AU773430B2 - A container for separately storing flowable materials but allowing mixing of materials when required - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A container for separately storing flowable materials but allowing mixing of materials when required The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 3-enlsUre mtlbal ebue040 97Pitd2 ac 02(42)pg Freehlls Carter Smith Beadle Melboume\004019947 Printed 22 March 2002 (14:20) page 2 1A A CONTAINER FOR SEPARATELY STORING FLOWABLE MATERIALS BUT ALLOWING MIXING OF MATERIALS WHEN REQUIRED Field of the Invention The present invention is concerned with containers for flowable materials, and, more particularly, with containers for liquids in which the pressure is greater than atmospheric. It will be appreciated that carbonated beverages such as the socalled soft drinks and brewed beverages such as beer and cider are contained at super-atmospheric pressure, but the present invention is also concerned with flowable materials (including other liquids) that are, or can be, contained at superatmospheric pressure. In particular, it is not uncommon for a number of "still" 10 drinks to be packaged in a container containing an atmosphere of nitrogen at V0. super-atmospheric pressure. Examples of the goods which are, or can be, 0.0 packaged in this way include juices and juice-drinks, milk and milk-based drinks, spirits, wines, iced teas and tea drinks and even medicines and pharmaceuticals delivered in liquid form.

Background to the Invention In certain alcoholic beverages, particularly stouts, a thick head of creamy froth has long been considered desirable. This head is readily generated when a stout is 0 :poured from conventional beer-dispensing apparatus but when stouts are contained in cans (as many other alcoholic beverages frequently are) a head of the same quality is often not produced upon opening the can. This has provided a disincentive to the sale of such beverages in cans but Australian patent No.

577486 provides a solution to this problem. The can described in Australian patent No. 577486 includes an insert which is a gas-filled chamber in communication with the beverage in the can through a restricted orifice. Since the chamber is immersed in the beverage contained in the can a small amount of the beverage will enter the chamber through the restricted orifice so as to equilibrate the pressure in the head space of the chamber and the pressure in the head space of the can. Upon opening the can, the pressure in the head space of the can will immediately be reduced to atmospheric while the pressure in the head space of the secondary chamber will remain, momentarily at least, at a pressure greater than atmospheric, hence the gas and/or beverage in the chamber will be ejected through the restricted orifice. This causes gas in the solution to be evolved and form a head of creamy froth on the beverage. The patent does not, however, envisage the introduction of a second liquid into the beverage upon opening of the can, and this would not be possible with the arrangement described since the beverage and any liquid contained in the secondary chamber would be free to mix whilst the can remained sealed.

There are numerous patents and patent applications filed subsequent to Australian patent No. 577486 concerned with the introduction of a head of froth to 10 beer in a container, but none envisages a container suitable for the introduction of a second liquid to the packaged beverage. However, it would be desirable for a container to be able to contain a second flowable material (such as a powder, suspension or liquid) in a chamber separate to the main chamber of a pressurised container so that it may be introduced subsequently to the beverage in the 15 container. It will be appreciated that such a container, although adapted to introduce a second flowable material to the packaged beverage, could also introduce gas or a separately contained, pressurised beverage into the container so as to cause the beverage to foam.

Such a container is described in international application No. PCT/GB95/01185 in 20 'which two such compartments are separated by a membrane capable of being grossly ruptured by the release of pressure when the contaier is opened. In this case, one compartment contains whisky and the other soda water, hence when the membrane is ruptured a whisky and soda drink is produced. Similarly, US patent No. 4524078 describes a container including a capsule which either has a separable cap, a frangible wall or in which one wall comprises a wall of the container and the capsule is forced away from the wall of the container when the container is opened. In each case either a wall ruptures, a component of the capsule separates from the capsule or the entire capsule separates explosively from its anchor and may fragment, so in each case there is a potential choking hazard created by the formation of small pieces of the capsule within the beverage in the can. Furthermore, in each case the encapsulated liquid will be released relatively gently through a large orifice into the beverage in the container, so it will diffuse relatively gradually into the beverage. This may result in incomplete mixing and does not provide for spectacular visual effects.

