Abstract:
There is disclosed a self-cooling self-carbonating beverage container including a beverage container housing containing a liquid beverage, a coolant gas bottle inside said beverage container storing pressurized carbon dioxide, a tab located on an external portion of said beverage container housing and apparatus actuated by movement of said tab for opening said bottle to release said carbon dioxide into said liquid beverage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention is related to self-cooling beverage containers. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Beverage containers such as stackable aluminum cans with a pop-open tab can are well-known in the art. Referring to FIG. 1A, a beverage can  90  containing a liquid beverage  95  has a thin aluminum shell  100  forming a cylindrical side wall  105  and a circular concave base  110 . The shell  100  supports a circular top  115  having a generally flat surface  115   a , a cylindrical vertical flange  120  at the periphery of the top  115  and a cowl  125  at the top of the flange  120  under which the top edge  105   a  of the cylindrical wall  105  supportingly nests. Several features of the can  90  of FIG. 1A enhance the structural strength of the can  90 , including, for example, the concave shape of the base  110  as well as a circular bead  130  formed in the base  110 , as is well-known in the art. A well-known technique for further enhancing the structural strength of the can  90  is pressurizing the interior of the can  90  to a pressure of about 30 psi. 
     A pull-up tab  140  includes a finger grip  142  extending outwardly in the plane of the top  115  from a downwardly curving engagement section  144  terminating in a flat tab base  146 . A rivet  150  extending through the can top surface  115   a  fastens the pull-up tab  140  to the can top  115 . A die-cut  155  in the can top surface  115   a  has a generally oval path (not shown in FIG. 1A) which does not interdict a bendable region  157  under the engagement section  144 . As the finger grip  142  is pulled upwardly away from the can top  115 , the seal around the rivet  150  breaks to release pressure from the can interior. As the finger grip  142  continues to be pulled upwardly, it begins to rotate the engagement section  144  about the rivet  150 , forcing the engagement section  144  to impact the can top surface  115   a  and break the die cut  155  beginning at its far end  155   a . Further upward force on the finger grip  142  causes the die cut  155  to separate along its entire oval path. This separates from the can top  115  an oval section  160  along the oval path of the die-cut  155 , the oval section  160  being joined at the bendable region  157 . The oval section  160  rotates downwardly about the bendable region  157  under the urging of the downwardly thrusting engagement section  144  until the oval section  160  hangs downwardly from the can top  115  at a nearly vertical angle. 
     An object of the present invention is to perform both cooling and carbonation of the beverage  95  inside the can  90  with the pulling of the finger grip  142 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In a first embodiment of the invention, a self-cooling beverage container includes a beverage container housing including a side wall portion, a container base and container top having a breakable die-cut therein and a downwardly displaceable portion near the die-cut, a pull tab attached to the container top at a fastener connecting the pull tab and the container top, the pull tab having an engagement end which pushes on the downwardly displaceable portion of the container top to break the die-cut whenever an opposite end of the pull-tab is pulled away from the top, a coolant gas bottle inside the beverage container containing a coolant gas stored under pressure, the bottle having a bottle top with a breakable seal through which the coolant gas is released, a needle inside the beverage container having a sharp end facing the breakable seal of the bottle, a plunger inside the beverage container having a pair of ends, one end of the plunger coupled to the downwardly displaceable portion of the container top, the other end of the plunger being coupled to one of (a) the coolant gas bottle and (b) the needle whereby to force the needle and bottle toward one another to break the breakable seal of the bottle whenever the pull-tab opens the beverage container, and a bottle support inside the beverage container and connected to the beverage container, the bottle support holding the coolant gas bottle in a position relative to the needle and holding the plunger in a position relative to the bottle. 
     In a first version, the breakable seal of the coolant gas bottle faces the container top, and the needle facing the breakable seal is at one end of the plunger facing the breakable seal of the bottle whereby the plunger pushes the needle toward the bottle. In a second version, the breakable seal of the coolant gas bottle faces the container base, the needle facing the breakable seal is supported from the container base and faces the breakable seal, and the other end of the plunger pushes against the base of the coolant gas bottle whereby the plunger pushes the bottle toward the needle. 
     In the first version, the bottle support may include a ceiling grip by which the bottle support is fastened to the container top and a bottle holder by which the bottle support is fastened to the coolant gas bottle. In one implementation, the coolant gas bottle includes a bottle neck between the bottle top and a main body of the bottle, the bottle holder being fastened to the bottle neck. The ceiling grip is fastened to the bottle top by the fastener. The fastener includes a rivet coupled to the bottle holder, the rivet penetrating through the container top. The rivet is preferably an integral portion of the bottle holder. The bottle holder may include a leg extending from the ceiling grip toward the bottle top, the leg having an elongate passage axially aligned with the breakable seal and containing the plunger, and a skirt extending from the leg around the bottle neck. The bottle support further includes a truss member extending diagonally relative to the leg between the ceiling grip and the skirt. The bottle support further includes lateral supporters extending from the leg to the side wall portion of the beverage container. The bottle support further includes a base support coupled to an interior surface of the container base and to the base of the coolant gas bottle. 
