Abstract:
A device that attaches to a bottle&#39;s neck has a base that secures to the bottle&#39;s neck and has two passages that traverse the base. The first passage leads to an enclosure located above the base that holds cooling material and optionally has a conduit that improves the heat exchange between a dispensing liquid and the cooling material retained in the enclosure. The exit passage of the enclosure has in at least one embodiment a valve. The second passage through the base forms a vent line that is located entirely below the enclosure and allows air to flow into the bottle as bottle&#39;s contents are dispensed through the first passage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of commonly assigned Canadian Patent Application No. 2,540,426, filed on Mar. 20, 2006, at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and entitled: “Liquid Cooling and Dispensing Device”. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to liquid cooling devices and apparatuses for cooling potable liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to bottle-mounted liquid cooling devices and apparatuses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is generally well known that all drinks and beverages are not drunk at the same temperature. Whereas some drinks like soft drinks are generally drunk cold or even ice-cold, some other drinks like tea or coffee are drunk hot. In any case, when a particular drink or beverage is left at room temperature, it will itself eventually reach that same room temperature. 
     In the case of wines, this is generally to be avoided since wines are generally best tasted at relatively precise temperature. Thus, a bottle of wine which is just out of the cellar and at the perfect temperature will unfortunately reach room temperature if left to its own device, with all the lost in taste and enjoyment. 
     In order to cool wine, numerous devices have thus been proposed throughout the years. In the vast majority of cases, wine coolers come in the form of a bucket which is filled with ice and water. The bottle of wine is then plunged into the ice and water mixture for cooling. Though these devices can effectively cool a bottle of wine, there is no means to control the final temperature of the wine and the latter generally becomes ice cold. 
     Thus, to obtain a better control on the cooling, Terziau et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,613) have proposed a system wherein a coil fluidly mounted to an inverted bottle circulates through a ice filled bucket. The coil is further connected to a valve for dispensing the wine. This system is however bulky and the wine which remains in the coil between two servings will generally become ice cold, which is generally not wanted, particularly for red wines. 
     Another system, similar to the one of Terziau et al. is the beverage chiller proposed by Rist (U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,872). In the system of Rist, the chiller is directly mounted to a glass. The chiller further comprises an enclosure wherein a coil is disposed through a low freezing cooling material. The coil extends between a funnel for receiving the beverage and an opening leading to the glass. A valve can be provided near the opening. For cooling a beverage, the latter is poured into the funnel and through the coil. As the beverage circulates through the coil, the beverage is cooled. The valve located near the opening can control the retention time of the beverage. As for the device of Terziau et al., the chiller of Rist is bulky and is not adapted for all types of glasses. 
     The cooler of Busch (U.S. Pat. No. 528,463), which is probably the prior art closest to the present invention, is directly mounted to the neck of a bottle. The cooler of Busch comprises a first enclosure and a second enclosure located within the first. The second enclosure is generally filled with ice. The periphery of the second enclosure is fluted to define a plurality of channels between the first and second enclosures. As the liquid is poured, it circulates through the fluted channels and is thereby cooled by the ice contained in the second enclosure. The cooled liquid then exits the cooler via a nipple aperture. The problem with the cooler of Busch is that there is no way to control the flow of the liquid. Furthermore, there is no venting means to equilibrate the pressure inside the bottle as the liquid is poured, resulting in an unstable flow. 
     There is therefore a need for a novel liquid cooling and dispensing device which generally obviates or at least mitigates some of the aforementioned shortcomings. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cooling and dispensing device which can cool a liquid. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cooling and dispensing device which can be mounted directly to a bottle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cooling and dispensing device which can control the flow of the liquid. 
     Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To attain these and other objects which will become more apparent as the description proceeds according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid cooling and dispensing device. 
     The liquid cooling and dispensing device of the present invention generally comprises an enclosure having a lower or bottom portion having at least a first opening and an upper or top portion having a second opening. Generally mounted to the bottom portion and in fluid communication with the first opening is a base or a functionally equivalent element for mounting the device directly to the neck of a bottle, preferably in a sealed arrangement. 
     Preferably mounted to the top portion of the enclosure and in fluid communication with the second opening is a spout which preferably further comprises a flow control element that can control the temperature of the poured liquid by controlling the actual flow thereof. The flow control element generally comes in the form of a valve but other functionally equivalent flow control element could be used instead. The present invention is not so limited. 
