Patent Publication Number: US-2023136722-A1

Title: Cup push trip lever adapter

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/328,977, filed May 24, 2021, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/029,547, filed May 24, 2020. The disclosures set forth in the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A variety of beverage dispensing devices have been developed for controllably dispensing beverages. Typically, the beverage dispensing device has a reservoir portion which retains a volume of prepared beverage. Such prepared beverages can be in the form of heated, cooled, or ambient. A device such as a dispensing faucet or spigot is provided on the dispenser so that a user can controllably dispense a volume of beverage from the dispenser. This allows a beverage provider such as a restaurant, convenient store, banquet facility or other location to provide a volume of prepared beverage available for customer use and to allow self-serve or customer dispensing of the beverage from the container in a controlled manner. Such dispensers have become virtually ubiquitous in the restaurant environment either on the customer side or crew side of the kitchen. 
     While such dispensers can be provided with a variety of faucet styles, there are some generally common components of such a faucet. The faucet attaches to the reservoir of the dispenser by means of a hollow shank that connects to the side wall or bottom wall of the reservoir. The cavity formed by the walls of the reservoir communicate with the hollow portion of the shank to allow beverage to flow from the reservoir into the shank. The faucet also includes a valve assembly in a nozzle body to control or stop the flow of beverage out of the nozzle. The valve portion is connected to a valve operating assembly including a handle that allows the user to grip the handle, move the handle, and operate the valve. 
     As an example, a typical reservoir allows beverage to be available to a customer. The customer approaches the dispenser with a cup, holds the cup under the faucet, and operates the faucet by gripping the handle. Customers have become used to the hand eye coordination to grip the handle and controllably move the handle to a degree that allows controlled dispensing with little or no splashing into the cup or overflow from the cup. Typically, users position the cup by gripping the outside wall of the cup and positioning a mouth of the cup underneath the outlet of the nozzle. This typically aligns the nozzle within the area defined by the rim of the cup or mouth. As the customer watches the beverage flow from the nozzle into the cup they may reduce the flow by manipulating the handle to facilitate some closure of the valve as they approach the level of beverage in the cup that they wish to dispense. Once the customer has dispensed the desired amount into the cup they release the handle and it returns to the “home” position whereby the valve is closed. In other words, such valve assemblies are configured to provide a normal “closed” position by means of a valve system that might be in the form of a spring loaded valve either by use of an elastomeric or coil spring, as well as similar devices. 
     While customers are familiar with this type of operation, it can involve unintended communication of germs, dirt, other material or substances that might be carried on their hands. If a customer has substance on their hands they unintentionally may transfer that to the handle portion of the dispensing nozzle. In addition, the customer would not want to touch the cup rim to the nozzle. Either the current customer may have already sipped out of the cup and thus transferred anything that is on their lips or on their mouth to the cup rim or a preceding customer may have done this. As such, it would be desirable to provide a generally touchless beverage dispensing experience by means of an adapter that communicates with and functions with a faucet to reduce or eliminate the need to directly touch the surfaces of the faucet to operate the faucet and dispense beverage from the reservoir. Such a touchless adapter would help to reduce or eliminate the potential for transfer of substances from customers to the faucet, the beverage dispensing device, and their components and surfaces. 
     As an additional matter, as noted above, a variety of faucets have been used on a variety of beverage dispensers. This could be either because the beverage dispenser requires a particular type of faucet or the manufacturer seeks to have a proprietary or other stylized handle. Therefore it would be helpful to provide an adapter that can be used to operate the faucet in a touchless manner and that can be used on a variety of dispensing faucets. 
     It would be desirable to provide a device that can be attached, is attachable, and/or is removably attached to a dispensing faucet on a beverage dispenser to eliminate the need for a customer to physically engage or otherwise contact the handle of the faucet. In addition, it would be useful to also configure such an adapter so as to prevent contact between the customer and any other dispensing components associated with the nozzle or the device. In addition, it would be desirable to provide an adapter that can be attached to a faucet that also prevents contact with the rim of the cup. Such a adapter in such a configuration would be useful to reduce the contact between users and the faucet assembly and reduce the transfer of materials from the users&#39; hands, from the rim of the cup, and any other surfaces to the dispenser. 
