Abstract: A closure device for use with a container having a container neck comprises a cap member having a first fluid chamber and a housing having a second fluid chamber. The housing is arranged to move relative to the cap member between a first armed position and a second firing position. The housing includes a first plug member adapted to close a bottom aperture in the first fluid chamber in the first armed position. The cap member includes a second plug member adapted to close a bottom aperture in the second fluid chamber in the first armed position. In the second firing position the first plug member is removed from the aperture in the first fluid chamber and the second plug member is removed from the aperture in the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A closure device for use with a beverage container comprises a spout cap member having a top wall with a spout aperture covered by a spout cover, a side wall for securing to a neck of the container, and a plug support structure. A fluid chamber containing an additive liquid and a pressurised propellant is movably held within the spout cap member. A plug member is fixed to the plug support structure and sealingly engages a bottom aperture of the fluid chamber. The spout cover includes a strut extending through the spout aperture to an abutment surface on the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A closure device for use with a beverage container comprises a spout cap member having a top wall with a spout aperture covered by a spout cover, a side wall for securing to a neck of the container, and a plug support structure. A fluid chamber containing an additive liquid and a pressurised propellant is movably held within the spout cap member. A plug member is fixed to the plug support structure and sealingly engages a bottom aperture of the fluid chamber. The spout cover includes a strut extending through the spout aperture to an abutment surface on the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A closure device for use with a container having a container neck comprises a cap member having a first fluid chamber and a housing having a second fluid chamber. The housing is arranged to move relative to the cap member between a first armed position and a second firing position. The housing includes a first plug member adapted to close a bottom aperture in the first fluid chamber in the first armed position. The cap member includes a second plug member adapted to close a bottom aperture in the second fluid chamber in the first armed position. In the second firing position the first plug member is removed from the aperture in the first fluid chamber and the second plug member is removed from the aperture in the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A closure device with a fluid chamber containing an additive. The additive can be introduced and mixed into a liquid on the container by the closure device. The closure device includes a cap member having a fluid chamber and a housing having a plug member. The cap member is provided with a primary engagement member which engages with a corresponding primary engagement member provided on the housing to allow the cap member to be lifted relative to the housing from a closed position in which the plug member closes an aperture in the fluid chamber to an open position in which the plug member is at least partially withdrawn from the aperture, thereby allowing the additive to pass from the fluid chamber to the liquid in the bottle. The closure device enables mixing of the additive and liquid in the bottle without opening the closure.

