US3561649A

US3561649A - Dispensing container

Info

Publication number: US3561649A
Application number: US735657A
Authority: US
Inventors: Calvin L Wilson
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Priority date: 1968-06-10
Filing date: 1968-06-10
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09
Also published as: GB1270285A

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an inexpensive and easily cleaned reusable dispensing container for storing and dispensing a liquid contained therein under gaseous pressure.

Description

United States Patent Calvin L. Wilson Chesteriield County, Va. 735,657

June 10, 1968 Feb. 9, 1971 Reynolds Metals Company Richmond, Va.

a corporation of Delaware Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee DISPENSING CONTAINER 12 Claims, Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/399 Int. Cl....... 865d 83/14 Field of Search 222/3865, 509, 387, 388, 394, 400.7, 396, 94, 61, 399; 220/; 206/(lnquired); 217/99 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs & Thompson ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to an inexpensive and easily cleaned reusable dispensing container for storing and 3,024,800 3/1962 Lewis 222/399X dispensing a liquid contained therein under gaseous pressure.

III 34 48 Li 33 PATENTEUFEB 9mm 3561.649

sum 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR. CALVIN L.W| LSON HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUFEB len I 3561.649

sum 3 0F 3 BY AIM @Mwoy m s ATTORNEYS DISPENSING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are numerous dispensing containers in current use which are utilized to dispense liquids, such as carbonated beverages, for example, contained therein under gaseous pressure. However, such present containers are comparatively expensive to produce and are difficult to clean initially and for subsequent reuse.

SUMMARY This invention provides a reusable container for storing and dispensing liquids contained therein under gaseous pressure which is of simple and economical construction, has a minimum number of component parts, and is easy to clean initially and for subsequent reuse.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the dispensing container of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the dispensing container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view with parts broken away particularly illustrating the relative positions of a spigot assembly comprising the exemplary dispensing container of FIG. 1 and the comparatively large access opening over which the spigot assembly is fastened in position; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view particularly illustrating an alternate location which may be used for a charging plug used to charge the container of FIG. I with a gas under pressure.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIG. I of the drawings wherein an improved container for storing and dispensing a liquid product under gaseous pressure is illustrated and designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The container of this example of the invention is particularly adapted for dispensing a carbonated beverage such as beer, soft drinks, and the like and has a substantially right circular cylindrical outline designated generally by the reference numeral 21, a rear wall 22, and a recessed front wall indicated generally by the numeral 23. The container 20 is also well suited for dispensing noncarbonated beverages and other liquids.

The container 20 has a plurality of symmetrically arranged protrusions each designated by the reference numeral provided in its rear wall 22 which may be formed as an integral part of such rear wall and are utilized to stand the container 20 in an upright manner while supporting it on the protrusions 25 The rear wall 22 also has an elongated slot 26 provided therein which is adapted to receive a positioning member therewithin to orient the container 20 on an automatic assembly line along which container 20 is moved to enable charging a propellant-containing chamber thereof with a suitable propellant used to force the carbonated beverage out of such container through a suitable spigot assembly and in a manner to be described in detail subsequently in this specification.

The front wall 23 is recessed inwardly of a front peripheral edge 27 of the cylindrical sidewall 21 so as to define a cavity 28 in the front end of the dispensing container 20. A spigot assembly designated generally by the reference numeral 30 is constructed and arranged so that it is readily installed within the cavity 28 so that it is completely protected and does not provide an unsightly protrusion outwardly of the front edge 27 of the dispensing container 20 while also enabling the dispensing container 20 to be inverted and supported on the front edge 27 of its cylindrical sidewall without interference by the spigot assembly 30, if desired.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 of the drawings wherein the improved dispensing container 20 of this invention is shown in enlarged cross-sectional view and comprises an enclosing wall which is designated generally by the reference numeral 33 which has a tapered front end section 34 which terminates in a smaller end designated by the reference numeral 35. The enclosing wall 33 of the exemplary container 20 defines a first chamber which is particularly adapted to contain a liquid such as a carbonated beverage under gaseous pressure. The tapered section 34 of the enclosing wall 33 terminates in an annular portion 40 which defines an open end or opening 41 for the enclosing wall 33. The spigot assembly 30 is fastened against the annular portion 40 to seal the open end 41 in a fluid-tight manner and the operation of the spigot assembly 30 and the manner of fastening such spigot assembly in position will be described in more detail subsequently in this specification.

