Technique for pressurizing a sealed article

A device for pressurizing a sealed, puncturable hollow article comprising:

• a needle having a tubular end receptive to an elongate plug;
• the tubular end of the needle having an opening formed in its side to expose an intermediate portion of an elongate plug contained in the tubular portion;
• and
• the needle having an air passage extending through the outer end thereof, the air passage opening through an orifice in the side of the needle at a location behind the tubular end of the needle.

A method for varying the internal pressure of a sealed, hollow article, comprising:

• providing a needle having means at one end for carrying a plug and an air passage at its other end, the air passage terminating in an orifice located between the ends of the needle;
• puncturing the article with the needle and inserting the needle through the article to locate the plug interiorly of the article and to locate the orifice interiorly of the article;
• causing air to flow selectively to or from the interior of the article through the orifice;
• and
• thereafter withdrawing the needle and causing the plug to frictionally engage the punctured portion of the article so that upon continued withdrawal of the needle the plug will remain engaged by the article.