Keg Cap Retention Spears Anti-Fraud Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keg caps do not fit closely enough to the keg head, allowing for potential re-closure without detection and inadequate protection against dust and contaminants.
Innovation Solution
The keg cap features retention spears angled between 15 degrees and 40 degrees with the inner wall of the skirt, ensuring a secure fit and preventing removal without breaking or tearing, along with a detachable portion facilitated by tear lines for controlled opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a keg cap with skirt is provided to seal the keg head, then dust and unwanted particles are protected from accumulating in and around the keg head, but the keg cap does not fit closely enough to the keg head collar, allowing it to be placed back on the keg undetected after opening
Solution Approach 1:
The keg cap is divided into functional segments: a lid portion for sealing and a skirt portion with retention spears for secure attachment. The retention spears are separate elements that extend from the skirt to engage with the keg head collar, creating a segmented design that addresses both sealing and anti-fraud requirements independently
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the skirt engage with the keg head collar directly, the invention inverts the approach by using retention spears extending from the skirt to positively engage with protrusions on the keg head collar. This inversion ensures a secure, non-reversible attachment that prevents unnoticed re-closure while maintaining the sealing function
2Ease of operation
If the keg cap is designed to fit loosely for easy installation, then the keg cap can be easily placed on the keg, but it cannot be removed without breaking or tearing it into multiple parts, preventing fraudulent re-opening
Solution Approach 1:
The retention spears are designed with dynamic engagement characteristics: they can be compressed during installation to allow the skirt to flex and conform to the keg head collar, then spring back to engage positively with the keg head collar protrusions. This dynamic behavior enables easy installation followed by secure, non-reversible attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The retention spears undergo parameter changes during installation and operation: their flexibility and compression state change from a rigid locked position during normal use to a compressed state during installation, then return to the locked position. This parameter change allows the system to transition from easy installation to strong, fraud-preventing attachment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The keg cap provides secure closure to prevent fraudulent re-opening and accumulation of dust and contaminants, ensuring the integrity and quality of the keg's contents.
Implementation Method 1
the inner wall of said skirt is provided with a plurality of internally directed resilient retention spears along the circumference of the skirt, the latter being able to elastically press against the keg head collar in the coupled locked state
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a keg cap for a keg, such as a beer keg, the keg comprising a keg head for filling the keg, wherein the keg cap comprises a lid and a skirt adjoining thereto, the keg cap comprising a detachable portion for removing the keg cap from the keg head, said detachable portion being outlined by a first and a second pair of tear lines, wherein the first pair of tear lines extends over the full diameter of the lid of the keg cap and wherein the inner wall of said skirt is provided with a plurality of internally directed resilient retention spears along the circumference of the skirt, wherein the angle of the retention spear with the inner wall of the skirt is between 15 degrees and 40 degrees. The present invention also relates to a keg provided with a keg cap, a mold, and a beer in a keg.