Patent Abstract:
A container, such as a bottle or jar, that includes a closed compartment and an active insert device for pressurizing the closed compartment. The active insert device comprises an elastic liner and an active insert that are affixed to a closure or cap or the container. The active insert includes at least one reactant that is triggered to a reaction by an external energy source. The reaction produces a gas, which is delivered to the closed compartment via the liner. The gas causes the liner to expand and open a passage to deliver the gas to the closed compartment.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 12/622,080, filed on Nov. 19, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,946, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 61/199,798, filed on Nov. 20, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and device for pressurizing containers. The devices of the invention include a container and a cap. The container may be partially filled with liquid or solid products. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Devices for pressurizing containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7, 159,374, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As described in this patent, to prevent microbial spoilage, a hot fill process is often used to package many food and beverage products at high temperatures to sterilize both the product and container. When the liquid content of the container cools, it contracts and either creates an internal vacuum or causes the container to deform, as by shrinking, buckling or paneling. Currently, plastic bottles are designed with panels, ribs and additional resin to compensate for the contraction and prevent bottle deformation. When the smooth side wall of the bottle is replaced with these panels, flexible packaging shapes and designs are prevented, thereby making label application difficult. 
     An approach to the bottle deformation problem adds a gas, such as carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen to the bottle after the liquid is hot-filled and before sealing. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,662,154, 5,033,254 and 5,251,424 and in German Offenlegungsschrift No. DE 40 36 421 A 1. For example, the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,424 introduces liquid nitrogen into the bottle before sealing to prevent thermal distortion of the bottle upon cooling of the hot liquid. 
     After closing, the gas expands within the headspace and the pressure inside the container rises rapidly providing rigidity to the container. This operation is most effective when applied to cold filled plastic containers that can accept relatively high pressures without stretching and deforming. At hot fill temperatures, however, the container looses its design strength. This loss of strength allows the container to stretch and deform, making it impossible to pressurize the container to the same pressure levels that can be achieved with cold fill operations. 
     Another approach to the bottle deformation problem adds a carbon dioxide releasing device to the container before sealing. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,270,069 and 6,244,022. For example, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,069 comprises a pencil shaped device that includes two compartments in which are disposed different reagents that, when brought into contact, react to release carbon dioxide into the headspace of the bottle. The user must remove the device before consuming the beverage. 
     Packaged beverages that contain a carbonation device that is activated at the point of consumption to carbonate the beverage are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,998, 4,007,134, 4,110,255, 4,186,215, 4,316,409, 4,458, 584, 4,475,448, 4,466,342 and in British Patent Application GB 2 076 628 A. Sieve tablets used in many of these devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,998, 4,007,134, and 4,110,255, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,025,655 and 4,214,011. These sieve tablets leave a residue that must be removed from the beverage prior to consumption. 
     In a hot fill process, the food and beverage products are pasteurized and then filled into containers at high temperature. The entire heating and cooling cycle can take a significant amount of time meaning that the actual food or beverage components are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time. During this time, certain components referred to as “Heat Sensitive Components” can become degraded by the high temperatures and lose their true aromatic and flavor characteristics. 
     Thus, there is a need for a method that releases gas in a closed container to retain microbial stability without leaving a residue or a device that must be removed at time of consumption. 
     There is also a need to eliminate buckling or paneling in closed hot filled containers in order to capture decorative, lightweight and flexibility benefits. 
     There is also a need to sufficiently pressurize a closed hot filled container in order to capture structural benefits without deforming the container. 
     There is a further need to release ingredients and functional components to closed containers on a time delayed basis to enhance functionality. 
     There is still another need for a container in which gas can be released to pressurize the container after the container is sealed. 
