GB2519298A

GB2519298A - Accessory support for a water tap

Info

Publication number: GB2519298A
Application number: GB1318241.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Moore; William Peter Herring
Original assignee: Hornbeam Ivy Ltd
Current assignee: Hornbeam Ivy Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-15
Filing date: 2013-10-15
Publication date: 2015-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-15
Also published as: GB201318241D0; GB2519298B

Abstract

An accessory support 1 for a water tap 3 comprising an arm 7 having a shelf 5 for supporting an accessory, attachment means 11 for attaching the arm to a water tap, and a pivot 9 for rotating the shelf relative to the arm or a pivot 13 for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means. Alternatively both pivots are present. The pivots may act as connecting devices. The shelf may comprise a glass support surface and be substantially horizontal and flat and remain so when an orientation of the shelf is changed. The attachment means may comprise a clamp such as a tube clamp and used to attach the arm to a vertical tube of the tap such as the spout. The support may be configured to support the accessory above the tap and attachment means as well as protruding beyond the spout of the tap. The shelf may comprise at least one rib or protrusion 6. The support may be used for a water tap for filling a freestanding bath.

Description

ACCESSORY SUPPORT FOR A WATER TAP

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an accessory support for a water tap, for example an accessory support for a bath filling tap.

Background of the invention

People using baths or sinks frequently want to use one or more accessories while they are using the bath or sink. For example, people using baths or sinks frequently want to use one or more toiletries (e.g. items used for personal hygiene reasons or cosmetic reasons) . Toiletries commonly used by people using baths or sinks may include soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, make-up and other beauty products, etc. In addition, people using baths or sinks may want to use other types of accessory while they are using the bath or sink. For example, people using baths may want to have a drink (e.g. a glass of wine) while they are in the bath, or they may want to use other accessories such as a candle, a music player a mobile phone while they are in the bath.

It is desirable that the person using the bath or sink is able to easily reach the accessory that they want to use. For example, it is desirable that a person using a bath is able to easily reach the accessory that they want to use, e.g. a glass of wine or a candle, without having to get out of the bath.

Traditionally, storage space for accessories such as toiletries has been provided adjacent to baths or sinks through the provision of shelves or a cupboard on a wall adjacent to the bath or sink. Tn addition, sinks or baths that are built into walls or that are installed adjacent to walls commonly have flat storage areas, e.g. to the sides of the water taps and/or in the corners of the bath or sink, for the storage of accessories such as bath soaps and shampoo.

However, freestanding baths (baths that are positioned away from a wall, for example in the middle of a room) generally have a curved rim without any built in flat storage spaces for supporting accessories. In addition, since freestanding baths are positioned away from nearby walls, any storage (e.g. shelves or a cupboard) provided on nearby walls will be out of the reach of a person using the freestanding bath.

It is generally not desirable to position storage furniture such as a shelving unit, cupboard or table adjacent to a freestanding bath in the middle of the room, because this may negatively affect the appearance of the freestanding bath and/or the room in general, e.g. by blocking the view of a part of the freestanding bath and/or by making the freestanding bath appear cluttered or crowded.

Therefore, there exists a problem of how to supporn accessories, e.g. a glass of wine, candle, toiletries, etc., at a freestanding bath.

It is known to provide storage space and/or supporn for toiletries at a bath or sink by using a toiletries holder that attaches to the water tap of the bath or sink. For example, US 2,295,972 discloses a soap holder comprising a curved dish for holding a soap and a saddle portion attached to the curved dish for enclosing part of a water tap body so as to attach the soap holder to the water tap. Furthermore, EP0865750 discloses a device for holding toothbrushes comprising a cup- shaped holder for holding a toothbrush and a substantially U-shaped connector for attaching the device to a vertical shaft of a water tap. These arrangements have an advantage of positioning the soap or toothbrush close to the water tap, so that they are easy for a person using the water tap to access.

However, these toiletry supports are generally only suitable for supporting a small range of different types of toiletries, for example only soap or similarly sized and shaped objects, or only toothbrushes and similarly sized and shaped objects. None of these toiletry supports is suitable for supporting other types of accessory that a person using a bath, e.g. a freestanding bath may want to use, for example a glass of wine or a candle.

