EP0833788B1 - Contenants pour liquides sous pression avec dispositif generateur de mousse - Google Patents

Contenants pour liquides sous pression avec dispositif generateur de mousse Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0833788B1
EP0833788B1 EP96918755A EP96918755A EP0833788B1 EP 0833788 B1 EP0833788 B1 EP 0833788B1 EP 96918755 A EP96918755 A EP 96918755A EP 96918755 A EP96918755 A EP 96918755A EP 0833788 B1 EP0833788 B1 EP 0833788B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
passage means
liquid
hollow body
foam
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
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EP96918755A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0833788A2 (fr
Inventor
William Ronald Stuart Baxter
Howard William Biddle
Lisa Jane Paine
Stuart William Molzahn
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Bass PLC
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Bass PLC
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Publication of EP0833788A2 publication Critical patent/EP0833788A2/fr
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    • 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

  • This invention relates to sealed, openable, pressurised liquid containers, to foam-promoting devices for use in such containers and to a method of manufacture thereof, and is more particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with beverage containers such as bottles.
  • the insert is introduced into the can through the open top thereof and secured in position towards the bottom of the can.
  • the can is then partially filled with carbonated beverage and then sealed and pressurised. Sealing is effected by means of a can top having an opening closed by a pull-tab. Pressurisation is commonly effected by dosing the can with a small quantity of liquid nitrogen immediately before sealing it so that the nitrogen boils and increases the pressure within the sealed container.
  • the sealed and pressurised can is then heated, usually in an inverted state, to pasteurise the contents and then cooled to ambient temperature.
  • the consumer opens the can using the pull tab.
  • the act of opening the pull tab causes the internal pressure within the can to be released suddenly and this causes gas to be ejected from the foam-promoting device through a restricted orifice in the foam-promoting device and into the beverage to promote the formation of foam within the beverage.
  • WO91/07326 describes a number of different designs of foam-promoting device, all of which are pre-filled with gas under pressure before being inserted into the container and which include a relief valve serving to maintain the foam-promoting device in a sealed state until the container is opened by the consumer.
  • the foam-promoting device is designed so that the pressure difference at which the valve opens is reduced during pasteurisation so as to enable the valve to open when the container is opened by the consumer.
  • Foam-promoting devices of this type being highly pressurised foam-promoting devices which are sealed until the container is open, have the disadvantage that the foam-promoting device may still be highly pressurised after the container has been opened and the contents dispensed. This can be a potential risk to a consumer who opens the empty container and interferes with the pressurised foam-promoting device.
  • foam-promoting device having a restricted orifice which provides permanent communication between the interior of the foam-promoting device and the main body of beverage within the container.
  • foam-promoting device operating on this principle Many designs of foam-promoting device operating on this principle are known and have enjoyed considerable commercial success.
  • foam-promoting devices operating on this principle have been disclosed in GB-A-1266351, GB-A-2183592, GB-A-2257132 and WO94/14678.
  • foam-promoting devices where the restricted orifice is permanently open have to be designed so that the loss of gas from the foam-promoting device is minimised before the container is eventually opened by the consumer. As a result, it is rather difficult to ensure that the foam-promoting device is initially filled with the appropriate gas, usually nitrogen.
  • foam-promoting devices which rely on minimising the amount of beverage which enters the foam-promoting device by promptly inverting the container after filling and sealing so that the restricted orifice is in the headspace in the inverted container. Such a procedure ensures that, as the pressure in the container rises following sealing of the container and reaches a maximum during pasteurisation, the restricted orifice in the foam-promoting device is always in communication with the headspace in the container.
  • Foam-promoting device designs which are easier to flush with gas are disclosed in WO95/08493 where upper and lower restricted orifices are provided to assist in flushing.
  • Such foam-promoting devices operate without an unacceptable loss of gas because the foam-promoting device contains a small amount of beverage which causes the lower restricted orifice to be submerged in beverage whilst the upper restricted orifice is exposed to the headspace within the foam-promoting device.
  • the upper restricted orifice is of a size such that the bubble point effect prevents loss of gas from the foam-promoting device because pressure equalisation internally and externally of the foam-promoting device within the sealed container can occur by passage of beverage in the appropriate direction through the lower orifice.
  • foam-promoting devices of the floating type are becoming attractive for containers such as bottles in which it is difficult and inconvenient to secure the foam-promoting device in position at or near the bottom of the container.
  • foam-promoting devices Of the foam-promoting devices disclosed in WO91/07326 (and EP-A-0594221), most of these are arranged to be secured within the container so as to be completely submerged in the liquid. However, there is also described a foam-promoting device which floats freely within the container and which is weighted so as to keep the restricted orifice submerged.
  • GB-A-2183592 also discloses the possibility of utilising a foam-promoting device which floats and which is weighted to discharge the contents of the foam-promoting device downwardly into the beverage upon opening of the container.
  • GB-A-2279056 (and corresponding WO95/00415) and GB-A-2279057 (and corresponding WO95/00416) also disclose foam-promoting devices of the floating type.