     Preferably, a micro-porous diffuser is provided through which the coolant gases escape from the breakable seal into a beverage stored in the beverage container. The microporous diffuser layer may be adjacent the skirt through which the coolant gases escape from the bottle to a beverage stored in the beverage container. The microporous diffuser layer may be sandwiched between the skirt and the bottleneck. Preferably, there are coolant gas passages through the skirt, which may include radial orifices in the skirt or axial grooves in the skirt. 
     In the second version, the bottle support includes a base grip fastened to the container base and a bottle holder coupled to the base grip and fastened to the coolant gas bottle near the bottle top, and a ceiling grip fastened to the container top and coupled to the bottle near a bottom portion thereof. The bottle holder being is coupled to the bottle neck. The ceiling grip is fastened to the bottle top by the fastener including a rivet penetrating through the container top, which may be an integral portion of the ceiling grip. Preferably, the ceiling grip includes a leg extending from the ceiling grip to a bottom portion of the bottle, the leg having an elongate passage containing the plunger, the plunger facing the bottom portion of the bottle. Preferably, the bottle support further includes a truss member extending diagonally relative to the leg between the ceiling grip and a portion of the leg near the bottle. A skirt may extend from the base grip and surrounding the bottle top, the bottle neck being axially moveable inside the skirt toward the needle. 
     The beverage may further include a vortex tube cooling device inside the beverage container having an inlet, a hot exhaust and a cold exhaust, apparatus for channeling coolant gas from the bottle to the inlet of the vortex tube cooling device, and apparatus for connecting the hot exhaust through the beverage container housing to an external port. 
     In a second embodiment, a self-cooling beverage container includes a beverage container housing including a side wall portion, a container base and container top having a breakable die-cut therein and a downwardly displaceable portion near the die-cut, a coolant gas bottle inside the beverage container containing a coolant gas stored under pressure, the bottle having a bottle top with a breakable seal through which the coolant gas is released, a needle inside the beverage container having a sharp end facing the breakable seal of the bottle, a threaded plunger inside the beverage container having a pair of ends, one end of the plunger coupled to the downwardly displaceable portion of the container top, the other end of the plunger being coupled to one of (a) the coolant gas bottle and (b) the needle whereby to force the needle and bottle toward one another to break the breakable seal of the bottle whenever the pull-tab opens the beverage container, a bottle support inside the beverage container and connected to the beverage container, the bottle support holding the coolant gas bottle in a position relative to the needle and having a female portion threadably engaged with the plunger and holding the plunger in a position relative to the bottle, and apparatus for axially rotating the plunger relative to the female portion so as drive the plunger. 
     In a third embodiment, a self-cooling self-carbonating beverage container includes a beverage container housing containing a liquid beverage, a coolant gas bottle inside the beverage container storing pressurized carbon dioxide, a tab located on an external portion of the beverage container housing, and apparatus actuated by movement of the tab for opening the bottle to release the carbon dioxide into the liquid beverage. Preferably, the coolant gas bottle has a breakable seal, the apparatus for opening the bottle including a needle inside the container facing the breakable seal, a plunger having an actuator end facing one of: (a) the needle, (b) the bottle for pushing the needle and bottle together to break the breakable seal, a linearly compressed spring having a stationary end and an opposite end coupled to the plunger, apparatus for restraining the spring, and linkage between the tab and the apparatus for restraining for disengaging the spring from the apparatus for restraining upon movement of the tab. 
     In a fourth embodiment, a self-cooling beverage container includes a beverage container housing including a side wall portion, a container base and a container top, a storage gas held inside the beverage container under a pressure sufficient to elastically deform the container top outwardly in a direction away from the interior of the beverage container, whereby the container top elastically relaxes upon release of the pressure of the storage gas so that the container top moves inwardly toward the interior of the beverage container upon the release of the storage gas pressure, a coolant gas bottle or plural coolant gas bottles inside the beverage container containing a coolant gas stored under pressure, the bottle having a bottle top with a breakable seal through which the coolant gas is released, a needle inside the beverage container having a sharp end facing the breakable seal of the bottle, a plunger inside the beverage container having a pair of ends, one end of the plunger coupled to the container top, the other end of the plunger being coupled to one of (a) the coolant gas bottle and (b) the needle whereby to force the needle and bottle toward one another to break the breakable seal of the bottle whenever the pull-tab opens the beverage container, a bottle support inside the beverage container and connected to the beverage container, the bottle support holding the coolant gas bottle in a position relative to the needle and holding the plunger in a position relative to the bottle, and apparatus for opening the beverage container so that elastic relaxation of the container top pushes the plunger to drive the needle into the breakable seal of the coolant gas bottle. In a first version of this embodiment, the bottle support is coupled to the side wall portion so as to leave the container top free to deform. In a second version, the bottle support is a stand coupling the bottom of the bottle to the bottom floor of the container. 
