Patent ID: 8701910
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A wine bottle closure and vacuum apparatus, comprising: a) a wine bottle having a larger diameter lower section, a smaller diameter neck, and a tapered portion below the neck, the neck surrounded by an annular rib and a bottle opening that communicates with a bottle interior, comprising: b) a hollow bulb structure that has a bulb wall surrounding a bulb interior, the bulb structure extending downwardly from the bottle opening and along the bottle neck; c) a bottle closure plug that is sized and shaped to form a seal with bottle opening, the plug attached to the bulb, the closure plug having an open ended air flow channel that communicates with the bulb interior and the bottle interior, closure plug comprising a cylindrically shaped inner section that is configured to occupy the bottle neck below the bottle opening and an outer generally cylindrically shaped section that extends around the bottle rib; d) a connection between the bulb structure and closure plug being a one hundred eighty degree bend; e) a first check valve mounted to an assembly of bulb structure and closure plug at a position that is next to the closure plug, the first check valve enabling air flow in an upward direction from the plug air channel to the bulb interior and disallowing substantial air flow in a direction from the bulb interior to the bottle interior; f) a second check valve mounted to the bulb wall below said bend; g) wherein the second check valve enables flow from between the bulb interior to the exterior of the bulb; h) the bulb structure being a resilient structure having a memory so that when the bulb is squeezed, air is evacuated from the bulb interior via the second check valve and the bulb has a collapsed position that subjects the bulb interior to subatmospheric pressure; i) wherein the bulb includes a straight section that extends along the neck and below the closure plug and the one hundred eighty degree bend, the straight section terminating at a bulb lower end that is next to the tapered portion, thus enabling a user to place multiple fingers of his or her hand on the combination of neck and straight section of the bulb in order to squeeze the straight section of the bulb when pumping the bulb; and j) wherein the straight section of the bulb is in close contact with the neck below the bend and above the tapered portion.