U.S. patent application number 11/365001 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for decanter stopper with a vacuum pressure indicator.
Invention is credited to Edward Kilduff, Bob Larimer.
Application Number | 20070199612 11/365001 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38442863 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larimer; Bob ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Decanter stopper with a vacuum pressure indicator
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for preserving wine in a
decanter. The system comprises a stopper adapted for engaging and
airtight sealing the mouth of the decanter; the stopper comprises a
valve assembly operable to draw and maintain a pressure
differential within the decanter and a pressure indicator operable
to indicate vacuum pressure within the vessel. The system further
comprises a pump operable to engage the valve assembly and to draw
gas from within the decanter to an external atmosphere.
Inventors: |
Larimer; Bob; (New York,
NY) ; Kilduff; Edward; (New York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THELEN REID BROWN RAYSMAN & STEINER LLP
900 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
38442863 |
Appl. No.: |
11/365001 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/2038
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/065 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/04 20060101
B65B031/04 |
Claims
1. A stopper for a vessel, the stopper comprising: a cylindrical
body having a lower potion adapted for insertion into the vessel
mouth and for forming an airtight seal therein and an enclosed
upper portion having a first and a second openings; a valve
assembly disposed within the first opening of the upper portion of
the cylindrical body, wherein the valve assembly is operable to
draw and maintain a pressure differential within the vessel; and a
pressure indicator disposed within the second opening of the upper
portion of the cylindrical body for indicating vacuum pressure
within the vessel.
2. The stopper of claim 1, wherein the pressure indicator comprises
a pressure sensor operable to measure vacuum pressure within the
vessel and a display means for displaying in a human-readable form
the measured vacuum pressure.
3. The stopper of claim 1 further comprising an elastic sheath
dispose around the lower portion of the cylindrical body, the
sheath having a plurality of ridges extending radially outward for
forming an airtight sealing contact with the vessel mouth.
4. The stopper of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a
rigid cover having an orifice therethrough and a flange; a spring;
a valve extending through the spring and through the orifice of the
cover; and an elastic frame having a circumferential lip defining a
groove for engaging the flange of the cover, wherein the lower
portion of the frame is adapted for insertion into the first
opening in the upper portion of the stopper and wherein the upper
portion of the frame is adapted for engaging a pump.
5. The stopper of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises: an
elastic outer frame having a lower flange extending radially inward
to define a lower orifice having a sealing surface and an upper
flange portion extending radially outward and having a
circumferential groove on the inner surface thereof; a rigid inner
frame having an upper flange extending radially outward to engage
the circumferential groove and an upper flange extending radially
inward to define an upper orifice; a valve extending through the
upper orifice to the lower orifice and having a flange extending
radially outward for engaging the inward extending upper flange of
the inner frame and a lower portion for engaging the sealing
surface of lower orifice of the outer frame.
6. The stopper of claim 5, wherein a lower portion of the outer
frame is adapted for insertion into the first opening in the upper
portion of the stopper, and an upper portion of the outer frame is
adapted for engaging a pump.
7. A system for preserving a beverage in a vessel, the system
comprising: a stopper adapted for engaging and airtight sealing the
vessel mouth, the stopper comprising (i) a valve assembly operable
to draw and maintain a pressure differential within the vessel, and
(ii) a pressure indicator operable to indicate vacuum pressure
within the vessel; and a pump operable to engage the valve assembly
and to draw therethrough gas from within the vessel to an external
atmosphere.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the stopper comprises a
cylindrical body having a lower potion adapted for insertion into
the vessel mouth and for forming an airtight seal therein and an
enclosed upper portion having a first opening and a second
opening.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the valve assembly is disposed
within the first opening of the upper portion of the cylindrical
body of the stopper.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the pressure indicator is
disposed within the second opening of the upper portion of the
cylindrical body of the stopper.
11. The stopper of claim 7, wherein the pressure indicator
comprises a pressure sensor operable to measure vacuum pressure
within the vessel and a display means for displaying in a
human-readable form the measured vacuum pressure.
12. The stopper of claim 7, wherein the pump comprises one of a
manual pump and an electric pump.
13. The stopper of claim 7 further comprising an elastic sheath
dispose around the lower portion of the cylindrical body, the
sheath having a plurality of ridges extending radially outward for
forming an airtight sealing contact with the vessel mouth.
14. The stopper of claim 7, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a
rigid cover having an orifice therethrough and a flange; a spring;
a valve extending through the spring and through the orifice of the
cover; and an elastic frame having a circumferential lip defining a
groove for engaging the flange of the cover, wherein the lower
portion of the frame is adapted for insertion into the first
opening in the upper portion of the stopper and wherein the upper
portion of the frame is adapted for engaging the pump.
