"SAFETY TAP WITH PROGRAMMABLE BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING DEVICE"

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TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention concerns a safety tap equipped with a closing device consisting of a programmable numerical combination lock. More specifically, this invention refers to a tap which makes use of a safety system that consists of fitting the control device of common outdoor taps with a lock comprising several numbers that can be programmed directly by the user. This safety system allows the user to decide if and when to activate the lock, thus preventing any tampering of the water system, which can be used only by persons who, authorised by the owner, are in possession of the numerical combination. The combination lock tap makes it possible to use a built-in safety system which eliminates the use of keys or other external devices.

This tap satisfies the need to control the use of water in a very simple but at the same time efficient way, in locations that are generally unattended, allowing only authorised persons, that is to say those in possession of the combination, to use the water.

This invention can be applied in the plumbing sector and in particular in the sector of taps and related safety devices.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that taps consist of a body from which a quantity of liquid, generally water, is delivered by controlling an opening/closing device.

There are various types of tap opening/closing devices, although the most common ones are the lever or butterfly types, and they control a stop device which allows or blocks the outflow of water for the various uses.

It has been found, especially in cases in which the use of taps is indiscriminate, for example when installed and used on camping sites, residences, golf courses, condominium courtyards, schools, public gardens and parks, non-drinking water systems, etc., that there is a risk that careless or unauthorised persons may turn on the tap and leave it turned on without the water being used for any real purpose, or the person may forget to turn off the tap. The loss of a certain amount of water is naturally negative for many reasons, and in addition to the economic damage it can cause flooding, infiltrations and other problems in the area around the water outlet.

A number of solutions have been proposed to overcome these problems, aimed at preventing the improper use of taps in situations involving the risks mentioned above.

These solutions substantially comprise means designed to prevent the tap from being turned on, generally consisting of a padlock inserted in special holes cut in the body of the tap and the control lever or butterfly. To turn on the tap, the padlock has to be removed by using the special safety key.

However, while limiting access to the tap, these solutions are not without functional and practical limitations.

The main problem with this type of safety tap is due to the fact that the padlock can only be opened with its own specific key and it is therefore obvious that anyone wishing to use the tap must have this key. A number of

copies of the key must be therefore be made according to the number of persons who are allowed to use the tap.

This difficulty becomes even more evident if one considers that in a certain area, for example close to gardens or green areas, there may be a number of taps. This would make their management truly difficult as each tap would have a different key that would obviously not open the other tap padlocks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention proposes to provide a safety tap with a programmable blocking and unblocking device, which can eliminate or at least reduce the drawbacks described above . The invention proposes to provide a tap fitted with a safety device that does not require the use of keys or other mechanical blocking and unblocking systems that need copies for use of the tap by a number of people.

This is achieved by means of a safety tap with a programmable blocking and unblocking device with the features described in the main claim.

The dependent claims of the solution in question describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The main advantages of this solution, in addition to those deriving from the construction simplicity, concern first of all the fact that the tap according to the invention can be used by anyone who knows the numerical combination, thus avoiding the need to produce extra keys for every additional user. The device according to the invention substantially consists of two elements: a set of several rings, preferably but not exclusively three, numbered from 0 to 10, internally equipped with a blocking ring nut and arranged vertically

one on top of the other around the rotation axis of the tap opening and closing handle; a toothed piston inserted inside the rings .

In operation, the piston slides vertically around the tap handle body in two opposite directions: upwards, in the closing phase, pushed by a spring that traps it in a double flared groove cut in the lower part of the handle; ^• downwards, in the opposite direction, when it is pushed by the rotation of the handle when the tap is turned on.

The teeth of the piston block and unblock its movement by means of the three inner ring nuts of the rings.

Each ring nut has in fact just one notch positioned in correspondence with one of the ten numbers of the respective ring, which allows the piston to slide freely through the notch. Until the three notches on the ring nuts are aligned with each other, occurring only when the rings are turned to the correct numbers that make up the programmed combination, the piston cannot slide downwards and the tap handle cannot be freely turned. The entire closing system is constructed around a metal support anchored to the tap handle body.

