AN INSERT FOR A DRINKS CONTAINER

Abstract: An insert for a drinks container to assist in the promotion of a foamy or creamy head on beverage comprises a chamber (30) having two openings (31c) therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube (32), said tube having two venting holes (33a and 33b) in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube. The insert (I) is located in a container (C) after filling with beverage (B) so that one lower venting hole (33b) is below the surface of the beverage, and the other above it. Subsequent pressurisation of the container (C) (by adding a drop of liquid nitrogen immediately prior to closure) causes an ingress of pressure through each venting hole therein into the chamber causing an introduction of both gas and beverage under pressure until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container (C) causes the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas (H) into the beverage.

Description: An Insert For A Driηlcs Container This invention relates to inserts for drinks containers. Such inserts have been in common use for many years with beer and other beverages where a creamy or foamy head is required on the beverage when poured. Various inserts have been proposed, many with bulky valves and due to the difficulties in pressurising small volumes such inserts have been by necessity relatively large and consequently the volume of beverage in the container is reduced. Thus, in most circumstances a 500ml can will only contain 440ml of drinkable beverage. Numerous methods of charging the inserts have been proposed, some requiring additional valve means, and/or the physical properties of the insert itself, i.e. an insert having collapsible side faces etc. Also previous inserts have been complicated to assemble and insert into the containers resulting in an increase in their unit cost. It is an object ofthe present invention to overcome the above disadvantages and provide an improved insert for a drinks container which is compact and relatively cheap and simple to manufacture an install. According to a first aspect of the present invention an insert for a drinks container comprises a chamber having at least one opening therein, a tube extending through said opening and having a reduced diameter hole in the end remote from the chamber and a two-way valve on or adjacent the end of the tube within the chamber adapted to allow selective communication with the chamber, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation ofthe container causes an ingress of pressure through the hole into the tube and through the valve into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure through the valve and the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. The valve may be mounted inside the chamber or externally thereof, wherein the tube extends into or through a further opening in the chamber. The chamber may be weighted to ensure that the venting hole is always oriented in the beverage. Alternatively the weight of the tube extending out of the - 1 - SUBSTΓΠJTΈ SHEET (RULE 26) chamber may provide sufficient ballast to achieve the same effect, or if a plain tube is used a weighted bung in the end thereof may be used, in which case the venting hole can be provided through the bung or in the sidewall ofthe tube. According to a second aspect of the present invention an insert for a drinks container comprises a chamber having at least two openings therein, a tube extending through said openings so that it extends out of the chamber, said tube having at least one venting hole in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through the tube and the venting hole therein into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. In one embodiment the tube is formed as a continuous loop having at least one opening therein to allow egress ofthe pressurised material. The diameter of the chamber may be between 15 - 45mm and the tube is located therein so that in use the tube is oriented substantially vertically with respect to the attitude of the chamber floating in or on the liquid. The chamber is preferably quite shallow with respect to its diameter and in one embodiment is no more than 10mm deep overall with the tube extending therefrom between 3mm to 6mm beyond each opening. In both aspects of the invention the insert is adapted to float in the liquid and preferably floats partially submerged with a part thereof extending in to the dead space above the liquid. The tube may be of any suitable diameter, but preferably a diameter of between 2 - 4mm is sufficient. As with the chamber the tube may be of any suitable material, including coated aluminium or steel, but is preferably made from a food grade nylon. The tube may be located centrally with respect to the chamber or may be located eccentrically of the vertical axis thereof. This has the effect of causing the insert to float with the tube more positively immersed in the liquid. - 2 - SUBSTΓΠJTΈ SHEET (RULE 26) The tube may be secured to the chamber wall by any suitable means, such as adhesives, welding, or by physical detent means formed on the tube and adapted to engage the respective opening. Altematively the tube may be sufficiently resilient to be held in the opening. Each opening may be formed with a lip which engages the tube and holds it sealably in position. Preferably the tube seals the opening(s) in the chamber so that the chamber can only communicate with the inside of the container through the venting hole. The seal may be provided as a separate component but is preferably provided by the means securing the tube to the chamber. According to a third aspect of the present invention an insert for a drinks container comprises a chamber having at least two openings therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube, said tube having at least one venting hole in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through the tube and the venting hole therein into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention an insert for a drinks container comprises a chamber having at least two openings therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube, said tube having two venting holes in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is located in the container after filling with beverage so that one lower venting hole is below the surface of the beverage, and the other above it and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through each venting hole therein into the chamber causing an introduction of both gas and beverage under pressure until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. In the fourth aspect the combination of pressure and the added weight of the beverage in the insert causes the insert to sink to the bottom of the container, reduction in the pressure of the container, i.e. through opening thereof causes not only the egress of pressure from the chamber but also the insert to rise to he surface. In an embodiment in accordance with the third and fourth aspects of the invention the openings are pressed in to the chamber and the tube is formed by joining the pressed edges ofthe openings together. Alternatively the pressed edges may be joined by an additional tubular element. Preferably the insert has a capacity of 20cc or less , and because this