Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Contact devices – Injector type
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-24
2003-05-27
Bushey, C. Scott (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Contact devices
Injector type
C261SDIG007, C222S189070, C222S189090, C222S190000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06568660
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a pourer for simultaneously pouring liquid from a container and mixing air into the liquid. In particular, the pourer may be used for simultaneously pouring wine from a bottle and decanting the wine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, wine is decanted by pouring wine from a bottle into a decanter, Typically, the decanter is placed on a table, and the wine is poured from a distance of approximately 10-20 cm above the top of the decanter, so as to oxide the wine on its way from the outlet of the bottle neck to the inlet of the decanter. A funnel comprising a filter arrangement for filtering lees or dregs from the wine is usually fitted on top of the decanter.
In order to facilitate pouring of wine out of the bottle and to prevent droplets of wine from being spilled when stopping or interrupting pouring, various wine pourers have been suggested in the prior art. One such wine pourer is known from Danish patent application No. 169 026.
Devices for controlling or dosing a liquid have also been suggested in the prior art. British patent No. 8229 dated 1894 shows an example of a pouring device for facilitating and controlling the pouring of liquids from bottles and like vessels. The device has a tube adapted to be secured in the mouth of a bottle and having a tapered discharging end to form a nozzle. The device further comprises a branch tube for admitting air to the bottle to which the device is applied, whereby when it is desired to stop the outflow of liquid, the mouth of the branch tube may be stopped by a finger, thereby preventing air from entering the bottle and consequently arresting the outflow of the liquid through the mouth of the tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that the prior art processes of mixing air into a liquid, in particular the above-mentioned process of decanting wine, are associated with difficulties. When pouring wine into the decanter, great attention is required in order not to spill wine when the wine is poured from a distance above the decanter. Moreover, usually the wine splashes when hitting the funnel/filter arrangement, the splashes thereby being likely to cause stains on a table on which the decanter is placed or on a table cloth covering the table. However, so far these drawbacks have been accepted as inevitable.
The inventive concept underlying the present invention is the provision of a pouring device capable of drawing air into the flow of liquid flowing through the device and mixing the air with the liquid within the device itself. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a pourer for simultaneously pouring a liquid from a container and mixing air into the liquid, comprising an elongated annular body defining an outer surface, at least part of which is adapted to be fitted into an opening of the container, the annular body defining a longitudinally extending through-going channel and having an air intake opening extending transversely to the channel and penetrating the body, so as to allow air to be sucked into the channel when liquid is flowing from the container through the channel, the channel defining a contraction near the air intake opening, so as to generate a low pressure in the area of the contraction when liquid is flowing through the channel and thereby assist in sucking air into the channel through the air intake opening.
The channel defining a contraction near the air intake opening is also referred to as a venturi-arrangement, wherein the flow velocity of liquid is increased in area of the contraction, thereby causing a pressure difference which is used for sucking air into the channel. The air intake is preferably arranged at a location in relation to the contraction substantially where the channel has its smallest cross-section. Immediately of the contraction, the channel preferably forms a diffuser-like increase in cross-section area.
When the pourer is used for wine, oxidation of the wine is achieved directly when pouring wine from, e.g., a bottle to a glass. Thereby, it is ensured that the wine keeps its full bouquet which, in a prior art decanting process, may be partly lost due to the fact that the wine is poured from the bottle to a decanter, and from the decanter to the glass. Moreover, the funnel/filter arrangement and the decanter which have been required for prior art decanting processes is no longer needed, thereby facilitating the decanting process and reducing the costs of equipment needed for a decanting process. Typically, the container is a wine bottle, the opening of the container being provided at the end of the bottle neck. The flow of liquid preferably occurs under the action of gravity when pouring liquid out of the container, e.g., when pouring wine out of a bottle.
Preferably, the pourer comprises means for mixing the liquid and the air and which may be defined in the channel downstream of the air intake opening. The means for mixing the liquid and the air may comprise one or more obstacles for the flow of liquid, arranged in the channel. Such obstacles may comprise a perforated screen extending across the channel and/or one or more lamellas. Perforations of varies sizes may be provided in order to obtain an improved mixing of air and liquid. A filter arrangement may further be provided, e.g., in the perforations of the screen.
At least the portion of the outer surface which is adapted to be fitted into the opening of the container may be conical, so that the annular body may be fitted into container openings of various diameters. At least part of the conical portion of the outer surface may be made from or coated with a soft material suitable of making up a seal at the opening of the container. Preferably, the soft material can be deformed to such an extent and/or has a surface friction which is sufficient to ensure that the annular body sticks to the container opening when gravity is acting on the body while pouring. The outer surface may further have a non-conical portion.
In order to prevent wine from being spilled when stopping pouring, the downstream end surface of the annular body may extend at an oblique angle in relation to the outer surface, so as to provide a sharp edge at the outlet end of the annular body. The outlet end of the annular body may be shaped so as to define a diffuser-like outlet of the channel, thereby further improving mixing of air into the liquid.
In a preferred embodiment, the pourer according of the invention has a conical end portion coated with a soft material for ensuring a seal between a wine bottle and the pourer. A contraction may be provided inside a tubular portion of the pourer, the contraction being formed as a venturi-system which causes an increase of the flow velocity, whereby air is sucked into the pourer through a hole in the venturi-pipe, so as to cause oxidation of the wine, a so-called decanting, the wine being divided by passing a strainer before it enters a funnel or diffuser.
The pourer may be a decanting pourer adapted to be arranged in the opening of a wine bottle, e.g., the neck of a wine bottle. The pourer may have a conical part and a tubular part, the outer surface of the conical part being coated with a soft material, so that the pourer may firmly seal at the bottle neck. The inner part of the conical part may have a tubular form, the tube having a contraction. The contraction may be provided with an opening for air-intake. The contraction and the air-intake may be arranged in relation to each other in such a way that, during pouring of wine, air is sucked into the pourer through the opening, when the velocity of the flow is increased due to the contraction. A filter may be provided inside the pourer where the conical part and the tubular part meet, the filter being arranged so as to assist in mixing the sucked air with the wine when the wine passes the filter. Lamellas may be provided inside the tubular part, the lamellas preferably being arranged in such a fashion that the flow direction of wine is forced to change when wine is poured.
In a second inde
Bushey C. Scott
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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