15. The stopper of claim 7, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
an elastic outer frame having a lower flange extending radially
inward to define a lower orifice having a sealing surface and an
upper flange portion extending radially outward and having a
circumferential groove on the inner surface thereof; a rigid inner
frame having an upper flange extending radially outward to engage
the circumferential groove and an upper flange extending radially
inward to define an upper orifice; a valve extending through the
upper orifice to the lower orifice and having a flange extending
radially outward for engaging the inward extending upper flange of
the inner frame and a lower portion for engaging the sealing
surface of lower orifice of the outer frame.
16. The stopper of claim 15, wherein a lower portion of the outer
frame is adapted for insertion into the first opening in the upper
portion of the stopper, and an upper portion of the outer frame is
adapted for engaging the pump.
17. A method for preserving a beverage in a vessel using a stopper
adapted for insertion into the vessel mouth, the method comprising
the steps of: the stopper airtight sealing the vessel mouth;
providing a path through the stopper for withdrawing air from
within the vessel into the external atmosphere, thereby drawing a
vacuum within the vessel; detecting a vacuum pressure within the
vessel; displaying in a human-readable form an indication of the
detected vacuum pressure within the vessel; and airtight sealing
the air path through the stopper to maintain the pressure
differential within the vessel.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of detecting
a vacuum pressure drop within the vessel.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of displaying
in a human-readable form an indication of the the detected vacuum
pressure drop.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of providing
a valve assembly operable to provide the air path through the
stopper.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising a step of providing
a valve operable to airtight seal the air path through the valve
assembly.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of providing
a pressure indicator operable to measure vacuum pressure within the
vessel and display the measured pressure in a human-readable
form.
23. The method of claim 20, fuirther comprises the step of
providing a pump adapted to engage the valve assembly and to draw
air from within the vessel to an external atmosphere.
24. A system for preserving a beverage, the system comprising: a
vessel for storing the beverage therein, wherein the vessel is
operative to withstand an internal pressure higher than an external
atmospheric pressure, a stopper adapted for engaging and airtight
sealing the vessel mouth, the stopper comprising (i) a valve
assembly operable to draw and maintain a pressure differential
within the vessel, and (ii) a pressure indicator operable to
indicate vacuum pressure within the vessel; and a pump operable to
engage the valve assembly and to draw therethrough gas from within
the vessel to an external atmosphere.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the stopper comprises a
cylindrical body having a lower potion adapted for insertion into
the vessel mouth and for forming an airtight seal therein and an
enclosed upper portion having a first opening and a second
opening.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the valve assembly is disposed
within the first opening of the upper portion of the cylindrical
body of the stopper.
27. The system of claim 25, wherein the pressure indicator is
disposed within the second opening of the upper portion of the
cylindrical body of the stopper.
28. The system of claim 24, wherein the pressure indicator
comprises a pressure sensor operable to measure vacuum pressure
within the vessel and a display means for displaying in a
human-readable form an indication of the measured vacuum
pressure.
29. The system of claim 25 further comprising an elastic sheath
dispose around the lower portion of the cylindrical body, the
sheath having a plurality of ridges extending radially outward for
forming an airtight sealing contact with the vessel mouth.
30. The system of claim 24, wherein the pump comprises one of a
manual pump and an electric pump.
31. The system of claim 24, wherein the vessel is operative to
withstand an internal vacuum pressure of about 50 inHg or less.
32. The system of claim 24, wherein the vessel is made of a rigid
transparent material, comprising one or more of glass, Plexiglas,
and plastic.
33. The system of claim 24, wherein the thickness of the vessel
wall is greater than 3 mm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the systems and
methods for preserving wine and more specifically to a decanter
stopper having means for drawing and maintaining a vacuum within
the decanter and a vacuum pressure indicator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A decanter is a vessel used for holding the results of
decantation where a liquid beverage from another vessel is poured
into the decanter and the sedimentary remainder of the liquid is
left in the original vessel. Decanters are commonly used to store
various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including wines,
juices and the like. Decanters come in various shapes and sized and
may be ornate and suitable for serving the liquid beverages. A
decanter usually comprises a vessel having a spherical body and a
narrow, elongated neck. Decanters often come with stoppered lids,
which, in addition to preventing accidental spilling of the liquid
from the vessel, prevent excessive exposure of the beverage to the
air, which may cause deterioration of the beverage contained
therein.
[0003] For example, once an alcoholic beverage, such as wine, is
transferred into the decanter, it is usually allowed to "breathe"
for a half an hour or so. Exposing the wine to air for this short
time is known to improve the wine. Exposure of the wine to air for
longer periods, such as six hours or more, however, tends to
deteriorate the wine. In particular, oxygen present in the air
contacting the unconsumed wine in the decanter will 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 chemical reactions.
Therefore, the decanters are often sealed with a stopper shortly
after transfer of the beverage thereto to prevent oxidation of the
beverage.
[0004] Some wine enthusiasts go even further in the attempt to
preserve the unconsumed wine. For example, one known method for
saving the unconsumed wine from the oxidation caused by the air
trapped in the partially filled stoppered bottle is to remove the
trapped air using a pump system, whereby drawing a vacuum within
the bottle. Such systems comprise a bottle stopper having a valve
therein and a vacuum pump. The operation of the pump may open the
valve, thereby extracting the air from the bottle and drawing a
vacuum therein. Once the pump is removed, the valve closes by the
pressure difference across the valve or other means; thereby the
contents of the bottle are preserved in the substantially air-free
environment. To open the bottle, the valve must be manually opened,
which would allow air to flow back into the bottle and the stopper
to be removed.
[0005] Even though the above-described prior art systems are
relatively simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture, they have
several shortcomings. For one, a seal formed by the stopper valve
is generally not very stable and prone to failure due to natural
and mechanical causes. For example, the presence of liquid or dust
particles on the valve may result in a leaky seal,
decompressurization of the bottle, and inadvertent penetration of
air into the bottle. Furthermore, repeated use of the stopper as
well as the pressure differential across thereof may result in
degradation of its elastic properties. Should the seal fail due to
these or other reasons and allow air to enter the bottle, the wine
will deteriorate due to oxidation or other chemical reactions. The
system however provides no suitable means for detecting the failure
of the seal and the resulted decompressurization of the bottle.
Such failure, if remained undiscovered, will allow deterioration of
the wine to progress undetected. Another shortcoming of the prior
art pump systems is that the provided stoppers are usually
configured to only fit the standard-size wine bottles and thus are
not suitable for decanters, which typically have much wider neck
openings.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an improved
system for preserving wine and other beverages stored in a decanter
from deterioration due to oxidation and other chemical reactions
caused by the presence of air in the decanter. More specifically,
there is a need to provide a stopper system having means for
drawing and maintaining a vacuum within the decanter and for
providing a visible indication in the event of the
decompressurization of the decanter. Furthermore, it is desirable
for the stopper system to be readily manufactured using standard
manufacturing processes and using commonly available materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
stopper system is provided comprising a cylindrical body having a
lower potion adapted for insertion into the vessel mouth and for
forming an airtight seal therein and an enclosed upper portion
having a first and a second openings. The stopper further comprises
a valve assembly disposed within the first opening of the upper
portion of the cylindrical body. The valve assembly may be operable
to draw and maintain a pressure differential within the vessel. The
stopper further comprises a pressure indicator disposed within the
second opening of the upper portion of the cylindrical body for
measuring vacuum pressure within the vessel. The pressure indicator
may comprise an analog or digital vacuum gauge. The stopper further
comprises an elastic sheath dispose around the lower portion of the
cylindrical body. The sheath may have a plurality of ridges
extending radially outward for forming an airtight sealing contact
with the vessel mouth.
[0008] In one embodiment, the valve assembly of the decanter
stopper comprises a rigid cover having an orifice therethrough and
a flange. It further comprises a spring and a valve extending
through the spring and through the orifice of the cover. The valve
assembly further comprises an elastic frame having a
circumferential lip defining a groove for engaging the flange of
the cover, wherein the lower portion of the frame is adapted for
insertion into the first opening in the upper portion of the
stopper and wherein the upper portion of the frame is adapted for
engaging a pump.
[0009] In another embodiment, the valve assembly of the decanter
stopper comprises an elastic outer frame having a lower flange
extending radially inward to define a lower orifice having a
sealing surface and an upper flange portion extending radially
outward and having a circumferential groove on the inner surface
thereof. The valve assembly further comprises a rigid inner frame
having an upper flange extending radially outward to engage the
circumferential groove and an upper flange extending radially
inward to define an upper orifice. A valve extends through the
upper orifice to the lower orifice and having a flange extending
radially outward for engaging the inward extending upper flange of
the inner frame and a lower portion for engaging the sealing
surface of lower orifice of the outer frame.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for
preserving beverage in a vessel using a stopper adapted for
insertion into the vessel mouth is disclosed. The method comprises
the stopper airtight sealing the vessel mouth, providing a path
through the stopper for withdrawing air from within the vessel into
the external atmosphere, thereby drawing a vacuum therein,
measuring the vacuum pressure within the vessel, displaying in a
human-readable form the measured vacuum pressure, and airtight
sealing the air path through the stopper to maintain the pressure
differential within the vessel. The method further comprises
detecting a vacuum pressure drop within the vessel and displaying
in a human-readable form the detected vacuum pressure drop.
