US2631393A - Illuminated tap - Google Patents

Description

March 1953 1.. s. HETHERINGTON 2,631,393

ILLUMINATED TAP Filed July 19, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET l I INVENTOR. A /o/ v4 i/ls THER/NG ro/v i wd ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 s. HETHERINGTON 2,531,393

ILLUMINATED TAP Filed July 19, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 u 7 w I g INVENTOR. LIONEL 6. H: film/Ne TON A TTORNEK Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES P N OFFICE 2,631,393 ILLUMINATED TAP Lian S- fie n e a i m N- 1- Application July 19, 1946, Serial No. 65,QQ2

This invention relates to illuminated taps and more particularly to'an electrically illuminated tap adapted to be usedaSan advertising device.

One object of this invention is to advertise the beverageavailable on draught at the tap.

Another object isto visibly indicate the specific beverage to be drawn from a' specific tap.

Another object is an illuminated tap-head Which is dtachably attachable "to the control arm of a dispensing valve;

Other objects will appear from the detailed description which follows:

In accordance with this invention, the tap is provided with a' hollow fenestrated head or handle fabricated out of a suitable translucent material which is detachably attachable to the tap control lever. The translucent head or handle forms a housing for an electric light bulb which is normally illumin'ate'd to clearly visibly display suitable advertising material'through the display window to draw attention to the particular beverage on draught at thetap. The electrical circuit for the'lightbulb iscontrolled by the tap control leverfhen'ce' when the attendant operates the tap handle todravv'the beverage the light bulb is extinguished;

In the drawings comprising two sheets of ten figures numbered Figs. 11'tof81 8a and .9 inclusive.

'Fig. 1 is avertical cross sectional view of my improved tap handle anda suitable control system therefor, associated with a conventionaltap.

Fig. Z'is' a frontvie'wof'a controlswitch and its associated strip wiring.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the control switch of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded View of my tap handle.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed views of an insulated adapter.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a modified form of contact switch.

Fig. 8a is a longitudinal section taken along the line 8a'8a' of Fig. '8', looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a side view of another modified form.

Referring generally to Fig. l, the tap or dispensing valve 22' is piped in theconventional Way to a barrel or other container (not shown) containing the beverage which is on draught at the dispensingnozzle 20. The tap includes a suitable dispensing valve'actuated by the control lever 2! which is pivotally connected to the dispensingvalve 22. The tapZll'is supported in any suitable manner asby"'a" counter, fountain, or

.9 imsii 0)bar 23, and the control lever 2| is so biased by mechanism conventionally enclosed within the casing of'dispensingvalve 22; that when the tap is not in use the control"lever 21 tends to resume an upright position. One suitable mechanism for so "biasing' thecontrol lever 21% is shown and describedii'i 'United States Letters Patent No. 2,034,420 granted to- Peter-M. Reiland et al. on March 17, 193,62 1When "control lever 2i once attains its normal position, the springwasher Hi9 tendsto retain the control-lever 2! in'such normal positionp'Thetap- 22 and itsassociated piping is grouhdedxat 98; v I

' The upper end of the control lever 2! is providedwith a male threadedshank 24 fromwhich the conventional form-of a detachable handle ordinarily employed has been'removed'and replaced by the illuminated handle embodying the construction of this invention.

Onefor'm of illuminated handle embodying my said invention is shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. '1,' said handle includes ahollow head 3| made of any suitable translucent material, preferably a translucent'molded plastic.

'Thehandle 3| is provided with aWindow 32 fashioned out of a suitable translucent material such as Bakelite, 'Luciteforthe like, thewindow 32 being sealed at 35- mm the hollow head; 3!, to prevent flllOiStllTe from entering the hollow handle."

At the time thedisplay window 32 is fabricated,suitable advertisingmatter 33 is embedded in the display window 32-"so as to form an integral part of the Window."

