A tap assembly

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a tap assembly (10) for a mixer tap, the tap assembly (10) including: a tap body (15) having a base portion (20), a neck portion (25), and a spout portion (30), wherein the base portion (20) of the tap body (15) includes a central longitudinal axis (55) and the neck portion (25) is movable about the central longitudinal axis (55) relative to the base portion (20), and wherein the tap body (15) further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening (40) located at the base portion (20) and an outlet opening (45) located at the spout portion (30); and a support assembly (90) including: a hollow tubular body (95) that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body (15) and configured to connect the base portion (20) to the neck portion (25); and a collet (110) disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body (95) and an inner wall of the base portion (20), the collet (110) having a first end portion (115) and a second end portion (120), wherein the collet (110) is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet (110) has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet (110) has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2023900446, filed on 21 Feb. 2023. The entire disclosure of Australian Patent Application No. 2023900446 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a tap assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a tap assembly of a kitchen mixer faucet.

[0003] The invention has been developed primarily for use with kitchen mixer faucets or taps, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use, and may also be employed in other applications or devices.BACKGROUND

[0004] Mixer faucets typically include a tap body that swivels or rotates relative to the kitchen basin to allow the user to adjust the position of the spout, depending on their needs. Mixer faucets in kitchens may also be multi-functional, for example, to deliver or dispense one or more water “types” such as boiling water, chilled water, sparkling water, and / or ambient water. In some arrangements, kitchen mixer faucets may include a pull-out (retractable) hose system for spraying purposes, for example, to wash vegetables or to clean the extremities of the kitchen basin. In such systems, the pull-out hose is typically located at least partially within the main tap body and is movable between a storage or retracted position, in which the hose length is contained substantially in the tap body and in an area below the basin in the bench / cupboard space, and pulled out or extended position, in which the hose length is located at least partially externally of the tap body.

[0005] In mixer faucets having a moveable tap body and / or a pull-out hose system, it is desirable that the overall system includes components that allow the system to operate with stability and smoothness of movement and that are easy to assemble and service. It is also desirable that the overall external design of the faucet and associated components (such as the tap body, tap handle, user control interface) are aesthetically pleasing to the consumer whilst also allowing for ease of assembly / installation and serviceability.SUMMARY

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to at least improve upon existing arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing arrangements.

[0007] There is disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0008] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative to the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; and

[0009] a support assembly including:

[0010] a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; and

[0011] a collet disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, in the collapsed configuration, the first and second end portions of the collet are arranged to circumferentially overlap, at least partially.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the collet is arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the tubular body.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the collet is disposed within a groove located in the inner wall of the base portion.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein a diameter of the upper portion is larger than the diameter of the lower portion.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an outer stepped portion between the upper and lower portions to facilitate contact between the collet and the inner wall of the base portion.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an inner stepped portion to facilitate contact between the collet and the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the inner stepped portion provides an upper edge of the collet that at least partially surrounds a lower edge of the tubular body.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an outer profile that is adapted to be received in a corresponding inner profile in the inner wall of the base portion.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an inner slot portion to accommodate rotational travel of the hollow tubular body about the central longitudinal axis.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the inner slot portion is bounded by diametrically opposite wall portions that provide the opposing travel limits or stops for the hollow tubular body during rotation.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the support assembly further includes an insert that is adapted to lock or retain the collet in the rest configuration.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the insert is disposed between the first and second end portions of the collet.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the collet includes an inner wall portion having a cavity to accommodate the insert.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the collet is formed from a material that is different to the material(s) that form the hollow tubular body or the tap body.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the collet is formed from a polymer material.

[0027] There is also disclosed herein a collet for a mixer tap assembly, the tap assembly including a base portion and a hollow tubular body disposed with at least partially within the base portion, the collet being disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

[0028] There is also disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0029] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis; and

[0030] a control assembly mountable to the base portion and including:

[0031] a stem portion defining an inner bore and including an upper opening and a side opening;

[0032] a keymat assembly mounted in the upper opening of the stem portion and including one or more lower projections that extend into the inner bore; and

[0033] an insert that is slidable into the inner bore of the stem portion via the side portion and having one or more slide step features to engage the one or more lower projections so as to secure the keymat assembly to the stem portion.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the keymat assembly includes an upper portion formed from a soft silicone material and a lower portion from which the one or more lower projections extend, the upper portion having one or more control buttons actuatable by a user to customise a type of fluid to be dispensed from the tap assembly.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the control assembly further includes a control hub in electrical connection with the control buttons, the control hub being located within the insert.

[0036] There is also disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0037] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; and

[0038] a support assembly including:

[0039] a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; and

[0040] a support ring disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the support ring having an inner concave profile providing a gap between the support ring and the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, the support ring is mounted to a circumferential groove located on the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the support assembly further includes a sealing O-ring disposed circumferentially between the outer wall of the tubular body and the inner wall of the base portion.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the outer wall of the tubular body includes a circumferential groove and the inner wall of the base portion includes a corresponding circumferential groove to accommodate the sealing O-ring.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the inner wall of the base portion defines an inner bore profile having a shallow gradient at a first end and a steep gradient at a second opposing end.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a tap assembly;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tap assembly along line A-A shown in FIG. 2, including enlarged views of various portions of the tap handle assembly;

[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion A of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0050] FIGS. 6 to 9 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion B of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0051] FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged schematic isometric views of portion C of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0052] FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion D of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0053] FIG. 14 is a schematic isometric view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1, with a pull-out spray hose shown in a retracted position; and

[0054] FIG. 15 is a schematic isometric view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1, with a pull-out spray hose shown in an extended configuration.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In FIGS. 1 to 3 and 14 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a tap assembly 10 of a mixer faucet. For the purpose of this specification, the tap assembly 10 will be described in relation to kitchen mixer faucets, such as those having a tap body that swivels or rotates and / or a pull-out or retractable vegetable washer hose. It will, however, be understood that the tap assembly 10 may be suitable for any other types of faucets or taps or other water supply devices, in both residential and commercial areas. Such faucets or taps or other water supply devices may not necessarily include a pull-out or retractable hose, but may still have a tap body that swivels or rotates to allow for positioning and / or a user control interface.

[0056] The tap assembly 10 includes a hollow tap body 15 having a base portion 20, a neck portion 25, and a spout portion 30. The tap body 15 includes an inner tube or passage that extends between an inlet opening 40 located at the base portion 20 and an outlet opening 45 located at the spout portion 30. The inlet opening 40 may be connectable to a fluid source (not shown), such as a mains water supply located in a kitchen cabinet (or other suitable structure), by way of one or more fluid lines or hoses 46. The one or more fluid lines 46 may extend at least partially along the inner tube or passage and provide the fluid connection between the fluid source and the spout portion 30, whereby fluid from the fluid source may be dispensed from the tap assembly 10 via the outlet opening 45.

