Bottling system

Abstract

A container system for liquids, including an in-container mixer/aerator in the exit throat of the container. The mixer/aerator is a cylinder, having axial peripheral grooves, and and axial central bore, divided by axial vanes.

Claims

1. A container system, comprising: a container having a hollow body extending from a first end to a second end, a first portion of the container having a first maximum diameter and a second portion of the container having a second maximum diameter, the first maximum diameter being greater than the second maximum diameter; and a mixer/aerator disposed entirely within the second portion of the container, said mixer/aerator having a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end and having a cylindrical outer surface that engages an inner surface of the second portion of the container, said outer surface of the mixer/aerator defining a plurality of grooves extending from the first end of the mixer/aerator to the second end of the mixer/aerator such that a respective passage is defined by each groove of the plurality of grooves and an inner surface of the container, and said mixer/aerator defining a bore extending from the first end of the mixer/aerator to the second end of the mixer/aerator, wherein the bore is divided by a divider that comprises a plurality of vanes, each of the plurality of vanes having two faces with a thickness between the two faces, the faces being parallel to the central longitudinal axis and the thickness of each of the plurality of vanes being substantially uniform.

2. A container system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vanes extends radially from the central longitudinal axis.

3. The container system of claim 2, wherein each vane of the plurality of vanes is connected to another vane of the plurality of vanes at an axis of the mixer/aerator.

4. A container system as recited in claim 1, wherein the faces of each of the plurality of vanes define a curve transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the curve being uniform from the first end of the mixer/aerator to the second end of the mixer/aerator.

5. The container system of claim 4, wherein each vane of the plurality of vanes is connected to another vane of the plurality of vanes at an axis of the mixer/aerator.

6. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mixer/aerator is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis.

7. The container system of claim 1, wherein the container is a wine bottle.

8. The container system of claim 1, further comprising a cork disposed at least partially within the second portion of the body of the container such that the cork is disposed adjacent to the mixer/aerator.

9. A mixer/aerator, comprising: a body having a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end and having a cylindrical outer surface defining a plurality of grooves extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body, the body further defining a bore extending through the body from the first end of the body to the second end of the body, wherein the bore is divided by a divider that comprises a plurality of vanes, each of the plurality of vanes having two faces with a thickness between the two faces, the faces being parallel to the central longitudinal axis and the thickness of each of the plurality of vanes being substantially uniform, wherein the body is dimensioned to be received entirely within a neck of a bottle.

10. A mixer/aerator as recited in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of vanes extends radially from the central longitudinal axis.

11. The mixer/aerator of claim 10, wherein each vane of the plurality of vanes is connected to another vane of the plurality of vanes at an axis of the mixer/aerator.

12. A mixer/aerator as recited in claim 9, wherein the faces of each of the plurality of vanes define a curve transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the curve being uniform from the first end of the body to the second end of the body.

13. The mixer/aerator of claim 12, wherein each vane of the plurality of vanes is connected to another vane of the plurality of vanes at an axis of the mixer/aerator.

14. The mixer/aerator of claim 9, wherein the grooves of the plurality of grooves are symmetrically arranged about the outer surface of the body.

15. The mixer/aerator of claim 9, wherein the mixer/aerator is formed from an inert material.

16. A method, comprising: providing a hollow container having an open first end; filling the hollow container at least partially with a liquid; inserting a mixer/aerator into the open first end such that the mixer/aerator is received entirely within the hollow container and an outer surface of the mixer/aerator contacts an internal surface of the hollow container, wherein the mixer/aerator includes: a body having a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end and defining a bore extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body such that the bore extends entirely through the body, wherein the bore is divided by a divider that comprises a plurality of vanes, each of the plurality of vanes having two faces with a thickness between the two faces, the faces being parallel to the central longitudinal axis and the thickness of each of the plurality of vanes being substantially uniform, wherein the outer surface of the mixer/aerator defines a plurality of grooves extending from the first end of the body to the second end of the body, each of the plurality of grooves providing a respective passage with the internal surface of the hollow container; and sealing the first end of the hollow container with the mixer/aerator and the liquid disposed within the hollow container.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein sealing the first end of the hollow container includes inserting a cork into the first end of the hollow container.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the liquid includes wine.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the liquid includes a fruit-based beverage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional front elevation view, taken along view 1-1 of FIG. 1A, of a container system for liquids, showing the location of the in-container mixer/aerator in the exit throat of the container,

(2) FIG. 1A is a plan view of a container system for liquids shown in FIG. 1,

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a mixer embodying the principles of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(6) FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(8) FIG. 7 is a top view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention, and

(9) FIG. 8 is a section view, taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of a variation of the invention in which the axial internal vanes are curved instead of flat, and

(11) FIG. 10 is top view of the mixer/aerator as seen through the open end of the bottle 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) Referring first to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a sectional front elevation view, taken along view 1-1 of FIG. 1A, of a container system for liquids, showing the location of the in-container mixer/aerator in the exit throat of the container. The bottling system, denoted generally by the numeral 10, includes a bottle 11, that includes a hollow body 12 and a neck 14. The body 12 contains a liquid 16, such as wine. The neck 14 surrounds a hollow bore 18 that allows the liquid 16 to exit the bottle 11.

(13) At the outboard end of the bore 18, is a cork 20 that is removable to allow the liquid 16 to be poured from the bottle 11.

(14) Inward of the cork is a mixer 22, that includes axial channels 24 that allow liquid to turbulently exit the bore 18, and air to enter the bore 18. The turbulent exit of the liquid 16 enhances the breathing of the exiting liquid 16.

(15) FIG. 1A is a plan view of a container system for liquids shown in FIG. 1.

(16) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a mixer embodying the principles of the present invention,

(17) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(18) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(19) FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(20) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(21) FIG. 7 is a top view of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(22) FIG. 8 is a section view, taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, of a mixer, shown in FIG. 2, embodying the principles of the present invention,

(23) FIG. 9 is an top view of a variation of the invention in which the axial internal vanes are curved instead of flat, and

(24) FIG. 10 is top view of the mixer/aerator as seen through the open end of the bottle 11.