U.S. patent number 3,592,351 [Application Number 04/871,435] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-13 for container closure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Johnson Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Marlow W. Dodge, Arthur L. Johnson, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,592,351 |
Johnson, Jr. , et
al. |
July 13, 1971 |
CONTAINER CLOSURE
Abstract
For enabling cleaning, filling, and tapping of a container of
pressurized liquid such as a barrel of draft beer through a single
opening in the barrel, a closure unit covers and closes a
relatively large filling and cleaning opening in the barrel The
unit comprises a removable main closure sized and shaped to close
more than one-half the total cross-sectional area of the opening
and a separate rubber sealing plug fitted snuggly into a hole in
the main closure, the sealing plug being adapted to receive a tube
of a dispensing device for withdrawing beer from the barrel The
sealing plug is formed with a rubber membrane which closed the hole
and seals the barrel until the barrel is tapped and which then
becomes punctured and seals around the tube while the tube is in
the barrel.
Inventors: |
Johnson, Jr.; Arthur L.
(Rockford, IL), Dodge; Marlow W. (Loves Park, IL) |
Assignee: |
Johnson Enterprises, Inc.
(Rockford, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25357424 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/871,435 |
Filed: |
September 23, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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660265 |
Aug 14, 1967 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/257.2;
137/318; 220/266; 222/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
51/002 (20130101); Y10T 137/6123 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
51/00 (20060101); B65d 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/27,29,39 ;285/223
;222/80--82,541 ;137/318 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser.
No. 660,265, filed Aug. 14, 1967 and now abandoned.
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. In a closure for a walled container adapted to hold fluid and
having a neck defining in one wall an opening through which fluid
may be introduced into the container and into which a tube of a
dispensing device may be inserted for purposes of withdrawing the
fluid from the container, the combination of, an overcap having a
top plate sized and shaped to cover said opening and having a
peripheral skirt depending from said top plate, said skirt being
sufficiently large to telescope over the neck and being
sufficiently flexible to be crimped into engagement with the neck
to establish a fluidtight seal between the overcap and the
container, said top plate being formed with a hole smaller than the
opening, a sealing plug made of resiliently yieldable material and
telescoped snugly within and extending through said hole to
establish a fluidtight seal between said overcap and said sealing
plug, and axially extending bore formed through said plug and of
sufficient diameter to permit insertion of the tube into the
container through the bore, and a membrane of resiliently yieldable
material extending between the walls of said bore to seal off the
latter and being sufficiently thin to be punctured by the tube as
an incident to insertion of the tube through said bore.
2. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including an enlarged
washer formed integrally with said plug intermediate the ends of
the latter, said washer being disposed face-to-face with the
underside of said top plate and being adapted to seat against the
neck to establish a seal between the neck and the overcap.
pg,16
3. A closure as defined in claim 2 in which said washer extends
radially outwardly from said plug to the inner periphery of said
skirt.
4. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of tabs
formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the free edge
of said skirt, said tabs being spaced diametrically opposite of
each other relative to said top plate for interlocking with the
dispensing device to hold the latter on the container.
5. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of tabs
formed integrally with and extending outwardly from the free edge
of said skirt at diametrically opposed positions relative to said
top plate, and two sets of weakened scores formed in said skirt and
said top plate, each set of scores comprising a pair of spaced
lines indented in the material of said top plate and said skirt and
extending upwardly along one side of said skirt on opposite sides
of one of said tabs, extending across approximately one-half of
said top plate, and terminating near one edge portion of said
hole.
6. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which the edge portions of
said hole are bent from the plane of said plate to define an
annular collar of substantial axial length snugly engaging a
corresponding length of said plug.
7. A closure as defined in claim 1 in which said sealing plug is
pressed into said hole against the resiliency of said material and
is formed with an enlarged shoulder engaging the raw edge of said
hole to restrict removal of said plug.
8. A closure as defined in claim 1 further including a swingable
flapper formed integrally with one end portion of said plug and
hinged to the latter along a line disposed radially outward of said
bore.
