Handle for a dispense head

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a dispense handle (6) configured to be movably and detachably attached to a dispense head (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container. The dispense head (1) comprises a hollow housing body (2), a hollow piston (5) arranged displaceably in an axial direction within the hollow housing and aligned therewith and a hinge (10) fixedly attached to the hollow housing body (2). The hollow piston is connected to the detachable dispense handle (6) so that upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston will be displaced axially inside the hollow housing body (2) in order to open or close the beverage container. The dispense handle (6) comprises a first end (6A) being detachably hinged via an axle to the hinge (10) of the hollow housing body (2) and a second end (6B) being a grip for activation.

Description

[0001] HANDLE FOR A DISPENSE HEAD

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a dispense handle configured to be detachably coupled to a dispense head. The present disclosure also relates to a dispense head configured to be detachably coupled to a beverage container above a container valve arranged in the beverage container in a dispensing system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a handle of the dispense head. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a dispense handle and a dispense head comprising such a dispense handle as defined in the introductory parts of the independent claims.

[0004] Background art

[0005] A problem with the solutions of the prior art of pressure delivery systems for delivering gas to a gas consuming system where beverages are carbonized before being dispensed is that handling of hitherto known dispense heads and the parts making them up for detachable attachment to a beverage container is cumbersome as those dispense heads with handles and valves often are complex comprising many different and separate parts that may come loose and be difficult to handle, keep track of and find when to be used and / or when the dispense heads are to be refitted and assembled onto the beverage container(s).

[0006] A problem with the solutions of the prior art of pressure delivery systems for delivering gas to a gas consuming system where beverages are carbonized before being dispensed is that hitherto known dispense heads, valves and valve assemblies being detachably attached to beverage containers are complex comprising a manifold of different and separate parts configured to be detachably fitted together, which easily come loose and are difficult to handle, keep track of and find when to clean them and after cleaning before being used and / or refitted and assembled onto the beverage container(s) again, wherefore the different and separate loose parts or items or articles making up each dispense head, valve and valve assembly risk not being cleaned or at least not be sufficiently clean after washing, this being in particular disadvantageous when used for beverages due to high hygiene standards.

[0007] Exemplary dispense heads are disclosed e.g. in WO 2012 / 045676 Al and WO 2018 / 192975 Al. There is thus a need for an improved dispense head for use in pressure delivery systems for delivering gas to a gas consuming system where beverages are carbonized and then dispensed via taps.

[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art and solve at least the above-mentioned problem. According to a first aspect there is provided a dispense handle configured to be movably and detachably attached to a dispense head configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container, the dispense head comprises a hollow housing body, a hollow piston arranged displaceably in an axial direction within the hollow housing and aligned therewith, the hollow piston being connected to the detachable dispense handle so that upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston will be displaced axially inside the hollow housing body in order to open or close the beverage container, and a hinge fixedly attached to the hollow housing body, wherein the detachable dispense handle comprises a first end configured to be detachably hinged via an axle to the hinge of the hollow housing body and a second end configured to be a grip for activation, characterized in that the axle of the detachable dispense handle being configured to be detachable and movable attached to the hinge of the housing body of the dispense head is an integrated part of the first end of the dispense handle, and that the detachable dispense handle is elongated and the hinge comprises an inner through bore and a slit forming an elongated opening into and along the inner through bore, which slit opening is configured to face the hollow housing body and the hollow piston, whereby the integrated axle of the first handle end is configured to slidable fit through the slit opening when assembling or disassembling the detachable dispense handle.

[0009] This improves and simplifies the cleaning of the detachable dispense handle and the dispense head and enhances the actual cleanliness of these entities and makes the cleaning of the detachable dispense handle and the dispense head more effective while also simplifying the handling of these entities before, during and after cleaning, assembly and disassembly as for example the risk of dropping items on dirty floors or items falling into the wrong locations in a washing or sterilizing machine or the washing liquid not being able to reach all areas of the items are greatly reduced.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the hollow housing body of the dispense head comprises a first end and a second end, and the hollow piston comprises a first upper end and a second lower end, the first upper piston end being connected to a hollow detachable top portion and the detachable dispense handle, so that upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston and the hollow detachable top portion will be displaced axially towards the second end of the hollow housing body and the second lower end will be displaced towards and beyond the second housing body end in order to open the beverage container.

[0011] This improves the use of the detachable dispense head and simplifies the handling of the detachable dispense head as the hollow detachable top portion is exchangeable if damaged and also makes it more effective to use the detachable dispense head as the hollow detachable top portion enables replacing one hollow detachable top portion with another type or size or quality or shape to fit to more different dispensing lines.

