Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7051901?dq=No.+6,411,949&ei=AUR7T-LGJqSr0AHy2aSiBg
Timestamp: 2014-08-02 07:54:41
Document Index: 709154699

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 36', 'art 36', 'art 68', 'art 22', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 114', 'art 104', 'art 100', 'art 116', 'art 116', 'art 116']

Patent US7051901 - Air barrier device for protecting liquid fluids in opened containers - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA device inhibits oxidation of wine remaining in a bottle. A stopper and an inflatable bladder replace the cork. In a first embodiment, a wine duct formed in the stopper is open when the stopper is in an extended position and is closed when the stopper is retracted. Air displaces but does not contact...http://www.google.com/patents/US7051901?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7051901 - Air barrier device for protecting liquid fluids in opened containersAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7051901 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/708,718Publication dateMay 30, 2006Filing dateMar 19, 2004Priority dateMar 19, 2003Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS20040182888, WO2004083052A2, WO2004083052A3Publication number10708718, 708718, US 7051901 B2, US 7051901B2, US-B2-7051901, US7051901 B2, US7051901B2InventorsPaul R. HickertOriginal AssigneeHickert Paul RExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (34), Referenced by (9), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAir barrier device for protecting liquid fluids in opened containersUS 7051901 B2Abstract A device inhibits oxidation of wine remaining in a bottle. A stopper and an inflatable bladder replace the cork. In a first embodiment, a wine duct formed in the stopper is open when the stopper is in an extended position and is closed when the stopper is retracted. Air displaces but does not contact the wine by filling the bladder through an air duct formed in the stopper. After decanting, air that seeps into the wine chamber is removed by forcing air into the bladder, using an external hand pump inserted into the air duct. When sufficient air is pumped into the bladder to raise the wine level to contact the stopper, the stopper is placed into its retracted position. In an additional embodiment, a valve controls opening and closing of the wine duct and the stopper has no extended and retracted position.
a hollow interior of said container defining a liquid fluid chamber; a stopper removably mounted in a neck of said container; said stopper having a first, extended position relative to said neck of said container that enables pouring of liquid fluid from said container, said stopper having a second, retracted position relative to said neck of said container that prevents liquid fluid from being poured from said container; a first bore formed in said stopper, said first bore having a first diameter and extending longitudinally from a top wall of said stopper to a bottom wail of said stopper; a second bore farmed in said stopper, said second bore having a second diameter greater than said first diameter; said second bore having a radially-extending first part and a longitudinally-extending second part; said radially-extending first part having a radially outermost end in open communication with a sidewall of said stopper; said longitudinally-extending second part having a lower end in open communication with said bottom wall of said stopper; said radially outermost end being in open communication with ambient when said stopper is in said first, extended position; said radially outermost end being closed by said neck of said container when said stopper is in said second, retracted position; an inflatable bladder in fluid communication with said first bore; inflating means for inflating said bladder; said inflating means being connected to said top end of said first bore; said inflatable bladder adapted to displace liquid fluid remaining in said container when said bladder is inflated; whereby when said stopper is in said extended position, liquid fluid in said container is poured from said container through said second bore; whereby when said stopper is in said extended position, said inflating means is operated to inflate said bladder so that liquid fluid in said liquid fluid chamber is displaced by said bladder until said liquid fluid displaces substantially all air from said liquid fluid chamber so that no oxygen is in contact with said liquid fluid; whereby said stopper in placed into said retracted position after inflation of said bladder; and whereby said inflating means is then disconnected from said first bore without affecting the level of liquid fluid in said liquid fluid chamber. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
said means for inflating said bladder including a hand-held air pump that includes a neck having a free end that is removably placed into fluid communication with said first bore so that alternately squeezing and releasing said hand-held air pump causes air to flow through said neck, through said first bore, and into said bladder. 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
said means for inflating said bladder including a pump having a cylindrical main body, a plunger mounted for reciprocation with said main body, a handle secured to a trailing end of said plunger and an outlet nozzle in fluid communication with said top end of said first bore so that operation of said pump causes air to flow through said first bore into said bladder. 4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:
a restrictor for preventing separation of said stopper from said neck of said container; said restrictor including a top wall having a ventral aperture formed therein that slideably receives said cylindrical pump body of said pump; a compression fitting that engages said container neck; a plurality of straight interconnecting rods that are circumferentially spaced from one another and that interconnect said top wall and said compression fitting; and a release handle that disengages said compression fitting from said container neck to enable removal of said restrictor from said container neck; said stopper having a rim at an upper end thereof; said top wall disposed in overlying relation to said rim; said diameter of said central opening being less than a diameter of said rim so that when said restrictor is displaced downwardly, said stopper is displaced downwardly into its second, retracted, or closed configuration. 5. A device for dispensing liquid fluid from a container and for protecting unpoured liquid fluid from excessive oxidation by reducing ullage, comprising:
