The invention relates to a faucet. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention concerns a faucet which allows adjustment of the water temperature and/or flow rate, with little input force or movement. The invention may have particular application for kitchen or bathroom taps but it need not be limited to this use.

For convenience, the invention is discussed primarily in relation to kitchen or bathroom taps. The skilled person will appreciate that various applications are possible, such as in showers.

Prior art faucets require significant rotation or movement of a handle, which must often be gripped with some force to allow movement . These faucets can be difficult to use, especially for elderly or disabled users with reduced manual dexterity.

There is therefore a need for a faucet which provides flow rate and temperature control without requiring a firm grip or large movements.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a faucet comprising a base and a spout, wherein the spout is arranged to be deflected relative to the base by a user and to return to its initial position after the deflection.

Deflection of the spout may effect a change in fluid flow rate and/or in fluid temperature from the spout. The fluid flow rate and/or fluid temperature may change by a predetermined amount in response to a deflection.

Displacement of the spout may effect only a change in fluid flow rate, only a change in fluid temperature, or both. In some embodiments wherein displacement of the spout effects a change in fluid flow rate, a single deflection may turn fluid flow "off" if it is "on", and "on" if it is "off". In embodiments wherein vertical displacement of the spout turns the fluid flow "on" and "off", vertical displacement may be possible in only one direction from the initial position, for example, only upwards or downwards. In this arrangement consecutive deflections in the same direction from the initial position may switch the flow from "off to "on" and "on" to "off.

Alternatively, in embodiments wherein vertical displacement of the spout turns the fluid flow "on" and "off, vertical displacement may be possible in both directions from the initial position. For example, displacement in one direction from the initial position may turn fluid flow "on" if it is "off and further displacements in the same direction may increase the fluid flow up to a maximum while displacements in the opposite direction may reduce fluid flow until the flow is turned "off. In this arrangement consecutive deflections in one direction increase flow and consecutive deflections in the opposite direction reduce flow.

In some embodiments wherein displacement of the spout effects a change in fluid temperature, displacement of the spout in one direction may increase fluid temperature and displacement in the opposite direction may decrease fluid temperature. When the fluid flow is switched "on", the fluid temperature may be set to a predetermined value irrespective of any fluid temperature set in any previous use. The pre-determined value may be set between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature. In some embodiments, the spout may be configured for displacement in two mutually perpendicular directions. Displacement in one direction may control fluid flow rate and displacement in the other direction may control fluid temperature. In alternative embodiments this may be reversed. Displacement in one direction may be substantially vertical and displacement in the other direction may be substantially horizontal.

In some embodiments, vertical displacement may effect a change in fluid flow rate and horizontal displacement may effect a change in fluid temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.

The spout may be configured to effect return to its initial position following deflection. For example, the spout may be sprung and/or otherwise biased to return to its initial position, According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of adjusting the fluid flow rate and/or temperature through a faucet comprising a spout which returns to an initial position after deflection, the method comprising deflecting the spout away from its initial position one or more times.

Each deflection may increase or decrease the temperature or flow rate by a predetermined amount.

The method may comprise deflecting the spout vertically to effect a change in flow rate, and/or deflecting the spout horizontally to effect a change in flow temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.

The method may comprise repeating the same deflection to effect a larger change in flow rate or temperature than is effected by a single deflection.

The skilled person will appreciate that features discussed in relation to either aspect of the invention may be provided with the other aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used for like features :

Figure 1 shows a faucet according to an embodiment; Figure 2 shows the faucet of Figure 1 with the combined handle/spout portion in its rest position;

Figure 3 shows the faucet of Figure 1 with the combined handle/spout portion vertically deflected away from the rest position;

Figure 4 shows a front view of the faucet of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 shows a back view of the faucet of Figure 1 ; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the faucet of Figure 1 ; Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show a plan view of the faucet of Figure 1 in three different positions, with the rest position shown in Figure 7B and left and right horizontal deflections shown in Figures 7A and 7C respectively.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a faucet 100 comprising a base 102, and a spout 104 which also serves as a handle. In use, water enters the faucet from a water supply (not shown) via the base 102. In use, water is ejected from an outlet 106 in the underside of the handle/spout portion 104.

In the embodiment being described, the base 102 is angled slightly forward from the vertical, towards the outlet. This is not essential and the orientation of the base 102 may differ from that shown in other embodiments. The spout 104 has a rest position, as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 6, which may also be referred to as its initial position. In the embodiment being described, the upper surface 104a of the spout 104 is substantially horizontal when the faucet is in the rest position. This is not essential and the orientation of the spout 104 in the rest position may differ from that shown in other embodiments .

