CA2137262A1 - Beverage frothing device - Google Patents
Beverage frothing deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2137262A1 CA2137262A1 CA002137262A CA2137262A CA2137262A1 CA 2137262 A1 CA2137262 A1 CA 2137262A1 CA 002137262 A CA002137262 A CA 002137262A CA 2137262 A CA2137262 A CA 2137262A CA 2137262 A1 CA2137262 A1 CA 2137262A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- beverage
- members
- container
- frothing device
- beverage frothing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
- B65D85/73—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head
Abstract
A beverage frothing device for a beverage container for production of a foamy dispersion of bubbles or "head" within a liquid packaged within sealed, non-resealable cans or other con-tainers. The beverage frothing device has a fluid chamber formed by two generally hollow telescopically slidable members (301, 302) which have means for securing (308, 317) the two members (301, 302) in a telescopically compressed position. Means (314) are also provided for fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the exterior of the device in response to a predeter-mined reduction in the pressure external to the device. A cage ar-rangement with a plurality of arms (305) is disposed around the two members (301, 302) such that the arms (305) curve away from the members (301, 302) and exert a force against the insides of the beverage container when the two members (301, 302) are telescop-ically compressed thereby holding the device in place in the bever-age container.
Description
~WO 93/24382 213 7 2 ~ 2 Pcr/GBs3/olu6o BE~IERAGE FROTHING DEVICE
3 This invention relates to a device for generation of a 4 foaming dispersion of bubbles within a liquid packaged within sealed, non-resealable cans or other containers.
6 It is especially although not exclusively suited to use 7 with canned alcoholic beverages such as beer, ale, 8 porter, stout or lager but may also be used with 9 non-alcoholic soft drinks.
11 A device and method for the production of a foamy 12 dispersion of bubbles or "head~' is desirable in 13 beverages such as beer, ale, porter, stout or lager 14 since these beverages often lack such a head when sold in canned form. Head generation is assisted by the 16 r-elease of gas dissolved in the beverage when it is 17 depressurised whether by being drzwn from a keg as with 18 draught beverage, or by opening of a can or bottle. In 19 draught beverages this is enhanced by the pressurisation of kegs with carbon dioxide (C0~), 21 nitrogen (N~) or other inert gases, establishing a 22 higher concentration of dissolved gases in draught 23 beverage than in canned beverage. Thus draught 24 beverages usually release more bubbles during depressurisation and have more dense, longer lasting 21~7~62 ~ .
. .
1 heads than canned beverages.
3 Prior art has addressed these problems by various 4 methods.
6 Disclosure has been made of various moulded inserts 7 which are gas filled and discharge their gas through an 8 orifice in the insert upon depressurisation of the can.
9 The energy released from the insert upon depressurisation may be highly temperature sensitive 11 causing inconsistent head production at varying 12 temperatures. At room temperature this may result in 13 excessive foaming and loss of beverage.
Alternative approaches to the problem include cans 16 modified to comprise one chamber for beverage and one 17 for gas that mix when the can is opened. This 18 sophisticated design of can leads to high costs and 19 could prove unviable.
21 Various intermediate systems exist where gas chambers 22 are incorporated in can lids or bases. In addition 23 chemical methods of inducing a head have been disclosed 24 but it is unclear to what extent these affect the taste of the beverage.
27 A prior art device is disclosed in WO 91~07326, 28 particularly in Figs 18 to 20 wherein a device 29 cont~ining a gas has an open topped cylindrical base with a cap disposed over the open top of the base. The 31 cap has a variable hei-ght of position on the-base and 32 the variation of the height enables the gas within the 33 device to be emitted at the appropriate time. This 34 device has the disadvantages that no means are provided 3~ ~ for securing the cap in a closed position on the base ~MENDED SllEE7 .. . .
,1 and therefore may be unstable during pressure changes 2 internal and external to the device.
.3 4 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage frothing device for a 6 beverage container, the device having two members 7 together defining a fluid chamber and the two members 8 being telescopically compressible, characterised in 9 that means are provided for securing the two members in a compressed position in which the volume of the fluid 11 chamber is reduced and means are also provided for 12 causing fluid communication between said fluid chamber 13 and the exterior of the device in response to a 14 predetermined re~uction in the pressure external to the device.
17 Preferably, the two members are generally hollow 18 telescoping members which are telescopically, sealably 19 slidable one within the other.
21 The securing means may be in the form of a projection 22 member projecting from one of the members and an 23 engagement member attached to the other member for 24 engaging the projection member.
26 The device may have means for holding the device inside 27 a beverage container, the holding means exerting a 28 force against the inside of the beverage container as 29 the device is compressed.
31 The two members may compress to a first position and in 32 this first position the holding means may hold the 33 device inside the beverage container and the two 34 members may further compress to a second position thereby increasing the fluid pressure in the fluid AMEN~ED S~EE~
1 chamber to a desired level.
3 This invention relates to a device for generation of a 4 foaming dispersion of bubbles within a liquid packaged within sealed, non-resealable cans or other containers.
6 It is especially although not exclusively suited to use 7 with canned alcoholic beverages such as beer, ale, 8 porter, stout or lager but may also be used with 9 non-alcoholic soft drinks.
11 A device and method for the production of a foamy 12 dispersion of bubbles or "head~' is desirable in 13 beverages such as beer, ale, porter, stout or lager 14 since these beverages often lack such a head when sold in canned form. Head generation is assisted by the 16 r-elease of gas dissolved in the beverage when it is 17 depressurised whether by being drzwn from a keg as with 18 draught beverage, or by opening of a can or bottle. In 19 draught beverages this is enhanced by the pressurisation of kegs with carbon dioxide (C0~), 21 nitrogen (N~) or other inert gases, establishing a 22 higher concentration of dissolved gases in draught 23 beverage than in canned beverage. Thus draught 24 beverages usually release more bubbles during depressurisation and have more dense, longer lasting 21~7~62 ~ .
. .
1 heads than canned beverages.
3 Prior art has addressed these problems by various 4 methods.
6 Disclosure has been made of various moulded inserts 7 which are gas filled and discharge their gas through an 8 orifice in the insert upon depressurisation of the can.
9 The energy released from the insert upon depressurisation may be highly temperature sensitive 11 causing inconsistent head production at varying 12 temperatures. At room temperature this may result in 13 excessive foaming and loss of beverage.
Alternative approaches to the problem include cans 16 modified to comprise one chamber for beverage and one 17 for gas that mix when the can is opened. This 18 sophisticated design of can leads to high costs and 19 could prove unviable.
21 Various intermediate systems exist where gas chambers 22 are incorporated in can lids or bases. In addition 23 chemical methods of inducing a head have been disclosed 24 but it is unclear to what extent these affect the taste of the beverage.
27 A prior art device is disclosed in WO 91~07326, 28 particularly in Figs 18 to 20 wherein a device 29 cont~ining a gas has an open topped cylindrical base with a cap disposed over the open top of the base. The 31 cap has a variable hei-ght of position on the-base and 32 the variation of the height enables the gas within the 33 device to be emitted at the appropriate time. This 34 device has the disadvantages that no means are provided 3~ ~ for securing the cap in a closed position on the base ~MENDED SllEE7 .. . .
,1 and therefore may be unstable during pressure changes 2 internal and external to the device.
.3 4 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage frothing device for a 6 beverage container, the device having two members 7 together defining a fluid chamber and the two members 8 being telescopically compressible, characterised in 9 that means are provided for securing the two members in a compressed position in which the volume of the fluid 11 chamber is reduced and means are also provided for 12 causing fluid communication between said fluid chamber 13 and the exterior of the device in response to a 14 predetermined re~uction in the pressure external to the device.
17 Preferably, the two members are generally hollow 18 telescoping members which are telescopically, sealably 19 slidable one within the other.
21 The securing means may be in the form of a projection 22 member projecting from one of the members and an 23 engagement member attached to the other member for 24 engaging the projection member.
26 The device may have means for holding the device inside 27 a beverage container, the holding means exerting a 28 force against the inside of the beverage container as 29 the device is compressed.
31 The two members may compress to a first position and in 32 this first position the holding means may hold the 33 device inside the beverage container and the two 34 members may further compress to a second position thereby increasing the fluid pressure in the fluid AMEN~ED S~EE~
1 chamber to a desired level.
3 Preferably, the holding means is in the form of a cage 4 attached to outer ends of the two members, the cage having a plurality of arms which curve away from the 6 two members as the two members are compressed.
8 A spacer component may be disposed within the fluid 9 chamber in order to regulate the internal volume of the fluid chamber and thereby the pressure of the fluid 11 chamber.
13 Preferably, the device contains a non-oxidising gas 14 such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
16 Preferably, the two members are cylinders each having 17 one open end, the open ends being placed togeth~r and 18 having closely fitting sealing means.
The fluid co~munication means may be in the form of a 21 piercing means which pierces an aperture in the fluid 22 chamber. The fluid com~llnication means may further 23 include a metering aperture for regulating the fluid 24 emitted from the fluid chamber.
26 The piercing means may be disposed on the engagement 27 member of the securing means and may pierce a wall of 28 the projection member, the projection member being 29 hollow and the interior of the projection member communicating with the exterior of the device via the 31 metering aperture.
33 The engagement member may be in the form of a securing 34 washer which grips the projection member for securing 3~ the two members when compressed, and the securing means 36 may be provided with points suitable for piercing the - ~MEN~ED SH~Er , . , . - - "
s 1 wall of the projection member only when there is a 2 predetermined reduction in the pressure external to the 3 device.
Preferably, the securing washer is generally 6 dish-shaped and has an uneven inner rim formed with 7 piercing points, the dish shape of the washer providing 8 a one way securing means for the projection member, and 9 said points acting as the piercing means on reduction of a predetermined amount of external pressure.
12 The projection member may be tapered and may have a 13 lateral step or shoulder to limit compression of two 14 members.
16 Alternatively, the fluid commlln;cation means may be in 17 the form of a wall of one of the members which acts 18 against a closing means for an aperture in the other 19 member.
21 Preferably, the projection member has at least one 22 portion hea~ing a cross-sectional area larger than an 23 opening in the engagement member.
The securing means may be arranged to engage in each of 26 three predetermined positions and the projection member 27 has three corresponding portions of relatively large 28 cross-sectional area in relation to an opening in the 29 engagement member.
31 The securing means may be a three detent pin which 32 interengages with an opening in the engagement member 33 which member is in the form of a spider across the open 34 end of one of the members, the detent pin being forced 3~ through the opening when the members are compressed.
f~ENDED SHEE~
21372~2 5a 1 One of the members may have an aperture initially . 2 closed by an O-ring seal located in a recess over the 3 aperturel and a wall of the other member replaces the 4 O-ring as the closing means for the aperture as the members are compressed, said wall not covering the 6 aperture when the detent closest to the fixed end of 7 the projection member is above the opening in the 8 spider.
