Dispensing – With lock or fastening seal – Inhibiting operation of flow controller or closure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-04
2001-11-27
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With lock or fastening seal
Inhibiting operation of flow controller or closure
C222S553000, C222S555000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321948
ABSTRACT:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tap and valve assembly used to dispense fluids from a container to a receptacle, hose or dispensing system. The tap assembly can be used with the valve assembly in a closed system, or independently as a stand-alone dispensing tap.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Tap and valve assemblies have been used within the industry for dispensing fluid from a container to a receptacle or other fluid-receiving device. The typical tap assembly comprises an attachment receptacle for attaching the tap assembly to the fluid container and a tap handle for opening and closing the fluid passageway through the tap assembly. A valve assembly is most often combined with the tap assembly when the fluid is conveyed through a hose, tube or other dispensing or pumping system.
Prior art tap dispensing systems have as one of their primary disadvantages a propensity to vibrate open during transportation. Another disadvantage of the prior art systems is the possibility of mating a tap assembly attached to a fluid container of a first liquid to a valve assembly attached to a fluid receptacle or dispenser containing a second, incompatible liquid. Both of these and other disadvantages are addressed by the instant invention.
III. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is envisioned for use in the food service, beverage, and/or chemical industries where fluid containers are stored and then transported to a final destination where the fluid is dispensed from the container. A typical fluid container may be the “bag in a box” packaging container. However, any other fluid container may be used. The “bag in a box” packaging container comprises a collapsible plastic bag filled with a liquid that is contained in a cardboard box. The tap is assembled to the bag at the filler and shipped attached to the bag to the end user. The operator can either dispense the liquid directly from the container or connect it to another dispensing system using the valve designed to go with the tap.
The tap assembly comprises a tap body and a tap handle. The tap body comprises a mouth portion for attaching the tap body to the fluid container and a substantially cylindrical shaft, the shaft being oriented perpendicular to the mouth portion. The shaft contains an orifice to create a fluid passageway from the fluid container through the tap body.
The tap handle is placed within the tap body and comprises a knob and a tap stem. The tap stem is also substantially cylindrical and fits sealingly within the tap shaft. The tap stem contains an orifice through its cylindrical wall surface. When the tap knob is rotated to the open position, the orifice in the tap stem is fully aligned with the orifice in the tap shaft. As the tap knob is rotated to the fully closed position, the cylindrical wall of the tap stem serves to completely seal off the orifice in the tap shaft and close the fluid passageway from the fluid container.
In order to prevent the inadvertent or accidental opening of the tap handle during transportation, the invention incorporates a locking or anti-rotation tab attached directly to or integrally molded with the tap handle. This locking tab also serves as a tamper-evident device to visibly indicate whether or not the tap has been opened prior to its intended use. The locking tab comprises a detachable element secured between the tap handle and tap body. The tap handle is prevented from rotating until the locking tab is removed. The locking tab may not be reattached to the tap handle and tap body.
A safety key system is used to secure the connection between the tap and valve and to insure that the correct valve is connected to the tap. The tap and valve assemblies are used together when it is necessary to transfer the contents of the container to another dispensing device, pump, or a remote location. It is important to ensure that the correct valve assembly is connected to its corresponding tap assembly, particularly when combining certain chemicals can have severe and possibly explosive reactions. The safety key extends downwards from the crown of the tap handle and engages a set of parallel ribs located on the valve assembly. The width of each rib, and the spacing between the ribs serves to mate a valve assembly with the corresponding tap assembly, thus preventing the tap from being connected to the wrong valve assembly.
The valve assembly comprises a valve housing with a tapered dispensing end, a piston, a check valve and a coil spring. The piston is sized to sealingly fit within the valve housing. The check valve having a head and a cruciform body is placed through the center of the piston and the coil spring. The head of the check valve seats within the aperture in the piston. The base of the check valve is secured within the valve housing. The spring is anchored between the piston and the valve housing, holding the piston against the head of the check valve.
As the tap assembly is inserted within the valve housing, the tap assembly forces the piston downward against the spring, and unseats the check valve, thereby creating a fluid passageway around the check valve and through the valve housing. When the tap assembly is disconnected from the valve assembly, the spring forces the piston upward to seat the piston against the check valve head portion. This effectively prevents residual fluid remaining in the hose or dispensing apparatus from flowing out of through the detached valve assembly.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 6170710 (2001-01-01), Suffa
patent: 2181419 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2210030 (1989-06-01), None
Beaver Jeffrey
Bellon Tiziano
Kasting Tom
Adusei-Poku Kwadjo
Doigan Lloyd D.
Kaufman Joseph A.
Rieke Corporation
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