WO1995018326A1

WO1995018326A1 - Child-resistant cover for a tap handle

Info

Publication number: WO1995018326A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominic Sergi; Pasquale Sergi; Guiseppe Sergi; John Graham Owen Skola
Original assignee: Kids Safety Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1993-12-31
Filing date: 1994-12-23
Publication date: 1995-07-06

Abstract

A device (10) for use on a tap having a manually operable actuator (11) is disclosed and includes a body portion (12) providing a cavity (15) in which the actuator (11) is able to be received, and a base portion (13). The body portion (12) is able to be secured in a position wherein the actuator is located within the cavity through engagement with the base portion (13) which is secured relative to the tap. The device has particular application as a child safety device to prevent unauthorised use of a hot water tap.

Description

CHILD-RESISTANT COVER FOR A TAP HANDLE
The present invention relates generally to a device for a tap. The invention has particular application as a safety device to prevent unauthorised use of a hot water tap by a child and is herein described in this context. However, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular use.

Children are highly susceptible to being scalded when operating a hot water tap without supervision. This is a problem because children often have easy access to taps, especially in a bath, and it is usually impossible for a child to be supervised at all times.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a device which may be installed for use with existing tap arrangements which is able to prevent, or at least inhibit use of the tap by a child. A further aim is to provide a device which is of simple construction, easy to install and inexpensive.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for use on a tap having a manually operable actuator, the device including a body portion providing a cavity in which the actuator is able to be received, and securing means operable to secure the device relative to the tap in a position where the actuator is received in the cavity, the device being arranged such that in said position the body portion prevents manual operation of the actuator, and wherein the securing means includes a base portion and coupling means, the base portion being arranged to be secured relative to the tap and the coupling means comprising interengaging elements on the body and base portion which couple the body portion to the base portion.

The body portion may be of any suitable form which will prevent access to the actuator. The body portion may be of a multi-part construction, or formed from an open arrangement or may be collapsible and incorporate flexible elements in a collapsible frame. In a preferred arrangement however, the body portion is substantially rigid and is in the form of a container incorporating the cavity to receive the actuator. Typically this container is formed from plastic or other suitable material.

The device may be used on any type of tap actuator including handle, lever, and button arrangements.

In a preferred arrangement, the device cannot be easily removed by a child. In one arrangement, the securing means may be child resistant and only released by an adult on the application of sufficient force, or through a combination of actions. In an alternative arrangement the body portion may be locked into place. In a particular preferred arrangement, the body portion has a smooth outer surface and is of sufficient size to make it difficult for a child to grip the body portion, to thereby further improve the safety of the device.

In a preferred arrangement the base portion is secured to a base plate or skirt of the tap, or to the surrounding surface such as a wall, basin or bath.

Preferably the base portion extends at least part way round the tap and includes an aperture through which part of the tap extends. In a preferred arrangement, the base portion is generally annular having a central aperture through which the spindle or other actuation mechanism of the tap may extend. The base portion may include an opening extending from the aperture to an outer edge and allowing the part of the tap to be laterally inserted into the aperture.

Preferably the base portion includes a plurality of elements which are able to move independently of each other. The elements are separated by a plurality of slots formed in the base portion which extends outward from the aperture. This arrangement facilitates securing the base portion to the surrounding surface, particularly if it is irregular. In this circumstance the base portion may be adhered to the surfaces by applying an adhesive to selected ones of the fingers and moving those fingers into engagement with the surrounding surface. Typically the adhesive is in the form of a double side tape. In another form, the base portion may form part of the tap. For example, the interengaging elements may be formed on the skirt which covers the spindle of the tap.

In one form the coupling means includes locking means operable to inhibit disengagement of the interengaging elements. Preferably, the locking means includes a resilient detent located on one of the portions which is receivable in a recess or aperture located on the other portion. Preferably, the interengaging elements form a bayonet or screw threaded arrangement. Once in the engaged position, the locking means becomes operable to secure the portions in this position. In this way a child resistant arrangement is provided wherein release of the body portion requires movement of the detent out of the recess or aperture together with simultaneous rotation of the body portion relative to the base portion.