International patent application No. PCT/EP94/02491 describes an arrangement in which a capsule with an orifice in its bottom face is secured in the lower portion of a pressurised beverage can. The capsule contains a second liquid miscible with the primary liquid contained in the can and, to avoid mixing of the two liquids prior to opening of the can, includes a valve stem which seals the orifice in the bottom face of the capsule. The bottom face of the capsule is, however, flexible and when i: 10 a pressure differential, is created by opening the can, the bottom face of the capsule flexes downwardly and the valve stem is dislodged. This allows the second liquid to enter the can through the orifice and mix with the primary liquid. It would be difficult to insert the capsule since it must be pressurised prior to insertion but the open can into which it is inserted will not be pressurised until after 15 it is sealed. Thus there would be practical difficulties in ensuring that the second liquid does not leak through the orifice during insertion. Furthermore, such an arrangement is likely to be subject to pressure fluctuations, for example due to temperature change, in the head space within the capsule. Since there is no means of equalising the pressure within the head space in the capsule with the 20 pressure in the head space within the can, such minor pressure fluctuations will create a pressure differential whenever the temperature of the can changes. This differential will result in small fluctuations in the position of the bottom wall of the capsule and may result in leakage, since it is critical that the orifice remain hard against the valve seat at all times to avoid leakage.

The present invention aims to provide an arrangement for containing a first flowable material and a second flowable material separately in a pressurised container and for injecting the second flowable material into the first flowable material when the pressurised container is opened. Moreover, having provided such an arrangement, it was recognised that it could also be applicable to injecting gas or a separately contained, pressurised second flowable material into the first flowable material.

0044458634 4 Summary of the Invention The invention generally provides a container for separately containing a first flowable material and a second flowable material until mixing of the first and second flowable materials is desired comprising: a first chamber containing the first flowable material and having a first head space comprising gas at a pressure greater than or equal to atmosphere pressure; (ii) a second chamber containing the second flowable material, the second flowable material containing gas, and the second chamber having above the second flowable material therein a second head space comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; (iii) pressure reduction means for opening the first chamber to an environment external to that chamber, for reducing pressure in the first chamber; (iv) means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers; means for transferring the second flowable material into the first chamber for mixing with the first flowable material, when the pressure in the first chamber is reduced, which transferring means includes valve means normally closed against transfer of the second flowable material, and means connecting said pressure reduction means to said valve means and responsive to operation of the pressure reduction means to open said valve means.

The pressure reduction means may be means for opening the first chamber to the atmosphere. Such means could take the form of, for example, a screwable/unscrewable cap fitted to a bottle, a lift off tab for a bottle or can, or a structure located on a wall of the container which is able to be pushed in so as to create an opening in the container communicating between the first chamber and its external environment. Such means would readily be comprehended by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, wherever reference is made in this 004011147 specification and the appended claims to "means for reducing the pressure in the first chamber" it is to be understood that such references include a reference to all means of the type discussed in this paragraph.

The means for transferring the gas between the first and second chambers may comprise means for establishing a pressure equilibrium between the first head space and the second head space. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the term "equilibrium" in the context of the balance of pressures between the first and second head spaces should not be taken as implying that the pressures ~in the first and second head spaces are necessarily equal or approximately equal.

e 10 In fact, as detailed below, there may actually be a pressure gradient between the first and second head spaces, but nonetheless, an equilibrium will exist between i the pressures in the two chambers. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the •..arrangement would thus be that the pressure in the first chamber (prior to it being opened to its external environment), would be a pressure greater than 15 atmospheric pressure. It is preferred that prior to activating the mixing of the first e.

flowable material and the second flowable material, the pressure in the first and second head spaces is about equal. As explained above however, in other forms of the invention, there may be a difference between the pressure in the first and :second head spaces. In embodiments of the invention where such a pressure i 20 differential applies, preferably, the difference between the first and second head spaces lies in the range of from about O. 1 to 10 atmospheres.

atmospheres.

Preferably, the pressure in each of the first and second head spaces is at least 0.1 atmosphere, gauge pressure, prior to activation of the container and in order to mix the first and second flowable materials. It is particularly preferred that 25 pressure is at least 0.5 atmosphere, and even more preferably, at least 1 atmosphere. Therefore, the pressure in each of the first and second head spaces is preferably at least one atmosphere above atmospheric pressure, prior to the mixing of the first and second flowable materials.

