Abstract:
A tap handle includes a chamber that can be filled with liquid, which may be colored to represent a beverage associated with the tap handle. The material of the handle may be transparent or semi-transparent, allowing a consumer to readily identify a characteristic of the beverage, such as whether it is a dark or light beer. The body of the handle may be formed in the shape of a bottle, a glass, or any other ornamental design. The body of the handle may also include an insert in the lower portion for connecting the handle onto the tap. Alternately, the body may be secured to a fitting that, in turn, connects to the tap. The chamber may also include particles that float to top of the liquid, such that the liquid inside the chamber resembles beer or any other liquid, such as soda, that can be dispensed via a tap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/264,089, filed Nov. 24, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application is directed to beverage tap handles and, more particularly, to a tap handle having a liquid filled chamber. 
         [0003]    In many establishments that serve beverages, such as restaurants, sports bars, and taverns, it is common for a beer or soda tap handle to include some indicia identifying the brand of beverage associated with the tap handle. Initially, the indicia may simply have been in the form of the brand name of the beverage on a generic tap handle. Increasingly, however, beverage producers such as brewers have provided elaborate tap handles that are specially shaped or that include pictures and other objects reflective of the brand of the beverage with the intent of differentiating the beverage tap handle from a slew of beverage tap handles at the dispensing station of the establishment. As a result, a consumer, when viewing the various tap handles at the dispensing station can readily identify the selection of available beverages by viewing the tap handles at the dispensing station. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a tap handle having a chamber that can be filled with liquid, which may be colored to represent a beverage associated with the tap handle. The material of the handle may be transparent or semi-transparent, allowing a consumer to readily identify a characteristic of the beverage, such as whether it is a dark or light beer. The body of the handle may be formed in the shape of a bottle, a glass, or any other ornamental design. The body of the handle may also include an insert in the lower portion for connecting the handle onto the tap. Alternately, the body may be secured to a base that, in turn, connects to the tap. The chamber may also include particles that float on top of the liquid and that resemble foam, such that the liquid inside the chamber resembles beer or any other liquid, such as soda, that can be dispensed via a tap. 
         [0005]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a handle for a tap faucet includes a first housing defining a generally hollow cavity and includes an opening in communication with the cavity. A liquid is disposed within the hollow cavity, and a cover is connected to the first housing to seal the opening. A base is coupled to the first housing and configured to operably connect the first housing to the tap faucet. The handle may further include a plurality of floating particles disposed within the hollow cavity, which resemble foam. Thus, it is a feature of this invention that the tap handle provide a visual indication of the beverage dispensed by the tap faucet. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, the handle may also include a second housing defining a volume. Each of the first and second housings may be elongated, and the second housing is contained within the cavity of the first housing. An identifier may also be contained within the second housing indicating at least one of the beverage manufacturer or beverage brand name to be dispensed by the faucet. The handle may further include a recess formed at a first end of the cavity in the first housing and a tab extending from a first end of the second housing. The tab engages the recess to retain the second housing in alignment with the first housing. The second housing may also include a receiving member extending from a second end of the second housing and the cover may include an engaging member extending into the cavity. The engaging member operably engages the receiving member to further retain the second housing in alignment with the first housing. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and accompanying drawings, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0008]    Various exemplary embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tap handle according to the present invention connected to a tap faucet; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the side and top of the tap handle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the tap handle of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the tap handle of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the tap handle of  FIG. 2  taken at  5 - 5  as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view from the side and top of another embodiment of the tap handle according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the tap handle of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the tap handle of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the tap handle of  FIG. 6  taken at  9 - 9  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    In describing the representative embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word “connected,” “attached,” or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be further described by the following, non-limiting examples which will serve to illustrate various features of the invention. With reference to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a representative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  as a tap handle  20  connected to a tap faucet  15 . 
