FR3103494A1 - CONTAINER AND CLOSING ELEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAID ASSEMBLY. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (2) intended for ageing, storing and/or aging an alcoholic beverage (L) in crafts and/or industry, comprising at least one opening (22) and an inner volume (Vin); and at least one closure element (3) for sealing the opening (22) of the container (2). Said closure element (3) is selectively removable from said opening (22) and is reusable. Said container (2) is impermeable to gases (G). Said closure element (3) comprises at least a part (31) made of at least one material permeable to gases (G), in a controlled manner, but impermeable to liquids. Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME ASSEMBLY.

The present invention relates to an assembly containing and at least one closing element, for example a lid, which can be applied in crafts and/or industry, such as drums, vats, and in particular in the field of oenology, for example wine, and in the field of spirits, for example liqueurs, spirits in general or the like.

The present invention further relates to a method for producing the containing assembly and at least one closure element.

Fully microporous containers are known, of the type made from materials based on wood or ceramics, which are relatively difficult to wash and disinfect, for example because of their curved shape or having edges and handles that are difficult to reach by the normal tools used, and/or to be replaced, for example when the organoleptic properties or the quantity and/or the quality of the gases, for example oxygen, at the inlet do not correspond to those which are desired.

Hybrid containers are also known, such as, for example, wooden barrels comprising two flat glass faces, which limit the invasive nature of wood in the first phases of aging the alcoholic beverage contained therein. Such a solution is not conducive to washability, since the wooden slats are not easy to remove from the barrel in order to carry out their ordinary cleaning.

There are known methods of immersing wooden slats inside containers considered neutral, for example steel, intended for the release of natural tannins in the alcoholic beverage. These slats can be safely removed and easily disinfected. It is obvious that this solution however has no effect on the process of micro-oxygenation of the alcoholic beverage, an effect particularly sought after in the winemaking process.

It is well known that a microporous material has a lower propensity than a non-porous material to be washed and bacteriologically disinfected.

The materials from which the containers considered impermeable for alcoholic beverages are currently made, in particular in the field of oenology, are therefore more washable and disinfectable than those which are permeable to oxygen, in particular wood, raw concrete and ceramics in general.

Containers made of a material impermeable to liquids and gases used for alcoholic beverages are known, such as, for example, glass bottles closed by a stopper of natural cork or synthetic material. This set therefore comprises an impermeable container and a removable, permeable closure element. This type of container is intended exclusively for sale to the final consumer, but does not fulfill any function relating to the ageing, storage and aging of the drink it contains.

The containers currently known and made of glass are containers of a maximum of 54 liters and the porous material cap is for single use, that is to say that it cannot be used many times while obtaining the same permeability performance. to gases.

It should be emphasized once again that it is indeed important to be able to control, or at least quantify, the amount of oxygen with which the alcoholic beverage interacts during the production and aging process of the alcoholic beverage itself. , in order to be able to control this oxygenation process and obtain the desired effects and improvements on the alcoholic beverage.

It is also known that, in the field of oenology, deposits related to the winemaking and/or aging process are particularly malodorous precisely because of low oxygenation.

Methods for producing ceramic containers are known, but the containers thus produced are difficult to apply to the alcoholic beverage sector.

It is also well known that the racking of an alcoholic beverage, in particular wine, inevitably causes a shock to the beverage in question because of the relative degree of oxygenation that this transfer entails.

It would therefore be useful to be able to raise an alcoholic beverage in a container that can bring in oxygen in a controlled way, in particular by allowing the wine to micro-oxygenate until one can limit or interrupt this process of exchange without necessarily having to transfer the wine into another container with different perspiration characteristics.

The present invention proposes to solve these technical problems, as well as others, by means of an assembly comprising an impermeable container and at least one closure element permeable at least to gases.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an assembly having the features of claim 1.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of making the assembly having the characteristics of the appended claim.