[0012] According to some embodiments, a gas inlet is arranged in the hollow housing body of the dispense head, which is fluidly connected with the hollow piston and the hollow housing body and the hollow top portion, wherein the hollow housing body comprises an opening extending through the hollow housing body and being in fluid communication with the gas inlet, the hollow piston and the hollow top portion to enable dispensing of beverage out of the dispense head.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the detachable dispense handle is configured to be detachably attached to the hinge by gripping the second handle end and orientating the handle into a vertical position after removing the hollow detachable top portion from the first upper piston end, whereby the integrated axle of the first handle end is configured to be moved by sliding it into the slit opening in a direction away from the hollow housing body and the hollow piston until the integrated axle bottoms / abuts the inner through bore of the hinge, whereafter the detachable dispense handle is configured to be orientated away from the vertical position into a more horizontal or angled or horizontal position and the hollow detachable top portion is configured to be detachably attached to the first upper piston end forming a guide and vertical blockage of the detachable dispense handle.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the detachable dispense handle is elongated and its first end is detachably and pivotally attached to the hinge fixedly arranged on the hollow housing body of the dispense head, the hinge comprises an inner through bore and a slit forming an opening into the inner through bore, which slit opening is configured to face the hollow housing body and the hollow piston, by gripping the second handle end and orientating the detachable dispense handle into a vertical position after removing the hollow detachable top portion from the first upper piston end, whereby the integrated axle of the first handle end is moved by sliding it into the slit opening in a direction away from the hollow housing body and the hollow piston until the integrated axle bottoms / abuts the inner through bore of the hinge, whereafter the detachable dispense handle is orientated away from the vertical position into a more horizontal or angled or horizontal position and the hollow detachable top portion is detachably attached to the first upper piston end forming a guide and vertical blockage of the detachable dispense / movement handle.

[0015] This improves and simplifies the assembly and disassembly of the handle of the dispense head as the amount of items to keep track of is significantly reduced and the way of assembling and disassembling the dispense handle is very easy and almost self-instructive as it provides a tactile feedback.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the inner through bore of the hinge is cylindrical and slit open along its whole length by the opening forming an elongated orifice and the integrated axle comprises two straight and parallel surfaces along its length and two rounded opposite surfaces along its length, which straight and parallel surfaces extend in planes being perpendicular to the length of the handle. According to some embodiments, the inner through bore of the hinge is cylindrical and slit open along its whole length by the opening forming an elongated orifice and the integrated axle comprises two straight and parallel surfaces along its length and two rounded and parallel surfaces along its length, which straight and parallel surfaces extend in planes being perpendicular to the extension of the rounded and parallel surfaces and the length of the handle.

[0017] This improves and simplifies the assembly and disassembly of the handle of the dispense head as the number of items to keep track of is significantly reduced and the way of assembling and disassembling the dispense handle is very easy by providing tactile feedback.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the two straight and parallel surfaces of the integrated axle are arranged at a distance from each other, which distance is configured to enable these surfaces to be in sliding alignment and fit with the orifice of the slit opening. According to some embodiments, the two straight and parallel surfaces of the integrated axle are arranged at a distance from each other such that these surfaces are in sliding alignment with the orifice of the slit opening. According to some embodiments, the distance between the two straight and parallel surfaces of the integrated axle is configured to enable sliding the integrated axle through the orifice of the slit opening. According to some embodiments, the distance between the two straight and parallel surfaces of the integrated axle is configured to enable a slidable fit and linear movement between the integrated axle and the orifice of the slit opening when the detachable dispense head is assembled to or disassembled from the dispense head. According to some embodiments, the distance between the two straight and parallel surfaces of the integrated axle is less than the diameter of the integrated axle and the two rounded opposite surfaces are configured to be in pivotable fit with the inner through bore of the hinge.

[0019] This improves and simplifies the assembly and disassembly of the handle of the dispense head as the number of items to keep track of is significantly reduced and the way of assembling and disassembling the dispense handle is very easy by providing tactile feedback while also reducing the material used for making the handle and its weight.

[0020] According to a second aspect there is provided a dispense head configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container in a beverage dispensing system, wherein the dispense head comprises a operative dispense handle according to any preceding aspect / embodiment.

[0021] This lets the dispense head inherit the same advantages as those of the dispense handle.