a stopper removably mounted in a neck of said container; said stopper having a top part and a base that depends from said top part, said base having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of said top part; a first bore formed in said stopper, said first bore having a first diameter and extending longitudinally from a top wall of said stopper to a bottom wall of said stopper; a cap removably mounted to said stopper, said cap being removed from said stopper when liquid fluid is being poured from said container and said cap closing said first bore when no liquid fluid is being poured from said container; a second bore formed in said stopper, said second bore having a first, radially-extruding part and a second, longitudinally-extending part; said second bore having a second diameter less than said first diameter; said second bore extending radially relative to a longitudinal axis of said stopper; said second bore having a radially outer end in open communication with a sidewall of said stopper; an inflatable bladder connected in fluid communication to said first bore, said inflatable bladder having an exterior surface that contacts liquid fluid inside said container; said bladder being inflated by pumping air into said first bore after liquid fluid has been decanted from said container; said bladder being inflated until liquid fluid remaining in said container rises through said first bore to a level spaced from said top wall of said stopper by a depth of said cap; whereby installing said cap closes said first bore and prevents air from contacting said liquid fluid remaining in said container. 6. A device for dispensing liquid fluid from a container and for protecting unpoured liquid fluid from excessive oxidation by reducing ullage, comprising:
a stopper removably mounted in a neck of said container; said stopper having a top part having a first diameter greater than an internal diameter of a neck of said container; said stopper heaving a base having a second diameter that is reduced with respect to said top part; said second diameter being slightly less than said internal diameter of said neck of said container so that said base is snugly received within said neck; sealing means disposed in circumscribing relation to said base to prevent liquid fluid in said container from flowing around said base; an internally threaded bore formed in said top part; a dispenser having a top part having a first diameter and a second part having a second diameter that is reduced with respect to said first diameter; said bottom part of said dispenser being externally threaded to screw-threadedly engage said internally threaded bore formed in said top part of said stopper; a liquid fluid duct formed in said stopper, said liquid fluid duct extending longitudinally from a top wall of said stopper to a bottom wall of said stopper, said liquid fluid duct being co-extensive with said internally threaded bore formed in said top part of said stopper; a pour spout extending radially outwardly from said dispenser in open fluid communication with said liquid fluid duct; an air duct formed in said stopper, said air duct having a ninety degree bend formed therein and having a radially-extending part and a longitudinally-extending part that are in open fluid communication with one another but not in fluid communication with said liquid fluid duct; said radially-extending part of said air duct being formed in said top part of said stopper and said longitudinally-extending part of said air duct extending from a radially-innermost end of said radially-extending part to said bottom wall of said stopper; said radially outward end of said air duct being in open communication with an ambient environment; an inflatable bladder having an exterior surface that contacts liquid fluid inside said container; said inflatable bladder being connected to a bottom end of said longitudinally extending part of said air duct; inflating means adapted to be removably connected in fluid communication with said radially-extending part of said air duct so that operation of said inflating means inflates said bladder; said bladders when inflated, displacing liquid fluid remaining in said container so that the liquid fluid level within said container rises to displace air from said liquid fluid chamber; said air being vented from said liquid fluid chamber through said liquid fluid duct; whereby said liquid fluid is protected from oxidation when substantially all air in said liquid fluid chamber is displaced therefrom. 7. A method for inserting an inflatable bladder into a container without touching the inflatable bladder, comprising the steps of:
providing said stopper with a main body and a neck having a reduced diameter relative to said main body; forming an air duct and a liquid fluid duct in said main body and in said neck; sealing a mouth of said bladder to a mounting tube so that a first end of the mounting tube protrudes from the bladder and a second end of the mounting tube extends into the hollow interior of the bladder; folding said bladder along a plurality of longitudinal folding lines that are parallel to one another and equidistantly spaced apart from one another to create an accordion fold so that a width of said bladder when accordion-folded is only slightly greater than a width of said mounting tube; folding said bladder along a transverse folding line so that a bottom of said bladder is spaced slightly downwardly from a top of said bladder; removing said longitudinally and transversely raided bladder from a wrapper by withdrawing the wrapper until said first end of the mounting tube protrudes from the wrapper; positioning said stopper in an upright configuration and inserting said first end of said mounting tube into said air duct while holding said wrapper; inverting said wrapper and said stopper; further withdrawing said wrapper until said bottom end of said bladder protrudes from said wrapper inserting said bottom end of said bladder into a neck of a container while holding said wrapper; further withdrawing said wrapper until said bladder is fully removed therefrom; returning said stopper to said upright position and further inserting said bladder into said container until said bladder is fully received within said container; inserting said neck of said stopper into sealing relation to said neck of said container; whereby said stopper and bladder are fully inserted into said container without touching said bladder.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURE This application claims priority of a provisional application entitled: �Device to Limit Wine Exposure to Air in Opened Wine Bottles,� filed Mar. 19, 2003 by the present inventor and bearing application Ser. No. 60/320,020.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a means for protecting bottled wine or other bottled liquid fluids from oxidation is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.
