Tap assembly

A tap assembly 10 with a hollow tap body 16 which defines a dispensing chamber 24 leading to an outlet arrangement 26. A valve assembly with a valve element 18 is provided to selectively open an inlet into the dispensing chamber 24. A push button 20 is provided which operates the valve assembly, and which defines an operating chamber 28, with the push button movable into the operating chamber. A connecting member is provided extending from the push button 20 through the operating chamber. A seal 39 is provided to prevent liquid passing from the dispensing chamber 24 to the operating chamber.

This application is a national stage filing of International Application No. PCT/GB2018/051257, filed May 10, 2018, which claims priority to Foreign Patent Application No. GB1707628.2, filed on May 12, 2017. The entire disclosures of the afore-mentioned patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

This invention concerns a tap assembly, and especially a tap assembly mountable on bottles or other containers for dispensing liquids.

Tap assemblies may be provided mountable on bottles or other containers for dispensing liquids from the container. Such containers are often disposable or recyclable after use. The containers may include liquids such as water, wine, juices, or milk. With such tap assemblies, it is important to ensure that during dispensing of the liquid, the liquid being dispensed and that remaining in the container does not become contaminated. With some liquids, such as for instance water, even a very small amount of contamination can be noticeable and is thus significant.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tap assembly, the tap assembly including a partially hollow body which defines a dispensing chamber within the body with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet being located to receive liquid to be dispensed by the tap assembly, the liquid outlet connecting to an outlet arrangement for the tap assembly,

a valve assembly to selectively open the dispensing chamber liquid inlet,

the valve assembly including a valve element selectively movable between a position closing the dispensing chamber liquid inlet and a position permitting liquid to pass therethrough,

a push button for operating the valve assembly,

the push button defining an operating chamber against part of the body, such that as the push button is pushed to operate the valve assembly the push button moves into the operating chamber,

a connecting member which extends from the push button through the operating chamber, through an opening in a part of the body, and into the dispensing chamber to the valve element, with a seal provided in the opening in a part of the body to prevent liquid passing from the dispensing chamber to the operating chamber.

The opening in the body may comprise a deformable part which is deformed by the connecting member extending through the opening, and which deformable part forms a swipe seal against the connecting member.

The deformable part may be in the form of a lip around the opening which is inclined away from the dispensing chamber.

The lip may be deflected by the connecting member extending through the body, by between 0.1 and 0.4 mm.

The part of the connecting member which extends through the opening may be cylindrical.

The lip may be integrally formed with the remainder of the body.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tap assembly, the tap assembly including a partially hollow body which defines a dispensing chamber within the body with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet being located to receive liquid to be dispensed by the tap assembly, the liquid outlet connecting to an outlet arrangement for the tap assembly,

a valve assembly to selectively open the dispensing chamber liquid inlet,

the valve assembly including a valve element selectively movable between a position closing the dispensing chamber liquid inlet and a position permitting liquid to pass therethrough,

a push button for operating the valve assembly,

the push button defining an operating chamber against part of the body, such that as the push button is pushed to operate the valve assembly the push button moves into the operating chamber,

a connecting member which extends from the push button through the operating chamber, through an opening in a part of the body, and into the dispensing chamber to the valve element, the body defining an air inlet separate from the outlet arrangement, and an air intake passage which extends from the air inlet to an air outlet connecting to the dispensing chamber spaced from the outlet arrangement, the air intake passage being isolated from the connecting member and the push button.

The air intake passage may extend through a part of the body without connecting to the opening or operating chamber.

The air intake passage may extend through a part of the body to one side of the opening.

The assembly may include a vent for the operating chamber, which vent extends between the operating chamber and the air intake passage adjacent to the air inlet. The vent may be provided on the opposite side of the opening to the side which the air intake passage extends through.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a tap assembly, the tap assembly including a partially hollow body which defines a dispensing chamber within the body with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet being located to receive liquid to be dispensed by the tap assembly, the liquid outlet connecting to an outlet arrangement for the tap assembly,

a valve assembly to selectively open the dispensing chamber liquid inlet,

the valve assembly including a valve element selectively movable between a position closing the dispensing chamber liquid inlet and a position permitting liquid to pass therethrough,

a push button for operating the valve assembly,

the push button defining an operating chamber against part of the body, such that as the push button is pushed to operate the valve assembly the push button moves into the operating chamber,

a connecting member which extends from the push button through the operating chamber, through an opening in a part of the body, and into the dispensing chamber to the valve element, the outlet arrangement including a spout having a linear edge with a recess in the edge.

The recess may extend for at least 40% of the width of the spout.

The recess may have a depth of at least 20% of the width of the spout.

The recess may extend for at least 50%, perhaps 55 and perhaps 60% of the width of the spout.

A pair of opposed fins may be provided extending into the spout. The fins may extend for between 10 and 20% of the width of the spout. The fins may be symmetrical about a central line through the recess.

The spout may include a first part with at least generally arcuate walls which extend for at least 180°, and a second part interconnecting ends of the first part, the second part including the recess.

The fins may be provided on the first part. The spout may be symmetrical about a line extending through the centres of the first and second parts.

