Abstract:
A storage and dispensing system for potable liquids, e.g., wine, includes an inclined rack which holds a bottle with the neck down, a dispensing head sealing the bottle neck, and an inert gas supply system in fluid communication with the head. As liquid is dispensed from the bottle, low-pressure gas is admitted into the bottle, to inhibit oxidation of the wine. The system includes one or more self-sealing elements in the head itself and/or in gas lines between the head and a gas regulator. Because the self-sealing elements prevent air from entering into the system when the gas lines are detached, each bottle can have a dedicated head and bottles can be swapped out for dispensing, without the need for replacing bottle heads, sparging, or using more than one source of gas.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. provisional application No. 60/743,242, filed 7 Feb. 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Endeavor 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to devices, systems, and processes useful for dispensing potable liquids, and more specifically to dispensing potable liquids from small containers with gravity. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Many potable liquids significantly oxidize upon exposure to air. While in some cases this may be advantageous, oxidation of many such liquids makes the drink less palatable, and is therefore to be avoided. For example, fruit wines, especially grape wines, are known to oxidize significantly once exposed to unlimited amounts of oxygen, such as when the closure (cork, screw top, and the like) is removed from a typical 750 ml wine bottle. While it is known that a small amount of oxygen is transported through a natural cork bottle closure, resulting in a very slow exposure of the wine to oxygen, more hermetic closures, such as screw tops, permit essentially no oxygen to contact the wine. Once the bottle is opened, however, oxidation of the wine (or, more accurately, of components of the wine) commences. 
         [0006]    In the past there have been several ways proposed to deal with the inevitable degradation of the perceived quality of wine once a bottle has been opened. Of course, consuming the entire contents of the bottle before it is unpalatable is one course of action; other, more temperate measures have also been proposed. Devices have been proposed which permit a partial vacuum to be formed in the partially emptied wine bottle, with a replacement closure sealing the bottle neck; while removing some of the air from the bottle, air is still present in the bottle, however, and thus oxidation continues. 
         [0007]    It has also been prevalent to inject an inert, non-oxygen-containing, food-grade gas into the opened, partially full bottle. The inert gas effectively takes the place of the air (sparges) in the bottle. At the same time, prior systems have typically relied on the pressure of the inert gas to dispense the wine from an upright bottle, thus requiring a dip tube extending to the bottom of the bottle. While useful in some environments, such systems require: large gas cylinders; the bottles to remain upright so that the dip tubes are guaranteed to be positioned in wine; the high pressures required for dispensing can be damaging to the wine; the required high pressures are difficult to maintain in the bottle, thus requiring very robustly attached closures. Such systems are therefore not suitable for home use. 
         [0008]    There remains a need, therefore, for improvements in systems, devices, and methods which address these and other shortcomings in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to a first aspect of the invention, a wave washer comprises a disk, an opening in the disk, a lever extending from the disk, and undulations formed in the disk. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a bottle head comprises a valve having a valve stem, a fluid passage, and a dispensing port in fluid communication with the fluid passage, a seal portion extending from said valve, the fluid passage passing through the seal portion, at least one seal positioned around the seal portion, a movable element on the seal portion and adjacent to the at the least one seal, and at least one wave washer positioned on said seal portion between said movable element and said valve. 
         [0011]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system useful for storing and dispensing a potable liquid from a bottle having a neck comprises a cabinet having an inclined surface and at least one opening configured and arranged to receive the neck of a bottle, a gas source of inert, non-oxygen containing gas, a pressure regulator in fluid communication with said gas source, a gas line in fluid communication with the pressure regulator, at least one bottle head configured and arranged to form a fluid seal when positioned in the neck of the bottle, the at least one bottle head including a gas passage and a fluid passage, wherein the gas line is in fluid communication with the gas passage of the at least one bottle head. 
         [0012]    Still other aspects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and method, given only by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a front elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of a potable liquid preservation and dispensing system in accordance with principles of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates a side elevational view of the system of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates portions of the system of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0017]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates top plan view of portions of the system of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0018]      FIG. 3   b  illustrates a front elevational view of portions of the system of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0019]      FIG. 4   a  illustrates an enlarged elevational view of an exemplary head of the system of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 4   b  illustrates the head of  FIG. 4   a  in a second configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4   c  illustrates portions of the head of  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0022]      FIG. 4   d  illustrates a top plan view of an exemplary force transmission unit in accordance with principles of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4   e  illustrates a side elevational view of the unit of  FIG. 4   d.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates front ( FIG. 1   a ) and side ( FIG. 1   b ) elevational views of a storage and dispensing system  10  embodying principles of the present invention. A cabinet  12  is illustrated having a bottom storage area  14  including, by way of non-limiting example, four compartments that are sized and configured to hold one or more (eight are illustrated) containers of a potable liquid. Without being limited to any single potable liquid, some aspects of the present invention, as described in greater detail below, are particularly advantageous when the potable liquid is wine and the containers are bottles B, e.g., glass bottles, e.g., 750 ml wine bottles. 
         [0026]    A top portion  16  of the cabinet  12  includes a positioning and dispensing tray  18 , which has a generally open top  20  and one or more slots  22 . The slots are sized to accept the neck of a typical 750 ml glass wine bottle, although other sizes, selected to similarly accommodate other sized liquid containers, may alternatively be provided. The top portion  16  includes a slanted support surface  24  so that one or more bottles of liquid can be supported with the neck N of the bottle B in a slot, so that the potable liquid contents of the bottle can flow out of the bottle by gravity. Preferably the bottle B, and optionally each bottle, that is supported in the top portion  16  of the cabinet  12  includes a dispensing head  30 , such as that illustrated, which seals the neck of the bottle and permits a user of the system to selectively dispense the potable liquid from the bottle into, e.g., a glass G. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a right side elevational view of a portion of the system  10 . The bottle head  30  is installed in the bottle neck N, as described above. A compressed gas cylinder  32  is provided in a separate space in the cabinet, and includes a pressure regulator  34 . The gas in the cylinder is a food grade inert gas that does not significantly react with the potable liquid in the container(s); when the potable liquid is wine or another liquid that is negatively affected by prolonged contact with oxygen, the inert gas is preferably nitrogen. As described in greater detail below, the inert gas cylinder  32  is in fluid communication, via the pressure regulator  34 , with the dispensing head  30  to slightly pressurize the contents of the container, and more advantageously to sparge air (and other gases) from the container and replace it with the inert gas. In this manner, the potable liquid contents of the container are at least partially preserved, despite the fact that the container&#39;s original closure (e.g., a cork or screw cap) has been removed and air had been allowed to fill the dead space in the container, because the inert gas blankets the potable liquid and inhibits or prevents contact with other gases (such as oxygen). One of numerous commercially available regulators usable as regulator  34  is model NR-30 by Nippon Transan Gas Co. LTD, through its US affiliate, Leland Limited (South Plainfield, N.J.); others are also available and usable. Several of numerous commercially available inert gas cylinders usable as cylinder  32  are available from Nippon Transan Gas Co. LTD, in their Mini Gas Cartridge line, including the LPG-type cylinder (also available through Leland); other suitable containers are available from NitroTap, LTD (Warren, R.I.). 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates top plan ( FIG. 3   a ) and partial front elevational ( FIG. 3   b ) views of an exemplary system  10  in accordance with the present invention. The top portion  16 , including the inclined bottle tray  18 , is illustrated supporting a single wine bottle B and the compressed gas cylinder  32  and the pressure regulator  34  attached to the cylinder. The front face  36  of the top portion  16  preferably includes a cutout or hole  38  through which the base of the cylinder  32  can extend, for easy access and removal, and a pressure gauge  40 , in fluid communication with the pressure regulator, which displays the fluid pressure output by the regulator. A gas distribution tube, manifold, or the like  42  fluidly connects the output of the pressure regulator  34 , the pressure gauge  40 , one or more self-sealing fluid connection ports  44  that are positioned on the front face  36  of the cabinet, and preferably a pressure relief valve  46  positioned at a convenient location on the cabinet. One or more gas injection tubes  48 , preferably flexible, lead from the one or more connection ports  44  to an input port  50  on the head  30 . The port  50  is, when the head  30  is installed in a suitable neck N, in fluid communication with the interior of the bottle via a separate fluid passage  72 . 
