Spout assembly

Abstract

A spout assembly 10 or faucet for dispensing water from a plumbing fixture, having an inner conduit 12 connectable to a water supply, and a water outlet 16 provided at a distal end of the inner condui

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a spout assembly for dispensing water from faucets or taps particularly, but not exclusively, to a spout assembly for a plumbing fixture located within medical or healthcare settings. The plumbing fixture may be a clinical washbasin. Background Despite handwashing compliance being compulsory for medical and health-care workers to aid in infection control, plumbing fixtures such as clinical washbasins can be a significant source of pathogenic microorganisms. Furthermore, since they are routinely used by multiple users, washbasins within medical and healthcare settings may facilitate the spread of pathogens from user to user. Retrograde contamination is a recognised problem associated with clinical washbasins and can occur in a number of ways. For example, it is common for a person to directly touch the outlet of a faucet’s spout with their hands during use of a clinical washbasins with the consequent risk that contaminants are transferred to the spout. Similarly, cleaning of a faucet’s spout may involve directly touch the outlet of a faucet’s spout with a cloth which has already been contaminated. Furthermore, when a patient or medical professional uses a clinical washbasin, the force of the water dispensed from a faucet’s spout can impact the washbasin surface causing splashing of contaminated water droplets onto nearby surfaces. Whilst it is known to provide touchless faucets; clinical washbasins with carefully designed surface contours; and optimised drain placements, all with the aim of reducing splashing, these design features fail to address the specific issue of contaminated water droplets or airborne aerosols produced by water impacting against a user’s hands, or an item of equipment being cleaned. Retrograde contamination may occur when pathogens within such water droplets or aerosols are directed back onto, or into, a faucet’s spout. Some faucets may have spouts comprising filters, aerators, screens and the like making them be particularly susceptible to trapping retrograde contamination leading to the formation of biofilm. Subsequent usage of the faucet in question may mix potable water with retrograde contaminants resulting in cross-contamination between users. It will be appreciated that pathogens originating within medical and healthcare settings are more likely to exhibit antibiotic resistance and hence be particularly dangerous for elderly and / or immunosuppressed patients. The inventor of the present invention has devised a new spout assembly which aims to address one of more of the aforementioned problems. Summary In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a spout assembly for dispensing water from a plumbing fixture, the spout assembly comprising: an inner conduit connectable, at a proximal end thereof, to a water supply; a water outlet provided at a distal end of the inner conduit; and a shroud disposed around at least the distal end of the inner conduit in a spaced relationship thereto; wherein the shroud is provided with an aperture at or proximate a distal end thereof, the aperture being alignable with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit. Optionally, the shroud is disposed around at least a major part of the length of the inner conduit. Optionally, the shroud circumferentially encloses the inner conduit. Optionally, the shroud is cylindrical in shape and closed or capped at its distal end. Optionally, the aperture is located at or proximate a distal end of the shroud. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is formed through the cylindrical wall of the shroud proximate its distal end. Optionally, the inner conduit is provided with at least one bend for aligning its water outlet with the aperture of the shroud. In a preferred embodiment, the water outlet faces vertically downwards thus enabling water to be reliably and controllably directed vertically under the influence of gravity, irrespective of the water pressure. If - as will commonly be the case - the proximal part of the inner conduit extends horizontally from the water source this will necessitate the formation of one or more bends in the inner conduit to redirect its distal end through 90-degrees. Optionally, the water outlet is vertically spaced from the aperture by between 1cm and 2.5cm; and preferably between 1.5cm and 2.0cm. Optionally, a screw thread is provided at a proximal end of the shroud for connection to with a complementary screw thread on a mounting surface. In the illustrated embodiment the screw thread is provided externally on the proximal end of the shroud, for connection to a complementary internal screw thread on a mounting surface. However, it will be appreciated that the screw threads may be oppositely arranged. Optionally, the shroud is arranged concentrically about the inner conduit. It will be appreciated that the relative position of the inner conduit and the screw thread provided within the mounting surface will determine whether or not the shroud is arranged concentrically about the inner conduit. Optionally, a visually discernible indicia is provided at or near a proximal end of the shroud for facilitating alignment of its aperture with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit. For example, a marking on the uppermost (12 o’clock) position on the shroud may be alignable with a corresponding marking on the mounting surface proximate its screw thread. Optionally, a concavity or convexity is provided at or near a proximal end of the shroud for facilitating alignment of its aperture with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit. For example, a groove or slot on the uppermost (12 o’clock) position on the shroud may be alignable with a corresponding groove or slot on the mounting surface proximate its screw thread. Optionally, an inner surface of the shroud is adapted to provide a drainage gradient declined towards the aperture when the shroud is mounted to a mounting surface. It will be appreciated that a drainage gradient may be created in several different ways. For example, if the outer diameter of the shroud remains equal along its length, the thickness of the cylindrical wall of the shroud may gradually diminish from its proximal end toward its distal end. The advantage of this arrangement is that the drainage gradient would not be dependent on the rotational position of the shroud and may be beneficial during manufacture if the aperture is formed thereafter. Alternatively, only the lowermost inner surface of the shroud may be provided with a diminishing thickness. However, this arrangement would require the aperture to be formed at the corresponding rotational position. Finally, the shroud may be mounted to its mounting surface such that its distal end is at least marginally lower than its distal end. This may require the central longitudinal axis extending through the screw threads of the mounting surface to be inclined slightly downwards. Optionally, the inner conduit is formed from copper. It will be appreciated that copper exhibits antimicrobial properties making it a particularly suitable choice for use in a medical or healthcare setting. Optionally, the shroud and / or the inner conduit are formed from an autoclavable material. In some embodiments, a physical vapour deposition (PVD) steel is a suitable material for the shroud and / or other components. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a plumbing fixture comprising a spout assembly according to the first aspect. Optionally, the plumbing fixture is a washbasin. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a spout assembly according to the first aspect to a mounting surface of a plumbing fixture, the method comprising: connecting the inner conduit, at a proximal end thereof, to a water supply associated with the plumbing fixture; disposing the shroud around the distal end of the inner conduit; connecting a proximal end of the shroud to a mounting surface; and rotating the shroud about a longitudinal axis thereof to align its aperture with the water outlet of the inner conduit. Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the claims and the following description. Brief Description of Drawings Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:- Fig. 1 is cross-sectional side view of a spout assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the spout assembly of Fig. 1 from its proximal (rear) end; Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional perspective view from beneath of the spout assembly of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the shroud of the spout assembly in isolation; Fig. 5 is an underside view of the shroud of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end view of the shroud of Fig. 4 from its distal end; Fig. 7 is an end view of the shroud of Fig. 4 from its proximal end; Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional perspective view from beneath of the shroud of Fig. 4. Detailed Description Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a spout assembly according to the present invention. The spout assembly 10 comprises a longitudinally extending inner conduit 12 which, in use, is connectable at a proximal end thereof to a water source (not shown) via a compression fitting 14. In use, a suitable inner conduit 12 may take the form of a copper pipe of circular cross-section arranged to extend substantially horizontally through a mounting surface (not shown). The typical pipe diameter is 10mm. The narrow pipe diameter ensures a suitable water pressure for the washing of hands whilst vastly reducing the required flow rate of water, i.e. it provides an inherent water-saving feature. A water outlet 16 for dispensing water is provided at the distal end of the inner conduit 12. The water outlet 16 faces vertically downwards by means of a 90-degree bend formed in the inner conduit. As shown in Fig. 1, the water outlet 16 may be provided as part of an L-shaped end piece 18 which is fitted to the distal end of the inner conduit 12 by conventional means. The water outlet 16 may be adapted to produce a laminar flow of water. The spout assembly 10 also comprises a longitudinally extending hollow cylindrical shroud 20 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is shorter than the inner conduit 12 is disposed circumferentially around a major part of its length. In use, the shroud 20 is connectable at a proximal end thereof to a mounting surface such as a wall, panel, or a part of the plumbing fixture. The distal end of the shroud 20 is closed or capped. Connection of the shroud 20 to a mounting surface (not shown) is effected rotationally by means of complementary screw threads. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the proximal end of the shroud is provided with external screw threads 22 for connection with complementary internal screw threads (not shown) on a mounting surface (no shown). A suitable screw thread is a 1.25-inch British Standard Pipe (BSP) thread. An external flange 24 protrudes radially from the outer surface of the shroud 20 and separates the external screw threads 22 from a smooth cylindrical outer surface of the shroud 20. A rear annular surface 24a of the external flange 24 provides a stop surface abutting a mounting surface (not shown) when the shroud 20 is rotationally connected thereto. In one embodiment, the external flange 24 forms a circular annulus protruding 0.6cm beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the shroud 20. In use, the shroud 20 typically extends substantially horizontally whilst remaining spaced or air-gapped from all parts of the inner conduit 12. A circular aperture 26 for the passage of water is provided proximate the distal end of the shroud 20. In one embodiment, the centre of the aperture 26 is spaced from the distal most end of the shroud by 2.1cm. The aperture 26 faces vertically downwards and is intended to be aligned with the water outlet 16 of the inner conduit 12. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the aperture 26 is marginally larger than the diameter of the water outlet 16. For example, the diameter of the aperture 26 may be 1.5cm whereas the diameter of the water outlet 16 may be 1.0cm. This allows a laminar flow of water dispensed from the water outlet to pass through the aperture 26 with minimal or no physical contact between the two. As best seen in the end view of Fig. 2, the inner conduit 12 is off-centred as it extends internally through the shroud 20. This allows the water outlet 16 to remain sufficiently spaced or air-gapped from the aperture 26 and the surrounding internal wall of the shroud. For example, the water outlet 12 may be vertically spaced from the aperture 26 by between lcm and 2.5cm; and preferably by between 1.5cm and 2.0cm. In some embodiments, the shroud 20 is formed from an autoclavable material such as a physical vapour deposition (PVD) coated steel. The cylindrical walls of the shroud 20 may be 0.3cm thick. A suitable outer diameter of the shroud 20 is 3.8cm. A suitable outer diameter of the external flange 24 is 5cm. A suitable depth the external flange in the longitudinal direction is 0.5cm As is best shown in Fig. 3, the water outlet 16 of the inner conduit 12 is vertically and concentrically aligned with the aperture 26 formed through the shroud 20. Accurate alignment of those two components of the spout assembly 10 avoids dispensed water impacting the perimeter of the aperture 26 and hence is an important contributory factor in reducing splashing. In general, it is essential from an infection control perspective for water to avoid any contact with the shroud 20 as it is dispensed. By adapting the water outlet 16 to produce a controlled laminar flow, such contact can be avoided if the