[0057] In applications involving mixer faucets with a pull-out or retractable hose functionality, and as best shown in FIGS. 3, 14, and 15, the one or more fluid lines 46 may optionally include a pull-out hose 47 that is movable between a storage or retracted position (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, for example), in which a length of the hose 47 is contained substantially in the inner passage of the tap body 15 and in an area below the kitchen basin (for example, in the kitchen cabinet space), and an extended position (as shown in FIG. 15, for example), in which a length of the hose 47 is located at least partially externally of the tap body 15.

[0058] In some embodiments, the pull-out hose 47 may include an end portion 48 to allow a user to easily grip and move the pull-out hose 47 in use. The end portion 48 may include a projection 49 that is slidably retained within a groove or channel of the spout portion 30 to allow a user to grip and move the pull-out hose 47 from its retracted position to its extended position. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the pull-out hose 47 and associated components is not necessarily limited to the configuration as described and shown in the drawings, and may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. It will be understood that the pull-out hose 47 may be omitted from the assembly 10 if the pull-out or retractable hose functionality is not required.

[0059] The tap body 15 is mountable to a surface 50 of a kitchen basin or kitchen cabinet or other suitable structure (not shown) such that the base portion 20 extends in a generally upward direction from the surface 50 along a central longitudinal axis 55 towards the neck portion 25. The base portion 20 may have a flared configuration as shown in the Figures, in which it has a diameter that gradually decreases as it extends towards the neck portion 25. It will be appreciated that the base portion 20 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10.

[0060] The neck portion 25 may extend from the base portion 20 firstly along the central longitudinal axis 55 and then along a direction that is generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55 along a curve or an arc. The neck portion 25 may have a constant diameter and have a curved or arcuate configuration as shown in the Figures, or may alternatively have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. It is understood that the neck portion 25 may be movable (swivelled or rotated) about the central longitudinal axis 55 relative to the base portion 20 such that neck portion 25 (and by extension the spout portion 30) may be located at various positions (for example, towards the left hand side of the user as shown in FIG. 1, or directly in front of the user as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15). The moveability of the neck portion 25, which will be described in further detail below, may at least allow the user to adjust the position of the spout portion 30 over the basin depending on their needs.

[0061] The spout portion 30 may extend from the neck portion 25 in a generally downward direction towards the surface 50. The spout portion 30 may have a flared configuration as shown in the Figures, in which it has a diameter that gradually increases as it extends from the neck portion 25. In some embodiments, the spout portion 30 may be separately or integrally formed with the neck portion 25. It will be appreciated that the spout portion 30 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10.

[0062] The tap assembly 10 may further include one or more tap control or user interface assemblies, such as a first control assembly 60 and a second control assembly 65 as shown in the Figures. In the depicted embodiment, the first control assembly 60 may include a handle assembly to allow a user to control the flow of fluid, and the second control assembly 65 may include a button or keymat assembly operably associated with a controller to allow a user to customise the fluid that is to be dispensed.

[0063] The first control assembly 60 may include a stem portion 70 that extends or projects from the base portion 20 in a direction generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55 and a handle portion 75 that is moveable with respect to the stem portion 70. The handle portion 75 may be operatively associated with a valve mechanism and may be moveable between an open position to permit the flow of fluid through the one or more fluid lines 46 to be dispensed at the outlet opening 45, and a closed position to disable the flow of fluid therethrough. It will be appreciated that the control assembly 60 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. For example, the handle portion 75 may be directly connected to a valve mechanism of the tap assembly 10 without the presence of the stem portion 70.

[0064] The second control assembly 65 may also include a stem portion 80 that extends or projects from the base portion 20 in a direction generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55. In the depicted embodiment, the stem portion 80 extends from a side of the base portion 20 that it directly opposite to the side of the base portion 20 from which the stem portion 70 extends. It will, however, be appreciated that the configuration of the control assemblies is not necessarily limited to the configuration as shown in the drawings, and may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. In some embodiments (not shown), either the first control assembly 60 or the second control assembly 65 may be provided as the sole control assembly of the tap assembly 10. As will be described in further detail below, the second control assembly 65 may include a button or keymat assembly 85 mounted to the stem portion 80.

[0065] As described above, the neck portion 25 may be movable (swivelled or rotated) relative to the base portion 20 to allow the user to position the neck portion 25 and the spout portion 30 at a desired location over the basin. Embodiments of the connection or interface portions between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 are best shown in FIGS. 3 to 9.

[0066] FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of an embodiment of an interface portion A shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood from these Figures that the neck portion 25 may be connected to the base portion 20 by way of a support assembly 90 located in the inner passage of the tap body 15. A lower part of the neck portion 25 and an upper part of the base portion 20 circumferentially surrounds a respective region of the support assembly 90. In the depicted embodiment, the support assembly 90 includes a hollow tubular body 95 having one or more features (such as, but not limited to, circumferential projections 96 and / or circumferential grooves 97) on an outer wall thereof to facilitate the connection between the neck portion 25 and the base portion 20. As best shown in FIG. 4, an upper part or region of the tubular body 95 may extend upwardly and at least partially into an inner bore of the neck portion 25, whereby the neck portion 25 may be connected to the tubular body 95 by way of braze welding, for example. A lower part or region of the tubular body 95 may extend downwardly and at least partially into an inner bore of the base portion 20.

[0067] In some embodiments, the support assembly 90 may also include one or more O-rings 98 located in one of the grooves 97 and circumferentially between the tubular body 95 and the base portion 20. An inner wall of the base portion 20 may include a corresponding circumferential groove to accommodate the O-ring 98. It will be appreciated that the O-ring 98 may be a sealing O-ring that may also provide a mechanism that retains the neck portion 25 to the base portion 20. Standard O-ring sealing applications require a groove to retain the O-ring and a flat surface to seal against, whilst in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, both surfaces (i.e. the outer wall of the tubular body 95 and the inner wall of the base portion 20) have their own respective grooves. This arrangement may at least allow for the O-ring 98 to be under minimal sealing compression when the support assembly 90 is installed and at rest. It will be understood that the seal point does not require pressure on the O-ring 98, as it is not a pressured fluid environment.

[0068] The one or more grooves 97 located on the outer wall of the tubular body 95 and / or the one or more corresponding grooves located on the inner wall of the base portion 20 may be dimensioned to ensure that there is resistance to the movement of the O-ring 98 at installation. The inner bore profile of the base portion 20 may be designed to ensure that the support assembly 90 and neck portion 25 may be easily inserted into a faucet base portion during assembly, and requires some exerted force when attempting to disassemble. This may be achieved by including a shallow gradient on the insertion side of the profile and a steep gradient on the extraction side of the profile, thereby ensuring that the force required to disassemble is enough to prevent the support assembly 90 and neck portion 25 from accidentally disengaging from the base portion 20 during installation and normal operation.

[0069] In traditional faucet arrangements, the seal is achieved through an O-ring and the neck portion or spout is retained to the base with an externally visible screw at the rear of the base. If mounted on an island kitchen bench, for example, the screw retainer will be visible from the rear. The screw retainer may also be susceptible to rust damage. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the present invention may at least allow the tap assembly 10 to have a smooth external appearance, whilst still sealing against water ingress and retaining the neck portion 25 to the base portion 20.