  • foam-promoting devices are pre-filled with pressurised gas and have a closure for preventing release of pressurised gas through the restricted orifice in the foam-promoting device.
  • the closure is arranged to be permanently and irreversibly opened on being subjected to a temperature above a predetermined threshold or being subjected to a pressure difference in which the pressure in the container exceeds that within the foam-promoting device.
  • Such closure is intended to be permanently and irreversibly opened during the subsequent pasteurisation step.
  • these foam-promoting devices are relatively expensive because of the need to provide the closure and also rely on successful permanent and irreversible opening of the closure to be effective and safe for the consumer
  • GB-A-2280886 discloses a number of floating foam-promoting devices having upper and lower opening means, wherein one of the opening means is an orifice and the other opening means is a one-way valve.
  • the foam-promoting device is orientated so that the lower orifice is submerged in the beverage in the can, whilst the upper orifice opens into the headspace in the container.
  • the one-way valve forms the lower opening means, upon opening of the can, the relatively high pressure differential which thereby arises causes the one-way valve to open and thereby cause discharge of gas into the beverage.
  • the disadvantage of such an arrangement is that a certain amount of gas is also discharged from the foam-promoting device through the open upper orifice.
  • the upper orifice is made sufficiently small that the amount of gas discharged therefrom is insignificant, flushing of the foam-promoting device to remove air therefrom can become difficult. Additionally, the provision of a one-way valve increases the overall cost of the foam-promoting device. In the case of the foam-promoting devices wherein the one-way valve provides the upper opening means, this is said to permit gas to be introduced into the foam-promoting device after filling, sealing and pressurisation. When the container is opened, the resultant pressure differential is said to cause gas to be ejected into the beverage through the open lower restricted orifice.
  • GB-A-2280887 discloses a number of foam-promoting devices having upper and lower one-way valves, the upper one-way valve permitting gas to be introduced from the headspace into the foam-promoting device after filling, sealing and pressurisation whilst the lower one-way valve permits gas from the foam-promoting device to be ejected into the beverage when the container is opened.
  • the foam-promoting device is even more costly to produce than that of GB-A-2280886 described above.
  • foam-promoting devices are disclosed in WO95/03982, WO95/03983 and WO95/04688 which describe various forms of floating/submersible devices designed to capture gas in one orientation and then to re-orientate so as to hold the captured gas and enable it to be ejected into the liquid in the container so as to assist in foam promotion when the beverage container is opened.
  • the device floats initially on the surface of the beverage in a sealed, pressurised can. In this condition, gas is captured from the headspace within the can through a hole in the device which is located in the headspace in the can.
  • the device also includes a wick which draws beverage into the device through a hole which is submerged in the beverage.
  • a floating foam-promoting device which is divided internally by a partition dividing the interior of the device into a gas compartment in which gas is trapped and a beverage compartment in which beverage is trapped.
  • Diametrically opposed holes in the wall of the device open into respective tubes which pass through the adjacent compartment and open into the other compartment.
  • the beverage compartment is also provided with one or more further holes providing direct communication between that compartment and the exterior of the device.
  • the device is weighted so that initially gas is captured in the gas compartment because the gas admission hole communicating therewith is exposed in the headspace in the can.
  • the or some of the holes for the beverage compartment are submerged so that beverage enters such compartment and alters the centre of gravity and density of the device so that it becomes at least partly submerged and is re-orientated to such an extent that the gas admission hole becomes submerged.
  • gas under pressure from the gas compartment within the device is discharged into the beverage to assist in foam promotion.
  • WO95/04688 also discloses a number of devices where an internal partition divides the device into gas and beverage compartments connected to the exterior via various tubes in the device. Like the devices of WO95/03983, the devices of WO95/04688 are designed to become at least partially submerged and to re-orientate to enable gas captured in one orientation to promote foam production upon opening of the container when the device is submerged and re-orientated.
  • the devices of WO95/03982, WO95/03983 and WO95/04688 are of relatively complex construction and the desired operations can be impaired in the event that correct re-orientation of the device fails to take place.
  • a sealed, openable, pressurised liquid container comprising a container partly filled with liquid to provide a headspace within the container, and a foam-promoting device disposed within the container, said foam-promoting device comprising orientation means to constrain said device to adopt a given orientation and a hollow body having first and second passage means, said first passage means having (a) an upper end in communication with the exterior of the hollow body at an upper location which is disposed in the headspace in the container and (b) a lower end in communication with the interior of the hollow body, and said second passage means having (a) a lower end in communication with the exterior of the hollow body at a lower location which is disposed below the surface of the liquid in the container and (b) an upper end in communication with the interior of the hollow body, wherein (i) the first passage means defines a gas inlet passage for admission of pressurised gas from the headspace into the device, (ii) the second passage means defines a gas outlet for the discharge of pressurised gas from the device into
  • the level of the liquid in the foam-promoting device is intermediate the levels of the lower end of the first passage means and the upper end of the second passage means so that the lower end of the first passage means is submerged in the liquid in the device and the upper end of the second passage means is disposed above the level of the liquid in the device.
  • the level of the liquid in the foam-promoting device it is within the scope of the present invention for the level of the liquid in the foam-promoting device to be above (preferably by only a minimal amount) the upper end of the second passage means.
