Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Bates

Thomas W. Bates has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8777056
    Abstract: A reusable beer keg is disclosed comprising a hollow beer keg body with a dispenser tube assembly having a dispenser valve, dispenser tube, and a disposable bladder. The dispenser valve is releasably attached to a top portion of the keg body and the dispenser tube and bladder extend into the interior of the keg body. When beer flows through the open dispenser valve and into the bladder, the beer causes the bladder to unfurl until it contacts the inside surface of the keg body. When the beer keg has been emptied it can be returned to the brewery for reuse by cleaning the dispenser valve, dispenser tube and disposing of the used bladder. The beer keg body does not need to be cleaned, however, because the beer only comes in contact with the disposable bladder and not the keg body. The beer keg parts can then be reassembled, using a new bladder in place of the used bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bates, Dan Morgan, Jay P. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8646660
    Abstract: A reusable beer keg is disclosed including a hollow beer keg body with a dispenser tube assembly having a dispenser valve, dispenser tube, and a disposable bladder. The dispenser valve is releasably attached to a top portion of the keg body and the dispenser tube and bladder extend into the interior of the keg body. When beer flows through the open dispenser valve and into the bladder, the beer causes the bladder to expand until it contacts the inside surface of the keg body. When the beer keg has been emptied it can be returned to the brewery for reuse by cleaning the dispenser valve, dispenser tube and disposing of the used bladder. The beer keg parts can then be reassembled, using a new bladder in place of the used bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bates, Dan Morgan, Leslie W. Ross
  • Publication number: 20120125938
    Abstract: A reusable beer keg is disclosed comprising a hollow beer keg body with a dispenser tube assembly having a dispenser valve, dispenser tube, and a disposable bladder. The dispenser valve is releasably attached to a top portion of the keg body and the dispenser tube and bladder extend into the interior of the keg body. When beer flows through the open dispenser valve and into the bladder, the beer causes the bladder to unfurl until it contacts the inside surface of the keg body. When the beer keg has been emptied it can be returned to the brewery for reuse by cleaning the dispenser valve, dispenser tube and disposing of the used bladder. The beer keg body does not need to be cleaned, however, because the beer only comes in contact with the disposable bladder and not the keg body. The beer keg parts can then be reassembled, using a new bladder in place of the used bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bates, Dan Morgan, Jay P. Hendrickson
  • Publication number: 20120104035
    Abstract: A reusable beer keg is disclosed comprising a hollow beer keg body with a dispenser tube assembly having a dispenser valve, dispenser tube, and a disposable bladder. The dispenser valve is releasably attached to a top portion of the keg body and the dispenser tube and bladder extend into the interior of the keg body. When beer flows through the open dispenser valve and into the bladder, the beer causes the bladder to expand until it contacts the inside surface of the keg body. When the beer keg has been emptied it can be returned to the brewery for reuse by cleaning the dispenser valve, dispenser tube and disposing of the used bladder. The beer keg parts can then be reassembled, using a new bladder in place of the used bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bates, Dan Morgan, Leslie W. Ross
  • Patent number: D331677
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bates