EP2841350A1 - Stopper for a beverage container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopper (1) for a beverage container, a tapping assembly and a beverage container (100). The stopper (1) comprises an outer part (4) which has a ring flange (41) and a sleeve (42), the sleeve (42), below the ring flange (41), being circumferentially deformed to form a bulge (43), and a spreading ring (3) which has a ring flange (31) and a plurality of L-shaped elements (32) which have a pivot (D) at the angle of the "L" and the free ends of which are designed as hooks (33), and a bushing (2) and a rotational cover (5), which has a cover plate (54) and a sleeve (51). When the stopper (1) is in a position of non-use, the spreading ring (3) is pre-positioned in the outer part (4), the bushing (2) protrudes partially into the spreading ring (3), and the hooks (33) point radially inward. The rotational cover (5) can provide a closure arrangement, in which the rotational cover (5), the spreading ring (3), and the bushing (2) are accommodated so far from the outer part (4) that the hooks (33) of the spreading ring (3) are turned outward and engage in the bulge (43), whereby a circumferential projection is pressed in the direction of an underside of the ring flange (41).

Description

 CLOSURE PLUG FOR A BEVERAGE CONTAINER

The following invention relates to a closure stopper for a beverage container, in particular for a beer keg, to a dispensing device which comprises the sealing stopper and to the stoppered beverage container itself.

It is known to provide beverage containers such as beer kegs, including the so-called Partykegs with a filling volume of usually 5 or 10 liters, with a filling or outlet opening, which is tightly closed during storage of the beverage container and is then provided with a tap device, when the beverage container or barrel is put into use. These outlet openings are provided with a closure, which is usually removed and replaced with a removal device such as an outlet nozzle or a tap when the beverage is to be consumed; Alternatively, closures are also known which form a closure plug and a tap at the same time.

Such a closure is known for example from DE 21 2005 000 063 U1: There, a closure in the form of a tap or plug for a beverage container such as a beer keg is disclosed, whose main task is to reduce the adverse influence of the oxygen access into the container interior. This is achieved in that the tap has at least one plastic injection molded part, which is doped with a scavenger. The tap there may be formed with at least two relatively movable parts, by means of which a discharge opening can be closed, wherein at least one of the parts is the scavengerdoped plastic part.

While this closure has the task of keeping oxygen out of the beverage in the vessel, the stop method disclosed in DE 10 2007 029 450 A1 has The task of overpressure protection is also taken into account: there, too, reference is made to party kegs, which are constructed as three-part crease-closure cans, with a hull with welded longitudinal seam and bottom and topsoil, which are connected to the hull by means of a fold. Against an increase in pressure by CC development beyond a certain limit, an overpressure protection is to be provided, via which pressure can escape from the container to the outside in the event of an unforeseen pressure increase, before overstressing of the seam connection or bursting of the container can occur , Therefore, there is disclosed a plug which can be inserted sealingly into an opening of the container and which has a passage which is sealed by a film which forms a seal which yields when a certain pressure is exceeded and releases the passage opening. Basically, but the further task arises when such plugs are used in a filling opening, to protect the edge of the filling opening from corrosion, since such beverage containers are just like the partykegs just usually made of sheet metal - as stated above - and in contact with begin to corrode the drink. On the one hand, this is disadvantageous in terms of taste and, on the other hand, it impairs the secure seating of the closure in the opening.

Based on this prior art, the present invention is based on the object to provide an improved sealing plug, which can avoid corrosion at the edge of a filling opening made of corrosive material.

This object is achieved by a closure plug having the features of independent claim 1.

The further object is to provide an improved dispensing arrangement which is also resistant to corrosion at a filling opening edge of a beverage container. vessel is formed safer.

This object is achieved by the dispensing arrangement having the features of independent claim 9.

The further object of providing a corrosion-protected beverage container, in particular a beer keg, such as a party keg, is achieved by the beverage container having the features of independent claim 12.