     There is yet another need for a closure or cap for a container that can release gas into the container after sealing to pressurize the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a container that comprises an active insert device disposed in a closed compartment. The active insert device comprises an expansion chamber and an active insert disposed in the expansion chamber. The active insert comprises at least one reactant that is triggerable to a reaction by an external energy source to produce gas in the expansion chamber to increase a pressure of the expansion chamber and to expand at least a portion thereof to open a passage through which the gas is released to the closed compartment. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the active insert is spaced from the portion. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the reaction is a type selected from the group consisting of: chemical decomposition, combustion, substitution, acid-base, Redox or organic reaction. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the external energy source produces the triggering of the reaction with energy selected from the group consisting of: thermal induction; photo initiation; thermally through external heating, friction generated through either mechanical or ultrasonic energy, infrared light spectrum or electric heating coil; shock, impact or vibration through the application of mechanical force, ultrasonic energy, microwave radiation; electrically through an electrostatic discharge; and directed radiation of energetic particles and electromagnetic energy. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the reactant is a blend of any one or more selected from the group consisting of: gas generating propellants, oxidizers, stabilizers, binders, organic compounds and inorganic compounds. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the organic and inorganic compounds are selected from the group consisting of: azo and nitro compounds, amines, tetrazoles, ammonium and metal salts. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the portion of the expansion chamber comprises elasticity and elastically expands from an unstretched condition as the pressure increases and elastically returns to the unstretched condition when the pressure equilibrates with a pressure of the closed container. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the passage comprises an aperture through which the gas is released into the container. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the portion ruptures as the pressure increases to produce the aperture, which closes as the portion returns toward the unstretched condition. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a flat liner and a liner that comprises a recess. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the active insert is disposed in the recess. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the external energy source provides electromagnetic energy, wherein the active insert device comprises an inductor that responds to the electromagnetic energy to trigger the reaction. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the external energy source provides light energy, wherein the active insert device responds to the light energy to trigger the reaction. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the container further comprises a cap that includes a transparent section, and wherein the light energy is incident to the transparent section. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the compartment further comprises a neck, wherein the cap is disposed on the neck, and wherein the active insert device is disposed in the cap. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the active insert device is disposed in a recess of the cap. 
     In another aspect of the container of the present disclosure, the container further comprises a liner that includes the portion of the expansion chamber and that is disposed in the cap to form an hermetic seal with the neck of the compartment. 
     The present disclosure also relates to a method of pressurizing a container that comprises: 
     disposing an expansion chamber in the container, wherein the expansion chamber has at least a portion that comprises elasticity; and 
     initiating a reaction in the expansion chamber to expand the portion of the expansion chamber from an unstretched condition to open a passage through which the gas is released to the container. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the portion elastically returns to the unstretched condition as the pressure equilibrates with a pressure of the container, and wherein the aperture closes as the portion elastically returns toward the unstretched condition. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the method further comprises providing energy from an external source to initiate the reaction. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the energy is selected from the group consisting of: thermal induction; photo initiation; thermally through external heating, friction generated through either mechanical or ultrasonic energy, infrared light spectrum or electric heating coil; shock, impact or vibration through the application of mechanical force, ultrasonic energy, microwave radiation; electrically through an electrostatic discharge; and directed radiation of energetic particles and electromagnetic energy. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the reaction is a type selected from the group consisting of: chemical decomposition, combustion, substitution, acid-base, Redox or organic reaction. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the reactant is a blend of any one or more selected from the group consisting of: gas generating propellants, oxidizers, stabilizers, binders, organic compounds and inorganic compounds. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the organic and inorganic compounds are selected from the group consisting of: azo and nitro compounds, amines, tetrazoles, ammonium and metal salts. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the passage comprises an aperture through which the gas is released into the container. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a flat liner and a liner that comprises a recess. 
     In another aspect of the method of the present disclosure, the active insert is disposed in the recess. 
     The present disclosure also relates to a cap that comprises a rim that is styled for fitting on a container neck and a surface connected to the rim. A liner disposed within the rim to form an expansion chamber between the liner and the surface. An active insert device disposed in the expansion chamber. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, the liner is selected from the group consisting of: flat liner and recessed liner. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the liner comprises elasticity. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, the active insert device comprises a reactant that when triggered to a reaction, releases a gas that increases a pressure of the expansion chamber and causes the portion to elastically expand from an unstretched condition to rupture and produce an aperture through which the gas is released and elastically returns to the unstretched condition when the pressure equilibrates with a pressure outside the expansion chamber, and wherein the aperture closes as the portion elastically returns toward the unstretched condition. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, the expansion chamber comprises a recess in a location selected from the group consisting of: the liner and the surface of the cap. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, the active insert device is disposed in the recess. 