     A variety of dispensing faucets have been developed. An example of such a dispensing faucet can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,174 (the “Giese Patent”). Such a dispensing faucet has been described above, generally with regard to a type of dispensing faucet. The Giese Patent shows a faucet assembly that includes a nozzle body, a shank, a valve assembly, and a handle for operating the valve assembly. The handle in the Giese Patent is generally configured in such a manner that there is a vertical upstanding portion that can be gripped by the user. While not clearly shown, this type of handle is the type that has been produced by Tomlinson Industries (The Meyer Company) which includes a forked portion with a cross member defining an aperture within the handle. It is believed that this type of handle assembly is configured and functions to allow a user to grip the handle for operation. 
     Another example of a dispensing apparatus is a cup trip assembly such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,386 (the “Roethel Patent”). Such a cup trip assembly includes a pivot cross member, downward extending arms, and a cup engaging portion. This configuration of a cup trip assembly operates in a different manner from the device as shown in the Giese Patent. The Roethel Patent is shown as being designed for a particular dispensing device. 
     The aforementioned patents show different types of dispensing apparatus specifically configured for attachment to a reservoir. One of the problems that arises in the beverage dispensing industry is that a single manufacturer might have multiple types of faucet handles on their devices. As such it would be desirable to provide an adapter that can provide application to a variety of handles and faucet assemblies. While all of the faucet assemblies could be removed and completely new faucet assembly attached, this is impractical since that requires significant investment in the new faucet assemblies, as well as significant time to enter the field to make modifications to such devices. Therefore it would be desirable to provide an adapter that the provider of the beverage dispenser or other party can provide to customers and that the customer can attach to a variety of faucet assemblies to facilitate touchless use of the faucet assembly on their beverage dispenser. It would also be desirable to provide such an adapter that is configured to attachment to an existing faucet in the field and to accomplish this attachment without the need for tools, fasteners, adhesive, or other accessories. 
     This background information is provided for some information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present disclosure. No admission is intended, nor should such admission be inferred or construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present disclosure. Other aims, objects, advantages and features of the disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a multiple faucet operating adapter attached to a faucet of a beverage dispensing device showing a cup positioned for actuation of the operating adapter to dispense a beverage from the dispenser by actuating a valve of a faucet without touching a handle provided on the faucet, with actuation being accomplished by pressing a surface such as a wall of the cup against a cup engagement portion of the adapter to eliminate contact by the user with the beverage device, and operation of the faucet using the adapter reducing or eliminating contact between the user and the dispenser; 
         FIG.  2    is an enlarged illustration of the adapter removed from the beverage dispenser showing, in front perspective view, a handle engaging portion, at least one stiffening portion, a nozzle clearance area, and a cup engaging portion; 
         FIG.  3    is a left side elevational view of the adapter showing the relationship between the handle engaging portion, stiffening portion, nozzle clearance area, and cup engaging portion of this embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a rear perspective view of the adapter as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3    showing a fulcrum portion extending between the handle engaging portion and the stiffening portions for engagement against a portion of the nozzle to provide leverage when operating the adapter to controllably operate the faucet, and an opening formed in the handle engaging portion for receipt of a portion of a handle of the faucet as well as top opening to engage portion of a handle of the faucet as well as side openings to accommodate portions of a different handle configuration; 
         FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6    show perspective views of two examples of different faucet configurations in which the faucets are generally similar but the handles used to operate the faucet are different, namely,  FIG.  5    showing a forked or branched faucet handle, and  FIG.  6    showing a vertically extending petal or tap-style faucet handle; 
         FIGS.  7  and  8    show the adapter attached to the faucet configurations of  FIGS.  5  and  6   , respectively, showing ear portions of the handle in  FIG.  5    extending through the side openings with a crown or tip of the handle configuration in  FIG.  6    extending through the top opening; 
         FIGS.  9  and  10   , and separately  FIGS.  11  and  12    show the placement of a cup next to the unactuated faucet on which an adapter is attached corresponding to the handle configurations as shown in  FIGS.  5 , and  6   , respectively, and  FIGS.  10  and  12    show the adapter used to actuate the corresponding handles by pressing a cup wall against a cup engaging portion of the adapter to leverage the faucet into a position to open the valve of the faucet and dispense beverage into the cup therebelow, the configuration of the adapter being such that the cup mouth generally aligns with the outlet of the faucet nozzle to receive beverage dispensed from the faucet when the faucet is actuated to dispense beverage; 