The rear section, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, of the enclosing wall 33 comprising the container 20 of this invention is designated by the reference numeral 44 and comprises a forward portion of substantially right circular cylindrical outline and an integral rear portion which defines the rear wall 22 of container 20. The front section of container 20 is defined by an outer substantially tubular wall 46 which is fastened in sealed relation around the outer periphery of the enclosing wall 33 adjacent the larger end of its tapered portion 34 and in this example of the invention the outer tubular wall portion 46 is fastened to the enclosing wall 33 by a continuous weld 47.

The outer tubular wall 46 has an inner or rear portion which is of right circular cylindrical outline and an outer or forward portion provided with a substantially radially inwardly directed integral flange 50 which has a contoured configuration. The forward end of the tapered portion 34 is fastened to flange 50 in sealed relation as by welding and as shown at 52 so as to define annular portion 40 which in this example comprises an integral part of flange 50.

The tubular wall 46 with its outer end portion or flange 50 is thus fastened in position to enclosing wall 33 at 47 at its inner end and at 52 at its outer end so as to define a second propellant-containing chamber designated generally by the reference numeral 54 between the tapered wall section 34 and the outer wall section 46 and the chamber 54 is particularly adapted to contain a charging fluid such as a gas under pressure which is introduced in a controlled manner within chamber 36 to pressurize the carbonated beverage within the chamber 36 and in a manner as will be described in detail subsequently and thereby enable drawing the carbonated beverage through the spigot assembly 30.

The tapered section 34 of enclosing wall 33 may be in the form of a substantially frustoconical section and has a threaded aperture 56 provided therein for placing the liquid chamber 36 in flow communication with a source of pressurizing fluid which is carried externally of chamber 36 and in this example of the invention the pressurizing fluid is in the form of a pressurizing gas which is carried within the outer pressure chamber 54. In using container 20 for dispensing a carbonated beverage the pressurizing gas in chamber 54 is preferably carbon dioxide.

The storing and dispensing container 20 has a pressure regulator designated generally by the reference numeral 60 which is fastened in flow communication with the aperture 56 and the pressurizing fluid carried in chamber 54 and allows the pressurizing fluid to be introduced into the chamber 36 when the pressure level within the chamber 36 is below a predetermined level. The pressurizing gas is metered by the pressure regulator 60 into the chamber 36 in a controlled manner and upon opening a lever 62 provided on the spigot assembly 30 the pressurized liquid in chamber 36 is forced through a siphon tube 63 comprising the spigot assembly 30 and outwardly through a dispensing opening 64 provided in the spigot assembly 30 and in a known manner.

The pressure regulator 69 has a support designated generally by the reference numeral 66 which has an annular shoulder 67 provided thereon and a threaded outer portion 70. The annular shoulder 67 is provided concentrically around the base of threaded outer portion 76. The annular shoulder 67 also has an annular groove 71 which carries a suitable seal such as an O-ring seal 72.

The aperture 56 provided in the frustoconical tapered portion 34 is in the form of a threaded aperture, as previously mentioned, and the threaded portion 79 of support 66 is threaded through the threaded aperture 56 so that the seal 72 is urged and clamped against an annular portion 73 comprising the inside surface of the tapered section 34 to thereby provide a fluid-tight seal between the pressurizing chamber 54 and the chamber 36 of the dispensing container 20. It will be understood that a bayonet-locking device may be substituted by the threaded connection provided by aperture 56 and portion 70 of support 66.

The pressure regulator 60 has a normally closed control valve 75 which is of known construction and commonly referred to as a Bridgeport or Schrader valve provided as an integral part thereof; therefore, the valve 75 will not be described in detail. The valve 75 has an outwardly extending valve stem 76 which is normally resiliently held outwardly. The valve stem 76 is engaged by an outer surface 77 of an expandible and contractible volume capsule 78 comprising regulator 60 which is adapted to move the stem 76 and control the flow of pressurizing fluid through valve 75 and into the chamber 36.

