TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a beverage dispenser. In particular it relates to a beverage dispenser structural body and a beverage dispenser.

BACKGROUND

Dispensers for dispensing draft beverages, for example beer or the like, are well known in the art. Generally these dispensers comprise a rigid structure attached to a bar or countertop. Beverage is supplied to the dispenser via insulated conduits, commonly referred to in the art as a python, which enter the bottom of the dispenser and attach to a tap at or towards and upper end of the dispenser, from which tap the beverage is dispensed.

These dispensers are commonly branded to advertise the beverage being dispensed, and the designs change on a periodic basis. This results in the dispensers being replaced on a periodic basis as advertising and trends in beverage preference change, which is a wasteful and costly process.

It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a beverage dispenser structural body and a beverage dispenser, as claimed in the appended claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage dispenser structural body comprising: a base section configured for fixing to a surface; a riser section pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to the base section and arranged for pivotal movement relative thereto; a first positioning means that enables the riser section to be positioned at one of a plurality of discreet angles along its pivotal movement, the first positioning means comprising securing means for securing the riser section at one of said plurality of discreet angles; and indicia on at least one of the base section and the riser section, said indicia providing, in dependence on the angle of the riser section, information relating to the correct use of the securing means. The plurality of discreet angles along the pivotal movement of the riser are preferably a finite number of predefined discreet angles.

The beverage dispenser structural body may further comprises a head section pivotally connected to an upper end of the riser section and arranged for pivotal movement relative thereto; a second positioning means that enables the head section to be positioned at one of a plurality of discreet angles along its pivotal movement, the second positioning means comprising a securing means for securing the head section to the riser section at one of said plurality of discreet angles; and indicia on at least one of the head section and the riser section, said indicia providing, in dependence on the angle of the head section, information relating to the correct use of the securing means.

The plurality of discreet angles along the pivotal movement of the head section are preferably a finite number of predefined discreet angles.

The information provided by the indicia may change in dependence on the angle of the riser section, and/or the information provided by the indicia may change in dependence on the angle of the head section.

By providing a structural body that is adjustable, both at its lower end and its upper end, when rebranding or updating the appearance of, a beverage dispenser, the core components can be maintained and non-functional cladding parts, containing the branding, can simply be replaced. The adjustment allows for greater design freedom of the overall appearance when changing or updating the branding. Providing indicia on the structural body to assist in the correct positioning of the components enables the dispenser to be changed in the field and reduces the skill level required to configure it correctly. In addition, as the adjustment mechanism is at a lower end, it enables the structural body to be adjusted while the supply lines remain connected, i.e. without the need to remove them or to disconnect them from a dispense tap attached to the structural body.

The base section and the riser section may have overlapping flanges, and the first positioning means may comprise a plurality of first holes in the flange of one of the base section and the riser section, and a plurality of second holes in the flange of the other of the base section and the riser section, and wherein the securing means passes through one of the first holes and at least partially into one of the second holes. The head section and the riser section may have overlapping flanges, and the second positioning means may comprise a plurality of first holes in the flange of one of the head section and the riser section, and a plurality of second holes in the flange of the other of the head section and the riser section, and wherein the securing means passes through one of the first holes and at least partially into one of the second holes of the second positioning means. For one or both of the first and second positioning means, the number of second holes is greater than the number of first holes and the number of discreet angles is greater than the number of first holes. This provides an arrangement that minimises the space required for the positioning means as, for example, one or more of the first holes may be paired with two alternative second holes to provide two of the discreet positions. In a preferred arrangement the number of discreet angles is also greater than the number of second holes. This allows two different first holes to be paired with the same second hole to provide two of the discreet positions. In one arrangement the structural body may comprise three first holes, five second holes and have six discreet positions. It will be appreciated this example is illustrative only and that alternative arrangements of the number of hole and positions may be used.

For one or both of the first and second positioning means, the first holes may be through holes, the second holes are threaded holes, and the securing means comprise threaded fasteners. The second holes could be blind threaded holes or through threaded holes. In this arrangement tightening the threaded fasteners in the threaded holes clamps the base section and the riser section to one another, and/or clamps the riser section and the head section to one another. While the mere location of the threaded fastener in the threaded hole maintains the parts at their desired angle, the clamping provides additional rigidity to the structural body.

The flanges of the base section and the riser section, and/or the flanges of the head section and the riser section, are arranged such that they form at least one outboard flange and at least one inboard flange, and wherein the plurality of first holes of the respective first or second positioning means are located in the at least one outboard flange. In one arrangement, the at least one outboard flange of the first positioning means is integral with the riser section and the at least one inboard flange of the first positioning means is integral with base section, and/or at least one outboard flange of the second positioning means is integral with the head section and the at least one inboard flange of the second positioning means is integral with the riser section, in this manner, in use, when feeding a conduit, e.g. fluid pipes, through the structural body, where the parts join there are no inward steps in the structure which could obstruct the passage of the conduit.