In addition, these toiletry supports may not posirion the toiletry in an optimum position for a person using the bath or sink. For example, they may not position the accessory in an optimum or advantageous position for a person using the bath or sink to reach with minimal effort.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an improved accessory support for a water tap.

The present inventors have realised that the known devices for providing additional storage space for toiletries and/or for improving access to the toiletries are not suitable for supporting many different types of accessory that a person using a water tap may want to use, for example a glass of wine or a candle. In addition, the present inventors have realised that the known devices for providing additional storage space for toiletries and/or for improving access to the toiletries may not position the toiletries in an optimum position for a person using the water to tap to reach the toiletries, and that the location of the optimum position may change depending on the type of toiletry (or accessory) that is being supported.

The present invention may address one or more of these problems.

At its most general, the present invention relates to an accessory support for a water tap that has a shelf for supporting an accessory and that attaches to the water tap.

In addition, the accessory support has a pivot for allowing rotation of part of the accessory support relative to another part of the accessory support, in order to change an orientation of the shelf.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; and a pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm.

The feature that the accessory support has a shelf for supporting the accessory means that the accessory support may be able to stably support a wide range of different types of accessory. For example, the accessory support may be able to support a glass or a bottle of wine or other drink, or a candle, or an electrical device, or a toiletry, or another accessory that a person using the water tap might want to use.

Furthermore, the accessory may be supported at a position close to the water tap (because the accessory support is attached to the water tap) and the position of the accessory relative to the water tap may be changed by changing the orientation of the shelf by rotating the shelf relative to the arm about the pivot. As such, it may be possible to adjust the position of the accessory in question to position it in an optimum (or more suitable) position for a user of the water tap.

In addition, since the accessory support is configured to attach to a water tap, the accessory support may be used to provide a support for accessories at a freestanding bath, without having to provide storage furniture adjacent to the freestanding bath.

The accessory support according to the first aspecc of the present invention may have any one, or, to the extent that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional features.

The term accessory support may mean a support for accessories, an item support, a support for items, or a holder for accessories or items.

The term accessory may mean any item that a person using a water tap may want or need to use while they are using, or in close proximity to, the water tap. For example, the term accessories may include (but is not limited to) items such as food or drink, including containers for food or drink, toiletries (e.g. items used for personal hygiene reasons or cosmetic reasons) such as soap, shampoo, make-up, electrical items such as a phone, music player or electrical razor, candles or any other items that a person using a water tap may want or need to use.

The term shelf may mean a flat surface for supporting (i.e. taking the weight) of an accessory.

The term pivot may mean a pivot joint, or a rotation joint, or a rotary connection, or any means that enables rotation of the shelf relative to the arm.

The pivot may allow for 360-degree rotation of the arm relative to the attachment means.

The arm may be made out of metal. For example, the arm may be made out of steel.

The shelf may be connected to the arm by the pivot. For example, the pivot may be at an end of the arm and the shelf may be connected to the end of the arm by the pivot. The shelf and the pivot may be separate parts that are connected together by the pivot.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; and a pivot for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means.

As with the first aspect of the present invention, the feature that the accessory support has a shelf for supporting the accessory means that the accessory support may be able to stably support a wide range of different types of accessory.

As with the first aspect of the present invention, since the accessory support is configured to attach to a water tap, the accessory support may be used to provide a support for accessories at a freestanding bath.

In addition, the accessory may be supported at a position close to the water tap (because the accessory support is attached to the water tap) and the position of the accessory relative to the water tap may be changed by changing the orientation of the shelf by rotating the arm relative to the attachment means about the pivot. As such, it may be possible to adjust the position of the accessory in question to position it in an optimum (or more suitable) position for a user of the water tap.

The accessory support according to the second aspect of the present invention may, where compatible, have any one or more of the optional features of the accessory support according to the first aspect of the present invention discussed above.

The accessory support according to the first aspecu and/or the second aspect of the present invention may have any one, or, to the extent that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional features.

The arm may be connected to the attachment means by the pivot. For example, the pivot may be at an end of the arm and the arm may be connected at its end to the attachment means by the pivot.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; a first pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm; and a second pivot for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means.

As with the first and second aspects of the presenr invention, the feature that the accessory support has a shelf for supporting the accessory means that the accessory support may be able to stably support a wide range of different types of accessory.