Abstract: A closure device with a fluid chamber containing an additive. The additive can be introduced and mixed into a liquid in the container by the closure device. The closure device includes a cap member having a fluid chamber and a housing having a plug member. The cap member is provided with a primary engagement means, which engages with a corresponding primary engagement means provided on the housing to allow the cap member to be lifted relative to the housing from a closed position in which the plug member closes an aperture in the fluid chamber to an open position in which the plug member is at least partially withdrawn from the aperture, thereby allowing the additive to pass from the fluid chamber to the liquid in the bottle. The closure device enables mixing of the additive and liquid in the bottle without opening the closure.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a dispensing apparatus comprises a valve, a lever arranged to open the valve to dispense product, and variable spacer means arranged to limit the travel of the lever by a variable amount according to the relative position of the lever and the variable spacer means. The variable spacer means includes a plurality of spacer portions of differing thickness, each spacer portion being arranged to limit the travel of the lever by a predetermined amount. One spacer portion may be arranged to allow a full range of travel of the lever so that by pressing the lever fully the valve is fully opened. Another spacer portion may be arranged to allow a partial range of travel of the lever so that the valve is opened to an intermediate flow setting. Further spacer portions may be arranged to provide further intermediate flow settings.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product from a container is disclosed. The dispenser includes a product chamber within the container; a valve adjacent to the product chamber; a hinge assembly secured to the opening of the container and to which is connected a nozzle assembly; and a lever attached by means of the hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an actuator portion provided with a lever bearing surface which co-operates with a bearing portion on the lever such that operation of the lever causes movement of the actuator portion to open the valve and permit flow of the product out of the container. The nozzle assembly includes at least one dog tooth and the hinge assembly includes at least one slot, such that the valve can open only when the dog tooth is aligned with the slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for introducing an additive material (131) in the form of a liquid or granulated solid into a liquid (40) stored in a first container (150). The additive component (131) is stored separately from the liquid (40) in a dip tube or conduit (130). The dip tube (130) is a resilient hollow tubular member and has a valve (300) at one end, adapted to open when the dip tube (130) is subject to internal pressure to allow the passage of said additive material (131) therethrough. The valve prevents the additive material (131) from leaking or dripping into the liquid (40) in the first container (150) when the dip tube and first container are at the same pressure, but which allows the passage of liquid or pourable solid additive from the dip tube (130) into the liquid (40) in the first container (150) when the dip tube is pressurised by introduction of propellant fluid (116, 516).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing a product from a container (12) includes: a product chamber within the container (12); a valve (14) adjacent to the product chamber; a hinge assembly secured to the opening of the container and to which is connected a nozzle assembly (20); and a lever (18) attached by a hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly (20) is rotatable between open and closed positions and includes an actuator portion provided with a cam surface (96, 98) which co-operates with a bearing portion (100) on the lever (18) such that, when the nozzle assembly (20) is in the open position, operation of the lever (18) causes movement of the actuator portion to open the valve (14) and permit flow of the product out of the container (12).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing a product from a container (12) includes: a product chamber within the container (12); a valve (14) adjacent to the product chamber; a hinge assembly secured to the opening of the container and to which is connected a nozzle assembly (20); and a lever (18) attached by means of the hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly (20) is rotatable between open and closed positions and includes an actuator portion provided with a cam surface (96, 98) which co-operates with a bearing portion (100) on the lever (18) such that, when the nozzle assembly (20) is in the open position, operation of the lever (18) causes movement of the actuator portion to open the valve (14) and permit flow of the product out of the container (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for introducing an additive component (131) in the form of a liquid or granulated solid into a liquid (40) stored in a first container (150). The additive component (131) is stored separately from the liquid (40) in a dip tube or conduit (132). The container (150) has an opening closed by a releasable closure (152). A second container or tank (111) containing pressurized propellant fluid (116) is positioned in the neck or closure of the first container, adjacent to the opening. The dip tube or conduit (132) has a first end communicating with the tank and a second end extending down into the first liquid in the first container. The dip tube (132) contains an additive (131) which is expelled from the dip tube into the first liquid by the entry of the propellant fluid from the tank into the dip tube on release of the releasable closure.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing a product from a container (12) includes: a product chamber within the container (12); a valve (14) adjacent to the product chamber; a hinge assembly secured to the opening of the container and to which is connected a nozzle assembly (20); and a lever (18) attached by means of the hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly (20) is rotatable between open and closed positions and includes an actuator portion provided with a cam surface (96, 98) which co-operates with a bearing portion (100) on the lever (18) such that, when the nozzle assembly (20) is in the open position, operation of the lever (18) causes movement of the actuator portion to open the valve (14) and permit flow of the product out of the container (12).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus (10) for dispensing a product from a container (12) includes: a product chamber within the container (12); a valve (14) adjacent to the product chamber; a hinge assembly secured to the opening of the container and to which is connected a nozzle assembly (20); and a lever (18) attached by means of the hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly (20) is rotatable between open and closed positions and includes an actuator portion provided with a cam surface (96, 98) which co-operates with a bearing portion (100) on the lever (18) such that, when the nozzle assembly (20) is in the open position, operation of the lever (18) causes movement of the actuator portion to open the valve (14) and permit flow of the product out of the container (12).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product from a container under pressure of a propellant by means of a composite piston. The apparatus has a valve operated by means of an actuator and a lever. The actuator co-operates with the valve and lever by means of a screw thread arrangement, such that turning actuator relative to the lever varies the flow rate of product out of the apparatus. The valve is a hollow cylindrical tube which is open at one end and closed at the second end, either permanently or by means of a flap valve which allows insertion of the product. A number of ports are arranged around the circumference of the tube adjacent to the second end to allow product to flow through the valve when the lever is operated. The composite piston comprises a first piston coupled to a second piston by mutually engageable central stems and enclosing between the pistons a viscous substance which contacts the inside wall of the container to provide an effective seal.

Abstract: The method involves the steps of filling a plastic container to between 20% to 50% capacity, then filling the remaining headspace with pressurized gas, for example between 20 psi and 150 psi, and sealing the container. Once the contents have reached equilibrium, the seal is breached to produce the frothed liquid. The method, and containers, disclosed have many significant advantages over known arrangements, in particular, there are significant cost savings associated with the method and containers of the present invention.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product from a container under pressure of a propellant by means of a composite piston (138). The apparatus has a valve (104) operated by means of an actuator (108) and a lever (166). The actuator cooperates with the valve and lever, by means of a screw thread arrangement (110), such that turning actuator relative to the lever varies the flow rate of product out of the apparatus. The valve is a hollow cylindrical tube (104) which is open at one end and closed at the second end, either permanently or by means of a flap valve (112) which allows insertion of the product. A number of ports (116) are arranged around the circumference of the tube (104) adjacent to the second end to allow product to flow through the valve when the lever is operated.

Abstract: Enhancing the foam head on a bottled beverage where a pressurized container is housed within the neck of the bottle and above the level of the liquid and so arranged that upon opening of the bottle the pressurized container also opens to release the liquid stream therefrom initially to float on the top surface of the beverage in the bottle.

Abstract: A first container (60) contains a first liquid. The first container includes an opening which is closed by a releasable closure (61) and a second container (20) located in the first container (60) adjacent the opening of the first container (60). The second container (20) contains a fluid (15,16) and the second container (20) is adapted to release the fluid (15,16) into the first container (60) and into contact with the first liquid on release of the closure (61) from the first container (60).