An inventive closure stopper for a beverage container in a first embodiment has at least one outer part with an annular flange which extends into a sleeve, wherein below the annular flange, the sleeve is deformed circumferentially to a bulge. Further, the closure plug has a spreader ring having an annular flange from which extends a plurality of spaced apart L-shaped members downwardly having a pivot point at the angle of the "L" and whose free ends are formed as hooks In a non-use arrangement of the sealing plug in which it is not yet inserted into a filling opening of the beverage container, the expansion ring is now in a non-use arrangement of the sealing plug pre-positioned in the outer part and the sleeve protrudes a little way into the expansion ring, the hooks point radially inward.

By pressing the rotary lid, but without rotating it, an advantageous closure arrangement can now be produced. As a result, the rotary cover, the spreader and the socket are so far absorbed in the outer part, that the hooks of the spreader ring are rotated outwards. Since these have a pivot point at the angle of the "L", they are rotatable or pivotable outwardly, so that therefore in the use arrangement, the closure arrangement in which the vessel is merely closed. sen, or a tap assembly in which the closure plug forms part of a dispensing device may be, the free ends of the hooks facing outward. This is advantageous because the hooks engage in the bulge, which presents itself on the outside as a nose or circumferential projection, which is then pressed in the direction of the underside of the annular flange and also radially deformed, and thus in the gap between the nose and annular flange of the outer part introduced vessel Füllöffnungsrand safely include and can clamp fluid-tight. Thus, after the plug has been locked, the contact of filled medium (beverage) with metal is avoided: this protects the drink from rust, which otherwise forms in party kegs made of sheet metal.

The deformation of the nose to achieve its sealing purpose succeeds particularly well when the outer part is made of plastic, preferably of a thermoplastic elastomer; optionally made of rubber.

In order to be able to easily insert the sealing plug into the filling opening of a vessel, the sleeve of the outer part tapers conically downward with respect to its outer circumference.

Suitably, the closure stopper comprises a device which closes it: For this purpose, a stopper is placed from below, ie in the use arrangement, which has a cover plate from which extends centrally a core, which is spaced from a sleeve by a gap is. This can now be plugged from the bottom of the outer part, and when the rotary cover is removed, it can be easily pressed into the beverage container inside. He sits sealingly and form-fitting on the outer part. For this purpose, in a further development of the core and the sleeve and the gap are arranged to each other so that the plug on the side facing away from the annular flange of the outer part on the outer part form-fitting sealing can be placed.

Furthermore, the core and the sleeve and the gap are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the core also bears in a form-fitting manner in the sleeve of the rotary cover when it is arranged in the closure plug; In this case, a cross-sectional shape of the core and an inner cross-sectional shape of the sleeve are preferably formed so that they can be brought into rotatable engagement with each other. It may be an elongated or oval cross-sectional shape or another cross-sectional shape of the core, which corresponds to the sleeve of the rotary cover corresponding to or can be brought into engagement.

The plug may further include side radial vent holes. Corresponding ventilation holes are in this embodiment in the outer part, so that when turning the plug by means of the rotary cover for ventilation purposes, the otherwise offset holes are brought together to coincide and allow the air inlet for the purpose of pressure equalization during tenon.

The bushing is advantageously longer than the spreader ring and has, on the outside, a groove which engages around an inner lower edge of the hook in the closure arrangement. Thus, the spreader ring can be secured and held in position, even if the rotating lid is removed.

Advantageously, the bush for producing the groove be chamfered down the outside. Also at its upper edge, the socket can be chamfered. This embodiment facilitates, for example, the insertion of the sword. The bush is advantageously made of a solid material such as a non-elastic plastic so as not to be deformed when the rotary cover is released. In a suitable exemplary embodiment of the sealing plug, the annular flange has on its inner side an inner circumferential step, through which a bearing surface is located in a plane lying below the plane of the annular flange surface and a support surface in a second plane, on each of which the flanges of Rotating cover and the spreader rest one another lying, so that a flush, smooth plug surface is created, the outside of the barrel can be seen. For example, it may be desirable to remove the rotary lid when, after providing the closure assembly while maintaining the disposition of the expansion ring in the remaining cylindrical opening formed by the sleeve, a sword of a dispensing device is to be inserted. Therefore, in a first embodiment of a dispensing arrangement according to the invention, the closure plugs according to an embodiment of the invention and further comprising a dispensing device with a sword which extends through the closure plug and at least rests in the socket. Advantageously, in a development of the dispensing arrangement, the sword is fluid-tightly enclosed in the outer part of the sealing plug by an inner circumferential bead of the outer part.

