Beverage tapper having at least two supply lines

Abstract

A beverage tapper having at least two supply lines includes a beverage tapper and at least two supply fittings. The beverage tapper is normally used to pump a quantity of beverage out of a beverage container. The at two supply fittings are preferably formed radially outward from the supply cavity of the beverage tapper similar to any existing beverage tapper. Existing beverage tappers may be modified to form the beverage tapper having at least two supply lines by attaching at least one attachable supply fitting adjacent the existing supply fitting.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a utility application taking priority from provisional application, serial No. 60/261,395 filed on Jan. 12, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to beverage tappers and more specifically to a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines which allows more than one person to fill their drinking implement simultaneously.

[0004] b 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0005] There are numerous beverage tappers on the market. However, it appears that none of these beverage tappers have more than one supply line.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines which allows more than one person to fill their drinking implement simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines for filling at least two drinking implements at a time. The beverage tapper having at least two supply lines includes a beverage tapper and at least two supply fittings. The beverage tapper is used to extract beverage from a beverage container such as a barrel. Preferably, a hand pump type of beverage tapper is used, however other types of beverage tappers may also be used such as electrically actuated. The at least two supply fittings are preferably formed radially outward from the supply cavity of the beverage tapper similar to any existing beverage tapper. Existing beverage tappers may also be modified to form the beverage tapper having at least two supply lines by attaching at least one additional supply fitting adjacent the existing supply fitting.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines which allows at least two persons to fill their drinking implements simultaneously.

[0009] These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view of a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top cross sectional view of a supply cavity of a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective cutaway view of modified existing beverage tapper having at least one additional supply line in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of a beverage tapper having at least two supply lines 1. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage tapper 1 having at least two supply lines includes a beverage tapper 10 and at least two supply fittings 12 (four are shown). The at least two supply fittings 12 are preferably formed radially outward from the supply cavity 14 of the beverage tapper 1 similar to any existing beverage tapper.

[0015] The only limitation to the number of supply fittings is the cross sectional area of the inlet hole 16. The combined cross sectional areas of the outlet lines 18 of the supply fittings cannot exceed the cross sectional area of the inlet hole 16 or beverage flow out of the outlet lines 18 is reduced. A single dispensing hose 20 is preferably attached to each of the supply fittings 12 to provide the controlled dispensing of beverage. The dispensing hose 20 must be terminated with a dispenser valve 21 to control the flow of beverage through its respective supply line 18.

[0016] The beverage tapper having at least two supply lines 1 preferably operates in the following manner. The bottom of the beverage tapper 10 is inserted into a top of a beverage container 100. As beverage is extracted from the beverage container 100, the air pressure must be replenished by actuating the pump handle 23 up and down until air passes through the air passage 25, out through the air outlet 27 and into the beverage container 100.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a partial perspective cutaway view of a modified existing beverage tapper having at least one additional supply line 2. At least one attachable supply fitting 22 is attached to the existing beverage tapper 26, adjacent the supply fitting 30. Preferably, the supply fitting 22 has a threaded end 24 and a hole 32 is formed through the beverage tapper 2 to a supply cavity 28. Other methods of attaching additional supply fittings 22 may also be used. A single dispensing hose 20 is preferably attached to either supply fitting 22 or 30 to allow extraction of beverage. The modified existing beverage tapper 2 is attached to the beverage container 100 and is operated the same way as the beverage tapper 1.

[0018] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A beverage tapper comprising:

a beverage tapper capable of extracting beverage from a beverage container; and

at least two supply fittings extending from said beverage tapper, each supply fitting capable of providing a flow of beverage from the beverage container.

2. The beverage tapper of claim 1, further comprising:

a dispensing hose being attached to one of said at least two supply fittings, said dispensing hose having a dispensing valve which controls the flow of beverage therethrough.

3. A method of modifying an existing beverage tapper, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a beverage tapper capable of extracting a beverage from a beverage container, said beverage tapper having a supply fitting; and

(b) attaching at least one additional supply fitting to said beverage tapper such that beverage extracted from the beverage container is supplied through said supply fitting and said at least one additional supply fitting.

4. The method of modifying an existing beverage tapper of claim 3, further comprising:

a dispensing hose being attached to each one of said at least two supply fittings, said dispensing hose having a dispensing valve which controls the flow of beverage therethrough.

5. A method of modifying an existing beverage tapper, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a beverage tapper capable of extracting a beverage from a beverage container, said beverage tapper having a supply fitting;

(b) attaching at least one additional supply fitting to said beverage tapper such that beverage extracted from the beverage container is supplied through said supply fitting and said at least one additional supply fitting; and

(c) providing a dispensing hose which is capable of being attached to a single said supply fitting, said dispensing hose having a dispensing valve which controls the flow of beverage therethrough.