GB2575774A

GB2575774A - A device for operating a water tap

Info

Publication number: GB2575774A
Application number: GB1810377.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jones Alun; Nelson Phil
Original assignee: Mountain Chocolate Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mountain Chocolate Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-25
Filing date: 2018-06-25
Publication date: 2020-01-29
Also published as: GB201810377D0

Abstract

A device for maintaining a timed flow tap i.e. a non-concussive tap in an open condition and a method of using the device are disclosed. The device comprises an anchoring portion 10, 12 that is shaped and dimensioned to function as a hook that can be retained on a body of the timed flow tap or on pipes connected to the timed flow tap to connect the device to the tap. An operating potion 14 is capable of applying a force to an operating component i.e. a press button of the timed flow tap to which the device is connected by the anchoring portion. The operating portion includes engagement formations 22, 24 directed substantially towards the anchoring portion 10, 12 which are capable of engagement with the operating component of the timed flow tap to apply a force thereto. The formations are disposed at a range of different distances from the anchoring portion.

Description

A device for operating a water tap

This invention relates to a device for operating a water tap. It has particular application to push-operated timed-flow water taps, otherwise known as non-concussive taps that are operates by a user pushing and holding a press-button. For brevity, these will be referred to herein as timed-flow taps”.

Timed-flow taps are often used to control the flow of water in non-domestic situations where they are likely to be operated by the public. The intention behind the provision of such taps is to ensure that the taps cannot be left in a state in which water is allowed to flow unchecked, so minimising the risk of flooding or of wastage of water.

One common application for timed-flow taps is in the control of water to a shower in a public area such as a changing room or a campsite. This is particularly inconvenient because a person using a shower will typically need both hands free in order to wash effectively while keeping hold of toiletries etc. Having to keep one hand on the tap to keep the shower water flowing is therefore most inconvenient Also, the time for which a shower typically operates is much longer than other instances in which timed-flow taps are used (for example on a wash-hand basin). This can prove physically challenging for people with reduced hand strength, such as elderly people, children, or those suffering from conditions such as arthritis.

One solution to this problem is proposed in GB-A-2 491 656. That solution provides a complex device comprising multiple components. It is intended to be secured in use using suction cups, which are potentially unreliable when subject to the force required to operate a shower valve. It is suggested that the device may be clamped to pipework, which is likely to increase further the complexity of the manufacture and use of the device.

An aim of this invention is to provide apparatus to aid a user when there is a legitimate need to keep a timed-flow tap open for a longer period than its normal shut-off time that is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

To this end, from a first aspect, this invention provides a device for maintaining a timed-flow tap in an open condition comprising an anchoring portion that is shaped and dimensioned to function as a hook that can be retained upon a body of a timed-flow tap or to upon pipes connected to a timed-flow tap to connect the device to the timed-flow tap;

an operating portion that is capable of applying force to an operating component of a timed-flow tap to which the device is connected by the anchoring portion; wherein the operating potion includes engagement formations directed generally towards the anchoring portion, which formations are capable of engagement with an operating component of a timed-flow tap to apply force thereto, the formations disposed at a range of different distances from the anchoring portion.

By including engagement formations at a range of distances from the anchoring formation, taps of various different dimensions can be accommodated without the need to provide multiple mutually-adjustable components.

To further simplify manufacture, a device embodying the invention is preferably formed as a single component, for example a as a one-piece moulding of plastic material.

In preferred embodiments, the operating portion may comprise a plate, the engagement formations being constituted by a free surface of the plate. For example, the free surface may be disposed on a rib that projects from the pate. Two or more ribs (typically similar ribs) may be provided. The free surface may have a stepped shape, whereby a single engagement formation is formed at each step.

From a second aspect, this invention provides a method of operating a timed-flow tap comprising: manually depressing an operating component the tap to cause it to adopt an open condition; applying a device embodying the first aspect of the invention to the tap to maintain the tap in the open condition.

Such a method typically further comprises a step of removing the device applied to the tap to allow the tap to adopt a closed condition.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are orthogonal and side views of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in place on a shower tap; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

With reference to the drawings, a device being an embodiment of the invention is formed as a one-piece plastic moulded body, which is symmetrical about a median plane P.