9. In a unit for sealing a container adapted to hold fluid and
having a relatively large opening accommodating filling and
dispensing of the fluid, the combination of, a removable main
closure sized and shaped to close more than one-half the total
cross-sectional area of the opening and to fit tightly on the
container to establish a fluidtight seal between the closure and
the container, said closure having a hole extending therethrough
and communicating with said container with said hole having a
cross-sectional area less than one-half that of said opening, a
separate sealing plug made of resiliently yieldable material and
fitted snugly into said hole to establish a fluidtight seal between
said closure and said sealing plug, said sealing plug being formed
with a bore adapted to communicate with the interior of the
container, and a resiliently yieldable and puncturable membrane
formed integrally with and extending between the walls of said bore
to seal off the latter.
10. A sealing unit as defined in claim 9 further including a
swingable flapper formed integrally with and hinged to one end
portion of said sealing plug and swingable into a position
establishing a seal between said bore and the interior of the
container.
11. The unit of claim 9 in which said main closure is formed of
plastic.
12. The unit of claim 11 in which said bore is adapted to receive a
tube of a dispensing device for purposes of withdrawing fluid from
the container, a neck molded integrally with said main closure with
said hole extending through said neck, and diametrically opposed
flanges molded integrally with said neck for interlocking with the
dispensing device to hold the latter against withdrawal from the
container.
13. The unit of claim 9 for closing an opening defined in one wall
of the container by a neck having external threads, said main
closure comprising a top plate having a peripheral skirt depending
therefrom and sized to fit over the neck, and internal threads on
said skirt for engaging the threads on the neck to mount the main
closure on the container.
14. The unit of claim 9 in which said main closure comprises a body
which is generally shaped as a series of nested truncated cones so
that said main closure may be telescoped into said opening to wedge
in the latter and establish said fluidtight seal between said main
closure and said container.
15. The unit of claim 9 in which said unit closes an opening having
internal threads, said closure comprising a body having external
threads and sized to be screwed into the opening.
16. The unit of claim 9 for closing an opening defined in one wall
of the container by a neck, said main closure comprising a top
plate sized and shaped to cover said opening and having a depending
peripheral skirt, and said skirt being sufficiently large to
telescope over the neck and sufficiently flexible to be crimped
into engagement with the neck.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a closure for a container adapted to hold
pressurized fluid. More particularly, the invention relates to a
closure for sealing containers of the type in which a tube of a
dispensing device is inserted into a relatively small taphole in
the container for the purpose of withdrawing the fluid from the
container, such insertion of the draw tube destroying the original
seal closing the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION referred to as the act of
"tapping" the container. To prevent the pressurized fluid from
escaping along the outer side of the tube and through the taphole,
the dispensing device is sealed to the container during such time
as the tube is within the container.
Since the taphole is sized in accordance with the tube and is
usually quite small, containers of this type customarily have been
formed with an additional and much larger hole or opening through
which the fluid may be introduced rapidly in order to fill the
container. The larger opening is used also when the container is
flushed with water and cleaned before being refilled with
fluid.
Summary of the Invention
The primary aim of the present invention is to provide a new,
improved comparatively inexpensive container closure which enables
cleaning, filling and tapping of the container through a single
opening in the container thereby to reduce the number of openings
needed in the container and to eliminate the necessity of sealing
more than one opening. For this purpose, the invention contemplates
a closure which includes a main closure member of comparatively
inexpensive construction for sealing a relatively large filling and
cleaning opening in the container during the interval between
filling and cleaning of the container, a sealing plug attached to
the main closure member and defining a smaller taphole within the
large opening for the admission of the tube into the container, and
a resilient membrane initially sealing the taphole and adapted to
seal around the tube as an incident to tapping of the container
thereby to establish the necessary seal between the dispensing
device and the container while the pressurized fluid is being
dispensed. With this arrangement, the overall cost of the container
is reduced since only a single opening and a single closure are
necessary to provide a sealed container capable of being cleaned,
filled and tapped in a highly efficient manner. In addition, the
closure itself is relatively inexpensive since the low-cost main
closure member closes the major area of the large filling and
cleaning opening to avoid the need of making the more expensive
sealing plug large enough to close such opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container
closure embodying the novel features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of an exemplary container
with which the closure is adapted for use.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the closure.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the closure applied
to the container.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the dispensing
device attached to the container.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken vertically
through the closure and container shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and showing the dispensing
device attached to the container.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the closure as it appears during
its removal from the container.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container
closure embodying the novel features of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view showing
the container closure of FIG. 9 applied to a container with a
dispensing device attached to the container.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container
closure embodying the features of the invention.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross sectional view showing
the container closure of FIG. 11 applied to a container with a
dispensing device attached to the container.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a container
closure embodying the features of the invention.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing
the container closure of FIG. 13 applied to a container with a
dispensing device attached to the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the
invention is embodied in a closure 10 for a container 11 for
holding pressurized fluids such as charged beverages, chemicals,
cleaning fluids and the like which are adapted to be withdrawn from
the container through a dispensing device 13 (FIG. 5). Herein, the
container is specifically illustrated as being in the form of a
barrel of draft beer having a top or head 14 formed with an
upstanding neck 15 defining an opening 16 FIGS. 2 and 6)
communicating with the interior of the barrel, the neck being
encircled by a peripheral flange or lip 17 as is conventional with
barrels of this type.
