Container for storing and dispensing beverage, in particular beer

• US 6,745,922 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Original Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Inventors: Vlooswijk, Johannes Jacobus Thomas, van der Klaauw, Guido Petrus Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICOLAS, FREDERICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/868,281
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 222/399, 222/402.1, 222/394, 222/396, 222/321.9, 222/575, 239/337, 239/339, 239/340, 239/346, 239/373
• US Class Current: 222/399
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/045 Casks, barrels, or drums in their entirety, e.g. beer barrels, i.e. presenting most of the following features like rolling beads, double walls, reinforcing and supporting beads for end walls thermally insulated barrels, B65D81/3802
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/663 at least a portion of the propellant being separated from the product and incrementally released by means of a pressure regulator
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container

Abstract

A container for storing and dispensing beverage, in particular beer, which container comprises a top surface, while in the top surface a valve is provided for dispensing the beverage, and pressure means are provided in the inner space of the container for expelling the beverage from the container via the valve.

Claims

1. A container for storing and dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising a top surface, a spray can valve provided in said top surface, and pressure means provided in an inner space of the container for expelling said carbonated beverage from said container via the valve, said pressure means being arranged for the release of a pressure gas and comprising an adsorbing or absorbing medium for said pressure gas, said release of said pressure gas being controlled based on the pressure in said inner space, said container having a carbonated beverage therein, said container further comprising a dispensing tube secured to said valve, wherein an end portion of the dispensing tube is bent over in a downward direction, so that a substantially vertical outflow direction is obtained while the container remains in an upright position.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the valve is a female-type valve.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein a detachable operating knob is provided for activating the valve, said dispensing tube being connected to said knob for dispensing said carbonated beverage to a position outside an outer edge of the top surface.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the valve extends substantially completely below a shoulder in the top surface in which the valve is positioned.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein said spray can valve comprises an at least partly hollow tubular part which, through spring pressure, is biased in a closing direction against a closing ring, said tubular part further comprising at least one radial bore, said at least one radial bore providing fluid communication between said inner space and the environment when said tubular part is in an open position.

6. A container according claim 1, wherein the valve is connected with the top surface through a folded joint.

7. A container according to claim 5, further comprising an operating knob adapted to be pressed in the direction of the top surface, the valve thereby being pressed from a closed position to an open position, wherein upon release of the operating knob, the valve is pressed back into the closed position.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the valve is secured in a filling hole of the container.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container has a capacity of between 1 and 10 liters.

10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container has a capacity of between 10 and 50 liters.

11. A container according to claim 1, said carbonated beverage being beer.

12. A container according to claim 1, said pressure means being inaccessible to a consumer of said container.

13. A container according to claim 11, wherein the valve is a female-type valve.

14. A container according to claim 11, wherein said spray can valve comprises an at least partly hollow tubular part which, through spring pressure, is biased in a closing direction against a closing ring, said tubular part further comprising at least one radial bore, said at least one radial bore providing fluid communication between said inner space and the environment when said tubular part is in an open position.

15. A container according to claim 11, further comprising an operating knob adapted to be pressed in the direction of the top surface, the valve thereby being pressed from a closed position to an open position, wherein upon release of the operating knob, the valve is pressed back into the closed position.

16. A container according to claim 9, wherein said container has a capacity of between 3 and 7.5 liters.

17. A container according to claim 10, wherein said container has a capacity of between 15 and 45 liters.

18. A container according to claim 1, said medium for said pressure gas being activated carbon, said pressure gas being CO2.

19. A container according to claim 6, said valve extending substantially below said shoulder within a housing of said valve.

20. A container according to claim 9, wherein said container has a capacity of about 5 liters.

21. A container according to claim 1, said pressure gas providing dispensing pressure as a driving force for dispensing said carbonated beverage from said container to the environment when said valve is in an open position, said pressure gas also being at least partially dissolved in said carbonated beverage, said partially dissolved pressure gas providing carbonation to said carbonated beverage.

22. A container according to claim 1, said inner space having said carbonated beverage and a headspace over said carbonated beverage therein, said headspace having an equilibrium pressure of CO2 gas in equilibrium with a concentration of CO2 dissolved in said carbonated beverage, wherein said equilibrium pressure of CO2 gas in said headspace results in the desired concentration of dissolved CO2 in said carbonated beverage.

23. A container according to claim 22, said equilibrium pressure of CO2 gas in said headspace being regulated by said release of pressure gas by said pressure means.

34. A container according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the dispensing tube is located at approximately a shoulder level, outside edge portion of the container such that a glass can be held under the end portion.

24. A container for storing and dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising a top surface, a spray can valve provided in said top surface, and pressure means provided in an inner space of the container for expelling said carbonated beverage from said container via the valve, said pressure means being arranged for the release of a pressure gas and comprising an adsorbing or absorbing medium for said pressure gas, said release of said pressure gas being controlled based on the pressure in said inner space, said container having a carbonated beverage therein, said container further comprising a dispensing tube secured to said valve, wherein the dispensing tube is substantially u-shaped.

25. A method of dispensing a carbonated beverage comprising the steps of:

providing a container comprising a spray can type valve and pressure means provided in an inner space of the container for expelling said carbonated beverage from said container via the valve, said pressure means being arranged for the release of a pressure gas and comprising an adsorbing or absorbing medium for said pressure gas, said release of said pressure gas being controlled based on the pressure in said inner space, said container further comprising a dispensing tube secured to said valve, and providing a carbonated beverage in said container, wherein the dispensing tube is substantially u-shaped.

26. A method according to claim 25, said carbonated beverage being beer.

27. A method according to claim 25, said pressure gas both:

a) providing dispensing pressure as a driving force effective to dispense said carbonated beverage from said container to the environment when said valve is in an open position; and

b) being at least partially dissolved in said carbonated beverage, said partially dissolved pressure gas providing carbonation to said carbonated beverage.

28. A container for storing and dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising a top surface, a spray can valve provided in said top surface, and pressure means provided in an inner space of the container for expelling said carbonated beverage from said container via the valve, said pressure means being arranged for the release of a pressure gas, said release of said pressure gas being controlled based on the pressure in said inner space, said container having a carbonated beverage therein, said container further comprising a dispensing tube secured to said valve, said valve comprising an at least partly hollow tubular part defining a central bore therein, said dispensing tube defining a dispensing channel therein, said central bore and said dispensing channel cooperating to form a u-shaped fluid passageway between said valve and the environment, said fluid passageway being substantially smooth and free from sudden changes in cross-section.

29. A container according to claim 28, wherein said tubular part, through spring pressure, is biased in a closed direction against a closing ring, said tubular part further comprising at least one radial bore, said at least one radial bore providing fluid communication between said inner space and the environment when said tubular part is in an open position.

30. A container according to claim 28, said pressure means comprising a an adsorbing or absorbing medium for said pressure gas.

31. A container according to claim 30, said medium for said pressure gas being activated carbon, said pressure gas being CO2.

32. A container according to claim 28, said pressure gas providing dispensing pressure as a driving force for dispensing said carbonated beverage from said container, said pressure gas also being at least partially dissolved in said carbonated beverage, said partially dissolved pressure gas providing carbonation to said carbonated beverage.

33. A container according to claim 28, wherein an end portion of the dispensing channel is directed downward at a distance from a top surface of the container.