WO2004049881A1

WO2004049881A1 - Plug

Info

Publication number: WO2004049881A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005247
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Horvath; Lynn Williams
Original assignee: Martin Horvath; Lynn Williams
Priority date: 2002-11-30
Filing date: 2003-12-01
Publication date: 2004-06-17
Also published as: AU2003288409A1; GB2410433A; GB0509354D0; GB2410433B

Abstract

A plug (1) is disclosed which has a body (2) with at least one aperture (11) therethrough and closure means (3) movable between a closed position whereby the aperture (11) is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture (11) is substantially uncovered. In a first embodiment the closure means (3) moves by rotation and actuation means (4) are included to actuate rotation of the closure means (3) from its closed position to its open position. In a second embodiment biasing means (8) are included which bias the closure means (3) in the open position and a releasable catch (4) which can be set to hold the closure means (3) in the closed position against the bias of the biasing means (8).

Description

Plug

The present invention relates to a plug and an overflow prevention device for plugging an outlet in a container that can hold liquid, such as a bath, basin, spa, sink or the like.

Conventional baths and basins or the like have an overflow unit which allows liquid to drain away when the level of water reaches the overflow unit. Although some liquid is being drained off by the overflow unit, if the taps of the bath or basin are still running, the rate of input of liquid into the bath or basin is greater than the output of liquid through the overflow unit and the bath or basin will over flow.

Over flow of water from baths and basins or the like can cause extensive damage to floors, ceilings etc which can be expensive to repair. Known overflow prevention devices have a float which lifts a suitable plug out of the plughole once the float reaches a certain water level. This allows the water to escape down the plughole preventing over flow of water over the side of the bath or basin. The float must be buoyant enough to lift the plug out of the plug hole against the force of the water acting on the plug. A relatively large float is therefore required to provide the necessary pulling force.

The present invention provides an improved plug and overflow prevention device.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a plug comprising a body having at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable by rotation from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, and actuation means to actuate rotation of the closure means from said closed position to said open position.

The plug with the closure means in its closed position can be fitted by a user into a plughole to retain water in a container. To release water from the container the actuation means actuates rotation of the closure means to its open position so that the aperture in the body of the plug is uncovered and water drains down the plughole. As the closure means rotates, the force required to move the closure means into its open position and thus release water down the plughole is advantageously less than the force required to remove a whole plug from a plughole.

The plug of the first embodiment of the present invention preferably includes biasing means

(typically a spring) that bias the closure means in its closed position. Thus the closure means automatically returns to its closed position.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a plug comprising a body having at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, biasing means biasing the closure means in the open position, and a releasable catch which can be set to hold the closure means in the closed position against the bias of the biasing means.

The catch can be set to hold the closure means in the closed position such that the aperture in the body of the plug is covered. Water is therefore retained in a container such as a bath or basin or the like, in which the plug is fitted. To release the water from the bath or basin, the catch is simply released and the closure means automatically moves to the open position due to biasing force acting on the closure means. This uncovers the aperture and water can drain away down the plughole.

The pulling force required by a user to release the catch of the present invention is advantageously less than the pulling force needed to remove a whole plug from a plughole. This is because the surface area of the catch can be less than the surface area of a typical plug therefore the pressure of water pushing down on the catch is less than the pressure of water pushing down on a whole plug. Furthermore there is no or little suction force acting on the catch as it does not need to cover the aperture in the body which is, instead, covered by the closure means.

Biasing of the closure means in the open position makes it difficult for an infant to set the closure means in the closed position as the infant would have to move the closure means against the bias and furthermore set the catch to hold the closure means in the closed position. This minimises the risk of possible drowning as liquid cannot be held in a container in which the plug is fitted.

An elderly or handicapped person who has difficulty removing conventional plugs from a bath or basin full of water, can advantageously use the plug of the present invention. Not as much strength is required to uncover the aperture so that water can drain down the plughole as is required to pull a whole plug from a plughole. The plug can be easily removed from the plughole once all the water has drained away.

A release means such as a chain or the like is preferably fixed to the catch or actuation means to aid release of the catch by a user.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, there is further provided a float connected to the catch or actuation means.

