GB2416821A

GB2416821A - Two-part push fit tap installation

Info

Publication number: GB2416821A
Application number: GB0417329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Roland Bradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-04
Filing date: 2004-08-04
Publication date: 2006-02-08
Also published as: GB2416824A; GB0514692D0; GB0417329D0

Abstract

A multifunctional tap comprises two parts including a base section 2 and a top section 1, the base section being permanently fixed to the appliance surface 3 and adapted to receive the top section. Preferably, fitting of a new or replacement top section is completed from above the tap, requiring no specialist tools or knowledge and providing a quick and easy DIY task. Preferably, the connection between the top and base parts is a push fit, using a splined member (8A, 8B, Fig 2) in the base 2 which inserts into a spline receiving member (9A/9B, Fig 3) in the top part 1. Different embodiments of the completed tap include fixed or rotating spouts, a variety of connections, flexible hoses, automatic or manual control, and single or multiple supplies. Additional controls may be incorporated within the tap base and/or top parts or in the tap supplies.

Description

241 6821

DESCRIPTION

GENERAL BACKGROUND

TAPS FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF FLUIDS IN MOST ASPECTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MADE AS ONE

COMPLETE ITEM AND REPLACEMENT IS AGAIN AS ONE COMPLETE ITEM.

TAP BODIES ARE GENERALLY SEALED IN PLACE WITH VARIOUS COMPOUNDS OR SEALANTS

WITH A FLAT OR OTHER TYPE WASHER SECURED IN PLACE ON TO THE THREADED TAP TAIL

FROM BENEATH, WITH A SCREWED BACK NUT, NOT AN EASY TASK WITH OTHER METHODS PROVING TO BE JUST AS AWKWARD.

SOME TAPS ARE INSTALLED IN INACCESSIBLE PLACES, SO THE APPLIANCE HAS TO BE REMOVED FIRST TO GAIN ACCESS TO REPLACE THE TAPS, CORNER BATHS AND WALL HUNG SANITARYWARE ARE TWO EXAMPLES.

IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN A REPLACEMENT TAP/S ARE REQUIRED, THE RESTRICTIVE ACCESS TO THE TAP BASE AND TAIL/S BENEATH THE APPLIANCE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM. EVEN WHEN UNIT DOORS, SHELVES OR BATH PANELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, DISCONNECTION AND REMOVAL OF THE TAPS THEMSELVES IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, IS TIME CONSUMING AND

CARE HAS TO BE TAKEN NOT TO DAMAGE THE APPLIANCE OR SURROUNDING SURFACES AND

SUPPLY PIPES

ONE OR SOMETIMES, TWO QUALIFIED PERSONS ARE REALISTICALLY REQUIRED TO PERFORM THESE TASKS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE, REQUIRED TO DISCONNECT, RECONNECT AND FINALLY TEST THE TAP AND SUPPLY PIPE{S} CONNECTIONS

A PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INJURY IS COMMON BECAUSE OF THE AWKWARD WORKING

POSTIONS AND CONDITIONS OF ACCESS TO AND UNDERNEATH APPLIANCES.

THIS MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICE, SOLVES THE REPLACMENT TAP PROBLEM OF FINDING AN AVAILABLE TRADES PERSON, IN THIS TIME OF A BIG SHORT FALL OF PLUMBERS AVAILABLE AND THEN THE CONSEQUENT HIGH LABOUR COSTS AND WAITING TIMES, PARTICULARY FOR

DOMESTIC AND HOUSING STOCK MAINTENANCE MARKETS

THIS DEVICE MAKES THE FITTING OF NEW TAPS EASY AND THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE

TAP TOPS, A QUICK AND SIMPLE DIY TASK WORKING FROM ABOVE THE APPLIANCE ONLY, WHICH REQUIRES NO SPECIAL TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE OR ABILITY, MAKING THE TAP REPLACEMENT, AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TASK.

