GB2465395A - Tap enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing for preventing the operation of a tap by unauthorised individuals comprises a hinged enclosure 10 that surrounds only the tap handle. The enclosure comprises two hinged casings that are locked together with a padlock 28. A kit includes the housing and a padlock.

Description

A Housing The present invention relates to a housing for encasing a tap handle mounted on a spindle and a method of installing a housing on a tap, a kit including the housing and a method of preventing unauthorised use of a tap.

In a variety of circumstances, taps are fitted to control the flow of a fluid, such as water in places where only authorised personnel should alter the fluid flow. An example is stopcocks used to control water supply to a building.

Taps, including stopcocks, generally comprise a tap body containing the fluid channel and valve from which projects a rotatable spindle on which is mounted a tap handle. Rotation of the handle on the spindle alters the ability for fluid to pass along the fluid channel in the tap body.

It has been known to provide enclosures for stopcocks that encase the whole tap. However, in many installations, it is not possible to properly install the enclosure due to restricted space as often the stopcock will be located against or even embedded in a wall of a building or otherwise in a location where the case cannot be fitted.

The present invention seeks to provide means to prevent unauthorised use of a tap that can be fitted in most installations.

According to the present invention there is provided a housing for encasing a tap handle mounted on a spindle, the housing having two parts movable between a secure position where access to the tap handle is prevented and an open position where the tap handle is rotatable on the spindle, the housing having a back plate including an opening through which the spindle extendsin the secure position. The housing of the present invention encases the tap handle in the secure position which prevents the actuation of the tap handle. However, as the spindle extends out of the housing, the housing does not encase the entire tap. The tap handle is always installed in such a way that it can be manually operated, and so the housing can be fitted to encase the tap handle even if the tap body has been placed against or in a wall or other obstructed position. In the open position, the authorised user can alter the flow through the tap.

Each of the two parts advantageously includes a member and in the secure position the members are lockable together to prevent the housing being moved to the open position. Normally a padlock is used to maintain the housing in the secure position. This may either be a lock with a key or a combination lock.

Each of the two parts includes a section of the back plate and the sections of the back plate abut or overlap in the secure position. Normally the housing comprises a front plate and the back plate joined at the peripheral edges thereof by a sidewall. In which case, each of the two parts normally includes a section of the front plate and the sections of the front plate abut or overlap in the secure position. It is preferred if the plates overlap in the secure position as this prevents a tool being inserted if an unauthorised user tries to operate the tap.

Preferably, the two parts are joined by a hinge. This makes the device simple to install and prevents the parts becoming separated during storage.

In which case, in the secure position of the housing, the hinge is parallel to the spindle, as rotation in an axis parallel to the spindle means that the housing can easily be removed from the tap.

It is normally preferred for the housing to be made from a robust material, such as a metal. Sheet steel will often be used due to the strength of the material, the ease with which it can be fabricated and the relatively low cost thereof.

The housing will advantageously be rotatable about the tap handle in the secure position so that even if an unauthorised individual forces the housing to rotate the tap handle is not moved.

The housing may be provided as a kit together with a padlock. The padlock may be operated by a key. Alternatively, the padlock may be a combination lock which is advantageous where a particular authorised user may not have ready access to the key, but could for example be told the combination of the padlock from a central station.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing use of a tap comprising: a) providing a housing in an open position adjacent a tap handle of the tap; b) encasing the tap handle in said housing by moving the housing to a secure position; and c) locking the housing in the secure position.

The method normally uses the housing or kit of the first aspect of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1: shows a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2: shows a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3: shows a lock side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: shows a hinge side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

S

Fig. 5 depicts the housing of Figs. 1 -4 installed on a stopcock; and Fig. 6 shows a side view of the installation of Fig. 5.

Figs. 1-4 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a housing 10 made from sheet steel. Other robust metals or plastics could be used if desired. The housing 10 comprises a first part 12 and a second part 14 joined together by hinge 16. The housing 10 comprises a front plate 1 8, with a section 1 8a on the first part 1 2 and a section 1 8b on the second part 14, a back plate 20 with a section 20a on the first part 12 and a section 20b on the second part 14 and a side wall 22 extending between the peripheries of the front and back plate 1 8, 20 with a section 22a on the first part 12 and a section 22b on the second part 14. The back plate has an opening 21 in the centre thereof. The opening 21 is sized to accommodate the spindle 32 of a stopcock 30, but is of small enough diameter so that a tool cannot be inserted into the housing 10 when the spindle 32 extends therethrough as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The hinge 1 6 connects the side wall sections at one join. First part 1 2 has a first member 24 projecting therefrom substantially opposite the hinge 1 6 and second part 14 has a second member 26 projecting therefrom also substantially opposite the hinge 16. The first member 24 includes a slit through which the second member 26 projects in a secure position. The second member 26 includes an opening through which the bar of a padlock 28 can be inserted. There are many variations of how to lock the two parts 12, 14 together in the secure position which will be apparent to the skilled person.

An alternative embodiment, not shown, does not utilise a hinge, but instead the two parts comprise two closed cylinders which slide into one another and are locked together in the secure position.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the housing is sized to accommodate the handle 34 of a stopcock and will normally be of about 80mm diameter.

The opening 21 with have a diameter large enough to accommodate the spindle 32 as described above, often about 10-20mm.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A housing for encasing a tap handle mounted on a spindle, the housing having two parts movable between a secure position where access to the tap handle is prevented and an open position where the tap handle is rotatable on the spindle, the housing having a back plate including an opening through which the spindle extends in the secure position.
2. 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein each of the two parts includes a member and in the secure position the members are lockable together to prevent the housing being moved to the open position.
3. 3. The housing according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the two parts includes a section of the back plate and the sections of the back plate abut or overlap in the secure position.
4. 4. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two parts are joined by a hinge.
5. 5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein, in the secure position of the housing, the hinge is parallel to the spindle.
6. 6. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a front plate and the back plate joined at the peripheral edges thereof by a sidewall.
7. 7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein each of the two parts includes a section of the front plate and the sections of the front plate abut or overlap in the secure position.
8. 8. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a metal, e.g. sheet steel.
9. 9. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is rotatable about the tap handle in the secure position.
10. 10. A kit comprising the housing of any one of claims 1 to 9 and a padlock.
11. 11. A method of preventing use of a tap comprising: a) providing a housing in an open position adjacent a tap handle of the tap; b) encasing the tap handle in said housing by moving the housing to a secure position; and c) locking the housing in the secure position.
12. 12. The method of claim 12 utilising the housing of any one of claims 1 to 9 or the kit of claim 10.
13. 13. A housing as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
14. 14. A kit as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
15. 1 5. A method as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.