US3468450A - No-return container for beer and other liquids - Google Patents

No-return container for beer and other liquids Download PDF

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Publication number
US3468450A
US3468450A US661589A US3468450DA US3468450A US 3468450 A US3468450 A US 3468450A US 661589 A US661589 A US 661589A US 3468450D A US3468450D A US 3468450DA US 3468450 A US3468450 A US 3468450A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stopper
beer
wall
bunghole
container
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Expired - Lifetime
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US661589A
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English (en)
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Edmund Webel
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Individual
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Individual
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B65D11/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of curved cross-section
    • B65D11/06—Drums or barrels

Definitions

  • My present invention relates to so-called one-way and no-return containers for the transportation, storage, marketing and dispensing of beverage liquids such as beer and, more particularly, to a disposable beer receptacle which may serve as a dispenser for a number of draughts and nevertheless does not need to be returned to the brewer for refilling.
  • the entire packaging industry has attempted to overcome the disadvantages of reusable containers by providing unit packages which may be thrown away after use.
  • the glass and metal industries have proposed throw-away bottles and nonreusable cans for this purpose while some efforts have also been made to provide plastic or syntheticresin packaging materials for similar purposes.
  • the glass industry for example, has invested considerable energy in the automation, design, improvement of glass quality, reduction of Wall thickness, etc. of throw-away bottles in efforts to minimize production costs.
  • the other packaging industries have engaged in similar endeavors.
  • reusable container systems require relatively expensive cleaning installations as well as upkeep and labor costs which are avoided when freshly manufactured disposed receptacles are employed. Problems arising from the media used in the cleaning process (i.e. detergents, etc.) are also eliminated and it has been found to be possible to dispense with inspection stations which have hitherto been necessary to detect contaminants within reusable vessels and micro-organisms capable of causing deterioration of the beer. It is even possible to reduce to a minimum the cost of repairing the cases used to distribute the containers since they need not carry empty containers back to the bottling plant.
  • Glass has been found to be a particularly good packaging material for the production of beer containers since it is totally inert to beer and neither affects the beverage nor is affected by it. It has, however, the important disadvantage that it is easily broken and is usually translucent. This translucency is most inconvenient because beer is sensitive to light and, when contained in glass bottles, frequently deteriorates in the presence of strong illumination. Efiorts to replace glass bottles with these disadvantages, by white metal internally lacquered cans, have not proved to be wholly satisfactory since the beer contained therein develops, over prolonged storage periods, a metallic taste. Thus, it has been proposed to substitute aluminum cans for the white-metal tins since aluminum does not impart the characteristic metallic taste to beer.
  • the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved container for the packaging of beer suitable for the no-return distortion directly to consumers.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a beer canister from which numerous draughts may be drawn but yet which is of low cost and value so as to permit disposal after use.
  • a relatively small-size vessel i.e. having a beer-containing capacity of 8 liters or less
  • a relatively small-size vessel i.e. having a beer-containing capacity of 8 liters or less
  • the annular wall is formed with a bunghole into which a stopper is sealingly inserted while one of the end walls is provided, preferably adjacent a portion of the annular wall diametrically opposite the bunghole,
  • the resulting vessel can be used for repeated draughts of the liquid, is easily and inexpensively manufactured, filled, transported and emptied and, being wholly formed of opaque synthetic resin, can be discarded after removal of the reusable cock.
  • the means defining the bunghole in the wall of the receptacle includes an outer circular ridge of an axial thickness exceeding the wall thickness of the container and preferably at least twice the wall thickness thereof while the stopper is hollow and is provided with an internally open cavity.
  • the stopper acts in part as an elastic member subjected to the carbon dioxide pressure within the vessel or even the gas-expansion pressures resulting from the increase in temperature of the contents and presses the wall of the hollow shank of the stopper outwardly against the wall of the bunghole to increase the sealing effectiveness.
  • the region surrounding the weakened zone may be formed in the end wall as in inwardly tapering frustoconical socket whose base is the weakened zone and which has a taper conforming to that of the shank of the cock.
  • this stopper is formed with a threaded shank engaging the internal thread along the wall of the bunghole so that the stopper may be readily clamped in place.
  • I provide a resiliently compressible sealing ring which prevents escape of the carbon dioxide from the beer, the head of the stopper having a noncircular recess adapted to receive a socket wrench, screwdriver, Allen wrench or other key enabling the stopper to be partly withdrawn for venting the vessel and to be thereafter closed.
  • the most desirable dimensions of the beer container are such that its average diameter is approximately 200 mm., its length is of the order of 275 mm.
  • the container having a capacity of about 6 liters.
  • This container has numerous advantages, namely, it is especially satisfactory for supplying the needs of a small group of consumers, it is not too heavy to transport it readily when filled, it can be made and filled economically and without special handling procedures, it is easily cooled and stored in refrigerators, it can be emptied conveniently and drained at any desired rate without affecting the taste of the beer remaining, and it creates no problem of return of the package.
  • FIG. 1 is an end view of the bunghole of a receptacle in acocrdance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view of the bunghole showing the stopper in elevation
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bunghole stopper in accordance with a modification