IDEALLY IT SHOULD HELP TOWARDS AN ENVIRONMENT ISSUE ALSO, BY CUTTING DOWN THE

RESPONSE AND REPAIR TIMES FOR DEFECTIVE WATER TAPS TO BE REPLACED AND SO REDUCING

WATER WASTAGE

ONCE THE TAP BASE SECTION HAS BEEN DROPPED THROUGH THE APPLIANCE HOLE, THE 1ST FIX INSTALLATION IS COMPLETED BY HAND ONLY FROM BENEATH THE APPLIANCE, LEAVING IT READY FOR SYSTEM CONNECTION, FILLING AND TESTING

THE LATTER WOULD ALLOW FOR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD PERMITT A DELAYED DECISION

ON THE DESIGN OF THE TAP TOP, UNTILLTHE FINAL COMPLETION OR HAND OVER OF A NEW

REFURBISHED PROPERTY IS IMMINENT THE TAP BODY COULD INCORPORATE A WASTE FITTING

CONTROL

THE OUTLET/S COULD BE SINGLE OR MULTIPLE WITH FIXED OR ROTATING SPOUT SEPARATING

OR BLENDING THE FLUIDS BEFORE DISPERSAL THE OUTLET COULD BE OF A DESIGN WITH

SPECIFIC FITTING ATTATCHMENT

THE TAP BODY TOP AND/OR OUTLET COULD BE OF JUST A FlJNCTlONAL DESIGN OR WITH AESTHETIC ATTRACTIVE, FASHIONABLE DESIGN CONTROLS CAN BE MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC. THESE COULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE TAP SUPPLIES AND/OR IN THE TAP BODY SECTIONS OR A MIX OF THE TWO.

THIS DESIGN COULD ADAPT TO MANY TYPES OF TAP DESIGN OR MECHANISMS

CONTROLS COULD BE REQUIRED FOR,

TO ISOLATE THE TAP SUPPLES MANUALLY BY HAND

TO ISOLATE THE TAP SUPPLIES AUTOMATICALLY BY SOME TYPE OF SPRING LOADED BAYONET

FITTING OR ELECTRICAL CONTROL

AUTOMATIC MANUAL CONTROL FOR

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

MIXING/BLENDING CONTROL

PRESSURE AND FLOW READINGS

PRESSURE AND FLOW REGULATING

PRESSURE RELIEF CONTROL AND OUTLET

EXPANSION VESSEL CONNECTION

CHECK VALVE FLOW REGULATING

FOR ISOLATION OF THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE TAP

POSSIBLE SPRING LOADED TYPE

FLUID FILTERJSTRAINER

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONTROL FOR

TIME CONTROL

PROGRAMMED CONTROL

REMOTE CONTROL

ANNALISIS COLLECTION

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

MIXINGIBLENDING CONTROL

PRESSURE AND FLOW READINGS

PRESSURE AND FLOW REGULATING

PRESSURE RELIEF CONTROL AND OUTLET

CHECK VALVE FLOW REGULATING

FOR ISOLATION OF THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH TEE TAP

POSSIBLE INFA-RED TYPE

IN DIFFERENT DISGUISES THIS DESIGN OVERCOMES ALL THE ISSUES STATED.

A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT {PILLAR TAP} WILL NOW BE DESCRIBED WITH REFERENCE TO THE

ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

NOTE: REFERENCES TO DRAWINGS WILL BE e.g. { 1/4-1} DRAWING 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 AT THE TOP OF EACH DRAWING SHEET & THE DRAWING PART NUMBER I TO 11 ARROWED TO A SPECIFIC PART OF A DRAWING.