[0022] Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0023] Brief ions of the

[0024] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a plan side view of a dispensing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 show in perspective a prior art dispense head in two different states, figure 2 shows the prior art dispense head with a prior art dispense handle assembled and figure 3 shows the prior art dispense head with the prior art dispense handle disassembled.

[0026] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the dispense head when not activated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 5 shows a plan side view of the dispense head when activated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6 shows a plan side view of the dispense head when in a step of being assembled together or disassembled according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 7 shows a top view from above of the dispense head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the dispense head during a step of assembly or disassembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figures 9 to 11 show plan side views of the dispense head during different steps of assembly or disassembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figures 12 to 15 show cross-sectional views taken from the side of the dispense head along line A - A of fig. 7, figures 13 and 15 show in particular cutout enlarged cross-sectional views BB and CC from figures 12 and 14, respectively, corresponding to the steps of assembly or disassembly shown in figures 4 and 9 for better clarity, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] Detailed description

[0034] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person. All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.

[0035] In figure 1, a dispensing system 100 for dispensing beverage is shown. The dispensing system 100 comprises a beverage container 14 comprising a container valve arranged in an opening of the beverage container, the container valve having an internal spring with a spring force enabling the opening of the beverage container 14 to be kept closed, a gas supply in the form of a gas container 30, a dispensing tap 31, and a dispense head 1 according to the disclosure. The gas supplying container 30 is connected with the gas inlet 7 of the dispense head 1 via a gas regulator 32 and a gas supply line 33. From the dispense head 1 to the dispensing tap 31, a beverage dispensing line 34 extends. The beverage dispensing line 34 may be configured to be guided from the dispense head 1 to the dispensing tap 31 via a tower 35 or from the dispensing tap 31 via the tower 35 to the dispense head 1, so that the beverage dispensing line 34 in some embodiments is replaced each time the beverage container 14 is replaced.

[0036] In figures 2 and 3, a prior art dispense head 1' is shown in a perspective view. The prior art dispense head 1' in figs. 2 and 3 comprises a housing or body 2' having a first end 3' and a second end 4'. The prior art dispense head 1' comprises a hollow piston 5' arranged displaceable in the axial direction within the housing body 2', the piston 5' being connected to a hinged handle 6', so that upon activation of the handle 6', the piston 5' will be displaced axially towards and beyond the second end 4' of the housing body 2' in order to open a container valve (not shown) of a beverage container (not shown here, see exemplary beverage container 14 of fig. 1). In fig. 2, the piston 5' has been moved to the position in which it extends beyond the second end 4' of the housing body 2' by means of the handle 6'. The prior art dispense head 1' comprises a gas inlet 7' arranged in the housing body 2'. An integrated top part 8' of the piston 5' is configured to be connected with a dispensing line (not shown here, see exemplary dispensing line 34 of fig. 1). The gas inlet 7' is configured to be connected with a gas supply (not shown here, see instead exemplary gas supplying container 30 and line 33 of fig. 1). The handle 6' is removably attached to the housing body 2' via a separate cylindrical axle or pin 9' insertable axially into a hinge 10' fixed on the housing body 2' working as a pivot or guiding in the form of a fixed through hole or channel in the housing body 2' above the gas inlet 7'. In fig. 3, the prior art dispense head 1' is shown with its known handle 6' and the separate cylindrical axle or pin 9' removed axially out of the hinge 10' and from the dispense head 1' as loose and separate items 6' and 9'. The separate cylindrical axle or pin 9 is slid into and along the length of the channel of the hinge 10' when the handle 6' is attached to the dispense head 1' as shown in fig. 2 and after detachable attachment thereto hindered from coming loose unintendedly by sliding out axially from the hinge 10' by means of a snap fastening 11' having a U-shape with two legs gripping around the ends of the separate axle or pin 9' outside the hinge 10' of which one end is fixedly attached to one end of the separate axle or pin 9' at one end of the hinge 10' to the right in figs. 2 and 3 and the other end is detachably attached to the separate axle or pin 9' by snap fastening at another end to the left in the prior art of figs. 2 and 3 .

