PRESSURIZED GAS CONTAINER

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a pressurized gas container, for example one containing carbon dioxide for use in a device or system for the preparation of a carbonated drink. The present disclosure also provides a plug that may be functionally integrated into the container and further provides a packaging with a plurality of such containers.

Claims

1. A pressurized gas container comprising: a container body, defining a pressurized gas enclosure and a neck integral therewith having an end portion that is configured for coupling with a coupling element and is fitted with a plug; the plug being formed with a bore that is fitted with a barrier element that forms a gas impermeable barrier that seals said enclosure; said barrier element being a rupturable or pierceable metal sheet configured for non-reversible rupturing or piercing by a shaft of a gas-channeling member of said coupling element; and having one or more sealing elements, distinct from said barrier element and configured for forming a gas-tight association with said shaft.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas within the container is pressurized carbon dioxide, and the container is configured for association with said appliance or system such that the pressurized carbon dioxide for the preparation of the carbonated drink is drawn when needed out of the container.

3-6. (canceled)

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said plug is fitted into the container's neck such that said bore is substantially co-axial with said neck, the plug defining an axis extending between an exterior end and an interior end and being formed with a generally axial bore extending between the two ends.

8. (canceled)

9. The container of claim 3, wherein said barrier is formed at said interior end of the bore and said one or more sealing elements are formed within said bore at said exterior end or in between said interior and said exterior end, optionally wherein the one or more sealing elements are one or more O-rings fitted within a circumferential groove formed in the walls of said bore.

10. (canceled)

11. The container of claim 1, wherein said body has an average wall thickness that is less than 60%, 55%, 50%, 45% or even less that 40% of the average wall thickness of a container of similar dimensions an made of similar material that is intended for multiple use.

12. A multipack comprising a holder rack; a carrying element; and a plurality of pressurized gas containers of claim 1.

13-14. (canceled)

15. A plug device for integration into a neck of a pressurized gas container blank for forming the container of claim 1, the plug comprising a bore extending through the plug; a barrier element being a rupturable or pierceable metal sheet and fitted in the bore and configured for non-reversible rupturing by a shaft of gas-channeling member of an adapter of an appliance or system; and one or more sealing elements within said bore, distinct from said barrier element and configured for forming a gas-tight association with said shaft.

16. A method for the manufacture of a container with a pressurized gas, comprising: (a) providing a container blank configured to hold pressurized gas, the container blank having a container body, defining a pressurized gas enclosure, and a neck at its upper end, the neck having an upper, open end portion, at least said upper end portion being formable under defined conditions; (b) introducing pressurized gas into said enclosure through said open end; (c) while maintaining gas pressure, introducing a plug device into said open end, the plug device comprising external side walls and a bore formed within it, the bore being fitted with a rupturable or pierceable metal sheet barrier element configured for non-reversible rupturing by a shaft of a gas-channeling member of a coupling element of a device or system, and comprising one or more sealing elements within said bore distinct from said barrier element and configured for forming a gas-tight association with said member; and (d) tightly affixing said plug device within said neck by forming said upper end to tightly engage the plug device's external faces.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said upper end of the neck is made of metal and said forming is a pressure-forming.

