Patent Abstract:
A spray device for use as a supplementary fluid output, having a mixing chamber for receiving and mixing fluid from two input supplies which supplies mixed fluid to a spray head through a flexible conduit. The relative proportions of input supplies received in the mixing chamber is controlled by a mix controller having a mix actuator which is connected to a mix valve associated with the mixing chamber by an upstanding rotatable sleeve. The spray device is mounted on a hole in a work surface by mounting means. The flexible conduit and the upstanding rotatable sleeve pass through the hole in the work surface and a bore in the mounting means. The mix controller may control the rate of fluid flow through the device.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to hand sprays used e.g. on kitchen sinks as alternative or additional water sources to the main tap or faucet. 
   2. Summary of the Prior Art 
   Typical hand sprays (also known as side sprays) include a spray head, e.g. similar to a shower head, for delivering fluid (e.g. water) flow through a nozzle. Traditionally, the hand sprays are located next to the primary tap or taps of a kitchen sink. Side sprays are commonly used with mixer taps. The spray head typically included a hand grip to allow the user to direct the flow as desired. Some hand sprays are removably mountable on the work surface (sink holding or containing surface) and have a flexible fluid delivery hose to allow more freedom of movement. Typically, known hand sprays are operable using a simple thumb switch, which controls a valve to stop or release fluid flow through the nozzle. The thumb switch allows controlled one-handed operation. 
   Early hand sprays were connected to a single source, e.g. the cold water supply pipe for the primary tap. The lack of control over hand spray output temperature was undesirable, so a number of proposals to provide mixed (e.g. hot and cold) water, preferably controllably mixed water, at the hand spray were made. 
   In one proposal an automatic diverter valve is incorporated into a mixer tap. The diverter valve operates to deflect mixed water into the hand spray when the hand spray is operated. To fit in the mixer tap, the automatic diverter was small, which meant that in time it was liable to become clogged with limescale and therefore reduce flow to the spray. 
   Automatic diverters made the use of bridge mixer taps difficult. To address this, GB 2361047 proposes a bridge mixer tap with a mixer chamber separate from the traditional mixer passageway between tap pillars. The extra mixer chamber is located under the work surface, where it is fed by hot and cold water supplies controllable by valves (also located under the work surface) operable by the tap operators on each pillar. The mixing chamber possesses two outputs: one feeds a hand spray via a flexible conduit, the other sends mixed water up through both pillars to be ejected from the main tap spout. A valve in the mixing chamber shuttles between two positions according to pressure differential experienced in the mixing chamber (due to operative status of the hand spray) to direct flow through a respective one of the outputs. In this arrangement, long operator shafts are required to extend down the pillars to their respective valves, and the visible mixing passageway is redundant because the water is already mixed when it reaches that passageway. 
   GB 2394525 proposes a bridge mixer tap arranged to address the above-mentioned problems by providing a built in diverter valve in the traditional bridge mixing chamber (above the work surface). The diverter valve can divert mixed flow down a passageway coaxial with one of the pillar input supplies so that it flows back beneath the work surface after mixing, where it is sent through a flexible conduit to feed a hand spray device. This avoids having a redundant bridge mixer passageway, but increases the complexity of the tap units. For example, the size of the bridge mixer may be enlarged to house the diverter valve. The temperature of the mixed water is controlled by the tap operators on the pillars. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention aims to ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned problems. One aim is to provide an alternative configuration of a device having a mixer valve beneath the work surface. Another aim is to provide independent temperature control for the hand spray output. A further aim is to provide a more compact mixer valve operating mechanism. 
   It is to be noted that the terms “above” and “below” as used hereafter refer to positions of elements relative to each other, and should not be taken as limiting their orientation relative to the earth. 
   At its most general, the present invention provides a mixer valve (mixing chamber) dedicated to the hand spray. Independent temperature control, i.e. control of the input flow, usually from a plurality, e.g. two, input supplies for the hand spray output is therefore made possible. The invention is preferably for use with kitchen sink side sprays, e.g. hand sprays mountable next to, typically on the same surface as, a main kitchen tap. 