As with the first and second aspects of the presen: invention, since the accessory support is configured to attach to a water tap, the accessory support may be used to provide a support for accessories at a freestanding bath.

In addition, the accessory may be supported at a position close to the water tap (because the accessory support is attached to the water tap) and the position of the accessory relative to the water tap may be changed by changing the orientation of the shelf by rotating the shelf relative to the arm about the first pivot and/or by rotating the arm relative to the attachment means about the second pivot. As such, it may be possible to adjust the position of the accessory in guestion to position it in an optimum (or more suitable) position for a user of the water tap. The presence of the two different pivots at the two different locations may provide more control over the position and/or orientation of the shelf, and therefore of the accessory, than an arrangement having only one pivot.

The accessory support according to the third aspecu of the present invention may, where compatible, have any ore or more of the optional features of the accessory support according to the first or second aspects of the present invention discussed above.

The accessory support according to the first aspecc and/or the second aspect and/or the third aspect of the present invention may have any one, or, to the extent that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional features.

The first pivot may allow for 360-degree rotation of the shelf relative to the arm and the second pivot may allow for 360-degree rotation of the arm relative to the attachment means.

The shelf may comprise a support surface for supporting the accessory; and the accessory support may be configured so that the support surface is substantially horizontal when the arm is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.

Therefore, the support surface may be able to stably support an accessory when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.

The support surface may be substantially flat. A flat surface may be particularly suited for supporting one or more accessories. A flat surface may also enable the accessory support to support a wide range of different accessories.

The accessory support may be configured so that the support surface remains substantially horizontal when an orientation of the shelf is changed. In other words, rotating the shelf relative to the arm and/or rotating the arm relative to the attachment means may result in the shelf being rotated around a substantially vertical axis, so that the support surface remains substantially horizontal as the orientation of the shelf is changed. This may mean that the support surface is substantially horizontal, and that the shelf is therefore able to stably support an accessory, in any orientation of the shelf.

The attachment means may comprise a clamp. A clamp may mean any device that can positioned around a part of the water tap and tightened so as to grip the part of the water tap in order to attach the accessory support to the water tap.

The attachment means may comprise a tube clamp, i.e. a clamp for gripping a tube. For example, the tube clamp may comprise first and second parts that sit on opposite sides of the tube and that are connected together by one or more screws that can be tightened to draw the first and second parts together so as to grip the tube between the first and second parts. Alternatively, a tube clamp may comprise a cylindrical portion having a longitudinal slit/gap and means (e.g. a screw) for reducing the width of the gap to thereby reduce a size of a central aperture (or bore) of the tube clamp.

The attachment means may be for attaching the arm co a substantially vertical tube of the water tap. For example, where the attachment means comprises a tube clamp, the tube clamp may be arranged so that an aperture of the tube clamp is arranged substantially horizontally, so that the tube clamp can be arranged with the substantially vertical tube of the water tap received in the aperture of the tube clamp.

The attachment means may be for attaching the arm co a spout of the water tap. The term spout may mean the part of the water tap that dispenses the water, e.g. into the bath or sink. For example, the spout may be a part of the water tap beyond a valve of the water tap that controls a flow of water from the water tap. The spout of the water tap may comprise a substantially vertical portion, for example a substantially vertical cylinder or tube.

The accessory support may be configured to support the accessory above the water tap. The accessory may be supported directly above the water tap, or at a height above the water tap but to a side of the water tap or in front of the water tap. These may be convenient positions for a person to access the accessory and/or may prevent an accessory supported on the ledge from being splashed or coming into contact with a flow of water from the water tap.

The shelf may be arranged to support the accessory above the attachment means when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means. In other words, the arm may extend upwards from the attachment means so that the shelf is at a greater height than the attachment means.

The shelf may comprise one or more ribs or protrusions for retaining the accessory on the shelf. For example, the one or more ribs or protrusions may be located adjacent to one or more sides of the shelf. For example, the shelf may be rectangular in shape and may have outwardly projecting ribs on three of its four sides. Such ribs or protrusions may prevent an accessory from rolling or sliding off the shelf.

