Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Market Insights

Market Insights

Patent-pending gas-trap cap prevents CSDs from going flat

Technology delivers better experience for consumers

By Kristopher Willett
gas-trap cap

Image courtesy of SMART CAPS Group Inc.

May 17, 2022

Plastic bottles were introduced to the bottling industry and the world in 1978. In the past 44 years, that container and closure technical changes have addressed varying attributes. However, the ability to reduce carbonated beverages’ ability to go “flat” has not been effectively addressed. That is about to change. To help consumers avoid flat soft drinks, a patent-pending gas-trap cap now is available for the carbonated beverage world.

“A check valve, inside a soda cap, what a clever, game changing design ― why didn’t anyone think of this 40 years ago?,” says the head of mechanical engineering of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

 

SMART CAPS Group Inc
Image courtesy of SMART CAPS Group Inc.

 

The Old Way

With a carbonated beverage bottle and traditional plastic lid, the bottle is opened in an upright orientation. The soft drink sits in the bottom of the bottle and the headspace of air and carbon dioxide is between the soft drink and the lid. The pressure in the bottle is in the range of 50 psi at room temperature and the carbon dioxide is in equilibrium between the pop and headspace.

As soon as the lid is opened, the pressurized carbon dioxide in the headspace immediately escapes from the bottle. The pressure in the bottle drops to atmospheric level and the carbon dioxide in solution fizzes out of the soft drink until the lid is put back on the bottle.

No carbon dioxide remains in the headspace and a large amount of carbon dioxide will leave the soft drink and enter the headspace until carbon dioxide equilibrium between headspace and soft drink is reached again. As long as the lid is off the bottle, carbon dioxide will continue to leave the bottle and the soft drink will go flat.

The New Way

With a gas-trap cap, the bottle is opened in an upside down orientation. The headspace is between the soft drink and the “bottom” of the bottle, thus the soft drink is between the headspace and the lid. Once the lid is rotated open, the soft drink flows out, but no carbon dioxide can escape. Any carbon dioxide that fizzes out of the soft drink stays within the bottle.

As the soft drink leaves the bottle, air enters and rises to the headspace. Once the lid is closed, a small amount of carbon dioxide will come out of the soft drink and enter the headspace until equilibrium is again reached. No carbon dioxide has escaped during the pouring process, thus keeping the soft drink carbonated.

When this cap is used properly, consumers will be able to enjoy the entire contents of the bottle with full carbonation, eliminating flat soft drinks.

The company is working with an industry leading closure company to move from the resin prototype to a standard injection molded version of the three-piece cap. The outside dimensions of the new cap are very close to existing cap dimensions. There is approximately 125% more plastic used to mold the three parts. With three separate injection molded plastic pieces, it requires assembly prior to capping at the bottling plant. Additionally, with a large hole in the top of the cap, it will need to be covered, prior to bottling, with a hermetically sealed safety sticker to prevent tampering or dust and debris from settling into the hole.

The key advantage with this new gas-trap cap technology, is giving consumers a better experience.

KEYWORDS: caps and closures Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) Sales plastic bottles

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Kristopher Willett is the CEO of SMART CAPS Group Inc. He can be reached at kris.w@smartcaps.group or (403)918-4237.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Beverage News
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Wine & Spirits
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Celsius Fizz Free

CELSIUS launches new Fizz-Free flavors

PepsiCo.jpg

PepsiCo advances AI agenda

Narragansett Beer 1975 cans

Narragansett Beer celebrates 50 years of ‘Jaws’

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

July 15, 2025

Understanding the Best Material Type for Your Conveyor Systems

Leveraging decades of beverage production expertise, join Regal Rexnord’s Jeremy Fryman, Beverage Industry Marketing Manager and Tom Eure, Senior Account Executive as they dive into the landscape of plastic conveyor belt materials on the market and how to select the proper material type by application.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • L Sensor O2

    Preventative equipment prevents downtime

    See More
  • Trap and condensate optimization saves water and energy for West Coast brewery

    See More
  • Craft soda brand Jones Soda

    2021 Soft Drink Report: New CSDs crafted for ‘sizzle and pop’

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • small gin.jpg

    Lessons from Gin: Business the Four Pillars Way

  • management.jpg

    Food and Beverage Management

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing