Patent Publication Number: US-2010126615-A1

Title: Flexible extension device for faucet stem

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to water faucets such as those to which outdoor hoses are attached; and, more particularly, to a flexible extension device attachable to the faucet stem which allows a faucet located in a generally inaccessible area to be readily turned open and shut. 
     It is not uncommon for an outdoor faucet such as one to which a hose is attached for watering the yard, washing a car, etc., to be located behind a shrub or bush so that the user cannot readily reach the faucet to turn it in one direction to open it and in the opposite direction to shut it. Typically, a shrub or bush that was planted to one side of the faucet&#39;s location has, over time, grown up and now hides the faucet preventing easy access. Sometimes the faucet is hidden behind a rose or other thorny bush so the person operating the faucet runs a good risk of getting stuck. 
     In another situation, faucets are often located in a basement or a utility room near laundry equipment. While these faucets are usually much more accessible, handicapped people, people with limited mobility, people with arthritis or other medical conditions may find it difficult to either reach the handles on the faucets or have sufficient strength to open and shut them. 
     While relocating a faucet for easier access is a possibility, doing so can be both time consuming and expensive. Rather, for either of the above described situations, it would be much simpler and more helpful to provide a mechanism that is easily installed yet provides ready access to a faucet so a user can readily operate the faucet, do so easily, and not risk injury. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a flexible extension device for a faucet. The faucet&#39;s handle is removed for one end of a flexible section of the device to be coupled to the faucet&#39;s stem. The handle is then attached to the other end of the section. The section has a length sufficient so that when installed, the handle is readily accessible to the faucet&#39;s user. Because the section is flexible, it can be bent or twisted, as appropriate, so the handle is now conveniently located for the user. When installed, the section provides ready access for the user so he or she can operate the valve to open and shut the faucet as well as regulate the flow of water from the faucet. 
     With the extension installed, the faucet is remotely operated. The flexible section of the device comes is a variety of lengths. The device also comes in kit form with a separate handle from that installed on the faucet, and a bracket which fits over the extension and is attachable to a support to hold the handle end of the extension in a desired location for easy access and operability by the user. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects of the invention are achieved as set forth in the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings which form a part of the specification. 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified representation of an outdoor water faucet to which a hose is attached; 
         FIG. 2  is a representation similar to  FIG. 1 , but with the flexible extension of the present invention installed on the faucet; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified representation of a faucet installed by a sink; 
         FIG. 4  is a representation similar to  FIG. 3 , but with the flexible extension installed on the faucet to make it more accessible for one unable to otherwise operate the faucet; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the flexible extension. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring to the drawings, a water faucet F is found in bathrooms where they deliver cold and hot water to a sink S or bathtub (not shown), and in kitchens where they deliver water to a sink. Faucets are also often found in the laundry room or area inside a house where laundry is done so to supply to water to a washing machine (not shown) as well as a sink if one is located there. A faucet is also located on the outside of a house or on an outbuilding (garage). With respect to these latter faucets, a hose H is usually connected to the faucet for use in watering the lawn, washing cars, etc. As shown in  FIG. 1 , it is not uncommon for shrubbery B to be planted adjacent the spot outside the house where a faucet is located. Over time, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the shrubbery may well grow up and about the faucet making it hard to reach. If the shrubbery has thorns, such as a rosebush, someone trying to reach the faucet handle E, to open the faucet or turn it off, might well get scratched or cut. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , one difficulty with both outside and inside faucets is that they are not always readily accessible to, for example, a wheelchair W bound or otherwise handicapped person P. Accordingly, it is difficult for these people to turn on the water in order to take a bath, wash their hands, clean dishes, soak clothes, etc. Oftentimes, it may be that the faucet is simply inconveniently located for someone wanting to use it, and it would be helpful if there was a way to make the faucet easier to reach and use. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a flexible extension device  10  is used to relocate handle E of faucet F a distance away from the faucet and in a location that makes it easier for a user to open and shut the faucet and regulate flow of water through the faucet. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , handle E of the faucet is now located away from the shrubbery so someone wanting to turn hose H on and off can do so without risk of injury from the shrub. As shown in  FIG. 4 , device  10  allows handle E of the faucet to be placed at the front of the sink where it is more readily accessible to one wanting to operate the faucet. 
