EP3260385A1

EP3260385A1 - Seal for beer kegs

Info

Publication number: EP3260385A1
Application number: EP16751966.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerardo PÉREZ MORENO
Original assignee: Plasticos Industriales Geca SA
Current assignee: Perez Moreno Gerardo
Priority date: 2015-02-16
Filing date: 2016-02-12
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-12
Also published as: EP3260385A4; ES1137007Y; ES2804706T3; WO2016132001A1; EP3260385B1; ES1137007U

Abstract

Seal (1) for beer kegs, the type that comprises a lid (2) with a skirt (3) that overlaps the perimeter of the neck (4) of the beer keg, featuring retention spears (5) in a circular rim (4a) along the edge of said neck (4) and release shafts (6); the seal (1) comprises a detachable portion (7) for its opening, outlined by the first lines of weakness (8) located in the lid (2), which are parallel at first, outlining a tongue (9) on the side that has a notch, (10) then they diverge and have first elongations (8a) on the skirt (3), which comprises an additional secondary line of weakness (11) in the skirt (3) which connects to the notch (10) in order to cause the breakage of the seal (1) in at least three parts (7, 20, 21).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a seal for beer kegs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, seals positioned on the neck of the beer kegs are used to prevent the improper entry of contents into the extraction valve. These seals are configured in the form of a lid which protects said valve and which continues as a skirt that overlaps the perimeter of the neck of the keg. It also contains retention spears that act against a circular rim around the edge of said neck, blocking the extraction of the seal without breaking it. In order to allow for the release of these spears during the manufacturing of the seal, there are release shafts in the lid section.
The opening or breaking of the seal is provided for in the detachable portion, which is delimited by the first lines of weakness in the lid, which are parallel at first, outlining a tongue on the side that has a notch. They then diverge and extend to the skirt, to allow for complete separation from the rest of the seal in this area.
This configuration, therefore, creates the breakage of the seal in two parts: a first part, which is the detachable portion with the tongue and the widened part in the area where the lines of weakness diverge, and the other second part that forms a type of brace which covers more than half the initial surface of the seal. This is frequently supported and retained in the neck of the keg, which means it must be removed manually. As the breakage of the seal already allows access to the valve, the keg is frequently connected to the cooler without removing this second part, resulting in crushing and deformities which later make its removal difficult at the packaging company when it is processed for washing and refilling, requiring the diversion of more labour and time resources to this effect, resulting in an increase in the cost of the process.
At other times it is the user who, with the best intentions, tries to reassemble the seal before returning the keg, without realising that it increases the costs of the keg cleaning and refilling processes and makes them more difficult.
Often these kegs are temporarily stored in uncovered or outdoor locations (patios etc.) where they may come into contact with rainwater or other harmful sources, or simply dust. This is an additional inconvenience, since the necessary release shafts are an entry point for the water, dust or other contaminants into the interior part of the keg neck or coupler.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The seal invention has a configuration that solves the technical problem presented, since it produces a breakage in the seal during its opening in the form and number of parts so that it is not possible for it to be positioned or to remain on the neck of the keg.
The seal is composed of a lid with a skirt that overlaps the edge of the neck of the beer keg, and has retention spears in a circular rim along the edge of said neck, comprising release shafts for the spears.
The conventional configuration of the seal also comprises a detachable portion for its opening outlined by first lines of weakness located in the lid. These are parallel at first, establishing a tongue at the side that has a notch, and then they diverge and extend to the skirt.
In accordance with the invention, the seal is also designed so that it comprises a secondary line of weakness in the skirt, connecting to the notch area, in order to encourage a breakage in the seal into at least three parts. Due to the notch being aligned with the tongue of the detachable portion, resulting in two equal sections of the seal to its sides, this secondary line of weakness breaks during the opening of the seal by separating the two aforementioned equal sections. These do not have sufficient stability to remain positioned in the neck of the barrel, and so they fall to either side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- Shows both perspective views of the seal invention.
Figure 2.- Shows a view of the underside of the seal invention.
Figure 3.- Shows a lateral view of the seal invention and its position on the neck of the beer keg.
Figure 4.- Shows a view of the underside of the seal invention, when broken or open, and its division in three parts.
Figure 5.- Shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the seal invention that has improvements that contribute to improve hygienic conditions in the interior of the keg neck.
Figure 6.- Shows a view of the top side of the embodiment represented in figure 5.
Figure 7.- Shows a view of the underside of the embodiment represented in figures 5 and 6.
Figure 8.- Shows a cross-section view along the A-A line shown in figure 7, of the corresponding embodiment positioned on the neck or coupler of the keg.
