GB2332413A - Packaged beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

An in-container device (16) such as a widget, head generation device, or cooling device has fixing means for mechanical attachment to complementary fixing means at an end (14) or side wall (12) of a container (10). The fixing means may include a deformable/non-deformable rivet (18) which is integral to either the container (10) or the device (16). The container (10) may be imperforate in the region where the device (16) is fixed. One of the device (16) or container (10) may comprise an engagement member (40) which engages a surface provided on the other of them (44). The device (16) may have a contact portion (48) around its periphery which is urged continuously against the container (10). The device (16) may have deformable projections to locate the device (16) in the container. The device (16) may have gripping means (102). The device (16) may be held in a groove (30) defined by a foot of the container. The device (16) or container (10) may be swaged or crimped together.

Description

2332413 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKAGED BEVERAGES This

invention relates to improvements in packaged beverages, for 5 example those that contain a widget, or other insert.

Widgets, or head generation devices/initiators, are well-known, and have been for many years now. They are provided in a can in different ways: they are held to the side walls of the can by being an interference friction fit with the side walls, or they are glued to the base of the can, or they are free-floating.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a packaged beverage comprising a container having side walls and an end wall, beverage held in the container, and a widget provided in the container, the widget having fixing means and the end wall having complementary fixing means, the widget being held to the base wall by the mechanical cooperation of the fixing means and the complementary fixing means.

Preferably the end wall is the base wall of the container.

The container may have a top wall and if the end wall is the top wall of the container the widget itself may be provided near the top wall, or still may be provided near the bottom wall, or middle of the container, and may or may not be attached to the top wall.

Preferably the container is a can. The beverage is preferably a carbonated and/or nitrogenated beverage, and is preferably beer (by "beer" we mean beer proper, ale, stout, lager, porter, cider or the like, and include non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks).

2 A widget is, of course, a device adapted to generate a head on the beverage dispensed from the container by initiating the release of dissolved gas in the beverage during dispense. The invention may also be applicable to attaching other in-can devices to cans /containers. For example, devices for cooling a can are known and we may replace 66 widget" with "in-can device" (or in-container device), such as a cooling device.

Although gluing widgets, to the domed base wall of a can works, and produces good results, we have appreciated with hindsight that it has some disadvantages.

Obtaining a glue that is food-safe, reliable, and cheap is not easy.

Applying that glue to the widget and/or can is not easy. Transporting a widget with glue on it to a can body and inserting the widget and applying it to the can in such a way as to achieve a good connection is not easy. All of the above are achievable, but cause difficulty. This difficulty is exacerbated by the desire to run can-production lines at high speeds. The steps discussed above slow the speed at which a can production line can run repeatedly reliably without too many rejects. Furthermore, when a widget plus glue has successfully been applied to a can body we cannot fill the can with beer immediately. The glue needs time to set/harden, and we may not be able to use the can for 30 minutes or so, or even for several hours. It is not desirable to have such a bottle-neck in the production of completed, filled, cans of beer. We may be able to fill cans and apply can ends to seal filled cans at, say, 800 to 2000 cans per minute, but we may only be able to produce cans at, say, 350 to 400 a minute. This means that we either have to have several can-producing lines for each can filling line, or operate the can-producing line(s) at 3 times when the can filling line is stopped, and stockpile can bodies with widgets applied.

By mechanically fixing widgets to the can the problems of applying 5 glue and waiting for it to set are avoided.

A problem with securing widgets in cans by relying on friction fit between the widget and the side walls of the can is that in some circumstances it can leave visible indentations on the side walls (e.g. if a can gets pressure applied to its side walls a rigid widget can act as a strut and the wall may deform near the widget in circumstances where if there were no widget the can wall would spring back and be unharmed). Getting a circular widget through the mouth of a can body when the widget is the same diameter as the can may not be easy, Pushing a widget right down to the bottom of a can body gives an opportunity for the sidewall friction fit widget to twist and not grip the can properly.

We simply do not like the floating widgets (at present). They are usually made from two components which are joined together. This is more expensive to produce than a one-component widget. Furthermore, because they float they do not release bubbles upwards, from the top of the widget, which travel through the body of the beer. Instead they have to "jet" bubbles downwards into the beer, and this requires a higher pressure, which is undesirable.

Preferably, the fixing means of the container may comprise a rivet.

The rivet may be a separate component to the container, or to the widget, or separate to both the container and widget. The rivet may be 4 made of metal, or plastics material. It may be deformable without applying heat, or heat may be applied to it to assist in its deformation.

One or both of the widget or container may comprise an engagement member which engages a surface provided on the other of them. The engagement member may have an abutment surface which is in abutment contact with said surface on said other of the widget or container and the engagement surface and said surface engage in a plane which is transverse to the axial direction of the container so as to resist relative axial movement of the engagement surface away from the portion of the container to which the widget is affixed.

The engagement member may be deformable/have been deformed during production. The said surface on the other of the widget or container may be deformable/have been deformed during production. The engagement member may be in an undeformed state and project away from a portion of the widget or container from which it depends.

The widget may have a contact portion which engages the container. The contact portion may form an obstacle or hindrance in use to the release of gas from the widget between the contact portion and the container when the container is opened. The contact portion preferably extends completely (or substantially completely) around the periphery of the widget. The contact portion may be biased so as to be urged continuously against the container. The contact portion may be resiliently deformed during the manufacture of the packaged beverage so as to be sprung in a closed, sealing, direction. The contact portion may not achieve a seal with the container that is truly gas-tight, or much of a true seal at all, but it may act in use to ensure that there is a harder gas release pathway for gas in the widget between the contact portion and the container than there is for gas escaping via the "intended" escape route, via an outlet aperture, or apertures, provided above the contact portion.

