Abstract
The present invention relates to a beverage container assembly for holding a beverage. The assembly comprises an outer container defining a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion. The cylindrical neck portion defines a rim located opposite the body portion. The beverage container assembly further comprises an inner bag positioned within the outer container and defining a pressure space inside the inner bag and a beverage space between the inner bag and the outer container. The beverage space is filled by beverage and the inner bag initially defines a folded state. By subjecting the inner bag) to a pressure fluid it is capable of expanding into an unfolded state in which the pressure space at least partially substitutes the beverage space. Both the inner bag and the neck portion are sealed off by a cap at a location between the rim and the body portion.
Claims
1. A beverage container assembly for holding a beverage, said beverage container assembly comprising: an outer container defining a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion connected to said body portion, said cylindrical neck portion defining a rim located opposite said body portion; an inner bag positioned within said outer container and defining a pressure space inside said inner bag and a beverage space between said inner bag and said outer container, said beverage space being filled by said beverage, said inner bag initially defining a folded state in which said inner bag is compressed and by subjecting said inner bag to a pressure fluid said inner bag being capable of expanding into an unfolded state in which said pressure space at least partially substitutes said beverage space; and a cap sealing off both said inner bag and said neck portion at a location between said rim and said body portion, said cap comprising a beverage passage establishing fluid communication between said beverage space and the outside of said container assembly.
2. The beverage container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner bag and said outer container are sealed together along said rim of said cylindrical neck.
3. The beverage container assembly according to claim 2, wherein said inner bag comprises a beverage conduit located adjacent said neck portion between said rim and said body portion of said outer container, said beverage conduit providing fluid communication between said beverage space and said beverage passage.
4. The beverage container assembly according to claim 3, wherein said inner bag comprises a channel extending on the outside of said inner bag between said beverage conduit and said body portion of said container.
5. The beverage container assembly according to claim 3, wherein said beverage conduit comprises a plurality of openings of said inner bag, said openings being circumferentially distributed about said inner bag adjacent said neck portion between said rim and said body portion of said outer container.
6. The beverage container assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cap comprises a circumferential groove providing fluid communication between said beverage conduit and said beverage passage.
7. The beverage container assembly according to claim 2, wherein said outer container and said inner container are integrally blow molded from a preform assembly comprising an inner preform and an outer preform in a nested configuration.
8. The beverage container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner bag comprises a first foil and an second foil, said first foil defining an inner upper edge, an opposite inner lower edge, a first side edge and an opposite second side edge welded to said first side edge, said second foil defining an outer upper edge being welded to said inner upper edge forming a common upper edge, an outer lower edge welded to said inner lower edge forming a common lower edge, a third side edge and an opposite fourth side edge welded to said third side edge, said inner bag defining said pressure space between said first foil and said second foil.
9. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a pressure fluid passage establishing fluid communication between said pressure space and the outside of said container assembly, said beverage passage and said pressure fluid passage being separated.
10. The beverage container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner bag is filled by an adsorption material having adsorbed a specific amount of adsorption gas.
11. The beverage container assembly according to claim 10, wherein said adsorption material is separated from said inner bag by a canister connected to said cap, said cap comprising a pressure fluid passage establishing fluid communication between said canister and said pressure space.
12. A preform assembly for manufacturing a beverage container assembly for holding a beverage, said preform assembly comprising: an outer preform defining a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion connected to said body portion, said cylindrical neck portion defining a rim located opposite said body portion, and an inner preform being sealed together with said outer preform at said rim of said cylindrical neck thereby defining a first space within said inner preform and a second space between said inner preform and said outer preform, said inner preform comprising a beverage conduit located adjacent said neck portion between said rim and said body portion of said outer preform for providing fluid communication between said second space and the outside of said preform assembly.
13. The preform assembly according to claim 12, wherein said preform assembly further comprises a cap sealing off both said inner preform and said neck portion at a location between said rim and said body portion, said cap comprising a beverage passage establishing fluid communication between said second space and the outside of said preform assembly, and a pressure fluid passage establishing fluid communication between said first space and the outside of said preform assembly, said beverage passage and said pressure fluid passage being separated.