Finally, a beverage container according to the invention with a filling opening, which has an edge, the closure plug on: The filling opening is closed by this and the edge is fluid-tight from the bulge formed by the bulge of the outer part supernatant, which pressed towards the bottom of the annular flange of the outer part present, edged so that it is protected against corrosion. These and other advantages are set forth by the following description with reference to the accompanying figures. The reference to the figures in the description is to support the description and the facilitated understanding of the subject. Articles or parts of objects which are substantially the same or similar may be given the same reference numerals. The figures are merely schematic representations of embodiments of the invention. It shows:

1 is a perspective view of a party cask with provided in the topsoil filling opening,

 2 is a side sectional view of a sealing plug according to the invention, inserted into a filling opening,

3 is a side sectional view of a sealing plug according to the invention, with pulled out rotary cover,

 4 is a side sectional view of a sealing plug according to the invention, with depressed rotary lid,

 5 is a perspective side sectional exploded view of a sealing plug according to the invention,

 Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an inventive

 Sealing plug,

 7a shows a first perspective sectional view of the spreader ring,

 Fig. 7b is another perspective sectional view of the expansion ring, Fig. 8 is another side sectional view of the sealing plug according to the invention, with prepositioned rotary cover.

The beverage container shown in Fig. 1 is a beer keg 100 or Partykeg 100 with a filling volume of a few liters. It has in its topsoil a filling opening into which the sealing plug 1 according to the invention can be inserted.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show embodiments of the sealing plug according to the invention: As can be seen from FIG. 3, a closure plug 1 according to the invention can initially have an outer part 4 from outside to inside, which, in relation to its positioning in use in the beer barrel 100. has on its upper side an annular flange 41 which is extends into a sleeve 42 which tapers conically downward with respect to its outer periphery. The sleeve 42 is also clearly visible in FIGS. 5 and 6. The annular flange 41 has on its inner side on a innenumfängliche step, through which in a lying below the plane of the Ringflansch- surface first level a bearing surface 41 'and below in a second plane a bearing surface 41 "results.

Below the annular flange 41, the sleeve 42 is deformed circumferentially to a supernatant, where it forms a quasi nose 43, the shoulder 43 'points in the direction of the underside of the annular flange 41. Thus, a groove is formed between the shoulder 43 ', the nose 43 and the underside of the annular flange 41, which is just dimensioned such that it forms the edge of a beverage container opening, such as the edge 102 around the filling opening 101 of the party keg 100 Fig. 4, engages. As will be further explained with reference to FIG. 4, the nose 43 is formed such that the groove surrounds the edge 02 of the filling opening 101 of the party bowl 100 (only shown in the detail) at the cutting edge in such a way that the edge 102 is protected against corrosion ,

Especially with vessels made of sheet metal, an unprotected and thus corrosion-prone sheet edge is created by the introduction of the filling opening 101, which is now sealingly received by the closure plug 1 and the nose 43 and thus advantageously preserved from corrosive beverage contact. This is achieved by the following design of the sealing plug 1:

In the outer part 4, which is made of a plastic to be correspondingly deformable, preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer such as rubber, the spreader ring 3 is positioned, see Fig. 3. This has an annular flange 31 from which a plurality of approximately L-shaped elements 32 extends downwardly, the free ends are formed as radially inwardly facing hook 33. The L-shaped elements 32 are which are spaced apart and taper from top to bottom to the hooks 33 in width. The L-shaped members 32 are adapted to form a pivot point D at an angle of "L", see Figs. 7a and 7b, and are thus rotatable outwardly, so that in the assembly of use, a closure assembly or a The arrangement of the spreader ring can be seen from Figures 7a and 7b: There, the spreader ring 3 is shown in the non-use arrangement that is, without exerting its function in the sealing plug 1. Only when pressure is exerted from the inside of the expansion ring 3, the hooks 33 are pivoted outwardly and then form the outwardly projecting projections which, when transferred to the use arrangement (as described below) 4, are brought in on the inside into engagement with the sleeve 42 in the area of the nose 43. The hooks 33 then engage underneath the circumferential nose 43 Press d radially outwards, wherein this is possible fluid-tight manner around the opening edge 102 of the filling opening 101 of the beer 100 is applied. In the region of the nose 43, therefore, the sleeve 42 is designed on the inside so that an "expansion cage" is formed on the inner circumference, see also FIG. 8, which receives the expansion ring 3.

