Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Including use of vacuum – suction – or inert atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-08
2004-11-16
Snider, Theresa T. (Department: 1744)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Including use of vacuum, suction, or inert atmosphere
C015S327500, C015S409000, C141S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06818070
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wine expectorant disposal method and apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a portable pumpless vacuum apparatus and method of use.
At a wine-tasting event, where people sample numerous wines, it is necessary for the tasters to spit-out the samples in order to be able to taste numerous wines without being overcome by the effects of alcohol. At large events of this type, there are many tables at which wine is tasted, each table having its own spit bucket. When full, the spit-buckets are carried to a disposal station and emptied. This is an unpleasant task, requiring that handlers maneuver through a crowd, while trying not to spill the contents of the bucket onto any patrons of the event.
It would be desirable to enable spit buckets to be emptied in a less unpleasant and more sanitary way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention relates to a portable, pumpless wine expectorant vacuum device which comprises a pressurizable rigid tank having a valved vacuum access adapted to be connected to a separate suction pump for drawing a vacuum in the tank. A valve suction conduit is connected to the tank for enabling wine expectorant to be sucked into the tank by the vacuum. A valved drain is disposed on the tank for emptying the tank.
Preferably, a vacuum conduit communicates with the vacuum access and includes a one way valve exposed at a free end thereof for connection with the suction pump. Also, it is preferred that the drain be disposed at a lower portion of the tank, and that a discharge hose be connected to the drain.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of disposing wine expectorant from a spit bucket. The method comprises the steps of:
A) connecting an interior of a portable pressurizable rigid tank to a vacuum pump and actuating the pump for drawing a vacuum in the tank;
B) disconnecting the tank from the pump;
C) transporting the tank away from the pump and to the spit bucket;
D) inserting into the spit bucket an inlet end of a suction conduit connected to the tank and opening a passage from the inlet end to the tank interior to cause the vacuum in the tank to draw-in wine expectorant from the spit bucket; and
E) transporting the tank to a discharge station and opening a drain of the tank to discharge the contents of the tank.
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patent: 6564422 (2003-05-01), Nakabayashi
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Snider Theresa T.
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