The body comprises side regions 10,12 which extend parallel to one another and to the median plane P and are interconnected by a back region 14. Each of the side regions 10,12 and the back region 14 are formed as interconnected planar parts, shaped and formed as will be described below. The side regions 10,12 together form an anchoring portion of the device and the back region 14 forms an operating portion of the device.

Each side region 10,12 extends from the backregion 14 in a respective plane, initially reducing in size with distance from the back region. Remote from the back region 14, each side region 10,12 is curved, to form a respective hook-like, concave reveal 16,18 that is semi-circular in shape when projected onto the median plane, extending about a centre line C.

The backregion 14 extends between the side regions 10,12, extending across the median plane P. An upper part of the backregion extends towards the reveals 16,18 to form a lip 20 to create a recess between the side and back regions 10,12,14. Within the recess, two ribs 22, 24 project from the back region 14 parallel to and on opposite sides of the median plane P. An outer free surface of each rib 22, 24 is directed generally towards the reveals 16,18. As projected onto the median plane P, each rib is stepped in shape to form a plurality of sections of the outer surface that face towards the centre C line each step being at a different distance from the centre line C.

For use, the device is placed with the side regions 10,12 to opposite sides of a valve body 30 of a timed-flow tap. Each reveal 16, 18 is placed such that it partially surrounds a respective water pipe 32, 34 connected to the valve body to feed water to or receive water flowing from the tap. Alternatively, the reveals 16,18 may be disposed to partially surround an elongate valve body. In either case, this causes the device to be hooked in place on the tap, whereby its movement in a direction parallel to the median plane P is limited, but it is free for pivotal movement around the centre line C. In this position, depending upon the configuration of the tap, the centre line C may be either generally horizontal or generally vertical.

A user then presses and releases an operating button 36 to open the tap. The user then moves the device so that the back region 14 covers the operating button 36, causing the stepped outer surfaces of the ribs 22, 24 to come into contact with the operating button. Upon its release, the operating button 36 will have started to move towards a closed position to shut off flow through the tap. This movement is curtailed by contact between the operating button 36 and the ribs 22, 24, the force of the operating button 36 being reacted through the back region 14 and the two side regions 10,12 to the valve body 30. The device therefore holds the tap open to permit flow of water without further manual intervention from the user. The presence of multiple steps in the ribs 22, 24 means that the variations in the distance between an outer surface of the operating button and the body or the pipes to which the device is connected can be accommodated.

When the flow of water is no longer required, the device is simply pivoted about the centre line to release the operating button 36, whereupon it can be unhooked and removed. The operating button 36 will then return to its closed position, whereupon water can no longer flow.

Claims

1. A device for maintaining a timed-flow tap in an open condition comprising

a. an anchoring portion that is shaped and dimensioned to function as a hook that can be retained upon a body of a timed-flow tap or to upon pipes connected to a timed-flow tap to connect the device to the timed-flow tap;

b. an operating portion that is capable of applying force to an operating component of a timed-flow tap to which the device is connected by the anchoring portion; wherein

c. the operating potion includes engagement formations directed generally towards the anchoring portion, which formations are capable of engagement with an operating component of a timed-flow tap to apply force thereto, the formations disposed at a range of different distances from the anchoring portion.

2. A device according to claim 1 formed as a single component

3. A device according to claim 2 formed as a one-piece moulding of plastic material.

4. A device according to any preceding claim in which the operating portion comprises a plate, the engagement formations being constituted by a free surface of the plate.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which the free surface is disposed on a rib that projects from the pate.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which two or more similar ribs may be provided.

7. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the free surface has a stepped shape, whereby a single engagement formation is formed at each step.

8. A device according to any preceding claim in which the anchoring portion includes spaced apart plate regions.

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9. A device according to claim 8 in which each plate region includes a concave reveal into which a body of a timed-flow tap or to upon pipes connected to a timed-flow tap can be received.

10. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the plate regions of the anchoring portion are interconnected by the operating portion.

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11. A method of operating a timed-flow tap comprising: manually depressing an operating component the tap to cause it to adopt an open condition; applying a device according to any preceding claim to the tap to maintain the tap in the open condition.

12. A method according to claim 11 comprising a step of removing the device applied to the tap to allow the tap to adopt a closed condition.