WO2015025128A1

WO2015025128A1 - Beverage foaming device and sealed beverage container therewith

Info

Publication number: WO2015025128A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/052059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Eric Smith
Original assignee: Carbonite Corporation
Priority date: 2013-08-19
Filing date: 2014-07-07
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: GB201314821D0

Abstract

A beverage foaming device or "widget" comprises a cylindrical container (2) with two ends, one end being closed by an integral first end plate (10) and the other end being closed by a cover (6) in which an aperture (26) is formed. The aperture (26) is situated, in use, below the surface of a carbonated beverage in a beverage container. The cylindrical container (2) also contains a piston (4), whose outer edge (22) forms a substantially liquid-tight seal in with the interior surface of the container (8) and which is slidably received within the cylindrical container (8). The foaming device further includes an abutment (16), which is integral with the inner surface of the first end plate (10) and is arranged to limit the movement of the piston (4) within the container (2) in the direction away from the cover (6).

Description

BEVERAGE FOAMING DEVICE AND SEALED BEVERAGE CONTAINER THEREWITH

The present invention relates to beverage foaming devices, which are commonly referred to as "widgets".

When a carbonated beverage is served from a container, such as a can or bottle, at a low temperature of, say, 5°C or less, the increasing solubility of C0₂ in water with decreasing temperature, means that the beverage may scarcely give the appearance of being carbonated at all because most of the C0₂ remains in solution and does not appear in the form of gas bubbles rising through the liquid. This is of particular significance in connection with beer because consumers are used to seeing many beers, particularly of lager or stout type, in a highly "lively" state, that is to say with many C0₂ bubbles rising up through it, and with a substantial "head", that is to say covering of foam. The absence of a large number of rising gas bubbles and of a "head" renders the beer aesthetically unattractive to many consumers.

It is known to provide containers, e.g. bottles or cans, containing beer with a foaming device or widget which acts to inject a fine high pressure jet of gas, typically nitrogen, into the beer at the instant that the container is opened. This jet of gas imparts a high degree of turbulence to the beer in the vicinity of the widget and this turbulence results in the generation of a substantially increased number of C0₂ bubbles in the beer and thus in the rapid generation of a head on the beer so that when it is poured from the container a few seconds later it has the appearance that consumers expect.

There are two known types of widget. The first is of pre-pressurised type and consists of a small gas reservoir provided in the beverage container, typically at the bottom. The reservoir has a small gas discharge orifice in its wall. The reservoir is pre-pressurised, e.g. with nitrogen, at the assembly stage and then activated once it is within the beverage container. The activation can be effected by e.g. pasteurisation, which changes the ability of the widget to hold its pressure when the container is vented. Once the gas pressure in the container headspace has increased to a level equal to that in the reservoir, no gas leaves the reservoir until the container is opened and the pressure in the headspace drops to atmospheric. As it does so, the pressurised gas is discharged in a fine powerful jet through the orifice into the beer and creates the desired aesthetic appearance. However, this is expensive, in practice, and it has become more usual to use widgets of so-called scavenging type. Such widgets are not provided with a pressurised charge of gas prior to their insertion into the container but instead become filled with gas once they are in the container. One known type of scavenging widget comprises a reservoir which is weighted or constructed to float on the surface of the beer with a predetermined orientation and is provided with a one-way gas entry valve above the liquid surface and a gas discharge orifice below the liquid surface. Before the container is filled with beer, the widget is placed into the container and the widget then floats on the surface of the beer in the predetermined orientation and a small volume of liquid nitrogen is also inserted into the container, e.g. on the surface of the beer. The nitrogen immediately begins to vaporise and thus displaces all the atmospheric oxygen in the headspace of the container. Before the vaporisation is complete, the container is closed and sealed and the remaining nitrogen thus pressurises the headspace. This increased pressure is transmitted to the interior of the reservoir which thus becomes filled with pressurised nitrogen through the

gas entry valve. When the container is opened and the pressure of the headspace falls to atmospheric, the pressurised nitrogen is expelled in a fine jet into the beer through the gas discharge orifice and thus produces the desired effect on the appearance of the beer by the time it is poured from the container. However, the provision of the one-way entry valve is expensive. Scavenging widgets are also known which comprise a reservoir with a gas discharge orifice and a gas-permeable wall. When such widgets are immersed in a carbonated beverage, carbon dioxide slowly permeates into them through the gas permeable wall and pressurises their interior. When the container is opened the gas is discharged through the orifice in the conventional manner. Although such widgets do not need a one-way entry valve, it can take some weeks for an adequate pressure to build up within them. This means that if the beverage container is opened only a week or two after being filled the widget is largely ineffective.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a beverage foaming device which is cheaper, simpler and more effective than the known devices.

According to the present invention a beverage foaming device comprises a cylindrical container with two ends, one end being closed by an integral first end plate and the other end being closed by a cover in which an aperture is formed, the aperture being situated, in use, below the surface of a carbonated beverage in a beverage container, a piston, whose outer edge forms a substantially liquid-tight seal with the interior surface of the container, being slidably received within the cylindrical container.