In a fourth embodiment, the air duct has a ninety degree (90�) bend formed therein so it does not extend from the top wall to the bottom wall of the stopper as in the first three embodiments. A first or radially-extending part of the air duct has an outermost end in open communication with a sidewall of the stopper. A second or longitudinally-extending part of the air duct has an upper end in open communication with the radially-innermost end of the first part. The lower end of the second part is in open communication with the bottom wall of the stopper.
A flexible mounting tube may be positioned within the air duct having the ninety degree (90�) bend so that a first end thereof extends slightly beyond the opening in the stopper side wall to provide a mount for an air pump and a lower end thereof extends slightly beyond the bottom wall of the stopper to provide a mount for the bladder.
However, no such flexible mounting tube having a ninety degree (90�) bend is needed if an air pump of the type having a relatively stiff neck is used and the neck is simply inserted into the radially-extending part of the air duct to inflate the bladder, and if a straight mounting tube is attached to the bladder so that the mounting tube is directly attachable to the lower end of the second, longitudinally-extending part of the air duct.
A wine duct formed in the stopper extends longitudinally from a top wall to a bottom wall of the stopper. The wine duct extends further from the top wall of the stopper into the dispenser and has a ninety degree (90�) bend formed therein in the dispenser so that it terminates in fluid communication with the spout.
An air duct also has a ninety degree (90�) bend formed therein but said air duct is formed wholly within the stopper as in the fourth embodiment. However, the stopper has only one position. Thus, there is no extended position for pouring and no retracted position for sealing. In this fifth embodiment, the radially outermost end of the air duct is in open communication with a side wall of the stopper and hence the ambient environment at all times.
FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the novel stopper when inserted into the neck of a wine bottle in its open or �pour� configuration;
FIG. 11F is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 11F�11F in FIG. 11D and along line 11F�11F in FIG. 11E;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, it will there be seen that an illustrative embodiment of the invention when connected to a wine bottle is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10. The wine bottle is denoted 12; it includes neck 12 a and rim 12 b. The invention has equal utility with liquids other than wine. It is described in detail in the context of wine for convenience purposes. More particularly, the invention has utility with any liquid fluid of any volatility and any chemical composition.
Stopper 18 is depicted in its first, extended or �pour� configuration relative to bottle 12 in FIG. 1A and in its second, retracted or �closed� position in FIG. 1B. Stopper 18 has a solid cylindrical construction and a diameter that enables it to be press fit by slidingly insertion into neck 12 a of bottle 12. A plurality of vertically spaced apart O-rings, collectively denoted 20, circumscribe cylindrical main body 22 of stopper 18 and serve to seal the stopper against leakage when said cylindrical main body is positioned within neck 12 a. Upper rim 24 surmounts stopper 18 and has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of neck 12 a so that said upper rim cannot be inserted into said neck. Upper rim 24 also provides a gripping surface having utility when it is desired to re-position stopper 18 from its second, retracted position (FIG. 1B) to its first, extended position (FIG. 1A) or to remove stopper 18 completely from bottle neck 12 a. Stopper 18 is depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4. First bore or air duct 26 is formed in stopper main body 22 and extends from top wall 28 of stopper 18 to bottom wall 30 thereof.
More particularly, second bore 36 has a ninety degree (90�) bend formed therein. Thus, it includes a radially-extending first part 36 a (FIGS. 3 and 4), hereinafter sometimes referred to as a pour vent, and a longitudinally-extending second part 36 b, sometimes hereinafter referred to as a wine duct, that are in open communication with one another. The outermost end of radially-extending pour vent 36 a is in open communication with a sidewall of stopper 18. The innermost end of pour vent 36 a is in open communication with longitudinally-extending wine duct 36 b as aforesaid. The lowermost end of wine duct 36 b is in open communication with bottom wall 30 of stopper 18.
Locking device 54 holds handle 52 in its fully �down� position when said locking device engages boss 48 and is turned one half revolution. When so locked, plunger 50 cannot travel upwardly and no wine can be dispensed.