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of an end wall of the receptable showing the weakened zone for receiving this stop cock;
  • FIG. 5 is a partly cross-sectional elevational view of a beer container in accordance with my present invention.
  • the disposable beer container 11 has an outwardly bulging annular wall 22 molded with a peripheral recess 23 to resemble an encircling barrel band and stave-like contours 24, and is composed of an opaque synthetic resin with end walls 25 and 26 integral with the annular wall 22.
  • the end walls 25 and 26 are further provided with concentric reinforcing ribs 27 and are bowed slightly inwardly while four radial ribs extend at right angles to one another as represented at 28.
  • the substantially cylindrical wall 22 is provided with a bunghole 12 closed by means of a hollow stopper 13.
  • the bunghole 12 is internally threaded at 17 and reinforced by an axial rib 21 whose wall thickness is at least twice the wall thickness of the container 11 and supports a sealing ring 29 which is clamped by the head 19 of the stopper 13 thereagainst.
  • the stopper 13 is formed with a threaded hollow shank 16 whose cavity 30 opens into the receptacle 11 so that pressure within the receptacle spreads the threaded shank 16 outwardly against the wall of the bunghole 12.
  • the periphery of the head 19 is provided with recesses 20 in a nonround pattern for engagement with a key or wrench which tightens the stopper 13 into the bunghole 12 and may serve to remove the stopper.
  • a hexagonal socket 31 may be provided in the head 19 to receive an Allen wrench or hexagonal key. The key permits rapid opening and closing of the stopper 13.
  • End wall 25 is formed with an inwardly extending frusto-conical socket 32 whose base 9 is surrounded by the annular weakened portion 7 and can be ruptured by the stem 33 of a dispensing cock 34, the spout of which is indicated at 35 and which has a dispensing handle 36.
  • the stem 33 has a taper complementarily to the convergence of the socket 32.
  • FIGS. 1 and 4 Other modifications of the bunghole, stopper and weakened wall arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 although the general outlines of the container are, of course, conform to that shown in FIG. 5.
  • the wall thickness should range from 2 to 3 mm. while the diameter ranges from 194 to 196 mm. and the total length is, say, 280 mm.
  • the annular wall portion 1 of the receptacle is formed with a bunghole 2 of inwardly convergent configuration, the bunghole being lined with a ridge 37 whose wall thickness is two to three times that of wall 1.
  • the stopper 3 which is here forced by hand into a bunghole after the filling of the receptacle, has a circular flange 38 forming the head of the stopper and overlying the ridge 37.
  • the hollow frustoconical shank 39 of the stopper fits smoothly into the bunghole 2 and terminates in a resiliently deflectable lower rim 40 which prevents withdrawal of the stopper after it has been driven into place.
  • An inwardly open concavity 41 is provided in the stopper 3 so that the gases within the vessel spread the wall thereof generally outwardly.
  • FIG. 3 I show a modified stopper 3', having an internal bore 42 in which an outwardly tapering plug 4 is driven prior to insertion of the stopper 3' into the bunghole.
  • an angular concavity 5 of the stopper 3' opens into the receptacle and permits the periphery of the stopper 3' to be urged against the wall of the bunghole under the gass pressure within the vessel.
  • the stopper is driven in the direction of arrow A into the bunghole and remains permanently lodged therein.
  • the venting of the receptacle to the atmosphere is permitted in the case of the stopper of FIG. 2, by perforating the wall 38 of the stopper and, in the case of the stopper of FIG. 3, by driving the plug 4 inwardly.
  • FIG. 4 I show an alternative arrangement for the weakened Wall portion 7, 9, the system here including a disk 9 integral with the wall 1' and surrounded by a rib 10 anchored to this wall.
  • the disk 9 is recessed inwardly of the wall 1 and is connected thereto by a thin-walled frangible membrane 7 which, when the shank 8 of the cockis driven in the direction of arrow B through the Wall 1', forms a discharge port 6 in which the cock is fixed.
  • the cock may be removed when the receptacle is emptied for disposal thereof. Filling of the receptacle is carried out by the usual apparatus through the bunghole which is closed by the stopper 3, 3' or 13. For emptying, the cock is inserted as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the bunghole vented to the atmosphere.
  • the container may,
  • a disposable container for beer and other liquids comprising a unitary synthetic-resin receptacle having an annular wall and a pair of end walls integral therewith; means forming in said receptacle a bunghole along said annular wall; a stopper received in said bunghole; and means forming in one of said end walls a weakened zone rupturable to receive a dispensing cock, said stopper being composed of synthetic resin and having an outwardly divergent frustoconical wall receivable in said bunghole and a pair of flanges permanently anchoring said stopper in said receptacle, said stopper being further provided with an outwardly converging frnstoconicalbore and including an outwardly tapering plug received in said bore and adapted to be driven inwardly into said receptacle for opening same to the atmosphere.
  • said means forming said weakened zone is an inwardly extending hollow frustoconical socket molded integrally in said one of said end walls of said receptacle and having said weakened zone at the base of said socket.
  • a disposable beer container comprising a unitary synthetic-resin receptacle having an annular outwardly bulging wall and a pair of end walls monolithically integral therewith; means forming in said receptacle a hunghole in said annular wall; a stopper received in said bunghole; and means forming in one of said end walls at a location adjacent said annular wall and diametrically opposite said -bunghole a weakened zone rupturable to receive a dispensing cock, said end walls being dished inwardly and provided along the interior of said receptacle a plurality of reinforcing ribs, the last-mentioned means including an inwardly tapering wall monolithically integral with said one of said end walls and defining an inwardly tapering recess therein, said weakened zone being constituted as a disk of synthetic resin closing the base of said recess and monolithically integral with said inwardly tapering wall.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
US661589A 1966-08-20 1967-08-18 No-return container for beer and other liquids Expired - Lifetime US3468450A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEST025782 1966-08-20
DEST026976 1967-06-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3468450A true US3468450A (en) 1969-09-23