     Preferably, the container top is circular in shape and includes an elastic annulus which enhances the deformation of the container top. In a preferred mode, the elastic annulus includes plural concentric ridges, alternate ones of the ridges facing toward the beverage container interior and remaining ones facing away from the beverage container interior. The plural concentric ridges include an outer ridge in the container top facing toward the beverage container interior, an intermediate ridge in the container top facing away from the beverage container interior, and an inner ridge in the container top facing toward the beverage container interior. 
     In another preferred mode, an elongate passage containing the plunger has ratcheting teeth facing the plunger, the plunger has ratcheting teeth engaging the ratcheting teeth of the elongate passage, whereby the plunger is movable in a direction toward the beverage container interior and is locked from movement in the opposite direction. The ratcheting teeth of the elongate passage each includes an annular ridge extending radially outward toward the plunger, the annular ridge being interrupted by at least an axial circumferential groove extending longitudinally along the elongate passage. Preferably, the ratcheting teeth of the plunger each including an annular ridge extending radially outward toward an interior surface of the elongate passage and having at least an axial circumferential groove extending longitudinally along the plunger, the ratcheting teeth of the elongate passage and of the plunger nesting in the groove of the other so as to disengage in one rotational position of the plunger. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention in which a coolant gas bottle puncture needle is driven through a coolant gas bottle support inside the beverage can by the pull-up finger tab. 
     FIG. 1B is a cut-away cross-sectional view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention having a rivet integrally formed in the coolant gas bottle support. 
     FIG. 1C is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A having a coolant gas bottle support at the bottom of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 1D is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A having lateral coolant gas bottle supports. 
     FIG. 1E is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which the coolant gas bottle bottom conforms with and rests on the beverage can bottom. 
     FIG. 1F is a top view of the beverage can of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2F are a sequence of drawings illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 3 is a cut-away cross-sectional view illustrating another variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which the top of the coolant gas bottle faces the bottom of the beverage can (i.e., upside down). 
     FIG. 4 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1A showing how the coolant gas bottle therein can be threaded to the bottle support. 
     FIG. 5 is a cut-away cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing how the coolant gas bottle is press-fit to the bottle support. 
     FIG. 6A illustrates a variation in which coolant gas from the coolant gas bottle enters the beverage through radial orifices through the bottle support. 
     FIG. 6B illustrates a variation in which coolant gas from the coolant gas bottle enters the beverage through lands formed axially through the bottle support. 
     FIG. 6C is a top cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG.  6 B and showing the axial lands. 
     FIG. 7A is a cut-away cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the invention having a vortex tube enhancing cooling of the gases from the bottle, with beverage carbonation through a diffuser. 
     FIG. 7B is a cut-away cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7A in which coolant gas diffusion is through an outlet tube. 
     FIG. 7C is a cut-away cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7A in which all gases exhaust to the exterior of the can. 
     FIG. 8 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which the coolant gas bottle constitutes the bottom portion of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 9A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention employing a threaded shaft for rotatably driving the puncture needle into coolant gas bottle top. 
     FIG. 9B cut-away cross-sectional view of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9A in which the coolant gas bottle faces the bottom of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 10A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9A in which the threaded shaft is rotated by a pre-wound spring. 
     FIG. 10B is a cut-away cross-sectional view of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9B in which the threaded shaft is rotated by a pre-wound spring. 
     FIG. 10C is a diagram of the spring release employed in FIGS. 10A and 10B. 
     FIG. 10D is a cut-away cross-sectional view of the spring release mechanism employed in FIGS. 10A and 10B. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B are sequential cut-away cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 10A in which the spring release mechanism is combined with the finger pull-tab of the beverage can. 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B are sequential cut-away cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 10A in which the pre-wound spring is released by a push-lever. 
     FIG. 12C is a top view of the pre-wound spring employed in the embodiment of FIG.  12 A. 
     FIG. 13 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 12A in which the pre-wound spring release is actuated by a twist tab. 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B are sequential cut-away cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 12A in which the coolant gas bottle faces the bottom of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 15A is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which the coolant gas is evacuated externally of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 15B is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which a portion of the coolant gas is evacuated externally of the can while the remainder enters the beverage through the connection between the can and the can support. 
     FIG. 15C is a partial cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which a portion of the coolant gas is evacuated externally of the can while the remainder enters the beverage through a diffuser attached to the can support. 
     FIG. 16A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention in which the bottle-piercing needle is driven by downward flexure of the can top when the internal can pressure is first released by movement of the finger pull-tab. 
     FIG. 16B is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 16A in which the coolant gas bottle is supported at the bottom of the beverage can. 
     FIG. 16C is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a combination of the embodiments of FIGS. 9B and 16A. 
     FIGS. 17A and 17B are sequential cut-way cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 16A having a can top which is specially configured to maximize the downward flexure of the can top upon the internal can pressure being released by movement of the finger pull-tab. 
