Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a social interaction. A first user account may be associated with a first beverage container. A second beverage container may be detected as being proximate to the first beverage container. A second user account associated with the second beverage container may be accessed to identify a commonality between the first and second user accounts. The commonality may be objective and/or subjective information or data about the users of the first and second beverage containers. Information indicative of the commonality may be displayed on an electronic display of at least one of the beverage containers. The electronic display may be flexible such that it conforms to a curvature of the beverage container.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for live event augmentation are provided. A central server computer system detects intelligent beverage containers at an event. The beverage containers include an integrated electronic display. Extrinsic data is received during the course of the event that is used to generate a message. The message is transmitted to the beverage containers at the event to update the electronic display. The extrinsic data may be related to the event or to an activity occurring separate from the event. The electronic display of the beverage containers may be changed periodically during the event. The beverage containers may be divided into one or more groups based on information stored in a user account associated with each beverage container. Different messages can be sent to the different groups to display different information on the beverage containers of each group.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a refill of a beverage container. A beverage container may be detected at a refill station. The beverage container may be associated with a user account. The refill station may access information stored in the user account to determine if the beverage container is permitted to be refilled. Based on the determination, the refill station may refill the beverage container. Information indicative of the refill process may be displayed on an electronic display of the refill station. The refill station may also capture an image of the user of the beverage container and compare the captured image with an image stored in the associated user account to confirm the identity of the user. The determination that the beverage container may be refilled may be based, at least in part, on the identity confirmation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a polling event. A central server computer system determines a polling event is to be conducted and associates one or more inputs from a beverage container with a corresponding selection. The central server computer system transmits a polling prompt message to the beverage containers to display a prompt for a user to select between a first selection and a second selection. An input is received at the beverage container indicative of the selection by the user. The input may be based on a gesture movement of the beverage container. The selection is communicated to the central server computer system which, based on receiving selections from the participating beverage containers, determines the poll results. The poll results are displayed on one or more public displays or communicated, via a network, to a wireless communication device associated with a user of the beverage container.

Abstract: An assembly of a container and a closure: the container comprising an outer shell having a neck portion defining a first access opening and a flexible inner bag having a neck finish defining second access opening; the closure being fixed to the container, said closure comprising at least two access ports positioned in front of said access openings and; the assembly comprising sealing means positioned between the closure and the container, characterized in that said sealing means comprise at least two distinct sealing members, one positioned between the closure and the neck portion, the other positioned between the closure and the neck finish.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed describe a double opening beverage can lid system. The system includes a can lid having a pour panel associated with a pour opening and a vent panel associated with a vent opening. A tab is attached to the can lid. The tab includes a primary tab portion configured to open the pour opening, and a secondary tab portion configured to open the vent opening. A rivet hole facilitates attachment of the primary tab portion and the secondary tab portion to the can lid. A shelf is bent about 180° around a rear edge of the primary tab portion. The shelf blocks at least a portion of the secondary tab portion from contacting the vent panel.

Abstract: An improved beverage container of the type having a lid, a pour panel defined in the lid by a pour score and a vent panel defined in the lid by a vent score. A tab pivotally is mounted to the lid, wherein lifting the tab about a pivot in a lifting direction fractures the pour score and opens the pour panel. A secondary tab is carried by the tab, and is released into contact with the vent panel by lifting the tab to fracture the pour score, wherein pressing the tab in a direction generally opposite the lifting direction causes the secondary tab to fracture the vent score and open the vent panel. At least one anti-rotation member is disposed between the tab and the lid to prevent the tab from rotating about the rivet.

Abstract: A diaphragm for use in a valve assembly, comprising at least one sealing portion and a fixation portion, characterized in that the fixation portion and the at least one sealing portion are connected by a flexible portion.