  • a foam-promoting device constructed and adapted to form part of a sealed, openable, pressurised liquid container according to said first aspect of the present invention, said foam-promoting device comprising orientation means to constrain said device to adopt a given orientation and a hollow body having first and second passage means therein, said first passage means having (a) an upper end in communication with the exterior of the hollow body at an upper location and (b) a lower end in communication with the interior of the hollow body, and said second passage means having (a) a lower end in communication with the exterior of the hollow body at a location which is spaced below the upper end of the first passage means and (b) an upper end in communication with the interior of the hollow body, wherein (i) the first passage means defines a gas inlet passage for admission of pressurised gas from the headspace into the device, (ii) the second passage means defines a gas outlet for the discharge of pressurised gas from the device into the liquid in the container when the latter is opened, (iii) the lower
  • a method of manufacturing a liquid container according to said first aspect of the present invention comprising the steps of:-
  • Step (d) above is preferably effected by permitting liquid which has been introduced into the container to flow into the foam-promoting device to the required level as a result of pressurisation of the container in step (c).
  • the hollow body of the device Whilst it is preferred for the device to float on the surface of the liquid in the container, it is also within the scope of the present invention for the hollow body of the device to be held or supported within the container at the desired position relative to the level of liquid therein by any convenient means, eg at least one support leg which may extend downwardly from the hollow body to engage against the base of the container. Such a support leg need not be fixed to the container, but may be fixed to the hollow body and merely rest against the base of the container.
  • the support leg may be resiliently flexible so that it can be deformed to permit the hollow body to be displaced by a filling nozzle during filling of the container with the liquid and can then flex back so that the device (weighted as necessary so that it does not float) can adopt the required position relative to the surface of the liquid in the filled container.
  • the first and second passage means open into a common chamber within the hollow body.
  • the first and second passage means open into a common chamber within the hollow body.
  • each of the first and second passage means has a restricted orifice associated therewith through which the interior of the foam-promoting device communicates with the exterior. More preferably, the restricted orifice associated with the second passage means is provided in an external wall of the hollow body.
  • the restricted orifice associated with the first passage means may be provided in the external wall of the hollow body or it may be provided at a location which is below the level of the liquid within the hollow body in use.
  • the restricted orifice associated with the first passage means may have a cross-sectional area which is larger than, smaller than or equal to that of the restricted orifice associated with the second passage means and/or it may be provided in a wall whose outer surface is formed of a hydrophobic material.
  • the longitudinal axis of each restricted orifice may be aligned with or inclined with respect to the direction of extent of the respective passage means.
  • a further restricted orifice may be provided in a region of the hollow body which is to be submerged in the liquids internally and externally of the body so as to provide direct communication between such liquids in use.
  • Each of the first and second passage means may be defined by a respective tube which may be integrally formed with the hollow body. Alternatively, one or both of the passage means may be formed in one or more walls of the hollow body.
  • the hollow body together with the first and second passage means may be formed from a synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene and may be formed in two parts which are secured together by any desired technique eg by ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding or snap-fitting.
  • the expressions “upper”, “lower”, “above” and “below” refer to the arrangement of the respective parts when the foam-promoting device is in an orientation in which it is designed to float or be otherwise supported in use.
  • the device may be provided with positive or negative buoyancy means or other orientation means such as to ensure that it floats in the desired orientation with the upper end of the first passage means spaced above the level of liquid in the container and the lower end of the second passage means submerged below such liquid level.
  • the negative buoyancy means may comprise one or more weights, e.g. glass balls, fixed in the device and/or it may comprise external negative buoyancy means attached below the body.
  • An example of another orientation means is a leg which extends downwardly from the body of the device to abut against the interior surface of the container in use in such a way as to constrain the device to float in the required orientation.
  • the hollow body of the foam-promoting device may be manufactured so as to be resiliently collapsible or deformable so that it can be introduced into the container if its natural dimensions are too great to enable it to be freely inserted.
  • the hollow body may be formed with one or more resiliently deformable external projections thereon which require to be deformed to enable the device to be introduced into the container and which can then spring back to prevent the device from coming back out of the container when liquid is dispensed therefrom.
  • projection(s) is/ are most preferably relatively localised. The provision of one or more localised projections can also serve to prevent the hollow body from becoming lodged in, and thereby obscuring, the neck of the bottle.
  • the provision of localised projection(s) is particularly applicable in the case of foam-promoting devices which are to be introduced through the relatively narrow neck of a bottle.
  • the lower end of the neck of the bottle may be somewhat enlarged in order to permit the foam-promoting device to float freely in the neck since it is normal practice for the bottles to be filled with liquid up to the neck thereof.
  • the lower end of the second passage means communicates with the exterior of the hollow body via an outlet orifice defined by a nozzle which is spaced below the surface of the liquid and directed generally or substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.
  • the nozzle converges towards the outlet orifice.
  • the hollow body may be elongate and adapted to float in the liquid with its long axis upright.