         FIGS.  13 - 17    show a configuration of an adapter for use with a tap-style handle including a corresponding handle engaging portion, stiffening portion, nozzle clearance area, and cup engaging portion, with  FIG.  13    showing a perspective view of the adapter attached to a faucet on a dispenser such as that as shown in  FIG.  1   ,  FIGS.  14  and  15    showing front and rear perspective views of the adapter, respectively, and  FIGS.  16  and  17    showing side elevational views of the adapter,  16  with the adapter attached to the faucet, and  17  showing it removed from the faucet; 
         FIGS.  18 - 22    show an additional configuration of the adapter including a handle engaging portion, an stiffening portion, a nozzle clearance area, and a cup engaging portion configured for attachment to a handle assembly such as that shown in  FIG.  5    with  FIG.  18    showing a rear perspective view of the adapter,  FIGS.  19  and  20    showing the adapter attached to a handle on a faucet, and  FIGS.  21  and  22    showing the adapter in a closed faucet position ( FIG.  21   ) and adapter used to operate the handle and the faucet valve to an open position; 
         FIGS.  23 - 25    show a further embodiment of the adapter for use with multiple handle designs such as the two handles shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6    with  FIG.  23    showing a perspective view of the adapter including a handle engaging portion, stiffening portion, nozzle clearance area, and cup engaging portion, with this universal-style adapter attached to a faucet similar to that as shown in  FIG.  5    ( FIG.  24   ) and attached to a faucet handle style similar to that as shown in  FIG.  6    ( FIG.  25   ); and 
         FIG.  26    shows an enlarged adaptor  50   d  for attachment to a faucet of a beverage-dispensing device showing a body portion from which extends a handle engaging portion, a fulcrum portion, at least one extending portion and a cup engaging portion, with a nozzle clearance area being defined relative to the fulcrum, extending portion, and cup engaging portion, a notch is provided in the at least one extending portion for providing additional clearance around a faucet structure, the cup engaging portion is adjusted relative to other embodiments to provide more handle travel when pivoting relative to operation, and a top opening is provided with enhanced features to engage different faucet handle configurations. 
       The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C). 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , shows a beverage dispensing device  30  including a reservoir  32 , a base  34 , and a dispensing assembly  36 . The reservoir  32  includes an upper portion  38  with a lid  40  and a lower portion  42  to which the dispensing assembly  36  is attached. In this regard, such a dispensing device  30  typically operates by gravity flow out of the reservoir through controlled operation of the dispensing assembly  36 . A sight glass  44  is provided on the reservoir  32  to indicate to the user dispensing beverage from the device  30  the approximate volume of beverage in the reservoir. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , an adapter  50  is attached to the dispensing assembly  36 . The adapter  50  as shown in more detail in  FIGS.  7 - 12    including the operation of the adapter  50  with a faucet assembly. The faucet assembly as used in  FIG.  1    is part of the dispensing assembly  36  and might take the form of a faucet assembly  60  such as the one showing in  FIG.  5    or the faucet assembly  62  as shown in  FIG.  6   . Each of the faucet assemblies  60 ,  62  generally includes a shank  64  attached to the lower portion  42  of the reservoir  32 . As previously indicated, gravity flow of beverage in the reservoir causes beverage to flow through a hollow portion of the shank  64  and into a nozzle portion  68 . The nozzle includes an outlet  70  through which beverage can flow. Although not shown in detail in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the nozzle houses a valve assembly of generally known construction which controls the flow from the shank  64  to the outlet  70 . In the position as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the valve is in the closed position with a handle  74 ,  76  of the respective assemblies positioned in the up position. Each handle  74 ,  76  is attached to a controllable portion of the valve to displace the valve when the handle is moved. In this regard, the up position is the valve closed configuration. When the valve is actuated (see  FIGS.  10  and  12   ) the valve is opened in relation to the movement of the handle and beverage can flow through the shank and out through the nozzle  70 . The faucet valves are spring loaded by a spring or elastomeric structure of known construction, or otherwise biased to a normally closed position. Operation of the adapter on the handle overcomes the force maintaining the normally closed valve position and opens the valve of the faucet to dispense through the valve. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the handles have different configurations. These are just two examples of different handle configurations. However, one beverage dispenser manufacturer or vendor may have multiple style handles in addition to the two as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   . In addition, a variety of beverage dispensing device  30  manufacturers might provide an even wider variety of handle configurations. As such, it is important to provide an adapter  50  that can accommodate a variety of handle configurations. As shown in  FIG.  5   , the handle  74  includes a forked or branched configuration including two arms  80 ,  82  and a cross member  84 . These structures provide leverage to allow a user to grip the structures and operate the handle to displace the valve. Similarly, the handle of the configuration in  FIG.  6    is more of a tap-style handle having a generally single vertical member which can gripped by the user. 
