Method and apparatus for releasing additional ingredients in a pressurized container

Claim 1

A dispensing container comprising: a primary container pressurized by an initial supply of propellant including a first liquified propellant and a gaseous propellant and containing a first substance to be expelled therefrom under pressure; valve means communicating only with said primary container for dispensing the contents of said primary container; and a secondary container within said primary container closed against said gaseous propellant and pressurized by a reserve supply of liquified propellant having a characteristic head pressure higher than said first liquified propellant, and containing a second substance to be added to said first substance, said secondary container being constructed to open and release said second substance into said primary container only upon establishment of a predetermined pressure differential between the interior of said primary container and the interior of said secondary container by discharge of said gaseous propellant from said primary container through said valve means.

Claim 10

A method for separately storing ingredients in a pressurized dispensing container such that the ingredients may be admixed by partial depressurization of the container just prior to use, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a first ingredient in a primary container and a second ingredient in a detached sealable secondary container, said secondary container being constructed to open and release its contents only at a predetermined pressure differential between its internal pressure and the pressure in said primary container; introducing a reserve supply of liquified propellant into said detached secondary container; closing said secondary container to seal said second ingredient and said reserve liquified propellant therein and to seal said secondary container against an overpressurizing propellant in said primary container; introducing said secondary container into said primary container; and pressurizing said primary container with a first liquified propellant and a second gaseous propellant, said first propellant having a characteristic head space pressure sufficiently lower than said reserve propellant to cause said secondary container to open within said primary container, said second propellant overpressurizing only the primary container to prevent such opening of the secondary container until the second propellant is released from the primary container.

Claim 11

A method for separately storing ingredients in a pressurized dispensing container such that the ingredients may be admixed by partial depressurization of the container just prior to use, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a first ingredient in a primary container and a second ingredient in a detached sealable secondary container, said secondary container being constructed to open and release its contents only at a predetermined pressure differential between its internal pressure and the pressure in said primary container; introducing a reserve supply of liquified propellant into said detached secondary container; closing said secondary container to seal said second ingredient and said reserve liquified propellant therein and to seal said secondary container against an overpressurizing propellant in said primary container; introducing said secondary container into said primary container; and pressurizing said primary container with a first liquified propellant and a second gaseous propellant, said first propellant having a characteristic head space pressure sufficiently lower than said reserve propellant to cause said secondary container to open within said primary container, said second propellant overpressurizing only the primary container to prevent such opening of the secondary container until the second propellant is released from the primary container.

Claim 18

A method for filling a pressurized dispensing container comprising the steps of: providing a primary container including an open end and a valve assembly attachable to said primary container for sealing said open end; providing a sealable secondary container dimensioned to fit into said primary container through said open end, said secondary container being constructed to open only at a predetermined differential between its internal and external pressure so as to release its contents including liquids into said primary container; introducing a liquified propellant into said secondary container; refrigerating said secondary container to a sufficiently low temperature to keep said propellant in a liquid state at atmospheric pressure; introducing a second substance into said secondary container; closing said secondary container such that its contents are sealed therein and said secondary container is sealed against an overpressurizing gaseous propellant in said primary container; introducing said secondary container into said primary container; attaching said valve assembly to seal said primary container; filling said primary container with a product to be dispensed therefrom under pressure; and pressurizing said primary container with a first liquified propellant and a second gaseous propellant, said liquified propellant having a characteristic head space pressure sufficiently lower than said reserve propellant to cause said secondary container to open within said primary container, said gaseous propellant overpressurizing only said primary container to prevent opening of said secondary container until said primary container is partially depressurized by releasing said second propellant.

Claim 19

A method for filling a pressurized dispensing container comprising the steps of: providing a primary container including an open end and a valve assembly attachable to said primary container for sealing said open end; providing a sealable secondary container dimensioned to fit into said primary container through said open end, said secondary container being constructed to open only at a predetermined differential between its internal and external pressure so as to release its contents including liquids into said primary container; introducing a liquified propellant into said secondary container; refrigerating said secondary container to a sufficiently low temperature to keep said propellant in a liquid state at atmospheric pressure; introducing a second substance into said secondary container; closing said secondary container such that its contents are sealed therein and said secondary container is sealed against an overpressurizing gaseous propellant in said primary container; introducing said secondary container into said primary container; attaching said valve assembly to seal said primary container; filling said primary container with a product to be dispensed therefrom under pressure; and pressurizing said primary container with a first liquified propellant and a second gaseous propellant, said liquified propellant having a characteristic head space pressure sufficiently lower than said reserve propellant to cause said secondary container to open within said primary container, said gaseous propellant overpressurizing only said primary container to prevent opening of said secondary container until said primary container is partially depressurized by releasing said second propellant.