     In another aspect of the cap of the present disclosure, the surface comprises a section that is transparent to light energy. The active insert device comprises a reactant and responds to the light energy to trigger the reactant to a reaction in the expansion chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a prior art standard cap for a container; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along line  2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a recessed cap for a container; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a cap with a transparent window for a container; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view the cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a recessed cap with a transparent window; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view along line  9  of  FIG. 8 : 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the recessed cap with a transparent window of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is side view of a recessed liner for a standard cap; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view along line  12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the recessed liner of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a flat liner for a recessed cap; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view along line  15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the flat liner of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is side view of a multi-layer active insert device; 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded view of the layers of the multi-layer active insert device of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of a bi-layer active insert device; 
         FIG. 20  is an exploded view of the layers of the bi-layer active insert device of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded side view of a standard cap and container with the active insert device of  FIG. 17  and the recessed liner of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIGS. 22-24  are cross-sectional views along line  22  of  FIG. 21  representing various steps in the application process; 
         FIG. 25  is an exploded side view of a recessed cap and container with the active insert device of  FIG. 17  and the flat liner of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIGS. 26-28  are cross-sectional views along line  26  of  FIG. 25  representing various steps in the application process; 
         FIG. 29  is an exploded side view of a recessed cap and container with the active insert device of  FIG. 19  and the flat liner of  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIGS. 30-32  are cross-sectional views along line  30  of  FIG. 29  representing various steps in the application process. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a standard bottle closure  100  comprises a cap  101  and pilfer band  102 . Cap  101  has a recess  103  adapted to accept a recessed liner (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a recessed bottle closure  110  comprises a cap  111  and a pilfer band  112 . Cap  111  has a recess  201  adapted to accept a multi-layer active insert device (not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , a bottle closure  120  comprises a cap  121  and a pilfer band  122 . Cap  121  has a liner recess  103  adapted to accept a recessed liner (not shown in  FIGS. 5-7 ) and a transparent window  301  designed to allow light energy to pass through. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , a recessed bottle closure  130  comprises a cap  131  and pilfer band  132 . Cap  131  has a recess  201  adapted to accept a bi-layer active insert device (not shown in  FIGS. 8-10 ) and a transparent window  301  designed to allow light energy to pass through. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , a recessed liner  501  comprises a recess  503  designed to accept a multi-layer active insert device (not shown in  FIGS. 11-13 ) and a score mark  502  designed to rupture in a controlled fashion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , a flat liner  601  comprises a score mark  502  designed to rupture in a controlled fashion. 
     Recessed liner  501  and flat liner  601  each comprises a suitable material to allow it to flex and stretch and return to its original shape. For example, the suitable material is an elastic material that returns to its original state or shape after being stretched. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , a multi-layer active insert device  701  comprises a lamination of a plurality of layers. Multi-layer active insert device  701  preferably has a disc shape, although other suitable shapes may be used. Multi-layer active insert device  701  comprises an inductor layer  702 , which is electrically conductive. A reactant layer  703  has a bottom surface bonded to a top surface of inductor layer  702  and a top surface that is bonded to an insulator layer  704 . A reactant layer  705  has a top surface bonded to a bottom surface of inductor layer  702  and a bottom surface that is bonded to an insulator layer  706 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 19 and 20 , a bi-layer active insert device  801  comprises two layers that are laminated to one another. Bi-layer active insert device  801  preferably has a disc shape, although other suitable shapes can be used. Bi-layer active insert device  801  comprises an insulator layer  804  to which a reactant layer  803  is bonded. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21-24 , a first embodiment comprises a container  920  that has a closed compartment  922 , a neck finish  901  and an active closure device  902  disposed on neck finish  901 . A product  923  partially fills container  920 . A headspace  908  is between the surface of product  923  and the top of neck finish  901 . Product  923 , for example, may be a liquid. 
     Active closure device  902  comprises standard bottle closure  101  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  into which multi-layer active insert device  701  of  FIGS. 17 and 18  and recessed liner  501  of  FIGS. 11 and 12  are inserted. First, multi-layer active insert device  701  is secured to the interior top surface of cap  101  by any suitable bonding or adhesive agent. Recessed liner  501  is then bonded to cap  101  using a suitable bonding agent to create a bond  903  such that multi-layer active insert device  701  is located in recess  503 . Recess  503  and the interior top surface of cap  101  form an expansion chamber  905  shown in  FIGS. 22-24 . 
