This invention relates to a beverage package and to a method of packaging a beverage. The invention relates in particular to a beverage package comprising means for initiating the production of bubbles in a beverage.

A beverage package has been proposed in specification EP 0227 213A2 which comprises a beverage container, such as a conventional aluminium can, in the lower part of which is located a plastics pod charged with nitrogen. The pod is provided with a small orifice, and when the can is opened thereby relieving the pressure in the main chamber of the can, nitrogen ejected through the orifice bubbles into the beverage to initiate the production of further bubbles from gas dissolved in the beverage.

The pod is desirably located in the bottom of the main chamber such that when the can is opened, the bubbles rise through the full depth of the beverage. The pod in EP 0 227 213A2 is provided with flexible tabs to engage frictionally the can side-wall. However, since beer cans have to be heated to pasteurise the contents, the pod may rise during the heating cycle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a beverage package comprises a sealed, openable container defining a beverage chamber containing a beverage in which a gas is dissolved, the beverage being confined by the container at a super-atmospheric pressure, and a gas reservoir assembly housed in the beverage chamber, the gas reservoir assembly comprising a reservoir housing which is attached to the container, the gas reservoir being positioned in or extending into the lower region of the beverage chamber, that region opposite to the openable end of the container, and an orifice means leading from the gas chamber of the gas reservoir into said lower region.

The orifice means may be permanently open, or it may be arranged to be opened or uncovered prior to pouring the beverage.

Preferably the attachment is between the reservoir housing and the basal wall of the container, that wall which is opposite to the openable end of the container.

Preferably the attachment is by means of a push fit between complementary formations provided respectively on the reservoir housing and basal wall.

The complementary formations are preferably so arranged that they inter-engage and hold when the reservoir housing is pushed downwardly against the basal wall.

Preferably the formations comprise a spigot on the basal wall or reservoir housing which is received within a cylindrical socket in the reservoir housing or basal wall respectively.

The spigot and socket are preferably centrally disposed of the basal wall and reservoir housing such that the relative angular orientation of the reservoir housing and basal wall during the push-fitting operation does not matter.

One wall of the spigot and socket connection may be grooved to provide an orifice, or the housing may be formed with a hole to provide an orifice.

The reservoir housing can be of any desired shape, but an advantageous construction employs a tubular housing, one end of the tube constituting one of said complementary formations.

The reservoir housing can be a stepped tube, the orifice means being provided by at least one axially-extending hole in the step of the tube.

The pr sion of the orifice means in a step in a tube enables the orifice means to be formed by relatively conventional moulding tools.

When the reservoir housing is tubular the housing may comprise a plurality of cup- shaped members which are adapted to be sealably secured to one another, the base of at least one of the cup members being formed with a hole to provide the orifice means.

The opposite end of the tube to said one end may be attached to an upper wall of the container, or to a partition wall of the container.

Alternatively, the attachment comprises a push fit between complementary formations provided respectively on or in the reservoir housing and on or in a first wall of the container, and the arrangement is such that the reservoir housing abuts with a further wall of the container, said further wall opposing said first wall so as to retain the complementary formations engaged, thereby preventing the reservoir housing from becoming displaced in the container.

The provision of an abutment between the reservoir housing and the further wall is simpler to produce than a positive location means.

The abutment is conveniently provided by a lug on the reservoir housing, which lug is directed towards the further wall. The orifice means may then be positioned adjacent to the lug and confronting the further wall.

The attachment can be by means of a headed retainer extending sealably through one wall of the container.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the container wall may not require substantial shaping to provide the attachment.

The retainer may be in the form of an independently-formed plug, rivet or threaded fastener, or it may be an integral portion of the reservoir housing.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a beverage package comprises a sealed, openable container defining a beverage chamber containing a beverage in which a gas is dissolved, the beverage being confined by the container at a super-atmospheric pressure, and a gas reservoir containing gas at super-atmospheric pressure, the gas reservoir being provided by a tube which has one end co-operating with a formation on or in the basal wall of the container, and the opposite end of the tube co-operating with a formation on or in a further wall of the container.

Preferably, when the container is a can said further wall is the top wall of the can, that wall which is provided with an openable portion for opening by suitable means, such as a ring-pull means.

The tube is preferably sealably attached to the further wall to seal the upper end of the gas chamber.

The connection between said one end of the tube and the formation of the basal wall preferably incorporates a passage to provide an orifice means providing restricted communication between the gas chamber and the beverage chamber. Alternatively, however, the tube could be provided with one or more radial holes at a position spaced axially from said connection.

The passage is preferably defined by a recess in one of the mating surfaces of said one end of the tube and said formation of the basal wall, and by at least one radial recess in the extremity of said one end of the tube.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a container for a beverage package in accordance with the second aspect of the invention is charged with beverage prior to insertion of the tube

into the container, and the tube is first attached to the upper wall of the container prior to securing the upper wall on the container.