The base 102 and spout 104 are connected such that the spout can be deflected left, right or upwards from the rest position, and will return to the rest position when the deflecting force is removed. In the embodiment being described, the spout 104 is configured such that it automatically returns to its rest position when the deflecting force is removed. The spout 104 may be sprung or otherwise biased to achieve the automatic return to its rest position. In the embodiment being described, the faucet is arranged such that an upward deflection of the spout 104 will turn the water flow "off if it is currently "on", and "on" if it is currently "off. The upward deflection therefore provides a simple on -off switch. Figure 3 illustrates the faucet with the spout 104 in the upwardly deflected position. Advantageously, the deflection required is small to facilitate use. A small displacement may be a displacement of up to 20 ^° , and may be, for example, 5 ^° , 10 ^° , 12 ^° , 15 ^° or 20 ^° .

In alternative or additional embodiments, the spout 104 may be deflected vertically upwards or downwards. Upward deflection may increase flow rate, and downward deflection may decrease flow rate, or vice versa . After each deflection, the spout 104 returns to its rest position. The spout 104 can then be deflected again to further increase or decrease flow rate, or to counteract the previous change. In some embodiments, the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be fixed giving the same deflection providing a predetermined step change in flow rate for each actuation of the spout. In this way, multiple actuations of the spout may be required to reach maximum or minimum flow rate. In other embodiments, the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be variable allowing different deflections providing different step changes in flow rate to be achieved when actuating the spout. In this way, a single actuation of the spout may be sufficient to reach maximum or minimum flow rate or any intermediate flow rate. In the embodiment being described, the faucet is arranged such that horizontal deflection of the spout 104 increases or decreases the water temperature. In the embodiment being described, deflecting the spout 104 leftwards decreases the temperature and deflecting it rightwards increases the temperature. In alternative embodiments, this may be reversed.

After each deflection, the spout 104 returns to its rest position. It can then be deflected again to further increase or decrease water temperature, or to counteract the previous change. In some embodiment, the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be fixed giving the same deflection providing a predetermined step change in temperature for each actuation of the spout. In this way, multiple actuations of the spout may be required to reach maximum or minimum temperature. In other embodiments, the angular deflection of the spout from the rest position may be variable allowing different deflections providing variable step changes in temperature to be achieved when actuating the spout. In this way, a single actuation of the spout may be sufficient to reach maximum or minimum temperature or any intermediate temperature.

By fixing the angular deflection so that the same predetermined step change in temperature or flow rate is obtained with each actuation, the resulting change in flow rate and/or temperature from each actuation can be controlled. This may reduce the likelihood that a user will accidentally effect a large change in flow rate and/or temperature and splash or scald himself or herself. This may be desirable for users having reduced manual dexterity.

By varying the angular deflection so that different step changes in temperature or flow rate can be obtained with each actuation, the resulting change in flow rate and/or temperature from each actuation can be controlled to produce large or small changes in flow rate and/or temperature as desired. This may be desirable to allow a required flow rate and/or temperature to be achieved more quickly through a large change and/or to permit more precise control of flow rate and/or temperature through a small change.

In the embodiment being described, after the faucet has been switched off the temperature setting reverts to a predetermined temperature. Advantageously, this avoids a subsequent user being unexpectedly scalded, or getting a shock from cold water. In some embodiment, the predetermined temperature is around 40 ^° C; advantageously this provides warm water without a risk of scalds or discomfort. The spout 104 can therefore be tapped, knocked, flicked or "clicked" to effect a change in flow rate or temperature.

The skilled person would understand that, in alternative embodiments, vertical displacement may affect temperature, and horizontal displacement may affect flow rate. In still further embodiments, the faucet only allows control of temperature or flow rate by deflection and return of the spout 104, not both.

Front and back surfaces 102a, 102b of the base 102 are curved and the side surfaces 102c are flat. The surfaces of the base 102 are curved where it connects to the spout 104. The spout 104 has semi-circular edge portions 108 and curved underside (not shown) where it meets the base 102 to facilitate horizontal and vertical displacement. The semi-circular edge portion 108 and curved underside fit to the curved portion of the base 102.

Advantageously, the correspondence of shapes of the base 102 and spout 104 may prohibit movement beyond a small displacement. In the embodiment being described, the spout 104 can be displaced by up to 10 ^° by a horizontal or vertical deflection away from the rest position.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above - described and the skilled person will appreciate that modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.