Apparatus for Fitting a Tap
There is provided a monobloc tap apparatus (201) for securely mounting to a sink (202). The apparatus comprises a monobloc unit (301) for positioning above the sink, a fastening plate (303) for positioning underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement, and a securing bolt (305) insertable through the monobloc unit (301) and into the middle hole (603) of the fastening plate (303). The monobloc unit (301) comprises two locating collars (302) configured to pass through the two outermost holes (602) of the fastening plate (303), and the securing bolt (305) is configured to be tightened from above the sink (202).
This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 12 19 364.5 filed 26 Oct. 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for mounting a tap on a sink, and more particularly to apparatus for mounting a monobloc tap.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to attach a monobloc tap, also known as a mixer tap, to a kitchen or bathroom sink using standard mounting methods. Such standard mounting methods usually require a 35 mm mounting hole in the sink. The monobloc tap is positioned above the 35 mm hole and secured from underneath the sink. Typically, a fixing plate is secured by a nut and a washer onto a fixing stud which is screwed into the tap body. A specially designed tube spanner is required for the tightening. This process needs to be carried out underneath the sink, whilst at the same time ensuring that the alignment of the tap body with the sink is maintained. It is therefore clearly difficult to achieve sufficient tightening of the securing components underneath the sink whilst checking on the tap and the tap frequently works loose. The 35 mm hole is a small hole to work through to secure the tap. Furthermore, when a kitchen tap is fitted, this process requires the plumber to work inside a kitchen cupboard in order to fit the monobloc tap, increasing the difficulty.
Although the problem of fitting monobloc taps from underneath the sink is known, no satisfactory solution has yet been provided. However, the present invention provides a convenient solution to this problem.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monobloc tap apparatus for mounting to a sink, the apparatus comprising: a monobloc unit for positioning above the sink, a fastening plate for positioning underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement, a securing bolt insertable through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole of the fastening plate, wherein said monobloc unit comprises two locating collars configured to pass through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate, and further wherein said securing bolt is configured to be tightened from above the sink.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a monobloc tap apparatus to a sink, comprising the following steps: positioning a fastening plate underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement; positioning a monobloc unit above the sink, the monobloc unit having two locating collars configured to be inserted through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate; screwing a hot water pipe and cold water pipe through the two outermost holes and into the two locating collars; inserting a securing bolt through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole in the fastening plate, and tightening the securing bolt from above the sink.
A plumber 101 installing a standard monobloc tap 102 of the prior art on a kitchen sink is shown in
A perspective view of apparatus 201 embodied by the present invention is shown in
A cross sectional view of apparatus embodied by the present invention is shown in
The monobloc unit has two locating collars 302, which may also be known as locating pegs or poles or dowel pins. Each locating collar 302 is typically 16 mm in diameter, although sizes may vary according to the diameter of water pipes. Each locating collar 302 is at least 6 mm in depth, namely each locating collar 302 protrudes at least 6 mm beneath the base of monobloc unit 301.
Fastening plate 303 comprises three circular holes in a linear arrangement, with two outermost holes and a central hole. Water pipes 304 are inserted through the two outermost holes before the mouth of each water pipe 304 is placed into locating collar 302 and turned to firmly attach water pipe 304 to monobloc unit 301.
Securing bolt 305 passes through a hole in the top of monobloc unit 301 when in position above the mounting hole on the sink and through the central hole of fastening plate 303. Securing bolt is typically an M8 bolt but any other suitable bolt may also fall within the scope of the invention. Securing bolt 305 can be firmly tightened from above the surface of the sink, thereby eliminating the problems of the prior art in which the tightening of the securing components must be performed from underneath the sink.
Once monobloc unit 301 is firmly in situ, water spout 306, tap handles 307 and water valves 308 are screwed onto monobloc unit 301.
FIG. 4An exploded view of the apparatus according to the present invention is shown in
The apparatus further comprises fastening plate 409, which itself has three holes in an alignment. Fastening plate 409 is placed beneath the mounting hole of the sink and monobloc unit 401 is placed above the mounting hole of the sink. Locating collars 402 of monobloc unit 401 are configured such that they can be received by the two outermost holes of fastening plate 409.
Securing bolt 404 is then inserted through central hole 403 of monobloc unit 401 and through the central hole of fastening plate 409. Securing bolt 404 is typically an M8 bolt. Securing bolt 404 is tightened from above the surface of the sink, which advantageously means that the plumber does not need to perform the tightening in an awkward space underneath the sink. As securing bolt 404 is tightened, fastening plate is secured to underneath side of monobloc unit 401 and serves to prevent the monobloc unit 401 turning.
Once monobloc unit 401 is secured firmly on sink, water spout 405, water valves 407 and tap handles 408 are attached to unit 401.
Water pipes 410 each pass through one of the outermost holes of fastening plate 409 and screw into a locating collar 402.
FIG. 5An exploded view of the apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The apparatus further comprises fastening plate 509, which itself has three holes in an alignment. Fastening plate 509 has a central circular hole and two outermost semi-circular holes. Fastening plate 509 is placed beneath the mounting hole of the sink and monobloc unit 501 is placed above the mounting hole of the sink. Locating collars 502 of monobloc unit 501 are configured such that they can be received by the two outermost semi-circular holes of fastening plate 509.