         [0020]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-5 , the tap handle  20  is connected to the tap faucet  15  from which a beverage is dispensed. The tap handle  20  includes a first housing  22  which includes a generally hollow cavity  24 . The housing  22  may be in the form of an elongated container made from a transparent material, such as an acrylic material. The acrylic material may be transparent or semi-transparent, and in any event has sufficient transparency to enable a liquid  28  contained within the housing  22  to be visible through the housing  22 . The housing  22  is transparent so that the color of the liquid  28  contained in the housing  22  is discernable. Optionally, the material of the housing  22  may be clear, green, amber, or any other desired color. In another embodiment, the color of the housing  22  may correspond to the color of glass used by the manufacturer to package the particular beverage when being dispensed in bottles. The material of the housing  22  may be made of a material that is readily washable and can easily be kept clean and sanitary. 
         [0021]    The first housing  22  is formed by any plastic molding process, for example, by blow molding or an injection molding process, to resemble any desired shape. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the first housing  22  may be formed to generally resemble a pilsner glass. Optionally, the housing  22  may be formed to resemble a bottle as may be used for retail sales of the product, or may have a shape resembling a logo or other indicia associated with a particular brand of beverage. In still other embodiments, the first housing  22  may be formed to resemble a beer mug or may be formed in more traditional or ornamental shapes for tap handles. 
         [0022]    The first housing  22  is formed with an opening  26  located at one end of the housing  22 . The opening  26  is in fluid communication with the cavity  24  within the housing  22 , permitting the cavity  24  to be filled, at least in part, by a liquid  28 . In one embodiment, the liquid  28  may be the same liquid dispensed by the tap faucet  15 . Optionally, the liquid  28  may be clear or a clear liquid such as water or oil that is colored to resemble the beverage being dispensed at the tap faucet  15 . The liquid  28  may partly or entirely fill the first housing  22 . According to one embodiment, the liquid  28  is added to the cavity  24  up to a suitable level corresponding to the shape of the housing  22 , leaving a space at the top of the cavity  24 . For example, the tap handle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  resembles a pilsner glass and a suitable volume of liquid  28  is added to the cavity  24  such that the tap handle  20  resembles a full glass. 
         [0023]    A cover  30  is included to seal the opening  26  in the first housing  22  and retain the liquid  28  within the housing  22 . The cover  30  may be made from the same material as the first housing  22  and, similarly, may be transparent or semi-transparent, clear, green, amber, or any other desired color corresponding to the housing  22 . The cover  30  may alternatively be formed of a different material that the first housing  22 , and may or may not have transparent properties. For example, in an embodiment in which floating particles are at the upper portion of the cavity  24 , as explained below, the cover  30  may be formed of an opaque material having the same color as the floating particles. The cover  30  may be securely joined with the first housing  22 , for example, by vibration, friction, laser, heat, or ultrasonic welding, by adhesive, or by any other manner known to one skilled in the art. Optionally, the cover  30  may be removably connected to the housing  22 , for example, by a threaded or snap connection. 
         [0024]    Many beverages served from a tap faucet  15  include carbonation, causing bubbles or foam to form in or on the beverage. Consequently, floating particles  34  may also be inserted into the cavity  24  to resemble the bubbles or foam of the dispensed beverage. In one embodiment, the floating particles  34  may be made of a foam material and substantially float on the liquid  28  contained within the cavity  24 . Optionally, a portion of the floating particles  34  may be suspended within the liquid  28 . In other embodiments, the floating particles  34  may be made of any suitable material and in any suitable shape or size and may be an identifier of the manufacturer or brand name of the beverage dispensed from the tap faucet  15 . 