The two detents furthest from the fixed end of the .. . _ AMENDED St~
2~37262 1 projection member are hooked so as to E~revent their 2 retraction through the opening in the spider and the 3 third detent can retract through the opening when the 4 pressure external to the device reduces suddenly.
6 As a further alternative, a first of the members may be 7 telescopically slidably received within the second 8 member, a restricted orifice being provided between a 9 leading end of the second member and an adjacent part of the first member through which the fluid within the 11 fluid chamber may pass in response to a predetermined 12 reduction in the pressure external to the device.
14 The second member may have a generally cylindrical internal sur~ace whilst the ~irst member has an 16 outwardly extending flange portion agairlSt which the 17 leading end part of the second member may engage.
19 The f lange or the leading end portion may be provided with at least one slot to provide said restricted 21 opening.
23 The flange may be provided with an annular channel 24 portion in which the leading end of the second member is received.
27 The restricted openings may be provided between the 28 leading end portion and the channel at spaced 29 circumferential positions.
31 According to a second aspect of the present invention 32 there may be provided a method of producing a packaged 33 beverage, comprising providing an open topped 34 container, placing in the container a device in accordance with first aspect of the present invention, ~ rJ~
W093/24382 213 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 Fig 7 is a longitudinal section of a second 2 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in 3 accordance with the present invention;
Fig 8a and 8b are a plan view and side view 6 respectively of the washer of the device of Fig 7;
8 Fig 9 is a longitu~in~l section of a third 9 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in accordance with the present invention;
12 Fig 10 is a longitudinal section of one half of a 13 fourth embodiment of the beverage frothing device 14 in accordance with the present invention;
16 Fig 11 is a plan of the washer of the fourth 17 embodiment of the device of Fig lO;
19 Fig 12 is a detail of the interlocking arm arrangement of the fourth embodiment of the device 21 of Fig 10;
23 Fig 13 is a longitudinal section of a fifth 24 embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention in an uncompressed condition;
27 Fig 14 is a similar section to that of Fig 13 but 28 showing the device in a compressed condition and 29 in position within a container; and 31 Fig 15 is a detail of a cross-section of the 32 device of Fig 13.
Referring to the drawings, the first embodiment of the . " ;, - , r ~ . ~ . , . . I, , s ' ~ ;~ e ji ;
21372~2 , . . . ..
. .
1 filling the container with beverage, closing the top of . .
2 the contA;ner with a closure member and subjecting the .-3 closed container to pasteurisation thereby producing 4 internal pressure in the container which compresses the device.
? The method may also involve placing the device in the 8 container until one end of the device abuts the bottom 9 of the container and mechanical pressure may be applied to the other end of the device to bring engagement ll means into engagement with the container.
13 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 14 described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
16 .
17 Fig 1 is a longitudinal section of a first 18 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in 19 accordance with the present invention in an uncompressed position;
22 Fig 2 is a longitudinal section of the device of 23 Fig 1 in a partially compressed position;
Fig 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of 26 . Fig 1 in a position of m-~imllm compression;
28 Fig 4 is a longitudinal section of the device of 29 Fig 1 in a released position;
31 Fig 5 is a plan of the spider of the device of Fig 32 1 not attached to the device;
34 Fig 6 is a perspective vie~ of the cage of the device of Fig 1 not attached to the device;
AMENDED SI~EET
~137262 W093/24382 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 device is in accordance with the present invention as 2 illustrated in Figs 1 to 6. The beverage frothing 3 device comprises two mutually nestable cylinders 1, 2 4 each with one open end 15 and one closed end 16. The first cylinder 1 fits over the second cylinder 2, the 6 second cylinder 2 having a sealing lip 9 at its open 7 end 15 which acts against the internal surface 17 of 8 the first cylinder 1. The device is filled with 9 nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The device also has a surrounding cylindrical cage 3 (Fig 6) which is 11 retained in position around the cylinders 1, 2 by 12 extensions 18 to the closed ends 16 of the two 13 cylinders 1, 2. This cage 3 is formed of a flexible 14 plastic material.
16 The first cylinder 1 has a centrally positioned 17 three-detent pin 5 attached to or moulded as part of 18 the first cylinder 1 and projecting from the interior 19 surface of the closed end 16 of the first cylinder 1.
The second cylinder 2 has a spider 4 (Fig 5) which is 21 attached across the open end 15 of the second cylinder 22 2. This spider 4 has a central opening lo which acts 23 as a pawl with respect to the three step ratchet 24 function of the detent pin 5. The second cylinder 2 also has small metering apertures 8 positioned in the 26 side wall 20 of the second cylinder 2 near the closed 27 end 16 of the second cylinder 2 and the apertures 8 are 28 disposed at the base of a groove 19 on the exterior of 29 the side wall 20. An 0-ring formed of a rubber material 6 may sit in the small groove 19, thus 31 covering the apertures 8 and sealing them. There is 32 also a parking groove 7 for the 0-ring 6 below the 33 apertures 8.
Fig 1 shows the device in its initial position prior to i l ~ 4 L~ ,A~
213726~`
.; . , 1 being immersed in a beverage in a beverage container 2 which container is preferably in the form of a can.
4 The device is dropped into the can in the canning line.
Thereafter during counter pressurisation of the can, 6 pressurised carbon dioxide or nitrogen is used to purge 7 the can. This pressure results in the two cylinders 1, 8 2 being telescopically compressed together by the rise 9 in external pressure around the device such that the first detent 11 is pushed through the central opening 11 10 of the spider 4 (position of Fig 2). As the two 12 cylinders 1, 2 are compressed together the arms of the 13 cage 3 around the two cylinders 1, 2 curve outward from 14 the two cylinders 1, 2. The cage 3 curves out from the two cylinders 1, 2 sufficiently to contact and exert a 16 force on the internal walls of the can (not shown).
17 This force holds the device in place in the base of the 18 can during filling of the can. It is not crucial that 19 the device is substantially vertically placed within the can; it may be at a slight angle to the 21 longitudinal axis of the can without affecting the 22 operation of the device. The two cylinders f, 2 in 23 their nested uncontracted form are too long for the 24 device to lie horizontally in the base of the can and thereby be rendered inoperable. The device may be 26 dropped into the can with either of the two cylinders 27 uppermost.
29 When the pressure is reduced again, at the end of the sterilisation, the device r~m~i n~ in a contracted 31 position as the first detent 11 latches on the opposite 32 side of the spider 4 and the hooked top 21 of the first 33 detent 11 prevents the return of the first detent 11 34 through the central opening 10 of the spider 4.
,. ._ AMENDED Sl tEEF
21~72~2 1 The can is then filled with the beverage, in this case 2 beer, and closed. During pasteurisation of the can, 3 the temperature rises and the pressure inside the can 4 increases. The two cylinders 1, 2 are squeezed further together such that the second 12 and third 13 detents 6 are forced through the opening 10 in the spider 4 7 (position of Fig 3) and the two cylinders 1, 2 are 8 telescopically compressed to the maximum extent. As a 9 consequence of the further compression of the two cylinders 1, 2, the open end 15 of the first cylinder 1 11 pushes the O-ring 6 from its position covering the 12 apertures 8 down into the parking groove 7. The 13 apertures 8 remain closed as they are covered by the 14 wall 14 of the first cylinder 1. The cage 3 is forced into an even more curved form which results in the arms 16 of the cage 3 being further forced against the internal 17 wall of the can.
19 When the can is opened, the sudden release of the pressure external to the device results in the third 21 detent 13 being forced back through the opening 10 in 22 the spider 4 (position of Fig 4). This is possible as 23 this third detent 13 is not hooked unlike the first 11 24 and second 12 detents which are prevented from retraction through the opening 10. As the third detent 26 13 retracts through the central opening 10 in the 27 spider 4, the two cylinders 1, 2 decompress a relative 28 amount due to the internal pressure of the device. The 29 apertures 8 are uncovered as the wall 14 of the first cylinder rises as the two cylinders 1, 2 are 31 decompressed and the gas escapes through these 32 apertures 8 as seed bubbles which rise through the beer 33 to form a creamy head when the beer is poured from the 34 can.
W093/~382 2 ~ 3 7 2 6 2 12 PCT/GB93/01~
l A second embodiment of the device in accordance with 2 the present invention is given below and illustrated in 3 Figs 7 and 8.
This beverage frothing device comprises two 6 telescopically nestable moulded containers 101, 102.
7 The first container 101 has a closed end 106 and two 8 concentric cylindrical walls 103, 104. The first g container 101 also has moulded arm extensions 105 spaced circumferentially around the closed end 106 of 11 the first container 101. The arm extensions 105 have 12 hinged areas 107 or are flexible thereabouts.
14 The second container 102 also has a closed end 108 with a tapered projection 11o projecting cen~rally toward 16 the first container lol ~rom the inside surface of the 17 closed end 108. The tapered projection llO has a 18 central hollow recess 1os. 'rhe rece~s 1~9 is closed to 19 the outside of the device by a controlled orifice member lll. The second container 102 has two 21 concentric cylindrical walls 112, 113. The outer one 22 of these walls 112 nests outside the first cylinder 23 outer wall 103 and has a sealing means 114 which seals 24 these outer walls 103 and 112 but allows relative movement of the walls 103 and 112. The second 26 container inner wall 113 is located between the inner 27 wall 104 and the outer wall 103 of the first container 28 101.
A washer 115 is held inside the open end 116 of the 31 inner cylinder wall 104 of the first con~ainer 101 by 32 holding means 117. The washer 115 has a central 33 opening 118 in the form of a broken circle 119.
34 Positioned at the breaks 119 in the circle are internally pointing piercing means 120. The washer 115 213726~
1 is dish-shaped with its centre 121 projecting towards 2 the closed end 106 of the first container 101 and 3 towards the end of the tapered projection 110.
The closed end 108 of the second container 102 has 6 restraints 123 at the periphery of this end 108 in 7 which the arm extensions 105 of the first container 101 8 are held.
In use the two telescopically nestable containers 101, 11 102 which are formed out of a moulded plastics material 12 are p~aced nestably together in a nitrogen atmosphere 13 so that the central tapered projection 110 Or the 14 second container 102 is placed inside the central opening 118 of the washer 115 held by the first 16 container 101. The dish shape and internally pointing 17 piercing means 120 of the washer 115 prevent the 18 tapered projection 110 from retracting through the 19 washer 115 and thereby prevents the two containers 101, 102 from separating.
22 The device is dropped into a beverage can in a nitrogen 23 atmosphere and the increase in pressure external to the 24 device as the beverage can is filled causes the inner cavity 124 between two containers 101, 102 to contract 26 and the arm extensions 105 of the first cont~iner ~01 27 to curve outwards or bend at the hinge areas 107 and 28 exert a force against the inside of the beverage can.
