Patent Application
20110220606
Bottles are commonly used to store liquid beverages. The quality of many such liquids is subject to deterioration after the permanent bottle seal, required for transport and storage, is removed and only part of the contents are consumed. The liquid then comes in contact with air after opening of the container. An example of such liquid is wine. Oxygen present in the air contacting unconsumed wine in a wine bottle may oxidize the wine, resulting in off-flavors in the unconsumed wine. Similarly, the quality of non-carbonated soft drinks may deteriorate upon exposure to air due to oxidation or other means.
Contact with air may be a cause of wine spoilage. In particular, oxygen enables organisms to grow on the surface of the wine, which may produce undesirable flavors and aromas. Further, oxygen may also trigger chemical reactions that lead to flavor losses and color changes in wine. Devices and systems have been proposed to reduce or eliminate such deterioration.
In one such system, nitrogen or other inert gas is introduced into the opened bottle to displace the air and blanket the surface of the liquid. Such systems require a source of the gas and means for introducing the gas into the bottle. Such systems may also require means for retaining the gas within the bottle and in some cases means for venting the displaced air from the bottle. These systems are relatively complex and require an assured gas source.
In an aspect of the invention, container stoppers are provided. In an embodiment, a bottle stopper for sealing a bottle comprises a first portion having a vacuum port and a vacuum indicator, the vacuum indicator for assuming a concave configuration with respect to a top surface of the first portion upon the application of vacuum to a bottle mounted by the bottle stopper, the vacuum port for coming in fluid communication with a vacuum application member; and a second portion attached to the first portion, the second portion having one or more ribs for mating with the bottle, the one or more ribs disposed below the first portion.
In another embodiment, a bottle stopper comprises a first portion having a vacuum port and a vacuum indicator; and a second portion attached to the first portion, the second portion having one or more ribs for mating with a bottle, the one or more ribs disposed below the first portion.
In another embodiment, a stopper for sealing a container comprises a body portion defining a cavity, the cavity for coming in fluid communication with a container mounted by the stopper; and a pressure-deformable vacuum indicator operatively coupled to the cavity.
The invention will be better understood from the Detailed Description of the Invention and from the appended drawings, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention.
While preferable embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention.
In embodiments of the invention, bottle stoppers (also “container stoppers” herein) are provided for sealing a container for holding (or storing) a liquid, beverage or food item, such as wine or oil (e.g., cooking oil). In various embodiments, bottle stoppers are provided for sealing wine bottles or containers for holding liquid or food items. Bottle stoppers of embodiments of the invention may facilitate or aid in the removal of gases (e.g., air) from a liquid container and to seal the liquid container from the environment. In embodiments, bottle stoppers comprise indicators that indicate when a vacuum has been provided to a liquid container. In various embodiments, the indicator may be a vacuum indicator for indicating when vacuum has been applied to the liquid container.
Bottle stoppers of embodiments of the invention may be used to seal containers having one or more liquids or semi-liquids selected from water, fruit juice, soda, wine, beer, and oil. In an embodiment, bottle stoppers may be used to store olive oil, such as extra virgin olive oil, in a liquid container.
In various embodiments, bottle stoppers are provided for storing and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid material. In an embodiment, a bottle stopper comprises a vacuum application member for bringing a liquid container having liquid or semi-liquid material in fluid communication with a source of vacuum, such as a vacuum pump. In a preferable embodiment, the bottle stopper includes a vacuum indicator for indicating whether the bottle is under vacuum. In an embodiment, the bottle stopper includes a pour spout for dispensing the liquid or semi-liquid content of the bottle without removing the bottle stopper from an opening of the bottle.
In embodiments, bottle stoppers are provided for sealing a bottle from the external environment. In an embodiment, bottle stoppers are provided for forming a hermetic seal between the contents of a bottle and the external environment.
Bottle stoppers of embodiments of the invention may be used to store liquids, solids and semi-liquids, such as, e.g., water, wine, juice, beer, wine, oil, soda, nuts and dried fruits.
Bottle stoppers of embodiments of the invention include a vacuum sensor or indicator (also “pressure indicator” herein). In an embodiment, the vacuum indicator is a pliable dome that protrudes (or extends out) from the bottle stopper in the absence of vacuum. In such a case, the vacuum indicator is convex in relation to a top surface of the bottle stopper. In an embodiment, the vacuum indicator protrudes from the bottle stopper when the pressure drop across the vacuum indicator is nearly zero. In an embodiment, upon mounting the bottle stopper to a liquid container and applying vacuum to the liquid container, the vacuum indicator becomes concave (or dimples in) with respect to the top surface of the bottle stopper. That is, the vacuum indicator deforms upon the application of vacuum to the bottle, which generates a pressure drop across the vacuum indicator (i.e., the vacuum indicator is pressure deformable). As such, the vacuum indicator advantageously permits a user to determine when a liquid container (e.g., wine bottle) is under vacuum and when the liquid container is not under vacuum. In an alternative embodiment, the vacuum indicator may be concave with respect to a top surface of the bottle stopper without the application of vacuum to the bottle, and convex upon the application of vacuum to the bottle.