The use of the closing device is optional, and the tap is in fact supplied with an "open" combination: until the safety combination is programmed, the device works in exactly the same way as with any ordinary tap on the market .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will

become evident on reading the following description of one embodiment of the invention, given as a non-binding example, with the help of the accompanying drawings in which: ^• - figure 1 represents a schematic view of the overall tap according to the invention; figure 2 shows a schematic view in vertical cross- section in the closed position; figure 3 shows a schematic view in vertical cross- section in the open position; figure 4 is a schematic view of a horizontal cross- section of the tap; figure 5 is a schematic view of a detail of the piston — ring nut unit.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference number 10 indicates overall the tap according to the invention, which consists of a tubular element 11 equipped with a threaded coupling 12 and an outlet 13 which may also be threaded for the traditional attachment of couplings for flexible conduits.

Transversally to the axis of the tubular element 11, and preferably but not necessarily facing upwards, is the safety device according to the invention, indicated overall with the number 14 and designed to restrain or release a hollow shaft 15 positioned with its axis at right angles to the tubular element 11 of the tap.

As mentioned above, the safety device 14 substantially consists of three rings 16, 17 and 18, each bearing the numbers from 0 to 10, arranged vertically one on top of the other around the rotation axis of the handle 19 which turns the tap on and off.

The hollow shaft 15 is connected with the

functioning of the rings, that is to say it is inserted inside the rings and is equipped with three teeth 20.

The three rings 16, 17 and 18 are fitted internally with respective locking ring nuts 21. The hollow shaft 15 slides vertically around the tap handle body 22, moving from a raised position, where it is held by a spring 23 that traps it in a double flared groove 24, cut in the lower part of the handle 19, when the tap is turned off, to a lowered position, in the opposite direction, when it is pushed down by the rotation of the handle 19 when the tap is turned on.

In fact, the end 25 of the hollow shaft 15 is shaped like a sort of cam, so that when pressed by the double flared groove 24 of the handle 19, it can move along its own axis.

The teeth 20 of the hollow shaft 15 prevent or allow the axial movement of the shaft on the basis of the position of the three ring nuts 21 inside the rings 16, 17, 18. Each ring nut has in fact just one notch 26 positioned in correspondence with one of the ten numbers of the respective ring 16, 17, 18 allowing the hollow shaft 15 to slide through the notch.

When the three notches 26 in the ring nuts 21 are not aligned, that is to say if the rings 16, 17, 18 have not been turned to make up the programmed combination, the piston cannot slide downwards and the handle cannot therefore be freely turned.

The entire safety device is enclosed in a metal support 27 anchored to the tap handle body 22.

The combination of the three numbers allowing the tap to ^' be turned on can be varied an infinite number of times without any limitation in the choice of the sequence .

This is made possible by the fact that the ring nuts 21 can be temporarily released from their respective rings 16, 17, 18, by means of a universal programming key which is inserted in the lock though a special slot 28 cut in the tap handle 19 and pushes the three ring nuts 21 downwards.

When the ring nuts, pushed by the key, are released from the rings, the rings can rotate freely allowing a new combination to be set; this is memorised when the key is removed.

In fact, a second spring 29, inside the lock, pushes the ring nuts upwards to their original position engaged with the rings .

The combination lock tap first of all makes it possible to take advantage of a built-in safety system which eliminates the use of keys or other external devices .

The use of the locking device is optional and the tap is in fact supplied with an "open" combination: until the safety combination is programmed, it functions like any other ordinary tap on the market.

The tap according to the invention satisfies the need to control the use of water in a simple but effective way, in locations that are generally unattended, allowing only authorised persons, that is to say those in possession of the combination, to use the water.

The tap according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for use in a variety of settings, and in particular on camping sites, residences and golf courses; in the courtyards of condominiums or schools, in public gardens and parks, close to non-drinking-water systems, etc., that is to say in all those settings where it is necessary to have access to water but where it is

also necessary to limit its use to a restricted number of persons .

Another advantage of the safety device according to the invention is represented by the fact that this is a completely mechanical system and thus requires no power supply.

An additional advantage of the safety device according to the invention is the economic aspect; the undoubted advantages guaranteed by the system are obtained at costs only slightly higher than those of ordinary taps currently available on the market.

The tap can advantageously be used in any setting and to deliver liquids of any kind, for example in the wine-making sector for fitting on barrels, canisters or other types of containers, or in the sector for the provision of gas or gaseous products .

The invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. It is nevertheless clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variations that lie within its scope, within the framework of technical equivalents .