off.

5. A device for operating a tap or valve having an actuating cross bar, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.