I ST FIX STAGE APPLIANCE AND OTHER SURFACE AREAS VARY IN THICKNESS, { 1/43} SO THE TAP BASE ALLOWES FOR THIS BY HAVING LONG ENOUGH TAIL PIPE{ S} FOR ALL EVENTUALITIES. THE TAIL PIPE{S} COULD BE DESIGNED SO THEY COULD BE CUT DOWN IN LENGHIF REQUIRED. {1/4-6A} {414-6A} THE TAP BASE { 1/4-2} { 1/4-6A} IS DESIGNED TO BE FIXED EASILY IN ANY POSITION AND STILL ACCEPT THE TAP TOP WITH EASE IN IT'S CORRECT POSITION LATER. A RING OF SILOCAN

SEALANT IS APPLIED AROUND THE APPLIANCE TAP HOLE BEFORE THE TAP BODY BASE IS FIXED

IN POSITION, TO SEAL THE JOINT AND FIX THE TAP IN PLACE {2/4-12}. AFTER THE TAP BASE HAS BEEN DROPPED THROUGH THE APPLIANCE SURFACE { 1/4-3} HOLE FROM ABOVE THE FIXING PROCESS IS COMPLETED FROM BELOW ONLY1 USING TWO HANDS TO FIX IN PLACE THE SPACING WASHER/S { 1/4-4} AND THEN THE FLAT WASHER { 1/4-5} WHICH IS SECURED IN PLACE ON THE SMOOTH FINISHED TAILPIPE { 1/4-6A} BY THE PUSH FIT BACK NUT { 1/4-7} THE LENTH OF THE TAIL PIPE { 1/4-6A} OVERCOMES THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OF ACCESS TO

AND INTO THE RESTRICTED SPACE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE TAP FIXING POINT UNDER THE

APPLIANCE OR WORK TOP SURFACE. IN THIS CASE BY FIXING IN PLACE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF SUPPLIED RUBBER SPACING WASHERS [1/4- 4}TO TAKE UP THE RESTRICTED SPACE AREA, TO

A POINT WHERE ACCESS IS NOT RESTRICTED FOR FIXING THE FLAT WASHER AND PUSH FIT

BACKNUT. { 1/4-7} {4/4-7} FOR THE FINAL FIXING IN PLACE.

THE TAIL PIPE COULD BE CUT IF A REDUCTION IN LENGTH IS REQUIRED FOR COSMETIC

REASONS

THE TAIL PIPE CONNECTION/S {4/4-6A} WOULD THEN BE READY FOR THE CONNECTION OF THE SUPPLY PIPE/S BY PUSH FIT FITTING/S {4/4-11}.

SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTING COULD BE DONE AT ANY STAGE TEMPORARY TAP BODY TOP

SECTIONS TO ASSIST WITH IST FIX FILLING, VENTING AND PRESSURE TESTING, WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

2ND FIX STAGE THE FIXING OF THE TAP TOP BODY, ONTO THE PERMANENTLY FIXED

TAP BOTTOM BODY IS COMPLETED FROM ABOVE THE APPLIANCE ONLY

IF CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTED, A DELAY FOR THE DECISION OF

THE TOP BODY SECTION DESIGN COULD BE LEFT UNTIL FINAL COMPLETION IS REQUIRED OR

THE HAND OVER OF A NEW OR REFURBISHED PROPERTY IS IMMINENT.

THE TASK IS COMPLETED FROM ABOVE THE APPLIANCE BY USING A PUSH FIT CONNECTION

CORRESPONDING MALE AND FEMALE VERTICAL COGGE/GROOVE CONNECTION, { 1/4-2} {214-8A & 8B} {3/4-9A & 9B} ALLOW FOR A MULTIPLE-CHOICE OF POSITIONS AVAILABE FOR THE CORRECT

POSITIONING AND LOCATION OF THE TAP TOP BODY

A SEALING 'O' RING WASHER {3/4-lOA} IN THE TAP TOP MAKES A WATERTIGHT CONNECTION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL SUPPLY, IN BETWEEN THE TAP TOP AND TAP BOTTOM

FINALLY TWO GRUB SCREWS IN THE TAP TOP ARE TIGHTENED INTO A CORRESPONDING GROOVE

IN THE TAP BASE {2/4-8A} {3/4-lOB}

Claims

-

CLAIM

1. A MULTIFUNCTIONAL TAP FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF FLUIDS IN TWO PARTS MADE OF RIGID HECTEROCHROMATIC FINISHED MATERIAL, MANUALLY INSTALLED.

