As is well-known, a user-visible component of a beverage dispensing column is often provided with information about the beverage available for pouring.

The present invention allows for an easy changing of such information provided by a beverage dispensing column connected to a tap unit.

In one embodiment the dispensing column comprises an elongated post, which may be configured to be fixed to a bar counter, and a removable elongated first cladding component, the elongated post being received within the elongated first cladding component, preferably with a close fit, wherein when the tap unit is connected to the post is the first cladding component secured in position relative to the post and wherein disconnecting and removing the tap unit from the post allows removal of the first cladding component from the post.

A method for carrying out the aforementioned easy changing of information involves the steps of first releasing the tap unit from the post, then displacing the first cladding component along the length of the post fixed to the bar counter, and then positioning another first cladding component by displacing it along the length of the post fixed to the bar counter, until the post is received within said another first cladding component.

The present invention also allows for an easy cleaning of a tap unit of a beverage dispensing system.

The invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments. Fig. 1 is a side-by-side arrangement before assembly of various components of the beverage dispensing system of the invention,

Fig. 2a is a similar side view, wherein some of the components of the beverage dispensing system have been assembled,

Fig. 2b is a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembled beverage delivery system of the invention,

Fig. 2c is a perspective view showing the various components of another embodiment of the beverage dispensing system,

Fig. 2d is a perspective view of the partially assembled beverage dispensing system of fig. 2a,

Figs. 3a-3c are side and perspective views of a tap unit of the beverage dispensing system, and an end view thereof showing how the tap unit is manipulated for connection with a connector flange of a metal post of the beverage dispensing system,

Fig. 4 is a side view of two components of the tap unit, showing how they may be manipulated for separation from one another,

Figs. 5a-5d are perspective views showing different steps during assembly of the embodiment of the beverage dispensing system shown in fig. 2b,

Fig. 6a is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tap unit, and

Fig. 6b is a top perspective cross-sectional view showing a lower component of the tap unit mounted to a metal post of the beverage dispensing system. Fig. 1 is a side-by-side view before assembly of various components of a dispensing column C for mounting onto a stand or a surface, such as a bar counter (not shown), that has a mounting fixture or base 1 to which the dispensing column C is to be fixed.

The dispensing column C is part of a beverage delivery system BDS including also a tap unit T with a spout 10 and with a connector flange 11 arranged opposite the spout 10. An embodiment of the beverage delivery system BDS is shown in fig. 2b. The mounting fixture 1 may be clamped or screwed onto the aforementioned surface.

Inside the dispensing column C is arranged, or is arrangeable, a flexible tubing (not shown) for supplying a beverage, such as draft beer, from a keg (not shown) to the tap unit T, which tap unit T according to one aspect of the invention is releasably connected to a connector flange 100 of the dispensing column C by means of the connector flange 11 of the tap unit T.

One component of the shown dispensing column C is a vertical metal post 2, preferably having a U-shaped cross-section, see fig. 2c. The metal post 2 defines a rigid structural back-bone of the column C and is connected to the mounting fixture 1 .

Inside the post 2 is an elongated structure 3, normally an elongated tubular structure 3, of a heat insulating material, preferably of a hardened foamed material, avoiding condensation. The elongated structure 3 has a head portion H at the level of the tap unit T and defines an internal passage P which at the head portion H opens up sideways. Cooling channels for a cooling fluid may be associated with the elongated structure 3, such as in a separate elongated front piece F, see fig. 2c. The elongated structure 3 preferably is formed from two half-shells 3A, 3B of the aforementioned heat insulating material, see fig 2c which also shows the separate front piece F as an item defining together with the two half-shells 3A, 3B the internal passage P.

The flexible tubing (not shown) extends inside the elongated structure 3, normally along the full length of the passage P, and has an end portion, optionally having a valve controllable by a dispensing handle 9 of the tap unit T.

The end portion exits the elongated structure 3 where the passage P opens up at the head portion H and extends then further inside the tap unit T in fluid communication with the spout 10, once the tap unit T has been connected to the connector flange 100 of the column C.

Preferably, the tap unit T itself comprises two components, as shown in fig. 4, that may be separated from one another to allow for insertion and correct positioning in the tap unit T of the end portion of the flexible tubing once the tap unit T has been connected to the connector flange 100 of the column C.

Thus, as shown, a first, upper component U1 of the tap unit T may have the dispensing handle 9 and associated mechanical parts for controlling the dispensing, while a second, lower component U2 of the tap unit T supports the end portion of the flexible tubing.

As seen in figs. 2c and 5a, the connector flange 100 of the column C is ring- shaped and has opposite sides 100’, each side 100’ being connected to a respective side 2’ of the post 2.

