WO2009074178A1

WO2009074178A1 - Handle mechanism and tap

Info

Publication number: WO2009074178A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/063821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Cornelis Remijn; Paul Michael Burns
Original assignee: International Bathrooms Beheer B.V.
Priority date: 2007-12-12
Filing date: 2007-12-12
Publication date: 2009-06-18

Abstract

A handle mechanism (1) for a tap comprises a handle (2), a rotatable member (3) having an axis of rotation (4), and a fitting member (5) through which the handle (2) and the ro-tatable member (3) can be fitted to each other. If the handie (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fitted to each other through the fitting member (5} the mechanism (1) has a secured condition in which the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fixed to each other through the fitting member (5) in at least a rotational direction about the axis of rotation (4). The mechanism (1) is provided with securing means (6) for maintaining the secured condition. If the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fitted to each other through the fitting member (5) the mechanism also has a non-secured condition in which the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation (4). The handle mechanism is suitable for a tap, wherein the rotatable member (3) is a valve stem for controlling an exit flow of the tap.

Description

Handle mechanism and tap

The present invention relates to a handle mechanism for a tap, comprising a handle, a rotatable member having an axis of rotation, and a fitting member through which the handle and the rotatable member can be fitted to each other, wherein, if the handle and the rotatable member are fitted to each other through the fitting member, the mechanism has a secured condition in which the handle and the rotatable member are fixed to each other through the fitting member in at least a rotational direction about the axis of rotation, wherein the mechanism is provided with securing means for maintaining the secured condition.

Such a mechanism is known from US 3,965,528. This document discloses a universal elbow action lever handle for water faucets. The known handle is adapted to fit on different types of rotatable valve stems. It is further provided with an insert that fits on a valve stem with one side of the insert and in a cavity of the handle with another side of the insert. The cavity has tapered walls so as to prevent the insert from rotation within the cavity in a secured condition of the mechanism. A disadvantage of the known mechanism is that in practice, when the handle has been installed on a tap or faucet, the handle may have an undesired orientation; especially in sanitary rooms people may be annoyed at this.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which eliminates the disadvantage mentioned hereinbefore.

The object is achieved with the mechanism according to the invention which, if the handle and the rotatable member are fitted to each other through the fitting member, also has a non-secured condition in which the handle and the rotatable member are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation.

Due to these features the mechanism provides the opportunity of positioning the handle in a desired orientation in the non-secured condition and to change it into the secured condition by the securing means. The handle can be adjusted with respect to the rotatable member in rotational direction in the non-secured condition such that the desired orientation is obtained, for example in alignment with respect to a horizontal or vertical line. This is not possible with the prior art mechanism as mentioned hereinbefore since the outer shape of the insert makes a fine adjustment in rotational direction impossible. When changing the handle mechanism into the se- cured condition the desired orientation can be fixed by the securing means such that in the secured condition the handle and the rotatable member are fixed to each other in the rotational di recti on through the fitting member. It is noted that in the secured condition the handle and the rotatable member may still be movable with respect to each other along the axis of rotation. Securing in that direction may be performed by additional securing means. In practice it is desired to fix the handle and the rotatable member to each other along the axis of rotation in a removable way. In a practical embodiment the fitting member fits to the rotatable member such that, if the fitting member and the rotatable member are fitted to each other, the fitting member is fixed to the rotatable member in a rotational direction about the axis of rotation, and the fitting member fits to the handle such that, if the fitting member and the handle are fitted to each other, the handle and the fitting member are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation in the non-secured condition, and the securing means are adapted to attach the fitting member and the handle to each other so as to obtain the secured condition of the mechanism. In this case the fitting member can be adapted such that it fits to a rotatable member having standardized dimensions, which is often the case with valve stems in sanitary taps or faucets. The fitting member and the rotatable member may be fitted to each other via a spline-type connection so as to be able to slide the fitting member and the rotatable member to each other along the axis of rotation and to fix these members to each other in rotational direction about the axis of rotation. A spline-type connection provides the opportunity of automatic fixing the rotatable member and the fitting member to each other in rotational direction without fixing them in axial direction.

Preferably, the fitting member and the handle are provided with mating threads, because this provides a certain degree of axial fixing whereas it is still possible to rotate the handle and the fitting member with respect to each other, resulting in reduced risk of the fitting member falling out of the handle during assembly.