Ancillary features are set out in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the assembly and of the method will appear more clearly on reading the description given below of the various possible embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, of the assembly and of the method, as well as only appended figures on which:

And represent possible embodiments of the assembly according to the present invention; they represent in particular containers in which the opening with which the closure element is associated is located in the upper part of the container; in particular the represents a parallelepiped-shaped container with a planar parallelogram-shaped closing element, while the represents a container of substantially spherical shape.

And represent other possible embodiments of the assembly according to the present invention; they represent in particular containers in which the opening with which the closure element is associated is located in the front part of the container; in particular the represents a parallelepiped-shaped container with a flat parallelogram-shaped closing element, in which the opening is located on a front face of the lower part of said container; while the represents a container of substantially spherical or cylindrical shape, with a discoid closing element.

represents another embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention in which the opening with which the closure element is associated is located in a part of the container intended to fulfill the basic function for said container.

And represent possible embodiments of valve elements that can be associated with the assembly according to the present invention, in particular the represents a purge valve; there represents a valve element intended to perform both the purge function and the air supply function, with inlets fitted with a vacuum valve and a valve for subsequent saturation with inert gas.

And represent explanatory figures of a step of the method for producing the assembly according to the present invention; in particular the represents a step of producing, by cooking, the container, by means of an oven; there schematically represents some structural characteristics of the container intended to be produced by means of the step of producing the .

represents an example of closure elements to which one or more removable control elements can be coupled, intended to modify the permeability of said closure element.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, reference numeral 2 designates a container as a whole, while reference numeral 3 designates the closure element as a whole.

The assembly according to the present invention comprises: a container 2 and at least one closing element 3.

Said container 2 is intended for ageing, storage and/or aging of an alcoholic beverage “L” in crafts and/or industry. Said container 2 comprises at least one opening 22 and an interior “Wine” volume. Said "Wine" interior volume is defined by the structure 20 of the container 2.

Said closure element 3 is intended to close the opening 22 of the container 2 in a sealed manner.

For the purposes of the present description, the expression “tight closure” designates a closure impermeable to fluids, in particular at least to liquids, in particular the point of contact between said closure element 3 and the walls defining said opening 22, therefore , the closure of the interaction part between the closure element 3 and the walls defining said opening 22 does not cause the passage of fluids, in particular at least liquids, from the internal volume “Wine” of the container 2 towards the outside, and vice versa.

Said closure element 3 is selectively removable from said opening 22. Said closure element 3 is reusable, preferably many times, for example following a cleaning and/or disinfection process.

For the purposes of this description, the term “reusable” refers to the possibility of reuse which keeps the structural and physical characteristics substantially unchanged after each use, and in particular after the removal of said opening22 and/or the disinfection process and/ or cleaning. Consequently, the closure element 3 is not for single use.

According to the preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said container 2 is impermeable to gases "G". For example, the structure 20 of the container 2 is impermeable to liquids and gases "G", therefore to fluids in general.

In the same embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said closure element 3 comprises at least one part 31 made of at least one material permeable to gases "G", in a controlled manner, in which said material is on the other hand impermeable to liquids.

The present solution makes it possible to avoid the flow of the drink "L" which is contained in the container 2, but at the same time allows a controlled, or at least determinable, passage of gas "G", and in particular of oxygen, towards said internal volume “Wine” of the container 2 in which the drink “L” is present. In particular, thanks to said permeable part 31, it is possible to allow a controlled or at least determinable passage of oxygen, which is useful for the aging, storage and/or aging of said alcoholic drink "L" in the crafts and/or industry.

The present solution makes it possible to disinfect the assembly in a short time, said container 2 being easy to clean due to the fact that it is impermeable to gases "G" and to liquids, and said closing element 3 comprises said part 31 which can be easily sanitized using more intensive processes to remove residue or the presence of bacteria.

More generally, said part 31 permeable to gases “G” is for example a microporous part.