  • the foam-promoting device D comprises a hollow body 10 having a cylindrical side wall 10a of circular cross-section and convexly curved end walls 10b.
  • the hollow body 10 is formed of injection moulded polypropylene with first passage means defined by a first tube 12 and second passage means defined by a second tube 14.
  • the tubes 12 and 14 are integrally formed with the hollow body 10 which may be produced in two identical halves which are secured together by any desired means such as by ultrasonic welding along a joint line which lies in the plane of the drawing.
  • the hollow body may be of non-circular cross-section, eg ovoidal cross-section with the tubes 12 and 14 extending transversely with respect to the shorter axis of the ovoid.
  • the first tube 12 has an upper end 12a which communicates with the exterior of the hollow body 10 via an upper restricted orifice 16 formed during the moulding of the halves or by any other technique, eg laser drilling, through the side wall 10a so that the axis of the orifice is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the first tube 12.
  • the first tube 12 extends downwardly within the hollow body 10 to terminate at a lower end 12b which is disposed a short distance from the diametrically opposite side of the side wall 10a and which opens into the interior of the hollow body 10.
  • the second tube 14 has a lower end 14a which communicates with the exterior of the hollow body 10 via a lower restricted orifice 18 formed in the side wall 10a of the body 10 diametrically opposite the upper restricted orifice 16 but displaced therefrom in the axial direction of the side wall 10a.
  • the second tube 14 extends upwardly within the hollow body 10 to terminate in an upper end 14b which is disposed a short distance from the diametrically opposite side of the side wall 10a and which opens into the interior of the hollow body 10. It will thus be appreciated that the lower end 12b of the first tube 12 is disposed at a lower level than the upper end 14b of the second tube 14.
  • the foam-promoting device D is shown floating on its side on the surface of beverage 20 which partly fills a sealed, openable, pressurised beverage container (not shown in Fig 1) so that a headspace 22 is provided within the container.
  • the side wall 10a has a greater wall thickness at its lower side than at its upper side (as viewed in Fig. 1) so that it is weighted to adopt the position illustrated in Fig. 1 where the lower end 14a of the second tube 14 is lowermost and the upper end 12 of the first tube 12 is uppermost.
  • appropriate positive or negative buoyancy aids may be provided in or on the foam-promoting device to ensure that it adopts the orientation illustrated in Fig 1.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the hollow body 10 may be chosen to ensure that it has a mono-stable floating orientation.
  • the hollow body 10 also contains a small quantity of beverage 24 which is derived from the beverage 20 as a result of the procedure used to produce the sealed container, as will be described hereinafter.
  • the foam-promoting device floats in a partly submerged condition on the surface of the beverage 20 so that the lower orifice 18 is submerged in the beverage 20, whilst the upper restricted orifice 16 is disposed within the headspace 22 of the beverage container.
  • the level of beverage 24 within the hollow body 10 is such that it covers the lower end 12b of the first tube 12 but is well below the upper end 14b of the second tube 14.
  • the liquid levels within the tubes 12 and 14 are as illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the device floats with the level of beverage 24 within the hollow body 10 below that of the beverage 20 outside the hollow body 10 because of the effect of the weight of that part of the body 10 which is above the surface of the beverage 20 and because polypropylene is a material of approximately neutral buoyancy.
  • the beverage levels in the tubes 12 and 14 are as shown in Fig. 1 where the difference in levels between the beverage 20 outside the body 10 and the beverage 20 within the second tube 14 is the same as the difference in levels between the majority of the beverage 24 within the body 10 and the beverage 24 within the first tube 12.
  • the sealed pressurised beverage container Whilst the sealed pressurised beverage container is being transported and/or stored prior to use, it will inevitably be subjected to a range of temperature variations which can cause small pressure differentials to be established between the interior and exterior of the foam-promoting device D.
  • pressure equalisation can take place either by admission of gas from the headspace 22 into the foam-promoting device D via the upper restricted orifice 16 and first tube 12 by bubbling through the beverage 24 covering the lower end 12b, or by admission of beverage 20 which passes through the lower restricted orifice 18 and up the second tube 14, or by a combination of these two actions.
  • the interior pressure exceeds the exterior pressure
  • the reverse takes place.
  • the pressure differentials which occur during normal handling and storage of the sealed container are generally relatively small and occur over a relatively long period of time.
  • Such delay may be advantageous to ensure that the pressure within the opened beverage container has dropped to atmospheric pressure before gas starts to be ejected through the lower restricted orifice 18.
  • beverage 24 from the hollow body 10 is being forced through the lower end of the first tube 12 and up the latter.
  • the beverage 24 displaces the gas which is in the first tube 12 through the upper restricted orifice 16 and into the headspace 22. Whilst this does not promote foam formation in the beverage 20, the amount of gas ejected through the upper restricted orifice 16 is relatively small before beverage 24 has passed completely along the first tube 12 and starts to be urged through the upper restricted orifice 16.
  • the resistance to flow of the beverage through the upper restricted orifice 16 is much more than the resistance to flow of gas through the lower restricted orifice 18, with the result that gas is preferentially ejected into the beverage 20. It will be appreciated that ejection of gas from the lower restricted orifice 18 does not occur directly downwardly and that ejection of beverage 24 from the upper restricted orifice does not occur directly upwardly because of the direction of extent of the orifices 16 and 18.