The securing means may comprise mechanical fixing means or adhesive means. The advantage of adhesive means, such as a strong glue or the like, is that it reduces assembly time .

The handle may be a lever-type handle, but an alternative shape is conceivable, for example a symmetrical shape including a sign on its outer surface requiring a predeter- mined orientation.

The invention is also related to a tap which is provided with a handle mechanism as described above, wherein the rotatable member is a valve stem for controlling an exit flow of the tap. The invention is also related to a method of installing such a tap, wherein the handle and the fitting member are fitted to each other such that the fitting member and the handle are rotatable with respect to each other, and wherein the fitting member and the rotatable member are connected to each other such that the fitting member and the rotatable member are rotatably fixed to each other, and wherein the handle and the fitting member are adjusted with respect to each other in rotational direction before the fitting member and the handle are rotatably fixed to each other. The invention will be elucidated further by means of drawings, which show embodiments of the invention in a very schematic way. Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the handle mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in assembled condition, but without the handle. Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the handle mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the handle mechanism according to the invention, illustrating the way of mounting it to a wall. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a handle mechanism 1 according to the invention. The embodiment comprises a handle 2 for operating a valve of a tap. The tap is not entirely shown, but Fig. 1 shows an end portion of a valve stem 3, which is connected to the valve. In the embodiment shown the valve stem 3 is a specific arrangement of a rotatable member having an axis of rotation 4. The rotatable member or valve stem 3 and the handle 2 can be fitted to each other through a fitting member 5. In this embodiment the fitting member 5 and the valve stem 3 are fitted to each other via a spline-type connection 6, see Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows that the circumference of the end portion of the valve stem 3 is provided with splines and grooves extending parallel to the axis of rotation 4. The fitting member 5 has a through-hole which is provided with corresponding splines and grooves so as to enable an as- sembler to slide the fitting member 5 and the valve stem 3 to each other along the axis of rotation 4. When the fitting member 5 is sled over the end portion of the valve stem 3, the valve stem 3 and the fitting member 5 are fixed to each other in rotational direction about the axis of rotation 4. This means that the splines and grooves form a part of a securing means of the handle mechanism 1 for maintaining the fitting member 5 fixed to both the handle 2 and the valve stem 3 in rotational direction about the axis of rotation 4. Another part of the securing means, which fixes the fitting member 5 and the handle 2 to each other will be described hereinafter. The fitting member 5 and the handle 2 can be fitted to each other through mating threads 7a, 7b, which are pro- vided at a circumferential wall of a hole in the handle 2 and an outer circumferential wall of the fitting member 5, respectively. This means that the fitting member 5 can be screwed into the handle 2 such that the fitting member 5 and the han- die 2 are rotatable with respect to each other, but it is avoided that the fitting member 5 easily falls out of the handle 2 during assembly. Nevertheless, it is also possible to have flat surfaces at the outer circumferential wall of the fitting member 5 and the circumferential wall of the hole in the handle 2.

If the handle 2 and the valve stem 3 are fitted to each other through the fitting member 5, the handle mechanism 1 can have a secured condition and a non-secured condition. In the non-secured condition the handle 2 and the valve stem 3 are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation 4. In this embodiment this is achieved by free rotation of the fitting member 5 in the handle 2 due to the threaded portions 7a, 7b of the handle 2 and the fitting member 5, respectively. In the secured condition the handle 2 and the valve stem 3 are fixed to each other through the fitting member 5 in at least a rotational direction about the axis of rotation 4. In this embodiment the fitting member 5 is fixed to the handle 2 by an adhesive, such as loctite® or the like to achieve the secured condition. Thus, in this embodiment the adhesive forms another part of the securing means of the handle mechanism 1 for maintaining the fitting member 5 fixed to both the handle 2 and the valve stem 3 in rotational direction about the axis of rotation 4. Of course, alternative securing means are conceivable. In practice, when installing a handle mechanism 1 such as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the fitting member 5 will be screwed into the handle 2 first, whereas adhesive will be provided on the outer side of the fitting member 5 and/or on the circumferential wall of the hole in the handle 2. Then, the handle 2 including the fitting member 5, which is still rotatable with respect to the handle 2, will be sled over the end portion of the valve member 3 along the axis of rotation 4. Subsequently, the handle 2 can be adjusted in rotational direction with respect to the valve stem 3 or entire tap. If the appropriate orientation is reached the adhesive is cured and the position of the handle 2 is fixed with respect to the valve stem 3. In this secured condition the handle 2 can still be movable with respect to the valve stem 3 along the axis of rotation 4 due to the splines and grooves extending in longitudinal direction thereof. Finally, the handle 2 can be fixed to the valve stem 3 in axial direction thereof through a bolt 8. This means that the handle 2 can be removed later on, for example, for maintenance. The assembled condition is shown in Fig. 2.

