Abstract:
A machine includes a body, a hollow cylinder fixedly attached to the body, a piston assembly slidable within the hollow cylinder, and a lever handle pivotally attached to the body. The hollow cylinder has a sealing end, and the sealing end is capable of engaging with and sealing to a stopper. The piston assembly includes a cross wall at a first end. The lever handle is coupled to the piston assembly so as to be capable of sliding the piston assembly in the hollow cylinder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a pump and bottle stopper. In particular, the invention relates to a pump used to evacuate gas, including air, through the stopper from a partially full wine bottle to better preserve the remaining wine. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Wine enthusiasts generally allow a newly uncorked bottle of red wine to “breath” for a half an hour or so. Exposing the wine to air for this short time is said to improve the wine. However, exposure of the wine to air for longer periods, such as 6 hours or more, tends to deteriorate the wine. Therefore, if a bottle of wine remains unconsumed, it is preferable to stopper the bottle and then remove air from the partially filled stoppered bottle of wine. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,803 to Schneider describes a stopper having a slit valve. The stopper is provided for a bottle which is adapted to be used with a pump for evacuating air from the bottle to preserve wine being consumed from the bottle. The stopper and valve are integral and are made of the same elastic material. The valve is surrounded by a raised circular edge for protecting the slit valve. A circular flange is provided which rests on the top of the bottle neck. The raised circular edge is shaped to sealably receive a pump housing. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,633 to Schneider describes a stopper with a valve for a bottle. The stopper and valve are integral and of the same elastic material, the valve being surrounded by a circular raised edge and a circular flange for sealable cooperation with a pump made from plastic material. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,314 to Schneider describes a hand operated pump for use with an elastic stopper inserted in the neck of a bottle for varying the internal pressure in the bottle. The pump includes a hollow cylindrical housing, a piston having a piston rod, and a handle. The hollow cylindrical housing has first and second ends. The piston rod is in the form of a hollow pipe with first and second ends. The piston rod has a diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the cylindrical housing. The piston rod has attached to it a cross wall closing the second end of the piston rod thereby forming the piston on the piston rod. The handle is mounted on said first end of said piston rod. The piston further includes a means for slideably and captivatingly mounting the piston in the cylindrical housing with the piston rod being extendable only for a predetermined distance from the first end of the cylindrical housing. The piston rod has a predetermined downward movement in the cylinder. The pump further includes an annular downardly extending means on the second end of the cylinder for axially sealingly engaging an annular elastic upwardly extending wall of a stopper. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Advantageously, a machine includes a body, a hollow cylinder fixedly attached to the body, a piston assembly slidable within the hollow cylinder, and a lever handle pivotally attached to the body. The hollow cylinder has a sealing end, and the sealing end is capable of engaging with and sealing to a stopper. The piston assembly includes a cross wall at a first end. The lever handle is coupled to the piston assembly so as to be capable of sliding the piston assembly in the hollow cylinder. 
   Advantageously, a stopper assembly includes a valve assembly and a stopper. The valve assembly includes a valve frame having an aperture through the valve frame, a spring, and a valve extending through the spring and through the aperture. 
   In an alternative embodiment, a method of preserving wine includes inserting a stopper assembly in a neck of a bottle that contains the wine, installing a pump maciine onto the stopper assembly, drawing a gas from the bottle, and expelling the gas in the chamber. The drawing of the gas from the bottle, draws the gas through a valve assembly of the stopper assembly into a chamber between a piston valve of the pump machine and the stopper assembly by producing a vacuum in the chamber. The expelling of the gas in the chamber, expels the gas through the piston valve by closing the valve assembly and reducing a volume of the chamber. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a cut away side view of a wine saver machine according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is rear view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cut away top view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a section view of the cylinder of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded section view of piston assembly of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cut away side view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded section view of a stopper assembly according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a section view of the machine depicted as positioned on the neck of a bottle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a cut away side view of wine saver machine  200  mounted to stopper assembly  100 . Machine  200  includes piston assembly  600  that fits slidably in cylinder  500 . Cylinder  500  need not be of a shape of a circular cylinder. For example, it may be a rectangular cylinder or a cylinder generated from any closed perimeter. Piston assembly  600  is raised and lowered by lift  704  based on movement of rack  700  relative pinion  800 . Rack  700  is connected to lift  704  by rack connector  702 . Pinion  800  pivots on pinion axle  802  under leverage force from lever handle  898 . The rack and pinion is housed in a body formed of a right body half  300  and a left body half  340 . Right body half  300  is one-half of the body and mates with left body half  340 . In operation, the body is manually held tight to the neck of the wine bottle by right and left grasps  400 ,  440 ; however, only right grasp  400  is shown in FIG.  1 . Right grasp  400  includes right resilient pad  410  for a good hold on the neck of the wine bottle. Right grasp  400  pivots on right grasp axle  402 . 
