Device for aerating a beverage

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for aerating a beverage, such a wine, whilst being poured from a bottle. The present invention also relates to a bottle including a device and a method of bottling a beverage.

Claims

1. A device that can be installed in the neck of a bottle, the device including: an elongate body solely formed from a continuous perimetric wall formation that extends longitudinally between opposite ends of the device; and a plurality of passageways defined by the wall formation, the passageways extend in a direction between ends of the device, and when located in the neck of a bottle and beverage poured from the bottle, the passageways convey the beverage outwardly and air into the bottle which increases the surface area of the beverage in contact with the air; wherein a profile of the body is constant along the length of the device so as to be equally operable with either end of the device being oriented toward an opening of the bottle, the profile configured to enable the wall formation to move inwardly to allow the body to be accommodated in bottle necks of different sizes; and wherein the plurality of passageways for fluid flow includes: (i) at least one outer passageway disposed outwardly of the wall formation; and (ii) a central passageway located along a central axis of the body.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each passageway has a constant cross-section along the length of the passageway, and resistance to flow of beverage along the passageway is constant irrespective of the direction of flow through the passageways.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the cross-section can be reduced in the range up to 15 mm.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is secured in an operative position by frictionally engaging an inside of a neck of the bottle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall formation consists of a resiliently flexible material that allows the wall formation to move resiliently inwardly and allow the transverse cross-section to be reduced by a compressive force applied radially to the body of the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall formation consists of a resiliently compressible material that allows the wall formation to move resiliently inwardly and allow the transverse cross-section to be reduced by a compressive force applied radially to the body of the device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the passageways can convey both beverage out of the bottle and air into the bottle concurrently.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall formation includes contours that extend inwardly to provide the at least one outer passageway.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall formation includes at least two wall sections that can move inwardly relative to each other.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the wall sections are integrally formed with flexible bridging formations to allow the wall sections to resiliently move towards each other to reduce the transverse cross-section of the body.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the flexible bridging formations include a compressible material section that allows the wall sections to move relative to each other.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of passageways further includes at least one inner passageway disposed inwardly of the wall formation between adjacent bridging formations.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body is extrusion moulded from a resilient polymeric material and wherein the polymeric material includes a tacking agent to assist in preventing the device from dislodging and sliding from an operative position in the neck of the bottle.

14. A bottle including the device according to claim 1.

15. A method of bottling a beverage, the method including the following steps: i) filling a bottle with a beverage; ii) inserting into the neck of the bottle the device according to claim 1; and iii) fitting a cap into the bottle to seal the bottle.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of inserting the device into the neck of the bottle can be carried out using a traditional cork installation device.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of inserting the device into the neck of the bottle is be carried out with either one of two opposite ends of the device being oriented into the opening of the bottle.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of inserting the device into the neck of the bottle includes compressing the device to a smaller diameter and releasing the device in the bottle so that the device is secured in an operative position in the bottle neck by frictionally engaging inner surfaces of the neck of the bottle.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein the central and at least one inner passageways are not sealed from each other, such that fluid can pass therebetween.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to one embodiment for aerating a beverage as the beverage is being poured from the bottle;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device according to another embodiment for aerating a beverage as the beverage is being poured from the bottle;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment and FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the device of FIG. 3 that is in the process of being inserting to the neck of the bottle;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment and FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the device of FIG. 5 that is in the process of being inserting to the neck of the bottle;

(6) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a longitudinal axis of a conventional bottle neck in which the device of FIG. 3 is installed in the neck of a bottle;

(7) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through the axis of a bottle neck according to an embodiment in which the device of FIG. 1 has been installed; and

(8) FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of a method for bottling a beverage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference numerals have also been used in the description to help identify the features in the drawings and the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or substantially the same features of the embodiments. However in order to maintain the clarity of the figures, the figures may not include all of the reference numerals in every instance.

(10) The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are of a device 10 have a tubular body that can be installed in the neck of a conventional wine bottle for aerating the wine as it is being poured from the bottle. The body 20 of the device 10 has a tubular wall formation 21 that is contoured so as to provide passageways 15, 16 and 17 extending along the length of the device 10. The wall formation 21 includes five outer wall sections 11 that are equally sized and spaced about the perimeter of the device 10, the wall sections 11 are separated by gaps 12. Ideally, the outer wall sections 11 extend the entire length of the body and have a shaped outer profile having a convex or arc face that ideally matches the curvature of the inside of a bottle neck.

(11) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer wall sections 11 define a transverse cross-section across the width of the device 10 that is perpendicular to the length of the device 10. The transverse cross-section of the device 10 can be reduced by compression to allow the body to be accommodated in bottle necks of different sizes, or in bottle necks having a tapering internal bore.

