Assembly for selectively aerating a beverage

Disclosed herein is an assembly for selectively aerating a liquid including a base member a reservoir adapted to receive the liquid. The assembly also includes a support member non-rotatably coupled to the base member and a diverter member coupled to the support member and rotatable between a first diverter position and a second diverter position. The diverter member has at least one primary aperture and at least one secondary aperture. The assembly additionally includes an aerator member non-rotatably secured to the diverter member, the aerator member having an aeration aperture. In the first diverter position, a portion of the liquid in the reservoir flows through the primary aperture. In the second diverter position, a portion of the liquid in the reservoir flows through the secondary aperture, and though the aeration aperture.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to beverage aerators.

BACKGROUND

Often, wine is enhanced with entrained air through an aeration device, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US 2012/0156338 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,584 B2, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Aerators are used to soften tannins and improve taste but are not capable of eliminating undesirable wine additives, such as preservative sulfites.

Oenophiles generally agree that different wines require different preparative approaches to attain the peak possible experience. Not all wines are enhanced by aerating the wine because too much exposure to oxygen can adversely alter the flavor of the wine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure provides an assembly for the selective aeration of a liquid, for example a beverage such as wine. Optionally, the assembly can advantageously include a filter pod for the filtering (removal) of a chosen material, such as sulfites.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4A, an assembly10for selectively aerating a liquid (not shown) includes a base member14having at least one surface16that defines a reservoir18adapted to receive the liquid. The base member14extends along an assembly axis20from an open first end22to a second end24, and the base member14having at least one base aperture25formed in the surface16defining the reservoir18. The assembly10also includes a support member26non-rotatably coupled to the base member14, the support member26having at least one support aperture28that is in fluid communication with the reservoir18of the base member14. The assembly10further includes a diverter member30rotatably coupled to the support member26and rotatable between a first diverter position (illustrated inFIG. 3A) and a second diverter position (illustrated inFIG. 3B). The diverter member30has at least one primary aperture32disposed within a trough portion34, and at least one secondary aperture36disposed at a first end38of a channel portion40. The assembly10additionally includes an aerator member42non-rotatably secured to the diverter member30, the aerator member42having a plurality of raised elongated flow features44that each extends from a first end46to a second end48, the aerator member having an aeration aperture50.

In the first diverter position illustrated inFIG. 3A(in which the support aperture28is aligned with a dotted line) and4B, the at least one support aperture28is aligned with the trough portion34such that a portion of the liquid in the reservoir18flows through the base aperture25and into the recess27of the support portion26and through the support aperture28into the trough portion34, and through the primary aperture32. The at least one primary aperture32is aligned with or adjacent to a portion of the flow feature44such that the portion of the liquid flowing through the primary aperture32contacts the portion of the flow feature44and flows though the aeration aperture50. In the second diverter position illustrated inFIG. 3B(in which the support aperture28is aligned with a dotted line) and4A, the at least one support aperture28is aligned with a second end52of the channel portion40such that a portion of the liquid in the reservoir18flows through the base aperture25and into the recess27of the support portion26and through the support aperture28, into the channel portion40at or adjacent to the second end52, through the secondary aperture36, and though the aeration aperture50.

So configured, a beverage (such as a red wine) may be poured into the reservoir18with the diverter member30in the first diverter position, and the red wine may be aerated by flowing along the spiraling flow feature(s)44before flowing out of the aeration aperture50and into a container, such as a carafe or glass. In addition, a beverage (such as a white wine) may be poured into the reservoir18with the diverter member30in the second diverter position, and the white wine may bypass the aeration provided by the flow feature(s)44and flow directly out of the aeration aperture50and into a container, such as a carafe or glass. In addition, the beverage (either white or red wine) may flow through a filter pod54placed on a top surface56of the support member26before flowing into or through the support aperture28, thereby filtering the beverage of a chosen material, such as sulfites.

Turning to the assembly10in more detail, and referring toFIG. 4A, the base member14extends along the assembly axis20from the open first end22to a second end24that is opposite the first end22. At least one surface16defines the reservoir18, and the surface may be a top surface57of a transverse wall58that may extend substantially normal to the assembly axis20. The top surface57of a transverse wall58may be concave, and the base aperture25may be formed through the transverse wall58at or along the assembly axis20. The transverse wall38may have a peripheral edge59disposed between the first end22and the second end24(which may be open) of the base member14.