[0070] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion A as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the support assembly 90 and components thereof), may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0071] FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged views of interface portion B shown in FIG. 3. It is understood that at the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25, tolerances and clearance stack-ups between the portions 20 and 25 may result in excessive lateral movement resulting in a floppy joint. It will be appreciated from these Figures that one or more support rings 100 may be provided at this connection interface, and specifically between the base portion 20 and tubular body 95 of the support assembly 90 described above. In the depicted embodiment, each support ring 100 is disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body 95 and an inner wall of the base portion 20, whereby each support ring 100 is mounted within an associated circumferential groove or channel 102 on the outer wall of the tubular body 95.

[0072] An enlarged view and a sectioned view of an embodiment of the support ring 100 in isolation are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is understood that in typical tapware spout rotation connections, support and wear rings are generally of a parallel profile with little deflection or ability to take up clearance slack. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 to 9, each support ring 100 has an inner concave profile 105 that creates a small gap 108 between the support ring 100 and the outer wall of the tubular body 95. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the inner concave profile 105, together with the Shore A hardness of the support ring 100 material (e.g. rubber polymer), may allow the support ring 100 to oversize to an inner bore of the base portion 20 and then deflect when inserted to take up the clearances, without creating too much friction. This may at least ensure that the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 is stable, whilst also allowing the rotational friction to remain low. This arrangement may also offer an opportunity to open the machining tolerances on the connection mating surfaces and may also further allow for easy and standardised installation.

[0073] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion B as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the one or more support rings 100) may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0074] FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged views of interface portion C shown in FIG. 3. It is understood that, at the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 of typical arrangements, a restriction of rotational travel about the central longitudinal axis 55 is typically provided through a dead stop pin. Engineering the stop arrangement may result in much of the inner tube / passage of the tap body being reduced in cross-sectional area. In multi-function kitchen mixer faucets, for example, this passage may be required to house four water and vent hoses (carrying each of the four water types). In typical kitchen mixer faucets, the stop arrangement is usually machined into the spout bush and body of the faucet base.

[0075] In view of the above considerations, a collapsible collet 110 may be provided between the base portion 20 and the tubular body 95 of the support assembly 90. The collet 110 may include one or more portions that abut or interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the base portion 20 or the tubular body 95. In the depicted embodiment, the collet 110 is disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body 95 and an inner wall of the base portion 20. The collet 110 may be substantially ring-shaped and may circumferentially surround a portion of the tubular body 95. As will be described below, the collet 110 may also be located within a groove formed in the inner wall of the base portion 20. The collet 110 may be formed from a material that is different to the material(s) that form the other components of the tap assembly 10, which are typically a metallic material. The collet 110 may be a non-metallic material, and preferably a suitably rigid material such as polymer.

[0076] The body of the collet 110 may have a first end portion 115 and a second end portion 120. The first and second end portions 115 and 120 may circumferentially overlap, at least partially, when the collet 110 is in a collapsed configuration (not shown). In a rest configuration of the collet 110 (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example), the first and second end portions 115 and 120 may have minimal to no overlap.

[0077] In some embodiments, the body of the collet 110 may also have an upper portion 125 having a first outer diameter and a lower portion 130 having a second outer diameter. As can be seen in the Figures, the first diameter (of the upper portion 125) is larger than the second diameter (of the lower portion 130), and an outer stepped portion 135 is provided between the upper and lower portions 125 and 130 to facilitate the contact or engagement between the collet 110 and the base portion 20.

[0078] In some embodiments, the body of the collet 110 may also include an outer projection or profile 136 that is received in a corresponding cavity or inner profile of an inner wall of the base portion 20. In some embodiments, the outer projection or profile 136 is in the form of a lobe. This arrangement may at least allow the collet 110 to be located in a fixed position relative to the base portion 20, thereby preventing the rotation of the collet 110 relative to the base 20 when the rotational stops (as the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 rotate relative to each other) are reached.

[0079] In some embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the upper portion 125 may have a height and that corresponds to a height of the lower portion 130. It will, however, be appreciated that the dimensions of the upper and lower portions 125 and 130 may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. The upper portion 125 may also include an inner stepped portion 137 to facilitate the contact or engagement between the collet 110 and the tubular body 95. Accordingly, in this arrangement, an upper edge of the collet 110 may at least partially surround a lower edge of the tubular body 95, which may at least allow for the collet 110 to be supported from collapsing due to the rotational stop forces (as the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 rotate relative to each other). The body of the collet 110 may also include an inner slot portion 138 to accommodate rotational travel of (e.g. of a component 140) of the tubular body 95. The slot portion 138 may be formed in the lower portion 130 and may be bounded by diametrically opposite wall portions 145 and 150 so as to provide the travel limits or stops for the component 140 during rotation.

[0080] It will be appreciated that the collet 110 may be moveable from a rest configuration (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example), in which the collet 110 has a first overall diameter, to a collapsed configuration (not shown), in which the collet 110 has a second, smaller overall outer diameter to allow for insertion into the inner bore of the base portion 20. Following insertion, the collet 100 may subsequently expand or spring outward. In some embodiments, the collet 100 may expand or spring outward into the location groove in the inner wall of the base portion 20 so as to be secured therein. Once in place, the diametrical position or configuration of the collet 110 may be locked or stabilised with an optional insert 155, which may at least ensure that the collet 110 cannot collapse under rotational stop forces. In other words, in some embodiments, the collet 110 may be retained or locked in its rest configuration once installed, whereby the overall diameter of the collet 110 may be maintained. In the depicted embodiment, the insert 155 is disposed between the first and second end portions 115 and 120. An inner wall of the collet 110 may include a cavity 157 to accommodate the insert 155. In some embodiments, the insert 155 is a keystone-styled insert. The collet 110 may thus include features or profiles that allow for fixing and sealing by clamp force, for example. The overall dimensions of the collet 110 may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. The dimensions of the insert 155 may also be customised or adjusted, depending on the desired diameter of the collet 110 in the rest configuration. With the above arrangement, an underside of the tubular body 95 may rest on the collet 110 (which is preferably formed from a polymer material) during rotation, which may at least provide for polymer-on-metal contact for a quiet and soft rotation, rather than metal-on-metal contact. The upper portion 125 of the collet 110 may also act as the datum for the clearance between the tubular body 95 and the base portion 20.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the collet 110 as described above may at least maximise the internal clearance for the passing of multiple water and vent pipes / hoses, whilst maintaining an appealing external dimensional appearance of the tap assembly 10. By having a separate component, being the collet 110, the features or profiles needed for the function of the tap assembly 10 and rotation stop may be provided within an internal diameter of the base portion 20, which may otherwise be difficult or impossible due to the small aperture and metal cutting limitations. As discussed above, the collet 110 may be provided with one or more features or profiles (such as stepped portions, slot portions, insert) to allow for a stable connection interface between the associated components of the assembly 10, and may also provide fixing and sealing by clamp force. The provision of the collet 110 may also reduce or altogether eliminate metal-on-metal contact at the interface between the associated components of the assembly, which may reduce noise during rotation.