The dispensing device 13 in the present instance is a tapping
assembly of the type shown and described in our copending
application, Ser. No. 640,292, filed May 22, 1967 and includes a
generally cylindrical tap body 19 (FIG. 5) which may be fastened to
the barrel 11 by means of a tubular fitting 20 attached to the
lower end of the body. Pressurized air or carbon dioxide is
admitted into the barrel through a line 21 leading into the tap
body and communicating with a gas tube 23 (FIG. 7) depending from
the tap body and extending into the barrel. To withdraw the beer, a
draw tube 24 fastened to the tap body is telescoped coaxially into
the gas tube and extends downwardly to the bottom of the barrel. As
the pressurized gas is admitted into the barrel through the gas
tube, the beer is forced upwardly through the draw tube and into a
dispensing line 25 (FIG. 5) communicating with the tap body. For a
more detailed description of the tapping assembly 13 itself,
reference may be had to the above-mentioned application.
Each barrel 11, after being emptied of beer and returned to the
brewery, is washed and cleaned with water or steam, is refilled
with fresh beer, and then is sealed to preserve the charge in the
beer and to prevent leakage of the beer until such time as the
barrel is tapped. When the barrel is tapped by a bartender or by
the ultimate consumer, the seal applied at the brewery is broken as
an incident to insertion of the draw tube 24 and the gas tube 23
into the barrel, and a seal is established between the tapping
assembly 13 and the barrel to prevent the pressurized beer from
escaping out of the barrel, along the outer sides of the gas and
draw tubes. In prior barrels of this type that have found
commercial acceptance, it has been the practice to form two holes
or openings in the barrel, one being a relatively small tapping
opening corresponding approximately in diameter to that of the draw
tube, and the other being a somewhat larger opening to facilitate
filling and cleaning of the barrel rapidly and conveniently.
The present invention contemplates a new and relatively low-cost
closure 10 which is effective to close an opening 16 sufficiently
large to accommodate filling and cleaning of the barrel 11 and
which, at the same time, enables tapping of the barrel through the
same opening so that the barrel need be provided with only a single
opening and a single closure. Accordingly, multiple openings with
multiple closures and fittings are not required by the barrel thus
not only resulting in a less expensive barrel but also producing a
saving in the amount of time required to remove and reapply the
closures.
To achieve the foregoing, the opening 16 in the barrel 11 is made
sufficiently large, herein approximately 2 inches in diameter,
1--8, to enable convenient filling and cleaning of the barrel, and
the closure 10 includes a main closure member which, in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-8 is in the form of an overcap 26 for
covering and closing the major portion of the opening from the time
the filled barrel leaves the brewery until the time that it is
returned empty for cleaning and refilling. Attached to the overcap
and disposed within the opening 16 is a sealing plug 27 which
covers and closes the remainder of the opening, keeps the barrel
sealed until the latter is tapped, accommodates admission of the
gas and draw tubes 23 and 24 into the barrel, and also seals around
the tubes to keep the beer from escaping along the outer sides of
the tubes during such times as the tubes are in the barrel.
More specifically, the overcap 26 is formed from a relatively thin
piece of yieldable sheet metal and includes a circular top plate 29
approximately the same diameter as the lip 17 surrounding the neck
15 on the barrel 11. Depending from and extending around the top
plate is a peripheral skirt 30 which is about one-fourth of an inch
in depth so that the free edge of the skirt extends below the
underside of the lip when the overcap is telescoped over the neck
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The skirt is straight as initially
formed and then is hooked inwardly beneath the lip as indicated at
31 in FIG. 6 by a suitable crimping tool after the barrel has been
cleaned and filled. As a result of such hooking, the overcap is
locked securely in place on the barrel.