The contact portion may comprise a flexible skirt, which may have a smaller cross-sectional area at a lip region than it does elsewhere, or may have a hinge region.

The contact portion may extend radially outwards or inwards, relative to the axial direction of the widget.

The container or widget may have a profile/surface that is returned back on itself. For example, the wall of the container may define a blind bore, or boss.

The container may be imperforate in the region where the widget is affixed. The rivet or engagement member may be provided in such a way that no hole in the container is provided. Alternatively, or additionally, no hole in the widget may be provided for the rivet/engagement member to extend through - the widget may be imperforate at an attachment 20 portion where it is connected to the container.

An imperforate container surface reduces the chance of leaks at the rivet/connection region. Alternatively, the container and/or widget may be holed at their connection regions.

The container may have an integral rivet (or deform able/deformed member) formed in its wall. The widget may have an integral rivet (or deformable/deformed connection element) formed in its wall. More than one rivet (or deform able/deformed connection element or member) may be 30 formed in the wall.

6 The widget or container may have a plurality of deformable connection elements which may extend around the periphery of the widget, preferably being substantially equi-angularly spaced.

The widget may be provided with projections adapted to be deformed to locate the widget. The projections may have a leading edge adapted to facilitate the introduction of the projections into a recess or hole. The leading edge may be sloped or chamfered. The widget may be adapted to be twisted, or turned, angularly to engage the projections with holes or recesses, and may be adapted to be twisted angularly about its central axis.

The container may have a profiled wall which has a transverse portion which extends transversely to the axial direction of the container, and an axial portion which extends generally axially of the container. The widget may engage the axial portion, and the transverse portion may be received in the widget, or may receive the widget.

The transverse and axial portions of the widget may define a spigot. The spigot may extend into the container or outwards from the container. It may form a projection over which a widget is located, or a recess within which a widget is located. The spigot (or axial portion) may be provided on the base wall of the container, and may be connected to the side walls by a bridge region. The bridge region may have a stand, or foot, upon which the container stands.

The widget may have ribs, or pips, or other gripping means adapted to grip the container.

The container may define a foot adapted to stand the container upright and the foot may define an internal groove. The widget may be located in a groove defined in the container. The widget may be located in the foot groove.

The widget may have a first and second portion that are pinched together (or towards each other without touching) by the groove in the container.

The widget and the container may be connected together by a screw coupling. The screw coupling may comprise a self-tapping male screw formation on a first one of the widget or container and a female socket formation on the second one of the widget or container. The screw formation and/or the socket formation may be deformable.

The widget and the container may be swaged together or crimped together. A swagable formation may be provided to achieve this. Both the widget and container may have swagable formations which are deformed in a swaging operation, or crimping operation, or only one of 20 them may have a deformable formation.

The widget may have a sprag connection with the container, preferably with an axial wall of a recess defined by the base wall of the container, or of a projection defined by the base wall of the container.

The connection of the widget (or other in-can device) need not be to an end wall of the container, but could be to a side wall.

8 According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a packaged beverage comprising a container having beverage held in it, and a widget affixed to the container by at least one deformable member.

The deformable member could be a rivet, a swaged connector, or a frictiongrip connector that has been deformed to increase the frictional grip.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a beverage container having a widget fixed to it, the widget being mechanically fixed to the base wall of the container.

The container may be a can body adapted to have a can end fixed to it to close the container and form a can of beverage.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a widget adapted to be affixed to a can, the widget having mechanical fixing means adapted to co-operate in use with complementary mechanical fixing means provided on a container to which, in use, it is to be fitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention we provide a method of manufacturing a container provided with a widget comprising attaching the widget to the base wall of the container.

Preferably the widget is mechanically affixed to the base wall.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention we provide a method of manufacturing a container provided with a widget comprising attaching the widget to a surface of the container by deforming an element so as to cause the element to engage behind another structure, thereby preventing 9 the widget from being moved away from said surface of the container in a straight line parallel to the central elongate axis of the container.

The deformation may comprise riveting, swaging, or crimping. Alternatively, or additionally, the element or structure may be resiliently biased and may be urged to an engagement position by spring means (which may comprise the nature of the element or structure itself).

The method may comprise turning or twisting the widget to cause projections to engage in holes or recesses, and then preferably deforming the projections so as to retain the widget.

The method may comprise providing a skirt on the widget and deforming it radially as the widget is fixed to the container, so as to effect a degree of sealing between the skirt and the container.

Preferably, the method comprises attaching the widget centrally of the container, on its central axis.

The method may comprise deforming the base wall of the container so as to create an engagement formation, and engaging that formation with the widget so as to hold the widget to the formation. The engagement formation may comprise a recess or an escarpment.

The method may comprise effecting relative angular movement between the container and the widget. This may be to screw the two together, or it may be to engage complimentary formations, or some other reason.

The method may comprise forming an overhang in the container wall, and engaging a portion of the widget behind the overhang.

The method may comprise inserting a projection of the widget into a recess or hole of the can or widget and deforming the projection and/or (a) the recess (if a recess is provided); or (b) deforming the material adjacent the hole (if a hole is provided).

The method may comprise applying force through the widget so as to deform the wall of the container. Preferably the widget is deformed when the container-deforming force is applied and takes up a forcetransmission condition when force is being transmitted to the container, and moves to a condition of use after the container-deforming force is removed.

is Thus, the widget can act as a deformable force transmission member. Preferably the widget is adapted to cause radial deformation of a portion of the container (e.g. can).

The widget may have a central region adapted to transmit the container-deforming force, and the central region may comprise a strut.