The capsule 78 is hermetically sealed and contains a fluid under a predetermined controlled pressure and as will be apparent from FIG. 3 of the drawings the entire capsule 78 is exposed to the pressure environment of chamber 36. The operation of the pressure regulator 60 is of utmost simplicity and as the pressure in the chamber 36 decreases, due to drawing off carbonated beverage, for example, the fluid within the capsule 73 expands outer surface 77 outwardly and against stem 76 to thereby allow fluid from chamber 54 to enter the chamber 36. As the fluid enters chamber 36 the pressure exerted against the exposed surface of capsule 78 increases thereby moving surface 77 away from stem 76 and once the correct pressure is reached within the chamber 36 the volume of capsule 78 is contracted to the desired reduced level whereby surface 77 allows the stem 76 to move to an extended position and the flow of pressurizing fluid through the valve 75 is stopped. This operation is repeated as more carbonated beverage is drawn from within the chamber 36 through the spigot assembly 3-0 until the entire supply of carbonated beverage within chamber 36 is used.

As the stem 76 of the control valve 75 is pushed inwardly, the carbon dioxide flows through the valve 75 and radially outwardly from an edge fill of a cup-shaped resilient member Bl which is fixed to the terminal end of the stem 76 and serves as a one-way check valve. The member 31 may be made of a rubberlilte material and is fixed adjacent the terminal outer end of the stem 76 in a fluid-tight manner and so that its edge 849 is resiliently held against an associated planar surface 62 of support 66.

The action of member 83 is such that the carbon dioxide pushes edge Sill away from surface 82 as it flows toward chamber 36 to adjust the pressure level within chamber 36; however, any tendency for fluid within chamber 36 to flow toward the valve 75 is prevented by edge 30 being urged by such fluid tightly against the planar surface 82 and in the typical manner of a check valve.

The capsule 78 of pressure regulator 69 preferably has an inert gas, such as nitrogen, or the like, hermetically sealed therewithin. The utilization of an inert gas assures that there is a minimum tendency for the pressure regulator 69 and thus the absolute pressure within the chamber 36 to be influenced by changes in the temperature environment in which container 20 is used and hence the temperature within the chamber 36.

For example, in utilizing the dispensing container 20 for storing and dispensing of a relatively highly carbonated cola drink pressurized by carbon dioxide, the pressure within chamber 36 is approximately 25 p.s.i.g. with the temperature in such chamber at 40 F. As the temperature within chamber 36 increases to 70 F. the resulting pressure within chamber 36 due to the released carbon dioxide is approximately 40- 5O p.s.i.g. These temperatures and pressures in the order presented above are common in using dispensing container 20 while it is kept in a normal household refrigerator and while it is exposed to a normal room ambient temperature respectively. Also, it will be appreciated that the absolute pressure within chamber 36 would be the above indicated pressures plus the normal ambient pressure for the particular altitude.

If the gas within the capsule 78 were to be of the type which expands rapidly due to increased temperature, then the tendency would be to prematurely introduce more carbondioxide within chamber 36 and an over carbonation of the beverage within the chamber 36 would result which would be undesirable. Thus, the need for utilizing an inert gas within the capsule 78 is readily apparent to help prevent over carbonation of the beverage within the chamber 36 and thus assure such beverage is drawn from the spigot assembly 30 with minimum foaming and having optimum palatability.

The pressure regulator 60 is supported within the fluid chamber 36 solely by the tapered frustoconical section 34 of enclosing wall 33 and such pressure regulator is easily in stalled in position through the access opening 41 provided in the front end of the dispensing container 20 and over which the spigot assembly 30 is installed. The opening 41 is of comparatively large size as compared to the size of the pressure regulator 60 and enables such pressure regulator to be moved in and out of chamber 36 in an effortless manner after removal of the spigot assembly 30. It is a simple matter to install the pressure regulator 60 in position by merely inserting such regulator through the front opening 41 and threading its threaded outer portion 70 through the threaded aperture 56 provided in the tapered frustoconical wall 34. The installation of pressure regulator 60 may be achieved strictly manually and/or using a suitable fastening device to firmly tighten the regulator 60 in position and assure that the O-ring seal 72 is urged tightly against annular surface 73 adjoining the threaded aperture 56 to provide a fluid-tight connection between the chamber 54 and the beveragecontaining chamber 36.

Not only is the large access opening 41 provided in the front end of the container 20 usable to enable installation and removal of the pressure regulator 60, such opening All is sufficiently large that it enables the inside surface of the enclosing wall 33 which defines the liquid chamber 36 to be easily cleaned with a suitable cleaning fluid and properly flushed. The opening till is used to clean and flush the inside surface of enclosing wall 33 upon initially filling chamber 36 of a new container 20 with a carbonated beverage as well as to clean and flush such inside surface once the original beverage is dispensed from container 20 and the container is to be reused.