     FIG. 17C is a top view corresponding to FIG.  17 A. 
     FIG. 18A is a side view a ratchet plunger employed in one implementation of the embodiment of FIG.  17 A. 
     FIG. 18B is a top view of the ratchet plunger of FIG.  18 A. 
     FIG. 19A is a side view a ratchet plunger housing employed in another implementation of the embodiment of FIG.  17 A. 
     FIG. 19B is a top view of the ratchet plunger housing of FIG.  19 A. 
     FIGS. 20A and 20B are sequential cut-away cross-sectional views of another implementation of the invention. 
     FIG. 21A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A employing a pair of coolant gas bottles. 
     FIG. 21B is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 3 employing a pair of coolant gas bottles. 
     FIG. 21C is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 21A in the bottle-down configuration. 
     FIG. 21D is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a combination of the embodiments of FIGS.  16 A and  21 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1A, simultaneous self-carbonation and self-cooling initiated by the pull-tab  140  is accomplished by the engagement section  144  of the pull-tab  140  driving a sharp needle end  200  of a plunger  210  into the top  219  of a coolant gas bottle  220  held inside the beverage can  90 . In a preferred embodiment, the coolant gas bottle  220  is a standard pressurized carbon dioxide-containing steel bottle, in which the bottle top  219  has a relatively thin breakable seal facing the needle end  200 . The carbon dioxide gas released from the bottle  220  is ideal for carbonating the beverage  95 . The coolant gas bottle  220  is fixedly held in the position illustrated in FIG. 1A by a support  230  having a horizontal support top  232 , a vertical post  234  and a diagonal truss leg  236 . The rivet  150  extends through the can top  115  and through the support top  232  to hold the support  230  to the bottom surface of the can top  115 . An open cylinder  240  extending vertically downward through the vertical post  234  holds the plunger  210  directly beneath a portion of the pull-tab engagement section  144  adjacent the rivet  150 , there being a slight difference between the diameters of the cylinder  240  and plunger  210  to allow axial movement of the plunger  210  inside the cylinder  240 . A bottle-holding skirt  250  extends downward from the support  230  and fixedly captures the neck  260  of the coolant gas bottle  220  so as to rigidly support the bottle. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the skirt  250  and the bottle neck  260  are press-fit together: the bottle neck  260  has a concave annular ridge  262  extending toward the skirt  250  while the skirt  250  has a convex annular land  252  facing the ridge  262  and matching the curvature of the ridge  262 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, it is preferable, but not necessarily required, to provide a diffuser  270  in the interface between the skirt  250  and the bottle neck  260 . As shown in FIG. 1A, the inside diameter of the skirt  250  is larger than the outside diameter of the bottle neck  260  by an amount equal to the compressed thickness of the diffuser  270 . Preferably, the diffuser  270  is a layer of micro-porous material of the type which is commercially available and is typically formed of plastic material having microscopic pores therethrough. Such a material is sold by Porex Technologies of Fairburn, Ga., USA under the registered trademark “POREX”. An upper portion  272  of the diffuser  270  is pressed between the skirt  250  and the bottle neck  260  while a lower portion  274  of the diffuser  270  extends downwardly from the skirt. Coolant gas escaping from the bottle  220  is forced under pressure into the upper diffuser portion  272  and escapes into the beverage  95  through the lower diffuser portion  274 . The diffuser  270  regulates the coolant gas flow into the beverage  95  to prevent dispersing the beverage through the opening in the can top  115 . The upper portion  250   a  of the skirt  250  surrounds a cavity  267  into which coolant gas from the bottle  220  escapes before entering the diffuser  270 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1B, the rivet  150  is preferably integrally formed with the support top  232  and extends through the can top  115 . 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1C, a base  280  attached to the interior surface of the can bottom  110  has a concave upper surface  282  engaging the bottom  284  of the coolant gas bottle  220 . The concave base upper surface  282  conforms with the shape (e.g., hemispherical) of the coolant gas bottle bottom  284  so that they firmly nest, providing lateral support for the coolant gas bottle  220 . In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 1D, at least three symmetrically disposed horizontal struts  300  extending radially from the skirt  250  to the can sides  105  provide lateral support for the coolant gas bottle  220 . In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 1E, the coolant gas bottle  220  has a bottom surface  222  which conforms with and nests with the convex shape (e.g., partial hemispherical shape) of the interior surface of the beverage can bottom  110 , to provide lateral support to the coolant gas bottle  220 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1F, the support top  232  is an annulus and there are three symmetrically disposed truss legs  236  extending diagonally downward from the annular support top  232  to the skirt  250 . 