Various beverage packages in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a first beverage can unit in which the gas chamber is provided by a tube,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the lower end of the tube of the can unit of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of a second beverage can unit,

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section of a beverage can in which a gas reservoir is defined by a central tube located on formations on the top and bottom walls of the can,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a modified tube for use as the reservoir in a beverage can,

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section of a further beverage can in which the gas reservoir is provided by a tube which is located on a formation on the can top, but which abuts with the base of the can,

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical cross-sections of the lower ends of modified tubular gas reservoirs for use in the beverage can of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a -Fragmentary vertical cross-section of a tubular reservoir comprising a plurality of cup-members,

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary vertical cross-sections of various connections between one end of a can and modified tubular gas reservoirs,

Figure 13 is a vertical cross-section of a yet further beverage can , and

Figure 14 is a modification of the can of Figure 13.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a beverage can unit 1 comprises a substantially conventional can body 2 closed at its upper end by a can lid 3. A gas chamber 4 is defined within a plastics tube 5 which extends axially and centrally of the can between the basal wall 6 of the can and the lid 3, the lower and upper ends 7, 8 respectively having plug and socket connections respectively with the basal wall 6 and the lid 3.

As shown the basal wall 6 and the lid 3 are each formed with a male projection 9, 10 , but it should be appreciated that it would be possible to provide either wall 6 and/or lid 3 with a female formation which receives the respective end of the tube.

The fit of the connections is such that the projections 9, 10 are sealed to the inner surface of the tube ends 7, 8. However, in order to provide an orifice means providing restricted gas communication between the gas chamber 4 and the lower region 10 of main chamber 11, the lower extremity of the tube 5 is castellated to provide a plurality of radial recesses 12, and from each radial recess extends an axial recess 13 in the radially outer surface of the tube 5 of a length greater than the axial length of projection 9.

It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the recesses 13 could be formed in the projection 9.

The can 2 is conveniently charged with beverage in the normal way prior to Insertion of the tube 5 Into the can, the tube 5 being press-fitted to the lid 3 prior to application of the lid. The lid is then applied to the can body 2 by downward movement relative to the body 2, thereby initially bringing the lower end 7 of the tube

into engagement with projection 9, and then by pressing firmly down on the lid the lower end 7 is fully seated on projection 9. The upper rim of the can body 2 is then spun to the lid 3. The process is carried out in a suitable gas at super-atmospheric pressure.

In Figure 3 parts corresponding to those of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 have been given corresponding reference numerals.

Figure 3 shows a can in which is located a plastics gas reservoir 15 having an integral tubular attachment portion 7 which corresponds to the lower end 7 of the tube of the Figure 1 embodiment. The details of the connection between the attachment portion 7 and projection 9 in Figure 2 are identical to the connection between tube 5 and projection 9 in Figures 1 and 2.

The reservoir 15 is a firm push-fit on the projection 9, of sufficient strength to retain the reservoir 15 in position in the lloowweerr region 10 of the can during handling and any pasteurisation step.

Since the recesses 12 are located close to the bottom of the drinks chamber 11, bubbles issuing from recesses 12 on opening of the can lid 3, pass upwards through the full depth of the beverage.

The beverage packages of Figures 1 and 3 may be stored in an inverted condition if desired.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the reservoir 15 of Figure 3 could be different from that shown, and that the details of the attachment 7, 9 with the basal wall 6 could be varied.

It will also be appreciated that the diameter of the tube 5 can be varied to provide the appropriate volume of the chamber 4.

Figure 4 shows a drinks can 21 comprising a deep drawn body 22 to which is attached in conventional manner by spinning a metal top 23

provided with a ring-pull or similar device 24 to enable the user to create a pouring opening in the top 23. A gas reservoir space 25 is provided within a plastics tube 26 which is located in place at its opposite ends by being a push-fit on central cup formations 27, 28 formed respectively in the can base 29 and can top 23.

Orifice means for enabling gas under pressure in chamber 25 to bubble into the beverage in main chamber 30, when the can top is opened, is constituted by a plurality of spaced-apart, fine radial holes 31.

In describing the other embodiments hereafter, parts corresponding to those of the embodiment of Figure 4 will be given corresponding reference numerals.

Figure 5 shows a modified tubular member 26 of stepped outline, the orifice means in this case being constituted by at least one axial hole 31 provided in the annular step 32. The advantage of the Figure 5 reservoir tube over that of Figure 4 is that axial holes can more easily be moulded by conventional plastics moulding techniques.

