# US 9,434,505 B2 · Plastic beer keg

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- Number: US 9,434,505 B2
- Document ID: US9434505B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/693,831
- Filed: 2010-01-26
- Published: 2011-07-28
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-26
- Assignees: Rehrig Pacific Company
- Applicants: William P. Apps
- Inventors: William P. Apps
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434505B2

## CPC

- B65D 77/0486: {the inner container being coaxially disposed within the outer container (B65D81/3876 takes precedence)}
- B65D 11/08: {Arrangements of filling or discharging apertures}
- B67D 1/0804: {Shape or materials}
- B67D 1/0829: {Keg connection means}
- B67D 1/0835: {with one valve}
- B67D 2001/0093: {Valves}
- B67D 2001/0824: {with dip tubes}
- Y02W 30/80: Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging (bio-packaging Y02W90/10)
- 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
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A plastic beer keg includes an outer container and a liner having a neck portion and a body portion. A removable lid is secured over an opening of the container to enclose the liner. A locking ring secures the neck portion to the lid. The neck optionally includes a neck ring which interlocks with the opening through the lid to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The locking ring optionally includes ratcheting teeth engaging ratchet teeth on the lid to prevent inadvertent loosening of the locking ring. The liner may be suspended from the lid by the neck when empty.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plastic beer keg including:
a container having an outer wall to at least partially define a container interior;
a lid secured to an upper portion of the outer wall of the container, the lid having an opening;
a liner within the container interior, the liner including a neck portion, a body portion and a shoulder portion between the neck portion and the body portion;
a valve assembly including a retainer connected to the neck portion of the liner, a portion of the retainer projecting through the opening through the lid; and
a ring threaded to the retainer to secure the retainer to the lid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the ring is a locking ring that includes a ratchet engagement with the lid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The plastic beer keg of claim 2 wherein the liner interlocks with the lid to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The plastic beer keg of claim 2 wherein the ratchet engagement includes a plurality of ratchet teeth engaging at least one ratcheting tooth to permit rotation of the locking ring in a tightening direction and to inhibit rotation of the locking ring in a loosening direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The plastic beer keg of claim 2 wherein the locking ring includes the at least one ratcheting tooth on at least one locking ring tab.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the retainer and the neck portion each include threads and wherein the threads on at least one of the retainer and the neck portion includes gaps for controllably releasing pressure in the liner.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the liner is a blow-molded PET liner.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the container includes a bottom wall, the outer wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define the container interior, wherein the liner is suspended from the lid by the neck portion such that the liner is not in contact with the bottom wall when the liner is empty.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The plastic beer keg of claim 8 wherein the liner is filled with beer and expanded such that the liner is in contact with the bottom wall of the container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The plastic beer keg of claim 8 wherein the bottom wall is convex toward the container interior.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The plastic beer keg of claim 8 wherein the bottom wall includes a plurality of feet projecting upward toward the liner.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The plastic beer keg of claim 1 wherein the liner is a PET bottle, the PET bottle including a shoulder portion between the body portion and the neck portion.