[0082] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion C as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the collet 110) may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0083] FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of an embodiment of the second control assembly 65 which, as described above, may include the stem portion 80 that extends or projects from the base portion 20, and the keymat assembly 85 may be mounted to the stem portion 80. The stem portion 80 may have a cylindrical configuration as shown in the Figures and may have an inner bore 158 to accommodate a control hub (not shown) of the tap assembly 10. In the depicted embodiment, the keymat assembly 85 is mounted within an upper opening 160 of the stem portion 80, whereby an outer periphery 162 of the keymat assembly 85 abuts or rests on a ledge 163 surrounding the upper opening 160.

[0084] The keymat assembly 85 may include an upper portion 165 having a substantially flat upper face and a lower portion 170 connected to the upper portion 165. As best shown in FIG. 12, the upper portion 165 may include one or more lower grooves 175 and / or lower projections 180 to locate and retain a corresponding upper projection 185 or upper groove 190 of the lower portion 170. The upper portion 165 may be formed from a soft silicone material and may be overmoulded to the lower portion 170. The upper portion 165 may include control icons or buttons on the upper face to allow a user to customise the type of fluid. The control icons or buttons are in electrical connection with a controller or PCB assembly of the tap control hub (which may be located below the keymat assembly 85 and in the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80), and may be illuminated for ease of use. The lower portion 170 may also include one or more lower projections 195.

[0085] The second control assembly 65 may further include an insert 200 that is slidable into the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80 via a side opening 202. The insert 200 may have a substantially cylindrical configuration having a semi-circular cross section as shown in the FIGS. The insert 200 may include one or more slide step features 205 to engage the lower projections 195. As best shown in FIG. 12, the slide step features 205 are ramped to facilitate the engagement of the lower projections 195 as the insert 200 is slid into the inner bore 158. It will be appreciated that the tap control hub is locatable within the insert 200.

[0086] In conventional multi-functional mixer faucets, silicone control keymats may be mounted to the top of the tap using accessible fixing screws below the assembly. The fixing of the silicone keymat in the location for accessible use also requires that the keymat, when fixed, is self-sealing against water ingress. Such assemblies can be quite challenging as many parts come together during the final fixing. For multifunction faucets where fixing a keymat using screw fixing points is not possible due to the limited available space, it is desirable to provide a fixing mechanism to ensure equal sealing force along the length of the keymat with constant downward pressure. It will be appreciated that in the arrangement of the present invention as described above, the action required to clamp and seal the keymat assembly 85 into the tap control hub requires an equal downward force over the full circumference of the keymat assembly 85. This may be achieved by including three stages of stepped pull down features on the frame of the keymat assembly 85 (i.e. the lower projections 195 of the lower portion 170) which match the corresponding slide step features 205 on the insert 200.

[0087] In particular, and as best shown in left to right order in FIG. 13, the keymat assembly 85 may firstly be positioned over the upper opening 160 of the stem portion 80, and the insert 200 may be positioned next to the side opening 202 of the stem portion 80. The keymat assembly 85 is then placed in the upper opening 160, whereby the outer periphery of the keymat assembly 85 abuts or sits on the ledge surrounding the upper opening 160. The insert 200 is then slid into the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80 via the side opening 202, whereby the lower projections 195 of the lower portion 170 engage the slide step features 205 of the insert 200. Once the insert 200 is located substantially within the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80, the slide step features 200 may retain the lower projections 195 so as to secure the keymat assembly 85.

[0088] The above arrangement may at least allow for the keymat assembly 85 to be pretensioned against the control hub interface evenly and with consistent force. It will be appreciated that the above action may be a one-process movement that simplifies the assembly of a normally complex set of parts (for example, eliminating the use of screw fixings are not required). It will be appreciated that the above arrangement may also improve serviceability of the tap assembly 10.

[0089] It is envisaged that one or more components of the control assembly 65 as described above and / or as shown in the drawings may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly. It will be appreciated that the control assembly 65 may not necessarily need to be associated with a tap assembly having a tap body that swivels or moves or includes a pull-out hose, and may be provided in any type of mixer tap assembly which has a user control interface.

[0090] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and / or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0091] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms “a” and “an” used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0055]In FIGS. 1 to 3 and 14 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a tap assembly 10 of a mixer faucet. For the purpose of this specification, the tap assembly 10 will be described in relation to kitchen mixer faucets, such as those having a tap body that swivels or rotates and / or a pull-out or retractable vegetable washer hose. It will, however, be understood that the tap assembly 10 may be suitable for any other types of faucets or taps or other water supply devices, in both residential and commercial areas. Such faucets or taps or other water supply devices may not necessarily include a pull-out or retractable hose, but may still have a tap body that swivels or rotates to allow for positioning and / or a user control interface.

[0056]The tap assembly 10 includes a hollow tap body 15 having a base portion 20, a neck portion 25, and a spout portion 30. The tap body 15 includes an inner tube or passage that extends between an inlet opening 40 located at th...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2023900446, filed on 21 Feb. 2023. The entire disclosure of Australian Patent Application No. 2023900446 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a tap assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a tap assembly of a kitchen mixer faucet.

[0003] The invention has been developed primarily for use with kitchen mixer faucets or taps, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use, and may also be employed in other applications or devices.BACKGROUND

[0004] Mixer faucets typically include a tap body that swivels or rotates relative to the kitchen basin to allow the user to adjust the position of the spout, depending on their needs. Mixer faucets in kitchens may also be multi-functional, for example, to deliver or dispense one or more water “types” such as boiling water, chilled water, sparkling water, and / or ambient water. In some arrangements, kitchen mixer faucets may include a pull-out (retractable) hose system for spraying purposes, for example, to wash vegetables or to clean the extremities of the kitchen basin. In such systems, the pull-out hose is typically located at least partially within the main tap body and is movable between a storage or retracted position, in which the hose length is contained substantially in the tap body and in an area below the basin in the bench / cupboard space, and pulled out or extended position, in which the hose length is located at least partially externally of the tap body.

[0005] In mixer faucets having a moveable tap body and / or a pull-out hose system, it is desirable that the overall system includes components that allow the system to operate with stability and smoothness of movement and that are easy to assemble and service. It is also desirable that the overall external design of the faucet and associated components (such as the tap body, tap handle, user control interface) are aesthetically pleasing to the consumer whilst also allowing for ease of assembly / installation and serviceability.SUMMARY

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to at least improve upon existing arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to existing arrangements.