     In the first step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 22 , active closure device  902  is screwed onto neck finish  901  with a suitable torque to create a hermetic seal  904  between recessed liner  501  and neck finish  901 , which assures that expansion chamber  905  is an hermetically sealed chamber. In the second step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 23 , inductor  702  is heated by means of a current flow induced into it through the application of external electromagnetic energy  906 . This heating is controlled by the intensity of electromagnetic energy  906  and the duration for which it is applied causing metallic inductor  702  to achieve precisely controlled temperatures. The heated inductor  702  causes the laminar bond of reactants  703  and  705  to break and causes reactant  703  and  705  to react through combustion or decomposition and produce a reaction product  907 . The reaction product  907  comprises a mixture of gases and trace amounts of solids. 
     The reaction takes place in expansion chamber  905  and the evolution of reaction product  907  causes expansion chamber  905  to become pressurized. 
     The pressurization of expansion chamber  905  causes the recessed section of recessed liner  501  to stretch outward elastically, thereby causing score mark  502  to rupture. The rupturing of score mark  502  under pressure allows reaction product  907  to vent outward into headspace  908  thereby allowing headspace  908  to become filled and pressurized with reaction product  907 . 
     In the next step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 24 , reactants  703  and  705  become spent, eventually allowing the pressure in expansion chamber  905  to equalize with that in the headspace  908 . At this point, since it has retained its elasticity, the recessed section of recessed liner  501  returns back to its original position, thereby causing the rupture along score mark  502  to close. Reaction product  907  becomes homogeneously mixed in headspace  908  thereby causing a constant pressure to be maintained. Multi-layer active insert device  701  is now spent and comprises only inductor  702  and insulator layers  704  and  706 . 
     At the point of consumption, the active closure device  902  consisting of cap  101 , recessed liner  501  and the spent multi-layer active insert device  701 , which now includes inductor  702  and insulator layers  704  and  706 , is unscrewed from neck finish  901  and removed. During the unscrewing process, the entire active closure device  902  is removed from neck finish  901  as one combined piece, with the exception of pilfer band  102 , which becomes separated from cap  101  and remains on neck finish  901  to indicate that hermetic seal  904  has been broken. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the reaction takes place in active insert device  701 . Insulator layers  704  and  706  are made of semi-permeable material. The reaction gas penetrates the semi-permeable insulator layers to enter expansion chamber  905  and expand the recessed section of recessed liner to expand and rupture as described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 25-28 , a second embodiment comprises a container  930  that has a closed compartment  922 , a neck finish  901  and an active closure device  1001  disposed on neck finish  901 . Some of the elements of container  930  are identical to corresponding elements of container  920  and bear like reference numerals. 
     Active closure device  1001  comprises recessed bottle closure  110  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  into which multi-layer active insert device  701  of  FIGS. 17 and 18  and flat liner  601  of  FIGS. 14 and 15  are inserted. First multi-layer active insert device  701  is secured to a bottom of recess  201 . Flat liner  601  is bonded to the inside of cap  111  using a suitable bonding agent to create a bond  903 . Recess  201  and flat liner  601  form an expansion chamber  915  around multi-layer active insert device  701 . 
     In the first step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 26 , active closure device  1001  is screwed onto neck finish  901  with a suitable torque to create a hermetic seal  904  between flat liner  601  and neck finish  901 , which assures that expansion chamber  915  is an hermetically sealed chamber. In the second step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 27 , inductor  702  is heated by means of a current flow induced into it through the application of external electromagnetic energy  906 . This heating is controlled by the intensity of the electromagnetic energy  906  and the duration for which it is applied causing metallic inductor  702  to achieve precisely controlled temperatures. Heated inductor  702  causes the laminar bond of reactants  703  and  705  to break and causes reactants  703  and  705  to react through combustion or decomposition and produce a reaction product  907 . Reaction product  907  comprises a mixture of gases and trace amounts of solids. The reaction takes place in expansion chamber  915  and the evolution of reaction product  907  causes expansion chamber  915  to become pressurized. The pressurization of expansion chamber  915  causes flat liner  601  to stretch outward elastically, thereby causing score mark  502  to rupture. The rupturing of score mark  502  under pressure allows reaction product  907  to vent outward into headspace  908  thereby allowing headspace  908  to become filled and pressurized with reaction product  907 . 