     In order to thoroughly disclose the relationship between the location of the top of the plunger  210  and the location and shape of the pull-tab engagement section  144 , FIGS. 2A through 2F are a chronological sequence of enlarged views corresponding to FIG. 1A illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG.  1 A. As shown in FIG. 2A, at the beginning of the sequence, the pull-tab  140  has not been disturbed from its horizontal orientation. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, as the pull-tab  140  is first pulled up, the stress near the rivet  150  breaks the seal around the top of the rivet  150 , allowing some of the gas (with which the beverage can  90  was originally pressurized to 130 PSI) to escape from the can interior. As the tab  140  continues to be pulled upwardly, it rotates about the rivet so that, as shown in FIG. 2C, the engagement section  144  pushes the bendable region downward, deforming it and pushing the plunger  210  downward so that the needle end  200  contacts the top  219  of the coolant gas bottle  220 . This begins to break the seal  220   a  at the coolant bottle top  219 , so that some of the coolant gas is released from the bottle  220  through the diffuser  270  and into the beverage  95 . In FIG. 2D, continued motion of the pull tab  140  increases the stress induced by the engagement section  144  on the can top  115  so that the die-cut  155  breaks, beginning at its distal section  155   a  and continuing along its entire oval path up to its terminus at the bendable region  157  of the can top  115 . This releases the remaining pressurization gas from the can interior through the opening formed along the die-cut  155 . Simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 2D, the increasing stress on the can top  115  induced by the motion of the engagement section  144  further depresses the bendable region  157  onto the plunger  210  so that the needle end  200  is driven completely through the seal  220   a  of the coolant gas bottle  220 , thereby releasing the remainder of the coolant gas through the diffuser and into the beverage  95 . In FIG. 2E the pull-tab has been pulled up completely, so that the oval section  160  is completely removed from the opening in the can top  115 . In FIG. 2F, the pull-tab  140  has been returned to its original horizontal position, and the can  90  is now ready for the user to drink the beverage  95  therefrom. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pull-tab  140  is used to drive the needle end  200  into the coolant gas bottle top  219  as in FIG. 1A, the difference being that both the needle end  200  and the bottle top  219  are at the bottom of the can  90  and what is moved by the plunger  210  is the bottle  220  itself, the needle end  200  being stationary at the can bottom. Thus, in FIG. 3 the coolant gas bottle  220  is upside down inside the beverage can  90 . In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the plunger  210  drives the back end of the bottle  220  so that the bottle neck  260  is driven toward the stationary needle  200  at the bottom of the can  90 . The bottle neck  260  held in a piston  400  containing an annular diffuser  370 , the piston  400  being held inside a cylinder  410  at the bottom of which the needle  200  is mounted facing the bottle  220 . In order to prevent the bottle  220  from being inadvertently opened by the needle, the friction fit of the piston  400  inside the cylinder  410  is relatively tight and a spring  420  compressed between the piston  400  and the floor of the cylinder  410  provides a threshold force against downward movement of the bottle  220 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the coolant gas bottle  220  is threadably engaged to the support  230 . FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1B better illustrating how the coolant gas bottle is press fit inside the skirt  250 . 
     FIG. 6A illustrates how the diffuser  270  can be eliminated by providing radial (horizontally extending) diffusion orifices through the upper skirt portion  250   a  surrounding the cavity  267 . FIGS. 6B and 6C illustrate another way that the diffuser  270  can be eliminated by providing axial (vertically extending) lands  320  in the inner surface of the skirt  250  facing the bottle neck  260 . 
     FIG. 7A illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1A employing a vortex tube device  330  of the type manufactured by Vortec Corporation. The vortex tube device  330  has an inlet port  332  for receiving pressurized gas, a vortex tube section  334  through which heated gases migrate toward the vortex tube periphery to escape through a top heating outlet  336  while cooled gases fall through the middle of the vortex tube section  334  to escape through a lower cooling outlet  338 . Pressurized gas from the coolant gas bottle  220  escapes from the cavity  267  through a gas line  340  to the vortex tube inlet  332 . Heated gases from the vortex tube heating outlet  336  escape through a gas line  350  through the can top  115  to the outside. Cooled gases escape from the vortex tube cooling outlet  338  through a gas line  360  to a diffuser  370  and thence into the beverage  95 . FIG. 7B illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 7A in which the diffuser  370  is eliminated. FIG. 7C illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 7A in which the tube  360  from the vortex tube cooling gas outlet  338  is not connected to the interior of the beverage can  90  but instead extends upwardly through the can top so that the cooling gases escape to the outside rather than carbonating the beverage. The advantage of combining a vortex tube device with the embodiment of FIG. 1A is that the coolant gases from the bottle are cooled to a lower temperature by the vortex tube device, thereby enhancing the cooling of the beverage  95 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which the cooling gas bottle  220  is a vessel that occupies the bottom portion of the beverage can  90 . 
     FIG. 9A illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the outer cylindrical surface of the plunger  210  is threaded and matching threads are provided on the facing surface of the cylinder  240  so that the plunger  210  is threadably engaged with the support  230 . In this embodiment, the plunger needle end  200  is driven into the top of the coolant gas bottle  220  by rotating the plunger  210 . This is accomplished by rotating an external twist knob  380  attached to an exterior portion  210   a  of the plunger  210  extending outwardly through the can top  115 . 
