Apparatus for dispensing a fluid from a container and regulating a temperature thereof

An apparatus regulates a temperature of a fluid inside a container and dispenses the fluid from the container. The apparatus has a body with an axis, a cavity adjacent a distal end, a bore adjacent a proximal end, and a fluid inlet formed through the body to the bore. The body contacts the fluid inside the container. A second fluid may be located and sealed inside the cavity, and have a freezing point of about 10° C. or less. A nozzle may be mounted to the body. The nozzle has a channel in communication with the fluid inlet through which the fluid flows out of the container through the nozzle. A seal may be mounted to the body. The seal may have a radial seal to seal radially between the body and an interior of the container, and an axial seal to seal axially between the nozzle and the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates in general to regulating the temperature of a fluid in a container and, in particular, to an apparatus for regulating the temperature of a fluid in a bottle, and dispensing it through the apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

The temperature at which some beverages are served is important to appreciate their special qualities and flavors. There are various authorities that suggest the ideal temperature ranges for each type of beverage. The temperature ranges vary greatly according to the type of beverage. For example, a wide temperature range exists between the desired temperatures associated with different types of beer, as well as red wines and white wines.

There are several factors that make it challenging to maintain the ideal temperature that allows a beverage to reveal all of its qualities. One factor concerns the conditions in which the bottles are kept after they are opened. This can lead to a serving temperature that is either too high or too low after the bottle is selected, opened and served. It is difficult to keep bottles within satisfactory temperature conditions, as they will more often than not become too warm when left on a table at room temperature, or become too cold if put on ice. Once removed from a proper cooling environment, keeping a chilled beverage at a temperature below ambient temperature is particularly difficult.

There also is some risk of the beverage losing its flavors and taste by bringing about a decrease in temperature that occurs too quickly. For example, use of an ice bucket or freezer may cause this destructive effect on the qualities of the beverage. In some businesses, such as restaurants and catering, this process needs to be done quickly and cannot be avoided. It is rarely possible for some servers to ask a customer to wait to taste the vintage chosen on a list. It is also undesirable to risk being discredited by serving a beverage that is at the wrong temperature. It is therefore desirable to facilitate bringing and maintaining drinks at an ideal temperature to savor it without necessarily affecting its qualities.

Various solutions have been proposed to maintain the desired beverage serving temperature in conditions that reduce risk to affecting its taste. Again, ice buckets are a common choice for this proposition and there are many different types. Other solutions are inserted into a bottle and incorporate pour-through apertures such that their apparatus is not removed from the bottle until it is empty. Moreover, conventional pour-through devices may enable excessive ventilation of the beverage which increases beverage temperature and affects its taste. Thus, improvements in regulating the temperature of beverages would be desirable.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of an apparatus for regulating a temperature of a fluid inside a container, and dispensing the fluid from the container are disclosed. The apparatus has a body that may have an axis, a cavity adjacent a distal end, a bore adjacent a proximal end, a fluid inlet formed through the body to the bore, and the body is adapted to contact the fluid inside the container. A second fluid may be located and sealed inside the cavity, the second fluid having a freezing point of about 10° C. or less. A nozzle may be mounted to the body. The nozzle may have a channel in communication with the fluid inlet through which the fluid is adapted to flow out of the container through the nozzle. A seal may bee mounted to the body. The seal may have a radial seal adapted to seal radially between the body and an interior of the container, and an axial seal adapted to seal axially between the nozzle and the container.

Other embodiments of an apparatus for regulating a temperature of fluid in a container may comprise a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a cavity inside the body, an elongated shape in an axial direction, and a series of radial bulges axially spaced apart from each other. A fluid may be sealed in the cavity and having a freezing point below about 10° C. An assembly may be mounted adjacent the proximal end of the body. The assembly may have a radial seal adapted to seal an opening in the container of fluid, and a channel that is completely unobstructed without a closure and adapted to dispense fluid therethrough from the container.