The method may comprise using the widget to deform the container. It may comprise using the widget to create a hole in the container. It may comprise using the container to deform or create a hole in the widget.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, we provide a can production line arranged to perform the method of the fourth aspect, or to 11 produce containers in accordance with the first, second or third aspects of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of 5 example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1A shows a widget mechanically connected to the base of a beverage can by a rivet; Figure 1B and IC show details of the widget and rivet of Figure 1A; Figure 2 shows a widget about to be riveted to a can; Figure 3 shows the widget and can of Figure 2 after they have been riveted together; Figure 4A shows another way of riveting a widget to the base of a can; Figure 4B shows detail of the arrangement of the can and rivet prior to deforming the rivet; Figure 4C shows a detail of the widget of Figure 4A; Figure 5 shows a widget provided with a plurality of integral peripheral rivets; Figure 6 shows a can base for use with the widget of Figure 5; 12 Figures 7A and 7B show plan and cross-sectional views of the widget rivet attachment of the arrangement of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows an alternative rivet hole in the base of a can, Figures 9A to 9C show detail of an alternative widget rivet structure; Figure 10 shows a push-fit widget attachment to the base of a can; Figure 11 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 10, but with a modified widget; Figure 12 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 11, but with the widget having ribs to increase the force holding the widget, Figure 14 shows another widget to can fixing arrangement, having a compressible skirt element, Figures 15A and 15B show another widget/can fixing arrangement; Figure 16 shows yet another widget/can fixing arrangement., Figure 17A shows a new widget; Figure 17B shows the fixing of the widget of Figure 17A to a can base; 13 Figure 18 shows a further arrangement of fixing a widget to a can; Figures 19A and 19B show alternative detail of a widget, such as the widget of Figure 18; Figure 20 shows another widget and can formation; Figure 21 shows another widget attached to a can in a similar manner to that of Figure 20; Figures 22A and 22B show further widget and can structures, with similar widget-attachment mechanisms; Figure 23 shows another way of attaching a widget to a can; Figures 24A and 24B show a widget swaged to a can base; Figures 25A, 25B and 25C show another widget and can base before assembly, during assembly, and after assembly respectively; and Figure 26 shows yet another widget-can base connection.

Figure IA shows a metal can 10 having side walls 12 and base wall 14. Attached to the can is a plastics material widget 16. The widget is attached to the can by a rivet 18. The rivet 18 can be metal or plastics material.

14 The base wall 14 of the cylindrical can comprises a domed central region 20 and a downwardly -depending annular ring 22, which comprises a foot upon which the can stands in use. The ring 22 has sloping side walls 24, 26 and a lowermost ridge 28. The interior surface of the base wall 14 that defines the ring 22 forms an annular groove 30.

The can 10 is preferably formed in steel, but it may be aluminium. For more complex forming of the base wall of the can we may prefer to form it in aluminium. We may even prefer to have a separate base portion formed in a material that is easier to form than the side walls of the can.

The widget 16 is, in this example, substantially that shown in our Patent Application GB WO 95108493, with one or two modifications. The reader is directed to read WO 95/08493 now, and the contents of WO 95/08493 are hereby incorporated by reference. The widget has an upper orifice 32 and a lower orifice 34, and operates in the way discussed in our previous patent.

The widget 16 has a central cylindrical recess 36 defined by a cylindrical wall 38. The wall 38 extends to a transverse fixing portion 40, which has a hole 42 provided at its centre, on the axis of the widget and on the axis of the can. The rivet 18 extends through the hole 42 and forms an abutment surface 44 which engages against the upper surface of the fixing portion 40 to retain the widget to the can base. This is best seen in Figure I.C.

As will be seen from Figure 1C, the rivet 18 is formed integrally with the base wall of the can - it is not a separate rivet passed through a hole in the can. Alternatively, the rivet 18 could indeed be a separate component passed through a hole in the base wall of the can (metal or plastics). When a separate rivet is used we may apply a sealing compound, preferably between the interior or exterior rivet head and the wall of the can.

The widget 16 has an outer cylindrical wall 46 which has a circumferential skirt, or lip, 48 provided at its lowermost end. This is best shown in Figure IB. The skirt 48 presses against the domed central region 20 of the base wall of the can. Before the widget is attached to the base wall of the can, the skirt has the position shown in chain-dotted outline in Figure 1B, in which it is closer to the central axis of the widget. When the widget is riveted to the base wall of the can, the rivet pulls the widget downwards so that the fixing portion wall 40 engages the domed central region 20 and this bends the skirt 48 upwards as shown in Figure 1B. Thus, the skirt, made of plastics material, is resiliently urged downwards in the completed can, and effects a degree of sealing around the periphery of the widget. When the can is opened, the pressure above the widget is released (from the pressurised pressure of a sealed can) and gas in the widget is then held at a higher pressure than the beverage above the widget, and so tries to escape. It is intended for it to escape through the orifices 32 and/or 34 and the degree of sealing between the skirt 48 and the base wall of the can is sufficient to ensure that a successful widget operation occurs. This may not be very much sealing, or it may be quite a tight seal - it all depends upon how much sealing is necessary to get a good head. As will be seen from Figure 1A, the volume of the widget is 12. 5 ml.

Figures 2 and 3 show the production of another can with the widget riveted to the domed base wall of the can, but in a different way.

16 The base wall 14 of the can has a "proto-riveC formation, or deformable formation, 50 provided at the centre of its domed central region 20. The deformable formation 50 is integrally formed with the domed portion of the wall and projects axially inwards of the can, like a finger. The "finger" 50 is a cylindrical rivet provided integral with the wall of the can.

