SELF-DISPENSING CONTAINER
A self-dispensing container of carbonated product comprising a hollow body ( 10 ) having a filling aperture, a carbonated product inserted into the hollow body ( 10 ) via the filling aperture, leaving a headspace, and a lid ( 20 ) adapted to seal the filling aperture after insertion of the carbonated product wherein, after sealing, the headspace fills with CO 2 from the carbonated product to equalise the pressure within the container. The container further includes a valve ( 30 ) having open and closed positions, wherein the valve ( 30 ) communicates between a valve inlet ( 35 ) on the inside of the container and a dispensing orifice 60 on the outside of the container, and in use the container is orientated so that the valve inlet 35 is submerged in the carbonated product and when the valve is in its open position, the CO 2 in the headspace dispenses the carbonated product through the dispensing orifice ( 60 ).
1 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product comprising:
a hollow body,
a carbonated product located in the hollow body, leaving a headspace,
a top coupled to the hollow body such that, after sealing, CO2 enters the headspace from the carbonated product to equalize the pressure within the container, and
a valve having open and closed positions, the valve being configured (i) to communicate between a valve inlet on the inside of the container and a dispensing orifice on the outside of the container, and (ii) such that in use the valve inlet is submerged in the carbonated product and when the valve is in its open position, and the CO2 in the headspace dispenses the carbonated product through the dispensing orifice.
2 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is located in the top.
3 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the top is made from a conventional beverage end shell having a pressure performance of less than 105 psi.
4 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is located on the bottom of the hollow body.
5 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing orifice lies substantially flat against or recessed into the outside surface of the container.
6 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 5 , wherein the valve is connected to a spout adapted to be extended upon opening.
7 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 2 , wherein the valve is a tilt valve and a user tilts the valve to expose one or more small holes forming the valve inlet to open the valve and dispense the carbonated product.
8 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the product contains 3-4 vols of carbon dioxide to ensure that the carbon dioxide is able to dispense the product from the container in a series of doses.
9 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according claim 8 , wherein the CO2 is able to dispense the product from the can at temperatures between 2° C. and 35° C.
10 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the internal volume of the container is filled to 70-90% of its capacity and the unfilled space defines the headspace.
11 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the carbonated product is a fizzy drink.
12 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein a dip tube is connected to the valve inlet and allows use without inverting the beverage container.
13 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 1 , wherein the container is a thin walled beverage container, having the hollow body with at least one open end and the top is a conventional beverage end adapted to seal the open end of the body after filling.
14 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 13 , wherein the thin walled beverage container is made of metal and the end is joined to the open end of the hollow body using conventional seaming techniques.
15 . A self-dispensing container of carbonated product according to claim 14 , wherein the thin walled beverage container body has a pressure performance of less than 105 psi.