Abstract: A closure for a beverage keg is provided, comprising an outer housing wall defining at least a portion of a valve housing and an inner duct that is located within the outer housing wall. The inner duct extends through at least a portion of the valve housing to define a flow path through the closure. The outer housing wall and the inner duct are integrally formed together as part of a single housing component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottom chime for a beverage keg. The bottom chime is configured to be push fitted onto the keg, and to subsequently be removable from the keg, for example to enable recycling of the bottom chime separately to the keg. The bottom chime comprises a plurality of inwardly extending engagement elements that are configured to form a snap fit engagement with a corresponding plurality of recesses provided in the body of the keg.

Abstract: A closure for a beverage keg is provided, comprising an outer housing wall defining at least a portion of a valve housing and an inner duct that is located within the outer housing wall. The inner duct extends through at least a portion of the valve housing to define a flow path through the closure. The outer housing wall and the inner duct are integrally formed together as part of a single housing component.

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90), comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a venting aperture (27) separate from the inlet. The venting aperture (27) is configured to provide fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29) that is welded to the closure (1) and configured to seal the venting aperture such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier (29) is configured to rupture and/or to become at least partially detached from the closure (1) by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which the venting aperture (27) is no longer sealed by the barrier (29).

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90) is provided, the closure (1) comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a valve housing (20) defining at least a portion of the closure (1). The valve housing (20) has a housing wall (21) that defines at least a portion of the valve housing (20). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29), separate from the inlet, that is integrally formed with the housing wall (21) and configured to seal the closure (1) such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier thickness is configured such that the barrier (29) ruptures by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1) is possible, through the ruptured barrier (29).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keg chime configured to be mounted to a keg, for example a blow moulded plastic keg. The chime may include a handle that has a waveform profile when viewed in cross-section along a length of the handle. The handle may include a first set of one or more regions of inflection that provide a first surface of the handle and a second set of one or more regions of inflection that provide an opposing second surface of the handle. The chime may be configured to be connected to a sleeve for surrounding at least part of a body portion of the keg. The interface between the chime and the sleeve may be configured to permit axially outward movement of the chime with respect to the sleeve in order to accommodate axial expansion of the keg.

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90) is provided, comprising a valve housing (20) and a valve element (30), which is movable with respect to the valve housing (20) inwardly into an open state and outwardly into a closed state. A locking system comprises a locking element (50) that is movable with respect to the valve housing (20) and is capable of holding the valve element (30) in the open state. The locking element (50) comprises a body portion (51) located inside the valve housing (20) and a leg (56) that extends outwardly from the body portion (51) to the exterior of the valve housing (20). The leg (56) comprises an engagement element (57) that is configured to engage a stop formation fixed with respect to the valve housing (20) in order to limit the maximum extent of movement of the locking element (50) in an upward direction relative to the valve housing (20) after beverage has been dispensed from the keg (90).

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90), comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a venting aperture (27) separate from the inlet. The venting aperture (27) is configured to provide fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29) that is welded to the closure (1) and configured to seal the venting aperture such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier (29) is configured to rupture and/or to become at least partially detached from the closure (1) by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which the venting aperture (27) is no longer sealed by the barrier (29).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a top chime for a beverage keg. The top chime is configured to be readily removable from the keg, for example to enable recycling of the top chime separately to the keg. The top chime comprises a mounting portion for mounting the top chime to a keg in use, and a mounting element separate to the top chime that is configured to be assembled together with the top chime after the top chime has been moved into a mounted position with respect to the keg to thereby secure the top chime with respect to the keg. The top chime is provided with a mounting element that is configured to engage the mounting portion to thereby secure the top chime with respect to the keg. The mounting element is configured to be assembled together with the top chime by moving the mounting element in a radially inward direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the top chime.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keg chime configured to be mounted to a keg, for example a blow moulded plastic keg. The chime may include a handle that has a waveform profile when viewed in cross-section along a length of the handle. The handle may include a first set of one or more regions of inflection that provide a first surface of the handle and a second set of one or more regions of inflection that provide an opposing second surface of the handle. The chime may be configured to be connected to a sleeve for surrounding at least part of a body portion of the keg. The interface between the chime and the sleeve may be configured to permit axially outward movement of the chime with respect to the sleeve in order to accommodate axial expansion of the keg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottom chime for a beverage keg. The bottom chime is configured to be push fitted onto the keg, and to subsequently be removable from the keg, for example to enable recycling of the bottom chime separately to the keg. The bottom chime comprises a plurality of inwardly extending engagement elements that are configured to form a snap fit engagement with a corresponding plurality of recesses provided in the body of the keg.