It is to be understood that unless the context otherwise requires, wherever used in this' specification, the term "flowable material" includes liquids, solutions, 6 suspensions, emulsions, gases and any other forms of matter colloquially referred to or known as a *liquid" or a "fluid", as well as other flowable materials, such as powders. The first and the second flowable materials may be materials of the same physical character, or of different kinds. In one preferred form of the invention, each of the first and second flowable materials would comprise true liquids. In yet other forms of the invention however, the first flowable material could take the form of a true liquid, and the second flowable material could (for example) take the form of a powder. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other combinations are possible, and are embraced within the scope of the present invention. Such persons would also readily appreciate that the flowable material in either chamber could prior to mixing with the flowable material in the other chamber also constitute a combination of two or more flowable materials (eg, a liquid containing a gas).

.00* The means for transferring the second flowable material may comprise a conduit 15 means, eg. extending from the reservoir of the second flowable material in the second chamber into the first head space. Alternatively, the conduit may terminate within the first flowable material.

Preferably, the conduit means comprise a structure through which the flowable material may travel. Preferred structures for this purpose include tubes, and channels (including enclosed and open channels). Alternatively, the structure could take the form of one or more bores formed through a wall or like partition separating the two chambers of the apparatus. A particularly preferred conduit means would include a capillary structure, such as (for example), a capillary tube.

In this regard, it is to be understood that wherever used in this specification, the term "capillary" includes not only structures or apparatus which are thin or of hairlike configuration, but also, other structures or apparatus which are capable of employing a capillary action.

It may at times be desirable to provide an orifice adapted to be variable in size.

For example, the orifice may be fully opened when the first chamber is fully pressurised to ensure that effectively, no pressure differential is created between the first and second chamber, but the orifice could be restricted or closed when the first chamber is about to be opened to the atmosphere.

In each case, the arrangement facilitates the transfer of the second flowable material whilst minimising the possibility of leakage when the container is in the unopened condition, since the exchange of gases between the first chamber and the second chamber will be enhanced in that condition. This is particularly so because one can use an orifice larger than that which would ensure adequate discharge of the second flowable material if its diameter can be restricted prior to discharge.

10 The orifice may comprise a slit or valve. The slit or valve may be closed when the 00..pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber is less than a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount is, preferably, between 0.1 atmospheres and 2 atmospheres, gauge pressure. When the pressure in the first chamber exceeds the pressure in the second chamber by more than this 15 predetermined amount, the slit or valve will open and allow the pressure in the two chambers to reach an equilibrium. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art o that in the case of a typical carbonated beverage container made in accordance to 0 the invention, the pressure differential arising when discharge occurs is of the order of 0.5 atmospheres, so this differential will, of course, open the small orifice, but the orifice is too small for such a large pressure differential to be equilibrated.

The advantage of using a slit which is closed when no pressure differential, or only a small pressure differential less than the predetermined amount, exists, is that leakage of the second flowable material is minimised.

Any other suitable means of equilibrating the pressure between the first head space and the second head space may be employed. For example, the second chamber could be made of or include a portion of a gas permeable plastic such as low density polyethylene, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, co-polymers of two or more such plastics materials, or the like. In this embodiment of the invention, diffusion of gas through the gas permeable plastic impregnates the second flowable material in a second chamber containing that flowable material.

second flowable material in a second chamber containing that flowable material.

The entire capsule could be made out of a gas permeable plastic, however, in some applications of the invention, it is preferable to make the capsule out of a plastic which is relatively non-permeable to gas. A particularly suitable gas permeable plastic is low density polyethylene, although other gas permeable plastics are known which are also suitable. Alternatively, part of the capsule (other than the conduit means) could be made out of a gas permeable plastic.

Advantageously, the second chamber floats on the top of the first flowable material, or is fixed to the container at or above the level of the first flowable 10 material. In the case of the container taking- the form of a bottle, the second *°Ochamber may be fixed to the underside of the cap. In this last mentioned embodiment, the second chamber is preferably located adjacent to or below the cap, but is attached to the neck of the bottle.

In any such arrangement, the second head space and the first head space are separated merely by the walls of the second chamber. In this case it is advantageous for the conduit means to consist of a capillary or a structure otherwise defining a channel.

Advantageously, means are also provided to keep the orifice above the level of the second flowable material, even if the container is laid on its side.

Typically this is achieved by ensuring that the second flowable material is filled only to a predetermined level and that the orifice is in a position which is above that level, irrespective of the orientation of the container, although of course it will be appreciated the total inversion of the container or some other inappropriate handling could immerse the orifice. It may also be necessary for the container to be packaged in such a way that it cannot be positioned in certain orientations.

