Today in 1967, US Patent 3327902 A was issued, an invention of Melvin Alterwitz, for his “Chilled Beverage Dispensing System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispensing system. More particularly, it relates to the adaptation of a chilled beverage dispensing system either to a home bar or to a portable picnic ice chest.

In recent years it has become increasingly popular to serve chilled beverages dispensed from bulk containers or tanks in the home as well as out of doors. This has proven to be a more economical as well as practical way in which to serve a large number of chilled beverage drinks, as it obviates the need for purchasing, handling and chilling large numbers of small bottle or can containers. Moreover, there is a degree of added charm in dispensing chilled beverages in the same manner as do commercial establishments.

Some people have gone to the great expense to have a built-in bar put in their homes. Very few, however, have gone to the considerably additional expense to incorporate in their home bars a system for dispensing chilled beverages from bulk containers, such as beer kegs, etc. Typically, these home bar setups require a considerable amount of space and thus require a reasonably large room to accommodate it.

Quite obviously, those living in leased quarters would not undertake the construction of such a home .bar setup knowing that once they moved. out they would either have to dismantle it or leave it behind.

For outdoor gatherings, such as picnics, chilled beverages are customarily served. Typically, in order to chill the beverages to a suitable temperature for drinking, a plurality of small beverage containers are placed in a container, such as an ice chest, filled with ice. The problem of suitably chilling beverages dispensed from bulk containers can be a particularly difficult one when out of doors. Quite obviously, ice in some form has to be used either to cool the-bulk containers or to cool the beverage as it is drawn from the bulk container and dispensed through beverage taps. While it is generally much preferred to be able to dispense chilled beverages from bulk containers, dispensing apparatus which is sufficiently portable and convenient to use is not readily available.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable chilled beverage dispensing system.

An additional object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is readily implemented with means for chilling the beverage to be dispensed.

Another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character for dispensing plural kinds of beverages from different bulk containers.

Still another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character in which the beverage taps are mounted to swing into position for dispensing from a position of protective concealment.

Yet another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is compact, inexpensive, and simplified in design.

Today in 1939, US Patent 2163817 A was issued, an invention of Eugene H. Wagner, for his “Draw Rod Adaptor.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to direct draw beer dispensing and cooling cabinets and more particularly to an adapter to accommodate a draw rod for either center or side tapping.

The principal purpose and object of my invention is to provide an adapter so constructed and arranged that by merely reversing the relative positions of its parts, the desired passageway out of the cabinet for a draw rod may be easily and quickly provided for either center or side tapping.

In accordance with my invention the adapter comprises a pair of separable block-like elements of the desired material and provided at their engaging surfaces, one with a pair of spaced grooves, and the other with a groove and a projection in the same spaced relation as the grooves in the other element so that the selected grooves may be made to register to provide a draw rod passageway through the adapter while the projection extends in to and closes the groove not being. used.

Today in 1905, US Patent 793579 A was issued, an invention of Robert H. Hackney, assigned to the Pressed Steel Tank Company, for his “Metal Barrel.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of this invention is to produce a light, strong, and durable metallic barrel or keg with a smooth interior that will not catch and hold sediment and that can be easily and thoroughly cleaned.

Today in 1973, US Patent 3741248 A was issued, an invention of Frederick F. Stevens, assigned to Hoff Stevens, for his “Rotary Selector Valve Mechanism.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

A rotary selector valve mechanism having a housing defining a generally cylindrical fluid chamber and including a fluid outlet port communicating with the chamber. A circumaxial series of inlet valves mounted on the housing each include an inlet port and a valve element movable between opened and closed positions and biased to closed position to prevent passage of fluid from the inlet port to the chamber. A rotary crank mechanism journaled for coaxial rotation relative to the fluid chamber is adapted for selective angular positioning relative to the valve elements to retain a selected one of the valve elements in its open position whereby a fluid flow path is provided from the inlet port associated with the one inlet valve to and through the chamber to the outlet port. Positioning of the crank mechanism is remotely controlled by a servo mechanism which includes a rotary selector switch.