The advertising matter ,33 may include the brand name of the beverage dispensed from the tap with'which the handle :3! is associated,lor-it may contain other advertising matter" if preferred; i

Thehandle 3| may include a threaded shank 3l'having one'o'r more internal keyways 35' (Fig. 4); fashioned to receive the-'positioningribs 35 of an'insulated'adapterES. Theadapter 28 may .be iabricatedfrom any preferred kind of insulating material but an adapter molded out of a suitable plastic material is relatively cheap and gives good'res'ults:

' The adapter '28 which constitutes a detachable extension of' thehandle' 3i provides'a suitable holder for the lamp bulb All. Theadapter 28 may bedetachably-attachedto the handle St in any preferred'manneras by means ofathreaded ring 38 so fittedas to abut against theannular shoulder 29" formed a'tthe upper end of'the adapter28 so as to s'e'atthe handle 'Qlupon theadapter 28 when the female threadedring 3% is screwed over the threads of the male threadedshank 67. The positioning ribs St register with thekeyways 35 formed in shank of thehandle 3! to insure that thehandle 35 will be so positioned relative to the valve control lever 2!, as to correctly display the advertising mat er 33 carried by thewindow 32.

Theadapter 28 may be designed to receive any conventional type ofelectric lamp bulb 40, such for example as a lamp bulb having a conventional miniature screw base 4|, in which case the adapter includes alamp base holder 43 of the screw socket type and acentral spring contact 39. Themetal holder 43 is electrically connected by a suitable metallic strap to acontact pin 38 positioned in the outer wall of theadapter 28. The lower end of theadapter 25 is recessed said recess being female threaded to match with the male threadedstem 24 of the valve control lever 2|. When a ground return signal circuit is employed, a female threadedmetal bushing 21 is seated in the recess at the lower end of the adapter, to establish electrical continuity for the ground return of the signal circuit through thevalve control lever 25 to the ground connection 98 (Fig. 1). Electrical continuity may be establish-ed between thecentral stud 42 of the lamp bulb 46 (Fig. 1) and the metal bushing 27 in any preferred manner, as by means of acentral spring contact 99 which constitutes a resilient central electrode for thecentral stud 42 of thelamp bulb 40. Thelamp holder 43 and thecontact pin 38 and their associated metallic strap, and the metal bushing 27 and its associatedspring contact 39 may all be secured in place during the molding of theadapter 28. When a lamp bulb 49 is screwed into theadapter 28, electrical continuity is established from thecontact pin 38, throughlamp socket 43, the filament of the lamp bulb, andlamp stud 42, throughcentral spring contact 39 and metal bushing 21,valve control lever 21 to ground at 98, thus establishing a part of the lamp signal circuit.

By molding the shell of the hollow head 3i relatively thick and thedisplay window 32 relatively thin, the intensity of the light emitted throughhollow head 3! may be substantially reduced and the intensity of the light emitted through thedisplay window 32 and itsadvertising matter 33 materially increased.

The valve control lever 2| of the dispensingvalve 22 is biased in such a manner that when released it normally tends to assume a vertical position against the counter, fountain, orbar 23. Acontact switch 58 which includes a plastic housing is mounted upon thecounter 23 at the proper height to register with thecontact pin 38 whenever control lever 2| returns to its normal upright position.

Arod 45 carrying acontact point 44 is slidably supported in the plastic housing ofcontact switch 50 in such a mannerthat thecontact point 44 establishes electrical contact with thecontact pin 38 whenever the valve control lever 25 returns to its normal position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, therod 45 may be made of any suitable insulating material such as molded plastic. The rod may be hollow to form a sleeve covering for the stem of thecontact point 44. Acontinuity spring 48 establishes electric continuity between the stem ofcontact point 44 and a contact plate 49 located within the plastic housing ofcontact switch 50.

Theplastic rod 45 slides into the plastic housing of contact switch 59 against increased tension exerted by thecontinuity spring 48, thus providing a suitable follow between thecontact point 44 and thecontact pin 38 of theadapter 28 whenever valve control lever 21 approaches or moves 01f normal. This follow ofcontact point 44 insures electrical continuity between thecontact pin 38 and the contact plate 49 ofcontact switch 50.

Theplastic rod 45 is provided with anannular groove 46 adapted to receive a locking pin 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is slidably mounted in the plastic housing ofcontact switch 56. Thus when the barrel piped to the dispensingvalve 22 is empty, the attendant may push theplastic rod 45 into the housing of thecontact switch 50 until thepin 41 engages theannular groove 46 thus holding thecontact point 44 out of electrical contact withcontact pin 38 to break the signal circuit and extinguish thelamp bulb 40, as a visible indication that the barrel piped to the dispensingvalve 22 is empty. After the empty barrel has been replaced with a full barrel piped to the dispensingvalve 22, the lockingpin 41 may be withdrawn from theannular groove 45, thus permitting thecontinuity spring 48 to push theplastic rod 45 outwards and re-establish the signal circuit for the lamp bulb 4!] atcontact pin 38, thus relighting thelamp 40 as a visible indication that the beverage is now on draught at the dispensingvalve 22.

