Today in 1913, US Patent 1078253 A was issued, an invention of James D. Carey and Bernard Goldenthal, for their “Pipe Cleaner.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to an improvement in pipe cleaners, and while especially adapted for cleaning pipes leading from beer barrels to the faucets, it is equally applicable for cleaning pipes of soda water fountains, boilers or any other pipes which may be coupled in pairs.
Today in 1999, US Patent 5980959 A was issued, an invention of Bernard Derek Frutin, for his “Methods and Apparatus for Enhancing Beverages.” Here’s the Abstract:
Enhancing the foam head on a bottled beverage where a pressurized container is housed within the neck of the bottle and above the level of the liquid and so arranged that upon opening of the bottle the pressurized container also opens to release the liquid stream therefrom initially to float on the top surface of the beverage in the bottle.
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.
Today in 1990, US Patent D311868 S was issued, an invention of Kenneth J. Armstrong, for his “Beer Keg Cap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
The ornamental design for a beer keg cap as shown and described.
Today in 1953, US Patent 2657817 A was issued, an invention of Victor Alvear, for his “Plastic Bung for Beer Barrels or the Like.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
I have found that an elastic and entirely satisfactory and cheap stopper can be formed of synthetic elastomeric plastic having the properties of polyethylene and vinyl derivatives. This is not only cheap to manufacture but the stopper can be used over and over again. Such a stopper has been found to be tasteless, non-absorbent, insoluble, indestructible, can be used in conventional bung hole bushings and when properly formed is entirely effective. The stopper is inert to liquid as well as gases and is entirely sanitary. It is not affected by normal changes in atmospheric conditions and does not stick to the bushing. This type of plastic has the known characteristic of being form retaining under normal pressure but capable of deformation under excessive pressure and return to its original form upon release of such pressure.
Today in 1899, US Patent 636210 A was issued, an invention of Auguste Liese, for his “Beer-Faucet,” although he’s more famous for having invented to crown bottle cap. There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive beer-faucet which is adapted to be connected so that, by the use of a single turn-cock, beer, ale, or other liquor may be drawn either from a tank or directly from the wood and so that the same can be tempered by simultaneously drawing off more or less gas, as desired. A further object of my invention is to construct the beer-faucet so that the beer or ale maybe admitted from the barrel to a storage tank and so that any excess of gas may be exhausted from the upper part of the cock instead of blowing the same off through the usual outlet.
Today in 1941, US Patent 2260958 A was issued, an invention of Albert R. Tomson, for his “Beer Cooler.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates generally to a cooling and dispensing apparatus for carbonated beverages and is particularly designed for advantageous use as ‘a direct draw box for beer.
One of the objects of the. invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which is designed and adapted to use ice as the cooling or refrigerating medium and which cools the beer to any temperature at which beer can be sold with satisfaction and yet provide for the drawing of a glass of beer Without the use of rubber or block tin coil connections for the beer to flow through before it reaches the glass. The beer flows from the barrel or keg directly through the tap rod and faucet to the glass.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling and dispensing apparatus of this character and having these advantages and which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, attractive in appearance, convenient in use, and susceptible of comparatively inexpensive manufacture.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling and dispensing apparatus of this character in which provision is made for cooling the beer in the tap rod and tap fitting and incidentally also cooling the head of the keg or barrel.
Today in 2010, US Patent 7819286 B2 was issued, an invention of William L. Antheil and Nelson Bolton, assigned to Kegx LLC, for their “Beer Keg and Method Of Assembly.” Here’s the Abstract:
A container, or keg, for storing, shipping, and dispensing a bulk quantity of a fluid, for example, beer or like malt beverage, is provided. The container/keg includes a flaccid bag (56) for containing the fluid and a substantially rigid, pressure-tight, plastic vessel (10) within which the bag (56) is contained. The bag (56) has a mouth (58) secured with a locking ring or the like to an opening in the vessel (10) via which the mouth (58) is accessible externally of the vessel (10) for purposes of filling the bag (56) with the fluid and/or dispensing the fluid from the bag (56). Preferably, the shape of the vessel (10) permits it to be efficiently stacked and shipped when in a full or empty condition. Methods for assembling, filling and shipping kegs are also provided.
Today in 1897, US Patent 592295 A was issued, an invention of George C. Kaohel and Henry Sager, for their “Bung and Faucet.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to new and useful Improvement in Bungs and Faucets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.
without destroying the keg or cask, as frequently occurs under the old process, the faucet employed being particularly adapted for this purpose.
A further object of the invention is to provide a bushing and barrel to receive the faucet so constructed that the kegs or casks will be practically as clean when returned to the brewery as when taken therefrom, since all the liquid may be drained from the receptacle.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.
Today in 1988, US Patent 4779750 A was issued, an invention of Kenneth J. Armstrong, for his “Beer Keg Cap.” Here’s the Abstract:
A removable thermoplastic cap for a beer keg bushing comprising a flat disc with integral peripheral skirt which includes inturned upwardly directed gripping lugs preventing removal of the cap when once fitted to a beer keg bushing, vertical slots spaced around the skirt and extending partway across the disc to provide venting for the interior of the bushing, and a pull tab provided on one side of the disc and connected by weakened lines to the opposite side thereof to facilitate peeling off of the cap by tearing apart the skirt.