The float rises as water is added to the container such as a bath or basin. Once a certain water level is reached, the float reaches its maximum extension relative to the plug and can rise no further. If more water is added, the float will tug on the catch or actuation means thereby releasing the catch or actuation means and causing the closure means to move to its open position. The aperture in the body of the plug is uncovered and water will drain down the plughole through the aperture ideally preventing water flowing over the edge of the bath or basin or the like.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention there is provided an overflow prevention device comprising a plug having a body with at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, biasing means biasing the closure means in the open position, a releasable catch which can be set to hold the closure means in the closed position against the bias of the biasing means, and a float connected to the catch.

The amount of force required to release the catch of the third embodiment of the present invention is typically smaller than the force required to lift a plug from a plughole as with known overflow prevention devices. This is because the surface area of the catch can be less than the surface area of a typical plug therefore the pressure of water pushing down on the catch is less than the pressure of water pushing down on a whole plug. Furthermore there is no or little suction force acting on the catch as it does not need to cover the aperture in the body which is, instead, covered by the closure means. The float of the third embodiment of the present invention can therefore be smaller than with known overflow prevention devices.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention there is provided an overflow prevention device comprising a plug having a body with at least one aperture therethrough, closure means rotationally movable between a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, actuation means to actuate rotation of the closure means from said closed position to said open position, and a float connected to the actuation means.

When the float reaches a certain level set by the user, any more water added to the container will cause the float to tug on the actuation means thereby causing rotation of the closure means to its open position and allowing water to drain down the plughole.

The plug of the fourth embodiment of the present invention preferably has a return mechanism to return the closure means to the closed position. Therefore when enough water has drained out of the plughole, the float will no longer tug on the actuation means, and the closure means will automatically return to its closed position and prevent further water draining down the plughole.

The plug of the fourth embodiment of the present invention preferably further includes biasing means to bias the closure means in said closed position. Thus, the closure means automatically returns to its closed position once enough water has drained out through the aperture in the plug.

The float is preferably connected to the plug by connection means.

The connection means may be a rigid pole made of plastic or the like. Preferably, however, the connection means is flexible, such as a chain or the like. The device preferably includes an adjustable stoper to enable a user to set the level of maximum extension of the float relative to the plug depending on the size of the container for which the plug is being used and water level required. The stopper prevents the float from rising any /further as the water level rises. The stopper, which may be a clip, bung, grommet or the like, is typically positioned on the connection means such as a chain or the like, on the opposite side of the float from the plug. The stopper can be set so that only low depths of water can be run into a bath or basin for safety of infants.

In the second and third embodiments of the invention, the closure means is preferably rotationally connected to the body of the plug so that the closure means moves from the closed position to the open position by rotation.

The rotational connection may be a snap joint or the like which prevents the closure means from disconnecting from the body but allows rotation of the closure means. A stop may be provided limiting the amount of rotation of the closure means about the body to prevent over-extension of the biasing means.

The closure means may be provided with a couple of raised profiles which facilitate rotation of the closure means about the body.

The closure means preferably has at least one aperture therethrough which substantially co- aligns with the aperture in the body when the closure means is in the open position such that the aperture in the body is substantially uncovered.

The body may have more than one aperture and the closure means suitably has a corresponding number of apertures of the same shape and size which all substantially co-align with corresponding apertures in the body when the closure means is in the open position.

Sealing means are preferably provided between the closure means and the body. The sealing means may be a raised lip substantially surrounding the aperture(s) of the body on the surface of the body that contacts the closure means and/or a raised lip substantially surrounding the aperture(s) of the closure means on the surface of the closure means which contacts the body. This provides a seal between the closure means and the body to minimise leakage when the closure means is in the closed position.

The body preferably has a concave underside to reduce the length of the aperture thus reducing the amount of time liquid flows through the aperture thereby increasing flow of the liquid down the plughole. The aperture is also preferably tapered to increase flow of liquid through the aperture and down the plughole. These features ensure that the rate of water draining down the plughole is the same or greater than the rate of water running from taps of a bath or basin or the like in which the plug is fitted to prevent water flowing over the edge of the bath or basin.

A portion of the plug or overflow prevention device preferably comprises a temperature sensitive material which provides a detectable indicia at a predetermined temperature. For example the temperature sensitive material may change colour when the temperature reaches a certain temperature, or have a range of different colours at different predetermined temperatures. Provision of a temperature sensitive material ideally provides indication when the water temperature in a bath or basin or the like is dangerously, or uncomfortably high or low. The temperature sensitive material maybe coated onto any part of the plug or float.