         [0025]    The tap handle  20  may also include a second housing  50  contained within the cavity  24  of the first housing  22 . According to one embodiment, the second housing  50  is generally cylindrical and tapered corresponding to the form of the first housing  22 . A recess  36  may be formed at a first end  38  of the cavity and a complementary tab  54  may extend from a first end  56  of the second housing  50 . The tab  55  is inserted into the recess  36  to align the first end  56  of the second housing  50  with respect to the first end  38  of the first housing  22 . It can readily be appreciated that the tab  54  and recess  36  may be reversed, such that the tab is on the first housing  22  and the recess is on the second housing  50 . The second housing  50  may be centrally positioned within the cavity  24  of the first housing  22 . The second housing  50  may further include a receiving member  58  extending from a second end  60  of the housing  50 , and the cover  30  includes an engaging member  40  extending into the cavity  24 . The engaging member  40  operably connects with the receiving member  58  to align the second end  60  of the second housing  50  to the cover  30 . It can readily be appreciated that the engaging member  40  and the receiving member  58  may be reversed, such that the engaging member is on the second housing  50  and the receiving member is on the cover  30 . In alternate embodiments, the second housing  50  may be of any suitable shape and be aligned with the first housing  22  in any orientation according to the requirements of the tap handle  20 . 
         [0026]    The second housing  50  defines a volume  52  which, in a first embodiment, contains air. Inserting the second housing  50  into the first housing  22  reduces the volume of liquid  28  required to fill the cavity  24  and, consequently, reduces the weight of the tap handle  20 . The second housing  50  may also be made from an acrylic material similarly to the first housing  22 . It is contemplated that the second housing  50  may be transparent to minimize visibility within the liquid  28  or, optionally, it may be opaque and include a design related to, for example, the brand or the manufacturer of the beverage being dispensed. In still other embodiments, objects may be inserted into the volume  52  which may, for example, identify the brand or the manufacturer of the beverage being dispensed. The second housing  50  may be formed by any plastic molding process, for example, by blow molding or an injection molding process, in any desired shape. The second housing  50  may be of unitary construction, if, for example, the volume  52  is to contain air, or of multiple part construction, if, for example, an object or objects are to be inserted into the volume  52 . 
         [0027]    The tap handle  20  further includes a base  32  configured to operably connect the handle  20  to the tap faucet  15 . The base  32  may be made from metal, such as brass or stainless steel, but may be any other suitable material as desired. The base  32  is joined to the first housing  22  for example by an adhesive or a threaded connection, or by any suitable method according to the materials used for each of the base  32  and the first housing  22 . Optionally, the base  32  may be integrally molded with the first housing  22 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the base  32  includes a first mating portion  70  and a second mating portion  80 . The first mating portion  70  and the second mating portion  80  may be two separate pieces or may be integrally formed as a single member. 
         [0028]    The first mating portion  70  is configured to connect the base  32  to the tap faucet  15 . The first mating portion  70  includes an aperture  72 , which may include a threaded interior such that the tap handle  20  engages a threaded stud (not shown) extending from the tap faucet  15 . The threaded interior may be integral to the surface of the aperture  72  or, optionally a ferrule having a smooth exterior surface and a threaded interior surface may be inserted into the aperture  72 . 
         [0029]    The second mating portion  80  is configured to connect the base  32  to the first housing  22 . A lower surface  82  of the second mating portion  80  is adjacent to the first mating portion  70 . An outer surface  84  is connected to the lower surface  82  at a first end  86  and extends away from the first mating portion  70 . The outer surface  84  may be generally cylindrical and taper outward as it extends from the first end  86  to a second end  88 . The second mating portion  80  may be open at the second end  88  of the outer surface and configured to connect to the first housing  22 . A volume  90  may be defined between the first housing  22  and the lower and outer surfaces,  82  and  84  respectively, of the second mating portion  80 . Optionally, the second mating portion  80  may be formed from a solid member. It is further contemplated that a lighting element may be included within the volume  90  to emit light into the first housing  22 . The lighting element may include, for example, a power source, such as a battery, an illumination source, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), and electrical components to control the LED. Further, the second mating portion  80  may be removably connected to the first housing  22 , to provide access to the lighting element. 