   Thus, according to the invention there may be provided a spray device for use as a supplementary fluid output, the spray device including: a spray unit having a spray head arranged to output a user-directable fluid flow; and a mixing chamber arranged to receive at least two fluid input supplies and to be in fluid communication with the spray unit to provide a fluid output supply to the spray head; wherein the spray unit includes: a flow controller operable to control fluid flow through the device; and a mix controller operable to control the fluid input supplies received in the mixing chamber. The spray device may be a hand spray suitable for use as a supplementary device with a main tap or faucet e.g. for use on a kitchen sink. In other words, the spray device is a distinct entity from a main fluid outlet, such as a mixer tap. The spray device is preferably mountable on a work surface e.g. kitchen sink or shelf. It may be mounted close to e.g. reachable from the main fluid outlet. Alternatively, the spray device may be provided as a stand-alone device, e.g. with its own separate sink. The present invention allows for a separate spray device that is not necessarily connected or associated with a main tap unit. 
   The mounting of components of the spray device above and below the work surface is normally achieved by using mounting means for attaching the device to the work surface. The mounting means may be a housing and backing nut on opposite sides of the work surface. The components of the spray device are positioned relatively above or below the mounting means of the spray device and are thus located above or below the work surface when the mounting means is attached to it. The fluid communication may pass through a bore in the mounting means. 
   Therefore, there may be provided a spray device for use as a supplementary fluid output, the spray device including: mounting means for attaching the spray device to a work surface; a spray head positioned above the mounting means arranged to output a user-directable fluid flow; a mixing chamber positioned below the mounting means arranged to receive and mix fluid from at least two fluid input supplies and to be in fluid communication with the spray head through an output conduit, to provide a fluid output supply to the spray head; and a mix controller having a mix actuator positioned above the mounting means, the mix actuator being arranged to operate mix control means communicable with one or more mix valves associated with the mixing chamber, to control the relative proportions of the fluid input supplies received in the mixing chamber; wherein the mix control means and output conduit pass through a bore in the mounting means. 
   Preferably, the spray device is mounted on a single hole in the work surface. This may minimise the visible footprint of the device, which may make it more aesthetically pleasing. The bore in the mounting means may be aligned with the hole in the work surface, so that the control means and output conduit also passes through the hole in the work surface. 
   Preferably, the spray device includes a housing mountable on (e.g. fixed to) the work surface. The spray head is preferably detachable from the housing to give the user greater control in fluid flow direction. The housing may be the mounting means. Alternatively, the housing may be attached to the mounting means. 
   Preferably, the fluid communication between the spray head and mixing chamber includes a flexible conduit. The conduit may be extendible, or its length may be selected to allow the spray head to be moved away from the housing. The fluid output supply from the mixing chamber is preferably carried by the flexible conduit. 
   The spray head may be mounted to a distal end of the flexible conduit such that it is angularly orientable relative to the flexible conduit. This enables a user to have improved directional control of the spray head, without unnecessarily bending/twisting of the flexible conduit. 
   Preferably, the mixing chamber is located below the work surface. Elements of the spray device on display in use may be kept to a minimum. For example, the fluid communication between the spray head and mixing chamber may lie substantially below the work surface when the spray head is mounted on its housing. The single hole discussed above may be formed in the work surface for the flexible conduit feeding the spray head to pass. The housing may have a through hole formed therein for locating over the hole in the work surface, thereby allowing the flexible conduit to pass through. In this way, the housing may be mounted on the hole in the work surface to minimise the footprint of the device on display in use. The spray head and flexible conduit may be of the conventional type. 
   The spray device may include a flow controller operable to control the fluid flow (i.e. the rate of fluid flow) through the spray device. The flow controller is preferably arranged as an on/off device to either permit or prevent fluid flow out of the spray head. The flow controller may include a flow valve in the spray head. The flow valve may be operable by a press switch e.g. located on the spray head and actuable by the user&#39;s thumb when the user holds the spray head. The flow valve may be of the conventional type. Alternatively, the flow controller may be combined with the mix controller. In this preferred case, the spray device has a combined controller operable to control fluid flow into and away from the mixing chamber. The combined controller preferably has an off configuration where no fluid flow occurs, and an on configuration where fluid may flow through the device and the mix of fluid input supplies received by the mixing chamber is controllable. In a convenient embodiment, the combined controller may initially offer volume control of cold fluid only and then temperature control of full-flow fluid output. For further control, an additional flow valve in the spray head, e.g. operable using the thumb switch described above, may be used with the combined controller. 
