Abstract:
A spigot for a beverage container includes a body having a passage with first and second ends formed therethrough. An annular shoulder extends into the passage proximate the first end thereof and an annular valve seat is formed proximate the second end. An elastomeric plunger positioned in the passage includes a button with a sealing flange seated against the annular shoulder and a valve head biased against the valve seat. The body further includes a plurality of fins extending radially into the passage, each fin has a first end adjacent the annular shoulder such that the first ends contact the sealing flange as the button is depressed. The fins act to inhibit the sealing flange from coming unseated from the shoulder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to spigots for beverage dispensers of the type used for serving iced tea (including sun tea), margaritas, sangria, and the like. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A common type of spigot used for dispensing beverages from containers such as sun tea jars, margarita buckets, and the like includes a body having a threaded male connector for installation into an opening formed in a lower portion of an outer wall of the container. A horizontal passage extending through the connector communicates with a vertical passage having top and bottom ends. An elastomeric plunger extends through the vertical passage. The top end of the plunger includes a button and a sealing flange which seals the upper end of the vertical passage. The lower end of the plunger includes a valve head which seals against a valve seat formed in the lower end on the vertical passage. Pushing downwardly on the button causes the valve head to move away from the valve seat and thereby allows a beverage to flow out of the beverage container. The sealing flange further acts as a spring to move the valve head back into sealing engagement with the valve seat when the button is released. 
   A problem with this prior art spigot is that an excessive or off-center force applied to the button can cause an edge of the sealing flange to be pushed downwardly into the vertical passage, thereby creating a gap between the sealing flange and the body. This gap will cause the beverage to leak out of the container, or, in some cases, to spray outwardly and onto the user. This is especially prone to happen when alcoholic beverages are being served and the users&#39; motor skills may be adversely affected. 
   What is needed is an improved spigot which has means to prevent the edge of the sealing flange from being pushed into the vertical passage so that such spills can be avoided. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a spigot having means formed on the body for supporting the sealing flange when the button is depressed, such that the sealing flange is prevented from coming unseated from the shoulder. The means for supporting the sealing flange preferably comprises a plurality of fins which extend radially into the vertical passage. Each fin has an upper end which contacts the underside of the sealing flange as the button is depressed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a prior art spigot installed in a beverage container. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a prior art spigot broken away to show its plunger in the closed position 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the plunger of the prior art spigot in its open position. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIGS. 2 and 3  showing failure of the prior art spigot. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a spigot according to the present invention broken away to show its plunger in the closed position 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the plunger of the spigot in its open position 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the spigot of the present invention with its plunger removed. 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a spigot according to the present invention having fins with square upper ends. 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  showing the first alternative embodiment with a reduced wall thickness. 
       FIG. 11  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
   Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import. 
   Referring to the drawings in more detail, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , the reference number  1  generally designates a prior art spigot  1  which includes a body  3  and an elastomeric plunger  5 . The body  3  includes a threaded male connector  4  for installation into an opening  7  formed in a lower portion of an outer wall  9  of a tea jar, margarita bucket or similar beverage container  11 . The connector  4  threadably receives a nut  13  which is adapted to be tightened into abutting relationship with an inner surface of the outer wall  9 . A connector flange  15  extends radially outwardly from the connector  4  and abuts against an outer surface of the wall  9  as the nut  13  is tightened. Elastomeric gaskets  17  may be interposed between the wall  9  and the nut  13 , as well as between the wall  9  and flange  15  to produce a waterproof seal. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a horizontal passage  19  extends through the connector  4  and communicates with a vertical passage  21  having a top end  23  and a bottom end  25 . An annular valve seat  27  is formed on the body  3  proximate the bottom end  25  of the vertical passage  21 . A annular shoulder or shelf  29  is formed on the body  3  proximate the top end  23  of the vertical passage  21 . Spaced slightly above the shelf  29  is annular detent ring  31 . 
   The plunger  5  is formed of an elastomeric material and includes a shaft  35  having a valve head  37  formed at its lower end and a button  39  formed at its upper end. The button  39  includes a sealing flange  41  having an upper surface  43 , a lower surface  45  and an outer edge  47 . Gussets  49  are circumferentially spaced around the shaft  35  and are connected to the lower surface  45  of the sealing flange  41 . The sealing flange  41  is radially downwardly angled from the shaft  35  to its outer edge  47 . 
   The plunger  5  is inserted into the vertical passage  21  such that the lower surface  45  of the sealing flange  41  bears against the shelf  29  and the valve head  37  is positioned below the valve seat  27 . The sealing flange  41  has an outer diameter selected such that its outer edge  47  seals against the inner surface of the vertical passage  21 . The detent ring  31  bears against the upper surface  43  of the sealing flange  41  and helps keep the plunger  5  in place. The plunger  5  is moveable between a closed position ( FIG. 2 ) wherein the valve head  37  is sealed against the valve seat  27  and an open position ( FIG. 3 ) wherein the valve head  37  is spaced away from the valve seat  27  and liquid can flow therebetween. 
   The body  3  further includes a finger hook  51  which extends outwardly from the body  3  away from the connector  4 . The spigot  1  is intended to be operated by a user placing an index finger under the finger hook  51  and pushing downwardly on the button  39  with his or her thumb. The resultant pressure on the sealing flange  41  causes the sealing flange  41  to flex and the gussets  49  to stretch, allowing the plunger  5  to move downwardly into its open position. As the plunger  5  moves downwardly, the valve head  37  moves away from the valve seat  27 , allowing beverage to flow out of the container  11 . When the user relaxes the pressure applied to the button  39 , the elastomeric nature of the plunger  5  causes the sealing flange  41  and gussets  49  to go back to their original shapes, thereby pulling the plunger  5  upwardly and causing the valve head  37  to seal against the valve seat  27 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , a problem occurs with the prior art spigot  1  when the force applied to the button  39  is excessive or not substantially in axial alignment with the shaft  35 . A portion of the sealing flange  41  proximate the outer edge  47  can be pushed downwardly past the shoulder  29 , thereby creating a gap  53  between the sealing flange  41  and the body  3 . The gap  53  allows beverage to leak or spray from the spigot  1  in an upward direction, often onto the user and dampening or staining his or her clothing. Additionally, when the sealing flange  41  is pushed downwardly as just described, the valve head  37  may be unable to seal against the valve seat  27 , thereby allowing the remaining contents of the container  11  to run out onto the floor. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5–11 , the present invention is an improved spigot having means for supporting the sealing flange when the plunger is in its open position in order to eliminate the above described problem. For example, the spigot  100  shown in  FIGS. 5–8  includes a body  103  molded of hard plastic, such as polypropylene or the like and an elastomeric plunger  105 . The body  103  is similar to the body  3  described above and includes a threaded connector  104 , a horizontal passage  119  and a vertical passage  121  having a top end  123 , a bottom end  125 , an annular valve seat  127  proximate the bottom end  125 , an annular shoulder  129  proximate the top end  123  and an annular detent ring  131  spaced above the annular shoulder  129 . The plunger  105  is identical in shape to the plunger  5  described above and includes a shaft  135 , a valve head  137 , and a button  139  having a sealing flange  141  with an upper surface  143 , a lower surface  145  and an outer edge  147 . Gussets  149  are circumferentially spaced around the shaft  135  and are connected to the lower surface  145  of the sealing flange  141 . The plunger  105  is molded of an elastomeric material such as rubber, neoprene, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like. 
   The spigot  100  differs from the spigot  1  in that the body  103  of the spigot  100  includes a plurality of ribs or fins  155  (four shown in  FIG. 7 ) which extend radially into the vertical passage  121 . Each of the fins  155  includes an upper end  157 , a lower end  159 , an outer edge  161  and opposed sides  163 . The upper ends  157  of the fins  155  are positioned adjacent to the annular shoulder  129  and radially inward therefrom. As the plunger  105  is pushed downwardly toward its open position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), the upper ends  157  of the fins  155  contact and support the lower surface  145  of the sealing flange  141  proximate its outer edge  147 , thereby preventing or inhibiting the outer edge  147  of the sealing flange  141  from being pushed downwardly into the vertical passage  121  past the shoulder  129 . 
   The upper ends  157  of the fins  155  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  as being downwardly angled from the shoulder  129  so that the ends  157  do not contact the sealing flange  141  until the plunger  105  approaches its open position. It is important that the fins  155  support the sealing flange  141  as the plunger  105  is depressed without significantly interfering with the movement of the plunger  105 . It should be noted, however, that if the fins  155  are sufficiently thin and the material of the plunger  105  is sufficiently soft, the upper ends  157  of the fins  155  may be square and level with the shoulder  129  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), since the fins  155  will sink into the sealing flange  141  without significantly inhibiting the motion of the plunger  105 . 
   For ease of molding of the body  103 , it is preferred that the fins  155  extend continuously along the vertical passage  121  such that the lower ends  159  are integrally molded with the valve seat  127 . This design allows the body  103  to be injection molded in a relatively simple two-piece mold parting along a line  165 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
   While the internal fins  155  of the spigot  100  described above are the preferred means of supporting the sealing flange  141  as the plunger  105  is depressed, it is to be understood that other such means are foreseen. For example,  FIG. 9  shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a spigot  200  having a body  203  and a plunger  205 . The body  203  has a wall  204  which extends around a vertical passage  219  having an annular shoulder  229  which seats the sealing flange  241  of the plunger  205 . The wall  204  includes an integral countersunk portion  255  positioned radially inward of the annular shoulder  229 . The countersunk portion  255  has an end surface  257  which slopes downwardly away from the shoulder  229 . The end surface  257  is thus positioned to support the sealing flange  241  when the plunger  205  is in its open position in a manner similar to upper ends  157  of the fins  155  described above. In general, the countersunk portion  255  equates to fins similar to the fins  155  having a thickness which is increased until the fins extend continuously around the vertical passage  219 . This design would have a disadvantage, however, in that portions of the wall  204  are relatively thick and the body  203  would therefore be difficult to mold without sunken areas developing as the part cools. This problem could be corrected by molding the body  203  with a thinner and more uniform wall  204  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , a third embodiment of the present invention is a spigot  300  having a body  303  and a plunger  305 . The body  303  includes a passage  321  and an annular shoulder  329  which seats the sealing flange  341  of the plunger  305 . An annular ring  355  is positioned radially inward of the shoulder  329 . A top surface  357  of the ring  355  slopes downwardly away from the shoulder  329  such that it is only contacted by the sealing flange  341  as the plunger  35  approaches its open position. When contact is made between the sealing flange  341  and the ring  355 , the ring  355  will support the sealing flange  341  and inhibit its edges from being dislodged from the shoulder  329  and pushed downwardly into the passage  321 . Again, the body  303  would be more difficult to mold than the body  3  described above, however the ring  355  would provide an adequate means for supporting the sealing flange  321 . It is also foreseen that the ring  355  could be made as a separate part from the body  303  and installed in the passage  321  after the body  303  is molded. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. For example, while the spigots  1 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  have been described as having a male threaded coupler engaged by a nut to attach the spigot to the beverage container, it is to be understood that the spigot could be connected in a variety of ways including but not limited to a female coupler in the spigot body engaged by a male threaded nut, or a snap fitting.