[0037] In figures 4 to 15, a dispense head 1 according to the invention is shown in different views. Figs. 4 and 9 show the dispense head 1 in perspective views, fig. 4 shows a handle 6 detachably attached to the dispense head 1 and fig. 8 shows the handle 6 disassembled from the dispense head 1 or before detachable assembly of the handle 6 and the dispense head 1. Figs. 5, 6, 9 to 11 and 12 to 15 show the dispense head 1 in side views and cross-sectional side views. Fig. 7 shows a view from above of the dispense head 1 with a line A - A clarifying how the cross-sections of figs. 12 to 15 are taken. Figs. 5, 6, 9, 12 and 14 has visualized cut-out areas B, C, BB and CC and figs. 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 have also non-fil led arrows corresponding to different orientations and angles and turnings of the handle 6 to clarify how it is rotated or turned or pivoted and moved when detached and attached to the dispense head 1 according to the invention (the same goes for a detachable top portion 8 of the dispense head 1). Figs. 13 and 15 show enlargements BB and CC corresponding to cutout parts BB and CC of figs. 12 and 14 that also correspond to the same orientations of the handle 6 as in figs. 4, 5, 6 and 9 but shown in cross-sections for clarity. Fig. 6 shows a gas inlet 7 arranged to the left on the dispense head 1 and figs. 6, 8, 9 to 11, and 14 show the detachable top portion 8 that is removed from the dispense head 1 as a first step when to detach the handle 6 therefrom (see the non-fi lied arrow in solid lines pointing upwards visualizing the removal of the top portion 8 in a vertical direction opposite the direction of assembly of the whole dispense head 1 to the beverage container 14 of fig. 1) and put back on the dispense head 1 as shown in figs. 4, 5 and 12 as a last step when attaching the handle 6 onto the dispense head 1 (see the non-fil led arrow in dashed lines pointing downwards visualizing the removal of the top portion 8 in a vertical direction corresponding to the direction of assembly of the whole dispense head 1 to the beverage container 14 of fig. 1).

[0038] The inventive dispense head 1 in figs. 4 to 15 comprises a housing body 2 having a first end 3 and a second end 4. The dispense head 1 of figs. 4 to 15 also comprises a hollow piston 5 arranged displaceable in an inner bore or through channel 12 in the axial direction within the housing body 2, the piston 5 comprises a first upper end 5A and a second lower end 5B. The piston 5 is connected to a hinged and detachable handle 6 according to the invention, so that upon activation of the handle 6, the piston 5 will be displaced axially towards and beyond and below the second end 4 of the housing body 2 with the second lower end 5B in order to open a container valve (not shown) of a beverage container (not shown in figs. 4 to 15, see instead beverage container 14 of fig. 1). The beverage container 14 and the container valve (not shown) is closed by deactivating the handle 6. In figs. 5, 6, 12 and 13, the piston 5 has been moved to the position in which it extends beyond or below the second end 4 of the housing body 2 with the second lower end 5B by means of the handle 6. A top portion 8 of the upper end of the piston 5 is configured to be sealingly and detachably connected with a first upper end 8A to a dispensing line (not shown here, see instead the dispensing line 34 of fig. 1 for fluid communication therebetween. In the dispense head 1 of figs. 4 to 6, 9 to 11, and 12, the top portion 8 is detachably attached with a lower second end 8B to the upper first end 5A of the piston 5 ) for fluid communication therebetween. The top portion 8 is shown removed from the first upper end 5A of the piston 5 in figs. 8 - 11, and 14, but not at all shown in figs. 8, and 14. In other not shown embodiments, the dispensing line 34 of fig. 1 may be connected with the top portion 8 in other expedient manners. The gas inlet 7 is configured to be connected with a gas supply (not shown in figs. 4 to 15, see instead gas supplying container 30 and line 33 of fig. 1).

[0039] The gas supplying container 30 in fig. 1 contains in some embodiments a pressurized gas, e.g. CO2. The gas regulator 32 of fig. 1 could be a gas pressure regulation device, e.g. as disclosed in WO 2019 / 110714 Al. The beverage dispensing system 100 comprises in some a gas delivering system that in turn comprises one or more CO2 cylinders 30 having a valve assembly (not shown) and a gas pressure regulation device 32. Such a gas delivery system is configured to deliver a predetermined gas pressure to the beverage container 14 having an extractor tube such as the dispensing line 34 of fig. 1. A dispense head 1 is coupled to the extractor tube or dispensing line 34 and is configured to lead CO2, from the gas container or cylinder 30 through the valve assembly (not shown) in the gas container 30 and the gas pressure regulation device 32 to and through the gas supply line 33 into the beverage container 14 wherein the CO2 is used to expel the beverage from the beverage container 14 into the extractor tube and dispensing line 34 and through the tower 35 and out of the dispensing tap 31.