[0011] The method further comprises providing a valve assembly
operable to provide the air path through the stopper and providing
a valve operable to airtight seal the air path through the valve
assembly. The method further comprises providing a pressure
indicator operable to measure vacuum pressure within the vessel and
display the measured pressure in a human-readable form. The method
further comprises providing a pump adapted to engage the valve
assembly and to draw air from within the vessel to an external
atmosphere.
[0012] The disclosed systems and methods have several improvements
and advantages of the prior art. One such advantage is that the
invention provides means for drawing and maintaining vacuum within
the decanter and thereby preserving unconsumed wine or other
beverages stored in a decanter from deterioration due to oxidation
and other chemical reactions. Another advantage of the present
invention is that it provides means for indicating a
decompressurization of the decanter. Yet another advantage of the
present invention is that is can be readily manufactured using
standard manufacturing processes and using commonly available
materials. Other advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following drawings and detailed description of the
specific embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] Various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated
in the following drawings, which are meant to be exemplary only and
are not limiting on the scope of the present invention, and in
which
[0014] FIG. 1 is an elevated view of the stopper in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the stopper in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the valve assembly in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the valve assembly in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the pressure gauge in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the stopper depicted as
positioned on the neck of a decanter in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram depicting a method for
preserving beverage in a decanter in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In the following description of the various embodiments of
the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration various embodiments of the present invention. It is to
be understood that the scope of the present invention is not
limited by the following description and by the accompanying
drawings.
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an elevated and section views,
respectively, of a stopper for a decanter in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment the present invention. The stopper 10
comprises a one-piece, integral, cylindrical body having an upper
enclosed portion 12 and lower portion 14, which may be defined by a
circumferential flange 20 extending radially outward. The enclosed
upper portion 12 of the stopper 10 may comprise a semi-spherical
body having two openings 32 and 34. The lower portion 14 is adapted
to be inserted into the mouth 112 of the decanter 110 and thus may
have an outside diameter 21 that is less than the inside diameter
of decanter neck 114. In one embodiment, the lower portion 14 of
the stopper 10 may have a slightly conical shape to completely fit
into the neck 114 of the decanter 110, which may also have conical
shape. The lower edge 21 of the flange 20 acts as an index,
abutting the lip 116 of the decanter mouth 112 when the lower
portion 14 is properly positioned within the decanter neck 114. In
one embodiment, the lower portion 14 may also comprise a flange 36,
which extends radially outward, whereby defining a circumferential
groove 38 between flange 36 and flange 20.
[0023] In one embodiment, the stopper 10 may also comprise an
elastic tubular sheath 30, which may be dispose around the lower
portion 14 of the stopper 10. The sheath 30 may comprise a flange
40 extending radially inward to engage the groove 38 of the lower
portion 14 of the stopper 10. The lower portion of sheath 10 may
extend radially inward to hook around the edge of the lower portion
14 of the stopper 10. In one embodiment, the sheath 10 may have a
plurality of flexible ridges 22 extending radially outward. The
ridge 22 may have diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the
decanter neck 114. Consequently, the ridges 22 are resiliently
compressed when the lower portion 14 of the stopper 10 is inserted
into the decanter mouth 112 and/or neck 114, thereby forming an
airtight and fluid-tight seal between the lower portion 14 and
decanter mouth 112 and/or neck 114, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] In one embodiment, the stopper 10 may be manufactured from
ABS, or other type of thermoformed plastic, which may be easily
molded into the required form using standard manufacturing
processes known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments,
the stopper 10 may be manufactured using other commonly available
materials such as resin, silicon, or the like, or more rigid
materials, such as Plexiglas, ceramic, metal, or the like.
Furthermore, in one embodiment, the elastic sheath 30 may be
manufactured from various resilient materials, such as resin,
silicon or the like, using standard manufacturing processes known
to those skilled in the art.
