Wine filtering system

A wine filtering system includes a container assembly, a collector, and a screen assembly. The collector is configured to be supported by the container assembly. The screen assembly is configured to be supported by the collector and within the container assembly. The screen assembly includes a screen mount having one or more mesh screens secured thereto. The one or more mesh screens are configured to separate at least portions of an alcohol component of wine from a juice component of wine sprayed thereagainst to define a filtered wine and a filtered alcohol. The one or more mesh screens enable the filtered wine to pass through the one or more mesh screens for collection by the collector such that the collector directs the collected filtered wine into the container assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is directed wine filtering systems, and more particularly, to systems for reducing wine toxicity.

BACKGROUND

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice. To reduce the toxicity of wine before bottling, wineries often treat copious quantities of the wine with chemicals and/or exposure to high temperatures. Unfortunately, such treatment often causes the wine to lose taste and character. To account for this loss of taste and character, taster elements are then added.

SUMMARY

To help improve wine filtering and the need for the complexities associated with chemical and/or high temperature treatments that still require the addition of taster elements, this disclosure details an innovative wine filtering system. Indeed, the wine filtering system of this disclosure functions to filter wine without loss of taste while simultaneously establishing an intensified aromatic atmosphere beyond any de minimis scent release associated with bottle opening and/or pouring.

One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a wine filtering system including an atomizer and a filter assembly. The atomizer configured to support a storage vessel that stores wine having a juice component and an alcohol component. The atomizer includes a spray nozzle operably coupled to the actuator. The actuator is actuatable to dispense the wine from the storage vessel and through the spray nozzle as a spray. The filter assembly includes a collector and a screen assembly supported by the collector. The screen assembly includes a screen mount supported by the inner surface of the collector and secured to at least one mesh screen. The at least one mesh screen is spaced from the inner surface of the collector. The at least one mesh screen is configured to separate at least portions of the alcohol component of the spray from the juice component of the spray to define a filtered wine and a filtered alcohol when the spray collides with the at least one mesh screen. The at least one mesh screen enables the filtered wine to pass through the at least one mesh screen for collection by the inner surface of the collector. The collector is configured to enable the collected filtered wine to pass therethrough and out of the filter assembly.

In aspects, the wine filtering system may further include a container configured to removably support the filter assembly. The container may define a storage cavity that is disposed in fluid communication with the collector when the filter assembly is disposed in the container. The container is configured to receive and store the filtered wine passed through the filter assembly.

In aspects, the at least one mesh screen may include a metallic material.

In aspects, the at least one mesh screen may define a plurality of apertures therethrough.

In aspects, the collector may include a natural material, a synthetic material, or combinations thereof. The collector may include polymeric material.

In aspects, the container may include a spout to enable the filtered wine to be poured from the container into a drinking glass.

In aspects, the plurality of apertures of the at least one mesh screen may be configured to cause air molecules within the spray to reflect off the at least one mesh screen and release an aroma into the atmosphere when the spray collides with the at least one mesh screen.

In aspects, the at least one mesh screen may include at least 4 apertures per square millimeter.

According to another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a method for filtering wine, the method includes spraying stored wine through at least one mesh screen to separate at least some of an alcohol component of the stored wine from a juice component of the stored wine so that the stored wine is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is filtered wine that passes through the at least one mesh screen. The method further includes collecting the filtered wine on an inner surface of a collector coupled to the at least one mesh screen and disposed in spaced relation to the at least one mesh screen, and dispensing the collected filtered wine through an open-end portion of the collector.

In aspects, the method may include reflecting air molecules within the stored wine off of the at least one mesh screen to release an aroma into the atmosphere.

In aspects, the method may involve dispensing the filtered wine directly into a drinking glass.

In aspects, the method may include dispensing the filtered wine into a container configured to removably support the collector and the at least one mesh screen therein.

In aspects, the method may involve pouring the filtered wine out of a spout of the container into a drinking glass.

According to one aspect, this disclosure is directed to a wine filtering system. The wine filtering system includes a container assembly, a collector, and a screen assembly. The collector is configured to be supported by the container assembly. The screen assembly is configured to be supported by the collector and within the container assembly. The screen assembly includes a screen mount having at least one mesh screen secured thereto. The at least one mesh screen is configured to separate at least portions of an alcohol component of wine from a juice component of wine sprayed thereagainst to define a filtered wine and a filtered alcohol. The at least one mesh screen enables the filtered wine to pass through the at least one mesh screen for collection by the collector such that the collector directs the collected filtered wine into the container assembly.