   Preferably, the spray head is configured such that the direction of fluid entering the spray head, and the direction of fluid leaving the spray head are at an acute angle to one another (e.g. this may conveniently be achieved by a handle portion of the spray head being curved). In this configuration, when the spray head is held in an “up” position in which fluid enters the spray head in a vertically upwards direction, the nozzle will direct fluid in an inclined downwards direction. Thus, a user holding the spray head in an “up” position is less likely to produce accidental spillage since fluid flow will be directed downwards. Also, if the housing mounts the spray head in an “up” position, fluid flow will be directed downward from the spray head whilst the spray head is in the housing. This is beneficial because it enables a user to adjust the flow and/or temperature settings of fluid flowing from the device, prior to detaching the spray head from its housing, without causing unnecessary spillage, particularly if the downward fluid flow is directed to a fluid receiving device (e.g. a sink). This benefit can also realised by any configuration of the spray device in which the housing mounts the spray head such that fluid is directed in a downwards direction. 
   The spray head may comprise a spray head flow valve which has an on state in which liquid is able to flow through the spray head and an off state in which liquid is not able to flow through the spray head. The spray head flow valve may be biased to the on state so that it acts as a pause valve (i.e. so that the default setting of the valve is to allow water to flow through the spray head). This encourages a user to turn off the device using the flow controller rather than the spray head flow valve. This prevents the spray head being accidentally left in a pressurised situation by a user. The spray head flow valve may be actuated by a push button. 
   A characteristic of the present invention is a mix controller operable to control the fluid input supplies to the mixing chamber. This may be control of the relative proportion of fluid from each fluid input supply permitted into the mixing chamber. Preferably, the mix controller controls input to the mixing chamber independently of fluid input to the main tap. The mix controller preferably controls the input from a plurality of, e.g. two, typically hot and cold, input supplies to the mixing chamber. Preferably, the mix controller is arranged to operate a mixer valve to control relative proportions of fluid received in the mixing chamber from separate input supplies. For example, the mix controller may be able to direct 100% hot water or 100% cold water or a mixture of the two into the mixing chamber. Preferably, the mix controller is arranged to vary the input proportions in a continuous, e.g. linear, fashion. 
   Thus, while the flow controller may be operable to allow fluid to flow through the device, the mix controller may be operable to control the proportions of flow inputs into the mixing chamber, i.e. the mix controller may control the content of the fluid flowing through the device. 
   The flow input supplies may arrive in the mixing chamber through cartridge valves, e.g. of the conventional ceramic disc type, with the mix controller arranged to control the cartridge valves. 
   As explained above, the mix controller may also perform the function of the flow controller in that it may be operable to prevent fluid from entering the mixing chamber. 
   Preferably, the mix controller includes an actuator mounted on the housing e.g. located on (above) the work surface. The actuator is preferably arranged to operate control means communicable with the mixing chamber below the work surface. The control means may include physical connection to valve or valves associated with the mixing chamber such that operation of the actuator is directly transferred to operation of the valve or valves. Preferably, the physical connection of the control means extends through the same hole (i.e. the single hole) in the work surface as the flexible tube carrying the fluid output supply to the spray head. By sharing this space, the number of components on view to the user (i.e. above the work surface) can be kept low, which may improve the overall appearance of the device. In a convenient embodiment, the actuator may be arranged to rotate an upstanding sleeve about an axis. The sleeve may act as the control means, i.e. it may be directly connected to a valve in the mixing chamber. The actuator may be a rotatable ring coupled to the sleeve, the ring being rotatable by a protruding (e.g. radially protruding) lever. Preferably, the rotation axis is coaxial with the hole in the housing through which the spray head feed conduit (flexible tube carrying the output fluid supply from the mixing chamber) is arranged to travel. Thus, the feed conduit may pass through the actuator sleeve on its route from the mixing chamber below the work surface to the spray head above the work surface. 
   A longitudinal (axially extending) opening is preferably formed in the sleeve to receive the feed conduit. The circumferential extent of the opening is preferably selected to avoid interfering with e.g. constricting movement of or affecting flow through the feed conduit for the spray head. The axial extent of the opening is preferably selected to avoid excessive bending of the feed conduit as it travels through the sleeve and out of the housing. 
   The mixer valve may be conventional. Preferably, the actuator sleeve is operably coupled to a rotatable control disc which may act as a barrier between the fluid input supplies and a mixing space for mixing the inputs. The control disc may include a slot or slots formed therein arranged to align with input supply ports according to the rotation angle of the plate to permit fluid from the port(s) into the mixing space. The control disc may also include an output hole in fluid communication with the feed conduit to allow fluid to exit the mixing space. Alternatively, the mixer valve may include a pair of ceramic discs, e.g. of the conventional type, with the mix controller being operable to rotate the discs relative to one another, e.g. to align holes formed through them so that fluid can enter the mixing chamber. 
