Method for packaging a liquid filled container and a capsule therefore

Abstract

A method for packaging a liquid filled container including the steps of providing a container, placing a capsule defining the cavity in the container, filling the container with a liquid, and allowing a gaseous exchange between the liquid and the cavity to provide a benefit to one of the capsule and the liquid. The invention also includes a method for providing retrievable payload in a liquid filled container that includes the steps of providing a capsule in a liquid filled container wherein the capsule has a cavity and is associated with the payload. The method further including the step of pressurizing the cavity. The present invention also includes a capsule having a body defining a cavity and an opening communicating with the cavity, a payload disposed in the cavity, sealing means for sealing the cavity which contains gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure when the cavity is sealed, and vent means for selectively venting the pressurized gas from the cavity. Other embodiments of the capsule include a cap engageable with the body at the opening and movable between a sealed position wherein the cap engages the body to seal the cavity and an open position providing access to the cavity. Connecting means and presentation means may also be included with the capsule for coupling the cap to the body when the cap is removed from the opening and for moving the payload toward the opening when the cap is in the open position, respectively.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for packaging a liquid filled container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container;    placing a capsule in said container, said capsule defining a cavity;    filling said container with a liquid; and    allowing a gaseous exchange between said liquid and said cavity to provide a benefit to one of said capsule and said liquid.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said capsule includes a wall defining said cavity, said gaseous exchange being by permeation through said capsule wall.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the benefit is provided to said liquid.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further including the step of providing a gas to said capsule cavity prior to placing said capsule in said container, said gas being allowed to pass from said capsule and into said liquid.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said capsule includes a wall defining said cavity, said gaseous exchange being by permeation through said capsule wall.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said gas is carbon dioxide and wherein said benefit to said liquid includes carbonating said liquid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said gas is nitrogen and wherein said benefit to said liquid includes preservation of said liquid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the benefit is provided to said capsule.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said capsule includes a wall defining said cavity, said gaseous exchange being by permeation through said capsule wall.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said gaseous exchange occurs from said liquid, through said capsule wall, and into said cavity.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further including the step of providing said container with a pressurized gas after said container is filled with liquid, said gaseous exchange into said cavity increasing the pressure within said cavity.  
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a retrievable payload in a liquid filled container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a capsule in a liquid filled container, said capsule having a cavity and being associated with said payload; and    pressurizing said cavity.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of pressurizing said cavity occurs after said capsule is provided in said liquid filled container.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of providing a capsule in a liquid filled container includes providing the capsule to the container, filling the container with a fluid and pressurizing said container and wherein the step of pressurizing said cavity includes allowing a gaseous exchange from said fluid to said cavity to pressurize said cavity.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said capsule includes a wall defining said cavity, said gaseous exchange being by permeation through said capsule wall.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further including the steps of: 
 removing said capsule from said container; and  
 venting said cavity.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said capsule further includes a cap coupled to said wall for movement between a sealed position and a vent position and wherein the step of venting said cavity includes moving said cap from said sealed position to said vent position.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said cap includes a vent opening, said vent opening communicating with said cavity when said cap is in said vent position to provide a passage for gas to pass from said cavity.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of: 
 generating an audible sound when venting said cavity.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said cap includes a valve defining said vent opening, said valve generating an audible sound when said gas passes therethrough.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said capsule includes a payload disposed within said cavity, and wherein the method further includes the step of removing said payload from said cavity, wherein said cap is movable to an open position and wherein the step of removing said payload from said cavity includes moving said cap to said open position.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said capsule further includes a payload carrier disposed in said cavity, said payload carrier including a seal member engageable with said capsule wall to define a seal therebetween that separates said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the step of venting said cavity includes venting said first chamber to create a pressure difference between said first chamber and said second chamber, said pressure difference urging said carrier out of said cavity to present said payload.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said capsule is said payload.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said capsule is formed of a photo-degradable material.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said capsule is formed of polypropylene.  
     
     
         26 . A capsule comprising: 
 a body defining a cavity and an opening communicating with said cavity;    a payload disposed in said cavity;    sealing means for sealing said cavity, said cavity being capable of holding a gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure when said cavity is sealed; and    vent means for selectively venting said pressurized gas from said cavity.    
     
     
         27 . The capsule of  claim 26  further including a cap movable between a sealed position wherein said cap engages said body to seal said cavity and a vent position wherein said capsule includes a passage communicating pressurized gas from said cavity.  
     
     
         28 . The capsule of  claim 27  wherein said capsule body is a tube, said tube having an inner surface, an outer surface, a closed end, and an open end defining said opening.  
     
     
         29 . The capsule of  claim 28  wherein said cap includes a cap vent recess, said tube includes a tube vent recess cooperative with said cap vent recess to define said passage when said cap is in said vent position.  
     
     
         30 . The capsule of  claim 29  wherein said cap includes an axial sleeve defining a radial opening extending therethrough and communicating with said cavity when said cap is in said sealed and vent positions, said radial opening sealed by said tube when said cap is in said sealed position, said radial opening allowing pressurized gas to pass from said cavity when said cap is in said vent position.  
     
     
         31 . The capsule of  claim 26  wherein said vent means includes audible sound generating means for generating an audible sound when said venting means vents said pressurized gas from said cavity.  
     
     
         32 . The capsule of  claim 31  wherein said audible sound generating means is a reed valve coupled to said cap to define a vent opening.  
     
     
         33 . A capsule comprising: 
 a body defining a cavity and an opening communicating with said cavity;    a payload disposed in said cavity;    a cap engageable with said body at said opening and movable between a sealed position wherein said cap engages said body to seal said cavity and an open position providing access to said cavity;    connecting means for coupling said cap to said body when said cap is removed from said opening.    
     
     
         34 . The capsule of  claim 33  wherein said connecting means includes a hinge integral with said cap and said body.  
     
     
         35 . The capsule of  claim 34  wherein said connecting means includes a tether coupling said cap and said body.  
     
     
         36 . The capsule of  claim 35  wherein said tether removably couples said cap to said body.  
     
     
         37 . A capsule comprising: 
 a body defining a cavity and an opening communicating with said cavity;    a payload disposed in said cavity;    a cap engageable with said body at said opening and movable between a sealed position wherein said cap engages said body to seal said cavity and an open position providing access to said cavity; and    presentation means for moving said payload toward said opening when said cap is in said open position.    
     
     
         38 . The capsule of  claim 37  wherein said presentation means includes a payload carrier disposed in said cavity, said payload carrier including a diaphragm separating said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber.  
     
     
         39 . The capsule of  claim 38  wherein said payload carrier includes an upper platform, a lower platform having said diaphragm, and a mandrel interconnecting said upper platform and said lower platform.  
     
     
         40 . The capsule of  claim 39  wherein said lower platform includes a foot, said mandrel extending axially along an axis, said foot extending axially from said lower platform.  
     
     
         41 . The capsule of  claim 38  wherein said body includes an inner surface defining said cavity and a first stop extending into said cavity from said inner surface and wherein said carrier includes a second stop engageable with said first stop to limit movement of said carrier relative to said body.