Today in 1875, US Patent 166742 A was issued, an invention of John K. Bohaet, for his “Improvement in Beer-Refrigerators.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved refrigerator for cooling lager-beer in the keg, and which shall be so constructed as to cool the beer quickly, and keep it cool for a long time with a small quantity of ice, and which shall be simple in construction, convenient in use, and very compact, requiring but little space. The invention consists in the beer-refrigerator formed of the skid, the ice-box, and the outer box or case, constructed as hereinafter fully described, to adapt it to receive a beer-keg, as set forth.

Today in 1977, US Patent 4042142 A was issued, an invention of Robert W. Ruano, for his “Beer Keg Cooling Container.” Here’s the Abstract:

A beer keg container of insulating material, such as styrofoam, subdivided into three parts, a lid with a hole through which the shaft of the tap extends, an upper half, and a bottom half, which halves are detachably connected by an interlocking joint. The bottom half is reinforced with a wire basket having handles to facilitate carrying of the insulating container and enclosed beer keg. The diameter of the beer keg is smaller and spaced from the inner diameter of the container so that the space there between may be packed with ice cubes or crushed ice to keep the beer keg cold.

Today in 1878, US Patent 206825 A was issued, an invention of John A. Prindle, for his “Improvement in Beer-Pump Valves.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to an apparatus for pumping fluids from casks, and is intended as an improvement on the device shown and described in Letters Patent No. 191,656, dated February 6, 1877, granted to Wm. F. Glass.

My improvement consists, principally, in the peculiar construction of the bung, provided with valve or valves, which close the bunghole hermetically and automatically by the pressure of gas from within, while air or gases may be easily forced through it into the cask, barrel, or other vessel.

It also consists in constructing the air valve proper of rubber or equivalent elastic material, forming it conical or conoidal, and causing it to rest upon a sharp-edged seat, whereby slight pressure will be sufficient to insure good results, and heavy pressure the same results, without liability of damaging the valve.

Today in 1974, US Patent 3827595 A was issued, an invention of Henry Clausen, for his “Beer Keg.” Here’s the Abstract:

A beer keg having the top, bottom and side walls made of plastic, and tapper and filler plug mounting members made of plastic or metal which in one embodiment are cast in position as the top and side walls are formed. In the second embodiment the filler plug is retained in the central part of the keg as the keg is molded and thereafter mounted in a filler opening formed in the barrel.

Today in 1971, US Patent 3596810 A was issued, an invention of Roy A. Taubenheim, for his “Keg-Tapping System.” Here’s the Abstract:

A beer keg-tapping device which consists of a keg unit that is permanently attached to the keg and a coupler unit detachably connected to the keg unit. Both units have liquid and gas passages which communicate when the units are coupled; a single valve element automatically closes both passages of the keg unit when units are not coupled. During coupling the passages of the two units are connected before the valve element is unseated, so that coupling is accomplished without spraying of beer.

Today in 1974, US Patent 3825145 A was issued, an invention of Richard W. Reynolds, for his “Beer Keg.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

A beer keg having plastic top, bottom and side walls that are of integral unitary construction, and a tapper mounting member cast in position in the top wall and a filler plug mounted in the side wall.

Today in 1936, US Patent 2048266 A was issued, an invention of Thomas Alfred Jenkins, for his “Beer Cooling and Dispensing System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to improvements in beer cooling and dispensing systems and consists in the construction; combinations and arrangements as herein described and claimed.

The general object of my invention is the provision, in a manner-as hereinafter set forth, of a beer cooling and dispensing system that is complete in arrangement; unique in design; attractive; durable; sanitary; efficient and economical in operating performance.

The basic thought and purpose of conception, as embodied in this invention, is the creation of a beer cooling and dispensing system, wherein the cooling tank is simple; the means for cooling highly efficient and the entire system complete in function and sanitary throughout. Means for filtering the beer are practical in every sense and perform the important function of protecting various valve protecting elements. Means for controlling pressure; retaining gases and for flushing and emptying the entire system during cleaning periods are provided.