EP0828668B1 - Recipient pour boissons - Google Patents

Recipient pour boissons Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0828668B1
EP0828668B1 EP96919943A EP96919943A EP0828668B1 EP 0828668 B1 EP0828668 B1 EP 0828668B1 EP 96919943 A EP96919943 A EP 96919943A EP 96919943 A EP96919943 A EP 96919943A EP 0828668 B1 EP0828668 B1 EP 0828668B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insert
container
hinge
communication means
container according
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96919943A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0828668A1 (fr
Inventor
Paul Clifford Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whitbread PLC
Whitbread and Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Whitbread PLC
Whitbread and Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whitbread PLC, Whitbread and Co Ltd filed Critical Whitbread PLC
Publication of EP0828668A1 publication Critical patent/EP0828668A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0828668B1 publication Critical patent/EP0828668B1/fr
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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

Definitions

  • the can or other container includes a hollow insert located in the container.
  • the insert contains fluid under pressure and, upon opening the container, a stream of gas or beverage and gas is jetted into the beverage in the container. This jetting causes shear in the beverage which, since the beverage is super-saturated, leads to the evolution of small bubbles of gas. These bubbles act to seed the generation of further bubbles so that as the beverage is dispensed from the container, it is dispensed as a creamy liquid with small bubbles dispersed throughout. After being dispensed into a glass, the small bubbles gradually rise, and the beverage separates to provide a liquid phase and a thick creamy head on the surface.
  • a separate closed insert provided in the beverage container contains pressurised gas.
  • the insert includes a means responsive to the opening of the container to allow communication between the inside of the insert and the beverage in the container and gas from the insert jets into the beverage via this means causing shear in the beverage and liberation of gas.
  • burst disks which burst due to the pressure differential between the inside of the insert and the atmospheric pressure subsisting in the container after it is opened
  • manually openable valves or puncturing devices which open after closure of the container
  • pressure responsive valves which open due to a pressure differential between the gas inside the insert and the atmospheric pressure subsisting in the container after opening.
  • WO 91/07326, WO 92/00896 and WO 95/04689 all disclose inserts for carbonated beverage containers in which an orifice is provided on one side, and a seat on the opposite side against which the orifice abuts to close the insert.
  • the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the insert causes at least one wall of the insert to flex to lift the orifice from the seat, thereby opening the insert.
  • the side wall flexes from a concave to a convex position.
  • a container for a carbonated beverage comprises a separate insert containing gas under pressure and including a communication means for communication between the inside of the insert and the container, in use the communication means abutting a seat to close the insert, and a hinge characterised in that said hinge comprises two concentric pivoted hinge portions surrounding the communication means and connected by an inclined web, arranged so that, upon opening the container, the communication means flexes about the hinge away from the seat causing gas to jet from the inside of the insert.
  • the advantage of this arrangement is that the communication means is closed prior to opening of the container which ensures substantially no beverage enters the insert prior to opening the container.
  • the hinge is arranged to resist the communication means from flexing back towards the seat after opening of the container. This ensures that the Communication means remains open and therefore prevents residual pressure in the insert after opening of the container.
  • the means for communication may be arranged to move away from the bottom of the insert so that any beverage which has entered the insert is below the means for communication and therefore is not jetted into the main body of beverage in the container.
  • the means for communication may be a simple orifice provided in a top or side wall of the insert.
  • a downpipe may be provided around the orifice, extending towards the bottom of the insert in its normal position. The bottom of the downpipe abuts a seating to close the insert.
  • a wall of the insert may be shaped so that the orifice itself contacts an opposed side wall of the insert.