     In the next step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 28 , reactants  703  and  705  become spent, eventually allowing the pressure in expansion chamber  915  to equalize with that in headspace  908 . At this point, since it has retained its elasticity, flat liner  601  returns back to its original position, thereby causing the rupture along score mark  502  to close. Reaction product  907  becomes homogeneously mixed in headspace  908  thereby causing a constant pressure to be maintained. Multi-layer active insert device  701  is now spent and comprises only inductor  702  and insulator layers  704  and  706 . 
     At the point of consumption, active closure device  1001  including cap  111 , flat liner  601  and the spent multi-layer active insert device  701 , which now includes metallic inductor  702  and two layers of insulator  704 , is unscrewed from neck finish  901  and removed. During the unscrewing process, the entire active closure device  1001  is removed from the neck finish as one combined piece, with the exception of the pilfer band  112 , which becomes separated from cap  111  and remains on neck finish  901  to indicate that hermetic seal  904  has been broken. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the reaction takes place in active insert device  701 . Insulator layers  704  and  706  are made of semi-permeable material. The reaction gas penetrates the semi-permeable insulator layers to enter expansion chamber  915  and expand the recessed section of recessed liner to expand and rupture as described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 29-32 , a third embodiment comprises a container  940  that has a closed compartment  922 , a neck finish  901  and an active closure device  1101  disposed on neck finish  901 . Some of the elements of container  940  are identical to corresponding elements of containers  920  and  930  and bear like reference numerals. 
     Active closure device  1101  comprises the recessed bottle closure  130  of  FIGS. 8-10  with transparent window  301  into which bi-layer active insert device  801  ( FIGS. 19 and 20 ) and flat liner  601  ( FIGS. 14-16 ) are inserted. Bi-layer active insert device  801  is secured to a bottom of recess  201 . Flat liner  601  is bonded to the inside of cap  131  using a suitable bonding agent to create a bond  903 . Recess  201  of recessed bottle closure  131  and flat liner  601  form an expansion chamber  925  around bi-layer active insert device  801 . 
     In the first step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 30 , active closure device  1101  is screwed onto neck finish  901  with a suitable torque to create a hermetic seal  904  between flat liner  601  and neck finish  901 , which assures that expansion chamber  925  is an hermetically sealed chamber. In the second step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 31 , light energy  1102  is passed through the transparent window  301  and allowed to come into contact with reactant  803  that is bonded to insulator  804  that together make up bi-layer active insert device  801 . Light energy  1102  initiates a reaction through photo initiation of reactant  803 . This reaction is a combustion or decomposition reaction that produces reaction product  907 . Reaction product  907  comprises a mixture of gases and trace amounts of solids. The reaction takes place in the expansion chamber  925  and the evolution of reaction product  907  causes expansion chamber  925  to become pressurized. The pressurization of the expansion chamber  925  causes flat liner  601  to stretch outward elastically, thereby causing score mark  502  to rupture. The rupturing of score mark  502  under pressure allows reaction product  907  to vent outward into headspace  908  thereby allowing headspace  908  to become filled and pressurized with reaction product  907 . 
     In the next step of the application process depicted in  FIG. 32 , reactant  803  becomes spent, eventually allowing the pressure in expansion chamber  935  to equalize with that in the headspace  908 . At this point, since it has retained its elasticity, flat liner  601  returns back to its original position, thereby causing the rupture along score mark  502  to close. Reaction product  907  becomes homogeneously mixed in the headspace  908  thereby causing a constant pressure to be maintained. Bi-layer active insert device  801  is now spent and now comprises only insulator  804 . At the point of consumption, active closure device  1101  comprising cap  131 , flat liner  601  and the spent bi-layer active insert device  801  now comprising insulator  804 , is unscrewed from neck finish  901  and removed. During the unscrewing process, the entire active closure device  1101  is removed from neck finish  901  as one combined piece, with the exception of the pilfer band  132 , which becomes separated from the cap  131  and remains on neck finish  901  to indicate that hermetic seal  904  has been broken. 