The sealing plug 27 in many respects is similar to that disclosed
in our copending application Ser. No. 640,012, filed May 22, 1967
now U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,456. Herein the sealing plug comprises a
generally cylindrical body 33 (FIG. 6) made of resiliently
yieldable material such as rubber and press fitted into a hole 34
formed through the center of the top plate 29 and coaxial with the
opening 16 defined by the neck 15. Preferably, the relaxed diameter
of the body 33 is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 34
so that the rubber becomes compressed as an incident to being
telescoped into the hole and thereafter expands into tight sealing
engagement with the edges of the hole to establish a seal between
the overcap 26 and the sealing plug. In the embodiment of FIGS.
1--8, such seal is effectually improved by bending the portions of
the top plate surrounding the hole upwardly from the plane of the
plate thereby to form an annular collar 35 of substantial axial
length snugly engaging a corresponding length of the plug. The
upper end of the body portion is formed with an upwardly sloping
taper as indicated at 36 to facilitate insertion of the plug into
the hole from the lower side of the top plate, the base or major
diameter of the taper being larger than the body portion 33 thereby
to define a downwardly facing shoulder 37 which engages the
upwardly facing raw edge of the hole 34 to prevent the plug from
inadvertently being forced downwardly through the hole.
Advantage is taken of the rubber material of the sealing plug 27 to
establish a tight seal between the overcap 26 and the barrel 11.
For this purpose, an enlarged washer 39 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) is
formed intermediate the ends of the plug and extends radially
outwardly therefrom to the inner periphery of the skirt 30. The
washer is disposed face-to-face against the underside of the top
plate 29, and the outer edge portions of the washer are sandwiched
between the top plate and the upper side of the lip 17 thereby
forming a gasket which becomes compressed against the lip when the
skirt is crimped beneath the lip.
In order to permit insertion of the draw tube 24 and the gas tube
23 into the barrel 11 as an incident to tapping the barrel, the
sealing plug 27 is formed with an axially extending bore 40 (FIG.
6) which is just slightly larger in diameter than the gas tube. As
shown most clearly in FIG. 6, a thin rubber membrane 41 is molded
integrally with the plug and extends across the lower end of the
bore to seal the latter. The membrane is sufficiently strong to
withstand the pressure within the barrel and to keep the bore
sealed until the barrel is tapped, but is sufficiently thin to be
punctured by the lower end of the draw tube 24 when the draw tube
is forced downwardly into the bore. Thus, with downward telescoping
of the draw tube into the bore as an incident to tapping the
barrel, the membrane becomes punctured, and the torn edges thereof
fold downwardly around the draw tube and form a sealing lip 43
(FIG. 7) resiliently gripping the tube and automatically
establishing a seal between the tube and the plug 27 to prevent the
charged beer from spewing out through the bore 40. As the draw tube
approaches the bottom of the barrel, the gas tube 23 moves
downwardly through the bore and is embraced by the sealing lip 43
in the same manner so that the seal between the barrel and the
tapping assembly 13 is maintained at all times when the assembly is
attached to the barrel.
Preferably, a flapper 44 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is molded integrally with
the lower end of the plug 27 and is mounted to swing relative to
the plug about a hinge 45 formed by a short segment of rubber
connecting the flapper to the lower end of the plug. Normally, the
flapper is urged into face-to-face sealing engagement with the
lower side of the membrane 41 by virtue of the pressure of the beer
within the barrel 11. The flapper thus serves as an auxiliary seal
preventing escape of the beer through the bore 40 in case the
membrane should be punctured accidentally during shipment of the
barrel. When the barrel is tapped, the lower end of the draw tube
24, after puncturing the membrance, engages the flapper and swings
the latter downwardly about the hinge as shown in FIG. 7 thus
enabling admission of the tubes into the barrel. After the barrel
has been emptied and after the tubes have been pulled out of the
bore 40 in the plug, the flapper is forced upwardly about the hinge
and back into engagement with the membrane and the lower end of the
plug by the pressure of the beer remaining in the bottom of the
barrel. The flapper therefore closes off the puncture formed
through the membrane and maintains the barrel in a sealed condition
during is return to the brewery. This insures that the barrel will
not become contaminated by water, dirt or the like during its
return.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the metal overcap 26
is capable of sealing a relatively large entry opening 16 in the
barrel 11 while the sealing plug 27 defines a smaller bore of
taphole 40 for admitting the tubes 23 and 24 into the barrel.