     The forked-style handle  74  is shown in combination with the adapter  50  in  FIGS.  7 ,  9  and  10   . The tap-style handle  76  shown in  FIG.  6    is also shown in combination with the adapter  50  in  FIGS.  8 ,  11 , and  12   . As can be seen in these figures, the adapter  50  has structures that function to operate each of the valves in the same manner regardless of the handle configuration. As such, this type of adapter  50  provides a somewhat universal solution to the problem of providing an adapter  50  for use with different handles. 
     The adapter allows the operation of the faucet assemblies  60 ,  62  without touching the handle  74 ,  76 , the nozzle body  68 , nor the nozzle outlet  70 . The adapter  50  in  FIGS.  2 - 4  and  7 - 12   , as well as the other configurations herein ( FIGS.  13 - 17   ,  FIGS.  18 - 22   , and  FIGS.  23 - 25   ), includes a handle engaging portion  90 , stiffening portions  92 , a nozzle clearance area  94 , and a cup engaging portion  96 . This allows the adapter  50  to be attached to a faucet  60 ,  62  of different configurations and operate the faucet by pressing a cup  100  against the cup engaging portion  96  to leverage the handle, controllably open the valve assembly, and operate the faucet. As a result of this configuration and this operation the only part of the dispensing process using the adapter  50  contacted by the user is the cup  100 . In this regard, it is further noted that the cup  100  includes an outer wall  102  extending upwardly form a bottom  101  in a generally frusto-conical structure terminating in a rim  104  defining a mouth  106  of the cup  100 . The user grips the outside surface of the cup wall  102  and presses the upper portion  103  of the cup  100  against the cup engaging portion  96 . The cup engaging portion  96  is configured to extend from the stiffening portion  92  so that the rim  104  does not contact the surface of the stiffening portion  92   a  or any other surfaces of the adapter  50 . This reduces or eliminates the possibility that a user operating the adapter  50  with a used cup (such as when the user has sipped form the cup by applying their lips to the rim of the cup) and does not transfer anything that was on cup rim, or the user&#39;s mouth and hence the rim  104  against any of the components of the adapter  50 . This helps to improve the hygiene of this overall system and method of operation. 
     One of the problems with prior art configurations is that they tended to be somewhat flexible and subject to flexing, deformation, and/or breakage. Such a configuration is shown in the Roethel Patent whereby the arms terminate in an upward pivoting portion very limited structure. As a result this was subject to problems in the operation. Similarly, if this structure were merely formed of a relatively planar, bent piece of metal or other material there might not be sufficient rigidity to the structure to provide reliable, repeated, long term use. In contrast, the configurations as set forth herein provide a stiffening portion  92  that extends from the handle engaging portion  90  to the cup engaging portion  96  in a manner that provides mechanical reinforcement. 