The widget 16 is placed over the rivet 50 and the rivet 50 is deformed by appropriate tooling (reference 56,58) each of which may, or may not, move axially to effect the riveting. The widget may be carried into the can on the tooling 56. It may be convenient to introduce the widget at the same time as the riveting operation. There may be formations on the tooling 56 and/or widget to assist its mounting on the tooling 56.

is As will be seen in Figure 3, the rivet 50 is deformed by the tool 56 and tool 58 to clench the widget.

Because the wall 20 is imperforate, there is little chance of leakage at the widget connection when the can is filled with beverage.

Figures 4A to 4C show another way of attaching a widget to the base wall of a can. The rivet is a plastics rivet in this example (or it can be done in metal) and has, as shown in Figure 4B, a projection 60, or stake, extending downwards. The base wall 14 of the can has a hole 62, and the projection 60 is introduced into the hole 62 and this serves to locate the widget prior to permanent fixing of the widget to the can.

The projection 60 is then riveted over/deformed, as shown in Figure 4A. In the case of a plastics widget, this may well involve the 17 application of heat to make the plastics projection 60, or stake, more malleable. However, it may well be possible to do this without heat.

The deformed rivet has shoulders 64 which extend laterally beyond 5 the peripheral edges of the hole and retain the widget to the can.

As will be noted in connection with Figure 4B, the projection 60, or stake 60, can be used to make the hole 64 in the can by driving the widget downwards against the base of the can. Alternatively, the hole 64 may be pre-provided.

In the example shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the widget can sustain a separating force of 300 Newtons before the stake breaks.

Figures 5 to 7 show an alternative widget/can attachment. The widget has a peripheral ring 66 at its base, from which depend a plurality of teeth/rivets 68. The base wall of the can, preferably the domed base wall of the can, has a complementary plurality of equi-angularly spaced holes at 70 (or perhaps recesses) into which the projections 68 extend in use. It will be noted that the projections 68 have a curved, sloping, leading edge 72 which facilitates the entry of the teeth into the holes. This assists in easy location of the widget and helps it to be correctly aligned. Rotation, or annular movement, of the widget about its own central axis in the direction marked with the arrow in Figure 5 helps to enter the teeth into the holes. Apparatus to achieve this will, of course, be provided in the can manufacturing line. In the example shown there are five teeth.

Figures 7A and 7B show the deformation of the teeth 68 to retain the widget to the can base.

18 Figure 7A shows an irregular outline to the deformed head of the widget, referenced 74. However, we prefer to have a regular outline, reference 76, and this may be circular, or oval, or even any elongate shape (e.g. crescent-shaped or part-circular) Figure 7B shows a cross-section through a rivet of Figure 5 after the widget has been attached to a can wall.

Figure 8 shows a modification in which the hole 70 has a tapering width, from a wider portion at which the teeth are initially introduced into the hole to a narrower portion towards the end of the travel of the teeth. This also may assist in the introduction of the tooth to the hole.

The tooth itself may have a narrower portion at its leading edge and a wider portion further back along its direction of its annular movement. Such a tooth may be used with a hole of contact width, or a tapering width hole. The width of the tooth may be complementary to the width of the hole. They may be substantially the same width, or the tooth may be narrower, possibly narrower only at its leading edge. Once the tooth has been entrained by the hole, further rotational movement of the widget and axial force on the widget can cause the rest of the tooth to be received firmly "home" in the recess/hole.

Figures 9A to 9C show an arrangement to ensure that there is sufficient material at the leading edge of the rivet to ensure a good seal with the wall of the can. The leading edge, referenced 78 in Figure 9, has a curved arcuate surface. There is a straight trailing edge 80 which extends at substantially 900 to the end of the flange 82 from which the rivet extends. The rivet is attached to the flange by a connection 19 bridge 84. The rivet has an "overhang" portion 86 and a slot 88. The slot 88 receives in use, due to its annular movement, a part of the base wall of the can.

When the rivet is deformed, there is more material in the region of the leading part of the hole in the base wall of the can than in the previous example. There is quite a lot of material at the trailing edge portion of the rivet available to be deformed over the external surface of the base wall of the can, to seal the slot in the can.

The rear wall of the rivet need not be normal to the plane of the flange 82, but could be sloped, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 9B.

Figure 9C shows the shape of a deformed rivet after the widget has been attached to the can.

Figure 10 shows another widget/can connection. The base wall 14 of the can is profiled to have a shallow top-hat formation 88 projecting into the can. The top-hat 88 has axially extending side walls 90 and a domed top wall 92.

The widget comprises a cylindrical top-hat with its inner diameter being a push-friction fit on the outer diameter of the projecting top-hat formation 88 of the base wall of the can. There is a continuous, or substantially continuous, ring of contact between the axial side walls 88 of the projection of the base wall and the inner surface of the cylindrical widget. This assists in maximising the friction grip of the widget. In this example, the widget can sustain a separating force of 100 to 150 Newtons.

The friction grip can be increased by having the widget slightly deformed by push-fit, or by having the axial side walls deformed, or deforming both slightly. A plastics widget may give good opportunities for deformation, but a metal widget may also do this. Figure 11 shows an arrangement that is similar to that of Figure 10, but

instead of having an upwardly projecting boss/top hat formation, the base wall of the can has a downwardly projecting boss 94, having axially extending side walls 96 and a transverse wall portion 98, and the widget has a peripheral flange 100 extending outwards around its lowermost peripheral edge. The flange 100 engages the axial side 10 walls 86 with a friction-grip.

The arrangement of Figure 11 is assisted by the pressure effects when the can of beverage is opened. When a can of beverage is opened, the pressure above the widget is reduced from the higher, pressurised, can pressure, whereas the pressure inside the widget cannot fall so rapidly. Thus, the internal pressure of the widget pushes the cylindrical side walls of the widget outwards when the can is opened, further enhancing the grip of the widget against the axial side walls 96.