Z~ .
As the beverage can is filled with beverage, sealed and 31 pasteurised the pressure inside the beverage can rises 32 and the two containers 101 and 102 are further 33 compressed together such that the portion of the 34 tapered projection 110 of the second container 102 ~. ~
A)~ENDED S~tE~
.
2137~6~
r which portion encloses the hollow recess 109 is 2 positioned inside the washer 115. The part of the 3 tapered projection 110 enclosing the recess 109 has a 4 thin wall 122 separating the recess 109 and the washer S 115.
7 The pressure gradually drops inside the beverage can as 8 the beverage cools after pasteurisation. The two 9 containers do not move apart as they are held by the tapered projection 110 interacting with the rim of 11 central opening 118 of the washer 115 which rim has 12 internally pointing piercing means 120.
14 However, the sudden decrease in pressure inside the can external to the device when the can is opened causes 16 the tapered projection 110 to slip a small distance out 17 of the washer 115, and in doing so, the piercing means 18 120 of the broken circle 119 of the washer 115 pierce 19 the thin walls 122 o~ the tapered projection 110 2~ enclosing the recess 109.
22 The gas in the inner cavity 124 defined by the two 23 containers 101, 102 is pressurised as the inner cavity 24 124 has contracted reducing the volume in the inner cavity 124 inside the containers 101, 102 and causing 26 the pressure of the gas within the inner cavity 124 to 27 rise. The pressurised gas thus escapes through the 28 pierced holes in the thin wall 122 of the tapered 29 projection 110. The gas then escapes to the exterior through the controlled metering orifice member 111 at 31 the entrance to the hollow recess 109, the controlled 32 orifice member 111 ensures that the bubbles of the 33 escaping gas are of an exact size. The gas bùbbles 34 rise through the beverage can seeding other bubbles and 3~5~ cause a creamy head on the beverage when it is poured ~JENDED SHEEr 21372~2 _ W093/~382 PCT/GB93/010 1 from the can.
3 A third embodiment of the device in accordance with the 4 present invention is given below and illustrated in Fig 9.
7 This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment of 8 the device and the beverage frothing device comprises 9 two telescopically nestable moulded containers in the form of two cylinders 201, 202, each having a generally 11 closed end 203 and an opened end 204. The second 12 cylinder 202 is telescopically slidable within the 13 first cylinder 201. The edge 205 of the open end 204 14 of the second cylinder 202 has a flared lip 206 which is radially inwardly compressed when the two cylinders 16 201, 202 are nestably interconnected. The interiors of 17 the two cylinders 201, 202 define a variable volume of 18 internal chamber 207 for storing a gas such as 19 nitrogen.
21 The first cylinder 201 has a projection member 208 of 22 generally solid cylindrical form which has a laterally 23 projecting step or shoulder 209 on its outer surface.
24 A portion 210 of the projection member 208 proximate to the closed end 203 of the first cylinder 201, is in the 26 form of a reduced strength wall 211 which defines a 27 hollow recess 212 in the closed end 203. The recess 28 212 is substantially closed by a spherical elastomeric 29 metering element 213. At least one groove 214 is provided in the surface 215 which communicates the 31 exterior and interior of the recess 212 via the 32 metering element 213.
34 An inner cylindrical wall 216 projects inwardly from the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202. At the WO 93/24382 2 1 3 7 2 ~ 2 16 PCr/GB93/01~0 opposite end 217 of the inner cylindrical wall 216 to 2 the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202 is 3 disposed a washer 217 which has a central hole 218 with 4 a plurality of inward points 219 inclined in a downward direction towards the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202.
8 A separate spacer insert 220 of a generally open ended g cylindrical form is positionable in the area between the inner cylindrical wall 216 and the external wall of 11 the second cylinder 202. The separate spacer insert 12 220 has a flanged end 221 which extends inwardly.
14 In use, the device of this em3~odiment acts in a manner similar to the 5econd embodiment. However, when the 16 device is inserted into the beverage c~ntainer the 17 device is mechanically compressed until the shoulder or 18 step 209 of the p~ojection member 208 engages the 19 washer 217 and thereby of~ers increased resistance to further telescopic compression of the 1:wo cylinders 201 21 and 202.
23 The shoulder or step 209 is forced to engage the washer 24 217 when the beverage is sealed in the container and 2 5 pasteurised due to the increase in pressure external to 26 the device which the pasteurisation involves. When the 27 can is opened and the pressure external to the device 28 iS sharply reduced, the washer 217 Will rupture the 29 reduced strength wall 211 as before. The pressurised gas in the internal chamber 207 is released into the 31 recess 212 through the rupture in the reduced strength 32 wall 211. This gas escapes from the recess 212 through 33 the groove 214 disposed around the metering element 34 213. The escaping gas seeds further small bubbles in 3 5 the beverage and causes a creamy head Oll the beverage 213~262 W093/~382 PCT/GB93/01060 1 when it is poured from the beverage container.
3 The separate insert 220 can be varied in size such that 4 the volume of the internal chamber 207 can be varied and correspondingly define the pressure of the fluid in 6 the device.
8 A fourth embodiment of the device in accordance with 9 the present invention is given below and a detail of the fourth embodiment is illustrated in Fig 10.
12 This embodiment of the device is closely similar to the 13 second and third embodiments of the present invention.
14 The fourth embodiment has two nestable moulded containers in the form of two mutually telescopic 16 components 301 and 302 similar to the two cylinders 201 17 and 202 of the third embodiment.
19 As an alternative to the use of the flared lip 206 of the edge 205 of the open end 204 of the second cylinder 21 202 in the third embodiment (Fig 9) for direct mutual 22 sealing of the two cylinders 201 and 202, in the fourth 23 embodiment 300 (Fig 10) the mutually telescopic 24 components 301 and 302 equivalent to the cylinders 201 and 202 are dimensioned for mutual telescoping with a 26 small radial gap between them. Mutual sealing of the 27 components 301 and 302 is accomplished by radially 28 outwardly extending a flanged end 321 of the separate 29 spacer insert 320, forming the outer circumference of this extension 322 as biaxially flared skirts 323 31 (upwardly directed) and 324 (downwardly directed). The 32 flared skirts 323, 324 slidingly contacting the 33 internal surface of the wall 325 of the outer one 301 34 of the two telescopic components to form a double-acting seal therewith, and chamfering the rim 326 of W093/~382 2 1 3 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/01 ~
1 the inner one 302 of the telescopic components to 2 provide an airtight seal with the underside of the 3 adjacent one 324 of the two sealing skirts. Fig 10 4 shows for illustrative purposes a gap between the chamfered rim 326 and the downwardly directed flared 6 skirt 324. In practice the rim 326 and the skirt 324 7 are airtightly sealed.
9 A central projection member 308 is of a frusto-conical form and has a laterally projecting step or shoulder 11 309 on its outer surface. The projection member 308 12 contains a hollow recess 312 surrounded by a thin wall 13 311 of the projection member 308. The recess 312 is 14 closed at the closed end 303 of the fir~t telescopic component 301 ~rom which the projection member 308 16 projects, by means of a spherical metering element 313 .
17 The metering element 313 is surrounded by four 18 circumferentially located groves 314 whi.ch communicate 19 the exterior of the telescopic componenr 301 and the recess 31Z within the projection member 308.
22 An inner cylindrical wall 316 projects inwardly from 23 the closed end 303 of the inner one of the telescopic 24 components 302. A washer 317 is disposed across the free end of the inner cylindrical wall 316. The washer 26 317 has a central hole 318 with a plurality of inward 27 points 319. The plurality of inward points 319 shown 28 in Fig 11 are arranged in the form of two oppositely 29 arranged two sided acute angled points 400 and two inward points 319 between the two-sided acute angled 31 points 400 in the form of flared rectang~lar 32 projections 402 with a two sided angled shape removed 33 from each rectangle to form a double angled point. The 34 washer 317 is formed of a metal material and has leaves 330 which are bent around the outer wall of the free ~ W093/Z4382 213 72 6 2 PCT/GB93/01060 1 end of the inner cylindrical wall 316.
3 The separate spacer insert 320, which forms the sealing 4 means of the two telescopic components 301 and 302, is of generally cylindrical form with one open end 312 and 6 is positionable with the open end 312 in the area 322 7 between the inner cylindrical wall 216 and the external 8 wall of the inner telescopic component 302. The second 9 generally closed end of the separate insert 320 sits above the inner cylindrical wall 316 of the inner one 11 of the telescopic components 302 and has a central 12 opening 329 which is disposed above the central opening 13 318 of the washer 317.
The projection member 308 projects through the central 16 opening 329 of the separate insert 320 and through the 17 central opening 318 of the washer 317 such that the 18 thin wall 311 of the projection member 308 enclosing 19 the hollow recess 312 is adjacent to the plurality of inward points 319 of the washer 317.
22 The inner of the telescopic components 302 has twelve 23 circumferentially disposed arm members 305 which are 24 joined by hinges 341 to the periphery of the closed end 303 of the inner telescopic component 302. The arm 26 members 305 are also mutually joined by joining members 27 in order to ensure that the arm members 305 remain 28 attached to each other in the event of the failure and 29 dislocation of the hinged joint 341 with the inner telescopic component 302.
32 The free ends of the arm members 305 which are not 33 attached at the hinge 341 to the inner of the 34 telescopic components 302 are locatable in a lipped overhang 342 projecting from the closed end 303 of the W093/24382 213 ~ 2 ~ 2 PCT/GB93/01~
1 outer of the telescopic components 301 as shown in Fig 2 12. The free ends of the arm members have laterally 3 projecting ends shaped so as to be mut:ually 4 interlockable 352 to prevent individual arm members 305 from escaping from the lipped overhang 342. The 6 mutually interlocking form 352 is in t;he form of angled 7 projections 350 and recesses 351 in each of the 8 laterally projecting ends.
The circumference of the closed end 303 of the inner of 11 the telescopic components 302 has a small 12 longitudinally projecting wall 345 which has regularly 13 circumferentially disposed recesses.
15 In use the device of this ~ourth embodiment acts in a 16 similar manner to the second and third embodiments.
17 The device is compressed until the shoulder 309 of the 18 projection member 308 engages the washer ~17 and offers 19 increased resistance to further compression of the two telescopic components 301 and 302.
22 The shoulder 309 is forced to engage t]le washer 317 23 when the beverage is sealed in the con~ainer and 24 pasteurised. When the can is opened the pressure external to the device is sharply reduced and, as 26 before, the washer 317 will rupture the thin wall 311 27 of the projection member 308. The pressurised gas in 28 the internal chamber 322 defined by the telescopic 29 components 301 and 302 is released into the hollow recess 31Z through the rupture in the thin wall 311.