(12) Ideally, the outer wall sections 11 can move resiliently inwardly by the wall sections 11 moving in the direction of the arrows B (see FIGS. 1 to 6), which causes the gaps 12 to reduce in the directions of arrows A between the outer wall sections 11. By reducing the gaps 12 between the outer wall sections 11, the transverse cross-section of the device 10 reduces in the direction of arrows B which can allow the body to be accommodated in bottle necks.

(13) The outer wall sections 11 are interconnected by inner wall sections 13 which are in the form of resiliently flexible bridging formations. The bridging formations are ideally in the form of pairs of legs 13a, in which the leg 13a of each pair is joined to an adjacent outer wall section 11. The legs 13a can move toward or away from each other, and when moved toward each other, the gaps 12 between the outer wall sections 11 will reduce in the direction of the arrows A. The legs 13a may be interconnected by a joining section 14 that faces toward a central axis of the body of the device 10. In the case of the FIG. 1, the legs 13a are essentially straight legs that extend from a linear joining section 14. In the case of FIG. 2, the legs 13a are curved legs that extend from an apex joining section 14. In the case of FIGS. 3 and 5, the legs 13a are essentially straight legs that extend from an arched shaped joining section 14.

(14) In addition to allowing the outer wall sections 11 to move relative to each other, the inner wall sections 13 also divide the cross-section into longitudinal passageways 15, 16 and 17. Ideally the passageways 15, 16 and 17 extend along the entire length of the device 10.

(15) Ideally, the device 10 is constructed from a resiliently flexible material that is food safe. Examples include low density polyethylene and nylon. The flexibility of the material allows the wall formation 21, such as the legs 13a, to flex relatively to each other and allow the transverse cross-section to be reduced during installation. It is also possible that the device 10 may be constructed from a compressible material that would allow, for example, the inner wall sections 13 to shorten on compression of device during installation.

(16) In any event, the profile of the outer wall sections 11 is essentially constant such that for the purpose of installing the device 10 in a bottle, the device 10 can be installed into a bottle neck with either end of the device 10 facing out of the bottle. In other words, the orientation of the device 10 does not have an impact on installing the device 10 in the bottle neck, or on operation of the device 10.

(17) FIGS. 4 and 6 are photographs illustrating the device 10 partially inserted into a bottle neck. As can be seen by the arrows A, the gap 12 between the outer side walls 11 outside the bottle is greater than the gap 12 of the side wall inside the bottle. Moreover FIG. 3 illustrates the device 10 in a relaxed state, prior to installation and compression in which the legs 13a are essentially parallel, whereas FIG. 4 illustrates the legs 13a of the device in the process of being pressing toward each other in a direction indicated by arrows C so that the device 10 can be accommodated in the bottle neck. Similarly, FIG. 5 illustrates the device in a relaxed state, prior to installation and compression in which the legs 13a are essentially parallel, whereas FIG. 6 illustrates the legs 13a of the device 10 in the process of being pressing toward each other in a direction indicated by arrows C to reduce the transverse cross-section so that the device 10 can be accommodated in the bottle neck.

(18) The device 10 is ideally the size of traditional sealing cork, namely approximately 38 mm in length, and compressible to a diameter of approximately 15 to 16 mm for insertion into the bottle neck 22. When in the bottle, ideally the device expands and is retained in position. In addition, when in the relaxed state the device may have diameter of approximately 23 to 25 mm.

(19) FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, illustrate the longitudinal passageways of the device in the form of: i) five perimeter passageways 15 formed between the pairs of the legs 13a on an outside of the of the wall formation 21; ii) five intermediate passageways 16 formed between legs 13a of two adjacent pairs of legs 13a, and the outer wall section 11 to which the adjacent legs 13a are attached; and

(20) iii) a centralised passageway 17 (shown in the figures in dotted outline) that is centrally located of the body that is defined by the joining sections 14 of the pairs of legs.

(21) As can be seen, the intermediate and centralised passageways 16 and 17 are not sealed from each other and fluids, i.e., beverage and air, can pass between the passageways 16 and 17. The perimeter passageways 15 are formed on the outside of the wall formation between the legs 13a, and face the wall of the bottle neck through the gap 12.

(22) FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate linear passageways 15, 16 and 17 that extending the length of the device. In the case of the FIGS. 5 and 6, the passageways 15, 16 and 17 are curvilinear with the outer wall sections 11 and the inner wall section 13 also having a corresponding curvilinear shape. Passageways 15 and 16 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 also have a spiral configuration. One of the features of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is that as the beverage is conveyed along the passageways 15, 16 and 17 it flows in a tumbling or spiralling manner that further helps to agitate and mix the beverage and air.

(23) The perimeter passageways 15 each have a constant cross-section along their length. The intermediate passageways 16 each have a constant cross-section along their length. The centralised passageways 17 may also have an essentially constant cross-section.