Abstract: Bag-in-container having an inner layer forming a bag filled with a fluid, the bag being separatable from an outer layer forming the container. The bag-in-container has a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere and separated therefrom by a seal. The container further having at least one space vent fluidly connecting the space between inner and outer layers and to the atmosphere. A vent provides a closure to control the gas flow between the space and the atmosphere. The space contains an amount of gas (Vs,i) at a pressure (Pi) insufficient to compress the bag to drive out more than 80% of the fluid contained therein. The present invention also concerns a kit of parts including a bag-in-container and a dispensing appliance.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising the steps of molding a melt of thermoplastic material thereby forming said article and cooling the article to a temperature below the glass temperature of said thermoplastic material, characterized in that the method further comprises a post treatment of applying a stress on the article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a liquid, which contains proteins (esp. haze sensitive proteins), for subsequent separation of at least haze-forming material, when predetermined filter aids are used. The method includes the addition of protein-complexing agent to the liquid, which agent is capable of forming a complex with at least some sensitive proteins of the liquid, to result in a limitation of the residual haze of the liquid, obtained after the separation (e.g. filtration), step.

Abstract: A closure having a base with a piercable part, defined by a sidewall extending transversally with respect to the base and a bottom thereby creating an indent therein, the sidewall and/or bottom provided with several lines of weakened material strength, wherein the lines divide the sidewall and/or bottom in several wedge formed parts.

Abstract: An assembly of a container and a closure, the assembly having an overpressure relief system, wherein the system has a fixation between the closure and a container, the fixation providing two positions in between which the closure is movable.

Abstract: An assembly of a container and a closure: the container having an outer shelf with a neck portion defining a first access opening and a flexible inner bag having a neck finish defining second access opening; the closure being fixed to the container, said closure having at least two access ports positioned in front of said access openings and; the assembly including a seal positioned between the closure and the container, wherein the seal has at least two distinct sealing members, one positioned between the closure and the neck portion, the other positioned between the closure and the neck finish.

Abstract: A home beer dispensing apparatus has a keg having a self-contained bag filled with a beer and a pressure system. The pressure system creates a pressurized air space between the keg inner walls and the bag to assist in the dispensing of the beer. The pressure system has a keg one-way air valve mounted to a top wall of the keg to permit entry of pressurized air into the keg. The pressure system has a pressure reservoir mounted in the dispensing apparatus outside the keg and in fluid flow communication with the keg one-way valve. The reservoir stores a charge of pressurized air and supplies at least a portion of this charge to the keg through the keg air valve when the dispensing apparatus is operated to dispense the beer. The reservoir provides a reserved charge of pressurized gas that is on hand to reduce dampening pressure fluctuations during beer dispensing which can result in beer frothing, especially during the early stages of beer dispensing when the air head space in the keg is small.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conduit for conducting gasified liquid, which has a flow restrictor arranged in in-line relation therewith. The restrictor itself comprises an at least one aperture (although two or more can be used in series), with each such being adapted to pass the gasified liquid flowing through the conduit and across a pressure drop from a higher-pressure upstream side of the aperture to a lower-pressure downstream side of the aperture. The aperture is operable to moderate the rate of change in pressure over a transitional pressure drop to mitigate the formation of localized pressures below a critical pressure at which off-gassing from the carbonated liquid results in substantial foam formation. The conduit may take the form of a dispensing tube for use in dispensing an alcoholic beverage from a keg, the tube having a flexible wall deformable under the influence of a restricting actuator to control the partial collapse of the wall and thereby form the restrictor.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container (2) obtainable by blow-moulding an injection moulded multi-layer preform (1). The bag-in-container (2) includes an inner layer (21) forming the bag and an outer layer (22) forming the container, and a single opening (5), the mouth, fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag (21) to the atmosphere. The container further includes at least one interface vent (3) fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the bag (21) is anchored to the outer layer (22) at at least one point (7) remote from the single opening (5) and interface vent (3). The invention also relates to a process and a mould for the production of the blow-moulded bag-in-container (2).

Abstract: An interlocking collar (72) secures a bag neck (46) in a keg aperture (42) of an alcohol beverage keg container (22). The interlocking collar is mounted in press fit surrounding relation with a peripheral wall portion of the bag neck. The collar has an outer peripheral wall portion sized larger than that of a keg aperture. The collar (72) has a recessed groove (76) in the collar outer peripheral wall portion for receiving in press fitting and sealing relation a keg flange (40) that defines the keg aperture. The collar outer peripheral wall portion has a resilient edge portion (78) adjacent the recessed groove that deflects to permit the interlocking collar to pass through the keg aperture and receive the keg flange in the recessed groove. The interlocking collar has a plurality of locking passageways (80) placed around the interlocking collar and axially extending through the interlocking collar between the neck and recessed groove.