The shelf may be elongate. For example, the shelf may have a substantially rectangular shape.

where the accessory support comprises a pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm, the pivot may be located closer to a first end of the shelf than to an opposite second end of the shelf. In other words, the pivot may be located off-centre on the shelf. For example, where the shelf is elongate, the pivot may be located closer to one end (e.g. a rear end) of the elongate length of the shelf than to an opposite end (e.g. a distal end) of the elongate length of the shelf. Rotating the shelf relative to the arm may therefore cause a more significant change in the position of the opposite (e.g. distal) end of the elongate length of the shelf than if the pivot was located at the centre of the shelf.

The shelf may be configured to protrude beyond a spout of the water tap when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means. Therefore, an accessory positioned on the protruding end of the accessory support may be positioned beyond the end of the spout of the water tap.

This may improve the ease of access to the accessory for a user of the water tap.

The arm may be curved, for example the arm may bend through substantially 90 degrees, so that a first end of the arm is substantially perpendicular to a second end of the arm.

The arm may be tubular, e.g. a cylindrical tube.

The shelf may be made of glass. Glass may be a good material to make the shelf from as it is relatively chemically inert, and therefore is unlikely to react with chemicals that the shelf may come into contact with, for example cleaning chemicals, or toiletries, or spilt drinks, or wax, etc. There may be a water tap having the accessory support according to the first, second or third aspects of the present i-fl-invention, with or without any of the optional features described above.

The water tap may be a bath filling tap, i.e. a tap for a bath that is used to fill the bath with water.

There may be a bath having the water tap.

There may be a freestanding bath having the water rap.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows an accessory support according to a first embodiment of the present invention attached to a bath filling tap; FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the shelf of the accessory support shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the accessory support shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the accessory support shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 shows an accessory support according to a second embodiment of the present invention attached to a bath filling tap; FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the shelf of the accessory support shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the accessory support shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line C-C of the accessory support shown in FIG. 5.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments and further optional features of the invention An accessory support according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The accessory support 1 comprises a shelf 5, i.e. a substantially horizontal surface or platform, for supporting one or more accessories. The shelf 5 can support an accessory by the accessory being placed on a substantially horizontal upper surface of the shelf 5. For example, the shelf 5 may be used to support a glass or bottle of drink (e.g. a glass of wine) , or a candle, or a toiletry, or another accessory that a person using a bath or sink may want to use.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shelf 5 is substannially flat and has an elongate shape, e.g. it is plate-like or planar. In more detail, the shape of the shelf 5 is substantially rectangular, but the shelf 5 has a wider, tapered front (distal) end that has a curved front (distal) edge.

The shelf 5 is made out of transparent glass. Glass is a good material for the shelf 5 because it is strong and is substantially inert (i.e. does not react significantly with most chemicals) . Therefore, the shelf 5 may not be damaged and/or stained by cleaning chemicals or other products that it comes into contact with.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the shelf has three projecting ribs (or protrusions) 6 extending from the upper surface thereof and positioned on three different sides of the shelf 5, at a rear of the shelf 5. The ribs 6 may prevent an accessory supported on the shelf 5 from rolling or sliding off of the back (i.e. rear) or side edges of the shelf 5. Thus, the shelf 5 may be able to securely support an accessory, even when the shelf and/or the accessory are wet and/or when the accessory does not have a stable flat surface.

The shelf 5 is attached to a first end of an arm 7 of the accessory support 1 through a first pivot 9. At a second end of the arm 7, the arm 7 is attached to a tube clamp 11 of the accessory support 1 through a second pivot 13. The arm 7 is curved so that it bends through substantially an angle of 90 degrees, so that the first end of the arm 7 is at an angle of substantially 90 degrees relative to the second end of the arm 7. As shown in FIG. 1, when the accessory support 1 is attached to the bath filling tap 3 by the tube clamp 11, the second end of the arm 7 is substantially vertical and the first end of the arm 7 is substantially horizontal.

The first pivot 9 and the shelf 5 are located on a side of the first end of the arm 7, so that when the accessory support 1 is attached to the bath filling tap 3 by the tube clamp 11 the shelf 5 is substantially horizontal, as illustrated in FTG. 1.

The accessory support 1 can be attached to a bath filling tap 3 by the tube clamp 11 being clamped on to, or around, a tube portion of the bath filling tap 3. For example, the tube clamp 11 may be clamped on to a substantially vertical portion of a bath filling tap 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1, e.g. a substantially vertical portion of a spout of the bath filling tap 3.