[0040] The dispense head 1 of the disclosure is coupled to the beverage container 14 via a container valve (not shown). The container valve is configured to be opened by pressing it downwards into the beverage container 14 by means of the second lower end 5B of the piston 5 of the dispense head 1. Hereby, the container valve opens up for beverage to flow out of the beverage container 14 via the hollow piston 5 and the detachable top portion 8 also being hollow by pressurising the inside of the beverage container with a gas, such as CO2, from the gas inlet 7, as is well known in the art and not explained further herein.

[0041] Figs. 12 to 15 show a centre axis D of the inner bore or cavity 12 of the housing body 2 being aligned with the centre axis of the movable hollow piston 5. The handle 6 comprises a centre or mid axis E (shown in figs. 12 to 15) extending along its length and in some embodiments configured to coincide with a centre / pivot axis of the hinge 10 around which hinge pivot axis the handle 6 is configured to be rotated or turned or pivoted during use and when detached and attached from the dispense head 1.

[0042] The handle 6 of the dispense head 1 of figs. 4 to 15 is removably attached to the housing body 2 at a first end 6A via an integrated axle or pin 9 that is insertable into a hinge 10 fixed on the housing body 2. The integrated axle 9 is elongated and has a flattened crosssection, i.e. the integrated axle 9 is not round all around its circumference, only partly. The pivotable handle 6 has a second end 6B forming a grip to move or turn the handle with when used and when detached from and attached to the dispense head 1. The hinge 10 works as a pivot or guiding in the form of a fixed through hole or channel in the housing body 2 arranged above the gas inlet 7. The hinge 10 and its fixed through hole or channel in the housing body 2 extends in a direction perpendicular to the centre axes D of the housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5 and the mid axis E and longitudinal direction of the handle 6. The handle 6 is configured to be moved in a plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hinge 10 and its centre axis forming the rotary / pivot axis for the handle 6 when stopping and starting dispensing, i.e. when being deactivated or activated, and when detached and attached from the dispense head 1.

[0043] In figs. 8 to 11, the dispense head 1 with its detachable handle 6 and the integrated axle 9 are shown when the detachable handle 6 with the integrated axle 9 are removed together as one unit out of the hinge 10 and from the dispense head 1. The integrated axle 9 is a crossbar extending in a plane in parallel with mid axis E of the handle and in parallel with the extension of the through channel of the hinge 10 when the handle 6 is assembled on the dispense head 1. The handle 6 comprises two arms 6C extending in parallel from the second end 6B being the grip of the handle 6 into the first end 6A to be pivotally attached to the hinge 10. The integrated axle 9 is a fixed crossbar forming a connecting bridge between the two arms 6C of the handle 6 making the handle more sturdy and durable compared to prior art handles. The handle 6 is slid with its integrated axle 9 out of an inner longitudinal bore or channel of the hinge 10 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the inner bore of the hinge 10 and towards the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5 when the handle 6 is detached from the dispense head 1 as shown via the non-fi lied arrow in fig. 10. This step of disassembly in fig. 10 is made after the top portion 8 is removed from the first upper end 5A of the piston as shown with non-fi I led arrows in solid lines in figs. 5 and 6 (the non-fi lied arrows in dashed lines in these figs, visualize when the top portion 8 is attached to the first end 5A of the piston 5 after the hereby steps of disassembly have been done in reverse order). Before the step of disassembly in fig. 10 and after the step of disassembling the top portion 8 in fig. 6, the handle 6 is turned 90° counter-clock wise (into a vertically upstanding position) as shown by the bent no n-fi lied arrow in fig. 9. As a last step in disassembling the handle 6 from the dispense head 1 before cleaning it after the above steps, the handle 6 is moved vertically upwards as shown in fig. 11 visualized by a non-fi lied arrow in solid lines pointing upwards. The detachable assembly of the handle 6 back onto the dispense head 1 is done by reversing the above steps of detachments.

