DE29602707U1 - Device for transporting and holding a small party keg - Google Patents

Description

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PATENT ATTORNEYS I ***

DiPL-iNG. CONRADKOCHLiNG

DlPL-ING. CONRAD-JOACHIM KÖCHLING ^{Note :} ^ranz Delbrouck GmbH

Bieberkamp 51-59 P.O. Box 2069, D-58020 Hagen

Fieyer Straße 135, D-58097 Hagen _n r _a7in M _a „A^

R _U f(0233i)8ii64 + 85033 D-58710 Wenden

Fax(02331) 84840

Telegrams: Patent Cook Hagen

Accounts: Commerzbank AG, Hagen 3515095 (bank code 45040042)
Sparkasse Hagen 100012043 (bank code 45050001)
Postgiro: Dortmund 5989 -460 (bank code 44010046)

58 51

VNR:

_1(JK1 12032/96
Serial No.

14 February 1996

CJK/Bo.

Device for transporting and holding a small party keg

The invention relates to a device for transporting and holding a small, in particular barrel-shaped beer keg (party keg with a capacity of approximately 4 to 6 liters), the keg having an outlet preferably arranged in the middle of one of its front sides, into which a tap with a nozzle can be inserted, the tap body then extending radially over the front side up to the edge of the keg and having a rotatable closure body in the area projecting beyond the front side and the outlet following this.

Until now, it has been common practice to store so-called party kegs with a usual content of, for example, 5 liters in larger boxes or as individual kegs.

transport. This type of transport is not particularly suitable for such kegs. It is also usual to deliver such kegs with a tap or to use them in conjunction with such a tap, whereby the tap has a plug-in nozzle with which it can be inserted into the hole on one end of the keg. The tap body then extends radially over the end to the edge of the keg and has a rotating closure body with an outlet in the area that protrudes beyond the end. In order to be able to empty the keg with the tap, the tap is first pressed with its nozzle into the outlet opening on the end of the keg, which is closed by a stopper, whereby the stopper is pressed into the keg. The keg is then turned upside down so that the tap is on the underside of the keg. The liquid in the keg can then flow out by opening the tap and be filled into glasses, for example.

If the liquid in the barrel no longer leaks out, the upper side of the barrel can be perforated in the operating situation, for example

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with a tool similar to a can opener, so that pressure equalization takes place and the remaining liquid can flow out of the barrel.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the tap body protrudes axially over the front side of the barrel, since the barrel cannot then be placed on a flat surface with this front side, but wobbles.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a device of the generic type with which a simple individual transport of such beer kegs is possible, whereby emptied beer kegs can also be transported back to the filler with the device and to create a device that makes it easier to tap liquid from the keg.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that the device consists of a particularly stackable box with a square base, into which the barrel can be adjusted to fit upright, that the bottom of the box has retaining elements on the outside, into which the mouth edge of the barrel with outlet can be inserted when the box is not turned over.

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provided front face of the barrel, the arrangement being eccentric, so that the barrel is arranged eccentrically to the box bottom with its edge close to an edge of the bottom, and that a channel-like recess is formed in the box bottom, into which the tap body of the tap can be inserted, which is directed radially towards the front face of the barrel provided with the outlet.

Because the device consists of a box with a square base, into which the barrel can be placed upright, a transport container for the barrel is created, the dimensions of which are precisely tailored to the barrel. The height of the box is such that the barrel can be completely inserted into the box. This makes it easy to transport the filled barrels to the recipient and also to return them to the person who filled the barrel. Such boxes can be stacked on top of one another and arranged next to one another, depending on the stacking space available.

If the liquid is to be taken from the keg, the tap is first pressed into the outlet on the front of the keg in the conventional way. The keg is then turned upside down and placed on the inverted box, with the bottom surface facing upwards. This outer surface of the box bottom has eccentric holding elements into which the axially protruding mouth edge of the keg can be inserted. The arrangement is chosen so that one side surface of the box is aligned in a tangential direction parallel to the axial direction of the keg. In this arrangement, the tap body of the tap is also inserted into the groove-like recess provided in the bottom, so that the keg rests flat on the bottom of the box and the tap body of the tap sits in the groove-like recess without causing any interference. The rotating closure body and the outlet are arranged outside the alignment of the box bottom, so that these elements are both easily accessible manually and are well suited for placing a glass or similar underneath. The barrel is thus suitable for tapping the

Liquid is held very securely. The transport container serves as a kind of dispensing stand.

In order to save material and also to make the advertising space or the like on the barrel sufficiently visible to an observer, the box is intended to have only corner columns, a base, and a narrow, all-round handle on the base and mouth, with stacking elements protruding from the outside of the base that can be inserted and locked into the mouth of an identical box stacked underneath.