     The handle engaging portion  90  includes a top opening  108  that receives and engages a tip or crown  110  of the tap-style handle  76 . The handle engaging portion  90  also includes side openings  112  which receive and engage the cross member  84  which terminates in extending nubs or ears  114 . In this regard, the ears  114  can extend outwardly from the side openings  112  providing an additional portion of engagement between the handle engaging portion  90  and corresponding faucet handles  74 ,  76 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7 ,  8 ,  10 , and  12    a fulcrum portion  120  extends from a body portion  122  of the adapter to engage an outside portion  121  of the nozzle body  68 . The fulcrum portion  120  is reinforce to provide structural strength in the operation of the faucet in the adapter  50  push operation. This results in providing additional leverage and improved pivoting travel of the handle relative to the faucet assembly. This provides a more natural operation of the faucet by pressing the cup against the cup engaging portion  96  replication the control feel of the original valve operation by controlling the handle directly. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , and  FIGS.  11  and  12    the adapter  50  operates the faucets  60 ,  62 , respectively, by pressing the outside wall  102  of the cup  100  against the cup engaging portion  96  which pivots generally at the fulcrum portion  120  and leverages the handle forwardly (see  FIGS.  10  and  12   ) to open the valve assembly and allow beverage to flow from the shank and out through the nozzle outlet  70 . In other words, pushing the cup  100  against the cup engaging portion  96  towards the dispenser base  32  causes the adapter  50  to pivot against the fulcrum portion  120  contacting the nozzle body  68  thereby driving the handle engaging portion  90  forwardly or away from the dispenser  32  and actuating the valve assembly to open in proportion to the operation of the adapter  50  by the cup  100 . The configuration of the adapter  50  allows a user to see around the adapter  50  sides and into the cup through the mouth  106  to monitor beverage flow into the cup. This allows the user to controllably operate the cup against the cup engaging portion  96  to increase or decrease flow of beverage into the cup. When a user has sufficient amount of beverage in the cup they can release engagement of the cup against the adapter  50  thereby returning the valve handle  74 ,  76  to the upright and closed position of the valve within the faucet assembly  60 ,  62 . 
       FIGS.  13 - 17   ,  FIGS.  18 - 22   ,  FIGS.  23 - 25   , and  FIG.  266    show additional configurations of adapters,  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d  respectively. These three additional configurations all share common structures and as such we will refer to those structures using the same terminology and the same reference numbers as used in  FIGS.  1 - 12    with the addition of an alphabetic suffix. In this regard, all three of these additional configurations include a handle engaging portion  90 , stiffening portions  92 ,  92 , a nozzle clearance area  94  and a cup engaging portion  96 . Although each of these has a somewhat different configuration of the corresponding structure, these structures provide the same functions and results. In each of these configurations as well as the initial configuration in  FIGS.  1 - 12    the adapter can be provided with the original beverage dispensing device  30  as a portion of that device, can be provided separately as a conversion, retrofit, or adapter to change a handle tripped faucet to a cup tripped faucet. In each of these configurations, the adapter changes a faucet that originally required the user to touch it, grip it, and manipulate it to dispense beverage to now operate as a faucet that can be operated without the user directly touching the structures of the faucet but only touching an outside wall of their own cup to the cup engaging portion  96  during the dispensing process. In addition, each of these configurations also provide a fulcrum point  120  that contacts a portion of the faucet and a cup engaging portion  96  that allows the cup to be engaged by the adapter and for the cup to operate the adapter without the rim of the cup contacting the structures of the adapter. In other words, only the outside wall contacts the adapter for push operation of the faucet. 
     The adapter in  FIGS.  13 - 17    is designed to operate with the faucet style as shown in  FIG.  6    such that an upper portion of the adapter  50   a  engages the cross member  84  of the handle  74 . A fulcrum point  120   a  is provided below the engaging portion  90   a  to contact the outside surface  121  of the nozzle body. The lower portion of the nozzle, proximate to the outlet  70  extends through an area defining the nozzle clearance area  94   a . The stiffening portions  92   a  are provided extending on either side of the clearance area  94   a  to reinforce and stiffen the material. In this regard, the stiffening portions  92   a  are upstanding flanges which extend from the body towards the cup engaging portion  96   a  and are positioned generally perpendicular to the body  130  defining the open area. Additionally, the cup engaging portion  96   a  is in the form of a “bump out” that provides a recessed area  132  to avoid contact with the cup rim  104  and the stiffening portions  96   a . The lower portion of the cup engaging portion  96   a  is a surface  134  which is configured to contact the outside wall  102  of the cup  100 . The configuration shown in  FIGS.  13 - 17    includes the adapter  50   a  which is similar to the adapter  50   b  shown in  FIGS.  18 - 22   . The difference is that this adapter  50   a  is configured to engage an upper shoulder  136  of the faucet  62  to provide additional leverage and operating the tap-style handle  76 . 