The annular flange 31 has a width which corresponds precisely to the depth of the support surface 41 "in the second plane of the outer part 4, on which it comes into abutment in the user equipment, that the spreader 3 does not slip down and is held in its desired position ,

Next comes within the Spreizringes 3 a socket 2, see

Fig. 2, to lie, which is made of a solid material, such as a hard plastic, and the outside at the bottom and top on the inside is circumferentially ange- almost. The upper chamfer is for easier insertion of a sword, when the dispensing assembly is made.

The sleeve 2 has a groove 22 slightly above the lower chamfer 23 so that the groove 22 and the chamfer 24 also form a nose 25. In the arrangement of use, the bushing 2, which is longer than the spreader ring 3, can thus stabilize it on the inside, ensure it and ensure uniform application of force to the L-shaped elements 32 during the transfer from the non-use to the use arrangement. Suitably, the bushing 2 is just so much longer than the height of the expansion ring 3, that at the aligned upper edges of the two components 2.3, the nose 25 engages under the outwardly pivoted hook 33.

In order to transfer the closure plug 1 from its non-use into a use arrangement in which it reliably closes the beer keg 100, the closure plug 1 is first introduced into the filling opening 101 (also called a bunghole) of the beer keg 100, with the soft nose 43 below of the annular flange 41 offers the greatest insertion resistance and therefore the diameter of the outer part 4 around the nose 43 is only slightly larger (in the mm range, approximately 0.5 to 2.2 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 2.0 mm) than the diameter of the filling opening 101. Thus, the sealing plug 1 can be introduced comparatively easily and without tools into the filling opening 101. The material of the outer part 4 may suitably have a Shore hardness in the range of 55 to 90, preferably by 70, in order to be sufficiently soft for the desired deformation.

The rotary cover 5 is in the arrangement consisting of

 - The sleeve 2, which is inserted into the spreader 3, but without the hooks 33 to pivot outwards, and

 - The spreader ring 3, which surrounds the sleeve 2 and which in turn is surrounded by the - outer part 4, without already inside pressure on the

Nose 43 is exercised,

pre-positioned before. When inserting the sealing plug with a rotating lid for the purpose of closing the vessel 100 (locking), the sealing plug initially goes into the filling opening 101 easily and only when the interventions between the expanding ring 3, bushing 2 and outer part 4, an increased force required. The sealing plug further comprises the plug 6, which is described below.

In the above arrangement, therefore, the outer part 4 is the longest component that receives the bush 2 and the spreader 3 completely in itself.

The rotary cover 5 consists of a cover plate 54, from which radially inward offset a sleeve 51 extends downwardly. Suitably, the outer circumference of the sleeve 2 is matched to the spreader ring 3 and therefore so large that the sleeve 2 displaces the first still inwardly facing hook 33 and pivots outwards; In this case, the sleeve 2 slips down so that the groove 22 of the sleeve 2 engages around the inner lower edge of the now outwardly turned hook 33. The outwardly turned hooks 33 press against the inner wall of the sleeve 42 of the outer part 4 in the region of the nose 43 and displace the plastic material, which is preferably a food-compatible rubber chemically inert to the beverage, as soft as possible, and thus press the nose 43 on and around the edge 102 of the filling opening 101. Thus, the edge 102 of the usually made of sheet metal and thus at drink contact corro sion endangered beverage container or beer barrel 00, which is strong in standard barrels by 0.6 mm, surrounded by the nose 43 sealingly and thus protected against corrosion.