In the second and third embodiment of the invention, the catch is preferably pivotally connected to the body. The pivotal connection is typically at one end of the catch, with the other end of the catch being connected to the release means of the second embodiment of the present invention or the connection means of the third embodiment of the present invention.

The closure means preferably has a profiled recess to receive the catch. This allows the catch to be set and hold the closure means in the closed position. The biasing force keeps the catch in place until the catch is released generally by a user tugging on the release means of the second embodiment of the present invention or the float tugging on the connection means of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Preferably a portion of the catch is in contact with the closure means. The portion of the catch in contact with the closure means may be a raised knob or the like. This is enough to hold the closure means in the closed position whilst reducing friction between the catch and the closure means so that the catch can be easily released. One edge of the profiled recess may have a raised surface to guide the catch into the recess.

The body, closure means and catch may be made from any suitable material that is substantially non-corrosive in fluid and withstands changes in temperature without altering its properties, for example plastic, metal, wood, composite or the like. The body is typically round to fit a correspondingly round plughole in a container, however different shapes can be utilised provided it fits the outlet of a container with which it will be used. The body may be provided with a substantially circumferential seal to minimise fluid loss from the container.

The closure means is also generally round but can be any shape.

The float can be made of any suitable material which is less dense than a liquid (typically water) and is substantially non-degradable in that liquid even at high temperatures.

The biasing means may be any suitable energy storage device such as a coiled spring, torsion spring, compression spring, tensile spring, or the like. The biasing means is suitably made of a non corrosive material such as stainless steel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the parts of the plug according to a preferred example of the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 a is a plan view of the plug according to a preferred example of the second embodiment of the present invention with the closure means set in the closed position;

Figure 2b is a plan view of the plug according to a preferred example of the second embodiment of the present invention with the closure means set in the open position; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the overflow prevention device according to a preferred example of the third or fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the plug according to a preferred example of the first embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the plug according to a further preferred example of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the Figures and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown a plug 1 comprising a body 2, a cap 3 and a pivotal arm 4. The body 2 has a central column 5 which passes through a central hole 6 in the cap 3. The cap 3 and body 2 are held together by a partial disc 22 with a central hole which enables the disc to fit around the central column 5 on top of the cap 3. A recess 23 in the central column 5 engages with the inner edge 24 of the disc 22. This provides that the cap 3 and body 2 are releasably held together whilst allowing the cap to rotate around the central column 5 of the body 2.

The body 2 has a cavity 7 which houses a torsion spring 8 and snap fitting female connecting ring 32. The female connecting ring 32 snap fits with a male groove (not shown) in the underside of the cap 3. This provides that the cap 3 can be rotated about the body 2. The length of the male groove limits the amount of rotation so that the spring 8 is not over extended.

The spring 8 has ends 19 and 20 that are upstanding in opposed directions. End 19 slots into a hole 21 in cap 3 and end 20 sits in a groove (not shown) provided in the bottom wall of the cavity 7.

The underside of the body 2 has a circular recess (not shown) surrounding the cavity 7. The recess lines up with apertures 11 so that the length of the apertures 11 is reduced to minimise the time fluid flows through the apertures 11. The apertures 11 are also tapered. These features ensure that the flow rate of water out of a basin or bath or the like through apertures 11 and down the plughole is the same or greater than the flow rate of water running from the taps to prevent water flowing over the edge of the bath or basin.

A rubber seal 10 slots into an outer circumferential groove 9 in the body 2. This provides a substantially liquid-tight seal when the plug is inserted in a plug hole of a bath or basin or the like.

The body 2 has five equally spaced circular apertures 11 that extend therethrough. The cap 3 also has five equally spaced circular apertures 12 that extend therethrough. All the apertures 11 and 12 are circular and substantially the same size.

Apertures 11 are surrounded by raised lips 30. The raised lips 30 together with raised circle 31 on the upper surface of body 2 provide a seal between the body 2 and the cap 3 to prevent leakage of fluids when the cap 3 is in its closed position as shown in Figure 2a and described below in more detail.

The cap 3 has a circumferential lip 13 which fits over the body 2. Two raised knobs 14 are provided on opposed sides of the upper surface of the cap 3. The cap 3 also has a profiled recess 15 on its upper surface. The recess 15 is profiled to receive the pivotal arm 4. A raised lip 25 is provided on one edge of the recess 15.

