GB2426479A

GB2426479A - Tap turning aid

Info

Publication number: GB2426479A
Application number: GB0510481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Meadwell
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2005-05-24
Filing date: 2005-05-24
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Also published as: GB0510481D0

Abstract

A tap turning aid 10 usable in assisting persons to turn cross head taps or crystal head taps. The aid 10 comprises a hollow dome shaped body 12 and a handle member 14 extending from the body (figure 1,12). The handle 14 is threadably mounted to the body (figure 1,12) such that a selected amount of the handle 14 can extend into the body to engage with a tap head. A projection 20 is provided on the interior of the dome (figure 1,12) ,opposite the handle 14 such that the head of a crystal head tap can be engaged therebetween. A formation 22 is provided on the underside of the body (figure 1,12) engageable with the limbs of a cross head tap, and the amount of handle 14 extending into the body, (figure 1,12) can be adjusted to retain the aid 10 on a cross head tap.

Description

Tap Turning Aid This invention concerns improvements in or relating to tap turning aids. A number of people encounter difficulties in turning water taps due to disabilities, illness and/or infirmity. A number of tap turning aids have been proposed to help such persons which are easier to grip, and also provide a mechanical advantage. These aids have not always proved particularly satisfactory, and generally different aids have been required for different types of taps. A number of different types of tap heads are in use. Cross head taps comprise a cross shaped head rotatable about a usually generally vertical axis. The size and shape of the limbs of the cross can vary quite significantly from tap to tap. Another type of tap head is provided on crystal taps. These have an essentially solid head with a number of recesses spaced around the head to facilitate grip thereof. The size of the head, and the size, shape and number of recesses can vary significantly on different taps. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tap turning aid, the aid including a hollow body locatable over a tap head, a handle extendible from the body to facilitate turning of the aid, a projection provided within the body which projection can engage in a recess in a crystal tap head, and an engagement member extendible into the body to engage with another recess on a crystal tap head, the amount of extension of the engagement member into the body being adjustable to permit use with different sized tap heads. The engagement member may be selectively extendible into the body at different positions so as to be engageable with recesses on crystal tap heads at different spacings. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tap turning aid, the aid including a hollow body locatable over a tap head, a handle extendible from the body to facilitate turning of the aid, an opening in the body through which a limb of a cross head tap can locate, and a formation within the body engageable with one or more other limbs of a cross head tap. The formation may be provided extending from an inner face of the body. The formation may be engageable with three other limbs of a cross head tap. The formation may include limbs defining channels to receive the limbs of a cross head tap. An engagement member may be provided which is extendible into the body from an opposite side thereof to the opening, with the amount of extension of the engagement member into the body being adjustable to permit use with different sized tap heads. The invention also provides a tap turning aid which is according to both the first and second aspects of the invention. The engagement member may threadably engageable with a threaded hole provided in a wall of the body. A plurality of threaded holes may be provided in the wall of the body. A threaded locking member may be provided on the engagement member which is selectively engageable against the outside of the body to retain the engagement member in a required position. The engagement member may be provided on the handle and may be in the form of a threaded member extending from the handle. A conformable part may be provided on the distal end of the engagement member. A conformable lining may be provided around at least part of the interior of the body, which lining may be contoured. The body may be generally domed shape. The or each threaded hole may be provided in a lower part of the dome. The opening may be provided in an upper part of the dome. The formations may be provided on the underside of the roof of the dome. The projection may be provided in a side wall of the dome. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of tap turning aid according to the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are different diagrammatic perspective views of the aid of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view from beneath of the aid of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a further diagrammatic view of part of the aid of Fig. 1 from beneath; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the line P-P of Fig. 5. The drawings show a tap turning aid 10 suitable for use in assisting persons to turn cross head taps or crystal head taps. The aid 10 comprises a body 12 and a handle member 14. The body 12 is generally dome shaped, with a lower cylindrical part. Three threaded holes 16 spaced at approximate 45[deg] from each other are provided in a lower part of the body 12. An oval opening 18 of greater dimension in a vertical direction relative to the dome, is provided in an upper part of the dome shaped body 12. An integral projection 20 is provided in the side wall of the body 12 substantially opposite the middle one of the three holes 16. A formation 22 is provided on the underside of the dome shaped body 12. The formation 22 comprises walls 24 extending downwardly from the roof of the dome defining a T-shaped channel arrangement with an opening in the cross piece opposite the stem, which opening faces towards the opening 18 in the body side wall. The join between the stem and the cross piece of the T is spaced between the centre of the dome and the opening 18. The stem of the T extends towards a one of the threaded holes 16, the left hand hole 16 as shown in Fig. 5. A ribbed rubber overmoulded lining 26 is provided around a lower part of the interior of the body 12. The handle member 14 comprises a main part 28 with a rubber ribbed part 30 overmoulded thereon. A threaded spigot 32 extends from the main part 28 to form the engagement member, and the spigot 32 is selectively engageable in any of the holes 16. An overmoulded end member 34 is provided on the spigot 32. An annular locking member 36 is provided on the spigot 32, and selectively engageable against the outside of the body 12 when required to retain the spigot 32 in place. In use the aid 10 can be used with crystal head taps as follows. The body 12 can be located over the tap head such that the projection 20 engages with a recess in the tap head. The spigot 32 is threaded into a one of the holes 16 so as to engage with a further recess in the tap head. The provision of the three holes 16 means that if for instance the central hole 16 is not opposite a recess when the projection 20 engages with a recess, a one of the other holes 16 should be opposite an appropriate recess. The spigot 32 is threaded through the respective hole 16 so as to engage with the respective recess. The conformable lining 26 and end member 34 provide for good grip with the tap head whilst avoiding damage thereto. The locking member 36 can then be turned until it engages against the side of the body 12 to retain the spigot 32 in a required position. For use with cross head taps, the body 12 is located such that one of the limbs of the cross head extends through the opening 18. The body 12 is then manoeuvred such that the other limbs of the tap head engage in the formation 22. The spigot 32 is then threaded through the hole 16 which is opposite the opening 18, such that the spigot 32 engages against or beneath the respective limb of the tap head. There is thus described a tap turning aid usable with at least two types of taps, and also usable with a wide range of different sizes and shapes of tap heads. The aid can readily be fitted onto a tap to provide easy operation of the tap by persons who require assistance with this. Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the various components of the aid can take many different shapes and forms. A different number and/or spacing of holes in the body could be provided. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A tap turning aid, the aid including a hollow body locatable over a tap head, a handle extendible from the body to facilitate turning of the aid, a projection provided within the body which projection can engage in a recess in a crystal tap head, and an engagement member extendible into the body to engage with another recess on a crystal tap head, the amount of extension of the engagement member into the body being adjustable to permit use with different sized tap heads.

