Safety tap handle
View Patent ↗An apparatus is disclosed for a tap handle for beverage dispensing comprising a ceramic, porcelain, or stoneware handle filled with a foam, preferably polyurethane foam which renders the tap handle more resilient and resistant to sharding. Ideally, polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate foam is injected into a tap handle shell in liquid form, which solidifies and is capped with a glue, an internally threaded cap, and a protective plastic cap.
1. An improved tap handle for use with a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:
(a) a hollow shell having at least one open end;
(b) a hardened foam disposed within said shell; and
(c) said foam adheres to and reinforces said shell;
wherein said shell has a porous interior surface and said foam adheres to said porous interior surface.
2. A tap handle according to claim 1 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of ceramic material.
3. A tap handle according to claim 2 , wherein said ceramic material is stoneware.
4. A tap handle according to claim 2 , wherein said ceramic material is porcelain.
5. A tap handle according to claim 1 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of plastic.
6. A tap handle according to claim 1 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of resin.
7. A tap handle according to claim 1 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of wood.
8. A tap handle according to claim 1 additionally comprising a layer of glue or epoxy disposed inside said shell proximate to an open end between said foam and said open end.
9. A tap handle according to claim 8 additionally comprising an annular ferrule having internal threads and a top and bottom and being disposed in said interior of said shell, said bottom abutting said glue or epoxy.
10. A tap handle according to claim 1 wherein said foam is polyurethane foam.
11. A tap handle according to claim 1 wherein said foam is polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate foam.
12. A tap handle according to claim 1 , wherein said shell has an interior surface and said foam adheres to said interior surface.
13. An improved tap handle for use with a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:
(a) a hollow shell having at least one open end;
(b) a hardened foam disposed within said shell;
(c) said foam adheres to and reinforces said shell; and
(d) a layer of glue or epoxy disposed inside said shell proximate to an open end between said foam and said open end.
14. A tap handle according to claim 13 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of ceramic material.
15. A tap handle according to claim 14 , wherein said ceramic material is stoneware.
16. A tap handle according to claim 14 , wherein said ceramic material is porcelain.
17. A tap handle according to claim 13 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of plastic.
18. A tap handle according to claim 13 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of resin.
19. A tap handle according to claim 13 , wherein said shell is comprised, at least in part, of wood.
20. A tap handle according to claim 13 additionally comprising an annular ferrule having internal threads and a top and bottom and being disposed in said interior of said shell, said bottom abutting said glue or epoxy.
21. A tap handle according to claim 13 wherein said foam is polyurethane foam.
22. A tap handle according to claim 13 wherein said foam is polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate foam.
23. A tap handle according to claim 13 , wherein said shell has an interior surface and said foam adheres to said interior surface.