water outlet 16 and aperture 26 are accurately aligned. To achieve accurate longitudinal alignment of the water outlet 16 and aperture 26, it is necessary for the length of the shroud 20 to exceed the distance by which the inner conduit 12 projects beyond the plane of a mounting surface (not shown). This can be readily achieved during installation by cutting the inner conduit 12 to the required length dependent on the length of the shroud 20. To assist in achieving accurate circumferential alignment of the water outlet 16 and aperture 26, a small recess 28 is formed in the rear annular surface 24a of the external flange 24. The recess 28 may be located at a position which is circumferentially opposite that of the aperture 26 (as is shown in Figs. 4 and 7); and / or at a position which is circumferentially equal to that of the aperture 26 (as is shown in Fig. 5). The recess 28 may extend into the flange 24 by a distance of 0.3cm, and it may have a width of 0.3cm. The purpose of the recess 28 is serve as a visually perceptible indicium on the shroud 20 to facilitate circumferential alignment of the water outlet 16 and aperture 26. Circumferential alignment may be achieved in a number of different ways. Firstly, it is assumed that an inner conduit 12 of known length is connected to a water source such that its water outlet 16 faces vertically downwards. A shroud 20 is then rotated via its external screw threads 22 into attachment with complementaiy screw threads (not shown) in a mounting surface (not shown) until the flange 24 moves into abutment with the mounting surface (not shown). The pitch of the screw threads 22 are arranged to allow a degree of play or tolerance such that tightening or loosening remains possible whilst the flange 24 remains in substantial contact with the mounting surface (not shown). Therefore, the shroud 20 may be tightened or loosened until the recess 28 on the flange 24 is located at the 12 o’clock position (or 6 o’clock, as appropriate). In doing so, the aperture 26 will automatically be circumferentially aligned with the water outlet 16. It will be appreciated that the recess 28 may be alignable with a corresponding visually perceptible indicium provided on the mounting surface (not shown). The use of visually perceptible indicia on both the shroud 20 and the mounting surface (not shown) facilitates greater alignment accuracy by removing the need for judgement on the part of an installer. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the recess 28 may receive a corresponding convexity fixed on the mounting surface (not shown). By requiring the recess 28 to be rotated until it positively engages a corresponding convexity on the mounting surface (not shown), this guarantees alignment accuracy by removing the need for judgement on the part of an installer; and reduces the risk of subsequent inadvertent misalignment. It is of course possible to reverse this arrangement, i.e. whereby the recess is provided on the mounting surface (not shown), and the convexity is provided on the rear annular surface 24a of the external flange 24. In some embodiments, the inner conduit 12 and / or the inner cylindrical surface of the shroud 20 is provided with a drainage gradient. By doing so, any water inadvertently introduced into the inner conduit and / or into the annular space between the outer surface of the inner conduit 12 and the inner surface of the shroud 20 drains through the aperture 26 under the influence of gravity. Whilst the spout assembly 10 is designed to avoid water entering the inner conduit 12 or the annular space surrounding it as water is dispensed, it is theoretically possible for water to splash upwards, or for aerosols or condensation to accumulate within these spaces. It is essential that any inadvertently introduced water escapes quicky so as to minimise the risk of microbial growth leading to crosscontamination. A drainage gradient may be provided for the inner conduit 12 simply by arranging the connection between the inner conduit 12 and the water source (not shown) such that the distal end of the inner conduit 12 (upstream of any bend) is lower than its proximal end by a de minimis amount, i.e. by tilting the entirety of the inner conduit 12 downwards towards its distal end. Similarly, a drainage gradient may be provided for the shroud 20 simply by arranging the screw thread connection between the mounting surface (not shown) and the shroud 20 such that the distal end of the shroud 20 is lower than its proximal end by a de minimis amount, i.e. by tilting the shroud downwards towards its distal end. However, if this arrangement is deemed to compromise the overall aesthetics of the spout assembly, alternative means of creating a drainage gradient may be considered. For example, the wall thickness of the shroud 20 may be arranged to diminish towards aperture 26, either locally at a lowermost portion which is circumferentially aligned with the aperture 26, or around its entire circumference. It will be appreciated that manufacturing considerations may be weighed when selecting the most expedient manner in which to achieve the drainage gradient. In some embodiments, the drainage angle for the inner conduit 12 and / or the spout 20 is arranged to be in the range of 2 to 4 degrees; preferably 2.5 to 3.5 degrees; and most preferably 3.0 degrees. It will be appreciated that technical features of the spout assembly of the present invention can help to reduce the risks associated with retrograde contamination, e.g. when the spout assembly is used in conjunction with a clinical washbasin. The likelihood of inadvertent touching of the inner conduit 12 (by contaminated hands or cleaning cloths), and the likelihood of splashed droplets or aerosols entering the inner conduit 12 and / or shroud 20 and depositing on or around the water outlet 16 are each significantly reduced by: (i) 5 recessing / concealing the water outlet 16 internally within the shroud 20; (ii) providing an airgap between the inner conduit 12 and the shroud 20 along its full length; and (iii) by providing the shroud 20 with an aperture 26 having a relatively small diameter through which water is dispensed. 10 The materials used to construct the spout assembly of the present invention are 100% recyclable; and approximately 50% of the materials have already been recycled. Although a particular embodiment of the disclosure has been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The 15 aforementioned embodiment is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A spout assembly for dispensing water from a plumbing fixture, the spout assembly comprising:an inner conduit connectable, at a proximal end thereof, to a water supply;a water outlet provided at a distal end of the inner conduit; anda shroud disposed around at least the distal end of the inner conduit in a spaced relationship thereto;wherein the shroud is provided with an aperture which is alignable with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit.

