GB2338184A

GB2338184A - Plug for a liquid container

Info

Publication number: GB2338184A
Application number: GB9825733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Charles Forbes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-24
Filing date: 1998-11-24
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-24
Also published as: GB9825733D0; GB2338184B

Abstract

A plug for a liquid container comprises an annular outer member (1) adapted for sealing engagement with the rim of an outlet of the container, an inner member (5) mounted within the outer member and movable from a sealing position to an open position in which liquid can flow through an opening (7) in the outer member, and a spring member 13 for biasing the inner member into its sealing position, and wherein the outer sealing member has a lower sealing face for resting in sealing engagement with the rim of the container in the opening and an opening which is sealed by the inner member when the latter is in its sealing position, and wherein the spring acts between the inner member and a base member (9) so as not only to bias the inner member into its sealing position but also to bias the base member against at least one projection (4) on the outer member so as to hold the outer member, the inner member and the base together as a unit. Preferably, the outer member has a plurality of dependent legs each having a radially inwardly directed projection, and wherein the inner member has a central downwardly depending element which slidably engages a mating element in a base member, the base member having a plurality of radially extending arms equal in number and angular spacing to the plurality of legs of the outer member so that each arm can engage a projection on one of said legs, and wherein spring means are mounted between the inner member and the base member to bias the inner member into its sealing position and to bias the arms of the base member into contact with the projections of the outer member.

Description

1 2338184 The present invention concerns plugs and is particularly, though

not exclusively, concerned with plugs for use with baths.

A frequent problem with baths is that the taps get left on and even though most baths are fitted with an overflow these are insufficient to cope with the volume of water emitted by two turned-on taps. One reason for the inability of overflows to cope is that the water pressure is very low at the point of overflow so that the rate of escape of unwanted water is also very low. The problem is particularly prevalent in large hotels where the chances of taps being left on for too long are increased by the number of bathrooms in use.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a plug for a liquid container, the plug comprising an outer rim member for sealing engagement with an outlet of the container, an inner member mounted in the outer member and movable from a sealing position to a position in which liquid from a container can flow through the outer member, and a spring member for biasing the inner member into its sealing position.

The strength of the spring member is selected so as to maintain the inner member in its sealing position until the plug is supporting a predetermined head of liquid.

2 In order that the present invention may be more readily understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a plug according to the present invention with the plug shown in both assembled and exploded form; Figures 2A and 213 are sections through the plug of Figure 1 when assembled.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings the plug shown in the figure is for use in an ordinary bath and comprises an outer member 1 in the form of an annulus. The annulus has a flat lower face 2 which when the plug is in position in a bath lies in sealing engagement with the ring which normally surrounds a bath hole. As can best be seen form Figures 2A and 213 the rim if the outer member is curved. Three legs 3 depend from the inner edge of the lower face 2 with each leg having a radially inwardly extending foot 4 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

A disc-like inner member 5 is mounted within the outer member 1 and has a domed upper surface which follows the curvature of the rim of the outer member. This domed upper surface ends in a shallow lip 6 the diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the upper opening 7 of the outer member. The inher 71 member 5 is formed with a central downwardly dependent stem 8 which in the present embodiment is circular in cross-section.

The third main member of the'piug is a base member 9 which consists of a tubular central socket 10 from which extend three equally spaced radial arms 11. As can be seen in Figures 2A and 213 the socket 10 has a cylindrical central bore within which the stem 8 is a sliding fit. The arms 11 are wider than the feet 4 formed on the three legs of the outer member 1. The lower surface of each arm 11 is provided with a recessed portion 12 which can accommodate a foot 4 whilst the lengths of the arms 11 are such that the arms will fit within the inner surfaces of the legs 3.

The final component of the plug is a coil spring 13 which is mounted, when the plug is assembled, between the inner member 5 and the arms 11 so as to surround the socket 10.

in order to assemble the plug the spring 13 is fitted over the socket 10 and the stem 8 of the inner member 5 is placed into the socket 10 so as to trap the spring 13 between the arms 11 and the inner surface of the inner member 5. The domed upper surface of the inner member 5 is moved until its lip contacts the inner rim of the hole and the arms of the base member are oriented so as to be able to pass the inwardly projecting feet 4. Finally the spring is compressed until 4 the plane containing the arms 11 lies inwardly of the plane containing the feet 4 so that the arms 11 can be turned into alignment with the feet 4 and the feet located in respective ones of the recesses 12. The compressed spring 13 will now hold the lip in tight engagement with the rim of the hole 7 in the outer member 1 with each arm being biased by the spring into contact with the foot 4 with which it is engaged. In this manner the plug is held as a single unit without the use of bolts or other fastening elements. This is the condition of the plug shown in Figure 2A.