With a preferred arrangement of the present invention, the device may be easily installed for use with existing tap arrangements without requiring a plumber or any particular skills. In one form the base portion is installed merely by removing the actuator, such as the tap handle, and the base plate or skirt of the tap, securing the base portion in place over the tap spindle and replacing the base plate and the handle. Alternatively, if base portion incorporates an opening, the device may be installed without requiring the handle or base plate to be removed.

Once installed, the body portion may be secured in place merely by being placed over the handle and engaging the coupling means. The coupling means may be engaged by a snap fit arrangement or by rotating the body portion such that a screw thread or bayonet coupling is engaged.

An advantage of the invention when used as a safety device for a hot water tap is that it not only prevents scalding by unauthorised use of the tap, it may also prevent a person being injured through falling onto the tap, or if the tap body has become hot through use of the tap, by being burnt on contact with the tap body.

It will be convenient hereafter to describe embodiments of the device with further reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be appreciated that the particularity of these drawings in the associated description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

In the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the device;
Figure 2 illustrates cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1 located on a tap;
Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of a second embodiment of the device;
Figure 4 illustrates cross-section view of the device of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of a third embodiment of the device.

Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 illustrates a variation in the base portion of the device of Figure 5.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the device 10 is a two-part construction comprising a body portion 12 and a base portion 13 both of which are typically formed from a plastic material. The body portion 12 is in the form of a container having an opening 14 and a cavity 15. The base portion 13 includes an annular plate 16 having a central aperture 18 and incorporating an upstanding flange 17 located on the perimeter of the plate 19.

A coupling arrangement is arranged to secure the body portion and the base portion together and in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 this is in the form of a screw thread arrangement with a first thread 20 located on the inner side of the body portion 12 adjacent the opening 14 and a corresponding second thread 21 located on the outer side of the upstanding flange 17. The coupling arrangement is arranged to be child resistant which typically can only be released by a combination of actions such as the axial depression and simultaneous turning of the body portion. However, it should be appreciated that other coupling arrangements may be used and these could incorporate any child resistant, snap fit or locking arrangement known in the art.

Furthermore, the upstanding flange may have a thread or other engaging element on its inner side, and the body portion is arranged to be received within the flange and has a cooperable engagement element on its outer side.

Figure 2 illustrates the device 10 located in use on the tap 11 which incorporates an actuator in the form of a handle 29. In the illustrated arrangement, the base portion 13 is secured relative to the tap 11 between the skirt 22 of the tap and the surface 23 to which the tap is secured. Typically an adhesive 32 in the form of a double sided tape is used to secure the base portion 13 to the surface 23. The tap handle 29 is connected to a spindle 24 which extends in the aperture 18 located in the annular plate 16. The radial upstanding flange 17 of the base portion 13 extends outwardly from the surface 23 and incorporates the thread 21 on its outer surface.

With this arrangement, in use of the device, the body portion 12 is located over the tap handle 29 such that the handle 29 is received within the cavity 15 and the coupling arrangement is engaged such that the body portion is secured to the base portion. Once in this position, access to the tap handle is prevented thereby preventing use of the tap. In particular, as a screw thread arrangement is provided, the body portion is coupled to, and engages with, the base portions along a surface extending substantially around the cavity 15.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the device 10.

In this arrangement, the body portion is similar to the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 except that its size and shape is slightly modified to make it more difficult for a child to grip the body portion. In particular the side walls are slightly more tapered and the upper end more rounded. This arrangement is provided to improve the safety of the device.

The base portion 13 includes a base plate 16 which is generally annular as in the earlier embodiment and which includes a plurality of elements or fingers 25 which extends inwardly towards the central aperture 18 of the base portion 13.

The fingers 25 are formed by cut-outs 28 formed in the base plate 16. This arrangement facilitates securing the base portion to the surrounding surface 23 (Fig. 2), particularly if it irregular. In this circumstance, the base portion is adhered to the surface by applying an adhesive, typically a double sided adhesive tape, to selected ones of the fingers 25 and moving those fingers into engagement with the surrounding surface 23.

A screw thread arrangement is provided on the base portion 13 and the body portion 12. A locking arrangement is also provided and comprises a resilient detent 26 which is located on the flange 17 of the base portion 13 and which is arranged to be received within an aperture 27 located on the peripheral edge of the body portion 12 when the body portion is screwed into position.