When the rotary cover 5 is completely inserted, its cover plate 54, as can be seen from FIG. 4, lies with its edge on the support surface 41 'of the outer part 4. The rotary cover has a step here on its sleeve 51 (not fundamentally necessary, another embodiment is also possible), which is matched to the shape of the plug 6: The rotary lid 5, as shown approximately in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, may suitably consist of the illustrated cover plate 62, from which a central, presently solid, core 63 is removed which is surrounded by a gap 61 spaced apart by a gap. Core 63, sleeve 61 and gap are formed so that the plug 6 from below, so arranged on the barrel side, are plugged onto the sealing plug 1 and this form-fitting and thus tightly seals. In this case, the plug 6 is preferably seated so that when the vessel is not to be ventilated, the bore 61 'is present in the sleeve 61 with the bore present in the outer part 4, the offset may be 90 °, but may also be chosen differently ; depending on the arrangement and number of the respective holes. The core 63 comes to lie with its outer wall positively with play on the inner wall of the sleeve 51 of the rotary cover 5, so that the plug can be rotated.

The core 63 of the plug 6 can, as shown here by way of example, have a shape deviating from a circular shape, for example elliptical, elliptically flattened or dovetailed cross section, which is matched to the shape of the inner cross section of the rotary cover 5 in its lower section 52, so that the rotary cover 5 when pressing in with the core 63 forms the positive connection.

In principle, other geometries are possible than the said elliptical, elliptical flattened or biface-like cross-sectional shape, as long as they allow the rotary cover 5 can be pressed to the required depth, in which the spreader 3, the nose 43 in the desired manner sealingly the edge 102 of the beer barrel 100 brings to the plant. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of the components which form the closure plug 1, moreover, in a "non-use, or" Vorpositionierungsanordnung ": Here, the rotary cover is not yet pressed, but so in the Bush 2 pre-positioned that he is prepared for it. He is doing right at the core 63 of the plug 6, which is inserted from below onto the outer part 4. The sleeve 2 already protrudes a little way into the spreader ring, but does not yet cause the hooks 33 to rotate outwards; These still point radially inwards. Incidentally, these hooks 33 can also be formed differently, provided they fulfill the described function. The spreader 3 is so far in the outer part 4 also pre-positioned before. The annular flange 31 of the Spreizrings 3 rests on the lower step 41 "of the annular flange 41 and is held by this.

Turning the rotary lid 5 for ventilation can be done with a handle, which is pivotally provided here and inserted into the groove 53 in the lid plane. Instead of the handle, other possibilities known to those skilled in the art may be provided for the user to be able to grasp and turn the rotary cover 5. For example, a differently shaped groove could be provided, which could be engaged with a coin for turning.

After arranging the sealing plug 1 in the filling opening 01 of the barrel, the rotary lid 5 can be pulled out of the sealing plug arrangement without impairing its sealing function, which is exerted by the nose 43 on the edge 102 of the beverage container 100. When the rotary lid 5 is removed, a sword 110 may be inserted into the remaining cylindrical opening formed by the sleeve 2 as part of a tap assembly or a tap (not figuratively); see, for example, FIG. 2.

By contrast, FIG. 4 otherwise represents a "closure arrangement" of the closure stopper 1 in which the beer keg 100 or another beverage container is securely closed. FIGS. 3 and 2 show "tap arrangements" in which the closure stopper 1 sealingly engages in the filling opening 101 the beer keg 100 without rotating lid 5 and instead with inserted sword 1 10 is shown. It should be noted that the closure plug 1 does not necessarily have to be such that he can take a sword 110: Since the known Partykegs may optionally have a classic tap, which is used on the barrel circumference, the stopper 1 in this case be provided to close only the filling opening 101. Then, the stopper 1 of the ventilation can be used when the rotary lid 5, the stopper 6 is positioned during rotation so that its holes 61 over the holes 4 (not shown figuratively) come to rest.

