Cap for beverage container

Abstract

A cap assembly is provided for a beverage container for withdrawing fluid from the beverage container. The cap assembly has a cap that is connected to the beverage container, a first tube connected to the cap to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container, and a second tube connected to the cap to transfer fluid out of the beverage container. The cap has an end wall and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall to define a cap cavity. The cap cavity has female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising:
 a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container;   a seal positioned within the cap cavity;   a first fitting within the first cap aperture, the first fitting having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity;   a second fitting within the second cap aperture, the second fitting having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity;   a first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting and adapted to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container;   a second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container; and,   a third tube connected to the second end of the second fitting, the third tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid from the beverage container to the second tube.   
     
     
         2 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent an exterior surface of the end wall and the second opening of the first and second cap apertures are located adjacent the interior surface of the end wall and within the cap cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a generally rigid material. 
     
     
         4 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fittings are sealingly connected to the cap to prevent fluid from escaping between the first and second aperture and the first and second fittings. 
     
     
         7 . A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising:
 a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the end wall having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container;   a seal positioned within the cap cavity;   a first tube extending from the first cap aperture to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container; and   a second tube extending from the second cap aperture, the second tube having a distal end positioned within the beverage container and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container.   
     
     
         8 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first tube is operably connected to the first opening of the first cap aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second tube is operably connected to the first opening of the second aperture, and further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container from the second opening of the second aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first cap aperture is adapted to sealingly receive a first fitting and the second cap aperture is adapted to sealingly receive a second fitting, the first and second fittings having a first end that protrudes from the end wall of the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity, the first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting, and the second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The cap assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container, the dip tube being connected to the second end of the second fitting. 
     
     
         12 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . A cap assembly for a beverage container, the cap assembly comprising:
 a cap engageable with the beverage container, the cap having an end wall, a sidewall extending from the end wall, a first cap aperture in the cap and having a first opening and a second opening, a second cap aperture in the cap and having a first opening and a second opening, an interior surface of the end wall and sidewall defining a cap cavity, the cap cavity having female threads adapted to receive mating male threads of the beverage container;   a first fitting within the first cap aperture;   a second fitting within the second cap aperture;   a first tube connected to the first fitting to provide a pressurized gas to the beverage container; and   a second tube connected to the second fitting, and adapted to transfer fluid out of the beverage container.   
     
     
         15 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second tube has a distal end positioned within the beverage container. 
     
     
         16 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second fittings having a first end that protrudes from the cap and a second end that extends into the cap cavity, the first tube connected to the first end of the first fitting, and the second tube connected to the first end of the second fitting. 
     
     
         17 . The cap assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a dip tube extending into the beverage container, the dip tube adapted to connect to the second end of the second fitting. 
     
     
         18 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cap comprises a generally rigid material. 
     
     
         19 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cap comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         20 . The cap assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a seal positioned within the cap cavity.