Title of Invention	A SEAL CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR A TAP
Abstract	A seal carrier assembly 50 for a tap comprising an open ended enclosure 51 adapted to be a press fit onto the end of a valve spindle 40, characterized in that the closed end of the enclosure 51 defines an annular sealing member 55 and the upper end of the enclosure 51 has an outwardly projecting annular sealing rib 52.

Full Text

FORM 2 THE PATENTS ACT 1970 [39 OF 1970] COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [See Section 10, Rule 13] "A SEAL CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR A TAP" WATERTEC (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD, a company in corporated in Malaysia [Co. no. 98549-K], Lot 6, Jalan Halba 16/16, Section 16, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:- The present invention relates to a seal carrier assembly for a tap. Background of the Invention This invention relates to taps that control flow of water or other fluids. In particular, the invention relates to improvements to the tap head assembly including the tap spindle and seal assembly. Background Art In our earlier Malaysian patent 108273, there is disclosure of a tap head assembly that is formed by injecting moulding from plastics. The head assembly incorporates a spindle that is screw threadedly located in a bonnet that in turn screws into a tap body. The spindle carries a seal carrier onto the end of which a valve seal is attached. Rotation of the spindle through the tap handle forces the valve seal in and out of engagement with a valve seat formed on the tap body. An "O" ring seal is positioned between the seal carrier and the spindle to seal the spindle against the tap body. The tap head assembly described above includes a large number of components and this invention relates to an assembly that operates as effectively with less components. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a seal carrier assembly for a tap comprising an open ended enclosure adapted to be a press fit onto the end of a valve spindle, characterized in that the closed end of the enclosure defines an annular sealing member and the upper end of the enclosure has an outwardly projecting annular sealing rib. According to the present invention there is further provided a tap head assembly comprising a bonnet arranged to be secured to a tap body, the bonnet having an axial throughway into which a spindle is threadedly located, the spindle having an upper end on which a tap handle is located and a lower end which supports a seal carrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 which in use acts as a seal between the spindle and the bonnet Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described .by way of example only with reference to the accompanying, drawings in which: Figure, 1 is an exploded .Gross--sectiqnal view of a tap head assenibly, and Figtire 2 is a cross-sectional view of the head a:ssembly when positioned in. the body of a tap. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The tap head assembly 10 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is formed of components produced by inj'ection moulding from plastics. The tap head has been specifically designed to reduce the number of moulded components whilst providing the traditional characteristics required by a tap. The components that make up the head assembly 10 are shown in exploded form in Figure 1 and essentially comprise a handle 20, a bonnet 30, a spindle 40 that is screw threadedly located within the bonnet 30 and a seal carrier assembly 50 that fits onto the end of the spindle 40. The tap ibody,- not shown, has an internally threaded tap chamber, the interior of which defines an annular valve seat. The bonnet 30 has a lower end 31 externally threaded to be screwed into the tap body. The valve that is formed by the seal carrier assembly 50 can, as the spindle 40 is turned, engage the valve seat, not shown, to close off flow of fluid through the tap body. The bonnet 30 has an internal throughway 31, the upper end 32 of which is internally threaded and the spindle has a central portion 41 that is externally threaded to mate with the internally threaded portion 32 of the bonnet 30. The upper end 42 of the spindle 40 is provided with a splined exterior that is arranged to mate with similarly profiled recesses 21 provided in a central hub portion 22 of the handle 20. The handle 20 has at least two and preferably four radially extending wings 25 that with an annular skirt 26 define the top of the handle. The handle 20 is arranged to be press fit on the splined end 42 of the spindle 40. The interior of the hub 22 of the handle 20 has, as shown in Figure 1, an annular projecting rib 27 that is arranged to snap into a similarly profiled recess 47 on the spindle 40 to hold the assembly together. It is understood that the projecting rib 27 and recess 47, and splines 42 and recesses on the spindle and handle could be reversed. The handle 20 is thus attached to the spindle 40 in a manner that a rotational force on the handle 20 causes the spindle 40 to rotate within the bonneu 30. Rotational of the spindls 40 within th= bonnet 30 causes the spindle 40 to