     A path, which extends between the first and the second openings, is further defined inside the enclosure. Preferably, the path is in the form of a tubular conduit which is surrounded by and is in close contact with low freezing cooling material which has, most preferably, been cooled prior to the use of the device, generally by placing the device in a freezer. Generally, but not exclusively, the conduit is a tube in the form of a hollow helicoidally shaped coil. Most preferably, the material used in the manufacture of the coil is a metal, a metallic alloy, or any other equivalent material which has good heat transfer properties. The device could also have a plurality of conduits for increasing the surface contact area between the conduits and the cooling material. 
     The liquid cooling and dispensing device of the present invention further comprises a vent tube which is adapted to extend inside the bottle. The vent tube is further in fluid communication with a vent opening located on the side of the enclosure or on the side of the base. The vent tube and the vent opening allow air to enter the bottle as the liquid is poured therefrom. The vent tube and the vent opening therefore equilibrate the internal pressure of the bottle to allow a stable flow of the liquid when the latter is poured. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the vent opening can be closed, for instance, via the thumb or any other finger of the user, to stop the flow of the liquid inside the conduit or conduits and therefore increase the cooling of the liquid by increasing the retention time. Upon removal of the thumb, the liquid would flow again. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the flow control element of the spout can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow of the liquid upon pouring. By diminishing the flow rate, the retention of the liquid inside the conduit (or conduits) is increased. By increasing the retention time, the contacting time between the liquid in the conduit (or conduits) and the cooling material is also increased, effectively augmenting the cooling of the liquid. Conversely, if the flow rate is increased, the retention time of the liquid inside the conduit (or conduits) is decreased, with a corresponding diminution of the cooling effect. The flow control element of the spout therefore allows the user to adjust the cooling effect of the device to obtain a beverage cooled according to its preferred serving temperature. 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects and advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of the device of the present invention as installed on a bottle. 
         FIG. 2  is a translucent side view of the spout of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of a variant of the spout shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4   a  is an underside view of the spout shown in  FIG. 3  with the valve in minimal flow adjustment. 
         FIG. 4   b  is an underside view of the spout shown in  FIG. 3  with the valve in intermediate flow adjustment. 
         FIG. 4   c  is an underside view of the spout shown in  FIG. 3  with the valve in maximal flow adjustment. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  along line B-B. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the base of the device of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the base of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the base of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of the base of  FIG. 8  along lines A-A (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective exploded view of the base of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A novel liquid cooling and dispensing device will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , we can see a first embodiment of the liquid cooling and dispensing device  10  of the present invention. As described above, the device  10  is generally used to cool a liquid contained in a bottle  20  as the liquid is poured therefrom. As per the invention, the device  10  is preferably designed to be directly mounted to the neck  22  of a bottle  20  (partially shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In the first embodiment, the device  10  generally comprises three main components, an enclosure  100  to which are mounted a spout  200  and a base  300 . The spout  200  and the base  300  are preferably removable in order to ease the cleaning of the device  10 . 
     The enclosure  100  of the device  10  generally comprises an inner wall  110  and an outer wall  120  which define a space  115  therebetween. The inner wall  110  defines an inner chamber  112  which is filled with cooling material  130 . For the purpose of the invention, any cooling material having a freezing point preferably lower than 0 degree Celsius can be used. Therefore, the use of gel, saline solutions, alcohols and/or other similar material used in freezing pouches, bags and the like are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. 
     The space  115  defined between the inner wall  110  and the outer wall  120  is preferably filled with an insulating material in order to prevent or at least slow down the warming of the cooling material  130  by external heat. In a variant of the preferred embodiment, the space  115  is completely sealed and a vacuum is created inside the space  115  to act as insulation. In yet another variant, the space  115  is simply filled with air. The present invention is not so limited. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the enclosure  100  generally comprises a bottom portion  102  and a top portion  104 . Both bottom portion  102  and top portion  104  are further provided with openings  150  and  155  respectively. In the preferred embodiment, bottom portion  102  is adapted to receive the base  300  whereas the top portion  104  is adapted to receive the spout  200 . 
     In order to allow the passage of the liquid to be cooled from opening  150  to opening  155 , both are fluidly connected together via a hollow conduit  140 . Preferably, the conduit  140  is a hollow helicoidally shaped coil  140  which extends inside the inner chamber  112  between opening  150  and opening  155 . The coil  140  is preferably made of metal, metal alloy or from any other equivalent heat conductive material in order to obtain an efficient heat transfer between the liquid circulating in the coil  140  and the cooling material  130 . The conduit  140  is further preferably respectively provided, at each of its extremities  142  and  144 , with threads  143  and  145 . The threads  143  and  145  are generally used to mounted the base  300  and the spout  200  to the enclosure  100 . Still, the base  300  and the spout  200  could be mounted to the enclosure via other forms of mechanical engagement. 
