Beverage dispensing assembly

Abstract

A regulator which can be used with a beverage dispensing assembly is disclosed. The regulator includes a seal and a moveable valve stem that cooperates with the seal. A beverage dispenser is also disclosed.

1 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to cooperate with an associated container holding a beverage that is to be dispensed;   a spout supported by the housing and configured to be in fluid communication with the associated container to dispense the beverage from the associated container;   a movable lever arm supported by the housing and configured to cooperate with the housing and the associated container for drawing the housing and the associated container together.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is movable into an engaged operating position where the associated container is in fluid communication with the spout, when in the engaged operating position an outermost end of the lever arm is disposed inwardly from an outermost surface of the associated container. 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm cooperates with a rotatable hub, the hub including a pin operatively connected with a retainer configured to engage the associated container to draw the housing and the associated container together. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a pawl pivotally connected with the housing, wherein the hub includes ratchet teeth cooperating with the pawl. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , further comprising a stop member pivotally attached to the housing, wherein the hub includes a notch that cooperates with the stop member. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a stop member pivotally attached to the housing, wherein the hub includes a notch that cooperates with the stop member. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the housing includes an opening and the hub includes a resilient tab having a protuberance at a distal end, the protuberance being received in the opening when the lever arm is moved into a position where the spout is in fluid communication with the associated container. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and lever arm is movable between a first position and a second position along one side of the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is a component of a mechanism for drawing the housing and the associated container together, wherein the mechanism includes at least two means for precluding movement of the lever arm in a predetermined direction. 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lever arm is a component of a mechanism for drawing the housing and the associated container together, wherein the mechanism includes at least three means for precluding movement of the lever arm in a predetermined direction. 
   
   
       11 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to cooperate with an associated container holding a beverage that is to be dispensed, the housing including a non-circular recess configured to receive a cap for the associated container, the recess being configured so that the cap engages the housing upon rotation of the container for removing the cap from the container.   
   
   
       12 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to cooperate with an associated container holding a beverage that is to be dispensed;   a spout supported by the housing and configured to be in fluid communication with the associated container;   a movable handle mechanism supported by the housing and configured to cooperate with the housing and the associated container for drawing the housing and the associated container together; and   a moveable hook feature supported by the housing, the moveable hook feature engaging the movable handle mechanism, when in a first position the moveable hook feature precludes movement of the handle, when in a second position the moveable hook feature allows movement of the handle, when in a third position the moveable hook feature precludes movement of the handle.   
   
   
       13 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the moveable hook feature connects with a button that extends from the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the button is in a first operating position when the moveable hook feature is in the first position, wherein the button is in a second operating position when the moveable hook feature is in the second position, and wherein the button is in the first operating position when the moveable hook feature is in the third position. 
   
   
       15 . A beverage dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to cooperate with an associated container holding a beverage that is to be dispensed;   a spout supported by the housing and configured to be in fluid communication with the associated container;   a regulator in fluid communication with an associated high pressure gas source and the associated container, wherein the regulator receives gas from the associated gas source and gas exiting the regulator flowing towards the associated gas source exits the regulator at a second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, the regulator includes
 a regulator body, 
 a piston received in the regulator body, the piston being moveable, 
 a cap threaded onto the regulator body, 
 a spring acting against the cap and the piston, the biasing force of the spring against the piston controlling the second pressure, and 
 an adjustment mechanism connected with the cap for adjusting the biasing force of the spring. 
   
   
   
       16 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an overcap affixed to the cap for rotation therewith and a lever fixed to the cap. 
   
   
       17 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a stop connected with the housing and cooperating with the lever for inhibiting movement of the lever past the stop.