As will be apparent from FlGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings the spigot assembly 30 is provided with a bayonet-type connector which is of known construction and designated generally by the reference numeral 85. The bayonet connector 85 has a plurality of four outwardly extending lugs 86 which are adapted to be inserted through four cooperating cutouts 87 provided in the radially inwardly directed flange 50 and upon rotating the spigot assembly 30 relative to the flange 50 the forward surfaces of lugs 86 cam against associated inside surface portions or" flange 55) to fasten the spigot assembly in position and in a known manner.

The spigot assembly 36) of this example of the invention has a separate yieldingly compressible O-ring seal 88 which is adapted to be placed against the outside surface of the annular portion 46 comprising flange 50 and compressed thereagainst by an annular surface 90 of spigot assembly 30 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the spigot assembly 30 and the fluid chamber 36; however, it will be appreciated that the spigot assembly 30 may have a seal similar to seal 88 provided as an integral part of surface 90 or the annular portion 40 may have a similar seal provided as integral part of its outside surface to assure that a fluid-tight connection is provided between the spigot assembly 30 and the beverage chamber 36.

The spigot assembly 30 has a siphon tube 63 which, in this example, has an inlet section 92 of converging flow area and an outlet section 93 of diverging flow area which is fastened to the main portion of the spigot assembly 30 by any suitable means and as shown at 94. The spigot assembly 30 may be comprised of a one-piece housing 95 which has the bayonet connector 85 provided at its inner end portion as an integral part thereof and the housing 95 has an integral liquid dispensing passage 96 extending therethrough and terminating in the previously mentioned dispensing opening 64.

A normally closed spigot valve assembly 100 has male threads provided thereon which are threaded in cooperating female threads provided on the one-piece housing 95 as shown at 101 to detachably fasten valve assembly 100 to housing 95.

eliminating cylindrical portion 48 of section 46 and hence the space between

welds

47 and 105. With portion 48 eliminated the inside end edge of frustoconical section 34, the inner end edge of cylindrical section 46, and the open edge of cylindrical section 44 would adjoin each other whereby a single continuous weld could be provided to fasten such adjoining edges together and thus provide a container substantially identical to container at an even lesser cost.

The-valve assembly or valve 100 has a tapered plug 102 corresponding in peripheral outer outline to the outline of an inside surface 103 defining opening 64 so that upon pulling the lever 62 forwardly to an open position the carbonated beverage contained within the chamber 36 is forced by the carbon dioxide gas through the siphon tube 63 and through the dispensing opening 64 in a known manner. Once the lever 62 is released a compression spring 104 within the valve assembly 100 urges the tapered plug 102 against the cooperating surface 103 to provide a substantially dripless spigot for the dispensing container 20.

The improved exemplary dispensing container 20 of this invention is of utmost simplicity and utilizes a minimum number of component parts. in particular, it will be seen that the housing or fluid containing sections of the container 20 comprise three main sections which in this example are suitably welded and used together with a pressure regulator assembly, a spigot assembly, and a charging plug to be subsequently described. These three housing sections have been previously described in some detail as to arrangement and function; however, the present description is made to highlight the manner in which such sections are welded to enable producing container 20 at minimum cost.

The forward section 46 is of substantially right circular cylindrical configuration at its inner end portion and has inwardly directed flange 50 of arcuate configuration defining its front end portion. The front edge 27 of container 20 is defined at the line of junction between flange portion 50 and the remainder of the section 46. The frustoconical wall section 34 of this exemplary container 20 is provided as a separate section which has its large diameter portion welded adjacent the inner end of section 46 at 105 so that a small height cylindrical strip portion 48 comprises the inner end portion of section 46. The front or small diameter end of frustoconical section 34 is welded against the inwardly directed flange 50 of cylindrical section 46 to define the annular portion 40 which comprises the forward portion of the enclosing wall 33. The inner cylindrical edge of section 46 is welded to the corresponding exposed cylindrical edge of section 44 by annular weld 47.

The enclosing wall 33 is thus comprised of the cylindrical section 44 with its rear wall 22, portion 48 of cylindrical section 46, frustoconical section 34, and a portion of inwardly directed flange 50 of cylindrical wall 46 which defines annular portion 40.