     Even is only one coil  140  is shown, the skilled addressee will understand that more that one coil  140  could be provided inside the enclosure  100  in order to increase the contact area between the coils  140  and the cooling material  130 . Moreover, coil and/or conduit of other shape could also be used. 
     Furthermore, in a variant of the present invention, the cooling material  130  could be encapsulated in a plurality of sealed capsules (not shown) disposed inside the inner chamber  112 . In this variant, the inner chamber  112  itself would act as a path or conduit  140  and the liquid would flow around the cooling capsules (not shown). 
     As mentioned hereinabove, the device  10  also comprises a base  300  which is securely mounted to the bottom portion  102  of the enclosure  100 . The base  300  generally comprises a main portion  320  and a bottleneck portion  310 , both of which defining a passage therethrough. 
     The bottleneck portion  310  is generally adapted to snugly fit in a sealed arrangement into the bottleneck  22  of the bottle  20 . In order to create an effective seal, the bottleneck portion  310  is preferably of frustro-conical shape with its outer surface made of rubber or any other equivalent resilient elastomeric material. Therefore, when the bottleneck portion  310  of the base  300  is inserted into the neck  22  of the bottle  20 , the outer surface of the bottleneck portion  310  and the inner surface of the neck  22  create a tight seal. 
     The main portion  320  of the base  300  generally comprises a surface  322  which is adapted to abut on the rim  23  of the neck  22  and therefore prevent the bottleneck portion  310  to be excessively inserted into the neck  22 . The main portion  320  also comprises threads  324  matching threads  142  of the coil  140 . The base  300  is therefore threadedly mounted to conduit  140 . However, as explained above, other forms of mechanical engagement between the base  300  and the enclosure  100  are also possible. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the base  300  further comprises a passage  330  which extends from an venting opening  326  located on the side of the main portion  320  to a vent tubing  314  located the inside of the bottle  20  when the device  10  is installed thereon. The venting opening  326 , the conduit  330  and the vent tubing  314  define a passage which allows air to enter in the bottle  20  as the liquid is poured therefrom. As the liquid is poured from the bottle  20 , air flows therein to create an equilibrium between the pressure inside the bottle  20  and the pressure outside. This equilibrium allows the liquid to stably flow from the spout  200 . However, by voluntarily blocking the opening  326 , with a finger for instance, it would be possible to stop the flow of the liquid and retain it inside the conduit  140  for a certain amount of time. By doing so, it would be possible to further cool the poured liquid if necessary or if desired. 
     Now referring the  FIGS. 1 and 2  and more particularly to  FIG. 2 , we can see the spout  200  of the device  10 . The spout  200  is a generally hollow structure having an opening  212 . Located inside the spout  200  is a conical valve  220  itself comprising a first valve member  230  and a second valve member  240  mounted for rotation onto the first valve member  230 . 
     The first valve member  230  is generally fixedly mounted to the threads  144  of the conduit  140  via correspondingly matching threads  235 . The first valve member is a hollow conical structure having a preferably round tip  232 . The outer surface of the first valve member  230  further comprises a plurality of opening  234  to allow the passage of the poured liquid from the conduit  140  to the opening  212 . 
     The second valve member  240  is preferably a frustro-conical structure which has a top opening  242 . The second valve member  240  is slightly larger than the first valve member  230  so that when mounted onto the first valve member  230 , the second valve member  240  defines a frustro-conical passage  250  around the first valve member  230  which opens up through the opening  242  of the second valve member  240 . This passage  250  allows the circulation of the poured liquid between the openings  234  and the top opening  242 . Furthermore, the second valve member  240 , which is mounted for rotation onto the first valve member  230 , is also generally fixedly attached to the spout  200 . Therefore, when the user turns the spout  200 , the second valve member  240  rotates with the spout  200 . 
     As it will now be understood, as the valve member  240  rotates with respect with the first valve member  230 , it also moves axially with respect with the first valve member  230 . Therefore, as the second valve member  240  is rotated, the distance between the opening  242  and the tip  232  changes, enlarging or reducing the passage  250 . 
     Hence, it is possible to control the temperature as well as the flow of the poured liquid by adjusting the distance between the round tip  232  and the opening  242  and thus the size of the passage  250 . When the distance between the round tip  232  and the opening  242  is small, the flow of the poured liquid is correspondingly lower. By lowering the flow of the liquid, the retention time of the liquid inside the conduit  140  is increased, further cooling the liquid. On the other hand, if the distance between the round tip  232  and the opening  242  is large, the flow of the liquid will be correspondingly greater with a resulting shorter retention time. This shorter retention time will result in a lesser cooling of the liquid. 