     Without reference to any specific figure, the following should be noted. The purpose of insulators  704 ,  706  and  708  is to provide protection to the inside of caps  101 ,  111 ,  121  or  131  and recessed liner  501  or flat liner  601  from any excessive heat or friction that may be caused by the combustion or decomposition reaction of the reactant layers  703 ,  705  or  803 . The heat and or friction caused by the combustion or decomposition reaction of reactant  703 ,  705  or  803  inside expansion chamber  905 ,  915  or  925  also acts to sterilize the inside of expansion chamber  905 ,  915  or  925  and its contents prior to score mark  502  rupturing and allowing reaction product  907  to vent into headspace  908 . 
     The void of expansion chamber  905 ,  915  or  925  may be filled with air, inert gas, liquid, gel, solids or a mixture containing those. Score mark  502  may alternatively be multiple score marks and may be located and arranged in any other place and/or pattern on the recessed liner  501  or flat liner  601 . The shape of laminated multi-layer active insert device  701  and bi-layer active insert device  801  may not be limited to circular and may take on any shape that allows it to fit inside recess  503  of recessed liner  501  or the active insert recess  201  of caps  111  or  131 . 
     Reaction product  907  consists of gases and trace amounts of solids which can be any of or a combination of nitrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, vitamins, minerals, colorants, odorants, preservatives or any other food additive or ingredient with a purpose of preserving or altering the state of headspace  908  or the contents of sealed containers  920 ,  930  or  940 . 
     The lamination process of bonding reactants  703 ,  705  and  803 , metallic inductor  702  and insulators  704 ,  706  and  804  to form multi-layer active insert device  701  and bi-layer active insert device  801  can be any of or a combination of spray coating, slurry coating, electrostatic deposition, painting, silk screening or any other conversion process that allows the lamination to be realized. Each of reactant layers  703 ,  705  and  803  is a formulation comprising a blend of any or all of certain gas generating propellants, oxidizers, stabilizers, binders and ingredients from the groups of organic and inorganic compounds, for example, high nitrogen compounds, azo and nitro compounds, amines, tetrazoles, ammonium compounds and the metal salts thereof. 
     Recessed liner  501  and flat liner  601  can be any material that provides the elasticity to deform and return to the original shape, provides ability to be bonded with bond  903  to caps  101 ,  111 ,  121  or  131  and provides the ability to form a suitable hermetic seal  904  onto neck finish  901 . Recessed liner  501  and flat liner  601  can be shaped with an opening exposing reactant  703 ,  705  and  803  and inductor  702  to the contents of containers  920 ,  930  or  940  allowing the reaction and reaction product  907  to occur directly in head space  908  which acts as the expansion chamber enabling head space sterilization, combustion and degradation of gases, and scavenging all oxygen in the head space  908 . Liner  601  acts as a sealing liner to create hermetic seal  904  between itself and neck finish  901  so that the reaction product is contained within the container. The opening is a large score mark, or just a permanent opening that does not close itself after the completion of the reaction. 
     Inductor  702  can any electrically conductive material, metallic or non metallic, that allows a current to be induced in it through the application of an electromagnetic field or other external energy source. Inductor  702  can be any shape for example a disc, doughnut or other multi dimensional geometric shape. Insulator  704  can be made up of any material that provides a thermal insulating effect or protection from friction or abrasion caused by the reaction of reactants  703 ,  705  and  803  and can be any shape, for example, a disc, doughnut or other multidimensional geometric shape. 
     Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the initiation of the reaction that combusts or decomposes reactants  703 ,  705  and  803  into reaction product  907  can be initiated by means other than thermal induction and photo initiation as described in the embodiments above, as well as by other means. For example, the reaction could be alternately be initiated (1) thermally through external heating, friction generated through either mechanical or ultrasonic energy, infrared light spectrum or electric heating coil or other external energy source that induces this effect; (2) through shock, impact or vibration through the application of mechanical force, ultrasonic energy, microwave radiation or other external energy source that induces this effect; (3) electrically through an electrostatic discharge or other external energy source that produces this effect; and (4) through directed radiation of energetic particles and electromagnetic energy or other external energy source that produces this effect. 
     The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1