In use, the piston is inserted into the cylindrical container which is then closed

by applying the cover. The device is then secured to the interior of the beverage container or, more preferably to the underside of the closure with which the beverage container is closed and sealed. After the beverage container is filled with a carbonated beverage, such as beer, it is sealed with the closure and the aperture in the cover is submerged in the beverage. The pressure in the beverage container then rises rapidly to e.g. about 2 bar as a result of the liberation of carbon dioxide from the beverage and/or as a result of the vaporisation of a small amount of liquid nitrogen which is commonly added into the beverage container immediately before it is sealed in order to displace all atmospheric oxygen from the head space above the beverage in the container. Alternatively, the container is sealed in a pressurised atmosphere and this gives a very accurate and repeatable pressure regardless of the volume of the head space. This increased pressure acts via the aperture in the cover on the underside of the piston. As a result of the fact that the pressure within the cylindrical container is initially atmospheric the piston is caused to move upwardly, that is to say away from the cover and the space behind it is filled with beverage. This movement of the piston continues until it contacts an abutment within the cylindrical container or an abutment on the piston contacts the first end plate or until the pressure in the space between the piston and the first end plate rises, as a result of the compression of the gas within it caused by movement of the piston, to a value equal to that prevailing within the beverage container. When the beverage container is opened, the pressure within it drops instantaneously to atmospheric. The increased pressure within the space defined by the piston and the first end plate then acts on the piston and urges it rapidly towards the cover. This movement results in the rapid expulsion of the beverage contained in the space within the cylindrical container between the piston and the cover. The beverage is expelled from this space through the

small aperture in the cover in the form of a fine, vigorous jet of liquid. This jet of liquid violently agitates the beverage in the container and results in the rapid liberation of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The liquid jet also turns to foam and thus helps gas to be liberated from the beverage. The agitation coupled with the rapid release of gaseous carbon dioxide results in the beverage having the "lively" appearance and "head" that beer drinkers expect to see.

Accordingly the foaming device in accordance with the present invention differs from known devices in that the agitation of the beverage is caused by injecting into it a jet of liquid beverage and not a jet of gas, such as nitrogen. The invention is based on the recognition firstly that many of the problems associated with known devices are due to the difficulty and expense of introducing a pressurised gas into the device and secondly that since the beverage is carbonated it is not necessary that gas be injected into it in order to achieve the desired "lively" appearance and that this appearance can be equally well achieved by the injection of a fine jet of liquid which causes the liberation of carbon dioxide in gaseous form which was previously present in dissolved form. In order to achieve the necessary vigorous agitation of the beverage it is preferred that the diameter of the aperture in the cover is between 0.1 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably 0.2 mm and 1 mm and most preferably between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm. The cover must initially be separate from the cylindrical container to permit the insertion of the piston but must then be connected to the cylindrical container to close it. This connection may be by means of adhesive, welding or any other

appropriate method. It is, however, preferred that the cover comprises a second end plate, integral with whose peripheral edge is an upstanding flange, the inner surface of the flange and the outer surface of the container carrying cooperating formations by which the cover is snap-fitted to the container.

When the piston is moved away from the cover by the pressure prevailing within the beverage container, it will naturally come to rest when the pressure of the gas between the piston and the first end plate rises to a value equal to that of the pressure within the container. However, depending on the beverage and its degree of carbonation and nitrogenation it may be that a lower pressure within the cylindrical container and/or a smaller volume of beverage within the cylindrical container is appropriate to achieve the desired result. This may be achieved by an abutment arranged to limit the movement of the piston within the container in the direction away from the cover. The abutment may be connected to or integral with the piston, in which case movement of the piston will cease when the abutment contacts the first end plate or it may be connected to or integral with the inner surface of the end plate, in which case movement of the piston will cease when the piston contacts the abutment. The presence of the abutment or piston stop will mean necessarily that the piston will stop at a predetermined position and this results in a predetermined and repeatable performance, which is very different to conventional widgets.

In practice, the device will, in use, be connected to the interior of the beverage container or, more preferably, to the underside of the closure with which the beverage container is sealed. It is, therefore, preferred that the device includes an attachment projection integral with the first end plate by which the device is connectable to the interior of a beverage container or its closure.

The invention also embraces a sealed beverage container containing a carbonated beverage and a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the aperture in the cover being situated below the level of the beverage in the container. It is preferred that the container is sealed by a closure and the attachment projection is attached to the underside of the closure.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one specific embodiment of widget in accordance with the invention, which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the widget; Figure 2 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the widget in the state prior to the entry of beverage into the lower portion of the cylindrical container;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in the state in which beverage has entered the cylindrical container; and

Figure 4 is a further view similar to Figure 2 in an intermediate state in which beverage is being expelled from the cylindrical container into beverage contained within a beverage container. As most clearly seen in Figure 1, the widget comprises three separate components, all of which constitute one-piece injection moulded components of e.g. polyolefin material, namely a cylindrical container 2, a piston 4 and end cap

6.