Advantageously, back flow prevention means are provided in the capillary to ensure that the first flowable material does not flow through the capillary into the second chamber, for example, when the container is laid on its side. Such back flow prevention means may comprise a simple flap of a suitable material secured within the capillary in such a manner as to prevent flow of the flowable material from the first chamber into the second chamber but to allow the flow of the second flowable material from the second chamber into the first chamber. If desired, a one-way valve could be used in place of the flap of material.

When the second chamber is mounted above the level of the first flowable material, for example, by being fixed to the container or to the underside of a cap, the second liquid may be transferred (for example, by injection) through an orifice formed in a bottom wall of the second chamber. The orifice will be sealed whilst there is no pressure differential between the first chamber and the second 10 chamber but when the first chamber is suddenly depressurised upon opening to the atmosphere, the orifice will be opened. This may be accomplished, for example, by covering the orifice with a burstable sealing strip which ruptures on opening of the container, or by various arrangements of valve means. Suitable valve means for this purpose include an orifice that is opened by relative 15 movement (ie, separation) apart of opposed walls structurally defining or forming part of the bottom wall of the second chamber, poppet valves in the bottom wall and the like.

One particularly suitable arrangement comprises a valve stem fixed in the orifice ;prior to screwing on the cap of a bottle but adapted for capture by the cap as the 20 cap is screwed on, whereupon when the cap is unscrewed the valve stem is unseated from the orifice. Alternatively, the valve stem may tie secured to the cap throughout the closing operation but has a sharp-end which pierces the bottom wall of the second chamber forming the orifice, but sealing it as it is created. Once again, opening the cap results in withdrawal of the valve stem from the orifice and so the second flowable material is released. In a yet further arrangement, the means for transferring the second flowable material could comprise a conduit means in the form of a stand pipe which is concentrically located within the second chamber, adapted for capture with the cap of a bottle as the cap is fitted to the bottle, and which also has an associated valve means located at the top or the bottom of the stand pipe, wherein the transfer of the second flowable material into the first flowable material is activated by opening the cap. The opening of the cap may be aL.,uated by unscrewing it, by a lift off mechanism, or by other means which would readily be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In another arrangement that could be used, either the bottom or the top wall of the container is flexible and the orifice is closed by sealing against a valve stem affixed to the top wall of the second chamber opposite the orifice when pressure is equilibrated between the first chamber and the second chamber. However, the bottom wall (or the top wall, as the case may be) flexes when the first chamber is e 'equilibrated and so moves away from the valve stem, thereby opening the orifice.

Alternatively, and this arrangement can be used more particularly where conduit means such as a capillary or channel-defining structure as described above are employed, the top or bottom wall of the container is flexible but seals against the opening of the conduit means to the second flowable material when pressure in the first chamber and the second chamber is equilibrated, but flexes away from it when the first chamber is depressurised.

20 Yet another possible arrangement has a. bottom or top wall which is not particularly flexible but is able to deform sufficiently to form a seal when held against the opening of the conduit means. In this arrangement the conduit means and the bottom or top wall are arranged so as to come into sealing contact when the cap is in sealed disposition on a bottle form of the container but to move away from sealing contact as the cap moves upwardly on the crown of the bottle during the unsealing operation. More particularly, in a screw-cap arrangement, sealing contact is first made as the cap is screwed on after filling the bottle, is maintained whilst the bottle remains capped, and is broken as the cap is unscrewed.

11 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that any of the embodiments of the invention described above may include a plurality of chambers (rather than a single second chamber), capable of delivering a plurality of different flowable materials. It will also be appreciated that different flowable materials could be transferred from different chambers in the same insert or could be transferred from separate inserts.

Typically the second chamber is substantially smaller in volume than the first chamber. In general, it is only necessary to deliver small volumes of the second flowable material to the first flowable material. In general, in the context of a beverage container, between 1 and 90% of the second head space is-occupiedby the second flowable material.

Typically the first flowable material is a beverage.