   Preferably pinion  800  and rack  700  (also rack connector  702  and lift  704 ) are formed from a durable material such as a chrome-plated die-case zinc, die-cast aluminum, stainless steel or a durable plastic such as nylon or poly carbonate. Lever handle  898  extends from pinion  800  and includes an extension along the line of the lever handle that is formed of the same material as the material out of which pinion  800  is formed, for example chrome-plated die-cast zinc. In addition, lever handle  898  may include an overlay of other material that forms a decorative outer shell over the underlying structural material; however the overlaying material, for example ABS plastic, should not cover pinion  800  in a way that would interfere with the operation of the rack and pinion operation. Cylinder  500  and piston assembly  600  are preferably formed of a structural plastic, for example, ABS plastic. Right body half  300  and left body half  340  are preferably formed of a structural plastic, for example, ABS plastic. Right and left grasps  400 ,  440  are preferably formed of a structural plastic, for example, ABS plastic, but right and left resilient pads  410 ,  450  are preferably formed of a more elastic material, for example, rubber, to better and more safely grasp the neck of a glass wine bottle. Right and left grasp axles  402 ,  442  and pinion axle  802  are preferably formed of a durable material, for example, stainless steel. 
     FIG. 2  is rear view of machine  200 . Right grasp  400  is urged to an open position by right grasp spring  404 . Right grasp spring  404  is disposed between grasp spring receiver  406  formed in the right grasp  400  and body spring receiver  306  formed in the right body half  300  to urge grasp spring receiver  406  apart from body spring receiver  306 . Symmetrically, left grasp  440  is urged to an open position by left grasp spring  444 . Left grasp spring  444  is disposed between grasp spring receiver  446  formed in the left grasp  440  and body spring receiver  346  formed in the left body half  340  to urge grasp spring receiver  446  apart from body spring receiver  346 . Right and left grasps  400 ,  440  include right and left resilient pads  410 ,  450 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body includes right body half  300  and left body half  340 . Right body half  300  includes right body ear  310 . Left body half  340  includes left body ear  350 . Right and left body ears  310 ,  350  enclose, or at least partially enclosed, cylinder  500 . Cylinder  500  is cemented to the body at right and left body ears  310 ,  350 . Right and left grasp springs  404 ,  444  are preferably formed of a resilient material, for example, spring steel, stainless steel, or phosphor bronze. Right and left body ears  310 ,  350  are integrally formed with the rest of the respective right and left body halves  300 ,  340  and are formed of the same material. 
   Piston assembly  600  rides up and down in cylinder  500 . Piston assembly  600  includes piston side wall  612  having at least one vent  613  therein. Piston assembly  600  is raised and lowered by lift  704  which is connected rack  700 . Pinion lever handle  898  turns the pinion gear to move the rack to cause lift  704  to raise and lower the piston assembly. 
     FIG. 3  is a cut away top view of machine  200 . Machine  200  includes right grasp  400  pivotally attached to right body half  300  by right grasp axle  402 . Right grasp spring  404  urges against grasp spring receiver  406  for the right grasp and against body spring receiver  306  for the right grasp. Symmetrically, left grasp  440  is pivotally attached to left body half  340  by left grasp axle  442 . Left grasp spring  444  urges against grasp spring receiver  446  for the left grasp and against body spring receiver  346  for the left grasp. Right and left grasp springs  404 ,  444  may be any type of repelling spring such as a coil spring, a leaf spring or even a springy material such as rubber. This view shows cover  688  of piston assembly  600  held within lift  704 . 
     FIG. 4  is a section view of cylinder  500 . Cylinder  500  also includes at least three cylinder spacers  502  protruding inwardly toward a central axis of cylinder  500  from, the inner surface of the wall of cylinder  500 . Cylinder spacers  502  maintain the piston assembly centered within cylinder  500 . Portions of the piston assembly and lift  704 ; are shown in phantom. Lift  704  is held between piston wall  612  and piston connector flange  662 , and the top of the piston assembly is covered with piston cover molding  682 . 
     FIG. 5  is an exploded section view of piston assembly  600 . Piston assembly  600  includes piston  610 , piston valve  630 , piston connector  650  and piston cover  680 . 
   Piston  610  includes piston side wall  612  with at least one vent  613  therethrough and piston cross wall  614 . Piston side wall  612  has an upper outer surface  628  that confronts, and preferably is cemented to, piston connector outer surface wall  660 . At least one aperture  616  is formed through piston cross wall  614 . A recess  618  is formed in piston cross wall  614  around its parameter. Boss  620  is formed on an inside surface of piston cross wall  614 . Boss  620  includes a bore  622  into which a screw may be inserted. Alternatively, bore  622  may be threaded to function as a nut into which a bolt may be inserted. Piston cross wall  614  includes piston flange  624  extended outwardly from a central axis of the piston assembly and extending around a parameter of the piston. Piston cross wall  614  also includes a lower surface  626  of the piston flange. 
   Piston valve  630  includes piston valve molding  632  having aperture  634  located therein, for example, centrally. Piston valve molding  632  also includes ridge &#39; 636  configured to be cemented into recess  618  of the piston cross wall  614 . Piston valve molding  632  also includes upper surface  646  of piston valve and side surface  647  of piston valve. When ridge  636  is cemented into recess  618 , piston ring  648  is confined between upper surface  646  of the piston valve and lower surface  626  of the piston flange and is confined outwardly of side surface  647  of the piston valve. Piston valve  630  includes flap  640 . Flap  640  has a flap flange  642  formed around a perimeter of the flap, and flap flange  642  confronts and advantageous seats upon flap seat  644  of piston valve molding  632 . In operation, air or other gases pass through aperture  634  through a gap between flap flange  642  and flap seat  644 , through one or more apertures  616  when the piston valve is lowered (i.e., the piston assembly  600  is lowered). When the valve assembly is raised, flap flange  642  and flap seat  644  press into contact with each other to prevent gases from the at least one aperture  616  from traveling through the gap between flap flange  642  and flap seat  644  and from there through aperture  634 . 
   Piston connector  650  is disposed within lift  704  and is fixedly attached to piston  610  by screw or bolt  656 . Piston connector  650  is typically formed as piston connector molding  652  having one or more apertures  658  extending therethrough and having an aperture  654  through which screw or bolt  656  is passed in order to become threaded into bore  622  or nut  622 . Piston connector molding  652  includes piston connector outer surface wall  660  that confronts, and preferably is cemented to, piston side wall  612  at the upper outer surface  628 . Piston connector molding  652  also includes piston connector flange  662  having upper surface  666  of the piston connector flange and lower surface  664  of the piston connector flange. Lower surface  664  of the piston connector flange sits on and is attached to lift upper surface  706  of lift  704 . 
   Piston cover  680  includes rods  686  extending from a lower surface  684  of the piston cover. When piston cover  680  is installed in the piston connector, rods  686  penetrate apertures  658 . Preferably, rods  686  are cemented into apertures  658 . Piston cover  680  is preferably formed from piston cover molding  682 . Piston cover molding  682  has an upper surface  684  of the piston cover that may advantageously include indicia formed therein. Such indicia may be used for advertising, particularly for brand names or logos. 
   Piston ring  648  is preferably formed out of an elastic sealing material, for example, rubber. Flap  640  is preferably formed out of a durable material, for example, stainless steel. Piston  610 , piston valve molding  632 , piston connector molding  652  and piston cover  680  are preferably formed out of a structural plastic, for example, ABS plastic. 
     FIG. 6  is a front view of machine  200 .  FIG. 6  shows right and left grasps  400 ,  440 , rack  700  and pinion  800  that is pivotally attached by pinion axle  802  that is installed through access apertures  302  and  342 . Rack  700  extends beyond the pinion in both directions and is connected to lift  704  by rack connector  702 . Lever handle  898 , fixedly attached to pinion  800 , also extends above, and in  FIG. 6 , partially obscures rack connector  702 . Cylinder  500  is fixedly attached by right and left ears  310 ,  350  to right and left body halves  300 ,  340 . In  FIG. 6 , a portion of cylinder  500  is obscured by body halves  300 ,  340 . 
     FIG. 7  is a cut away side view of machine  200 . Pinion  800  is geared through gear teeth to rack  700 . Rack  700  is connected to lift  704  by rack connector  702 , and lift  704  is connected to piston assembly  600 . In operation, lifting or lowering pinion lever handle  898  causes pinion  800  to rotate around pinion axle  802  while rack  700  translates so as to lift or lower piston assembly  600  within cylinder  500 . Cylinder  500  is cemented to, or otherwise fixedly attached to, right body ear  310  of right body half  300  as depicted in  FIG. 7  (and to left body ear  310  of left body half  340 , not shown). Pinion  800  pivots on pinion axle  802  which is fixedly attached to the body. In addition, right grasp  400  is pivotally connected to the body by right grasp axle  402 . Grasp spring receiver  406  is formed in right grasp  400  for receiving the right grasp spring. Right grasp  400  includes right resilient pad  410 . 
