AU2019210527A1

AU2019210527A1 - Tap Decal Holder

Info

Publication number: AU2019210527A1
Application number: AU2019210527A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edward Joseph Khoury; Ryan Phillip Vergone; Shinae Linda Vergone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-08-02
Filing date: 2019-07-30
Publication date: 2020-02-20

Abstract

Abstract A tap decal holder comprising a base having a clamp member to attach the 5 base to a tap and a body extending away from the base. An electronic display is provided on a first surface of the body and a decal area is provided on the second side surface for receiving a decal. The body is rotatable about a rotation axis passing through the base and the body between a first position in which the electronic display is visible from a position in front of the tap decal holder 10 and a second position, in which the decal is visible from said position in front of the decal holder. Fig1

Description

“Tap Decal Holder”

Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to a decal to be used on taps for dispensing beverages such as beer.

Background to the Invention [002] Beer in bars and restaurants is generally dispensed from a tap which includes a label identifying the type of beer. These labels are provided on a decal holder which is mounted to extend upwardly from the tap, so that it is clearly visible to patrons at the venue.

[003] The present invention relates to a tap decal holder having features provided to allow an improved display of information regarding the beverage, while still being able to be used as a standard decal holder.

Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tap decal holder comprising:

a base having a clamp member to attach the base to a tap;

a body extending away from the base, the body including a first side surface and an opposite second side surface;

an electronic display provided on the first surface;

a decal area on the second side surface for receiving a decal;

wherein the body is rotatable about a rotation axis passing through the base and the body between a first position in which the electronic display is visible from a position in front of the tap decal holder and a second position, in which the decal is visible from said position in front of the decal holder.

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 [005] Preferably a locking mechanism is provided to secure the body in either the first or second positions.

[006] Preferably the body is relatively flat such that the body includes a first side surface, a second side surface and a relatively short edge surface.

[007] Preferably the base is relatively flat such that the base includes a first side surface, a second side surface and a relatively short edge surface.

[008] Preferably the first and second side surfaces of the body are parallel to each other and the first and second side surfaces of the base are parallel to each other.

[009] In a preferred embodiment, the body includes a head portion, being remote from the base, and a narrowed neck portion, being adjacent the base.

[010] Preferably the head portion is circular in shape.

[011] Preferably, in the first position, the first side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the first side surface of the base and the second side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface of the base, and in the second position, the first side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface of the base and the second side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the first side surface of the base.

[012] In a preferred embodiment, the body includes a planar base wall portion and the base includes a planar upper wall portion and wherein the base wall portion of the body includes a cylindrical shaft extending outwardly to be received into a hole provided in the upper wall portion of the base such that the shaft is rotatable within the hole to provide rotation of the body about the base.

[013] In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes:

a widened distal end on the shaft;

a spring received around the shaft to engage between the widened distal end and an inner surface of the upper wall portion; and

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 one or more lugs provided on the upper wall portion to be received into corresponding indents provided on an outer surface of the base wall portion of the body when the body is in either the first or second positions.

[014] Preferably the body comprises a first casing portion which comprises the first side surface of the body and a portion of the edge surface of the body and a second casing portion which comprises the second side surface of the body and a portion of the edge surface of the body.

[015] Preferably the base also comprises a first casing portion which comprises the first side surface of the base and a portion of the edge surface of the base and a second casing portion which comprises the second side surface of the base and a portion of the edge surface of the base.

Brief Description of the Drawings [016] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

[017] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a tap decal holder in accordance with the present invention;

[018] Figure 2 is a front view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[019] Figure 3 is a rear view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[020] Figure 4 is a bottom view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[021] Figure 5 is a top view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[022] Figure 6 is a first side view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[023] Figure 7 is a second side view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[024] Figure 8 is an exploded view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[025] Figure 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[026] Figure 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the tap decal holder of Figure 1;

[027] Figure 11 is an upper perspective view of the tap decal holder showing the body partially rotated relative to the base; and

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 [028] Figure 12 is an upper perspective view of the tap decal holder showing the body partially rotated relative to the base and a first casing portion of the base removed.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [029] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a tap decal holder 10 comprising generally a base 12 and a body 14. The base 12 of the tap decal holder 10 is provided for attachment to a tap for dispensing beverages. The body 14 extends away from the base 12 such that when the base 12 is secured to a tap, the body 14 may be positioned to extend upwardly away from the tap, in order to provide a visual indication of the type of beverage which is to be dispensed from the tap.