     FIG. 9B illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 9A in which the coolant gas bottle  220  is upside down inside the beverage can  90 , as in FIG.  3 . In the embodiment of FIG. 9B, the plunger  210  drives the back end of the bottle  220  so that the bottle neck  260  is driven toward the stationary needle  200  at the bottom of the can  90 . The bottle neck  260  held in a piston  400  containing an annular diffuser  370 , the piston  400  being held inside a cylinder  410  at the bottom of which the needle  200  is mounted facing the bottle  220 . In order to prevent the bottle  220  from being inadvertently opened by the needle, either the friction fit of the piston  400  inside the cylinder  410  is relatively tight or else a spring  420  compressed between the piston  400  and the floor of the cylinder  410  provides a threshold force against downward movement of the bottle  220 , or both. 
     FIG. 10A illustrates an embodiment which employs a threaded plunger  210  like FIG. 9A, but further includes a rotationally wound spring  430  which, when released, rapidly rotates the threaded plunger  210 , causing it to drive the needle end  200  down upon the top of the coolant gas bottle  220 . In this embodiment, the skirt  250  is modified to accommodate the wound spring  430  and to avoid any fastening of the coolant gas bottle  220  thereto. Instead, the modified skirt  250  of FIG. 10A laterally stabilizes the bottle  220  but is downwardly movable along the bottle neck  260 . The base  280  vertically braces the bottle  220  and laterally braces the bottom of the bottle  220 . The plunger  210  is rotatable and is attached to and drives a piston  440  vertically movable in a cylinder  450  formed by the modified skirt  250  of FIG.  10 A. The piston  440  includes an annulus  460  surrounding the bottle neck  260  and defining the cavity  267  into which the needle end  200  extends from the piston  440  toward the bottle  220 . The annulus  460  slides along the outside of the bottle neck  260  as the spring  430  rotates the threaded plunger  210  to drive it down. Once the needle end  200  punctures the bottle top, the coolant gas from the bottle  260  escapes through radial orifices  465  in the annulus  460  and through an annular diffuser  470  into the beverage  95 . 
     FIG  10 B illustrates an embodiment corresponding to that of FIG. 9B but employing the releasable rotationally wound spring  430  of FIG.  10 A. 
     FIG. 10C illustrates a spring release mechanism for holding and releasing the rotationally wound spring  430 , employing a brace  490  fastened to the can top surface  115   a , the brace  490  engaging the twist tab  380  in its horizonal (dashed line) position of FIG. 10C until the twist tab  380  is rotated to the solid line vertical position of FIG. 10A or  10 B. 
     The spring  430 , rather than being rotationally wound, may instead be a linearly compressed spring which directly pushes the plunger  210 . In this case, the threads on the plunger  210  may be eliminated. FIG. 10D illustrates a partially disassembled spring release mechanism for holding and releasing the linearly compressed version of the spring  430  for the embodiments of either FIG. 10A or FIG.  10 B. In FIG. 10D, the piston  440  has been dropped away from the plunger  210  to expose an axial slit  500  in the bottom end  210   b  of the plunger  210  and a radial key slot  510  extending circumferentially from the slit  500 . The piston  440  has a cylinder  520  which receives the plunger bottom end  210   b , and a key  530  extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder  520 . The linearly compressed spring  430  may have one of its ends  430   a  fastened to the threaded plunger  210  and its other end  430   b  fastened to a stationary object such as a side wall of the skirt  250 , although this may not be necessary in most implementations. Expansion of the spring  430  is prevented as long as the key  530  is inside the radial key slot  520 . Twisting of the tab  380  frees the key  530  into the axial slot  500 , permitting the linearly compressed spring  430  to freely expand and drive the piston  440 . 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B are chronologically sequential diagrams illustrating the operation of a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 10D, in which the twisting motion of the plunger  210  which frees the linearly compressed spring  430  is provided by the pull-tab  140  which, in the embodiment of FIGS. 11A and 11B, is attached to the plunger  210  so that the plunger  210  rotates with the pull-tab  140 . Thus, the pull-tab  140  both opens the beverage can  90  and frees the linearly compressed spring  430 . In FIG. 11A, the pull tab  140  opens the can  90  in the manner described above with reference to FIG.  1 A. Then, in FIG. 11B, the pull-tab  140  is rotated about an axis normal to the can top surface  115   a  through a right angle to twist the plunger  210 , thereby moving the key  530  into the axial slot  500  to free the linearly compressed spring  430 . 