WO1993009852A2

WO1993009852A2 - Tap fixing tool

Info

Publication number: WO1993009852A2
Application number: PCT/GB1992/002156
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Edward Christopher Hailey
Original assignee: John Edward Christopher Hailey
Priority date: 1991-11-20
Filing date: 1992-11-20
Publication date: 1993-05-27
Also published as: GB2286141B; WO1993009852A3; GB2286141A; GB9124552D0; AU2950292A; GB9424779D0

Abstract

A tool (1) for fitting taps is described and comprises a shaft (2) having a non ring headed nut engaging portion (3, 4) at one end for slidably engaging a nut to be rotated, and a socket (8) at the other end. The socket can receive an insertion element (9) of a lever attachment (7) for applying a turning force to the shaft (2). The insertion element is provided on one side of a ratchet mechanism (14), the other side being connected to a shaft (13) provided with a slidable hand length bar (18). The ratchet mechanism has a knurled wheel (16) located to be manipulable by a user's hand on the grip for selectively controlling the direction of drive of the applied turning force.

Description

TAP FIXING TOOL

The present invention relates to a tap fixing tool, and more particularly to a tool for mounting and dismounting bath taps, basins, bidets, waste pipes and like plumbed in apparatus.

One of the more unpleasant tasks in plumbing is the mounting of taps onto a new bath or sink or when replacing such taps. The task involves the use of a specific fixing tool for tightening or loosening fixing nuts holding the tap in place and perhaps also for tightening or loosening the adjacent compression joints. Typically, the tap locations can only be reached with difficulty, often involving contortions of the body and stretching at a distance in order to use the fixing tool. Moreover, use of the tool is often made more difficult because viewing of the taps is obscured.

In addition to * the above, with baths, the end of the bath usually descends almost vertically from a position closely adjacent the tap location points. If the tap end of the bath is located at or close to a wall, a slim channel is defined therebetween which restricts use of the fixing tool. Thus, the use of the tool is time consuming, frustrating, and damaging to the knuckles of the hand operating in the slim channel if the tool slips; and all the time the user is in a back breaking position owing to the aforementioned difficulties in accessing the slim channel. A known such fixing tool comprises an elongate shaft having nut engaging head portions at respective ends of the shaft which extend perpendicularly from the shaft in opposing directions. The head portions may not extend too far because of the limited space in which the tool must normally operate as mentioned above. Each head portion includes two arms to define a U shape for engaging therebetween a nut of a predetermined size in the manner of a non ring or open ended type spanner. Ring spanner type head portions are not suitable for such a fixing tool. The two head portions may be respectively formed for engaging a different size of nut.

In use, the user must first locate one head portion around, for example, a tap holding nut. Then the tool is held in place and the opposing head portion is gripped by the user's hand and a turning force is applied thereto. In this way, it is possible to rotate the nut relative to the tap. When the tool has been turned as far as the user's hand will permit, the head location, holding and gripping must be repeated, often in excess of 20 times. Each location of the head portion over the nut can be difficult, particularly where the nut is in a confined space and possibly even out of sight. Furthermore, if the tool slips during application of the turning force, the knuckles of the user's hand are quite likely to come into sudden contact with a hard surface damaging the knuckles. In addition, gripping of the head portion can cause discomfort to the user's hand after some time since the shape of the two arms does not make for a comfortable grip. Finally, since the gripped head portion does not extend very far, the degree of leverage available for applying the turning force is not great so that the user must be quite strong.

Another known fixing tool aims to overcome some of the aforementioned problems by having an elongate shaft with a head portion at one end thereof which comprises a semi circular member pivotally attached at one end thereof to the shaft and having a toothed inner surface at the other end remote from the shaft. A fixed toothed wheel is located adjacent the member pivot point so that as the member rotates, the gap between the toothed surface and the toothed wheel reduces so that a nut can be gripped therebetween. The other end of the shaft has a grip in the form of a fixed bar perpendicular to the shaft.

In use, the toothed surface and wheel must be located over the nut to be turned and then the steps outlined for the above tool are performed and repeated. The location of the member and wheel around the nut is still not simple particularly in a confined space. Furthermore, there is still a tendency for the member and wheel to slip off the nut with the aforementioned disadvantages unless great care is taken. However, the gripping of the bar is easier and greater leverage can be obtained.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fixing tool substantially overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a tool for fitting taps, the tool comprising a shaft having a non ring headed nut engaging portion at one end for slidably engaging a nut to be rotated, and a releasable connection means at the other end for connection with a lever attachment for applying a turning force to the shaft.