     It is to be understood that it is possible to rotate the second valve member  240  with respect to the first valve member  230  in order to obtain any intermediate distances between the maximal and the minimal distances between the round tip  232  and the opening  242 . Therefore, it is possible to control with a relative degree of precision the flow of the liquid and therefore to adjust the cooling of the liquid to obtain the ideal suggested serving temperature. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , we can see a variant of the valve  220  indicated as  1220 . As for valve  220 , valve  1220  is generally a conical valve having a first valve member  1230  and a second valve member  1240  pivotally mounted to the first valve member  1230 . The first valve member  1230  is generally fixedly mounted to the enclosure  100  via the threads  144  of the conduit  140 . The first valve member  1230  generally comprises a plurality of triangular openings  1234  defined in the conical surface of the valve member  1230 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the second valve member  1240  is fixedly mounted to the body  1205  of the spout  1200  and preferably disposed over the first valve member  1230 . The second valve member  1240  will thus rotate with the body  1205  of the spout  1200 . As for the first valve member  230 , the second valve member  1240  also comprises a series of openings  1244 . 
     As will be now understood by referring to  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c , it is possible to control the flow of the poured liquid by pivotally adjusting the position of the openings  1244  of the second valve member  1240  with respect to the openings  1234  of the first valve member. Referring now to  FIG. 4   a , we can see that the openings  1244  of the second valve member  1240  are only slightly aligned with the openings  1234  and that therefore, the passage defined by the aligned portions of the openings  1244  and openings  1234  is small The flow of the poured liquid will then be correspondingly small. By having a smaller flow, the retention time of the poured liquid inside the conduit  140  will be longer, which will result in a cooler liquid. 
     On the other hand, as best shown in  FIG. 4   c , if the openings  1244  are fully aligned with the openings  1234 , the passage defined by the aligned portions of the openings  1244  and openings  1234  is large. In that case, the flow of the poured liquid would be correspondingly larger which the direct result that the retention time of the liquid in the conduit  140  will be shorter, resulting in a less cooled liquid. 
     Finally, if the position of the openings  1244  with respect to the openings  1234  is intermediate as shown in  FIG. 4   b , the flow of the liquid would understandably be between the smallest flow ( FIG. 4   a ) and the largest flow ( FIG. 4   c ). 
     The skilled addressee will understand that depending on the size of the flow, controlled by the valve  1220  (and also  220 ), the poured liquid will be more or less cooled by the device  10 . The user can therefore adjust the valve  1220  to a particular flow in order to obtain a liquid at a desired temperature. 
     Depending on the preferences of the users, the adjustability of the valve  1220  (and also  220 ) can be either continuous, wherein any position between the minimal adjustment and the maximal adjustment are possible, or discreet, wherein only a set of positions are possible between the minimal adjustment and the maximal adjustment. 
     In a variant of the present device  10 , the valves  220  and  1220  could be adjusted to a completely closed position. 
     Understandably, other flow control system could be used instead without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 12 , a second embodiment of the liquid cooling device of the present is disclosed. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the second embodiment  510  of the liquid cooling device generally comprises an enclosure  600  and a base or bottleneck adapter  800  mounted to the bottom portion  602  thereof. 
     Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 7 , the enclosure  600  of the second embodiment  510  generally comprises an outer wall  620  and an inner wall  610  which define a space  615  therebetween. The inner wall  610  further defines an inner chamber  612  inside of which extends a preferably metallic tubular coil  640  through which will flow the liquid to be cooled. Understandably, there could be more than one coils  640  and/or the coil  640  could be made of other heat conductive material, the present invention is not so limited. 
     According to the present invention, in order to cool the liquid as it flows through the coil  640 , the inner chamber  612  is further filled with low freezing material  630 . For the purpose of the invention, any cooling material having a freezing point preferably lower than 0 degree Celsius can be used. Therefore, the use of gel, saline solutions, alcohols and/or other similar material used in freezing pouches, bags and the like are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. Preferably, the low freezing material is inserted into the inner chamber  612  through a resealable aperture  616  located at the lower portion of the enclosure  600 . Understandably, the low freezing material  630  could be permanently stored in the inner chamber  612  though it is generally preferable to have the possibility to remove it in order to clean the enclosure and/ort to prevent bacterial growth. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 7 , the space  615  defined between the inner wall  610  and the outer wall  620  preferably acts as an insulating means to prevent heat from reaching the low freezing material  630  located inside the inner chamber  612 . Understandably, the spade  615  could be filled with insulating material such as insulating polymeric foam, with air or other inert gases or a vacuum could be created therein. The present invention is not so limited. 
