Pressurized gas supply and gas cylinder
AssigneeCoravin, Inc.
InventorsSarah Deslandes, Michael Rider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas source for pressuring sparkling and other beverage containers, e.g., to re-pressurize the container to keep a carbonation level of beverage during storage. A gas cylinder can include a cap with a flange and catch below the flange. The catch can be engaged by a cylinder support to move the cylinder into contact with a piercing element to pierce the gas outlet of the cylinder and form a seal between the cylinder and gas receiver. A pressure indicator can have a single pressure sensor to indicate a capacity of a gas cylinder to deliver pressurized gas and a pressure in a beverage container.
Claims15
A gas cylinder comprising:
- a body having a storage volume and a neck having a top surface with a piercable gas outlet;
- a cap secured to the neck and having a sidewall extending around the top surface and a portion of the neck, the sidewall defining an inner space and an upper opening to the inner space,
- the cap including an upper wall having an annular shape that extends radially inwardly from the sidewall and includes a radially inner part that defines the upper opening, and a flange that extends radially outwardly from the sidewall and has a lower surface positioned above a lower portion of the sidewall, the lower surface of the flange and the lower portion of the sidewall forming a catch for an engagement pawl;
- and
- a gasket located in the inner space and configured to form a seal with the top surface and to form a seal with a piercing element that extends into the inner space to pierce the gas outlet,
- wherein the cap is configured to support the gas cylinder to pierce the gas outlet in response to the engagement pawl engaging with the catch and forcing the cap and body into engagement with a piercing element received into the upper opening, and
- wherein the gasket has an uppermost part of an upper surface located radially inward of the radially inner part of the upper wall.
An assembly-comprising:
- a gas cylinder including:
- a body having a storage volume and a neck having a top surface with a piercable gas outlet;
- a cap secured to the neck and having a sidewall extending around the top surface and a portion of the neck, the sidewall defining an inner space and an upper opening to the inner space, the cap including a flange that extends radially outwardly from the sidewall and has a lower surface positioned above a lower portion of the sidewall, the lower surface of the flange and the lower portion of the sidewall forming a catch for one or more engagement pawls;
- and
- a gasket located in the inner space and configured to form a seal with the top surface and to form a seal with a piercing element that extends into the inner space to pierce the gas outlet, and
- a cylinder holder having a space in which to receive the body of the gas cylinder, and one or more engagement pawls configured at an opening to the space to engage with the catch of the gas cylinder received in the space,
- wherein the cap is configured to support the gas cylinder to pierce the gas outlet in response to the one or more engagement pawls engaging with the catch and forcing the cap and body into engagement with a piercing element received into the upper opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.