With the tool of the present invention, by selection of a suitable lever attachment, perhaps with extension pieces, it is possible for the tool to be used to engage a nut which is located in a relatively inaccessible location whilst the turning force can be applied away from the inaccessible location thereby reducing the risk of damage to the hands of the user in the event that the engaging portion slips from the nut. In addition, the lever attachment can be formed for use without discomfort to the user and to provide greater leverage. Moreover, by using a lever attachment having a ratchet mechanism or a pivot type action, it can be unnecessary to relocate the nut engaging portion when the limit of the user's hand rotation has been reached thereby reducing the time required to fit the nut. Thus, much greater flexibility of use is produced with the tool of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the releasable connection means comprises a male or female connector for connecting to a female or male connector respectively of the lever attachment. Consequently, since the type of connector is not limited, the tool can be produced in different forms.

Conveniently, the releasable connection means comprises a socket for connection to a known socket spanner set. This embodiment therefore has the advantage that the lever attachments already provided in a standard socket set can be used with the tool. Since a typical user of the tool probably already possesses such a socket set, only the tool as defined need to be purchased in order to use it thereby allowing a cost effective tool to be produced.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lever attachment for applying a turning force to a shaft, the lever attachment comprising a shaft having one end connected to a substantially hand length grip and having the other end connected to one side of a ratchet mechanism, the other side of the ratchet mechanism being connected to a releasable connection means; wherein the ratchet mechanism has a control means for selectively controlling the direction of drive of the applied turning force and being located to be anipulable in use by a user's hand on the grip.

Thus, a lever attachment incorporating a ratchet mechanism is provided which allows it to be operated with one hand. This is particularly convenient in situations in which it is necessary to apply pressure to hold in place the tool to which the attachment is connected because the direction of rotation of the turning force can be changed while the pressure is maintained. v

Preferably, the ratchet mechanism has a casing with opposing cutouts and the control means comprises an knurled wheel internal to the casing but manipulable through said cut outs. This is particularly convenient for fingertip control of the control means when applying pressure to hold in place a tool to which the attachment is connected.

Preferably, the grip comprises a bar, and the bar can be slidably connected to said shaft. Since the axis of rotation of the turning force passes substantially through the middle of the tool, the bar can be slid preferentially to adjust to a users hand so that it sits comfortably and symmetrically in the hand of a user. Alternatively, the bar can be slid to one side of the shaft, if the space allows, in order to apply greater turning force.

The present embodiment of the invention is particularly convenient in the form of a lever attachment comprising a tap fixing tool lever attachment since the limited space for operation of the attachment is suitable for the confined spaces experienced in tap and other fixing situations. The tool may further include an extension piece holding device for holding an extension piece, the device comprising engaging means for releasably attaching to the extension piece and an elongate handle member attached to said engaging means and extending therefrom. Thus, an extension piece fitted between the tool and the lever attachment can be held in a stable way.

Conveniently, the engaging means comprises an elongate shaft having a respective clamp means substantially at each end thereof for clamping to the extension member so that the tool and lever attachment can be held in a balanced manner.

The length of the elongate shaft is preferably adjustable to enable fitting to different length extension pieces, and for ease of fitting the clamp means conveniently comprise snap- fit clamp members. To allow the holding device to used in different positions, the handle is preferably pivotally or hingeably attached to the engaging means. Advantageously, the length of the handle is adjustable.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tap fixing tool comprising a main shaft having a non ring headed nut engaging portion at one end for slidably engaging a nut to be rotated and being connected at the other end to one side of a ratchet mechanism, the other side of the ratchet mechanism being connected to a minor shaft having at a remote end thereof a substantially hand length grip for applying a turning force to the main shaft; wherein the ratchet mechanism has a control means for selectively controlling the direction of drive of the applied turning force and being located to be manipulable in use by a user's hand on the grip.

This provides a tool having all the advantages of the above described lever attachment and tool in a single article.