31 The gas escapes from the recess 312 through the four 32 groves 314 disposed around the spherical metering 33 element 313.
The escaping gas seeds further small bubbles in the W093/~382 21 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 beverage and causes a creamy head to be formed on the 2 beverage when it is poured from the container.
4 A fifth embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention is given below and illustrated in Fig 6 13, 14 and 15.
8 The fifth embodiment is illustrated at 500 and is 9 intended for inclusion in a pressurised fluid container, such as a pressurised drinks container, for 11 releasing a substance, for example a pressurised gas 12 such as nitrogen, into the fluid when the pressure in 13 the container is substantially or suddenly reduced by 14 opening the container and thereby exposing the interior of the container to atmospheric pressure as with the 16 previous embodiments.
18 The device is shown in position in such a container C
19 in Fig 14. The device 500 comprises a first member 501 having a first generally hollow tubular portion 502 21 having a cylindrical external surface 503 and a frusto-22 conical internal surface 504 so that the thickness 23 increases in a direction extending away from a leading 24 end 505 of the first portion 502 towards a trailing end 506 thereof at which the member 501 is formed 26 integrally with a transversely extending end wall 507.
28 Extending away from the end wall 507 is a tubular boss 29 508 having an external cylindrical surface 509 and an internal frusto-conical surface 510 which decreases 31 slightly in diameter in the direction away from the 32 leading end 505 towards the trailing end 506.
34 The member 501 is provided with a separately formed insert or spacer member 520 of generally tubular form W093/24382 21 3 7 2 6 ~ 22 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 having a cylindrical internal surface 521 and a stepped 2 frusto-conical external surface 522. The insert member 3 520 is disposed in the space between the surfaces 504, 4 509 mentioned hereinbefore. The spacer member is dimensioned to pro~ide an unoccupied ~Jolume 523 of a 6 desired size. By providing an insert member 520 of a 7 desired size, the size of the unoccupied volume 523 may 8 be varied to achieve a desired pressurise within the 9 insert in use.
11 The insert member 520 is provided, at its upper end, 12 with an inwardly directed flange 524 which rests on the 13 leading end surface 525 of the boss 508 to limit inward 14 movement of the spacer member.
16 The spacer member 520 is provided with a lip 526 which 17 is initially flared outwardly and which extends 18 outwardly and towards the trailing end 506 o~ the 19 member 502.
21 The device 500 also comprises a second member 529 22 comprising a second tubular part 530 having an internal 23 surface 531 of cylindrical configuration and an 24 external surface 532 of frusto-conical configuration which is of reducing diameter in a direction away from 26 the trailing end 533 towards a leading edge 534 of the 27 second member 529.
29 At its trailing end 533 the tubular part 530 is formed integrally with an end wall 535 and a spigot 536 31 extends from the wall 535 centrally thereof.
33 The spigot is of frusto-conical configuration 34 decreasing in diameter towards the leading end 534 of the member 529 and carries at its leading end a washer 21372fi2 1 537.
3 The washer 537 has a central opening provided with 4 inwardly directed teeth which bite into a reduced diameter part 538 of the spigot 536, which the washer 6 abuts a shoulder 539 of the spigot 536. The outer 7 periphery of the washer is generally circular but 8 provided with outwardly projecting teeth to dig into 9 the internal surface 510 of the hollow boss 508. The hollow boss 508 is provided with a flared end 540 to 11 facilitate entry of the washer 537.
13 The lip 526 of the member 502 undergoes inward 14 compression when the portion 502 is inserted into the portion 530 thereby affording an efficient seal between 16 the portions 502 and 530. The inner surface 531 of the 17 portion 530 is dimensioned to provide a good sliding 18 fit with the lip 526 and as a result the interiors of 19 the first and second portions 502, 530 define a variable volume chamber 541 for storing said substance.
22 Formed integrally with the end wall 507 of the member 23 501 are a plurality, for example 4 or 6, of flexible 24 arm members 550. Each arm member 550 is provided with a first hinge part 551 where it is connected to the 26 wall 507. At its opposite end each arm 550 is provided 27 with a part 552 which is of enlarged circumferential 28 extent compared with the remainder of the arm and is 29 adapted to be receive within a slot 553 formed in the wall part 535 as the members 502 and 530 are moved 31 together. The enlarged circumferential extent of the 32 part 552 ensures that adjacent parts 552 adjacent arms 33 about and this prevents circumferential displacement of 34 the arms relative to the slot 553.
W093~24382 2 ~ ~ 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/oi~
1 The part 552 is connected to the remainder of the arm 2 by a second hinge part 554 and a third hinge part 555 3 is disposed between the f irst and second hinge parts 4 and closer to the f irst hinge part so that a f irst portion 556 of the arm extends between the first and 6 third hinge parts whilst a second portion 557 of the 7 arm, which is of greater extent that the f irst portion 8 556, extends between the second and third hinge parts.
9 The third hinge part is of relatively great longitudinal extent and comprises a reduced cross-11 section portion of the arm.
13 The leading end 534 of the tubular portion 530 is 14 ~ormed with tip 558 having a counter-bore o~ frusto-conical con~iguration and the wall 507 is provided with 16 a circular channel or groove 559 which is adapted to 17 receive the tip 558. The channel 559 .is provided With 18 a plurality, for example 6, grooves 559a, as best shown 19 in Fig 15.
21 The grooves 559a are of semi-circular cross-section 22 channel shape but may be of other desired cross-23 section.
The tip 558 of the leading end part 534 in the present 26 example abuts the base of the groove 559 but if desired 27 may be spaced therefrom but closely adjacent thereto.
29 A rim 560 is provided beneath the wall 507 and has at least one opening 561 therein.
32 In use, the members 501 and 529 are provided initially 33 as separate parts and the interiors of the members are 34 then purged of air or the like in the conventional manner, for example under the action of pressurised 21~7262 W093/~382 25 PCT/GB93/01060 nitrogen gas jet. Immediately after the purging whilst 2 the interior of the members are still occupied by the 3 purging nitrogen gas they are brought together and the 4 flared lip 526, of the first portion 502, is inserted into the second portion 532 as a sliding fit against 6 the surface 531. With a seal thus maintained the 7 portions 502 and 530 are then slid telescopically 8 closer together through a predetermined extent. The 9 engagement of the internal and external teeth of the washer 537 with the spigot 536 and the boss 508 ensures 11 that the portions 502 and 530 are retained in the 12 predetermined disposition event though the gas within 13 the chamber 541 has been compressed above atmospheric 14 pressure.
16 As the members are initially telescoped together the 17 parts 552 of the arms are engaged in the slot 553 and 18 limited outward bulging of the arms takes place. At an 19 appropriate stage after initial bringing together of the members 502 and 503 and sealing of the chamber 541 21 the unit is engaged within a container with which it is 22 intended to be used. In the present example the 23 container is a beverage can such as a beer can, but the 24 container may be any other suitable container such as a bottle made of glass or plastics material with the unit 26 and the arms being appropriately dimensioned to suit 27 the configuration of the container and the desired 28 volume of substance to be dispensed.
When the assembled unit has been inserted into an empty 31 fluid container and telescopically compressed to a 32 desired predetermined extent so as to achieve an 33 initial compression of the nitrogen gas, the interior 34 of the container into which the unit has been ~nserted is purged of air or the like, for example under the 1 action of a jet of compressed nitrogen gas, and the 2 fluid to be stored in the container is then admitted to 3 the container and the container sealed in the 4 conventional manner. The container thus containing the insert and the fluid, which is pressurised by virtue of 6 containing nitrogen, carbon dioxide or the like in 7 solution, is subjected to a pasteurising operation 8 involving substantial heating of the container, the 9 result of which is that any residual nitrogen purging as in the container or gases that have dissolved in the ll fluid, for example beverage, become heated and thereby 12 increase the pressure within the container. The effect 13 of this pressure increase is to force the members 502 14 and 530 to telescopically compress further until the tip 558 is received within the groove 559. The members 16 502 and 503 are maintained in that compressed state 17 under the action of the teeth of the washer 537 digging 18 into the wall of the hollow boss 508 and the reduced 19 diameter part 538 of the spigot 536 when the container returns to room temperature and i~ stored thereafter in 21 a refrigerated storage.
23 The above described final compression causes the arms 24 to occupy the position shown in Fig 14 where the first arm portion 556 extends transversely away from the unit 26 in a generally radially outwardly and downward 27 direction relative to the container C whilst the third 28 hinge portion 555 rests on the usual shoulder 562 of a 29 conventional beverage can. The second arm portion 550 has a first part 563 which engages the internal 31 cylindrical wall 564 of the container C and a second 32 part 565 which extends generally transversely to the 33 unit and is inclined downwardly and outwardly. As a 34 result the unit is securely held in the container 35~ adjacent the bottom end thereof.
- AMENDÉ~ SH~ET
~1~7262 ~W093/24382 PCT/GB93/01060 1 The rim 560 engages a base part 566 of the container C
2 and the aperture 561 permits escape of any beverage or 3 other contents of the container from within the rim.
4 The rim 560 ensures that the unit is correctly positioned within the container.
7 When the container is opened so as to expose the 8 initially pressurised material of the container to 9 atmospheric pressure of the gas within the chamber 541 is sufficient to force it past the lip 526 and along 11 the interface 567 between the surfaces 533 and 503 and 12 then through the grooves 559a and thus into the 13 beverage in the container C. The release of the 14 compressed nitrogen into the fluid, such as a beverage, has the effect of causing the formation of a head or 16 "frothing" of the beverage.
18 If desired, substances other than pressurised nitrogen 19 gas may be stored in the unit 500 is desired.
21 The device of all the above embodiments can be inserted 22 axially into a beverage container such as a can. The 23 known prior art devices require orientation to enter 24 any beverage container which has a neck portion of smaller diameter than the body of the container. The 26 present device, prior to compression, can be inserted 27 in a container with a neck portion of smaller size than 28 the body of the container. The inserted shape of the 29 device is independent of the can size due to the fact that the arm members curve outward from the device only 31 on compression of the two members of the device after 32 insertion in a beverage container.
34 The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific W093/24382 21 3 ~ 2 6 ~ PCT/GB93/01~0 1 forms or in terms of a means for performing the 2 disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or 3 compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any 4 combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
7 Modifications and variations of the above described 8 embodiment can be adopted without departing from the 9 scope of the invention.
8 A spacer component may be disposed within the fluid 9 chamber in order to regulate the internal volume of the fluid chamber and thereby the pressure of the fluid 11 chamber.
13 Preferably, the device contains a non-oxidising gas 14 such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
16 Preferably, the two members are cylinders each having 17 one open end, the open ends being placed togeth~r and 18 having closely fitting sealing means.
