Closure means and method

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.

A method for filling and sealing a container for gassy liquids having a single opening, said method comprising substantially but not completely filling said container with said gassy liquid, inserting a volumetric member into said opening, said volumetric 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, said volumetric member also having 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 said volumetric member and the side wall of the container into which said volumetric member is inserted, and sealing said container with a cap.

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.