AU709488B2 - Beverage frothing - Google Patents

Description

P:\OPER\SSB\1953842.RES 23/6199 -1- BEVERAGE FROTHING This invention relates to generating a foaming dispersion of bubbles within a liquid packed within a sealed, broachable container. It is particularly, though not exclusively, suited for use with canned or otherwise packaged beverages, for example beer, ale, 9*,*99 porter, stout or lager, to produce a close knit, creamy head on th n e beverage when the sealed beverage is 2 opened.

ego According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a device for inclusion in a pressurised beverage container for jetting gas into the beverage upon opening the container, the device consisting of only two components joined together to define an internal chamber, spaced first and second permanently open orifices, the internal chamber being adapted to contain pressurised gas and a quantity of liquid prior to firing of the device when the container is opened in which the second orifice communicates with the internal chamber through a standpipe which, immediately prior to firing of the device, opens into the internal chamber below the surface level of the liquid held within the device and in which, upon firing, liquid from within the device is forced towards the second orifice such 0 r that the pressurised gas from the internal chamber is "lexpelled preferentially through the first orifice into P:;\OPER\SSB\1953842. RES 23/6/99 2 the beverage.

The present invention also provides a pressurised beverage container having therein a device for releasing pressurised gas into liquid contents of the container when the container is opened to the atmosphere, the device having an internal chamber containing a liquid and a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a first orifice opening into the beverage held within the container, and a second orifice and in which the second orifice opens into a passageway, the passageway providing communication between the second orifice and a position in the internal chamber below the surface level of the liquid held therein, wherein the liquid held within the device is moved by the pressurised gas upon opening of the container along a passageway to contact the second o: orifice.

20 The liquid within the internal chamber is preferably a beverage which has been transferred to the internal chamber from the container.

The second orifice may open directly into the headspace above the liquid in the container.

Preferably the second orifice opens into the 99g 9 .chamber through a passageway which opens close to but spaced from a wall of the chamber below the level of the beverage in the container. A corresponding passageway may extend from the first orifice to open close to but spaced from a wall of the chamber above the level of the beverage in the container.

The device, preferably, may be reversible so that ~the first orifice and the second orifice are P:\OPER\SSB\1 953842.RES 23/6/99 2A interchangeable in function.

The f irst permanently and/or second orifices may be 9 9* 9 9. 9 9 9e 9.

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9 9 9*99 .9 9 9 9 9.9 9 9. 9 9* .9 9 9 L "it '17 P:\OPER\SSB\57712-96. RE 6/11/98 -3open and provide permanent fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the device.

The device may be buoyant in the liquid or may be fixed in position in the container; it may be weighted to assume a desired position with respect to the liquid beverage in the container.

Reference to positions being relatively "above" or "below" are references to such relative positions in relation to the device as intended to be orientated within a beverage container when the beverage container is opened.

In one preferred embodiment, the device is disposed in the container to extend partially within the liquid and partially in a gas filled head space above the liquid when the container is in its normal attitude for opening.

'..The first and/or second passageway of an embodiment S"of a device of the present invention may comprise a respective orifice, which may be a restricted orifice, passing through the peripheral wall. Where 25 each of the first and second passageways is provided with a respective first and second orifice, these Corifices may be substantially the same size and may have substantially the same cross-sectional area.

30 The first and/or second passageway may be defined by a respective projection extending into the internal chamber from an internal surface of the peripheral wall. The first and/or second passageway may be defined by the internal surface or surfaces of its respective projection which may be provided in the form of a tube or pipe.

P:\OPER\SSB\57712-96.RES 6/11/98 4 An embodiment of the device may be provided in the form of a first member and a separate second member which are assemblable together to define the peripheral wall. The first passageway may pass through a wall of the first member and the second passageway may pass through a wall of the second member. A respective projection may be provided integral with the first and/or second member to define a respective first and/or second passageway when the members are assembled.

In one embodiment, the first member is provided in the form of a cup shaped member and the second member is provided in the form of a cap.

In an alternative embodiment, each of the first and second members is provided in the form of a cup shaped member.

20 The first and second members are preferably *assemblable together by means of a snap fit connection; preferably, they are assembled in a substantially sealed arrangement with respect to each other.

An embodiment of the device may be provided substantially of a plastics material. It may be, for example, injection moulded or blow moulded. The passageways may be an integral part of the device.