The arm 4 is pivotally connected at one end to the body 2 by a rod 16 that passes through a passage 17 in the end of the arm 4 and through opposed holes 18 in the wall of the central column 5 of the body 2. The other end of the arm 4 also has a passage 26 therethrough for connection of the arm 4 to a chain 27 by a triangular connector 28 as shown in Figure 3. A raised knob 29 is provided on one side of the arm adjacent passage 26.

Figure 2a shows the plug 1 in its closed position wherein apertures 11 and 12 are misaligned so that the apertures 11 are covered by cap 3. Figure 2b shows the plug 1 in its open position wherein apertures 11 and 12 are aligned. To set the plug in the closed position as shown in Figure 2a, the cap 3 is rotated about the body 2 in the direction shown by arrow A against the bias of the spring 8, with the arm 4 in an upright position. Knobs 14 provide a gripping surface for the user to aid in rotating the cap 2. The arm 4 is then brought down to sit in recess 15, the raised knob 29 sitting against the surface of raised lip 25. Only a small surface area of the arm 4 (namely knob 29) is in contact with the edge of the recess which is enough to hold the cap 3 in the closed position whilst reducing friction between the arm 4 and cap 3 so that the arm 4 can be easily released from the recess 15. The raised lip 25 facilitates setting of the arm 4 in recess 15 as the arm 4 is able to slide over the surface of the lip 25 and into the recess 15.

The plug can now be inserted in a plughole of a bath or basin or the like, the seal 10 providing a substantially water tight seal between the outer surface of the body 2 and the inner surface of the plughole. Water is substantially retained in the bath or basin or the like as the apertures 11 are substantially covered by the cap 3 and sealed by the raised lips 30 and raised circle 31.

To release the plug from the closed position of Figure 2a to the open position of Figure 2b, arm 4 is pulled upward into an upstanding position as shown in Figure 2b. The cap 3 automatically rotates in the direction shown by arrow B due to the biasing force provided by spring 8. As is shown in Figure 2b, apertures 11 and 12 co-align and water can drain down the plughole. Once all the water has drained down the plughole through apertures 11 and 12, the plug 1 can be easily removed from the plughole.

Figure 3 shows a overflow prevention device 100 with the plug 1 connected to a float 101. The chain 27 is fixed to one end of the arm 4 of plug 1 by the triangular connector 28 which passes through passage 26 in arm 4 as described above. The other end of the chain 27 also has a triangular connector 102 which can be used to fix the end of the chain 27 to a container such as a bath or basin (not shown).

The float 101 has a passageway 103 therethrough which allows the float 101 to freely move up and down the chain 27. A truncated bung 104 is provided on the opposed side of the float 101 from the plug 1 to stop the float 101 moving any further up the chain 27. The plug 1 of Figure 3 is set in its closed position with apertures 11 covered by cap 3. The plug can then be inserted in a plughole of a bath or basin or the like. The taps are turned on and the water level of the bath or basin rises. The float 101 rises with the water until it reaches the bung 104. At this point the float can rise no more and if more water is added, the float will pull on the arm 4 causing cap 3 to rotate and apertures 12 to align with apertures 11.

Water can drain out of the bath or basin or the like through apertures 11 and 12 and down the plughole thus preventing water flowing over the edge of the bath or basin.

The bung 104 can be moved up and down the chain 27 so that the maximum water level in a container can be set by a user.

Figures 4 and 5 show preferred examples of the first embodiment of the plug of the present invention, with like parts indicated with like reference numerals. In Figure A, rod 16 has an end cog 116 with a plurality of protruding gear teeth. The teeth of cog 116 mutually intermesh with a plurality of protruding gear teeth 120 on the upper surface of cap 3.

Rod 16 fits tightly in passage 17, so that in use, when pivotal arm 4 is raised, rod 16 and end cog 116 rotate. Through the intermeshing of the teeth of cog 116 and teeth 120 on the surface of cap 3, rotation of end cog 116 brings about corresponding rotation of cap 3 from its closed position whereby apertures 11 are covered to its open position whereby aperture 12 and aperture 11 line up so that water can pass through the apertures 11 and 12 and out of the plughole.

When pivotal arm 4 is lowered, the intermeshing teeth 116 and 120 cause cap 3 to rotate in the opposite direction to cover aperture 11 (that is to its closed position) and retain water in the container.

