GB2351723A

GB2351723A - Pressurised beverage cans

Info

Publication number: GB2351723A
Application number: GB9915985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Levi Charles Stuart Madeley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-09
Filing date: 1999-07-09
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Also published as: GB9915985D0

Abstract

A can for beverage under pressure is formed with an opening panel 20 in its side and adjacent its bottom. A foam-inducing device 30 is mounted adjacent the top of the can by means of a carrier member having radiating fingers the tips of which are engaged in an internal annular groove of the can. The panel 20 may be opened by depressing it inwardly using a finger, the finger keeping the can closed until it has been lowered into a glass to receive the beverage.

Description

2351723 Pressurised-beverage Cans The present invention relates to cans

which contain beverage under gas pressure, and more particularly to cans which contain beer under gas pressure.

Cans are well-known which contain beer or other beverage under gas-pressure, the top of the can being formed with a panel defined by a scored line of weakness, such that the panel can be torn open to enable the contents of the can to be poured out. Often however, the contents spray out through the opening in the top of the can, immediately the opening panel is torn open.

I have now devised a can which overcomes this difficulty.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a can for beverage under gas-pressure, the can being formed with an opening panel in its side adjacent its bottom.

Preferably the opening panel is generally circular in shape. Preferably the panel is defined by a score-line which extends around the periphery of the panel, except for a portion along its lower edge. Preferably the opening panel is domed outwardly.

Preferably the opening panel is arranged to be torn open by depressing it inwardly using a finger, such that the finger comes to rest against the resulting opening in the can, in order to keep the can temporarily closed. The bottom end portion of the can is then lowered into a glass and the finger removed, so that the contents of the can then flow out of the can, against and down the inside of the glass. In this way, the glass fills evenly and effectively with the beverage, particularly where this is a beer.

Particularly in the case of beer cans, it is known to include a device, or so-called "widget", which induces foam in the beverage as it is poured from the can. Such widgets are generally adhered to the inside bottom of the can before the can is filled: however, when the can is filled, and before its top closure member is fitted, the widget can start to generate gas (e.g. where the widget is a capsule which dissolves in the 2 beverage).

I have now devised arrangements for preventing premature generation of gas from the widget.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a can of gas-pressurised beverage, having a foaminducing device mounted at or adjacent the top thereof.

The can is accordingly fillable with beverage without immersing the foaminducing device or "widget" in the beverage, until the top of the can is closed.

The foam-inducing device is preferably mounted on a carrier member which includes a number of radiating fingers, the tips of which engage in an internal annular groove of the can, adjacent its top. In particular, use may be made of the annular groove which commonly exists between a tapering top portion of the can, and an annular, radially-inward deformation which is provided between the body of the can and this tapering top portion.

In manufacture, preferably the can is filled with beverage, then the foaminducing device is fitted into the top of the can, about the surf ace of the beverage, and then the top closure member of the can is fitted.

Preferably the radiating fingers of the carrier member of the foaminducing device are resiliently flexible such that the device may be fitted into the can by pushing it through the open top of the can, the fingers flexing upwardly to enable this, after which the fingers return to their normal configuration, for their tips to engage the above-mentioned internal groove of the can.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE I is a side view of a beverage can in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a view of the side and top of the can of Figure 1, shown prior to its top being fitted; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the foam-inducing device or "widget" which is fitted into the can of Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the device or widget shown in Figure 3; 3 FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section through the can of Figures I and 2 prior to opening; and FIGURE 6 is a corresponding sectional view of the can once opened.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a can of generally conventional form and construction, for containing a gas-pressurised beverage, particularly beer.

Thus, the can comprises a one-piece body 10, having a cylindrical sleeve 12 and an integral bottom 14: the top of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is formed with a tampering portion 16 and an inward ly-de formed annular portion 18 between the tapering portion 16 and the remainder of the sleeve 12; the inwardly-deformed annular portion 18 provides an annular groove 18a around the exterior of the can and an annular rib 18b around the interior of the can.

The can shown in Figures 1 and 2 is arranged f or opening at a position is the side wall or sleeve 12 of the can, adjacent the bottom. Thus, a circular opening panel 20 is defined by a score line 22 which extends around in a circle, except for an interruption at the bottom. The circular panel is deformed outwardly, to a domed profile (see Figure 5). The adjacent region of the can wall is strengthened by local part-annular deformation 24 which forms a part-annular groove in the exterior of the can wall, parallel to the score line 22. 25 As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the can is f itted, adjacent its top, with a foam-inducing device or "widget" 30. This device comprises a cylindrical capsule 32 (Figures 3 and 4) which is dissolvable in the beverage to release gas. The capsule 32 is mounted on a carrier 34. The carrier 34 30 comprises a flat member of plastics material, having a centre portion on which the capsule 32 is mounted, and a number of radially-projecting fingers 36, spaced at equal angles around the carrier. The device 30 is fitted into the can through the open top of the cylindrical sleeve 12, after the can is filled with beverage and before the top closure member of the can is fitted. Thus, the device 30 is pushed through the reduceddiameter open top of the can: the fingers 36 are of greater radius than the open top of the can but are flexed upwardly by 4 the rim of the can, as the device is pushed into the can. Then the fingers become free to flex outwardly again, and lodge with their free ends or tips engage in the annular groove between the lower end of the tapering portion 16 and the interior annular rib 18b. The device or widget 30 is accordingly mounted in fixed position adjacent the top of the sleeve 12 of the can, above the top surface of the beverage. Thereafter, the top closure member of the can is fitted, in conventional manner.

It will be appreciated that the can is accordingly closed before the capsule 32 comes into contact with the beer, and so cannot begin to dissolve before the can is closed.

The can is opened by depressing the panel 20 using a finger, so causing the scored line 22 to break and the panel 20 to hinge inwardly, as shown in Figure 6. The finger is then held in place to cover and so close the resulting opening in the can: the can is then lowered into the top of a glass, still keeping the finger in place to keep the can closed, then the finger is removed: the beverage within the can is now able to f low out of the can, to impinge upon and f low down the inside surface of the glass. The beverage thus f ills the glass in a desired manner.

It will ne noted that because the "widget" is positioned at the top of the can, it is effective in producing a downward pressure to help the f low ow beverage out of the can, to create a smooth flow. Also, because the widget is at the top of the can, this prevents any obstruction with the pouring of the beverage into the glass.

Claims

1) A can for beverage under gas-pressure, the can being formed with an opening panel in its side and adjacent its bottom.

2) A can as claimed in claim 1, in which said opening panel is generally circular in shape.

3) A can as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said opening panel is defined by a score-line which extends around its periphery, except for a portion adjacent its lower edge.

4) A can as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said opening panel is domed outwardly.

5) A can as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said opening panel is arranged to be torn open by depressing with the user's finger, such that the finger comes to rest against, the periphery of the resulting opening in the can, to close. said opening temporarily.

6) A can of gas-pressurised beverage, having a foaminducing device mounted at or adjacent the top thereof.

7) A can as claimed in claim 6, in which said foam- inducing device is mounted on a carrier member which includes a number of radiating fingers, the tips of which engage in an internal annular groove of the can, adjacent its top.

8) A can as claimed in claim 7, in which said radiating fingers of the carrier member are resiliently flexible.

9) A can for beverage under pressure, substantially as 6 herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.