   As indicated above, the spray device may comprise a flow controller in addition to the mix controller (i.e. not a combined flow and mix controller). The flow controller may be arranged similarly to the mix actuator. The flow controller may have a flow actuator positioned above the work surface (e.g. on the housing) and may be arranged to operate flow control means communicable with one or more flow valves associated with the mixing chamber, to control the rate of fluid flow through the device, with the flow control means passing through the work surface (i.e. passing through the bore in the mounting means). The flow control means may be a physical connection to the flow valve(s) and may be a rotatable upstanding sleeve, with the fluid communication passing through the sleeve. The sleeve may include an axially extending opening. If the flow actuator is a sleeve, it may be arranged coaxially with the sleeve of the mix controller. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the above spray device may be provided as part of a mixer tap assembly e.g. kitchen tap assembly having a main tap outlet. Preferably, the assembly includes a main mixing chamber having an output in fluid communication with the main tap outlet, the main mixing chamber being separate from the mixing chamber of the spray device. Likewise, the inputs to the main mixing chamber may be controllable separately from, i.e. independently of, the mix controller of the spray device. Alternatively, the main tap outlet may be a non-mixing tap (e.g. a hot tap or a cold tap). 
   In another aspect, there may be provided a mixer valve having: a mixing chamber mountable beneath a work surface for mixing fluid received from two inputs in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; a flow output in fluid communication with the mixing chamber to provide an outlet for the mixed fluid, the flow output including an output conduit for carrying fluid to above the work surface; and a mix controller operable to control fluid input received in the mixing chamber, the mix controller having an actuator mountable on or above the work surface and arranged to operate control means which communicate through the work surface with the mixing chamber to perform the fluid input control, wherein the control means and the output conduit share a common path through the work surface. 
   The mixer valve may be mounted to the work surface by mounting means, with the control means and output conduit passing through a bore in the mounting means. Thus, according to this aspect there may be provided a mixer valve having: mounting means for attaching the mixer valve to a work surface; a mixing chamber positioned below the mounting means arranged to receive and mix fluid from at least two fluid input supplies; an output conduit in fluid communication with the mixing chamber to provide an outlet for the mixed fluid; and a mix controller having a mix actuator positioned above the mounting means, the mix actuator being arranged to operate mix control means communicable with one or more mix valves associated with the mixing chamber, to control the relative proportions of the fluid input supplies received in the mixing chamber; wherein the mix control means and output conduit pass through a bore in the mounting means. 
   Preferably, the control means includes a physical connection to the mixing chamber, e.g. directly to control valve or valves at the inputs to the mixing chamber. In this case, the output conduit and control means may pass through a common hole, e.g. single hole, in the work surface. This minimises the space required for connection to an outlet device, e.g. hand spray, faucet or the like. By locating the mixing chamber below the work surface, the minimum number of components of the device it feeds may be above the work surface. It is preferable to provide both the mix controller actuator and fluid output above the work surface in order to be accessible to the user. 
   Preferably, the control means includes an upstanding rotatable sleeve of the type described above, i.e. adapted to receive the output conduit (e.g. a flexible tube) therethrough. Although rotational operation is described and preferred because it matches the movement typically required to operate valve or valves at the mixing chamber inputs, other types of operation, e.g. axial pull up/push down arrangements are feasible. 
   The mixer valve may be provided as part of an assembly in which the mixer valve is mounted to a work surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Two examples of the present invention are discussed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a hand spray device which is a first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of the hand spray device of  FIG. 1  mounted on a work surface; 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows a close-up view of the input controller and mixing chamber of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of the mixing chamber shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view across the mixing chamber taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  shows front view of the hand spray device of  FIG. 1  in use with a main tap unit; 
       FIG. 8  shows a front view of a hand spay device which is a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  shows a side view of the hand spray device shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10   a  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10   b  shows an enlarged view of the spray head shown in  FIG. 10   a;    
       FIG. 11 . shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a first hand spray device  10  which comprises two sections: a mixing chamber  12  and a spray unit  32 . The mixing chamber  12  has a cylindrical body  15  with a lid  17  attached to it via screws  19  (received in corresponding recesses in the body  15 ). The body  15  has two input ports formed in its curved side surface; the ports are adapted to receive flexible hoses or pipes  14 , 16  from respective hot or cold water supplies, e.g. mains water or hot/cold water supplies to an existing household water appliance. Each pipe  14 , 16  has an end connector  20  for attaching to a suitable valve or supply. The body  15  has an output port formed in its bottom surface; a flexible output supply pipe  18  extends out of this port to feed water to the spray unit  32 . 