Fig. 2a shows the elongated structure 3 having been positioned between the two opposite sides 2’ of the post 2 during assembly of the dispensing column C. The connector flange 100 of the column C remains accessible for connection with the connector flange 11 of the tap unit T. The dispensing column C moreover comprises an elongated tubular or C- shaped first cladding component 5 with a downwardly open elongated keyhole shaped aperture A with a widened portion A1 . The first cladding component 5 is preferably sized to narrowly receive the post 2 and the elongated insulating structure 3 therein.

On one side opposite the aperture A is the first cladding component 5 provided with indicia 1000, indicating by way of example the type of beverage dispensed by the beverage dispensing system BDS.

In a next step of the assembly of the dispensing column C is this first cladding component 5 lowered vertically, along the length of the post 2, in a way to receive therein the post 2 with the elongated heat insulating structure 3, see fig. 5a.

The first cladding component 5 defines at least the portion of the column C visible to a person standing in front of the bar, to which a drink is poured by another person standing in front of the spout 10. Figs. 2d and 5a show different geometrical shapes of the first cladding component 5.

To complete assembly of the dispending column C is an elongated further, second cladding component 4 then shifted sideways, as shown by the arrow in fig. 5b. The further, second cladding 4 has an enlarged top 500 with a throughgoing aperture R receiving the ring-shaped connector flange 100 of the dispensing column C. The widened portion A1 of the elongated aperture A of the elongated cladding component 5 on its side matingly receives the enlarged top 500 of the further, second cladding 4, as seen in fig. 5c. The second cladding component 4 has a stem portion 4’ configured for closing off the remaining portion of the elongated aperture A, such that the post 2 is completely surrounded by the first and second cladding components 4, 5. Connecting then the tap unit T to the connector flange 100 of the column C as shown in fig. 5d leads to a positional fixing of at least some of the aforementioned components 2, 3, 4, 5 of the dispensing column C to each other in that the periphery of the ring-shaped connector flange 11 of the tap unit T is brought to bear against an annular face 520 of the enlarged top 500 of the further cladding 4, see also fig. 6b. As long as the further, second cladding 4 is held against sideways movement by the connector flange 11 of the tap unit T, the second cladding 4 cannot be shifted into a position wherein the enlarged top 500 thereof is no longer matingly received by the widened portion A1 of the elongated aperture A of the first cladding component 5. Hence, in this configuration moving the first cladding 5 upwards, away from the post 2, is prevented.

As is well-known a user-visible component, as exemplified by the first cladding component 5 discussed above, of a beverage dispensing column C is often provided with information about the beverage available for pouring. The shown dispensing column C with tap unit T defines a beverage dispensing system BDS allowing for easy replacement of the information by replacing the first cladding component 5. This is conveniently be done by disconnecting the connector flange 11 of the tap unit T from the connector flange 100 of the column C, which allows for the first cladding component 5 to be pulled vertically upwards and replaced with another one, after a sideways shifting of the further second cladding 4 into a position wherein the enlarged top 500 thereof is no longer received by the widened portion A1 of the elongated aperture A of the elongated first cladding component 5.

For this and for other alternative purposes, such as to allow for cleaning of the tap unit T, according to the invention are the aforementioned two connector flanges 11 , 100 releasably interconnectable, preferably by respective bayonet coupling parts B1 , B2, shown in fig. 2a and 3a, respectively. Hence, with the invention the outer design/visual appearance of the beverage dispensing system BDS, as defined by the first cladding component 5, can be changed without removing the actual core thereof, namely the post 2 with the elongated heat insulating structure 3, from the bar.

When using bayonet coupling parts B1 , B2 the tap unit T generally is mounted to the connector flange 100 of the column C in two steps, namely by first moving the two connector flanges into 11 , 100 mutual engagement and then turning (see fig. 3c) the tap unit T until the two connector flanges 11 , 100 are locked together by bayonet action.

When turned to its final position as shown in fig. 3b, the tap unit T may be positionally locked by a user-operable spring loaded pin (not shown) which is manually manipulated to allow for subsequent release of the bayonet coupling, at which point the tap unit T may be removed from the dispensing column C either for the purpose of cleaning the tap unit T or for replacing the first cladding component 5 carrying the aforementioned indicia 1000.

With a bayonet coupling no tools are needed for replacing/removing the tap unit T; optionally a tool may be used to activate the aforementioned spring loaded pin, which will allow for release of the tap unit T.

As shown in fig. 6a, to remove the upper component U1 of the tap unit T a button B may be activated. Removal of the lower component U2 from the post 2 may be carried out with or without prior removal of the upper component U1.

To reiterate, when the post 2 is mounted on a bar top a user can finish the installation of the system BDS in a few steps. The first cladding component 5 is mounted around the post 2 and the tap unit T is connected to the post 2, se- curing both the second cladding component 4 and the first cladding component 5 in place. The first cladding component 5 can be made in many shapes and sizes and may include illuminated panels and decoration. Optionally, the first cladding component 5 may be connected to the post 2 when the first cladding component 5 is moved vertically down to receive the post 2, such as by a snap-engagement once the first cladding component 5 has been correctly positioned relative to the post 2.