[0007] There is disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0008] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative to the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; and

[0009] a support assembly including:

[0010] a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; and

[0011] a collet disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, in the collapsed configuration, the first and second end portions of the collet are arranged to circumferentially overlap, at least partially.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the collet is arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the tubular body.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the collet is disposed within a groove located in the inner wall of the base portion.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein a diameter of the upper portion is larger than the diameter of the lower portion.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an outer stepped portion between the upper and lower portions to facilitate contact between the collet and the inner wall of the base portion.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an inner stepped portion to facilitate contact between the collet and the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the inner stepped portion provides an upper edge of the collet that at least partially surrounds a lower edge of the tubular body.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an outer profile that is adapted to be received in a corresponding inner profile in the inner wall of the base portion.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the collet further includes an inner slot portion to accommodate rotational travel of the hollow tubular body about the central longitudinal axis.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the inner slot portion is bounded by diametrically opposite wall portions that provide the opposing travel limits or stops for the hollow tubular body during rotation.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the support assembly further includes an insert that is adapted to lock or retain the collet in the rest configuration.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the insert is disposed between the first and second end portions of the collet.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the collet includes an inner wall portion having a cavity to accommodate the insert.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the collet is formed from a material that is different to the material(s) that form the hollow tubular body or the tap body.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the collet is formed from a polymer material.

[0027] There is also disclosed herein a collet for a mixer tap assembly, the tap assembly including a base portion and a hollow tubular body disposed with at least partially within the base portion, the collet being disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

[0028] There is also disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0029] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis; and

[0030] a control assembly mountable to the base portion and including:

[0031] a stem portion defining an inner bore and including an upper opening and a side opening;

[0032] a keymat assembly mounted in the upper opening of the stem portion and including one or more lower projections that extend into the inner bore; and

[0033] an insert that is slidable into the inner bore of the stem portion via the side portion and having one or more slide step features to engage the one or more lower projections so as to secure the keymat assembly to the stem portion.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the keymat assembly includes an upper portion formed from a soft silicone material and a lower portion from which the one or more lower projections extend, the upper portion having one or more control buttons actuatable by a user to customise a type of fluid to be dispensed from the tap assembly.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the control assembly further includes a control hub in electrical connection with the control buttons, the control hub being located within the insert.

[0036] There is also disclosed herein a tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:

[0037] a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; and

[0038] a support assembly including:

[0039] a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; and

[0040] a support ring disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the support ring having an inner concave profile providing a gap between the support ring and the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, the support ring is mounted to a circumferential groove located on the outer wall of the tubular body.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the support assembly further includes a sealing O-ring disposed circumferentially between the outer wall of the tubular body and the inner wall of the base portion.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the outer wall of the tubular body includes a circumferential groove and the inner wall of the base portion includes a corresponding circumferential groove to accommodate the sealing O-ring.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the inner wall of the base portion defines an inner bore profile having a shallow gradient at a first end and a steep gradient at a second opposing end.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a tap assembly;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tap assembly along line A-A shown in FIG. 2, including enlarged views of various portions of the tap handle assembly;

[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion A of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0050] FIGS. 6 to 9 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion B of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0051] FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged schematic isometric views of portion C of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0052] FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged schematic front and isometric views of portion D of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 3;

[0053] FIG. 14 is a schematic isometric view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1, with a pull-out spray hose shown in a retracted position; and

[0054] FIG. 15 is a schematic isometric view of the tap assembly shown in FIG. 1, with a pull-out spray hose shown in an extended configuration.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In FIGS. 1 to 3 and 14 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a tap assembly 10 of a mixer faucet. For the purpose of this specification, the tap assembly 10 will be described in relation to kitchen mixer faucets, such as those having a tap body that swivels or rotates and / or a pull-out or retractable vegetable washer hose. It will, however, be understood that the tap assembly 10 may be suitable for any other types of faucets or taps or other water supply devices, in both residential and commercial areas. Such faucets or taps or other water supply devices may not necessarily include a pull-out or retractable hose, but may still have a tap body that swivels or rotates to allow for positioning and / or a user control interface.

[0056] The tap assembly 10 includes a hollow tap body 15 having a base portion 20, a neck portion 25, and a spout portion 30. The tap body 15 includes an inner tube or passage that extends between an inlet opening 40 located at the base portion 20 and an outlet opening 45 located at the spout portion 30. The inlet opening 40 may be connectable to a fluid source (not shown), such as a mains water supply located in a kitchen cabinet (or other suitable structure), by way of one or more fluid lines or hoses 46. The one or more fluid lines 46 may extend at least partially along the inner tube or passage and provide the fluid connection between the fluid source and the spout portion 30, whereby fluid from the fluid source may be dispensed from the tap assembly 10 via the outlet opening 45.

[0057] In applications involving mixer faucets with a pull-out or retractable hose functionality, and as best shown in FIGS. 3, 14, and 15, the one or more fluid lines 46 may optionally include a pull-out hose 47 that is movable between a storage or retracted position (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, for example), in which a length of the hose 47 is contained substantially in the inner passage of the tap body 15 and in an area below the kitchen basin (for example, in the kitchen cabinet space), and an extended position (as shown in FIG. 15, for example), in which a length of the hose 47 is located at least partially externally of the tap body 15.

[0058] In some embodiments, the pull-out hose 47 may include an end portion 48 to allow a user to easily grip and move the pull-out hose 47 in use. The end portion 48 may include a projection 49 that is slidably retained within a groove or channel of the spout portion 30 to allow a user to grip and move the pull-out hose 47 from its retracted position to its extended position. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the pull-out hose 47 and associated components is not necessarily limited to the configuration as described and shown in the drawings, and may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. It will be understood that the pull-out hose 47 may be omitted from the assembly 10 if the pull-out or retractable hose functionality is not required.

[0059] The tap body 15 is mountable to a surface 50 of a kitchen basin or kitchen cabinet or other suitable structure (not shown) such that the base portion 20 extends in a generally upward direction from the surface 50 along a central longitudinal axis 55 towards the neck portion 25. The base portion 20 may have a flared configuration as shown in the Figures, in which it has a diameter that gradually decreases as it extends towards the neck portion 25. It will be appreciated that the base portion 20 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10.

[0060] The neck portion 25 may extend from the base portion 20 firstly along the central longitudinal axis 55 and then along a direction that is generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55 along a curve or an arc. The neck portion 25 may have a constant diameter and have a curved or arcuate configuration as shown in the Figures, or may alternatively have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. It is understood that the neck portion 25 may be movable (swivelled or rotated) about the central longitudinal axis 55 relative to the base portion 20 such that neck portion 25 (and by extension the spout portion 30) may be located at various positions (for example, towards the left hand side of the user as shown in FIG. 1, or directly in front of the user as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15). The moveability of the neck portion 25, which will be described in further detail below, may at least allow the user to adjust the position of the spout portion 30 over the basin depending on their needs.

[0061] The spout portion 30 may extend from the neck portion 25 in a generally downward direction towards the surface 50. The spout portion 30 may have a flared configuration as shown in the Figures, in which it has a diameter that gradually increases as it extends from the neck portion 25. In some embodiments, the spout portion 30 may be separately or integrally formed with the neck portion 25. It will be appreciated that the spout portion 30 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10.

