Patent Description:
It is known to provide a hand-washing appliance which dispenses water, soap and optionally air for drying the hands of the user. <CIT> discloses a faucet with sensing activation and multiple sensors. <CIT> discloses a lavatory fixture with first and second legs and a connecting section extending between the legs with outlets to dispense water and soap to wash a user's hands and sensors located near each outlet. Unfortunately, such arrangements do not provide the full flexibility needed in facilities for the use of the public including hygiene and efficient use of water and other consumable resources. Arrangements that address these problems have been proposed, for example, in European Patent <CIT> and in Chinese utility models <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

There remains a need, however, for hand washing facilities that improve hygiene and efficient use of resources and are suitable for use in a wide variety of facilities.

It is an aim of the present invention to address this need.

The present invention accordingly provides in a first aspect a multi-functional tap according to claim <NUM>, comprising:.

The great benefit of the timed cycle is that the managers of a facility are able to fully control the sequence and timing of the operation of the tap arrangement e.g. to reduce power or water use or, in circumstances where more extensive hand washing is necessary (for example during the Covid <NUM> pandemic when government recommendations were issued on duration of hand washing) to increase supply of soap, water or air during the hand washing timed cycle.

In preferred arrangements the sensor has a wire which is housed inside the cavity of the tap stem. Usually, the sensor is a motion sensor, a photoelectric sensor and/or an IR sensor, the sensitivity of which is preferably adjustable. With some embodiments the liquid soap conduit has an additional conduit for air in order for the soap outlet to dispense foamed soap.

According to the invention the wall of the tap stem incorporates one or more removable cover sections for enabling access to the single cavity. Sometimes a manifold block is provided in the cavity at the downstream end of the tap stem, the conduits being connected to inlet ports of the manifold, which ports feed the respective water, liquid soap and air outlets. In such arrangements, preferably the manifold block is accessible via said one or more cover sections and removable from the cavity in the tap stem.

Conveniently the outlets are all in close proximity to each other and preferably the air outlet is in the form of an elongate slot which is transverse to the lengthwise axis of the tap stem.

In some arrangements the upstream end of the tap stem incorporates a wall-mounting plate and the tap stem extends optionally in a generally straight line, preferably transverse (and more preferably substantially perpendicular) to the mounting plate from the upstream end to the downstream end. In other arrangements the tap stem has an upstream first section and a downstream second section which is angled with respect to the first section, the outlets being provided in the downstream second section and the single cavity extending along both first and second sections.

Preferably the tap is associated with a control unit. The tap may be in communication with and/or may comprise the control unit. The control unit may comprise an electronic controller which communicates with the sensor.

The control unit may comprise a water valve, a liquid soap pump and a controllable air supply all being controllable by the controller to deliver water, liquid soap and air to the respective outlets.

The water valve, the liquid soap pump and the controllable air supply may be controllable by the controller according to said timed cycle.

The controller may be adapted to control the operation of the water valve, the liquid soap pump and the controllable air supply, preferably in response to a signal from the sensor.

The controller may be adapted to control the operation of the water valve, the liquid soap pump and the controllable air supply by controlling the time of operation and/or sequence of operation thereof.

The controller may further comprise an input means.

The tap arrangement may further comprise indicia to indicate the operation of the tap arrangement, optionally comprising one or more lights to illuminate the indicia and/or the hands of a user in use.

Often, the electronic controller is configured to effect periodic purges of at least the water conduit and water outlet optionally without activation of the sensor.

The controller may generally comprise one or more microprocessors and memory components (e.g. non-volatile memory) and may be programmed to control the operation of the air blower, soap dispenser, and/or water dispenser in response to a signal from the sensor.

Generally, the controller will be adapted so that the operation of the air blower, soap dispenser, and/or water dispenser comprises the time of operation and/or the sequence of operation of one or more of these components. In other words, the controller may be adapted so that the timing of each of the component parts of the hand washing procedure and the sequence of the procedure is controllable through the controller.

