Self-Dispensing Container

Abstract

A self-dispensing container of carbonated product comprising a hollow body having a filling aperture, a carbonated product inserted into the hollow body via the filling aperture, leaving a headspace, and a lid adapted to seal the filling aperture after insertion of the carbonated product wherein, after sealing, the headspace fills with CO2 from the carbonated product to equalise the pressure within the container. The container further includes a valve having open and closed positions, wherein the valve communicates between a valve inlet on the inside of the container and a dispensing orifice on the outside of the container, and in use the container is orientated so that the valve inlet is submerged in the carbonated product and when the valve is in its open position, the CO2 in the headspace dispenses the carbonated product through the dispensing orifice.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A method of forming a beverage can, the method comprising: positioning the beverage can, the beverage can comprising a hollow body having a base, an open top opposite the base, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the base including an annular chime; piercing an aperture in the base so as to form a retention barb disposed about the aperture, the aperture and the retention barb being formed in a single operation; and positioning a valve within the aperture so as to engage the retention barb.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of piercing the aperture in the base includes forming the aperture in a center of the base.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sidewall has a larger radial diameter relative to a radial diameter of the chime.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the base is seamlessly connected to the sidewall.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the base includes a concave continuously curved dome.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising: seaming a can end to the open top of the hollow body.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the hollow body is a one-piece can body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying graphs and drawings, in which;

[0014] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the drop in the gauge pressure predicted in a can according to the invention, as a user consumes the carbonated product in 20 ml swallows.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the drop in carbonation level of a filled can according to the invention, as a user consumes the carbonated product in 20 ml swallows.

[0016] FIG. 3 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 3a) and a section (FIG. 3b) taken through a first embodiment of a can according to the invention in its covered and sealed position;

[0017] FIG. 4 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 4a) and a section (FIG. 4b) taken through the can shown in FIG. 3 in its uncovered position but with the valve in its sealed position;

[0018] FIG. 5 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 5a) and a section (FIG. 5b) taken through the can shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in its uncovered position and with the valve tilted to its open position;

[0019] FIG. 6 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 6a) and a section (FIG. 6b) taken through a second embodiment of a can according to the invention in its covered and sealed position;

[0020] FIG. 7 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 7a) and a section (FIG. 7b) taken through the can shown in FIG. 6, in its covered and sealed position, but with the tab raised;

[0021] FIG. 8 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 8a) and a section (FIG. 8b) taken through the can shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in its covered and sealed position, but with the spout extended.

[0022] FIG. 9 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 9a) and a section (FIG. 9b) taken through the can shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with the spout extended as shown in FIG. 8, in its uncovered position and with the valve tilted to its open position;

[0023] FIG. 10 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 10a) and a section (FIG. 10b) taken through a third embodiment of a can according to the invention in its covered and sealed position, with the valve located on the bottom of the can;

[0024] FIG. 11 comprises an isometric view (FIG. 11a) and a section (FIG. 11b) taken through the third embodiment can shown in FIG. 10 with the cover removed and the valve tilted to its open position.

[0025] The graphs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 were generated from computer models assuming modelling conditions of 2 C., initial carbonation level of carbonated product of 4 vols with no nitrogen. The inventors found that adding nitrogen to the headspace of the can was less efficient than increasing the carbonation level in the product, because the CO.sub.2 level in the headspace can replenish itself from the carbonated product, whereas nitrogen added to the headspace can only be a fixed quantity, whose effect gradually lessens as the product is consumed and the volume of the headspace increases.