S 30 The first and/or second orifices (when provided) may be moulded into the device during its manufacture; alternatively, one or more of them may be provided by piercing, drilling, or cutting either mechanically or by means of a laser.

Preferably, one or each of the orifices is provided as a substantially circular orifice having a diameter P:\OPER\SSB\57712-96.RES 6/11/98 5 in the range 0.1mm to 0.6mm and, more preferably, in the range 0.1mm to 0.4mm.

One or each of the passageways may be provided in the form of a tube extending into the interior of the device. In this case, the or each tube may be substantially circular in cross-section and may have internal diameter in the range 1mm to 10mm, and preferably in the range 2mm to 6mm. The tubes may be co-linear.

When the container is arranged in an orientation in which it is to be opened, the device is preferably arranged such that the second position at which the first passageway emerges at the exterior of the device is positioned below a surface level of the beverage in the container and the fourth position at which the second passageway emerges at the exterior of the device is above the surface level of the 20 beverage in the container.

The device may float at the surface of the beverage in a partially submerged position. It may be weighted or restrained so that it assumes a desired partially 25 submerged position with respect to the surface level of the beverage.

9* An embodiment of the device may have an internal confining wall spaced from and positioned around the first passageway. The liquid within the device may be retained within the confines of the confining wall.

Preferably, the device is substantially rigid.

35 An embodiment of the device may comprise a retainer fc or stabiliser to prevent or limit movement of the I device within the container. This retainer may P:\OPER\SSB\57712-96. RES 6/11/98 6 contact the internal surface of the container to prevent movement of the device. Alternatively, the retainer may be arranged to limit the amount of possible movement of the device within the container.

The retainer may take the form of a ring, skirt or attachment attached to the **7 *i i P:\OPER\SSB\1953842.RES 23/6/99 7 periphery of the device. The retainer may be deformable. It may have a first configuration in which it is inserted into the container and a second configuration at which it secures the device within the container. It may be a snap fit within the container.

The device may have an elongate, for example, cylindrical form, the length of the device being substantially as wide as the container to restrict its possible movement within the container.

The device may be made of a suitable material to prevent it making excessive noise when contacting or colliding with the inside container. For example, it 15 may be made of a soft deformable plastics material or have a soft or deformable plastics portion or portions.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating a dispersion 20 of bubbles within a beverage comprising the steps of: a) providing a device within a sealed, pressurised beverage container, the device consisting of only two components joined together to define an 25 internal chamber provided with spaced first and second permanently open orifices; ooe b) arranging for the internal chamber of the device to contain pressurised gas and a quantity of liquid immediately prior to opening the container, the first orifice being located below the level of liquid in the device and the second orifice being located above the liquid in the device; c) and the device is disposed in the container o, to extend partially within the liquid and partially in YS\ a gas filled head space above the liquid and the second P:\OPER\SSB\1953842.RES 23/6/99 -8orifice is located above the liquid in the container when the container is in its normal attitude for opening and further providing a passageway extending from the second orifice to a point below the level of liquid in the device and arranging that, upon opening of the container, a quantity of the liquid held within the device is moved by the pressurised gas along the passageway to contact the second orifice so that pressurised gas from the internal chamber is jetted preferentially from the internal chamber through the first orifice into the beverage in the container.

Preferably, the container is only partially filled with the beverage and the top of the container is dosed with liquid nitrogen prior to sealing to provide a gas filled head space. The device is preferably arranged S•to assume a position partially in the beverage and partially in the head space. The first passageway may 2.emerge at the exterior of the peripheral wall below the 20 surface level of the liquid and the second passageway may emerge at the exterior of the peripheral wall above the surface level of the liquid.

The device may be substantially filled with a non- S 25 oxidising gas, for example, nitrogen, prior to insertion in the container. The non-oxidising gas may be forced into the device through the first passageway S"to expel gas previously in the device through the second passageway to purge the device.

The device may be positioned in the container prior to or after the beverage has been placed in the container.

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WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 9 1 2 Pressure in the container may be increased as a result 3 of evaporation of liquid nitrogen once sealed and/or 4 release of gas from the beverage due to the beverage being supersaturated with gas and/or raising the 6 temperature of the beverage, for example, during 7 pasteurisation.

8 9 When the pressure within the container is increased, gas from the primary head space at the top of the 11 container is preferably forced through the second 12 orifice and/or second passageway into the device and 13 some beverage is forced through the first orifice 14 and/or first passageway into the device. When the pressure stabilises, beverage within the device 16 preferably assumes an internal beverage level between 17 the first and third position with a secondary, 18 pressurised, gas filled head space above the internal 19 beverage level within the device.

