Abstract:
A wine dispenser is disclosed that preserves wine by reducing oxidation when partially filled with wine. The dispenser includes: a bottle body having a uniform cross section; a piston disposed within the bottle body for pushing the wine therethrough; a drive member capable of pushing the piston along the bottle body; and a dispensing assembly attached to the dispensing end. The dispensing assembly includes: a shoulder having a wine flow channel, the wine being able to flow out only via the wine flow channel; a neck in sealable and rotatable relationship with the shoulder, the neck having a pouring end and a flow regulation end, the flow regulation end having at least one opening that can be rotated so as to permit or prevent wine flow in from the wine flow channel, through the at least one opening, and out through the pouring end, when pressure is applied to the piston.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/882,429 titled, “A WINE DISPENSER THAT PRESERVES WINE QUALITY BY REDUCING OXIDATION OF CONTAINED WINE WHEN THE DISPENSER IS PARTIALLY FULL” filed Oct. 13, 2015, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the handling of wine, and more particularly to wine dispensers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wine is a delicate beverage that must be handled properly to preserve its quality. For centuries, wine has been enjoyed in bottled form, normally sealed with an airtight cork. Once opened, the characteristics of the wine in the bottle begin to change. Almost immediately, the wine begins to oxidize rapidly, degrading the taste and other noticeable qualities of the wine. Since most wines begin to oxidize within minutes of being opened, and many wines are discarded due to the degree of oxidization at the end of each business day, most all wines after two day or three days. Wine servers strive to be vigilant to monitor open bottle dates and discard the wines they serve when quality falls below an acceptable level; restaurants similarly expense wine offerings based on the first perhaps only glass of wine sold from a bottle. Restaurants thus often limit the number of wines they have available for sale by the glass, and they limit the number of expensive wines sold by the glass because of the rapid oxidization of wine once the bottle is opened. 
         [0004]    There are a number of known arrangements that seek to preserve wine in an opened bottle which include placing a temporary stopper or seal in the bottle, and evacuating the air from the bottle above the remaining wine. However, these arrangements remove smell (or “nose”) characteristics from the wine during air evacuation. Further, every wine has gas naturally stored within its composition and the vacuum actually draws out those gasses, thereby further affecting the taste and quality of the wine. Other arrangements include placing an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon into the bottle to displace the air. These systems can be used alone or also with a temporary stopper or seal. However, the natural gas composition of the wine is nevertheless affected by adding pressure to the wine, ultimately changing its composition. The relative expense of the argon/nitrogen system, along with the ongoing expense of purchasing additional food-grade argon and nitrogen cartridges, prevents most winery operations or restaurants from purchasing an argon/nitrogen system for each wine it serves or tastes. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, wineries and restaurants rarely use such systems effectively during the day for sales by the glass or for wine tastings, but largely utilize these arrangements at closing time. The result is such that wines by the glass do not present themselves well to the consumer, since the quality of the wine in the partially filled bottle rapidly decays. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive dispenser for wine that can be used immediately after a standard bottle of wine is opened so that contact between the wine and oxygen is significantly reduced and the wine can be preserved for use by a wine server such as a winery, bar or restaurant, or the consumer. The exposure to oxygen and any resulting degradation in the wine is limited to the time it takes to pour the bottle of wine into the device, which is equal to the exposure to air when the wine was bottled by the wine producer. 
         [0007]    The present invention presents a piston in the dispensing device that presses wine stored therein toward a diaphragm and valve at the neck of the dispensing device until all gas or oxygen is removed from the device. The piston remains in this static position until the server dispenses wine, at which time the piston is pushed upward toward the neck of the dispensing device to displace a desired volume of wine. The wine does not flow unless the neck of the dispenser is turned to open to allow the wine to flow. The dispensing device of the present invention is constructed from food grade glass, stainless steel, or plastic and is graduated by volume in some embodiments. In other embodiments, temperature sensitive strips embedded in the wall of the dispenser allows for optimum serving conditions by indicating temperature. 
         [0008]    A general aspect of the invention is a wine dispenser that protects wine quality by reducing oxidation of wine when the dispenser is partially full. The dispenser includes: a bottle body capable of containing wine, the bottle body having a piston-receiving end and a wine dispensing end, the bottle body having a uniform cross section between the piston-receiving end and the wine dispensing end; a piston disposed within the piston-receiving end of the bottle body, the piston being capable of pushing the wine toward the wine dispensing end of the bottle body; a drive member cooperative with the piston, the drive member being capable of pushing the piston along the bottle body; and a dispensing assembly attached to the dispensing end of the bottle body, the dispensing assembly including: a shoulder sealed to the dispensing end of the bottle body, the shoulder having a wine flow channel therethrough, the wine being able to flow out from the bottle body only via the wine flow channel, the channel having a valve that is air-tight when pressure is the same on both sides, the valve also allowing wine to flow therethrough when under pressure from wine pushed towards it by the piston; and a neck cooperative with the shoulder, the neck being in sealable and rotatable relationship with the shoulder, the neck having a pouring end and a flow regulation end, the flow regulation end having at least one opening that can be rotated into a position so as to permit wine to flow in from the wine flow channel through the at least one opening, and out through the pouring end of the neck, when pressure is applied to the piston via the drive member, and the flow regulation end also being configured to be rotated into a position so as to prevent wine to flow in from the wine flow channel through the at least one opening, and out through the pouring end of the neck, when pressure is applied to the piston via the drive member. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the valve is a diaphragm having at least one cut. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the valve is a diaphragm having a pair of perpendicular cuts. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the uniform cross section between the piston-receiving end and the wine dispensing end is one of: a circular shape, an oval shape, a rounded square shape. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the drive member is one of: a push rod, a telescoping rod, a pump. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the drive member includes a handle and a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft being attached to a threaded hole in the piston. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the piston includes first and second O-rings, the O-rings providing a seal between the bottle body and the piston. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the bottle body includes fill marks indicating volumes of wine stored therein. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the bottle body includes a temperature strip indicating surface temperature of the bottle body. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the drive member includes: at least one drive puck cooperative with the piston, the at least one drive puck providing a surface against which force may be applied so as to drive the piston along the bottle body. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the wine dispenser further includes: at least one additional drive puck that can cooperate with the at least one drive puck so as to form a plurality of interlocking drive pucks. 
         [0019]    The device allows selection between a straight pour or an aerated pour of the wine depending on the desires of the consumer. The device can be made to contain various amounts of wine, such as 375 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml or 1000-2000 ml, depending on the original bottle being served. The dispenser is reusable, washable in high temperature dishwashers, and both the piston and the wine dispenser can be branded using labels, etching, printing, lighting, or other branding methods. The lip of the neck can be thin to prevent dripping when the dispenser is in an upright position. The dispenser rests on its bottom in a similar fashion as a wine bottle, and can be refrigerated. 
         [0020]    In yet another aspect, the invention allows the server to accurately dispense wines using an accurate scale depending on the needs of the winery, restaurant, or consumer. Many wineries over-pour their samples, or restaurants may not offer a consistent pour to their patrons. The piston of the dispenser can be pressed through the graduated body of the dispenser with additional volumetric pucks being added to the open bottom of the body, or with a press rod that inserts into the piston to the proper volumetric amount so as to press more wine through the dispenser in exact quantity offerings when wine is poured. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view from above the dispensing device having an embodiment of a drive member. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from slightly above. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from slightly below. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows opening the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  for the purpose of filling the dispenser with a quantity of wine. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  in a position before dispensing wine. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  in a position after dispensing wine by moving the piston via the drive member. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  showing an open valve and wine flowing out via the bottle neck. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7A  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  showing an open valve in detail. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7B  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  showing the valve of  FIG. 7A  in a closed condition. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a dispensing bottle neck with an aeration opening aligned with the valve so as to allow aerated pouring wine via the bottle neck. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a dispensing bottle neck with a single opening oriented in alignment with the valve so as to allow rapid pouring wine via the bottle neck. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the dispensing bottle neck of  FIG. 9  oriented with neither the aeration opening or the regular opening in alignment with the valve so as to prevent pouring wine via the bottle neck. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11A  shows a perspective view of the valve of  FIGS. 8-10  as viewed from above. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11B  shows a perspective view of the valve of  FIGS. 8-10  as viewed from below. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12A  shows a shoulder of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  that threads onto a container in a perspective view with dashed lines showing a valve body in the interior of the shoulder. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12B  shows the shoulder shown in  FIG. 12A  in a perspective view as viewed from below. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  shows a side view of a piston that is sealed by a pair of O-rings against the interior surface of the bottle body. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the piston with O-rings placed in channels about its periphery. 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  shows an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , with a plurality of nesting drive pucks placed beneath the piston of the dispensing device. 
