GB2422342A

GB2422342A - A device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages

Info

Publication number: GB2422342A
Application number: GB0501604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Humphries
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-25
Filing date: 2005-01-25
Publication date: 2006-07-26
Also published as: GB0501604D0

Abstract

A device (30) for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages, which device (30) comprises a body (32) and a plurality of apertures (34, 36, 38) in the body (32), the apertures (34, 36, 38) being different from each other and such that each one of the apertures (34, 36, 38) is of a size and shape that fits a different nozzle whereby the device is able to be used for undoing a plurality of different nozzles.

Description

A DEVICE FOR UNDOING NOZZLES FOR

DISPENSING BEVERAGES

This invention relates to a device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages.

In public houses and clubs, beverages such for example as beer, larger, cider, lemonade and cola are dispensed from nozzles via on/off taps.

The beverages are supplied to the taps from appropriate containers via conduits. The conduits, the taps and the nozzles are cleaned with cleaning fluid. The nozzles in particular need frequent cleaning. Ideally, the nozzles are removed at the end of each trading period. They are traditionally undone by bar staff with their hands for cleaning. Often the nozzles are tightly done up and considerably difficulty is encountered by the bar staff in undoing the nozzles, especially if they have wet hands from washing glasses. The nozzles traditionally have different shaped parts for being gripped. Thus, for example, some parts may have different numbers of splines. Other parts may simply be smooth. Whatever the shape of the nozzle part for being gripped, it is invariably insufficient in practice to enable the nozzle easily to be undone by hand by persons such for example as bar staff. The problem of easy nozzle removal is substantial when it is borne in mind that the nozzles may need to be cleaned twice a day, seven days a week.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages, which device comprises a body and a plurality of apertures in the body, the apertures being different from each other and such that each one of the apertures is of a size and shape that fits a different nozzle whereby the device is able to be used for undoing a plurality of different nozzles.

The device is simple to use. It is only necessary to place a nozzle to be undone through the appropriate aperture, and then to turn the device.

The device gives the extra purchase required to enable the nozzle to be undone. The device can be constructed to be small so that it can always be conveniently placed, for example behind a bar counter or even in a person's pocket.

The body is preferably a flat body. Other shapes for the body may however be employed.

The device may be one in which the body has a shape that is the same as a shape associated with the beverage being dispensed through one of the nozzles. Thus, for example, if a nozzle is dispensing Guinness, then the body may be in the shape of a shamrock.

The device may be one in which the apertures are through apertures which extend completely through the body. With such through apertures, some or all of the apertures may be the same on both sides of the body.

Preferably, with the through apertures, some or all of the apertures are different on different sides of the body. This may be obtained by moulding different shaped apertures towards each other from both sides of the body.

If desired, the device may be one in which the apertures are blind apertures on one side only of the body. The through apertures are preferred because the device may then offer double the amount of different apertures than would be the case if only blind apertures were employed.

The different types of apertures may be selected from apertures having one flat side, a plurality of flat sides, one spline, a plurality of splines, an arrangement having a single pin and hole, an arrangement having a plurality of pins and holes, and a plain friction drive. The plain friction drive aperture may have an insert. The insert may be an over moulded insert or a loaded-in insert. With the insert, the device may have a double sided ratchet for providing good grip.

Advantageously, the device of the present invention is moulded from a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate plastics material may be employed. Because the torque required for undoing the nozzles is not great, a plastics material is quite sufficient. If desired however the device may be made of a metal.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a known multi-tap dispenser for dispensing different types of beverages in the form of different types of beers and lagers; Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 - 7 show different types of nozzles; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a first device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages; Figure 9 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a top view of a second device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages; Figure 11 is a boftom view of the device shown in Figure 10; and Figure 12 is an end view of the device shown in Figures 10 and 11, looking from the front as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a known multi-tap dispenser 2 comprising an upstanding body 4 having at its upper end four taps 6. Each tap 6 permits a different beverage to be dispensed from its associated nozzle 8. After filling a glass with an appropriate beverage, some of the beverage may drip from the nozzle 8. This beverage is caught in a drip tray 10. The dispenser 2 is adapted to be secured to a bar (not shown) by a clamp arrangement 12 comprising a screw clamp 14 extending through an angle bracket 16.

Figure 3 shows a short nozzle 10 having grooves 12 around its periphery for enabling the nozzle 10 to be gripped.

Figure 4 shows a longer nozzle 14 having splines 16 around its periphery for enabling the nozzle 14 to be gripped.

Figure 5 shows a nozzle 18 which has a part 20 for being gripped and this part is plain. The nozzle 18 is traditionally used for dispensing Guinness.

Figure 6 shows a nozzle 22 having six splines 24.