Insofar as the microporous part can be completely removed from the container 2, the latter being associated with the removable closure element 3, the washing and disinfection of this gas-permeable part “G” 31 is facilitated. This disinfection process can be carried out for example by means of ovens, so that the temperature uniformly facilitates, including in the microporous volume inside the material of the permeable part 31, the complete bacteriological disinfection.

The fact that it is possible to remove the closure element 3 from the container 2 makes it possible to replace the entire closure element 3 or the only gas-permeable part "G" 31 without having to replace the entire container 2, in the case where said closure element 3 is damaged or if a modification of the organoleptic exchange capacity or the degree of perspiration is desired, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in particular of said permeable part 31.

For the purposes of this description, the expression "in the craft and/or industry" means at least one aging, storage and/or breeding process carried out by means of processes designed for large quantities of beverage “L”, before said drink “L” is packaged for sale and marketing, in particular to identify the processes prior to bottling.

In a preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment, the assembly according to the present invention further comprises at least one control element 7. Said control element 7 is made of any material impermeable to gases "G", for example can be easily made of stainless steel or synthetic materials.

Each control element 7 is able to modify, at least in part, the permeability of the closure element 3 with which it is associated.

Preferably, said control element 7 can be associated selectively with the corresponding closure elements 3.

Preferably, said control element 7 will partially or completely cover, preferably from the outside, the closure element 3 in leaktight manner so as to be able to modify, for example reduce or eliminate, the permeability of said closure element 3. This This solution therefore makes it possible to modify the sweating process without having to replace said closure element 3 and/or to extract the drink “L” from another container 2 .

According to a preferred embodiment, said control element 7 is coupled to the permeable part 31 of the closure element 3, so as to be able to modify the permeability of the permeable part 31 of the closure element 3, for example up to to make it waterproof. This solution makes it possible to modify, or even eliminate, the capacity for organoleptic exchanges or the degree of transpiration, both quantitatively and qualitatively, of the part 31 alone, possibly also by completely preventing transpiration.

Preferably, by modifying the superposition surface of said control element 7 and of said permeable part 31 of the closure element 3, it is possible to modify the permeability, in particular the total permeability, of the closure element 3. For example, by superimposing said control element 7 so as to completely cover said permeable part 31, it is possible to make said closure element 3 impermeable with respect to the outside atmosphere, since the passage of gas "G" from the outside towards the inside of the container 2 is prevented.

Consequently, if one does not want to transfer the alcoholic drink into another unit less permeable or totally impermeable to gases "G", thanks to the control element 7 it is possible to modify, for example partially or totally limit, the arrival of gas "G", in particular oxygen, through element 3 and in particular through part 31.

In a possible embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, said control element 7, once coupled to said closure element 3, is able to seal said closure element 3 in a leaktight manner, in particular said permeable part 31 , rendering it substantially impermeable to the external atmosphere. Preferably, said control element 7 is designed so that once coupled to closure element 3 a chamber is defined between the impermeable layer defined by said control element 7 and the permeable layer defined by said closure3, for example by said permeable part 31. Gas may also be present in said chamber.

According to another embodiment, said control element 7 comprises a valve element 72. Said valve element 72 is designed so that once said control element 7 is coupled to said closing element 3 it is possible to injecting in a controlled manner at least one gas into said chamber or air gap. Said gas can be a mixture containing desired levels of oxygen, in order to control the oxygenation of the drink “L”, an inert gas or a mixture of gases. According to a possible embodiment, if the control element 7 is used in such a way as to completely prevent the entry of oxygen, thus making the at least one closure element 3 hermetic and impermeable, said control element 7 can be connected, via said valve element 72, to a tank, for example a carboy, containing one or more gases meeting any requirement, in particular oenological, for example concentrated oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, etc. According to the present embodiment, the drink "L" will be able to interact, for example breathe, in the field of oenology, only the gas or the mixture of gases through the closure element 3 rendered in turn hermetic and impermeable to the outside atmosphere by the control element 7. Indeed, in the chamber or air gap between said closure element 3 and said control element 7, a specific technical/food gas can be injected, through said valve element 72, under positive pressure. The choice of gas or gas mixture depends on the intrinsic characteristics of microporosity and therefore of the operation of the closure element 3 and/or of the interaction effect that it is desired to obtain with the drink “L”.