replaces gas in the headspace does not add to the gas content of he headspace. This means that the insert does not need flushing, or charging with an inert gas prior to use as the amount of oxygen present is within accepted levels. In all aspects the chamber may be made of any convenient material such as food grade plastics but is preferably made from a coated aluminium or alternatively steel. Generally the walls are as thin as practicable, Preferably between 0.23 and 0.25mm. The chamber can be relatively small and may be cuboid, spherical, cylindrical or any convenient shape. Altematively the chamber may be blow-moulded. A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figures 1 to 7 show various embodiments in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figures 8 to 18 show various embodiments in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; and Figures 19 to 21 show various embodiments in accordance with the third aspect of the invention; Figures 22 to 26 show an embodiment ofthe fourth aspect ofthe invention sequentially in operation in a container. Figures 1 to 7 incorporate the principle features of the first aspect of the invention in that there is an insert for a drinks container comprising a chamber 30 having an opening 31 therein, a tube 32 extending through said opening and having a reduced diameter hole 33 in the end remote from the chamber and a two-way valve 34 on or adjacent the end of the tube within the chamber adapted to allow selective communication with the chamber. In Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 7 the valve is mounted inside the chamber. Figures 5 & 6 show the valve mounted externally thereof, wherein the tube extends into or through a further opening in the chamber. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the chamber 30 is weighted to ensure that the venting hole is always oriented in the beverage by means of a weighted bung 35 in the end of the tube. In the embodiment of Figure 3 the two way valve is provided by a pair of notched cuts in the tube, as shown in the enlargement of Figure 4. The extemal notching 36 allows ingress of pressure whilst the internal notching 37 allows egress. In the second aspect of the present invention represented in Figures 8 to 18 an insert for a drinks container comprises a chamber 30 having two openings 31a therein, a tube 32 extending through said openings so that it extends out of the chamber, said tube 32 having a venting hole 33 in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside ofthe chamber and the tube. In the embodiment shown in Figure 18 the tube 32 is formed as a continuous loop having an opening 38 therein to allow egTess of the pressurised material via venting hole 33. The embodiments of Figures 19 to 21 show a third aspect of the present invention, and again common parts carry the same reference numerals. The insert again comprises a chamber 30 having two openings 31b therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube 32. The tube has a venting hole 33 in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube. As shown in the Figures 19 and 21 the openings 31b are pressed into the chamber and the tube 32 is formed by joining the pressed edges of the openings together. Altematively as shown in Figure 20 the pressed edges are joined by an additional tubular element 32a. Figures 22 to 27 illustrate an embodiment in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, and show in Figures 24 to 27 the sequence of operation. In figures 22 and 23 the insert comprises a chamber 30 having two openings 31c therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube 32, said tube having two venting holes 33a and 33b in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube. In Figure 24 the insert I is located in a container C after filling with beverage B so that one lower venting hole 33b is below the surface ofthe beverage, and the other above it. In the sequence shown in Figures 25 to 27 it can be seen that subsequent pressurisation of the container C (by adding a drop of liquid nitrogen immediately prior to closure) causes an ingress of pressure through each venting hole therein into the chamber causing an introduction of both gas and beverage under pressure until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container C causes the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas H into the beverage.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 An insert for a drinks container comprising a chamber having at least one opening therein, a tube extending through said opening and having a reduced diameter hole in the end remote from the chamber and a two-way valve on or adjacent the end of the tube within the chamber adapted to allow selective communication with the chamber, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through the hole into the tube and through the valve into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure through the valve and the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. 2. An insert for a drinks container comprising a chamber having at least two openings therein, a tube extending through said openings so that it extends out of the chamber, said tube having at least one venting hole in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through the tube and the venting hole therein into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. 3. An insert for a drinks container comprising a chamber having at least two openings therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube, said tube having at least one venting hole in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside of the chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is placed in a container before or after filling with beverage and subsequent pressurisation of the container causes an ingress of pressure through the tube and the venting hole therein into the chamber until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. 4. An insert for a drinks container comprising a chamber having at least two openings therein joined together within the chamber to form a tube, said tube having two venting holes in the sidewall thereof to provide communication between the inside ofthe chamber and the tube, wherein the insert is located in the container after filling with beverage so that one lower venting hole is below the surface ofthe beverage, and the other above it and subsequent pressurisation ofthe container causes an ingress of pressure through each venting hole therein into the chamber causing an introduction of both gas and beverage under pressure until the pressures in the chamber and in the container substantially equalise, upon opening the pressure drop in the container cause the egress of pressure via the tube to create a jet of gas into the beverage. 5. An insert for a drinks container as in either Claim 3 or 4 wherein the openings are pressed into the chamber and the tube is formed by joining the pressed edges of the openings together. 6 . An insert for a drinks container as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: COSTELLO EDWARD ROGER, COSTELLO, EDWARD, ROGER
Applicants: COSTELLO EDWARD ROGER, PAKTEK LTD, COSTELLO, EDWARD, ROGER, PAKTEK LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D79
IPC codes: B65D25, B65D77, B65D79, B65D85