     Flexible extension device  10  includes a flexible section  11  with a connector or coupling  12  attached to one end. This coupling is at an end of the extension which connects to the faucet&#39;s stem M when the handle E normally attached to the stem is removed. That is, stem E extends through an opening at the top of the faucet. The outer end of the stem is threaded, as indicated T in  FIG. 5 . Handle E fits over this threaded end of the stem and is attached to the stem using a nut (not shown). Or, the outer end of the stem has a threaded, inwardly extending bore (not shown). The handle fits over this portion of the stem and is secured to the stem by a bolt (not shown) which fits through a central opening (also not shown) in the handle and is screwed into the bore. Coupling  12  includes a sleeve  14  whose inner surface  14 f is configured to mate with the outer contour of stem M once handle E is removed. This allows rotation of the sleeve in either direction to produce a corresponding rotation of the stem. 
     The device next includes a connector or coupling  16  which is located at the other end of section  11 . Coupling  16  includes, for example, a fitting  18  whose outer end extends beyond the end of the coupling. This outer end of the fitting is threaded to receive a handle E. This handle can be the same handle that is removed from stem M of faucet F, or another handle which may be part of a kit used with device  10  for installing and using the extension. Once the handle is installed on fitting  18 , a nut  20  is threaded onto the outer end of the extension to secure the handle in place. 
     Section  11  of device  10  comprises a flexible shaft  30  extending the length of the extension between the respective couplings. The shaft transmits the force produced by someone turning the handle E connected to coupling  16  to the stem M connected to coupling  12 . Turning handle E in one direction rotates stem M in the direction to open faucet F; while, turning the handle in the opposite direction rotates the stem in the direction to shut the faucet. It is an important feature of the invention that shaft  30  is sufficiently flexible that in can be bent and rotated, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , so that handle E can be conveniently located for a user to remotely operate faucet F via the flexible extension. Shaft is enclosed throughout its length by a sheath  32 . This sheath can be a metal sheath or the sheath can be made of a plastic or rubber material. Regardless of the material from which it is made, the sheath protects shaft  30  from damage so the operability of flexible extension  10  is not impaired. Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheath may be formed by a plurality of overlapping segments  34 . 
     Once flexible extension  10  is connected to stem M of faucet F, and the other end of the extension is located at a convenient location for a user to remotely operate the faucet, a bracket  36  is used to secure this end of the extension in place. Bracket  36  has a semi-circular center section  38  which fits about shaft  30  and tabs  40  on opposite sides of section  38  for the bracket to be affixed to the side of the house or outbuilding, or a sink, using an appropriate fastener  42 . The bracket is mounted such that it is adjacent the inner end of coupling  16 , so that while the extension is bent and rotated as necessary to locate handle E in an accessible location, when the user goes to manipulate the handle, it stays rather firmly in place. This allows the user to need only one hand to operate the handle rather than having to hold the end of the extension with one hand and turn the handle with the other hand. 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that while the components comprising flexible extension  10  could be purchased separately, as a practical matter, the device is packaged and sold as a kit. The kit includes one or more flexible extension sections  11 . For example, for use indoors, the kit would come with two sections of the same length, one for a cold water faucet, and the other for a hot water faucet. Different kits would also have sections of different lengths so a person could select an appropriate length for their particular situation. Next the kit would include a handle E and nut N for attaching the handle to the one end of section  11 . Finally, the kit includes a bracket  36  and a pair of fasteners  42  for fixing the bracket in place once the flexible extension has been installed and the handle properly located for a user to remotely open and shut faucet F and regulate the flow of water through the faucet. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present disclosure have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained.