Closure means and method

Claim 2

A volumetric member for insertion into a fragile container for gassy liquids, said member having a thimble-like shape and having at least two openings extending through the walls thereof, one opening being above the other, the lower of said openings being of a size sufficient to permit liquid within said member to drain therefrom by gravity and the upper of said openings being smaller than the lower of said openings and of a size sufficient to permit pressure equalization between said member and a sealed fragile container into which said member is inserted.

Claim 3

The member of claim 1 where the openings are round and the diameter of the upper opening is from one-tenth to one-half the diameter of the lower opening.

Claim 4

A volumetric member for use in a fragile container for gassy liquids, said member having a thimble-like shape and having at least two openings extending through the walls thereof, one above the other, said lower opening being at least substantially twice the size of the upper opening, and at least one channel extending along its side from the upper opening to substantially the bottom of the member, said channel being of a depth sufficient to prevent meniscus formation between the volumetric member and a container into which said volumetric member is inserted.

Claim 5

A volumetric member for use in a fragile container for gassy liquids, said member having a thimble-like shape and having at least two openings extending through the walls thereof, one above the other, said lower opening being at least substantially twice the size of the upper opening, and at least one channel extending along its side from the upper opening to substantially the bottom of the member, said channel being of a depth sufficient to prevent meniscus formation between the volumetric member and a container into which said volumetric member is inserted.

Claim 8

In combination, a fragile container having an opening and substantially but incompletely filled with a gassy liquid and a closure for said container sealing said container, said closure comprising a cap portion and a hollow volumetric member capable of containing gas within it under pressure, said volumetric member extending into the opening of said container and substantially filling that portion of the container not filled with said gassy liquid, said volumetric member having at least two openings therein providing open communication between the interior of the volumetric member and the interior of the container, one of said openings being spaced above the other of said openings, the lower of said openings being larger than the upper of said openings, whereby liquid contained within the member may drain therefrom and gas contained therein is not instantaneously released therefrom upon fracture of the container, said combination also including means to prevent formation of a meniscus of the gassy liquid between the side wall of the volumetric member and the adjacent wall of the container between said upper and lower openings.

Claim 9

In combination, a fragile container having an opening and substantially but incompletely filled with a gassy liquid and a closure for said container sealing said container, said closure comprising a cap portion and a hollow volumetric member capable of containing gas within it under pressure, said volumetric member extending into the opening of said container and substantially filling that portion of the container not filled with said gassy liquid, said volumetric member having at least two openings therein providing open communication between the interior of the volumetric member and the interior of the container, one of said openings being spaced above the other of said openings, the lower of said openings being larger than the upper of said openings, whereby liquid contained within the member may drain therefrom and gas contained therein is not instantaneously released therefrom upon fracture of the container, said combination also including means to prevent formation of a meniscus of the gassy liquid between the side wall of the volumetric member and the adjacent wall of the container between said upper and lower openings.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 wherein one opening in the volumetric member is at the top of the volumetric member and the other is at the bottom.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 where the lower opening is at least twice the size of the upper opening.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 where the lower opening is from twice to ten times the size of the upper opening.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 6 where said means comprises a suitable space, at least at some point on the circumference of the side wall of the volumetric member and the adjacent wall of the container whereby a meniscus of the gassy liquid cannot form.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for preventing meniscus formation is at least one extending channel from the upper opening in the volumetric member to substantially the bottom thereof.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10 where said means comprise four channels.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 7 including means whereby gas collected within the volumetric member is prevented from propelling said cap from said container.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12 where said means comprises inseparably joining said volumetric member to said cap.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 12 where said means comprises inseparably a gas barrier layer between the volumetric member and the cap.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 7 including a flange around the upper surface of the volumetric member.