     The adapter  50   b  in  FIGS.  18 - 22    is designed to operate with the faucet style  60  as shown in  FIG.  5    such that an upper portion of the adapter  50   b  engages the cross member  84  of the handle  74 . A fulcrum point  120   b  is provided below the engaging portion  90   b  to contact the outside surface of the nozzle body. The lower portion of the nozzle, proximate to the outlet  70  extends through an area defining the nozzle clearance area  94   b . Stiffening portions  92   b  are provided on either side of the clearance area  94   b  to reinforce and stiffen the material. In this regard, the stiffening portions  92   b  are upstanding flanges which are positioned generally perpendicular to the body  130   b  defining the open area  94   b . Additionally, the cup engaging portion  96   b  is in the form of a “bump out” that provides a recessed area  132   b  to avoid contact with the cup rim  104 . The lower portion of the cup engaging portion is a surface  134  which is designed to contact the outside wall  102  of the cup  100 . The configuration shown in  FIGS.  13 - 17    include the adapter  50   a  which is similar to the adapter  50   b  shown in  FIGS.  18 - 22   . 
     Finally, the adapter configuration  50   c  shown in  FIGS.  23 - 25    is similar to all of the adapters  50 ,  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   d  the corresponding descriptions generally apply to this configuration, as well, but the adapter  50   c  also provides a universal configuration that can be used with both the forked-style handle  74  faucet  60  shown in  FIG.  5    as well as the tap-style handle  76  faucet  62  as shown in  FIG.  6   . In this regard, a tang  140  extends from the engaging portion  90   c  to fit in an opening defined by the arms  80 ,  82  and below the cross member  84  of the forked-style handle  74 . The tang  140  is also used to engage the backside of the vertically extending tap-style handle  76  shown in  FIG.  6   . As engaged by the adapter  50   c , the same push-style operation can be accomplished was with the other adapter configurations  50 ,  50   a ,  50   b.    
     As shown in  FIG.  26   , another embodiment of the adaptor  50   d  is provided generally configured in a similar manner as the embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 4  and  7 - 12   . In this regard, the adaptor  50   d  has the general overall configuration as the adaptor  50  but has an additional enhancements relative to various features. In this regard, the adaptor  50   d  includes the body  122 , handle-engaging portion  90   d , the stiffening portions  92   d ,  92   d  and the cup engaging portion  96   d . The nozzle clearance area  94   d  is provided as defined by the extending portions  92   d , the fulcrum portion  122 , and the cup engaging portion  96   d.    
     The difference between the adaptor  50   d  in  FIG.  26    and the adaptor  50  in  FIG.  2    is that there are several features that are enhancements which apply to various applications such as with specific faucet types or operating preferences. In this regard, the handle-engaging portion  90   d  includes the top opening  108   d  to receive and engage a tip or crown  110  of a tap-style handle  76 . The enhancement in the opening  108   d  is that there is an internal protrusion  200  and a cutout area  202 . In comparison to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the top opening  108  is formed in a planer surface of the handle-engaging portion  90 . In contrast, the opening  108   d  in  FIG.  26    includes the protruding portion  200  and the cutout area  202 . This helps to accommodate different handle configurations to help in the application of the adaptor  50   a  to a particular faucet and/or handle configuration as well as to help retain and/or capture the portion of the handle extending through the opening  108   d.    
       FIG.  26    also includes a notch  204  formed in each of the extending portions  92   d . The notch  204  provides additional clearance around an upper shoulder  136  of the faucet  62 . This upper shoulder  136  can be in the form of a nut which is used as a cover to the nozzle  68  to retain components within the faucet  60 ,  62 . This prevents the adaptor  50   d  which allows the structure to be positioned around the shoulder/nut  136  without causing interference. 