In an arrangement the riser section and the base section comprise two pairs of overlapping flanges, one located either side of a longitudinal central axis of the riser section, and a said first positioning means is provided in each said overlapping pair of flanges. Alternatively, or in addition, the head section and the riser section comprise two pairs of overlapping flanges, one located either side of a longitudinal central axis of the riser section, and a said second positioning means is provided in each said overlapping pair of flanges. Providing two positioning means at each joint increases the rigidity of the structural body.

The indicia of the first positioning means may comprises first indicating means that identifies which one of the discrete angles the riser is in, and second indicating means that identifies the corresponding correct one of the first holes through which the securing means should be inserted to secure the riser section at the identified discreet position. Alternatively, or in addition, the indicia of the second positioning means comprises first indicating means that identifies which one of the discrete angles the head section is in, and second indicating means that identifies the corresponding correct one of the first holes through which the securing means should be inserted to secure the head section at the identified discreet position. In one arrangement the first indicating means comprises: a first one of said overlapping flanges having a plurality of positioning identifiers thereon, the other of said overlapping flanges having an aperture therein through which the positioning identifiers can be seen and a pointer means thereon; the second indicating means comprised one or more securing identifier associated with each one of the plurality of first holes, each securing identifier associated with one of said discreet angles; and wherein in each one of the discreet angles the pointer means points to the positioning identifier associated with the discreet position in which the riser section, and/or the head section, is positioned, and wherein each positioning identifier has a corresponding securing identifier.

This enables a relatively unskilled person, for example a salesperson, or a barperson, to be provided with a simple instruction for setting up the structural body in the correct position. For example, the instruction may state set to position “A.” The unskilled person can then move the riser so that the positioning identifier for position “A” is visible through the aperture and pointed to by the pointer, place the securing means in the hole marked with a corresponding securing identifier, and fasten it. The same can be done for the head section. As, for most cases, the head section will want to be placed parallel to the base section, the indicia for the head section can match the indicia for the base section, e.g. the indicia “A” may correspond to a +15 degree angle for the base section and a -15 degree angle for the head section.

In one embodiment the base section and the riser section are connected to one another by at least one pivot connection, the at least one pivot connection comprising a hole in the base section, a hole in the riser section, and a threaded fastener received in said holes, wherein, when tightened, the threaded fastener clamps the base section and the riser section together restricting their relative movement, and when loosened allows the base section and the riser section to pivot relative to one another, about the threaded fastener. In a similar manner, the head section and the riser section may be connected to one another by at least one pivot connection, the at least one pivot connection comprising a hole in the head section, a hole in the riser section, and a threaded fastener received in said holes, wherein, when tightened, the threaded fastener clamps the head section and the riser section together restricting their relative movement, and when loosened allows the base section and the riser section to pivot relative to one another, about the threaded fastener. The pivot connections are spaced from the positioning means. By clamping both the positioning means, as described above, and the pivot connections, at spaced locations, the rigidity of the structure is further improved.

In some arrangements the riser section may optionally comprises: a lower riser section and an upper riser section, arranged for relative motion in a longitudinal direction; and a securing means; wherein the upper riser section and lower riser section are securable relative to one another, by said securing means, in a plurality of discreet longitudinal positions. This provides further flexibility for the designer when designing alternative claddings as it enables the height to be easily changed, in addition to the angle of the structural body.

One of the upper riser section and lower riser section may be provided with a plurality of indicia, each associated with a specific one of said plurality of discreet longitudinal positions. The upper riser section and lower riser section may be provided with locating means comprising a plurality of recesses on one of said upper riser section and said lower riser section, one said recess associated with each of the discreet longitudinal positions, and a projection on the other of said upper riser section and said lower riser section, the projection receivable in the recesses to locate the upper riser section relative to the lower riser section. In this manner, when configuring the structural body for a particular cladding, the service engineer can be provided with not only the information for the required angle but also the information for the required height. They can then simply move the upper and lower riser to their correct relative position, according to the indicia, so they locate in place, and then fastened them in that position with the securing means. The securing means may comprise a plurality of holes in one of the upper and lower riser and one or more threaded hole in the other of the upper and lower riser, and a threaded fastener for securing the upper and lower riser in their required location by passing it through the one of the plurality of holes aligned with the threaded hole, and tightening it therein. The base section preferably has an opening therethrough, and the riser section preferably comprises a substantially hollow or open cross section such that, in use, one or more conduits can be routed through the base section and along the riser section to an upper end thereof. In this manner, in use, the fluid conduits for the dispensed beverage are concealed within the dispenser. Preferably the base section has a ramped profile, having curved edges, leading from the opening therein to the riser section. This reduces the risk of the fluid conduit becoming stuck as it is introduced through the base section and into the riser section.