If a float is connected to passage 26 of arm 4 of plug 1 as shown in Figure 3, when a certain level of water is reached the float will tug on pivotal arm 4. The arm will be raised brining about rotation of cap 3 from its closed position to its open position as described above. Water will drain through lined up apparatus 11 and 12 down the plughole until a level of water is reached where the float no longer tugs on the pivotal arm 4. The arm 4 will therefore lower brining about rotation of the cap 3 to its closed position whereby apertures 11 are covered, thus preventing any further loss of water down the plughole.

In Figure 5, the cap 3 has a profile 130 with a downwardly tapering edge 131 which engages with pivotal arm 4. As pivotal arm 4 is raised it moves from position A adjacent the narrowest part of profile 130 to position B adjacent the widest part of profile 130. This movement brings about rotation of cap 3 from its closed position, whereby apertures 11 are covered to its open position whereby apertures 11 and 12 line up and water can drain down the plughole.

When pivotal arm 4 is lowered cap 3 moves from position B to position A and the cap 3 rotates back to its closed position preventing water draining down the plughole.

In both exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5, a spring 8 maybe provided. The spring biases the cap 3 in its closed position (that is where apertures 11 are covered) to assist closure and prevent any further water draining down the plughole when the desired level of water is reached.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above byway of example only, and it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A plug comprising a body having at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable by rotation from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, and actuation means to actuate rotation of the closure means from said closed position to said open position.

2. A plug according to claim 1, further including biasing means biasing the closure means in said closed position.

3. A plug according to claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

4. A plug according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means comprises mutually engaging protrusions or teeth.

5. A plug according to claim 4, wherein the actuation means further includes a lever pivotally connected to the body of the plug.

6. A plug according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuation means comprises a lever pivotally connected to the body and wherein the closure means has a rotation profile which engages the lever to rotate the closure means from the closed position to the open position.

7. A plug according to claim 6, wherein the rotation profile has a downwardly tapering edge which engages the lever.

8. A plug according to any preceding claims, including release means connected to the actuation means.

A plug according to claim 8, wherein the release means include a float.

10. A plug comprising a body having at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, biasing means biasing the closure means in the open position, and a releasable catch adapted to hold the closure means in the closed position against the bias of the biasing means.

11. A plug according to claim 10, wherein the biasing means is a spring.

12. A plug according claim 10 or 11, including release means fixed to the catch.

13. A plug according to any of claims 10 to 12, further including a float connected to the catch.

14. A plug according to anyof claims lOto 13, wherein the closure means is rotationally connected to the body of the plug.

15. A plug according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure means has at least one aperture therethrough.

16. A plug according to any preceding claim, wherein sealing means are provided between the closure means and the body.

17. A plug according to any preceding claim, wherein the body has a concave underside.

18. A plug according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is tapered.

19. A plug according to claims 10 to 18, wherein the catch is pivotally connected to the body.

20. A plug according to any of claims 10 to 19, wherein the closure means has a profiled recess to receive the catch.

21. A plug according to any of claims 10 to 20, wherein a portion of the catch is in contact with the closure means when the catch is set to hold the closure means in the closed position.

22. A plug according to any preceding claim comprising a temperature sensitive material.

23. An overflow prevention device comprising a plug according to any preceding claim and a float connected to the plug.

24. An overflow prevent device according to claim 23, wherein the float is connected to the plug by connection means.

25. An overflow prevention device comprising a plug having a body with at least one aperture therethrough, closure means movable from a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, biasing means biasing the closure means in the open position, a releasable catch adapted to hold the closure means in the closed position against the bias of the biasing means, and a float connected to the catch.

26. An overflow prevention device comprising a plug having a body with at least one aperture therethrough, closure means rotationally movable between a closed position whereby the aperture is substantially covered to an open position whereby the aperture is substantially uncovered, actuation means to actuate rotation of the closure means from said closed position to said open position, and a float connected to the actuation means.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the plug further includes a return mechanism to return the closure means to said closed position.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the return mechanism is biasing means which bias the closure means in said closed position.

29. A device according to any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the float is connected by connection means.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the connection means is flexible.

31. A device according to any of claims 25 to 30 including an adjustable stopper so that the distance between the float and the plug can be preset by a user.

32. A device according to any of claims 25 to 31, comprising a temperature sensitive material.

33. A plug substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 , 2, 4 or 5.

34. An overflow prevention device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3.