     FIG. 8  is a top view of machine  200 .  FIG. 8  shows right and left grasps  400 ,  440 , right and left resilient pads  410 ,  450 , right and left body halves  300 ,  340  and access apertures  302 ,  342  through which pinion axle  802  is installed into pinion  800 . Rack  700  slidably travels in rack slot  304  formed within the body. Rack connector  702  connects the rack  700  to lift ring  704  that lifts the piston assembly  600  but only upper surface  688  of the piston cover molding (without indicia) is showing in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 9  is a bottom view of machine  200 .  FIG. 9  shows right and left grasp  400 ,  440 , right and left resilient pads  410 ,  450 , and the lower end of cylinder  500 . In  FIG. 9 , right and left body halves  300 ,  340  include right and left body ears  310 ,  350 . Cylinder  500  is cemented to, or otherwise fixedly attached to, right and left body ears  310 ,  350 . In  FIG. 9 , rack  700  slidably travels in rack slot  304  in the body. Pinion  800  pivots on pinion axle  802 . 
     FIG. 10  is an exploded section view of stopper assembly  100 . Stopper assembly  100  includes stopper  150  and valve assembly  110 . Valve assembly  110  includes spring  112 , valve  120  and valve frame  130 . Valve frame  130  includes flange  136  extending around a perimeter of the valve frame and has aperture  132  extending through the valve frame. Formed into an underside portion of the valve frame is spring receiver  134 . Valve  120  includes valve keeper  122 , valve end  124  and valve stem  126 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, valve  120  is formed of ABS, or other type of, thermoformed plastic and the valve  120  begins as a valve keeper  122  (e.g., an enlarged end) formed on a long valve stem. The long valve stem is inserted through valve frame aperture  132  and through spring  112 . The spring is compressed and the long valve stem is thermally formed (e.g., by upset) into valve end  124  and valve stem  126 . Spring  112  and valve  120  cannot then be removed from valve frame  130  without destroying valve  120 . 
   Stopper  150  is an integrally formed molding of a resilient material such as rubber. The molding includes lower portion  160  and upper portion  170 . Lower portion  160  includes lower portion wall  162  and a plurality of rings or ribs  164  formed on the wall. The lower portion is inserted into the inside of the neck of a wine bottle and the rings  164  seal the stopper  150  tightly to the neck of the wine bottle. 
   The upper portion  170  has integrally formed therewith a valve seat  174  having aperture  176  extending through the valve seat. The upper portion also has integrally formed therewith a lip  180  so as to define recess  182  in a perimeter of cavity  178 . Stopper  150  is sufficiently elastic that lip  180  can be stretched to allow flange  136  of valve assembly  110  to be inserted into recess  182  and held in place by lip  180  to form stopper assembly  100 . The upper portion also has integrally formed therewith a ledge  184  having an upper surface  186  and a lower surface  188 . 
     FIG. 11  shows a wine bottle neck  10  into which stopper assembly  100  has been inserted and a cut away section view of machine  200  positioned on the stopper assembly. In operation, stopper assembly  100  is inserted into the neck  10  of a wine bottle, preferably until the lower surface  188  of ledge  184  of stopper  150  (see  FIG. 10 ) seats on an upper surface of the neck  10  of the wine bottle. Then, the sealing end of cylinder  500  of the pump machine is installed on the stopper  150 , preferably with the sealing end of cylinder  500  pressing against and sealing to upper surface  186  of ledge  184  of stopper  150 . Spring  112  urges valve end  124  against valve seat  174  to form a tight seal, and a sealing end of pump cylinder  500  seals against the upper surface  186  of ledge  184  of stopper  150 . When pump lever handle  898  is raised, pinion  800  rotates, rack  700  and lift  704  is raised, and the whole piston assembly  600  is raised so as to form a vacuum in the chamber beneath pump valve  630 . Gases within the wine bottle pass through aperture  176  and press against the lower side of valve end  124  with sufficient force to overcome spring  112 . Valve  120  is raised under the influence of this gas pressure, and the gas within the bottle passes through aperture  176 , around valve end  124 , through aperture  132  into the vacuum in cylinder  500  beneath piston valve  630 . Then, when pump lever  898  is lowered, the gas beneath piston valve  630  is slightly compressed so that valve end  124  again urges against and seals to valve seat  174  to block gas from being forced back into the bottle. At the same time, the slightly compressed gas beneath valve seat  630  passes through aperture  634 , around flap  640  and then through one or more apertures  616 . When pump lever handle  898  is again raised, a vacuum is again drawn by the pump in the chamber beneath piston valve  630 . Flap flange  642  presses against and seals to flap seat  644 , and gases within piston  610  pass through vents  613  of piston side wall  612  (see FIG.  2 ). 
   Having described preferred embodiments of a novel wine saving machine (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.