Figure 9.- Shows a detailed cross-section along the B line shown in figure 7, of the corresponding embodiment, positioned on the neck or the coupler of the keg, where you can see one of the lateral closures visible on one of the sides of the tongue at the junction with the notch.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The beer keg seal (1) invention is of the variety which comprises a lid (2) with a skirt (3) which overlaps the perimeter of the neck (4) of the beer keg, and which is retained in a circular rim (4a) around its edge (see fig. 3) using spears (5), likewise comprising release shafts (6) (see fig. 1) which allow access to said spears (5) in order to release the seal (1) during its manufacture.
Once the lid (2) of the seal (1) is positioned on the neck (4) of the keg, not shown, it hinders the incorrect movement of the extraction valve, which in turn causes it to break. For this purpose, the seal (1) includes a detachable portion (7) (see fig. 2 and 4) outlined by first lines of weakness (8) located in the lid (2), which are parallel at first, outlining a tongue (9) on the side that has a notch (10) (see fig. 1), which then diverge -at 120 degrees in this specific embodiment example-, these diverging lengths comprising first elongations (8a) on the skirt (3), which results in the complete detachment of the detachable portion (7), both in the lid (2) area and in the skirt (3) area.
The improvement posed by the invention is the incorporation of an additional second line of weakness (11) in the skirt (3), which connects to the notch (10) in order to provoke the breakage of the seal (1) into at least three parts (7, 20, 21) (see fig. 4). The seal was effectively divided into two pieces when it broke for opening in the conventional configuration. Moreover, the non-detachable part remained on the neck of the keg, making subsequent washing and refilling operations more difficult and expensive.
Additionally, the invention has third lines of weakness (12) (see fig. 1 and 2) in the wide area (13) belonging to the lid (2) of the detachable portion (7), and that have second elongations (12a) on the skirt (3). These third lines of weakness promote flexibility and seal breakage when the material is less flexible, for example, shock-resistant polystyrene. In this embodiment of the invention, these third lines of weakness (12) are convergent, symmetrical in relation to the tongue (9), and do not intersect, forming an angle between 45 and 90 degrees between them, specifically, 67 degrees.
Likewise, in this embodiment of the invention, the first lines of weakness (8) and/or the third lines of weakness (12) are found in the interior side of the lid (2), while the first elongations (8a) of the first lines of weakness (8), the second elongations (12a) of the third lines of weakness (12) and the second line of weakness (11) extend onto the exterior side of the skirt (3).
An additional characteristic of the invention comprises the placement of centring tabs (14) with the neck (4) of the keg, which emerge radially from the interior side of the skirt (3), as seen in the figures. Said centring tabs (14) preferably span a channelling bevel (15) which aids the insertion of the seal into the neck (4) of the keg.
As kegs are frequently temporarily stored outdoors, the release shafts (6) are entirely found in the full contact area (100) of the lid (2) with the edge (4b) of the neck (4) -also called the coupler- of the keg (see fig. 8), without exceeding said contact area (100) so as to improve hygienic conditions inside the neck of the keg (4) (or coupler), thereby preventing the entrance of dust or liquids from the exterior, according to the improvements made in the seal (1) invention represented in figures 5 through 9. In this way, the edge (4b) of the neck (4) closes the release shafts (6), blocking the entry of dust or liquids that could contaminate the inside of the neck (4).
In order to further improve the seal, the first lines of weakness (8) and the third lines of weakness (12) (which run along the inside of the lid (2)) extend to the edge of said lid (2), not coinciding with any release shaft (6), as is seen clearly in figures 5 through 7, as otherwise, the liquids retained between each release shaft (6) and the edge (4b) of the neck (4) could filter into the interior due to capillary action. Moreover, this variation is arranged so that, ideally, said first lines of weakness (8) and third lines of weakness (12) are found on the inside of the lid (2) and then in the contact area (100) with the edge (b) of the neck (4) along its exterior, as observed in figures 6 and 7, all of which achieves the full support of the lid (2) with the entire contour of the contact area (100). The lid (2) simultaneously maintains a flat central area (22) on the exterior to improve screen-printing or adhesiveness of a label, not shown, because said lines (8,12) run along the interior in this area.
Seal closures (16) on the tongue (9) have also been created, which wholly or partially overlap the edge (4b) of the neck (4) in the contact area (100) in order to likewise ensure sealing in this area where the notch (10) itself constitutes an opening where liquids or dirt could enter. Said seal closures preferably span lateral closures (16) on each side of the tongue (9) at the junction with the notch (10) (see fig. 6, 7 and 9).
Lastly, another additional improvement involves supports (5a) to reinforce the spears (5) (see in fig. 6, through the release shafts (5)) which are found arranged on their interiors and which allow the various lines of weakening to be of the correct dimensions with lesser depth in order to prevent their accidental breaking and maintain hygienic conditions on the inside of the neck (4) of the keg. Said supports (5a) extend to the interior of the skirt (3).
The nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, the description of its form and its preferred embodiments should be interpreted non-exhaustively, and that it encompasses the entirety of the possible embodiment variations which could be deduced from the content of the present memory and from the claims.