The tube clamp 11 has a central aperture, or bore, in which the substantially vertical portion of the bath filling tap 3 may be received. The tube clamp 11 extends substantially perpendicularly from a side of the second end of the arm 7 so that the aperture of the tube clamp 11 is substantially perpendicular to the second end of the arm 7, with a central axis of the aperture substantially parallel to a central axis of the second end of the arm 7.

As shown in the FTG. 1, when the accessory support 1 is attached to the bath filling tap 3 by the tube clamp 11, the shelf 5 can protrude beyond a distal end of the bath filling tap 3, i.e. so that the distal end of the shelf 5 extends further into the bath than the distal end of the bath filling tap 3. Furthermore, the arm 7 supports the shelf 5 above the tube clamp 11 so that the shelf 5 is positioned above (i.e. at a greater height than) the bath filling tap 3. This means that an accessory may be supported by the accessory support 1 above the bath filling tap 3, and optionally in front of a distal end of the bath filling tap 3.

The first pivot 9 is a rotary connection (e.g. a rotary joint) between the arm 7 and the shelf 5 that enables relative rotation between the shelf 5 and the arm 7. In particular, the first pivot 9 enables rotation of the shelf 5 around a substantially vertical axis relative to the arm 7, so that the shelf 5 remains substantially horizontal during the rotation.

The first pivot 9 may enable the shelf 5 to be rotated through 360 degrees relative to the arm 7. The configuration of the first pivot 9 in this embodiment can be seen more clearly in the cross-section illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the first pivot 9 comprises a sleeve member 17 (e.g. a cylindrical or tubular portion) having a central bore or passage in which is received a rotary member 19 that car freely rotate within the central bore. The shelf 5 is connected to the rotary member 19 so that the shelf 5 can be rotated around a substantially vertical axis relative to the arm 7 by rotation of the rotary member 19 within the bore around a substantially vertical central axis of the bore. In more detail, the shelf 5 (which is made of glass) has a hole cut therein through which an end of the rotary member 19 protrudes and a cap member 20 fixed to the end of the rotary member 19 on the other side of the shelf 5 to the arm 7, so that the shelf 5 is gripped/held between the cap member 20 and a part of the rotary member 19.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the first pivot 9 is connected to the shelf 5 in a rear portion of the self. In other words, the first pivot 9 is positioned closer to a rear end of the elongate shelf 5 than to a front (distal) end of the elongate shelf 5. This arrangement may increase the magnitude of the change in position of an accessory supported by the shelf 5 when the shelf 5 is rotated about the pivot 9.

The second pivot 13 is a rotary connection (e.g. a rotary joint) between the arm 7 and the tube clamp 11 that enables relative rotation between the arm 7 and the tube clamp 11. In particular, the second pivot 13 enables rotation of the arm 7 around a substantially vertical axis relative to the tube clamp 11, so that the shelf 5 remains substantially horizontal during the rotation. The configuration of the second pivot 13 in this embodiment can also be seem more clearly in the cross-section illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the second pivot 13 comprises a sleeve member 21 having a central bore or passage in which the second end of the arm 7 is received. The sleeve member 21 is positioned adjacent the tube clamp 11 so that a central axis of the sleeve member 21 is parallel to a central axis of the tube clamp 11. The second end of the arm 7 has a lateral protrusion spaced from the end of the second end of the arm 7 for abutting an upper lip of the sleeve member 21. The second end of the arm 7 can be rotated within the sleeve member 21 around a substantially vertical central axis of the sleeve member. Therefore, the shelf 5 can be rotated around a substantially vertical axis relative to the tube clamp 11 (and therefore relative to the bath filling tap 3) by rotating the arm 7 within the sleeve member 21.

In use, the accessory support 1 is attached to a bath filling tap 3 by the tube clamp 11 being clamped onto a substantially vertical portion of the bath filling tap 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, in one embodiment the accessory support 1 is attached to a bath filling tap 3 of a freestanding bath. An accessory (not shown), for example a glass or wine, candle, or toiletry, can then be positioned on the upper substantially flat and substantially horizontal surface of the shelf 5 of the accessory support 1, so that the accessory is supported above (e.g. at a greater height than) a top part of the bath filling tap 3.

