Patent Publication Number: US-2022234788-A1

Title: Bottle closure assembly for efficient production of sparkling wine

Description:
The present invention relates to a bottle closure assembly facilitating the efficient production of sparkling wines including, but not limited to, Champagne and Cava. In particular, the invention provides a re-usable bottle closure assembly allowing producers of sparkling wines to implement the traditional method (known within the Champagne region as the “méthode champenoise”), but with minimal resultant wine and pressure loss inherent in the disgorgement process which follows secondary fermentation. The invention therefore provides improved working conditions for winemakers coupled with significant efficiency gains derived from increased yields and reduced labour costs. 
     The wastage of wine associated with the disgorgement process is already a recognised problem, but one that has been largely accepted as an unavoidable consequence of the production of sparkling wines whether produced using traditional or artisanal methods, or via mass-production. Nevertheless, some efforts have been made in the past to address this problem. For example, UK patent publication No. GB2541403A discloses a plug member for frictionally engaging the inner neck of a bottle. A longitudinal opening is provided within the plug member within which is located a valve biased into a closed position to seal the opening. In use, a sediment which collects within the neck of an inverted bottle can be ejected by manually opening the valve and allowing pressure within the bottle to escape, carrying with it the spent yeast. 
     However, in recognition of the fact that prior art devices are unable to perform the disgorgement process in a fully controlled and safe manner, the inventor of the present invention has devised an alternative bottle closure which overcomes, or at least ameliorates those shortcomings. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle closure assembly for use in the efficient production of sparkling wines comprising:
         (i) a stopper for sealing engagement within the finish and/or neck portion(s) of a bottle;   (ii) a passage within said stopper extending longitudinally from a wine-side opening at one end thereof; and   (iii) a valve member located within said passage;
 
wherein the valve member is selectively gravity-responsive thus allowing passage of liquid and/or solid and/or gaseous materials to be permitted or prevented dependent upon the orientation of the bottle closure assembly.
       

     Optionally, the passage comprises an enlarged chamber. 
     Optionally, the valve member is located within said enlarged chamber remote from said wine-side opening. 
     Optionally, the valve member is at least partially hollow. 
     Optionally, the valve member has an exterior surface which is part-spherical. 
     Optionally, the part-spherical valve member is provided with an opening for permitting or preventing passage of liquid and/or solid and/or gaseous materials into its interior. 
     Optionally, the valve member is eccentrically weighted and is rotatable relative to the enlarged chamber. 
     Optionally, the opening has a diameter which is less than the maximum diameter of the part-spherical valve member. 
     Optionally, the enlarged chamber is substantially spherical in volume and dimensioned such that its internal diameter substantially matches the maximum external diameter of the part-spherical valve member. 
     Optionally, the part-spherical valve member is seatable against internal walls of the enlarged chamber. 
     Optionally, the enlarged chamber is defined, in part, by a cap member mounted onto the stopper. 
     Optionally, an inner surface of the cap member is capable of being moved into, and out of, engagement with the valve member to facilitate said selective rotation relative to the enlarged chamber. 
     Alternatively, the internal walls are at least partially deformable to selectively engage and disengage the part-spherical valve member to thus respectively prevent or permit its rotation relative to the internal walls of the enlarged chamber. 
     Optionally, the internal walls of the enlarged internal chamber coincide with a reduced-thickness portion of the stopper. 
     Optionally, a resiliently deformable gasket is mountable upon an upper shoulder surface of the stopper at a longitudinal position corresponding to the transition from an increased-thickness portion of the stopper to said reduced-thickness portion of the stopper. 
     Optionally, a downwardly extending annular collar of the cap member is provided with screw-threads engageable with complimentary screw-threads provided on the reduced-thickness portion of the stopper to facilitate the cap member to be rotationally secured to the stopper. 
     Optionally, the resiliently deformable gasket is locatable within an annular recess on the bottle closure defined by:
         (i) the upper shoulder surface;   (ii) the underside of the downwardly extending annular collar of the cap member; and   (iii) an external cylindrical surface of the reduced-thickness portion of the stopper.       