[030] The base 12 in the embodiment shown comprises a U-shaped member 16 having a recess 18 in a lower side thereof. The recess 18 is provided to receive a portion of the tap. A clamp member 20 is provided to be engaged with the base 12 such that the clamp member 20 extends across the recess 18. The clamp member 20 includes a concave upper wall portion 22 to engage with a lower side of the portion of the tap to which the base 12 is attached and the clamp member 20 is secured across the recess 18 by securing screws 24. One or more resilient spacers 26 may also be provided to engage between the tap and the inner surfaces of the recess 18 and the concave upper wall portion 22 of clamp member 20.

[031] The body 14 of the tap decal holder 10 is connected to an edge of the base 12 being opposite the recess 18. The body 14 is relatively flat such that the body 14 includes a first side surface 28, a second side surface 29 and a relatively short edge surface 30. The first and second side surfaces 28 and 29 of the body 14 are parallel to each other. The base 12 is also relatively flat such that the base 12 includes a first side surface 38, a second side surface 39 and a relatively short edge surface 40. The first and second side surfaces 38 and 39 of the base 12 are also parallel to each other.

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 [032] In the embodiment shown, the body 14 includes a head portion 32, being remote from the base 12, and a narrowed neck portion 34, being adjacent the base 12. The head portion 32 is circular in shape such that the first and second side surfaces 28 and 29 of the body 14 include a circular portion remote from the base 12.

[033] The first side surface 28 of the body 14 includes an electronic display 42. The electronic display 42 comprises a display screen 48 mounted within the body 14 such that the display screen 48 is visible through an aperture 46 provided in the first side surface 28. The display screen 48 and the aperture 46 in the embodiment shown are both circular in shape. A circuit board 44 is provided within the body 14 to control operation of the display screen 48. The circuit board 44 is also circular and located behind the display screen 48. The tap decal holder 10 also includes internal memory for storing images to be displayed on the display screen 48.

[034] In the embodiment shown, the body 14 comprises a first casing portion 50 and a second casing portion 51. The first casing portion 50 comprises the first side surface 28 and a portion of the edge surface 30 and the second casing portion 51 comprises the second side surface 29 and a portion of the edge surface 30. The first and second casing portions 50 and 51 are secured together by screws 52 and a seal 54 is provided around the periphery of the first and second casing portions 50 and 51 to seal the interior of the body 14.

[035] The base 12 also comprises a first casing portion 60 and a second casing portion 61. The first casing portion comprises the first side surface 38 and a portion of the edge surface 30 and the second casing portion 61 comprises the second side surface 39 and a portion of the edge surface 30. The first and second casing portions 60 and 61 of the base 12 are also secured together by screws 52.

[036] The body 14 is provided also with a decal area 58 on the second side surface 29. The decal area 58 in the embodiment shown comprises a circular area on the head 32 of the body 14, which may receive a decal indicating the type of beverage which is to be dispensed from the tap.

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 [037] The body 14 is rotatable relative to the base 12 about a rotation axis 56. The rotation axis 56 passes centrally through the base 12 and the body 14 between the first side surfaces 28 and 38 and the second side surfaces 29 and 39 of the base 12 and the body 14. That is, when the base 12 is attached to the tap with the body 14 extending upwardly from the base 12, the rotation axis 56 is oriented vertically passing through the base 12 and the body 14. The body 14 is therefore rotatable about a central vertical axis.

[038] The body 14 includes a base wall portion 62 located adjacent an upper wall portion 64 of the base 12 (as best seen in Figure 8). The base wall portion 62 comprises a planar portion of the edge surface 30 of the body 14 and the upper wall portion 64 of the base 12 comprises a planar portion of the edge surface 40 of the base 12. The base wall portion 62 of the body 14 includes a cylindrical shaft 66 extending outwardly therefrom which is received into a hole 68 provided in the upper wall portion 64 of the base 12. The shaft 66 is rotatable within the hole 68 to provide rotation of the body 14 about the base 12.