  • the foam-promoting device D is shown in a condition which exists shortly after there has been a rapid increase in pressure within the beverage container immediately following sealing thereof.
  • rapid increase in pressure occurs as a result of introduction of a small dose of liquid nitrogen into the beverage container immediately before sealing, at which stage the device D contains no beverage 24 derived from the beverage 20.
  • gas from the headspace 22 enters the upper restricted orifice 16 much faster than beverage can enter via the lower restricted orifice 18 because of the density and viscosity difference between the gas and the beverage.
  • the hollow body 10 is effectively charged with gas under pressure via the upper restricted orifice 16 from the headspace 22 and is also charged with a smaller quantity of beverage via the lower restricted orifice 18.
  • the sizes of the orifices 16 and 18 and the sizes of the other parts of the device D can be appropriately selected having regard to the dosing gas pressure and type and the flow properties of beverage 20 to ensure that the correct amount of beverage enters the device D after sealing and pressurisation has been completed.
  • a schematic representation of a sealed, openable, pressurised beverage container in the form of a bottle B which has been partly filled with the beverage 20 so as to provide the headspace 22 and which contains the foam-promoting device D.
  • the bottle B includes a neck N which is moulded to include an enlarged neck region E which accommodates the foam-promoting device D so that it can float on the surface of the beverage 20.
  • the neck N is closed by a conventional, openable crown cap C. When the cap C is opened by the consumer, gas is ejected from the foam-promoting device into the beverage 20 as described hereinabove in relation to Fig 2.
  • the foam-promoting device is introduced into the bottle B through the open end of the neck N, i.e. before fitting of the cap C.
  • the bottle B including the interior of the device D is purged of air in the usual way for bottled beverages by applying a standard purging head to the open neck of the bottle B to purge the latter and the device D with inert gas, eg carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
  • the bottle B containing the purged foam-promoting device D is passed to a location at which the beverage 20 is introduced through the open neck N to fill the bottle B to the desired level whereby the headspace 22 is provided.
  • the foam-promoting device D continues to float on the beverage 20. Then, a small quantity of liquid nitrogen is introduced into the neck N following immediately by closure of the bottle B by crimping of the cap C to the neck N. After closure, the pressure within the bottle B rapidly rises to cause the device D to be charged with gas and to be filled with the beverage 24 to the required level as described hereinabove in relation to Fig 3.
  • the bottle B Whilst the bottle B is still in its upright condition, it is transported to a pasteuriser where it is subjected to an elevated temperature followed by cooling still in the upright condition. Throughout this procedure, the foam-promoting device D remains an orientation corresponding to that illustrated in Figs 1 to 3 with the upper restricted orifice 16 remaining in the headspace 22 and the lower restricted orifice 18 remaining submerged in the beverage 20.
  • the device D illustrated therein is similar to that of Figs 1 to 3 and similar parts are accorded the same reference numerals.
  • the lowermost wall region of the hollow body 10 has an additional restricted orifice 30 therethrough providing direct communication between the interior and the exterior of the hollow body 10.
  • the restricted orifice 30 is submerged in the beverage 20 outside the device D and is covered by the beverage 24 within the device D.
  • the restricted orifice 30 is provided so as to reduce the risk of loss of gas from the inside of the hollow body 10 in the event that the sealed beverage container is subjected to many temperature fluctuations during storage and/or transportation.
  • the third embodiment of foam-promoting device D is similar to that of Fig 5 and parts serving the same functions are accorded the same reference numerals.
  • the device D is formed of a right-hand dished body part D 1 (Figs 6 and 7) and a left-hand dished body part D 2 (Figs 8 and 9) moulded with respective planar rims 40 and 42 which are secured together in mutually sealing relationship to define the hollow body 10.
  • the right-hand body part D 1 is moulded with recesses 12 and 14 at opposite ends thereof corresponding to the end walls 10b of the body 10, the first and second recesses 12 and 14 defining the first and second passage means of the device D and corresponding, in the complete device D, to the tubes 12 and 14.
  • the upper, lower and the additional restricted orifices 16, 18 and 30 are provided in the right-hand body part D 1 , with the lower restricted orifice 18 opening into the lower end of the second recess 14 and the additional restricted orifice 30 opening into the lower end of the first recess 12.
  • each orifice 16, 18 and 30 is defined by a respective nozzle having a passage which tapers inwardly towards the orifice and which is formed in the wall of the body part D 1 .
  • the wall thicknesses of the body parts D 1 and D 2 in those regions corresponding to the lower or submerged part of the device D are greater than the wall thicknesses corresponding to the upper part of the device D.
  • Such greater wall thicknesses result in added weight which causes the device D to adopt the desired orientation when floating.
  • the body parts D 1 and D 2 have integrally moulded, sloping-sided protrusions 41 and 43.
  • Such protrusions 41 and 43 are provided so that the relevant dimension of the device D exceeds the diameter of the neck N of the bottle B by a small amount.