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US661589A Expired - Lifetime US3468450A (en) 1966-08-20 1967-08-18 No-return container for beer and other liquids

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3468450A (xx)
AT (1) AT296143B (xx)
BE (1) BE702797A (xx)
GB (1) GB1191873A (xx)
NL (1) NL6711301A (xx)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3827595A (en) * 1970-07-27 1974-08-06 Huck Finn Inc Beer keg
US4898296A (en) * 1986-10-29 1990-02-06 Mauser-Werker Gmbh Bunged vessel
US5449087A (en) * 1993-09-08 1995-09-12 Sonoco Products Company Molded plastic drum
US5713627A (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-02-03 Gestind-M.B. Manifattura Di Bruzolo S.P.A. Motor-vehicle seat
US5862936A (en) * 1996-09-27 1999-01-26 Sonoco Products & Company Bung for a pressure vessel
US5947326A (en) * 1997-11-12 1999-09-07 Alasco Rubber & Plastics Corporation Bung and stopper

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE266879C (xx) *
FR1117219A (fr) * 1954-12-03 1956-05-18 Récipient et son procédé de fabrication
US2772017A (en) * 1953-12-21 1956-11-27 Ricke Metal Products Corp Plastic drum closure
US2787397A (en) * 1953-07-16 1957-04-02 Walter A Radford Self-sealing pressurized reinforced plastics container
US2962185A (en) * 1958-03-05 1960-11-29 Jerome S Heisler Plastic closure plug and container flange plug assembly
US2969161A (en) * 1958-03-24 1961-01-24 Ceeco Products Pty Ltd Bung for beer barrels and the like
US3115281A (en) * 1961-01-16 1963-12-24 R & C Investment Inc Shipping container
GB954454A (en) * 1961-02-14 1964-04-08 Shell Int Research Synthetic plastics container
US3266491A (en) * 1963-03-04 1966-08-16 Lorica Inc Sanitary protective device
US3294271A (en) * 1962-05-18 1966-12-27 Armbruster Fritz Plastic barrel

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE266879C (xx) *
US2787397A (en) * 1953-07-16 1957-04-02 Walter A Radford Self-sealing pressurized reinforced plastics container
US2772017A (en) * 1953-12-21 1956-11-27 Ricke Metal Products Corp Plastic drum closure
FR1117219A (fr) * 1954-12-03 1956-05-18 Récipient et son procédé de fabrication
US2962185A (en) * 1958-03-05 1960-11-29 Jerome S Heisler Plastic closure plug and container flange plug assembly
US2969161A (en) * 1958-03-24 1961-01-24 Ceeco Products Pty Ltd Bung for beer barrels and the like
US3115281A (en) * 1961-01-16 1963-12-24 R & C Investment Inc Shipping container
GB954454A (en) * 1961-02-14 1964-04-08 Shell Int Research Synthetic plastics container
US3294271A (en) * 1962-05-18 1966-12-27 Armbruster Fritz Plastic barrel
US3266491A (en) * 1963-03-04 1966-08-16 Lorica Inc Sanitary protective device

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3827595A (en) * 1970-07-27 1974-08-06 Huck Finn Inc Beer keg
US4898296A (en) * 1986-10-29 1990-02-06 Mauser-Werker Gmbh Bunged vessel
US5449087A (en) * 1993-09-08 1995-09-12 Sonoco Products Company Molded plastic drum
US5713627A (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-02-03 Gestind-M.B. Manifattura Di Bruzolo S.P.A. Motor-vehicle seat
US5862936A (en) * 1996-09-27 1999-01-26 Sonoco Products & Company Bung for a pressure vessel
US6065627A (en) * 1996-09-27 2000-05-23 Sonoco Development, Inc. Bung for a pressure vessel
US5947326A (en) * 1997-11-12 1999-09-07 Alasco Rubber & Plastics Corporation Bung and stopper

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE702797A (xx) 1968-01-15
GB1191873A (en) 1970-05-13
AT296143B (de) 1972-01-25
NL6711301A (xx) 1968-02-21

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