  • the insert may include a one-way valve as the communication means, and in this case preferably a duckbill valve.
  • a one-way valve further ensures minimal ingress of beverage into the insert.
  • the insert includes a plurality of communication means. As fluid is jetted through each communication means, the provision of a plurality of such means ensures better seeding of bubbles in the main body of beverage due to the additional jets.
  • the insert preferably also includes a means to allow the insert to be charged with an inert gas.
  • This means may be a gas permeable membrane which allows gas from the carbonated beverage to charge the insert after sealing the container over a period of time.
  • the hinge may advantageously be formed from thinner material than the remainder of the insert, thereby acting as a hinge, and allowing the permeation of gas through the hinge to charge the insert.
  • the insert may include a hinge means which initially resists a high pressure difference to allow the insert to be pre-charged, yet changes its state to allow the hinged to flex upon opening the container.
  • Such charging systems are known from WO-A-91/07326.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a first example of an insert 1 according to the present invention for use in a the container.
  • the insert 1 includes a small aperture 2 in the insert's top 3.
  • a downpipe 4 is provided around the aperture 2 extending from the top of the insert 3 towards the insert's bottom 5.
  • a hinge 6 is provided in the top 3 of the insert 1. The pressure on the outside of the insert 1 is initially equal to or greater than the pressure within the insert, and therefore the hinge 6 ensures the downpipe 4 is urged towards the bottom 5 of the insert 1, and abuts the bottom 5 of the insert 1. This prevents ingress of beverage into the insert 1.
  • the insert 1 is charged to a super-atmospheric pressure equal to that in the sealed container.
  • This charging may be achieved by including a gas permeable membrane (not shown) in a wall of the insert 1. Gas from the carbonated beverage gradually permeates through the membrane to charge the insert 1. Alternatively, gas may seep into the insert 1 through the downpipe 4.
  • the container is advantageously inverted.
  • the insert 1 may however be pre-charged with inert gas prior to filling and sealing the container.
  • the hinge 6 is initially able to withstand a pressure difference between the inside of the insert 1 and the surrounding atmosphere, but be modified, for example due to the high temperatures during pasteurisation, to flex at a low pressure difference upon opening the container.
  • the hinge 6 is formed by two concentric weakened portions 8,9 surrounding the aperture 2 and connected by an inclined web 10. Due to the inclined web 10, the top 3 of the insert 1 has only two stable positions, a lower position as shown in Figure 3 and an outwardly flexed position in which the top 3 lies above the height of the side walls of the insert 1. In either stable position, a high pressure differential across the top 3 of the insert 1 will be required to displace the top 3. Accordingly, when the container is opened and the top 3 of the insert 1 flexes outwards to unseat the aperture 2, the top 3 is flexed to the outwardly flexed position. As the pressure in the insert 1 falls towards that of the container, the top 3 remains in the outwardly flexed position as a high force is required to displace the top 3. Accordingly, the insert 1 remains open, so there is no residual pressure in the insert 1.
  • Figure 4 shows an alternative insert 20 which is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 3 except a plurality of apertures 2 and associated down pipes 4 are provided.
  • Figure 5 shows a second example of an insert 11 for use in a container according to the present invention.
  • the insert 11 includes a depressed top 12 including an aperture 13 so that in its normal state, the aperture 13 is close to the bottom 14 of the insert 11.
  • the pressure inside the insert 11 exceeds the pressure in the container, and accordingly the top 12 flexes outwards about the hinge portion 15, lifting the aperture 13 clear of the bottom 14 of the insert 13 and allowing gas to jet through the aperture 13.
  • the hinge 15 is as described with respect to Figure 3.
  • FIG 6 shows a variation of the insert 11 of Figure 4.
  • the aperture 13 is replaced by a one-way duckbill valve 16.
  • the duckbill valve 16 abuts the bottom 14 of the insert 11. This abutment ensures no back leakage of the valve 16.
  • the top 12 of the insert 11 is arranged to flex about a hinge 15 to lift the duckbill valve 16 clear of the bottom 12 of the insert 11 upon opening the container.