Whilst the arrangement of Figure 4 requires formations 27 and 28 on both the top and bottom walls of the can, the modified construction of Figure 6 utilises only an abutment between one end of the tubular reservoir 26 and one end-wall of the can, the can base 29 in this instance. The abutment takes place between an axial protrusion 33 on reservoir 26 and the can base 29. The orifice means is preferably provided by a hole 31a in the lower end-wall of the tubular member 26 confronting base 29, but the orifice means could be provided, as shown at 31b, in the side of the tubular member 26.

If desired the arrangement of Figure 6 could be Inverted, in that the formation 28 could be provided on the can base 29, and the protrusion 33 could engage with the can top 23, an orifice means 31b then being provided adjacent to the attached end of the tube.

An advantage of the arrangement of Figure 6 is that the reservoir 26 can be secured to the protrusion 28 on the can top 23 prior to positioning of the can top 23 on the can body 22 and, since there is no need precisely to locate the lower end of the tube centrally of the can base, as would be necessary in the Figure 4 embodiment, the assembly of the top 23 to the can body 22 is simplified.

Figure 7 shows a modified lower end to the reservoir 26 of Figure 6, in which a plug 34 carrying an integral protrusion 33 is a push-fit in a length of plain tube 26.

Instead of a hole in the plug 34, one or more external grooves could be provided in the plug to define the orifice means.

Figure 8 shows a further modification of the tubular reservoir of Figure 6 in which the lower end of the tube abuts directly with the can base 29, and that end is provided with one or more radial recesses 15 which define with can base 29 the orifice means. The lower end of the tube may be castellated to provide several such recesses.

Figure 9 shows a tubular gas reservoir 26 constructed from independently-moulded cup-shaped sections 26a, 26b, 26c secured together by interference fits, by adhesive or by welding. The reservoir space 25 then comprises a series of chambers 25a, 25b, 25c with holes 31 formed in the cup bases. Since the gas has to flow through several holes to pass into the beverage in the main chamber 30 of the can, the holes can be larger than in, say, the reservoir of Figure 4 and, accordingly, such holes can be easier to produce.

In the embodiment of Figure 10, the plastics tubular reservoir 26 is formed with an axial protrusion 36 having a neck 37, the protrusion 36 being a leak-proof fit in a hole defined in the top 23 of the can by a downwardly-extending tubular boss 38 of C-shape in radial cross-section. The protrusion 36 and boss 38 are shaped to provide a tight snap-fit therebetween. In a modification, not shown, the

protrusion 36 would be of generally plain cylindrical external shape, and the outer end of the protrusion would be hot or cold swaged to seal the protrusion to the top 23.

Figure 11 shows a modification of the Figure 10 embodiment, in which a plug having an enlarged head 40 is employed to secure the tube 26 sealably to the can top 23, the inner end of the plug being provided with an annular external bead 41 which engages with the free end of a downwardly-depending tubular spigot 42 in the upper end of plastics tube 26.

Figure 12 shows a further modification, similar to Figure 11, in which a screw plug 43 of a suitable material is threadedly engaged with the tubular boss 42.

Figure 13 shows a tubular plastics gas reservoir 26 provided with a disc-shaped head 44 at its upper end, the tube being a force-fit in a hole in the can top 23 defined by a tubular boss 38 similar to that of Figure 10 but of larger diameter. The head 44 engages with the outer surface of the top 23, and a seal is effected between the boss 38 and the tube walls 26 adjacent the head 44. The lower end of the reservoir is sealed by a plug 34 in the manner of the Figure 7 embodiment, but there is no need to provide a projection 33, since the tight connection between the upper end of the tube 26 and the can top 23 locates the tube 26 positively in the can.

It will be appreciated that the body of the tube 26 in the Figure 13 embodiment may be constructed as in Figures 5, 8 or 9. Also it would be possible for the tube instead to be fitted to the bottom 29 of the can, but then the orifice means would best be positioned adjacent the headed end of the tube 26.

Figure 14 shows, on a larger scale, a modification of the construction of Figure 13 in which the plug 34 is replaced by an integral nozzle 45, the bore 31a of which provides the orifice means, and communication through hole 31a is normally prevented by a

cap 46 which is an interference fit on nozzle 45.

When the can is opened by operation of ring-pull 4 to release the pressure in the main chamber 30, the cap 46 is blown off nozzle 45 by the pressure of gas in the gas reservoir 26 acting over the inner face of the cap.

In order to prevent the cap 46 from leaving the open can, the tubular reservoir 26 is provided with a plurality of integral projections which, together with the base 29 of the can, define a cage.

The use of a cap is the subject of patent application no. GB 8926374.3 and corresponding foreign patent applications owned by Whitbread and Company pic.

The head 44 of the tubular reservoir 26 in Figure 14 may be provided with a charging orifice to enable the tubular reservoir to be charged with a gas such as nitrogen.