21 In this configuration, the first passageway provides 22 fluid communication between the first position (within 23 the secondary head space) and the second position at 24 the exterior of the insert (below the beverage level in the container). The second passageway provides fluid 26 communication between the third position (within the 27 internal chamber below the internal beverage level) and 28 the fourth position at the exterior of the insert 29 (above the beverage level in the container).

31 When the container is broached, gas from the secondary 32 head space within the internal chamber is preferably 33 forced through the first passageway into the beverage 34 to generate a dispersion of bubbles. Beverage from within the device may be forced out of the device 36 through the second passageway.

WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 1 The or each passageway may be provided as standpipes 2 which provide a liquid lock/gas lock in the device.

3 4 Embodiment of the device will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 6 drawings of which: 7 8 Fig.l shows a first embodiment of a device in 9 cross-section prior to insertion in a container; 11 Fig.2 shows the device of Fig 1 inserted in a 12 partially filled beverage container 13 prior to sealing of the container; 14 Fig.3 shows the arrangement of Fig.2 once the container has been sealed and 16 pressurised; 17 Fig.4 show the arrangement of Fig.3 when the 18 container is opened; 19 Fig.5 shows the arrangement of Fig.4 once gas has been jetted from the device into the 21 beverage; 22 Fig.6 shows an alternative device in cross- 23 section; 24 Fig.7 shows a further alternative device in cross-section; 26 Fig.8 shows the arrangement of Fig.7 at an 27 initial stage of firing the device; 28 Fig.9 shows the arrangement of Fig.7 and Fig.8 29 at a subsequent stage of firing the device; 31 Fig.10, Fig.ll, Fig.12, and Fig.13 show various 32 retainers for the device; and 33 Fig.14 shows a further form of device.

34 The substantially cylindrical device 10 of Fig.l 36 comprises a first cup shaped member 11 attached to a RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91)

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WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 11 1 second member 12 in the form of a cap. The members are 2 joined by a circumferential snap fit 14 connection 3 (which also provides a seal) and together provide a 4 peripheral wall 15 which defines an internal chamber 16 within the device 10. In this embodiment the cap 12 6 provides a base portion 17 of the device and a top 7 portion 18 of the device is provided by the cup shaped 8 member 11.

9 The device 10 is provided as a separate hollow insert 11 for inclusion in a beverage container. It is 12 preferably provided containing a non-oxidising gas at 13 substantially atmospheric pressure.

14 A first extension tube or standpipe 19 is formed 16 integrally with the cap 12 and defines a first 17 passageway 20 which provides fluid communication from a 18 first position 1 within the internal chamber 16 to a 19 second position 2 at the exterior of the base portion 17 of the device. The first passageway 20 is provided 21 with a first restricted orifice 21 where it passes 22 through the peripheral wall 15 of the device.

23 24 A second extension tube or standpipe 22 is formed integrally with the cup shaped member 11 and defines a 26 second passageway 23 which provides fluid communication 27 from a third position 3 within the internal chamber 16, 28 spaced from and positioned below the first position 1, 29 and a fourth position 4 at the exterior of the top portion 18 of the device, spaced from and positioned 31 above the second position 2. The second passageway 23 32 is provided with a second restricted orifice 24 where 33 it passes through the peripheral wall 15 of the device.

34 36 Each of the first and second members 11, 12 forming the WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 12 1 device 10 is moulded from a plastics material. The 2 device 10 is substantially rigid when assembled.

3 4 One or each of the orifices 21, 24 may be moulded integrally with the device, formed in some other way or 6 provided as a separate insert. Each orifice has 7 substantially the same cross-section.

8 9 In this embodiment, each of the extension tubes 19, 22 extends a similar distance into the interior of the 11 device. The device is adapted to float either way up 12 at the surface of a beverage in a container.

13 14 In use, the device 10 is flushed with nitrogen gas and dropped into a container in the form of a can 25. The 16 can 25 is partially filled with a beverage, in this 17 case a beer 26 supersaturated with gas, from a filler 18 head (not shown) in the usual way. As illustrated in 19 Fig 2, the device 10 floats at a surface level 27 of the beer 26 within the can 25 such that it is partially 21 submerged, the first orifice 21 of the first passageway 22 20 being below the surface level 27 of the beer within 23 the container and the second orifice 24 of the second 24 passageway 23 being above the surface level 27 of the beer within the container.

