Abstract:
An aerator for fluids, such as wine, includes an upper bowl portion with a set of openings in the base, a restrictor plate with, in the preferred embodiment, three sets of apertures. Each of the restrictor plate aperture sets can be aligned with the bowl openings to provide three different flow rates. A collar portion selects the aperture set to be aligned and includes vents to permit air into a central flow path wherein the wine is aerated as it flows through the collar portion.

Description:
This is a Continuation-in-Part of my Provisional Application Patent Ser. No. 61/331,276, filed May 4, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to wine accessories and, more particularly, to an aerating pourer that enhances the drinkability of a wine as it is being transferred from the bottle to a wine glass. 
     2. General Background and State of the Art 
     It is well known that wine can be improved by decanting which allows the retention of sediment in the bottle and provides some aeration of the wine prior to being served. In recent years, accessory pourers which fit into the bottle, have permitted aeration as the wine is being transferred from the bottle to a wine glass. In general, these accessories have included a globular section between the bottle and the pouring spout in which the wine experiences a turbulent flow. 
     INVENTION SUMMARY 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a device for selectively aerating wine. The device comprises a funnel-shaped aerating top section, a grippable mid-section funnel part and a bottom funnel stem. Each section may have an inner channel. Air may be admitted to the inner channel of the device at the top section. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the top portion has a set of apertures in the base. A rotatable plate has sets of orifices, each set a different size. The plate can be rotated so that only one set of orifices is aligned with the top portion apertures. The rate of flow can then be chosen by aligning the apertures with a selected set of orifices. In alternative embodiments, a large aperture can be selectively occluded to regulate the flow of wine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an aerator according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the aerator of  FIG. 1  assembled for use; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the aerator plate of the aerator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  including  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b    4   c  and  4   d  show a front view, an exploded view and sectional views of an aerator according to a first alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5 , including  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d  show a front view, an exploded view and sectional views of another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6 , including  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c  and  6   d  show a front view, an exploded view and sectional views of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of an aerator  10  according to the present invention. Included is a bowl portion  12 , a flow restricting occluding disc  14 , a rotatable aerator sleeve  16  which carries the disc  14 , a support plate  18  and a stand  20  in which to hold the aerator  10  when not in use. The bowl  12  has, at the bottom of the interior surface, a plurality of shaped apertures  22  through which the wine flows when in use as an aerator. 
     The disc  14  has, in the preferred embodiment, three sets of openings  24  each of a different size. Two of the sets are smaller than the apertures  22  in the bowl  12  and, in one set, the openings are approximately equal to the apertures  22 . The disc  14  also has a set of driving apertures  26  which cooperate with pins on the sleeve  16  which engage the driving apertures  26  to rotate disc  14 . In a first orientation, the largest openings  24  are aligned with the bowl apertures  22  for maximum flow. In a second orientation, medium sized openings  24 ′ are aligned with the bowl apertures  22  for a medium rate of flow. When the smallest openings  24 ″ are aligned with the bowl apertures  22 , the flow is the slowest. 
     The sleeve  16  includes a pair of opposed aerating apertures  28  through which air is admitted to the flow path and is mixed into the flowing wine. The sleeve  16  also includes a release button  30  which allows the sleeve  16  to be disengaged from the bowl  12 . By rotating the sleeve  16 , the disc  14  is also rotated and a flow rate can be selected by the alignment of the disk openings  24  with the bowl apertures  22 . 
     The combination of apertures  22  and openings  24  cause the wine to flow is separate streams into the interior of the sleeve  16  These streams can mix with the air until they combine into a single stream. When a slow flow rate is selected, the wine is in the aerator for a longer period of time, allowing more air to mix into the stream. With a faster flow rate, less air is mixed and entrained. Accordingly, for wines that need greater aeration, a slower flow rate is selected and for wines needing little aeration, the fastest slow rate is chosen. 