The fluid housing sections of the dispensing container 20 are thus defined by the three continuous

annular welds

52, 105, and 47 which weld together comparatively inexpensive components to produce container 20 at comparatively low cost. However, it will be appreciated that such three

sections

34, 46, and 44 may be formed and assembled essentially in a similar manner by utilizing two welds instead of three by As previously indicated, the container 20 has a charging or pressurizing fluid provided in its chamber 54 and for a carbonated beverage such charging fluid is preferably in the form of a pressurizing gas such as carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas is introduced in the chamber 54 using a suitable charging needle which is inserted through a charging plug provided in the flange portion 50 of wall 46. The plug 110 may be of any suitable known construction and made of a rubberlike resilient material which may have a previously formed slit provided therein to facilitate easy entry of the associated charging needle. However, the plug 110 may be a solid plug through which the charging needle makes its own opening once the chamber 54 is charged with carbon dioxide. it will be appreciated that in either event whether the opening is normally provided in charging plug 110 or formed upon insertion of a charging needle therethrough the pressure within the chamber 54 upon removal of the charging needle is sufficient to seal such opening once the charging needle is removed and in a manner which is known in the art. The charging plug 110 extends through an opening 111 provided in the flange portion 50 and is suitably held in position by a pair of integral flange portions thereof which extend against the inside and outside surfaces respectively of flange 50 which adjoin the opening 1 l 1.

In this example of the invention the charging plug 110 is provided in flange 50 and arranged so that it is necessary that an associated charging needle be introduced within the recess 28 provided in the forward end portion of the container 20. ln some applications of this invention it may be desirable to provide the charging plug on section 46 to enable easier and unobstructed charging of the chamber 54. In particular, it will be seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings that a charging plug designated by the reference numeral 114 is provided in the outer right circular cylindrical portion of wall section 46 as shown at 115 and the plug 1 14 may be provided at any desirable location along such cylindrical portion inwardly of the front end edge 27 of container 20.

The cylindrical section 46 shown in FIG. 5 has a recess provided therein which may be in the form of an outwardly concave roughly semispherical dimple which has an opening 121 extending therethrough. The plug 114 extends through the opening 121 and is suitably held in position by a pair of integral flange portions comprising plug 114 which extend against the inside and outside surfaces of section 46 which adjoin opening 121. In addition, the plug 114 has an outer surface 122 which is arranged within the outline of the cylindrical portion of section 46.

The arrangement of charg'ng plug 114 in section 46 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 enables a more simple and economical charging of chamber 54 with carbon dioxide gas as the container 20 is moved along an assembly line in a continuous operation because it is easier to insert the charging needle within plug 114 in that it is only necessary that the needle be moved substantially radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of container 20. In addition the charging plug 114 may be substantially identical to charging plug 110 and may be of the type which has an opening previously provided therein or of the type through which a charging needle is inserted and forms an opening which subsequently seals shut once the charging needle is retracted.

To provide a more attractive appearance for the dispensing container which utiliies charging plug 114 a thin strip of material 125 is preferably fastened in position over the recess 120 to conceal the recess 120 and plug 114.1n those applications wherein the outer section 46 has an aluminumlilte appearance, the strip 125 is preferably a strip of aluminum foil which is adhesively fastened in position to provide a neater appearance for the cylindrical section 46 while also providing a protective strip which prevents dirt or other foreign objects from accumulating within recess 12%.

Thus it is seen that the improved dispensing container 20 of this invention is economical to produce, easy to clean, easy to assemble and disassemble, and enables a liquid such as a carbonated beverage to be dispensed therefrom with maximum efficiency and safety for using personnel.

in addition, the pressuriaing fluid need not be stored within chamber 54 as a liquid, but may remain in the gaseous state throughout its use within container 20. This permits the pressurizing fluid to be selected from a wide range of fluids and mixtures thereof. For example, the pressurizing fluid may be nitrogen, which is especially well suited for use in dispensing milk, fruit and vegetable juices and other foods.

