The present invention is directed towards the field of taps for controlling the 5 flow and dispensing of beverages. In particular, it is directed towards beverage taps that can be used to provide a random selection function. Background Art

In the prior art, beverage taps have been used solely for the purpose of dispensing beverages. Such taps are of well-known construction and are often used ιo with carbonated soft drinks, beer, ale and the like.

A tap typically includes an inlet, an outlet, an intermediate valve or pumping mechanism, and an actuating device. The inlet to the intermediate valve can be a pipe from a beverage source (such as a keg of beer). The outlet of the valve generally consists of a nozzle for controlling the pouring of the beverage into receptacles such as i s glasses, paper or styrofoam cups, or other containers. The actuating device is used to control the opening and closing of the valve for dispensing the beverage. Furthermore, the actuating device can sometimes be used to draw or pump the beverage from its source. In some instances, the pumping mechanism can be omitted, by which system pressure, such as from a (bottled) gas source of gravity, can act to cause the flow of 2o fluid.

The actuating device is commonly a lever mechanism that is operated by pulling the lever mechanism from a first position to a second position, thereby opening the valve and drawing the beverage from its source. The tap is closed by returning the lever mechanism to its first position. Such devices are often designed to return to the 25 first position when released by the operator. Typically, the first and second positions are vertical and horizontal positions, respectively.

Commonly, such beverage taps require two or three actuations of the actuating device to fill a 300 ml (12 ounce) glass, cup, or container.

The manufacturers and distributors of beverages sold in this fashion frequently use promotions and other marketing strategies at the point of sale to enter a new product into the market or to increase name recognition. Amongst other things, this can include giving prizes, awards, marketing materials, and other goods or information to consumers of such beverages at the point of sale. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for use with a beverage tap to perform a random selection or game function, the apparatus comprising: triggering means for providing an actuation signal in response to operation of the beverage tap; random number generator means coupled to the triggering means for generating a random value in response to a predetermined number of occurrences of the actuation signal, the random number generator means further coupled to display means for outputting one or more symbols in response to the random value.

Preferably, the beverage tap comprises an actuating device operable to dispense liquid from the beverage tap, the actuating device incorporating at least one of the triggering means, the random number generator means, and the display means.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed apparatus for use with a beverage tap, the apparatus comprising: triggering means for providing an actuation signal in response to operation of the beverage tap; random number generator means coupled to the triggering means for generating a random value in response to a predetermined number of occurrences of the actuation signal, the random number generator means further coupled to display means for outputting one or more games symbols in response to the random value.

Generally, the triggering means comprises a switch, which is preferably a gravity switch. The gravity switch can be a mercury switch. Alternatively the switch can comprise a contact switch or an optical switch.

Typically the apparatus comprises a housing in which are incorporated any one or more of the triggering means, the random number generator, and the display means. Preferably the housing is interconnected to the tap to form an actuator thereof to dispense beverages therefrom. Preferably the display means comprises a liquid crystal display and/or one or more light emitting diodes.

In a particular embodiment the apparatus comprises audio means for generating an audio signal in response to the random value.

Preferably the random number generator means further comprises an external input for providing a programmable bias and/or game format selection signal to the random number generator.

Typically power is supplied to said apparatus from an external power supply or alternatively from one or more temporary energy supply devices, such a batteries. In a particular embodiment, power is supplied via said triggering means. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed tap for performing a random selection or providing a game function, the tap comprising: valve means coupled to fluid source; actuating means coupled to the valve means for selectably dispensing a fluid from the fluid source, the actuating means comprising: random selection means coupled to display means, the actuating means characterised in that operation of the actuation means for selectably dispensing the fluid provides a random selection signal from the random selection means to the display means. Generally, the random selection means comprises gravity switch means and random number generating means, the gravity switch means for providing an actuation signal to the random number generating means in response to the operation of the actuation means. In particular, a bias signal is provided to the random number

generating means for selecting an operational mode of a plurality of operational modes of the random number generating means. Brief Description of the Drawings

