GB2348266A

GB2348266A - Tap cover

Info

Publication number: GB2348266A
Application number: GB9906766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane Louise Bladon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-25
Filing date: 1999-03-25
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: GB9906766D0

Abstract

A safety device comprises protective material, such as a resilient foam, or wadding, which is adapted to removably fit over a tap, or more suitably a pair of taps, on bath or the like, in order to prevent injury as a result of accidental collision with the tap. Examples of the device comprise blocks of polymer foam, which have apertures to allow them to be placed over taps, and restraining means to allow them to be held in place during bathing. The device may have an access lid allowing access to the tap/s whilst the device is in position.

Description

Safety Device The present invention relates to a safety device, in particular to prevent injury as a result of accidental collision with a tap such as a domestic tap and in particular bath taps.

Bathing, particularly for children and vulnerable adults such as old or handicapped people can present some difficulties.

There is a risk of falling on the slippery surface of the bath.

In the event of such a fall, considerable damage can be caused by impact with the taps of the bath. Even in the normal course of events, children playing in the bath are at risk of banging their heads or faces on the taps.

The present invention provides a safety device comprising a protective material which is adapted to removably fit over a tap.

The protective material used is suitably a resilient material, such as wadding, padding, sponge or foam, which may be supported on a rigid frame but is preferably self supporting.

It should be sufficiently thick, particularly in the region which is at the front end of the tap when the device is in place, to provide good protection against impact.

Suitably, the protective material may be squeezed out and dried once bathing is over. It is preferably sufficiently durable to resist being played with by inquisitive children.

Preferably the protective material is a resilient foamed material, in particular of a polymer foam such as polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene foam.

Alternatively or additionally, the protective material is provided with a cover of a waterproof plastics material, such a vinyl polymer like polyvinylchloride. This would improve the durability of the device, making it much more long-lasting.

The surface could be wiped clean.

In a simple form, the safety device comprises a block of protective material with an aperture in a lower surface thereof, said aperture being adapted to accommodate a tap.

This block can simply be placed over a tap once a bath or basin of water has been prepared. The block will be generally square or rectangular in cross section, but may, if desired, be shaped in a decorative or appealing manner.

The aperture may be moulded or cut out of the block, and is suitably shaped to accommodate a particular tap snugly so prevent it coming off too easily. Thus the particular shape of the aperture may vary depending on the sort of taps on the bath.

Individual blocks may be provided for each tap, but in a particularly preferred embodiment, the block is provided with two apertures to accommodate a pair of taps on a standard bath.

This device could be removed easily once the bath is over by lifting the block off.

Alternatively, the protective material may be shaped so that it can be wrapped around a tap laterally. In this case, the protective material will be provided with openable fastening means to hold it in place around the tap. Suitable fastening means comprises interconnectable elements, such as VelcroN strips, or a snap fastening.

For extra security, the device of the invention may further comprise restraining means which are arranged to extend under a tap when the protective material is in place thereon, to prevent the device from being pulled off or accidentally removed. Suitable restraining means comprises a strap which is provided with a releasable fastening, such as interconnectable elements like Velcro strips or a snap fastening.

The device may be provided with a decorative outer surface, which may take the form of bright colours or interesting shapes such as animal shapes, decoration, such as pictures or designs which may be printed or adhered to the surface. In particular, where a waterproof covering is provided as described above, this may itself be of a decorative nature, for example, so as to appeal to children.

If desired, the safety device may be provided with means to allow access to the tap from above, when the device is in place on the tap. In this way, more water can be put into the bath during the bathing process without removing the entire device.

Access can be by way of a simple opening in the upper surface of the positioned device, or by providing a removeable lid or cover, which is preferably itself made of protective material, and most preferably, the same protective material as the body of the device.

The device of the invention is simple to use and would be cheap to produce. It would be useful in environments where children or vulnerable people are present such as domestic houses, nurseries, hospitals and nursing homes. It would also be useful in farms, kennels and for pet owners, to provide protection when bathing dogs or other animals.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective diagram of a safety device of the invention in place on a pair of taps ; Figure 2 is a view of the lower surface of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a underside diagram of an alternative form of the device of the invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of the device intended to appeal to children.