In this condition the plug can be used to seal the plug hole of a bath in the normal way. Although not shown it is of course perfectly possible to provide either the outer or inner members with means whereby a chain can be attached to the plug so that a user can pull the plug away from a plug hole.

When an assembled plug is placed over a plug hole the strength of the spring 13 is such that when the bath starts to fill the inner member will remain biased into its sealing position, as shown in Figure 2A, until the head of water in the bath is sufficient to overcome the bias of the spring so that the inner member 5 is moved downwardly into the position shown in Figure 213 to allow water to flow through the hole, around the disc-like head of the inner member and into the normal drain outlet of the bath. The fact that there will be a considerable head of water will ensure that the water escapes more rapidly than it would through the usual overflow vent. An additional safety factor is that if the spring weakens over a long period of use the only result will be that the plug opens with a lower head of water pressure. As already mentioned whilst the specific embodiment which has just been described was described in relation to a bath the invention may be used with any container, tank or vat which may be subject to overflow problems.

A Plug of the type just described can be made from any suitable material and by any suitable manufacturing process. Whilst the spring would normally be a nonrusting or corroding metal other materials whether plastics or carbon-fibre based could be used. The other plug components can be made from both non-metallic materials such as suitable thermoplastics or elastomeric materials or from metallic materials such as brass or aluminium.

6

Claims

1 A plug for a liquid container, the plug comprising an outer member adapted for sealing engagement with the rim of an outlet of the container, an inner member mounted within the outer member and movable from a sealing position to an open position in which liquid can flow through an opening in the outer member, and a spring member for biasing the inner member into its sealing position.

2) A plug according to claim 1 wherein the outer sealing member is annular and has a lower sealing face for resting in sealing engagement with the rim of the opening in the container and a central circular opening which is sealed by the inner member when the latter is in its sealing position.

3) A plug according to claim 2 wherein the outer member has a plurality of dependent legs each having a radially inwardly directed foot, and wherein the inner member has a central downwardly depending stem which engages in a bore in a base member, the base member having a plurality of radially extending arms equal in number and angular spacing to the plurality of legs of the outer member so that each arm can engage a foot on one of said legs, and wherein spring means are mounted between the inner 7 member and the base member to bias the inner member into its sealing position and to bias the arms of the base member into contact with the feet of the outer member.

4) A plug according to claim 3 wherein the spring member is a coil spring which surrounds a socket formed in the base member, the socket having said bore formed therein.

5) A plug according to claim 4 wherein the bore extends completely through the socket.

5) A plug according to daim 4 wherein the bore extends completely through the socket.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 19 CLAIMS 1) A plug for a liquid container, the plug comprising an annular outer member adapted for sealing engagement with the rim of an outlet of the container, an inner member mounted within the outer member and movable from a sealing position to an open position in which liquid can flow through an opening in the outer member, and a spring member for biasing the inner member into its sealing position, and wherein the outer sealing member has a lower sealing face for resting in sealing enaa-ement with the rim of the container in the opening and an opening which is sealed by the inner member when the latter is in its sealing position, and wherein the spring acts between the inner member and a base member so as not only to bias the inner member into its sealing position but also to bias the base member against at least one projection on the outer member so as to hold the outer member, the inner member and the base to-ether as a unit.

0 1 2) A plug according to claim 1 wherein the outer member has a plurality of dependent legs each having a radially inwardly directed projection, and wherein the inner member has a central downwardly depending element which slidably engages a mating element in a base member, the base member having a plurality of radially extending arms equal in number and angular spacing to the plurality of legs of the outer member so that each arm can engage a projection on one of said legs, and wherein spring means are mounted between the inner member and the base member to bias the inner member into its sealing position and to bias the arms of the base member into contact with the projections of the outer member.

A plue, according to claim 3 wherein the mating element on the inner member is a t 0 W stem which engages within a bore in the base member.

0 4) A plug according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the spring member is a coil spring which surrounds a socket formed in the base member, the socket having said bore formed therein.