26 27 The top of the can 25 is then dosed with liquid 28 nitrogen and the can is seamed in the usual way. The 29 liquid nitrogen evaporates creating a nitrogen filled primary head space 28 in the sealed can. As more 31 nitrogen evaporates the internal pressure in the can 32 rises and gas from the primary head space 28 is forced 33 into the device 10 through the second orifice 24 and 34 the second passageway 23. Beer 26 is also forced into the device through the first orifice 21 and the first 36 passageway 20, but much more slowly.

WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 13 1 When the pressure inside the can stabilises, the device 2 is left partially filled with beer with an internal, 3 secondary head space 29 filled with gas at a pressure 4 substantially equal to that within the primary head space 28. As show in Fig.3, the internal beverage 6 level 30 lies between the first 1 and third 3 positions 7 such that the first passageway 20 emerges into the 8 secondary head space 29 and the second passageway 23 9 emerges below the internal beverage level 11 The beverage container may be pasteurised in a way 12 known in the art; this may involve inversion of the 13 container.

14 Operation of the device relies on the phenomenon that a 16 gas will pass much more quickly (at the greater flow 17 rate) than a liquid through a similar restricted 18 orifice when subjected to the same pressure.

19 The sealed can 25 is broached or opened by, for 21 example, operation of a can ring pull (not shown).

22 This causes the pressure in the primary head space 28 23 to drop rapidly to atmospheric pressure. At this time, 24 pressure within the device 10 is greater than atmospheric pressure thus creating a pressure 26 differential across each of the orifices 21, 24.

27 Consequently, gas trapped within the second passageway 28 23 between the internal beverage level 30 and the 29 second orifice 24 is expelled from the second orifice 24. At the same time, liquid trapped within the first 31 passageway 20 is expelled from the first orifice 21 32 into the beer 26.

33 34 Once all the gas initially trapped within the second passageway has been expelled, beer from the internal 36 chamber within the device 10 is forced up the second WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 14 1 passageway 23 (as shown in Fig. 4) due to the pressure 2 differential between the internal chamber 16 and the 3 exterior of the device. The liquid beer contacts the 4 second orifice 24 and is forced therethrough but at a lesser rate that gas is forced through the orifice due 6 to its greater viscosity with respect to the gas.

7 During this time, all of the beer initially trapped in 8 the first passageway 20 is expelled and gas from the 9 secondary head space 29 is jetted through the first passageway 20 and the first orifice 21 into the beer 11 within the container. At this point, the pressure 12 differential across each of the orifices is 13 substantially equal but gas is expelled from the first 14 orifice 21 preferentially to liquid being expelled from the second orifice 24 due to the relative ease of 16 passage of the gas through the first orifice 21 as 17 compared with the passage of liquid through the second 18 orifice 24. In fact, the gravitational weight of the 19 liquid trapped within the second passageway 23 will tend to reduce the pressure differential across the 21 second orifice 24 as compared to that across the first 22 orifice 21.

23 24 In effect, the pressure of the gas in the secondary head space 29 forces beer from the bottom of the device 26 up through the second passageway 23 and through the 27 second orifice 24 but also forces gas from the top of 28 the device preferentially through the first passageway 29 20 and out through the first orifice 21 into the beer 26 to cause the desired effect. In this way, the beer 31 initially held within the device 10 acts together with 32 the second passageway 23 to restrict flow of liquid 33 from the internal chamber 16 directly in to the gas 34 filled head space 28 above the beverage and provides flow of gas from the internal chamber 16 through the 36 first orifice 21 in preference to flow of liquid WO 96/36545 PCT/B96/01190 1 through the second orifice 24.

2 3 Preferably, the flow of gas from the first orifice 21 4 into the beer 25 only seeds bubble and head formation at the top of the beer; this can help to reduce 6 gushing. The rest of the beer 26 is preferably seeded 7 as it is poured out of the can 25, for example into a 8 glass.

9 Nearly all of the beer originally held within the 11 device is pumped out during this process, as 12 illustrated in 13 14 Fig.6 shows an alternative device 60 that operates in a similar way; the main differences between this and the 16 previously described embodiment are as follows.

17 18 This device 60 is substantially spherical and comprises 19 first and second cup shaped member 61, 62; it is intended to float only one way up. The device 60 is 21 weighted with its centre of gravity in the second 22 (lower) hemisphere 62 such that it is self-righting 23 when floating in liquid.

