Containers with adhesively attached chimes

Abstract

A keg includes a container 1 and a chime 3 fixed to each other by means of an adhesive. The container has a peripheral side wall 4 , and a top wall formed with a central neck containing a valve fitting provided with a dip tube which extends into the container. A bottom wall 9 is formed with a central projection 10 defining an internal well inside the container which receives the lower end of the dip tube. The chime 3 has an inner hub 12 with a central opening 13 , legs 14 which extend outwardly from the inner hub, and an outer skirt 15 joined to outer ends of the legs 14 . The central opening 13 of the inner hub 12 receives the central projection 10 , without fixation, to locate the inner hub against lateral movement. The central opening 13 may have the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection 10 . In a modification the central opening 13 incorporates a plurality of slots which radiate outwardly to define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers which locate the inner hub and accommodate variations in the relative axial position of the central projection 10 and the inner hub 12.

1 . A container assembly including a container ( 1 ) and a chime ( 2 ) fixed to each other by means of an adhesive; 
       the container having:
 a peripheral side wall ( 4 ), 
 a top wall ( 5 ) formed with a central neck ( 6 ) containing a valve fitting ( 7 ) provided with a dip tube ( 8 ) which extends into the container, and 
 a bottom wall formed with a central projection ( 10 ), said central projection defining an internal well ( 11 ) inside the container; 
 
       and 
       the chime having:
 an inner hub ( 12 ) with a central opening ( 13 ), 
 a plurality of legs ( 14 ) extending outwardly from the inner hub, and 
 an outer skirt ( 15 ) joined to outer ends of the plurality of legs; 
 
       in which the central opening ( 13 ) of the inner hub ( 12 ) receives the central projection ( 10 ) to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection, and a bottom end of the dip tube ( 8 ) extends into the internal well ( 11 ) of the central projection. 
     
     
         2 . A container assembly according to  claim 1  in which the central opening ( 13 ) of the inner hub has the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection ( 10 ) to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection. 
     
     
         3 . A container assembly according to  claim 1  in which the central opening ( 13 ) of the inner hub incorporates a plurality of slots ( 21 ) which radiate outwardly from the central projection ( 10 ) and the plurality of slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers ( 22 ) which locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.