The plastic housing ofcontact switch 50 may be provided with a vent 5! (Fig. 1) to permit the escape of any moisture which may accumulate inside thehousing 50.

The contact plate 49 is located within the plastic housing ofcontact switch 50. It may be connected to a suitable source of low voltage in any preferred manner as for example, to the low voltage secondary winding 56 of an iron core step-down transformer (Fig. 1), whose primary winding 55 may be connected in the conventional way to a suitable source of alternatingcurrent voltage 51. One side of the secondary winding 56 is electrically connected to the contact plate 49 over the lowvoltage supply lead 60, and the other side of the secondary winding 56 is connected through afuse 58 to ground at 59. The ground side of the secondary winding 56 of the transformer is fused at 58 so that any overload current will blow thefuse 58 and completely open the signal circuit through the low voltage secondary winding 56.

The signal circuit is preferably wired through a moisture-proofedprewired connector strip 54, consisting of one or more hollow conductors ortubular wires 53 embedded in theconnector strip 54, preferably by molding the material while in a plastic condition. Where two or moretubular wires 53 are molded in theconnector strip 54, they are retained in parallel spaced relationship at a suflicient distance apart, so that the insulating material from which theconnector strip 54 is molded enters in between thetubular wires 53 and completely insulates the tubular wires from each other and protectsthem against external exposure.

The connector strips 54 (Fig. 2) are made in suitable lengths so that they can be laid in end to end abutment to construct a signal circuit of any desired length.

Electrical continuity is established between the adjoining sections of tubular wiring by inserting a double ended tapered pin 52-52 (Fig. 3) in the adjoining ends of the tube wiringthus bridging the conductors of the adjoining sections oi tube wiring together. The diameter of each end of the double ended tapered pin 52-52 is such as to cause eachtapeed pin 52 to frictionally engage the inner wall or" thetube wiring 53 and establish perfect electrical continuity.

One suitable form of double ended tapered pin is shown in association with the contact plate 49 of the pies is housing 58 (Fig. 3). The connector strips 5 l5 i (Fig. 3) are terminated in spaced relation so as to receive the plastic housing The tapered pins 5252 (Fig. 3; extend in opposite directions from th contact plate into the oppositely disposed spaced connector strip sections fi l-iii} or" the hollow tube wiring 53-53, so that each taperedpin 52 irictionally engages the inner wall of a section of tubing thus establishing electrical continuity between the contact plate 4i, and each section oftube wiring 53, while at the same time forming a bridge connection between the spaced tubular wires 53-53. Any desired number of sections of connector strip 5 5 may be electrically interconnected by means of the double endedtapered pins 52--52 associated with eachcontact plate 29 of each outlet unit til.

Since the connector strips as are made of plastic material, they may be readily cut (as by sawing) into shorter lengths of any required size, to facilitate the installation of any desired wiring system having required number of outlets for use in conjunction with any desired arrangement of dispensingvalves 22 42.

A metallic signal circuit may be employed to replace the grounded signal circuit. When a metallic signal circuit is employed, the grounded connections 5%} and 88 (Fig. 1) may be replaced by an insulated metallic conductor similar to the conductor Ell (Fig. i). A metallic signalling tern employs a connector strip or molding .r to the molding 5 but having two conductors embedded in the connector strip in parallel spaced relation instead of thesingle conductor 53 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. A connector sti'p containing twin tube wiring is shown generaiy in Figs. 8 and 8a, wherein theconnector strip 86 contains two tubular conductors and iii which are bridged to the twin conductors the adjoining section of connector strip by means of the tapered pins 5? and (Fig. '80.). Where twin tubular wiring is ernployed, the plastic housing of the contact switch H contains a slidably mounted contact rod l2 carrying the separately insulated contact pins '53 and i i. Eachcontact pin 73 and i5. is retained in electrical continuity with its associated contact plate I95! or if}? by means of its continuity spring fill or NH. Contact plate its is in electrical continuity with taperedpin 52, while contact plate 192 is in electrical continuity with taperedpin 53, so that the contact pins 2'3 and 74 may constitute a T connection 01' tap-cit from the twintubular wiring 58 and it of the signal system.