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90) is provided, comprising a valve housing (20) and a valve element (30), which is movable with respect to the valve housing (20) inwardly into an open state and outwardly into a closed state. A locking system comprises a locking element (50) that is movable with respect to the valve housing (20) and is capable of holding the valve element (30) in the open state. The locking element (50) comprises a body portion (51) located inside the valve housing (20) and a leg (56) that extends outwardly from the body portion (51) to the exterior of the valve housing (20). The leg (56) comprises an engagement element (57) that is configured to engage a stop formation fixed with respect to the valve housing (20) in order to limit the maximum extent of movement of the locking element (50) in an upward direction relative to the valve housing (20) after beverage has been dispensed from the keg (90).

Abstract: A closure (1) for a beverage keg (90) is provided, the closure (1) comprising an inlet for admitting a pressurised gas into a headspace of the beverage keg (90) and a valve housing (20) defining at least a portion of the closure (1). The valve housing (20) has a housing wall (21) that defines at least a portion of the valve housing (20). The closure (1) is provided with a barrier (29), separate from the inlet, that is integrally formed with the housing wall (21) and configured to seal the closure (1) such that the closure (1) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg (90) in an unvented configuration. The barrier thickness is configured such that the barrier (29) ruptures by internal pressure from within the keg (90) in order to switch the closure (1) into a vented configuration in which fluid communication between the headspace of the keg (90) and an exterior of the closure (1) is possible, through the ruptured barrier (29).

Abstract: A keg protection assembly is disclosed. The keg protection assembly includes a top-chime for protecting a head portion of a plastics keg, a bottom-chime for protecting a base portion of the keg, a sleeve, and/or a keg. The sleeve is for fitment to and between the top-chime and the bottom-chime so as to encircle and protect a body portion of the keg between the head portion and the base portion.

Abstract: A closure (10) for use with a beverage keg (20) is disclosed. The closure (10) comprises an inlet, a barrier (1) and a housing (2) that defines a venting hole (11). The barrier (1) seals the venting hole (11). The closure (10) comprises an unvented configuration in which a keg to which the closure is fitted can be pressurized. The closure (10) also comprises a vented configuration in which the barrier (1) is unsealed from the venting hole (11) to permit depressurization of the keg (20).

Abstract: A vented keg closure (1) for use with a keg (30) that contains a fermenting beverage, with the closure (1) comprising a filter member (41) disposed within an airway of the closure (1) that communicates between an internal headspace (36) of the keg (30) and an environment external to the keg (30). The closure (1) has a first configuration wherein the filter member (41) is located at a first position at which it filters gas flowing through the airway. The closure (1) also has a second configuration wherein the filter member (41) is located at a second position at which gas flow through the airway can be increased by at least partially bypassing the filter (41). The extent of movement between the first and second configurations is controlled by the gas pressure difference across the airway.

Abstract: A plastic aerosol container (10), an associated preform (10a) and a method of manufacturing the preform (10a) and container (10) is described. The container (10) comprises an adapter (20) that defines an opening (11) of the container (10), the opening (11) being arranged to receive and be sealed by an aerosol valve cap (3). The container (10) also comprises a body 40 that defines an internal volume of the aerosol container (10). The container (10) is blow-moulded from a preform (10a) ideally having a corresponding adapter (20a) and body (40a) which are secured to one another, with an expansion region (45a, 46a) of the body (40a) of the preform (10a) being arranged to be expanded to form the internal volume of the aerosol container (10).