WO2010058866A2

WO2010058866A2 - Plumbing fitting

Info

Publication number: WO2010058866A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/006800
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Sik Bong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-19
Filing date: 2008-11-19
Publication date: 2010-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-19

Description

PLUMBING FITTING

Technical Field

[1] The invention relates to the plumbing field. In particular, the invention relates to tap fittings. Background Art

[2] Typical plumbing installation such as those in a shower utilize two wall mounted taps, one to control hot water and one to control cold water. These taps include a spindle and cock fitting. The spindle is mounted in the cock fitting and carries a handle and a valve washer at tits opposite end. Rotational movement of the spindle causes linear movement of the washer towards or away from the valve seat within the cock fitting. In use water entered cock fitting through and inlet, is controlled in its flow through the valve formed by the valve seat and valve washer and flows out of the cock fitting through an outlet and subsequently mixes with another water flow before discharge through and outlet such as a shower head or tap spout. The cock fittings are commonly installed within a masonry wall, or at least installed behind a wall that is sheeted with ceramic tiles or the like. Consequent on the failure of inner wall piping of such installations, it is necessary to break open the wall to replace the failed piping. Further, if a user wishes to change the workings of the tap by installing a single mixer tap to replace the two taps, the user is required to break open the wall to replace the system.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[3] In one aspect, the present invention comprises a plumbing adapter comprising: a bore piece adapted to fit into a cock fitting, the bore piece including an extension that is movable with respect to the bore piece to extend into the cock fitting as required; a crosspiece extending from the bore piece; and a connector extending from the crosspiece and adapted to be connected with a tap.

[4] It can be seen that the extension in the bore piece is adapted to allow the bore piece to be inserted into cock fittings of varying lengths. The extension can then be extended from the bore piece to contact the back of the cock fitting.

[5] In one form the bore piece includes an inlet and the connector includes and outlet. A bore extends through the bore piece, cross piece and connector such that the outlet of the connector and the inlet of the bore piece are in fluid communication.

[6] In one form the bore piece is internally threaded and the extension is externally threaded so that the extension is moveable with respect to the bore piece. [7] In one form the bore piece and the connector are both externally threaded to allow connection of the bore piece with the cock fitting and of the connector with a tap or connection to a tap.

[8] In one piece the crosspiece extends perpendicular to the axis of the bore piece such that rotation of the adapter varies the horizontal distance between the bore piece and the connector. It can be seen that this allows for variation in the distance between the cock fittings without changing the fittings utilized.

[9] In another aspect, disclosed is a plumbing adapter system comprising two plumbing adapters each adapter comprising: a bore piece adapted to fit into a cock fitting, the bore piece including an extension that is moveable with respect to the bore piece to extend into the cock fitting as required, a crosspiece extending from the bore piece, and a connector extending from the cross piece and adapted to be connected with a tap, and a tap connection including a mixer tap, wherein each adapter is adapted to be positioned within a cock fitting and the tap connection is designed to connect the two adapters to a single tap. Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[11] Figure 1 is a view of a conventional cock fitting;

[12] Figure 2 is a side view of an adaptor used in a cock fitting as described in one embodiment of the present invention;

[13] Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the adaptor of Figure 2;

[14] Figure 4 is a top view of an adaptor of Figure 2;

[15] Figure 5 is a cross-section detail of the adaptor of Figure 2; and

[16] Figure 6 is a plan view of the adaptor of the present invention in use.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[17] A conventional cock fitting such as that shown in Figure 1 includes an inlet 2 for communication of water from piping carrying an inlet flow of water. The inlet 2 communicates through an orifice in a valve seat 4 with an outlet opening 3 which in turn receives connecting piping that is not shown in the figure. That piping is connected to a similar conventional cock fitting so that water flow out of each cock fitting and mixes in the piping preliminary to discharge through a shower head or the like. In conventional use, a spindle carrying a valve washer is screwed into the internally threaded bore 5 that is visible in Figure 1 for control of water flow through the fitting.

