GB2249084A - Closure means allowing venting of a beverage container - Google Patents

Abstract

Closure means 1 for sealing a carbonated beverage container 4 capable of relieving an excess of pressure therein, comprises one-way valve moans 13 arranged to allow pressurized gas to enter the container from a pump (25, fig 2) which the closure moans is adapted to receive, and pressure relief means 21 arranged to allow pressurized gas to escape from the container when it becomes excessively pressurized. The pressure relief means may be provided separately (54, fig 4) or as part of the valve means. When the pressure relief means is part of the valve means it may consist of a frustoconical portion 17 which is placed in a frusto-conical recess 18. As the pressure increases within the container the frusto-conical portion is forced up into the recess to a point where a by pass channel 19, 20 allows gas to escape before the frusto-conical portion returns to its original position by means of the resilient material of the one-way valve. Valve means 13 allows pressurised gas entering the container through inlet 11 to pass around its flange cap 14, while in another embodiment valve means (53, fig 4) allows the gas to enter through a slot in the valve means (59, fig 5b), a similar slot in the pressure relief means (54, fig 4) allowing escape of gas. <IMAGE>

Description

Closure Means for a Beverage Container This invention relates to closure means for resealing a beverage container.

Beverages containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas are necessarily sold in sealed and pressurized containers in order to maintain the level of carbonation in the beverage. Once such containers are opened, however, and the contents partially removed, the lack of pressurization and the increased open space above the remaining beverage means that the dissolved carbon dioxide may easily escape from solution. As a result of the loss of carbonation, the taste of the remaining beverage becomes impaired.

It has long been recognized that the resealing of such containers reduces the rate of loss of carbonation, but that such a solution becomes less effective as the volume ratio of open space to remaining beverage increases. Accordingly, sealing devices have been proposed which additionally attempt to repressurize the open space above any remaining beverage with ambient air.

An example of one such device, in which a pressurizing pump and a closure cap are integrally provided in a single assembly, is disclosed in United States Patent Specification Serial No. 4723670. An alternative prior art device, in which a pressurizing pump and closure cap adapted for engagement therewith are separately provided, has also been proposed.

The above prior art devices, however, suffer from the problem that no means are provided for releasing the gas pressure in the container while the cap is engaged, in the event that that pressure becomes too high, for example, due to excessive pumping; hence, the container or cap may fail without warning resulting in an accident.

Although prior art evacuation assemblies have been proposed for depressurizing containers in which gas is present initially at atmospheric pressure, such devices cannot readily be adapted to act as pressurizing devices that are also capable of relieving an excess of high pressure.

The present invention provides closure means for sealing an open-necked beverage container, comprising valve means and pressure relief means and being arranged to receive a pump for pumping pressurized gas into the container, the valve means being arranged, when the closure means is secured to the container, to allow pressurized gas from a pump to enter the container but not to allow pressurised gas to leave the container and the pressure relief means being arranged to allow pressurized gas to leave the container when the gas pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined value.

The closure means may be used to seal an open-necked container, such as, for example, a bottle, which container may contain any pressurized beverage such as, for example, a carbonated drink or a sparkling wine or beer.

The closure means may comprise a cap, which may have a cylindrical internally screw-threaded side wall for engagement with the container. Alternatively, the cap may engage the container in a different manner. The closure means may also comprise a stopper or a cork.

The provision of the valve means allows pressurized gas to be pumped into the airtight container so as to increase the gas pressure in the space above the beverage, and hence to suppress, for example, in the case of a carbonated beverage, the escape of dissolved-carbon dioxide therefrom. By providing pressure relief means arranged to operate at a pressure that is less than a pressure at which the closure means or container may be liable to sudden failure (but which is, of course, greater than the pressure required to prevent loss of, for example, carbonation), it is possible substantially to prevent container failure due to overpressurization, for example, caused by overpumping.In addition, by providing the pressure relief means in the closure means, as opposed to in a pump for use therewith, it is possible to prevent overpressurization caused by other factors, such as, for example, excessive heating of the container.

The valve means may comprise a resilient valve member mounted in the closure means, for example, in the case of a cap, in an opening in the top of the cap, the valve member being deformable, under the influence of increased gas pressure above the closure means, from a first configuration in which it closes off a gas inlet through the closure means to a second configuration in which the gas inlet is not closed off. In a preferred arrangement, where the closure means is a cap, the valve member is mounted in an opening of a top wall of the cap through which wall the gas inlet passes, and in the first configuration a portion of the valve member below the top wall covers over and seals off the gas inlet and in the second configuration the portion of the valve member allows gas to pass through the inlet and around an edge of the portion of the valve member.The gas inlet may be defined by the opening in which the resilient valve member is mounted but preferably it is defined by an opening separate from the opening in which the resilient valve member is mounted.

