Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Receiver actuated discharge means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-05-15
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Receiver actuated discharge means
C141S369000, C222S505000, C137S378000, C251S293000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230769
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to valve assemblies, commonly called “taps,” used to dispense beverages, particularly beverages stored under pressure, such as draft beer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many bars, taverns, pubs, ale houses and restaurants dispense beverages by means of pressurized storage and delivery systems controlled by valve assemblies commonly called “taps.” Taps, which may be mounted on a wall, or connected to a counter-top by means of a stanchion, communicate with storage containers of beverage via conduits and control the flow of beverage from the storage container to the receptacles in which the beverage is served.
Taps comprise a tap valve that is controlled by a tap-handle assembly. Most tap valves are actuated by a to-and-fro movement of a vertically-oriented tap-handle assembly, as described in detail below. In order to open the valve and dispense beverage, the tap-handle assembly is pulled forward, toward the server. To close the tap, the tap-handle assembly is pushed away from the server.
In addition to providing a mechanism for actuating tap valves, the exterior parts of tap-handle assemblies are shaped and painted in unique ways in order to indicate the brand of the beverage that is being dispensed from the tap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Shortcomings of Prior Art That Are Overcome by the Invention
Taps of various types have been in use for many generations; however, they share one persistent shortcoming: they are difficult or impossible to operate with one hand. This shortcoming is particularly troublesome during periods when business is brisk because it is at such times that it is desirable to fill two receptacles simultaneously—holding one receptacle in each hand under separate taps—thus effectively doubling the rate at which beverage is delivered to the customers. However, many servers find it impossible to operate a tap with the same hand that holds the glass or pitcher to be filled. Even if two taps can be opened and two receptacles can be filled in this manner, it is often necessary to put down one receptacle that has been filled in order to have a free hand with which to close the taps. During this maneuver, beverage is lost due to spillage and over-filling. Consequently, over the course of a busy evening there is a substantial loss of beverage and a concomitant loss in profits.
For these reasons it would be desirable and commercially beneficial to have a means of opening and closing taps with one hand while holding the receptacle to be filled with that hand.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the invention is to provide a means and a mechanism for opening and closing a tap easily with one hand while simultaneously holding a receptacle with the same hand;
A second object of the invention is to provide a means and a mechanism for reducing the spillage of beverage that occurs when a server attempts to operate a tap with one hand;
A third object of the invention is to provide a means to identify the beverage that is being dispensed by a particular tap.
REFERENCES:
patent: 737767 (1903-09-01), Pigrenet
patent: 756915 (1904-04-01), Tuor
patent: 1087403 (1914-02-01), Scott
patent: 1512017 (1924-10-01), Field
patent: 2058631 (1936-10-01), Rice
patent: 4111243 (1978-09-01), Fetterman
patent: 4138092 (1979-02-01), Apellaniz
patent: 4245682 (1981-01-01), Agnew, Sr.
patent: 4252160 (1981-02-01), Numbers
Jacyna J. Casimer
O'Brien Denis R.
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