A TAP

Abstract

A mains connectable water tap comprising a water supply inlet, a tap outlet and a flow regulator for regulating the flow of water through the water tap from the water supply inlet to the tap outlet. The tap further comprises a beverage making section, which has an inlet, a cavity section having a sealable access aperture therein and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the cavity section and the sealable access aperture provides access to the cavity to allow the insertion or removal of beverage ingredients.

Claims

1. A water tap assembly comprising: a water supply inlet that is connected to a water supply; a boiler unit that is fed from the water supply inlet and that returns water to the water tap; a tap outlet that is fed from the water supply inlet and, separately, from the boiler unit; and a flow regulator for regulating the flow of water through the water tap from the water supply inlet to the tap outlet; wherein the tap assembly further comprises a beverage making section, the beverage making section having: an inlet; a cavity section having a sealable access aperture therein; and an outlet; wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the cavity section; and wherein the sealable access aperture provides access to the cavity to allow the insertion or removal of beverage ingredients; and wherein the cavity section of the beverage making section is fed from the boiler unit.

2. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beverage making section is fixedly connected to the mains connectable water tap.

3. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beverage making section is removeable from the water tap.

4. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is provided with an insert into which beverage making ingredients can be inserted.

5. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insert is either a removeable filter to holding loose particles or the insert is adapted to receive a capsule.

6. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein a valve is provided upstream of the beverage making section and the valve is connected to a bypass conduit is provided to allow flow to pass around the beverage making section.

7. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein a temperature control is provided to adjust the temperature of the water leaving the tap outlet.

8. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beverage making section further comprises a bypass that allows water received therein to pass around the cavity section and to the tap outlet.

9. A water tap assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bypass arrangement is position in the periphery of the beverage making section.

10. A water tap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tap comprises a first conduit connecting the water supply inlet to the tap outlet and a second conduit connecting the water returned from the boiler unit to the tap outlet.

11. A water tap assembly according to claim 10, wherein the second conduit is contained within the first conduit.

12. A water tap assembly according to claim 10, wherein: the beverage making section further comprises a bypass that allows water received therein to pass around the cavity section and to the tap outlet; the first conduit is connected to the bypass of the beverage making section and; the second conduit is connected to the cavity of the beverage making section.

13. A beverage making section attachment for attachment to a hot water tap, the beverage making section attachment having: an inlet; a cavity section having a sealable access aperture therein; an outlet; and an attachment mechanism to allow attachment of the device to a water tap; wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the cavity section and wherein a bypass passageway is provided to allow the flow of water around the cavity without passing therethrough; and wherein the sealable access aperture provides access to the cavity to allow the insertion or removal of beverage ingredients.

14. A beverage making section attachment according to claim 13, wherein the bypass passageway extends around the periphery of the beverage making section to the outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a tap incorporating a beverage making section in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the beverage making section of the tap of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a tap incorporating a beverage making section in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the beverage making section of the tap of FIG. 2

[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 show further beverage making sections for use with a tap of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0047] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tap 10 having a mains inlet 12 and a tap outlet 14, with the mains inlet 12 and the tap outlet 14 being in fluid communication with one another via a conduit 16. At a position between the mains inlet 12 and the tap outlet 14, there is provided a flow regulating mechanism 18 in the form of a user operated valve 18 with a handle. Adjacent the tap outlet 14 is a fixedly connected beverage making section 20.

[0048] The beverage making section 20 comprises an inlet 22 in fluid communication with an outlet 24 via a cavity section 26. The beverage making section is provided with at least one sealable aperture to allow the addition and/or removal of beverage making ingredients, such as coffee and/or tea. The sealable aperture may be positioned at one end of the beverage making section, or it may be arranged in the sidewall thereof. The aperture is sealable to reduce the risk of injury to a user and to ensure that the beverage can be properly brewed within the beverage making section 20.

[0049] The cavity section 26 is able to receive a filter 28 into which the beverage making ingredients can be inserted. The filter 28 can be removed from the cavity for cleaning and filling with replacement ingredients for preparing further beverages.

[0050] FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a tap 50 having a mains inlet 52 and a tap outlet 54, with the mains inlet 52 being in fluid communication with one another via a conduit 56. At a position between the mains inlet 52 and the tap outlet 54, there is provided a flow regulating mechanism 58 in the form of a user operated valve 58. Adjacent the tap outlet 54 is a first part of a connection mechanism, in the form of a groove 60. There is also provided a beverage making section 62 that comprises a second part of the connection mechanism, in the form of a protruding section 64. The protruding section 64 may comprise a resiliently yieldable seal such that it can engage the groove 62 so that the beverage making section 62 is releasably connectable to the end of the tap 50.

[0051] The beverage making section 62 comprises an inlet 66 in fluid communication with an outlet 68 via a cavity section 70. The beverage making section is provided with at least one sealable aperture to allow the addition and/or removal of beverage making ingredients, such as loose particulate substances, such as coffee and/or tea. The sealable aperture may be positioned at one end of the beverage making section, or it may be arranged in the sidewall thereof. The aperture is sealable to reduce the risk of injury to a user and to ensure that the beverage can be properly brewed within the beverage making section 62. The inlet 66 of the beverage making section 62 extends towards the distal end thereof and is provided with a U-shaped section to allow water to pass back towards the tap section second part of the connection mechanism 64. This allows the beverage making section 62 to pierce a capsule in an appropriate manner to allow the water to flow through the beverage ingredients, where after it is dispensed from the outlet 68. Clearly, the inlet may take a different route within the cavity, as required.

