Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct – Detachable handle
Patent
1999-05-03
2000-10-03
Mah, Chuck Y.
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
Detachable handle
16441, 16DIG12, A47B 9502
Patent
active
061255114
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to cocks or valves of the kind useable, for example, to control the flow of water along or from a mains domestic water supply pipe. When the valve is used to allow water to flow from the pipe for use, usually through a spout comprising a part of the valve, it is customarily called a domestic tap. Such taps are frequently used to control flow into a garden hose, in which event the end of the spout is customarily enlarged and externally threaded to receive a hose connector. For descriptive convenience all such domestic cocks, valves and taps are referred to hereinafter as domestic cocks.
BACKGROUND ART
Hitherto, domestic cocks have usually comprised a valve body defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a valve spindle projecting from the body. The free end of the projecting part of the valve spindle is furnished with a handle whereby the spindle may be rotated to open and close the cock. The spindle commonly has an externally threaded portion in engagement with an internally threaded bore in the valve body. Rotation of the spindle causes it to advance and effect pressure contact between a valve element, which is loosely engaged by the inner end of the spindle, and a valve seat encircling the flow path through the valve body, so as to close the cock. Likewise the spindle may be rotated in the opposite sense to allow the valve element to separate from the seat and allow water to flow through the cock.
Although the handle may take other forms, in domestic hose cocks and like domestic taps it is almost invariably a short cross-bar extending perpendicularly of the spindle axis. As a result, it sometimes happens that the very young, the very old, or other persons with physical deficiencies or deformities affecting the hands, are unable to obtain sufficient purchase on the handle to open a tightly closed domestic cock. Such persons may have to resort to a wrench or spanner if such be available; but even if it is available the use of such an implement may be beyond the capability of the physically handicapped.
It is known to provide ornamental additions to domestic hose cock handles, for example cast metal bird shapes or the like, which are recessed to enable loose engagement with a conventional cross-bar handle. Being larger than the conventional handle, these may offer some assistance to some of the handicapped, however they are not firmly attached to the handle, and their tendency to wobble on the handle and the fact that they are not shaped to facilitate them being grasped, renders them of limited help at the best.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention, is to provide a handle piece for attachment to a conventional cross bar handle of a domestic cock which meets the following desiderata: grasped therein, and handle in either direction.
The invention consists in a handle piece comprising a unitary plastics moulding comprising a generally rectangular prismatic, open bottomed shell having an upper surface sized to fit into the palm of the hand, formations within the shell defining a recess adapted to receive a cross bar handle of a domestic water cock and comprising opposed pressure pads at or near each end of the recess adapted to bear against respective end portions of the cross bar handle when homed in said recess, and at least one pair of opposed resilient flanges adapted to clasp the cross bar handle intermediate its ends when the cross bar handle is homed in the recess as aforesaid, whereby the handle piece is retained in position upon and shrouding the cross bar handle.
In preferred embodiments the ends of the recess are defined by resilient lugs or fingers to enable the recess to accommodate cross bar handles of slightly differing lengths.
In preferred embodiments the corners and edges of the upper surface of the shell are smoothly rounded to render the handle piece as a whole more comfortable when grasped by the hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
By way of example an embodiment of the above described invention is des
REFERENCES:
patent: 4397489 (1983-08-01), Lind
patent: 4766642 (1988-08-01), Gaffney et al.
patent: 4783885 (1988-11-01), Bory
patent: 4835816 (1989-06-01), Graef
Selby Products for Independent Living, catalogue. Selby Scientific, (undated) "Eastiturn" Tap Turner, p. 9.
Mah Chuck Y.
Taptek Pty Ltd.
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