Food container with inert gas-containing space

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for storing a product in which a storage compartment is provided for the product and a head space containing an inert gas is provided between the product and any air which may enter the container. The original sealed container contains the inert gas and the amount of inert gas is sufficient to provide a barrier between the product and air during normal usage of the container until the product contained therein is depleted.

What Is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for storing a product comprising: 
 a) a housing defining a storage compartment for storing said product;    b) a head space above the storage compartment within the housing for maintaining a sufficient quantity of a gas which protects the stored product from degrading contact with air; and    c) a pathway extending from the storage compartment to an opening leading to the outside of the housing enabling at least a portion of the product to be removed therefrom without the substantial loss of the gas.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the inert gas is heavier than air.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the gas is argon.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is in the form of a bottle.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising restriction means for restricting the escape of a significant portion of the gas out of the opening which at least a portion of the product is being removed therefrom.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the apparatus is in the form of a bottle and the opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the storage compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the apparatus comprises a neck portion extending from the storage compartment to the opening, said neck portion having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional of the storage compartment.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  comprising a neck portion and an insert insertable into the neck portion to reduce the cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the neck portion.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the insert has a pair of extensions which extend outwardly or inwardly into the container.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the restriction means comprises an annular ring.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the head space is at least 15% of the volume of the storage compartment.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the insert restricts fluid flow of the gas into the neck portion.