           [0041]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded view of the plurality of nesting drive pucks as viewed from above. 
           [0042]      FIG. 17  shows a perspective view of plurality of nesting drive pucks of  FIGS. 15 and 16  in an assembled configuration. 
           [0043]      FIG. 18  shows an alternative embodiment of the nesting drive pucks having a threaded interface to engage the piston of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 19  shows a cutaway side view of the plurality of nesting drive pucks in an assembled configuration as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 20  shows the assembled plurality of drive pucks as seen from directly below. 
           [0046]      FIG. 21  shows a side view of the plurality of drive pucks in a nested configuration. 
           [0047]      FIG. 22  shows a cutaway side view of  FIG. 21  showing the nested configuration of drive pucks. 
           [0048]      FIG. 23  shows a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  with the nested configuration of drive pucks. 
           [0049]      FIG. 24  shows a cutaway side view of the dispensing device shown in  FIG. 23  with the pucks in an assembled configuration. 
           [0050]      FIG. 25  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a pump used without a push rod or nesting drive pucks. 
           [0051]      FIG. 26  shows an exploded view of the pump shown in  FIG. 25 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0052]    Attention is now direct to  FIG. 1 , which shows a perspective view of dispensing device  100 . Dispensing device  100 , as shown, includes twistable bottle neck  110  located at the top of dispensing device  100 , which has an appearance similar to traditional wine bottles. Bottle neck  110  is sealably and rotatably attached at its bottom to bottle shoulder  120 . In an embodiment, bottle shoulder  120  connects by threaded interface  130  to bottle body  140 , which contains the wine to be dispensed when threaded shaft  160  is gripped by handle  162  and pushed upward toward bottle shoulder  120 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show exploded views of dispensing device  100  from different perspectives. As shown, twistable bottle neck  110  is secured by O-ring  118  when bottle neck  110  is inserted into aperture  122  of bottle shoulder  120 . O-ring  126  fits on the upper surface of threaded interface  130  when bottle shoulder  120  is secured by matching threaded interface  128  ( FIG. 3 ) and threaded interface  130  to secure bottle shoulder  120  to bottle body  140 . Diaphragm  132  and securing washer  134  insert into aperture  124  ( FIG. 3 ). In an embodiment, bottle body  140  is a cylindrical piece with a hollow body in which wine or other dispensed liquid is stored. In various embodiments, bottle body  140  is made from glass, plastic, stainless steel, or other suitable material. In some embodiments, bottle body  140  includes a plurality of fill lines  141  displayed to indicate different volumes of wine contained therein, similar to markings on a measuring cup. Also, in some embodiments, temperature strip  143  is affixed to bottle body  140  and provides an indication of the surface temperature of bottle body  140 . 
         [0054]    Piston  150  includes O-rings  152  and  154  to provide a seal against the inner surface of bottle body  140  to prevent wine or other dispensing liquid from leaking out of the bottom of bottle body  140 , and to prevent air from being drawn into bottle body  140  during use. When piston  150  is driven upward by threaded shaft  160 , wine or other dispensing liquid is propelled upward and out of bottle shoulder  120  and through bottle neck  110 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , threaded shaft  160  is connected to the bottom of piston  150  by inserting into aperture  158 . In some embodiments, threaded shaft  160  has a decorative, threaded appearance that suggests to a user to twist handle  162  while pushing threaded shaft  160  upward into bottle body  140 . While piston  150  is shown as having threaded shaft  160  as its drive member, it is to be understood that sufficient force may be exerted by a user pressing his or her fingers directly against the bottom surface of piston  150  and pressing it upward. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows opening and filling of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 . When threaded interfaces  128  and  130  are unscrewed from each other, and piston  150  is secured in the bottom of bottle body  140 , wine from bottle  10  is poured into bottle body  140 . After the desired amount is poured into bottle body  140 , threaded interfaces  128  and  130  are screwed back together. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  in a position before dispensing wine. As shown, piston  150  is located near the bottom of bottle body  140 , and O-rings  152  and  154  provide the seal described above to the inner surface of bottle body  140 . In an embodiment, O-rings  152  are encapsulated with either fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) or other suitable material to minimize friction between O-rings  152  and  154  and the inner surface of bottle body  140 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  in a position after dispensing wine. As shown, piston  150  is driven upward by threaded shaft  160 , thereby decreasing the volume of wine stored in bottle body  140  by driving some of it out through bottle shoulder  120 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway side view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  showing an open valve and wine flowing from the dispenser. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , wine flows through an opening in diaphragm  132  placed in bottle shoulder  120  and retained by retaining washer  134 . Diaphragm  132  is made of sufficiently flexible material, such as plastic, that it opens when sufficient pressure is exerted on diaphragm  132  that occurs when threaded shaft  160  is pushed upward into bottle body  140  while bottle neck  110  is twisted into a “pour” position. When pressure is no longer exerted against piston  150 , as shown in  FIG. 7B , diaphragm  132  returns to its closed position, and an air-tight seal is restored to bottle body  140 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 8-10  show perspective, exploded views of multiple positions of bottle neck  110  aligned with bottle shoulder  120  to align valve  132  with a dispensing opening formed in the neck  110 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , opening  200 , in some embodiments, is a single aperture, positioned near the lower circumferential edge  111  of bottle neck  110 . However, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the opening  200  and an aeration opening  210  are also formed near lower circumferential edge  111 , and in some embodiments are formed at approximately  180  degrees from each other with respect to lower circumferential edge  111 . In some embodiments, both opening  200  and aeration opening  220  are provided to allow selection of either a faster pour or an aerated pour, depending on preference. Also, an air vent is formed by one of either opening  200  or aeration opening  210 , for smoother pouring through the bottle neck  110 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the dispensing bottle neck of  FIG. 9  oriented with valve  132  blocked by the neck  110  as neither opening  200  nor aeration opening  202  aligns with the valve  132 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 11A  shows a perspective view of the valve  132  as viewed from above. Top surface  133  has pair of perpendicular cuts forming a pattern in the shape of a plus sign (“+”). 
         [0063]      FIG. 11B  shows the bottom perspective view of valve  132 . It is important to note that while a void is shown in top surface  133  along the plus-sign-shaped cut, it is to be understood that this void is simply for the viewer&#39;s understanding, and in actual production, the material surrounding the plus sign in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  still forms an air-tight seal when pressure is not exerted against threaded shaft  160 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 12A  shows bottle shoulder  120  with aperture  122 . As shown, bottle neck  110  is removed from bottle shoulder  120 . Turning over bottle shoulder  120  provides the view of  FIG. 12B , where valve body  125  is shown formed within aperture  124 . Valve body  125  is shown for clarity without valve  132  placed therein, as it is normally configured during use with bottle neck  110  as shown in  FIGS. 8-10  and described above. 
         [0065]      FIG. 13  shows a side, exploded view of a piston  150 . As described above, piston  150  maintains a seal against the inner surface of bottle body  140  through the use of O-rings  152  and  154 . O-ring  152  fits in channel  151 , and O-ring  154  fits in channel  153 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of piston  150  with O-rings  152  and  154  placed in channels  151  and  153 , respectively. 
         [0067]      FIG. 15  shows an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , with a plurality of nesting drive pucks  300  placed beneath piston  150  (not visible) and bottle body  140  of dispensing device  100 . Nesting drive pucks  300  replace threaded shaft  160  in an alternative embodiment, and provide a configuration that allows dispensing device  100  to sit upright, such as a wine bottle might sit on a shelf. Nesting drive pucks  300  are shown as having three separate pieces  310 ,  320 ,  330 , sufficiently dimensioned so that piece  330  fits inside piece  320 , and piece  320  fits inside piece  310 . In this manner, all three pieces may rest below piston  150  when dispensing device  100  is stored upright with a full bottle body  140 . Also shown are locking tabs  325  on piece  320 , and locking tabs  335  on piece  330 . Below piece  330  is puck  350 , which allows a user to press the nesting drive pucks  300  against the bottom of piston  150  in a similar manner as push rod  160  described above. 
         [0068]      FIG. 16  shows an exploded view of the plurality of nesting drive pucks as viewed from above. Puck  310  incorporates retaining channels  317 , which receive and retain locking tabs  325  piece  320 . Similarly, piece  320  has retaining channels  327 , which receive locking tabs  335  on piece  330 . When locking tabs are placed within receiving channels as shown in  FIG. 17 , an extension of length approximating that of threaded shaft  160  is realized while providing a collapsible and storable drive mechanism for pressing piston  150  upward toward shoulder  120 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 18  shows an alternative embodiment of the nesting drive pucks having a threaded interface  360  to engage the bottom of piston  150  (removed for clarity). As shown in earlier FIGS. and described above with respect to threaded shaft  160 , threaded shaft  160  has a threaded interface that terminates in the bottom of piston  150 , which also incorporates a threaded interface to receive threaded shaft  160 . Threaded interface  360  in  FIG. 18  also attaches nesting drive pucks  300  to piston  150  in a similar manner. 
         [0070]      FIG. 19  shows a cutaway side view of the plurality of nesting drive pucks in an assembled configuration as shown in  FIG. 17 . As shown, receiving channel  317  incorporates a stop  319  at the deepest point on receiving channel  317 ; it is at this point where locking tab  325  is secured. Similarly, on piece  320 , receiving channel  327  has stop  329 , at which point locking tab  335  (not shown) is secured by piece  320 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 20  shows the assembled plurality of drive pucks as seen from directly below. Innermost piece  330  has locking tabs  335  inserted into receiving channels  327  on middle piece  320 , which in turn has locking tabs  325  inserted into receiving channels  317  on outermost piece  310 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 21  shows a side view of the plurality of drive pucks in a nested configuration without locking tabs or receiving channels engaged. This is the storage position that nested pucks assumes when bottle body  140  is full and piston  150  is in its lowest position. Innermost piece  330  is connected to puck  350  and inserted into piece  320 ; piece  320  is inserted into outermost  310 , which also is connected with threaded interface  360 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 22  shows a cutaway side view of  FIG. 21  showing the nested configuration of drive pucks. As shown, threaded interface  360  is integral to piece  310 , and puck  350  is integral to piece  330 . 
         [0074]      FIGS. 23 and 24  show a cutaway side view of the dispensing device  100  with the nested configuration of drive pucks  300  in stored configuration and extended for use, respectively. 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 23 , pucks  300  are nested within each other, and puck  350  is retained above the bottom edge  400  of dispensing device  100 . As described above, this is the stored orientation of nesting drive pucks  300 , useful in upright storage of dispensing device  100  when it is full and piston  150  is at its lowest position. 
         [0076]      FIG. 24  shows dispensing device  100  after nesting drive pucks  300  are assembled into their locked position and puck  350  is extended farther away from piston  150 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , both piece  310  and  320  are now above the bottom edge  400 , and piston  150  has been driven upward with pressure exerted on puck  350 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 25  shows pump  500 , an alternative embodiment to piston  150  described above. While piston  150  includes aperture  158  to receive threaded rod  160  or threaded interface  360  from nesting drive pucks  300 , pump  500  presents a hand-driven pump that drives piston  150  upward in bottle body  140  in an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 26  grab handle  502 , and O-ring  504  retained in channeled member  506 , which is secured by fasteners  508  and  510  to central member  501 . Similar to the design of O-rings  152  and  154 , O-ring  504  provides a seal against the interior surface of bottle body  140  pump  500  is inserted into dispensing device  100 . 
         [0078]    Note that the operators hand can drive the piston forward also. A rod, a telescoping rod (multiple pucks), or a pump can be used once the piston is driven by hand as far as the operator is able to push. 
         [0079]    The following sealing rings could be used instead of O-rings: V-rings, X-rings, U-rings, Square-Rings. 
         [0080]    The following valves could also be used instead of the single slit or perpendicular slit valves: Duckbill Valve, Umbrella Valve, Cross Slit Valve, Dome Valve, Dispensing Valve, Valve Ball. 
         [0081]    While a wine dispenser that protects wine quality has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.