Tap

A tap for controlling the dispensing of a liquid from a container, the tap including:

• a valve body having an open first end and an opposite open second end, the first end being connectable to an outlet opening of the container and defining an inlet opening, the valve body defining an outlet opening between the first and second ends, the valve body further defining a tubular fluid flow passage and a valve seat between the inlet and outlet openings;
• a valve mechanism including a valve member which is mounted within the valve body;
• a spindle which is connected to the valve member and which is rotatably mounted within the valve body;
• and a valve actuation member which is rotatably mounted to the valve body at the second end thereof and connected to the spindle in an arrangement wherein rotation of the valve actuation member causes rotation of the spindle and thereby the valve member within the valve body,
• the valve mechanism and the valve body including complementary guide formations for guiding displacement of the valve mechanism relative to the valve body in an arrangement wherein rotation of the valve actuation member relative to the valve body, causes rotational and axial displacement of the spindle and thereby the valve member relative to the valve body, causing the valve member to be displaced between an open position wherein it is spaced from the valve seat permitting the flow of liquid to the outlet opening of the valve body and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat preventing liquid flow to the outlet opening of the valve body,
• the valve actuation member and the valve body including complementary sealing formations which co-operate to permit sealing sliding displacement of the valve actuation member relative to the valve body thereby providing a seal between the second end of the valve body and the outlet opening,
• the valve member and the valve seat including complementary sealing formations being configured such that the sealing formation of the valve member is slidingly sealingly displaceable within the sealing formation of the valve seat in an arrangement wherein the sealing formation of the valve member forms a seal with the sealing formation of the valve seat in the closed position of the valve member.