When a metallic circuit is employed for the signalling system, the insulated adapter iii 5, 6, and '7) is provided with twin insulated co. tact pins 63 and .64 adapted to register with the twin contact pins l3 and M of the contact switc': ll. Insulated adapter 63 (Figs. 5, 6, 7) s provided with one or more posi ioning ribs which function in the same manner as the positioning ribs 33-436 of insulated adapter 23 (Fig. 4). Thecontact pins 63 and 54 of the adapter 6! .are in electrical continuity with the screw socket 8i and with thecenter spring contact 83 of the adapter. As best illustrated in Fig. 5, thecenter spring contact 33 is connected to the contact pin by means of themetal strap 82, and the screw socket holder Si is connected to the contact pin '63 by ametal strip 84. The lamp bulb 65 (Fig. 7) which may be of the miniature type is provided with a miniature screw base adapted to be screwed into thescrew socket holder 8% so that the screw base of lamp bulb is in electrical continuity with screw socket 8i, and the central stud of lamp bulb 65 is in electrical continuity with center spring contact thus establishing a completely insulated metallic circuit through the filament of the lamp bulb 65.

The hollow head is is provided with a window it suitably sealed in thehead 76. Suit-able advertising matter is is displayed in the window ii, the advertising matter 13 preferably forming an integral part of the window 5?. The shank of thehollow head 75 may be undercut male threaded at "E9 to interengage the female threads of the threadedring 88. Thering 82 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange which on gages theannular shoulder 97 of the adapter thus locking the hollow head it to the adapter BI, in the manner previously described.

The lower end of the adapter El is recessed, and to facilitate direct or indirect attachment to thevalve control lever 21 the recessed lower end or" the insulated adapter 6| may be female threaded as indicated at 85.

The conventional valve control levers 21 may be provided with male threaded shanks '24 of various sizes and threads, so that the insulated adapter El must be provided with suitable means for attaching the insulated adapter Bl to any valve-control lever 2i regardless of the size or character of the thread of the male threadedshank 24. This may be accomplished by providing areducer 25 having a male threadedend v2 3 adapted to threadably engage the female threadedsocket 85 of the adapter 6!, and a female socket Hi3 adapted to engage the male threadedshank 24 of valve control lever 2|. ,A knurled locking washer 15 may be inserted upon the male threadedshank 24 to insure correct centering of the hollow head 3-5 upon the valve control lever 2| so as to face the window i] in the proper direction to correctly display the advertising matter 18.

Fig. 9 shows the invention applied to the tap of a soda fountain. In this case thefountain 95 includes a dispensingvalve tap 83 operated by a. valve control leverlil. The hollow head is provided with a window containing suitable advertising display matter I05, similar in scope to thedisplay matter 33 and 18 of thehollow heads 31 and i6. Acontact pin 89 i connected in a signal circuit which includes the filament of the lamp bulb Hi5 housed in thehollow head 86.

A suitable control switch Si is attached to the arm of thefountain 95 by means of anadjustable pipe clamp 92 and its associated clamping screw t3. Low voltage supply lead 94 is connected to a suitable source of low voltage supply such as the low voltage secondary winding 56 of the transformer (Fig. 1)..

The low voltage supply lead 94 is in electrical continuity with the contact point of thecontrol switch 91. The assembly of the control switch ill is generally similar to the assembly of the .control switch 5flp(Fig..3) ,rso that whenever thevalve control lever 81 is in an upright position, a signal circuit is completed through the filament of the lamp bulb I06 housed by thehollow head 88, through contact pin 89, contact point to and low voltage supply lead 94, to a suitable source of low voltage (such as the low voltage secondary winding 56 of Fig. 1), thus lighting the lamp bulb N16 to display the advertising material I05 through the window I04. When thehandle 86 is opera-ted,valve control lever 81 moves in such a direction as to separate contact pin 89 and contact point 9!], thus interrupting the signalling circuit through the lamp bulb I06 and extinguishing the lamp and the display I05.Control lever 81 also opens thetap 88 to dispense the beverage into thedrinking glass 95. When thevalve control lever 87 resumes its normal (upright) position contact pin 89 re-engagescontact point 88 to re-establish the signalling circuit, thus relighting the lamp lot to again display the advertising matter m5 through the window I04.

While the miniature lamps 49, 65, and lit have been described as of the screw base type, it should be understood that any other form of lamp may be used by modifying theadapters 23, and EH to accommodate the desired type of lamp.

