GB2367341A

GB2367341A - Tap safety cover

Info

Publication number: GB2367341A
Application number: GB0024033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Brislen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2000-09-29
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-29
Also published as: GB2367341B; GB0024033D0

Abstract

A safety cover for taps comprises a lockable enclosure 2 to cover and limit access to handle/s 6 of the tap/s. The cover can be secured to a fixed surface preferably by screws passing through ports 11 in a backplate of the cover, or by double sided sticky tape. The cover preferably has a lid 4 with a hinge 10 which may be a conventional two piece hinge or a live hinge. The cover may be made from plastics material such as PVC and may be injection moulded. The cover may include decorative features. The lid preferably has a child lock 5.

Description

DESCRIPTION This invention concerns a safety device for covering taps, which prevents young children from gaining access to the taps.

If young children are allowed to gain access to taps, which are present on a bath or a sink, for example, they may turn them on, and possibly forget about them. This may result in the bath or sink becoming over-full, thereby causing flooding and/or presenting a severe risk of drowning to the child if the child is in the bath at the time. Furthermore, there is a risk that the child may be scalded by hot water if they are allowed access to the taps. This is especially the case if the child is left unattended in a bathroom, or indeed anywhere where there are taps present, for example, in a kitchen.

This is a particular problem associated with children who are of an age where they can comfortably walk around and do not need constant attention, yet are not old enough to realise the dangers caused by leaving taps running unattended and for long periods of time.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety device for taps, which comprises a lockable enclosure arranged to cover at least the handle of the tap, to limit access thereto, and being securable to a fixed surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the lockable means for limiting access to the enclosure to operate the tap comprises a hinged lid in the top of the safety device, with a childproof lock thereon, for temporarily closing the lid when access to the tap is to be denied to, for example, young children. The hinge may be a conventional two-piece hinge or alternatively a living hinge.

It is preferred that the means for securing the enclosure to a fixed surface comprises at least one, but preferably two screw ports in the enclosure, whereby the safety device may be screwed to a wall or similar to prevent it from simply being lifted from the tap to gain access thereto. It is preferable that the enclosure of the safety device comprises a back plate, two side plates, and a front plate, which together prevent access to the enclosure to operate the tap, unless the hinged lid is opened. Preferably, the screw ports are located in the back plate of the device to facilitate securing of the device to a wall. Alternatively, the safety device may be attachable to a wall or similar by way of using double-sided adhesive tape.

Preferably, the safety device is made from a suitably resilient plastics material, for example, PVC, although any suitable material may also be used. It is further preferable that the device is injection moulded. Further, it is preferred that the safety device has decorative features thereon, in order to make the device aesthetically appealing, and to enable it to blend in with the surroundings.

The present invention will now be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a front view of the safety device for taps, in situ and showing hidden detail, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the safety device for taps, in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a side view of the safety device for covering taps, in situ and showing hidden detail, in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a safety device for covering taps is illustrated generally by reference numeral 1. The device 1 comprises an enclosure 2, and a means for gaining access to the taps 3 in the form of a lid 4 with a hinge 10 thereon. To prevent access to a handle 6 of the taps 3 by children, the lid 4 of the device has a child lock 5 thereon. If an authorised person, for example, an adult, wishes to turn on the taps 3, then they have to undo the child lock 5 to gain access to the handles 6. When the taps 3 have been used, then the lid 4 of the device 1 may be re-closed, to prevent further use of the taps 3 by an unauthorised person, for example a young child, who may inadvertantly leave the taps 3 running if they were allowed access to the handles 6 of the taps 3. The device 1 has a front plate 7, side plates 8, and a back plate 9, which together prevent access to the handles 6 of the taps 3 unless the lid 4 is opened. The back plate 9 has screw holes 11 therein, whereby screws (not shown) may be used to facilitate the fixing of the device 1 to a wall 12.

It is to be appreciated that the shape and size of safety devices for covering taps according to the invention may be varied, in order that it may fit over various shapes and sizes of taps.

Claims

Claims 1. A safety device for taps, which comprises a lockable enclosure arranged to cover at least the handle of the tap, to limit access thereto, and being securable to a fixed surface.
2. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lockable means for limiting access to the enclosure comprises a hinged lid in the top of the safety device, with a childproof lock thereon.
3. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hinge is a conventional two-piece hinge.
4. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
5. A safety device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the enclosure comprises a back plate, two side plates and a front plate.
6. A safety device for taps as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for securing the enclosure to a fixed surface comprises at least one screw port in the enclosure, whereby the device may be screwed to a wall or similar.
7. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means for securing the enclosure to a fixed surface comprises two screw ports in the enclosure, whereby the device may be screwed to a wall or similar.
8. A safety device for taps as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the screw ports are located in the back plate of the device.
9. A safety device for taps as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the safety device is attachable to the fixed surface by means of double-sided adhesive tape.
10. A safety device for taps as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the safety device is made from a suitable plastics material.
11. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 10, wherein the safety device is made from PVC.
12. A safety device for taps as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the device is injection moulded.
13. A safety device for taps as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the safety device has decorative features thereon.