14. A method of producing and filling a beverage container assembly comprising the steps of: providing a preform assembly comprising an outer preform defining a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion connected to said body portion, said cylindrical neck portion defining a rim located opposite said body portion, said preform assembly further comprising an inner preform being sealed together with said outer preform at said rim of said cylindrical neck thereby defining a first space within said inner preform and a second space between said inner preform and said outer preform, said inner preform comprising a beverage conduit located adjacent said neck portion between said rim and said body portion of said outer preform for providing fluid communication between said second space and the outside of said preform assembly; integrally blow molding said preform assembly to form a beverage container assembly by causing said inner preform to form an inner bag and said outer preform to form an outer container, thereby causing said first space to form a pressure space and said second space to form a beverage space; filling beverage into said beverage space thereby compressing said inner bag; and sealing off both said inner bag and said neck portion of said outer container at a location between said rim and said body portion, while establishing fluid communication between said beverage space and the outside of said beverage container assembly.
15. (canceled)
16. A method of dispensing beverage from a beverage container assembly comprising (i) an outer container defining a body portion and a neck portion connected to the body portion, the neck portion defining a rim located opposite the body portion; (ii) an inner bag positioned within the outer container and defining a pressure space inside the inner bag and a beverage space between the inner bag and the outer container, the beverage space being filled by beverage; and (iii) a cap sealing off the inner bag and the neck portion at a location between the rim and the body portion, the cap comprising a beverage passage establishing fluid communication between the beverage space and the outside of the container assembly; the method comprising the steps of: (a) causing pressurized gas to enter the pressure space, thereby causing the inner bag to change from a compressed state to an expanded state; and (b) causing the beverage to be dispensed from the beverage space via the beverage passage to the outside of the container assembly in response to the change of the inner bag from the compressed state to the expanded state.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] FIG. 1A is a beverage container assembly within a packaging box
[0060] FIG. 1B is a beverage container assembly within a packaging box during dispensing
[0061] FIG. 2B is a preform assembly
[0062] FIG. 3 is a cap assembly.
[0063] FIG. 4A is a top view of a cap assembly
[0064] FIG. 4B is a side view of a cap assembly
[0065] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the neck portion of the preform assembly
[0066] FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the blow moulding of the preform assembly
[0067] FIG. 7A is a beverage container assembly during filling
[0068] FIG. 7B is a close-up view of the neck portion during filling
[0069] FIG. 8A is a beverage container assembly filled by beverage
[0070] FIG. 8B is a close-up view of the neck portion after filling
[0071] FIG. 9A is a beverage container assembly after activation
[0072] FIG. 9B is a close-up view of the neck portion after activation
[0073] FIG. 10A is a beverage container assembly during dispensing
[0074] FIG. 10B is a close-up view of the neck portion during dispensing
[0075] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing assembly
[0076] FIG. 12A is an alternative embodiment of a beverage container assembly
[0077] FIG. 12B is a close-up view of the neck portion of the alternative embodiment
[0078] FIG. 13A is an alternative embodiment of a beverage container assembly during dispensing
[0079] FIG. 13B is a top view of the alternative embodiment during dispensing
[0080] FIG. 14A is an alternative embodiment of a beverage container assembly after dispensing
[0081] FIG. 14B is a top view of the alternative embodiment after dispensing
[0082] FIG. 15A is a side view of a self-contained beverage dispenser during mounting
[0083] FIG. 15B is a side view of a self-contained beverage dispenser during filling
[0084] FIG. 15C is a side view of a self-contained beverage dispenser after filling
[0085] FIG. 15D is a side view of a self-contained beverage dispenser during dispensing
[0086] FIG. 16A-D is a series of views of an alternative embodiment similar to FIG. 15A-D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0087] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage container assembly (10) positioned within a packaging box (12). The packaging box (12) comprises a lid (14) which is closing off the packaging box (12) during shipping and handling. The packaging box (12) and the lid (14) may preferably be made of a recyclable material such as paper board. Before beverage dispensing the lid (14) is removed thereby revealing a base part (16) of the beverage container assembly (10). The beverage container assembly (10) may remain within the packaging box (12) during beverage dispensing in order for the beverage container assembly (10) to be kept in a stable and secure position.