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said container 2 has an internal volume "Wine" greater than or equal to 60 liters. This type of container 2 is in fact not intended for marketing or sale, since it is used to carry out the aging, storage and/or breeding phases. Glass containers with a volume greater than or equal to 60 liters intended for beverages are not used in crafts and/or industry.

More generally, the assembly according to the present invention may comprise at least one valve element 4, the latter being at least intended to allow the release of a gaseous constituent contained in the interior volume “Wine” of said container 2. Said valve element 4 is also optionally intended to allow the controlled entry of fluids, for example inert gases.

Said valve element 4 can be associated with the container 2, with the control element 7 and/or with the closure element 3, depending on the embodiment of the assembly.

According to a first embodiment, said valve element 4 is for example a purge valve.

According to another embodiment, said valve element 4 is intended to perform both the purge function and the air inlet function, with inlets provided with a vacuum tap and a subsequent saturation tap of the "Wine" interior volume of container 2 in inert gas.

Said valve element 4 is optionally adjustable for both positive and negative pressures, in accordance with the mechanical strength of the materials chosen to make the container 2. This embodiment is intended to allow saturation of the vacuum part, essentially above above the drink "L" contained in the interior volume "Wine" of the container 2, with an inert food gas, for example nitrogen or argon. The introduction of said gas can be carried out for example by means of at least one tap to create the vacuum and at least one other tap to introduce the inert gas.

According to a possible embodiment in which said valve element 4 is associated with said control element 7, said valve element 4 can comprise said valve element 72, described above, also fulfilling the functions thereof.

Said valve element 4 is preferably located in the upper part of the assembly.

Figures 4A and 4B show possible embodiments of valve elements 4 that can be associated with the assembly according to the present invention. There represents a purge valve. This embodiment allows the release of the gaseous constituent contained in the "Wine" interior volume of the container 2, for example automatically in the event of a predetermined pressure threshold being exceeded and/or manually in the event of the need to draw off the drink. "L" from container 2 of the set to another container.

There represents a valve element 4 intended to perform both the purge function and the air inlet function, by selectively allowing the entry and/or the release of a gaseous constituent from the interior volume "Vin and vice versa.

This embodiment advantageously comprises one or more inputs. Said one or more inlets are provided with at least one tap. Said at least one valve makes it possible to obtain a vacuum inside the internal volume “Wine” of the container and/or makes it possible to obtain saturation with inert gas inside the internal volume “Wine” of the container 2, by example by connecting suitable means for the generation of vacuum and/or the introduction of a gas.

As indicated above, part 31 of closure element 3 is permeable at least to oxygen. By means of this embodiment it is possible to control, or at least to quantify, the oxygenation of the drink “L” contained in the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said closure element 3 has a flat configuration, or at least said permeable part 31 has a flat configuration. This solution makes it possible to obtain a part 31 permeable to gases "G" of reduced thickness compared to its other structural dimensions, so as to be able to determine, for example empirically, the quantity of gas "G" which can pass through said part. permeable 31. In addition, the present solution makes it possible to simplify the operations of disinfection of the closure element 3, since it is easier to eliminate the residues and to reduce the bacteria present. Indeed, a flat structure facilitates the penetration of the disinfectant agent to the center of the permeable part 31.

This disinfection process could consist of a washing phase and/or an antibacterial treatment with UV rays and/or microwaves and/or boiling, etc.

According to a possible embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, said closure element 3, or at least said permeable part 31, is made of wood-based materials, technical ceramics, porcelains, sandstones and / or terracotta. As a variant and/or in combination with the materials mentioned above, it is possible to use materials specifically produced in such a way as to obtain a controlled, or at least quantifiable, porosity, depending on the requirements, for example by using polymers. In addition, the closure element 3, or at least said permeable part 31, can also be made of technical ceramic materials never used to date to seal containers, on the model of glass bottles.