A typical hand washing procedure will generally begin with user placing their hands under the tap. Such placement is detected by the sensor which then sends a signal to the controller. This results in the operation of a predetermined hand-washing sequence that may be: soap being dispensed for set period of time and/or in a predetermined volume, a pause, water being dispensed for a set period of time, a pause and then air flow being initiated in order to dry the hands of the user.

Generally, the arrangement may further comprise input means for the controller. Input means for the controller will usually comprise a means of communication to the controller that may be a computer or a control panel for providing control signals and programming e.g. the microprocessor of the controller. Further input means may comprise further sensors in the water, soap or air supply systems (e.g. flow rate, level and/or temperature sensors) and clock means (e.g. a real time clock and/or timing mechanism) to enable the sequence and timing of the various operations of the apparatus to be controlled.

Communication between the controller and the other components may be by wired connection and/or by wireless communication. Thus, in some embodiments the controller may be in communication with the sensor, the water valve, the liquid soap pump and the controllable air supply (and/or other components) using for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other wireless communication to communicate settings changes, operation counts, feedback on fault finding to and from the engine/tap/controller.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description refers to the following diagrammatic drawings in which:.

In the figures, two primary embodiments of a tap arrangement are disclosed, the first being an arrangement in which a multi-functional tap <NUM> is intended to be attached to and projecting from a wall surface (not shown) such that the tap <NUM> is preferably disposed over a basin (not shown) or other means for containing or collecting or disposing of water from the tap. The second arrangement is for a multi-functional tap <NUM>' which is to be attached to a basin <NUM> or a counter surface adjacent a basin.

<FIG> show a multi-functional tap <NUM> which has a tap stem <NUM> defined by an outer wall section <NUM>. Ideally, the wall section will be made from metal but other materials such as plastic are possible. The tap stem <NUM> has a downstream end <NUM> and an upstream end <NUM>. At the upstream end <NUM> the tap stem <NUM> is an optional mounting plate <NUM> intended to lie flush with a wall to which the tap <NUM> is to be mounted. In this particular arrangement there is an additional mounting plate <NUM> which is intended to lie on the other side of the wall. the mounting plate <NUM> is adjustably secured to the tap stem <NUM> by threaded bolts <NUM>/nuts so that tap stem <NUM> is clamped to the wall by tightening the nuts in order to move the mounting plate <NUM> into tight engagement with the wall which is disposed between the mounting plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Other methods of securement are of course possible depending on the particular location for the tap and the desired aesthetics. For example, the mounting plate <NUM> could incorporate holes such that the mounting plate <NUM> is secured directly to the wall using suitable fixings such as screws. The additional mounting plate <NUM> may still be used or may be omitted.

The wall section <NUM> defines an elongate single cavity <NUM> inside the tap stem <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> extends from the upstream end <NUM> to the downstream end <NUM> of the tap stem <NUM>. In this embodiment the wall section incorporates a removable cover section 13a which can be removed as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> in order to enable access to the cavity <NUM> and then replaced. The cover section 13a may be secured to the remaining part of the wall section <NUM> by a number of methods such as resilient clips or screws/bolts (not shown). The single cavity is a simple construction requiring minimal tooling and results in improved hygiene, the single cavity being easier to clean and maintain. The cover section 13a is ideally provided on an upward facing surface so that maintenance is easier (see later).

The internal cavity <NUM> provides a volume for receiving a number of conduits. In particular, there is a water conduit <NUM>, a liquid soap conduit <NUM> and an air conduit <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> also houses a wire <NUM> for a single sensor <NUM>. The conduits <NUM>-<NUM> and the wire <NUM> extend upstream along the cavity where they exit the tap stem <NUM> and connect to an 'engine' <NUM> which controls and supplies the water, soap and air to the multi-functional tap <NUM>. The engine <NUM> is ideally hidden from sight, perhaps in a cabinet or behind the wall. The engine <NUM> will incorporate suitable valves (that may be operated by solenoids) and/or pumps for water and soap, the valves control the water supply from a source of water such as mains water and soap supply from a source of soap perhaps housed in a soap container/reservoir <NUM>. The engine <NUM> may have an internal power source such as a battery or may be wired to, or plugged into (as shown), a source of mains electricity. The engine <NUM> also contains an electronic controller (not shown in detail) for controlling the supply of water and soap to the conduits <NUM>, <NUM> and the supply of air for hand-drying to the air conduit <NUM> via a suitable air fan or other type of air pump device. The sensor wire <NUM> will also be connected to the electronic controller for initiating cycles of the water/soap/air. Variations on the precise nature of the engine/controller will be readily apparent, depending on the requirements of the tap/washing cycle.