Figure 7 shows a nozzle 26 having ten splines 28.

It will be apparent from Figures 3 - 7 that the nozzles are relatively small, and the part for being gripped is even smaller. The nozzles may have different formations for providing a grip or they may have no formations at all. Irrespective of what formations are provided or not provided, difficulty is always encountered by bar staff in undoing the nozzles with their hands, especially if their hands are wet.

Figures 8 and 9 show a first device 30 for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages. The device 30 comprises a body 32 and a plurality of apertures 34, 36, 38 in the body 32. The apertures 34, 36, 38 are different from each other, and they are such that each one of the apertures is of a size and shape that fits a different nozzle. Thus the device 30 is able to be used for undoing a plurality of different nozzles.

As shown in Figure 8, the body 32 is flat. The apertures 34, 36, 38 extend completely through the body 32.

The aperture 34 is defined by a rubber insert 40. The rubber insert is of the same width as the body 32. Thus the aperture 34 is the same on both sides of the device 30. The aperture 34 is able to receive the plain part 20 of the nozzle 18. The rubber insert 40 is able to grip the plain part of the nozzle 18 with sufficient friction or force to enable the device 30 easily to undo the nozzle 18.

The aperture 36 also extends completely through the body 32. The aperture 36 is the same shape on both sides of the body 32.

The aperture 38 extends completely through the body but each side of the body 32 has a different formation for the aperture 38. From the upper side 42 of the body 32 shown in Figures 8 and 9, the aperture 38 is in the form of an aperture 38A having six recesses 44 for receiving the six splines 24 on the nozzle 22 shown in Figure 6. From the bottom side 46 of the body 32 as viewed in Figure 8, the aperture 38 is in the form of an aperture 38B having ten recesses 48 for receiving the ten splines 28 on the nozzle 36 shown in Figure 7. Thus the device 30 is able to be used for undoing four different nozzles.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a second device 50 having a body 52.

The body 52 has an upper side 54 as shown in Figure 10 and a bottom side 56 as shown in Figure II. The body 52 has three apertures 58, 60, 62. The apertures 58, 60 extend completely through the body 52 but each aperture 58, 60 is different on each side of the body 52. Thus, on the upper side 54 of the body 52, the aperture 58 is shown as aperture 58A. The aperture 58A has six recesses 64. Similarly, on the upper side 54 of the body 52, the aperture 60 is shown as aperture 60A. The aperture 60A is plain and it is defined by a rubber insert 66. The aperture 62 is a through aperture and it has the same shape on the upper side 54 and the bottom side 56 of the body 52. More specifically, the aperture 62 has eight recesses 68.

In Figure 11, the apertures 58, 60, 62 are shown from the bottom side 56. Here, the aperture 58 is shown as aperture 58B, and the aperture is shown as aperture 60B. The aperture 58B has four recesses 78 and two concave portions 80. The aperture 60B has six splines 82.

The devices 30, 50 are easily able to be moulded. They are small and convenient to use. They overcome a long-existing problem in public houses and clubs.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the devices 30, 50 may be of shapes other than those shown.

Other devices may have more or less apertures. The devices of the invention may be used for beverages other than beer and lager, and they may be used in places other than public houses and clubs. Generally, the device of the present invention may be used with nozzles for dispensing any suitable and appropriate type of beverage including beers lagers, ciders, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, hot beverages, cold beverages, soft drinks, tea and coffee. The device of the present invention may be made from a wide variety of materials including plastics materials, metals, and composite materials. The materials may be, for example, stainless steel or brass. Plated metal materials may also be used. The rubber inserts 40, 66 may be of other materials giving appropriate friction.

Claims

1. A device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages, which device comprises a body and a plurality of apertures in the body, the apertures being different from each other and such that each one of the apertures is of a size and shape that fits a different nozzle whereby the device is able to be used for undoing a plurality of different nozzles.

2. A device according to claim I in which the body is flat.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which the body has a shape that is the same as a shape associated with the beverage being dispensed through one of the nozzles.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the apertures are through apertures which extend completely through the body.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which some or all of the apertures are the same on both sides of the body.

6. A device according to claim 4 in which some or all of the apertures are different on different sides of the body.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 - 3 in which the apertures are blind apertures on one side of the body.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the apertures are selected from apertures having one flat side, a plurality of flat sides, one spline, a plurality of splines, an arrangement having a single pin and hole, an arrangement having a plurality of pins and holes, and a plain friction drive.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which the plain friction drive aperture has an insert.

10. A device according to claim 9 in which the insert is an over moulded insert or a loaded-in insert.

11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10 and including a doublesided ratchet for grip.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims and moulded from a plastics material.

13. A device for undoing nozzles for dispensing beverages, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8 - 12 of the accompanying drawings.