GB2222661A - Tap handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A tap handle comprises an inner part 12 adapted to be clamped onto the spindle S of a tap and an outer part 11 adapted to fit over the inner part 12 and engage same to enable the inner part 12 to be turned. The inner part 12 may be adapted to grip a tap spindle of any diameter within a range thereof and has an axially slotted, tapered, threaded region for cooperation with a nut having a threaded, tapered bore to clamp the inner part 12 against the spindle S. <IMAGE>

Description

TAP HANDLE This invention concerns a tap handle of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) adapted to engage the spindle of a tap to enable operation of the tap and particularly, though not necessarily exclusively, intended as a replacement.

Tap handles of the kind referred to are commonly in the form of knobs moulded from an acrylic plastics material. Because of the brittle nature of such material breakages, especially of internal teeth, adapted to engage with splines on the tap spindle are not uncommon. A problem however arises in that there is no standard diameter for the tap spindles and the user has difficulty in obtaining a correctly sized replacement knob or handle. In some cases he is unable to locate a suitable replacement and a complete new tap is required - a costly and inconvenient matter usually requiring the services of a plumber.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tap handle which overcomes the problems aforesaid in that it is adapted to engage a tap spindle of any diameter within a selected range.

According to the present invention there is provided a tap handle comprising an inner part adapted to be clamped onto the spindle of a tap and an outer part adapted to fit over the inner part and engage same to enable the inner part to be turned.

The inner part may have an upper conical portion adapted to fit over the tap spindle. This portion may be divided by slits into a plurality of circumferentially arranged fingers. The external surface of the conical portion may carry a tapered thread engageable by a nut having a complemeptary tapered threaded bore. The nut may be tightened to force the fingers inwardly to grip a tap spindle over which the inner part has been fitted.

The inner part may have a lower portion in the form of a skirt depending from the upper portion. The skirt may be of polygonal section, octagonal for example, and the outer part may have a recess of like shape to engage the inner part in the fashion of a box spanner.

Indent means may be provided between the outer and inner parts to hold the outer part at a desired axial position relative to the inner part.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one form of tap handle embodying same.

Of the drawings : Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of the tap handle fitted to the operating spindle of a tap; and Figure 2 shows a partly cut-away perspective view of an inner part of the tap handle before fitting to the tap.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the tap handle comprises an inner part 10 adapted to engage with the operating spindle S of a tap and an outer part 11 adapted to fit over the inner part 10 and engage same to enable the inner part 10 (and hence spindle S) to be turned by turning the outer part 11.

The inner part 10 has an upper conical portion 12 divided into four circumferentially spaced fingers 13 by slits 14. The external surface of the portion 12 carries a tapered thread 15 which is complementary with thread 16 in a tapered bore 17 of a nut member 18.

In use the inner part 10 is positioned over the tap with the spindle S located within the portion 12.

The nut 18 is engaged with portion 12 and tightened to force the fingers 13 inwardly into gripping engagement with the spindle S. It will be understood that the fingers 13 may be grippingly engaged with a spindle of any diameter within a predetermined range.

At the lower end of the upper portion 12 is an outwardly extending flange 20 which supports a depending skirt 21 of octagonal cross-section.

The outer part 11 is in the form of a knob moulded from an acrylic plastics material having a recess 22 on its underside of complementary octagonal section enabling the knob to be fitted over the skirt 21 in the fashion of a box spanner. Turning the knob turns the inner portion 12 and hence spindle S enabling operation of the tap in normal manner.

Teeth 23 on opposed faces of the inner wall of the recess 22 are engageable with one of a plurality of vertically spaced detents 24 on opposite outer walls of the skirt 21. The knob is pushed onto the inner part 12 to engage the teeth 23 with those detents 24 which support the knob at its correct axial position relative to the inner part 12.

A coding riifg 25 (red for hot and-blue for cold) and cover plate 26 are provided in known manner as embellishments to the handle.

The inner part 12 and nut 18 are preferably moulded from an acetal homopolymer such as Delrin (Trade Mark) produced by DuPont.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (9)

1. A tap handle comprising an inner part adapted to be clamped onto the spindle of a tap and an outer part adapted to fit over the inner part and engage same to enable the inner part to be turned.

2. A tap handle according to claim 1, wherein the inner part has an upper conical portion adapted to fit over the tap spindle.

3. tap handle according to claim 2, wherein said conical portion is divided by slits into a plurality of circumferentially arranged fingers.

4. A tap handle according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the external surface of the conical portion carries a tapered thread engageable by a nut having a complementary tapered threaded bore.

5. A tap handle according to claim 4, wherein the nut may be tightened to force the fingers inwardly to grip a tap spindle over which the inner part has been fitted.

6. A tap handle according to any preceeding claim wherein the inner part has a lower portion in the form of a skirt depending from the upper portion.

7. A tap handle according to claim 6, wherein the skirt is of polygonal section.

8. A tap handle according to claim 7, wherein the outer part has a recess of like shape to engage the inner part in the fashion of a box spanner.

9. A tap handle according to any preceeding claim, wherein indent means is provided between the outer and inner parts to hold the outer part at a desired axial position relative to the inner part.

9. A tap handle according to any preceeding claim, wherein indent means is provided between the outer and inner parts to hold the outer part at a desired axial position relative to the inner part.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS 1. A tap handle comprising an inner part having a portion adapted to be fitted over the spindle of a tap and an outer part adapted to fit over the inner part and engage same to enable the inner part to be turned, wherein said portion can be forced inwardly into gripping relationship with spindles of varying diameter.

2. A tap handle according to claim 1, wherein said portion is in the form of a shell whose external surface is conical.

3. A tap handle according to claim 2, wherein said shell is divided by slits into a plurality of circumferentially arranged fingers.

4. A tap handle according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the external conical surface of said portion carries a tapered thread engageable by a nut having a tapered threaded bore.

5. A tap handle according to claim 4, wherein the nut may be tightened to force the fingers inwardly to grip the tap spindle 6. A tap handle according to any preceeding claim wherein the inner part has a lower portion in the form of a skirt depending from the upper portion.

7. A tap handle according to claim 6, wherein the skirt is of polygonal section.

8. A tap handle according to claim 7, wherein the outer part has a recess of like shape to engage the inner part in the fashion of a box spanner.