[0062] The tap assembly 10 may further include one or more tap control or user interface assemblies, such as a first control assembly 60 and a second control assembly 65 as shown in the Figures. In the depicted embodiment, the first control assembly 60 may include a handle assembly to allow a user to control the flow of fluid, and the second control assembly 65 may include a button or keymat assembly operably associated with a controller to allow a user to customise the fluid that is to be dispensed.

[0063] The first control assembly 60 may include a stem portion 70 that extends or projects from the base portion 20 in a direction generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55 and a handle portion 75 that is moveable with respect to the stem portion 70. The handle portion 75 may be operatively associated with a valve mechanism and may be moveable between an open position to permit the flow of fluid through the one or more fluid lines 46 to be dispensed at the outlet opening 45, and a closed position to disable the flow of fluid therethrough. It will be appreciated that the control assembly 60 may have any other shape or configuration to suit the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. For example, the handle portion 75 may be directly connected to a valve mechanism of the tap assembly 10 without the presence of the stem portion 70.

[0064] The second control assembly 65 may also include a stem portion 80 that extends or projects from the base portion 20 in a direction generally transverse to the central longitudinal axis 55. In the depicted embodiment, the stem portion 80 extends from a side of the base portion 20 that it directly opposite to the side of the base portion 20 from which the stem portion 70 extends. It will, however, be appreciated that the configuration of the control assemblies is not necessarily limited to the configuration as shown in the drawings, and may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the tap assembly 10. In some embodiments (not shown), either the first control assembly 60 or the second control assembly 65 may be provided as the sole control assembly of the tap assembly 10. As will be described in further detail below, the second control assembly 65 may include a button or keymat assembly 85 mounted to the stem portion 80.

[0065] As described above, the neck portion 25 may be movable (swivelled or rotated) relative to the base portion 20 to allow the user to position the neck portion 25 and the spout portion 30 at a desired location over the basin. Embodiments of the connection or interface portions between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 are best shown in FIGS. 3 to 9.

[0066] FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of an embodiment of an interface portion A shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood from these Figures that the neck portion 25 may be connected to the base portion 20 by way of a support assembly 90 located in the inner passage of the tap body 15. A lower part of the neck portion 25 and an upper part of the base portion 20 circumferentially surrounds a respective region of the support assembly 90. In the depicted embodiment, the support assembly 90 includes a hollow tubular body 95 having one or more features (such as, but not limited to, circumferential projections 96 and / or circumferential grooves 97) on an outer wall thereof to facilitate the connection between the neck portion 25 and the base portion 20. As best shown in FIG. 4, an upper part or region of the tubular body 95 may extend upwardly and at least partially into an inner bore of the neck portion 25, whereby the neck portion 25 may be connected to the tubular body 95 by way of braze welding, for example. A lower part or region of the tubular body 95 may extend downwardly and at least partially into an inner bore of the base portion 20.

[0067] In some embodiments, the support assembly 90 may also include one or more O-rings 98 located in one of the grooves 97 and circumferentially between the tubular body 95 and the base portion 20. An inner wall of the base portion 20 may include a corresponding circumferential groove to accommodate the O-ring 98. It will be appreciated that the O-ring 98 may be a sealing O-ring that may also provide a mechanism that retains the neck portion 25 to the base portion 20. Standard O-ring sealing applications require a groove to retain the O-ring and a flat surface to seal against, whilst in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, both surfaces (i.e. the outer wall of the tubular body 95 and the inner wall of the base portion 20) have their own respective grooves. This arrangement may at least allow for the O-ring 98 to be under minimal sealing compression when the support assembly 90 is installed and at rest. It will be understood that the seal point does not require pressure on the O-ring 98, as it is not a pressured fluid environment.

[0068] The one or more grooves 97 located on the outer wall of the tubular body 95 and / or the one or more corresponding grooves located on the inner wall of the base portion 20 may be dimensioned to ensure that there is resistance to the movement of the O-ring 98 at installation. The inner bore profile of the base portion 20 may be designed to ensure that the support assembly 90 and neck portion 25 may be easily inserted into a faucet base portion during assembly, and requires some exerted force when attempting to disassemble. This may be achieved by including a shallow gradient on the insertion side of the profile and a steep gradient on the extraction side of the profile, thereby ensuring that the force required to disassemble is enough to prevent the support assembly 90 and neck portion 25 from accidentally disengaging from the base portion 20 during installation and normal operation.

[0069] In traditional faucet arrangements, the seal is achieved through an O-ring and the neck portion or spout is retained to the base with an externally visible screw at the rear of the base. If mounted on an island kitchen bench, for example, the screw retainer will be visible from the rear. The screw retainer may also be susceptible to rust damage. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the present invention may at least allow the tap assembly 10 to have a smooth external appearance, whilst still sealing against water ingress and retaining the neck portion 25 to the base portion 20.

[0070] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion A as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the support assembly 90 and components thereof), may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0071] FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged views of interface portion B shown in FIG. 3. It is understood that at the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25, tolerances and clearance stack-ups between the portions 20 and 25 may result in excessive lateral movement resulting in a floppy joint. It will be appreciated from these Figures that one or more support rings 100 may be provided at this connection interface, and specifically between the base portion 20 and tubular body 95 of the support assembly 90 described above. In the depicted embodiment, each support ring 100 is disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body 95 and an inner wall of the base portion 20, whereby each support ring 100 is mounted within an associated circumferential groove or channel 102 on the outer wall of the tubular body 95.

[0072] An enlarged view and a sectioned view of an embodiment of the support ring 100 in isolation are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is understood that in typical tapware spout rotation connections, support and wear rings are generally of a parallel profile with little deflection or ability to take up clearance slack. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 to 9, each support ring 100 has an inner concave profile 105 that creates a small gap 108 between the support ring 100 and the outer wall of the tubular body 95. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the inner concave profile 105, together with the Shore A hardness of the support ring 100 material (e.g. rubber polymer), may allow the support ring 100 to oversize to an inner bore of the base portion 20 and then deflect when inserted to take up the clearances, without creating too much friction. This may at least ensure that the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 is stable, whilst also allowing the rotational friction to remain low. This arrangement may also offer an opportunity to open the machining tolerances on the connection mating surfaces and may also further allow for easy and standardised installation.

[0073] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion B as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the one or more support rings 100) may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0074] FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged views of interface portion C shown in FIG. 3. It is understood that, at the connection interface between the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 of typical arrangements, a restriction of rotational travel about the central longitudinal axis 55 is typically provided through a dead stop pin. Engineering the stop arrangement may result in much of the inner tube / passage of the tap body being reduced in cross-sectional area. In multi-function kitchen mixer faucets, for example, this passage may be required to house four water and vent hoses (carrying each of the four water types). In typical kitchen mixer faucets, the stop arrangement is usually machined into the spout bush and body of the faucet base.