  • the act of inserting the device D into the neck N causes the protrusions 41 and 43 to be resiliently deformed inwardly by the neck N. After insertion, the protrusions 41 and 43 spring back to oppose removal of the device D from the bottle B and to prevent the device D from blocking passage of beverage while it is being poured from the bottle B.
  • Fig 6 the typical dimensions of the device are indicated in mm and each of the upper, lower and additional restricted orifices 16, 18 and 30 has a diameter of 0.25 mm.
  • the device illustrated therein has elongated hollow body 10 which is adapted to float with its long axis upright.
  • the second tube 14 extends through the bottom of the hollow body 10 and the lower end 14a of the tube 14 is furnished with a nozzle 40 which defines the lower restricted orifice 18 and with a weight 42.
  • the weight 42 is arranged to cause the device to float so that, when the body 10 contains the desired amount of liquid 24, the nozzle 40 is disposed about 15 mm below the surface of the beverage 20 and is directed longitudinally of the direction of extent of the surface. In this embodiment, the nozzle 40 is directed parallel to the surface of the beverage 20.
  • the additional restricted orifice 30 is defined by an additional nozzle 44 provided in the wall of the hollow body 10 so as to be directed downwardly and outwardly. Nozzle 44 allows beverage to flow into and out of the body 10, preventing unwanted loss of gas as described above in relation to the restricted orifice 30 of Fig. 5.
  • a device which is intended to float with its long axis upright, like the embodiment of Fig. 10.
  • weight 42 is provided by a glass ball which is held in the hollow body 10 by any convenient means, e.g. by being trapped in place by appropriate design of moulded body parts forming the body 10.
  • Upper and lower resiliently deformable legs 48 and 50 project obliquely laterally outwardly from the upper and lower end faces of the hollow body 10 beyond the external side wall of the latter.
  • the diameter of the body 10 is such that it can be inserted through the neck of a bottle.
  • the legs 48 and 50 are deformed appropriately towards the upright long axis of the body 10.
  • the legs 48 and 50 are free to spring back to the positions illustrated in Fig. 11 to prevent unwanted passage of the device back out of the bottle, and also to prevent undue restriction to free flow of (a) beverage through the neck upon pouring, and (b) air or water during cleaning/washing of the bottle in an inverted condition to remove foreign bodies immediately prior to filling with the beverage.
  • the length of the second tube 14 is chosen, in this embodiment, such that its upper end is submerged in use to a small extent in the beverage 24 within the hollow body 10. This enables the second tube 14 and orifice 18 to serve a similar function to that of the previously described orifice 30 in that it assists in preventing loss of gas from the body 10 in the event of the sealed beverage container being subjected to many temperature fluctuations during storage or transportation. Furthermore, it will be understood that the reduction in pressure which occurs upon opening of the bottle causes beverage to be ejected from the body 10 initially through the tube 14 and orifice 18.
  • the axial length of the body 10 may be chosen as desired to enable the required gas capacity of the device to be achieved.
  • the device may be shorter than that illustrated in Fig. 11, or it may be longer as illustrated in Fig. 12.
  • tube 12 also extends upwardly from the body 10 through an upwardly extending spigot 51. This assists in ensuring that the upper restricted orifice 16, being located at the upper end of the spigot 51, remains free of any liquid or foam in the headspace.
  • the second tube 14 is disposed above the surface of the beverage (not shown) within the body 10, and orifice 30 is provided for the purpose previously mentioned.
  • leg 50 is extended and thereby serves as an orientation means to constrain the device so that it floats in the desired upright orientation.
  • This design enables the ball or balls 42 to be dispensed with, thereby increasing the available volume for gas within the hollow body 10.
  • the device of Fig. 13 is arranged to float, in a modification, such device is not of the floating type but is weighted as necessary so that it does not float and is arranged to be supported at the required level within the bottle B by means of the extended support leg 50 which abuts against the base 54 of the bottle B.
  • the support leg 50 is resiliently flexible so that it can be deformed to permit the hollow body 10 to be displaced by a filling nozzle (not shown) introduced into the neck of the bottle B during filling of the latter with the liquid. After filling, the leg 50 can flex back so that the device can adopt the required position relative to the surface of the liquid in the filled container.