[0026] Preferably, the can according to the invention is filled with product having 4 vols carbonation. The inventors have found that this ensures that the carbonated product will fully dispense even at low temperatures and that the can will stay rigid throughout drinking. The can according to the invention provides a different drinking experience, because the product foams before reaching the mouth and appears smoother to the consumer.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, in a first embodiment of the invention the container comprises a body 10 and a top 20. A spout 40 having a valve 30 is accommodated in the top 20. The spout 40 has a dispensing orifice 60, which is closed by a lid 50. The lid 50 has a finger tab 55 and a thumb rest 57. To open the container, a user may flick the finger tab open whilst resting a thumb (or adjacent finger) on the thumb rest 57. Although opened, the container remains sealed by of the valve 30. To dispense the product from the container, a user simply inverts the container (so that the inlet to the valve 30 is submerged in product) and then opens the valve by tilting it (as shown in FIG. 5) so that the valve plate (not referenced) is lifted off the valve seat 37, creating a dispensing pathway through the valve. As the valve is tilted, the internal pressure in the container drives the product through the valve.

[0028] Care must be taken when handling filled cans according to the first embodiment of the invention to ensure that the protruding spout does not foul on equipment or adjacent cans. Furthermore, due to the projection of the spout beyond the envelope occupied by the can, display of the filled cans may require increased shelf space. The cans are likely to be protected with an overcap, which prevents accidental activation and also allows stacking in pallets.

[0029] Preferably the filled and sealed cans have a flat top, which does not protrude outside the envelope of the filled can. This simplifies distribution and storage of the filled cans. FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention, in which the beverage can has a substantially planar or flat top, when closed and sealed.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, a can according to the invention has a conventional beverage can body 10 to which is seamed an end 20 having a valve 30 and a spout 40, which initially extends towards the inside of the container. Due to this revised configuration, the valve inlet 35 and valve seat 37 (which are now spaced further apart when the spout and valve are closed) can be more clearly seen in FIG. 6b. As shown in FIG. 6, the lid 50 and tab 55 are substantially flat and lie within the envelope of the can.

[0031] Upon opening a user first lifts the tab 55 (as shown in FIG. 7) and then uses the tab 55 to pull the spout 40 out of the container body 10, so that it projects outside the plane of the end 20 (as shown in FIG. 8). At this stage the spout 40 is still closed by the lid 50 and the valve 30 is closed, thereby sealing the container. Finally the user may remove the lid 50 to expose the dispensing orifice through the spout 40 (as shown in FIG. 9a). The user may then open the valve by tilting it (as shown in FIG. 9b) and as described and shown in relation to FIG. 5.

[0032] Conventional beverage can bodies are manufactured at high speed having an open end through, which they can be filled. Once filled, an end is seamed onto the open end of the can body to seal the product therein. Conventionally, multiple ends are supplied to the seaming machine in stacks. A problem with the modified ends according to the first and second embodiments of the invention is that the spout 40 lies outside the plane of the end. In the first embodiment of the invention this problem may be mitigated by incorporating the valve on the end prior to seaming and then assembling the applicator (nozzle/overcap etc.) after seaming. The disadvantages of this are increased stack height, slower seaming speed and the need for a secondary process to attach the applicator after seaming. To overcome these problems, the inventor's have also looked at citing the valve 30 elsewhere on the beverage can, within the container envelope.

[0033] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the invention where the valve is cited on the bottom 70 of a conventional beverage can body 10. Manufacture of this arrangement requires a single operation to pierce the bottom 70 of the can and draw the cut edge outwards to create a retention barb. FIG. 10 illustrates the valve 30 covered by the lid 50 (as previously described) and FIG. 11 illustrates the same arrangement with the lid 50 in its open position exposing the dispensing orifice 60 and the valve 30 tilted to dispense the carbonated product.

[0034] Although the examples discussed above show a simple tilt valve, it will be apparent to people skilled in the art that the valve may take many alternative forms such as a tilt valve, a push valve with return spring, a bite valve or a demand valve etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0035] 10Body [0036] 20Top [0037] 30Valve [0038] 35Valve inlet [0039] 37Valve seat [0040] 40Spout [0041] 50Lid [0042] 55Tab [0043] 57Thumb Rest [0044] 60Dispensing Orifice [0045] 70Bottom