Tap Handle With Keg Cap Attachment For Beverage Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current keg handles lack effective and affordable customization options for identifying various malt beverages, as custom tap handles are expensive and require replacement for each new beverage, and existing keg labeling is not visible at the dispensing location.
Innovation Solution
A tap handle design that incorporates a keg cap attachment mechanism, featuring a head with a Barnes neck-like feature and a stem with a threaded receiver, allowing secure attachment of a keg cap and integration with a dispensing tap, using a strong metal material like aluminum for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If custom tap handles are used to identify beverages, then beverage identification is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a copy of the keg cap (a familiar identification element) attached to the tap handle to display beverage information. Instead of creating entirely custom handles, the invention replicates the keg cap's identification function on the handle itself, making beverage identification accessible at the dispensing location without requiring completely custom handle designs for each beverage type.
Solution Approach 2:
The tap handle is designed with a universal attachment mechanism (Barnes neck feature) that can accommodate different keg caps for various beverages. This allows a single handle design to serve multiple beverage types by simply changing the keg cap, eliminating the need for entirely different custom handles for each beverage while maintaining clear identification.
2Loss of information
If keg labeling is used for identification, then beverage information is provided, but visibility at dispensing location is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The keg cap attached to the tap handle serves as an intermediary that transfers the identification information from the keg (stored in refrigeration) to the dispensing location. The keg cap, which remains on the keg and contains the beverage identification, is physically connected to the tap handle, allowing the information to be visible at the dispensing point without requiring the keg itself to be visible.
3Loss of information
If custom tap handles are obtained for each beverage, then accurate identification is achieved, but expense and difficulty of acquisition increase
Solution Approach 1:
The identification system is segmented into two independent components: the tap handle (which remains constant) and the keg cap (which changes with each beverage). This segmentation allows the identification function to be updated by simply replacing the keg cap rather than acquiring entirely new custom handles for each beverage, significantly reducing cost and acquisition difficulty while maintaining accurate identification.
Data Source
AI summary
A handle for a beverage dispensing tap that incorporates a feature that permits a protective cap from the Barnes neck of a malt beverage keg to be attached for the purpose of identifying the beverage being dispensed.