18. The method of claim 16, for the manufacture of a pressurized carbon dioxide canister for association with an appliance or system adapted for the preparation of a carbonated drink.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising: (m) associating the container blank with a block in a gas tight manner such that (i) the open end of the container's neck protrudes through an opening in the block into a working space that is linked to a source of pressurized gas, and that (ii) leakage of gas out of the opening is hindered; (n) permitting flow of gas from the gas source into the container via said working space; (o) while maintaining gas pressure, inserting said plug device into said open end; and (p) tightly affixing said plug device within said neck, e.g. by crimping said upper end to tightly engage said side surfaces.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein step (o) comprises: (o1) fitting said plug device at a leading end of a plunger that can axially reciprocate along an axis defined by said neck between a first plunger position and a second plunger position that is more proximal to said open end, and (o2) axially displacing said plunger into the second plunger position to thereby insert the plug device into said neck.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein: said plunger axially reciprocates within an axial bore formed in a piston; the piston can axially reciprocate along said axis between a first piston position and a second piston position that is more proximal to said open end; and wherein step (p) comprises while maintaining the plunger is said second plunger position, axially displacing said piston to said second piston position in which it applies a crimping-biasing force on said upper end to thereby crimp said upper end.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the piston comprises a depression in the piston's face that faces said neck in a mid-portion thereof that surrounds said bore; and wherein in said second piston position the depression bears on said upper end of the neck and such bearing applies said crimping-biasing force.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said depression is circular and its perimeter is dimensioned to correspond to that of said upper end.

24. An apparatus for producing a container having a container body and a neck integral therewith that is fitted with a plug, the apparatus comprising: a block defining a working space with axially extending side walls and with a base; a pressurized gas conduit leading into said working space and linked to a pressurized gas source; a piston, received in said working space and forming a gas-tight association with said side walls, the piston being capable of axial reciprocation within the working space between a first piston position and a second piston position that is more proximal to said base; an axial bore formed in said piston and a plunger that is accommodated in said bore, forms a gas-tight association with bore's walls and that can axially reciprocate within said bore between a first plunger position and a second plunger position that is more proximal to said base; the base having an opening formed at the end of a seat, the seat being configured for receiving an upper end of a container blank and for forming a gas-tight association therewith, with the upper end of the neck protruding through the opening into said working space; the plunger having a leading end configured for holding a plug device as defined in claim 15 and for introducing the plug device into the upper end of the neck when in the second plunger position; the piston being adapted for applying a crimping-biasing force on said upper end to thereby crimp said upper end on external faces of said plug device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the piston comprises a depression formed in the piston's face that faces said neck in a mid-portion thereof that surrounds said bore; and wherein in said second piston position the depression bears on said upper end of the neck and such bearing applies said crimping-biasing force.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, configured for operating in an operational sequence that comprises (a) associating the upper end of the container with the seat; (b) introducing pressurized gas into the container via said working space; (c) axially displacing the plunger fitted with said plug device into the second plunger position to thereby introduce the device into said open end; and (d) while maintaining the plunger is said second plunger position, axially displacing said piston to said second piston position in which it applies a crimping-biasing force on said upper end to thereby crimp said upper end.

27-43. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0123] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0124] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section representation through a canister of the invention, typically one that contains pressurized carbon dioxide.

[0125] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-section representation of the upper portion including the neck of the canister.

[0126] FIGS. 3A-3F are schematic cross-sectional representations of some operational parts of the apparatus used for the manufacture of a canister of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in several successive manufacturing sequences.

[0127] FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic cross-sectional representations through the upper portion of a canister and a coupling element that is part of an appliance or system, e.g. such used for preparation of a carbonated drink, illustrating several successive sequences of coupling of the canister with the coupling element.

[0128] FIGS. 5A-9B are schematic representations of some embodiments of plugs that may be fitted into a cavity within the neck portion of a canister blank to form a canister of this disclosure. FIGS. 5A, 5C, 6A, 7A and 8A show an exploded view of the upper portion of the canister blank and the plug; while FIGS. 5B, 6B, 7B and 8B are respective longitudinal cross-sectional views of the upper portion of the canister with the plug fitted within the cavity in the neck portion. FIG. 9A is an exploded view of a plug in isolation and FIG. 9B is a longitudinal section of such a plug.

[0129] FIGS. 10A and 10B are, respectively, schematic exploded view and a cross-sectional view of a coupling device for coupling a pressurized gas canister to an appliance or system

[0130] FIGS. 11A and 11B are, respectively, schematic perspective view and longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coupling device of FIGS. 10A and 10B coupled to a canister.