A number of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are side and front elevation-view diagrams, respectively, illustrating the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electronic circuit including an internal triggering device of the preferred embodiment; Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate actuation of the preferred embodiment;

Figs. 5 A and 5B illustrate actuation of a first alternate embodiment; Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another electronic circuit of a second alternate embodiment; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the electronic circuit of Fig. 3 including an external triggering device. Detailed Description

A beverage tap shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a conventional, lever-mechanism-actuated valve. The tap consists of an inlet pipe 8 from a source of at least one beverage, an interconnecting block 7, a stem 9, and a nozzle 6. An actuating device 1 , also known in the art as a tap top, is coupled to nozzle 6 by means of an arm 4 and a joint 5. The field of view of a consumer is represented in Fig. 1 by an eye symbol 20 which is oriented toward a side 2 of the actuating device 1.

The actuating device 1 is illustrated in Fig. 2 from the vantage point of the consumer facing the beverage tap. The actuating device 1 incorporates a display 10 for use in a random selection or game function of the preferred embodiment. A number of light emitting diodes (LED's) 3A-3H, or other light emitting devices, can be incorporated around the periphery of the display 10 in the side 2 of the actuating device 1.

In other embodiments, labels, placards and other display materials can be selectably attached to the peripheral areas of the side 2 surrounding the display 10. For example, such materials can be attached by placing an inverted, U-shaped sleeve over the actuating device 1, or by affixing the materials to side 2 using various fastening devices including velcro patches, screws, etc.

In the preferred embodiment, the display 10 is a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD). Furthermore, the display 10 preferably is divided into, or comprises, three display panels 10A-10C. The display 10 is used to output visual symbols to the consumer in which the symbols are used to indicate the result of a random selection or a game function. For instance, the display panels 10 A- IOC as illustrated in Fig. 2 output symbols of two beverage glasses and a lemon, respectively. However, it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that various symbols and combination of symbols, dependent on the random selection or game function, can be displayed without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that other types of displays can be utilised without departing from the scope of the invention.

A block diagram of the actuating device 1 incorporating a random selection or game device of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 3. The actuating device 1 includes a triggering device, a random number generator 13, and the display 10. In the preferred embodiment, a mercury switch 11 is used as the triggering device. However, it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that various triggering devices including gravity devices, contact switches, optical switches, Hall sensors, etc., can be utilised to provide an actuation signal in response to operation of the actuating device 1. The mercury switch 11 is coupled to the random number generator 13 by coupling 12A and 12B, and the random number generator 13 is coupled to the display 10 by a bus connection 14 sized in relation to the display components of the display 10 and other signalling elements (including visual and audio devices) of the actuating device 1. In addition, while not illustrated in Fig. 3, it would be apparent to

a person skilled in the art that bus connection 14 can provide output signals to LED's

3A-3H, light emitting devices, or other signalling devices including audio devices such as piezoelectric buzzers.

An input 15 to the random number generator 13 is incorporated into the actuating device 1 to provide external access to the random number generator 13 to programmably bias and/or to provide game format information to the random number generator 13, as described below. While not illustrated in Fig. 3, it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that power can be supplied to the random selection or game function device from an external source in a manner similar to that of providing the programmable bias/game format input 15, or alternatively by using temporary energy-supply devices (such as batteries) that can be removably installed in the actuating device 1.

Operation of the preferred embodiment of the random selection or game function device shown in Fig. 3 is described below with reference to Figs. 4A and 4B. In an initial position, the actuating device 1 is oriented in a substantially vertical manner, and the mercury switch 11 is correspondingly in an open state (shown in

Fig. 4A).

When an operator actuates the actuating device 1 by moving it to a substantially horizontal, second position shown in Fig. 4B, the mercury switch 11 closes permitting transmission of a signal to the random number generator 13 via the coupling 12A and 12B.

When a predetermined number of actuation signals are provided by the mercury switch 11 in response to operation of the actuating device 1 (as shown in Figs.

