ES1248388U9 - Faucet protector for juicer or dispenser machine and faucet that incorporates it - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Tap protector for juicer or beverage dispenser and tap that incorporates it

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a tap protector for a beverage juicer or dispenser, and also to a tap incorporating said protector. Its main application is in juice squeezing machines, the type that allow the bottles to be placed and supported under the juice dispenser tap, or in beverage dispensing machines in general, which are equipped with a beverage dispenser tap.

Background of the invention

In juicer or beverage dispensing machines, when a user wishes to fill a bottle with the desired beverage, he or she places said bottle under the dispenser tap to then proceed to fill it. It is also frequent that under the dispensing tap there is a support element for bottles, which may comprise a plate whose leading edge is cut away, in order to form a recess into which the neck of the bottle can enter.

When carrying out the filling operation, it is common for the user's hand to come into contact with the tap or with other elements of the machine, which can cause hygiene problems, favor possible infections, etc.

An element is therefore necessary to provide protection for the tap against possible contact by the users of the machine.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a tap protector for a juicer or beverage dispenser machine that solves the drawbacks mentioned in current machines.

The invention provides a faucet protector for a juicer or beverage dispenser consisting of a bottom open part, and comprising:

- a front surface, which continues laterally through at least one lateral surface, and

- a top surface with an opening,

so that the lower edge of the front surface is inclined upward with respect to the lower edge of the at least one side surface.

The invention also provides a tap for a beverage juicer or dispenser comprising a protector according to the invention.

By means of this configuration of the tap protector for a juicer or beverage dispenser of the invention, direct contact by the user with the parts of the tap contained within said protector is avoided or greatly reduced.

Another advantage of the invention is that it is an interchangeable part, which allows its replacement and cleaning in a simple way, and also to have replacement protectors.

Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces or avoids possible splashing of the liquid to be dispensed, especially towards the front and to the side.

Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Next, the object of the present invention will be illustrated in a non-limiting manner, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the tap protector for the juicer or beverage dispenser of the invention seen from various angles.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the tap for a juicer or beverage dispenser of the invention with the protector seen from various angles.

Figure 10 shows a cross section of the tap with protector of figure 9.

Figure 11 shows another view of the tap of the invention with a protector of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1 the tap protector 1 of the invention is shown isolated, before being coupled to a tap 12 of a juicer or beverage dispenser.

Regarding the relative orientations of the elements described, it will be understood in this document that said orientations or positions correspond to those of the juicer or beverage dispenser that the invention may incorporate. Thus, when speaking of front orientation in this document, it will coincide with that of the machine (that is, where the dispensing tap is located), and the same with the lateral, upper, lower and rear positions.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, the protector 1 is a bottom open part, comprising:

- a front surface 2, which continues laterally through at least one side surface 3, 3 '(in the embodiment of these figures there are 2 side surfaces 3, 3'), and

- an upper surface 4 with an opening 5.

The protector 1 can also have a rear surface 6 with an opening 7 starting from the base (see figure 1). The opening 7 can reach close to the upper surface, as seen in figure 1.

In figure 4 it is also observed that the lower edge 8 of the front surface 2 is inclined upwards with respect to the lower edges 9 of the lateral surfaces 3, 3 ', according to a side view.

This upward inclination of the lower edge 8 of the front surface 2 facilitates the access of the bottle or the desired container to the recess located below the nozzle 13 of the tap 12 (see figure 10).

The inclination of the lower edge 8 of the front surface 2 with respect to the lower edges 9 of the lateral surfaces 3, 3 'is between 20 ° and 30 °, and it can preferably be 25 °.

In Figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that the opening 5 of the upper surface 4 can be circular. Likewise, in said figure it can be seen that a cylindrical rim 10 projecting around said circular opening 5 can project upwards from said upper surface 4.

Figure 3 shows that the lower edge and the rear edge that delimit the corresponding openings (lower and rear) can incorporate an outer lip (11) that bends outward.

Likewise, the front surface 2 of the tap protector 1 can be curved-convex, being able to be joined to the side surfaces 3, 3 'by respective side edges.

In order for the user to be able to see the beverage outlet nozzle 13, and thus properly place the container under said nozzle 13, the surfaces of the protector can be transparent.

