Beverage dispensing apparatus with butterfly plates and molded cluster bearings
US8177100B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 4, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/87684
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing a beverage, for use with pressurized sources of one or more fluids, includes a handle having one or more valve chambers; a fluid valve in each valve chamber; one or more butterfly plates, each configured to bias one or more of the valve stems of the valves towards a valve-open position when the butterfly plate is pressed, thus opening fluidic communication from each of the fluid sources to a corresponding discharge opening; and a ball bearing cluster which provides one or more pivot points for the butterfly plates. The ball bearing cluster includes a retainer and at least one ball-shaped projection projecting from the retainer. The ball-shaped projection remains in a substantially fixed position and orientation with respect to both the retainer and the handle when one or more of the butterfly plates is pressed. The ball bearing cluster and butterfly plate may be molded.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.