   The spray unit  32  is removably mounted in an annular housing  26 , which is connected to the mixing chamber  12  by a straight hollow tube  24 . The tube  24  supports the mixing chamber  12  below the work surface. The output supply pipe  18  travels through a cut out hole  25  in the side of the tube  24  and terminates inside the spray unit  32  itself. To aid the direction of the output supply pipe  18 , a tubular guide pipe  22  is mounted on the mixing chamber  12 . The output supply pipe  18  passes through the guide pipe  22  before entering the cut out hole  25 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing  26  is adapted to be mounted on a work surface  42 , where it is secured in place using a backing nut  27 . The housing  26  has a flat base arranged to lie flush with the top of the work surface  42 . A hole in the work surface receives the tube  24  so that the mixing chamber  12  can be located under the work surface  42 , e.g. out of sight of the user. 
   The spray unit  32  comprises a handle  34  for the user to grip, and a spray head  36  mounted on the handle  34 . The spray head  36  has a push button operator  38  which controls fluid flow through nozzle  40 . The output supply pipe  18  is threaded through the handle  34  to supply water at the spray head  36 . The output supply pipe  18  is flexible and long to enable the spray unit  32  to be lifted away from the housing  26 . The output supply pipe  18  slides up through the cut out hole  25  and through the middle of the housing  26  to accommodate this movement. 
   A rotatable input controller  28  is mounted on the housing  26 . As explained in more detail below, the controller  28  is arranged to control the relative proportion of fluid from the input supply pipes  14 , 16  received in the mixing chamber  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the controller  28  is rotatable from an off position in which no fluid enters the mixing chamber  12  from either input supply pipe  14 , 16  through a full cold position where all the fluid entering the mixing chamber is from the cold supply pipe  14  to a full hot position where all the fluid entering the mixing chamber is from the hot supply pipe  16 . Between the full cold and full hot position, a mix of the two inputs is received. The relative proportion of fluid from the two input supply pipes  14 , 16  is controlled according to the rotated angular position of the controller  28 . Rotation of controller  28  is carried out using radially protruding handle  30 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the device  10 , which illustrates its inner workings. Output supply pipe  18  can be seen to travel through guide pipe  22  (attached to ring  21  via web  23 , the ring  21  being mounted on an upstanding projection  50  on the mixing chamber  12 ) and cut out hole  25  into a passageway through housing  26  and controller  28  into handle  34 , where it terminates in connector  44 . The connection at the spray head  36  is conventional. The inner surface of controller  28  has a bearing  46  to prevent the spray head  32  rotating when the controller  28  is operated. 
   To operate the mixing chamber control, the controller  28  is attached to (or made integral with) a straight operator tube  48  which sits inside and coaxially with the hollow tube  24 . The operator tube  48  is rotatable with the controller  28  relative to the tube  24  to turn valve plate  54 , which is connected to the base  52  of the operator tube  48 . The output supply pipe  18  travels to the spray head  32  through the operator tube  48 . Thus, the operator tube  48  also has a cut out hole arranged to overlap with cut out hole  25 . The cut out hole has a greater circumferential extent than the cut out hole  25  on outer tube  24  so that the output supply pipe  18  can be received without constraint in the operator tube  48  in all angular operating positions of the controller  28 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the interior of the mixing chamber  12  in more detail. Valve plate  54  has an upstanding splined projection  51  that slots into correspondingly splined through hole  53  in base  52  so that the valve plate  54  rotates with the operator tube  48 . The valve plate  54  itself is received in the mouth of a cup formed by the base  15  of the mixing chamber  12 . The cup is then covered by a lid  17 , with an O-ring seal  64  at the joining edge to prevent leakage. The base of the upstanding projection  51  abuts the inwards facing surface of the lid  17  via O-ring seal  62  to prevent leakage into tube  24 . 