Bottle stoppers of embodiments of the invention may indicate when bottles are under vacuum. Vacuum indicators of embodiments of the invention may indicate that a bottle is under vacuum when the pressure in the bottle is 10 Torr or lower, or 5 Torr or lower, or 0.5 Torr or lower, or 0.1 Torr or lower, or 0.01 Torr or lower, or 0.001 Torr or lower, or 0.0001 Torr or lower, or 0.00001 Torr or lower, or 0.000001 Torr or lower. In an embodiment, vacuum indicators of embodiments of the invention may indicate that a bottle is under vacuum when the pressure in the bottle is between about 1 inch of Hg (inHg) and 50 inHg, or between about 10 inHg and 20 inHg.
Reference will now be made to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. It will be appreciated that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In an embodiment, the vacuum indicator 110 may indicate when a bottle disposed below and in fluid communication with the vacuum indicator 110 is under vacuum. In an embodiment, the vacuum indicator 110 may assume an upward configuration with respect to a top surface of the bottle stopper 100 when a bottle mounted by the bottle stopper 100 is not under vacuum, and assume a downward configuration when a bottle mounted by the bottle stopper 100 is under vacuum.
The bottle stopper 100 is a 2-piece stopper having the first portion 115 and the second portion 116. In an embodiment, the bottle stopper 100 may be a single piece stopper. In embodiments, the bottle stopper 100 may include 1 or more pieces, or 2 or more pieces, or 3 or more pieces, or 4 or more pieces, or 5 or more pieces, or 10 or more pieces.
In an embodiment, one or both of the first portion 115 and the second portion 116 may be formed of a polymeric material, such as, e.g., rubber, an elastomer, or a thermoplastic. In an embodiment, the first portion 115 and the second portion 116 may be separated from one another.
In embodiments, the bottle stopper 100 may include 1 or more ribs, or 2 or more ribs, or 3 or more ribs, or 4 or more ribs, or 5 or more ribs, or 10 or more ribs, or 15 or more ribs, or 20 or more ribs, or 50 or more ribs. The ribs may have the same circumference or different circumferences. The ribs may be spaced as desired for various bottle configurations. The ribs may be spaced between about 1 millimeter (“mm”) and 50 mm.
Vacuum may be applied using a vacuum application member or device, such as a vacuum pump. In various embodiments, vacuum may be applied with the aid of the vacuum application devices described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/329,803 (“Method and apparatus for evacuating and sealing containers”), which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. The vacuum application device may have a vacuum member in fluid communication with the vacuum port 105. IN an embodiment, the vacuum member is a tube or hose.
The ribs 117 may enable a user to mount the stopper 100 on containers (e.g., bottle) having openings of various sizes. The stopper 100 includes four ribs 117 adjacent one another, a top-most rib, two middle ribs and a lower rib. With reference to
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
The first portion 115 may include one or more ribs for sealing the first portion against the second portion 116. The one or more ribs may form a seal against an inner surface of the second portion 116.
The first portion 115 may be disposed in a cavity of the second portion 116. The first portion 115 may be separable from the second portion 116. A user may remove the first portion 115 from the second portion 116, such as, e.g., for cleaning a cavity between the first portion 115 and second portion, and return the first portion 115 to the cavity in the second portion 116.
During use, a user may mount the bottle stopper 100 to a bottle and withdraw air (or another gas) from the bottle with the aid of an external vacuum device. In an embodiment, the user may bring the vacuum port 105 in fluid communication with the vacuum device with the aid of a hose or pipe, such as a flexible pipe. In a preferable embodiment, the vacuum device provides sufficient suction force to raise the plug 121 away from the middle opening 122, against the direction of force provided by the spring mechanism 123. In such fashion, space is formed around the plug 121 such that air (or other gas) may pass from the bottle to the lower opening 120 and subsequently to the vacuum port 105 and the vacuum device. When a predetermined (or desired) pressure is reached in the bottle, use of the vacuum device may be terminated. In an embodiment, in the absence of suction forced provided by the vacuum device, the spring mechanism 123 presses the plug 121 downward to seal the lower opening 120 and the bottle from the external environment.
In embodiments, the bottle stopper 100 may be removable from a bottle. In a preferable embodiment, the bottle stopper 100 is reusable. In some embodiments, the bottle stopper 100 may be for single use or disposable. In some cases, the bottle stopper 100 may be formed from one or more recyclable polymeric materials. In certain embodiments, the bottle stopper 100 may be removed by first introducing air (or other gas) into a bottle below the bottle stopper 100. In an embodiment, the bottle stopper 100 includes an air inlet port for providing air (or other gas) into the bottle when the bottle is under vacuum. In another embodiment, the bottle stopper 100 includes lifting member to lift the plug of the bottle stopper 100, thereby permitting air to enter the lower opening 120 and the bottle.
With continued reference to
The bottle stopper 100 further comprises a support member 125. In an embodiment, the support member is disposed in the first portion 115. In some cases, the support member 125 may be formed from the first portion 115. For example, the support member 125 may be single-piece (or unitary) with the first portion 115. In an embodiment, the support member 125 may prevent the first portion 115 from collapsing into the second portion 116 during use, i.e., upon the application of vacuum to the stopper 100 and a bottle in fluid communication with the cavity 117. In such a case, with the first portion 115 and second portion 116 adjacent one another, as illustrated, a cavity may be formed between the first portion 115 and second portion 116. Upon the removal of gases from the cavity 117, such as with the aid of a vacuum application device, the first portion 116, including the support member 125, may be drawn toward the second portion 116. In an embodiment, the support member 125 may come in contact with a portion of the second portion 116, thereby preventing the first portion 115 from collapsing into the second portion 116 during use, which may otherwise lead to structural damage to the second portion 116. The support member 125 may provide for the cavity between the first portion 115 and second portion during application of vacuum to the stopper 100. The support member 125 may prevent the first portion 115 from collapsing into the second portion 116 upon the application of vacuum to a bottle below the bottle stopper 100.
With continued reference to
In embodiments, the vacuum indicator 110 may be a membrane formed of a polymeric material. The vacuum indicator 110 may provide a visual indication as to when vacuum has been applied to a container mounted by the stopper 100. The vacuum indicator 110 may be formed from a deformable material, such as a polymeric material. Such a deformable material may deform upon the application of vacuum to the cavity 127, and return to its original shape when vacuum has been removed from the cavity 127 (or when pressure has returned to atmospheric pressure). The vacuum indicator 110 may be a pressure or vacuum-deformable indicator. In an embodiment, the vacuum indicator 110 may bend downward (i.e., assume a concave configuration with respect to a top surface of the bottle stopper 100) once a predetermined vacuum has been reached in a bottle. In an embodiment, once there is a sufficient pressure drop across the vacuum indicator 110, the vacuum indicator 110 bends downward. The vacuum indicator 110 advantageously provides a user visual indication of vacuum in a bottle. In an embodiment, upon the loss of vacuum to the bottle, the vacuum indicator 110 may assume an upright (or convex) configuration. In an alternative embodiment, upon the application of vacuum to the bottle, the vacuum indicator 110 may assume a convex configuration (i.e., bending upward with respect to the top surface of the stopper 100), and upon the loss of vacuum the vacuum indicator 110 returns to its original shape. In some cases, the original shape may be a concave configuration (i.e., bending downward with respect to the top surface of the stopper 100).
The cavity 117 may be defined by a body portion of the stopper. The body portion may include one or ore walls of the first portion 115. The first portion 115 may be single-piece, having an inner wall that defines the cavity 117.
In embodiments, with the aid of a vacuum device and the bottle stopper 100 a user may remove air from a bottle. In an embodiment, the user may terminate the removal of air once the vacuum indicator 110 has bent downward. When air is returned to the bottle, such as, for example, by twisting the bottle stopper 100 or pulling the bottle stopper 100 away from the bottle, the vacuum indicator 110 bends upward to assume a convex configuration.
Container stoppers provided herein, including bottle stoppers, may be combined with, or modified by, other devices and/or apparatuses, such as, for example, devices and/or apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,803 to Schneider and U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,834 to Wong, which are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular implementations have been illustrated and described, various modifications may be made thereto and are contemplated herein. It is also not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examples provided within the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the preferable embodiments herein are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it shall be understood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific depictions, configurations or relative proportions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. Various modifications in form and detail of the embodiments of the invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. It is therefore contemplated that the invention shall also cover any such modifications, variations and equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/313,659 (“Bottle Stoppers”), filed on Mar. 12, 2010, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61313659 | Mar 2010 | US |