[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper
portion 12 of the stopper 10 may comprise two openings 32 and 34,
which may be defined by longitudinal, cylindrical sleeves 33 and
35, respectively. The opening 32 may house a valve assembly 36
operable to draw and maintain pressure differential within the
decanter, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The opening 34 may house a pressure indicator 38
operable to measure and display vacuum pressure within the
decanter, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The various embodiments of the valve assembly 36 and
pressure indicator 38 will be described next with reference to
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a valve assembly in accordance with one
exemplary embodiment the present invention. The valve assembly may
comprise an outer frame 40, inner frame 42, and valve 65. The
one-piece, integral outer frame 40 may be composed of a resilient
material, such as resin, silicon, or the like. The outer frame 40
may comprise a longitudinally extending, cylindrical sleeve portion
44, an upper flange portion 46, and a lower flange portion 48. The
sleeve portion 44 is inserted within the opening 32 and through
sleeve 33 of the stopper 10, and has an outside diameter 41 that is
less than the inside diameter of the sleeve 33. A number of thin
sealing ridges 43 extend circumferentially around and laterally
outwardly from the outer surface 45 of the sleeve portion 44. The
ridges 43 each have an outside diameter 47 which is slightly
greater than the inside diameter of the sleeve 33. Consequently,
the ridges 43 are resiliently compressed when the sleeve portion 44
is inserted into the sleeve 33 of the stopper 10, thereby forming
an air-tight and fluid-tight seal between the sleeve portion 44 and
sleeve 33.
[0027] The upper flange portion 46 extends laterally outward from
the outer surface 45 of sleeve portion 44 and longitudinally upward
from the upper end 49 of sleeve portion 44. The lower edge 51 of
the upper flange 46 acts as an index, abutting the upper edge of
the sleeve 33 when the sleeve portion 44 is properly positioned
within the sleeve 33 of the stopper 10. A number of thin sealing
ridges 57 extend circumferentially around and laterally outwardly
from the outer surface of the upper flange 46. The ridges 57 each
have an outside diameter which is slightly greater than the inside
diameter of the sleeve 33. Consequently, the ridges 57 are
resiliently compressed when the sleeve 33 engages upper flange 46
of the outer frame 40. An axial bore 52 extends longitudinally
through the upper flange portion 46 and the sleeve portion 44. The
lower flange portion 48 may extend laterally inward to an axial
orifice 54, thereby partially closing bore 52. The orifice 54 may
have tapered, conical-shape, sealing surface forming a valve seat
56, as further described below.
[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, a rigid,
one-piece, integral, inner frame 42 is disposed within the bore 52
of the outer frame 40 and is preferably composed of a hard
polymeric material, such as plastic. The inner frame 42 includes a
longitudinally extending, cylindrical sleeve portion 58 and an
upper flange 60, which extends laterally outward from the outer
surface 59 of sleeve portion 58 and longitudinally upward from the
upper end 62 of sleeve portion 58. A stepped axial opening 64
extends longitudinally through the sleeve 58 and upper flange 60.
The diameter of the opening 61 in the sleeve portion 58 is greater
than the diameter of the opening in the upper flange portion 60,
such that the upper flange portion 60 forms a downward facing
shoulder 69. The upper flange 60 is received in a circumferential
groove 53 on the inner surface of upper flange 46. Preferably, the
outer diameter of the upper flange 60 is greater than the inside
diameter of the opening 32 and sleeve 33 whereby the rigid material
of upper flange 60 and the resilient material of upper flange 46
could not be inserted into the sleeve 33 of the stopper 10.
[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, a rigid,
one-piece, integral, valve 65 is disposed in an opening 61 of the
inner frame 42. The valve 65 has an upper operator portion 66
connected to a lower valve body portion 68 by a longitudinally
extending shaft portion 67. The operator portion 66 has a
knob-shape to facilitate gripping by a user's hand. The outside
diameter of the operator portion 66 is greater than the diameter of
the opening formed in the upper flange 60 of the inner frame 42
such that operator portion 66 cannot be pushed or pulled through
opening 61. The valve body portion 68 has a conical shape which is
complementary to that of the orifice 54 in the lower flange portion
48 of the outer frame 40 such that the seating surface 56 of the
orifice 54 may form an air-tight and fluid-tight seal with the
valve body portion 68 when the valve body portion 68 is urged into
the orifice 54 under the vacuum pressure within the decanter 110.
The tapered shape increases the frictional force between the
seating surface 56 and valve body portion 68, thereby providing
improved resistance to air leakage into the decanter 110. A
retainer flange 63, which extends radially outward from shaft
portion 67, is disposed proximate to the upper operator portion 66.