The materials cited above, and many other materials not expressly mentioned, make it possible to obtain a controlled, or at least determinable, porosity or microporosity such as to make it possible to achieve the desired gas permeability "G", and in particular to oxygen, or at least maximum permeability.

For the purposes of this description, the expression "technical ceramic materials" refers to ceramic materials specially designed for the alcoholic beverage sector, and in particular for the oenological field, intended to allow micro-oxygenations and/or microfiltrations, by example the ceramics used in oenological microfilters known to those skilled in the art.

The shape of said permeable part 31 can vary according to requirements, for example according to the configuration of the opening 22 with which the closure element 3 is associated.

The surface of said permeable part 31 with respect to the surface of the closure element 3 can vary, for example from 10% to 100%. According to the embodiment in which said permeable part 31 corresponds to the entire surface of the closure element 3, sealing elements can be associated with this permeable part 31, among which seals, so that in the zone of interaction between the container 2 and the closure element 3 there is a seal, when the latter are assembled, in order to prevent the drink "L" from flowing out of the interior volume "Wine" of the container2.

In a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said container 2 is made of technical ceramic, porcelain, stoneware or their derivatives. These materials, with which to make the structure 20 of the container 2, make it possible to make said container 2 impermeable to gases “G” and to liquids, consequently to fluids in general. The use of these materials makes it possible to produce containers 2 of large dimensions, which are stable and resistant, which glass does not make it possible to obtain. As a variant, said containers 2 can be made of composite materials, for example with several layers, in which at least one layer is intended to guarantee the structural solidity to obtain a container of large dimensions, for example having volumes greater than or equal to 60litres, and at least one layer, preferably an inner layer defining said inner volume “Vin”, capable of producing the desired fluid impermeability.

The appended figures, and in particular Figures 1A to 3, illustrate possible embodiments of the assembly according to the present invention.

In particular, the represents a container 2 of parallelepipedal shape, for example a cube, provided with a closing element in the form of a parallelogram. In this embodiment, the container 2 has an opening 22 with which the closing element 3 is associated and which is located in the upper part of the container 2.

There represents on the other hand a container of substantially spherical or ovoid shape. In this embodiment, the container 2 has an opening 22 with which the closure element 3 is associated and which is located in the upper part of the container 2, for example in correspondence with a neck 21 of the structure 20 of the container 2 In the two embodiments illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B there are valve elements 4 associated with the closure element 3, in particular purge valves.

There represents an embodiment of the container 2 which is of parallelepipedic shape, for example cubic, with a closing element 3 in the shape of a parallelogram, in particular in the shape of a plate, on a front face of the lower part of the container 2. In particular , there represents a container 2 in which the opening 22 with which the closure element 3 is associated is located in the front part of the container 2.

There represents on the other hand a container 2 of substantially spherical, ovoid or cylindrical shape, with a discoid closing element. In particular, FIG. 2B represents a container 2 in which the opening 22 with which the closure element 3 is associated is located in the front part of the container 2.

According to the two embodiments illustrated in Figures 2A-2B, said closure element 3 comprises a permeable part 31 having a surface equal to that of the opening 22 with which the closure element 3 is associated.

In the two embodiments illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, there is present in the upper part of the container 2 at least one valve element 4, for example a purge valve.

More generally, the permeable or microporous part 31 can be located in the upper position, constituting with said closure element 3 a cover or a hatch, mainly useful for washing, and/or in a lateral position, thus constituting a lateral or front view, possibly in the specific field of oenology, also useful to facilitate the removal of pomace or “R” residues from container 2.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, said opening 22 is located in the part of container 2 intended to fulfill the base or support function for said container 2.

By means of the present embodiment, once the assembly is assembled and used for the aging, storage and/or breeding of an "L" drink, it will be possible to allow the entry of gas “G”, and in particular oxygen, in a part of the container 2 in which the residues “R” of the drink “L” accumulate.

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, said container 2 has a substantially spherical or ovoid structure, comprising a support part defining a neck 21 in which said opening 22 is made.

There illustrates another possible embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention in which the opening 22 is located in a part of the container 2 intended to fulfill the basic function for said container 2. In the illustrated embodiment, said element closure 3 seals off said opening 22, so that the alcoholic beverage "L" contained inside does not escape.

Said closure element 3 comprises a permeable part 31, preferably with an area smaller than the total area of the closure element 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 22 is located at the end of the neck 21 produced by the structure 20 of the container 2.

The assembly according to the present invention is for example supported by a support structure 6 which allows the circulation of gas "G" towards the assembly, and in particular towards the permeable part 31 of the closure element 3.

As seen in the figure, the gas flow "G", for example oxygen, enters through the rear part of the container 2, crossing said permeable part 31 of the closure element 3. In correspondence with the opening 22 and the neck 21 of the container 2, the "R" residues accumulate, falling, which are malodorous and can cause the problems indicated above.

The entry of the gas "G", and in particular of oxygen, inside the interior volume "Vin" through said permeable part 31 has the effect that the residues are aerated insofar as they are placed in a zone characterized by a greater relative presence of dissolved oxygen and, thanks to the convection movements present in the drink "L" contained in the internal volume "Wine" of container 2, the gas "G", and in particular oxygen , is distributed evenly throughout the “L” drink, thereby improving the oxygenation efficiency of the “L” drink.

According to the illustrated embodiment, at the highest point of the assembly and in particular at the top of the container 2, there is located a valve element 4 which at least allows the gaseous constituent accumulated in the part situated above of the drink “L” inside the interior volume “Wine”. In the present solution, it is possible to avoid overpressures or the release of an undesirable gaseous constituent, possibly by introducing an inert gas by providing the assembly with a suitable valve element 4, as previously described.

Said support structure 6 can be a simple structure intended to support the weight of the assembly filled with the drink "L" and at the same time to allow the passage of gases "G" towards said permeable part 31 of the element of closure 3.

More generally, the type of implementation solution illustrated by way of example on the facilitates the closure of the container 2 through said closure element 3, that is to say between the impermeable part and the permeable part, for example through a hermetic closure, in particular for the types of closures which require a sufficient mass to compress a seal or sealants, for example for barrels, commonly used. Indeed, in the present solution, the entire weight of the container 2 would weigh on the base, coincidentally or partially coincident with the closure element 3, and therefore with the permeable or microporous part 31.

In the field of the production of the container 2, in particular in the case where this container 2 would be made of a ceramic material, preferably stoneware or porcelain, the present solution would make it possible to produce the container 2 by assembling various parts formed by using molds before cooking, then placing it in an oven 5 for cooking in the position of use, that is to say with the opening 22 of the container 2 facing downwards. In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the opening 22 of the container 2 facing downwards is advantageous and useful for the purposes of its manufacture. The present solution will therefore make it possible to obtain a container 2 in enamelled stoneware or enamelled porcelain, or hybrid solutions, with an outer surface free of defects, this part of the container being used as a support for the container 2 in the oven5, insofar as where the container2 is supported, with the surface of the edge of the opening 22 facing downwards, a part which does not need to be enamelled and/or which can possibly be rectified after baking in the oven 5. Indeed , it is known in the production of porcelain or stoneware objects that support in an oven inevitably requires a few points or lines devoid of enamel.

The present solution will also make it possible to obtain a container 2 in stoneware, enamelled or unenamelled, or in porcelain, enamelled or unenamelled, and possible hybrid solutions, with an entirely curved shape, without flat parts over the entire profile of the container. 2, both inward and outward, thus potentially improving design freedom in choosing the best shape both for aesthetic reasons and to improve washability, sanitization and to meet specific oenological and fluidodynamic requirements.

