Keg closure with venting mechanism

• US 9,643,830 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Petainer Large Container IP Limited
• Original Assignee: Petainer Large Container IP Limited
• Inventors: Kuhn, Vilem, Chur, Stanislav, Ford, Peter, Cottrell, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/646,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20150274502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 222397, 222399, 2224007, 2224815, 222479, 222 81- 83, 222 89, 222 90, 22215314, 22020308, 220268, 220 891, 220 892, 137212, 137511, 53476
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0829 Keg connection means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0831 combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0835 with one valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0845 Security means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/125 Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves

Abstract

A closure (10) for use with a beverage keg (20) is disclosed. The closure (10) comprises an inlet, a barrier (1) and a housing (2) that defines a venting hole (11). The barrier (1) seals the venting hole (11). The closure (10) comprises an unvented configuration in which a keg to which the closure is fitted can be pressurized. The closure (10) also comprises a vented configuration in which the barrier (1) is unsealed from the venting hole (11) to permit depressurization of the keg (20).

Claims

1. A closure for a beverage keg, the closure comprising a housing defining:

an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of a beverage keg; and

a venting hole separate from the inlet, the venting hole communicating with a gas vent path between the headspace of the keg and an exterior of the closure;

the closure further comprising a barrier for sealing the venting hole;

wherein, when fitted to the keg, the closure is configured to be switchable from;

an unvented configuration in which the barrier seals the venting hole so that the closure is able to retain a pressurised gas within the keg;

to

a vented configuration in which the venting hole is no longer sealed by the barrier so that a pressurised gas in the headspace of the keg can escape along the gas vent path via the venting hole to the exterior of the closure;

thereby permanently depressurising the keg,

wherein the barrier is engaged to the housing defining the venting hole when the closure is in the unvented configuration, and the barrier is arranged to be dislodged from its engagement with the housing defining the venting hole so as to switch the closure to the vented configuration.

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the barrier is a discrete member which, when dislodged, separates from the housing defining the venting hole, and further comprises a retention portion for retaining the barrier to the closure when the closure is in the vented configuration, and the barrier is unsealed from the venting hole.

3. The closure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the barrier and housing defining the venting hole are shaped to restrain the barrier against movement in an outward direction towards the exterior of the closure.

4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the barrier and housing defining the venting hole are tapered relative to one another so as to restrain the barrier against movement in the outward direction toward the exterior of the closure.

5. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a venting member arranged to act on the barrier to dislodge the barrier from the venting hole thereby to switch the closure from the unvented to the vented configuration.

6. The closure of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the venting member is arranged to fit within the venting hole, and wherein the portion of the venting member that is arranged to fit within the venting hole defines a conduit shaped and arranged to permit gas released during depressurisation of the keg to flow through the venting hole.

7. The closure of claim 5, wherein the venting member is arranged to drive the barrier in an inward direction away from the exterior of the closure, and in towards the gas vent path.

8. The closure of claim 5, wherein the venting member comprises a drive member for transmitting a manually-applied force to the barrier.

9. The closure of claim 5 further comprising at least one latch member arranged to be movable between:

a latched position at which the latch member blocks movement of the venting member preventing the venting member from acting on the barrier; and

an unlatched position at which the venting member is free to move to a position at which the venting member can act on the barrier to unseal the venting hole.

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the at least one latch member is biased towards the latched position.

11. The closure of claim 1, further comprising at least one ratchet formation that locks the venting member at a position at which the venting member has acted on the barrier to unseal it from the venting hole.

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the at least one ratchet formation is integrally-formed with the venting member.

13. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a valve element for opening and closing the inlet.

14. The closure of claim 13, wherein the first valve element is biased towards a closed position.

15. The closure of claim 13, further comprising an outlet through which a beverage may be extracted from the keg to which the closure is fitted.

16. The closure of claim 15, wherein the valve element is for opening and closing the outlet of the closure.

17. The closure of claim 15, further comprising a dip-tube positioned so that when the closure is fitted to a keg, a fluid flow path extends between the outlet of the closure and an internal base region of the keg.

18. The closure of claim 15, wherein the closure is arranged to receive a pressurised gas via the inlet and to dispense beverage from a keg to which the closure is fitted via the outlet when in the unvented configuration.

19. A keg, supplied or fitted with a closure of claim 1.

20. A method of controlling the pressurisation of a beverage keg, the method comprising:

fitting a closure to the keg, the closure defining a venting hole communicating with a gas vent path between a headspace of the keg and an exterior of the closure, the closure being provided with a barrier to seal the venting hole so as to retain a pressurised gas within the keg; and

dislodging the barrier from the venting hole to permanently depressurise the keg.

21. A method of improving the safety of a draught beverage keg comprising:

fitting a closure to the keg, the closure comprising a venting hole and being in an unvented configuration in which the venting hole is sealed by a barrier and thereby the closure is able to retain a pressurised gas within the keg;

filling the keg with beverage to be dispensed on draught;

transporting the filled keg to a dispensing location;

injecting a pressured gas into the keg to dispense beverage from it; and

after dispensing of beverage;

permanently depressurising the keg by switching the closure from the unvented configuration to a vented configuration by dislodging the barrier from the venting hole.