Today in 1979, US Patent 4173295 A was issued, an invention of Dieter Steinmann, assigned to the European Design Corporation, for his “Barrel Dispensing Support.” Here’s the Abstract:

A one way beer barrel dispensing support is provided to facilitate dispensing a beverage from the barrel by gravity flow. The support has a circular area on its upper surface for receiving the bottom end of a beverage barrel. A conduit is mounted in said circular area and has an inlet which enters the barrel when the barrel is placed on the support. The end of the conduit remote from the inlet has a valved spigot to control dispensing.