The fluid co~munication means may be in the form of a 21 piercing means which pierces an aperture in the fluid 22 chamber. The fluid com~llnication means may further 23 include a metering aperture for regulating the fluid 24 emitted from the fluid chamber.
26 The piercing means may be disposed on the engagement 27 member of the securing means and may pierce a wall of 28 the projection member, the projection member being 29 hollow and the interior of the projection member communicating with the exterior of the device via the 31 metering aperture.
33 The engagement member may be in the form of a securing 34 washer which grips the projection member for securing 3~ the two members when compressed, and the securing means 36 may be provided with points suitable for piercing the - ~MEN~ED SH~Er , . , . - - "
s 1 wall of the projection member only when there is a 2 predetermined reduction in the pressure external to the 3 device.
Preferably, the securing washer is generally 6 dish-shaped and has an uneven inner rim formed with 7 piercing points, the dish shape of the washer providing 8 a one way securing means for the projection member, and 9 said points acting as the piercing means on reduction of a predetermined amount of external pressure.
12 The projection member may be tapered and may have a 13 lateral step or shoulder to limit compression of two 14 members.
16 Alternatively, the fluid commlln;cation means may be in 17 the form of a wall of one of the members which acts 18 against a closing means for an aperture in the other 19 member.
21 Preferably, the projection member has at least one 22 portion hea~ing a cross-sectional area larger than an 23 opening in the engagement member.
The securing means may be arranged to engage in each of 26 three predetermined positions and the projection member 27 has three corresponding portions of relatively large 28 cross-sectional area in relation to an opening in the 29 engagement member.
31 The securing means may be a three detent pin which 32 interengages with an opening in the engagement member 33 which member is in the form of a spider across the open 34 end of one of the members, the detent pin being forced 3~ through the opening when the members are compressed.
f~ENDED SHEE~
21372~2 5a 1 One of the members may have an aperture initially . 2 closed by an O-ring seal located in a recess over the 3 aperturel and a wall of the other member replaces the 4 O-ring as the closing means for the aperture as the members are compressed, said wall not covering the 6 aperture when the detent closest to the fixed end of 7 the projection member is above the opening in the 8 spider.
The two detents furthest from the fixed end of the .. . _ AMENDED St~
2~37262 1 projection member are hooked so as to E~revent their 2 retraction through the opening in the spider and the 3 third detent can retract through the opening when the 4 pressure external to the device reduces suddenly.
6 As a further alternative, a first of the members may be 7 telescopically slidably received within the second 8 member, a restricted orifice being provided between a 9 leading end of the second member and an adjacent part of the first member through which the fluid within the 11 fluid chamber may pass in response to a predetermined 12 reduction in the pressure external to the device.
14 The second member may have a generally cylindrical internal sur~ace whilst the ~irst member has an 16 outwardly extending flange portion agairlSt which the 17 leading end part of the second member may engage.
19 The f lange or the leading end portion may be provided with at least one slot to provide said restricted 21 opening.
23 The flange may be provided with an annular channel 24 portion in which the leading end of the second member is received.
27 The restricted openings may be provided between the 28 leading end portion and the channel at spaced 29 circumferential positions.
31 According to a second aspect of the present invention 32 there may be provided a method of producing a packaged 33 beverage, comprising providing an open topped 34 container, placing in the container a device in accordance with first aspect of the present invention, ~ rJ~
W093/24382 213 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 Fig 7 is a longitudinal section of a second 2 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in 3 accordance with the present invention;
Fig 8a and 8b are a plan view and side view 6 respectively of the washer of the device of Fig 7;
8 Fig 9 is a longitu~in~l section of a third 9 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in accordance with the present invention;
12 Fig 10 is a longitudinal section of one half of a 13 fourth embodiment of the beverage frothing device 14 in accordance with the present invention;
16 Fig 11 is a plan of the washer of the fourth 17 embodiment of the device of Fig lO;
19 Fig 12 is a detail of the interlocking arm arrangement of the fourth embodiment of the device 21 of Fig 10;
23 Fig 13 is a longitudinal section of a fifth 24 embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention in an uncompressed condition;
27 Fig 14 is a similar section to that of Fig 13 but 28 showing the device in a compressed condition and 29 in position within a container; and 31 Fig 15 is a detail of a cross-section of the 32 device of Fig 13.
Referring to the drawings, the first embodiment of the . " ;, - , r ~ . ~ . , . . I, , s ' ~ ;~ e ji ;
21372~2 , . . . ..
. .
1 filling the container with beverage, closing the top of . .
2 the contA;ner with a closure member and subjecting the .-3 closed container to pasteurisation thereby producing 4 internal pressure in the container which compresses the device.
? The method may also involve placing the device in the 8 container until one end of the device abuts the bottom 9 of the container and mechanical pressure may be applied to the other end of the device to bring engagement ll means into engagement with the container.
13 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 14 described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
16 .
17 Fig 1 is a longitudinal section of a first 18 embodiment of the beverage frothing device in 19 accordance with the present invention in an uncompressed position;
22 Fig 2 is a longitudinal section of the device of 23 Fig 1 in a partially compressed position;
Fig 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of 26 . Fig 1 in a position of m-~imllm compression;
28 Fig 4 is a longitudinal section of the device of 29 Fig 1 in a released position;
31 Fig 5 is a plan of the spider of the device of Fig 32 1 not attached to the device;
34 Fig 6 is a perspective vie~ of the cage of the device of Fig 1 not attached to the device;
AMENDED SI~EET
~137262 W093/24382 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 device is in accordance with the present invention as 2 illustrated in Figs 1 to 6. The beverage frothing 3 device comprises two mutually nestable cylinders 1, 2 4 each with one open end 15 and one closed end 16. The first cylinder 1 fits over the second cylinder 2, the 6 second cylinder 2 having a sealing lip 9 at its open 7 end 15 which acts against the internal surface 17 of 8 the first cylinder 1. The device is filled with 9 nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The device also has a surrounding cylindrical cage 3 (Fig 6) which is 11 retained in position around the cylinders 1, 2 by 12 extensions 18 to the closed ends 16 of the two 13 cylinders 1, 2. This cage 3 is formed of a flexible 14 plastic material.
16 The first cylinder 1 has a centrally positioned 17 three-detent pin 5 attached to or moulded as part of 18 the first cylinder 1 and projecting from the interior 19 surface of the closed end 16 of the first cylinder 1.
The second cylinder 2 has a spider 4 (Fig 5) which is 21 attached across the open end 15 of the second cylinder 22 2. This spider 4 has a central opening lo which acts 23 as a pawl with respect to the three step ratchet 24 function of the detent pin 5. The second cylinder 2 also has small metering apertures 8 positioned in the 26 side wall 20 of the second cylinder 2 near the closed 27 end 16 of the second cylinder 2 and the apertures 8 are 28 disposed at the base of a groove 19 on the exterior of 29 the side wall 20. An 0-ring formed of a rubber material 6 may sit in the small groove 19, thus 31 covering the apertures 8 and sealing them. There is 32 also a parking groove 7 for the 0-ring 6 below the 33 apertures 8.
Fig 1 shows the device in its initial position prior to i l ~ 4 L~ ,A~
213726~`
.; . , 1 being immersed in a beverage in a beverage container 2 which container is preferably in the form of a can.
4 The device is dropped into the can in the canning line.
Thereafter during counter pressurisation of the can, 6 pressurised carbon dioxide or nitrogen is used to purge 7 the can. This pressure results in the two cylinders 1, 8 2 being telescopically compressed together by the rise 9 in external pressure around the device such that the first detent 11 is pushed through the central opening 11 10 of the spider 4 (position of Fig 2). As the two 12 cylinders 1, 2 are compressed together the arms of the 13 cage 3 around the two cylinders 1, 2 curve outward from 14 the two cylinders 1, 2. The cage 3 curves out from the two cylinders 1, 2 sufficiently to contact and exert a 16 force on the internal walls of the can (not shown).
17 This force holds the device in place in the base of the 18 can during filling of the can. It is not crucial that 19 the device is substantially vertically placed within the can; it may be at a slight angle to the 21 longitudinal axis of the can without affecting the 22 operation of the device. The two cylinders f, 2 in 23 their nested uncontracted form are too long for the 24 device to lie horizontally in the base of the can and thereby be rendered inoperable. The device may be 26 dropped into the can with either of the two cylinders 27 uppermost.
29 When the pressure is reduced again, at the end of the sterilisation, the device r~m~i n~ in a contracted 31 position as the first detent 11 latches on the opposite 32 side of the spider 4 and the hooked top 21 of the first 33 detent 11 prevents the return of the first detent 11 34 through the central opening 10 of the spider 4.
,. ._ AMENDED Sl tEEF
21~72~2 1 The can is then filled with the beverage, in this case 2 beer, and closed. During pasteurisation of the can, 3 the temperature rises and the pressure inside the can 4 increases. The two cylinders 1, 2 are squeezed further together such that the second 12 and third 13 detents 6 are forced through the opening 10 in the spider 4 7 (position of Fig 3) and the two cylinders 1, 2 are 8 telescopically compressed to the maximum extent. As a 9 consequence of the further compression of the two cylinders 1, 2, the open end 15 of the first cylinder 1 11 pushes the O-ring 6 from its position covering the 12 apertures 8 down into the parking groove 7. The 13 apertures 8 remain closed as they are covered by the 14 wall 14 of the first cylinder 1. The cage 3 is forced into an even more curved form which results in the arms 16 of the cage 3 being further forced against the internal 17 wall of the can.
19 When the can is opened, the sudden release of the pressure external to the device results in the third 21 detent 13 being forced back through the opening 10 in 22 the spider 4 (position of Fig 4). This is possible as 23 this third detent 13 is not hooked unlike the first 11 24 and second 12 detents which are prevented from retraction through the opening 10. As the third detent 26 13 retracts through the central opening 10 in the 27 spider 4, the two cylinders 1, 2 decompress a relative 28 amount due to the internal pressure of the device. The 29 apertures 8 are uncovered as the wall 14 of the first cylinder rises as the two cylinders 1, 2 are 31 decompressed and the gas escapes through these 32 apertures 8 as seed bubbles which rise through the beer 33 to form a creamy head when the beer is poured from the 34 can.
W093/~382 2 ~ 3 7 2 6 2 12 PCT/GB93/01~
l A second embodiment of the device in accordance with 2 the present invention is given below and illustrated in 3 Figs 7 and 8.
This beverage frothing device comprises two 6 telescopically nestable moulded containers 101, 102.
7 The first container 101 has a closed end 106 and two 8 concentric cylindrical walls 103, 104. The first g container 101 also has moulded arm extensions 105 spaced circumferentially around the closed end 106 of 11 the first container 101. The arm extensions 105 have 12 hinged areas 107 or are flexible thereabouts.
