Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bifurcated beverage preparation system for use with beverage capsules having frustoconical side walls, first and second sealed ends for containing a predetermined volume of a flavoring agent, a beverage preparation head including a housing having a liquid inlet and a beverage delivery spout, a retractable holder for positioning a beverage capsule along a liquid flow path extending between the liquid inlet and the beverage delivery spout, a hydraulically operated plunger for engaging and puncturing the beverage capsule when positioned along the liquid flow path, thereby exposing the flavoring agent contained therein, and a hydraulic operating unit mounted remotely from the housing and the faucet spout, operative to supply a liquid at a predetermined temperature and under a predetermined pressure to the liquid, thereby causing a flow of the liquid along the flow path through the beverage capsule, thereby delivering an outflow of a flavored beverage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a faucet including a housing, inlet and outlet ports associated with the housing, a faucet cartridge having hot and cold water inlets for receiving respective flows of hot and cold water through the inlet port, a mixed water outlet, and a mixing chamber disposed between the hot and cold water inlets and the mixed water outlet for liquid flow communication therebetween, a flow guide connected to the mixed water outlet of the faucet cartridge, for guiding an outflow of water therefrom to the outlet port so as to prevent the outflow of water from contacting the housing, and a sealing element configured to create a sealed interface between the faucet cartridge and the flow guide so as to prevent leakage.

Abstract: A system for selectably fastening a female member with a male member adapted to fit inside the female member, the female member having one or more inward-facing recesses and the male member having one or more outward-facing recess, the recesses being of similar cross-sectional dimensions, includes one or more moveable, ferromagnetic locking elements housed within the inward-facing recesses of the female member; and a locking magnet mounted onto the male member, in magnetic proximity to the one or more outward-facing recesses, wherein, in the presence of a magnetic force applied by the locking magnet, mating of the male and female members bringing the outward-facing and inwardly-facing recesses into mutual registration causes the locking elements to move inwardly into the outward-facing recesses so as to extend across both of the inward- and outward-facing recesses, thereby to lock the male and female members together.

Abstract: A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main and auxiliary spouts extending from the housing; main and auxiliary supply hoses extending through the housing for conveying water to the main and auxiliary spouts, respectively; and a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main and auxiliary spouts, wherein the main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through the faucet body, the rotation causing a lateral movement and partial twisting of the auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the main water supply hose thereby to allow thereby to allow freedom of movement of the auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.

Abstract: A system for selectably fastening a female member with a male member adapted to fit inside the female member, the female member having one or more inward-facing recesses and the male member having one or more outward-facing recess, the recesses being of similar cross-sectional dimensions, includes one or more moveable, ferromagnetic locking elements housed within the inward-facing recesses of the female member; and a locking magnet mounted onto the male member, in magnetic proximity to the one or more outward-facing recesses, wherein, in the presence of a magnetic force applied by the locking magnet, mating of the male and female members bringing the outward-facing and inwardly-facing recesses into mutual registration causes the locking elements to move inwardly into the outward-facing recesses so as to extend across both of the inward- and outward-facing recesses, thereby to lock the male and female members together.

Abstract: A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main and auxiliary spouts extending from the housing; main and auxiliary supply hoses extending through the housing for conveying water to the main and auxiliary spouts, respectively; and a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main and auxiliary spouts, wherein the main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through the faucet body, the rotation causing a lateral movement and partial twisting of the auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the main water supply hose thereby to allow thereby to allow freedom of movement of the auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.

Abstract: A water faucet or water tap includes, in its base area or other suitable area or region, a built-in or embedded or integrated filtering mechanism. The filtering mechanism includes a non¬electrical filtering chamber, having a cavity for securing therein a replaceable water-filtering capsule. A suitable water-filtering capsule, having an active filtering component or a passive filtering component, is inserted into the non-electrical filtering chamber, and can be removed from it for periodical replacement. Optionally, the water-filtering capsule includes a scent-producing agent, a flavor-producing agent, or a nutrient or a supplement, which are added to the filtered water. Optionally, a bypass mechanism or water-diverting mechanism enables to select between: a first mode in which a first water-outlet outputs non-filtered mixed hot-and-cold water; and a second mode in which a second water-outlet outputs filtered cold water or filtered room-temperature water.

Abstract: A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from the housing; a main water supply hose for conveying water to the main spout and an auxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to the auxiliary spout, the main water supply hose and the auxiliary water supply hose extending through the housing; and a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main spout and the auxiliary spout.