When the closure plug 1 becomes part of the dispensing arrangement, as can also be seen from FIG. 2, the outer part 4 has an inside circumferential bead 44-not necessarily required for all embodiments of the invention), whose inner circumference is just so with the outer circumference of the sword 110 corresponds to being enclosed in a sealing manner.

 j

When the sword 1 10 is inserted into the sealing plug 1, the plug 6, which is also made of food-compatible material and chemically inert with respect to the beverage, is forced into the interior of the vessel 100.

The closure plug 1 forms, insofar as the rotary cover 5 has been removed, with the sword 110 and the corresponding handling device for conveying the beverage, the dispensing device.

Claims

A closure plug (1) for a beverage container (100), comprising: - An outer part (4) having an annular flange (41) which extends into a sleeve (42) which is deformed below the annular flange (41) circumferentially to a bulge (43),  - A spreader ring (3) having an annular flange (31) from which extends a plurality of spaced apart L-shaped elements (32) downwards, which have a pivot point (D) at an angle of the "L" and the free Ends are designed as hooks (33), a socket (2),  a rotary cover (5) having a cover plate (54) from which extends radially inwardly a sleeve (51) extends downwards,  in which  in a non-use arrangement of the sealing plug (1), the spreader ring (3) is pre-positioned in the outer part (4), the bush (2) projects partially into the spreader ring (3), the rotary cover (5) is prepositioned in the bush (2) and the hooks (33) facing radially inward, and wherein  a closure arrangement can be provided by the rotary cover (5), in which the rotary cover (5), the spreader ring (3) and the bushing (2) are received so far from the outer part (4) that the hooks (33) of the spreader ring (5) 3) are turned outwards and engage in the bulge (43), whereby a formed by the bulge (43) formed projecting supernatant in the direction of an underside of the annular flange (41). 2. sealing plug (1) according to claim 1,  characterized in that the outer part (4) consists of a plastic, preferably of rubber, particularly preferably of a thermoplastic elastomer. Closing plug (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure plug comprises a plug (6) having a cover plate (62) from which centrally extends a core (63) which is spaced from a sleeve (61) by a gap. Closing plug (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (42) of the outer part (4) tapers conically downwards with respect to its outer circumference. Closing plug (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the closure stopper on its sleeve (61) has at least one bore (61 ') which can be brought into coincidence with at least one bore which is present on the sleeve (42) of the outer part (4). Sealing plug (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the core (63) and the sleeve (61) and the gap are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the plug (6) can be placed on the outer part (4) in a form-fitting manner in a sealing manner on the side remote from the annular flange (41) of the outer part (4) , Closing plug (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the core (63) and the sleeve (61) and the gap are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the plug (6) can be placed on the outer part (4) in a form-fitting manner in a sealing manner on the side remote from the annular flange (41) of the outer part (4) and the core (63) in a form-fitting manner in the sleeve (51) of the rotary cover (5), preferably a cross-sectional shape of the core (63) and an inner cross-sectional shape of the sleeve (51) are formed, preferably oblong or oval, that they are rotatable engageable with each other. Closing plug (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7,  characterized in that  the bushing (2) is longer than the spreader ring (3) and has a groove (22) on the outside, which engages around an inner lower edge of the hooks (33) in the closure arrangement. Closing plug (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that  the rotary cover (5) can be removed from the closure stopper (1) after the provision of the closure arrangement while maintaining the arrangement of the expanding ring (5), and in particular in the remaining cylindrical opening which is formed by the bushing (2), a sword (110) a tapping device is inserted. A dispensing assembly comprising a closure plug (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a dispensing device with a sword (1 10),  wherein the sword (110) extends through the sealing plug (1). Tap assembly according to claim 10,  characterized in that  the sword (110) is fluid-tightly enclosed in the outer part (4) of the sealing plug (1) by an inner circumferential bead (44) of the outer part (4). 12. beverage container with a filling opening (101) having a rim (102), characterized in that the filling opening is closed by a sealing plug (1), wherein the edge (102) is fluid-tight from the circumferential projection formed by the bulge (43) of the outer part (4), which faces towards the underside of the annular flange (41) of the outer part (4). pressed down, is enclosed.