14 The second container 102 also has a closed end 108 with a tapered projection 11o projecting cen~rally toward 16 the first container lol ~rom the inside surface of the 17 closed end 108. The tapered projection llO has a 18 central hollow recess 1os. 'rhe rece~s 1~9 is closed to 19 the outside of the device by a controlled orifice member lll. The second container 102 has two 21 concentric cylindrical walls 112, 113. The outer one 22 of these walls 112 nests outside the first cylinder 23 outer wall 103 and has a sealing means 114 which seals 24 these outer walls 103 and 112 but allows relative movement of the walls 103 and 112. The second 26 container inner wall 113 is located between the inner 27 wall 104 and the outer wall 103 of the first container 28 101.
A washer 115 is held inside the open end 116 of the 31 inner cylinder wall 104 of the first con~ainer 101 by 32 holding means 117. The washer 115 has a central 33 opening 118 in the form of a broken circle 119.
34 Positioned at the breaks 119 in the circle are internally pointing piercing means 120. The washer 115 213726~
1 is dish-shaped with its centre 121 projecting towards 2 the closed end 106 of the first container 101 and 3 towards the end of the tapered projection 110.
The closed end 108 of the second container 102 has 6 restraints 123 at the periphery of this end 108 in 7 which the arm extensions 105 of the first container 101 8 are held.
In use the two telescopically nestable containers 101, 11 102 which are formed out of a moulded plastics material 12 are p~aced nestably together in a nitrogen atmosphere 13 so that the central tapered projection 110 Or the 14 second container 102 is placed inside the central opening 118 of the washer 115 held by the first 16 container 101. The dish shape and internally pointing 17 piercing means 120 of the washer 115 prevent the 18 tapered projection 110 from retracting through the 19 washer 115 and thereby prevents the two containers 101, 102 from separating.
22 The device is dropped into a beverage can in a nitrogen 23 atmosphere and the increase in pressure external to the 24 device as the beverage can is filled causes the inner cavity 124 between two containers 101, 102 to contract 26 and the arm extensions 105 of the first cont~iner ~01 27 to curve outwards or bend at the hinge areas 107 and 28 exert a force against the inside of the beverage can.
Z~ .
As the beverage can is filled with beverage, sealed and 31 pasteurised the pressure inside the beverage can rises 32 and the two containers 101 and 102 are further 33 compressed together such that the portion of the 34 tapered projection 110 of the second container 102 ~. ~
A)~ENDED S~tE~
.
2137~6~
r which portion encloses the hollow recess 109 is 2 positioned inside the washer 115. The part of the 3 tapered projection 110 enclosing the recess 109 has a 4 thin wall 122 separating the recess 109 and the washer S 115.
7 The pressure gradually drops inside the beverage can as 8 the beverage cools after pasteurisation. The two 9 containers do not move apart as they are held by the tapered projection 110 interacting with the rim of 11 central opening 118 of the washer 115 which rim has 12 internally pointing piercing means 120.
14 However, the sudden decrease in pressure inside the can external to the device when the can is opened causes 16 the tapered projection 110 to slip a small distance out 17 of the washer 115, and in doing so, the piercing means 18 120 of the broken circle 119 of the washer 115 pierce 19 the thin walls 122 o~ the tapered projection 110 2~ enclosing the recess 109.
22 The gas in the inner cavity 124 defined by the two 23 containers 101, 102 is pressurised as the inner cavity 24 124 has contracted reducing the volume in the inner cavity 124 inside the containers 101, 102 and causing 26 the pressure of the gas within the inner cavity 124 to 27 rise. The pressurised gas thus escapes through the 28 pierced holes in the thin wall 122 of the tapered 29 projection 110. The gas then escapes to the exterior through the controlled metering orifice member 111 at 31 the entrance to the hollow recess 109, the controlled 32 orifice member 111 ensures that the bubbles of the 33 escaping gas are of an exact size. The gas bùbbles 34 rise through the beverage can seeding other bubbles and 3~5~ cause a creamy head on the beverage when it is poured ~JENDED SHEEr 21372~2 _ W093/~382 PCT/GB93/010 1 from the can.
3 A third embodiment of the device in accordance with the 4 present invention is given below and illustrated in Fig 9.
7 This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment of 8 the device and the beverage frothing device comprises 9 two telescopically nestable moulded containers in the form of two cylinders 201, 202, each having a generally 11 closed end 203 and an opened end 204. The second 12 cylinder 202 is telescopically slidable within the 13 first cylinder 201. The edge 205 of the open end 204 14 of the second cylinder 202 has a flared lip 206 which is radially inwardly compressed when the two cylinders 16 201, 202 are nestably interconnected. The interiors of 17 the two cylinders 201, 202 define a variable volume of 18 internal chamber 207 for storing a gas such as 19 nitrogen.
21 The first cylinder 201 has a projection member 208 of 22 generally solid cylindrical form which has a laterally 23 projecting step or shoulder 209 on its outer surface.
24 A portion 210 of the projection member 208 proximate to the closed end 203 of the first cylinder 201, is in the 26 form of a reduced strength wall 211 which defines a 27 hollow recess 212 in the closed end 203. The recess 28 212 is substantially closed by a spherical elastomeric 29 metering element 213. At least one groove 214 is provided in the surface 215 which communicates the 31 exterior and interior of the recess 212 via the 32 metering element 213.
34 An inner cylindrical wall 216 projects inwardly from the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202. At the WO 93/24382 2 1 3 7 2 ~ 2 16 PCr/GB93/01~0 opposite end 217 of the inner cylindrical wall 216 to 2 the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202 is 3 disposed a washer 217 which has a central hole 218 with 4 a plurality of inward points 219 inclined in a downward direction towards the closed end 203 of the second cylinder 202.
8 A separate spacer insert 220 of a generally open ended g cylindrical form is positionable in the area between the inner cylindrical wall 216 and the external wall of 11 the second cylinder 202. The separate spacer insert 12 220 has a flanged end 221 which extends inwardly.
14 In use, the device of this em3~odiment acts in a manner similar to the 5econd embodiment. However, when the 16 device is inserted into the beverage c~ntainer the 17 device is mechanically compressed until the shoulder or 18 step 209 of the p~ojection member 208 engages the 19 washer 217 and thereby of~ers increased resistance to further telescopic compression of the 1:wo cylinders 201 21 and 202.
23 The shoulder or step 209 is forced to engage the washer 24 217 when the beverage is sealed in the container and 2 5 pasteurised due to the increase in pressure external to 26 the device which the pasteurisation involves. When the 27 can is opened and the pressure external to the device 28 iS sharply reduced, the washer 217 Will rupture the 29 reduced strength wall 211 as before. The pressurised gas in the internal chamber 207 is released into the 31 recess 212 through the rupture in the reduced strength 32 wall 211. This gas escapes from the recess 212 through 33 the groove 214 disposed around the metering element 34 213. The escaping gas seeds further small bubbles in 3 5 the beverage and causes a creamy head Oll the beverage 213~262 W093/~382 PCT/GB93/01060 1 when it is poured from the beverage container.
3 The separate insert 220 can be varied in size such that 4 the volume of the internal chamber 207 can be varied and correspondingly define the pressure of the fluid in 6 the device.
8 A fourth embodiment of the device in accordance with 9 the present invention is given below and a detail of the fourth embodiment is illustrated in Fig 10.
12 This embodiment of the device is closely similar to the 13 second and third embodiments of the present invention.
14 The fourth embodiment has two nestable moulded containers in the form of two mutually telescopic 16 components 301 and 302 similar to the two cylinders 201 17 and 202 of the third embodiment.
19 As an alternative to the use of the flared lip 206 of the edge 205 of the open end 204 of the second cylinder 21 202 in the third embodiment (Fig 9) for direct mutual 22 sealing of the two cylinders 201 and 202, in the fourth 23 embodiment 300 (Fig 10) the mutually telescopic 24 components 301 and 302 equivalent to the cylinders 201 and 202 are dimensioned for mutual telescoping with a 26 small radial gap between them. Mutual sealing of the 27 components 301 and 302 is accomplished by radially 28 outwardly extending a flanged end 321 of the separate 29 spacer insert 320, forming the outer circumference of this extension 322 as biaxially flared skirts 323 31 (upwardly directed) and 324 (downwardly directed). The 32 flared skirts 323, 324 slidingly contacting the 33 internal surface of the wall 325 of the outer one 301 34 of the two telescopic components to form a double-acting seal therewith, and chamfering the rim 326 of W093/~382 2 1 3 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/01 ~
1 the inner one 302 of the telescopic components to 2 provide an airtight seal with the underside of the 3 adjacent one 324 of the two sealing skirts. Fig 10 4 shows for illustrative purposes a gap between the chamfered rim 326 and the downwardly directed flared 6 skirt 324. In practice the rim 326 and the skirt 324 7 are airtightly sealed.
9 A central projection member 308 is of a frusto-conical form and has a laterally projecting step or shoulder 11 309 on its outer surface. The projection member 308 12 contains a hollow recess 312 surrounded by a thin wall 13 311 of the projection member 308. The recess 312 is 14 closed at the closed end 303 of the fir~t telescopic component 301 ~rom which the projection member 308 16 projects, by means of a spherical metering element 313 .
17 The metering element 313 is surrounded by four 18 circumferentially located groves 314 whi.ch communicate 19 the exterior of the telescopic componenr 301 and the recess 31Z within the projection member 308.
22 An inner cylindrical wall 316 projects inwardly from 23 the closed end 303 of the inner one of the telescopic 24 components 302. A washer 317 is disposed across the free end of the inner cylindrical wall 316. The washer 26 317 has a central hole 318 with a plurality of inward 27 points 319. The plurality of inward points 319 shown 28 in Fig 11 are arranged in the form of two oppositely 29 arranged two sided acute angled points 400 and two inward points 319 between the two-sided acute angled 31 points 400 in the form of flared rectang~lar 32 projections 402 with a two sided angled shape removed 33 from each rectangle to form a double angled point. The 34 washer 317 is formed of a metal material and has leaves 330 which are bent around the outer wall of the free ~ W093/Z4382 213 72 6 2 PCT/GB93/01060 1 end of the inner cylindrical wall 316.
3 The separate spacer insert 320, which forms the sealing 4 means of the two telescopic components 301 and 302, is of generally cylindrical form with one open end 312 and 6 is positionable with the open end 312 in the area 322 7 between the inner cylindrical wall 216 and the external 8 wall of the inner telescopic component 302. The second 9 generally closed end of the separate insert 320 sits above the inner cylindrical wall 316 of the inner one 11 of the telescopic components 302 and has a central 12 opening 329 which is disposed above the central opening 13 318 of the washer 317.
The projection member 308 projects through the central 16 opening 329 of the separate insert 320 and through the 17 central opening 318 of the washer 317 such that the 18 thin wall 311 of the projection member 308 enclosing 19 the hollow recess 312 is adjacent to the plurality of inward points 319 of the washer 317.