[0131] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a coupling device according to another embodiment incorporating a safety arrangement against premature decoupling of the device from the pressurized gas canister.

[0132] FIGS. 13A and 13B are, respectively, longitudinal cross-sections along respective planes A-A and B-B, marked in FIG. 12.

[0133] FIGS. 14A and 14B are side elevation and longitudinal cross-section, respectively, of a pressurized gas canister coupled with a the coupling device of FIGS. 12-13B; and

[0134] FIGS. 15A and 15B show two examples of multipacks (6-pack in this example) of canisters of the kind described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0135] In the following, the present disclosure will be elaborated and illustrated through description of some specific embodiments with reference to the annexed drawings. The illustrated embodiments refer to a canister, such as that containing carbon dioxide for use in an appliance or system for preparation of a carbonated drink. It is to be understood that the figures are intended to exemplify the general principles of this disclosure and are not to be construed in any way to be limiting.

[0136] The description of canister below makes occasional reference to a top or bottom. This is done for convenience of description only. As can be appreciated in use the orientation has no functional significance and it may be coupled to the appliance or system in any desired orientation according to various engineering or other considerations.

[0137] Referring first to FIG. 1, shown is a canister 100 having a body 102, defining a pressurized gas enclosure 103, and having an integral neck 104 with an external threading 106 for coupling to a coupling element of an appliance or system adapted, in this specific example, for the preparation of a carbonated drink. It should be noted that coupling by threading is only one example and other types of coupling are possible, such as for example snap-fitting. The canister may be made from a variety of different materials, a typical example being metal, such as aluminum. Fitted at the canister's bottom end is a base element 108, typically made of plastic serving as a base on which the canister may stand. Included within the neck is a plug 110.

[0138] The upper portion of the canister including neck 104 is shown in FIG. 2. Particularly, what can be seen in more detail is plug 110 that is fitted at the upper part of the neck and is tightly secured in position by crimping of the upper portion 112 and particularly the upper lips 114, e.g. in a manner as will be described below. As can be seen, the plug device 110 has an external uneven surface 116 that provides for tighter engagement with the surrounding parts of the neck. As can also be seen, the bore within the upper end portion of the neck is of a larger diameter, defining a shoulder 118 that seats the bottom end 120 of the device.

[0139] The device 110 includes a bore 122 which is coaxial with bore 124 within neck 104. Formed at the bottom end of plug 110 is a barrier element 126 which is constituted by a metal sheet that seals enclosure 103. The plug also includes a sealing member which is constituted by an O-ring 128 that is accommodated within a circumferential groove 130 formed within the internal walls of bore 122.

[0140] Reference is now being made to FIGS. 3A-3F showing sequences in the filling and manufacture of a canister of the kind described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The structural elements that eventually form the canister are the canister blank 132 and a plug device 110, the latter shown here fitted on the leading end of plunger 170, the function of which will be explained further below.

[0141] Further illustrated in these figures are the functional components of the apparatus for carrying out the method for said filling and manufacturing (which are annotated, particularly, in FIG. 3A). It includes the main block 140 that defines a working space 142, having axially orientated side walls 144 and an end wall 146. The end wall 146 has an opening 148 which is at the end of seat 150 that has a shape matching the upper portion of the canister blank 132.

[0142] The seat has circumferential grooves that accommodate O-rings 152, 154 and, as can be seen in FIG. 3B, once the canister is brought into association with the block, these O-rings form a gas-tight association with the external wall of the canister blank, thus hindering pressurized gas flow out of the opening 148. As can further be seen in FIG. 3B, once the canister blank is in tight association with the block, the upper portion of the neck protrudes into working space 142. The working space houses a piston 160 that can axially reciprocate between the first piston position, seen in FIG. 3B, and the second piston position, seen in FIG. 3E, that is more proximal to the end wall 146. O-rings 162, 164 accommodated within circumferential grooves in side walls 144, provide for gas-tight association between piston 160 and side walls 144.