         [0030]    Referring next to  FIGS. 6-9 , another embodiment of the tap handle  20  similarly includes a first housing  22  with a generally hollow cavity  24 . An opening  26  is formed at one end of the housing  22 , permitting the cavity  24  to be filled, at least in part, by a liquid  28 . Floating particles  34  may also be inserted into the cavity  24  that substantially float on the surface of the liquid  28 , remain suspended in the liquid  28 , or a combination thereof. The tap handle also includes a cover  30  to seal the opening  26  in the first housing  22 . 
         [0031]    The cover  30 , according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 , is integrally formed with the second housing  140 . The outer periphery  132  of the cover  30  is complementary to the opening  26  in the first housing  22 , providing a sealing connection to the first housing  22 . An opening  134  is formed in the cover  30  , which defines an inner periphery  136  of the cover  30 . The inner periphery  136  is connected to the second housing  140  and the cover  30  may be integrally formed with the second housing  140 . When the cover  30  is connected to the first housing  22 , the second housing  140  extends into the first housing  22 . A volume  142  is defined within the second housing  140  and is in communication with the opening  134  in the cover  30 . Thus, the volume  142  may be accessible to receive objects inserted therein. The objects may include indicia identifying either the brand or the manufacturer of the beverage dispensed by the faucet  15 . Optionally, a cap  100  may be included to cover the opening  134 . The cap  100  may be secured to the either the cover  30  or the first housing  22  by vibration, friction, laser, heat, or ultrasonic welding, by adhesive, or by any other manner known to one skilled in the art. Optionally, the cover  30  may be removably connected to the cover  30  or housing  22 , for example, by a threaded or snap connection. 
         [0032]    The tap handle  20  may further include at least one identifier. The identifier may be a label, a decal, or a symbol or text painted, etched, or integrally formed on the first or second housing,  22  or  50  respectively. The identifier provides to a consumer an indication of the beverage being dispensed by the tap faucet  15  on which the tap handle  20  is connected. 
         [0033]    In operation, a tap handle  20  is selected corresponding to a beverage being dispensed by a tap faucet  15 . The tap handle  20  is typically secured to the tap faucet  15  by screwing the base  32  of the tap handle  20  to a stud extending from the tap faucet  15 . The tap handle  20  is pulled forward to open the faucet  15  and start the flow of the beverage to be dispensed, in a manner as is well known. The tap handle  20  is pushed backwards to close the faucet  15  and stop the flow of the beverage. 
         [0034]    The tap handle  20  allows a consumer to readily identify a desired beverage, and also provides a tap handle that can readily be identified by the consumer and distinguished from other tap handles. The first housing  22  may be molded in a shape familiar to the consumer, such as a bottle used to market the product in retail sales or some other shape that a producer may wish to employ in order to identify its product. Each of the first and second housings,  22  and  50  respectively, and the liquid  28  may be colored to resemble the color of the bottle used for retail sales or color of the beverage being dispensed. Alternately, the liquid  28  may be that of the beverage associated with the tap handle. 
         [0035]    In addition, identifiers, for example, labels may be applied to the tap handle  20  that resemble the labels used on the bottle for retail sales. The resulting tap handle  20  has the familiar appearance of the packaging used for retail sales, and a consumer may readily identify the beverage being dispensed from the faucet  15 . Identifiers may also be included within cavity  24  of the first housing  22  or within the volume  52  defined by the second housing. The identifiers may be objects resembling, for example, animals, logos, or other features indicative of the beverage dispensed from the tap handle  20 . 
         [0036]    The tap handle  20  also attracts a consumer&#39;s attention. As the handle is pulled forward and pushed backwards, the liquid  28  within the tap handle will move within the first housing  22 . The motion of the liquid  28  similarly induces motion in the floating particles  34  floating on or suspended within the liquid  28 . The motion of the liquid  28  and particles  34  attracts the attention of a consumer. The unique visual impression provided by the liquid within the interior of the tap handle is further enhanced when light is emitted upwardly from the base into the liquid. 
         [0037]    It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It also being understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention