Abstract:
A cap device for capping an open wine bottle includes a base with a lower cylindrical portion that defines an interior space. The lower cylindrical portion engages the interior of the wine bottle. A pumping element engages an upper cylindrical portion of the base to define an interior portion in communication with the interior space. A first valve assembly is disposed in the lower cylindrical portion and is in communication with the interior space and the interior of the wine bottle. The first valve assembly is movable between an open and closed position for pulling air from the wine bottle. A second valve assembly is disposed in the upper cylindrical portion of the base and is in communication with the interior portion and the atmosphere. The second valve assembly is movable between an open and closed position for pushing air from the interior portion to the atmosphere.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/945,500 for a WINE STOP PUMP, filed on Jun. 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a plug for capping an open wine bottle to preserve its contents for later use. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    It has long been a problem to preserve unused wine that remains in a bottle that has already been opened. It is well know that wine corks, which are placed onto wines when they are freshly bottled, create a virtual vacuum chamber, and that glass from which the bottle is constructed is impermeable to air for centuries and thus a good cork will keep air exchange to a minimum for an extended period. However, when the cork is removed, exposure of wine to air causes it to age rapidly, oxidizing and losing freshness. Thus, recapping wine bottles to prevent unnecessary aging has long been desired. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, various solutions to the problem of recapping wine have been attempted. However, they all suffer from a variety of disadvantages. 
         [0007]    For example, people have tried to preserve wine by placing the cork that was removed from the bottle back into the opening to seal it. However, it is often difficult to get the cork back into the bottle opening. Moreover, even if the cork is replaced, the seal created is typically less than complete, therein causing an increase in air exchange through the cork that accelerates the aging process. Further, it is also sometimes not possible to replace the cork onto the bottle of wine if the cork has been significantly damaged during removal thereof such that it is unusable. 
         [0008]    Restaurants and other establishments that serve wine by the glass have created expensive capping systems that can be readily removed and replaced, and also remove any excess air from the bottle to assist in preserving the wine. While these systems are relatively effective, they are expensive and impractical for individual users. 
         [0009]    It would thus be desirable to provide a wine capping device that provides a sealing cap to a wine bottle. It would also be desirable that the wine capping device has a mechanism for removing excess air from the interior of the wine bottle after recapping. It would also be desirable that such a device is easy to utilize. Further, it would be highly desirable that the wine capping device is relatively inexpensive such that it may be readily used and purchased by individuals, such as for home use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0010]    It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a replaceable wine cap for a previously opened wine bottle to preserve any wine that remains therein. 
         [0011]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a replaceable wine cap that is capable of removing air from the interior of the wine bottle to create a vacuum chamber that preserves the wine after being placed into communication with an opened wine bottle. 
         [0012]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a replaceable wine cap that is inexpensive and easily usable and reusable by individuals, restaurants or other establishments. 
         [0013]    In accordance with the above and the other advantages of the present invention, a wine stop pump is provided. The wine stop pump sealingly recaps a bottle of wine after it has been opened, therein substantially preventing air exchange with the interior of the bottle to prevent the oxidation and subsequent spoilage of the wine. The wine stop pump includes a pumping mechanism for removing air from the interior of the wine bottle after capping that aids in preventing oxidation of the wine associated with air exchange. The wine stop pump of the present invention is inexpensive and simple to use and reuse. 
         [0014]    Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description and preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wine stop pump inserted into a bottle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a wine stop pump in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the wine stop pump of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  with the wine stop pump is in its normal position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a valve housing of the wine stop pump in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-section view of the wine stop pump of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  illustrating its position when a force has been applied to the wine stop pump in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of the valve portion of the wine stop pump of  FIG. 5A  in an open position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-section view of the wine stop pump of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  illustrating its position when the wine stop pump is returning to its unpumped position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6B  is an enlarged view of the valve portion of  FIG. 6A  in an open position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in the various views. The terms “lower” and “upper” as described herein are terms used to describe the relative environment of components relative to one another as illustrated in the following  FIGS. 1-4 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B. As such, in practice, a piece described as an upper piece is not limited to an arrangement wherein that piece must be upward relative to another piece in use and is thus not a limiting feature of the claims of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Referring now to the Figures, which illustrate a wine stop pump  10  in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The wine stop pump  10  is utilized to recap and seal wine bottles  100  that have previously been opened and had their corks (not shown) removed. 
         [0026]    The wine stop pump  10  includes a base  12  having a lower cylindrical portion  14  and an upper cylindrical portion  16 . The upper cylindrical portion  16  includes a cylindrical wall  18  projecting outwardly (shown as upward in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B) from a first side  20  of a flat disk portion  22 . The cylindrical wall  18  is disposed on the outer periphery of the flat disk portion  22 . The lower cylindrical portion  14  has a cylindrical wall  28  that projects from a second side  26  of the flat disk portion  22  (shown as downward in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B). The lower cylindrical portion  14  also includes a bottom disk portion  29  having a center opening  27 . The cylindrical wall  28  and the bottom disk portion  29  define an interior space  30  therewithin. The outer surface  32  of the cylindrical wall  28  is sized slightly smaller than the interior surface  104  of the neck  102  of a wine bottle  100  such that cylindrical wall  28  may be readily inserted within the interior surface  104  of the neck  102  of the wine bottle  100  to sealingly recap the wine bottle  100 . 
         [0027]    The flat disk portion  22  has sufficient diameter such that the second side  26  of the inner cylindrical portion  34  completely covers the spout  106  and such that an outer portion  36  of the flat disk portion  22  extends a distance outwardly (shown as to the left and to the right of the spout  106  in  FIG. 1 ) beyond the spout  106  of the wine bottle  100  when the wine stop pump  10  is sealed to recap the wine bottle  100 . The outer portion  36  includes an opening  38 . 
         [0028]    The base  12  is preferably constructed of a durable, moisture resistant non-corrosive material that is inexpensive to manufacture and form to its desired configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the base  12  is formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric material such as polypropylene. The base  12  is preferably formed by a conventional molding operation such as injection molding. 
         [0029]    Sealingly coupled within the interior space  30  of the lower cylindrical portion  14  is a first valve assembly  40 . Further, sealingly coupled within the opening  38  of the outer portion  36  is a second valve assembly  50  that, preferably, is of the same design as the first valve assembly  40 . The first valve assembly  40  is positioned to allow air to move from the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100  through the first valve assembly  40  and into the interior space  30 , but not allowing air to move from the interior space  30  to the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100 . Meanwhile, the second valve assembly  50  is positioned to allow air to move from the interior space  30  through the valve assembly  50  and be exchanged with air outside the bottle  100 , but not allow air to move from the exterior back through the second valve assembly  50  to the interior space  30 . Thus, the first valve assembly  40  and the second valve assembly  50  allow air to be removed from the interior of the wine bottle  100  through the wine stop pump  10  and to the exterior of the wine bottle  100  when the wine stop pump  10  is sealingly coupled thereto. The mechanism for removing air from the wine bottle  100  through the wine stop pump  10  will be discussed further below with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6  below. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a valve assembly  50  is illustrated in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, the second valve assembly  50  and the first valve assembly  40  preferably have the same configuration and thus only one assembly need be described in detail herein. The first valve assembly  40  and second valve assembly  50  each include a first housing  42 , a second housing  44 , and a silicone valve  46 . The first housing  42  and the second housing  44  are sealingly coupled together along their outer peripheries  77 ,  79  such that the silicone valve  46  is contained or encapsulated within the first housing  42  and the second housing  44 . The silicone vale  46  is retained in position within the first and second housing  42 ,  44  and is moveable between an open and closed position. One preferred method for sealingly coupling the first housing  42  to the second housing  44 , is by sonic welding. However, other mechanisms may alternatively be utilized. 
         [0031]    The first housing  42  includes a cylindrical base portion  43  having a central opening  53 . A cylindrical wall portion  49  projects perpendicularly from one side  47  of the cylindrical base portion  43  along its outer periphery  51 . The second housing  44  includes a pin portion  55  extending from a center portion  57  of a disk portion  59 . The disk portion  59  also includes one or more of venting holes  61  located outwardly of the center portion  57  that extend from an exterior side  63  to an interior side  65 . 
         [0032]    The silicone valve  46  includes a seating portion  67  and a tubular projection  69 . An opening  71  preferably corresponding slightly larger in size and shape than the pin portion  55  is located within an interior portion  73  of the tubular projection  69  farthest away from the seating portion  67 . An outer portion  75  of the seating portion  67  is thin enough such that it can flex towards the tubular projection  69  under sufficient vacuum pressure. 
         [0033]    In the assembled state, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the pin portion  55  is inserted within the tubular projection  69  and the seating portion  67  is seated onto the cylindrical base portion  43  covering the opening  53  and blocking air flow therethrough. The outer peripheries  77 ,  79  of the first housing  42  and the second housing  44  are sealed together, preferably by sonic welding. This creates an inner space  81  defined between the top surface  83  of the outer portion  75  and the inner surface  85  of the second housing  44 . The outer portion  75  of the silicone valve  46  is thin enough such that it is capable of flexing towards the top surface  83  under sufficient vacuum pressure, therein uncovering the opening  53  from beneath the seating portion  67 . 
         [0034]    Similar to the base portion  12 , the first housing  42  and the second housing  44  of the respective valve assemblies  40 ,  50  are preferably formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric material, such as polypropylene and molded by a conventional molding operations, such as injection molding. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a pumping element  70  is seated onto an upper cylindrical surface  72  of cylindrical wall  18  of the upper cylindrical portion  16 . The pumping element  70  includes a dome-shaped top portion  74  including a center opening  76  and a wall portion  78  having a flanged seat portion  80  and an inwardly projecting flange  82 . The wall portion  78  also includes a plurality of bellows  96  between the flanged seat portion  80  and the dome shaped portion  74 . The interior surface  84  of the dome-shaped portion  74 , the interior surface  86  of the wall portion  78 , the inner surface  88  of the cylindrical wall  18  and the one side  20  of the flat disk portion  22  together define an interior portion  24  there within. 
         [0036]    The flanged seat portion  80  is sealingly coupled to the upper cylindrical surface  72  of the cylindrical wall  18  such that the inwardly projecting flange  82  is contained within the interior portion  24 . This coupling is preferably accomplished by sonic welding the flanged seat portion  80  to the upper cylindrical surface  62 . 
         [0037]    A metal spring  90  is coupled onto the first side  20  of the inner cylindrical portion within the interior portion  24 . A cap plug  94  is coupled within the center opening  76  of the dome shaped top portion  74  and onto a top portion  98  of the metal spring  90 , therein biasing the spring  90  in a loaded position pushing against the dome shaped top portion  74  and cap plug  94 . 
         [0038]    The second valve assembly  50  is sealingly coupled within the second housing  44  and is located further inward towards the interior space  24 , while the first housing  42  is flushed against and preferably sealing coupled to the outer portion  36  at the opening  38 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B, the mechanism for coupling the wine stop pump  10  to the wine bottle  100  and removing air from the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100  after the wine stop pump  10  has been installed is illustrated and discussed in more detail. 
         [0040]    First, the lower cylindrical portion  14  of the wine stop pump  10  is positioned within the interior region  110  of the neck  102  of the wine bottle  100  such that the second side  26  sealingly covers the spout  106 . 
         [0041]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 5A , a user depresses the dome-shaped top portion  74  of the pumping element  70  against the spring  90  as illustrated by arrows  120 , causing the plurality of bellows  96  to compress. This causes a decrease in the size of the interior portion  24 , therein increasing the air pressure contained within the interior portion  24 . As best shown in  FIG. 5B , the increased air pressure causes the outer portion  75  of the silicone valve  46  of the second valve assembly  50  to flex towards the top surface  83 , therein uncovering the opening  53  from beneath the seating portion  67 . Air (shown by arrows  135 ) is then allowed to enter the inner space  81  and is vented through the vent openings  61  until such time as the pressure within the interior pressure  24  is relieved to the extent the outer portion  75  moves back to the seated position to reseal and cover the opening  53 . 
         [0042]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the user removes the pressure applied to the dome shaped portion  74 . The biased spring  90  action causes the dome-shaped portion  74  to move upward back towards its unpumped position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , by arrows  140 . This increases the space within the interior portion  24 , causing a decrease in air pressure within the interior portion  24  relative to the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100  and creating a vacuum effect. This vacuum effect, as shown in  FIG. 6B  causes the outer portion  75  of the silicone valve  46  of the first valve assembly  40  to flex towards the top surface  83 , therein uncovering the opening  27  from beneath the seating portion  67 . Air (shown by arrows  145 ) is then allowed to enter the inner space  81  from the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100  until such time as the pressure within the interior pressure  24  is increased sufficiently relative to the air pressure in the interior  110  such that the outer portion  75  moves back to its seated position and is resealed to cover the opening  53 . 
         [0043]    The net result of the action as described in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B is the removal of air from the interior  110  of the wine bottle  100  through the first valve assembly  40 , with the excess air vented through the wine stop pump  10  through the second valve assembly  50  and to the atmosphere. The process of depressing and unpressing the dome shaped portion  74  may be performed several more times to ensure relatively complete removal of air within the interior  110  of the bottle  100 . As one of ordinary skill recognizes, exposure of wine to air causes it to age rapidly, oxidizing and losing freshness. Thus, the removal of air from a capped bottle  100  acts to prevent oxidation, therein increasing the period of freshness of the wine. 
         [0044]    To remove the wine stop pump  10 , a user simply pull upward of the entirety of the wine stop pump  10 , therein breaking the seal between the spout  106  and the second side  26 . The user may then pour the wine from the wine bottle and recap the wine bottle as described above. 
         [0045]    The present invention thus provides a simple method for maintaining the freshness of a previously opened bottle of wine. The present invention provides a wine stop pump  10  that is easy to use and clean. 
         [0046]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous varitions and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art.