24 The first extension tube 69 does not extend as far into 26 the internal chamber 66 as the second extension tube 27 72. This does not hinder operation as, since the 28 device is always orientated the same way up (ie as 29 shown when in use) the internal beverage level (not shown) within the internal chamber 66 when pressurised 31 is arranged to be below the end of the first extension 32 tube 69. Reducing the length the first extension tube 33 69 extends upwards into the internal chamber 66 also 34 reduces the quantity of beer which collects in this tube 69 during pressurisation and hence reduces the 36 quantity of beer that must be ejected from the tube 69 WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 16 1 before gas from the secondary internal head space can 2 be expelled.

3 4 Since the orientation of the device 60 is predetermined, the two orifices 71, 74 may be designed 6 to be hydrophobic in the appropriate directions to 7 improve performance.

8 9 Fig.7, Fig.8 and Fig.9 show a further alternative device, which operates on a similar principle to the 11 previously described devices.

12 13 The device 80 is substantially spherical; it is made 14 from two hemispheres of different wall thickness and is weighted so that it always floats on the liquid 16 beverage 86 in a can (not shown) with a first orifice 17 81 below the surface level 87 of the beverage 86 and a 18 second orifice 84 above the surface level 87.

19 The device 80 may be placed in a can before filling the 21 can with beverage, for example using a volumetric 22 filler, or between the can being filled and sealed.

23 24 With this device, a first extension tube 89 extends only a very small distance into the interior of the 26 device. A second extension tube 92 extends co-linearly 27 to the first extension tube 89 from the second orifice 28 84 t6 a position slightly above the first extension 29 tube.

31 The first and second orifices are substantially the 32 same size; when the can containing the device 80 is 33 pressurised, the ratio of gas forced into the device 34 through the second orifice 84 to liquid forced into the orifice through the first orifice 81 is about 20:1.

36 Consequently, only a small amount of beverage enters WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 17 1 and is retained within the device but the arrangement 2 is such that the second extension tube 92 opens into 3 the device at a position below the surface level of 4 beverage held within the device.

6 Once the pressure inside the can and the device has 7 initially stabilised further pressure fluctuation can 8 occur, for example during storage, due to temperature 9 changes. The gas inside the device will expand and contract accordingly but this process is reversible; 11 gas is not displaced from the device as the first 12 orifice 81 and the passageway 92 to the second orifice 13 84 are covered with liquid inside the device. Because 14 of this, the device will always contain (until the can is opened) only the liquid that was forced into the 16 device during initial pressure equalisation. This 17 liquid also contributes to the stability of the device 18 as it is retained within the boundary of a confining 19 wall 100 provided as an integral part of the device.

This also helps to maintain the centre of gravity of 21 the device towards its base.

22 23 As shown in Fig.8, when the can is opened to atmosphere 24 by pulling its ring pull (not shown) the pressure of the headspace above the beverage in the can reduces 26 rapidly to atmospheric pressure. The pressurised gas 27 within the device forces the liquid held within the 28 device upwardly through the passageway 92 towards the 29 second orifice 84 and also force a small amount of liquid out of the device through the first orifice 84.

31 32 33 Referring to Fig. 9, once the liquid level inside the 34 device drops below the end of the first tube 89 liquid trapped in the second tube 92 continues to be pushed up 36 this tube but gas is forced preferentially through the WO 96/36545 PCT/GB96/01190 18 1 first orifice 81 into the body of the beverage 86 to 2 produce the desired effect. This process takes only a 3 fraction of a second due to the tiny amount of beverage 4 that originally enters the device. All of the excess pressure within the device is vented during firing and 6 very little beverage is retained in the device after 7 firing.

8 9 In a further embodiment (not shown) the device is provided without a first tube 89 so that the first 11 orifice 81 opens directly into the inside of the 12 device.

13 14 Fig. 10 shows a retainer 121 attached to a device 120 to stabilise the device in the can and prevent it from 16 making excessive noise when bumping into the can wall.

17 The retainer 121 comprises a skirt or "saturn ring" 18 around the device 120 to limit the extent of movement 19 of the device 120 within its container. As shown in the plan view of Fig.11 the retainer 121 is attached to 21 the device 120 by means of a plurality of arms 122.

