Device for connecting a beverage container to a fitting

Abstract

The invention relates to a device connecting a container for receiving liquid beverages, such as beer, soft drinks and wine, to a fitting ( 3 ), wherein the container is designed as a bladder ( 1 ) which, at the top, at the head end thereof, is designed with a collar-like connecting means ( 14 ) which can be connected to the fitting ( 3 ) for the purpose of bottling the liquid, the fitting having closable openings ( 5, 6 ) for both a pressurized gas and for the liquid. The aim is to create a connection option between the container/the bladder ( 1 ) and the fitting ( 3 ) that is secure and easily replaceable. For this purpose, the invention provides an adapter ring ( 15; 115 ) which connects the connecting means ( 14 ) of the bladder ( 1 ) to a detent groove ( 8 ) in the fitting ( 3 ) from the outside and which engages in the detent groove ( 8 ) with a detent projection ( 16; 116 ).

1 . An apparatus for connecting a container for holding a liquid beverage with a fitting, where the container is a bladder formed at its top or head end with a sleeve-like connector that can be connected to the fitting serving for filling the container with the beverage and having closeable openings for a compressed gas on the one hand and the liquid on the other hand, characterized by an adapter ring connecting the connector of the bladder with a detent groove of the fitting from outside, which engages with a detent projection into the detent groove. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter ring is shaped on the connector in an upwardly projecting manner. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter ring is one piece and can be locked with the detent groove of the fitting and the sleeve-like connector of the bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower connection end of the adapter ring are formed with detent projections, the upper detent projection of which engages in the detent groove of the fitting and the lower detent projection engages under the sleeve-like connector of the bladder. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the connection ends are formed in a radially resilient manner. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper detent projection is formed with an insert bevel tapering downward. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the lower detent projection is formed with a contact bevel tapering upward. 
     
     
         8 . In combination:
 a bladder container having a tubular filler neck centered on an axis;   a fitting connectable to the filler neck and having openings for feeding compressed gas and a beverage into the container and formed with a radially outwardly open and annular detent groove; and   an adapter ring secured to the neck and formed with a radially inwardly projecting and annular detent ridge fittable into the groove to lock the fitting to the filler neck.   
     
     
         9 . The combination defined in  claim 8  wherein the ring is elastically deformable. 
     
     
         10 . The combination defined in  claim 8  wherein the ring is unitarily formed with the neck. 
     
     
         11 . The combination defined in  claim 8  wherein the neck is formed with an outwardly projecting ridge and the ring has an inwardly projecting ridge formation fittable with the ridge of the neck to hold the ring on the neck. 
     
     
         12 . The combination defined in  claim 11  wherein the ridge of the neck is of sawtooth section such that the ridge formation of the ring can be slid over it in one direction but is locked against movement off the ridge of the neck in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         13 . The combination defined in  claim 11  wherein a lower end of the ring is formed below the ridge formation with a downwardly flaring bevel. 
     
     
         14 . The combination defined in  claim 11  wherein an upper end of the ring is formed with an upwardly flaring bevel.