Patent ID: 6840394

Claim:
Apparatus for limiting loss of carbonation from a body of carbonated liquid in a container, said apparatus comprising: a) a container for a body of carbonated liquid, said container having a main portion with an interior chamber for holding the liquid, and a generally tubular portion with an interior passageway that is in communication at its lower end with said interior chamber of the container, said passageway being in communication at its upper end with the surrounding atmosphere, said passageway having a side interior wall, and b) a control device comprising: 1) a control section having a side outer surface and being positioned in said passageway, and 2) a support section connected to said control section for engaging said container and removably supporting said control section in said position in said passageway, said support section being proportioned and arranged to provide at least one opening from said passageway to the surrounding atmosphere, said control section side outer surface and said side interior passageway wall being sized, proportioned and configured relative to one another so that the said control section can be generally supported and positioned to occupy a portion of said passageway while providing a continuous clearance space between said control section side outer surface and said passageway side interior wall the full length of said control section to allow at least some latitude in the lateral positioning of said control section in said container tubular portion.