Beer tap

Claim 2

A liquid-dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom, and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of said keg characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter comprising an outer sleeve insertable into the opening in said one wall from outside said keg and adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening, a gas passage through said sleeve, a gas check valve in fluid communication with said gas passage through said sleeve, a liquid passage through said sleeve for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of said keg, said liquid passage bypassing said gas passage, a normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passage, a valve retainer insert in said sleeve, said insert having a hollow generally polygonally-shaped cross section defining a central liquid passage and gas passageways between its sidewalls and the interior of said sleeve, and means for retaining said insert in said sleeve.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert is generally rectangular in cross section.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least one locking pin between said insert and sleeve for locking said insert against rotation in said sleeve.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a portion of said sleeve staked to said insert.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said insert is made of metal.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said insert is made of stainless steel.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve is provided on its inner surface with an annular groove adjacent its upper end, said insert having shoulders rotatable in said groove, said sleeve including notches permitting passage of said shoulders into said groove, and removable means receivable through said upper end of said sleeve for retaining said shoulders in said groove.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said removable means comprise locking pins having a curved outer surface and a flat inner surface wedged between said insert and said sleeve, said locking pins being receivable through said notches.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pins are made of plastic.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 including a valve housing within said sleeve, a resilient valve seat clamped between said housing and said insert, and spring means within said sleeve resiliently urging said valve against said valve seat.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the central liquid passage through said insert is of circular cross section.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein portions of said liquid passage and said gas passage through said sleeve are radially offset from the axis of said sleeve.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a liquid valve housing in said sleeve about said liquid valve, said liquid passage including a first passage in said housing coaxial with said sleeve and a second passage in communication with said first passage and radially offset therefrom.

Claim 15

A liquid-dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom, and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of said keg characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter comprising an outer sleeve insertable into the opening in the one wall from outside said keg and adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening; a gas passage through said sleeve, a liquid passage through said sleeve for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of said keg, a normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passage, a valve retainer insert in said sleeve, means retaining said insert in said sleeve, said gas passage through said sleeve being separate from said liquid passage, and a resilient gas check valve communicating with the inner end of said gas passage, said check valve comprising a resilient member having spaced walls with a slit in at least one of said walls, said walls being movable under external pressure toward one another, one of said walls including rib means for preventing collapse of said member.

Claim 16

A liquid-dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom, and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of said keg characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter comprising an outer sleeve insertable into the opening in the one wall from outside said keg and adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening; a gas passage through said sleeve, a liquid passage through said sleeve for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of said keg, a normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passage, a valve retainer insert in said sleeve, means retaining said insert in said sleeve, said gas passage through said sleeve being separate from said liquid passage, and a resilient gas check valve communicating with the inner end of said gas passage, said check valve comprising a resilient member having spaced walls with a slit in at least one of said walls, said walls being movable under external pressure toward one another, one of said walls including rib means for preventing collapse of said member.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said gas passage terminates in a tubular projection and said gas check valve is a tubelike member having an open end received about said projection.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14 whErein the other end of said gas check valve is closed, said closed end including an elongated slit.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said gas check valve is made of silicone rubber.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said gas check valve is made of gum rubber.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 14 including a pair of vertical valve slits on opposite sidewalls of said gas check valve.

Claim 22

A liquid-dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom, and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of said keg characterized in that it comprises a keg adapter unit including: a metal outer sleeve insertable into the opening in said one wall from outside said keg and adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening; a liquid passage through said sleeve for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of a keg; a normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passageway, a valve retainer insert in said sleeve; a gas passage through said sleeve separate from said liquid passageway; a plastic valve housing surrounding said liquid passageway and cooperating with said valve retainer insert to maintain said normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passageway, a plastic transition member in said liquid passageway and said gas passage, said transition member having gas and liquid apertures therethrough offset at its lower end, a flexible gas check valve communicating with said gas aperture at the lower end of said transition member, and a plastic retainer ring having a liquid tube secured to said transition member and surrounding said gas check valve.

Claim 23

A liquid-dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom, and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of said keg characterized in that it comprises a keg adapter unit including: a metal outer sleeve insertable into the opening in said one wall from outside said keg and adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening; a liquid passage through said sleeve for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of a keg; a normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passageway, a valve retainer insert in said sleeve; a gas passage through said sleeve separate from said liquid passageway; a plastic valve housing surrounding said liquid passageway and cooperating with said valve retainer insert to maintain said normally closed liquid valve in said liquid passageway, a plastic transition member in said liquid passageway and said gas passage, said transition member having gas and liquid apertures therethrough offset at its lower end, a flexible gas check valve communicating with said gas aperture at the lower end of said transition member, and a plastic retainer ring having a liquid tube secured to said transition member and surrounding said gas check valve.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said transition member includes a tubular projection at its lower end, said gas check valve is in the form of a resilient sleeve with its upper end slipped over said projection, said retainer ring clamping the upper end of said sleeve to said projection.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said liquid tube is integral with said retainer ring and has its upper end telescoped into said transition member, the lower end of said liquid tube projecting beneath said ring, and a siphon tube coupled to the projecting lower end of said liquid tube.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the other end of said resilient sleeve is closed, said closed end including an elongated slit, a vertical wall of said sleeve including a second elongated slit, and a pair of spaced vertical ribs on the inner vertical wall opposite said second slit.