Although the pressure relief means and valve means may be mounted separately in the closure means, preferably, the pressure relief means is provided as a part of the valve means and may, for example, include a stopper which in a first normal position is received in and seals an opening in the resilient valve member but which is movable in response to the gas pressure in the container exceeding the predetermined pressure to a venting position in which gas can pass through the opening in the valve member. In such an arrangement, the stopper is preferably still received in the opening in the valve member, when in the venting position, although no longer sealing that opening; the "venting position" may however be one in which the stopper is entirely separated from the closure means.In a particularly preferred arrangement, the stopper is received in the resilient valve member in such a way that after moving to the venting position it will automatically return to the sealing position when the pressure of gas in the container reduces. That provides the advantage that, in the event of the container becoming overpressurized, no substantial loss of gas and thus, for example, carbonation, will occur and, moreover, the closure means need not be adjusted or replaced before subsequent use.

The stopper and valve member may be designed so that the stopper has a frusto-conical portion which is received in a frusto-conical recess in the valve member and the stopper is forced further into the frusto-conical recess as it moves from the sealing position to the venting position.

Preferably, the top of the closure means includes an upwardly extending cylindrical wall defining an open topped housing for receiving a pump, the valve means being provided in the bottom of the housing; such an arrangement ensures that there is an efficient transfer of pressurized gas into the container through the closure means.

The present invention also provides a beverage preserving system comprising closure means as hereinbefore described, together with a pump for supplying pressurized gas to the interior of a beverage container when the closure means is attached to the container and the pump is received in the top of the closure means.

Two types of cap for use on a carbonated beverage container will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the first form of cap, drawn to an enlarged scale of approximately 5:1; Fig. 2 is a side view of the pump, drawn to an enlarged scale of approximately 2:1; Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view, not to scale, illustrating the combined operation of the pump and cap; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a second form of cap; Fig. 5a is a top plan view of the cap of Fig. 4; and Fig. 5b is a bottom plan view of the cap of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, a cap 1 is provided for sealing engagement with the neck of a standard carbonated beverage container, the cap being adapted for use in conjunction with a pressurizing pump to pressurize the interior of such a container.

The body 2 of the cap 1 is made from a rigid plastics material and includes a top wall 3 and a cylindrical side wall 4 formed integrally therewith, the side wall extending beyond the top of the top wall so as to form a circumferential rim 5. The side wall 4 is provided with internal threads 6 for engagement with complementary threads provided on the exterior of the neck of the container. An O-ring seal 7 made of an elastomeric material is disposed above the internal threads 6 at the intersection of the side wall 4 with the top wall 3.

Above the top wall 3 and extending integrally therefrom is a hollow cylindrical housing 8, disposed concentrically within the cap rim 5. The housing 8 is adapted to receive an outlet nozzle of the pump, and has at its top an open end 9 which is outwardly tapered so as to facilitate introduction of the pump nozzle into the housing. The top wall 3 has a central opening 10 and a smaller opening 11, both within the confines of the housing 8. In order to provide the cap 1 with a rounded appearance, an annular insert 12 is installed between the housing 8 and the cap rim 5.

The central opening 10 of the top wall 3 receives an inverted, mushroom-shaped valve member 13 made of a suitably resilient elastomeric material. The valve member 13 comprises a cap 14, a stem 15 and a flange 16 disposed at the other end of the stem. The valve member 13 is installed by passing the flanged end of the stem 15 upwardly through the central opening 10 so that the flange 16 rests sealingly on the top surface of the top wall 3, and the outer edge of the cap 15 presses against the lower surface of the top wall. The flange 16 is tapered to facilitate the insertion into the opening 10.

The stem 15 of the valve member is provided with a central bore 17 of circular cross-section that is outwardly flared in a frusto-conical shape to define a sloping shoulder 18 on the valve member at the lower end of the base. Furthermore, a small bypass channel 19 adjoins the central bore 17 and extends from its upper end down to a lower end 20 about halfway up the shoulder 18, as shown in Fig. 1.

A stopper 21 made of a rigid plastics material is inserted in the lower end of the central bore 17, being shaped so as to conform therewith, and thus blocking the central opening 10.

Once attached to a carbonated beverage container, the presence of the O-ring seal 7, combined with the action of the cap 14 of the valve member 13 pressing against the top wall 3, effectively seal the container thus preventing any leakage of pressurized gas from the container.