The embodiment shown in Fig, 1 comprises a lever-type handle 2. However, it also possible to employ a rotation sym- metric handle including a visible sign or mark or the like on its outer side which should have a predetermined orientation.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the handle mechanism 1. In the alternative embodiment the fitting member 5 is distinguished from the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1 and 2 in that the fitting member 5 can be fixed to the handle 2 by mechanical fixing means in the form of a small bolt 9.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the handle mechanism 1 in the case in which it is to be assembled. The fitting member 5 and the handle 2 are fitted to the valve member 3 which pro- jects from a wall plate 10. The handle 2 is oriented in an appropriate rotational position with respect to the wall plate 10 before the handle 2 and the fitting member 3 are secured to each other.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the in- vention provides a handle mechanism which provides the opportunity of positioning the handle in a desired orientation .

The invention is not limited to the embodiments as shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore which can be varied in several ways within the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible that the fitting member is rotatable with respect to the valve member instead of the handle in the non-secured condition.

Claims

1. Handle mechanism (1) for a tap, comprising a handle (2), a rotatable member (3) having an axis of rotation (4), and a fitting member (5) through which the handle (2) and the rotatable member {3) can be fitted to each other, wherein, if the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fitted to each other through the fitting member (5) , the mechanism (1) has a secured condition in which the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fixed to each other through the fitting member (5) in at least a rotational direction about the axis of rotation (4) , wherein the mechanism (1) is provided with securing means (6, 9) for maintaining the secured condition, characterized in that, if the handle (2) and the rotatable member (3) are fitted to each other through the fitting member (5), the mechanism (1) also has a non-secured condition in which the handle (2} and the rotatable member (3) are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation (4) .

2. Handle mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fitting member (5) fits to the rotatable member (3) such that, if the fitting member (5) and the rotatable member {3) are fitted to each other, the fitting member (5) is fixed to the rotatable member (3) in a rotational direction about the axis of rotation (4), and wherein the fitting member (5) fits to the handle (2) such that, if the fitting member (5) and the handle (2} are fitted to each other, the handle (2) and the fitting member (5) are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation (4) in the non-secured condition, and wherein the securing means are adapted to attach the fitting member (5) and the handle (2) to each other so as to obtain the secured condition of the mechanism (1) .

3. Handle mechanism (1) according to claim 2, wherein the fitting member (5) and the rotatable member (3) are fitted to each other via a spline-type connection (6) so as to be able to slide the fitting member (5} and the rotatable member (3) to each other along the axis of rotation (4) and to fix these members (3, 5) to each other in rotational direction about the axis of rotation (4) .

4. Handle mechanism (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fitting member (5) and the handle (2) are provided with mating threads (7a, 7b) .

5. Handle mechanism (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing means comprise mechanical fixing means (6, 9) or adhesive means.

6. Handle mechanism (1) according to one of the pre- ceding claims, wherein the handle (2) is a lever-type handle.

7. Tap provided with a handle mechanism (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotatable member (3) is a valve stem for controlling an exit flow of the tap.

8. Method of installing a tap according to claim 7, wherein the handle (2) and the fitting member (5} are fitted to each other such that the fitting member (5) and the handle (2) are rotatable with respect to each other, and wherein the fitting member (5) and the rotatable member (3) are connected to each other such that the fitting member (5) and the ro- tatable member (3) are rotatably fixed to each other, and wherein the handle (2) and the fitting member (5) are adjusted with respect to each other in rotational direction before the fitting member (5) and the handle (2) are rotatably fixed to each other.