[0143] Piston 160 also has an axial bore 166 accommodating plunger 170 that can also axially reciprocate between the first plunger position, shown in FIG. 3A or 3B, and the second plunger position, shown in FIG. 3C. In the latter position, the plunger 170 brings plug device 110 fully into the upper portion 112 of neck 104. The internal bore 166 also includes two circumferential grooves accommodating O-rings 172, 174 providing for gas-tight association between plunger 170 and walls of the bore 166. Formed at the center of leading face 176 of piston 160 is a depression 178 having a circular perimeter with dimensions corresponding to the external perimeter of upper portion 112 of neck 104. Working space 142 is linked to a gas conduit 136, which in turn is linked to a pressurized gas source shown schematically as rectangle 138 for control of the pressurized gas flow into working space 142.

[0144] The sequence of operations will now be described with reference to distinct steps shown in FIGS. 3A-3F. It should be noted that some of the described steps or details within them may be performed in different sequences or the performance of some may be partially or entirely overlap one another in the time of their performance.

[0145] Preparatory to the step shown in FIG. 3A, a plug device 110 is fitted at leading end of plunger 170 which has a circular bulging member that fits into the cavity of plug device 110. Canister blank 132, as shown in FIG. 3B, is brought into tight association with seat 150. Then pressurized gas, typically carbon dioxide, is released into working space 142 through conduit 136, as represented by arrow 190 and from there enters enclosure 103. When reaching the desired pressure, the flow of gas may be stopped and, given the gas-tight seal maintained by the gas-tights engagement of the different elements, the pressure will be maintained. Alternatively, the link to the pressurized gas may be maintained to compensate for minor pressure loss.

[0146] In the next step, shown schematically in FIG. 3C, plunger 170 is displaced from its first to its second plunger position, thus inserting plug device 110 into the terminal bore 134 until its bottom end 120 rests on shoulders 118.

[0147] In the next step, shown in FIG. 3D, piston 160 is axially displaced and when reaching the position shown in FIG. 3D, it begins to exert pressure on lips 114 and through additional downward displacement of the piston to the second piston position, shown in FIG. 3E, the upper portion is deformed to tightly fit around the external face of plug 110, this deformation including the internal bending of lips 114. The piston 160 and plunger 170 are then retracted to their respective first positions, as shown in FIG. 3F and then the canister, filled with pressurized gas and sealed by a rupturable single use plug, can be removed; and the cycle may be repeated again.

[0148] Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B showing schematic cross-section representations of the upper part of the canister and of the coupling element 200, which is part of the appliance or system schematically represented by block 221. Canister 102 with neck 104 fitted with a plug device 110 is brought into association with coupling element 200, both of which are shown separated from one another in FIG. 4A. The coupling element includes a coupling body 202 having a cavity 204 with internal threading 206 and including in its center a spiked gas-channeling member 208. Gas-channeling member 208 has an elongated shaft 210, tapered end 212, openings 214 proximal to the tapered end leading into lumen 216, linked to a gas conduit 220 that is, in turn, linked to the pressurized gas conduit sub-system (not shown) of the appliance or system 221.

[0149] The spiked member has a base 223 that is accommodated in seat 224, the seat including also O-rings 222 to ensure gas-tight association. The accommodation of base 223 in seat 224 may, for example, be through a screw-type engagement.

[0150] The coupling between the coupling element and the canister neck is, in this case, a screwed type engagement; but, as can be appreciated, this is an example only of a variety of other coupling arrangements. Upon coupling, the spike member penetrates cavity 124 within plug 110 and by further screwing, as shown in FIG. 4C, it penetrates through bore 122 and ruptures barrier element 126 and consequently openings 214 come into contact with the pressurized gas in the canister and permit passage of the gas through them and through lumen 216 into the gas conduit sub-system of the appliance or system. O-rings 128 provide for gas-tight association between shaft 210 and internal walls of the plug.