The head section of the beverage dispenser structural body can further comprise a tap boss, the tap boss having an opening for receiving fluid from said conduit on a first side thereof and fixing means to allow a dispensing tap to be attached to a second side thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage dispenser comprising a beverage dispenser structural body as described hereinabove, and a beverage dispenser cladding comprising at least a first cladding part and a second cladding part, the first cladding part and the second cladding part securable to the beverage dispenser structural body. The first cladding part may comprise a clip receivable on a first side of the riser element to locate it relative thereto and the second cladding part may comprise a through hole for receiving a threaded fastener therethrough for, in use, securing the second cladding part to a second, opposite side of the riser element. The beverage dispenser may further comprise a tap located at or adjacent an upper end of the riser section,

Within the scope of this application, it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage dispenser structural body of the invention in a first position at zero extension, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows details of the positioning means of beverage dispenser structural body of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows perspective view of the beverage dispenser structural body of Figure 1 in a second position at zero extension;

Figure 4 shows perspective view of the beverage dispenser structural body of Figure 1 in the first position and in an extended state;

Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of a beverage dispenser structural body of the invention attached to a bar clamp;

Figure 6 shows a rear perspective view of a beverage dispenser structural body of claim 5 with the bar clamp omitted;

Figure 7 shows a close up perspective view of the front of the head section with beverage and coolant conduits connected;

Figure 8 shows an exploded view of a first example of beverage dispenser according to the invention; and

Figures 9 shows an exploded view of a second example of beverage dispenser according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a beverage dispenser structural body 10 of the invention is shown. In use the structural body 10 will have an outer cladding to give it a desired outer form in accordance with the owner, of a brand owner’s, requirements. Fluid lines will pass through the structure to deliver beverage to a point of dispense. The body structure 10 has a base section 12 configured for fixing to a surface. The base section could be provided with through holes to enable it to be bolted or screwed to a surface, for example a countertop in a restaurant or cafe. Alternatively, the base could be integrally formed with, or attached to, a clamp to enable it to be clamped to a countertop. By use of a clamp, the body structure 10 can be repositioned on the countertop without causing damage thereto, for example by avoiding the need to create holes therein.

The structural body 10 has a riser section 14 that is pivotally connected at its lower end to the base section 12 such that it can pivot thereabout. The base section 12 has flanges 16 rising therefrom, the flanges 16 being separated from one another by a gap, and the riser section 14 has flanges 18 on either side at its lower end. In the embodiment shown, the flanges 16, 18 are integrally formed with the base section 12 and the riser section 14 respectively, although it will be appreciated that integral formation is not necessary. The flanges 16 and the flanges 18 are positioned on the base section 12 and riser section 14 respectively such that they lie adjacent to one another and overlap one another. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1 the flanges 18 of the riser section 14 are positioned outboard of the flanges 16 of the base section 12 and a pair of adjacent flanges 16, 18 are located either side of a longitudinal central axis of the riser section 14. The base section 12 and the riser section 14 are connected to one another by pivot connections 20 that pass through the flanges 16, 18. A pivot connection 20 is provided between each pair of flanges 16,18. In the embodiment shown, the pivot connection 20 consists of a through hole in each flange 18 of the riser section 14, and a threaded hole in each flange 16 of the base section 12, the through holes and the threaded holes aligned on a common pivot axis and adjacent each other on each pair of flanges 16, 18. A threaded fastener 22 is passed through each through hole and is screwed into the adjacent threaded hole. When the threaded fasteners 22 are in situ but not tightened, i.e. they are in a loosened state, they connect the riser section 14 to the base section 12 so that they allow relative pivotal movement thereabout. When the threaded fasteners 22 are tightened, they clamp the flanges 16 of the base section 12 and the flanges 18 of the riser section 14 together, thereby restricting their relative movement. It will be appreciated that, while the specific pivotal connection described above is advantageous in that it allows for both pivoting and clamping, other methods of pivotally connecting the riser section to the base section, or alternative arrangements of the holes and threaded fasteners, may be used, the functional requirement being a pivotal connection between the base section 12 and the riser section 14. In order to assist in the positioning of the base section 12 and the riser section 14 relative to one another a first positioning means 24 is provided. The first positioning means 24 enables the riser section 14 to be positioned at one of a plurality of discreet angles along its pivotal range of movement. The first positioning means 24 includes a securing means 26 which secures the riser section 16 at one of the plurality of discreet angles. The first positioning means 24 includes a plurality of first holes 28 in the flange 18 of the riser section 14, and a plurality of second holes 30 in the flange 16 of the base section 12. In the embodiment shown there are three first holes 28 (one of which is shown occupied by the securing means 26) and five second holes 30. The first holes 28 and the second holes 30 may be provided on one or more common arc having a centre at the pivot axis. As depicted, of the three first holes 28 one is located on a first arc and two are located on a second arc, and of the five second holes three are located on the first arc and two are located on the second arc. Rotating the riser section 14 about the pivot axis, the securing means 26 can be located in corresponding first holes 28 and second holes 30 to provide a total of 6 possible angular positions, three potions on each arc. In this way the number of discreet angles in which the riser section 14 can be positioned is greater than the number of first holes and greater than the number of second holes, although other arrangements are possible. It will be understood that the exact number of holes in each flange 16, 18 is a matter of design choice and will be dictated by the required number of positions and their required angles, and that by varying the number of holes and the distance between the holes on a common arc, by varying the distance between the arcs, or by varying the distance of the arcs from the pivot axis, the variance between angular positions may be set. In addition, by providing the holes on more than one arc the space taken by the positioning means is minimised, and finer angular adjustment can be achieved. This is achieved as the holes on the first arc are offset from those on the second arc at angles which, if all of the holes were provided on the first arc, would overlap one another. In order to achieve the same granularity of angular positions on a common arc, the distance of the arc from the pivot axis would need to be substantially increased so that all the holes could lie adjacent to one another with sufficient structural material between them to provide the necessary strength in the positioning means, thereby significantly increasing the minimum size of the structural body. It will be appreciated that an alternative would be to provide a single slot, however the provision of a slot removes the ability to provide predefined angular positions and therefore would require far greater skill in setting the structural body to the correct angle, a problem overcome by the present invention. By minimising the size of the structural body, the design freedom of a cladding surrounding the structural body, a minimum size of which will be determined by the structural body, can be maximised. In the example embodiment the first holes 28 are through holes, the second holes 30 are threaded holes, and the securing means 26 is a threaded fastener. The second holes 30 may either be threaded blind holes or threaded through holes. To secure the riser section 14 in the required angular position relative to the base section 12, the securing means 26, e.g. the threaded fastener, is inserted through the required first hole 28 and is screwed into an aligned second hole 30. Tightening the threaded fastener clamps the flanges 16 of the riser section to the flanges 14 of the base section. Clamping by both the securing means 26 and the threaded fasteners 22 securely retains the riser section 14 in the desired angular position relative to the base section 12. Although threaded fasteners in combination with through holes and threaded holes are described, it will be appreciated that other arrangements are possible, for example the threaded holes and through holes could be reversed and the securing means 26 inserted from the inside, or two through holes could be provided and a nut and bolt, or other clamping fastener, passed through the holes and secured on either side thereof.

