AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention title: Mounting Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Mounting Device Field of the Invention The present invention is divided from Australian patent application no 2010200211, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 5 relates to a mounting device. More particularly the present invention is concerned with a mounting device suitable for attaching a display to a pipe or the like. Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a device suitable for attaching an advertising display in the form of a badge to a pipe forming part of beverage dispensing equipment. 10 Background of the Invention In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date: 15 (i) part of common general knowledge; or (ii) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. Displaying advertising information such as brand information proximate to beverage dispensing equipment, and in particular taps from which draught beer is 20 dispensed, is a time-honoured tradition. Devices for displaying such information vary depending on the particular type of tap. Twist-to-dispense taps often have a double-sided brand badge screwed into the top thereof (as illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B) and secured by a lock nut arrangement to ensure tightness. Typically, one side of the brand badge faces the 25 customer and the other side the bartender. A device for displaying brand information proximate to a tilt-to-dispense tap and a tilt-to-dispense tap are illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. In this case, the brand badge is integrally formed with a ring member which is permanently closed via a radially-extending grub screw, around a horizontal pipe forming part of the 30 tilt-to-dispense tap equipment. The device is attached to the pipe in a vertical 2 upstanding position with the brand badge facing the customer and typically an identical reverse side facing the bartender. Another device suitable for displaying advertising information proximate to a tilt-to-dispense beer tap is described in United States Published Patent 5 Application No. US 2005/0029309. The device comprises branded tap handles that are operably mounted to a dispensing tower via an elongate mounting member or via a curvilinear collar. The present invention aims to provide an alternative device for displaying advertising information proximate to beverage dispensing equipment and 10 particularly, but not exclusively, proximate to a tilt-to-dispense beer tap. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mounting device for mounting a display component having an attachment formation to beverage-dispensing equipment, the mounting device including a 15 head member having first and second opposing sides and a body member having means for mounting the mounting device to a pipe or the like, the head member having an aperture therein defining a void and a boundary, a contact surface being provided proximate to the boundary, the display component being removably attachable to the mounting device at a selected rotational orientation relative to 20 the mounting device, by locating the attachment formation in the void from the first side, rotating the display component to the selected rotational orientation, and inserting a suitable fastening means into the void from the second side so that one part thereof contacts the attachment formation to inhibit axial displacement of the display component relative to the mounting device and another part thereof 25 contacts the contact surface to inhibit rotational displacement of the display component relative to the mounting device. Unlike other prior art systems which have been observed to require a technician to undo the dispensing tap in order to change the branding on the tap, the present invention enables an unskilled bar worker to more easily change the 30 branding on the dispensing tap without any impact on the taps themselves. Not 3 only does this save on cost and specialist labour, it also minimises venue downtime and product wastage. According to the invention, the display component is removably attachable to the mounting device at selected rotational orientations relative to the mounting 5 device. This ensure that branding is displayed in accordance with the marketing strategies of the brewer of the beverage at all times. As such, and together with its other benefits, the present invention can be considered as a complete branding solution. The mounting device according to the invention can also be fitted to 10 dispensing taps having pipes of varying diameters. For example, the mounting device is capable of being fitted to at least the three known standard pipe diameters. The mounting means of the present invention also enables the mounting device to be conveniently fixed to pipes so as to project from the pipe at varying angles. This affords greater flexibility with respect to installing the 15 mounting device in venues with extensive and tightly-packed beverage dispensing equipment. The present invention, by providing a secure affixation between the display component and mounting device, and between the mounting device and the pipe, realises the additional benefit of a reduction in theft of branded hardware from 20 dispensing taps. This also prevents patrons or unauthorised venue staff from altering the branding. In addition, the simple and elegant two part structure of the mounting device according to embodiments of the present invention (comprising a unitary assembly of head, neck and shoulder members, along with a closure member), 25 allows unskilled bar workers to easily attach and remove the device from the pipes that form part of most beverage-dispensing equipment. It is also thought that increased beverage sales may flow as a consequence of the prominence and pleasant aesthetic disposition of branding attached to a dispensing tap in the manner provided according to the invention. 30 Preferably, the aperture defines a circular or substantially circular void and the contact surface is a bevelled wall extending downwardly and radially inwardly 3A from the second side towards the centre of the void. Typically, the contact surface is provided along a portion of the boundary. Suitable fastening means include studs, screws or the like having a longitudinal shaft and a head attached to the shaft, in use the shaft contacting the attachment formation and the head 5 contacting the contact surface. According to particularly preferred embodiments, the mounting device and/or the display component are shaped and configured such than an opening with side walls is defined in the mounting device, the opening being suitable to receive a planar graphic information carrier. The ability to incorporate a graphic 10 information carrier into the assembled device is a further advantageous feature of the present invention. In particular, it allows campaign information such as advertising and promotional material relevant to the brand of beverage carried by the display component, to be conveniently installed and updated in accordance with changes in the brewer's marketing strategy. 15 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided beverage dispensing equipment having a mounting device as described herein. A beverage in accordance with the present invention may include alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Examples of alcoholic beverages include beer and alcoholic cider. Examples of non-alcoholic beverages include carbonated and 20 non-carbonated soft drinks, brewed or fermented soft drinks such as ginger beer and non-alcoholic cider, and water. Other beverages are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. The mounting device according to the present invention is suitable for displaying brand information proximate to a beverage-dispensing tap so as to 25 indicate the brand of the particular beverage being dispensed. In particular, the device may be mounted on a pipe that often forms part of beverage-dispensing tap equipment, with the display component carrying and thus displaying, the brand information. It is believed that customers respond positively to tap branding, which should translate into higher sales for the publican.