[0151] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-8B: In these Figures like reference numerals are used as in FIGS. 2A and 3A, shifted by 200 (FIGS. 5A-5B), 300 (FIGS. 6A-6B), 400 (FIGS. 7A-7B) and 500 (FIGS. 8A-8B) to mark like elements.

[0152] In the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B, plug 310 is formed with an annular groove 321 accommodating an O-ring 323. Barrier element in the form of a thin metal sheet 326 is tightly and sealingly fixed at the inner end 325 of the plug by welding. The plug may be fitted within cavity 334 through welding or through crimping (in the latter case in a manner analogous to that described in FIGS. 3A-3F). As can further be seen in FIG. 5B, the neck of the canister blank is formed with a lateral bore 329 linking cavity 334 to the external environment. In the event that pressure within the canister increases to an excessively high level, e.g. as a result of heating, through the clearance 331 between the bottom portion of the plug and the side walls of cavity 334 the pressure will impact O-ring 323 and cause it to deform to such an extent as to permit gas release out of bore 329 to thereby reduce the pressure to safe level.

[0153] The plug 310A shown in an explode view in FIG. 5C, is structurally similar to the plug 310 of FIGS. 5A and 5B and elements having a similar function have been given like numbers with and A indication. The main difference is in that the barrier element 326A has the shape of a dish formed with upright walls 327 that fit around the base 329 of the plug body 310A. The barrier element 326A may be pressure fitted to base 329, may be welded or held tightly by pressing the plug body 310A against an auxiliary member or against shoulders formed within the canister neck's cavity in an analogous manner to that described in connections with FIGS. 7A and 7B.

[0154] In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the thin metal sheet 426 serving as a barrier element is secured in position by tight screw engagement between the plug's body 441 and auxiliary member 443, which is screw fitted into the opening at the inner end of body 441 (through external threading at the former and matching internal threading of the latter). Other than this, the plug in this embodiment is functionally similar to that of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0155] In FIGS. 7A and 7B the thin metal sheet 526 is also held between plug body 541 and auxiliary member 543; but, rather than screw fitting the plug body and the auxiliary member are fitted tightly one against the other while inserting them into cavity 534 during the manufacturing process, thus holding sheet 546 between them. Alternatively the auxiliary member 543 may also be welded to plug body 541.

[0156] Similarly as in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the plug of embodiments of FIGS. 6A-7B may be secured in position through welding or pressure crimping.

[0157] In the embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B the auxiliary member 643 may be fitted together with plug body 641 by screw-engagement, by welding, etc. and this assembly may then be fitted into cavity 634 is by screw tight engagement through external threading in the outer face of the plug body and internal threading within the cavity.

[0158] FIGS. 9A and 9B show a plug 650 that includes plug body 652 defining a central bore 654 with an annular groove 656 accommodating O-ring 658. Barrier element 660 is fitted at the bottom of body 652, for example by welding. Plug 650 is of the kind used in the canister of FIGS. 14A and 14B, to be described below, and is constituted by a first, main body section 662 and an upper, second body section 664 of narrower diameter defining between them shoulder 666. In use, as can be seen in FIG. 14B, the upper body section protrudes above the upper end of the canister's neck with the main body section 664 being in tight association with the walls of the cavity of the canister while the upper end of the walls being folded as lips over shoulder 666 to thereby ensure tight fitting of the plug in the containers neck cavity.

[0159] Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, shown is a coupling device 702 for coupling to a canister 700 (illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B). The device is configured for coupling to the canister in a screw-type manner, at its one end 791 and for coupling to the gas-port of the appliance or system, again in a screw-type manner, at its other end 792. It should be noted that screw-type coupling is an example and other means of coupling may be used (e.g. snap fit coupling, latches-based coupling, bayonet type coupling and others).

