Method of packaging a beverage

• US 5,517,804 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Lynch, Francis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane, Daniel C.
• Application Number:
  US08/205,882
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 53/432, 53/510, 426/395, 426/397, 426/118, 426/106, 426/115, 220/906, 220/501, 220/502, 220/505, 220/506, 220/528, 206/219, 206/221, 215/6
• US Class Current: 53/432
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/73 with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/906 Beverage can, i.e. beer, soda

Abstract

A beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage such as beer containing gas in solution has a container can 1 having a primary chamber 1A charged with beer 14 to form a small headspace 15. The can 1 is sealed and includes a submerged insert 8 forming a relief chamber 6 which is sealed by a closure 11. The insert 8 is responsive to heat applied during pasteurization which causes the closure 11 to open the relief chamber so that the latter can accommodate beer derived from the primary chamber 1A to provide an enlarged headspace 15A. The small headspace 15 initially provided facilitates removal of air therefrom prior to sealing of the container while the enlarged headspace 15A is adequate to accommodate froth or foam developed by the intentional liberation of gas from solution in the beer. An insert part 7 forming a secondary chamber 5 may be provided for injecting gas or liquid into the beer to liberate gas therefrom for froth or foam development in the enlarged headspace. The relief chamber 6 may contain gas under pressure so that when opened to the primary chamber the release of such gas pressurizes the enlarged headspace 15A. The insert part 7 may be located within the relief chamber 6.

Claims

1. A method of packaging a beverage having gas in solution which comprises providing a container with a primary chamber and a relief chamber containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and which is closed to the primary chamber, charging the primary chamber with the beverage and sealing the container to form a headspace in the relief chamber which headspace contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said froth developing means being responsive to a pressure differential created by opening of the sealed container for liberating gas from solution in the beverage to form froth in the headspace of the primary chamber, and which further comprises, with the container sealed, opening the relief chamber to accommodate a portion of beverage in the relief chamber and thereby enlarge the headspace in the primary chamber for accommodating froth developed by liberation of gas from the beverage on subsequent opening of the sealed container, wherein the relief chamber is formed with a material the characteristics of which are responsive to heat, and wherein the package is heated to change said material characteristics so that said change effects opening of the relief chamber to communication with the relief chamber.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 which comprises forming the relief chamber as a sealed but openable hollow insert part and locating that insert part within the container prior to closing and sealing the container.

3. A method of packaging a beverage having gas in solution which comprises providing a container with a primary chamber, forming a relief chamber as a sealed but openable hollow insert part and gas pressuring said relief chamber remote from the container to a pressure greater than atmospheric, locating the sealed insert part within the container with the gas pressurized relief chamber closed to the primary chamber, providing the container with froth developing means, charging the primary chamber with the beverage and sealing the container to form a headspace in the primary chamber which headspace contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said froth developing means being responsive to a pressure differential created by opening of the sealed container for liberating gas from solution in the beverage to form froth in the headspace of the primary chamber, and which further comprises, with the container sealed, opening the relief chamber so that gas released therefrom pressurizes the headspace in the primary chamber and for said open relief chamber to accommodate a portion of beverage in the primary chamber and thereby enlarge the headspace in the primary chamber for accommodating froth developed by liberation of gas from the beverage on subsequent opening of the sealed container.

4. A method of packaging a beverage having gas in solution which comprises providing a container with a relief chamber and a relief chamber containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and which is closed to the relief chamber, charging the relief chamber with the beverage and sealing the container to form a headspace in the relief chamber which headspace contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said froth developing means being responsive to a pressure differential created by opening of the sealed container for liberating gas from solution in the beverage to form froth in the headspace of the relief chamber, and which further comprises, with the container sealed, opening the relief chamber to accommodate a portion of beverage in the relief chamber and thereby enlarge the headspace in the relief chamber for accommodating froth developed by liberation of gas from the beverage on subsequent opening of the sealed container, wherein a secondary chamber is provided for said froth developing means from which at least one of liquid and gas is injected into the beverage to provide said liberation of gas from solution.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 which comprises locating said secondary chamber for said injection to be effected into beverage in the primary chamber.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 which comprises locating said secondary chamber for said injection to be effected into beverage accommodated by the relief chamber when said relief chamber has opened to communication with the primary chamber.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4 which comprises forming the secondary chamber as a hollow insert part and locating that insert part within the container prior to closing and sealing the container.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 which comprises coupling or forming together a sealed but openable hollow insert part by which the relief chamber is formed and the insert part of the secondary chamber to provide a unified insert structure and inserting that insert structure within the container.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 which comprises providing a restricted aperture or orifice through which the secondary chamber communicates with the relief chamber, pressurising with gas said relief and pressure chambers, sealing said pressurised chambers whilst permitting communication therebetween by way of said restricted aperture or orifice and locating the sealed insert structure within the container.

10. A method of packaging a beverage having gas in solution which comprises providing a container with a primary chamber and a relief chamber containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and which is closed to the primary chamber, charging the primary chamber with the beverage and sealing the container to form a headspace in the primary chamber which headspace contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, said froth developing means being responsive to a pressure differential created by opening of the sealed container for liberating gas from solution in the beverage to form froth in the headspace of the primary chamber, and which further comprises, with the container sealed, opening the relief chamber to accommodate a portion of beverage in the primary chamber and thereby enlarge the headspace in the primary chamber for accommodating froth developed by liberation of gas from the beverage on subsequent opening of the sealed container, wherein the relief chamber is opened to communication with the primary chamber by subjecting the container to at least one of vibration, centrifugal force and peristalsis.