This is convenient since the widget experiences maximum force pulling it away from the base of the can when the can is opened - again due to the pressure difference inside and outside of the widget. We envisage the arrangement of Figure 11 being able to resist a separating force of perhaps 50 Newtons or so more than the arrangement of Figure 10. Again, the volume of the widget is about 12.5 ml.

Figure 12 shows very much the same arrangement as Figure 11, but the widget and associated boss for engaging the widget has a significantly nar-rower diameter. This reduces the surface area in the transverse 21 direction against which the pressure difference inside/outside the widget can act when the can is opened.

We may prefer to have the widget which has a narrower portion where it attaches to the base wall of the container in comparison with a "body" portion of the widget provided above the container. If the widget has an enlarged body above its connection to the container, with surfaces against which the pressure difference acts in a downwards direction, to counter the pressure difference acting in an upwards direction when the can is opened, this can enable the widget to be fixed more firmly to the base of the can/be less likely to be detached when the can is opened.

Figure 13 shows an arrangement that is similar to that shown in Figure 12, but the axial walls 96 extend further. Furthermore, the widget has, on its outer peripheral surface - at its lowermost end, elongate axially-extending ribs 102. These are equi-angularly spaced around the periphery of the widget, and they assist in extending the axial length of engagement between the widget and the base wall of the container. This can be an advantage in assisting to locate the widget, and in assisting to maintain it in the correct orientation. It is less likely to twist if there is a longer axial connection. Moreover, ribs may be more easily deformed as the widget is pushed into the recess defined on the boss, and so may assist in the frictional grip.

Figure 14 shows another arrangement for attaching the widget to a base of a can in which a separate expanding member 104 is provided between the can and the axially-extending side walls of the boss provided in the base wall of the can. The expanding joint may comprise a compressible resilient member, for example a plastics ring, or rubber 30 ring. It may be a separate member, not part of the can or widget, and 22 may be assembled to the leading edge of the widget before it is pushed axially into the boss, or may be inserted into the mouth of the boss before the widget is inserted. Alternatively, the expanding member 104 may be provided attached to the base of the can or the widget.

It is will be noted that the grip of the widget on the can shown in Figure 14 is assisted by the pressure of the trapped volume of fluid in the widget, when the can is opened, to compress the member 104 and effect the mechanical connection retaining the widget in place. The member 104 may also effect a good seal between the widget and can. The arrangement of Figure 14 is expected to be able to withstand a force of 150 Newtons pulling axially on the widget.

Figures 15A and 15B show an arrangement where the frictional grip of the widget on the base wall of the can is increased substantially, to be able to withstand a separating force of about 300 Newtons.

The base wall 14 of the can has an upstanding boss 110 projecting into the internal space of the can having cylindrical axial walls 112 and an end wall 114.

The widget comprises an outer cylindrical wall 116, an inner cylindrical wall 118, an annular end wall 120 and a transverse circular wall 122. Equally angularly spaced gripping means, in this example gripping ribs 124, are provided in the inner cylindrical wall. Initially, they extend away from the inner cylindrical wall by a uniform extent, but when the widget is forced axially onto the boss 110, the ribs are compressed (as shown in Figure 15A). There is an uncompressed region of ribs above the boss.

23 The widget defines an annular space 126 for the generation of bubbles in the body of liquid contained in the can.

The arrangement of Figures 15A and 15B works well with a 5 plastics widget.

Figure 16 shows a different way of attaching a widget to a can.

The can has a base wall 14 in which the ring 22 has side walls 24,26 of substantially different axial extent, with the inner side wall 26 defining the axially-extending side walls of a boss 128.

The widget comprises an outer cylindrical wall 130, an inner cylindrical wall 132, an annular top wall 134, a series of ribs 136 extending equi-angularly spaced around the lower portion of the inner wall 132, and a tapering, reduced cross-section, section 138 of the outer annular wall 130.

When the widget is pushed into the groove 30 defined by the side walls 24,26 and foot-wall 28, the ribs grip the axially-extending wall 26, and the reduced cross-section leading edge of the outer cylindrical wall 130 and sloping surface of wall 24 assist in the location and receiving of the lowermost portion of the outer wall in the groove 30.

The outer wall is deformed inwards a little by its engagement with the wall 24, and this assists in providing a degree of sealing/additional friction grip. The annular space 140 defined between the inner and outer cylindrical walls has a volume of about 12.5 ml.

The domed surface of the boss 128 may also assist in locating the annular widget over the boss as the widget is inserted into the can, and/or 24 inclined guide surfaces may be provided on the widget (in this example on the leading edge of the inner peripheral walls and/or the ribs).

The arrangement of Figure 16 should be able to resist a separating force of 250 - 300 Newtons, or thereabouts, and in one example about 275 Newtons.

Figures 17A, 17B show the widget/can connection that is very similar to the arrangement in Figure 16 in that it shows an annular widget engaged in the foot-defining groove around the base wall of the can.

In this example the outer peripheral wall 130 has a tapered leading edge, reference 142 (shown in Figure 17A). In a relaxed condition the widget takes the configuration shown in Figure 17A, which in this example has the inner and outer cylindrical walls 130,132 substantially parallel. As the widget is pushed over the boss 128 of the base wall of the can, the inner wall is deflected outwards by the boss and into the groove 30. The outer wall is deflected inwards at its lowermost peripheral edge as it enters the groove 30. This "pinching" of the lowermost portion of the widget assists in the re silient- biasing of the widget sideways against the walls that define the groove 30 and assist in its retention. The widget of Figure 17 can sustain a separating force of 160 Newtons.

It will be appreciated that the base of the can shown in Figure 17 is less dramatically modified in comparison with a standard can base than many of the other Figures. This may well be a significant advantage.