[0160] Device 702 is comprised of device body 704, a cup-shaped connector element 706 and gas channeling member 708 at end 791, safety plug 718, and valve element 724 at end 792. Gas channeling member 708 has a structure similar to gas channeling member 208 shown in FIG. 4B and includes a shaft 709 with a tapered end 712 having openings 714 leading into lumen 716. Lumen 716 is part of a gas conduit, marked 738 that extends between the two ends 791, 792 and includes also spring-accommodating cavity 734 and valve-accommodating cavity 736.

[0161] Member 708 has a base 723 which is fitted within a seat 724 and is configured with a lateral groove 725 accommodating O-ring 722 that provides for a gas-tight seal to avoid leakage out of said gas conduit.

[0162] The shaft 709 of member 708 protrudes into cavity 730 within cup-shaped connector element 706, the side walls of which are internally threaded (the threadingnot shown). Connector element 706 is constituted by side walls which extend from body 704 and by a fastening element 732 that is coupled to said walls in a screw-type manner. Turning of the fastening ring 732 will distance it away from the member and owing to the outwardly tapering contour of the neck the external lips of ring 732 will then bear tightly against the tapering portion to thereby secure the coupling of the coupling device to the canister.

[0163] The other end of the device has an external, coarse screw threading 740 for coupling with a matching connector (not shown) of an appliance or system.

[0164] Valve 744 includes a base 746, plunger 748, spring 750 and O-ring 752. Plunger 748 has a stem 754 that is accommodated within bore 756 in base 746 and can axially displace against the biasing force of spring 750 that is accommodated with spring-accommodating cavity 734. In the position shown in FIG. 10B, the plunger is in its fully biased state with its shoulders 758 pressed against base 746 and O-ring 752, accommodated within circular groove 760, thereby sealing egress of gas out of valve-accommodating cavity 756. Once coupled with said device or appliance, stem 754 is pushed against the bias of spring 750 causing shoulders 758 to distance from base 746, thus permitting gas egress through the clearance between stem 754 and bore 756. Base 746 is fitted within cavity 736 in a screw type engagement and is associated with O-ring 762 to ensure a gas-tight association between the base and the device.

[0165] Cavity 766 accommodates safety plug 764 and is linked through conduit 768 to spring-accommodating cavity 734. The conduit 768 is sealed by membrane 770 and when pressure increases above a defined threshold level, membrane 770 opens permitting gas release to the outside.

[0166] FIGS. 11A and 11B show a coupling device of the kind described above coupled to a canister. As can now be better understood, turning of fastening element 732 so that it will be downwardly displaced, in the direction of arrow A, will press lips 772 against the wider portion of the neck to thereby practically lock the device in this coupling position. Once so coupled, as explained above, coupling of the device with the appliance or system at its other end will cause gas flow through said conduit into the gas-port of the appliance or system (not shown).

[0167] Reference is now being made to FIGS. 12-14B showing a coupling device, generally designated 1000, of another embodiment which, as already noted above, includes a safety arrangement that prevents premature or accidental decoupling between the device and a pressurized carbon dioxide canister, namely, decoupling it while there is still carbon dioxide pressure in the canister exceeding a predetermined gas pressure.

[0168] In FIGS. 12-14B, the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 10A-11B have been used with the indication A to denote elements having the same or similar function. Thus, by way of example, element 746 of FIGS. 10A and 10B will be equivalent to element 746A of the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14B. The reader is referred to the description above of the embodiments of FIGS. 10A-11B for explanation of the role and/or function of these elements. The description below will focus primarily on those elements that are distinct from the embodiments described above.

[0169] Coupling device 1000 has a base portion 1002 and accommodates a cup-shaped cavity 730A that is internally screw-threaded and adapted for screw-tight coupling with the neck of a canister.