A cylindrical top wall60may upwardly extend (extend in a direction from the second end24towards the first end22and along the Z-axis of the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 4A) from the peripheral edge59of transverse wall58to the first end22of the base member14. The peripheral edge59may be circular and have a first diameter, and a diameter of the cylindrical top wall60may diverge from the first diameter at the peripheral edge to a second diameter at the first end22. A cylindrical bottom wall62may downwardly extend (extend in a direction from the first end22towards the second end24and along the Z-axis of the reference coordinate system ofFIG. 4A) from the peripheral edge59of transverse wall58to the second end24of the base member14. A diameter of the cylindrical bottom wall62may converge from the first diameter at the peripheral edge59to a third diameter at the second end24, and the third diameter may be less than the first diameter and the second diameter.

As illustrated in the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 6(taken normal to the assembly axis20and taken with the support member26removed for clarity), a receiving recess64may be formed in a bottom surface66of the transverse wall58of the base member14, and the receiving recess64may be defined by a peripheral edge68. The peripheral edge68may be non-circular and may correspond in shape to a non-circular peripheral edge70of a tab portion71of the support member26(seeFIG. 2). Accordingly, all or a portion (i.e., a top portion) of the tab portion71of the support member26may be (removably) received into the receiving recess64such that that the non-circular peripheral edge70of the tab portion71of the support member26is slightly inwardly offset from the peripheral edge of the receiving cavity64such that the support member26cannot rotate about the assembly axis20when the tab portion71is disposed in the receiving recess64. In some embodiments, the peripheral edge70of the support member26and the peripheral edge68of the receiving recess64may both be hexagonal, pentagonal, octagonal, or any non-circular shape or combination of shapes that prevents the support member26from rotating about the assembly axis20relative to the base member14.

The base member14may be made from various materials including but not limited to a silicone rubber or from a plastic, such as a semi-rigid or rigid plastic. An optional cylindrical internal support portion72(seeFIG. 1) may be disposed within a cavity formed by the bottom wall62to provide structural support to the base member14.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the assembly10also includes the support member26non-rotatably coupled to the base member14. The support member26may have a tray portion74disposed inward of the tab portion71, and the tray portion74may have an outer wall75extending downward from the tab portion71. A lower wall76may inwardly extend from a lower peripheral portion of the outer wall75, and an inner surface of the outer wall75and an upper surface of the lower wall76may at least partially define the recess27. The at least one support aperture28may be formed in the recess27(e.g., formed through the lower wall76adjacent to a peripheral edge77of the lower wall76). In some embodiments, the support member26may include a plurality (such as 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more) of support apertures28, and the plurality of support apertures28may be uniformly arrayed about a center axis (e.g., aligned with the assembly axis20) of the support member26. The lower wall76of the tray portion74may be convex such that liquid contacting the tray portion74may flow towards the peripheral edge77of the lower wall76. The top surface56of the lower wall76may support the filter pod54, which may be disk-shaped and may have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer wall75. The outer wall75may have any shape or combination of shapes, such as a stepped profile when viewed in cross-section.

The assembly10further includes the diverter member30rotatably coupled to the support member26and rotatable between a first diverter position (illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 4B) and a second diverter position (illustrated inFIGS. 3B and 4A). The diverter member30extends along the assembly axis20from an open first end78to a second end80that is opposite the first end78. The diverter member30has a cylindrical upper wall82that extends from the first end78to an intermediate point83between the first end78and the second end80. A top portion of the upper wall82has a plurality of first engagement features84disposed around the circumference of the top portion85. When the circumference of the top portion85(at the first end78of the diverter member30) is disposed around an outer portion of the outer wall75of the support member26, each of the first engagement features84may engage with a corresponding second engagement feature86of the support member26to secure the diverter member30to the support member26. The skilled person would recognize that the first engagement features84and the second engagement features86may be any features that cooperate to removably lock or position the diverter member30in a desired position relative to the support member26. For example, the first engagement features84may be tabs with detents and the second engagement features86may be recesses or aperture that receive the detents on the tabs. Alternatively, the second engagement features86may be tabs with detents and the first engagement features84may be recesses or aperture that receives the detents on the tabs, or any combination thereof.

With the diverter member30secured to the support member26such that the first engagement features84is engaged with the corresponding second engagement feature86(a first one of the second engagement features86), the diverter member30is disposed in the first diverter position (illustrated inFIG. 3A). When the diverter member30is rotated relative to the support member26(in a first rotational direction), the first engagement features84may disengage with the corresponding second engagement feature86(the first one of the second engagement features86) and may rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature86(a second one of the second engagement features86) such that the diverter member30is disposed in the second diverter position (illustrated inFIG. 3B).

