Patent Description:
It is known to mount a tap or a faucet on a surface, e.g. a deck, near a bath tub or a sink. The tap is arranged to deliver fluid into the bath tub or the sink. The tap is adapted to be fitted to one or more fluid supply pipes located at least in part behind the surface. A user can operate the tap to control fluid flow rate and/or temperature into the bath tub or the sink. Such a tap may be termed a deck-mounted tap or a deck-mounted faucet.

An isolation valve is typically present in the fluid supply pipe(s) to which the deck-mounted tap is connected. The isolation valve is required to allow fluid flow to be cut off, e.g. during maintenance or replacement of the tap. However, the isolation valve is typically not easily accessible, since it may be located behind the surface, e.g. beneath the deck. Accessing the isolation valve may involve, for example, removing a bath panel.

<CIT> discloses a device that has two connection pieces arranged parallel to each other in a movable manner. One of the connection pieces is connected with a water conduit and the other connection piece is connected with an input connection of a sanitary fitting. The connection pieces are fastened against each other in a rotatable manner. The device is rotated at an axis of the former connection piece attached to the water conduit and another axis of the latter connection piece attached to the sanitary fitting. <CIT> discloses an other plumbing fitting.

A first aspect of the invention provides a plumbing fitting according to claim <NUM> mountable on a surface, the plumbing fitting comprising:.

When the plumbing fitting is mounted on the surface, the isolation valve is located in front of the surface meaning that the isolation valve can be readily accessed, e.g. for maintenance, servicing or repair.

The isolation valve is operable to allow or prevent fluid flow along the inlet waterway. The isolation valve may comprise a ball valve.

The surface may be a deck, e.g. adjacent a bath tub or a sink.

The plumbing fitting may comprise a tap or a faucet.

The fluid handling component may comprise a diverter.

The fluid handling component comprises a valve.

The valve may be a mixer valve, e.g. a thermostatic mixer valve.

The inlet waterway may be disposed at least partially within a tubular member. A first end of the tubular member may be adapted to be connected to the water supply pipe. A second end of the tubular member may be adapted to be connected to the body. For instance, the second end of the tubular member may be threadably connectable to the body.

The tubular member may be permanently attached to the body. The tubular member may be integrally formed with the body.

The inlet waterway may include a bend. The inlet waterway may comprise a first straight section upstream of the bend and a second straight section downstream of the bend. The tubular body may be an elbow component.

The isolation valve may be disposed upstream of the bend, at the bend or downstream of the bend.

In an example implementation, the isolation valve may be disposed in the second straight section of the tubular body, e.g. the elbow component.

The plumbing fitting comprises one or more further inlet waterways for conveying an inlet water flow to an inlet of the fluid handling component, each further inlet waterway being connectable to a water supply pipe.

In one implementation, the plumbing fitting may comprise: a valve chamber having a first valve chamber inlet for receiving a first inlet water flow and a second valve chamber inlet for receiving a second inlet water flow and a valve chamber outlet for an outlet water flow to pass through; and a valve member operable to control fluid flow through the valve chamber. Hence, the outlet water flow may constitute a mixed flow having a desired temperature and flow rate.

A second aspect provides a plumbing system comprising:
a plumbing fitting according to the first aspect, the plumbing fitting being mounted on a surface and connected to one or more water supply pipes.

The plumbing fitting has an isolation valve disposed within the inlet waterway at a location accessible from in front of the surface. Hence, the isolation valve can be readily accessed, e.g. for maintenance, servicing or repair.

The plumbing fitting or one or more fluid delivery devices downstream thereof may be arranged to dispense water into a bath tub or a sink.

The plumbing fitting may be connected to a first water supply pipe arranged to convey cold water and a second water supply pipe arranged to convey hot water.

The plumbing system may be an ablutionary system.

One or more of the water supply pipes may be located at least in part behind the surface. One of more of the water supply pipes may protrude from the surface.

Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect, any other feature or parameter described herein.