Still other embodiments of an apparatus for regulating a temperature of a fluid in a bottle may comprise a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a cavity inside the body, the body being elongated in an axial direction such that an exterior of the body is generally tapered axially for a substantially entire axial length thereof. A fluid may be sealed in the cavity and having a freezing point below about 10° C. An assembly may be mounted adjacent the proximal end of the body, an exterior of the assembly is adapted to seal the bottle of fluid, and an interior of the assembly is adapted to dispense fluid therethrough without an aerator.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of these embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of an apparatus for maintaining the temperature of a fluid and dispensing the fluid from a container are disclosed. As shown inFIG. 1, the apparatus11may comprise a body13having a longitudinal axis15, a proximal end17, and a distal end19. In some examples, the body13may be formed from a metallic material such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, alloys thereof, etc., which may be opaque. In other embodiments, a plastic material such as a translucent or transparent ethylene-based copolymer, polymeric blends of ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers and polyethylene, etc., may be used for the body.

A cavity21is located inside the body13. At manufacture, the cavity21is originally open on the proximal end17, closed on the distal end19, and has an elongated, generally tapered shape along an axial length of the body13. A fluid23is located in the cavity21and may be sealed in the cavity21with a plug33(FIG. 3). The fluid23may have a freezing point of about 10° C. or less, such as about 0° C. or less. For example, the freezing point of the fluid23may be in a range of −1° C. to −30° C.

Embodiments of the fluid23may comprise a liquid or gel having a high potential heat value and a high specific heat capacity. The fluid has good water retention properties and is reusable. The fluid is non-toxic, non-polluting and a non-irritant to human contact. The fluid may comprise water and additives that cause the water to remain a thick gel throughout use, instead of transitioning between a solid and a free-flowing liquid like ordinary water. Such a gel may be formed from non-toxic materials that will not liquefy, and therefore will not spill easily or cause contamination if the container breaks. For example, the gel may be made by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (e.g., cellusize) or vinyl-coated silica gel to water.

When apparatus11is chilled or frozen, fluid23helps maintain or regulate a temperature of a liquid, such as beer25in a bottle27. See, e.g.,FIG. 4. In some embodiments a seal or seal assembly, such as a stopper31(e.g., a gasket, ring, plunger, cork, etc.), may be mounted to the proximal end17of the body13. Stopper31may be adapted to slidingly and temporarily engage and seal the bottle27of beer25. However, embodiments of stopper31are retained by bottle27in a manner sufficient to prevent the accidental and/or premature removal of apparatus11from bottle27.

As described herein, this design also permits fluid to flow from the bottle through the apparatus with the body still located inside of the bottle in contact with the fluid. The stopper may comprise natural or synthetic materials such as those known in the art. For example, a synthetic cork may be formed from a high quality, food grade thermoplastic elastomer, a wood material bonded by a bond material or resin, etc. The seal or stopper also provides structural support during the freezing and thawing cycles experienced during operational use, which better accommodates for expansion and contraction of materials to help prevent layered or laminated designs from failing.

In some embodiments, at least some of the components of apparatus11may be joined by conventional techniques, such as spin or ultrasonic welding, such that they are permanently joined to each other. Adhesives also may be used to join the components. Some embodiments of the body may be sealed to retain the fluid, or a closure of the cavity may be bonded, crimped, welded, etc., to permanently enclose the fluid. The seal may be attached to the body to provide a sliding interface surface for temporarily closing a container of fluid.

Embodiments of the body13may have only one cavity21, only one fluid23, and be non-cylindrical. The body13may have an opening35(FIG. 2) on the proximal end17. Both the exterior surface of the body13and the interior surface of the cavity21may be generally tapered along their substantially entire axial lengths. Tapering of the cavity21may facilitate progressive freezing of the fluid from the distal end19toward the proximal end17, and thereby the desired expansion of the fluid23as the fluid freezes solid. Such progressive freezing helps maintain the integrity of the body, even after numerous freezing/thawing cycles and uses, without leakage or rupture of the body. In some embodiments, the volume of fluid23contained within cavity21is sufficient so as to not be visible from an exterior of body13when held or stored upright with the stopper31at the top.

As shown inFIG. 1, the proximal end17of the body13may comprise a tube37extending axially from the body13. The tube37may have a tube diameter (dt) that is smaller than a proximal diameter (dp) of the body. The stopper31may be mounted to the tube37via a through-hole41(FIG. 3) for receiving the tube37. The through hole41is complementary in shape to the tube37. At least a portion of an outer surface of the body13may be undulated.