The outside diameter of the retainer flange 60 is smaller than the
diameter of the opening 61 in sleeve portion 58 but greater than
the diameter of the opening in upper flange portion 60 such that
the retainer flange 63 engages shoulder 69 to prevent complete
withdrawal of the valve 65 from the inner frame 42.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a valve assembly in accordance with
another exemplary embodiment the present invention. The valve
assembly may comprise a frame 70, cover 72, spring 74, and valve
86. The one-piece, integral frame 70 may be composed of a resilient
material, such as resin, silicon, or the like. The frame 70 may
comprise a cylindrical sleeve portion 76 having bore 79 and a valve
seat assembly 78. The sleeve portion 76 is inserted within the
opening 32 and through the sleeve 33 of the stopper 10, and has an
outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the
sleeve 33. A number of thin sealing ridges 71 extend
circumferentially around and laterally outwardly from the outer
surface of the sleeve portion 76. The ridges 71 each have an
outside diameter which is slightly greater than the inside diameter
of the sleeve 33. Thus, the ridges 71 are resiliently compressed
when the sleeve portion 76 is inserted into the sleeve 33 of the
stopper 10, thereby forming an airtight and fluid-tight seal
between the sleeve portion 76 and the sleeve 33.
[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the valve seat
portion 78 of the frame 70 extends longitudinally upward and
laterally outward from the sleeve portion 76 to define a flange 77.
The lower edge 75 of the flange 77 acts as an index, abutting upper
edge of the sleeve 33 when the sleeve portion 76 is properly
positioned within the sleeve 33 of the stopper 10. A number of thin
sealing ridges 73 extend circumferentially around and laterally
outwardly from the outer surface of the valve seat portion 78. The
ridges 73 each have an outside diameter which is slightly greater
than the inside diameter of the sleeve 122 of pump 120. Thus, the
ridges 73 are resiliently compressed when the sleeve 122 of the
pump 120 engages valve seat portion 78. The lower part of the valve
seat portion 78 may extend radially inward to form an axial orifice
80, which partially closes bore 79. The valve seat portion 78 may
also comprise a flange 81 extending radially inward and defining a
circumferential groove 82 in a perimeter of a cavity 83.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, a rigid,
one-piece, integral, valve 86 extends through an orifice 85 of the
valve cover 72 and spring 74. The valve 86 and cover 72 may be
formed of a rigid material such as ABS, or other type of,
thermoformed plastic. The spring 74 may be formed of metal or the
like. The valve 86 has an upper operator portion 87 connected to a
lower valve portion 89 by a longitudinally extending shaft 88. The
valve shaft 88 passes through the spring 74, whereby the spring 74
is compressed between the edge of the orifice 85 and the lower
valve portion 89. In one embodiment, the spring 74 may be thermally
fused to the lower valve portion 89 using methods known to those of
skill in the art. The operator portion 87 is knob-shaped to
facilitate gripping by a user's hand. The outside diameter of the
operator portion 87 may be greater than the diameter of the orifice
85 such that the operator portion 87 may not be pushed or pulled
through the orifice 85.
[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame 70 may
be sufficiently elastic so that it can be stretched to allow a
flange 84 of the cover 72 to be inserted into groove 82 of the
frame 70 and be held in place by flange 81 to form the valve
assembly. When the cover 72 is inserted into the frame 70, the
force of the expending spring 74 will work against the lower valve
portion 89 and thus bring it into the abutting contact with the
lower potion of the valve seat assembly 78, thereby airtight and
fluid-tight sealing the orifice 80. During pumping, however, the
air inside the decanter 110 pushes on the lower valve portion 89
with sufficient force to overcome the expanding force of the spring
74 and allowing air to flow out of the decanter 110 through the
orifice 85 into the atmosphere. When the pumping action stops, the
valve 86 is drawn in its original sealing position by the operation
of the spring 74 and the vacuum pressure within the decanter.
[0034] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
the stopper 10 may comprise a pressure indicator operable to
measure and display in the human-readable format the level of
vacuum pressure within the stoppered decanter. The pressure
indicator may comprise any vacuum pressure-measuring device, such
as a pressure gauge, or the like. In some embodiments of the
present invention, the pressure indicator may comprise a mechanical
pressure gauge, such as a bourdon tube pressure gauge, diaphragm
element pressure gauge, capsule element pressure gauge, absolute
pressure gauge, differential pressure gauge, or the like. In
another embodiment, the pressure indicator may comprise an
electronic (or digital) pressure gauge, such as a thermocouple
gauge, Penning gauge, thermistor gauge or the like.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a pressure
indicator in accordance with the present invention. An exemplary
pressure indicator comprises a mechanical pressure gauge 90
operable to measure vacuum pressure within the decanter 110 and to
display the measured vacuum pressure in a human-readable format.