<FIG> shows a mixer tap or faucet <NUM> adapted to be mounted on a surface (not shown). Typically, the surface may be a substantially horizontal surface adjacent a bath tub or a sink. Such a surface may be termed a deck. The deck may extend at least partially around a perimeter of the bath tub or the sink.

The mixer tap <NUM> comprises a mixer valve body <NUM> in the form of a bar valve. A thermostatic mixer valve (not shown) is disposed within the mixer valve body <NUM>. The thermostatic mixer valve (not shown) comprises a valve chamber having a first valve chamber inlet for receiving a first inlet water flow and a second valve chamber inlet for receiving a second inlet water flow and a valve chamber outlet for an outlet water flow to pass through. A valve member is operable to control fluid flow through the valve chamber. The outlet water flow constitutes a mixed flow having a desired temperature and flow rate.

The mixer valve body <NUM> has a first control knob <NUM> at a first end and a second control knob <NUM> at a second end. The first control knob <NUM> may be configured to enable user control of the temperature of the outlet water flow and the second control knob <NUM> may be configured to enable user control of the flow rate of the outlet water flow or vice versa.

A spout <NUM> protrudes forward from a central portion of the mixer valve body <NUM> and provides fluid communication from the valve chamber outlet to a spout outlet. When the mixer tap <NUM> is mounted on a surface such as a deck, the spout outlet may be arranged to emit water into a bath tub or a sink.

A first elbow component <NUM> is adapted at a first end to be connected to a first water supply pipe (not shown). At a second end, the first elbow component <NUM> is connected to the mixer valve body <NUM>. The second end of the first elbow component <NUM> may be threadably connected to the mixer valve body <NUM>. The first elbow component <NUM> provides at least in part a first inlet waterway providing fluid communication from the first water supply pipe to the first valve chamber inlet. The first elbow component <NUM> has a bend at an intermediate point along its length. A first straight section is disposed upstream of the bend and a second straight section is disposed downstream of the bend. As will be described in more detail below, an isolation valve is disposed in the second straight section of the first elbow component <NUM>. The isolation valve is operable to prevent or permit fluid flow along the first inlet waterway.

A second elbow component <NUM> is adapted at a first end to be connected to a second water supply pipe (not shown). At a second end, the second elbow component <NUM> is connected to the mixer valve body <NUM>. The second end of the second elbow component <NUM> may be threadably connected to the mixer valve body <NUM>. The second elbow component <NUM> provides at least in part a second inlet waterway providing fluid communication from the second water supply pipe to the second valve chamber inlet. The second elbow component <NUM> has a bend at an intermediate point along its length. A first straight section is disposed upstream of the bend and a second straight section is disposed downstream of the bend. As will be described in more detail below, an isolation valve is disposed in the second straight section of the second elbow component <NUM>. The isolation valve is operable to prevent or permit fluid flow along the second inlet waterway.

The first elbow component <NUM> and the second elbow component <NUM> are substantially identical. For conciseness, only the second elbow component <NUM> will be described in detail. It will be appreciated, however, that the disclosure relating to the second elbow component <NUM> applies equally to the first elbow component <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second elbow component <NUM> constitutes a tubular member <NUM> having a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. A second inlet waterway <NUM> extends through the tubular member <NUM> from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM>.

The first end <NUM> is adapted to be connected to a water supply pipe (not shown). The second end <NUM> has a threaded portion for connecting the second elbow component <NUM> to the mixer valve body <NUM>.

The second elbow component <NUM> comprises a bend <NUM>. The bend <NUM> is located between a first straight section <NUM> located upstream of the bend <NUM> and a second straight section <NUM> located downstream of the bend <NUM>.

An isolation valve in the form of a ball valve <NUM> is arranged in the second straight section <NUM> and is operable to prevent or allow flow along the second inlet waterway <NUM>.

The ball valve <NUM> includes a ball <NUM> with an aperture <NUM> therethrough. The ball <NUM> is sealed within the second inlet waterway <NUM> by two o-ring seals <NUM>, <NUM>. A spigot <NUM> extends from the ball <NUM> through a wall of the second elbow component <NUM> so that an end of the spigot <NUM> is accessible by a user. The end of the spigot <NUM> is provided with a groove <NUM> for receiving a tip of a screwdriver or the like. The spigot <NUM> is operably connected to the ball <NUM> by a spigot tip <NUM> received in a slot <NUM> in the ball <NUM>.

