Apparatus for Fitting a Tap

Abstract

There is provided a monobloc tap apparatus ( 201 ) for securely mounting to a sink ( 202 ). The apparatus comprises a monobloc unit ( 301 ) for positioning above the sink, a fastening plate ( 303 ) for positioning underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement, and a securing bolt ( 305 ) insertable through the monobloc unit ( 301 ) and into the middle hole ( 603 ) of the fastening plate ( 303 ). The monobloc unit ( 301 ) comprises two locating collars ( 302 ) configured to pass through the two outermost holes ( 602 ) of the fastening plate ( 303 ), and the securing bolt ( 305 ) is configured to be tightened from above the sink ( 202 ).

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A monobloc tap apparatus for mounting to a sink, the apparatus comprising:
 a monobloc unit for positioning above the sink,   a fastening plate for positioning underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement,   a securing bolt insertable through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole of the fastening plate,   wherein said monobloc unit comprises two locating collars configured to pass through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate, and further wherein   said securing bolt is configured to be tightened from above the sink.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sink may be any pool for the deposit of water. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said sink may be a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink or a bath. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising tap handles. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said tap handles are attached to the monobloc unit once the monobloc tap apparatus is securely mounted to a sink. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two outermost holes of said fastening plate are each configured to receive a single water pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each locating collar is configured to be attached to a single water pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein one locating collar is attached to a hot water pipe and the other locating collar is attached to a cold water pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said securing bolt is an M8 bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a copper washer and a fibre washer for use with said securing bolt. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sink comprises a single hole configured for insertion of the locating collars. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fastening plate is used as a template to enlarge said single hole. 
     
     
         13 . A method of mounting a monobloc tap apparatus to a sink, comprising the following steps:
 positioning a fastening plate underneath the sink, the plate having three holes in a linear arrangement,   positioning a monobloc unit above the sink, the monobloc unit having two locating collars configured to be inserted through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate,   screwing a hot water pipe and cold water pipe through the two outermost holes of the fastening plate and into the two locating collars of the monobloc unit,   inserting a securing bolt through the monobloc unit and into the middle hole in the fastening plate, and   tightening the securing bolt from above the sink.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of attaching tap handles to the monobloc unit once the monobloc tap apparatus is mounted to a sink. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said securing bolt is an M8 bolt. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for attaching a mixing faucet to water receiving means, comprising:
 a monobloc unit having a first locating collar and a second locating collar;   a fastening plate having a first hole, a second hole and a middle hole between said first hole and said second hole and;   a securing bolt; with instructions to perform the steps of:   positioning a fastening plate underneath said water receiving means;   arranging said monobloc above a water receiving means;   inserting said securing bolt through the monobloc unit and into said middle hole;   locating said first collar through said first hole and locating said second collar through said second hole;   attaching a hot water pipe to said first collar through said first hole and attaching a cold water pipe to said second collar through said second hole; and   tightening the securing bolt from above the water receiving means.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a hot tap handle and a cold tap handle, wherein said instructions include the additional step of attaching said hot tap handle to said monobloc and attaching said cold tap handle to said monobloc. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  configured for attachment to one or more of the following water receiving means, comprising: a kitchen sink; a bathroom sink; and a bath. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said instructions include the additional steps of:
 drilling a single hole in said water receiving means; and   inserting both said first collar and said second collar through said single hole.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of washers, wherein said instructions include:
 applying said washers to said securing bolt; and   using said fastening plate a template for defining the size of said single hole.