   Looking at  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the operation of the mixing chamber is now explained. The bottom of the cup formed by the base  15  of the mixing chamber has two input ports  59 , 69  and one output port  60 . Output port  60  leads away from mixing volume  56  to the output supply pipe  18 . Input ports  59 , 69  introduce fluid from input passages  58 , 68  (attached to input supply pipes  14 , 16 ) into mixing volume  56 . Rotation of valve plate  54  controls flow control disc  57 . Valve plate  54  and control disc  57  enclose mixing volume  56 . Control disc  57  has a central hole  61  leading to output port  60  and a circumferential slot  66  extending around part of its periphery arranged to move over the input ports  59 , 69  to allow fluid into the mixing volume  56  according to the position of the controller  28 . Thus, in the off position, the control disc  57  blocks both input ports  59 , 69 , i.e. the slot  66  does not overlie either of the input ports  59 , 69  (see  FIG. 6 ). An O-ring  63  is used to seal around the edge of each input port  59 , 69 . In the full cold position, the slot  66  lies over the cold input port  69 , whilst the hot input port  59  is still covered. In the full hot position, the slot  66  lies over the hot input port  59 , whilst the cold input port  69  is covered. In between these positions, each port  59 , 69  is partially covered and partially exposed to give different relative proportions from the input pipes  14 , 16 . 
   As an alternative to the control disc  57  abutting the O-ring  63  to seal the input port  59  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a pair of parallel ceramic plates may be used, e.g. as conventional known. In this case, the operator tube  48  would control relative rotation of the ceramic plates. 
     FIG. 7  shows the spray device  10  in use with a main (primary) kitchen tap assembly  70 . The illustrated tap assembly  70  is a simple mixer tap having a mixing chamber  72  mounted on the work surface  42 . The mixing chamber is fed by two inputs  74 , 76  taken off the main fee pipes under the work surface  42 . Fluid from the inputs  74 , 76  is controlled by operator handles  78 , 80  in the conventional way, so that mixed fluid is output through the tap nozzle  82 . By having separate mixing chambers  12 , 72 , each with its own temperature control (i.e. controller  28  and tap operators  78 , 80  respectively), the user has greater control over the whole system. By locating the hand spray mixing chamber below the work surface and integrating the output feed with the temperature control mechanism, the appearance of the whole assembly to the user (i.e. above the work surface) is uncluttered, which may be more aesthetically pleasing. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  show a second hand spray device  110 . The hand spray device  110  comprises a spray unit  132 , a housing  126  for removably mounting the spray unit  132  and a mixing chamber  112 . The spray unit  132  comprises a spray head  136  and a handle  134 . The housing  126  is adapted to be mounted on a work surface (not shown). The housing  126  is connected to the mixing chamber  112  by a straight hollow tube  124  which passes through a hole in the work surface. The tube  124  supports the mixing chamber  112  below the work surface so that it is out of sight of a user. 
   Mixing chamber  112  is a compact, conventional mixing chamber having cartridge valves of the ceramic disc type and operates in the manner known to those in the art. It has two input ports adapted to receive flexible hoses or pipes  114 ,  116  from respective hot/cold water supplies and a flexible output supply pipe  118  to feed water to the spray unit  132 . The output supply pipe  118  travels through a cut out hole  125  in the side of the tube  124  and is in fluid connection with the handle  134  of the spray unit  132 . 
   The housing  126  comprises a rotatable input controller  128  and a fixed seat  184  for holding the bottom  194  of the spray unit  132 . A handle  130  is attached to the input controller  128 . Rotation of the input controller  128 , using the handle  130 , allows a user to control the flow and/or temperature of the water supply to the spray unit  132  (the input controller  128  is connected to the mixing chamber  112  in the manner described below). The housing  126  has a flat bottom so that it lies flush with the work surface. A hole in the work surface receives the tube  124 . A backing nut  127  attaches the housing  126  to the work surface via the hollow tube  124 . 
   The handle  134  is curved so that the spray head  136  is inclined downwards when mounted in the housing, so that the spray unit  132  directs water into a sink (not shown) if the device  110  is turned on prior to the spray unit  132  being lifted from the housing. This enables a user to adjust the flow and/or temperature settings of the water flow, prior to lifting the spray unit  132  from the housing  126 , without unnecessary spillage of water. 