  • the device of Fig. 13 is provided with an orifice 30 serving the previously described function.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)

Claims (19)

  1. Conteneur pour liquide sous pression, scellé, ouvrable comprenant un conteneur (B) partiellement rempli avec du liquide (20) pour laisser un espace supérieur (22) à l'intérieur du conteneur (B) et un dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) situé à l'intérieur du conteneur (B), ledit dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) comprenant un moyen d'orientation pour contraindre ledit dispositif à adopter une orientation donnée et un corps creux (10) présentant un premier et un deuxième moyens de passage (12 et 14), ledit premier moyen de passage (12) comportant (a) une extrémité supérieure (12a) communiquant avec l'extérieur du corps creux (10) à un endroit supérieur qui est situé dans l'espace supérieur (22) à l'intérieur du conteneur (B) et (b) une extrémité inférieure (12b) communiquant avec l'intérieur du corps creux (10), et ledit deuxième moyen de passage (14) comportant (a) une extrémité inférieure (14a) communiquant avec l'extérieur du corps creux (10) à un endroit inférieur qui est situé en dessous de la surface du liquide (20) dans le conteneur (B) et (b) une extrémité supérieure (14b) communiquant avec l'intérieur du corps creux (10), dans lequel (i) le premier moyen de passage (12) définit un passage d'entrée de gaz pour une admission d'un gaz sous pression provenant de l'espace supérieur (22) dans le dispositif (D), (ii) le deuxième moyen de passage (14) définit une sortie de gaz pour la décharge d'un gaz sous pression provenant du dispositif (D) dans le liquide à l'intérieur du conteneur (B) lorsque ce dernier est ouvert, (iii) l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12) est située à un niveau inférieur à celui de l'extrémité supérieure (14b) du deuxième moyen de passage (14), et (iv) le dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) est partiellement rempli avec du liquide (24) jusqu'à un niveau au-dessus de celui de l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12).
  2. Conteneur suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) est partiellement rempli avec du liquide (24) jusqu'à un niveau qui est intermédiaire aux niveaux de l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12) et de l'extrémité supérieure (14b) du deuxième moyen de passage (14) de sorte que l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12) est immergée dans le liquide (24) à l'intérieur du dispositif (D) et l'extrémité supérieure (14b) du deuxième moyen de passage (14) est située au-dessus du niveau du liquide (24) dans le dispositif (D).
  3. Conteneur suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le premier et le deuxième moyens de passage (12 et 14) s'ouvrent dans une chambre commune définie à l'intérieur du corps creux (10).
  4. Conteneur suivant la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans lequel le dispositif (D) flotte sur la surface du liquide (20) dans le conteneur (B).
  5. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chacun des premier et deuxième moyens de passage (12 et 14) possède un orifice restreint (16, 18) associé à celui-ci par lequel l'intérieur du dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) communique avec l'extérieur.
  6. Conteneur suivant la revendication 5, dans lequel l'orifice restreint (18) associé au deuxième moyen de passage (14) est prévu dans une paroi externe du corps creux (10).
  7. Conteneur suivant la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel l'orifice restreint (16) associé au premier moyen de passage (12) est prévu dans une paroi externe du corps creux (10).
  8. Conteneur suivant la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel l'orifice restreint (16) associé au premier moyen de passage (12) est prévu à un endroit qui est en dessous du niveau du liquide à l'intérieur du corps creux (10) pendant l'utilisation.
  9. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel un orifice restreint supplémentaire (30) est prévu dans une région du corps creux (10) qui est destinée à être immergée dans les liquides (20 et 24) à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur du corps (10) de manière à fournir une communication directe entre ces liquides (20 et 24) pendant l'utilisation.
  10. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins un des premier et deuxième moyens de passage (12 et 14) est défini par un tube ou un tube respectif qui fait partie intégrante avec le corps creux (10).
  11. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel au moins un des moyens de passage (12 et 14) est formé dans une paroi ou une paroi respective (10b) du corps creux (10).
  12. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps creux (10) est formé avec un ou plusieurs prolongements externes déformables de façon élastique (48, 50) sur celui-ci qui ont besoin d'être déformés de façon élastique pour permettre l'introduction du dispositif (D) dans le conteneur (B) et qui peuvent ensuite se redresser pour empêcher le dispositif (D) de revenir hors du conteneur (B) lorsque du liquide est distribué à partir de celui-ci.
  13. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'extrémité inférieure (14a) du deuxième moyen de passage communique avec l'extérieur du corps creux (10) par l'intermédiaire d'un orifice de sortie (18) défini par une buse (40) qui est espacée en dessous de la surface du liquide (20) et dirigée généralement vers ou sensiblement parallèle à la surface du liquide.
  14. Conteneur suivant la revendication 13, dans lequel la buse (40) converge vers l'orifice de sortie (18).
  15. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps creux (10) est allongé et il est adapté pour flotter dans le liquide (20) avec son axe longitudinal vertical.
  16. Conteneur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, 13, 14 et 15, possédant un col (N) avec une région de col inférieure élargie (E).
  17. Dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse construit et adapté pour faire partie d'un conteneur pour liquide sous pression, scellé, ouvrable suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, ledit dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) comprenant un moyen d'orientation pour contraindre ledit dispositif à adopter une orientation donnée et un corps creux (10) présentant un premier et un deuxième moyens de passage (12 et 14) à l'intérieur de celui-ci, ledit premier moyen de passage (12) comportant (a) une extrémité supérieure (12a) communiquant avec l'extérieur du corps creux (10) à un endroit supérieur et (b) une extrémité inférieure (12b) communiquant avec l'intérieur du corps creux (10), et ledit deuxième moyen de passage (14) comportant (a) une extrémité inférieure (14a) communiquant avec l'extérieur du corps creux (10) à un endroit qui est espacé en dessous de l'extrémité supérieure (12a) du premier moyen de passage (12) et (b) une extrémité supérieure (14b) communiquant avec l'intérieur du corps creux (10), dans lequel (i) le premier moyen de passage (12) définit un passage d'entrée de gaz pour une admission d'un gaz sous pression provenant de l'espace supérieur (22) dans le dispositif (D), (ii) le deuxième moyen de passage (14) définit une sortie de gaz pour la décharge d'un gaz sous pression provenant du dispositif (D) dans le liquide à l'intérieur du conteneur (B) lorsque ce dernier est ouvert, (iii) l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12) est située à un niveau inférieur à celui de l'extrémité supérieure (14b) du deuxième moyen de passage (14), et (iv) le dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) est partiellement rempli, pendant l'utilisation, avec du liquide (24) jusqu'à un niveau au-dessus de celui de l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12).