In aspects, the wine filtering system may further include an atomizer that is configured to spray the wine against the at least one mesh screen. The atomizer may be selectively attachable to an opened wine bottle.

In aspects, the container assembly may include a first elongated tray and a second elongated tray that is receivable within the first elongated tray. The first and second elongated trays may define a collector receiving channel therebetween. The collector may be receivable within the collector receiving channel to support the collector in an upright position relative to the first and second trays so that the screen assembly can be supported within the second elongated tray and positioned against the collector at an angle. The at least one mesh screen may include two mesh screens that are secured to the screen mount via stitching.

Other features of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed wine filtering system will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in any appropriately detailed structure. In addition, directional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, side and similar terms are used to assist in understanding the description and are not intended to limit the disclosure.

With reference toFIGS.1,2and4, a wine filtering system10includes an atomizer20, a container30, and a filter assembly40.

The atomizer20of wine filtering system10includes a storage vessel22configured to store wine “W” having a juice component and an alcohol component. The atomizer20further includes an actuator24operably coupled to the storage vessel22and a spray nozzle26operably coupled to the storage vessel22. The actuator24is actuatable, as indicated by arrows “P,” to dispense the wine “W” from the storage vessel22and through the spray nozzle26as a spray “S” that travels at a rate of 10 inches per second, for instance, although other faster and slower rates are suitable.

The filter assembly40of wine filtering system10includes a collector42and a screen assembly44.

The collector42of the filter assembly40has an inner surface42athat defines a closed end portion42con an upper or top end portion of collector42and an open-end portion42bon a lower or bottom end portion of collector42. The collector42may be formed or include any suitable natural or synthetic material. In some aspects, the collector42may be a polymeric material such as plastic.

The screen assembly44of the filter assembly40includes a screen mount44athat is supported by the inner surface of the collector42, and is some aspects, may be selectively attached to collector42by, for example, a fastening device, such as tape, hook and loop, fasteners, magnetics, stitching, etc. or any other suitable fastening technique. Screen mount44aincludes one or more mesh screens44bsecured thereto. Although screen mount44aand the at least one mesh screen44bare shown as having a circular configuration, any suitable shape or configuration may be provided. Each mesh screen44bis spaced from the inner surface42aof the collector42and is disposed in fluid communication with the open-end portion42bof the collector42. Each mesh screen44bis configured to separate at least portions of the alcohol component of the spray “S” from the juice component of the spray “S” to define a filtered wine “FW” and a filtered alcohol when the spray “S” collides with the mesh screen44b.Each mesh screen44bdefines a plurality of apertures44ctherethrough that enable the filtered wine “FW” to pass through the mesh screen44bfor collection by the inner surface42aof the collector42. Each mesh screen44bis configured, and the plurality of apertures44cpositioned, to cause air molecules within the spray to reflect off the mesh screen44band release an aroma “A” into the atmosphere when the spray “S” collides with the mesh screen44b.In aspects, each mesh screen44bmay include at least 4 apertures per square millimeter.

In aspects, each mesh screen44bmay include a metallic material, although any suitable material such as natural or artificial materials (e.g., wood, metal, plastic, glass, ceramic, textile, fiber, etc.). The open-end portion42bof the collector42is configured to enable the collected filtered wine “FW” to pass therethrough and out of the filter assembly40, as indicated by arrows “D.”

The container30of wine filtering system10is configured to removably support or seat the filter assembly40therein, for example, at an angle as shown inFIG.2to facilitate positioning of each mesh screen44brelative to the atomizer20for achieving optimal spraying angle. The container30defines a storage cavity32that is defined by walls30aand a base30bof the container30. Although shown having a square configuration, container30may have any suitable shape and/or configuration such as an elongated configuration, a rectangular configuration, pentagonal configuration, hexagonal configuration, octagonal configuration, a circular configuration, a non-circular configuration, or any other suitable geometric shape. In aspects, container30may include a surface feature such as a hook, a notch, a nub, or a rib extending along one or more of the walls30a,the base30b,or combinations thereof to secure filter assembly40in position relative to container (e.g., for preventing filter assembly40from sliding along container30) Container30may be formed or include any suitable natural or synthetic material. In some aspects, the container may be a polymeric material such as plastic. Container30is configured to receive filter assembly40therein such that storage cavity32is disposed in fluid communication with the open-end portion42bof the collector42b(e.g., on an open-end portion of filter assembly40) when the filter assembly40is disposed in the container30. The container30is configured to receive and store the filtered wine “FW” passed through the filter assembly40.