Figures 5 to 11 are various views of a tap 12 for a beverage juicer or dispenser machine, comprising a protector 1 of those previously described.

The embodiment shown corresponds to that which incorporates a protector in which the opening 5 of the upper surface 4 is circular and in which from said upper surface 4 a projecting cylindrical rim 10 that surrounds the circular opening 5 protrudes upwards. As seen, for example, in FIG. 10, the projecting cylindrical rim 10 engages a portion of the tap 12 located above the beverage outlet nozzle 13. In this way the protector 1 surrounds the nozzle 13 and other elements located in the lower part of the tap 12 front and side.

Figures 6, 10 and 11 show an embodiment of a tap 12 of the invention which also comprises a bottle support element 14. This bottle support element 14 has a rear arm 15 and a front arm 16 that form an angle between them, so that the front arm 16 ends in an end part with a gap 17 open at the front to hold the bottles. It can be seen in said figures that the rear arm 15 is adjacent to the rear surface 6 of the protector 1 and that the side edges of the front arm 16 are adjacent to the bottom edges 9 of the side surfaces 3, 3 'of the tap 12. From this Thus the front arm 16 (in addition to the support function) can act as a barrier in the lower part of the tap 12.

Figures 5 to 11 show that the protector 1 incorporated in the tap 12 makes it more difficult for the user to touch the lower elements of the tap 12 and, in particular, the beverage outlet nozzle 13. Specifically, in the embodiment with a bottle holder 14, the fact of placing the bottle or container in the hole 17 from the bottom of the tap avoids contact with the lower elements of the tap 12 and with the nozzle 13.

On the other hand, the front 2, side 3, 3 'and upper 4 surfaces of the protector 1 act as a barrier, which prevents direct contact by the user with the parts of the tap 12 contained within said protector 1.

Although some embodiments of the invention have been described and represented, it is clear that modifications within their scope may be introduced, and the scope should not be considered limited to said embodiments, but only to the content of the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. - Faucet protector (1) for a juicer or beverage dispenser machine, which consists of an open part at the bottom, characterized in that it comprises: - a front surface (2), which continues laterally through at least one lateral surface (3, 3 '), and - an upper surface (4) with an opening (5), so that the lower edge (8) of the front surface (2) is inclined upwards with respect to the lower edge (9) of the at least one side surface (3, 3 '). 2. - Faucet protector (1) for a juicer or beverage dispenser, according to claim 1, further comprising a rear surface (6) with an opening (7) starting from the base. 3. - Faucet protector (1) for a juicer or beverage dispenser, according to claim 1 or 2, in which the opening (5) of the upper surface (4) is circular and of said upper surface (4) protrudes upwards a protruding cylindrical rim (10) surrounding said circular opening (5). 4. - Faucet protector (1) for a juicer or beverage dispenser, according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower edge and the rear edge that delimit the corresponding openings comprise an outer edge (11). 5. - Protector (1) tap for juicer machine or beverage dispenser, according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the front surface (2) is curved-convex. 6. - Faucet protector (1) for juicer or beverage dispenser, according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inclination of the lower edge (8) of the front surface (2) with respect to the lower edge ( 9) of the at least one lateral surface (3, 3 ') is comprised between 20 ° and 30 °. 7. - Protector (1) tap for juicer or beverage dispenser, according to any of claims 1 to 6, whose surfaces are transparent. 8. - Tap (12) for juicer or beverage dispenser machine, comprising a protector (1) of any of claims 1 to 7. 9. Faucet (12) for juicer or beverage dispenser, comprising a protector (1) of claim 3, in which the projecting cylindrical rim (10) engages a part of the faucet (12) located above from the beverage outlet nozzle (13). 10.- Tap (12) for juicer or beverage dispenser machine, according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a bottle support element (14) with a rear arm (15) and a front arm (16) that form an angle between them, so that the front arm (16) ends in an end part with a hole (17) open in its front part for holding the bottles, in which the rear arm (15) is adjacent to the rear surface (6) of the protector (1) and the side edges of the front arm (16) are adjacent to the bottom edges (9) of the side surfaces (3, 3 ') of the tap (12).