[0044] In some embodiments the dispense handle 6 is configured to be movably and detachably attached to the dispense head 1. The dispense head 1 is configured to be operatively coupled to the beverage container 14. The dispense head 1 comprises the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5 arranged displaceably in an axial direction corresponding to the centre axis D of the hollow housing and within the hollow housing and aligned therewith. The hollow piston 5 is in the disclosure operatively connected to the detachable and pivotable dispense handle 6, whereby upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston is displaced axially down or up inside the hollow housing body 2 in dependence on if the dispense handle grip 6B is pushed downwards from the upper position shown in fig. 4 to the lower position shown in fig. 5 in order to open the beverage container 14 or if the dispense handle grip 6B is pushed upwards from the lower position shown in fig. 5 to the upper position shown in fig. 4 in order to close the beverage container 14. In some embodiments, a hinge 10 is fixedly attached to the outside of the hollow housing body 2. In some embodiments, the dispense handle 6 comprises a first end 6A being detachably hinged via an integrated and fixed flattened axle 9 to the hinge 10 of the hollow housing body 2 and a second end 6B being a grip for manual activation. The fixed axle 9 at the first end 6A of the dispense handle 6 is configured to be detachable and movable attached to the hinge 10 of the dispense head 1 as an integrated part of the first end 6A of the dispense handle. The detachable dispense handle 6 is elongated and its first end 6A is configured to be detachably and pivotally attached to the hinge 10. The hinge 10 is fixedly arranged on the hollow housing body 2 of the dispense head 1. The hinge 10 comprises an inner through bore 10A and a slit 11. The slit 11 forms an elongated opening into and along the inner through bore 10A. The slit opening 11 is configured to face the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5. The integrated axle 9 of the first handle end 6A is configured to slidable fit through the slit opening 11 when assembling or disassembling the detachable dispense handle 6.

[0045] In figs. 5 and 12, the operative dispense handle 6 is shown with the hollow housing body 2 of the dispense head 1 comprising a upper first end 3 and a lower second end 4. The hollow piston 5 comprises the first upper end 5A and the second lower end 5B. The first upper piston end 5A is connected to the hollow detachable top portion 8 and the detachable handle 6, so that upon activation of the detachable handle, the hollow piston and the hollow detachable top portion 8 will be displaced axially towards the second end 4 of the hollow housing body 2 and the second lower end 5B will be displaced towards and beyond the second housing body end 4 in order to open the beverage container 14. In some embodiments of the operative dispense handle 6 a gas inlet 7 is arranged in the hollow housing body 2. The gas inlet 7 is fluidly connected with the hollow piston 5 and the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow top portion 8, wherein the hollow housing body 2 comprises an opening 12 extending through the hollow housing body and being at least partly in fluid communication with the gas inlet 7, the hollow piston 5 and the hollow top portion 8 to enable dispensing of beverage out of the dispense head 1.

[0046] The operative dispense handle 6 is elongated. The first handle end 6A is detachably and pivotally attached to the hinge 10 fixedly arranged on the outside of the housing body 2. The hinge 10 comprises an inner through bore 10A and a slit 11 forming an opening into the inner through bore, see figs. 8, 10, 11 and 12 - 15. The slit opening 11 is configured to face the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5. The handle 6 is removably assembled to the housing body 2 of the dispense head 1 by gripping the second handle end 6B and orientating the handle 6 by turning it upwards until it is upstanding vertically, i.e. into a vertical position after removing the hollow detachable top portion 8 from the first upper piston end 5A if the hollow detachable top portion 8 is not already removed from the first end 5A of the piston 5 as shown in fig. 11. Then, the integrated axle 9 of the first handle end 6A is moved towards the hinge 10 and its slit opening 11 and the gas inlet 7 vertically downwards between the hinge and the piston 5 as visualized with the downwards pointing non-fi lied arrow in dashed lines of fig. 11 and then moved by sliding the integrated axle 9 into the slit opening 11 in a direction away from the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5 as visualized with the non-fi I led arrow in dashed lines of fig. 10 until the integrated axle 9 bottoms / abuts the inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 (the non-fi I led arrows in solid lines of figs. 10 and 11 visualize the disassembly of the handle 6 from the dispense head 1). Thereafter, the handle 6 is moved or turned clock-wise away from the vertical position into a more horizontal or angled or horizontal position as visualized with the non-filled bent arrow in dashed lines of fig. 9 and lastly the hollow detachable top portion 8 is detachably attached to the first upper piston end 5A as visualized with the non-filled arrow pointing downwards in dashed lines of fig. 6 to form a guide and vertical blockage of the movement handle.