While present exemplary embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced by those skilled in the art.

lclairn:

l. A container for storing and dispensing a liquid under fluid pressure comprising, a substantially rigid enclosing wall having; an outwardly tapered frustoconical end section terminating in an annular wall portion defining an opening in said enclosing wall, said enclosing wall defining a first chamber for said liquid, an outer substantially rigid tubular wall having one end portion fastened around the periphery of said enclosing wall adjacent the larger end of said tapered end section, said outer tubular wall having a forward portion provided with a radially inwardly directed integral flange which has a contoured configuration and has said annular wall portion provided as an integral part thereof with said frustoconical section having its small diameter end edge sealed to said annular wall portion so that said frustoconical section terminates in said annular wall portion so as to define a second chamber between said frustoconical end section and said outer tubular wall for containing a pressurizing fluid, said opening defined by said annular wall portion providing easy access to the interior of said first chamber and facilitating cleaning thereof, an aperture in said tapered end section for placing said first chamber in flow communication with said pressurizing fluid carried in said second chamber, a pressure regulator fastened in flow communication with said aperture and with said pressurizing fluid and allowing pressurizing fluid to be introduced into said first chamber when the pressure level within said first chamber is below a predetermined level, and a spigot assembly fastened in sealed relation over said opening and in flow communication with said first chamber and for dispensing said liquid from within said chamber.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said enclosing wall and said outer tubular wall with said annular wall portion defined as an integral flange thereof have a substantially equal thickness throughout.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which said opening is adapted to receive a portion of said spigot assembly therethrough and said spigot assembly is detachably fastened against said annular wall portion and in sealed relation over said opening.

2'. A container as set forth in claim It in which said pressure regulator is arranged entirely within said first chamber for said liquid and supported solely by said tapered section, said regulator controlling the flow of pressurizing fluid through said aperture and from said second chamber into said first chamber in an optimum manner due to the isolation provided by maintaining said regulator within said first chamber to thereby provide optimum control of the fluid pressure in said first chamber.

5. A container as set forth in claim 4 in which said pressure regulator is smaller in size than said opening to enable easy movement thereof through said opening and enable said pressure regulator to be easily installed on and removed from the inside surface of said tapered end section.

6. A container as set forth in claim 5 in which said pressure regulator comprises a sealed capsule which undergoes a change in volume as the function of the pressure exerted by the fluid in said first chamber to control the pressurizing fluid introduced within said first chamber.

7. A container as set forth in claim i in which said spigot assembly comprises a one-piece housing having an integral con nector at its inner end for fastening said housing against said annular portion, an integral liquid dispensing passage extending therethrough and terminating in a dispensing opening, and a normally closed valve detachably fastened to said housing and provided to enable dispensing liquid from within said container.

8. A container for storing and dispensing a liquid under gaseous pressure comprising, a substantially rigid enclosing wall having an outwardly tapered end section which terminates in a smaller end, said enclosing wall defining a first chamber for said liquid, an outer substantially rigid tubular wall having a rear portion which is fastened in sealed relation around the periphery of said enclosing wall adjacent the larger end of said tapered section, said outer wall having'a forward portion provided with a radially inwardly directed integral flange which has a contoured configuration and terminates in an annular wall portion having an inner edge and said tapered section has the edge of its smaller end sealed to said annular wall portion so as to define a second chamber between said tapered section and said outer tubular wall for containing a pressurizing gas with said inner edge of said annular wall portion defining an opening in said enclosing wall, an aperture in said tapered section for placing said chambers in flow communication, a pressure regulator arranged entirely within said first chamber for said liquid and supported solely by said tapered end section, said regulator controlling the flow of pressurizing gas through said aperture and from said second chamber into said first chamber in an optimum manner due to the isolation provided by maintaining said regulator within said first chamber to thereby provide optimum control of the fluid pressure in said first chamber, and a spigot assembly fastened in sealed relation over said opening and inflow communication with said first chamber and for dispensing said liquid from within said first chamber.

9. A container as set forth in claim 8 particularly adapted for containing a carbonated beverage in its first chamber and further comprising a charging plug carried by said outer tubular wall to enable charging said second chamber with carbon dioxide gas under pressure.

10. A container as set forth in claim 8 in which said pressure regulator comprises a sealed capsule which undergoes a change in volume as the function of the pressure of said fluid in said first chamber to thereby control said flow of pressurizing fluid through said aperture and from said second chamber into said first chamber.

ill. A container as set forth in claim 10 in which, said aperture in said tapered section comprises a threaded aperture, said pressure regulator has a support provided with a threaded outer portion which is threaded through said threaded aperture and enables said pressure regulator to be supported within said first chamber solely by said tapered section, and said opening in said enclosing wall is of sufficient size to provide easy access to the interior of said first chamber and facilitate cleaning thereof, said pressure regulator being smaller in size than said opening to enable easy movement thereof through said opening and enable said pressure regulator to be easily installed and removed from the inside surface of said tapered wall.

