Abstract:
A valve assembly is disclosed for filling a bag with beer where the bag is contained in a beer keg having an aperture. The valve assembly has a valve body assembly adapted to be secured in the keg aperture. The valve assembly has an anti-tamper ring that has a plurality of tongue protrusions for mating reception with a locating groove or indentations in the neck of the a valve assembly for an alcohol beverage container. The anti-tamper ring also closes a vent opening of an air relief passageway that extends through the valve body assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an anti-tamper ring for use with or as part of a valve assembly of an alcohol beverage container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is known to contain alcohol, such as wine in bags contained in a cardboard type container. Further, it is known to use a bag inserted into a keg for storing beer in the bag. In the case of a beer keg, pressure is applied to the bag to dispense the beer from the bag and out of the keg through a valve body assembly. Further, the bag is inserted into the keg container prior to the beer being filled into the bag through the valve body assembly.  
         [0003]     The use of an anti-tamper ring is known for supporting the lower side of the valve body assembly and preventing removal of the valve body assembly from the keg. The anti-tamper ring has in inside ring dimension smaller than the outside diameter of a valve body so that the ring is press fitted against the valve body. Further, the anti-tamper ring has been used to close a relief airway through the valve body assembly. When the anti-tamper ring is displaced from the relief airway or removed from the container, pressurized air between the bag and the keg inner liner wall safely bleeds through the relief airway. However, during press fitting assembly of the anti-tamper ring with the valve body assembly it is often difficult to fully push the anti-tamper ring into a final resting position. As a consequence, the vertical clearance at the neck of the valve assembly may be insufficient to permit the locating and connecting of the keg adapter onto the head of the valve assembly. In some instances it may be possible that the anti-tamper ring is not properly seated with the valve assembly to the extent that the relief airway is not closed allowing the escape of pressurized air from between the bag and the keg inner wall. Accordingly, there is a need for an anti-tamper ring that is not subject to these problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to the use of an anti-tamper ring that has a plurality of tongue protrusions for mating reception with a locating groove or, indentations, in the neck of a valve assembly for an alcohol beverage container. Advantage is found with the use of the tongue portions and the locating groove on the head of the valve assembly as the two parts are positively located relative to each other while, where desirable, limiting or reducing those surface portions of the anti-tamper ring that press against the neck of the valve to the tongue portions. This reduces the occurrence of improper seating of the anti-tamper ring thereby permitting effective connection of a tap adapter onto the neck of the valve assembly.  
         [0005]     The valve assembly has a plurality of valve controlled passageways for controlling pressure within the container and for controlling the flow of the alcohol beverage into and out of the bag. The valve body assembly has at least one recessed indentation positioned outside the container when the valve body assembly is secured in the aperture. The anti-tamper ring has an inner ring edge portion having a plurality of spaced apart locking tongue portions projecting inwardly of the inner ring edge portion. The tongue portions engage, in mating securing relation, the at least one recessed indentation.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the at least one recessed indentation comprises an annular groove extending about the valve body assembly. Alternatively, the may be an indentation for each tongue portion. In the one embodiment, three tongue portions are evenly spaced around the inner edge ring portion of the anti-tamper ring. It should be understood that in alternative embodiments 2 and 4 or more tongue portions may be utilized.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, the valve body assembly further includes an air relief passageway extending through the valve body assembly which when open vents pressurized air from the container. The anti-tamper ring is utilized in this one embodiment to close the air relief passageway when the tongues of the anti-tamper ring engage the at least one recessed indentation.  
         [0008]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a valve assembly adapted for filling a bag with an alcohol beverage where the bag is contained in a container having an aperture. The valve assembly comprises a valve body assembly adapted to be secured in the aperture. The valve body assembly has a plurality of valve controlled passageways for controlling pressure within the container and for controlling the flow of the alcohol beverage into and out of the bag. The valve body assembly has at least one recessed indentation positioned outside the container when the valve body assembly is secured in the aperture. An anti-tamper ring is adapted to be secured with the valve body assembly in covering relation with an outside portion of the container. The anti-tamper ring has an inner ring edge portion having a plurality of spaced apart locking tongue portions projecting inwardly of the inner ring edge portion. The tongue portions engage, in mating securing relation, the at least one recessed indentation. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a home beer dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the home beer dispensing apparatus;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a broken away perspective view of the keg showing the valve and spear assembly mounted within the keg;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the valve and spear assembly as shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the valve assembly including the anti-tamper ring; and,  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the anti-tamper ring. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a home beer dispensing apparatus, appliance or unit  10 . The dispensing apparatus  10  is primarily intended for use in domestic kitchens but may also be used in utility rooms, garages, domestic bars, caravans etc. While the preferred embodiment relates to dispensing beer, alternatively carbonated solutions or other alcohol beverages may be dispensed by apparatus  10 .  
         [0017]     The home beer dispensing apparatus  10  has a front wall  12  and a dispensing tap  14  protruding forward of the front wall  12 . A drip tray  16  also protrudes forward of the front wall  12  and is adapted to support an open glass container  18  below the dispensing tap  14 . The home beer dispensing apparatus  10  further has a base  21  adapted to rest on a counter top. The front wall  12  is an extension of two pivoting side walls  20  which may be moved between closed and open positions to allow the container or, in the embodiment shown, keg  22  (see  FIG. 2  in broken lines) to be inserted into the housing of the home beer dispensing apparatus  10 .  
         [0018]     The housing of the home beer dispensing apparatus  10  further includes a top wall  24  and a rear wall  26 . The rear wall  26  has a grill  30  that permits for air circulation within the home beer dispensing apparatus  10 . An electrical cord  32  extends through the rear wall  26  of the apparatus  10  to provide a connection into a main electrical supply to supply electrical power to the electrical components housed within the unit  10 . Alternatively, a 12 Volt DC supply input may be used.  