Moreover, the membrane 41 of the plug seals off the bore 40 until
the barrel is tapped and then seals around the gas tube 23 while
the beer is being dispensed. Thus, the coaction of the overcap and
the sealing plug enables cleaning, filling and tapping of the
barrel through a single opening. In addition, attachment of the
closure 10 to the barrel is a relatively easy operation since,
after the barrel has been cleaned and filled, the overcap and the
plug may be fastened to the barrel as a unit simply by crimping the
skirt 30 beneath the lip 17. Although the membrane 41 becomes
punctured when the barrel is tapped, the overcap and the sealing
plug remain attached to the barrel until the latter is returned to
the brewery. At the brewery, the closure is removed, the barrel
again is cleaned and filled, and a new closure is applied.
To facilitate removal of the closure 10 at the brewery, the overcap
26 advantageously is weakened along the top plate 29 to enable
destruction of the overcap when a force is exerted on the overcap
in a particular manner. Such weakening is effected herein by
indenting the metal of the underside of the overcap to form two
identical sets of shallow scores 50 (FIGS. 1 and 8) diametrically
spaced from each other around the top plate. Each set of scores
includes a pair of indented, parallel lines extending upwardly
along one side of the skirt 30, extending across approximately
one-half of the top plate 29, and terminating near the edge portion
of the hole 34 in the area of the collar 35. Disposed between the
lines of each set is a gripping tab 51 formed integrally with and
extending outwardly from the free or lower edge of the skirt. In
response to an upward and inward pull exerted on one of the tabs
with a suitable gripping tool such as a pair of pliers, the
material of the skirt tears upwardly along the scores thereby
releasing the tension applied to the skirt as a result of the
crimping operation. Continued inward pulling of the tab causes
tearing away of a strip of the top plate across its diameter (see
FIG. 8) to separate the plate into two portions. After a similar
pull has been applied to the other tab, the top plate may be
removed simply by sliding the separated portions away from the lip
17.
Advantage is taken of the gripping tabs 51 on the overcap 26 to
lock the tapping assembly 13 securely on the barrel 11. As shown in
FIG. 5, the fitting 20 on the assembly is formed with a pair of
downwardly opening notches 53 (only one of which is visible)
diametrically spaced from each other and slightly greater in width
than the tabs. Opening into each notch is an elongated slot 54
which is approximately equal in height to the thickness of the tab.
To attach the assembly to the barrel, the fitting is turned to a
position in which the notches are aligned with the tabs.
Thereafter, the assembly is moved downwardly until the tabs.
Thereafter, the assembly is moved downwardly until the tabs enter
into the notches and register with the open ends of the slots 54.
Finally, the assembly is turned through a short arc to move the
edges of the slots into locking engagement with the tabs and
thereby hold the assembly in place on the barrel. Thus, it is
apparent that the tabs 51 not only facilitate removal of the
closure but also eliminate the need of forming a separate locking
connection on the barrel to accommodate the tapping assembly.
A modified closure 110 embodying the novel features of the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Like the closure 10 of the
embodiment of FIGS. 1--8 the closure 110 includes a main closure
member 126 for covering and closing a major portion of an opening
116 in a barrel 111 from the time the filled barrel leaves the
brewery until the time that it is returned empty for cleaning and
refilling. The closure 110 also includes a relatively small, rubber
sealing plug 127 attached to the main closure member and disposed
within the opening 116. The sealing plug keeps the barrel sealed
until the latter is tapped, accommodates the admission of the gas
and draw tubes 123 and 124 of a dispensing device 113 into the
barrel, and also seals around the tubes to keep the beer from
escaping along the outer sides of the tubes during such times as
the tubes are in the barrel.