Securing bolt 504 is then inserted through central hole 503 of monobloc unit 501 and through the central hole of fastening plate 509. Securing bolt 504 is typically an M8 bolt. Securing bolt 504 is tightened from above the surface of the sink, which advantageously means that the plumber does not need to perform the tightening in an awkward space underneath the sink. As securing bolt 504 is tightened, fastening plate is secured to underneath side of monobloc unit 501 and serves to prevent the monobloc unit 501 turning.
Once monobloc unit 501 is secured firmly on sink, water spout 505, water valves 507 and tap handles 508 are attached to unit 501.
Water pipes 510 each pass through one of the outermost holes of fastening plate 509 and screw into a locating collar 502.
FIG. 6A perspective view of monobloc unit 601 is shown in
Hole 603 receives securing bolt (not shown) which is inserted into monobloc unit 601 from the top side (not shown).
FIG. 7Fastening plate 701 is shown in
Central hole 703 receives securing screw (see 404 in
Fastening plate 701 can also be used as a template to draw around to enlarge the standard 35 mm mounting hole on the sink. The enlarged hole is significantly easier to work with than the standard 35 mm hole.
Furthermore, in newer sinks and baths made from a composite material, mounting holes are increasingly not present. Therefore, newer sinks and baths lend themselves ideally to the process of using the fastening plate 701 as a template to draw around to produce an appropriately sized mounting hole.
FIG. 8Fastening plate 801 is shown in
A flow chart of a method of mounting a monobloc tap apparatus to a sink is illustrated in
In step 901, a fastening plate is positioned underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement.
In step 902, a monobloc unit is positioned above the sink, the monobloc unit having two locating collars configured to be inserted through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate.
In step 903, a hot water pipe and cold water pipe are screwed through the two outermost holes and into the two locating collars. In step 904, a securing bolt is inserted through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole in the fastening plate, and tightened from above the sink. Advantageously, the monobloc unit can be firmly attached to the sink form above.
Claims
1. A monobloc tap apparatus for mounting to a sink, the apparatus comprising:
- a monobloc unit for positioning above the sink,
- a fastening plate for positioning underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement,
- a securing bolt insertable through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole of the fastening plate,
- wherein said monobloc unit comprises two locating collars configured to pass through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate, and further wherein
- said securing bolt is configured to be tightened from above the sink.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sink may be any pool for the deposit of water.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said sink may be a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink or a bath.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising tap handles.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said tap handles are attached to the monobloc unit once the monobloc tap apparatus is securely mounted to a sink.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two outermost holes of said fastening plate are each configured to receive a single water pipe.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each locating collar is configured to be attached to a single water pipe.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein one locating collar is attached to a hot water pipe and the other locating collar is attached to a cold water pipe.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said securing bolt is an M8 bolt.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a copper washer and a fibre washer for use with said securing bolt.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sink comprises a single hole configured for insertion of the locating collars.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fastening plate is used as a template to enlarge said single hole.
13. A method of mounting a monobloc tap apparatus to a sink, comprising the following steps:
- positioning a fastening plate underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement,
- positioning a monobloc unit above the sink, the monobloc unit having two locating collars configured to be inserted through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate,
- screwing a hot water pipe and cold water pipe through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate and into the two locating collars of the monobloc unit,
- inserting a securing bolt through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole in the fastening plate, and
- tightening the securing bolt from above the sink.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of attaching tap handles to the monobloc unit once the monobloc tap apparatus is mounted to a sink.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said securing bolt is an M8 bolt.
16. Apparatus for attaching a mixing faucet to water receiving means, comprising:
- a monobloc unit having a first locating collar and a second locating collar;
- a fastening plate having a first hole, a second hole and a middle hole between said first hole and said second hole and;
- a securing bolt; with instructions to perform the steps of:
- positioning a fastening plate underneath said water receiving means;
- arranging said monobloc above a water receiving means;
- inserting said securing bolt through the monobloc unit and into said middle hole;
- locating said first collar through said first hole and locating said second collar through said second hole;
- attaching a hot water pipe to said first collar through said first hole and attaching a cold water pipe to said second collar through said second hole; and
- tightening the securing bolt from above the water receiving means.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a hot tap handle and a cold tap handle, wherein said instructions include the additional step of attaching said hot tap handle to said monobloc and attaching said cold tap handle to said monobloc.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 configured for attachment to one or more of the following water receiving means, comprising: a kitchen sink; a bathroom sink; and a bath.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said instructions include the additional steps of:
- drilling a single hole in said water receiving means; and
- inserting both said first collar and said second collar through said single hole.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of washers, wherein said instructions include:
- applying said washers to said securing bolt; and
- using said fastening plate a template for defining the size of said single hole.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 21, 2013
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Inventor: Michael Anthony McNicholas (Hartlepool)
Application Number: 14/058,309
International Classification: E03C 1/04 (20060101);