[0088] FIG. 1B shows a perspective cut-out view of a beverage container assembly (10) within a packaging box (12) during beverage dispensing. The beverage container assembly (10) comprises an outer container (18) and an inner bag (20) which are preferably integrally blow moulded from a plastic preform. The outer container (18) is typically made sufficiently rigid to support its own weight, whereas the inner bag (20) should be made sufficiently flexible to be capable of folding and unfolding within the outer container (18). The container assembly (10) defines a body portion (22) which comprises the major part of the beverage container assembly (10). The body portion (22) in the present embodiment defines a cylindrical side (24), a conical bottom (26) and conical top (28). The conical top (28) comprises a cylindrical neck portion (30). The neck portion (30) is closed off by the base part (16). In order to extract beverage from the beverage container assembly (10) a keg connector (32) is connected to the base part (16) on the neck portion (30) of the beverage container assembly (10). The keg connector (32) comprises a pressure line (34) and a beverage line (36). The beverage is stored in a beverage space (38) which is disposed between the outer container (18) and the inner bag (20). The beverage space (38) is connected to the beverage line (36) via the base part (16). The fluid inlet (34) is connected to a pressure space (40) via the base part (16). The pressure space (40) is disposed within the inner bag and completely separated from the beverage space (38). The pressure line (34) is connected to a pressure source (not shown) which in the present case is a gas pressure source and which pressurizes the pressure space (40) within the inner bag (20). The inner bag (20) thus subjects the beverage space (38) to a dispensing pressure. The beverage line (36) is connected to a beverage tap (not shown) optionally via a safety valve (not shown) and/or a pass-through cooling system (not shown). As the beverage is being dispensed by operating the beverage tap (not shown), the beverage flows from the beverage space (38) in the direction of the beverage filled arrow, whereas pressure fluid flows in the direction of the pressure fluid arrow into the inner bag (20) which consequently expands by unfolding.
[0089] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a preform assembly (42). The preform assembly (42) comprises an inner preform (44) which is suitable to be disposed within an outer preform (46). The inner preform (44) comprises a rim (48A) which may sealingly engage a rim (48B) on the outer preform (46) to form a unitary rim. The inner preform (44) further comprises a number of beverage conduits (50) in the form of openings located adjacent the rim (48A) and a corresponding number of beverage channels (52) extending on the outside of the inner preform (44) from the beverage conduit (50) and in a direction opposite the rim (48A). The preform assembly (42) is closed off by a cap assembly. The cap assembly comprises an inner sealing member (56), an outer sealing member (58), a cap (54), a rupturable seal (60), a connecting member (62), a piercing member (64) and finally a base part (16). These elements will be discussed in detail below.
[0090] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a base part (16) when mounted on top of a rim (not shown) of a preform assembly (42). The base part (16) is adapted to connect and establish fluid communication with a keg connector (not shown).
[0091] FIG. 4A shows a top view of a cap assembly. The cap assembly defines a beverage passage (66) centrally located in the cap assembly and a pressure fluid passage (68) located spaced apart from the beverage passage (66) and separated therefrom.
[0092] FIG. 4B shows a side cut-out view of a cap assembly along the line A-A′ of FIG. 4A. Notably the pressure fluid passage (68) extends from the inside of the inner preform to the outside of the preform assembly (42) through the cap (54), whereas the beverage passage (56) extends through the cap (54) and establishes fluid communication from the space in-between the inner preform (44) and the outer preform (46) via the beverage conduit (50) and a circumferential cavity (70) in the cap (54) to the outside of the preform assembly (42). The cap (54) seals off both the inner preform (44) via the inner sealing member (56) and the outer preform (46) via the outer sealing member (58) such that the above-mentioned pressure fluid passage (68) and beverage passage (66) are separated.