     Optionally, said selective deformation of the internal walls of the enlarged chamber is achieved by the selective resilient deformation of the deformable gasket arising from the longitudinal position of the annular collar of the cap member relative to the upper shoulder surface of the stopper. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a disgorgement method for use in the production of sparkling wines, the method comprising:
         (i) providing a bottle closure assembly according to the first aspect;   (ii) inserting said bottle closure assembly into the finish and/or neck portion(s) of a bottle containing ingredients necessary for initiating secondary fermentation;   (iii) riddling the bottle whilst it is at least partially inverted;   (iv) collecting the sediment produced during secondary fermentation within the valve member located within said bottle closure assembly; and   (v) re-orientating the bottle towards an upright position and causing the gravity-responsive valve member to rotate relative to a said bottle under the influence of gravity and, in so doing, isolate said sediment within the bottle closure assembly for ease of removal.       

     Optionally, the insertion of the bottle closure assembly to the finish and/or neck portion(s) of the bottle includes engaging it with the exterior neck portion thereof via a clamping member. 
     Optionally, the valve member is held in a fixed position relative to the stopper during at least riddling of the bottle and collection of the sediment. 
     Optionally, the valve member is released from said fixed position prior to re-orientating the bottle towards an upright position. 
    
    
     
       Further features and advantages of the first and second aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:— 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the bottle closure assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view through the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 1  when in its assembled form; 
         FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the bottle closure assembly comprising a clamp mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  shows the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 3  secured within the neck of a bottle, and clamped externally thereto; 
         FIG. 5  is a representation of the descent of sediment (principally lees) and its collection within the interior of the valve of the bottle closure assembly when the bottle is maintained in a partially inverted orientation; 
         FIG. 6  is a representation of the valve member of the bottle closure assembly in an intermediate—partially rotated—position as it self-rights under the influence of gravity; 
         FIG. 7  shows the valve member of  FIG. 5  following a 180 degree rotation relative to the stopper to thereby isolate the collected sediment (principally lees) from the contents of the bottle; 
         FIG. 8  shows the controlled release of carbon dioxide gas from the bottle; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view through the bottle closure assembly of  FIG. 8  showing the escape path of the carbon dioxide gas. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a bottle closure assembly  10  comprising a stopper  12 . The stopper  12  is provided with a spigot  14  for sealingly engaging within the finish and/or neck portion(s) of a bottle  100  as shown in, for example,  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the spigot  14  is shaped externally to facilitate its sealing engagement into the neck of a bottle  100 . The widest part of the stopper  12  is provided with a downwardly facing annular recess  16  shaped and dimensioned to sealingly engage over the lip  102  of a bottle  100 . 
     A passage  18  extends longitudinally through the interior of the stopper  12  and terminates at its “wine-side” (i.e. the end nearest the wine within a bottle) in an opening  20 . At its uppermost extent (as viewed in  FIG. 2 ), the tapered inner walls of the passage  18  transition into a widened opening  22  which curves both circumferentially and longitudinally to define a part-spherical inner surface shape. 
     A part-spherical valve member  30  is provided with an opening  32  to define a hollow receptacle  34  for collecting and retaining a sediment as is explained in more detail below. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the valve member  30  is only partially hollow and is provided with an eccentrically positioned solid portion which defines a counterweight  36 . For example, in some embodiments, the valve member  30  is formed from a moulded piece of polypropylene and provided with an eccentrically located stainless steel weight. 