         [0029]    Another advantageous aspect of the present invention includes that the connections between the head(s)  30  and the connection port(s)  44  are optionally self-sealing. Thus, when the tube  48  is connected to the port  44  and the input  50  to the head  30 , inert gas flows from the distribution tube  42 , through the port  44 , through the tube  48 , through the head  30  via passage  72 , and into the container B holding the potable liquid. Importantly, each of the portions of the system outside of the cabinet at which this sealed fluid connection can be broken by the user of the system, includes a self-sealing valve or connection element. For example, such a self-sealing element can be located in one or more of: in the head  30 ; at the end of the tube  48  which connects to the head  30 ; at the end of the tube  48  that connects to the port  44 ; and at the port  44 . In one non-limiting example, the tube  48  is securely connected to the head  30 , and the port  44  and the opposite end of the tube  48  each include self-sealing elements. In another non-limiting example, the tube  48  is securely connected to the port  44 , and the head  30  and the opposite end of the tube  48  each include self-sealing elements. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  (including  FIGS. 4   a - 4   e ) illustrates several views of an exemplary bottle head  30  embodying principles of the present invention. The head  30  is sized to fit into and selectively seal against the inner surface of the potable liquid&#39;s container, e.g., wine bottle neck N. The head includes a valve V, valve stem S, and liquid outlet port P of conventional constructions, the details of which are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are thus not included herein so as to not obscure the invention; one example of these elements is a so-called Tomlinson brand model CBT #1000004 Tap. As well known to those of skill in the art, the outlet port P is in fluid communication with a fluid passage  74  which extends through the head, which is separate from the gas passage  72 . The lower portions of the head, which are shown positioned in the neck of the bottle, includes one or more compression seals, gaskets, or O-rings R which, when compressed, expand outward and form a seal between the head  30  and the interior surface of the bottle neck N, in a known manner. The head therefore includes a number of washers W or similar elements between which the O-rings are positioned, and the bottommost of which is fixed relative to the rest of the head. A sleeve or ferrule  52  is positioned above the topmost washer and can slide relative to the rest of the head. By moving the head  30  relative to the sleeve  52 , the sleeve pushes down on the topmost washer, which in turn pushes down on and compresses the adjacent O-ring, on down to the washer which is fixed to the head. Thus, moving the top and bottommost parts of the head compresses the O-rings and causes them to seal against the inner surface of the bottle neck N. 
         [0031]    One advantageous aspect of the present invention, which facilitates moving the parts of the head and thus sealing the head in the bottle neck, includes providing a force transmission unit which is accessible to a user of the head and which converts rotary motion of and force on the unit into a downward motion, and therefore force, by the unit. In general terms, the force transmission unit can be embodied in one of numerous devices which operate based on the well-known “inclined plane” configuration, such as screw threads, wedges, cams, including rotary cams, and the like, any of which exert downward motion and force. This downward motion and force is used, in the context of the present invention, for the compression and lateral expansion of the seals described above. 
         [0032]    According to a preferred, yet still exemplary, embodiment, the force transmission unit includes one or a pair of wave washers  60 , illustrated in  FIGS. 4   d  and  4   e . Each wave washer  60  is generally disk-shaped with a center opening  62  sized to receive corresponding portions of the head  30  therein, but in profile has an undulating shape and includes a lever  64  that projects outward from the disk. More specifically, each wave washer  60  includes high portions  66  and low portions  68  therebetween. While the number of undulations does not restrict the present invention, a small number is preferable to reduce the force required to use the wave washers. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , two wave washers  60  are positioned around the middle of the head  30 , above the sleeve  52 , with the washers&#39; levers  64  adjacent to, but preferably not overlapping, each other, and the washers&#39; undulations  66 ,  68  mated together; in this configuration, the two wave washers have a thin profile. An expanded profile of the two wave washers  60  is achieved by rotating one of the wave washers relative to the other (clearly, both washers can be simultaneously rotated) around the longitudinal (up-down) axis of the head  30 , which causes the adjoining surfaces of the two wave washers to slide against each other toward an anti-nested orientation, in which upward extending undulations  66  of the lower washer are vertically aligned with and touch downward extending undulations  68  of the upper washer, and vice versa. Thus, when the wave washers  60  are rotated the distance of one undulation, the washers move apart (or toward) each other the height of one of the wave washers, pushing on the adjacent portions of the head  30  as described above. 