         [0019]     The dispensing apparatus  10  has a cooling system  34  located behind and below keg  22  that is adapted to cool beer in keg  22  when keg  22  is placed into dispensing apparatus  10   
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the valve assembly  40  and spear  102  are shown.  
         [0021]     The valve assembly  40  is adapted to fit into a raised collar aperture  42  of keg  22 . The valve assembly  40  has an annular shaped central valve body assembly  46  that is secured in the aperture  42 . The valve body assembly or valve body  46  has an annular groove  47  and flange  49  that is adapted to extend above the keg  22  for mating with a tap dispensing adapter (not shown) connected to tap  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ).  
         [0022]     In the embodiment shown, the valve body  46  has a first passageway  48 , a second passageway  50 , and a third passageway  52  spaced apart from each other and extending through the valve body  46 . The first passageway  48  is centrally disposed or located within the valve body  46  and the second and third passageways  50 , and  52  are spaced radially of the first central passageway  48 .  
         [0023]     The valve assembly  40  includes a first valve  54 , a second valve  56  and a third valve  58 . The first valve  54  is seated in the first passageway  48  for controlling the flow of the beverage or beer through the first passageway  48  into and out of the bag  44 .  
         [0024]     The second valve  56  is seated in the second passageway  50  for controlling the flow of gas such as carbon dioxide through the second passageway  50  into and out of the bag  44 .  
         [0025]     The third valve  58  is seated in the third passageway  52  and controls the flow of gas through the third passageway  52  into and out of the keg  22  exterior to the bag  44 .  
         [0026]     The valve body  46  has an annular recessed groove  62  recessed in an inner wall of the valve body  46 . The inner wall is positioned within the keg  22 . The recessed grooves  62  is adapted for receiving the neck of bag  44  in press fit relation therewith. The annular recessed groove  62  has a diameter that surrounds the first and second passageways  48  and  50 . The third passageway  52  is located outside of the diameter of the recessed groove  62  and as a result, the third passageway  52  is located outside of the bag  44 .  
         [0027]     The keg  22  has a raised collar ring flange  82  which defines the keg aperture  42  in which the valve body may be secured. The valve body  46  has an outer peripheral wall  63  with a recessed groove  61  extending around the outer wall  63 . The valve assembly  40  has an intermediate collar ring or bung  80  that is adapted to seat the valve body  46  within the raised collar aperture  42 . The intermediate collar ring  80  has inner and outer walls  84 ,  86 . The inner wall  84  has flange  88  extending inwardly thereof that is adapted to fit into the recessed groove  61  of the outer wall  63  of the valve body  46 . The outer wall  86  of the intermediate ring  80  has a resilient barb  90  and a locking flange  92  spaced from the barb  90  so as to define an outer locating groove  94  into which the collar flange  82  of the keg  22  is held. The barb  90  is adapted to pass through the aperture  42  and spring back into locking engagement with the collar flange  82  so as to lock the valve assembly  40  in place. Special tools are required to remove the valve assembly  40  and the intermediate collar ring  80  from the collar flange  82  of the keg  22  once the keg  22  is returned to the brewery for refilling.  
         [0028]     In order to insure that the contents of the keg  22  have not been tampered with, the keg  22  has an anti-tamper ring  96  as best seen in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6 . The anti-tamper ring  96  overlays the intermediate collar ring  80 , a portion of the keg  22  and a portion of the valve body  46 . Visual inspection of the anti-tamper ring  96  permits a user to readily identify if the anti-tamper ring has been displaced.  
         [0029]     The intermediate collar ring  80  is adapted to be secured in the aperture  42  as previously described. The intermediate collar ring  80  has an outer surface  204  with a downwardly depending recessed annular groove  200 . The intermediate collar ring has an air relief passageway  98  extending therethrough. Passageway  98 , when open, vents pressurized air from keg  22  to atmosphere. The air relief passageway  98  has a vent opening  202  in air flow communication with the annular groove  200 .  
         [0030]     The anti-tamper ring  96  has a downwardly depending flange portion  100  that is inserted into an annular groove  200  of the outward facing surface  204  of the intermediate collar ring  80 . In the event the anti-tamper ring  96  is removed from the keg  22 , vent aperture  98  is open and the contents or any pressure within the keg  22  is released. Further, as a pressure relief feature, the anti-tamper ring  96  may be designed to release from aperture  98  when pressure in keg  22  exceeds a predetermined valve so as to vent pressurized air through aperture  98 .  
         [0031]     The valve body  46  is adapted to be secured within the intermediate collar ring  80  as previously described. The valve body  46  has a neck portion  210  that extends outwardly of the intermediate collar ring  80 . The neck portion  210  has an annular groove  212  extending about the neck portion. The annular groove  212  receives in mating securing engagement locking tongue portions  250  of the anti-tamper ring  96 . The locking tongue portions  250  secure the anti-tamper ring in a seated position with the valve body  46  so as to cover the intermediate collar ring  80  and an outside portion of the keg  22 . The anti-tamper ring  96  has an inner ring edge portion  260  from which the evenly spaced apart locking tongue portions  250  project inwardly. The tongue portions  250  flex as the anti-tamper ring  96  is pushed over the neck portion  210  of the valve body  46  and spring into locking engagement with the annular groove  212  of the valve body. In the embodiment illustrated, the inner ring edge portion  260  has an inside diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the neck portion  210  of the valve body. Consequently, the press fitting of the anti-tamper ring  96  with the valve body is limited to the contact with the tongue portions  250 .