Patents by Inventor Derek C. Lockington

Derek C. Lockington has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5863577
    Abstract: A beverage package and a method of forming such a package defines a primary chamber containing an insert defining a secondary chamber. The insert has a seating in the form of a bore within which is received the lower end of a tube which is fitted to the insert. When the package is charged with beverage such as beer having gas in solution and sealed to form a headspace containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, beer from the primary chamber fills the tube. The secondary chamber contains beverage and gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and on opening the container the headspace de-pressurises causing beverage and gas from the secondary chamber to be ejected through the tube. A restricted aperture between the bottom end of the tube and an opposing wall of the insert causes froth to be developed in the beverage in the secondary chamber as the beverage flows into the bottom end of the tube. The frothy beverage then flows through the tube into the headspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Guinness Brewing Worldwide Limited
    Inventors: Francis Joseph Lynch, Robert Purdham, Derek C. Lockington
  • Patent number: 5571548
    Abstract: A beverage package and a method of forming such a package has a can 1 within a primary chamber 5 of which is located an insert 6 having a secondary chamber 10. The insert has a seating in the form of a bore 11 within which is received the lower end of a tube 15. The tube 15 is fitted to the insert whilst the latter is positioned in the can. When the can is charged with beverage such as beer 20 having gas in solution and sealed to form a headspace 21 containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric, beer from the chamber 20 may fill the tube 15. The secondary chamber 10 contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and on opening the container the headspace 21 de-pressurises causing beverage and/or gas from the secondary chamber to be ejected through the tube 15 and such ejection causes froth to be developed in the headspace 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Guiness Brewing Worldwide Limited
    Inventors: Francis J. Lynch, Derek C. Lockington, Robert Purdham
  • Patent number: 5514393
    Abstract: A beverage package has a can 1 within a primary chamber 5 to which is located an insert 6 having a secondary chamber 10. The insert has a bore 11 within which is received a lower end of a capilliary tube 15. The can 1 contains beverage such as beer 20 having gas in solution and sealed to form a headspace 21 containing gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric. The tube 15 contains beverage and its upper end opens into the headspace 21. The secondary chamber 10 contains gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric and on opening of the container the headspace 21 de-pressurises causing beverage and/or gas from the chamber 10 to displace beverage through the restriction of the capilliary tube 15 directly into the headspace 21 causing froth to develop in the headspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Guinness Brewing Worldwide Limited
    Inventors: Francis J. Lynch, Robert Purdham, Derek C. Lockington
  • Patent number: 5481847
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, placing an elongated insert 1 in a can 2 through a narrow top opening 6 has a head assembly 10 formed by a sleeve 21 slidable over a core 20. The core 20 has an inclined end face 23 with a vacuum suction port 25. The insert 1 is picked up from a delivery chute by vacuum suction through port 25 to be held on the end face 23 in a first orientation. The head assembly 10 is displaced with the insert attached thereto and moved into the can 2 whilst maintaining the insert 1 in its first orientation. The insert abuts the can base 3 and the sleeve 21 is displaced over the core 20 to abut the insert 1 and pivot the insert on the base 3 into a second position of orientation in which the opposed ends of the insert frictionally engage the can side wall 4 to retain the insert in the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Guinness Brewing Worldwide Limited
    Inventor: Derek C. Lockington