In one embodiment of the invention, (in which the container contains a beverage), the second flowable material comprises a colouring such as a 1% solution of tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine or brilliant blue. Advantageously when the

V

container containing the beverage and the tartrazine solution is opened, a colour change to the first liquid (ie, the beverage) occurs, providing a dramatic visual effect which may be transient, persisting only for a few seconds after the bottle is opened, or may be relatively long-lasting. An example of the latter would be a situation where a twist or pattern of colour is produced in the liquid. Alternatively, a substantial volume of coloured liquid may be transferred, so as to create a twolayer effect in the container. Clearly the creation of a two-layer effect is reliant on the second liquid having a density very different from that of the first liquid. In general, the second liquid would be floated on top of the first liquid but if injected from the bottom of the container, the second liquid may constitute the bottom layer o.f liquid.

The second liquid could also be or contain a flavouring, which may or may not be colourless.--Suitable-.-flavoung- systems -are -essential-- oils -in--ethyl-- alcoholcompounded flavour chemicals and essential oils with ethyl alcohol and water compounded flavour chemical with propylene glycol and essential oils wetted with wetting agents in aqueous solution with surfactants. Typically the flavours are present in 0.01-0.2% v/v. Examples of essential oils are citrus oils such as lemon, lime and orange (distilled and cold pressed), and natural spice oils such as cinnamon, buchu, peppermint and the like. Suitable flavour chemicals are in 20 general esters, aldehydes, fatty acids, lactones, and terpene alcohols. Vanillin (4hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is one example but other suitable flavourings would be well known to the person skilled in the art.

Where two or more liquids are delivered to the beverage the two liquids could, for example, both be colourings, in which case a spectacular visual effect would be created. This would be particularly so if they are injected into the beverage in different positions. Altematively, both such liquids could be the flavourings, in which case gradients of flavourings could be created, particularly if a thixotropic or thickening agent is also injected into the beverage either together, with one or more of the flavourings or separately. Alternatively, each liquid could be a different class of liquid, for example a flavouring and a colouring could be injected at the same time, or at different times, as desired.

It is also possible that a coloured twist, as described above, is also flavoured in which case the flavour will not permeate the entire drink immediately. Thus, gradients of flavour may be created. A typical twist is a twist of juice or juice concentrate.

Colour changes may also be induced in other ways. For example, colour formation by certain food dyes such as cochineal and anthocyanins is pH dependent, and will form different colours depending on whether they are in an acid or alkaline environment. This property could be. exploited by containing a beverage at, pH, say, below 7 and using a dye in a weak basic solution as the second liquid.

S,"o 10 When the container is opened the basic dye solution will be injected into the acidic solution in the container, and will lower the pH of the dye to somewhere below 7, 0 initiating a colour change in the dye. A similar effect could be created by using a o**o c. chelating agent as-the second liquid where -the-presence-or absence of metal ions in the dye effects the colour change in that dye.

15 Flavour enhancing agents could also be incorporated into the second liquid, for example, the second liquid could constitute an aqueous solution of sugar, a formulated flavour or an artificial sweetener, such as phenylalanine. Whilst this is not particularly advantageous with compounds that are stable in aqueous solution, flavouring agents that are unstable in aqueous solution or flavour enhancers that 20 are unstable in aqueous solution can be added to beverages. This enables these agents to be used when they could not previously be used at all, or had to be added in sufficient quantities to allow for breakdown of a substantial proportion of the compound.

The second flowable material may be any other liquid or other kind of flowable material which it would be desirable to introduce into a beverage. For example, it could be a tea concentrate to be introduced into a juice drink, or vice versa Another example is the mixing of spirits and a soft drink The second liquid could also be a thixotropic or thickening agent, a pharmaceutical (and this will be advantageous when, for example, a drug is unstable in aqueous solution but can be stored as a concentrate in ethanol or some other liquid and where it is desirable to administer it by mouth as a dilute aqueous solution or where an 14 undesirable taste in a medicine needs to be masked), quinine concentrate for mixing with carbonated water to create tonic water, or like mixtures.

In some cases where two liquids are mixed, some people prefer more of one liquid and less of the other, or even that one liquid be excluded from the mixture.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a container in which the concentration of the second liquid in the first liquid can be varied. One means of ,doing this in the embodiments of the invention where there are means for equilibrating the pressure between the first head space and the second head space, is to provide a bleed hole or valve arrangement in the cap of a bottle. This allows some of the gas from either the first head space or the second head space to be bled gradually. Irrespective of which chamber is bled, the slight pressure differentia created will quickly equilibrate so there will be no discharge.of second liquid but the pressure within both head spaces is reduced. Accordingly 5" when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere there will be created a lesser pressure differential between the second head space and the first head space than would have been created if no gas had been bled. Accordingly, there is a lesser driving force for the second liquid to be expelled from the second chamber.