In use, a screwdriver can be used to turn the spigot <NUM> and hence rotate the ball <NUM> within the second inlet waterway <NUM>. The ball <NUM> can be rotated between an open configuration (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), which allows fluid flow along the second inlet waterway <NUM> and a closed configuration (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), which prevents fluid flow along the second inlet waterway <NUM>.

In the open configuration, the aperture <NUM> through the ball <NUM> is aligned with the second inlet waterway <NUM>. Hence, fluid can flow along the second inlet waterway <NUM>.

In the closed configuration, no part of the aperture <NUM> through the ball <NUM> is aligned with the second inlet waterway <NUM>. Consequently, fluid is prevented from flowing along the second inlet waterway <NUM>.

A pair of o-ring seals <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed around the spigot to provide a fluid-tight seal within the second elbow component <NUM>. A clip <NUM> is arranged to hold the spigot in place.

The second elbow component <NUM> is configured to be mounted on a surface such as a deck in any suitable manner. When mounted on the surface, the surface may be disposed between a first flange <NUM> and a second flange <NUM>. The first flange <NUM> and the second flange <NUM> are located towards the first end <NUM> of the second elbow component <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a plumbing system <NUM> comprising a tap <NUM> according to the present disclosure, e.g. the tap <NUM>, arranged to dispense water into a bath tub <NUM>. The tap <NUM> is mounted on a deck <NUM> adjacent the bath tub <NUM>. The tap <NUM> is connected to one or more water supply pipes (not shown). The tap <NUM> has one or more isolation valves disposed within one or more inlet waterways at a location accessible from in front of, i.e. above, the deck <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another plumbing system <NUM>. The plumbing system <NUM> comprises a plumbing fitting <NUM> comprising a tap, e.g. a mixer tap, and a diverter. The plumbing fitting <NUM> is arranged to dispense water into a bath tub <NUM> either via a tap spout <NUM> or via an overhead shower <NUM> in fluid communication with the plumbing fitting <NUM>. Fluid communication from the plumbing fitting <NUM> to the overhead shower <NUM> is provided by a riser tube <NUM> and an arm <NUM>. The diverter is operable to allow user selection of the mode of dispensing the water, i.e. via the tap spout <NUM> or the overhead shower <NUM>. The plumbing fitting <NUM> is mounted on a deck <NUM> adjacent the bath tub <NUM>. The plumbing fitting <NUM> is connected to one or more water supply pipes (not shown). The plumbing fitting <NUM> has one or more isolation valves disposed within one or more inlet waterways at a location accessible from in front of, i.e. above, the deck <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that the isolation valve is disposed within the plumbing fitting and is therefore easily accessible, since the isolation valve will be in front of the surface, e.g. deck, on to which the plumbing fitting is mounted. Hence, maintenance, servicing and replacement activities may be less disruptive.

Claim 1:
A plumbing fitting (<NUM>) mountable on a surface (<NUM>), the plumbing fitting (<NUM>) comprising:
a body housing (<NUM>) at least partially at least one fluid handling component having an inlet for receiving an inlet water flow, wherein the at least one fluid handling component comprises a valve operable in response to a user input to control the temperature (<NUM>) and/or flow rate of an outlet water flow (<NUM>);
an inlet waterway (<NUM>) for conveying the inlet water flow to the inlet of the fluid handling component, the inlet waterway being connectable to a water supply pipe; and
a manually operable isolation valve (<NUM>) operable to allow or prevent flow along the inlet waterway, wherein the isolation valve is disposed within the inlet waterway at a location downstream of the water supply pipe and upstream of the inlet for receiving the inlet water flow;
wherein, when the plumbing fitting (<NUM>) is mounted on the surface, the isolation valve is located in front of the surface and is at a location accessible from in front of the surface.