Plastic beer keg

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016779-A1
Application number	US-201514726978-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2015
Priority date	Nov 9, 2010
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plastic keg includes a liner including a neck portion and a body portion. A lid having an opening is disposed at least partially over the liner. A retainer is secured to the neck portion of the liner and aligned with the opening in the lid, the retainer including external threads. A locking ring having internal threads is secured to the external threads of the retainer. The internal threads of the locking ring and the external threads of the retainer include a ratcheting mechanism permitting attachment of the locking ring to the retainer and inhibiting removal of the locking ring from the retainer, the locking ring contacting the lid. A beer keg valve assembly includes a port having a head portion having a convex upper surface and at least one leg extending downwardly from a lower surface. The leg includes a stop surface projecting radially outward further than the head portion. A piston defines an opening. A spring biases the port against a periphery of the opening defined by the piston to seal the convex upper surface of the head portion over the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A plastic beer keg including:
a lid having an opening; a liner including a neck portion and a body portion; a retainer secured to the neck portion of the liner and aligned with the opening in the lid, the retainer including external threads; and a locking ring having internal threads secured to the external threads of the retainer, the internal threads of the locking ring and the external threads of the retainer including a ratcheting mechanism permitting attachment of the locking ring to the retainer and inhibiting removal of the locking ring from the retainer, the locking ring contacting the lid.

2 . The plastic beer keg of claim 1 further including a valve assembly within the neck portion of the liner and the retainer.

3 . The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the lid abuts a shoulder portion of the liner radially outward of the neck portion.

4 . The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the ratchet mechanism includes first teeth between first threads.

5 . The plastic beer keg of claim 4 wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a portion of a second thread separated to form second teeth that engage the first teeth between the first threads.

6 . The plastic beer keg of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first teeth and the second teeth are tapered to form ratcheting teeth.

7 . The plastic beer keg of claim 1 further including a container having a base and a wall extending upward from a periphery of the base to define a container interior, the liner disposed at least partially within the container interior, the lid connected to the wall of the container over at least a portion of the liner.

8 . A beer keg valve assembly comprising:
a port having a head portion having a convex upper surface and at least one leg extending downwardly from a lower surface, the leg including a stop surface projecting radially outward further than the head portion; a piston defining an opening; and a spring biasing the port against a periphery of the opening defined by the piston to seal the convex upper surface of the head portion over the opening.

9 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 8 wherein the port includes at least one recess formed at the periphery of the head portion for releasing pressure through the port in the event that the head portion is forced into the opening of the piston.

10 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 9 wherein the port includes a tail portion extending downwardly from the head portion.

11 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one leg includes a plurality of legs radially outward of the tail portion, each including a stop surface projecting radially outward further than the head portion.

12 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 11 wherein the port is urged against the piston by an inner spring.

13 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 12 wherein the piston is urged against a retainer by an outer spring.

14 . The beer keg valve assembly of claim 13 further including a seal on the piston sealing against the port and against the retainer.

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Apps William P
• Hansen Wayne Matthew

Classifications

• B67D1/0804

  Shape or materials · CPC title

• B67D1/0829

  Keg connection means · CPC title

• B67D1/125 Primary

  Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves · CPC title

• F16K1/36

  Valve members (for double-seat valves F16K1/44 {; for butterfly valves F16K1/222, F16K1/223}) · CPC title

• B67D1/0832

  with two valves disposed concentrically · CPC title