The valve member 13 is also designed to allow pressurized gas to be discharged into the container without any simultaneous leakage of gas outwards. If compressed air is supplied, for example, from a pump nozzle placed in the cylindrical housing 8, the air will pass through the smaller opening 11 in the top wall 3 into the space defined between the lower surface of the top wall and the outer portion of the cap 14, the edge of which, as mentioned previously, is in sealing engagement with the last-mentioned surface. The pressure of the compressed air will be sufficient momentarily to lift the edge of the cap 14 away from the top wall, thereby allowing air to pass around the edge of the cap and enter the container. Once the flow of compressed air has ceased, however, the cap will return to its original position, and the container will once again become sealed.

In accordance with the invention, the cap additionally functions so as to relieve an excess of high pressure in the container. It is for that purpose that the bypass channel 19 and stopper 21 are provided. In the event that the gas pressure in the container reaches a predetermined high level which may for example be 6 or 7 atmospheres, that pressure will then be sufficient to force the rigid stopper 21 to move inwardly into the resilient valve member 13, thus exposing the end 20 of the bypass channel. Hence, gas may escape from the container through the bypass channel 19. Preferably, the stopper and valve member are designed so that once the gas pressure has dropped sufficiently the resiliency of the valve member 13 will cause the stopper 21 to move outwards again. Thus the container will remain pressurized and there will be no undue loss of carbonation from the beverage.

Fig. 2 shows a pressurizing pump 25 suitable for use in conjunction with the aforementioned cap 1. The internal construction of the pump is not material to the present invention and therefore only a very brief description of the pump will be provided. The pump has a housing 26 in which is received a piston rod 27 provided with a handle 28.

The piston rod 27 is slideably received within an opening the housing 26 and is guided for reciprocating axial motion within the housing. At the bottom of the piston rod 27 a piston is provided.

A pumping action is produced manually using the handle 28 to reciprocate the piston rod 27. As a result of the pumping, compressed air is expelled out through a discharge nozzle 31 in the bottom of the housing 26.

The pump 25 has been designed so that it may be used with the pump nozzle 31 permanently inserted into the cylindrical housing 8 of the cap 1.

The operation of the cap 1 and pump 25 will now be described with reference to Fig. 3. The cap is first screwed securely into position on the neck 40 of a carbonated beverage container 41 that has previously been opened and the contents partially removed. The discharge nozzle 31 of the pump 25 is then pushed into the cylindrical housing 8 of the cap 1 until the nozzle is disposed within the straight section of the housing, but with the tip of nozzle still being spaced from the valve member 13, as shown in Fig. 3.

The piston rod 27 is then reciprocated manually so as to pump ambient air into the open space 42 above the beverage 43 remaining in the container 41. Compressed air expelled from the nozzle 31 passes through the smaller opening 11 in the top wall and forces the edge of the cap 14 of the valve member away from the lower surface of the top wall 3, thus passing into the container 41. Pumping is continued until the pressure within the container reaches a suitably high level, at which the escape of dissolved carbon dioxide from the remaining beverage 43 is substantially prevented. That level may, for example, be about twice atmospheric pressure.

In the event that the pressure in the container 41 reaches a predetermined level at which the container may, for example, be in danger of exploding, (for example, 6 or 7 atmospheres) the pressure relief valve is arranged to operate to release gas from the container. Such circumstances may arise, for example, if overpumping occurs or if the beverage in the container is heated, or if there is fermentation or some other chemical or biological process. Once the gas pressure in the container reaches the predetermined level, it is able to push the rigid stopper 21 into the central bore 17 of the valve member 13 a sufficient distance to allow the outlet 20 of the bypass channel 19 to become exposed. At this point, gas may then escape from the container 41 through the bypass channel 19.Once the gas pressure has lowered sufficiently, the stopper 21 will be forced outwards again by the valve member and the bypass channel 19 will become blocked, thus sealing the container 41 once more.

Figs. 4, 5a and 5b show an alternative form of cap with a different form of valve member and a different pressure relief arrangement. In Figs. 4, 5a and 5b parts corresponding to those of the cap shown in Fig. 1 are referenced by the same reference numerals.

The cap 50 is made from a rigid plastics material and comprises a top wall 3 and a cylindrical screwthreaded sidewall 4 formed integrally therewith. Thus circular openings 51, 52 are provided in the top wall 3, one 51 of which is enclosed within a cylindrical housing 8 provided for engagement of the cap with a pressurizing pump.