12. A container as set forth in claim 1 l and further comprising a compressible seal clamped between an annular surface of said spigot assembly and a cooperating annular surface on the outside surface of said enclosing wall arranged outwardly of said opening to assure said spigot assembly is sealed in a fluid-tight manner over said opening.

Claims

1. A container for storing and dispensing a liquid under fluid pressure comprising, a substantially rigid enclosing wall having an outwardly tapered frustoconical end section terminating in an annular wall portion defining an opening in said enclosing wall, said enclosing wall defining a first chamber for said liquid, an outer substantially rigid tubular wall having one end portion fastened around the periphery of said enclosing wall adjacent the larger end of said tapered end section, said outer tubular wall having a forward portion provided with a radially inwardly directed integral flange which has a contoured configuration and has said annular wall portion provided as an integral part thereof with said frustoconical section having its small diameter end edge sealed to said annular wall portion so that said frustoconical section terminates in said annular wall portion so as to define a second chamber between said frustoconical end section and Said outer tubular wall for containing a pressurizing fluid, said opening defined by said annular wall portion providing easy access to the interior of said first chamber and facilitating cleaning thereof, an aperture in said tapered end section for placing said first chamber in flow communication with said pressurizing fluid carried in said second chamber, a pressure regulator fastened in flow communication with said aperture and with said pressurizing fluid and allowing pressurizing fluid to be introduced into said first chamber when the pressure level within said first chamber is below a predetermined level, and a spigot assembly fastened in sealed relation over said opening and in flow communication with said first chamber and for dispensing said liquid from within said chamber.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said pressure regulator is arranged entirely within said first chamber for said liquid and supported solely by said tapered section, said regulator controlling the flow of pressurizing fluid through said aperture and from said second chamber into said first chamber in an optimum manner due to the isolation provided by maintaining said regulator within said first chamber to thereby provide optimum control of the fluid pressure in said first chamber.

7. A container as set forth in claim 1 in which said spigot assembly comprises a one-piece housing having an integral connector at its inner end for fastening said housing against said annular portion, an integral liquid dispensing passage extending therethrough and terminating in a dispensing opening, and a normally closed valve detachably fastened to said housing and provided to enable dispensing liquid from within said container.

8. A container for storing and dispensing a liquid under gaseous pressure comprising, a substantially rigid enclosing wall having an outwardly tapered end section which terminates in a smaller end, said enclosing wall defining a first chamber for said liquid, an outer substantially rigid tubular wall having a rear portion which is fastened in sealed relation around the periphery of said enclosing wall adjacent the larger end of said tapered section, said outer wall having a forward portion provided with a radially inwardly directed integral flange which has a contoured configuration and terminates in an annular wall portion having an inner edge and said tapered section has the edge of its smaller end sealed to said annular wall portion so as to define a second chamber between said tapered section and said outer tubular wall for containing a pressurizing gas with said inner edge of said annular wall portion defining an opening in said enclosing wall, an aperture in said tapered section for placing said chambers in flow communication, a pressure regulator arranged entirely within said first chamber for said liquid and supported solely by said tapered end section, said regulator controlling the flow of pressurizing gas through said aperture aNd from said second chamber into said first chamber in an optimum manner due to the isolation provided by maintaining said regulator within said first chamber to thereby provide optimum control of the fluid pressure in said first chamber, and a spigot assembly fastened in sealed relation over said opening and in flow communication with said first chamber and for dispensing said liquid from within said first chamber.

11. A container as set forth in claim 10 in which, said aperture in said tapered section comprises a threaded aperture, said pressure regulator has a support provided with a threaded outer portion which is threaded through said threaded aperture and enables said pressure regulator to be supported within said first chamber solely by said tapered section, and said opening in said enclosing wall is of sufficient size to provide easy access to the interior of said first chamber and facilitate cleaning thereof, said pressure regulator being smaller in size than said opening to enable easy movement thereof through said opening and enable said pressure regulator to be easily installed and removed from the inside surface of said tapered wall.

12. A container as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising a compressible seal clamped between an annular surface of said spigot assembly and a cooperating annular surface on the outside surface of said enclosing wall arranged outwardly of said opening to assure said spigot assembly is sealed in a fluid-tight manner over said opening.