Patent ID: 8336743

Claim:
A tap for use in association with bag in box containers comprising: a body having a tap nozzle in the form of an elongated tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, a handle opening at a first end and a dispensing opening at the second end thereof, and a nozzle opening into the elongated tube between the first and second ends, the nozzle opening being placeable in fluid communication with a bag of a bag in box container; a plug member having a first end and a second end and an outer surface, the plug member structurally configured to fit within the elongated tube of the body such that the outer surface of the plug member faces the inner surface of the elongated tube, the plug member also structurally configured to be slidably movable within the elongated tube of the body between a closed orientation and an open orientation, wherein in the open orientation, the nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the dispensing opening and wherein in the closed orientation the nozzle opening is precluded from fluid communication with the dispensing opening; an upper seal assembly comprising an upper seal surface region integrally molded on the inner surface of the elongated tube between the nozzle opening and the handle opening of the body, and, a upper seal bead integrally molded on the outer surface of the plug, wherein the upper seal assembly maintains continuous sealing engagement between the closed orientation and the open orientation of the tap; and an integrally molded lower seal assembly sealing the tap nozzle and the plug member between the nozzle opening and the dispensing opening and wherein the upper seal surface region includes an upper end and a lower end, the upper seal surface region being curved between the upper end and the lower end, so as to define a passage that is relatively narrower at the upper end and the lower end and relatively wider between the upper end and the lower end.