4 Brand information must of course be changed from time to time when the beverage being dispensed through the proximate tap is changed, or when the brand information is refreshed, such as when a brand or logo is updated from time to time. This is easily achieved with the present invention through 5 replacement of the display component and does not require a corresponding disassembly of the beverage-dispensing equipment. Furthermore, the interaction between the attachment formation and contact surface allows the display component is to be attached to the device in two or more selected rotational orientations. This enables the display component, and consequently the brand or 10 other information carried thereon, to be rotated about a rotational axis passing through the head meniber to a suitable position where it is easily viewable by customers standing in front of and/or around the beverage dispensing tap. Optimally, the attachment formation extends from a recessed area in a surface of the display component. This enables the display component to sit, once 15 attached, substantially flush with the head member. Typically the head member will be substantially circular, although other shapes are contemplated with the scope of the invention. Preferably, the means for mounting the device to a pipe or the like is an adjustable clasp means. The clasp means will typically have an open configuration 20 in which the clasp means is locatable on and removable from the pipe and a closed configuration in which the clasp means encircles the pipe. According to particularly preferred embodiments, the clasp means is configured to enable attachment of the device to a substantially horizontal pipe or the like, such pipes often forming part of tilt-to-dispense beverage dispensing equipment. 25 Preferably, the clasp means includes an arched region which is locatable on an upwards-facing surface of a horizontal pipe and a separate arced member that is attachable to the arched region so as to encircle the horizontal pipe and thereby mount the device to the horizontal pipe. Typically, the arched region is in the shape of a half oval and the arced 30 member is substantially u-shaped such that a substantially circular shape is formed when the arced member is attached to the arched region.
5 According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the arced member is attachable to the arched region in a manner that enables a circle of selected radial lengths to be formed. Brief Description of the Drawings 5 An embodiment of the invention will now be further explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a prior art twist-to-dispense beer tap having a double-sided brand badge screwed into the top thereof ; Figure 1B is an elevation view of a prior art double-sided brand badge 10 disassembled from a twist-to-dispense tap; Figure 2A is a front elevation view of a prior art device for displaying brand information proximate to a tilt-to-dispense tap; Figure 2B is an elevation view of a tilt-to-dispense tap; Figures 3 and 4 are exploded views of a mounting device in accordance 15 with the invention shown proximate to a tilt-to-dispense tap; Figures 5 to 11 are views of the mounting device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 shown in isolation; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of a mounting device in accordance with the invention including a graphic information carrier. 20 Detailed Description of the Drawings An embodiment of a brand display assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figures 3 to 12. Assembly 10 is suitable for, and principally used to, display to customers and bar staff, the brand of beverage that is dispensed through a tilt-to-dispense tap 50. Display of the beverage brand at 25 the point of purchase also serves to advertise and promote the brand in the minds of prospective customers. Assembly 10 comprises a mounting device 20 that is attached, by way of a clasp means, to a horizontal pipe 51 that forms part of tap equipment 50, and a display component 40 that is attachable to mounting device 20. Brand 30 information is carried by display component 40 either in the shape and 6 configuration 41 of display component 40 (as illustrated), or by indicia printed directly on display component 40 or on an intermediate label that is affixed to display component 40. It will be realised by skilled addressees that the present invention is not limited by the manner in which display component 40 happens to 5 carry information. Assembly 10 may be manufactured from any suitable material including electroplated metal alloys and injection moulded thermoplastics. Display component 40 is replaceable. Once mounting device 20 is attached to pipe 51, display component 40 may be attached and removed from mounting 10 device 20 as and when required. For example, when the beverage dispensed through tap 50 is changed, then a replacement display component carrying brand information relevant to the new beverage is simply attached to mounting device 20 in the manner described below. No portion of tap equipment 51 need be disassembled in order to change the proximately displayed brand information. 15 Mounting device 20 is composed of a circular head member 21, a neck 23 and shoulder member 24. Neck 23 is located below head member 21 and joins head member 21 to shoulder member 24. It will be seen that, in the embodiment shown, neck 23 is integrally formed with head member 21, and that shoulder member 24 is integrally formed with neck 23, thus forming a body member for the 20 mounting device 20 having a unitary assembly. It will also be seen that head member 21 is, in the embodiment shown, substantially planar. As most clearly illustrated in Figure 9, shoulder member 24 is roughly in the shape of a half oval and defines an arched or curved region 31 therebetween. In 25 particular, shoulder member 24 is composed of a curved member 34 and a pair of spaced-apart, straight arms 25 that extend from each end of curved member 34. Each pair of arms 25 defines a recess 32 that extends along the length of the arms 25. . As shown most clearly in Figure 10, an aperture is formed in the centre of 30 head member 21 that defines a circular void 22. The boundary between void 22 and head member 21 is designated with reference numeral 13.