There is very little waste metal in drawn cans and it may be expedient not to alter their drawing profile too much.

Figure 18 shows another way of attaching a widget to the base wall of a can. In this case the widget is screwed into the base wall of the can using a self-tapping screw formation.

The widget has the general shape of that shown in Figure 1A, with a central recess 36 and a fixing portion 40. A screw-threaded projection 144 extends away from the transverse wall of the fixing portion 40.

The base wall 14 of the can has a downwardly-depending tube portion 146 which is closed at its lower end 148. Before the projection 144 is inserted into the tube 146, the tube has a diameter (at least at its lowermost portions) that is narrower than the diameter of the screwthread provided on the projection 144. The tube 146 may have a flared, or wider, upper portion to assist in introduction of the projection 144.

When the tip of the projection 144 is introduced into the tube 146, the widget is moved axially until it engages the, relatively narrow, tube 146. The widget is then rotated so as to screw the self-tapping screw into the tube 146, which acts as a socket. As the projection 144 is driven into the tube 146, it deforms the walls of the tube and widens them, at least in a manner so as to receive the screw-thread. The tip of the projection 144 may engage the lower end 148 to prevent further axial movement of the widget relative to the base of the can, or the wall 140 may engage the base of the can to do this, or the peripheral edge of the outer wall 46 may engage the can, or the frictional force may be such as to determine the end of the screwing-in of the widget (or indeed the machinery provided to screw it in may simply turn it an appropriate number of turns).

26 The screw-in connector may be able to resist an axial pulling force of 300 Newtons.

As we have seen in Figures 19A and 19B, the widget has a skirt 48 which, in the case of Figure 19A, is the same as the skirt 48 of Figure 1A. In the case of Figure 19B, the skirt is modified and is turned inwardly in an arcuate manner. In this example, it takes the form of the lower portion of the letter "J". Figure 19B shows in dotted outline the relaxed condition of the skirt and in solid outline the deformed position it takes when the widget is moved axially against the end wall 14 of the can, bending the skirt inwards.

The arrangement of Figure 19B may be preferred over the arrangement of Figure 19A, since when the can is opened and the pressure difference exists between the contents of the widget and the contents of the can, the higher pressure inside the widget would tend to urge the flexible lip portion (reference 150) of the skirt against the can, instead of tending to urge it away from the can. Thus, the skirt of Figure 19B may be pres sure- as si sted.

Figure 20 shows another way of attaching a widget to a can. In this case, the can base has an outwardly-turned lip 152 and defines the recess 154 behind the lip 152. When viewed in the axial direction, the lip 152 projects beyond the radial extent of the recess 154.

The widget has a central cylindrical portion 156, an outwardlyflared connection portion 158, an annular flange portion 160 depending from the connection portion 158, and a bead 162 projecting radially inwards from the flange portion 160.

27 The widget is pushed down axially onto the central boss (reference 164) of the lower wall, and the flange 160 deforms radially outwards to allow the bead 162 to pass axially beyond the lip 152 and snap back into the recess 154. The flange 160 may be axially slotted to facilitate this flexing/resilient return towards the locating position.

The base wall of the can may be swaged so as to form the lip 152 and recess 154, or they may be formed in some other way.

The snap-fit extended skirt fitting shown in Figure 20 may be able to withstand a separating force of about 500 Newtons.

Figure 21 shows another arrangement similar to that of Figure 20, but with the widget being shallower, and having a volume of about 12.5 ml. The widget has an upstanding extension formation 166 provided within the upper orifice 32 (the lower orifice is not indicated).

The projectionlextension 166, with its orifice 32, is necessary to ensure that the orifice 32 is below the level of the beer in the can when the can is inverted, for example during pasteurisation of the can. When inverted during pasteurisation, the lower orifice may be outside of the beer, but the upper orifice 32 should be within the body of liquid.

Figures 22A and 22B show another way of connecting the widget to the base of a can. In this example, the widget has a top-hat form (or cylindrical form with an upper end wall) and carries at or towards its lower end, radially-extending sprags 170, with slots defined between them (not shown). The base wall 14 of the can has a downwardly -extending recess with axial side walls against which the sprags engage.

28 The sprags may extend axially upwards, as well as radially, when the widget is pushed home. In the relaxed condition the widget with the sprags may extend radially, and may be deflected to their position shown in Figure 22A, or they may even extend inclined away from the 900 radial extension position in the opposite direction to that shown in Figure 22A and be deflected back past the 901, position. Alternatively, they may extend with an upwards slant even in the relaxed condition.

Figure 22B shows very much the same arrangement of Figure 22A, but with a narrower diameter widget.

Figure 23 shows another arrangement of attaching a widget to the base of a can using sprags. In this arrangement, the base of the can has an upwardly-extending boss 172 and axially extending side walls, against which sprags 174 engage. The sprags 174 extending generally radially inwards from the side walls of the widget.

Again, the sprags 174, separated by slots, may extend when the widget is in a relaxed condition, prior to attachment to the can, more radially than the position shown in Figure 23, or even inclined in the opposite direction relative to the true radial direction. The deformation of the sprags as the widget is pushed over the boss may assist in the gripping force. When the widget is metal or plastics, the deformation will set up stresses within the sprags which increase the gripping force.

The arrangements of Figures 22A and 23 are expected to be able to withstand a separating force of about 300 Newtons. The arrangement of Figure 22B may not be able to sustain a separating force of that magnitude, since there is a smaller peripheral area for the sprags to grip.