[0093] FIG. 5A shows a side view of a preform assembly (42).
[0094] FIG. 5B shows a close-up side view of the neck portion of the preform assembly (42). It can be seen that the rim (42A) of the inner preform (44) and the rim (42B) of the outer preform (46) are sealed together and that the beverage conduit (50) is established adjacent the rim (48) of the preform assembly (42).
[0095] FIG. 6A shows a side view of a beverage container assembly (10).
[0096] FIG. 6B shows a side close-up view of the neck portion of the preform assembly after blow moulding. The inner preform and the outer preform are integrally blow moulded into a beverage container assembly (10).
[0097] FIG. 7A shows a beverage container assembly (10) during filling. During filling beverage is introduced into the beverage space (38) in-between the inner bag (20) and the outer container (18) thereby compressing the pressure space (40) and folding the inner bag (20).
[0098] FIG. 7B shows a side close-up view of the filling of the beverage container assembly (10). The beverage is introduced directly into the beverage conduit (50) of the inner bag (20). The beverage is thereby prevented from entering the pressure space (40). Filling may be made having the cap assembly mounted, however, preferably the filling is made when the cap assembly is dismounted.
[0099] FIG. 8A shows a side view of a beverage container assembly (10) which has been filled by a beverage. The inner bag (20) has been folded and is located adjacent the neck part of the beverage container assembly (10).
[0100] FIG. 8B shows a side close-up view of a beverage container assembly (10) which has been filled by a beverage. The cap (54) closes off the pressure space (40) apart from the pressure fluid passage (68) which is closed off by the rupturable seal (60). The cap (54) also closes off the beverage passage (66) together with the rupturable membrane (60).
[0101] FIG. 9A is essentially identical to FIG. 8A.
[0102] FIG. 9B shows the neck part of the beverage container assembly (10) when the rupturable membrane (60) has been pierced by the piercing member (64). Beverage dispensing is enabled by activating the beverage container assembly (10). This is done by pushing the piercing member (64) towards the rupturable seal (60) thereby compressing the flexible connecting member (62) and causing the piercing member (64) to rupture the rupturable seal (60) at the location of the beverage passage (66) and pressure fluid passage (68).
[0103] FIG. 10A shows a beverage container assembly (10) during beverage dispensing. During beverage dispensing the inner bag (20) unfolds and expands as the pressure space (40) is filled by pressure fluid and the volume of the beverage space (38) is reduced when beverage is dispensed.
[0104] FIG. 10B shows a close-up view of the neck portion of the beverage container assembly (10) during beverage dispensing. Pressure fluid is introduced through the pressure fluid passage (68) into the pressure space (40) defined by the inner bag (20) and beverage is dispensed from the beverage space (38) situated between the outer container (18) and the inner bag (20) via the beverage conduit (50) and the cavity (70) to the beverage passage (66) to the outer beverage container assembly (10).
[0105] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a beverage dispensing assembly (72). The beverage dispensing assembly (72) comprises a pressure source (74) for pressurizing three standard pressure chambers (76) and in addition pressurizing the beverage container assembly (10) via the pressure fluid line (34). The beverage container assembly (10) is further connected via the beverage line (36) to the same beverage line as the pressure chambers (76) and further via a pass-through cooling system to a beverage tap (not shown). It should be noted that in the present beverage dispensing assembly (72) the pressure chambers (74) and the beverage container assembly (10) are connected in series, however, it is equally feasible to connect them in parallel to different beverage taps (not shown) or any other configuration readily conceivable by the person skilled in the art.
[0106] FIG. 12A shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a beverage container assembly (10′). The present beverage container assembly (10′) is identical to the previous beverage container assembly except that the inner bag (20′) is not integrally blow moulded together with an outer container (18), but instead the inner bag (20) constitutes the separate component which is sealed onto the cap (54). The bag is formed by two cylindrical layers of plastic which have been soldered together along its edges.