Claims

Seal (1) for beer kegs, of the type which comprise a lid (2) with a skirt (3) which overlaps the perimeter of the neck (4) of the beer keg, and equipped with retention spears (5) on a circular rim (4a) along the edge of said neck (4) and release shafts (6); the seal (1) comprises a detachable portion (7) for its opening outlined by first lines of weakening (8) located in the lid (2), at first parallel and outlining a tongue (9) on the side that has a notch (10), and eventually diverging and having first elongations (8a) on the skirt (3) characterised in that it spans an additional second line of weakness (11) on the skirt (3) which connects to the notch (10) in order to cause the breakage of the seal (1) into at least three parts (7, 20, 21).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises third lines of weakness (12) located in the wide area (13) belonging to the lid (2) of the detachable portion (7), and that has second elongations (12a) on the skirt (3).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 2 characterised in that its third lines of weakness (12) are convergent, symmetrical with the tongue (9), and do not intersect; forming an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees between them.
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 3 characterised in that its third lines of weakness (12) form an angle of 67 degrees.
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to any of the claims 2 through 4 characterised in that its first lines of weakness (8) and/or third lines of weakness (12) are arranged on the interior side of the lid (2), while the first elongations (8a) of the first lines of weakness (8), the second elongations (12a) of the third lines of weakness (12) and the second line of weakness (11) are arranged on the exterior side of the skirt (3).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to any of the previous claims characterised in that it additionally comprises tabs (14) centring on the neck (4) of the keg, which emerge radially from the interior side of the skirt (3).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 6 characterised in that its centring tabs (14) comprise a channelling bevel (15).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to any of the prior claims characterised in that the release shafts (6) are found within the full contact area (100) of the lid (2) with the edge (4b) of the neck (4) of the keg without exceeding said contact area (100).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 8 characterised in that the first lines of weakness (8) and the third lines of weakness (12) are elongated to the edge of the lid (2), and do not coincide with any release shaft (6).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 9 characterised in that the first lines of weakness (8) and the third lines of weakness (12) are found along the interior of the lid (2), and elsewhere on its exterior in the full contact area (100) with the edge (4b) of the neck (4) of the keg.
Seal (1) for beer keg according to any of the claims 8 through 10 characterised in that it comprises seal closures (16) on the tongue (9) which wholly or partially overlap the edge (4b) of the neck (4) in the contact area (100).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to claim 11 characterised in that its seal closures comprise lateral closures (16) present on each side of the tongue (9) at the junction with the notch (10).
Seal (1) for beer kegs according to any of the claims 8 through 12 characterised in that it comprises supports (5a) that reinforce the spears (5), and which are located on their interior side.