(24) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the device 10 installed in the bottle neck 22. The device 10 is configured to frictionally fit inside the bottle neck 22 and be retained in an operative position by means of the friction fit.

(25) In the case of the FIG. 8, the bottle neck 22 includes a constriction 23 spaced from the opening of the bottle neck 22 so that the device 10 can be accommodated above the constriction 23. The constriction 23 helps to prevent that device 10 from inadvertently moving down the bottle neck 22 into the main body part of the bottle.

(26) When in use, beverage can be poured from the bottle via the passageways 15, 16 and 17, and air can enter the bottle via the passageways 15, 16 and 17. There is no need for precision in terms of which passageways 15, 16 and 17 are used by the beverage and which passageways 15, 16 and 17 are used from venting air into the bottle.

(27) Without wanting to be limited by theory, the passageways 15, 16 and 17 provide a means for splitting the flow of the beverage up into sub-streams which in turn increases the total surface area of the beverage in contact with air as the beverage flows through the device 10. The device 10 thereby has the effect of increasing the aeration of the wine as the wine is poured from the bottle compared to pouring the wine from the bottle without the device 10.

(28) The layout and number of the passageways 15, 16 and 17 enables the flow rate of the wine from the bottle not to be significantly reduced compared to the flow rate from a bottle without the device. Hence consumers will not experience a disruption from the normal pouring characteristics.

(29) When pouring a beverage from a conventional bottle, the beverage can make a “glugging” sound when exiting from the bottle. Without wanting to be limited by theory, it is believed that when the beverage exits the bottle, a vacuum is created in the bottle, and when atmospheric pressure acting on the beverage exceeds the weight of the beverage flowing, the discharge of beverage is temporarily interrupted as air enters the bottle, creating the glugging sounds and beverage hold-up in the bottle. A potential benefit of the device is that air can enter the bottle over shortened periods, providing greater opportunity for air and the beverage in hold-up to mix, prior to the beverage entering the passageways 15, 16 and 17.

(30) The device 10 can be made of any suitable material, including polymeric materials. Examples of polymeric materials that are food grade, i.e., free of biphenol A compounds and allow the outer side walls to be moveable include but are by no means limited polyethylene, including high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene homopolymer, polypropylene copolymer and other polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomer, synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and nitrile rubber.

(31) A benefit in using polymeric materials is that a tacking agent such as plastomer can be included to increase friction between the device and the inside of the bottle neck. Ideally the device can be held in an operative position solely by means of the friction fit as shown in FIG. 7.

(32) Ideally, the device has an integrally formed construction and may be made, for example in an extrusion moulding process.

(33) Some of the benefits of the embodiments include: i) The device can work the same way if inserted in the bottle from either end. This is an important feature as the device can be installed into the bottle using an automated machine that picks up the devices from a hopper without ascertain whether the device is in the correct orientation for installation, i.e., upside down not. ii) The device increase the surface of the wine exposed to air. iii) The device is adapted to allow the device to be fitted to bottle necks of various sizes by means of the inner wall section acting like a spring, or the outer wall section being compressible. iv) The device can be installing during a beverage bottling process by a traditional corking machine. Alternatively, the device can be installed by hand during bottling or after the bottle has been opened for consumption. v) The device can reduce dripping of the beverage during the standard pouring process.

(34) We have conducted trials involving pouring red wine from bottles that have been fitted with the device. After taking into account oxygenation of the wine after opening of the bottle due to exposure to air, we have found that the device can increase the oxygen content of the wine poured from the bottle by up to 14%, and typically in the range of 7 to 10%. The results were measured using a probe that measured oxygen content at concentrations of parts per million.

(35) FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the method for bottling beverage using the device described herein. As can be seen, the method includes filling a bottle with a beverage, and then inserting the device described herein into the bottle neck. The inserting the device can be performed using any suitable machinery, but is ideally performed using a convention cork insertion machine which compresses the device to a diameter in the range of the 14 to 16 mm during installation. Once the device has been installed, the bottle can be sealed using any suitable closure including a screw cap.

(36) The method may also include a preliminary step during moulding of the bottle to increase the volume of the bottle to accommodate the volume of the device and allow sufficient headspace in the bottle. The preliminary step may include adjusting the punt bottle, namely the curved bottom surface of the bottle, to increase the volume of the bottle. According to a preferred embodiment, the device may have a volume of the 3.5 ml.

(37) It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

(38) Although not shown in the figures, it is also possible that the outer wall sections 11 may include a compressible material such as foams, rubbers and plastics having thermoplastic or elastomeric properties, such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The compressibility of the outer side wall may allow the device to be fitted into bottle necks of different sizes.