The exact position and/or orientation of the accessory relative to the bath filling tap 3 can be determined by a user in one or more of the three following ways, in order to position the accessory in a suitable or optimal position and/or orientation for the user and/or for the specific type of accessory.

Firstly, the user can determine the position of the accessory by choosing where on the elongate shelf 5 to position the accessory. For example, the user may position the accessory at the distal end of the shelf 5, e.g. so that it is positioned forward of a distal end of the bath filling tap 3. Alternatively, the user may position the accessory towards the rear end of the shelf 5, e.g. above the pivot 9 and adjacent the ribs 6, or somewhere between those positions.

Secondly, the -jser can determine the position of the accessory by rotating the shelf 5 relative to the arm 7 around the first pivot 9 to a desired position of the shelf 5. For example, rotating the shelf 5 around the pivot 9 may lead to the accessory being supported above the bath filling tap 3 and to a side of the bath filling tap 3, rather than directly above the bath filling tap 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Thirdly, the user can determine the position of the accessory by rotating the arm 7 relative to the tube clamp 11 around the second pivot 13 to a desired position of the arm 7 and/or shelf 5. For example, rotating the arm 7 around the pivot 13 may lead to the accessory being supported above the bath filling tap 3 and to a side of the bath filling tap 3.

The combination of the first and second pivots 9, 13 may allow for precise control over the positioning and/or orientation of the shelf 5, and thus over the positioning and/or orientation of an accessory supported on the shelf 5, relative to the bath filling tap 3.

An accessory support according to a second aspect of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 to 8.

The accessory support 31 according to the second aspect of the present invention has many of the same or corresponding features as the accessory support 1 according to the first aspect of the present invention. Those features are indicated by the same reference numbers and description thereof is not repeated.

The accessory support 31 according to the second aspect of the invention differs from the accessory support 1 according to the first aspect of the invention in the way in which the shelf 5 is pivoted to the arm 7.

In the accessory support 31 according to the second aspect of the present invention the shelf 5 is supported by a wire cradle 35 (or basket) that has three edge grippers 37 for gripping edges of the shelf 5 so as to hold the shelf 5 in the wire cradle 35. The edge grippers have U-shaped channels (or slots) in which the edges of the shelf 5 are received, and are arranged on three sides of the shelf 5 so that the shelf 5 can be put into, or taken out of, the wire cradle 35 by sliding the shelf 5 into or out of the wire cradle 35. Therefore, the shelf 5 can be removed from the wire cradle 35 when necessary, for example for cleaning of the shelf 5.

The wires of the wire cradle 35 protrude above the surface of the shelf 5 for supporting accessories at the sides of the shelf 5, thereby forming barriers at three sides of the shelf 5 for preventing an accessory from sliding or rolling off of those edges of the shelf 5.

The wire cradle 35 is attached to a pivot 33 positioned beneath the shelf 5 (i.e. on an opposite side of the shelf 5 to the surface of the shelf 5 for supporting accessories) The pivot 33 is located at the first end of the arm 7.

Therefore, the shelf 5 can be rotated relative to The arm 7 by rotating the wire cradle 35 holding the shelf 5 relative to the arm 7 about the pivot 33, thereby changing the position and/or orientation of the shelf 5 and of an accessory supported by the shelf 5.

The construction of the first pivot 33 in the second embodiment is shown more clearly in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, similarly to the first aspect of the present invention the pivot 33 comprises a sleeve member 39 attached to the end of the arm 7 that has a central bore or channel. A rotary member 41 is received in the central bore of the sleeve member 39 and can freely rotate within the central bore of the sleeve member 39. The rotary member 41 is fixedly connected to the wire cradle 35, e.g. by one or more wires of the wire cradle 35 pas3ing through one or more holes in the rotary member 41.

Therefore the wire cradle 35, and therefore the shelf 5 held by the wire cradle 35, can be rotated relative to the arm 7 by rotating the wire cradle 35 so as to rotate the rotary member 41 in the central bore of the sleeve member 39.

The effect of this rotation is the same as discussed above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention, i.e. to change the orientation of the shelf 5 relative to the bath filling tap 3.

The use and operation of the accessory support 31 according to the second aspect of the present invention is the same as that discussed above in relation to the accessory support 1 according to the first aspect of the present invention.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention the accessory support may only have a single pivot. For example, the accessory support may have a single pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm, or a single pivot for rotating the arm relative to the tube clamp.