Indicia are provided on the base section 12 and riser section 14 for assisting in the correct use of the securing means. The indicia assist in the correct positioning of the riser section 14, and in the selection of the correct one of the first holes 28 through which the securing means 26 should be applied to secure the riser section 14 in a desired position. The indicia comprise first indicating means 32 that identify which one of the discrete angles the riser section 14 is in, and second indicating means 34 that identify the corresponding correct one of the first holes 28 through which the securing means 26 should be inserted so secure the riser section at the identified discreet position. In the example shown the letters A to F are used to denote the positions, however any suitable indicia for correlating a desired position to the correct first hole for the securing means, for example, numerals, different colours, etc., may be used.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the first indicating means 32 comprises the flange 16 of the base section 12 having a plurality of positioning identifiers thereon and the flange 18 of the riser section 14 has an aperture 36 therein through which the positioning identifiers on the flange 16 can be seen. In this example, the positioning indicators used are the letters A-F. In order to assist in the identification of the correct positioning identifier visible through the aperture 36, a pointer 38 is provided to point at the positioning identifier. The pointer 38 is integrally formed in the flange 18 of the riser section. Due to the depth of the flange, the pointer tapers towards its pointing end both in thickness and in depth. Its taper in depth is a taper towards the underlying flange 16 of the base section 12. By tapering in this manner, parallax error is reduced when observing the indicating means 32 which assists in the of correct location of the riser section 14 in the desired angular position. The second indicating means 34 comprises one or more securing identifiers associated with each one of the plurality of first holes 28, each identifier associated with one of said discreet angles.

In use, when setting the structural body 10 to the desired position, the operator can be provided with a simple setting for the first positioning means, for example: “Set the first positioning means to position “D”. After ensuring that the threaded fastener 26 is removed and that the threaded fastener 22 has been loosened, the operator pivots the riser section 14 about the pivot axis to a position in which the pointer 38 points to the positioning indicator “D”. Whilst maintaining the riser section 14 in this position the operative inserts the securing means, i.e. inserts a threaded fastener 26 into the hole marked “D” and screws it in. A second securing means 26 can then be inserted in the hole marked “D” on the other flange. The operative can then fasten the securing means to clamp the two flanges 16, 18 together. The operator then fastens (or re-fastens) the threaded fasteners 22 on either flange thereby providing secure clamping of the riser section 14 to the base section 12 at four points. Once fastened the operative can perform a final check that the pointer is aligned with the correct positioning identifier, i.e. “D”.

The provision of the indicia in this manner enables a relatively unskilled operative to modify the orientation of the component parts of the structural body 10 in the field in a simple manner.

The beverage dispenser structural body 10 also has a head section 40 pivotally connected to an upper end 42 of the riser section 14. The head section 40 is arranged for pivotal movement relative to the upper end 42 of the riser section 14. The connection between the head section 40 and the riser section 14 is similar to that between the riser section 14 and the base section 12.

The head section 40 has flanges 44 extending therefrom, the flanges 44 being separated from one another by a gap and the riser section 14 has flanges 46 on either side at its upper end 42. In the embodiment shown the flanges 44, 46 are integrally formed with the head section 40 and the riser section 14 respectively, although it will be appreciated that integral formation is not necessary. The flanges 44 and the flanges 46 are positioned on the head section 40 and riser section 14 respectively such that they lie adjacent to one another and overlap one another. In the embodiment depicted the flanges 44 of the head section 40 are positioned outboard of the flanges 46 of the riser section 14 and a pair of adjacent flanges 44, 46 are located either side of, and offset from a longitudinal central axis of, the riser section 14. The head section 40 and the riser section 14 are connected to one another by pivot connections 48 that pass through the flanges 44, 46. A pivot connection 48 is provided between each pair of flanges 44, 46. In the embodiment shown, the pivot connection 48 consists of a through hole in each flange 44 of the head section 40, and a threaded hole in each flange 46 of the riser section 14, the through holes and the threaded holes are aligned on a common pivot axis and are adjacent each other on each pair of flanges 44, 46. A threaded fastener 50 is passed through each through hole and is screwed into the adjacent threaded hole. When the threaded fasteners 50 are in situ but not tightened, i.e. they are in a loosened state, they connect the riser section 14 to the head section 40 so that they allow relative pivotal movement of those sections thereabout. When the threaded fasteners 50 are tightened, they clamp the flanges 44 of the head section 40 and the flanges 46 of the riser section 14 together, thereby restricting their relative movement. It will be appreciated that while the specific pivotal connection described above is advantageous in that it allows for both pivoting and clamping, that other methods of pivotally connecting the riser section 14 to the head section 40, or alternative arrangements of the holes and threaded fasteners, may be used, the functional requirement being a pivotal connection between the head section 40 and the riser section 14.

In order to assist in the positioning of the head section 40 and the riser section 14 relative to one another a second positioning means 52 is provided. The second positioning means 52 enables the head section 40 to be positioned at one of a plurality of discreet angles along its pivotal range of movement. The second positioning means 52 includes a securing means 54 which secures the head section 40 at one of the plurality of discreet angles. The second positioning means 52 includes of a plurality of first holes 56 in the flange 44 of the head section 40, and a plurality of second holes 58 in the flange 46 of the riser section 14. In the embodiment shown there are three first holes 56 (one of which is shown occupied by the securing means 54) and five second holes 58. The first holes 56 and the second holes 58 may be provided on one or more common arc having a centre at the pivot axis of the head section and raiser section. As depicted, of the three first holes 56 one is located on a first arc and two are located on a second arc. Of the five second holes 58, three are located on the first arc and two are located on the second arc. Rotating the head section 40 about the pivot axis, the securing means 54 can be located in corresponding first holes 56 and second holes 58 to provide a total of six possible angular positions, three potions on each arc. In this way the number of discreet angles in which the head section 40 can be positioned is greater than the number of first holes and greater than the number of second holes, although other arrangements are possible. It will be understood that the exact number of holes in each flange 44, 46 is a matter of design choice and will be dictated by the required number of positions and their required angles, and that by varying the number of holes and the distance between the holes on a common arc, by varying the distance between the arcs, or by varying the distance of the arcs from the pivot axis, the variance between the predetermined angular positions may be set. The provision of the holes on two (or more) arcs enables a large number of positions to be achievable in a compact space, and/or fine angular adjustment achieved, as described above.

In the example embodiment the first holes 56 are through holes, the second holes 58 are threaded holes (which maybe threaded blind holes or threaded through holes), and the securing means 54 is a threaded fastener. To secure the head section 40 in the required angular position relative to the riser section 14, the securing means 54, e.g. threaded fastener, is inserted through the required first hole 56 and is screwed into an aligned second hole 58. Tightening the threaded fastener clamps the flanges 44 of the head section 40 to the flanges 46 of the riser section 14. The clamping by the securing means 54 and the threaded fasteners 50 securely retains the head section 40 in the desired angular position relative to the riser section 14. Although threaded fasteners in combination with through holes and threaded holes are described, it will be appreciated that other arrangements are possible, for example the threaded holes and through holes could be reversed and the securing means 54 inserted from the inside, or two through holes could be provided and a nut and bolt, or other clamping fastener, passed through the holes and secured on either side thereof.

Indicia are provided on the head section 40 and riser section 14 for assisting in the correct use of the securing means. The indicia assist in the correct positioning of the head section 40 and in the selection of the correct one of the first holes 56 through which the securing means 54 should be applied to secure the head section 40 in a desired position. The indicia included first indicating means 60 that identify which one of the discrete angles the head section 40 is in, and second indicating means 62 that identify the corresponding correct one of the first holes 56 through which the securing means 54 should be inserted to secure the riser section at the identified discreet position. As with the base section, in the example shown the letters A to F are used to denote the positions, however any suitable indicia for correlating a desired position to the correct first hole for the securing means, for examples numerals, different colours, etc., may be used.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the first indicating means 60 comprises the flange 46 of the riser section 14 having a plurality of positioning identifiers thereon and the flange 44 of the head section 40 has an aperture 64 therein through which the positioning identifiers on the flange 46 can be seen. In this example, as with the base section, the positioning indicators used are the letters A-F. In order to assist in the identification of the correct positioning identifier visible through the aperture 64, a pointer 66 is provided to point at the positioning identifier. The pointer 66 is integrally formed in the flange 44 of the head section 40. Due to the depth of the flange, the pointer 64 tapers towards its pointing end both in thickness and in depth. Its taper in depth is a taper towards the flange 46 of the riser section 14. By tapering in this manner, parallax error is reduced when observing the indicating means 60, which assists in the ease of correctly locating the head section 40 in the desired angular position. The second indicating means 62 comprises one or more securing identifiers associated with each one of the plurality of first holes 56, each identifier associated with one of said discreet angles.

In use. when setting the structural body to the desired position, the operator can be provided with a simple setting for the first positioning means and the second positioning means, for example set both the first positioning means 24 and the second positioning means 52 to position “B”. The operative sets the lower positioning means 32 to position B as described above, and then follows a similar process for the second positioning means 42 to position the head section 40 at position “B”. The provision of the indicia in this manner enables a relatively unskilled operative to modify the orientation of the component parts of the structural body 10 in the field in a simple manner.

Usually, the head position of a beverage dispenser will be parallel to its base. In order to facilitate this in the set-up of the structural body 10, the indicia associated with the first positioning means and the second positioning means contain the same predetermined angular positions, but in opposite directions. For example, the predetermined angular positions for the positioning means may be as set out in the table below where A-F are the indicia, a positive angle is a clockwise rotation, and a negative angle is a counter-clockwise rotation:

In this manner a single position (e.g. Position “E”) can be given which, when applied to both the first positioning means 24 and the second positioning means 52, results in the riser 14 being set at an angle of -5 degrees to the base and the head and base being parallel to one another. With specific reference now to Figure 4 the riser section 14 has two parts, a lower riser section 68 and an upper riser section 70. The lower riser section 68 and the upper riser section 70 are arranged such that they can move relative to one another along their longitudinal axis. This enables the overall length of the riser section 14 to be changed. As can be seen, the upper and lower riser sections are each a substantially U-shaped channel, and the upper riser section 70 is located within, and overlapping with, the lower riser section 68 so that they can move relative to one another substantially in telescopic action. The riser section 14 is also provided with riser securing means which secure the lower riser section 68 and the upper riser section 70 to one another to fix the length of the riser section 14. The riser securing means comprises of a plurality of holes 72 in the lower riser section 68 and threaded holes, in this example two threaded holes (not shown), in the upper riser section 70. Securing means in the form of threaded fasteners 74 are provided which, when the upper and lower riser sections 68, 70 are in their desired locations, are passed through outer holes and are fastened into the threaded holes in the lower riser section 68. As the holes 74 are provided in a plurality of discreet positions, the upper and lower riser section are securable to one another in a plurality of discreet longitudinal positions, corresponding to discreet different lengths of the riser section 14. Although the embodiment described herein comprises U-shaped channels, and the upper riser section 70 being located inside the lower riser section 68, it will be understood that other arrangements may be used that provide similar longitudinal alterations to the length of the riser section 14. It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention the riser section could be single piece, fixed length riser section.

As shown, the upper riser section 70 is provided with a plurality of indicia 76 thereon, each indicium associated with a specific one of the plurality of discreet longitudinal positions. In the example embodiment these indicia 76 take the form of marks on the upper riser section 70, each of which have a number adjacent thereto. In use, for a specific desired set-up of the structural body 10, the user can be provided with a height setting, for example “0”, “20”, “70", or the like. The user can simply move the upper section until the mark associated with the height setting, e.g. the mark with the number “0” or “70” next to it, is aligned with a desired identifier (in the example embodiment the identifier used for alignment is the top of the lower riser section 69, although other identifiers maybe used), and then insert and tighten the threaded fasteners 74. In this manner, not only can the angle of the riser section 14 and the head section 40 be simply set with little skill, but the height of the structural body 10 can also be easily changed. In order to assist the sliding and securing of the upper and lower riser sections 68, 70, several additional features may also be used. As shown, the upper and lower riser section 70, 68 may have a corresponding longitudinal ridge 78 and recess, the ridge 78 locating in the recess. In addition the upper riser section 70 and lower riser section 68 may be provided with a locating means to positively locate them relative to one another in the plurality of positions. Although not shown in the drawings, due to being hidden when assembled, the locating means includes number of recesses arranged longitudinally on an inner surface of the lower riser section 68, the recesses separated by a distance corresponding the distance separating the indicia 76, and a projection on a corresponding adjacent face of the upper riser section 70. As the upper riser section 70 is moved, the projection will move into an out of the recesses, giving positive feedback to the user when the upper and lower positions are engaged in alignment in one of the discreet longitudinal positions. This location will also assist in retaining the upper and lower riser sections 70, 68 relatives to one another as the user inserts and tightens the threaded fastener. It will be appreciated that, as the lower riser section 68 is already provided with a plurality of holes 72 therein, these holes 72 may also be used as the recesses for the projection to locate in. The projection could simply be a small boss extending from the upper riser section 70, or could be more complex, for example a spring loaded ball bearing. Although the example embodiment is described having recesses on the lower riser section and projections on the upper riser section, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that these could be reversed

As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the base section 12 of the structural body 10 has an opening 122 therethrough and, as described above, the riser section 14 has a substantially hollow or open cross section. In this manner, in use, one or more conduits 124 can be routed through the base section 12 and along the riser section 14 to the upper end 42 thereof. The base section 12 of the example embodiment has a ramped profile 84 (see Figure 3), having curved edges, leading from the opening therein to the riser section 14. This assists in enabling the conduit 124, for example an insulated conduit carrying beverage and optionally coolant flows (commonly referred to in the dispense industry as a Python), to be passed therethrough, and reduces the likelihood of damage to such conduits when changing the angle of the structural body 10. The arrangement shown in Figure 5 has a bar clamp 84 attached to a lower end thereof for clamping the structural body 10 to a bar or counter, in use. A drip tray 86 is attached to the bar clap 84 at a position below the tap 116 to catch any drips of fluid therefrom.