22 The inner of the telescopic components 302 has twelve 23 circumferentially disposed arm members 305 which are 24 joined by hinges 341 to the periphery of the closed end 303 of the inner telescopic component 302. The arm 26 members 305 are also mutually joined by joining members 27 in order to ensure that the arm members 305 remain 28 attached to each other in the event of the failure and 29 dislocation of the hinged joint 341 with the inner telescopic component 302.
32 The free ends of the arm members 305 which are not 33 attached at the hinge 341 to the inner of the 34 telescopic components 302 are locatable in a lipped overhang 342 projecting from the closed end 303 of the W093/24382 213 ~ 2 ~ 2 PCT/GB93/01~
1 outer of the telescopic components 301 as shown in Fig 2 12. The free ends of the arm members have laterally 3 projecting ends shaped so as to be mut:ually 4 interlockable 352 to prevent individual arm members 305 from escaping from the lipped overhang 342. The 6 mutually interlocking form 352 is in t;he form of angled 7 projections 350 and recesses 351 in each of the 8 laterally projecting ends.
The circumference of the closed end 303 of the inner of 11 the telescopic components 302 has a small 12 longitudinally projecting wall 345 which has regularly 13 circumferentially disposed recesses.
15 In use the device of this ~ourth embodiment acts in a 16 similar manner to the second and third embodiments.
17 The device is compressed until the shoulder 309 of the 18 projection member 308 engages the washer ~17 and offers 19 increased resistance to further compression of the two telescopic components 301 and 302.
22 The shoulder 309 is forced to engage t]le washer 317 23 when the beverage is sealed in the con~ainer and 24 pasteurised. When the can is opened the pressure external to the device is sharply reduced and, as 26 before, the washer 317 will rupture the thin wall 311 27 of the projection member 308. The pressurised gas in 28 the internal chamber 322 defined by the telescopic 29 components 301 and 302 is released into the hollow recess 31Z through the rupture in the thin wall 311.
31 The gas escapes from the recess 312 through the four 32 groves 314 disposed around the spherical metering 33 element 313.
The escaping gas seeds further small bubbles in the W093/~382 21 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 beverage and causes a creamy head to be formed on the 2 beverage when it is poured from the container.
4 A fifth embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention is given below and illustrated in Fig 6 13, 14 and 15.
8 The fifth embodiment is illustrated at 500 and is 9 intended for inclusion in a pressurised fluid container, such as a pressurised drinks container, for 11 releasing a substance, for example a pressurised gas 12 such as nitrogen, into the fluid when the pressure in 13 the container is substantially or suddenly reduced by 14 opening the container and thereby exposing the interior of the container to atmospheric pressure as with the 16 previous embodiments.
18 The device is shown in position in such a container C
19 in Fig 14. The device 500 comprises a first member 501 having a first generally hollow tubular portion 502 21 having a cylindrical external surface 503 and a frusto-22 conical internal surface 504 so that the thickness 23 increases in a direction extending away from a leading 24 end 505 of the first portion 502 towards a trailing end 506 thereof at which the member 501 is formed 26 integrally with a transversely extending end wall 507.
28 Extending away from the end wall 507 is a tubular boss 29 508 having an external cylindrical surface 509 and an internal frusto-conical surface 510 which decreases 31 slightly in diameter in the direction away from the 32 leading end 505 towards the trailing end 506.
34 The member 501 is provided with a separately formed insert or spacer member 520 of generally tubular form W093/24382 21 3 7 2 6 ~ 22 PCT/GB93/01~0 1 having a cylindrical internal surface 521 and a stepped 2 frusto-conical external surface 522. The insert member 3 520 is disposed in the space between the surfaces 504, 4 509 mentioned hereinbefore. The spacer member is dimensioned to pro~ide an unoccupied ~Jolume 523 of a 6 desired size. By providing an insert member 520 of a 7 desired size, the size of the unoccupied volume 523 may 8 be varied to achieve a desired pressurise within the 9 insert in use.
11 The insert member 520 is provided, at its upper end, 12 with an inwardly directed flange 524 which rests on the 13 leading end surface 525 of the boss 508 to limit inward 14 movement of the spacer member.
16 The spacer member 520 is provided with a lip 526 which 17 is initially flared outwardly and which extends 18 outwardly and towards the trailing end 506 o~ the 19 member 502.
21 The device 500 also comprises a second member 529 22 comprising a second tubular part 530 having an internal 23 surface 531 of cylindrical configuration and an 24 external surface 532 of frusto-conical configuration which is of reducing diameter in a direction away from 26 the trailing end 533 towards a leading edge 534 of the 27 second member 529.
29 At its trailing end 533 the tubular part 530 is formed integrally with an end wall 535 and a spigot 536 31 extends from the wall 535 centrally thereof.
33 The spigot is of frusto-conical configuration 34 decreasing in diameter towards the leading end 534 of the member 529 and carries at its leading end a washer 21372fi2 1 537.
3 The washer 537 has a central opening provided with 4 inwardly directed teeth which bite into a reduced diameter part 538 of the spigot 536, which the washer 6 abuts a shoulder 539 of the spigot 536. The outer 7 periphery of the washer is generally circular but 8 provided with outwardly projecting teeth to dig into 9 the internal surface 510 of the hollow boss 508. The hollow boss 508 is provided with a flared end 540 to 11 facilitate entry of the washer 537.
13 The lip 526 of the member 502 undergoes inward 14 compression when the portion 502 is inserted into the portion 530 thereby affording an efficient seal between 16 the portions 502 and 530. The inner surface 531 of the 17 portion 530 is dimensioned to provide a good sliding 18 fit with the lip 526 and as a result the interiors of 19 the first and second portions 502, 530 define a variable volume chamber 541 for storing said substance.
22 Formed integrally with the end wall 507 of the member 23 501 are a plurality, for example 4 or 6, of flexible 24 arm members 550. Each arm member 550 is provided with a first hinge part 551 where it is connected to the 26 wall 507. At its opposite end each arm 550 is provided 27 with a part 552 which is of enlarged circumferential 28 extent compared with the remainder of the arm and is 29 adapted to be receive within a slot 553 formed in the wall part 535 as the members 502 and 530 are moved 31 together. The enlarged circumferential extent of the 32 part 552 ensures that adjacent parts 552 adjacent arms 33 about and this prevents circumferential displacement of 34 the arms relative to the slot 553.
W093~24382 2 ~ ~ 7 2 6 2 PCT/GB93/oi~
1 The part 552 is connected to the remainder of the arm 2 by a second hinge part 554 and a third hinge part 555 3 is disposed between the f irst and second hinge parts 4 and closer to the f irst hinge part so that a f irst portion 556 of the arm extends between the first and 6 third hinge parts whilst a second portion 557 of the 7 arm, which is of greater extent that the f irst portion 8 556, extends between the second and third hinge parts.
9 The third hinge part is of relatively great longitudinal extent and comprises a reduced cross-11 section portion of the arm.
13 The leading end 534 of the tubular portion 530 is 14 ~ormed with tip 558 having a counter-bore o~ frusto-conical con~iguration and the wall 507 is provided with 16 a circular channel or groove 559 which is adapted to 17 receive the tip 558. The channel 559 .is provided With 18 a plurality, for example 6, grooves 559a, as best shown 19 in Fig 15.
21 The grooves 559a are of semi-circular cross-section 22 channel shape but may be of other desired cross-23 section.
The tip 558 of the leading end part 534 in the present 26 example abuts the base of the groove 559 but if desired 27 may be spaced therefrom but closely adjacent thereto.
29 A rim 560 is provided beneath the wall 507 and has at least one opening 561 therein.
32 In use, the members 501 and 529 are provided initially 33 as separate parts and the interiors of the members are 34 then purged of air or the like in the conventional manner, for example under the action of pressurised 21~7262 W093/~382 25 PCT/GB93/01060 nitrogen gas jet. Immediately after the purging whilst 2 the interior of the members are still occupied by the 3 purging nitrogen gas they are brought together and the 4 flared lip 526, of the first portion 502, is inserted into the second portion 532 as a sliding fit against 6 the surface 531. With a seal thus maintained the 7 portions 502 and 530 are then slid telescopically 8 closer together through a predetermined extent. The 9 engagement of the internal and external teeth of the washer 537 with the spigot 536 and the boss 508 ensures 11 that the portions 502 and 530 are retained in the 12 predetermined disposition event though the gas within 13 the chamber 541 has been compressed above atmospheric 14 pressure.
16 As the members are initially telescoped together the 17 parts 552 of the arms are engaged in the slot 553 and 18 limited outward bulging of the arms takes place. At an 19 appropriate stage after initial bringing together of the members 502 and 503 and sealing of the chamber 541 21 the unit is engaged within a container with which it is 22 intended to be used. In the present example the 23 container is a beverage can such as a beer can, but the 24 container may be any other suitable container such as a bottle made of glass or plastics material with the unit 26 and the arms being appropriately dimensioned to suit 27 the configuration of the container and the desired 28 volume of substance to be dispensed.
When the assembled unit has been inserted into an empty 31 fluid container and telescopically compressed to a 32 desired predetermined extent so as to achieve an 33 initial compression of the nitrogen gas, the interior 34 of the container into which the unit has been ~nserted is purged of air or the like, for example under the 1 action of a jet of compressed nitrogen gas, and the 2 fluid to be stored in the container is then admitted to 3 the container and the container sealed in the 4 conventional manner. The container thus containing the insert and the fluid, which is pressurised by virtue of 6 containing nitrogen, carbon dioxide or the like in 7 solution, is subjected to a pasteurising operation 8 involving substantial heating of the container, the 9 result of which is that any residual nitrogen purging as in the container or gases that have dissolved in the ll fluid, for example beverage, become heated and thereby 12 increase the pressure within the container. The effect 13 of this pressure increase is to force the members 502 14 and 530 to telescopically compress further until the tip 558 is received within the groove 559. The members 16 502 and 503 are maintained in that compressed state 17 under the action of the teeth of the washer 537 digging 18 into the wall of the hollow boss 508 and the reduced 19 diameter part 538 of the spigot 536 when the container returns to room temperature and i~ stored thereafter in 21 a refrigerated storage.
23 The above described final compression causes the arms 24 to occupy the position shown in Fig 14 where the first arm portion 556 extends transversely away from the unit 26 in a generally radially outwardly and downward 27 direction relative to the container C whilst the third 28 hinge portion 555 rests on the usual shoulder 562 of a 29 conventional beverage can. The second arm portion 550 has a first part 563 which engages the internal 31 cylindrical wall 564 of the container C and a second 32 part 565 which extends generally transversely to the 33 unit and is inclined downwardly and outwardly. As a 34 result the unit is securely held in the container 35~ adjacent the bottom end thereof.
