TAP ARRANGEMENT

• US 20120067437A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Global Dragon Industries Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Global Dragon Industries Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Xia, Lijun
• Application Number:
  US13/319,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/317
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0414 allowing different orientations of the spout or the outlet nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/612 Tapping a pipe, keg, or apertured tank under pressure

Abstract

A tap arrangement (10) is provided, which includes a spout (15) for communicating and dispensing a primary fluid, and one or more spout fluid passages (20,25) located within the spout (15) for communicating and dispensing one or more secondary fluids, and a tap portion (30). The tap portion (30) includes a generally cylindrical tap body (35), a primary control (40), a secondary control (60) and a cap (65), and is adapted to allow a user to independently dispense the primary and the one or more secondary fluids.

Claims

1. A tap arrangement adapted to allow a user to independently dispense a primary and one or more secondary fluids, comprising:

a spout for communicating and dispensing the primary fluid,

one or more spout fluid passages located within and through the spout being adapted for communicating and dispensing the one or more secondary fluids, respectively, and

a tap portion adapted to be in fluid communication with the spout and the one or more spout fluid passages and to allow a user to independently control dispensing of the primary and the one or more secondary fluids.

2. A tap arrangement as claimed in of claim 1, wherein the tap portion comprises:

a tap body adapted to be secured to a surface, the spout being mounted to the tap body, and

a primary control mounted to the tap body, in fluid communication with the spout and being adapted to control the supply of the primary fluid through the spout.

3. A tap arrangement as claimed in of claim 2, wherein the tap body comprises:

one or more tap fluid passages corresponding to the one or more spout fluid passages, respectively, and

a secondary control for controlling the supply of the one or more secondary fluids from the one or more tap fluid passages into the one or more spout fluid passages.

4. A tap arrangement of claim 2, wherein the primary control is a mixer tap.

5. A tap arrangement of claim 3, wherein the one or more spout fluid passages are two or more spout fluid passages, the one or more tap fluid passages are two or more tap fluid passages and the secondary control takes the form of a collar comprising a collar fluid passage adapted to provide fluid communication between one of the two or more tap fluid passages and a corresponding spout fluid passage when the collar is in a first position and to provide fluid communication between a second of the two or more tap fluid passages and a corresponding spout fluid passage when the collar is in a second position, the collar being adapted to stop fluid communication between the two or more tap fluid passages and the two or more spout fluid passages when the collar is in an off position.

6. A tap arrangement of claim 3, wherein the one or more spout fluid passages are two or more spout fluid passages, the one or more tap fluid passages are two or more tap fluid passages and the secondary control takes the form of a collar comprising two or more collar fluid passages corresponding to the two or more spout fluid passages and the two or more tap fluid passages, a first of the two or more collar fluid passages being adapted to provide fluid communication between a first of the two or more tap fluid passages and a corresponding spout fluid passage when the collar is in a first position, a second of the two or more collar fluid passages being adapted to provide fluid communication between a second of the two or more tap fluid passages and a corresponding spout fluid passage when the collar is in a second position, the collar being adapted to stop fluid communication between the two or more tap fluid passages and the two or more spout fluid passages when the collar is in an off position.

7. A tap arrangement of claim 5, wherein the collar is adapted to be manually rotatable for adjustment between at least the first, second and off positions.

8. A tap arrangement of claim 7, wherein the tap body further comprises an upper surface having an arcuate groove and the collar further comprises a lower surface having a pin depending therefrom, the pin being adapted to cooperate with the arcuate groove, such that in use, rotation of the collar is limited by the range of motion of the pin within the groove.

9. A tap arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more spout fluid passages has an inlet located in a side wall of the spout.

10. A tap arrangement of claim 1, wherein the spout comprises a spout outlet and the or each of the one or more spout fluid passages has an outlet located at the spout outlet.

11. A tap arrangement of claim 1, wherein the one or more spout fluid passages generally follow an inner surface of the side wall of the spout.

13. A tap arrangement of claim 3, wherein the primary control is a mixer tap.

14. A tap arrangement of claim 6, wherein the collar is adapted to be manually rotatable for adjustment between at least the first, second and off positions.

12. (canceled)