While there has been disclosed in this specification certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the said forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the forms disclosed, but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. In short th invention includes all of the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a normally illuminated dispensing tap and in combination, a dispensing valve, a control lever therefor, an electric lamp detachably mounted upon said control lever and insulated therefrom, a handle having a cavity formed therein, said cavity including a window, said handle being detachably mounted on said control lever and housing said electric lamp in said cavity, a pair of closure contacts, an electrical circuit including said lamp and said closure contacts, one of said closure contacts being carried by said control lever, said control lever whenin normal position completing said lam-p circuit through said closure contacts to light said lamp to normally illuminate said window, and said handle being operable when mounted to move said control lever off-normal to simultaneously open said valve to dispense a beverage and said lamp circuit at said closure contacts to extinguish said lamp and darken said window to visually indicate that the valve is in beverage dispensing position.

2. A tap-handle having a window and a cavity formed therein for containing advertising matter adapted when illuminated to be visible through said window, said handle having a hollow shank connecting with said cavity, an insulated adapter, a socket for mounting an electric lamp supported upon said adapter, said socket including electrodes spaced to engage the electrodes of an electric lamp, the upper portion of said adapter entering said shank to position an electric lamp when engaged between said socket electrodes within said windowed cavity to form a handle unit, one electrode of said lamp socket having a ground-forming connection, a closure contact embedded in the exterior face of the wall of said handle unit and electrically connected to the other electrode of said lamp socket to extend the conductors of the electrical circuit over which said lamp is to be lighted to the exterior face of the wall of said handle unit, another contact separate from said handle unit, said handle unit being movable to extend said electrical circuit from said closure contact to said other contact, and said lamp when lighted illuminating said advertising matter.

3. A tap-handle having a window and a cavity formed therein for containing advertising matter adapted when illuminated to be visible through said window, said handle having a hollow shank connecting with said cavity, an insulated adapter, an electric lamp socket supported by said adapter, said lamp socket including electrodes spaced to establish electrical continuity with the electrodes of an electric lamp, the upper portion of said adapter entering said shank to position an electric lamp when engaged by said socket electrodes within said windowed cavity to form a mechanical unit, means for detachably mounting said mechanical unit upon the control-lever of a beverage dispensing valve, said means being electrically connected to one electrode of said lamp socket to ground one leg of the electrical circuit over which said lamp is to be lighted to the tap pipe line via said controllever, a closure contact embedded in the exterior face of the wall of said mechanical unit and electrically connected to the other electrode of said lamp socket to further extend the electrical circuit over which said lamp is to be lighted to the exterior face of the wall of said mechanical unit, to combine said mechanical unit, said lamp socket electrodes, and said electrical connections therefor, into one assembly unit, said electrical circuit including a second contact engaged by said closure contact when said lamp is to be lighted, and said lamp when lighted illuminating said advertising matter.

4. In a tap-handle and in combination, an insulated holder threaded for mounting upon the actuating lever of a beverage dispensing tap, the upper end of said holder defining an annular shoulder, an electric lamp socket mounted upon the upper end of said holder, an electric lamp mounted in said lamp socket, an electrode extending laterally through the side wall of said holder and electrically connected with one electrode of said lamp socket, a second electrode extending axially through said holder to electrically interconnect the other electrode of said lamp socket and the grounded actuating lever of said tap, a handle having a hollow fenestrated head terminating in a male threaded throated shank, the window containing advertising matter and light transmitting material, the upper end of said holder being keyed for engagement against rotation within said throated shank when said annular shoulder and said male threaded shank are in axial ailgnment thus positioning said lamp in proper position to illuminate and thus display said advertising material through said window whenever the electrica1 circuit for lighting said lamp is closed, a female threaded coupling for drawing said male threaded throated shank against said shoulder to lock said handle to said holder, and a contact point for engaging said laterally extending electrode in completing said electrical circuit.

5. In a lever-controlled grounded tap-valve and in combination, an electric lamp, a socket for said electric lamp, said socket including spaced electrodes and a base member, said base member having an annular side wall and being detachably mountable upon the movable arm of the tap-grounded control-lever, one socket-electrode being connected to, and the other socketelectrode being insulated from, said control-lever, a handle, a shank merging with and in continuation of said handle, said handle and shank being hollowed out to form a throated cavity, said cavity including a window, said lamp socket nesting within said throated cavity, a third electrode electrically connected to said insulated electrode and electrically insulated from said grounded electrode to complete so much of the electrical circuit for lighting said electric lamp when secured in said socket as is movably carried by said control-lever, said third electrode extending radially through the annular side wall of said base member to provide a surface contact, a contact stationary relative to said surface contact, and said surface contact moving in unison with said control-lever to close and open said electrical circuit through said stationary contact to light and extinguish said lamp.

