WO2008075225A1

WO2008075225A1 - Re-carbonating device

Info

Publication number: WO2008075225A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Gormley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-18
Filing date: 2007-11-07
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-18
Also published as: GB0625158D0; US20100028515A1; CN101605469A; EP2114175A1

Abstract

A carbonated drinks container pressurizer adapter 7 which is screwed on to a conventional drinks container in place of the original bottle top, which includes a valve attachment point 9 for the purpose of allowing entry of C02 and pressure release valve 10 preset to open at a given pressure for the safe use of the adapter.

Description

Description RE-CARBONATING DEVICE

[I] This invention relates to a device that improves the quality of carbonated beverages in containers once opened.

[2] When conventional carbonated drinks bottles are opened and a part of the contents of the beverage consumed, the remaining liquid begins to lose its CO₂ content. As more of the drink is consumed, more CO₂ is lost. Generally the loss of CO₂ is most significant after half to two thirds of the contents has gone. The remaining amount of beverage is then still substantial, but not good to drink. The amount of CO₂ remaining in the beverage is also dependent on the length of time the bottle is stood without its headspace pressurized by carbon dioxide.

[3] To overcome this, the present invention proposes to supply a replacement top through which CO₂ may be delivered into the bottle (or other re-closable vessel).

[4] The top may have a protruding nozzle, enabling the easy connection of a suitable CO

2 Source.

[5] Preferably the source of the CO₂ is a CO₂ cartridge. CO₂ cartridges of the type used as bicycle tyre inflators may be used, for example.

[6] The introduction of pressurized CO₂ to the beverage will stop the evolution of CO₂ from the product (detrimental to its desired characteristic of 'fizziness') by equalizing the process of evolution by simultaneous absorption. In other words it will keep the beverage from going flat.

[7] An essential feature of this device is a valve that allows for simple connection and operation. When the CO₂ source is a bicycle tyre inflator it has a connector adapted to be coupled to a tyre valve. The replacement top likewise may have such a valve. Suitably a Schrader valve be used as it is the male connection, common to most bicycle inflators.

[8] An essential feature of this device is, it has contained within, a pressure relief valve set at x bar to allow for misuse by the general public, without any endangerment to them or others.

[9] Preferably the replacement top has a pressure relief valve to prevent over pres- surization within the container. This relief valve might typically be set between 2.068 bar and 2.413 bar.

[10] Preferably the replacement top and/or the CO₂ source comprises control means under the control of a user, for controlling the flow of CO₂ into the vessel. The control means may provide flow/no flow control and/or flow rate control.

[I I] Suitably the replacement top has means for forming and sealing connection with the neck of the bottle. Preferably it has the same such means as the top being replaced. Most commonly this will be a screw thread carried on the inside of a downwardly depending skirt.

[12] In a first aspect the present invention provides a replacement top, as defined.

[13] In a second aspect the present invention provides a vessel (preferably a bottle) containing a carbonated beverage, and fitted with said replacement top, in place of the as-supplied cap. In a third aspect a CO₂ source is coupled to the replacement top.

[14] In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of re-carbonating carbonated beverage supplied in a re-sealable vessel, including replacing the as- supplied closure of the vessel with a replacement top of the first aspect, and supplying one or more charge of CO₂ as and when required.

[15] An example of the invention will now be illustrated by referring to the accompanying drawings:

[16] Figure 1 A perspective view of the bottle top pressurizer adapter. It shows the association of the invention to the threaded bottle neck.

[17] Figure 2 A vertical section view of bottle top pressurizer adapter showing the invention internally.

[18] This adapter is designed specifically for use with a commercially available CO₂ bicycle tyre inflator, available from many high street cycle shops. These tyre inflators use a 16 gram CO₂ cartridge, which delivers the CO₂ charge. The adapter replaces the original bottle top, once the bottle has been opened. It is often the case that with carbonated beverages supplied in 1, 2 and 3 litre bottles the contents are not all consumed at once. With this invention, when an amount of the beverage has been poured, the original bottle top is discarded and the bottle top pressurizer adapter screwed onto the bottle in its place. A bicycle tyre CO₂ inflator fitted with a food grade 16 gram CO₂ cartridge is then pressed up against valve on the side of the adaptor and CO₂ is delivered either by depressing a trigger or by the inflator head being depressed which itself activates the flow of CO₂. The user may release the trigger or the inflator head as appropriate, to terminate the delivery of CO₂. Enough CO₂ is delivered to make the walls of the bottle rigid once more, or until the pressure release valve is activated. This charge of CO₂ will create an equilibrium of loss and absorption of CO₂ from the remaining liquid within the headspace of the bottle with the net effect being, no loss of effervescence (fizz) by the beverage.

[19] Figure 1 shows the adapter 2 which is representative of the present invention, associated with the bottle 1 formed from a plastic, which is common to most 1, 2 and 3 litre bottles commonly available. In fig 2 the cylindrical body of the replacement bottle top adapter 7, is hollow and has an internal thread 6 that mates up with the external thread on the bottle neck. On the underside of the top portion of this cylindrical body is a rubber seal 5 which enables an airtight seal upon closure, much as the original bottle top would provide. Protruding from this main cylindrical body is a hollow 'T' shaped tube, which allows for the delivery of the charge of CO₂. At the topmost end 4 there is fitted a pressure release valve 10 to ensure the safety of the device, and in the horizontal portion of the 'T' shaped tube at 3 there is a short core Schrader valve 9. This horizontal portion of the 'T' shaped tube 3 is the male component to which the CO₂ bicycle tyre inflator is attached.

Claims

[1] A device enabling re-carbonation of a carbonated beverage in re-sealable vessel, the device serving as a replacement of the as-supplied closure of the vessel, the device comprising means for sealing and closing the vessel and means to permit delivery into the thus-sealed vessel of CO₂ from a pressurised source thereof.

[2] A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes means for preventing over pressurisation within the vessel.

[3] A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means to permit delivery of CO₂ is a valve adapted to be coupled with the outlet of a CO₂ cartridge.

[4] A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve adapted to be coupled to the outlet of a CO₂ cartridge is a bicycle tyre valve, and the CO₂ cartridge to be coupled to it is a bicycle tyre inflator.

[5] A vessel containing a carbonated beverage, the vessel having its pouring opening sealed by a device as claimed in any preceding claim.

[6] A vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the device has connected to it a CO₂ cartridge.

[7] A method of re-carbonating a beverage in a vessel, comprising replacing the as- supplied closure of the vessel with a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, connecting a CO₂ cartridge thereto, and supplying from it one or more charges of CO₂ as and when required.

[8] A device which is a bottle pressurizing adaptor which replaces original bottle top and allows pressurization by means of a CO₂ bicycle tyre inflator, delivering carbon dioxide into bottles containing carbonated drinks by way of a Schrader valve male connector, and preventing discharge of thereof from them, whilst maintaining safety from over pressurization by means of a pressure release valve.

[9] A device, vessel or method of the present invention substantially as herein before described with particular reference to the accompanying examples and drawings.