In addition, the outer one of the upper riser section 70 and the lower riser section 68 (in the example embodiment the lower riser section 68) is provided with retention lugs 73 extending therefrom that retain the inner one of the upper riser section 70 and the lower riser section 68 (in the example embodiment the upper riser section 70) therein. In this manner the upper riser section 70 can be slid longitudinally along the lower riser section 68 without separating therefrom. The lugs 73 are preferably located towards the upper end of the lower riser section 68 and, if provided, the projection that extends into the recesses may be provided at, or towards, a lower end of the upper riser section 68.

As shown in detail in Figure 7, the head section has a tap plate 88, formed integrally with the flanges 44, to which a tap boss 80 is attached. The tap boss 80 has an opening for receiving a beverage line 90 (or receiving fluid from a beverage line 90) on a first side thereof, and fixing means, for example a threaded outlet 82 (see Figure 1 ) to, in use, allow a dispensing tap 116 (see Figure 5) to be attached to a second side thereof. The beverage line 90 passes through the insulated conduit 124.

The tap plate 88 has a recess 92 on either side thereof, said recess providing a passage through the tap plate 88 to an adjacent face 94 of the tap boss 80. The tap boss in the embodiment of Figure 7 is provided with a flow path therethrough and has a first opening 95 connected to a coolant flow line 96 and a second opening (not shown) connected to a coolant return line 98. The first opening 95 is aligned with the recess 92 on one side and the second opening is aligned with the recess 92 on the other side. The tap boss 80 has an internal passageway (not shown) connecting the first opening 95 and the second opening. This enables the coolant flow lines 96, 98 to pass through tap plate 88 to provide a flow of coolant through the tap boss 80 thereby keeping it, and any beverage passing therethrough, cool. The coolant flow and return lines 96, 98 pass through the insulated conduit 124 together with the beverage line 90. It will be appreciated that the insulated conduit 124 may extend further along the lines 90, 96, 98 up to the tap plate 88 and that at least one of the tap plate 88 and tap boss 80 may be surrounded by insulation. This will minimise any heat loss from the beverage as it flows through the beverage line 90 and help prevent condensation forming on the cooled surfaces.

Referring now to Figure 8, a first embodiment of a beverage dispenser 100 of the invention is shown. The beverage dispenser 100 includes a beverage dispenser structural body 10 as described herein above, and a beverage dispenser cladding comprising a first cladding part 102 and a second cladding part 104, the first cladding part 102 and the second cladding part 104 securable to the beverage dispenser structural body 10. The first cladding part 102 comprises a clip 106 receivable on a first side of the riser element 14 to locate it relative thereto. The second cladding part 104 comprises a pair of through holes 112 for receiving cladding fasteners 114 (which are threaded fasteners) therethrough for securing the second cladding part 104 to a second, opposite side of the riser element 14. The cladding fasteners 114 can pass through one of the through holes 72 (see Figure 4) in the lower riser section 68 and extend into a corresponding threaded hole in the upper riser section 70 therebehind. In the example embodiment, the threaded holes in the upper riser section 70 for receiving the cladding fasteners 112 are of a smaller dimension than those for receiving the threaded fasteners 74 which secure the riser 14 at the desired position. The use of different sized holes for receiving the cladding fasteners 114 ensures that it is not possible for an operative to inadvertently secure the threaded fasteners 74 in the wrong holes, which would thereafter make it impossible to secure the second cladding part 104 in its correct position. The use of larger threaded fasteners 74 and holes for securing the upper riser section 70 and lower riser section 68 ensure that the stronger fasteners are used for the structural connection and the smaller fasteners are used for securing the cladding 104, which is more cosmetic in nature. Alternatively, a dedicated threaded hole for receiving the fasteners 114 may be provided on the face of the upper or lower riser section that faces towards the second cladding part 104.

The beverage dispenser 100 also includes a tap 116 (see figure 5) which is attached to the tap boss 80 such that it is located at or adjacent an upper end of the riser section 14. In order to attach the first 102 and second 104 cladding parts, the first cladding part 102 is provided with threaded holes 118 towards its upper end, upper cladding fasteners 120 are passed through holes 122 in the second cladding piece 104 and are tightened into the threaded holes 118 thereby fastening the first cladding piece 102 to the second cladding piece 104.