6. In a lever-controlled tap-valve and in combination, an electric lamp, a socket for holding said electric lamp, said socket including spaced electrodes and a base, said base having an annular side wall and being detachably mountable upon the movable arm of the control-lever, said spaced electrodes being insulated from the control-lever and from each other, a handle, a shank merging with and in continuation of said handle, said handle and shank being hollowed out to form a throated cavity, said cavity including a window, said lamp socket nesting within said throated cavity, twin electrodes extending through the annular side wall of said base in spaced relation to provide a spaced pair of surface contacts, said paired electrodes being substantially flush with said annular side wall and being separately electrically connected to the electrodes of said lamp socket to establish in part a metallic circuit for said electric lamp secured in said socket to light said lamp and illuminate said window, a pair of spaced circuit contacts, a source of voltage connected therebetween to complete the metallic circuit for said lamp, and said spaced surface contacts moving in unison with said control-lever to cause said metallic circuit to close and open at said spaced contacts to light and to extinguish said lamp.

'7. In a handle for a lever-controlled tap-valve and in combination, a handle having a cavity formed therein, said cavity including a window, an insulated holder comprising an electric lamp socket, said holder having an annular base and being slidably insertable in said cavity, said holder constituting means for detachably mounting said handle upon the control-lever of the tapvalve for movement in unison with said controllever to open and close the tap-valve, one electrode of said lamp socket being insulated from said control-lever, a second electrode protruding through the curved wall of the annular base and electrically connected to said insulated electrode, said holder being keyed to said cavity to correctly position said window relative to said second electrode, a stationary contact, said second electrode constituting a part of an electrical circuit, completed through said stationary contact when said control-lever is moved into position to close said tap-valve, for lighting an electric lamp secured in said socket, to illuminate said window.

8. In a tap-handle and in combination, a handle having a cavity formed therein, said cavity including a window, advertising matter positioned in said cavity, said matter when illuminated being visually displayed through said window, an electric light socket having an annular base, said light socket slidably nestin in said cavity, an electrode electrically connected with one electrode of the light socket and protruding radially outwards through the annular side wall of said annular base to define an exposed terminal contact having its contact face substantially flush with the face of said annular side wall, and means for insuring correct registry between said handle and said light socket when nested in said cavity to correctly position said window relative to said terminal contact.

9. In a lever-controlled electrica1 circuit for visually advertising a beverage dispensed by a tap-valve and in combination a tap-valve controllever, a socket for an electric lamp, an electric lamp positioned in said socket, said socket including spaced electrodes, said socket being detachably mountable upon the movable arm of said control-lever for actuating the tap-valve to dispense the beverage, a handle, said handle being hollowed out to form a windowed cavity for containing advertising matter peculiarly indicative of the specific beverage dispensed from said tapvalve, said advertising matter when illuminated being visible through said window, said lamp socket being detachably mounted in said cavity, an electrical circuit for applying operating current to said electric lamp when bridged between the spaced electrodes to light said lamp and thus illuminate said advertising matter, said circuit including a movable branch carried by said controllever and a relatively fixed branch complementary to said movable branch, said movable branch including said spaced electrodes, said bridging lamp and two other electrodes separately electrically connected at one end to said spaced electrodes and extending at their opposite ends through the side wall of said socket to provide a pair of spaced contact points, said complementary branch including a pair of spaced contact points whose spacing corresponds to the spacing between the spaced contact points of said movable branch, and the spaced contact points of said movable branch being carried by said control-lever into electrical contact with the spaced contact points of said complementary branch when said dispensing valve is closed, to light said lamp and illuminate said beverage-indicative-advertising-matter.

LIONEL S. HETI-IERINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,225,865 Schneible May 15, 1917 1,391,012 Schulder Sept. 30, 1921 1,730,579 Lehnert Oct, 8, 1929 1,971,210 Couli Aug. 21, 1934 2,034,420 Reiland Mar. 17, 1936 2,183,840 Kearns Dec. 19, 1939 2,295,468 Haley Sept. 8, 1942 2,414,446 Carbone Jan, 21, 1947

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