An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whic :-

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a tool and lever attachment embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a view along arrows II-II shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a side view of an extension piece for use with the tool and lever attachment of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a holding device used in combination with the tool and lever attachment of figure 1.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 , a fixing tool 1 for taps comprises a shaft 2 which has a nut engaging head at one end formed by two arms 3 and 4 extending substantially perpendicularly from the shaft to form a generally U-shaped portion 5. The portion 5 has predetermined internal dimensions defined by flat internally facing surfaces. Thus, the head can slidably fit to a nut having a predetermined size in the manner of the first described tool of the prior art above. The opposing end 6 of the shaft 2 is formed for releasable connection to a lever attachment 7. The end 6 includes a square hole 8 to act as a female connector to a male connector in the form of a square insertion element 9 formed at one end of the lever attachment 7. A spring biassed ball bearing 10 is located in the insertion element 9 so that when the insertion element 9 is mated with the hole 8, the bearing 10 is biassed against the inner surface of the hole 8 to prevent accidental removal of the insertion piece. This form of releasable connection is known in the art. The dimensions of the shaft 2 are for example only and those of the lever attachment can be also be changed.

In use for fixing say a tap holding nut, the tool 1 and lever attachment 7 are preferably arranged at a position where the lever attachment is not unduly restricted by the aforementioned slim channel. The portion 5 is then engaged with a nut to be rotated, the size of the portion 5 being chosen to fit the particular nut. A turning force is then applied to the lever attachment to rotate the tool 1 to cause the nut to be rotated relative to a bath tap. When the tool has been turned as far as the users hand will allow, the steps are repeated. The tool 1, because of the releasable connection, gives flexibility in use since it is possible to add extension pieces 11, one example of which is shown in figure 3. The extension piece 11 comprises a shaft 12 having at one end an insertion element 9 ' for insertion into the hole 8 of the tool 1 and at the other end a hole 8 ' for receiving the insertion element 9 of the lever attachment 7. Thus, it is possible to use extension pieces to make the effective shaft of the tool 1 longer than the tool shaft 2 itself.

By having a long shaft 2 or by extending the shaft, it is possible to make the rotation of the lever attachment take place in a less confined space. For example, rather than trying to rotate the attachment between a bath end and a wall as described above, use of the extension piece can allow the lever attachment to be used below the level of the bath base where it can be seen and where it is more easily accessible without contortions of the body. This not only makes the plumbing task more convenient and simpler, but if the portion 5 of the tool 1 should slip off the nut, there is a much reduced risk of damage to the hand of the user thereby reducing frustration and hazards during use.

It will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a releasable connection for the tool which is the same as a commonly available socket set. Such a set is probably already in the possession of the user so that compared with the prior art, only the tool of the present invention needs to be purchased. The nature of the releasable connection can take many forms which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. By the use of the described releasable connection, a lever attachment more conveniently formed than that of the prior art can be connected to the tap fixing tool allowing greater leverage and easier user of the tool. As described above, the flexibility of attachments to the tool improves use.

The tool 1 may also be provided with a detachable substantially hand-sized handle which engages the end 6. Such a handle may be of a variety of different convenient forms, such as having a transversely extending body portion having a plastics ball at each end thereof, or a flat portion at each end thereof, or an axially extending body portion having a plastics ball at the end thereof remote from the end 6 of the tool 1, or a right-angled body portion having a plastics ball at the end thereof remote from the end 6 of the tool 1.

One of the problems that remains with the tool 1 shown in figure 1 is that with a simple lever attachment, such as a shaft with a male insertion element at one end and a bar at the other, it is still necessary to re-engage the portion 5 with the nut each time the rotation limit of a user's hand has been met. Attachments on a common socket set, for example, are generally long and are hence not suitable without extension pieces because of the usually confined space in which taps must be mounted.

The lever attachment 7 shown in figure 1 comprises a shaft 13 having at one end a through hole 15 into which a grip in the form of a bar 18 is slidably located to be substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The bar has a length in the region of the length of a user's hand although slightly longer or shorter lengths can be used according to the application of the attachment. The other end of the shaft 15 is connected to one side of a ratchet mechanism or slipping clutch 14. The part of the mechanism 14 giving the ratchet function is of a type known per se and will therefore not be described in greater detail. The other side of the ratchet mechanism is connected to the insertion element 9.

Consequently, a turning force applied in one direction to the bar 18, rotates the shaft 13 which rotation is transmitted as a drive rotation of the insertion element 9. An opposing turning force applied to the bar causes the shaft 13 to rotate freely relative to the insertion element 9 so that no drive rotation of the insertion element 9 occurs. The direction of drive and free rotation is selected by a control in the form of a knurled wheel 16 located at the mechanism 14. The mechanism has a casing in which oppositely disposed cut outs 17 are provided to allow access to the wheel 16.