In other embodiments of the present invention the shelf may have a different shape and/or configuration. Furthermore, in other embodiments of the present invention the arm may have a different shape and/or configuration, e.g. a different shape to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, for example an angular shape and/or a non-cylindrical body.

A different type of attachment means than a tube clamp may be used in some embodiments of the present invention.

Pivots having a different construction and/or configuration to those described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 may be used in different embodiments of the present invention.

In other embodiments, the tube clamp may be arranged to attach the accessory support to a non-substantially-vertical portion of a bath filling tap, for example the tube clamp (or attachment means) may be arranged to attach the accessory support to a substantially horizontal portion, or to a sloped portion, of the bath filling tap.

In other embodiments of the present invention the accessory support may be for use with types of tap other than a bath filling tap, for example a sink tap.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the shelf may have a different number of ribs or wire barriers to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, for example ribs or barriers on only one side, or on only two sides of the shelf, or no ribs or barriers at all.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; and a pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm.
2. The accessory support according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is connected to the arm by the pivot.
3. An accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; and a pivot for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means.
4. The accessory support according to claim 3, wherein the arm is connected to the attachment means by the pivot.
5. An accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; a first pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm; and a second pivot for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means.
6. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein: the shelf comprises a support surface for supporting the accessory; and the accessory support is configured so that the support surface is substantially horizontal when the arm is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.
7. The accessory support according to claim 6, wherein the support surface is substantially flat.
8. The accessory support according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the accessory support is configured so that the support surface remains substantially horizontal when an orientation of the shelf is changed.
9. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a clamp.
10. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a tube clamp.
11. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means is for attaching the arm to a substantially vertical tube of the water tap.
12. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means is for attaching the arm to a spout of the water tap.
13. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the accessory support is configured to support the accessory above the water tap.
14. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is arranged to support the accessory above the attachment means when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.
15. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf comprises one or more ribs or protrusions for retaining the accessory on the shelf.
16. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is elongate.
17. The accessory support according to claim 16 in which the accessory support comprises a pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm, wherein the pivot is located closer to a first end of the shelf than to an opposite second end of the shelf.
18. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is configured to protrude beyond a spout of the water tap when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.
19. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is made of glass.
20. A water tap having the accessory support according to any one of the previous claims attached thereto.
21. The water tap according to claim 20, wherein the water tap is a bath filling tap.
22. A freestanding bath having the water tap according to claim 20 or 21.
23. An accessory support substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 or FIGS. to 8 of the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. An accessory support for a water tap comprising: an arm having a shelf for supporting an accessory, wherein the shelf comprises a support surface for supporting the accessory; attachment means for attaching the arm to a water tap; and a pivot for rotating the shelf relative to the arm; wherein: the accessory support is configured so that the support surface is substantially horizontal when the arm is attached to the water tap by the attachment means, and remains substantially horizontal when an orientation of the shelf is changed by rotating the shelf relative to the arm; and the attachment means comprises a clamp for positioning around a part of the water tap and tightening so as to grip the part of the water tap in order to attach the accessory support to the water tap.2. The accessory support according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is connected to the arm by the pivot.3. The accessory support according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the accessory support further comprises: a second pivot for rotating the arm relative to the attachment means.4. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the support surface is substantially flat.5. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means comprises a tube clamp.6. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means is for attaching the arm to a substantially vertical tube of the water tap.7. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment means is for attaching the arm to a spout of the water tap. (48. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the accessory support is configured to support the accessory above the water tap.9. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is arranged to support the accessory above the attachment means when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.10. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf comprises one or more ribs or protrusions for retaining the accessory on the shelf.11. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is elongate.12. The accessory support according to claim 11, wherein the pivot is located closer to a first end of the shelf than to an opposite second end of the shelf.13. The accessory support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the shelf is configured to protrude beyond a spout of the water tap when the accessory support is attached to the water tap by the attachment means.14. The accessory support according to any one of the previous C\J claims, wherein the shelf is made of glass. r15. A water tap having the accessory support according to any one of the previous claims attached thereto.16. The water tap according to claim 15, wherein the water tap is a bath filling tap.17. A freestanding bath having the water tap according to claim 15 or 16.18. An accessory support substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in FTCS. 1 to 4 or FIGS. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.