[0047] In some embodiments of the dispense head 1 and the operative dispense handle 6 the inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 is cylindrical and slit open along its whole length by the opening 11 forming an elongated orifice. This opening 11 of the hinge 10 is in some embodiments made by slitting. In some embodiments, the opening 11 is made by cutting or by casting or moulding the housing body 2 and hinge 10 into this shape as shown in figs. 8 and 12 to 15. In some embodiments, the integrated and fixed axle 9 of the handle 6 comprises two straight and parallel surfaces 9A along its length and two rounded and parallel surfaces 9B along its length as shown in figs. 13 and 15. In some embodiments, the straight and parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the handle 6 extend in planes being perpendicular to the extension of the rounded and parallel surfaces 9B and the length and mid axis E of the handle 6 as shown in figs. 12 to 15. In preferred embodiments, the straight and parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the handle 6 extend in parallel planes being perpendicular to or at least angled relative the extension of the rounded surfaces 9B (these rounded surfaces 9B are arranged opposite and substantially parallel to each other) and / or the length and mid axis E of the handle 6 as shown in figs. 12 to 15. In some embodiments of the operative dispense handle 6, the two straight and parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 are arranged at a distance from each other such that these surfaces 9A are configured to be in sliding alignment with the orifice of the slit opening 11. The flat or straight parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 are in some embodiments made by cutting off or grinding away material from a circular cylindrical axle made of metal from two opposite and parallel directions along its length leaving two flattened areas 9A in parallel with the rounded circumference left unprocessed as the rounded surfaces 9B between these then flattened surfaces 9A. The machining of the integrated axle 9 is adapted so that the distance between these flat surfaces 9A or thickness of the axle therebetween is decreased compared to the diameter of the unprocessed axle part and now correspond to the width or orifice of the slit opening 11 also having straight and parallel surfaces 11A such that these flat surfaces 9A slidingly fit and may be slid through the slit opening until the curved or round surfaces 9B abuts and bottoms in the cylindrical inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 when the handle 6 is vertical, but when the handle 6 then is turned into a closer to horisontal or another angle or a horisontal position the rounded unprocessed surfaces 9B forming the full diameter of the integrated axle 9, now being engaged with the inner bore 10A of the hinge 10, have a larger width than the slit opening 11, the integrated axle 9 is now securely / steadily held inside the inner bore 10A of the hinge 10 with appropriate tolerances to still let the handle 6 pivot when the integrated axle 9 is turned or rotates inside the inner bore 10A of the hinge 10 during use of the handle 6. In some embodiments, the flat or straight parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the handle 6 are made by casting or moulding the handle 6 into this unitary shape with the axle 9 as part of, i.e. integrated in the first handle end 6A as shown in figs. 4 to 15. The handle 6 is in some embodiments made by metal and / or composite materials and / or plastic, i.e. the handle 6 could be made as a whole in one of these materials or as combination of two or more of those materials, the same goes for the dispense head 1. Moreover, the orientation of the straight and flat outer surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the handle 6 could in some embodiments be made at another angle than perpendicular to the longitudinal direction or mid axis E of the handle 6 depending on how much and in what angles the handle 6 is rotated / pivoted with its integrated axle 9 turning or rotating with its outer rounded surfaces 9B bearing against the inner surfaces of the inner bore of the hinge 10 during use for operating the dispense head 1 and assembly to and disassembly from the dispense head 1. This also means that the orifice of the slit opening 11 with its straight and parallel surfaces 11A in some embodiments could face or be open towards the hollow housing body 2 and the hollow piston 5 at another angle than the angle being perpendicular to the centre axis D of the inner bore or cavity 12 of the housing body 2 as shown on figs. figs. 9 - 11, 14, and 15, such that the flat surfaces 9A and 11A may slidingly fit and enable moving the axle 9 at an linear movement through the slit opening 11 when the detachable handle 6 is orientated at an angle differing from the vertical one shown on figs. 9 - 11, 14, and 15. The straight and parallel surfaces 11A forming the orifice of the slit opening 11 are fixed and extend in parallel with each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 as shown in figs. 10 - 15. The straight and parallel surfaces 11A forming the orifice of the slit opening 11 are fixed and extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10, i.e. along the cylindrical inner through bore 10A. The straight and parallel surfaces 11A of the orifice of the slit opening 11 extend in parallel with each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 and the straight and flat outer surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the detachable dispense handle 6 when the detachable dispense handle 6 is assembled by being slid into the slit opening 11 or disassembled from the dispense head 1 by being slid out of the slit opening 11. The preferred embodiment is shown in figs. 4 to 15.

[0048] In an aspect, the dispense head 1 is configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container 14 in a beverage dispensing system 100, which dispense head 1 comprises a operative dispense handle 6 according to the disclosure.

[0049] In an embodiment, the two straight and parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated axle 9 of the detachable dispense head 6 are arranged at a distance from each other, which distance is configured to enable these surfaces (9A) to be in sliding alignment / fit with the orifice of the slit opening 11. In an embodiment, the distance between the two straight and parallel surfaces 9A of the integrated dispense handle axle 9 is less than the diameter of the integrated axle 9 and the two rounded opposite surfaces 9B are configured to be in pivotable fit with the inner through bore 10A of the hinge 10 when the axle 9 is detachably introduced therein.