The cylindrical container 2 comprises a cylindrical side wall 8, integral with whose upper end is an end plate 10. Connected to the centre of the outer surface of the end plate 10 is an attachment projection comprising a stem 12, whose lower end is integral with the end plate 10 and whose upper end is integral with the centre of an attachment disc 14. Integral with the underside of the end plate 10 is an abutment 16 in the form of a depending, open-ended, hollow cylinder. Formed in the outer surface of the side wall 8 adjacent its lower end is an annular groove or depression 17.

The piston comprises a circular plate 18, whose diameter is slightly less than the internal diameter of the container 2. Integral with its peripheral edge is an upstanding flange 20. Integral with the outer surface of the flange 20 at a position close to its upper end is a downwardly and outwardly extending, resilient sealing flange 22, which is in sliding, sealed engagement with the inner surface of the side wall 8 of the container 2.

The end cap 6 comprises a circular plate 24, formed in whose centre is an aperture or jetting orifice 26, whose diameter is typically 0.3 mm. Whilst the aperture 26 may be of constant diameter over the thickness of the plate 24, it is convenient for manufacturing reasons for it to be of progressively decreasing diameter towards the outer surface of the plate 24. References herein to the diameter of the aperture 26 refer to its minimum diameter which, in this case, is where the aperture 26 passes through the outer surface of the plate 24. Integral with the outer edge of the plate 24 is an upstanding flange 28, whose internal diameter is substantially equal to the external diameter of the side wall 8 of the

container. Integral with the internal surface of the flange 28 is an annular projection or ridge 30, whose shape matches that of the annular groove 17.

In use, the piston 4 is inserted into the open end of the container 2. The gas within the container may be atmospheric but if it is preferred to avoid the presence of any oxygen in the beverage container, a few drops of e.g. liquid nitrogen may be placed into the container 2 immediately before insertion of the piston. The nitrogen will rapidly evaporate and displace the atmospheric air. The end cap 6 is then slid over the open end of the container 2 and initially the ridge 30 will cause the flange 28 to be bent slightly outwardly against its own resilience. When the ridge 30 comes into alignment with the groove 17 it will snap into the groove under the force exerted by the deformed flange 28 and the end cap is thus snap-connected to the container with the piston in the position shown in Figure 2. Before this operation or subsequently the attachment flange 14 will be connected, e.g. by adhesive to e.g. the underside of a beverage container closure, which may be of screw or crown type but is preferably of rip tab type. A beverage container is then filled with a carbonated beverage and, optionally after placing a few drops of liquid nitrogen on the surface of the beverage to displace the atmospheric oxygen, the closure is then applied to the container. The widget is then totally or substantially immersed in the beverage. The pressure in the beverage container rises rapidly as discussed above and the beverage is forced by the pressure through the aperture 26 and thus forces the piston progressively upwards, thereby pressurising the volume above the piston. This upward movement is terminated when the piston engages the abutment 16. When it does so the pressure in the space below the end plate 10 has reached a predetermined pressure determined by the length of the abutment 16. The widget then remains in this condition until the container closure is released.

This results in the pressure in the container instantaneously dropping to atmospheric and the pressure differential across the piston causing rapid movement of the piston towards the end plate 18. The beverage in the space between the piston 4 and the end plate 18 is thus squirted vigorously downwards into the beverage in the container, thereby agitating it and causing dissolved carbon dioxide to be liberated in gaseous form and thus giving the beverage the desired "lively" or foaming state as it is then poured into a glass.

It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be effected to the embodiment described above. Thus, for instance, the attachment device 12, 14 may be omitted and the end plate 10 may be connected directly to the underside of the beverage container closure. All that is essential is that the aperture 26 is submerged in the beverage at all times. Whilst the container, piston and end cap have been described as being circular, this is not essential and other shapes are possible, such as elliptical or even rectangular.

Claims

A beverage foaming device comprising a cylindrical container with two ends, one end being closed by an integral first end plate and the other end being closed by a cover in which an aperture is formed, the aperture being situated, in use, below the surface of a carbonated beverage in a beverage container, a piston, whose outer edge forms a substantially liquid-tight seal with the interior surface of the container being slidably received within the cylindrical container, the device further including an abutment, which is integral with the inner surface of the first end plate and is arranged to limit the movement of the piston within the container in the direction away from the cover.

A device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the diameter of the aperture is between 0.1 mm and 3 mm.

A device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cover comprises a second end plate, integral with whose peripheral edge is an upstanding flange, the inner surface of the flange and the outer surface of the container carrying cooperating formations by which the cover is snap-fitted to the container.

A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an attachment projection integral with the first end plate by which the device is connectable to the interior of a beverage container or its closure.

A sealed beverage container containing a carbonated beverage and a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the aperture in the cover being situated below the level of the beverage in the container.

A container as claimed in Claim 5 when dependent on Claim 4 in which the container is sealed by a closure and the attachment projection is attached to the underside of the closure.