Apparatus and method for dispensing and preserving bottled degradable liquids such as wine and the like

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for dispensing degradable beverages, such as wine, from a pressure-intolerant container such as a glass bottle, while insuring that gaseous contaminants such as oxygen cannot enter the bottle. In the system provided, a pressure-limiting gas container admits a non-degrading gas into the bottle under a safe dispensing pressure to dispense the beverage. The apparatus is configured (and the method steps are arranged) to insure that no pressure substantially higher than the dispensing pressure can ever be present in the bottle, even upon failure of any or all pressure-limiting elements in the system. Between dispensing episodes, air and other contaminants are excluded from the bottle by means of structure, including suitably arranged, quick-acting, self-closing valves.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.