If the pressure in the container has been reduced sufficiently, not all of the second liquid will be expelled from the second chamber so the concentration of the second liquid in first liquid will be less.

Alternatively, if the orifice used to equilibrate pressure between the first head space and the second head space is relatively large, the second liquid will not fully discharge. In this case there will be a tendency to rapid equalisation of pressure when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere and this will occur to some extent before the orifice is blocked, thus reducing the pressure in the second head space.

Where the second chamber is mounted on the underside of the cap of a bottle it will be appreciated that no opportunity for any further discharge of the second liquid is available if the cap is removed or disposed of. However, if the container is sealed by replacing the cap or if the second chamber is secured within the container, placing a finger over the bottle top and shaking, the second chamber will be pressurised to some extent. When the container is reopened to the atmosphere the second liquid will discharge once again thus, if an extra strong mixture is required instructions could be included on the container to proceed in the manner described above.

Furthermore, one component of a mixture, for example an iced tea concentrate, could be excluded from a juice drink by an arrangement in which, for example, removal of a tab from the bottle cap prior to opening the bottle removes a mechanical blockage from the capillary.

The second liquid may include foaming promoters if it would be advantageous to cause foaming in the first chamber when the second liquid is injected therein.

-Alternatively, the. second liquid -may-contain foaming-inhibitors if-it is- likely-that- excessive foaming would occur when the second liquid is injected into the first liquid. Suitable foaming inhibitors are lipids, fatty acids, for example oleic acid, and fatty alcohols, for example octanol, and suitable foaming promoters are finely divided salts and powders, proteinaceous materials such as may be derived from barley, and extracts from soapwoods and hops.

Advantageously, the first chamber and/or the second chamber could include active surfaces which promote nucleation. Typically these active surfaces are surfaces on polyolefin structures inserted in the chamber but the entire interior of the chamber could be coated with a polyolefin. In the case of the first chamber, the provision of active surfaces enhances foaming in a beverage contained therein. In the case of the second chamber, the active surfaces maximise decarbonation of the second liquid which provides an additional driving force for discharge of the second liquid.

Tamper proof caps may also overcome the problem of excessive foaming in those beverages prone to this, by allowing the pressure to be released by partially opening the bottle, followed by a separate action to remove the cap fully Having provided an arrangement for effectively containing a first flowable material 16 and a second flowable material separately in a pressurised container, and for transferring the second flowable material into the first when the pressurised container is opened, it was found that such an arrangement could also be used to inject gas or a separately contained aliquot of the first flowable material into the major portion of the first flowable material.

Some of the arrangements described above are suitable for delivering a second liquid into a first liquid, a minor portion of the first liquid into major portion of the first liquid, or a gas into the first liquid in arrangements which do not have means for equilibrating the pressure between the first chamber and the second chamber. That is to say, a prepressurised second chamber can be inserted in a bottle or other form of container suitable for use in the invention, and can deliver its contents via the arrangements described above,and_such arrangements also constitute a part of the present invention.

S" Brief description of the drawings S 15 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: V000.

Figs. la-c illustrate the discharge of an insert in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2a-c illustrate the discharge of an insert in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 3a-c illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein gas is injected into a liquid contained in a bottle; Figs. 4a-c show the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. la-c adapted to inject gas into a liquid contained in the bottle; and Figs. 5a-c illustrate the mode of operation of a yet further embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 a-c comprises a bottle 40, the interior of which constitutes a first chamber, capped by a cap 41 comprising a thread engagement portion 42 and a sealing portion 43. The sealing portion 43 is made of a resilient material such as a thermoplastic. The thread engaging portion 42 of the cap engages thread on bottle 40. The bottle includes flange 44 above which the cap 41 sits when in the fully sealed position. The bottle is filled close to the bottom of flange 44 with a first flowable material (in the form of .a liquid 54), but a first head space 55, comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure when the bottle is sealed, is left above the first liquid 54. In general, the first liquid 54 is a carbonated beverage and so the head space S"pressurises upon sealing of the bottle due to evolution of gas from the first liquid 54 but if the first liquid 54 is a "still" beverage it is common practice to pressurise the bottle with nitrogen or the like.