22 The arms and the retainer are formed as an integral 23 moulded part of the device; when the device is provided 24 in two parts the retainer can be provided on either of the parts.

26 27 Fig.12 and Fig.13 show an alternative retainer 28 comprising a pair of wings which extend outwardly from 29 a body of the device 130. The wings are provided with orifices 133 therein and extend only partially around 31 the periphery of the device 130.

32 33 The retainer may be adapted to contact the inside 34 surface of the container to hold the device within the container. Preferably, however, the retainer does not 36 fix the device within the can but simply reduces P:\OPER\SSB\57712-96.RES 6/11/98 19 rattle; the retainer may be arranged to allow the device to turn itself over within the can so that it assumes its correct orientation.

In a further alternative, the device may be made of soft plastics material or have soft plastics portions to reduce the noise of collision of the device with the inside of the container. In this case, the material or a portion of material is arranged to be rigid enough to hold the two parts of the device together by means of a snap fit when the device is provided in this form.

Fig. 14 shows an alternative form for a device 140 in which the device is substantially cylindrical and is adapted to be arranged such that the length of the cylinder lies across the width of the container. The S. device is arranged such that the cylinder is substantially as wide as the container so as to limit the amount of movement of the device 140 within the container, for example, when the container is shaken.

S..

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of 5 integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other e: integer or step or group of integers or steps.

SSS*

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Claims (11)

1. A device for inclusion in a pressurised beverage container for jetting gas into the beverage upon opening the container, the device consisting of only two components joined together to define an internal chamber, spaced first and second permanently open orifices, the internal chamber being adapted to contain pressurised gas and a quantity of liquid prior to firing of the device when the container is opened in which the second orifice communicates with the internal chamber through a standpipe which, immediately prior to firing of the device, opens into the internal chamber below the surface level of the liquid held within the device and in which, upon firing, liquid from within the device is forced towards the second orifice such that the pressurised '..gas from the internal chamber is expelled preferentially through the first orifice into the beverage.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the first orifice communicates with the internal chamber through a standpipe adapted to limit the amount of liquid expelled through the first orifice upon firing S.prior to gas being expelled through the first orifice.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the standpipes are substantially co-linear.

4. A device in accordance with any preceding claim in which the device is reversible so that the first ~i \and second orifices are interchangeable in function. 21 A pressurised beverage container containing a device in accordance with any preceding claim.

6. A pressurised beverage container having therein a device for releasing pressurised gas into liquid contents of the container when the container is opened to the atmosphere, the device having an internal chamber containing a liquid and a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a first orifice opening into the beverage held within the container, and a second orifice and in which the second orifice opens into a passageway, the passageway providing communication between the second orifice and a position in the internal chamber below the surface 9 15 level of the liquid held therein, wherein the liquid held within the device is moved by the pressurised gas upon opening of the container along a passageway to contact the second orifice. a..

7. A pressurised container in accordance with claim 6 in which the device is disposed in the container to *Eo extend partially within the liquid and partially in a gas filled head space above the liquid when the container is in its normal attitude for opening.

8. A pressurised container in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the liquid within the internal chamber of the device is beverage which has been transferred to the internal chamber from the container. 22

9. A method of generating a dispersion of bubbles within a beverage comprising the steps of: a) providing a device within a sealed, pressurised beverage container, the device consisting of only two components joined together to define an internal chamber provided with spaced first and second permanently open orifices; b) arranging for the internal chamber of the device to contain pressurised gas and a quantity of liquid immediately prior to opening the container, the first orifice being located below the level of liquid in the device and the second orifice being located above the liquid in the device; c) and the device is disposed in the container 15 to extend partially within the liquid and partially in a gas filled head space above the liquid and the i: second orifice is located above the liquid in the container when the container is in its normal attitude for opening and further providing a passageway extending from the second orifice to a point below the level of liquid in the device and arranging that, upon opening of the container, a quantity of the liquid S: held within the device is moved by the pressurised gas along the passageway to contact the second orifice so that pressurised gas from the internal chamber is jetted preferentially from the internal chamber through the first orifice into the beverage in the container.

10. A device for inclusion in a pressurised beverage container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ,ti~I jy 4 23

11. A pressurised beverage container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of generating a dispersion of bubbles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 23rd day of June 1999 Scottish Nerwcastle Plc By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE .9 9 9 999* 9 .9 9 .9 9 9 9. S 99 9 .9. 9 9* 9*9* 9 9 .9 9 9 9 99 i