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B are sequential diagrams illustrating the operation of an embodiment employing a pre-wound coiled version of the spring  430 , as illustrated in FIG.  12 C. In this embodiment, one end  430   a  of the coiled spring  430  has a tab inserted into the threaded piston  210  while the other end  430   b  has a tab inserted into a slot in the skirt  250 . One end of a vertically suspended leg  560  having a non-circular (e.g., square) cross-section is inserted in an opening of the same cross-section in the top of the plunger  210 . The other end of the leg  560  extends upwardly through the can top  115  and is connected to the short arm of an external lever  565  whose fulcrum may be, for example, the rivet  150 . As shown in FIG. 12B, pushing down on the long arm of the lever  565  disengages the leg  560  from the plunger  210 , thereby freeing the threaded plunger  210  to rotate under the force exerted by the pre-wound coil spring  430 . The plunger tip  200  penetrates the gas bottle as shown in FIG.  12 B. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B in which the spring release mechanism is a horizontal finger  600  engaging through a passage in the skirt  250  a matching hole in the threaded plunger  210 . This engagement of the finger  600  with the threaded plunger  210  prevents rotation of the plunger despite the urging of the rotationally wound coil spring  430 . The finger  600  is withdrawn from engagement with the threaded plunger  210  by twisting an external knob  605  attached to a vertical leg  610  extending downwardly through the can top  115  and having a bottom end  610   a  around which the finger  600  is wrapped and engaged through a slot. 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B are sequential diagrams illustrating the operation of a variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B in which the coolant gas bottle  220  is upside down inside the beverage can  90 , like the embodiment of FIG.  10 B. In this case, the piston  400  and cylinder  420  of FIG. 10B at the bottle neck  260  are located at the bottom of the can  105 . These are combined with the coil spring  430 , locking leg  560  and lever  565  at the top of the can  105 . These drive the base end of the bottle  220  in the embodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B, pushing on the lever  565  (as in FIG. 14B) frees the threaded plunger  210  to rotate with the coil spring  430 . 
     FIG. 15A illustrates a variation of any of the embodiments with the bottle  220  facing upright in the can  90 , such as the embodiment of FIG. 1A, in which all of the coolant gases are vented from the cavity  267  to the outside of the beverage can  90  by a gas line  650  extending upwardly through the can top  115 . FIG. 15B illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 6B and 6C in which some of the coolant gas in the cavity  267  is diverted from passing through the axial lands  320  by the gas line  650  and vents it outside the can  90  instead. FIG. 15C illustrates a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1A in which the tube  650  diverts some of coolant gas in the cavity  267  from passing through the diffuser  270  and vents it outside the can  90  instead. Preferably, the gas line  650  has a constricted metering portion  655  which limits the flow rate therethrough, thereby establishing the proportion of coolant gas vented to the outside. 
     FIG. 16A illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which downward motion of the plunger  210  derives from the downward motion of the can top  115  upon opening of the can  90 . This downward motion is occasioned by the release of the gases with which the can  90  was pressurized at the time it was sealed. The support  230  is modified so that it does not contact the can top  115 , leaving the can top  115  completely free to deform and un-deform when the can  90  is pressurized during manufacture and then de-pressurized upon opening, respectively. Rather than being fastened the can top  115 , the support  230  is fastened to the top of the vertical cylindrical side wall  105  by about three (or more) struts  700  extending from the bottle support  230  to the top of the cylindrical side wall  105 . The struts are sufficiently stiff to hold the modified support  230  relatively immobile. 
     In FIG. 16A, the plunger  210  consists of a cylindrical upper portion  710  connected to the rivet  150  and having outwardly extending radial ratchet teeth  715  and an annular lower portion  720  having inwardly extending radial ratchet teeth  725  matching the ratchet teeth  715 . The needle end  200  extends vertically downward from the lower plunger portion  720  toward the coolant gas bottle  220 . The ratchet teeth permit the upper and lower plunger portions  710 ,  720  to be adjusted away from one another during assembly. FIG. 16A shows how the needle end  200  is held against the top of the coolant gas bottle  220  while the can top  115  is deformed upwardly by the pre-pressurization of the can  90 . Each one of the struts  700  is bonded at one end to the modified support  230  and to the top of the cylindrical can wall  105  at the other end to hold the support  230  stationary during movement of the can top  115 . The middle of the can top  115  travels down when the can is opened by the pull-tab  140 , while the bottle  220  is held motionless by the support  230 , forcing the downward traveling needle end  200  to pierce the top of the coolant bottle  220 . 
     FIG. 16B shows how the embodiment of FIG. 16A may be modified by resting the bottom of the coolant gas bottle  220  on the conforming base  280  bonded to the bottom of the can  90 , thus obviating the need for the horizontal struts  700 . 
     FIG. 16C shows how the embodiment of FIG. 16A may be modified by turning the coolant gas bottle  220  upside down in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.  9 A. In FIG. 16C, the bottle support  230  of FIG. 9A is coupled to the horizontal legs  700  of the support of FIG.  16 A. 