2. An aid according to claim 1, in which the engagement member is selectively extendible into the body at different positions so as to be engageable with recesses on crystal tap heads at different spacings.

3. A tap turning aid, the aid including a hollow body locatable over a tap head, a handle extendible from the body to facilitate turning of the aid, an opening in the body through which a limb of a cross head tap can locate, and a formation within the body engageable with one or more other limbs of a cross head tap.

4. An aid according to claim, in which the formation is provided extending from an inner face of the body.

5. An aid according to claims 3 or 4, in which the formation is engageable with three other limbs of a cross head tap.

6. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which the formation includes limbs defining channels to receive the limbs of a cross head tap.

7. An aid according to any of claims 3 to 6, in which an engagement member is provided which is extendible into the body from an opposite side thereof to the opening, with the amount of extension of the engagement member into the body being adjustable to permit use with different sized tap heads.

8. A tap turning aid which is according to claims 1 or 2 and any of claims 3 to 7.

9. An aid according to claim 8, in which the engagement member is threadably engageable with a threaded hole provided in a wall of the body.

10. An aid according to claim 9, in which a plurality of threaded holes are provided in the wall of the body.

11. An aid according to any of claims 8 to 10, in which a threaded locking member is provided on the engagement member which is selectively engageable against the outside of the body to retain the engagement member in a required position.

12. An aid according to any of claims 8 to 10, in which the engagement member is provided on the handle.

13. An aid according to claim 12, in which the engagement member is in the form of a threaded member extending from the handle.

14. An aid according to any of claims 8 to 13, in which a conformable part is provided on the distal end of the engagement member.

15. An aid according to any of claims 8 to 14, in which a conformable lining is provided around at least part of the interior of the body.

16. An aid according to claim 15, in which the conformable lining is contoured.

17. An aid according to any of the preceding claims, in which the body is generally domed shape.

18. An aid according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 9, in which the or each threaded hole is provided in a lower part of the dome.

19. An aid according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 3, in which the opening is provided in an upper part of the dome.

20. An aid according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 3, in which the formation or formations is provided on the underside of the roof of the dome.

21. An aid according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 1, in which the projection is provided in a side wall of the dome.

22. A tap turning aid substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.