The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 26, 1997
Stephen W. Cornell, Naperville, IL (US);
Peter F. Murphy, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
David C. Brown, Chicago, IL (US);
The PopStraw Company, Roseville, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for filling a liquid filled container includes the steps of providing a container, placing a capsule defining a 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 a 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 includes 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.