         [0033]    Yet another aspect of the present invention includes that the profile of a wave washer  60  is formed on a portion of the head  30 , e.g., the top of the sleeve  52  or the bottom of the adjoining upper portion  70  of the head, and only one rotatable wave washer  60  is positioned adjacent thereto. 
         [0034]    The two wave washers  60 , positioned between the top portion of the head  30  and the top of the sleeve  52 , thus can be used to quickly move the sleeve down relative to the rest of the head, and thus expand the O-rings R against the bottle neck N. The present invention is not limited to the use of wave washers  60 , however, and more conventional force-fit compression fittings, with typical flexible fins, a cam-style lever, and screw thread-and-nut configurations are also alternatively used. 
         [0035]    One advantage of the present system is that it does not require refrigeration to preserve the potable liquid in the container. According to other aspects of the present invention, the cabinet  12  can be constructed to include a coolant system that cools the containers, in a known manner. Further optionally, the system can be sized and configured to be positioned inside a refrigerator. 
         [0036]    A particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention includes that the individual containers can be removed from the system, e.g., in order to dispense a different liquid, without releasing the inert gas from inside the container. An exemplary method of using the system thus includes: positioning a container having a potable liquid, e.g., wine, therein, in the top portion of the cabinet  12 ; attaching tube  48  to the inlet port  50  of the head  30 , thus fluidly connecting the interior of the container with the inert gas cylinder  32  via the pressure regulator  34 , the distribution line  42 , and the port  44 ; dispensing potable liquid from the container by manipulating the valve V contained in the head  30 , in a known manner; disconnecting the tube  48  from the head  30  and/or from the port  44 ; and removing the container B from the cabinet  12 , now that it is no longer tethered to the cabinet by the tube  48 . Because the head  30 , tube  48 , and/or port  44  each includes a self-sealing element, the inert gas does not escape from the container, the potable liquid is continuously preserved, and a vacuum is not created in the container when liquid is dispensed. A system of the present invention can therefore include more potable liquid containers than can be supported in the top portion of the cabinet, each container fitted with a head  30 , and the containers can be merely swapped out of the cabinet when it is desired to more easily dispense the liquid. Each head  30  thus ‘belongs’ to a container, sealing the container and preserving its potable liquid contents. 
         [0037]    Another advantageous aspect of the present invention includes that open, serviceable wine bottles B are stored in a relatively horizontal position, which compresses their ordinary storage height by about 50%, compared to upright (standing) storage of a wine bottle. This facilitates use and storage of open wine bottles in smaller spaces, such as pullout drawers in conventional kitchen cabinetry, refrigerators, and even specially-constructed sideboard chests. Thus, a slightly neck-down orientation of containers of potable liquids, a ‘ready to dispense’ configuration, is unique and affords many benefits. 
         [0038]    The self-sealing elements described herein are currently commercially available; examples include, but are not limited to: Beswick Engineering Quick Disconnect Couplings QDC-101-I-1012 and QDC-101-E-2PM (Double Shut-off), and Colder Products Couplings PMCD12025 and PMCD2202 (Valved Shutoff). 
         [0039]    Another advantageous aspect of the present invention includes that the pressure regulator  34  maintains the pressure in the system at a low level, e.g., between about 3 and 7 psi, preferably about 5 psi. While this pressure is sufficient to charge the system with inert gas, it differs from typical dispensing systems which use a vertically oriented potable liquid container, a siphon tube in the container, and gas pressures typically around 30 psi. In the system of the present invention, a high gas pressure in the system would result in the liquid contents of the container being sprayed out of the outlet P of the head  30 , and would require a significantly more robust pressure vessel for the insert gas cylinder  3 ; both of these would be significantly less preferred. Pressure regulators capable of maintaining pressure in the system at about 5 psi are currently commercially available and well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0040]    While the invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.