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 dispensing system comprising:
 a bottle including a threaded neck;   a cap threaded onto the neck of the bottle for containing an associated beverage in the bottle, the cap including a catch extending outwardly from a side wall of the cap to define an opening;   a dispenser cooperating with the cap to dispense the associated beverage from the bottle; and   a removal tool including a handle and a projection extending from the handle, the projection being configured to be received in the opening defined by the catch and the side wall of the cap to engage the cap for facilitating rotation of the cap by moving the removal tool.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes a removal tool cavity and the removal tool is selectively received in the removal tool cavity. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the removal tool includes a protuberance extending from an edge of the handle for retaining the removal tool in the removal tool cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the removal tool cavity includes a notch for cooperating with the protuberance, wherein the protuberance is received in the notch. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the removal tool cavity includes a recessed well, the recessed well being configured to receive the projection. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein an external surface of the handle is generally flush with an external surface of the dispenser when the projection is received in the recessed well. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the cap is generally cylindrical and the projection of the removal tool includes a contoured distal surface generally following a curvature of the side wall of the cap. 
   
   
       8 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a bottle including a threaded neck;   a cap threaded onto the neck of the bottle for containing an associated beverage in the bottle;   a dispenser cooperating with the cap to dispense the associated beverage from the bottle; and   a removal tool selectively connected with the dispenser, the removal tool being configured to be disconnected from the cap and to cooperate with the cap to remove the cap from the bottle.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the cap includes a catch extending outwardly from a side wall of the cap to define an opening and the removal tool includes a handle and a projection, wherein the projection is configured to be received in the opening defined by the catch and the side wall. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser includes a removal tool cavity and the removal tool is selectively received in the removal tool cavity. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the removal tool cavity includes a recessed well, the recessed well being configured to receive the projection. 
   
   
       12 . A method for removing a cap from a bottle where the cap has an opening adjacent a side wall of the cap, the method comprising:
 inserting a removal tool into the opening of the cap; and   rotating the cap using the removal tool.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein inserting the removal tool includes inserting a projection of the removal tool into the opening. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein rotating the removal tool includes contacting a catch on the cap with a handle of the removal tool. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein rotating the removal tool includes contacting the side wall of the cap with a projection of the removal tool, the projection extending from an end of the handle. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein contacting the side wall of the cap with the projection includes contacting the side wall of the cap with a curved distal surface of the projection, the curved distal surface of the projection generally matching a curvature of the side wall. 
   
   
       17 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a bottle;   a cap connected with the bottle for containing an associated beverage in the bottle, the cap including a catch extending outwardly from a side wall of the cap;   a dispenser cooperating with the cap to dispense the associated beverage from the bottle, the dispenser including an alignment bracket and a retainer that cooperate with the cap to connect the cap with the dispenser, the alignment bracket including a channel for receiving the catch and the retainer including a hook for engaging the catch, wherein the alignment bracket includes a contoured edge configured to contact the catch to direct the catch toward the channel.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the contoured edge includes a first contoured edge located on a first side of the channel and a second contoured edge located on a second side, which is opposite the first side, of the channel. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the alignment bracket is generally circular in a cross section and includes a first channel and a second channel, the channels being generally aligned with a chord that is offset from a diameter of the generally circular cross section. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the contoured edge of the alignment bracket is configured such that where the bottle is inserted into the dispenser with the catch offset from the channel less than about 60°, the catch contacts the contoured edge and is directed toward the channel.