Patent ID: 8272538

Claim:
A liquid container sealing and dispensing device, comprising: a housing adapted for mounting on an upper surface of a seal of a sealed liquid container, the housing defining an open interior region therein; a hollow needle having an upper open end and a lower end, the lower end having a liquid port formed therethrough, the upper open end being mounted to the housing and projecting downward therefrom, the lower end terminating in a tip and being adapted for insertion through the seal into the sealed liquid container; means for selectively dispensing liquid from the sealed liquid container, the means for dispensing being in communication with the hollow needle, wherein the means for selectively dispensing liquid from the sealed liquid container comprises: a spout having opposed first and second ends, the first end being exposed and projecting outwardly from the housing, the second end extending into the housing and being in fluid communication with the upper open end of the hollow needle; a piston slidably mounted within the housing, the piston having a lower end selectively and releasably covering the upper end of the hollow needle in a closed position; and a trigger member pivotally attached to the housing and coupled to the piston, the trigger member pivoting between the closed position and an open position raising the piston from the open end of the needle to permit dispensing liquid from the spout; and means for delivering an inert gas into the sealed liquid container, wherein the means for delivering inert gas into the sealed liquid container comprises: a cartridge of pressurized, inert gas mounted to the housing, the cartridge being in fluid communication with an upper end of a gas conduit, the gas conduit extending through the hollow needle, the tip of the needle having a gas port formed in the tip, the gas conduit having a lower end in fluid communication with the gas port; a cartridge holder adapted for receiving the cartridge of pressurized, inert gas, the cartridge holder being releasably attached to said housing; a spring-biased ball valve for controlling gas flow between the cartridge of pressurized, inert gas and the gas conduit; a pusher pin slidably disposed within the housing, the pusher pin contacting the spring-biased ball valve so that selective downward movement of the pusher pin opens the ball valve to release the pressurized, inert gas from the cartridge; and a cam pivotally mounted within the housing, the cam having a first end bearing against the piston and a second end bearing against the pusher pin, the cam pivoting in response to upward movement of the piston to move the pusher pin downward to release the pressurized, inert gas from the cartridge.