[0075] In view of the above considerations, a collapsible collet 110 may be provided between the base portion 20 and the tubular body 95 of the support assembly 90. The collet 110 may include one or more portions that abut or interface with one or more corresponding surfaces of the base portion 20 or the tubular body 95. In the depicted embodiment, the collet 110 is disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body 95 and an inner wall of the base portion 20. The collet 110 may be substantially ring-shaped and may circumferentially surround a portion of the tubular body 95. As will be described below, the collet 110 may also be located within a groove formed in the inner wall of the base portion 20. The collet 110 may be formed from a material that is different to the material(s) that form the other components of the tap assembly 10, which are typically a metallic material. The collet 110 may be a non-metallic material, and preferably a suitably rigid material such as polymer.

[0076] The body of the collet 110 may have a first end portion 115 and a second end portion 120. The first and second end portions 115 and 120 may circumferentially overlap, at least partially, when the collet 110 is in a collapsed configuration (not shown). In a rest configuration of the collet 110 (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example), the first and second end portions 115 and 120 may have minimal to no overlap.

[0077] In some embodiments, the body of the collet 110 may also have an upper portion 125 having a first outer diameter and a lower portion 130 having a second outer diameter. As can be seen in the Figures, the first diameter (of the upper portion 125) is larger than the second diameter (of the lower portion 130), and an outer stepped portion 135 is provided between the upper and lower portions 125 and 130 to facilitate the contact or engagement between the collet 110 and the base portion 20.

[0078] In some embodiments, the body of the collet 110 may also include an outer projection or profile 136 that is received in a corresponding cavity or inner profile of an inner wall of the base portion 20. In some embodiments, the outer projection or profile 136 is in the form of a lobe. This arrangement may at least allow the collet 110 to be located in a fixed position relative to the base portion 20, thereby preventing the rotation of the collet 110 relative to the base 20 when the rotational stops (as the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 rotate relative to each other) are reached.

[0079] In some embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the upper portion 125 may have a height and that corresponds to a height of the lower portion 130. It will, however, be appreciated that the dimensions of the upper and lower portions 125 and 130 may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. The upper portion 125 may also include an inner stepped portion 137 to facilitate the contact or engagement between the collet 110 and the tubular body 95. Accordingly, in this arrangement, an upper edge of the collet 110 may at least partially surround a lower edge of the tubular body 95, which may at least allow for the collet 110 to be supported from collapsing due to the rotational stop forces (as the base portion 20 and the neck portion 25 rotate relative to each other). The body of the collet 110 may also include an inner slot portion 138 to accommodate rotational travel of (e.g. of a component 140) of the tubular body 95. The slot portion 138 may be formed in the lower portion 130 and may be bounded by diametrically opposite wall portions 145 and 150 so as to provide the travel limits or stops for the component 140 during rotation.

[0080] It will be appreciated that the collet 110 may be moveable from a rest configuration (as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example), in which the collet 110 has a first overall diameter, to a collapsed configuration (not shown), in which the collet 110 has a second, smaller overall outer diameter to allow for insertion into the inner bore of the base portion 20. Following insertion, the collet 100 may subsequently expand or spring outward. In some embodiments, the collet 100 may expand or spring outward into the location groove in the inner wall of the base portion 20 so as to be secured therein. Once in place, the diametrical position or configuration of the collet 110 may be locked or stabilised with an optional insert 155, which may at least ensure that the collet 110 cannot collapse under rotational stop forces. In other words, in some embodiments, the collet 110 may be retained or locked in its rest configuration once installed, whereby the overall diameter of the collet 110 may be maintained. In the depicted embodiment, the insert 155 is disposed between the first and second end portions 115 and 120. An inner wall of the collet 110 may include a cavity 157 to accommodate the insert 155. In some embodiments, the insert 155 is a keystone-styled insert. The collet 110 may thus include features or profiles that allow for fixing and sealing by clamp force, for example. The overall dimensions of the collet 110 may be customised or adjusted depending on the design requirements of the assembly 10. The dimensions of the insert 155 may also be customised or adjusted, depending on the desired diameter of the collet 110 in the rest configuration. With the above arrangement, an underside of the tubular body 95 may rest on the collet 110 (which is preferably formed from a polymer material) during rotation, which may at least provide for polymer-on-metal contact for a quiet and soft rotation, rather than metal-on-metal contact. The upper portion 125 of the collet 110 may also act as the datum for the clearance between the tubular body 95 and the base portion 20.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the collet 110 as described above may at least maximise the internal clearance for the passing of multiple water and vent pipes / hoses, whilst maintaining an appealing external dimensional appearance of the tap assembly 10. By having a separate component, being the collet 110, the features or profiles needed for the function of the tap assembly 10 and rotation stop may be provided within an internal diameter of the base portion 20, which may otherwise be difficult or impossible due to the small aperture and metal cutting limitations. As discussed above, the collet 110 may be provided with one or more features or profiles (such as stepped portions, slot portions, insert) to allow for a stable connection interface between the associated components of the assembly 10, and may also provide fixing and sealing by clamp force. The provision of the collet 110 may also reduce or altogether eliminate metal-on-metal contact at the interface between the associated components of the assembly, which may reduce noise during rotation.

[0082] It is envisaged that one or more components of the interface portion C as described above and / or as shown in the drawings (such as the collet 110) may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly.

[0083] FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of an embodiment of the second control assembly 65 which, as described above, may include the stem portion 80 that extends or projects from the base portion 20, and the keymat assembly 85 may be mounted to the stem portion 80. The stem portion 80 may have a cylindrical configuration as shown in the Figures and may have an inner bore 158 to accommodate a control hub (not shown) of the tap assembly 10. In the depicted embodiment, the keymat assembly 85 is mounted within an upper opening 160 of the stem portion 80, whereby an outer periphery 162 of the keymat assembly 85 abuts or rests on a ledge 163 surrounding the upper opening 160.

[0084] The keymat assembly 85 may include an upper portion 165 having a substantially flat upper face and a lower portion 170 connected to the upper portion 165. As best shown in FIG. 12, the upper portion 165 may include one or more lower grooves 175 and / or lower projections 180 to locate and retain a corresponding upper projection 185 or upper groove 190 of the lower portion 170. The upper portion 165 may be formed from a soft silicone material and may be overmoulded to the lower portion 170. The upper portion 165 may include control icons or buttons on the upper face to allow a user to customise the type of fluid. The control icons or buttons are in electrical connection with a controller or PCB assembly of the tap control hub (which may be located below the keymat assembly 85 and in the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80), and may be illuminated for ease of use. The lower portion 170 may also include one or more lower projections 195.

[0085] The second control assembly 65 may further include an insert 200 that is slidable into the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80 via a side opening 202. The insert 200 may have a substantially cylindrical configuration having a semi-circular cross section as shown in the FIGS. The insert 200 may include one or more slide step features 205 to engage the lower projections 195. As best shown in FIG. 12, the slide step features 205 are ramped to facilitate the engagement of the lower projections 195 as the insert 200 is slid into the inner bore 158. It will be appreciated that the tap control hub is locatable within the insert 200.