COMPRISING OF A BASE SECTION WHICH IS OPTIONALLY FIXED BY HAND ONLY AND

IS PERMANENT. TB TOP SECTION WHICH IS REPLACEABLE AND ABLE TO BE RETRO FITTED BY HAND ONLY AND THEN SECURED IN PLACE BY TWO GRUB SCREWS. THE

TWO SECTIONS BEING BLD IN PLACE BY CORRESPONDING VERTICAL MALE AND

FEMALE GROOVES OR COGS WHICH HOLD THE TAP SPOUT AND BODY IN A MULTIPLE

OF ANGLED POSITIONS, CAN BE FACILITATED 2. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM I WBRE THE MEANS OF FIXING THE BASE SECTION IN PLACE IS BY A PUSH FIT BACK NUT.

3. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM I & 2 WBRE THE MEANS OF FITTING THE TAP

BODY TOP AND TB TAP BODY BASE SECTIONS TOGETHER IS BY A PUSH FIT SEALED

CONNECTION.

4. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM I & 2 WHERE THE MEANS OF SEALING AND

HOLDING THE BASE SECTION IN PLACE IN THE APPLIANCE TOP IS BY APPLYING A

RING OF SILOCAN SEALANT TO THE JOINT AREA FIRST

AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2 & 3 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE AUTOMATIC.

6. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2 & 3 WBRE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE MANUAL.

7 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5 & 6 WBRE THE MEANS OF CONTROL

CAN BE INCORPORATED IN THE TAP BASE OR TOP BODY SECTIONS

8 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5,6 & 7 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL

CAN BE INCORPORATED IN TB TAP SUPPLIES

9 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,5,6,7 & 8 WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE INLET SUPPLIES.

10. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 WHICH COMPRISES OF MULTIPLE OUTLETS.

I 1. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 & 10 WHICH COMPRISES OF

MULTIPLE OUTLETS OF DIFFERENT DESIGN

12. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 & I I WBRE TB BODY TOP SECTION IS NOT NECCESARILY A REQUIREMENT DURING IST FIX INSTALLATION, SYSTEM FILLING AND PRESSURE TESTING.

13 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,3,5,6,7,8,11 & 12 WHERE THE BODY TOP

SECTION DESIGN COULD BE JUST FOR FUCTION AND PRACTICABILITY OR

INCORPORATE A FASHION, SCULPTURED DESIGN 14 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,4 & 12 WBRE THE BODY BASE IS ABLE TO

ADOPT TO A MULTIVARIOUS OF FIXING SURFACE MATERIALS AND THICKNESES

AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1 O. I 1,12,13 & 14 ADAPTING TO MUTT-VARIOUS, REPLACABLE BODY TOP SECTIONS FOR THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS 16 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 & 15 THAT CAN CONTROL THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS THOUGH TO FIXED OR ROTATING SPOUT{S}.

17 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 & 16 THAT CAN

CONTROL THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS THOUGH TO SPECIFIC CONNECTION FITTINGS

AND/OR FLEXIBLE HOSES.

18 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16 & 17 IS A DIY

TASK

19 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16,17 & 18 IS AN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INVENTION

AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17,18 & 19 TAIL

PIPE LENTH TO BE ADEQUATE FOR ALL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

21. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16,17,18 19 &20 TWO TYPES OF TAIL PIPE COULD BE OFFERED, PLAIN OR WITH CONTROLS

INCORPORATED

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. CLAIM 1 WHERE THE MEANS OF FIXING THE BASE TAP SECTION IN PLACE IS BY A PUSI I FIT BACK NUT, FIXED IN PLACE ON TO THE SMOOTH FINISHED TAIL PIPE/S SECTION.

2. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1, WHERE THE MEANS OF FITTING THE TAP BODY TOP AND THE TAP BODY BASE SECTIONS TOGETHER IS BY A PUSH FIT sEALEr CONNECTION. COMPRISING OF A BASE SECTION WHICH IS OPTIONALLY FIXED BY HAND ONLY AND IS PERMANENT. THE TOP sEcrrloN WHICH IS REPLACEABLE AND

ABLE TO BE RETRO-FITTED BY HAND ONLY AND THEN SECURED IN PLACE BY TWO

GRUB SCREWS. THE TWO SECTIONS BEING HELD IN Pl,ACE BY CORRESPONDING VERTICAL MALE AND FEMALE GROOVES OR COGS WHICH HOLD rHE TAP TOP SECTION IN A MULTIPLE OF ANGLED POSITIONS, CAN BE FACILITATED.

3. AN INVEN'I'ION AS CLAIMED IN Cl,AIM I & 2 IS A MULTIFUNCTIONAL TAP FOR THE

CONVEYANCE OF FLUIDS IN TWO PARTS MADE OF RIGID HECTEROCHROMATIC

(DIFERENT COI,OURED) AND DIFFERENT FINISHED MATERIALS, MANUALLY INSTALLED.

4. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2 & 3 WHERE THE MEANS OF SEALIN(i THE BASE SECTION IN Pl,ACE IN THE APPLIANCE TOP, IS BY APPLYING A RING OF Sll,OCAN SEALANT TO'I'HE JOINT AREA FIRST.

5. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2 & 3 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE AUTOMATIC.

6. AN INVEN'I'ION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2 & 3 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE MANUAL.

7. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5 & 6 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE INCORPORATED IN THE TAP BASE OR TOP BODY SECTIONS.

8. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5,6 & 7 WHERE THE MEANS OF CONTROL CAN BE INCORPORATED IN rHE TAP SUPPLIES.

9. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5,6,7 & 8 WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPI,E INLET SUPPLIES.

AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9 WHICH COMPRISES OF MULTIPLE OUTLETS.

I 1. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 & 10 WHICH COMPRISES OF MULTIPLE OUTLET'S OF DIFFERENT DESIGN.

12. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 & I I WHERE, THE BODY TOP SECTION IS NOT NECCESARILY A REQUIREMENT DURING I ST FIX INSTALLATION, SYSTEM FILI,ING AND PRESSURE TESTING.

13. AN INVEN rloN AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,11 & 12 WHERE THE BODY TOP SECTION DESIGN COULD BE JUST FOR FUCTION /\ND PRAC'l'ICABILITY OR INCORPORATE A FASHION, SCULPTURED DESIGN.

14. AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4 & 12 WHERE THE BODY BASE IS ABLE TO ADOPT TO A MULTIVARIOUS OF FIXING SURFACE MATERIALS AND THICKNESES.

ANINVENTIONAS CLAIMEDIN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 & 14 ADAPTING TO MUTT-VARIOUS, REPLACABLE BODY TOP SECTIONS FOR THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS 16 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 & 15 THAT CAN CONTROL THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS THOUGH TO FIXED OR ROTATING SPOUT{S} 17 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 & 16 THAT CAN

CONTROL THE DISPERSAL OF FLUIDS THOUGH TO SPECIFIC CONNECTION FITTINGS

AND/OR FLEXrBLE HOSES 18 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16 & 17 IS A DIY

TASK

19 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17 & 18 IS AN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INVENTION

AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17,18 & 19 TAIL

PIPE LENTH TO BE ADEQUATE FOR ALL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

21 AN INVENTION AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15, 16,17,18 19 &20 TWO TYPES OF TAIL PIPE COULD BE OFFERED, PLAIN OR WITH CONTROLS

INCORPORATED