The sealing portion 43 of the cap 41 has an insert 45, constituting a second chamber of the container, attached to its underside. The second chamber encloses a space containing a second flowable material (in the form of a liquid 53) S" 20 and second head space 56. A portion of the sealing portion 43 of the cap 41 constitutes a top wall 46 of the insert 45. Side wall 47 of the insert 45 has a small orifice 48 (although a valve or a gas permeable patch could be used to ensure that the second liquid 53 does not flow out of the insert 45 when bottle 40 is laid on its side) formed therein and the bottom wall 49 is generally conical in shape. Top wall 46 has a barrel 50 formed thereon and a valve stem 51 secured within the barrel but seated within the barrel 50 in a position spaced from the base of the barrel.

The valve stem 51 is anchored in orifice 52 in the bottom wall 49 of the insert and so seals the orifice.

18 When the cap 41 is screwed onto bottle 40, the sealing portion 43 of the cap 41 deforms, hence the upper wall 46 of the insert 45 also deforms.

Deformation of the upper wall 46 would tend to push valve stem 51 in a downward direction but it is anchored in orifice 52, hence the movement that occurs is for the end of the valve stem 51 secured within barrel 50 to move to a position abutting the base of the barrel 50 (Figure 1B). The pressure within the bottle 40 may be anything up to 5 atmospheres in normal use, dependent on the beverage contained therein. With the bottle 40 in the sealed condition, as shown in Fig. 1B, the pressure in the head space 55 of the bottle 40 is in fluid connection with the second head space 56 in the insert 45 by way of orifice 48. This small orifice is sufficiently small that any pressure differential between the first and second head spaces is not equilibrated immediately, but equilibrates gradually over time.

Although the orifice 48 is never blocked in this embodiment .of theinvention, the orifice is sufficiently small or takes the form of a pressure sensitive opening of valve that it cannot equilibrate a large pressure differential rapidly. However, where there are small fluctuations in the pressure in first head space 55, perhaps as a result of minor temperature changes when a cold room or refrigerator is closed or opened, such changes are readily equilibrated without discharge of the second liquid 53.

When the cap 41 is unscrewed again, the upper wall 46 deforms once again but this time valve stem 51 moves with it, since it is firmly held at the base of barrel 50. The result is that orifice 52 is opened (Figure 1C) and the second liquid 53 is injected in the first liquid 54. When the cap 41 is removed the pressure in first head space 55 immediately drops to atmospheric pressure. The small orifice 48 cannot equilibrate such a large pressure differential immediately. Thus, the pressure differential created by opening the bottle 40 to the atmosphere initiates a flow of the second liquid 53 through orifice 52.

The second liquid 53 quickly flows through orifice 52 and does so as a jet of liquid since there is a substantial driving force created by the large pressure differential generated. Thus the second liquid 55 surges into the first liquid 54, and if it is relatively miscible therewith, mixes rapidly. On the other hand, if the second 19 liquid is not particularly miscible (perhaps as it has minimal solubility in the first liquid or because it is substantially more viscous than the first liquid), visual effects can be created where the second liquid is a colouring, or gradients of flavour can be created where the second liquid is a flavouring. Typically, a twist of a coloured flavouring agent such as a juice or cordial can be created. Alternatively, a formerly transparent drink can be coloured if a miscible colouring is added or a drink can be colour changed if a colour change additive, as described previously, is injected.

Figs. 2a-c illustrates a similar insert to that shown in Figs. la-c, hence the same reference numerals have been used for similar features. However, in this case valve stem 51 has a sharp end which can perforate the bottom wall 49 at point 52, which thereafter becomes orifice 52, when it is moved into contact with it (as shown in Fig. 2b) by screwing the cap 41 onto bottle 40. Valve stem 51 is firmly secured within barrel 50 abutting its base (Fig. 2a), and remains in this position throughout the sealing and opening operations illustrated, as withdrawal 15 of the valve stem 51 from the newly created orifice 52 (see Fig. 2b) results in i release of the second liquid 53. This is shown in Fig. 2c, where it is ejected through orifice 52.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3a-c resembles the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 a-c and the same numbering as 20 used in that embodiment has been used here. In this case, cap 84 replaces barrel and capillary tube 86 replaces valve stem 51. Capillary tube 86 is not captured in cap 84 as valve item 51 is in barrel 50 in the embodiment shown in Figs. la-c.