4A and 4B), the random number generator 13 produces a random selection or game function output signal(s) which is provided to the display 10 via the bus connection 14.

The output of the random number generator 13 is displayed on the display panels

10A-10C. In the preferred embodiment, the random number generator 13 produces an output after two successive actuation signals are provided by the mercury switch 11.

While an output signal is generated by the random number generator 13 after the application of two successive actuation signals, it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the random number generator 13 can be programmed via the input

15, which can be an N-bit, parallel input or a serial input, to generate an output after a predetermined number of actuations.

Furthermore, the programmable bias/game format input 15 can be used to input or select a plurality of game formats of the random number generator 13 for controlling the operation thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the random number generator 13 is pre-programmed with a number of game functions. The game function can include poker, slot-machine type games, etc. Correspondingly, various output symbols can be displayed on the display 10 in response to the output provided by the random number generator 13 on the bus connection 14. The programmable bias/game format input 15 can also be used to control the frequency or the occurrence of "winning" outputs produced by the random number generator 13. In other embodiments, the input 15 can be used to program the operation of the random number generator 13 on a time basis. Thus, the random number generator (in this case, incorporating a timing mechanism) can be used to reduce or increase the occurrences of "winning" outputs provided by the random number generator 13 during a given time interval (s). In response to two closing operations of the mercury switch 11, for example, the output of the random number generator 13 produced a non-winning condition shown in Fig. 2. Two beverage-glass symbols and a lemon symbol are shown in the display panels 10A-10C, respectively. Alternatively, when a winning combination is generated by the random number generator 13, three symbols representing a beverage glass, for example, are output by the display panels lOA-lOC. In addition, for a winning combination, the random number generator 13 provides signals via the bus connection 14 to operate the LED's 3A-3H in a flashing pattern. In other embodiments, a piezoelectric buzzer or other audio signalling device(s) can generate one or more audio signals in response to a winning or losing combination, or both, for example. After a

programmed delay period elapses, die random number generator 13 turns off the LED's 3A-3H.

A consumer obtaining a beverage, which is dispensed using a tap incorporating the preferred embodiment, therefore effectively plays a game of chance. After a predetermined number of actuations of the tap, a game cycle is commenced in the actuating device 1 and the results thereof are displayed on the display 10. That is, after the second pull of the actuating device 1 of the preferred embodiment, the output of the random number generator 13 is displayed on the display 10.

Upon generation of a winning combination by the random number generator 13, the corresponding game symbols are displayed on the display 10 and the outcome indicated by flashing operation of the LED's 3A-3H. Thus, the preferred embodiment provides a system which can be utilised to randomly distribute merchandising material and/or award prizes.

In a first alternate embodiment, the beverage tap illustrated in Figs. 5 A and 5B includes the conventional, lever-mechanism-actuated valve (as shown in Fig. 1). An actuating device 22 is coupled to nozzle 6 by means of pivotal junction 24 and arm 4. The vantage point of the operator is shown in Figs. 5 A and 5B which is oriented toward a side 27 (the back side of the side 2) of the housing 30, which is equivalent to the actuating device 1 of Figs. 1, 2, 4A, and 4B containing the random selection or game function device. In d is embodiment, an external triggering device coupled to the actuation device 22 is utilised.

The external triggering device can be a contact switch 25 which is closed as shown in Fig. 5 A when the actuation device 22 is in a first position. When an operator operates the actuating device 22 by moving it to a second position shown in Fig. 5B (for example, to open the valve), the contact switch 25 opens as indicated by the gap between contact switch components 25 A and 25B. Thus, an actuation signal can be transmitted to the random number generator 13 as shown in Fig. 7. The external contact switch 25 is coupled to random number generator 13 by coupling 29. Thus, contact switch 25 can be used to operate the random number generator in a manner

completely analogous to the operation of mercury switch 11 with respect to Figs. 3, 4A, and 4B. It would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a triggering device such as contact switch 25 can be utilised externally with the actuating device 1 of Figs. 1, 4 A, and 4B in place of the internal triggering device shown in Fig. 3. A second alternate embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6 which can be utilised with the actuation devices described above. A memory 27 is coupled to random number generator 13 via coupling 26. Power is supplied to the memory 27 by alternate power supply 28, which can be either an external energy source or a removable internal energy source such as a battery. During normal operation of the alternate embodiment, the alternate power supply 28 provides power to the memory 27 at all times to ensure that any information stored in the memory 27 is maintained.

