Patent Publication Number: US-2016236157-A1

Title: Bottle Attachable Decanting Aerator Apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of decanting and aerator apparatuses are known in the prior art. Most make use of the Venturi effect whereby a narrowing of some channel decreases pressure in a fluid flowing through said narrows to create a partial vacuum and introduce a stream of air into the fluid by passage of said fluid proximal some aperture or opening. Such practice increases the rate of flow of the fluid as said fluid passes through the narrows. 
     What is needed is a bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus that impedes and apportions liquid during the act of pouring to increase the exposed surface area of the liquid for contact with the ambient atmosphere, wherein the partial vacuum created by virtue of pouring the liquid introduces ambient atmosphere controllably and more effectively into the liquid and a greater controllable aeration is effected thereby. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus having a spout member attachable sealably into the mouth of a bottle, said spout member having an open channel therethrough, wherein a filamentous tangled wadding, having a plurality of nonporous filaments in amorphous and irregular array, is dispositional interiorly to the spout member, wherein flow of liquid through the wadding is bifurcated among a plurality of amorphously and irregularly arranged voids disposed between each of the plurality of nonporous filaments, said liquid thereby apportioned into separate flows increasing surface area of the liquid for exposure to ambient atmosphere controllably introducible into the spout member when a regulator portion of the spout member is moved between an open position, and a maximum inflow of atmosphere is enabled, and a closed position, and a minimum inflow of atmosphere is enabled, whereby aeration of wine is effective during the act of pouring a glass. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus which has many novel features that result in a bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     The present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus has been devised to present novel means of controlling introduction of ambient atmosphere into a liquid concurrent when pouring said liquid from a bottle. Oenophiles typically decant wine to let the wine “breathe” previous to drinking, whereby the full flavor of the wine is enjoyed. Gasses trapped subsequent bottling (such as sulfur oxides) are released and oxidation from exposure to ambient oxygen enables expression of aroma and flavor. Decanting is also purposeful for retaining dregs and sediment. The present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus, therefore, enables aeration of wine, or any liquid, during the act of pouring from the bottle, and additionally may impede the flow of dregs, whereby the need of a decanter is obviated. 
     The present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus includes a spout member attachable to the mouth of a bottle. The spout member includes a pouring end and an engagement end. In the example embodiment set forth herein the spout member is cylindrical. An ovoid aperture is disposed at the pouring end, said ovoid aperture disposed in angled section thereat. The ovoid aperture therefore includes a distal lip at an outermost extremity of the pouring end over which liquid is directed when pouring through the spout member. 
     The spout member therefore has a maximum length measurable along a longitudinal axis between the distal lip at the pouring end and the engagement end. Portions of the spout member proximal this maximum length are collectively termed the “bottom side” of the spout member. 
     The spout member likewise includes a minimum length measurable along a longitudinal axis between the pouring end, at a position upon the ovoid aperture opposite the distal lip, and the engagement end. Portions of the spout member proximal this minimum length are collectively termed the “top side” of the spout member. 
     The engagement end includes a circular aperture in transverse section therein. A conical end piece is disposed at the engagement end, said conical end piece having a truncated vertex positional interior to a bottle&#39;s mouth. The interior of a bottle&#39;s mouth sealably contacts a rubberlike exterior surface disposed upon the conical end piece whereby seepage of liquid between the bottle mouth interior and the exterior of the conical end piece is prevented by contact therebetween. The conical end piece has a diameter increasing from a minimum diameter at the truncated vertex to a maximum diameter disposed around the engagement end of the spout member. The conical end piece is thus disposed to sealably engage into bottles having different sized mouths. 
     To control airflow into the spout member during use, a regulator portion is rotatably disposed upon the spout member, said regulator portion rotatable around the spout member to cover and alternately uncover at least one opening disposed in the spout member top side. In the example embodiment herein disclosed the regulator portion is generally hemi-cylindrical and the at least one opening is a removed section of the top side of the spout member, said removed section of a size appropriate to enable superposition of the regulator portion overtop said removed section. The regulator portion is thus moveable between an open position, overlying the bottom side of the spout member, and a closed position, sealably enclosing the removed section by superposition thereover upon the top side of the spout member. 
     A user may, therefore, enable a minimum inflow of ambient atmosphere when pouring by maintaining the regulator portion in the closed position. A user may also enable a maximum inflow of ambient atmosphere when pouring by moving the regulator portion to the open position. A user may further control a desired inflow by position of the regulator portion between the open and closed positions whereby a portion of the removed section is selectively covered. 
     A filamentous tangled wadding is dispositional interior to the spout member. The filamentous tangled wadding includes a plurality of nonporous filaments disposed in amorphous arrangement whereby a plurality of voids are irregularly presented for through-flow of liquid between said nonporous filaments. Liquid caused to travel through the filamentous tangled wadding is thereby slowed and apportioned through the wadding whereby the surface area of said liquid exposed to ambient atmosphere introducible into the spout member is increased. The filamentous tangled wadding may be rendered of a metal, such as copper or another metal, oxidative of sulfur oxides to improve taste. 
     The filamentous tangled wadding is separable from the spout member for cleaning, as desired. In the example embodiment herein disclosed, the wadding is removable through the removed section, whereby movement of the regulator portion to the open position enables access to the wadding, and the size of the removed section is large enough to accommodate extraction of the wadding from the spout member and to enable seating of the wadding into the spout member for reuse, as desired. 
     The interior surface of the spout member may further increase perturbation and chaotic flow of liquid traveled thereover to increase aeration by inclusion of a plurality of pits and valleys, such as, for example, ridges, bumps, protuberances, nodules, and the like, whereby a rough and uneven surface interior to the spout member increases turbulent flow of the liquid for intermixing of the liquid with ambient atmosphere introducible thereinto. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     For better understanding of the bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is an in-use view of an example embodiment inserted into a bottle neck, said example embodiment having a regulator portion disposed in an open position. 
         FIG. 2B  is an in-use view of an example embodiment inserted into a bottle neck, said example embodiment having the regulator portion disposed in between an open position and a closed position. 
         FIG. 2C  is an in-use view of an example embodiment inserted into a bottle neck, said example embodiment having the regulator portion disposed in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an example embodiment having the regulator potion disposed in an open position. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an example embodiment having the regulator portion disposed in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an example embodiment having the regulator portion disposed in between the open position and the closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, example of the instant bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6  a preferred embodiment of the bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus  10  is illustrated. 
     The present bottle attachable decanting aerator apparatus  10  has been devised to enable expedient attachment of a spout member  20  into the mouth  72  of a bottle  70  whereby decantation of liquid from said bottle  70  effects direction of the liquid through a filamentous tangled wadding  44  disposed interiorly within the spout member  20 , wherein an irregular arrangement of voids enables impeded and circuitous passage of liquid therethrough, and exposure of the liquid to ambient atmosphere introducible into the aerator apparatus  10  is thereby increased. Oxidation of unpalatable compounds present in the wine (such as sulfur dioxides, polyphenols, and other such substances, is thereby enabled during the act of pouring. Oxidation rates of such unpalatable compounds and substances may be increased when the filamentous tangled wadding is rendered of a metal, such as copper for example. 
     The present bottle attachable decanting apparatus  10  includes a regulator portion  42  rotatable to proportionately cover and uncover at least one opening disposed in a top side  32  of the spout member  20 , whereby an inflow of ambient atmosphere into the spout member  20  is controllable between a maximum inflow and a minimum inflow, as will be described subsequently in this specification. 
     The present bottle attachable aerator apparatus  10 , therefore, includes a spout member  20  having a pouring end  22  and an engagement end  24 . In the example embodiment herein illustrated, the spout member  20  is cylindrical and the pouring end  22  includes an ovoid aperture  26  disposed slanted in angled section thereupon, wherein a distal lip  28  is disposed at an outermost extremity thereof. The engagement end  24  includes a circular aperture  30  rendered by a transverse section of the spout member  20 . 
     The spout member  20  therefore includes a maximum length measurable along a longitudinal axis disposed between the engagement end  24  and the distal lip  28  of the pouring end  22 , and a minimum length measurable along a longitudinal axis disposed between the engagement end  24  and the pouring end  22  at a position upon the ovoid aperture  26  opposite the distal lip  28 . Portions of the spout member  20  proximal the maximum length are collectively termed herein the “top side”  32  and portions of the spout member  20  proximal the minimum length are collectively termed herein the “bottom side”  34 . Liquid poured through the spout member  20  is routed by action of gravity and centripetal force imparted by the curvature of the spout member  20  to flow out the pouring end  22  over the distal lip  28  when the spout member  20  is positioned with the bottom side  34  in lowermost situation relative a bottle  70  to which the aerator apparatus  10  is attached. 
     At least one opening is disposed in the top side  32  of the spout member  20 , whereby ambient atmosphere is introducible into the spout member  20  when liquid is poured therethrough. In the example embodiment herein illustrated, the at least one opening is a removed section  36  of the spout member  20 . In this embodiment, the removed section  36  defines a rectilinear section cut from the spout member  20  top side  32 , between the pouring end  22  and the engagement end  24 . A first arch  38  separates the ovoid aperture  26  from the removed section  36  proximal the pouring end  22 , and a second arch  40  separates the circular aperture  30  from the removed section  36  at the engagement end  24 . 
     The removed section  36  is selectively coverable by action of a rotatable hemi-cylindrical regulator portion  42  disposed upon the spout member  20 . The regulator portion  42  is rotatable around the spout member  20  between a closed position and an open position to respectively cover and uncover the removed section  36 . The removed section  36  is thus sealably enclosable when the regulator portion  42  is moved to the closed position, whereby a minimum inflow of ambient atmosphere is effected when liquid decanting through the spout member  20  creates a partial vacuum therein, and the removed section  36  is thus alternately revealable when the regulator portion  42  is disposed in the open position, whereby a maximum inflow of ambient atmosphere is effected when liquid decanting through the spout member  20  creates a partial vacuum therein. Control of inflow is thereby effective by position of the regulator portion  42  to partially cover the removed section  36 , as desired, to control inflow between said maximum and minimum inflows. 
     A filamentous tangled wadding  44  is dispositional within the spout member  20 . The filamentous tangled wadding  44  presents an irregular and amorphous arrangement of voids  45  disposed circuitously between a plurality of nonporous tangled filaments  46  whereby liquid is impeded and caused to flow tortuously through said voids  45 , decreasing the rate of flow of the liquid through the spout member  20  while increasing exposure to ambient atmosphere introducible into the spout member  20  during pouring. Additionally, in embodiments where the tangled wadding  44  is rendered of metal, such as copper for example, contact with the nonporous tangled filaments  46  may increase oxidation of unpalatable compounds. The tangled wadding  44  is readily removable from the spout member  20 , and may be seated within the spout member  20  and removed therefrom when the regulator portion  42  is moved to the open position or, alternately in some embodiments, by sliding the tangled wadding  44  out either the engagement end  24  or pouring end  22 , as desired. 
     A conical end piece  48  is additional to the spout member  20  at the engagement end  24 . The end piece  48  includes a truncated vertex  50  dispositional interior to the mouth of a bottle  70  to which the spout member  20  is attached. The end piece  48  includes at least one rubberlike exterior  52  disposed to sealably engage against the bottle  70  mouth  72  interior whereby liquid is prevented from seeping between the end piece  48  and the bottle mouth  72  when contact is effected between the bottle mouth  72  interior and the end piece  48  exterior  52 . The conical end piece  48  is disposed between a minimum diameter at the truncated vertex  50  and a maximum vertex proximal the engagement end  24  of the spout member  20 , whereby the end piece  48  is effective for sealable contact with bottles having different sized mouths. 
     In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , the at least one rubberlike exterior  52  includes a plurality of rubberlike rings  60  disposed around the conical end piece  48 . Each of the rubberlike rings  60  has a different diameter, and each rubberlike ring  60  may be seated in a corresponding ring channel [not shown] circumscribed into the end piece, said ring channel disposed to maintain position of each of said rubberlike rings  60  appropriate for engagement interior to a bottle mouth  72 . In these embodiments, indicia  54  is disposed upon the end piece  48  wherein position of the regulator portion  42  between the open position and the closed position is perceptible to a user at discrete proportions when a regulator indicium  56  is aligned appropriate thereto; for example aligning the regulator indicium  56  with appropriate indicia  54  may signal that the regulator portion is fully closed ( FIG. 5 ), a quarter open, half open, three-quarters open ( FIG. 6 ), and fully open. 
     The end piece  48  may also be attachable to the engagement end  24  of the spout member  20 , enabling disassembly of the spout member  20 , end piece  48 , and tangled wadding  44  for purposes of rinsing and cleaning between uses. It is further contemplated as part of this invention that the interior surface of the spout member  20  may include a plurality of pits and valleys, ridges, protuberances, or other rough features, to further impede and agitate liquid disposed to flow thereover whereby aeration is increased by action of increased turbulent flow of the liquid through the spout member  20 .