Herein, the top of the barrel 111 is formed with an upstanding neck
115 which defines the opening 116 and which is threaded on its
exterior surface. The main closure member 126 is formed of an
inexpensive hard plastic and is shaped to engage the neck 115 of
the barrel. As shown in FIG. 9, the main closure member comprises a
top plate 129 of slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter
of the neck. Depending from and extending around the top plate is a
peripheral skirt 130 threaded around its interior surface (FIG. 10)
and sized to screw onto the neck. To form a fluidtight seal between
the neck and the main closure member, an annular flange 170
concentric with and spaced inwardly from the skirt depends from the
top plate to form a recess in which an annular gasket 171 is
seated.
In this instance, the sealing plug 127 is press fitted into a
comparatively long hole 134 formed through the center of the top
plate 129 and coaxial with the opening 116. The relaxed diameter of
the plug is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole so that
the rubber becomes compressed as an incident to being telescoped
into the hole and thereafter expands into fluid tight sealing
engagement with the walls defining the hole.
The dispensing device 113 may be formed with two diametrically
opposed arms 173 for locking the device on the barrel 111. As shown
in FIG. 10, these arms extend downwardly from a circular flange 174
on the device and hook inwardly at their lower end portions 175. To
accommodate this type of dispensing device, the main closure member
126 advantageously is formed with a taplock 176 (FIG. 9) which is
molded integrally with the closure member. A cylindrical neck 177
concentric with the hole 134 extends upwardly from the top of the
main closure member to define the upper portion of the walls of the
hole. Two diametrically opposed flanges 178 extend outwardly from
the upper end portion of the neck to engage the lower end portions
of the arms for purposes of locking the dispensing device on the
barrel. Two opposed flats 179 are formed along the sides of the
flanges. The dispensing device is pushed into the barrel until the
lower ends of the arms pass by the flats, and then the dispensing
device is turned to hook the lower end portions 175 of the arms
under the flanges thus releasably locking the dispensing device
against withdrawal from the barrel.
Another modified closure 110' embodying the novel features of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 in which parts
corresponding to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 are
indicated by the same but primed reference numerals. Like the
closure 110 of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the closure of
110' includes a main closure member 126' of inexpensive hard
plastic for closing the major portion of an opening 116' (FIG. 12)
defined in a beer barrel 111' by an upstanding neck 115'. A small
sealing plug 127' is mounted in a hole 134' in the main closure
member and is disposed within the opening 116' to keep the barrel
sealed. The sealing plug 127' is substantially identical to the
sealing plug 127. For locking a dispensing device 113' on the
barrel, the closure 110' is formed with a taplock 176' which is
substantially the same as the taplock 176.
In this embodiment, the neck 115' of the barrel 111' is internally
threaded at 180, and the main closure member 126' is sized to fit
into the opening 116'. As shown in FIG. 11, the main closure is
formed as a cylindrical plug which is threaded externally. The main
closure thus may be screwed into the threaded neck of the barrel to
effect a fluidtight seal between the barrel and the main closure
member and to help close the opening.
Still another modified closure 110" is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 in
which parts corresponding to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and
10 are indicated by the same but double primed reference numerals.
The closure 110" includes a main closure member 126" of inexpensive
hard plastic for closing the major portion of an opening 116" (FIG.
14) defined in a beer barrel 111" by an upstanding neck 115". A
sealing plug 127" is mounted in a hole 134" in the main closure
member and is disposed within the opening 116" to keep the barrel
sealed. The sealing plug 127" is substantially identical to the
sealing plug 127 and includes a taplock 176".
In this embodiment, the interior walls of the neck 115" of the
barrel 111" are smooth, and the main closure member 126" is sized
to telescope into and plug the opening 116". As shown in FIG. 12,
the main closure member is formed in the shape of a several
truncated cones nested together so that the main closure member
generally tapers from top to bottom but with ledges or shoulders
181 formed by the tops of the lower cones projecting outwardly. The
main closure member is sized for a press fit into the opening 116",
and the shoulders engage the walls of the neck 115" to retard the
withdrawal of the main closure member once the latter is forced
into the opening 116".
From the foregoing, it will be observed that the main closure
member of the closure of the present invention is capable of
closing the major portion of a relatively large opening in the
barrel while the sealing plug defines a smaller bore or taphole for
admitting tubes of the dispensing device into the barrel. Thus, the
coaction of the main closure member and the sealing plug enables
the cleaning, filling, and tapping of the barrel through a single
opening. With the main closure member made of comparatively
inexpensive metal or plastic and advantageously closing the major
portion of the opening, the relative cost of the closure can be
kept low.
* * * * *