GB2431220A

GB2431220A - Valve for watering can

Info

Publication number: GB2431220A
Application number: GB0520611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Ernest Dunning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-11
Filing date: 2005-10-11
Publication date: 2007-04-18
Also published as: GB0520611D0

Abstract

A device for use when filling watering cans from a water butt comprises a self-closing stop-clock that enables a second watering can to be filling up unattended whilst a filled can is away being used. The device comprises a flexible tube 1 with attached float 2. A clip 3 supports a magnet 4 on arm 5. An iron plate 6 on the float sticks to the magnet when the float rises into the upright position shown in Fig.2, thus pinching the tube 1 and shutting off the water supply.

Description

OVERFLOW PREVENTATIVE

This invention relates to a self-closing stop-cock for use when filling watering-cans from a water-butt.

In the garden at times when much watering of plants is required by using a watering-can filled from a water-butt, the expediency of leaving a second watering-can to fill unattended is often attempted.

This is bad practise as on returning one is inevitably faced with an overflowing watering-can in a pool of wasted water.

If this procedure is to succeed then there has to be some form of selfclosing tap which acts as an overflow preventative that can be interposed between the water-butt and the watering-can.

According to the present invention there is provided a short length of flexible tubing with a float attached at its lower end which is caused to swing up in an arc by its buoyancy under water and then pinch-off the flow of water through the tube as it comes under the magnetic attraction from a magnet held at a suitable position near the top of the neck of the tube.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1 shows the watering-can in position at the water-butt.

Figure 2 shows the overflow preventative in the pinch-off position.

Figure 3 shows the overflow preventative in the full-flow position.

Referring to the drawing at figure 3 the overflow preventative comprises a flexible tube 1 with attached float 2 and at the neck of the tube, a clip 3 which also supports a round magnet 4 by means of the arm 5.

An iron plate 6 on the top of the float registers with the magnet when the float swings into the upright position as shown in figure 2 thus retaining it in the pinch-off position.

Tl- irm plabe is also mag'ietized so that its surface presents the cpposite pole to that of the magneb.

Note in figure 3 that the lower end of the flexible ttbe is flattened by the surface of the float which is sealed onto it. This causes pressure of the water in the upper portion to stiffen the tthe above thai: point and keeps that part rigid, so that the float swings up about the line of the seal and finally pinches-off the flow when it caies under the magnetic attractim.

In operatim the overflow-preventative is first securely connected to the tap of the water- butt and then raised to the pinch-off position and the tap turned on followed by the introdwtim of the overflow-preventative into the watering can. It is necessary to have at the base of the water-butt a piece of wood shown 7 in figure 1 so that the watering-can may be raised up close to the tap whilst filling and the dropped out when full. Withe aipty can in position the float is pressed thri, releasing it fran the nt and allowing water to flow into the can, which fills cpickly at first, then slows as it nears the top, and finally pinches-off as the magnet takes hold of the float. ft will reaain thus in a latched position until released.

In figure 1 A full watering-can awaiting collectim, shows through its pseucb transparent side, the upright float of the overflow-preventative pinching-off the flow. It will reiain thos whilst the full can is dropped cut and replaced by an rpty me. The float is then pressed down to allow the fresh can to fill whilst the full me is taken awaya.

Claims

AIMS

A self-closing stop-ccck carprising a short length of flexible tLbing with at its tpper end a sthut neck for attaching it to the outflow tap of a water-butt and with at its lor end a float the base of which is joined to the tt.bing along its outer edge.

2 A self-closing stcp-cock as clainEd in claim 1 wherein the neck of the tt.be is surrounded by a rital-band that sl4ports an arm holding a msguet beneath it.

3 A self-closing stcp-cock as claiird in claim 1 wherein an iron plate is set in the top surface of the float.

4 A self-closing stop-cock as clainEd in claims 1,2 & 3 wherein when the float is caused to swing into the i..pright position due to its buoyancy in a rising water level the maet is positioned so as to register with the iron plate so as to attract and retain the float in the pinch-off position.

A self-closing stop-cock as claiiid in claim 3 wherein the iron plate is also msgietized so that it presents an cpposite pole to that of the maçiet.

6 A self-closing stop-cock as herein before described with reference to the figures 1,2 & 3.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A self-closing stop-cock comprising a short length of flexible tubing with at its upper end a stout neck for attaching it to the outflow tap of a water-butt and with at its lower end a float, wherein the float may swing upwardly due to its buoyancy in a rising water level, wherein the stop cock further comprises a magnet above said float, whereby when the float is caused to swing upwardly in a rising water level, the float may come under the magnetic attraction of the magnet and be taken hold of by the magnet to thereby pinch off the flow of water through the tube.
2. The self-closing stop-cock of claim 1 wherein the base of the float is joined to the tubing along its outer edge.
3. The self-closing stop-cock of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the magnet is arranged to retain the float latched in the pinch-off position until released.
4. A self-closing stop-cock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the neck of the tube is surrounded by a metal-band that supports an arm holding the magnet beneath it.
5. A self-closing stop-cock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an iron plate is set in the top surface of the float.
6. A self-closing stop-cock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the magnet is positioned so as to register with the iron plate so as to attract and latch the float in the pinch-off position when the float is caused to swing into an upright position due to its buoyancy in a rising water level.
7. A self-closing stop-cock as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the iron plate is also magnetized so that it presents an opposite pole to that of the magnet.
8. The self-closing stop-cock of any preceding claim wherein the lower end of the flexible tube is flattened by a surface of the float sealed thereto.
9. The self-closing stop-cock of any preceding claim wherein the flexible tubing is configured to swing upwardly in an arc by virtue of its buoyancy in water.
10. A method of controlling the flow of water into a watering can, the method comprising interposing a stop-cock in accordance with any preceding claim between a water-butt and the watering can.
11. The use of a stop-cock in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9 to control the flow of water into a watering can from a water-butt.
12. A water butt having a stop-cock in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9 attached to an outflow tap thereof.
13. A self-closing stop-cock substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of Figures 1, 2 and 3.