The water, soap and air conduits <NUM>-<NUM> lead to respective water, soap and air outlets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> at the downstream end of the tap <NUM>. These outlets <NUM>-<NUM> are directed downwardly when the tap <NUM> is correctly installed and are clearly visible in <FIG>, as is the single sensor <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be a motion sensor or an IR sensor, although other types of sensor may be possible. The intention is that a user can place a hand in proximity to the sensor <NUM> or move a hand close to the sensor <NUM> in order to activate a washing cycle of the tap <NUM>. It is also noted that the illustrated embodiment includes an optional additional air conduit <NUM> which feeds into the soap conduit <NUM>. This additional air conduit <NUM> enables the tap <NUM> to dispense foamed liquid soap. The additional air conduit <NUM> can, however, be omitted if plain liquid soap is to be dispensed.

In this illustrated embodiment, the conduits <NUM>-<NUM> are connected using suitable fixings to a manifold block <NUM> which may be made from a rigid plastic or other suitable material. The manifold block <NUM> has various channels <NUM> for enabling flow of water, soap and air to the respective outlets <NUM>-<NUM>, the channels <NUM> being more clearly shown in <FIG>. The manifold block <NUM> also houses the sensor <NUM> and has a dedicated channel <NUM> for the sensor wire <NUM>. In this particular embodiment the manifold block has channels <NUM> for water and soap and the sensor wire <NUM>/sensor <NUM>. Air, however, is delivered directly from the air conduit <NUM> to the air outlet <NUM> which is formed as an opening in the wall section <NUM> of the tap stem <NUM>. In this particular embodiment the air outlet <NUM> is an elongate slot which is generally transverse to the lengthwise axis of the tap stem <NUM>, but alternative shapes of air outlet are possible.

It will be appreciated that the manifold block <NUM> can be accessed via the removable cover section 13a for maintenance and can be disconnected from the water and soap conduits <NUM>, <NUM> for maintenance, replacement etc. The cover section 13a being on an upward facing surface provides optimal access to the cavity <NUM> and the manifold block <NUM>. Additionally, the underside of the manifold block <NUM> may be covered with a suitable plate <NUM> secured to the manifold block <NUM> with bolts/screws <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The plate <NUM> has suitable openings for the outlets <NUM>, <NUM> and sensor <NUM>.

In use of the tap <NUM>, the user will activate the single sensor <NUM> and this will cause the controller/engine to initiate an entire washing cycle depending on how the controller is programmed. For example, the controller may initiate a fixed cycle which provides a delivery of water for a predetermined time, then a delivery of soap, then a delivery of rinsing water after giving a period of time for hand-washing, and then a delivery of air for a predetermined period of time. Alternative cycles are of course possible dependent on requirements. Only one initiation of the single sensor <NUM> is required in order to provide all hand-washing requirements, i.e. water, soap, air.

As illustrated, it is preferred that all of the outlets <NUM>-<NUM> are in close proximity so that users do not have to move their hands between outlets. If there is excessive movement between outlets then a user can 'miss' all or part of a dispensing cycle. For example, they may miss the delivery of soap if their hands are in the wrong place. Similarly, the sensor <NUM> is adjacent the outlets <NUM>-<NUM> and is also facing downwardly so that when the tap cycle is activated, the user's hands are already in position below the outlets <NUM>-<NUM>. This is more effective than the sensor <NUM> being in a different location such as on the top or the side of the tap or on an adjacent wall/counter surface.

Whilst the tap stem <NUM> has been shown as straight and perpendicular to the wall mounting plate, the tap stem <NUM> could be other shapes and cross-sections and designed to extend from the supporting wall in a non-perpendicular manner.

