Today in 1958, US Patent 2830611 A was issued, an invention of Harry Stelma, assigned to the Champion Safe Tap Co., for his “Container Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states it’s an “invention [that] relates, as indicated, to container tapping devices and, more particularly, to an improved device of this nature adapted to be used safely and efficiently to tap containers in which fluid is maintained under pressure,” which continues in greater detail:

My improved tap is intended principally for use in withdrawing beer from the usual kegs in which the beverage is transported and stored and will, accordingly, be considered and described in detail in connection with such an application thereof. As is well-known, considerable care must be exercised in the common practice of tapping a beer keg by using the draft tube to force the bung into the keg, since the resultant release of pressure may tear the tube from the users hands and cause body injury. The tapping device of my invention includes means preventative of such blowing of the draft tube.

Today in 1937, US Patent 2076893 A was issued, an invention of Aron E Johnson, for his “Beer Dispenser.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention relat[ing] to improvements in beer dispensers and aims primarily to provide a beer dispenser especially designed and constructed to avoid the defects previously existent in devices of this type.” Here’s the full story:

The beer dispensers heretofore in use have been defective in that no cushioning means was provided between their outer casings and their fragile beer containers, which in consequence resulted in 1o frequent breakage of the latter. Further, no provision was made heretofore for insulating the covers of such dispensers, hence the contents of the latter became warm and flat in a comparatively short time. Furthermore, no provision was made heretofore for sealing the covers and faucets of these beer dispensers, which fact resulted in the tampering with the contents of the same during the transportation thereof from the producing plants to the consumers.

The present invention, therefore, has for its purpose to obviate the above described defects. This has been primarily attained by providing cushioning means between the lower end of the outer casing and the fragile beer container, thus minimizing breakage of the latter, also by providing the present dispenser with an insulated cover which `protects the beer from becoming warm and at, and also by providing sealing means for the cover and faucet of the instant dispenser which effectively and positively prevents tampering with its contents during transportation, all of which features are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the efficiency of the device for the uses and purposes for which it is primarily designed and intended.

Today in 1949, US Patent 2466892 A was issued, an invention of Stanley B. Holmes, for his “Beer Tap.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention relat[ing] to beer taps:

First: To provide a beer tap which is adapted to interlock with the conventional latching means provided on beer kegs in a manner to form a sealing connection between the keg and a delivery tube.

Second: To provide a beertap which may be readily and quickly connected or disconnected with a minimum of effort without the aid of tools but which, when connected, cannot read– ily be accidentally loosened.

Third: To provide a beer tap which is particularly simple in its construction and readily cleaned.

Fourth: To provide a beer tap which includes a mounting structure which may be installed or removed without the delivery tube in place, and wherein the delivery tube may be inserted or removed without disturbing the connection between the mounting structure and the beer keg, or, if desired, both may be removed or installed simultaneously, the delivery tube remaining fixed in its position.