In this way, a child resistant arrangement is provided wherein release of the body portion 12 requires movement of the detent 26 out of the recess 27 together with the simultaneous rotation of the body portion relative to the base portion.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the device 10. This arrangement is similar to the device of Figure 3 except that instead of a screw thread arrangement, a bayonet coupling is used to couple the base portion 13 to the body portion 12. The bayonet coupling includes projections 30 located on the inner side of the body portion 12 and which are arranged to be locatable within retaining slots 31 located at spaced intervals around the perimeter of the base portion 13. Further, the coupling means includes two detents 26. An advantage of this arrangement is that to engage the coupling means to secure the base to the body portion it is only necessary to rotate the body portion through approximately 30".

Using the example of the tap 11 shown in Figure 2, to install the device 10, the tap handle 29 and skirt 22 is removed and the base portion 13 is placed over the axis of the exposed spindle 24 and then secured to the support surface 23. Figure 7 illustrates a variation in the base portion 13 of Figure 5. In this arrangement, an opening 33 is provided between adjacent retaining slots 31 and extends radially from the aperture 18 to the outer edge 19. This opening enables the base portion to be installed relative to the tap 11 through a lateral movement rather than along the axis of the spindle, thereby enabling the base portion to be installed without requiring the skirt or tap handle to be removed.

Once the base portion is installed, the device 10 is simple to operate to prevent use of the tap. All that is required is that the body portion is coupled to the base portion. To enable the tap to be operated, the coupling arrangement merely needs to be disengaged and the body portion 12 removed. Consequently, the device 10 of the present invention provides a simple yet effective arrangement which may be used with existing taps to prevent their use when required.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications or additions may be introduced into the construction arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined in the following statement of claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for use on a tap having a manually operable actuator, the device including a body portion providing a cavity in which the actuator is able to be received, and securing means operable to secure the device relative to the tap in a position where the actuator is received in the cavity, the device being arranged such that in said position the body portion prevents manual operation of the actuator, and wherein the securing means includes a base portion and coupling means, the base portion being arranged to be secured relative to the tap and the coupling means comprising interengaging elements on the body and base portion which couple the body portion to the base portion.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the coupling means is arranged such that release of the body portion from said position is child resistant.

3. A device according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the base portion includes an aperture through which a part of the tap is arranged to extend.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the base portion is substantially annular.

5. A device according to either claim 3 or 4 wherein the base portion includes a lower surface arranged to be secured to a surface surrounding the tap.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the base portion includes a plurality of elements which are able to move or flex independently of each other and which form at least part of the lower surface of the base portion.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the base includes a plurality of slots separating adjacent elements.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein the slots extend outwardly from the aperture.

9. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the base portion includes an opening extending from the aperture to an outer edge thereof to enable the said part of the tap to be laterally inserted into the opening.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the interengaging elements of the coupling means are located at a plurality of locations spaced around the cavity.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the interengaging elements of the coupling means form a bayonet coupling arrangement having interfitting projections and recesses operable to interengage at spaced locations around the cavity, one of either the projections or recesses being located on the base portion and the other of said projections and recesses being located on the body portion.

12. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the coupling means is operable to couple the body portions to the base portion along a surface extending substantially around the cavity.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the interengaging elements of the coupling means forms a screw thread arrangement having a first thread formed on the base and a complementary second thread formed on the body portion.

14. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the coupling means includes locking means operable to inhibit disengagement of the interengaging elements of the coupling means.

15. A device according to claim 12 wherein the locking means includes a detent located on one of the body or base portions and which is receivable in an recess located on the other of said portions when the interengaging elements are engaged.

16. A device according to any preceding claims wherein the body portion is adapted to engage the base portion along a surface extending substantially around the cavity.

17. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the securing means further includes fixing means for securing the base portion relative to the tap.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the fixing means comprises an adhesive.

19. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body portion comprises a rigid container having an interior surface defining the cavity.

20. A device according to claim 19 wherein the container incorporates a substantially smooth exterior surface.

21. A device for use on a tap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.