The pressure gauge 90 is disposed within the sleeve 35 of the upper
portion of the stopper 10. The pressure gauge 90 may comprise a
sealing sleeve 91, a cylindrical frame 92, an inner T-shaped frame
93, a piston 94, a spring 95, a card face 96, a cover 97, and a
gear train 98. Those of skill in the art may recognize that various
other elements and configuration of mechanical and electronic
elements may be used in connection with the pressure gauge 90 to
measure and display vacuum pressure within the decanter in
accordance with various embodiments.
[0036] In one embodiment, the cylindrical sealing sleeve 91 may be
formed of resilient material, such as resin, silicon, or the like,
and disposed around the cylindrical frame 92 to provide airtight
and fluid-tight seal between the sleeve 34 and the frame 92 when
the pressure indicator 90 is inserted into the sleeve 34 of the
upper portion 12 of the stopper 10. The lower portion of the
sealing sleeve 91 may extend radially inward to form an orifice 99.
The upper portion of the sealing member may comprise a flange 101
extending radially outward to engage in an airtight manner the
lower edge of a radial flange 102 of the frame 92. The upper edge
of the flange 102 may engage in the airtight manner the cover 97,
which may be formed of rigid and transparent material, such as
glass, Plexiglas, plastic or the like.
[0037] The cylindrical frame 92 may be formed of a rigid material,
such as plastic. The cylindrical frame 92 may define a chamber 103.
The lower portion of the cylindrical frame 92 may extend radially
inward to define an orifice 104 having diameter smaller than the
diameter of the chamber 103. The spring 95 may be disposed within
the chamber 103 to abut the edge of the orifice 104. The piston 94
may comprise a cylindrical shaft having a bore therein. The shaft
of the piston 94 extends through the chamber 103, spring 95,
orifice 104, and orifice 99. The piston 94 may further comprise a
plug 106 that may be inserted at the bottom into the bore of the
piston 94 to seal in an airtight manner the orifice 99 and a bore
of the piston 94. The piston 94 may also comprise a flange 105
extending radially outward for engaging the spring 95. In one
embodiment, the spring 95 may be thermally fused at one end with
the flange 105 of the piston 95 and at the other end with the
bottom portion of the frame 92 to form a pressure sensor, operation
of which will be described in more detail below. The T-shaped frame
93 may extend through the piston 95. The upper, horizontal portion
of the T-shaped frame 93 may support an indicating needle 107 and
comprise a card face 96 inscribed with the pressure indication
scale, such as inches of mercury vacuum (inHg), associated with
particular needle deflections. A link or the gear train 98 may be
used to connect piston 94 with the T-shape frame 93 and the
indication needle 107 in a manner know to those of skill in the
art, and which therefore is not described here in detail.
[0038] The above-described vacuum pressure gauge operates as
follows. As the air is being withdrawn from the decanter 110 to the
external atmosphere through the valve assebly 24, the vacuum is
drawn inside the decanter 110 and the vacuum pressure keeps
increasing inside the decanter 110. This vacuum pressure is
excertend on the plug 106 of the piston 94 and lower portion of the
sealing sleeve 91 of the pressure gauge 90 so that the the piston
94 and the sleeve 91 are being pulled into the decanter 110. Once
the vacuum pressure exceeds the force of the spring 95 disposed
within the pressure gauge 90, the piston 94 will start moving
downward into the decanter 110. The downward motion of the piston
94 may be transferred from a vertical plane into the horrizontal
plane through a link or gear train 98 to the T-shaped frame 93 and
the indicating needle 107 of the pressure gauge 90, which in turn
will move along the inscribed scale on the card face 96 and
indicates vacuum pressure within the decanter 110.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 6, a separate pump 120 may be used in
connection with the stopper of the present invention to withdraw
the air from the decanter 110 and to draw the vacuum therein. In
one embodiment, the pump 120 may comprise a pump sleeve 122 with
cylindrical chamber 132 having a piston 128 disposed therein. A
pipe-shaped piston rod 124 extends from the piston 128 to a handle
126. A check valve, such as a mushroom-shaped non-return valve (not
shown), may be mounted in an opening (not shown) in the piston 128
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
pump sleeve 122 is configured to engage the upper frame portion of
valve 24, which protrudes from the upper portion of the stopper 10.