[039] The body 14 is rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the electronic display 42 is visible from a position in front of the tap decal holder 10. In the second position, the decal provided on the decal area 58 is visible from the position in front of the tap decal holder 10. In the first position, the first side surface 28 of the body 14 is adjacent and coplanar with the first side surface 38 of the base 12 and the second side surface 29 of the body 14 is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface 39 of the base 12. In the second position, the first side surface 28 of the body 14 is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface 39 of the base 12 and the second side surface 29 of the body 14 is adjacent and coplanar with the first side surface 38 of the base 12.

[040] The tap decal holder 10 is provided with a locking mechanism to secure the body 14 in either the first or second positions. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism includes a widened distal end 70 on the shaft and a spring 72 received around the shaft 66 to engage between the widened distal end 70 and an inner surface of the upper wall portion 64. The locking mechanism includes also lugs 74 provided on the upper wall portion 64 which

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 may be received into corresponding indents provided on an outer surface of the base wall portion 62 of the body 14 when the body 14 is in either the first or second positions. The body 14 may therefore be rotated to the first or second positions by pulling the body 14 away from the base 12, rotating the body 14 and then allowing the spring to pull the body 14 back towards the base 12 to engage the lugs 74 with the indents.

[041] The tap decal holder 10 also includes a port 76 which may be used for power supply and/or data transfer. The port 76 in the embodiment shown is provided on the second side surface 29 of the body 14.

[042] In use, the tap decal holder 10 may be placed on a tap with the electronic display 42 facing forwardly in a direction to be viewed by patrons of the venue. The electronic display 42 may be used to display images and/or promotional video in relation to the beverage which is being dispensed from the tap. In the event that any problems occur with operation of the electronic display 42, the body 14 may be rotated to the second position to display the static decal related to the dispensed beverage.

[043] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tap decal holder comprising:

a base having a clamp member to attach the base to a tap;

an electronic display provided on the first surface;

a decal area on the second side surface for receiving a decal;

2. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism is provided to secure the body in either the first or second positions.

3. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 2, wherein the body is relatively flat such that the body includes a first side surface, a second side surface and a relatively short edge surface.

4. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 3, wherein the base is relatively flat such that the base includes a first side surface, a second side surface and a relatively short edge surface.

5. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first and second side surfaces of the body are parallel to each other and the first and second side surfaces of the base are parallel to each other.

6. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 5, wherein the body includes a head portion, being remote from the base, and a narrowed neck portion, being adjacent the base.

2019210527 30 Jul 2019

7. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 6, wherein the head portion is circular in shape.

8. A tap decal holder in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein, in the first position, the first side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar

5 with the first side surface of the base and the second side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface of the base, and in the second position, the first side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the second side surface of the base and the second side surface of the body is adjacent and coplanar with the first side surface of the base.

10 9. A tap decal holder in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the body includes a planar base wall portion and the base includes a planar upper wall portion and wherein the base wall portion of the body includes a cylindrical shaft extending outwardly to be received into a hole provided in the upper wall portion of the base such that the shaft is rotatable within the hole to 15 provide rotation of the body about the base.

10. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a widened distal end on the shaft;

a spring received around the shaft to engage between the widened distal end 20 and an inner surface of the upper wall portion; and one or more lugs provided on the upper wall portion to be received into corresponding indents provided on an outer surface of the base wall portion of the body when the body is in either the first or second positions.

11. A tap decal holder in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein

25 the body comprises a first casing portion which comprises the first side surface of the body and a portion of the edge surface of the body and a second casing portion which comprises the second side surface of the body and a portion of the edge surface of the body.

12. A tap decal holder in accordance with claim 11, wherein the base also 30 comprises a first casing portion which comprises the first side surface of the

2019210527 30 Jul 2019 base and a portion of the edge surface of the base and a second casing portion which comprises the second side surface of the base and a portion of the edge surface of the base.