7 A roughly u-shaped bevelled wall 17 extends from an arc on the surface of head member 21, downwardly and inwardly into void 22 to the boundary 13. As described in further detail below, bevelled wall acts as a contact surface for attaching display component 40, to mounting device 20. 5 An arced, cut-out region 65 (Fig 10), is located above the circle defined by bevelled wall 17. Cut-out region 65 has a greater radius of curvature than the circle defined by boundary 13 and is bounded by side walls 67. Mounting component 20 further includes a separate, roughly u-shaped closure member 27 that includes an integrally formed curved base member 71 and 10 first and second straight walls 73, 75 extending from either end of base member 71. Tabs 28 extend out from each wall 73, 75 of closure member 27. A clearance hole 29 (Fig 3) is formed in each tab that is suitable to allow a screw fastener 30 to pass through. Mounting device 20 is attachable to pipe 51 by first locating mounting 15 device 20 on the upwards-facing surface of pipe 51 so that arms 25 project downwardly around lateral surfaces 52 of pipe 51. When located in this way, head member 21 projects upwardly from pipe 51. Owing to shoulder member's 24 roughly half oval shape, mounting device 20 sits securely on pipe 51 on account of the curved member 34 contacting the upwards-facing surface of pipe 51, and the 20 straight, arms 25 making an essentially tangential contact with the lateral surfaces of pipe 51.U-shaped member 27 is then brought to the downwards-facing surface of pipe 51 and tabs 28 are slotted into recesses 32 defined by arms 25. Screws 30 are screwed through holes 29 in tab 28 up into a threaded hole 33 (Fig 6) formed in the wall of shoulder member 24 from which arms25 extend. As illustrated in 25 Figure 8, once screwed into place, u-shaped member 27 and shoulder member 24 encircle pipe 51 and thereby mount mounting device 20 onto pipe 51. In this way an adjustable clasp means is provided. Mounting device 20 includes parallel ribs 60 (Figs 4 and 11) located on u shaped member 27 and a rubber strip 53 (Fig 7) located on the upper arc or 30 curved region 31 that serve to retain mounting device 20 against rotation about pipe 51, once attached.
8 It can also be seen that when mounting device 20 is attached to pipe 51, the plane of head member 21 is substantially perpendicular to the axis of pipe 51. Mounting device 20 is also easily removable from pipe 51, which may be required when tap equipment 51 requires cleaning and/or servicing. To remove 5 mounting device 20, screws 30 are simply unwound and u-shaped member 27 taken from the rear-facing wall of pipe 51. Display component 40 is attached to mounting device 20 through cooperating parts provided on each component 20 and 40. On display component 40, the cooperating part is in the form of suitable attachment 10 formation/s provided on the rear face 42 (Figs 4 and 11) of display component 40. The attachment formation is in the form of first 44 and second 61 annular formations provided on rear face 42 (Figs 4 and 11) of display component 40. Second annular formation 61 is concentrically located within first annular formation 44 and has a smaller radius than annular formation 44. A tooth 62 15 extends radially outwardly from the upper circumferential surface of second annular formation 61. An annular rail 63 (with first 44 and second 61 annular formations at its centre) projects out of the plane of rear face 42, to define a circular region 64 in its interior. Circular region 64 roughly coincides in shape with head member 21 20 of mounting device 20. This arrangement enables display component 40 to be substantially flush with mounting device 20 once the two components are attached. The cooperating part on mounting device 20 is central aperture 22 and bevelled wall 17 provided in head member 21. 25 Display component 40 is attached to mounting device 20 by contacting display component 40 with head member 21, so that annular formations 44 and 61 pass into void 22. A rubber strip 55 (Figure 7) located on the bottom rim of head member 21 also contacts display component 40 when attached to mounting device 20 so as to reduce the occurrence of unwanted rotation of display 30 component 40 about mounting device.