[0107] FIG. 12B shows a close-up view of the neck portion of the alternative beverage container assembly (10′).
[0108] FIG. 13A shows the alternative embodiment of the beverage container assembly (10′) when the inner bag (20′) has been folded out.
[0109] FIG. 13B shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the beverage container assembly (10′) during dispensing. It can be seen that the inner bag (20) in the present embodiment comprises three bag elements (20′A, 20′B and 20′C).
[0110] FIG. 14A shows the alternative embodiment of the beverage container assembly (10′) of the beverage dispensing. After beverage dispensing the inner bag (20) constituting the pressure space has substituted the beverage space (38).
[0111] FIG. 14B shows the alternative embodiment of the beverage container assembly (10′) in a top view after beverage dispensing. The three bags (20A, 20B, 20C) have fallen out and expanded adjacent the outer container (18), thus leaving a central beverage passage between the bags.
[0112] FIG. 15A shows a side view of a self-contained beverage container assembly (10″). The present embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment of the beverage container assembly (10) except that it includes a canister (80) filled with pressure fluid which has been adsorbed in an adsorption material. Preferably, the pressure fluid is carbon dioxide and the adsorption material is activated carbon. The cap (16′) comprises a gas passage (82) interconnecting the canister (80) and the inner bag (20″) outside the canister (80).
[0113] FIG. 15B shows a self-contained beverage container assembly (10″) during beverage filling. Beverage is filled in the beverage space between the inner bag (20″) and the outer container (18) thereby compressing the inner bag (20″) about the canister (80). The pressure space is thereby evacuated via the pressure fluid passage (68) of the cap (16′), whereas the gas passage (82) should be temporarily closed off.
[0114] FIG. 15C shows the self-contained beverage container assembly (10″) when the beverage space (38) has been completely filled by beverage. In this position the gas passage (82) is opened and the beverage passage is sealed off, whereas the pressure fluid passage is permanently sealed off.
[0115] FIG. 15D shows a self-contained beverage container assembly (10″) during dispensing. During dispensing the beverage flows out via the beverage passage (66), whereas the pressure fluid substituting the beverage space (38) flows from the canister (80) via the gas passage (82) into the pressure space (40) within the inner bag (20). The canister (80) includes sufficient pressure fluid to completely substitute beverage space (38).
[0116] FIGS. 16A to 16D show a similar embodiment to the FIGS. 15A to 15D, however, the canister has been omitted and the adsorption material including the pressure fluid has been directly inserted into the inner bag (20). The filling of the present container is preferably made in a pressurized carbon dioxide atmosphere.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0117] 10. Beverage container assembly
[0118] 12. Packaging box
[0119] 14. Lid
[0120] 16. Base unit
[0121] 18. Outer container
[0122] 20. Inner bag
[0123] 22. Body
[0124] 24. Side
[0125] 26. Bottom
[0126] 28. Top
[0127] 30. Neck
[0128] 32. Keg connector
[0129] 34. Pressure fluid line
[0130] 36. Beverage line
[0131] 38. Beverage space
[0132] 40. Pressure space
[0133] 42. Preform assembly
[0134] 44. Inner preform
[0135] 46. Outer preform
[0136] 48. Rim
[0137] 50. Beverage conduit
[0138] 52. Channels
[0139] 54. Cap
[0140] 56. Inner sealing ring
[0141] 58. Outer sealing member
[0142] 60. Rupturable seal
[0143] 62. Connecting member
[0144] 64. Piercing member
[0145] 66. Beverage passage
[0146] 68. Pressure fluid passage
[0147] 70. Cavity
[0148] 72. Beverage dispensing assembly
[0149] 74. Pressure source
[0150] 76. Pressure chambers
[0151] 78. Pass-through cooling system
[0152] 80. Canister
[0153] 82. Gas passage
