Patent ID: 7815078

Claim:
A tap suitable for dispensing a gaseous beverage comprising a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths; the primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and comprises a horizontally oriented primary valve, the primary valve comprising a primary valve stem which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet, between closed and open positions and a primary valve seal, the primary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the primary valve, such that, in a closed position of the primary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the primary downwardly-extending spout; the secondary flow path is adapted to dispense a foamed portion of beverage and comprises a flow restriction for inducing turbulence in a beverage flowing through the secondary flow path so as to produce foam, the secondary flow path comprising a horizontally-oriented secondary valve comprising a secondary valve stem and a secondary valve seal which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet and a secondary valve seat between closed and open positions, the secondary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the secondary valve, such that in a closed position of the secondary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the secondary downwardly-extending spout; wherein the primary valve is operatively connected to a handle oriented perpendicular to the horizontal inlet, such that, actuation of the handle in a rotational manner in a substantially vertical plane causes the primary valve to open or close, wherein actuation of the secondary valve causes the secondary valve to open or close, wherein the body of the tap defines a primary bore and a secondary bore, wherein the primary valve is located in the primary bore, wherein the secondary valve is located in the secondary bore, and wherein said primary valve stem is axially-slidable along a central axis of said primary valve stem, and said secondary valve stem is axially-slidable along a central axis of said secondary valve stem, wherein the central axis of said secondary vale stem is spaced apart from the central axis of said primary valve stem.