Each of the openings 51, 52 is occupied by a respective resilient valve member 53, 54 comprising a cylindrical centre portion 55 formed between a flanged end 56 and a rounded end 57; the flanged end 56 is sufficiently flexible to pass through each hole so that the valves may be assembled in the arrangement as shown in Fig. 4. The cylindrical portion 55 of each valve member is a gas-tight fit in its opening 51, 52.

As can be seen in Figs. 5a and 5b, the flanged end 56 of each valve member is notched. The notch 58 communicates with a radial slit 59 through the cylindrical centre portion 55 and the rounded end 57. Such a configuration allows each valve member to act as a oneway valve: pressurized gas entering a valve member through the notch 58 may force open the slit 59 (provided the pressure is great enough) and pass through the valve member, whereas the transfer of gas in the reverse direction is prevented because the slit remains closed.

The valve member 53 enclosed in the cylindrical housing 18 is positioned with its flanged end 56 uppermost so that air may be discharged from a pump outlet placed in the housing 8 through the valve member 53 in order to pressurize the open space of a carbonated beverage container on which the cap is secured.

The second valve member 54 is installed in the top wall 3 with its flanged end 56 lowermost and acts as a pressure relief valve. The dimensions of the valve member 54 and the material from which it is made are designed such that the slit of the valve is forced open only when the pressure on the underside of the cap exceeds a certain selected maximum level. When the pressure drops back the slit in the valve member 54 closes again.

Since the valve member 54 is required not to open until a predetermined pressure is reached whereas the valve member 53 preferably opens in response to even a small excess pressure on the pump side, the valves will usually have different dimensions and/or be made of materials of different Young's modulus or modulus of elasticity.

The way in which the cap 50 of Figs. 4, 5a and 5b is used is substantially the same as the way in which the cap 1 of Fig. 1 is used and will not be further described.

Claims (15)

Claims:

1. Closure means for sealing an open-necked beverage container, comprising valve means and pressure relief means and being arranged to receive a pump for pumping pressurized gas into the container, the valve means being arranged, when the closure means is secured to the container, to allow pressurized gas from a pump to enter the container but not to allow pressurised gas to leave the container and the pressure relief means being arranged to allow pressurized gas to leave the container when the gas pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined value.

2. Closure means according to claim 1, which means comprise a cap.

3. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein the cap has a cylindrical internally screw-threaded side wall for engagement with the container.

4. Closure means according to any preceding claim, in which the valve means comprises a resilient valve member mounted in an opening in the closure means, the valve member being deformable, under the influence of increased gas pressure above the closure means, from a first configuration in which it closes off a gas inlet through the closure means to a second configuration in which the gas inlet is not closed off.

5. Closure means according to claim 4 when dependent upon claim 2 or claim 3, in which the valve member is mounted in an opening of a top wall of the cap, in which the gas inlet passes through the top wall, and in which in the first configuration a portion of the valve member below the top wall covers over and seals off the gas inlet and in the second configuration the portion of the valve member allows gas to pass through the inlet and around an edge of the portion of the valve member.

6. Closure means according to claim 4 or 5, in which the gas inlet is defined by an opening separate from the opening in which the resilient valve member is mounted.

7. Closure means according to any preceding claim, in which the pressure relief means is provided as a part of the valve means.

8. Closure means according to claim 7, when dependent upon any of claims 4 to 6, in which the pressure relief means includes a stopper which in a first normal position is received in and seals an opening in the resilient valve member but which is movable in response to the gas pressure in the container exceeding the predetermined pressure to a venting position in which gas can pass through the opening in the valve member.

9. Closure means according to claim 8, in which in the venting position the stopper is still received in the opening in the valve member but no longer seals the opening.

10. Closure means according to claim 9, in which the stopper is received in the resilient valve member in such a way that after moving to the venting position it will automatically return to the sealing position when the pressure of gas in the container reduces.

11. Closure means according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the stopper has a frusto-conical portion which is received in a frusto-conical recess in the valve member and the stopper is forced further into the frustoconical recess as it moves from the sealing position to the venting position.

12. Closure means according to any preceding claim, the top of which includes an upwardly extending wall defining an open-topped housing for receiving a pump, the valve means being provided in the bottom of the housing.

13. A cap for sealing a beverage container, the cap being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Fig. 1 or Figs. 4, 5a and 5b of the accompanying drawings.

14. A beverage preserving system comprising closure means according to any preceding claim and a hand pump for supplying pressurized gas to the interior of a beverage container when the closure means is attached to the container and the pump is received in the top of the closure means.

15. A beverage preserving system according to claim 14 further including a beverage container.