Pour through oxidation suppressing stopper
OwnerGregory John Luzaich, Michael Jeffrey Lernerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stopper for a container having a liquid, such as wine, which is subject to oxidation once opened. The stopper is provided with a neck region for fitting within a bottle and a top for residing outside of the bottle when in use. Pathways for the introduction of an inert gas, such as argon, and for air expelled from the bottle when the inert gas is introduced are selectively closeable. Liquid housed within the bottle can be poured from the stopper without removing it. Thus, an oxidizable liquid can be preserved while decanting the bottle contents at will.
Claims16
A stopper device for a container housing a liquid, said container having an opening, a container neck region and a liquid holding region, said liquid being spaced from said opening forming a meniscus and air space at least in said container neck region, said stopper comprising a stopper neck position sized for passage through said opening and being releasably retained within said container neck region, a head portion sized to extend externally to said container when said stopper neck portion is positioned within said container neck portion, said stopper translatable between open and closed orientations such that in its open orientation, an inert gas path is established for the introduction of an inert gas above said meniscus, an air path is established for evacuating air displayed by said inert gas and a liquid dispensing path is established for decanting said liquid from said container through said stopper and when in its closed orientation, said inert gas path, air path and liquid dispensing paths are closed.
A method for preserving a liquid in a container, said container having an opening, a container neck region and a liquid holding region, said liquid being spaced from said opening forming a meniscus and air space at least in said container neck region, inserting said stopper through said opening and into said container neck region, said stopper comprising a stopper neck portion sized for passing through said opening and being releaseably retained within said container neck region, a head portion sized to extend external to said container once its stopper neck is positioned within said container neck portion, said stopper translatable between open and closed orientations, oriented said stopper in an open orientation, injecting an inert gas through an inert gas path established within said stopper, said inert gas being introduced above said meniscus, expelling air from said air space through an air path in said stopper as a result of the introduction of said inert gas and providing a liquid dispensing path established for decanting said liquid from said container through said stopper when said stopper is in an open orientation and when in a closed orientation, closing said inert gas path, air path and liquid dispensing path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.