The lower edge of the walls of the first part may be substantially planar, and may be inclined relative to the lower edge of the walls of the second part adjoining the first part, with the lower edge of the walls of the first part at a greater inclination in use to the horizontal, than the lower edge of the walls of the second part adjoining the first part.

The push button may be made of a deformable resilient material.

A selectively removable cap may be provided extendible over the tap assembly body.

The drawings show a tap assembly10mountable on a container for dispensing liquid therefrom, andFIGS. 7 and 8show the assembly mounted by a screw thread12on part of a container14.

FIG. 2illustrates the main components of the assembly with a partially hollow tap body16, a valve member18, a push button20and a protective cap22which can be push fitted or threadingly mounted on the tap body16.

As shown for instance inFIGS. 3 and 4, the tap assembly10includes a body16which defines a dispensing chamber24leading to an outlet arrangement26. The dispensing chamber selectively connects through the remainder of the hollow body, the lower part as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, to the liquid container. A valve assembly which incorporates the valve member18, selectively closes the connection between the lower part of the tap assembly and the dispensing chamber as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

InFIG. 3the valve member18is raised (as shown) closing the connection from the container to the dispensing chamber24. The resilient push button20will in a relaxed condition automatically move the valve member to the raised closed condition shown inFIG. 3.

InFIG. 4the push button20has been pushed to open the tap assembly10, but the push button20shown inFIG. 4for clarity is not shown as deformed. Movement of the push button20has moved the valve member18downwardly as shown, such that liquid can pass either side of the valve member18and out through the outlet arrangement26. It is to be realised that in uses the tap assembly10would usually be in the orientation shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, i.e. with the outlet arrangement26pointing downwardly and inclined gently outwardly away from the container14.

A space is provided beneath the push button20to define an operating chamber28which air can be pushed out of as the push button20is pressed to open the tap assembly10. As can be seen the valve member18comprises a domed circular section valve part29which closes the entrance30to the dispensing chamber24. A connecting member32extends from the valve part29and includes a cylindrical stem34with a profiled head36. The profiled head36engages in a correspondingly shaped recess37in the underside of the push button20to mount the end of the push button20on the head36.

As can be seen in particular inFIGS. 3-8the cylindrical valve stem34passes through an opening38in the body into the operating chamber28. A seal39is provided at the end of the opening38as it enters the operating chamber. The seal is in the form of a swipe seal integrally formed with the remainder of the body providing a thin deformable lip40, which is deformed by the valve stem34and resiliently urged thereon to provide a seal to prevent liquid from the dispensing chamber24entering the operating chamber28where potentially the liquid could be contaminated by the push button20.

In practice, it is found that the seal38tends to be deformed by between about 0.2 and 0.3 mm by the valve stem34.FIG. 7shows the tap assembly10closed, where the valve member18prevents liquid from entering into the dispensing chamber24.FIG. 8illustrates the tap assembly10open, with the seal39preventing liquid from entering the operating chamber28.

FIGS. 9 to 14show a further feature of the tap assembly10, in providing an air return for air to enter the container14as liquid is dispensed therefrom. The air intake includes an air inlet42which is located adjacent the outlet arrangement26, but in use above the outlet arrangement26. The air inlet42connects via a channel44which narrows in size to pass just to one side of the part of the body16through which the opening38extends, with the channel44not connecting with the opening38. The channel44connects to an air outlet46extending into the dispensing chamber24at an upper point in use. In practice liquid will pass through the outlet arrangement26with air passing back through the air inlet channel44, without being in contact with the opening38nor the operating chamber28. The air inlet channel44is shown shaded inFIGS. 12 to 14for clarity.

As shown in for instanceFIG. 15, a small air vent48is provided in the operating chamber28to allow air to vent as the push button20is pressed into the chamber28. As shown for example inFIG. 12, the air vent48enters the air inlet channel44adjacent the air inlet42, and on the opposite side of the opening38to that which the air inlet channel44passes. Air therefrom will therefore immediately be vented to atmosphere.

FIGS. 16 to 20illustrate the outlet arrangement26for the assembly10, and in particular the spout50of the outlet arrangement26. As can be seen for instance inFIG. 17, in use the outlet arrangement26is spaced below the air inlet42. In side view it can be seen that the spout50includes first and second parts52,54, with the first part52being inclined at a greater angle to the horizontal than the second part54. The first part52includes a substantially planar arcuate edge56extending for around 180°, with two fins58extending inwardly for around 12% of the diameter of the arcuate edge56. The fins58are symmetrical about a centre line of the first part52.

The second part54includes two converging edges60at the indicated lesser inclination to the horizontal. Extending between the inner ends of the edges60, is a recessed part62with a recess64, which extends for over 40% of the diameter of the first part52, and to a depth of at least 20% of the diameter of the first part52.

In use it has been found that the recess64prevents a meniscus forming across the spout50, which otherwise could result in liquid becoming trapped and becoming stale. The fins58have been found to improve the flow of liquid through the spout50.

It has therefore been found that the described assembly10provides a number of advantageous features relative to previous tap assemblies. The assembly is however of relatively conventional configuration and can thus be inexpensively manufactured for long term and reliable operation.

It is to be realised that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the above dimensions and proportions may be varied as required. A different form of seal may be possible between the connecting member and the body. The air inlet passage may be differently configured. A different vent arrangement for the operating chamber may be provided.