     The valve member  30  may be seated on the widened opening  22  of the stopper  12  and encapsulated by a generally U-shaped (in section) cap member  40  of the bottle closure assembly  10 . The cap member  40  has a part-spherical inner surface and a downwardly extending annular collar  42  thereof is provided with helical screw threads  44  for engaging complimentary screw threads  24  provided externally of the stopper  12  about its widened opening  22 . A shoulder surface  26  of the stopper  12  extends radially away from passage  18  at a longitudinal position beneath its screw threads  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A resiliently deformable gasket  46  is held captive within an annular recess  48  defined by: (i) the upper shoulder surface  26 ; (ii) the underside of the downwardly extending annular collar  42 ; and (iii) an external cylindrical surface of the stopper  12  located beneath its external screw threads  24 . 
     An inner surface  43  of the cap member  40  also curves both circumferentially and longitudinally to define a part-spherical inner surface shape which—when the cap member  40  is screw-mounted onto the stopper  12 —complements that of the widened opening  22  of the stopper  12 . An enlarged chamber  50  having a substantially truncated spherical volume is therefore defined by the respective inner facing surfaces of the stopper  12  and the cap member  40  respectively. As is explained in more detail below, the internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50  is variable by a de minimis amount to selectively permit or prevent rotation of the valve member  30  relative thereto. 
     In use, the bottle closure assembly  10  as shown in  FIG. 3  is attached to a bottle  100  already filled with “liqueur de tirage” by inserting its spigot  14  into the finish and/or neck portion(s) thereof as shown in  FIG. 4 . A clamp member  60  may be pivotally attached to the stopper  12  to provide a secondary point of contact on the neck of the bottle  100 . Over a period of time, secondary fermentation occurs within the bottle  100  which creates carbon dioxide, thus carbonating the wine therein. During the secondary fermentation process, autolysis occurs whereby yeast within the liqueur de tirage dies and settles as a sediment, principally containing lees, against an internal wall of the bottle  100 . Following a period of aging, the bottle  100  is moved to a rack whereby it is held at a partially inverted angle as shown in  FIG. 5 . Whilst so inverted, the bottle undergoes a riddling process whereby it is incrementally tilted and rotated over a period of time to move the sediment (principally lees) out of the bottle  100  and into the bottle closure assembly  10 , thereby clarifying the remaining wine. The collected sediment (principally lees) is isolated within the bottle closure assembly  10  without any wastage of wine and with minimal pressure loss. The bottle closure assembly  10  facilitates a subsequent controlled release of pressurised carbon dioxide within the bottle following which the bottle closure assembly  10  containing the sediment (principally lees) can thereafter be removed, emptied, cleaned, and re-used. Finally, the clarified wine is dosed with a mixture of wine and/or sugar (and/or another spirit or liqueur) and can be capped or corked, wired and labelled ready for distribution and sale. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , this shows the sediment  200  (principally lees) descending towards the neck of the bottle  100  and the bottle closure assembly  10  under the influence of gravity; and with assistance from the aforementioned riddling process. The sediment (principally lees) enters the wine-side opening  20  of the spigot  14  and travels down through the internal passage  18  of the stopper towards the valve member  30 . Importantly, prior to the bottle  100  being inverted, the part-spherical valve member  30  is secured against rotation relative to the stopper  12  such that the opening  32  within the valve member  30  is maintained in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the passage  18 . The diameter of the opening  32  is substantially matched to the diameter of the internal passage  18  when both are in alignment. Accordingly, this allows the sediment  200  (principally lees) to pass unimpeded into the hollow receptacle  34  within the valve member  30  once the bottle  100  is subsequently inverted. 
     The part-spherical valve member  30  is secured against rotation relative to the stopper  12  via the application of a downwardly directed force (F 1 ) applied to it via the cap member  40 . In practice, the extent of the inwardly directed force (F 1 ) applied to the valve member  30  is dictated by the rotational position of the cap member  40  on the stopper  12 . More specifically, as the screw threads  44  of the cap member  40  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) are tightened into the screw threads  24  of the stopper  12 , the cap member moves downwardly until its inner part-spherical surface engages with the corresponding part-spherical surface of the valve member  30 . The consequent downwardly directed force (F 1 ) is sufficient to reduce the overall internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50 . In view of the relatively small tolerances involved, a de minimis