  18. Procédé de fabrication d'un conteneur pour liquide suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, ledit procédé comprenant les étapes consistant:
    (a) à remplir partiellement un conteneur pour liquide (B) avec du liquide (20) de manière à laisser un espace supérieur (22);
    (b) avant, pendant ou après ladite étape de remplissage, à introduire un dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) suivant la revendication 13 dans le conteneur (B);
    (c) à sceller et à mettre sous pression le conteneur (B) avec le dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) à l'intérieur de celui-ci; et
    (d) à faire entrer un liquide (20) dans le corps creux (10) du dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) de sorte que le niveau de liquide (24) à l'intérieur du corps creux (10) se trouve au-dessus de l'extrémité inférieure (12b) du premier moyen de passage (12).
  19. Procédé suivant la revendication 18, dans lequel l'étape (d) ci-dessus est effectuée en permettant au liquide (20) qui a été introduit dans le conteneur (B) de s'écouler dans le dispositif favorisant la formation de mousse (D) jusqu'au niveau requis par suite d'une mise sous pression du conteneur (B) dans l'étape (c).
EP96918755A 1995-06-17 1996-06-17 Contenants pour liquides sous pression avec dispositif generateur de mousse Expired - Lifetime EP0833788B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9512363.4A GB9512363D0 (en) 1995-06-17 1995-06-17 Liquid containers and method of manufacture thereof
GB9512363 1995-06-17
PCT/GB1996/001460 WO1997000214A2 (fr) 1995-06-17 1996-06-17 Contenants pour liquides sous pression avec dispositif generateur de mousse

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0833788A2 EP0833788A2 (fr) 1998-04-08
EP0833788B1 true EP0833788B1 (fr) 2000-12-27

Family

ID=10776244

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96918755A Expired - Lifetime EP0833788B1 (fr) 1995-06-17 1996-06-17 Contenants pour liquides sous pression avec dispositif generateur de mousse

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0833788B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH11507612A (fr)
AT (1) ATE198305T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69611370D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB9512363D0 (fr)
HK (1) HK1003878A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997000214A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2759382A1 (fr) * 1997-02-10 1998-08-14 Transgene Sa Nouveaux composes et compositions les contenant utilisables pour le transfert d'au moins une substance therapeutiquement active, notamment un polynucleotide, dans une cellule cible et utilisation en therapie genique
DE29821219U1 (de) * 1998-11-27 1999-06-24 Rpc Bramlage Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Erzeugen von Schaum beim Entleeren von Getränkegefäßen
GB2350097B (en) * 1999-05-17 2002-11-13 Guinness Ltd Packaging for beverage containing gas in solution
KR100449378B1 (ko) * 2002-09-03 2004-09-18 주식회사 효성 환경친화성 폴리에스터 극세 섬유 및 그 제조방법
DE10258791B4 (de) * 2002-12-16 2007-03-22 Ball Packaging Europe Gmbh Flüssigkeitsbehälter-Einsatz mit zeitdeterminierter Positionierung in einer unter Gasdruck stehenden Flüssigkeit
EP1614638A1 (fr) 2004-07-09 2006-01-11 Ball Packaging Europe GmbH Insert multichambre pour un conteneur à liquide
JP7106224B2 (ja) * 2019-02-28 2022-07-26 株式会社吉野工業所 発泡用ウィジェット
DE102019112818A1 (de) * 2019-05-16 2020-11-19 Ardagh Metal Beverage Holdings Gmbh & Co. Kg Getränkebehälter

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IE70665B1 (en) * 1989-11-22 1996-12-11 Whitbread & Co Plc Carbonated beverage container
GB9305728D0 (en) * 1993-03-19 1993-05-05 Pa Consulting Services Packaged beverage
JP3585925B2 (ja) * 1993-08-12 2004-11-10 フィットブレッド ピーエルシー 飲料用容器
EP0673855A3 (fr) * 1994-03-17 1996-01-10 Nitroflo Developments Ltd Cartouche pour des fluides sous pression.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0833788A2 (fr) 1998-04-08
ATE198305T1 (de) 2001-01-15
WO1997000214A3 (fr) 1997-02-13
DE69611370D1 (de) 2001-02-01
WO1997000214A2 (fr) 1997-01-03
HK1003878A1 (en) 1998-11-13
GB9512363D0 (en) 1995-08-16
JPH11507612A (ja) 1999-07-06

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