Keg Insulating Apparatus

Abstract

A keg insulating apparatus (200) is provided. The apparatus includes a sheet (202) of flexible insulating material configured to be wrapped around a body of a generally right cylindrical keg (100), a first circular disc (204) of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a top surface (110) of the keg and having an aperture (212) provided therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends, and a second circular disc (206) of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a bottom surface of the keg and to be held in place by means of a friction fit with a lower projecting rim (108) of the keg. The sheet of flexible insulating material further includes attachment formations (208) by means of which free ends of the sheet can be brought together and the tension between the free ends adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet against the keg.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an insulating apparatus, and more particularly to an insulation apparatus used for providing thermal insulation to beverages stored in kegs.

The term keg is to be understood to include any cask or barrel in the form of a generally right cylindrical container typically used for the storage of beverages.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Kegs containing beverages are used on a daily basis around the world. Such kegs may be containers able to be pressurized to dispense the beverage held therein.

To ensure that the beverage is cool at the point of consumption, the kegs must either be cooled in a fridge and then transported to the point of consumption while being prevented from heating up, or must be cooled at the point of consumption.

Cooling of kegs or preventing them from heating up may be affected in a variety of ways, most common of which is by placing the keg into a tub of ice or a mixture of ice and water. Although quite effective, this form of keeping the keg cool is usually quite messy and may be inconvenient to the consumer should he/she decide to move the keg to a different location.

Portable insulating devices have been developed to overcome the problems associated with ice or the mixture of ice and water. Such insulating devices may be made from flexible material which is wrapped about the body of the keg and typically include pockets into which gel or ice packs can be inserted. Further forms of insulating devices include cylindrically shaped bodies having a permanently closed bottom end and a zipper at the top end so as to enable the container to be completely surrounded by the insulating device.

The drawbacks of existing insulating devices include that kegs filled with a beverage have weights ranging from about 55 lbs. (25 kg) to about 170 lbs. (77 kg), thereby requiring at least two people to lift the keg to insert it into the insulating device. Further, where the insulating device is only wrapped about the body of the keg, the keg's bottom and top surfaces are exposed, thus decreasing the efficiency of the insulating device. Finally, where the insulating device requires ice or gel packs to be effective, the effectiveness of the insulating device is dependent on the time it takes for the ice or gel packs to melt or heat up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a keg insulating apparatus comprising:

• • a sheet of flexible insulating material configured to be wrapped around a body of a generally right cylindrical keg, the sheet including attachment formations by means of which free ends of the sheet can be brought together and the tension between the free ends adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet against the keg; and
  • a first circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a top surface of the keg and having an aperture provided therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends.

Further features of the invention provide for the attachment formations to include at least two adjustable fastening straps and to be sufficiently adjustable so as to enable the insulating apparatus to be wrapped about kegs having differing dimensions.

Further features of the provide for the keg insulating apparatus to include a second circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a bottom surface of the keg and be held in place by means of a friction fit with a lower projecting rim of the keg.

Further features of the invention provide for the flexible insulating material to be nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam and for the sheet, first and second discs of the insulating apparatus to have the same thickness.

Further features of the invention provide for the surfaces of the insulating apparatus to be suitable for printing thereon, thereby to allow branding or advertising material to be printed onto the insulating apparatus. The printing on the insulating apparatus may be done by any suitable method of printing, preferably screen printing or digital printing.

The invention extends to a kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus comprising:

• • a sheet of flexible insulating material configured to be wrapped around a body of a generally right cylindrical keg, the sheet including attachment formations by means of which free ends of the sheet can be brought together and the tension between the free ends adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet against the keg; and
  • a first circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a top surface of the keg and having an aperture provided therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a typical type of keg;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a keg insulating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the keg insulating apparatus, where the apparatus is to be wrapped about a keg;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two three-dimensional views of a keg insulating apparatus fastened to a keg; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph of the results obtained during an experiment to determine insulating capabilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical type of keg (100) used for the storage and transportation of beverages such as beer. The keg (100) comprises a generally right cylindrical container (102) having a top cavity (104) and a bottom cavity (106) formed by projecting rims (108). A top surface (110) of the keg (100) includes an opening (112) to which a dispensing tap (114) may be attached so as to allow for dispensing of the beverage stored within the keg (100).

FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a keg insulating apparatus (200) according to the invention. The insulating apparatus (200) comprises a rectangular sheet (202) a first circular disc (204) and a second circular disc (206) all made from a flexible insulating material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible insulating material is nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam and the sheet (202), the first and second secular discs (204, 206) of the insulating apparatus (200) have the same thickness. The sheet (202) is configured to be wrapped around the body of a keg and includes attachment formations (208) by means of which free ends (210) of the sheet (202) can be brought together and the tension between the free ends (210) adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet (202) against the keg. The attachment formations (208) comprise at least two adjustable fastening straps spaced-apart on the edges of the sheet (202). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet (202) includes three adjustable fastening straps which have clips and cooperating sockets provided at their free ends. The fastening straps may be attached to the sheet (202) by any suitable method, preferably by gluing and stitching the fastening straps directly onto the sheet.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the keg insulating apparatus comprises the rectangular sheet (202) and the first circular disc (204) only.

The first circular disc (204) is sized to fit against a top surface of the keg and further includes an aperture (212) therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends, as best illustrated in FIG. 4A. The second circular disc (206) is sized to fit against a bottom surface of the keg and to be held in place by means of a friction fit within a lower projecting rim of the keg as best illustrated in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the first embodiment of the insulating apparatus (200) wrapped around a keg (100). The sheet (202) of the insulating apparatus (200) is wrapped around the keg (100) and the fastening straps (208) attached to the free ends (210) of the sheet (202) are engaged and optionally adjusted so as to wrap the sheet (202) tightly against the keg (100).

Once the sheet (202) has been tightly wrapped about the keg (100), the keg is tilted to one side so as to enable insertion of the second circular disc (206) into a cavity (106) established by a lower projecting rim (108) of the keg (100). The second disc (206) is sized to fit into the cavity (106) and to be held in place by means of a friction fit with the lower projecting rim (108) of the keg (100). Importantly, the apparatus of the invention does not require the keg to be lifted, but only tilted, for the second circular disc (206) to be inserted. This is an operation that can typically be conducted by one person.

After insertion of the second circular disc (204), the first circular disc (204) is placed over the top surface (110) of the keg (100), with the aperture (212) provided in the first disc (204) allowing for a dispensing tap to extend therethrough.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment comprising of the sheet (202) and the first circular disc (204) only, the procedure of tilting the keg (100) to one side will not be required.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two three-dimensional views of a keg (400) having an insulating apparatus (402) according to the invention fastened thereto. The surfaces (404) of the insulating apparatus (402) are suitable for printing thereon, thereby allowing for branding or advertising material to be printed onto the insulating apparatus (402). The printing on the surfaces of the insulating apparatus may be done by any suitable method of printing, preferably by screen printing or digital printing.

It will be appreciated that the printing of brands or advertising material on the surfaces of the insulating apparatus enables organizations, brands, or even sports teams to supply the insulating apparatus with their respective logos, designs and graphics printed thereon and to thereby market their product or service.

It will further be appreciated that the insulating apparatus may be made for any size keg ranging from 55 lbs. (25 kg) kegs to 170 lbs. (77 kg) kegs. In a preferred embodiment of the insulating apparatus, the sheet has a width of 51.77 inches (131.5 cm) and a height of 22.83 inches (58 cm), the first circular disc has a diameter of 14.96 inches (38 cm), the second circular disc has a diameter of 15.55 inches (39.5 cm) and a hole through its center of 2.87 inches (7.3 cm) diameter, and the thickness of all three parts is 0.78 inches (2 cm).

Experiment

A material's resistance to heat transfer is governed by the following equation:

R=Δx/k

where R is the thermal resistivity;

• • Δx is the distance between two points within the material through which the heat transfer is taking place; and
  • k is the thermal conductivity of the material

The thermal conductivity constants for the nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam and neoprene are the following:

• • k_{NBR Foam}=0.038 W/MK
  • k_Neoprene=0.054 W/MK

Taking these constants, it can be determined that over the same distance Δx, the NBR foam exhibits a 42% higher resistance to heat transfer than neoprene.

The insulating capabilities of the present invention were compared in an experiment with the insulating capabilities of another standard size and make keg insulating apparatus made from neoprene as well as a non-insulated keg as a control.

The experiment took place in a temperature controlled environment at an average temperature of 91° F. (32.8° C.) over a period of 8 hours. The temperature of the beer held in the kegs was measured at 30 minute intervals over the 8 hour period by using two different digital thermometers. Prior to each temperature measurement, beer was drained from the taps for approximately 3 seconds so as to remove any beer retained within the taps and the respective tap tubes. The initial temperature of the beer held in all three kegs was approximately 37.5° F. (3° C.).

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph that was plotted from the experiment results. The graph clearly illustrates the higher insulating capabilities of the present invention (labeled “X-Treme Keg Wear”) as opposed to a keg insulating apparatus made from neoprene. The average temperature increase of the beer held in the keg insulated by the present invention was approximately 4.9° F. (2.7° C.) over an 8 hour period at an outside temperature of 91° F. (32.8° C.). The neoprene insulating apparatus on the other hand has an average temperature increase of approximately 8.9° F. (4.9° C.) over the same period.

A further aspect illustrated by the graph is that some brands of beer may start to froth when being dispensed once the beer in the keg reaches an average temperature of approximately 42.5° F. (5.8° C.). The graph illustrates that due to the present invention having a higher insulating capability, the brands of beer which are likely to froth at approximately 42.5° F. (5.8° C.), will commence frothing 3 hours after the same beer being held within a keg insulated by a neoprene insulating apparatus.

While the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made which fall within the scope of the invention. For example, many different kinds of attachment formations can be used to hold the free ends of the flexible sheet together, and the material, construction and arrangement of the keg insulation apparatus may be modified as may be appropriate. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A keg insulating apparatus comprising:

a sheet of flexible insulating material configured to be wrapped around a body of a generally right cylindrical keg, the sheet including attachment formations by means of which free ends of the sheet can be brought together and the tension between the free ends adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet against the keg; and

a first circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a top surface of the keg and having an aperture provided therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends.

2. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment formations include at least two adjustable fastening straps.

3. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adjustable fastening straps are sufficiently adjustable so as to enable the insulating apparatus to be wrapped about kegs having differing dimensions.

4. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keg insulating apparatus includes a second circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a bottom surface of the keg and be held in place by means of a friction fit with a lower projecting rim of the keg.

5. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible insulating material is nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam.

6. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet, first and second discs of the insulating apparatus have the same thickness.

7. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the insulating apparatus are suitable for printing thereon to allow branding or advertising material to be printed onto the insulating apparatus.

8. A keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the printing on the insulating apparatus is done by screen printing or digital printing.

9. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus comprising:

a sheet of flexible insulating material configured to be wrapped around a body of a generally right cylindrical keg, the sheet including attachment formations by means of which free ends of the sheet can be brought together and the tension between the free ends adjusted so as to tightly wrap the sheet against the keg; and

a first circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a top surface of the keg and having an aperture provided therein through which a dispensing tap of the keg extends.

10. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the attachment formations include at least two adjustable fastening straps.

11. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjustable fastening straps are sufficiently adjustable so as to enable the insulating apparatus to be wrapped about kegs having differing dimensions.

12. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including a second circular disc of flexible insulating material sized to fit against a bottom surface of the keg and be held in place by means of a friction fit with a lower projecting rim of the keg.

13. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible insulating material is nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam.

14. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet, first and second discs of the insulating apparatus have the same thickness.

15. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the surfaces of the insulating apparatus are suitable for printing thereon to allow branding or advertising material to be printed onto the insulating apparatus.

16. A kit of parts for a keg insulating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the printing on the insulating apparatus is done by screen printing or digital printing.