[0052] The cavity section 70 is adapted to receive a capsule 72. The cavity 70 may be further provided with mechanism to load a capsule into the correct position for use and to dispense the capsule 72 when the beverage has been made. This may be associated with the connection mechanism such that when the beverage making section is connected to the tap 50, the capsule 72 is loaded into position. When the beverage making section 60 is removed from the tap 50, the capsule 72 can be moved to an eject position adjacent the sealable aperture.

[0053] FIGS. 5 and 6 show arrangements similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The beverage making sections shown therein have an inlet 82 that is split into a bypass inlet 82a and a cavity inlet 82b. At the outlet end of the beverage making sections, the outlet comprises a bypass outlet 84a and a cavity outlet 84b.

[0054] The tap 10 is provided with a supply of water, which may be water provided below a predetermined threshold, such as 75° C. The first control 18/58 operates the tap and allows the flow of water from the supply, through the tap 16/56 via a first conduit and to the beverage making section 20/62. A second control 18a/58a provides water from the inlet to a boiler unit, wherein it is heated to a temperature between 75° C. and 99° C. The supply of water to the boiler unit can be arranged to displace water already in the boiler unit, which then flows through a second conduit in the tap to the tap outlet. The second conduit is, preferably, arranged coaxially with the first conduit, to insulate the outer surface of the tap from the water from the boiler unit. Thus, the outlet of the tap may comprise a central outlet 54, that is connected to the second conduit, shown best in FIG. 3, and a surrounding outlet 55 that is coaxial therewith and extends around the central outlet 54. It will be appreciated that the tap of FIG. 1 may have a similar arrangement, although not visible in the figure because of the fixedly connected beverage making section 20.

[0055] The dual flow of water through the tap results in the outlet of the tap 16/56 having two flow paths therethrough; a first of water from the mains supply; and a second of water from the boiler unit. The beverage making section 80 is able to fit those respective outlets, with the boiler water outlet 54 being directed to the cavity inlet 82b and the mains water outlet 55 being directed to the bypass inlet 82a. Thus, when the mains water flows through the tap 16/56 it passes through the first conduit and to the bypass inlet 82a of the beverage making section 80 and, subsequently passes through the beverage making section, without passing through the cavity, to be dispensed through outlet 84a. Similarly, the water from the boiler unit passes through the second conduit to the cavity inlet 82b, whereafter it enters the cavity 26, mixes with any additives contained therein, and is dispensed through outlet 84b.

[0056] An aerator element 86 is positioned within the inlet of the beverage making section 20/62 to aerate the water supply that passes from the first conduit therethrough, with the additional benefit of holding the cavity outlet 84b in place within the outlet of the tap arrangement.

[0057] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, as the beverage making section is integrated into the tap, the cavity inlet therein is adapted to receive the end of the second conduit that passes through the tap.

[0058] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, in view of the beverage making section being removable, an O-ring elastomeric seal 83 is provided at the top surface of the cavity inlet 82b. This seal 83 reduces the risk of water passing into the wrong inlet of the beverage making section.

[0059] Either of the embodiments shown in the figures can be provided with a further user control to adjust the temperature of the water passing through the tap. This is particularly useful wherein the tap is connected to a boiler using to allow for boiling, or near boiling, water to pass into the tap and to flow therethrough.

[0060] The capsule may be placed into the removable beverage marking section through the end that connects to the tap; thus the sealable aperture may also be the connection to the tap and the inlet to the beverage making section.

[0061] The removable beverage making section may be provided independently of a tap. Additionally, it is envisaged that an existing tap may be adapted to be provided with a connection mechanism to receive the beverage making section, for example, by creating a groove therein; however, the removable beverage making section may be connectable to an installed tap, for example, by way of a seal section, for example a resiliently yieldable elastomeric seal, that can be push-fitted onto the end of the tap.

[0062] The flow regulator may be a tap with a handle, a biometric control or an electronic control. Thus, the temperature control may also be part of the flow regulator.

[0063] In one arrangement there may be a first flow regulator for controlling the dispensing of water from the boiler section and a second flow regulator for controlling the dispensing of the water from the mains inlet. The mains water inlet is, preferably, below a predetermined threshold, such as hot water below 75° C., and the water supplied from the boiler unit is above the predetermined threshold. Clearly, a single flow regulator or actuator may be employed. Thus, the single flow regulator may be operated in one manner, for example turning one way, to operate the boiling water and in another way to operate water that does not come from the boiler unit.

[0064] It is envisaged that the beverage making section may be provided with a valve mechanism to allow the mains water into the cavity section. This allows a user to obtain warm or cold beverages using water below a predetermined threshold. In one arrangement, a twist mechanism may be employed to allow a user to twist a part of the beverage making section, for example, the top, to direct the mains water into the cavity section. Similarly, in one embodiment, the water from the boiler unit may pass through the bypass section of the beverage making section using a similar valve mechanism.

[0065] Elements of one or more embodiment may be incorporated into a different embodiment, for example, the filter of one embodiment may be substituted for a capsule or pod, as described in a different embodiment.