The illustrated device (Figure 1) comprises a block (1) of resilient polymer foam, which can sit on the side of a bath (2). Two apertures (3,4) (Figure 2) are provided in lower surface of the block (1), which allow the block (1) to fit snugly over a pair of bath taps (5,6) (Figure 1). The apertures (3,4) are spaced from the edges of the block (1) such that a surface (7) which will form the front face of the block is furthest away from the apertures (3,4) so that the maximum protection is provided in this area.

A strap (8) is attached to a side surface of the block (1).

When the block (1) is in place on the taps (5,6), the strap (8) is extended across the lower surface of the block, underneath the taps and fastened to the opposing side surface of the block (1) by means of a releasable fastener such as a VelcroN strip (not shown). An element of the fastener is provided on an end region of the strap whilst the other (9) is on the side surface of the block (1).

After use, the strap (8) is unfastened and the block (1) lifted off of the taps (5,6) whereupon any water may be squeezed out.

The device of Figure 3 comprises a block (10) which is adapted to cover a single tap (not shown). This comprises a single aperture (11) in the lower surface. A restraining strap (12) is also provided.

The device of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figure 1, except that a brightly coloured waterproof cover (13) is provided. The cover is of a flexible plastics material such as polyvinylchloride so as to improve the durability of the foam block but not detract from the protection afforded by the device.

Claims

Claims 1. A safety device comprising protective material which is adapted to removably fit over a tap.
2. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein the protective material is a resilient material.
3. A safety device according to claim 2 wherein the resilient material is a foamed material.
4. A safety device according to claim 3 wherein the foamed material is a polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene foam.
5. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective material is provided with a cover of a waterproof plastics material.
6. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective material comprises a block with an aperture in a lower surface thereof, said aperture being adapted to accommodate a tap.
7. A safety device according to claim 5 which is provided with two apertures in the lower surface, so that a pair of taps can be accommodated therein.
8. A safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protective material is adapted to wrap around a tap and is provided with openable fastening means to hold the protective material in place around the tap.
9. A safety device according to claim 8 wherein the fastening means comprises interconnectable elements or a snap fastening.
10. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising restraining means which are arranged to extend under a tap when the protective material is in place thereon.
11. A safety device according to claim 10 wherein the restraining means comprises a strap and releasable fastening means therefor, arranged so that the strap can pass under a tap when the protective material is in place thereon, and fastened so as to restrain the protective material in position on the tap.
12. A safety device according to claim 11 wherein the fastening means comprises interconnectable elements or a snap fastening.
13. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims which is provided with a decorative outer surface.
14. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims which further comprises access means, which allows access to the tap from above, whilst the device is in position on a tap.
15. A safety device according to claim 14 wherein the access means comprises a removable lid.
16. A safety device according to claim 15 wherein the lid is made of protective material.
17. A safety device substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.

17. A safety device substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows : 1. A safety device comprising protective material and means for removably fitting said material over a tap.

2. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein the protective material is a resilient material.

3. A safety device according to claim 2 wherein the resilient material is a foamed material.

4. A safety device according to claim 3 wherein the foamed material is a polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene foam.

5. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective material is provided with a cover of a waterproof plastics material.

6. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective material comprises a block with an aperture in a lower surface thereof, said aperture being adapted to accommodate a tap.

7. A safety device according to claim 5 which is provided with two apertures in the lower surface, so that a pair of taps can be accommodated therein.

8. A safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protective material is adapted to wrap around a tap and is provided with openable fastening means to hold the protective material in place around the tap.

9. A safety device according to claim 8 wherein the fastening means comprises interconnectable elements or a snap fastening.

10. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising restraining means which are arranged to extend under a tap when the protective material is in place thereon.

11. A safety device according to claim 10 wherein the restraining means comprises a strap and releasable fastening means therefor, arranged so that the strap can pass under a tap when the protective material is in place thereon, and fastened so as to restrain the protective material in position on the tap.

12. A safety device according to claim 11 wherein the fastening means comprises interconnectable elements or a snap fastening.

13. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims which is provided with a decorative outer surface.

14. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims which further comprises access means, which allows access to the tap from above, whilst the device is in position on a tap.

15. A safety device according to claim 14 wherein the access means comprises a removable lid.

16. A safety device according to claim 15 wherein the lid is made of protective material.