The piston 128 may be manually or electrically actuated to withdraw
the air through the valve assembly 24 from the decanter 110 and
thus to draw vacuum therein. When the piston rod 124 and piston 128
move upwards, the check valve prevents flow through the opening in
the piston 128, thereby extracting air from the decanter via valve
24. When the piston 128 is subsequently moved downwards, the air
passes through the opening in the piston 128 and exhausts through
an opening 134 in the upper portion of the pump sleeve 122.
[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, the decanter 110
may comprise any type of vessel capable of holding a fluid therein.
The decanter 110 may be manufactured using standard manufacturing
processes know to those of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the
decanter 110 may be manufactured from various rigid and preferably
transparent materials such as glass, Plexiglas, plastic, ABS or the
like. The thickness of the walls of the decanter 110 should be
sufficient to withstand internal vacuum pressures higher than the
external atmospheric pressure. In one embodiment, the thickness of
the decanter walls may range from 2-7 mm to withstand internal
vacuum pressures up to 50 inHg or higher. Those of skill in the art
may recognize that the decanter's pressure resistance may depend on
the type of the material from which the decanter is manufactured
and the thickness of the decanter walls.
[0041] The operation of the wine preserving system of the present
invention will be described next with reference to FIG. 7 as well
as FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a
partially filled wine decanter 110 into which the stopper 10 has
been inserted and a cross-section view of pump 120 positioned on
the stopper 10. In operation, the stopper 10 is inserted into the
neck 114 of the decanter 110, preferably until the lower surface 21
of ledge 20 of stopper 10 (see FIG. 2) seats on the lip 116 of the
decanter mouth 112. The flexible ridges of the lower portion of the
stopper come into the sealing contact with the throat 114 of the
decanter 110 to airtight seal it, step 710. Then, the sealing end
of sleeve 122 of the pump 120 may be installed on the stopper 10,
preferably with the sealing end of sleeve 122 pressing against and
sealing to upper surface 27 of ledge 26 of the stopper 10.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 3, during the suction stroke of the
pump 120, air inside the decanter 110 pushes the valve 65 upward,
unseating valve body portion 68 from the orifice 54, and
establishing an air path through the stopper 10, step 720. The air
flows through the orifice 54 and out of the stopper 10 via the
stepped opening 61 of the inner frame 42. When the pumping action
stops, the vacuum in the decanter draws the valve 65 downward to
engage the valve body portion 68 within orifice 54, thereby sealing
the air passage, step 730. The pressure differential across the
valve 65 will further urge the valve 65 downward, thereby pushing
the flexible lower flange portion 48 of the outer body 40 down
towards the inside of the decanter 110. To remove the decanter
stopper 10, the vacuum may be released by grasping operator portion
66 of valve and pulling the valve 65 upward, thereby unseating the
valve body portion 68 from orifice 54.
[0043] With reference to FIG. 5, the vacuum in the decanter 110
acts on the plug 106 of the piston 94 and lower portion of the
sealing sleeve 91 of the pressure gauge 90 so that the the piston
94 and the sleeve 91 are being pulled into the decanter 110 due to
the vacuum pressure. Once the vacuum pressure exceeds the force of
the spring 95 disposed within the pressure gauge 90, the piston 94
will start moving downward into the decanter 110, thereby measuring
vacuum pressure within the decanter 110, step 740. The downward
motion of the piston 94 is transferred through gear train 98 to the
indicating needle 107 of the pressure gauge 90, which in turn will
move along the inscribed scale on the card face 96 and indicate
vacuum pressure within the decanter 110, step 750. Once the desired
vacuum presure is achieved within the decanter 110, the pumping may
subside, thereby preserving the wine in the decanter 110 in the
substantially air free atmospherer, i.e., vacuum.
[0044] Again with reference to FIG. 3 and 5, should the airtight
seal between the valve body portion 68 and orifice 54 leak, or
should the decanter depressurize in any other way, the vacuum
pressure within the decanter 110 will begin dropping. This vacuum
pressure drop will be detected by the pressure gauge 90, step 760.
The indicating needle 107 of the pressure gauge 90 will move to
indicate the drop in vacuum pressure, step 770. Once such drop in
the pressure has been observed, the user may again utilize pump 120
to withdraw the access air from the decanter 110 thereby bring
vacuum level within the decanter 110 to the desired level and
reestablishing airtight seal between valve body portion 68 and
orifice 54 of the valve assembly 24. This process may be
periodically repeated thereby ensuring that the unconsumed wine
stored in the decanter 110 is preserved without oxidation or other
chemical reactions until it is completely consumed.
[0045] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will,
however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be
made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of
the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to
be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
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