TAP ASSEMBLY

This invention concerns tap assemblies for water supplies, and also control arrangements for a tap assembly.

Currently a significant amount of water is wasted by taps being left on, or taps being on for longer than they are required during a particular operation. For instance, a tap will often be turned on and left on while a person is cleaning their teeth, whilst a flow of water is only required while the brush is being wetted or washed. Taps which turn themselves off after a predetermined interval are available, but they tend not to be suitable for other operations and can result in overfilling of a receptacle, or may require manual control during an operation which is not available due to the operation requiring a person to use both hands.

According to the present invention there is provided a tap assembly for a water supply, the assembly being selectively movable between a closed position and an open position, the assembly having a control arrangement to permit the assembly to move from the closed position to the open position and vice versa, the arrangement being configured so as to be movable from the closed position to the open position by either substantially linear movement of a control member, or rotation of a control member.

The substantially linear movement of a control member may be at least generally vertical, and may be provided by a downward movement.

The control arrangement may be configured such that when the assembly is moved by linear movement of a control member to an open position, the control member will after a. set time automatically return the arrangement to a closed position, whilst when moved to an open position by rotation of a control member, the arrangement can only be returned to the

closed position by manual rotation of the control member in an opposite direction.

The same control member may be provided for operating the arrangement by either a substantially linear movement or a rotational movement.

The control arrangement may include a sealing head engageable with an annular valve seat, and a threaded arrangement such that rotation of the control member in a first direction raises the sealing head off the valve seat to open the assembly, and rotation in a second opposite direction lowers the sealing head on to the valve seat to close the arrangement.

Openings may be provided through a central part of the sealing head which in a closed position are aligned with the inside of the valve seat, and a closure member may be provided which in a rest position closes said openings, but can be moved thereoff by substantially linear movement of the control member to move the assembly to an open position.

The closure member may be spring urged to a closed position.

A threaded part may mount the sealing head, and the threaded part may be elongate.

A control link for the closure member may extend through, the threaded part, and may be substantially coaxial therewith. The control link may extend to the closure member from the or a part of the control member.

The present invention also provides a control arrangement for a tap assembly, the arrangement being according to any of the preceding nine paragraphs.

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 cross sectional view through a conventional tap assembly;

Fig 2 is a similar view through part of a tap assembly according to the invention; and

Fig 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view through part of the assembly of Fig 2.

Fig 1 shows as conventional tap assembly 10 with a spout 12 with an opening 14. The lower end of the spout 12 mounts a body 16 with a water pipe 18 connected to a lower part of the body 16.

An annular valve seat 20 is provided around the upper end of the pipe 18, and the pipe 18 can be fully closed by lowering a plunger 22 with a washer 24 provided on the distal end, onto the pipe 18. A top end of the plunger 22 is mounted to a control part 26 which threadingly engages with a gland nut 28 located towards the top of the body 16. The control part 26 extends upwardly out of the body 16 and mounts a head 30.

Rotation of the head 30 and hence control part 26 in one direction will raise the plunger 22 and head 24 off the valve seat 20 allowing water to pass into the spout 12 and then out of the opening 14.

Figs 2 and 3 show parts of a tap assembly 40 which is similar to the assembly 10 in a number of ways, and only the differences will be referred to. In this instance openings 42 are provided extending through a central part of the head of the plunger 44. An annular washer 46 is provided on the plunger

44 such that free access is provided to the openings 42.

The plunger 44 has a hollow interior through which a control link 48 extends which mounts on its lower end a washer 50 of a size to fit within the centre of the annular washer 46. The washer 50 is provided on the underside of the plunger 44 such that when moved upwardly it closes the opening 42.

Again a control part 52 is provided and the control link 48 extends through the control part 52. The control link 48 extends outwardly above the control part 52 and mounts a tap head 54 thereon. A spring 56 extends from the tap head to abut against a shoulder 58 in the control part 52 to urge the tap head 54 upwardly and hence the washer 50 against the plunger 54 to close the openings 52. The tap head 54 is engageable with the control part 52 to be engageable therewith.

In use when it is required to use the assembly 40 as a conventional tumable tap, the head 54 is rotated as usual causing the head of the plunger 44 to rise upwardly off a valve seat (not shown). Obviously the assembly 40 can be reclosed by rotating the tap head 54 in an opposite direction.

If it is required to provide a short burst of water, the assembly 40 can be operated by pushing on the tap head 54 which causes by the control link 48 the washer 50 to move off the openings 42 to allow water to flow through the assembly 40. This condition is shown in Fig 2. Once the tap head 54 is not being pushed downwardly, the spring 56 will urge the tap head 54 upwardly to close the assembly 40. The assembly 40 could be arranged such that there is a short time delay in the spring 56 pushing the tap head 54 upwardly and thus closing the assembly 40.

There is thus described a tap assembly with a relatively conventional configuration which permits either rotation or push operation to be selectively chosen, thereby providing the substantial advantages of both types of operation to be experienced in a single unit. In view of the straightforward

mechanical arrangement involved, this arrangement can be inexpensively and robustly manufactured. It is to be realised that control arrangements according to the invention could be retrospectively fitted to existing taps.

Various modifications may -be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it may be required to have a pull action rather than a push action for the tap assembly. A different method could be provided for sealing the central part of the plunger head.

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.