A further rotation of the diverter member30relative to the support member26(in the first rotational direction) will cause the first engagement features84to disengage with the corresponding second engagement feature86(the second one of the second engagement features86) and to rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature86(a third one of the second engagement features86) such that the diverter member30is disposed in the first diverter position. One more rotation of the diverter member30relative to the support member26(in the first rotational direction) will cause the first engagement features84to disengage with the corresponding second engagement features86(the third one of the second engagement features86) and to rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature86(a fourth one of the second engagement features86) such that the diverter member30is disposed in the first diverter position. The rotations may repeat indefinitely. The skilled person would recognize that any or all of the rotations may be in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

The diverter member30has at least one primary aperture32disposed within the trough portion34. As illustrated inFIG. 5, each trough portion34includes a side wall88that surrounds the primary aperture32such that liquid flowing through the support aperture32when the diverter member30is in the first diverter position is retained within the side walls88. Opposing walls of the side walls88may converge as the walls extend towards the assembly axis20. A bottom surface90of the trough portion34may be angled towards the primary aperture32so that any liquid in the trough portion32flows though the primary aperture32. Any number of primary apertures32and trough portions34may be included in the diverter member30, and the number of primary apertures32may be equal to the number of support apertures28(for example, six primary apertures32and six trough portions34).

The diverter member30has at least one secondary aperture36disposed at the first end38of the channel portion40. The channel portion40may extend from the second end52, disposed adjacent to a bottom portion92of the upper wall82to the first end38disposed adjacent to or at the secondary aperture36. The secondary aperture36may be defined by a downwardly extending spout that decreases in diameter as the spout approaches the second end80of the diverter member30. Each channel portion40may be disposed between adjacent trough portions34such that portions of the side walls88of the adjacent trough portions34maintain liquid in the channel to flow from the second end52of the channel portion40to the first end38and through the secondary aperture36. Any number of channels may be included in or on the diverter member30and the number of channel portions40may be equal to the number of support apertures28(for example, six channel portions40).

The assembly10additionally includes the aerator member42non-rotatably secured to the diverter member30. The aerator member42extends along the assembly axis20from an open first end94to a second end96that is opposite the first end94, and the aeration aperture50may be disposed at the second end96. The second end96may disposed at or adjacent to the second end80of the diverter member (and the end of the spout defining the end of the secondary aperture36). In some embodiments, the end of the spout defining the end of the secondary aperture36of the diverter member30may extend through the aeration aperture50. The aerator member42may have a generally parabolic cross-sectional shape, and the first end94of the aerator member42may be secured to a portion (i.e., a lower external portion) of the upper wall82of the diverter member30. The first end94of the aerator member42may be removably secured to the portion of the upper wall82in any suitable manner, such as by snap features, for example. The first end94of the aerator member42may be non-rotatably secured to the portion of the upper wall82such that rotation of the aerator member42about the assembly axis20results in a corresponding rotation of the diverter member30(relative to the support member26and the base member14).

The aerator member42may also have a plurality of raised elongated flow features44disposed on or along an inner surface98of the aerator member42. Each flow feature44extends from the first end46to the second end48such that the flow feature extends in a portion of a spiral shape on or along an inner surface98of the aerator member42.

That is, each flow feature44extends from the first end46to the second end48, and the first end46of each flow feature44is separated by a vertical distance (along the assembly axis20, and the first end46is higher than the second end48when the assembly axis20is disposed vertically) and a circumferential distance on or along the inner surface98of the aerator member42. So configured, liquid flowing from the primary aperture32(when the diverter portion30is in the first diverter position) contacts a portion of the flow feature44(e.g., a portion at or adjacent to the first end46) and flows along the elongated flow feature44to (or adjacent to) the second end48and then flows out of the aeration aperture50(or a gap between the aeration aperture50and an outer surface of the spout defining the secondary aperture36) or into engagement with another portion of an adjacent flow feature44. A plurality of flow features44may be disposed on the aeration member30, and the flow features44may have varying lengths and/or positions. At least one flow feature44may have a first end46that is vertically aligned with a primary aperture32when the diverter member30is in the first diverter position. Each flow feature44maximizes the flow path length of a liquid (e.g., a red wine) though the aeration member30, thereby aerating the liquid prior to the liquid exiting the aeration aperture50. As previously, mentioned, if it is desired to filter a liquid without aerating the liquid (e.g., white wine), the diverter member30is rotated into the second diverter position such that flow along the flow features44of the aerator member42is avoided, as previously described. Indicia may be printed on an exterior of the base member and/or the aeration member42so a user can visually determine if the diverter member30is in the first or second diverter position.

In some embodiments, such as that illustrated inFIG. 29, the assembly10may be disposed within a neck99of a carafe101or similar container. The assembly10and the carafe101may be a fit packaged and/or sold as a single unit

While various embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments that are still within the scope of the appended claims.