     The assembled aerator  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . but not all parts can be shown. The assembled aerator  10  includes the bowl  12  the sleeve  16 , the support plate  18  and the stand  20 . In  FIG. 2 , the apertures  22  are aligned with the largest openings  24  for maximum flow. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the aerator disc  14  is shown in greater detail. As shown, three sets of openings  24 ,  24 ′ and  24 ″ provide selectable sized openings through which wine can flow. Pins engage the driving apertures  26  to rotate the disc. By rotation, the disc  14  can selectively align openings  24 ,  24 ′  24 ″ with the bowl apertures (best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2   
     In use, the support plate  18  is placed over a wine glass and the aerator  10  is placed in the support plate  18 . The sleeve  16  is rotated to select an appropriate alignment of openings  24  and apertures  22  for the wine to be aerated. The wine is then poured into the bowl portion  12 . As the wine goes through the aperture  22  opening  24  combination, it exits in separated streams which pass through the air filled fluid flow path of the sleeve  16 . The flow can be somewhat turbulent and air will be mixed with the wine. The separate streams combine and exit the aerator into the waiting wine glass. 
     According to exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the device  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″, respectively, may comprise a funnel-shaped top section  112 ,  112 ′,  112 ″ which may have an internal plate  114 ,  114 ′  114 ′ with aerating holes  124 ,  124 ′  124 ″. Aerating ports  128 ,  128 ′,  128 ″, which may be spaced around the lower end of the top section  112 ,  112 ′,  112 ″, may admit oxygen-containing air from the atmosphere into the top section  112 ,  112 ′  112 ″ ( FIGS. 4   c ,  5   c  and  6   c ). These embodiments of the device also comprise a grippable mid-section sleeve  118 ,  118 ′,  118 ″ into which the top section  112 ,  112 ′,  112 ″ may be fitted. The mid-section sleeve  118 ,  118 ′  118 ″ may be attached to a funnel-shaped bottom section  132 ,  1332 ′,  132 ′ of the device. The bottom funnel section  132 ,  132 ′,  132 ″ may also include an upper internal disc  114 ,  114 ′  114 ″ with aerating holes  124 ,  124 ′,  124 ″ ( FIGS. 4   b ,  5   b  and  6   b ). 
     The device can comprise various features that can adjust the amount of aeration for wine being poured into the top aerating funnel section  112 ,  112 ′,  112 ″ and through the inner channel of the assembled device. 
     According to one exemplary embodiment ( FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  and  4   d ) the device may be a swirl aerator comprising a funnel-shaped top section  112  having an aerating threaded projection  134  below the internal disc  114  with aerating holes  124 . In this embodiment, the top funnel section  112  and mid-section funnel  132  of the device may be connected, by mating the threaded projection  134  of top swirl funnel  112  (male) to the threaded interior of mid-section funnel shaped bottom portion  132  (female) ( FIG. 4   b ). The amount of oxygen to which the wine is exposed while being poured may be adjusted by gripping and twisting the mid-section funnel portion  132  to loosen or tighten the threaded connection between the threaded projection of top swirl funnel and the threaded mid-section swirl funnel ( FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d ). 
     In another exemplary embodiment ( FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d ) the device may be a knob aerator comprising a mid-section collar part  118 ′ having an internal plate  136  with aerating holes  138 . According to this embodiment, the amount of oxygen to which the decanted wine is exposed may be controlled by twisting the midsection  118 ′ so that the aerating holes  138  are increased or decreased in size ( FIGS. 5   c  and  5   d ) and thereby allowing a greater or lesser flow of wine through the device. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, ( FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c  and  6   d ) the device  110 ″ may be a push button aerator comprising a mid-section part  118 ″ with a pushable button  140  that when pressed, may extend into the mid-section part  118 ″ so that some of the aerating holes are closed, decreasing the amount of aeration of the wine passing through the device ( FIGS. 6   c  and  6   d ). 
     In all of the above embodiments, the ports  128 ,  128 ′,  128 ″ may admit a constant flow of oxygen-containing air to aerate and dispense the decanted wine. Other modifications of the device can be made as long as the device retains its adjustable properties that may allow the user to select the amount of aeration of the decanted wine. 
     To use the device, a bottle of wine can be uncorked, and depending on the type of wine, either white or red, and the variety, the degree of aeration desired may be selected by adjusting the threaded mid-section collar  118 ,  118 ′,  118 ″ or the aerating holes  138 . The degree of twisting or opening of the holes of the mid-section may be determined by experience, or by consulting a chart provided with the device. The wine may then be decanted through the device into a receptacle. 
     When not in use, the device can be placed in a base stand  120 . The aerator should be rinsed/cleaned between uses. By its adjustable nature, the adjustable aerator is specially designed for aerating both red and white wines. (Since current aerators are generally designed for one or the other, usually red wines). 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.