2. A spout assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shroud is disposed around at least a major part of the length of the inner conduit.

3. A spout assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shroud circumferentially encloses the inner conduit.

4. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is cylindrical in shape and is closed or capped at its distal end.

5. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is located at or proximate a distal end of the shroud.

6. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner conduit is provided with at least one bend for aligning its water outlet with the aperture of the shroud.

7. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the water outlet is vertically spaced from the aperture by between 1cm and 2.5cm; and preferably between 1.5cm and 2.0cm.

8. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein a screw thread is provided at a proximal end of the shroud for connection to with a complementary screw thread on a mounting surface.

9. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is arranged concentrically about the inner conduit.

10. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein a visually discernible indicia is provided at or near a proximal end of the shroud for facilitating alignment of its aperture with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit.

11. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein, a concavity or convexity is provided at or near a proximal end of the shroud for facilitating alignment of its aperture with the water outlet located at the distal end of the inner conduit.

12. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein an inner surface of the shroud is adapted to provide a drainage gradient declined towards the aperture when the shroud is mounted to a mounting surface.

13. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner conduit is formed from copper.

14. A spout assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud and / or the inner conduit is formed from an autoclavable material.

15. A plumbing fixture comprising a spout assembly according to any of claims 1 to 14.

16. A plumbing fixture according to claim 15 in the form of a washbasin.

17. A method of attaching a spout assembly accordingto any of claims 1 to 14 to a mounting surface of a plumbing fixture, the method comprising:connecting the inner conduit, at a proximal end thereof, to a water supply associated with the plumbing fixture;disposing the shroud around the distal end of the inner conduit;connecting a proximal end of the shroud to a mounting surface; and5 rotating the shroud about a longitudinal axis thereof to align its aperture with thewater outlet of the inner conduit.

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