     The embodiment as shown in  FIG.  26    also provides a cup-engaging portion  96   d  which is translated forward  206  relatively to the overall alignment of the adaptor  50   d  to help enhance the travel of the handle attached to the adaptor. In this regard, the geometry of the adaptor  50   d  has a greater forward dimension  208  of the cup-engaging portion  96   d  relative to the extending portion  92   d . This results in a geometry that increases the pivot range of the adaptor  50   d  relative to the nozzle and the handle associated with the nozzle. The dimensional difference between the dimensions identified herein  206 ,  208  can be seen in comparison on the corresponding portion of the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , namely  FIG.  3    which shows these corresponding dimensions as  210 ,  212 . While  210  and  206  may be relatively similar, the relationship of  208  and  212  shows that the dimension  208  is relatively greater and adjusted more forwardly from the corresponding extending portion  92   d  than the similar dimension  212  shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     The configurations of the embodiments in  FIGS.  1 - 26    are designed to be fabricated of a material which originates in a generally planar form. Such material could be in the form of metal such as stainless steel, plastic, or other materials such as multi-layer materials and composites. This discussion regarding the fabrication of the configurations is not intended to be limited by the materials but is provided as one example of the use of such materials to fabricate these embodiments. As described within the specification, these embodiments have structures that provide functions to allow the attachment of the adapter  50 ,  50   d  to a faucet of  60 ,  62  of a beverage dispenser  30 . It should be noted that the adapter could be formed as a single piece component through suitable applications of metal casting, plastic injection, plastic vacuum forming or other manufacturing processes. However as described herein the configurations of the embodiments can be formed generally of a planar piece of material that is deformed to achieve the various shapes as shown in the figures. 
     In this regard, a blank can be stamped from a continuous piece of material having all of the various features as shown in the embodiments ( FIGS.  1 - 26   ) which are then fabricated either manually or automatically to achieve the design as shown herein. Fabrication is achieve through controlled forming and or bending in a die, jig, form, or on a brake. As an example, starting with the flat planar blank, as shown in  FIG.  26   , tabs  300  in the cup engaging portion  96   d  are folded relative to the corresponding surface of the extending portions  92   d ,  92   d . The faucet engaging portion  90   d  is also formed by bending the angles shown in  FIG.  26    to achieve the illustrate configuration. It should be noted that the opening  108   d  and any other corresponding openings and other features are formed during the stamping process to provide blank used to form the end result as shown in the figures. Next, the fulcrum area can also be deformed as shown by folding to produce a reinforced structure having a double fold  302  at the one edge  304 . After these structures have been deformed as shown, the extending portions  92   d ,  92   d  can then bent relative to the body  122  at generally right angles. While right angles are mentioned, these are generally radiused right angles. 
     It should be noted that the specific steps defined herein do not limit the fabrication of the adapters  50 - 50   d  but are provided by way of explanation to describe how a flat blank stamped from a continuous piece of material can be formed to achieve the claimed design. The bending of the material during the fabrication process can provide additional strength such as by way of the stiffening portions  92   d ,  92   d . Similarly, the double fold  302  at the edge  304  of the fulcrum portion  122  provides additional strength and durability at the fulcrum area which carries a significant portion of the load of the operation of the adapter  50 ,  50   d  as it is pivoted by a user pressing a cup  100  in the cup engaging portion  96   d  and transferring forces upwardly through the stiffening portions  92   d ,  92   d  to the handle engaging portion  90   d.    
     All of the adapters  50 ,  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  are configured for attachment to a faucet assembly already installed on the beverage dispensing device. In this regard, the owner/operator of the restaurant or other facility that owns the dispensing device  30  can attach these adapters relatively quickly, easily, and without tools, fasteners, adhesives, and the like. In this regard, typically the adapter is positioned at somewhat of an angle or in an appropriate manner to position the faucet engaging portion  90  relative to and positioned for engagement with the corresponding portion of the faucet handle whereby the nozzle clearance area  94  is positioned over the nozzle body to prevent contacting the nozzle. In this regard, the adapter is retained on the faucet for controlled push operation use of the faucet to reduce contact by users operating the faucet and to reduce the potential for transfer of substances, germs, and other materials that might be found on the user&#39;s hands or on the rim of a previously used cup. 
     While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications, uses, adaptations, and equivalent arrangements based on the principles disclosed. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within at least the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalent structures and functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.