In the second illustrated embodiment there is shown a multi-functional tap <NUM>' which has many similar features to the tap <NUM> described above. As with tap <NUM>, the tap <NUM>' is to be used in conjunction with an 'engine' <NUM> incorporating pumps and an electronic controller which connects to the single sensor <NUM> located at the downstream end of the tap <NUM>'. Instead of being wall mounted, the tap <NUM>' is intended to be secured directly to a basin <NUM> surround or to a counter surface adjacent a basin, as shown in <FIG> which also shows the engine <NUM> disposed below the counter.

The tap stem <NUM> of tap <NUM>' also has an outer wall section <NUM>, an upstream end <NUM> and a downstream end <NUM>, with the outer wall section defining an elongate single cavity <NUM> in which the conduits <NUM>-<NUM> and sensor wire <NUM> are received. The main difference with the tap <NUM>' is that the tap stem <NUM> has two interconnected sections, a first or upstream section <NUM> which is generally upstanding from the basin <NUM> and a second or downstream section <NUM> which is angled relative to the first section <NUM> so that the extreme downstream end of the second section <NUM> is disposed above the recessed part of the basin in a conventional manner. The single cavity <NUM> is continuous and extends all the way through both sections from the upstream end of the first section <NUM> to the downstream end of the second section <NUM>.

The extreme upstream end or mounting end of the first section <NUM> is also modified depending on the chosen method of attachment to the basin, but can, as illustrated, include the mounting plate <NUM> adjustably secured to the first section <NUM> by threaded bolts <NUM>/nuts so that the basin or counter is clamped between the first section <NUM> and the mounting plate by tightening the nuts to move the plate <NUM> closer to the first section <NUM>. The first section <NUM> may or may not incorporate an integral mounting plate at its extreme upstream end.

As with the first described embodiment, the tap <NUM>' incorporates a removable cover section 13a and the water and soap conduits <NUM>, <NUM> and the sensor wire <NUM> extend to a manifold block <NUM> which can be accessed via the removable cover 13a for maintenance purposes.

Although one conduit and one outlet is provided for each service (i.e. water, soap, air) it is possible to have more conduits/outlets or fewer conduits/outlets (if for example services share one or more outlets/conduits) as required. For example, the water feed may have separate hot and cold conduits/outlets or separate air feeds may supply separate air outlets.

The skilled person will understand that alternative shapes, configurations and materials can be used for the tap. Additionally, the controller can be programmed to run alternative washing cycles or to run periodic purges of one or more conduits/outlets, which purges would operate without actuation by the single sensor <NUM>. The controller can also be used to record use data relating to the tap, such as frequency of use and popular use times, which can be used to determine maintenance cycles and the periodic hygiene purges mentioned above.

In operation, a typical hand wash cycle would involve the following:
The user places their hands under the tap which is detected by the sensor resulting in a signal from the sensor to the controller.

The controller operates the soap pump to release a measured quantity of soap (either foamed or un-foamed depending on how the owner/installer/manager arranges the respective settings).

After a timed delay (e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> seconds) water is released via the controller operating the water valve for a predetermined period (e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> seconds).

Claim 1:
A multi-functional tap (<NUM>) comprising:
i) a tap stem (<NUM>) having an outer wall (<NUM>) which defines an elongate internal cavity (<NUM>) extending therethrough and having an upstream end (<NUM>) and a downstream end (<NUM>), the upstream end of the tap stem being configured to be secured to a support surface;
ii) a plurality of outlets provided at the downstream (<NUM>) end of the tap stem and comprising a water outlet (<NUM>), a liquid soap outlet (<NUM>) and an air outlet (<NUM>);
iii) a sensor (<NUM>) provided by the tap stem (<NUM>) and configured to initiate a timed cycle of water, liquid soap and air dispensing from the respective outlets; and
iv) a water conduit (<NUM>), a liquid soap conduit (<NUM>) and an air conduit (<NUM>) extending from the upstream (<NUM>) end to the downstream end (<NUM>) of the tap stem (<NUM>) inside the cavity (<NUM>) to provide water, liquid soap and air to the respective outlets,
and wherein; the wall of the tap stem (<NUM>) incorporates one or more removable cover sections (13a) for enabling access to the single cavity.