In the arrangement of Figure 8 the structural body 10 is shown in a position of “D70”, i.e., referring to the table above, the riser and head section are both set at an angle of 0 degrees and the riser is set to position length “70”. The instructions for this set up are preferably provided to an operative by providing the required setting position instruction on the cladding 102, 104, preferably in a position not visible once fitted. As an example the required structural body setting could be moulded into an interior surface of the cladding or provided on a label attached thereto. Alternatively, the position could be provided with instructions, either in hard copy or electronically, for example on a mobile communications device, e.g. via an app. Referring now to Figure 9, a second embodiment of a beverage dispenser 200 of the invention is shown. The beverage dispenser 200 includes a beverage dispenser structural body 10 as described herein above, and a beverage dispenser cladding comprising a first cladding part 202, a second cladding part 204, and a third cladding part 205, the cladding parts 202, 204, 205 being securable to the beverage dispenser structural body 10.

The first cladding part 202 comprises a clip 206 receivable on a first side of the riser element 14 to locate it relative thereto, and a bracket 208 affixed to an upper portion thereof. The bracket 208 abuts the tap boss 80, and a top cladding fastener 210, which is a threaded fastener, passes through a hole in the bracket 208 and into a threaded hole 224 in the top of the tap boss 80, thereby attaching it thereto.

The second cladding part 204 comprises a pair of through holes 212 for receiving cladding fasteners 214, which are threaded fasteners, therethrough for, in use, securing the second cladding part 204 to a second, opposite side of the riser element 14. The cladding fasteners 212 can pass through one of the through holes 72 (see Figure 4) in the lower riser section 68 and extend into a corresponding threaded hole in the upper riser section 70 therebehind. As described above, the threaded holes in the upper riser section 70 for receiving the cladding fasteners 112 are of a smaller dimension than those for receiving the threaded fasteners 74 which secure the riser 14 at the desired position.

The third cladding part 205 is secured to the first cladding part 202. In order to attach the third cladding part 205 to the first cladding part 202, the first cladding part 202 is provided with threaded holes 218 towards its upper end and upper cladding fasteners 220 are passed through holes 222 in the third cladding piece 205. The upper cladding fasteners 220 are tightened into the threaded holes 218, thereby fastening the third cladding piece 205 to the first cladding piece 202. In order to further secure the cladding parts together the second cladding part 204 is provided with locating tabs 207 at an upper end thereof and the third cladding part 205 is provided with locating pins (not shown) which locate in the locating tabs 207 when the upper cladding fasteners 220 are secured.

In the arrangement of Figure 9 the structural body 10 is shown in a position of “C50”, i.e., referring to the table above, the riser and head section are set at an angle of +5 degrees and -5 degrees respectfully and the riser is set to position length “50”. The instructions for this set up are provided as described hereinabove. Although omitted for clarity, the beverage dispenser 200 also includes a tap 116 (see figure 5) which is attached to the tap boss 80 such that it is located at or adjacent an upper end of the riser section 14. It will be appreciated that the cladding of the beverage dispensers shown in Figures 8 and 9 can be attached and removed while the tap and supply conduits are connected. This offers a significant advantage in that it reduces, even further, the skill needed to change the visual appearance of the beverage dispenser. As an example, if the dispenser was being used to dispense a first type of beverage, e.g. a first beer, which ran out, the owner of a bar could simply change the cladding, change the beer cask or keg attached to the other end of the conduit to a different type of beer, and continue to dispense from the tap.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9 two arrangements of the invention are shown, in Figure 8 the structural body 10 is shown in a first position “D70”, i.e. an angle of +0 degrees and extension of “70”, and has a first cladding of a first type (being a two part cladding having a first external shape and height) attached around it. In Figure 9 the structural body 10 is shown at a second position “C50”, with the riser at an angle of +5 degrees, the head section at an angle of -5 degree, and an extension of “50”, and has a second cladding of a second type (being a three part cladding having a second external shape and height) attached around it. To change from the dispenser of the Figure 8 to that of Figure 9, an operative is provided with the second cladding and setting instructions, in this case (referring to the table above) “Position C50”. The operative undoes the securing screws 120, 114 and removes the first cladding from the structural body 10, sets the first positioning means 24 and the second positioning means 52 to position “C” and secures them in place, sets the position of the lower and upper riser section 68, 70 to position “50” and secures them in place, and then places the cladding pieces 202, 204, 205 of the second cladding around the structural body 10, and secures them in place as described above. In this manner, not only the branding, but the entire physical appearance and dimensions of the beverage dispenser can easily be changed without the need to replace the underlying physical parts. This enables not only the updating of branding, but also the reuse of the structural body for the dispense of an entirely different product, thereby reducing wastage, and reducing the need for engaging specialist technicians. This is achieved by having the single structural body that can be simply reconfigured in multiple different positions.

As used herein, it will be understood from the term “structural body” that the body according to the invention provides the strength and structure for the cladding to be mounted on, i.e. in the absence of cladding, it would be self-supporting with sufficient strength that, with the addition of a tap, it would be able to function to dispense a beverage. In order to achieve this it is anticipated that any material of sufficient strength and rigidity could be used. The example embodiment has the base section 12, riser section 14, head section 40 manufactured of die case zinc, however other metals or alloys such as aluminium, brass or the like, or alternative manufacturing methods, could be used. In addition, plastics, in particular engineering plastics, or plastics containing reinforcement fillers could be used. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any specific material or manufacturing method.