Patent ID: 6470910
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B67D,Y10T

Abstract:
A tap comprising:a body having a hollow interior, a liquid inlet, an air inlet, a liquid outlet, an air outlet, and a divider element dividing the hollow interior into a liquid flow passageway between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet and an air flow passageway between the air inlet and the air outlet, a section of the air flow passageway being separated from the liquid flow passageway, the separated section having an inlet and an outlet, a valve system for controlling liquid and air flow in the flow passageways, and a push button connected to the body for operating the valve system, wherein the air inlet and the liquid outlet are adjacent to each other and the valve system comprises a valve seat, a valve element for engaging the valve seat and a valve stem connecting the valve element to the push button whereby the valve element is movable by pressure on the push button from a first position in which it engages the valve seat and closes the liquid inlet and prevents liquid flow from the tap to a second position in which the valve element is spaced from the valve seat and liquid flows from the tap, wherein the valve element also controls air flow in the air flow passageway and the valve element when in the first position being adjacent to but spaced from the outlet of the separated section of the air passageway, wherein the divider element comprises a flange which divides the hollow interior of the body into two regions and with the body forms the separated section of the air passageway, and wherein the flange includes at least one aperture through which the valve stem passes, the aperture serving to guide the valve stem during movement thereof.