In some embodiments, the body13is shaped in the form of an icicle, and may vary in axial sectional shape along a substantially entire axial length thereof. The body13may have an exterior surface that undulates axially, radially and/or circumferentially. As a result, some examples of the undulated body have an axial cross-sectional shape that varies continuously to the distal end19. Such a configuration mimics naturally formed icicles. Such designs also increase the surface area of the body, thereby increasing its wine temperature maintenance performance. In other versions, the body has only a slight overall taper (e.g., like a carrot), rather than the icicle form. In still other versions, the body may be tapered with facets to appear crystalline in form, or may be cylindrical in shape.

In other examples, the body13may be provided with a proximal diameter (dp) that defines a maximum diameter of the body, a distal diameter at the distal end (dd) that defines a minimum diameter of the body, a first intermediate diameter (d1) located between dpand ddthat is smaller than dp, and a second intermediate diameter (d2) located between d1and ddthat is larger than d1. This pattern may be repeated. For example, a third intermediate diameter (d3) may be smaller than d2but located between d2and dd. A fourth intermediate diameter (d4) may be larger than d3, but located between d3and dd. The interior surface of the cavity may mimic the profile or contour of the exterior of the body, such that the interior and exterior surfaces of the body are complementary in shape.

For example, the body may have a maximum outer diameter of about 15 mm to about 18 mm, the body may have a wall thickness of about 0.5 to about 1 mm, and the apparatus may have an overall length of about 270 mm to about 300 mm. In other embodiments, the body may have a maximum outer diameter of about 10 mm to about 20 mm, the body may have a wall thickness of about 0.5 to about 1 mm, and the apparatus may have an overall length of about 100 mm to about 300 mm. These dimensions may be varied to accommodate containers or bottles having different sizes.

Embodiments of the apparatus11also may comprise a device for regulating a temperature of a fluid inside a container, and dispensing the fluid from the container. The apparatus11may comprise a body13having an axis15, a cavity21adjacent a distal end19, a bore39adjacent a proximal end17, and one or more fluid inlets43formed through the body13to the bore39. The body13may be adapted to contact the fluid25inside the container27.

A second fluid23may be located and sealed inside the cavity21. The second fluid23may have a freezing point of about 10° C. or less. A nozzle51may be mounted to the body13. The nozzle51may have a channel52in communication with the fluid inlet43through which the fluid25is adapted to flow out of the container27through the nozzle51. A seal31may be mounted to the body13. The seal31may comprise a radial seal32adapted to seal radially between the body13and an interior of the container27, and an axial seal34adapted to seal axially between the nozzle51and a mouth of the container27, such as sliding, temporary seal. The radial seal32may be mounted to the neck37of the body13proximate to the fluid inlet43. The nozzle51may be shaped for direct consumption of the fluid by a mouth of a user, such that the apparatus11is a drink-through device, and not simply a pour-through device. The channel52may be attached to the proximal end17of the body13, such as by bond, weld, threads, etc.

Embodiments of the nozzle51may be provided with a proximal end54that is substantially flat and perpendicular with respect to the axis15. A wall56that is generally semi-spherical may extend distally from the proximal end54. The channel52may be substantially concentric with the proximal end54and wall56of the nozzle51. The axial seal34may abut an interior surface58(FIG. 5) of the proximal end54of the nozzle51. An axial length of the wall56of the nozzle51may be greater than an axial length of the channel52of the nozzle51, as shown inFIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the seal31may comprise a third seal (not shown) extending from the axial seal34. The third seal may have a diameter that is larger than a diameter of an opening of the container27. The third seal may be adapted to seal between an exterior of the opening of the container27and an interior of a wall56of the nozzle51.

The apparatus11may further comprise a ring61mounted to the body13axially distal to the fluid inlet43. The ring61may comprise an identifier, such as a logo ring. The ring61may be mounted to the tube or neck37of the body13between the fluid inlet43and the undulated body13. The body13may have a tube or neck37that is straight and cylindrical. The neck37may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the undulated body13. The undulated body13may be provided with a series of radial bulges (FIG. 1) that are axially spaced-apart from each other.