[0086] In conventional multi-functional mixer faucets, silicone control keymats may be mounted to the top of the tap using accessible fixing screws below the assembly. The fixing of the silicone keymat in the location for accessible use also requires that the keymat, when fixed, is self-sealing against water ingress. Such assemblies can be quite challenging as many parts come together during the final fixing. For multifunction faucets where fixing a keymat using screw fixing points is not possible due to the limited available space, it is desirable to provide a fixing mechanism to ensure equal sealing force along the length of the keymat with constant downward pressure. It will be appreciated that in the arrangement of the present invention as described above, the action required to clamp and seal the keymat assembly 85 into the tap control hub requires an equal downward force over the full circumference of the keymat assembly 85. This may be achieved by including three stages of stepped pull down features on the frame of the keymat assembly 85 (i.e. the lower projections 195 of the lower portion 170) which match the corresponding slide step features 205 on the insert 200.

[0087] In particular, and as best shown in left to right order in FIG. 13, the keymat assembly 85 may firstly be positioned over the upper opening 160 of the stem portion 80, and the insert 200 may be positioned next to the side opening 202 of the stem portion 80. The keymat assembly 85 is then placed in the upper opening 160, whereby the outer periphery of the keymat assembly 85 abuts or sits on the ledge surrounding the upper opening 160. The insert 200 is then slid into the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80 via the side opening 202, whereby the lower projections 195 of the lower portion 170 engage the slide step features 205 of the insert 200. Once the insert 200 is located substantially within the inner bore 158 of the stem portion 80, the slide step features 200 may retain the lower projections 195 so as to secure the keymat assembly 85.

[0088] The above arrangement may at least allow for the keymat assembly 85 to be pretensioned against the control hub interface evenly and with consistent force. It will be appreciated that the above action may be a one-process movement that simplifies the assembly of a normally complex set of parts (for example, eliminating the use of screw fixings are not required). It will be appreciated that the above arrangement may also improve serviceability of the tap assembly 10.

[0089] It is envisaged that one or more components of the control assembly 65 as described above and / or as shown in the drawings may be provided as a standalone component and retrofitted to an existing tap assembly. It will be appreciated that the control assembly 65 may not necessarily need to be associated with a tap assembly having a tap body that swivels or moves or includes a pull-out hose, and may be provided in any type of mixer tap assembly which has a user control interface.

[0090] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and / or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0091] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms “a” and “an” used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0055]In FIGS. 1 to 3 and 14 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a tap assembly 10 of a mixer faucet. For the purpose of this specification, the tap assembly 10 will be described in relation to kitchen mixer faucets, such as those having a tap body that swivels or rotates and / or a pull-out or retractable vegetable washer hose. It will, however, be understood that the tap assembly 10 may be suitable for any other types of faucets or taps or other water supply devices, in both residential and commercial areas. Such faucets or taps or other water supply devices may not necessarily include a pull-out or retractable hose, but may still have a tap body that swivels or rotates to allow for positioning and / or a user control interface.

[0056]The tap assembly 10 includes a hollow tap body 15 having a base portion 20, a neck portion 25, and a spout portion 30. The tap body 15 includes an inner tube or passage that extends between an inlet opening 40 located at th...

Claims

1. A tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative to the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; anda support assembly including:a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; anda collet disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

2. The tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the collapsed configuration, the first and second end portions of the collet are arranged to circumferentially overlap, at least partially.

3. The tap assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collet is arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the tubular body.

4. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet is disposed within a groove located in the inner wall of the base portion.

5. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet further includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein a diameter of the upper portion is larger than the diameter of the lower portion.

6. The tap assembly according to claim 5, wherein the collet further includes an outer stepped portion between the upper and lower portions to facilitate contact between the collet and the inner wall of the base portion.

7. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet further includes an inner stepped portion to facilitate contact between the collet and the outer wall of the tubular body.

8. The tap assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inner stepped portion provides an upper edge of the collet that at least partially surrounds a lower edge of the tubular body.

9. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet further includes an outer profile that is adapted to be received in a corresponding inner profile in the inner wall of the base portion.

10. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet further includes an inner slot portion to accommodate rotational travel of the hollow tubular body about the central longitudinal axis.

11. The tap assembly according to claim 10, wherein the inner slot portion is bounded by diametrically opposite wall portions that provide the opposing travel limits or stops for the hollow tubular body during rotation.

12. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support assembly further includes an insert that is adapted to lock or retain the collet in the rest configuration.

13. The tap assembly according to claim 12, wherein the insert is disposed between the first and second end portions of the collet.

14. The tap assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the collet includes an inner wall portion having a cavity to accommodate the insert.

15. The tap assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collet is formed from a material that is different to the material(s) that form the hollow tubular body or the tap body.

16. The tap assembly according to claim 15, wherein the collet is formed from a polymer material.

17. A collet for a mixer tap assembly, the tap assembly including a base portion and a hollow tubular body disposed with at least partially within the base portion, the collet being disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the collet having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the collet is moveable between a rest configuration whereby the collet has a first diameter and a collapsed configuration whereby the collet has a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

18. A tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis; anda control assembly mountable to the base portion and including:a stem portion defining an inner bore and including an upper opening and a side opening;a keymat assembly mounted in the upper opening of the stem portion and including one or more lower projections that extend into the inner bore; andan insert that is slidable into the inner bore of the stem portion via the side portion and having one or more slide step features to engage the one or more lower projections so as to secure the keymat assembly to the stem portion.

19. The tap assembly according to claim 18, wherein the keymat assembly includes an upper portion formed from a soft silicone material and a lower portion from which the one or more lower projections extend, the upper portion having one or more control buttons actuatable by a user to customise a type of fluid to be dispensed from the tap assembly.

20. The tap assembly according to claim 19, wherein the control assembly further includes a control hub in electrical connection with the control buttons, the control hub being located within the insert.

21. A tap assembly for a mixer tap, the tap assembly including:a tap body having a base portion, a neck portion, and a spout portion, wherein the base portion of the tap body includes a central longitudinal axis and the neck portion is movable about the central longitudinal axis relative the base portion, and wherein the tap body further includes an inner passage extending between an inlet opening located at the base portion and an outlet opening located at the spout portion; anda support assembly including:a hollow tubular body that is disposed within the inner passage of the tap body and configured to connect the base portion to the neck portion; anda support ring disposed circumferentially between an outer wall of the tubular body and an inner wall of the base portion, the support ring having an inner concave profile providing a gap between the support ring and the outer wall of the tubular body.

22. The tap assembly according to claim 21, wherein the support ring is mounted to a circumferential groove located on the outer wall of the tubular body.

23. The tap assembly according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the support assembly further includes a sealing O-ring disposed circumferentially between the outer wall of the tubular body and the inner wall of the base portion.

24. The tap assembly according to claim 23, wherein the outer wall of the tubular body includes a circumferential groove and the inner wall of the base portion includes a corresponding circumferential groove to accommodate the sealing O-ring.

25. The tap assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the inner wall of the base portion defines an inner bore profile having a shallow gradient at a first end and a steep gradient at a second opposing end.

Images