  • a portion of the insert 11 includes a gas permeable membrane 17, through which gas from the beverage enters the insert to pressurise the insert.
  • the insert shown in Figures 1 to 4 may also include a duckbill valve in each restricted orifice.
  • the use of the one-way valve helps ensure no liquid enters the insert, since the one-way valve constitutes an extra barrier to prevent ingress of beverage.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Récipient pour une boisson gazeuse comportant une pièce rapportée séparée (1, 11) contenant du gaz sous pression et comprenant un moyen de communication (2, 16) pour établir une communication entre l'intérieur de la pièce rapportée (1, 11) et le récipient, le moyen de communication (2, 16) prenant appui, lors de l'utilisation, sur un siège (5, 14) pour fermer la pièce rapportée (1, 11), et une charnière (6, 15), caractérisé en ce que ladite charnière comporte deux parties de charnière pivotantes concentriques (8, 9) entourant le moyen de communication (2, 16) et reliées par un voile incliné (10), agencées de façon que, lors de l'ouverture du récipient, le moyen de communication (2, 16) félchisse autour de la charnière (6, 15) en s'éloignant du siège (5, 14), provoquant une éjection de gaz depuis l'intérieur de la pièce rapportée (1, 11) dans la boisson.
  2. Récipient selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la charnière (6, 15) est agencée de façon à résister à une flexion de retour du moyen de communication (2, 16) en appui sur le siège (5, 12) après l'ouverture du récipient.
  3. Récipient selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le moyen de communication (2, 16) est un orifice prévu dans une paroi supérieure ou latérale de la pièce rapportée.
  4. Récipient selon la revendication 3, dans lequel un conduit descendant (4) est prévu autour de l'orifice (2, 16) et s'étend vers le fond (5, 12) de la pièce rapportée (1, 11) dans sa position normale afin que le bas du conduit descendant (4) prenne appui sur un siège pour fermer la pièce rapportée (1, 11).
  5. Récipient selon la revendication 3, dans lequel une paroi de la pièce rapportée (1, 11) est configurée de façon que l'orifice (3, 16) lui-même entre en contact avec une paroi latérale opposée (5, 12) de la pièce rapportée (1, 11).
  6. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel la pièce rapportée (1, 11) comprend un clapet anti-retour (16) en tant que moyen de communication.
  7. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la pièce rapportée (1, 11) comprend plusieurs moyens de communication (2, 16).
  8. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la charnière (6, 15) est formée d'une matière plus mince que la partie restante de la pièce rapportée (1, 11), afin de permettre à du gaz de passer par perméation à travers la charnière (6, 15) pour charger la pièce rapportée (1, 11).
  9. Récipient selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel la pièce rapportée (1, 11) comprend un moyen à charnière qui résiste initialement à une différence de pression élevée pour permettre à la pièce rapportée (1, 11) d'être préchargée, mais qui change d'état pour permettre à la charnière (6, 15) de fléchir lors de l'ouverture du récipient.
EP96919943A 1995-06-01 1996-05-31 Recipient pour boissons Expired - Lifetime EP0828668B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9511106 1995-06-01
GBGB9511106.8A GB9511106D0 (en) 1995-06-01 1995-06-01 Beverage container
PCT/GB1996/001297 WO1996038350A1 (fr) 1995-06-01 1996-05-31 Recipient pour boissons

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0828668A1 EP0828668A1 (fr) 1998-03-18
EP0828668B1 true EP0828668B1 (fr) 1999-12-01

Family

ID=10775360

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96919943A Expired - Lifetime EP0828668B1 (fr) 1995-06-01 1996-05-31 Recipient pour boissons

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0828668B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5840596A (fr)
GB (1) GB9511106D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996038350A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3081304B1 (fr) 2018-05-24 2020-06-19 Arc France Recipient a action effervescente

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2211813B (en) * 1987-10-29 1992-05-06 Price E J Drinks container
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
GB9300143D0 (en) * 1993-01-06 1993-03-03 Allied Breweries Limited Foam production
GB9316317D0 (en) * 1993-08-06 1993-09-22 Smithkline Beecham Plc Novel container
GB2280886B (en) * 1993-08-12 1996-11-13 Whitbread & Co Ltd Beverage container
WO1995006605A1 (fr) * 1993-09-01 1995-03-09 Paktek Limited Element rapporte pour recipient de boisson

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9511106D0 (en) 1995-07-26
AU5840596A (en) 1996-12-18
EP0828668A1 (fr) 1998-03-18
WO1996038350A1 (fr) 1996-12-05

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