9 Tooth 62 locates within cut-out region 65, and is contained within cut-out region 65 by side walls 67 having a pair of opposed upstanding faces. A threaded fastening stud 47 is then passed through central aperture 22 of head member 21 until the end of a shaft portion 49 of fastening stud 47 is located at the top of a 5 threaded circular void 69 defined by second annular formation 61. Opposed upstanding faces of side walls 67, with tooth 62, provide limit means capable of interacting so as to limit the path of rotational travel of the display component 40 relative to mounting component 20. Tooth 62 is capable of abutting an upstanding face of side wall 67 so as to limit the path of rotational 10 travel of the display component relative to mounting component 20 as the display component 40 and mounting component 20 are rotated relative to one another. An alternative or additional form of limit means is provided by opposed stops 81, 82 disposed adjacent a lower edge of display component 40. Opposed stops 81, 82 are capable of abutting neck 23 of mounting component 20 so as to 15 limit the path of rotational travel of display component 40 relative to mounting component 20 as display component 40 and mounting component 20 are rotated relative to one another. Once mounted, the angle of display component 40 relative to a rotational axis A (Figs 4 and 11) passing through mounting device 20 is adjustable by 20 rotating display component 40 about axis A within cut-out region 65 until a desired position for optimum viewing of display component 40 is reached, where fastening stud 47 is secured tightly to lock display component 40 from rotating.in this way a locking means is provided. Mounting device 20 may be rotated throughout an angle of approximately 25 500 in either direction relative to a vertical line 'B' (Fig 11). It will therefore be appreciated that the arrangement described enables selective rotational orientation of the display component 40 relative to the mounting device 20. A suitable security tool, such as an 'Allen key' (not shown) is then inserted 30 into a hexagonal (or alternatively a 'snake-eye) socket 48 formed in a plate portion 56 of threaded fastening stud 47 (stud 47 also having a shaft 49), and fastening 10 stud 47 is screwed into threaded circular void 69, until the first side of plate portion 56 is in contact with bevelled wall 17 and second side of plate portion 56 is flush with rear face 42 of display component 40. Once attached in this way, contact between shaft 49 and void 69 acts to prevent axial displacement of display 5 component 40 away from mounting device 20 along axis 'A', and contact between plate portion 56 and bevelled wall 17 acts to prevent rotational displacement of display component 40 about axis 'A'. Similarly, a security tool is used to remove display component 40 from mounting device 20. In particular, tool is inserted into a hexagonal (or 10 alternatively a 'snake-eye') socket 48 and unscrewed until end of shaft 49 is clear of threaded void 69. This disengages the lock between mounting device 20 and display component 40. As discussed above, the angle which mounting device 20 and display component 40 make to each other when the two are attached is adjustable. In the 15 embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 9 mounting device 20 and display component 40 are connected parallel to each other. However, other orientations are possible where components 20 and 40 are connected at an angle to each other. Angular connection enables display component 40, and consequently the brand or other information carried thereon, to be connected to 20 mounting device 20 in a suitable position where it is easily viewable by customers standing in front of and/or around the beverage dispensing tap. The orientation of display component 40 can also be suitably adjusted to display brand information to customers who are not in the immediate vicinity of the dispensing tap, with a view to influencing that customer's choice of beverage as they wait for 25 beverage service. Display component 40 also conveniently includes openings 66 and 68, each of which include side walls, respectively cut out of the top edge of display component 40 and of the upper circumferential surface of annular rail 63. Openings 66 and 68 allow a graphic information carrier 70 (Fig 12) upon which 30 additional point-of-sale material - such as advertising indicia, information relating to promotions or other pertinent information such as price or current temperature of the beverage - may be carried, to be securely inserted into mounting device 10. Graphic information carrier 70 is planar in form, can be 11 manufactured from any suitable material including plastic and laminated cardboard, and includes a cut-out archway made up of a rectangular 72 and circular region 74. Information carrier 70 is inserted into opening 66, passes through opening 68 and is pushed in a downwards direction until circular region 5 74 encircles and snap-fits onto annular formation 44. Once attached, the side walls of openings 66 or 68 serve to restrict rotational movement of graphical information carrier. The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any 10 variants or additions. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.