[0170] Fitted over the base portion 1002 is a ring element 1004 having an internal guiding projection 1006 that fits into groove 1008 defined on the exterior of base portion 1002, to thereby guide circular rotation of ring 1004. Accommodated in groove 1008 is also a helical spring 1010 that rests against projection 1006 at its one end and a barrier at the end of groove 1008 (not shown). The urging force of spring 1010 biases the ring to rotate in a direction represented by arrow 1012 (clockwise in FIG. 12) into the ring's locking state. The ring is secured into position by means of fastening ring 1020.

[0171] Coupling device 1000 also includes a safety bolt 1022 which fits into bore 1024 and has an associated spring 1026 that biases the bolt element in a radial direction from a first, locking position to a second, releasing position of the bolt. Safety bolt 1022, as can be seen in FIGS. 13B and 14B, has a projection 1028, that upon coupling of the coupling device 1000 with the neck of canister 700A, can, when the bolt is in its locking position, fit into and be accommodated in groove 1030 formed in the canister's neck, as can be seen in FIG. 14B. As long as bolt 1022 is in its locking position in which projection 1028 is accommodated within groove 1030, coupling device 1000 cannot be decoupled from the canister.

[0172] The safety arrangement of this embodiment includes, in addition to safety bolt 1022, also blocking pin 1032 that is accommodated in pin bore 1034. Pin 1032 has a broader shoulder 1036 at its rear end, snugly associated with the walls of pin bore 1032 having a lateral groove accommodating an O-ring 1038 that forms a gas tight seal with the walls of bore 1032 and thereby defining a head space 1042. Head space 1042 is linked through lateral bore 1044 to cavity 734A, which is part of the gas conduit 738A within the coupling device.

[0173] When pressurized gas enters the head space 1042 through lateral bore 1044, it applies downward pressure on pin 1032 which is then axially displaced from its position shown in FIG. 13B towards bolt 1022 to position seen in FIG. 14B, in which the tip 1046 of the pin is accommodated into a matching peripheral groove 1048 of bolt 1022, to thereby locking bolt 1022 in the position shown in FIGS. 13B and 14B, in which projection 1028 is accommodated within groove 1030. In this state the device cannot be decoupled from the canister, as explained above.

[0174] Pin 1032 is associated with spring 1050 that provides a biasing force on the pin in a direction away from bolt 1022. Once pressure in the canister and consequently also in head space 1042 is reduced below a certain pressure (that is a pressure defined by the properties of the spring, where the force acting by the gas pressure on shoulders 1036 equals the opposite biasing force of the spring), pin 1032 can then be displaced away from the bolt, by the force of the spring to the position shown in FIG. 13B, thereby permitting radial displacement of bolt 1022 to its unlocking position.

[0175] Ring 1004 has an abutment 1054, seen cross-section in FIG. 13B, which during rotation of the ring slides over track 1014. When abutment 1054 comes to rest over bolt 1022, it pushes the bolt into its locking position. Once the ring is rotated against the bias of spring 1008, the bolt can be displaced away from the neck to permit decoupling.

[0176] Locking of the coupling device 1000 onto the neck of a canister, upon coupling, is in fact automatic. Once the canister's neck is coupled with the device, as seen in FIG. 14B, barrier element 660 is ruptured by the tip 712A of elongated shaft 709A, whereby pressurized gas can enter into the gas ducting system 738A and from there to head space 1042 of bore 1034. Consequently, the gas pressure in the canister and in the head space 1042 of bore 1034 will be the same. This pressure then forces pin 1032 to displace against the bias of spring 1050. Ring 1004 is biased into a locking state by spring 1010 whereupon abutment 1054 forces bolt 1022 into its locking position, as shown in FIG. 14B against the bias of spring 1026, whereupon pin 1032 can move downward locking bolt 1022 and lock it in its locking position.

[0177] Reference is now made to FIGS. 15A and 15B showing two different examples of multipacks (6-pack in these examples) 800, 900 of canisters of the kind described above. Each one includes respective holding racks 802, 902 for canisters 100 and integral carrying handles 804, 904. The racks and the handles may, for example, be made of plastic or cardboard.