As seen inFIG.3, the container30may include a spout36to enable the filtered wine “FW” to be poured from the container30directly into a drinking glass “G.”

A method of filtering stored wine includes spraying the stored wine “SW” through one or more mesh screens44bto separate at least some alcohol component of the stored wine “SW” from the juice component of the stored wine “SW” so that the stored wine “SW” is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is filtered wine “FW” that passes through each mesh screen44b.The filtered wine “FW” is then collected on the inner surface42aof collector42so that the filtered wine “FW” can be dispensed through an open-end portion42bof the collector42. Each mesh screen44breflects air molecules within the stored wine “SW” off of the mesh screen44bwhen sprayed to release the aroma “A,” a robust wine fragrance, into the atmosphere.

With reference toFIGS.5A and5B, another wine filtering system100is similar to wine filtering system10, but includes an atomizer120, a filter assembly130, and a spigot140. In wine filtering system100, atomizer120includes a motor122, an inlet assembly124rotatably coupled to the motor122, and an outlet assembly126coupled to inlet assembly124. Inlet assembly124is configured to receive wine “W” therein as indicated by arrow “I.” Although only two conduits126aare shown, outlet assembly126may include any number of conduits126aconfigured to dispense wine “W” therefrom. Motor122is actuatable to rotate inlet and outlet assemblies124,126about a central axis “Z” defined through motor122, as indicated by arrows “R,” to dispense or spray wine “W” radially outward from outlet assemblies124,126via centrifugal force. The dispensed wine “W” is filtered through filter assembly130via one or more mesh screens132and a collector134similar to that described above with respect to filter assembly40of wine filtering system10. Collector134then directs filtered wine “FW” toward spigot140to enable spigot140to dispense filtered wine “FW” therefrom. Spigot140may include a valve142. Valve142is configured to be actuated (e.g., rotated), as indicated by arrows “M” for selectively controlling a flow of the filtered wine “FW” from spigot140.

Turning now toFIGS.6-11, still another wine filtering system200is similar to wine filtering system10and includes an atomizer220, a container assembly230, and a filter assembly240.

Atomizer220of wine filtering system200includes a housing221coupled to an inlet tube222, an actuator224, and a spray nozzle226. Housing221includes an attachment coupling221configured to selectively attach atomizer220to an opened wine bottle “B” as seen inFIGS.10and11. The actuator224is actuatable, as indicated by arrows “P,” to dispense the wine “W” from the opened wine bottle “B” and through the spray nozzle226.

Container assembly230includes a first elongated tray232and a second elongated tray234. Second elongated tray234is configured to receive first elongated tray232therein and such that first and second elongated trays232,234are configured to support filter assembly240therein. First and second elongated trays232,234define a collector receiving channel236therebetween when first elongated tray232is supported within second elongated tray234.

Filter assembly240of wine filtering system200includes a collector242and a screen assembly244. Collector242of filter assembly240includes a central wall242aand one or more flaps242bthat are receivable within collector receiving channel236of container assembly230to support collector242between first and second elongated trays232,234in an upright position as shown inFIG.6. Flaps242bare separated by central wall242aby side seams242cand central wall242amay include a central seam242d.Central seam242dand side seams242care configured to enable collector242to be manipulated into position and to enable collector242to be folded for ease of storage. Flaps242dare configured to fold about side seams242crelative to central wall242a,as indicated by arrows “F.” Collector242can also be folded about central seam242d.Similar to collector42, collector242may be formed from any suitable material such a natural or synthetic material like plastic.

The screen assembly244of the filter assembly240includes a screen mount244asecured to first and second mesh screens244b,244cvia stitching245. Although screen mount44aand the first and second mesh screens44b,44cshown as having a circular configuration, any suitable shape or configuration may be provided. First and second mesh screens244band244care similar to mesh screen44band are configured to separate at least portions of the alcohol component of the spray “S” from the juice component of the spray “S” to define a filtered wine “FW” and a filtered alcohol when the spray “S” collides with the first and/or second mesh screens244b,244c.First and second mesh screens244b,244cdefine a plurality of apertures246therethrough that enable the filtered wine “FW” to pass through the first and second mesh screens244b,244cfor collection by container assembly230.