Bung assembly for use in beverage alcohol barrels and casks

Abstract

A bung assembly for closure of a hole in a beverage alcohol barrel comprises an upper flange having a top surface. A straight shaft extends downwardly from the upper flange, and includes a base cap adjacent to the upper flange and a bottom portion opposite the upper flange. A threaded portion extends along the shaft between the base cap and the bottom portion. Barrel assemblies are further provided and include a barrel having a bung hole, and the bung assembly. Methods of sealing a barrel includes steps of providing a barrel including a bung hole, and inserting the bung assembly into the bung hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bung assembly for closure of a hole in a beverage alcohol barrel, the bung assembly comprising:
 an upper flange having a top surface;   a straight shaft extending downwardly from the upper flange, the straight shaft including a base cap adjacent to the upper flange and a bottom portion opposite the upper flange; and   a threaded portion extending along the shaft between the base cap and the bottom portion.   
     
     
         2 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper flange has a first diameter, the base cap of the straight shaft has a second diameter, and the bottom portion of the straight shaft has a third diameter, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the third diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The bung assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first diameter is greater than about 2 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base cap is connected to the upper flange at a right angle. 
     
     
         5 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein base cap has a diameter of about 1.5 inches to about 1.875 inches and/or a length of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion includes threads having a thread depth of about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         7 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , the threaded portion having a spacing between the threads configured to engage a stave of a barrel or cask. 
     
     
         8 . The bung assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spacing between the threads comprises a space of about ¼ inch to about 3/16 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion has a crest and wherein the crest is spaced a distance from a bottom edge of the base cap. 
     
     
         10 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the straight shaft includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defining a hollow interior chamber of the bung assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The bung assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the straight shaft has a thickness between the interior surface and the exterior surface, and wherein the thickness is about 3/32 inch to about ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         12 . The bung assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the threaded portion includes threads having a thread depth of about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         13 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion has a diameter greater than about 2 inches and/or equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The bung assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the hollow interior chamber extends from a bottom edge of the straight shaft to the base cap. 
     
     
         15 . The bung assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising interior walls extending downward from the top surface of the upper flange, the interior walls defining a recess. 
     
     
         16 . The bung assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the recess is square shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The bung assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the recess has a width of about ¾ inches and a length of about ¾ inches. 
     
     
         18 . The bung assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the straight shaft includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defining a hollow interior chamber of the bung assembly, and
 wherein the interior walls extend below the base cap such that the recess extends from the top surface of the upper flange and into the interior chamber.   
     
     
         19 . A barrel assembly, comprising
 a barrel having a bung hole; and   a bung assembly according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         20 . A method of scaling a barrel, comprising:
 providing a barrel including a bung hole; and   inserting a bung assembly according to  claim 1  into the bung hole.