[18] The adaptor fitting according to the present invention is illustrated at Figure 2 and includes externally threaded bore piece 10 and connector 11 connected by cross piece 12. Fluid communication is allowed through the adaptor by means of a bore 13 which extends through bore piece 10, crosspiece 12 and connector 11 from inlet 14 of bore piece 10 to outlet 18 of connector 11 is illustrated in Figure 3. The Bore 13 allows flow of water through 10, 12 and 11. Bore piece 10 incorporates an internal extension shown best in Figure 5. The internal extension 15 is movable with respect to bore piece 10. In use bore piece 10 is internally threaded and engages with extension 15 which is externally threaded so that extension 15 extends moveably from bore piece 10 when leg 10 is positioned in cock fitting 1 the extension 15 can be extended to contact the valve seat 4 of cock fitting 1. This allows for insertion of the adaptor into cock fittings of various lengths without needing to utilize different leg lengths.

[19] Cross piece 13 extends from leg 10 and is adapted such that its positioning allows for a variation of the horizontal distance between bore piece 10 which is inserted into the cock fitting and connector 11 which acts as a connector with a tap.

[20] It can be seen best in Figure 6 that in use this cross piece extension 12 allows fro differing distances between the two cock fittings in a typical system.

[21] In use, tap spindles are removed from each cock in a tap system. Separate adaptor fitting 9 are inserted into each cock fitting 1 by screwing bore piece 10 into the cock fitting 1 and then extending extension 15 to a position where a sealing washer can be compressed between the end of the extension 15 and the valve seat 4 of cock fitting 1. The compressed washer (not illustrated) thus provides a seal that prevents flow of water out of the outlet 3 of the cock fitting.

[22] When the adaptor fitting 9 is inserted into the cock 1 the internal bore through the adaptor fitting 13 provides a path for water flow from the cock fitting 1 to the outlet end 11 of the adaptor fitting.

[23] Figure 6 shows the use of adaptor fittings 9 in conjunction with other components according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, two cock fittings 1 are shown mounted within a masonry wall 20. A mixing cross-pipe 16 within the wall communicates with a vertical pipe 17 to carry mixed water to a showerhead that is not illustrated in the drawings. However, as shown in the figure, the original tap spindles are removed from the cock fittings 1 and replaced with adaptor fittings 9 in accordance with the present invention. Each adaptor fitting is screw thread mounted at one end into the cock fitting 1 and at the other end is screw thread mounted into a mixing tap shown generally at 21. The operating lever 22 of the mixing tap is manipulated in the known manner to control the volume, flow and temperature of outlet water from the tap spout. The insertion of the adaptor fittings 9 into the cock fitting 1 blocks water from flowing into mixing pipe 16 and into pipe 17 which formally supplied water to the shower head. Instead water flows through adaptor 9 through bore 13 to connect with mixing tap 21. It will be appreciated that mixing tap 21 can then be attached to a replacement shower head or to the original piping via piping that is not illustrated. [24] It will be appreciated that the length of cross piece 12 allows the adaptor fittings 9 to be positioned at varying horizontal positions to allow for differing distances between the cock fittings 1 while still allowing connection with a mixer tap of a defined size. Further, it will be appreciated that the extension 15 allows for positioning of the adaptor in the cock fitting regardless of the length of the cock fitting.

[25] It is to be understood that a reference herein to a prior art document does not constitute an admission that the document forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

[26] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[27]

[28]

Claims

[1] A plumbing adapter comprising: a bore piece adapted to fit into a cock fitting, the bore piece including an extension that is moveable with respect to the bore piece to extend into the cock fitting as required; a crosspiece extending from the bore piece; and a connector extending from the cross piece and adapted to be connected with a tap.

[2] A plumbing adapter as defined in claim 1, wherein the bore piece includes an inlet and the connector includes an outlet.

[3] A plumbing adapter as defined in either of the preceding claims, further including a bore extending through the bore piece, cross piece and connector such that the outlet of the connector and the inlet of the bore piece are in fluid communication.

[4] A plumbing adaptor as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bore piece is internally threaded and the extension is externally threaded so that the extension is moveable with respect to the bore piece.

[5] A plumbing adapter as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bore piece and the connector are both externally threaded.

[6] A plumbing adapter as defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the crosspiece extends perpendicular to the axis of the bore piece such that rotation of the adapter varies the horizontal distance between the bore piece and the connector.

[7] A plumbing adapter system comprising two plumbing adapters as defined in any of the preceding claims, and a tap connection including a mixer tap, wherein each adapter is adapted to be positioned within a cock fitting and the tap connection is designed to connect the two adapters to a single tap.