reduction of the internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50  is sufficient to cause a frictional engagement with the corresponding part-spherical surface of the valve member  30 , thus preventing rotation of valve member  30  relative to the enlarged chamber  50 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the part-spherical valve member  30  may be secured against rotation relative to the stopper  12  via the application of a radially inwardly directed force (F 2 ) applied to the external walls of the stopper  12 . In practice, the extent of the inwardly directed force (F 2 ) applied to the external walls of the stopper  12  may be dictated by the rotational position of the cap member  40  on the stopper  12 . More specifically, as the screw threads  44  of the cap member  40  are tightened into the screw threads  24  of the stopper  12 , the gasket  46  is deformed within its annular recess  48 . The consequent increase of diameter of the gasket  46  (in the radial direction of the stopper  12 ) applies a radially inwardly directed force (F 2 ) which is sufficient to reduce the diameter of the widened opening  22  of the internal passage  18 , and hence reduce the overall internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50 . In view of the relatively small tolerances involved, a de minimis inward movement of the part-spherical walls of the widened opening  22  cause a corresponding de mimimis reduction of the internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50  which is sufficient to cause a frictional engagement preventing rotation of valve member  30  relative to the enlarged chamber  50 . 
     Once the riddling process is complete and substantially all sediment (principally lees) has been collected within the hollow receptacle  34  within the valve member  30 , the screw threads  44  of the cap member  40  are partially loosened relative to the screw threads  24  of the stopper, thus partially reversing the frictional engagement described in the above alternative embodiments. In doing so, the forces (F 1 ) or (F 2 ) are at least partially removed; and hence the overall internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50  partially recovers. The de minimis increase of the internal volume of the enlarged chamber  50  is sufficient to remove the instances of frictional engagement with the corresponding part-spherical surface of the valve member  30 . 
     As soon as the forces (F 1 ) or (F 2 ) are at least partially removed, a de minimis amount of wine is introduced into the interface between walls of the enlarged chamber  50  and part-spherical the valve member  30 . This thin-film of liquid acts as a lubricant and provides buoyancy to the valve member  30  thus facilitating its relative rotation (from the position shown in  FIG. 5 ) in the clockwise direction under the influence of its counterweight  36  and gravity. It will be appreciated that the direction of rotation will be dictated by the orientation of the bottle and the corresponding relative position of the counterweight  36 . As the bottle  100  is rotated counter-clockwise to resume its upright orientation, the valve member  30  rotates a full 180 degrees until it reaches the position shown in  FIG. 7 . For context only, an intermediate position of the valve member  30  is represented in  FIG. 6 . 
     Once the valve member  30  is orientated as shown in  FIG. 7 , the sediment (principally lees) within its hollow receptacle  34  is isolated from the wine within the bottle  100 . The subsequent release of pressurised carbon dioxide from within the bottle  100  is achieved by a further loosening of the cap member  40  relative to the stopper  12 . In doing so, the deformation of the gasket  46  within the annular recess  48  is fully reversed and the radially inwardly directed force (F 1 ) is fully removed. The consequent further increase in the diameter of the widened opening  22  of the internal passage  18  allows pressurised carbon dioxide gas to escape in a controlled fashion as indicated in  FIG. 8 , via the flow path shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     It will be appreciated that the structure and function of the bottle closure assembly  10  according to the present invention allows carbon dioxide pressure within the bottle  100  to be relieved independently of the sediment (principally lees). This represents a major improvement to the traditional method sparkling wine manufacturing process by obviating the need to freeze the neck of the bottle and facilitating a cleaner, safer, and more controlled disgorgement process which avoids wastage and hence increases yields. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims. Indeed, it is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. By way of example only, although the described and illustrated embodiments show a part-spherical valve member  30  which is capable of freely rotating within the enlarged chamber, the valve member could instead be provided as a cylindrical shape which rotates about a single axis.