Pump package

Abstract

A dispensing system is provided which assists in preventing oxidation of a product having an oxygen labile component. The system comprises a container having an internal chamber and a neck providing access to the internal chamber. A pump is attached to the neck of the container. The pump projects into the internal chamber. A gas producing structure is attached to a portion of the pump that projects into the container. By one or more mechanisms, the gas producing structure gradually releases a gas, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or any other gas that is substantially unreactive with the labile component of the product. The released gas provides two advantages. First, the gas serves to keep internal pressure of the system at a constant level. Second, the gas released is one which will not degrade labile components of the product. The ability of this dispensing system to at least partially fill the headspace of the package with a gas that does not readily degrade the labile component of the product aids in slowing down the degradation of that product. Therefore, since oxygen is displaced by released gas in the headspace, the oxidation process is slowed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.