Instead, cap 84 includes small orifice 85 which, when cap 84 is pushed downwardly by sealing portion 46 of cap 41 when the cap is screwed on, orifice is closed by the side of capillary tube 86. This is seen in Fig. 3b. Once the cap is re-opened, capillary tube 86 is once again able to slide out of cap 84, thereby opening small---orifice--85--and--placing--the-interior-of-the--insert--45-in fl uid- flowconnection with the interior of the bottle 40. Thus, discharge of gas from insert can occur through capillary tube 86.

Figs. 4a-c are similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. lac so the same numbering has been used. In this case a valve stem 51 has one end 52 mounted within capillary tube 87 and the other end is adapted for capture in barrel 50. The capillary tube 87 extends from the insert 45 almost to the bottom of the bottle 40, commencing at the apex of the underside 49 of insert 45. Hence, prior to capture of the valve stem 51 in the barrel 50, as shown in Fig. 4a, the end 52 of valve stem 51 resides within capillary tube 87. When the cap 41 of the bottle is screwed on, the valve stem 51 is captured by barrel 50, but the end 52 of the valve stem 51 remains disposed within capillary tube 87. However, when the cap is unscrewed, the end 52 of the captured valve stem 51 slides out of the capillary tube 87 and the gas encapsulated within insert 45 surges down capillary tube 87 and into the beverage. Bubbles 83 are generated in the beverage with the result t. that a head of foam is produced. The embodiment shown in Figures 5a-c has a concentric capillary conduit means in the form of standpipes 91, 95. Standpipe 91 is connected at its upper end to the insert 16 (the upper portion of which, in the illustrated embodiment, is located below the bottle cap 27), and at its other end, defines an outlet 93 which is immersed in the second flowable material 17. Positioned concentrically within standpipe 91 is another standpipe 95, which communicates between the head space 18 of the second chamber through the bottom wall of insert 16 and into the i *head space 14 of the first chamber. This second standpipe has an opening 96 at its lower end, which, as shown in Figs. 5a-c, is located in the first chamber head space 14, and an opening 97 at its other end, which is located in the head space 18 of the second chamber, near the top of standpipe 91. Located on one wall of standpipe 95 at a position above the liquid 17 is an insert 16 and below the outlet 97 is a small orifice or slit 24. A shown particularly in Fig. 5a, insert 16 is fitted with a protrusion 92 on its underneath surface. As shown in Figs. 5a and b, protrusion 92- is- locatedso asto engag ethe upperen of standpipe 95, and to seal that standpipe, in use of the apparatus shown. At the bottom of insert 16 is a concentrically arranged collar 94 connected to the bottom wall of the insert and shaped to capture opening 93 of standpipe 91, in use of the apparatus, in the manner hereafter described.

When the cap 27 is screwed onto the bottle in the manner shown in Fig. 1 b (and as earlier described herein), projection 92 engages entrance 97 of the inner standpipe 95, thereby effectively sealing it. Simultaneously, the outer standpipe 91 also moves downwards and its entrance 93 is captured in projection 94 on the bottom wall of insert 16. This effectively seals the flow path of second flowable material 17 through the conduit but still allows for equilibrating gas communication between the two chambers via orifice/slit 24.

When the bottle is opened by unscrewing cap 27, entrance 93 moves away from collar 94, thereby allowing the second flowable material 17 to travel upwards in the space 100 between the inner wall- of standpipe 91 and outer wall of standpipe 95, by capillary action. With sufficient cap movement, protrusion 92 :moves upwards and releases the seal previously applied to entrance 97 of standpipe 95, thereby allowing the second flowable material to travel upwards f I within space 100 above the level of entrance 97 of standpipe 95, and then S" 15 downwards through the lumen of standpipe 95. This enables the second flowable material to exit from opening 96 of the standpipe into the head space 14 of the bottle. In appropriate applications of the invention, the second flowable material will then be transferred into the first flowable material 15. In yet other applications of the invention, the second flowable material may simply be transferred into the first head space of the container, and may or may not come into contact with the first flowable material.

Variations and modifications of the invention apparent to those skilled in the art are also included within the scope of this invention.

It is also to be understood that wherever used in this specification, forms of the word "comprise" are equivalent in meaning to forms of the word "include", and are not to be taken as excluding the presence of any element or feature.