     Still, in certain variants of the device  510 , the outer wall  620  could be demountably mounted to the inner wall  610  in a sleeve arrangement. This would allow the outer wall  620  to be detachable from the enclosure  600  when the latter is stored in a freezer for example. The outer wall  620  could also be detachable from the enclosure  600  for hygienic and/or for cleaning purposes. 
     The coil  640  which extends within the inner chamber  612  of the enclosure  600  generally comprises a first end  642 , extending through the lower portion  602  of the enclosure  600  and adapted to be in fluid communication with the base  800 , and a second end  644 , extending through the upper portion  644  of the enclosure  644 . 
     Since the low freezing material  630  located inside the inner chamber  612  is likely to be or to become in liquid form, the inner wall  610  is further provided with sealing means  617  and  619 , respectively located near the first end  642  and the second end  644  of the coil  640 , in order to prevent leaks thereof. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the lower portion of the outer wall  620  further comprises a downward circumferential extension  650  which is adapted to be coupled with the seal  832  of the rim  830  of the base  800 . Still, other forms of mechanical engagements could be used to mount the base  800  to the enclosure  600  (e.g. threads, clamps, pins, etc.). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 12  and more particularly to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  11 , the base  800  of the device  510  generally comprises a main portion  802 , which is adapted to be mounted to the enclosure  600 , and a bottleneck portion  812 , which is adapted to extend inside the bottleneck of the bottle (not shown) when the device  510  is mounted thereto. 
     The bottleneck portion  812  defines a passage  813  allowing the liquid to flow therethrough. Generally mounted to the bottleneck portion  812  is an elastomeric plug  810  which generally comprises a plurality of radially extending ribs generally defining a frustro-conical shape. The plug  810 , and the ribs thereof, generally provide a seal arrangement around the bottleneck portion  812  when the latter is inserted into the bottleneck of the bottle (not shown). 
     In the preferred embodiment, the plug  810  further comprises a vent tubing  814 , having a passage  815  therethrough, which is in fluid communication with a venting orifice  818  preferably located on the side of the base  800 . The vent tubing  814  and the venting orifice  818  allow air to enter into the bottle as the liquid is poured therefrom, thereby equilibrating the pressure inside the bottle. Additionally, the venting orifice can be used to control the flow of the liquid by partially or totally blocking the orifice with a thumb or any other finger. By slowing or stopping the flow of the liquid inside the coil  640 , the contacting time between the liquid and the low freezing material  630  is increased, thereby further cooling the liquid. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the passage  815  preferably comprises an enlarged region or chamber  817  intermediate the vent tubing  814  and the venting orifice  818 . 
     In order to allow the liquid to flow from the bottleneck portion  812  to the coil  640 , the base  800  also comprises an opening  820  which is in fluid communication with the bottleneck portion  812 . The opening  820  is adapted to receive therein the first end  642  of the coil  640 . Also, to prevent leaks, the opening  820  is further provided with sealing means  822  and  824  adapted to sealingly engage the first end  642  of the coil  640 . 
     Thus, as the skilled addressee would understand, when the enclosure  600  and the base  800  are mounted together, a continuous flow path exists between the bottleneck portion  812 , the main portion  802  and the coil  640 , thereby allowing the liquid to flow from the bottle to the glass into which it is poured. 
     Prior to the use the device  10 / 510  of the present invention, the device must preferably be put in a refrigerator or in a freezer in order to cool or even freeze the cooling material  130 / 630 . Upon use, the device  10 / 510  is installed on the neck  22  of a bottle  20  containing a liquid. Then, as the user pours the liquid, the circulation thereof in the conduit  140 / 640  which in close contact with the cooling material  130 / 630 , effectively cools the liquid. 
     To adjust the final temperature of the liquid, the user can rotate the spout  200  to effectively set the valve  220 / 1220  to a particular flow rate, increasing or decreasing the retention time of the liquid in the conduit  140 / 640 . Alternatively or additionally, the user can temporary block the flow of the liquid by closing the venting opening  326 / 818  with a finger. 
     In a variant of the present device  10 , guide marks could be provided around the base of the spout in order to help the user to obtain a desired temperature. 
     In yet another variant, the valve  220 / 1220  of the device  10 / 510  of the present invention could be automatically actuated, via, for example, a small and preferably battery-powered motor. Still, other actuation mechanisms could be used. This variant would most preferably be equipped with an integrated electronic thermometer and associated electronic processing circuitry. The processing circuitry would automatically actuate the valve  220 / 1220 , via the actuation mechanism, to a particular flow in order to cool the poured liquid from the measured temperature to a predetermined temperature. 
     While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.