Methods and apparatus for enhancing beverages

• US 5,980,959 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gizmo Packaging Limited
• Original Assignee: Bernard Derek Frutin
• Inventors: Frutin, Bernard Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERRER, CURTIS EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/628,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 426/112, 426/115, 426/118, 426/120, 426/124, 426/569, 426/394, 426/395, 426/397, 426/477, 99/323.1, 99/323.2, 206/222, 261/DIG. 7, 53/420, 220/501
• US Class Current: 426/112
• 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: B67D 1/0406 with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation B67D1/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1411 Means for controlling the build-up of foam in the container to be filled

Abstract

Enhancing the foam head on a bottled beverage where a pressurized container is housed within the neck of the bottle and above the level of the liquid and so arranged that upon opening of the bottle the pressurized container also opens to release the liquid stream therefrom initially to float on the top surface of the beverage in the bottle.

Claims

1. A bottle of potable beverage having a bottle top, the bottle top being sealed by a releasable closure, wherein the improvement is the provision of a pressurized container containing a liquid having a gas dissolved therein substantially up to its solubility limit in the liquid at elevated pressure, which container is fitted within a neck provided in the bottle and is adapted on release of the releasable closure automatically to release its contents as a liquid stream containing a saturated solution of dissolved gas therein, the released liquid stream being directed towards an upper surface of the beverage contained therein.

2. A bottle of potable beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottle is pressurized and contains a beverage containing a gas in solution and the contents of the pressurized container are held at a pressure level elevated with respect to that of the bottle, such that the released liquid stream co-operates with the gas content of the beverage in a form of seeding effect to achieve an enhanced foam head without major depletion of the gas content of the beverage.

3. An assembly capable of being located in the neck of a bottle, the assembly comprising a pressurized container mounted in a carrier, the carrier having a retention member for supporting the assembly in the neck of the bottle and a downwardly directed aperture, the carrier having an upwardly-directed piercing member,

the container containing a pressurized liquid and dissolved gas and comprising a main body having a rupturable wall portion adjacent the piercing member,

the container being movable relative to the carrier to allow the piercing member to pierce the rupturable wall portion and retract therefrom such that, in use, when the piercing member retracts therefrom a liquid stream containing the gas in saturated solution is released from the container.

4. An assembly capable of being located in the neck of a bottle, the assembly comprising a pressurized container mounted in a carrier, the carrier having a body extending from a flange for supporting the assembly on a bottle top provided on the bottle to an apertured floor having an upwardly-directed piercing member,

the container being charged with pressurized liquid and dissolved gas and comprising a main body having an end adjacent the piercing member comprising a rupturable membrane and an annular gasket,

wherein resilient means initially hold the container in the carrier with the membrane spaced from the piercing member but, in use, when the carrier is supported the container is capable of being forced towards the floor by providing a force on the container causing the piercing member to pierce the membrane and seal with the gasket to prevent escape of the container contents until such time as the force on the container is released and when the force is released a liquid stream containing the gas in saturated solution is released from the container.