descend and the valve to engage the valve seat. The lower end 4 8 of the spindle is provided with an end portion 4 9 of reduced cross-section. The seal carrier assembly 50 that is preferably constructed in soft plastics or rubber comprises a cup shaped member with a cylindrical wall 51 that terminates at the top in a bulbous outwardly projecting annular lip 52. The interior of the carrier has an annular rib 53 that is arranged to locate within the recess formed in the lower end of the spindle. The carrier is designed to be press fit onto the end 48 of the spindle 40 to axially locate the carrier to the spindle. The base of the carrier defines a circular seating member 55 that acts as the valve seal. The bulbous projection 52 at the other end of the carrier assembly 50 projects radially outwardly to form a seal between the carrier and the interior of the bonnet 30 to form a seal between the spindle 40 and the bonnet 30 and prevent escape of fluid past the spindle 40 and through the bonnet 30. The assembly described above has the advantage that there are in essence only four components. The handle is located on the spindle without the use of auxiliary fasteners or washers and there is no need for an 0-ring seal between the spindle and the bonnet. The carrier assembly 50 defines in one unit the valve seal, and the bonnet/spindle seal. Consequently, the tap head assembly is cheaper to make and yet operates as well as the assembly described in our earlier Malaysian patent 108273. WE CLAIM: 1. A seal carrier assembly 50 for a tap comprising an open ended enclosure 51 adapted to be a press fit onto the end of a valve spindle 40, characterized in that the closed end of the enclosure 51 defines an annular sealing member 55 and the upper end of the enclosure 51 has an outwardly projecting annular sealing rib 52. 2. The seal carrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interior of the enclosure 51 has means 53 to engage the spindle 40 to axially locate the carrier assembly 50 onto the end of the spindle 40. 3. The seal carrier assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means comprises either an inwardly projecting annular rib 53 that is arranged to locate in a recess 49 on the spindle 40 exterior or a recess in the enclosure 51 into which an annular rib on the spindle is arranged to project. 4. The seal carrier assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the closed end 55 of the enclosure 50 is of thickened cross section, the exterior defining the sealing surface. 5. The seal carrier assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is moulded in soft plastics or rubber. 6. A tap head assembly 10 comprising a bonnet 30 arranged to be secured to a tap body, the bonnet 30 having an axial throughway 31 into which a spindle 40 is threadedly located, the spindle 40 having an upper end 42 on which a tap handle 20 is located and a lower end 48 which supports a seal carrier assembly 50 as claimed' in any of the preceding claims, which in use acts as a seal between the spindle 40 and the bonnet 30. 7. The tap head assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the upper end 42 of the spindle 40 and the handle 20 are in splined interconnection. 8. The tap head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the handle 20 has either an internally projecting annular rib 27 that locates in a recess 47 in the exterior of the upper end 42 of the spindle 40 or a recess into which an annular rib projecting from the spindle 40 locates. 9. The tap head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the components are made from injection moulded plastics. 10. A seal carrier assembly for a tap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

519-mum-2001-abstract(10-02-2006).doc

519-mum-2001-abstract(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-cancelled pages(25-05-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-claims(granted)-(25-05-2006).doc

519-mum-2001-claims(granted)-(25-05-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-correspondence(25-05-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-correspondence(ipo)-(01-08-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-drawing(04-06-2001).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 1(04-06-2001).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 1(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 18(17-05-2005).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 2(granted)-(25-05-2006).doc

519-mum-2001-form 2(granted)-(25-05-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 3(03-01-2002).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 3(04-06-2001).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 3(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 4(09-04-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 5(04-06-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-form 5(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-petition under rule 137(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-petition under rule 138(10-02-2006).pdf

519-mum-2001-power of attorney(16-10-2001).pdf

519-mum-2001-power of authority(10-02-2006).pdf

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