Embodiments of the apparatus11may not comprise a cap, a plug or closure of any kind for the nozzle51, such that the channel52of the nozzle51is completely unobstructed for fluid flow from the container27. The fluid inlet43may comprise a plurality of fluid inlets43formed in the body13in a symmetrical pattern. The nozzle51may have an axial length that is less than an axial length of the seal31, such as the radial seal32. In alternative embodiments, the fluid inlet43may be formed in the nozzle51(not shown) rather than the body13, such that the nozzle51has an axial length that is greater than an axial length of the seal31. The seal31may be bonded to the body13. A plug33may be used to permanently seal the second fluid23in the cavity21.

The apparatus11may be axially symmetrical. The body13may be formed from a metallic material. The body13may be tapered along a substantially entire axial length thereof. The seal31may be is adapted to slidingly and temporarily engage an opening in the container27.

Other embodiments of an apparatus for regulating a temperature of fluid in a container may comprise a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a cavity inside the body, an elongated shape in an axial direction, and a series of radial bulges axially spaced apart from each other. A fluid may be sealed in the cavity and having a freezing point below about 10° C. An assembly (e.g.,31and51, collectively) may be mounted adjacent the proximal end of the body. The assembly may have a radial seal adapted to seal an opening in the container of fluid, and a channel that is completely unobstructed without a closure and adapted to dispense fluid therethrough from the container.

Still other embodiments of an apparatus for regulating a temperature of a fluid in a bottle may comprise a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a cavity inside the body, the body being elongated in an axial direction such that an exterior of the body is generally tapered axially for a substantially entire axial length thereof. A fluid may be sealed in the cavity and have a freezing point below about 10° C. An assembly may be mounted adjacent the proximal end of the body. An exterior of the assembly may be adapted to seal the bottle of fluid, and an interior of the assembly is adapted to dispense fluid therethrough, such as without an aerator so that the fluid may not be aerated.

In operation, apparatus11may be chilled or frozen by placing it in a freezer. When a user wishes to maintain or regulate the temperature of a fluid25in a container27, the apparatus11may be removed from the freezer and placed in the container27through an opening in the container27such that body13is in contact with the fluid25in the container27. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, the apparatus11may be inserted into a bottle27of beer25to help regulate or maintain the beer25at a proper serving temperature for a longer period of time. Any of the embodiments described herein may be used in a similar manner. The apparatus11forms a sliding, temporary seal inside the bottle27. When beer25is poured, the apparatus11remains securely sealed in the bottle27, and the beer25is poured through apparatus11as described herein. The nozzle41of apparatus11also permits it to be a direct drink-through device, not just a pour-through device.

Other applications include uses that do not involve beverages, such as commercial or laboratory cooling or temperature regulation of fluids in containers, wherein the stopper may not necessarily be required to slidingly engage and seal the opening of the container. For example, some containers have top openings that are much larger in diameter than the diameter of the stopper. The numerous features, elements and materials described for the various embodiments disclosed herein may be used in the other embodiments as well.

In still other embodiments, an apparatus for regulating a temperature of a fluid in a bottle may comprise a body having an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity inside the body. The body may be elongated in an axial direction such that an exterior of the body is generally tapered axially for a substantially entire axial length thereof. A fluid may be sealed in the cavity and having a freezing point below about 10° C. An assembly may be mounted adjacent the proximal end of the body. An exterior of the assembly may be adapted to seal the bottle of fluid. An interior of the assembly may be adapted to dispense fluid therethrough. The exterior of the assembly may be frustoconically tapered.

Embodiments of the body may have a radial wall thickness at the bore (Rb), and the body has a radial wall thickness at the cavity (Rc) that is less than Rb by at least about 10%, at least about 20%, or at least about 30% (e.g., about 32%). The Rc may vary along the cavity in the axial direction. The cavity may comprise radially wide portions (e.g., bulges) and radially narrow portions (e.g., narrower neck sections that are smaller than the bulges), with respect to the axis. The Rc may be greater in the radially narrow portions and the Rc may be less in the radially narrow portions. In addition, the body may comprise a stainless steel and copper alloy, such as 304 stainless steel, and at least about 5% copper, and/or no more than about 15% copper (e.g., about 8% to about 10%).

This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and also to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.