     FIG. 17A illustrates a version of the embodiment of FIG. 16A in which the can top  115  has a cross-sectional shape which maximizes its deformation upon pre-pressurization of the can  90  and, consequently, maximizes its downward displacement upon opening of the can. The resulting increase in deformation of the can lid  115  increases the distance traveled by the plunger  210  and hence the distance that the needle end  200  penetrates the top of the coolant bottle  220 . The performance of the embodiment of FIG. 17A is therefore superior to that of FIG.  16 A. The novel cross-sectional shape of the can top  115  of FIG. 17A includes an outer downwardly extending annular well  800  near the periphery of the circular can lid  115 , an intermediate upwardly extending annular well  810  separated from the outer annular well by an annular step  820 . Finally, there is an inner annular well  830  inboard of the intermediate annular well  810 . FIG. 17B shows how the middle of the can top  115 , to which the plunger  210  is attached, travels downward as the can top assumes a flat shape upon the can being opened. 
     As mentioned previously, the ratchet teeth in the two portions  710 ,  720  of the plunger  210  permit the length of the plunger  210  to be adjusted by axial movement of the two portions  710 ,  720  away from one another. Assembly of the support  230  is made practicable by making the two plunger portions  710 ,  720  freely adjustable both away from and toward one another upon rotation of one plunge portion relative to the other by 90 degrees. This free adjustment is accomplished in one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B by limiting the ratchet teeth  715  on the upper plunger portion  710  to a pair of elongate vertical groups  715   a ,  715   b  on opposite sides of the upper plunger. Alternatively, the free adjustment of the two plunger portions  710 ,  720  is accomplished by limiting the ratchet teeth  725  on the lower plunger portion  720  to a pair of elongate vertical groups  725   a ,  725   b  on opposite sides of the lower plunger portion. In either of the embodiments of FIGS.  18 A,B or  19 A,B, during manufacture, the upper and lower plunger portions  710 ,  720  are rotated about their axes of symmetry by 90 degrees to disengage the ratchet teeth and permit their free adjustment. Preferably, this is done so that the length of the plunger  210  is such that the needle end  200  rests on the coolant gas bottle top once the can  90  has been pressurized. Then, prior to completion of manufacture, one of the plunger portions  710 ,  720  is rotated by 90 degrees about its cylindrical axis so as to engage the ratchet teeth  715 ,  725 . 
     FIGS. 20A and 20B are sequential diagrams illustrating the operation of an embodiment with the coolant gas bottle  220  upside down in the beverage can  90 , in which the bottle  220  is urged toward the needle  200  by a compressible button  910  in the can top  115  protected by a removable cap cover  900 . 
     FIG. 21A is a diagram of an embodiment in which a pair of coolant gas bottles  220 - 1 ,  220 - 2  are mounted on a modified version of the support  230  of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 21B is a diagram of an embodiment in which a pair of coolant gas bottles  220 - 1  and  220 - 2  are mounted upside down as in the embodiment of FIG.  3 . In both cases, the plunger  210  branches to a pair of plungers  210   a ,  210   b , with respective needles  200   a  and  200   b  driven toward the tops of the bottles  220 - 1 ,  220 - 2 . 
     FIG. 21C illustrates the symmetrical placement of the bottles  220 - 1  and  220 - 2  and the rectangular configuration of the bottle support  230 . 
     FIG. 21D illustrates how the embodiments of FIGS. 16A and 21A may be combined to add a second bottle to the embodiment of FIG.  16 A. In FIG. 21D, the multiple-bottle support  200  of FIG. 21A is fastened to the horizontal struts  700 . The plunger  200  branches to a pair of plungers  210   a ,  210   b  driving the needles  200   a ,  200   b.    
     While the embodiment of FIGS.  16 A- 16 C has been described with reference to an actuation mechanism employing the pull-tab  140  of FIG. 1A, any one of the other actuation mechanisms described above may be employed instead, such as the screw-actuated, spring actuated or lever-actuated mechanisms of FIGS.  9 - 12 , for example. The embodiment of FIGS.  16 A- 16 C may be combined with any of the other features described above. For example, the embodiments of FIGS. 16C and 21B may be combined so that the embodiment of FIG. 16C may have more than one coolant gas bottle in the manner of FIG.  21 B. 
     While the radial diffusion orifices  310  of FIG.  6 A and the axial lands of FIGS. 6B and 6C have been described with reference to a bottle up configuration like that of FIG. 1A, they may also be combined with a bottle-down configuration like that of FIG. 3, for example. While the vortex tube  330  of FIGS.  7 A- 7 C has been described in combination with a bottle-up configuration like that of FIG. 1A, it may also be employed in a bottle-down configuration, like that of FIG. 3, for example. Finally, while the diversionary exhaust gas tube  650  of FIGS.  15 A- 15 C has been described with reference to bottle-up configurations like that of FIG. 1A, it is also useful in a bottle-down configuration like that of FIG. 3, for example. 
     The structures disclosed herein may be formed of die-cast 0.030″ thick aluminum or injection molded plastic or nylon, for example. 
     While the invention has been described in detail by specific reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.