In use, the tool 1 and lever attachment 7 are connected together with or without extension pieces as appropriate so as to minimise the difficulty of use. A user then grips the bar 18 in the palm of their hand and engages the portion 5 with a nut to be rotated. The size of the portion 5 of the tool 1 is chosen to fit the particular nut. The user can then manipulate the wheel 16 with fingertips so that the bar 18 can rotate in one direction only relative to the insertion element 9 and hence the shaft 2. Then a turning force is applied to the bar 18 which rotates the portion 5 to cause the nut to be rotated relative to a bath tap. When the portion 5 has been rotated as far the user's hand will allow, an opposing turning force is applied to the bar 18 which causes the bar 18 and shaft 13 to rotate relative to the shaft 2, all the time applying an axial pressure to maintain the portion 5 around the nut. By repeating these steps, the nut can be rotated without releasing the portion 5 from the nut.

Thus, by having the control of the drive direction located at the mechanism 14-, a user gripping the bar can manipulate the wheel 16 by fingertip whilst comfortably gripping the bar 18 and applying a turning force thereto. Since the shaft 13 extends from the palm of the user's hand, it is also possible to directly control the direction of drive without releasing pressure applied to hold the portion 5 over a nut.

It will be apparent that the precise form of the lever attachment can be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the wheel 16 can be replaced by a small lever. It will also be apparent that whilst figure 1 shows the tool 1 and lever attachment 7 as two articles, the releasable connection can be disregarded so that the shaft is directly connected to the mechanism 14 so that a single article tool is produced.

In order to hold the tool 1 steady when the extension piece 11 is used, a tool holding device 20 as shown in figure 4 can be employed. The holding device 20 comprises an engaging means in the form of an elongate shaft 25 with a pair of pivotally attached snap-fit resilient clamps 26 of plastics material located at each end. The length of the shaft 25 is adjustable in known manner by having the shaft split into two portions which can screw into one another by means of a nut 27 so as to shorten or lengthen the shaft. An elongate handle 28 is attached to the shaft 25 by a hinge 29 so as to extend therefrom. A grip 30 is provided at the remote end of the handle 28.

In use, the length of the shaft 25 is adjusted such that the spacing of the clamps 26 is slightly less than that of widened portions 22 adjacent the piece 9' and the hole 8' of the extension member 11. The clamps are then snap-fitted to the shaft 12 as shown in figure 4. Thereafter, the extension member 11 is attached to the tool 1 and the lever attachment 7. The grip 30 can then be held by a user with the bar 18 now located sufficiently far from the confined space around the nut to be rotated without hindrance. It will be appreciated that various modifications of the holding device are possible. For example, the handle 28 of the holding device 20 may be attached to the shaft 25 by any suitable rotatable attachment such as a ball joint, or the clamp means 26 may be replaced by screw clamps or a single clamp, shown at 31 in figure 4 which has a pivot point 32 for attachment to a handle member.

Claims

1. A tool for fitting taps, the tool comprising a shaft having a non ring headed nut engaging portion at one end for slidably engaging a nut to be rotated, and a releasable connection means at the other end for connection with a lever attachment for applying a turning force to the shaft.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable connection means comprises a male or female connector for connecting to a female or male connector respectively of the lever attachment.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable connection means comprises a socket for connection to a known socket spanner set.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim further including an extension piece and an extension piece holding device for holding the extension piece, the device comprising engaging means for releasably attaching to the extension piece and an elongate handle member attached to said engaging means and extending therefrom.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein the engaging means comprises an elongate shaft having a respective clamp means substantially at each end thereof for clamping to the extension piece.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 4 or 5 the length of the elongate 'shaft is adjustable.

7. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the clamp means comprises snap-fit clamp members.

8. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the handle member is pivotally or hingeably attached to the engaging means.

9. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the length of the handle member is adjustable.

10. A lever attachment for applying a turning force to a shaft, the lever attachment comprising a shaft having one end connected to a substantially hand length grip and having the other end connected to one side of a ratchet mechanism, the other side of the ratchet mechanism being connected to a releasable connection means; wherein the ratchet mechanism has a control means for selectively controlling the direction of drive of the applied turning force and being located to be manipulable in use by a user's hand on the grip.

11. A lever attachment as claimed in claim 10 wherein the ratchet mechanism has a casing with opposing cutouts and the control means comprises an knurled wheel internal to the casing but manipulable through said cut outs.

12. A lever attachment as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the grip comprises a bar.

13. A lever attachment as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bar is slidably connected to said shaft.

14. A lever attachment as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 comprising a tap fitting tool lever attachment.

15. The combination of a tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a lever attachment according to any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the other side of said ratchet mechanism is connectable to said releasable connection means.