   The spray head  136  comprises a pause button  138 . The pause button  138  can be pressed to an “in” position by a user to stop the flow of water through the spray unit  132 . A not pressed (i.e. an “out”) position of the pause button  138  allows water to flow through the spray unit  132 . An internal spring  214  (see  FIG. 10   b ) biases the pause button  138  to its “out” position so that spray head  136  allows water to flow through the spray unit  132  when the button  138  is not pressed. This ensures that a user turns off the spray device  110  using the input controller  128  rather than using the spray unit  132 . This is advantageous because it helps to prevent a user leaving the output supply pipe  118  and the spray unit  132  in a pressurised situation when the device  110  is not being used. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  are cross sectional views of the spray device  110  taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 9  and the line C-C in  FIG. 8  respectively and show the inner workings of the second embodiment. 
   The housing  126  is fixed to the work surface through an annular internal structure  188 . The input controller  128  is rotatably mounted on the structure  188  whereas the seat  184  is fixed to the structure  188 . The handle  130  of the input controller  128  is attached to (or made integral with) the top of the operator tube  148  so that movement of the handle  130  effects rotation of both the input controller  128  and the operator tube  148 . The structure  188  comprises a circumferential recess  192  for accommodating rotational movement of the handle  130 . 
   The operator tube  148  sits inside and coaxially with the hollow tube  124 . The operator tube  148  comprises a cut-out hole arranged to overlap with the cut out hole  125  of the hollow tube  124 . The cut-out hole of the operator tube  148  has a greater extent than the cut-out hole  125  of the hollow tube  124  so that the output supply pipe  118  can be received without constraint in the operator tube  148  in all rotational positions of the input controller  128 . 
   The operator tube  148  is connected to a central member  154  of the mixing chamber  112  so as to control the output of water from the mixing chamber  112  through the output supply pipe  118  in the conventional manner. In this embodiment, the mixing chamber  112  is configured so that a user can, upon rotation of the input controller  128  from an “off” position, firstly control the volume of flow of cold water and then control the temperature of full-flow mixed hot and cold water (by adjusting the relative proportions of hot and cold water). 
   The bottom  194  of the spray unit  132  is made of a soft material (e.g. rubber) and is removably held by the fixed seat  184  of the housing  126 . A mounting ring  186  ensures that the bottom  194  is held at the intended depth in a cavity  190  located in the housing  126 . The bottom  194  of the spray unit  132  is tapered so that it does not contact the top of the operator tube  148  when it is held by the seat  184 . Therefore, rotation of the input controller  128  does not result in rotation of the spray unit  132 . 
   The distal ball-shaped end  195  of the output supply pipe  118  is in fluid communication with the interior piping  198  of the handle  134 . The interior piping  198  provides fluid communication through the handle  134  to the spray head  136 . The interior piping  198  includes a bend to account for the curve of the handle  134 . A sealing ring  197  ensures that the connection between the interior piping  198  and the supply pipe  118  is water tight. The handle  134  is connected to the end  195  of the output supply pipe  118  via an annular connector  196  which permits the spray unit  132  to be angularly orientable relative to the supply pipe  118 . This offers improved directional control of spray from the spray unit  132  to a user, without unnecessary bending/twisting of the supply pipe  118 . 
   The spray head  136  (shown in detail in  FIG. 10   b ) has an outer casing  200  which is attached to the handle  134  by grub screw  202 . Water enters the interior of the spray head  136  through holes  204 , passes through an interior cavity  206 , then through a dispersion unit  208  and leaves through the nozzle  140 . A plunger  210  is mounted in the interior of the spray head  136 . The plunger  210  has a rubber sealing ring  212  at its front which is adapted to plug the interior cavity  206 . The plunger  210  is held in the interior of the spray head  136  and is fixed to the button  138 . An internal spring  214  biases the button  138  and the plunger  210  to a position in which the plunger  210  does not plug the interior cavity  206 . A user pressing button  138  will cause the sealing ring  212  of the plunger  210  to abut against an internal annular surface  213  so that cavity  206  is plugged by the plunger  210 . Upon releasing the button  138 , the internal spring  214  will return the button  138  and plunger  210  to their original positions so that the flow of water is allowed to resume. Therefore, the spray unit  136  allows a user to temporarily pause the flow of water through the spray head by holding down the button  138 . 
   The spray device  110  can be assembled in a kitchen tap assembly in a similar manner to the first embodiment (e.g. as shown in  FIG. 7 ).

Technology Classification (CPC): 4