Power is supplied to random number generator 13 and the display 10 of the actuating device 1 (or housing 30) via a triggering device 29. While the triggering device 29 is depicted externally with respect to the actuating device 1, it would be understood by a person skilled in the art that an internal triggering device can be utilised such as the mercury switch 11 of Fig. 3, for example. For purposes of illustration only, the random selection or game function device of Fig. 6 is described with reference to the actuating device 1 of Figs. 4 A and 4B.

When the actuating device 1 of Fig. 4A is in the first position, triggering device 29 of Fig. 6 (corresponding to the mercury switch 11) is closed in this alternate embodiment. For example, such a triggering device 29 could be coupled between the actuating device 1 and joint 5 in a manner similar to that of the contact switch 25 coupled between pivoting junction 25 and the housing 30 shown Figs. 5 A and 5B. Thus, the supply voltage V _EXT is supplied to the display 10 and the random number generator 13. In addition to coupling the supply voltage V _EXT , the triggering device 29 also provides an actuation signal to the random number generator 13, as described below.

When the actuation device 1 is moved to the second position shown in Fig. 4B, the triggering device 29 of Fig. 6 is opened and the supply voltage V _EXT is

disconnected from the display 10 and the random number generator 13. Since the memory 27 is powered by the alternate power supply 28, the memory 27 maintains a count of the occurrences of the actuation signal provided by the random number generator 12 in response to either opening or closing the triggering device 29. When the acmation device 1 is in the second position, a beverage can be dispensed using the beverage tap, for example.

When the acmation device is returned to the first position of Fig. 4 A, the triggering device 29 is closed and the supply voltage V _E χτ is provided to the random number generator 13 and the display 10. The random number generator 13 retrieves the count of occurrences of the acmation signal from the memory 27 and the closing of the switch 29 provides an acmation signal to the random number generator 13. The count and the new acmation signal are used by the random number generator 13 to provide an output signal when a predetermined number of occurrences of the acmation signal is reached. The output signal provided by the random number generator 13 operates the display and other devices via the bus connection 14, as described above.

The random number generator 13 then stores the new count of occurrences of the acmation signal in the memory 27. When an output signal is generated by the random number generator 13, the contents of the memory can be initialised to a value of zero. For example, when the predetermined value of occurrences of the acmation signal is two and the memory 27 is in an initialised state, a first acmation of the actuating device 1 by moving it to the second position turns off power to the random number generator 13 and the display 10. Returning the acmation device 1 to the first position, re-energises the random number generator 13 and the display 10 and provides an acmation signal to the random number generator 13. The random number generator 13 also retrieves the stored count value of zero from the memory 27. Thus, a count value of one is determined by the random number generator 13 and no random selection or game function output signal(s) is provided on bus connection 14. The new count value of one is stored in the memory 27 by the random number generator 13.

When the acmation device 1 is operated a second time by moving it to the second position and then returning it to the first position, another acmation signal is supplied to the random number generator 13 and the stored count value of one is retrieved from the memory 27. Thus, a count value of two is determined by the random number generator 13, and a random selection or game function output signal(s) is provided on the bus connection 14 to the display 10. The count value can then be re-initialised and a count value of zero is stored in the memory 27 by the random number generator 13.

The foregoing describes only some specific embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; particularly, as it is referred to in the foregoing summary of the invention and in the subsequent claims. Industrial applicability

The present disclosure is particularly applicable to retail outlets for poured beverages.