- AMENDÉ~ SH~ET
~1~7262 ~W093/24382 PCT/GB93/01060 1 The rim 560 engages a base part 566 of the container C
2 and the aperture 561 permits escape of any beverage or 3 other contents of the container from within the rim.
4 The rim 560 ensures that the unit is correctly positioned within the container.
7 When the container is opened so as to expose the 8 initially pressurised material of the container to 9 atmospheric pressure of the gas within the chamber 541 is sufficient to force it past the lip 526 and along 11 the interface 567 between the surfaces 533 and 503 and 12 then through the grooves 559a and thus into the 13 beverage in the container C. The release of the 14 compressed nitrogen into the fluid, such as a beverage, has the effect of causing the formation of a head or 16 "frothing" of the beverage.
18 If desired, substances other than pressurised nitrogen 19 gas may be stored in the unit 500 is desired.
21 The device of all the above embodiments can be inserted 22 axially into a beverage container such as a can. The 23 known prior art devices require orientation to enter 24 any beverage container which has a neck portion of smaller diameter than the body of the container. The 26 present device, prior to compression, can be inserted 27 in a container with a neck portion of smaller size than 28 the body of the container. The inserted shape of the 29 device is independent of the can size due to the fact that the arm members curve outward from the device only 31 on compression of the two members of the device after 32 insertion in a beverage container.
34 The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific W093/24382 21 3 ~ 2 6 ~ PCT/GB93/01~0 1 forms or in terms of a means for performing the 2 disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or 3 compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any 4 combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
7 Modifications and variations of the above described 8 embodiment can be adopted without departing from the 9 scope of the invention.
Claims (28)
1. A beverage frothing device for a beverage container, the device having two members (1, 2) together defining a fluid chamber and the two members (1, 2) being telescopically compressible, characterised in that means (5) are provided for securing the two members (1, 2) in a compressed position in which the volume of the fluid chamber is reduced and means are also provided for causing fluid communication between said fluid chamber and the exterior of the device in response to a predetermined reduction in the pressure external to the device.
2 A beverage frothing device for a beverage container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two members (1, 2) are generally hollow telescoping members which are telescopically sealably slidable one within the other.
3. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the securing means (5) is in the form of a projection member (5) projecting from one of members (1) and an engagement member (4) attached to the other member (2) for engaging the projection member (5).
4. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the device has means (3) for holding the device inside a beverage container, the holding means (3) exerting a force against the inside of the beverage container as the device is compressed.
5. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the two members (1, 2) are compressed to a first position and in this first position the holding (3) means holds the device inside the beverage container and wherein the two members (1, 2) are further compressed to a second position thereby increasing the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber to a desired level.
6. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the holding means (3) is in the form of a cage attached to outer (16) ends of the two members (1, 2), the cage (3) having a plurality of arms which curve away from the two members (1, 2) as the two members (1, 2) are compressed.
7. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a spacer component (113) is disposed within the fluid chamber in order to regulate the internal volume and thereby the pressure of the fluid chamber.
8. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device contains a non-oxidising gas.
9. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two members (1, 2) are cylinders each having one open end, the open ends being placed together and having closely fitting sealing means (9).
10. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the fluid communication means is in the form of a piercing means (115) which pierces an aperture in the fluid chamber.
11. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 10, in which the fluid communication means further includes a metering aperture (111) for regulating the fluid emitted from the fluid chamber.
12. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 11 when dependent on Claim 3, wherein the piercing means (120) is disposed on the engagement member of the securing means and pierces a wall (122) of the projection member (110), the projection member (110) being hollow and the interior of the projection member (110) communicating with the exterior of the device via the metering aperture (111).
13. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the engagement member (115) is in the form of a securing washer which grips the projection member (110) for securing the two members (101, 102) when compressed, and the securing washer (115) is provided with points (120) suitable for piercing the wall of the projection member (110) only when there is a predetermined reduction in the pressure external to the device.
14. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the securing washer (115) is generally dish-shaped and has an uneven inner rim provided with said piercing points (120), the dish shape of the washer (115) providing a one way securing means for the projection member (110), and said points (120) acting as the piercing means on reduction of a predetermined amount of external pressure.
15. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 14, wherein the projection member (110) is tapered and has a lateral step (209) or shoulder to limit telescopic compression of two members (201, 202).
16. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the fluid communication means is in the form of a wall (17) of one of the members (1) which acts against a closing means for an aperture (8) in the other member (2).
17. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the projection member (5) has at least one portion (11, 12, 13) having a cross-sectional area larger than an opening in the engagement member (10).
18. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the securing means is arranged to engage in each of three predetermined positions and the projection member (5) has three corresponding portions (11, 12, 13) of relatively large cross-sectional area in relation to the opening in the engagement member (10).
19. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 18 wherein the projection member (5) is a three detent pin which interengages with an opening (10) in the engagement member which member is in the form of a spider (4) across the open end of one of the members (2), the detent pin being forced through the opening (5) when the members (1, 2) are compressed.
20. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 19, wherein one of the members (1, 2) has an aperture (8) initially closed by an O-ring seal (6) in a recess (19) over the aperture (8), and a wall (14) of the other member (1) replaces the O-ring (6) as the closing means for the aperture (8) as the members (1, 2) are compressed, said wall (14) not covering the aperture (8) when the detent closest to the fixed end of the projection member (13) is above the opening (5) of the spider (4).
21. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, wherein the two detents (11, 12) furthest from the fixed end of the projection member (5) are hooked (21) so as to prevent their retraction through the opening (5) in the spider (4) and the third detent (13) is shaped to permit retraction through the opening (5) when the pressure external to the device reduces suddenly.
22. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein a first of the members (502) is telescopically slidably received within the second member (501), a restricted orifice (559a) being provided between a leading end (558) of the second member (501) and an adjacent part of the first member (502) through which the fluid within the fluid chamber may pass in response to a predetermined reduction in the pressure external to the device.
23. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the second member (501) has a generally cylindrical internal surface whilst the first member (502) has an outwardly extending flange portion (559) against which the leading end part (558) of the second member (501) may engage.
24. A beverage frothing device as claimed in Claim 22 or 23, wherein the flange or the leading end portion (558, 559) is provided with at least one slot (559a) to provide said restricted orifice.
25. A beverage frothing device, as claimed in Claim 23 or 24, wherein the flange is provided with an annular channel portion (559) in which the leading end (558) of the second portion (5a) is received.
26. A beverage frothing device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the restricted orifices (559a) are provided between the leading end (558) of the second member (501) and the adjacent part of the first member (502) at spaced circumferential positions.
27. A method of producing a packaged beverage, comprising providing an open-topped container, placing in the container a device in accordance with Claim 1, filling the container with beverage, closing the top of the container with a closure member and subjecting the closed container to pasteurisation thereby producing internal pressure in the container which compresses the device.
28. A method of producing a packaged beverage in accordance with Claim 27 wherein the device is placed in the container until one end of the device abuts the bottom of the container and applying mechanical pressure to the other end of the device to bring engagement means into engagement with the container.
Applications Claiming Priority (14)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB929211814A GB9211814D0 (en) | 1992-06-04 | 1992-06-04 | Inserts for drinks containers |
| GB9211814.0 | 1992-06-04 | ||
| GB929213285A GB9213285D0 (en) | 1992-06-23 | 1992-06-23 | Packaging for beverages |
| GB9213285.1 | 1992-06-23 | ||
| GB9214793.3 | 1992-07-11 | ||
| GB929214793A GB9214793D0 (en) | 1992-07-11 | 1992-07-11 | Inserts for drinks containers |
| GB9215544.9 | 1992-07-22 | ||
| GB929215544A GB9215544D0 (en) | 1992-07-22 | 1992-07-22 | Improvements relating to pressurised fluid containers |
| GB929222745A GB9222745D0 (en) | 1992-10-29 | 1992-10-29 | Improvements relating to pressurised fluid containers |
| GB9222745.3 | 1992-10-29 | ||
| GB929222805A GB9222805D0 (en) | 1992-10-30 | 1992-10-30 | Packaging for beverages |
| GB9222805.5 | 1992-10-30 | ||
| GB939302449A GB9302449D0 (en) | 1993-02-08 | 1993-02-08 | Packaging for beverages |
| GB9302449.5 | 1993-02-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2137262A1 true CA2137262A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
Family
ID=27562879
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002137262A Abandoned CA2137262A1 (en) | 1992-06-04 | 1993-05-21 | Beverage frothing device |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0642447A1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1081994A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4083693A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2137262A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI945709A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO944652L (en) |
| WO (2) | WO1993024382A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB9226799D0 (en) * | 1992-12-23 | 1993-02-17 | Pa Consulting Services | Packaged alcoholic beverages |
| WO1994022730A1 (en) * | 1993-04-07 | 1994-10-13 | Scottish & Newcastle Plc | Beverage frothing device |
| GB9325404D0 (en) * | 1993-12-11 | 1994-02-16 | Cressfield Limited | Improvements relating to units for inclusion in pressurised fluid containers |
| GB2286812A (en) * | 1994-01-26 | 1995-08-30 | Scottish & Newcastle Plc | Device for inclusion in a pressurised fluid container |
| GB9405295D0 (en) * | 1994-03-17 | 1994-04-27 | Ryford Ltd | Insert |
| GB2303363B (en) * | 1995-07-20 | 1999-10-27 | Able Ind Ltd | Pressurisable beverage vessels |
| CN108438297A (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2018-08-24 | 王珍珍 | Foam commodity packing machine |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IE70665B1 (en) * | 1989-11-22 | 1996-12-11 | Whitbread & Co Plc | Carbonated beverage container |
| GB9015216D0 (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1990-08-29 | Price Dev Ltd E J | A beverage package |
-
1993
- 1993-05-21 WO PCT/GB1993/001060 patent/WO1993024382A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-05-21 CA CA002137262A patent/CA2137262A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-05-21 AU AU40836/93A patent/AU4083693A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-05-21 EP EP93910265A patent/EP0642447A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1993-05-24 WO PCT/GB1993/001061 patent/WO1993024383A1/en active Search and Examination
- 1993-06-21 CN CN93107250A patent/CN1081994A/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-12-02 FI FI945709A patent/FI945709A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-12-02 NO NO944652A patent/NO944652L/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO944652L (en) | 1995-01-19 |
| AU4083693A (en) | 1993-12-30 |
| FI945709A (en) | 1995-02-02 |
| WO1993024383A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
| FI945709A0 (en) | 1994-12-02 |
| CN1081994A (en) | 1994-02-16 |
| EP0642447A1 (en) | 1995-03-15 |
| NO944652D0 (en) | 1994-12-02 |
| WO1993024382A1 (en) | 1993-12-09 |
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