In order to ensure that a barrel is held securely in the correct position in the box even when the box is arranged horizontally, it is also provided that holding means are formed on the inside of the box, in particular in the area of the corner columns, between which the inserted barrel is held securely in position, so that it is held centrally in the box even when it is lying horizontally.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail below. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in side view;

Fig. 2 also in a position rotated by 90° around the vertical axis;

Fig. 3 also in plan view;

Fig. 4 the device in a different position of use;

Fig. 5 is a view taken in the direction of the cutting line according to Figure 4.

The drawings show a device for transporting and holding a small barrel-shaped keg 1. The keg has an outlet preferably arranged centrally on one of its front sides. A tap 2 with a nozzle 3 can be inserted into this outlet. The tap body 4 of the tap

2 then extends radially over the front side of the barrel up to the edge of the barrel 1. In the area that projects beyond the edge of the front side, a rotatable closure body 5 and, following this, an outlet 6 are provided.

The device essentially consists of a stackable box 7 with a square base, into which the barrel 1 can be placed in an upright position, as can be seen, for example, in Figures 1 and 2. The bottom of the box has holding elements 8 on the outside, into which the mouth edge 9 of the barrel 1 can be inserted when the box is turned inside out according to Figures 4 and 5, i.e. when the mouth of the box is pointing downwards. This arrangement is particularly clear from Figure 5. The arrangement of the barrel 1 is eccentric relative to the box, so that the barrel 1 is arranged eccentrically to the bottom of the box with its edge close to an edge of the bottom.

In the box bottom, a groove-like recess 10 is formed, which is open to the outside and into which the tap body 4

of the tap 2 with the keg 1 attached, wherein the tap body 4 of the tap 2 is directed radially towards the front surface of the keg 1 provided with the outlet.

For transport, the keg is placed in the box 7, which is open at the top, and is held securely in the box, as can be seen from Figures 1 to 3. If the keg 1 is to be emptied by the customer, the tap 2 is attached in a suitable manner to one end of the keg and then the keg is placed on the box 7, which is turned inside out, i.e. with the mouth pointing downwards, also in an inverted position, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5. In this way, the box 7 not only forms a transport container, but also a type of tap stand, by means of which the keg 1 is held above the support level and the tap is easily accessible without the tap 2 endangering the stability of the keg 1 on the box, since the tap body 4 of the tap 2 is recessed in the channel-like recess 10.

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The eccentric arrangement of the barrel relative to the bottom of the box also ensures that the outlet 6 of the tap 2 is arranged at a distance from the box so that a suitable vessel (glass or the like) can be placed or held underneath.

Preferably, the box 7 consists only of corner columns 11, which are primarily hollow, a base and a narrow, circumferential handle edge 12 on the base and mouth side. Stacking elements 14 protrude from the outside of the base, which can be inserted into the mouth of an identical box 7 stacked underneath, so that the boxes are secured against relative displacement.

On the inside of the box 7, in particular in the area of the corner columns 11, holding means 13 are formed, which extend in the form of strips along the inner surface of the corner columns 11 and extend over more than half the height of the box 7. The barrel 1 is held securely in place between these holding means 13, so that it can be held in place even when the box 7 is placed on its side.

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is held centrally in this.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.

Claims (3)

&Ggr;: V. Q K - 12 - Protection claims: 1. Device for transporting and holding a small, in particular barrel-shaped keg, in particular (party keg with a capacity of approx. 4 to 6 liters), the keg having an outlet preferably arranged in the middle of one of its front sides, into which a tap with a nozzle can be inserted, the tap body then extending radially over the front side up to the edge of the keg and in the area projecting beyond the front side having a rotatable closure body and following this the outlet, characterized in that the device consists of a particularly stackable box (7) with a square base, into which the keg (1) can be adjusted to fit upright, that the box bottom has holding elements (8) on the outside, into which the mouth edge (9) of the front surface of the keg (1) provided with an outlet can be inserted when the box (7) is turned over, the arrangement being eccentric, so that the keg (1) is eccentric to the box bottom with its edge - 13 - is arranged near an edge of the base, and that a channel-like recess (10) is formed in the bottom of the box, into which the tap body (4) of the tap (2) can be inserted, which is directed radially towards the front surface of the barrel (1) provided with the outlet. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the box (7) has only corner columns (11), a base, and a narrow circumferential handle edge (12) on the base and mouth side, with stacking elements (14) protruding from the outside of the base, which can be inserted in a locking manner into the mouth of an identical box (7) stacked underneath. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the inside of the box (7), in particular in the area of the corner columns (11), holding means (13) are formed, between which the inserted barrel (1) is held securely in position, so that it is held centrally in the box (7) even when it is lying transversely.