29 On the other hand, there is a smaller area for the pressuring imbalance to act upon.

Figures 24A and 24B show another way of fixing a widget to a base wall of a can. The widget 16 shown in Figure 24A is very much the same as the widget shown in Figure IA. The fixing portion 40 provided on a transverse wall of the widget has, as shown in Figure 24B, a downwardly depending projection 180. This is received in a complementary downwardly-extending recess 182 formed in the base wall of the can, on the centre-line of the can. The recess 182 is a cylindrical recess with an end wall closing it off, and the sides are generally parallel. The projection 180 has generally parallel sides and is of substantially the same (or perhaps a little smaller) diameter as the recess 182. The widget is inclined axially to the base of the can and the projection 180 extends into the recess 182 as shown in Figure 24B.

The side walls (referenced 184) of the recess-defining formation of the can are then crimped or swaged inwards (or otherwise deformed) so as to lock the widget to the can. The resultant overhang or ball formed by the swaging is shown in Figure 24A and is referenced 186.

The portion of the can that defines the recess 182 and/or the portion of the widget 180, may be heated before deformation so as to facilitate their deformation, or that may not be necessary. When the projection 180 is made of plastics material, we may well prefer to heat it before deforming it.

Figure 26 shows another swaged connection of a widget to the base of a can. The widget is defined with a screw-thread (reference 190) in a central stem portion, and the base of the can is defined having a downwardly-extending recess complementary to the stem portion of the widget. The stem portion 190 is introduced into the recess, referenced 192, and the generally cylindrical external walls of the recess defining portion of the can are then deformed, for example by swaging, radially inwards to form a screw-thread around the screw-thread formations provided on the stem 190.

An advantage of providing a screw-thread connection between the widget and the can is that it is easier to remove the widget for re- cycling after the can has been used.

Figures 25A to 25C show a further way of attaching a widget to the base of a can.

Figure 25A shows the arrangement before the widget is attached to the base of the can.

The base wall of the can 14 has a boss 200 which extends into the interior of the can axially. The boss 200 has axially-extending side walls 202, a transverse top wall portion 204 and a frusto-conical wall portion 206 connecting the axial wall portions 202 to the transverse portion 204.

The widget, referenced 16, has an outer cylindrical wall 208, an inner cylindrical wall 210, a transverse wall 212 closing the inner cylindrical wall, a frusto-conical top wall 214 joining the outer wall 208 to the inner wall 210 and part-defining an annular chamber 216, and a radially inwardly directed lip or flange 218 provided at the lowermost portion of the outer wall 208.

31 As shown in Figure 25A, when the widget is initially placed onto the boss 200, the lip 218 fits over the axial walls 202 and the transverse wall 212 abuts the top wall 204 of the boss.

During assembly of the widget to the base of the can, the axial force applied to the widget in the region referenced 220 adjacent the axiallyextending inner cylindrical walls 210 of the widget is increased. This axial force is transmitted along the axially-extending walls 210 to the top wall 204 of the base wall of the can. The boss 200 is deformed by the axial force, with the top wall 204 and frusto-conical walls 206 tending to flatten out, as shown in Figure 25B. As the top wall 204 is driven down, the can bends at corner 222, and folds outwards at corner 224. This creates an overhang, or radially-projecting lip, 226 (shown in Figure 25B). It will be noted that the bead 218 is provided below the lip 226, and indeed may assist in controlling the folding/bending of the can wall.

When the axial force applying the widget to the base of the can is removed, the widget may return to the shape shown in Figure 25C, with the wall 214 returning to its generally frusto-conical shape, and the wall 212 of the widget moving away from the wall 204 of the base wall of the can. Alternatively, the widget may substantially retain the shape shown in Figure 25B.

It will be appreciated that in the arrangement shown in Figures 25A-C, the forces to deform the base wall of the can is applied through the widget itself. Furthermore, the widget itself also assists in shaping the deformation of the base of the can.

32 Although it is not shown in Figures 25A to C, instead oflas well as pressing on shoulder 220, we may press on wall 212 by using a tool to do this.

We may also use a toollforming member beneath the base of the can to control the way in which the base is deformed.

It will be appreciated that the widgets shown are integrally formed, for example being integrally moulded in plastics material, or integrally formed of metal. This is advantageous in comparison with many floating widgets which have two components that need to be attached together.

The scale of drawing for all of the "can plus widget" drawings is 1. They are accurate, rather than schematic representations, or at least may be accurate (or may be schematic). We intend that the relative dimensions of the widget/can be taken as being in some embodiments accurate.

1.5:

33

Claims (61)

1. A packaged beverage comprising a container having side walls and an end wall, beverage held in the container, and a widget provided in the container, the widget having fixing means and the end wall having complementary fixing means, the widget being held to the base wall by the mechanical co-operation of the fixing means and the complementary fixing means.

2. A packaged beverage according to claim 1 in which the end wall is the base wall of the container.

3. A packaged beverage according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the container is a can.

4. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the beverage is a beer (by "beer" we mean beer proper, ale, stout, lager, porter, cider or the like, and include non-alcoholic or low alcohol drinks).

5. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the fixing means of the container comprises a rivet.

6. A packaged beverage according to claim 5 in which the rivet is a separate component to the container and the widget.

7. A packaged beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the rivet is integral with the container or the widget.

34

8. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the fixing means comprises a plastics material rivet, or other deformable member.

9. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which one or both of the widget or container comprises an engagement member which engages a surface provided on the other of the widget or container.

10. A packaged beverage according to claim 9 in which the engagement member has an abutment surface which is in abutment contact with said surface on said other of the widget or container and the engagement surface and said surface engage so as to resist relative axial movement of the engagement surface directly away from the portion of the container to which the widget is affixed.

11. A packaged beverage according to claim 9 or claim 10 in which the engagement member is deformablelhas been deformed during production.

12. A packaged beverage according to any one of claims 9 to 11 in which the said surface on the other of the widget or container is deformable/has been deformed during production.

13. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget has a contact portion which engages the container, the contact portion forming an obstacle or hindrance in use to the release of gas from the widget between the contact portion and the container when the container is opened.

14. A packaged beverage according to claim 13 in which the contact portion extends completely (or substantially completely) around the periphery of the widget and is biased so as to be urged continuousl against the container.

15. A packaged beverage according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which the contact portion is resiliently deformed during the manufacture of the packaged beverage so as to be sprung in a closed, sealing, direction.

16. A packaged beverage according to any one of claims 13 to which the contact portion comprises a flexible skirt.

in

17. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the container is imperforate in the region where the widget is affixed

18. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget is imperforate at an attachment portion where it is connected to the container.

19. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the container has an integral rivet formed in its wall.

20. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget has an integral rivet (or deformable/deformed connection element) formed in its wall.

21. A packaged beverage according to claim 19 or claim 20 in which more than one rivet (or deformable/deformed connection element or member) is formed in the wall of the widget or container.

22. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the 30 widget is provided with projections adapted to be deformed to locate the 36 widget, the projections being provided with a leading edge adapted to facilitate the introduction of the projections into a recess or hole.

23. A packaged beverage according to claim 22 in which the leading 5 edge is sloped or chamfered.

24. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget is adapted to be twisted, or turned, angularly to engage projections with holes or recesses.

25. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the container has a profiled wall which has a transverse portion which extends transversely to the axial direction of the container, and an axial portion which extends generally axially of the container, and in which the widget engages the axial portion, and the transverse portion is received in the widget.

26. A packaged beverage according to any one of claims I to 24 in which the container has a transverse portion and an axially extending portion, and in which the transverse and axial portions of the widget define a spigot which extends (a) into the container or N outwards from the container and the spigot either forms (a) a projection over which a widget is located, or (b) a recess within which a widget is located.

27. A packaged beverage according to claim 26, in which the spigot (or axial portion) is provided on the base wall of the container.

28. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget has ribs, or pips, or other gripping means adapted to grip the container.

37

29. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the container defines a foot adapted to stand the container upright, and the foot defines an internal groove in which is located the widget.

30. A packaged beverage to any preceding claim in which the widget is received in a groove in the container, and in which the widget has a first and second portion that are pinched together (or towards each other without touching) by the groove in the container.

31. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget and the container are connected together by a screw coupling.

32. A packaged beverage according to claim 31 in which the screw coupling comprises a self-tapping male screw formation on a first one of the widget or container and a female socket formation on the second one of the widget or container.

33. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget and the container are swaged together or crimped together, a swagable or crimpable formation being provided to achieve this.

34. A packaged beverage according to claim 33 in which both the widget and container have swagable or crimpable formations which are deformed in a swaging or crimping operation.

35. A packaged beverage according to any preceding claim in which the widget has a sprag connection with the container.

38

36. A packaged beverage according to claim 35 in which the widget has a sprag connection with an axial wall of a recess defined by the base wall of the container, or of a projection defined by the base wall of the container.

37. A packaged beverage substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

38. A packaged beverage comprising a container having beverage held in it, and a widget affixed to the container by at least one deformable member.

39. A packaged beverage according to claim 38 in which the deformable member is a rivet, a swaged connector, or a friction-grip connector that has been deformed to increase the frictional grip.

40. A beverage container having a widget fixed to it, the widget being mechanically fixed to the base wall of the container.

41. A beverage container according to claim 40 in which the container is a can body adapted to have a can end fixed to it to close the container and form a can of beverage.

42. A beverage container substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

43. A widget adapted to be affixed to a can, the widget having mechanical fixing means adapted to co-operate in use with complementary mechanical fixing means provided on a container to which, in use, it is to be fitted.

39

44. A widget substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

45. A method of manufacturing a container provided with a widget comprising attaching the widget to the base wall of the container.

46. A method of manufacturing a container provided with a widget comprising attaching the widget to a surface of the container by deforming an element so as to cause the element to engage behind another structure, thereby preventing the widget from being moved away from said surface of the container.

47. A method according to claim 46 in which the deformation comprises riveting, swaging, or crimping.

48. A method according to claim 45 or claim 46 in which the element or structure is resiliently biased and is urged to an engagement position by spring means.

49. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 48 which comprises turning or twisting the widget to cause projections to engage in holes or recesses.

50. A method according to claim 49 further comprising deforming the projections so as to retain the widget.

51. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 50 comprising providing a skirt on the widget and deforming it radially as the widget is fixed to the container, so as to effect a degree of sealing between the skirt and the container.

52. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 51 comprising deforming the base wall of the container so as to create an engagement formation, and engaging that formation with the widget so as to hold the widget to the formation.

53. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 52 comprising forming an overhang in the container wall, and engaging a portion of the widget behind the overhang.

54. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 53 comprising inserting a projection of the widget into a recess or hole of the can or widget and deforming the projection and/or (a) the recess (if a recess is provided); or N deforming the material adjacent the hole (if a hole is provided).

55. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 54 comprising applying force through the widget so as to deform the wall of the container.

56. A method according to claim 55 in which the widget is deformed when the container-deforming force is applied and takes up a force-transmission condition when force is being transmitted to the container, and moves to a condition of use after the container-deforming force is removed.

57. A method according to claim 55 or claim 56 in which the widget causes radial deformation of a portion of the container (e.g. can).

41

58. A method according to any one of claims 55 to 57 in which the widget has a central region which transmits the contain er-deform ing force.

59. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 58 comprising using the widget to create a hole in the container, or using the container to deform or create a hole in the widget.

60. A method of manufacturing a container provided with a widget 10 substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

61. A can production line arranged to perform the method of any one of claims 45 to 59, or to produce containers in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 44.