Air enters the wine chamber (the hollow interior of bottle 12) if stopper 18 is completely removed from neck 12 a. To prevent such removal of stopper 18, a third embodiment (FIGS. 6-8) includes a restrictor that prevents stopper 18 from being pulled out of bottle neck 12 a. As best understood in connection with FIGS. 6-8, restrictor 56 includes top wall 58 having central aperture 58 a (FIGS. 6 and 7) that slideably receives pump body 46, a compression fitting 60 that engages bottle neck 12 a, a pair of diametrically opposed straight interconnecting rods 62 a, 62 b that interconnect top wall 58 and compression fitting 60, and a release handle 64 that disengages compression fitting 60 from bottle neck 12 a and thereby enables removal of restrictor 56 from said bottle neck 12 a. Release handle 64 includes a hinge 64 a that enables release handle 64 to swing out as indicated by directional arrow 64 b. When handle 64 is swung out, compression fitting 60 is enlarged so that it can be slipped over bottle rim 12 b. The structure is like that of a watchband where a pair of links are pivotally attached to one another so that when opened the band can receive a hand therethrough. Other such means for enlarging the diameter of compression fitting 60 are within the scope of this invention.
A fourth embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. The radially-disposed part 68 a of air duct 68 is formed in enlarged top part 22 a of stopper 18 a. The longitudinally-disposed part 68 b thereof extends from the radially-innermost end of said radially-disposed part 68 a to bottom wall 30 of said stopper. Mounting tube 32 has a longitudinally-extending section disposed in longitudinally-disposed part 68 b of air duct 68 and a ninety degree (90�) bend is formed in said mounting tube so that a radially-extending part thereof extends into said radially-extending part 68 a of said air duct 68.
Spout 102 is in open fluid communication with the radially-extending part 114 a of wine duct 114. The longitudinally-extending part of said wine duct is denoted 114 b. External threads are formed in reduced diameter part 104 that depends from centrally apertured bottom wall 106 of dispenser 100 and said threads 104 engage internal threads 108 formed in stopper 110. O-ring 107 seals that connection.
Wine conduit 114 extends from the top wall to the bottom wall of stopper main body 110. As best understood in connection with FIG. 11B, said wine conduit 114 also extends into dispenser part 100 where its longitudinally-extending part is denoted 114 b and its radially-extending part is denoted 114 a. Radially-extending part 116 a of air duct 116 is formed in main body 115 and longitudinally-extending part 116 b thereof extends from the radially inner end of said radially-extending part 116 a to bottom wall 113 of base 112.
To use this fifth embodiment, base 112 of stopper 110 is inserted into the neck of a wine bottle until bottom wall 113 of base 112 abuts the rim of said bottle neck. Handle 84 is pressed to allow wine to flow through wine duct 114 and through spout 102 into a wine glass (see FIG. 12E). More particularly, the bottle is tilted about thirty degrees (30�) over horizontal (or one hundred twenty degrees (120�) from a vertical position, and handle 84 is not pressed until the bottle is in that ready-to-pour position. Accordingly, when handle 84 is pressed, the valve supplied by Tomlinson Hall & Co. as aforesaid is opened and wine flows out of the bottle into a glass with no air flowing into the wine chamber. Air flows into the bladder from the ambient environment through air duct 116. thereby expanding the bladder as wine is poured from the wine chamber.
Bladder 14 is accordion or fan-folded as indicated in FIG. 12A by the straight dotted lines denoted 14 a so that it is narrow enough, when folded along said lines, to fit within wrapper 130 (FIG. 12B). Bladder 14 is also folded along transverse folding line 14 b. More particularly, bladder 14 is accordion or fan-folded along straight dotted lines 14 a first, and then folded transversely about folding line 14 b. When fan-folded and transversely folded as aforesaid, bottom 14 c of bladder 14 is spaced only slightly downwardly from the top of said bladder as depicted in FIG. 12B.
FIG. 12D depicts how stopper assembly 80 is inverted and how bladder 14 unfolds about transverse folding line 133 into a �V�-shape under its inherent bias, enhanced by the fan fold, as said bladder is gradually withdrawn from wrapper 130 at the opening formed by perforation line 129.
After bladder 14 is fully removed from wrapper 130, stopper assembly 80 is brought to its FIG. 12E position and bladder 14 is lowered into the wine chamber as indicated by directional arrow 132 until stopper assembly 80 is fully seated atop rim 12 b of neck 12 a of bottle 12, i.e., until annular step 117, formed where stopper main body 110 meets base 112, abuts said rim 12 b. FIG. 12F is a perspective view depicting a user holding down the novel handle when pouring wine into wine glass 140. As mentioned earlier, ambient air flows through air duct 116 into bladder 14 during such pouring, advantageously inflating said bladder as said wine is poured. When the pouring is completed, the user releases handle 84, thereby closing the valve in the wine duct and stopping further wine flow. The wine bottle is placed upright on a level support surface and the user again depresses handle 84 while pumping air into bladder 14 using any suitable inflating means such as a squeeze pump until the wine level rises to the top of the wine chamber, supplanting all air therefrom. The air escapes through the valve opened by depressing handle 84. Accordingly, releasing said handle when the wine level has risen to the desired height prevents air from flowing back into the wine chamber. Air duct 116 remains open but the vacuum created by closing the wine duct valve prevents air from flowing in either direction through the air duct.
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