The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 30, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 04, 2008
Mark Smith, Romeoville, IL (US);
Loren L. Brelje, Glencoe, MN (US);
James L. Richards, Dassel, MN (US);
Mark Smith, Romeoville, IL (US);
Loren L. Brelje, Glencoe, MN (US);
James L. Richards, Dassel, MN (US);
DS Smith Plastics Limited, London, GB;
Abstract
The present invention provides a tap assembly including: (1) a first wall defining a valve chamber having a top surface and a pair of opposed tracks extending axially along an inner surface of the wall, and a fluid outlet; (2) a tap handle mounted to the top surface for rotational movement of the tap handle with respect to the wall, the tap handle having a second wall defining an annular chamber supporting a set of threads; and (3) a generally tubular valve member having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end having a pair of lugs circumferentially spaced from one another, the lugs being positioned within the threads, the second end of the valve member extending into the valve chamber, the valve member is responsive to movement of the tap handle to move from a first position where the fluid outlet is sealed by the second end of the valve member to a second position where the fluid outlet is not sealed by the second end of the valve member and fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid outlet.