Keg delivery system

Abstract

A keg delivery system includes a rack having a plurality of bays for receiving kegs horizontally. The keg delivery system also includes means for controllably lowering a keg from one of the bays to a floor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A keg delivery system comprising:
 a rack having a plurality of bays for receiving kegs horizontally therein; and   means for controllably lowering a keg from one of the bays to a floor.   
     
     
         2 . The keg delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes a slide selectively attachable to the rack. 
     
     
         3 . The keg delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes a pulley. 
     
     
         4 . The keg delivery system of  claim 3  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes an arm, the pulley mounted on the arm. 
     
     
         5 . The keg delivery system of  claim 4  wherein the pulley includes a friction brake. 
     
     
         6 . The keg delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes a strap assembly for releasably attaching to a keg. 
     
     
         7 . The keg delivery system of  claim 6  wherein the strap assembly includes strap portions, each strap portion having a ring secured to an outer end thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The keg delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes a motor selectively driving at least one pulley. 
     
     
         9 . The keg delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the means for controllably lowering a keg includes a cable secured to the at least one pulley and routed around a forward routing point so that the cable pulls a keg from the bay in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         10 . The keg delivery system of  claim 9  wherein the forward routing point includes at least one bar mountable in a plurality of positions in a pair of brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The keg delivery system of  claim 10  further including at least one pulley mounted on the at least one bar, the cable routed through the pulley. 
     
     
         12 . The keg delivery system of  claim 11  wherein the at least one pulley includes a plurality of pulleys mounted on the at least one bar. 
     
     
         13 . A strap assembly for handling beer kegs comprising:
 a center portion;   a pair of flexible strap portions connected to the center portion; and   a pair of connecting rings secured to ends of the strap portions.   
     
     
         14 . The strap assembly of  claim 13  wherein the center portion is a center ring. 
     
     
         15 . The strap assembly of  claim 14  wherein the strap portions are connected at a first end to the center ring and at opposite ends to the connecting rings. 
     
     
         16 . The strap assembly of  claim 15  in combination with a beer keg having a neck and handle openings, wherein the neck of the keg is received through the center ring and the strap portions are routed through the handle openings. 
     
     
         17 . The strap assembly of  claim 16  wherein the connecting rings are connected to a cable. 
     
     
         18 . A keg delivery system comprising:
 a pallet having an upper deck;   a platform rotatably mounted on the upper deck; and   a plurality of keg-receiving recesses formed in the platform.