[0050] The function of the handle 6 for opening and closing the beverage container 14 is not explained in further detail herein as its function is well known, e.g. as disclosed in WO 2012 / 045676 Al.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dispense handle (6) configured to be movably and detachably attached to a dispense head (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container (14), the dispense head (1) comprising:- a hollow housing body (2),- a hollow piston (5) arranged displaceably in an axial direction (D) within the hollow housing and aligned therewith, the hollow piston being connected to the detachable dispense handle (6) so that upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston will be displaced axially inside the hollow housing body (2) in order to open or close the beverage container (14), and- a hinge (10) fixedly attached to the hollow housing body (2),- wherein the detachable dispense handle (6) comprises a first end (6A) configured to be detachably hinged via an axle (9) to the hinge (10) of the hollow housing body (2) and a second end (6B) configured to be a grip for activation, characterized in that the axle (9) of the detachable dispense handle (6) being configured to be detachable and movable attached to the hinge (10) of the housing body (2) of the dispense head (1) is an integrated part of the first end (6A) of the detachable dispense handle, and that the detachable dispense handle (6) is elongated and the hinge (10) comprises an inner through bore (10A) and a slit (11) forming an elongated opening into and along the inner through bore, which slit opening (11) is configured to face the hollow housing body (2) and the hollow piston (5), whereby the integrated axle (9) of the first handle end (6A) is configured to slidable fit through the slit opening (11) when assembling or disassembling the detachable dispense handle (6).

2. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 1, wherein the hollow housing body (2) of the dispense head (1) comprises a first end (3) and a second end (4), and the hollow piston (5) comprises a first upper end (5A) and a second lower end (5B), the first upper piston end (5A) being connected to a hollow detachable top portion (8) and the detachable dispense handle (6), so that upon activation of the detachable dispense handle, the hollow piston and the hollow detachable top portion (8) will be displaced axially towards the secondend (4) of the hollow housing body (2) and the second lower end (5B) will be displaced towards and beyond the second housing body end (4) in order to open the beverage container (14).

3. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 2, wherein a gas inlet (7) is arranged in the hollow housing body (2) of the dispense head (1), which is fluidly connected with the hollow piston (5) and the hollow housing body and the hollow top portion (8), wherein the hollow housing body (2) comprises an opening (12) extending through the hollow housing body and being in fluid communication with the gas inlet (7), the hollow piston (5) and the hollow top portion (8) to enable dispensing of beverage out of the dispense head (1).

4. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the detachable dispense handle (6) is configured to be detachably attached to the hinge (10) by gripping the second handle end (6B) and orientating the handle (6) into a vertical position after removing the hollow detachable top portion (8) from the first upper piston end (5A), whereby the integrated axle (9) of the first handle end (6A) is configured to be moved by sliding it into the slit opening (11) in a direction away from the hollow housing body (2) and the hollow piston (5) until the integrated axle (9) bottoms / abuts the inner through bore (10A) of the hinge (10), whereafter the detachable dispense handle (6) is configured to be orientated away from the vertical position into a more horizontal or angled or horizontal position and the hollow detachable top portion (8) is configured to be detachably attached to the first upper piston end (5A) to form a guide and vertical blockage of the detachable dispense handle.

5. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 4, wherein the inner through bore of the hinge (10) is cylindrical and slit open along its whole length by the opening (11) forming an elongated orifice and the integrated axle (9) comprises two straight and parallel surfaces (9A) along its length and two rounded opposite surfaces (9B) along its length, which straight and parallel surfaces (9A) extend in planes being perpendicular to the length of the handle (6).

6. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 5, wherein the two straight and parallel surfaces (9A) of the integrated axle (9) are arranged at a distance from each other, which distance is configured to enable these surfaces (9A) to be in sliding alignment / fit with the orifice of the slit opening (11).

7. The operative dispense handle (6) according to claim 6, wherein the distance between the two straight and parallel surfaces (9A) of the integrated axle (9) is less than the diameter of the integrated axle (9) and the two rounded opposite surfaces (9B) are configured to be in pivotable fit with the inner through bore (10A) of the hinge (10).

8. A dispense head (1) configured to be operatively coupled to a beverage container(14) in a beverage dispensing system (100), characterized in that the dispense head (1) comprises a operative dispense handle (6) according to any preceding claim.

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