The present solution also makes it possible to improve the washability of the container 2, provided that it is lifted and that the closure element 3 has been removed. For example, washing by high-pressure hydro-washing systems can be carried out from bottom to top, with obvious simplicity of operation. It is possibly possible, during the washing procedure of the container 2, to rotate the container 2 along its vertical axis, for example if it is suspended by means of a rotating carabiner, without therefore being obliged to Use rotating high pressure water jet cleaning devices of the barrel washer type or similar.

The present solution also makes it possible to obtain a micro-oxygenating action from the lower part of the container 2, making it possible to set in motion and essentially ventilate the area where the risk of reduction processes and unpleasant odors linked to the presence of “R” deposits or residues.

In fact, in addition to the convection movements normally present in the fluid of the drink "L", it will be possible to obtain a more efficient oxygenation effect and able to reach the entire content of container 2, taking advantage from the upward movement of the gases.

There shows a possible embodiment of a closure element 3 which can be coupled to a control element 7.

In this embodiment, the closure element 3 is intended to be coupled to one or more control elements 7 in a removable manner. Indeed, said control element 7 comprises fastening means adapted so as to be able to be fixed to said closure element 3. The coupling between the control element 7 and the closure element 3 is such as to guarantee the tightness , so that the part of the closure element 3 covered by said control element 7 will no longer be subject to the effects of the external atmosphere, because it is sealed.

According to the illustrated embodiment, said closure element 3 comprises a permeable part 31, which has a flat shape, preferably of uniform thickness.

Preferably, when said control element 7 is coupled to closure element 3, between said part 31 of closure element 3 and said impermeable control element 7, a chamber or air gap is formed, so waterproof.

The illustrated embodiment comprises a valve element 72. Said valve element 72 is intended to allow the injection, in a controlled manner, of at least one gas into said chamber or air gap, under positive pressure. Said valve element 72 can be connected to a tank in order to be able to introduce a gas inside said chamber in a controlled manner.

More generally, as indicated above, the assembly according to the present invention concerns the aging-storage-breeding phases and not the container intended for sale, and therefore in particular the assemblies in which the containers 2 have a greater volume or equal to 60 liters

The present invention further relates to a method of making an assembly according to claim of the present invention.

The method comprises at least the following steps consisting in:
- Make a container 2 impermeable to gases "G" having at least one opening 22;
- making a closure element 3 comprising at least one gas-permeable part "G"31;
- assembling said container 2 and said closure element 3 with each other, removably connecting said closure element 3 to said opening 22 so as to close said opening 22 in a sealed manner.

According to a possible embodiment of the container 2, the same container is made of technical ceramic materials, porcelain, sandstone and/or their derivatives.

According to another possible mode of implementation, given by way of non-limiting example, of the method according to the present invention, the latter further comprises a step consisting in producing a control element 7 in any material impermeable to gases “G ". Preferably, the present step is carried out before the step consisting in assembling said container 2 and said closure element 3 with each other.

According to the same embodiment of the method, there is also a step consisting in selectively coupling said control element 7 to said closure element 3 so as to selectively modify the permeability of said closure element 3. Preferably, the present step is performed after the step of assembling said container 2 and said closure element 3 with each other.

The method according to a possible mode of implementation provides that the step consisting in producing a container 2 comprises at least one baking sub-step. This sub-step is particularly advantageous in the case where said container 2 is made of ceramic, porcelain, stoneware or their derivatives. For this type of materials, it is necessary to bake the intermediate product.

According to a possible embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the step consisting in producing a container 2 comprises at least one sub-step of assembling various parts produced.

This sub-step makes it possible to produce the container 2 by assembling various parts formed with molds so as to be able to obtain the desired configuration. By way of example, with the execution of this sub-step it is possible to use molds and/or shapes to obtain parts with a constant radius of curvature and/or the absence of flat surfaces and/ or ridges both in the outer surface and, above all, in the inner surface, so as to facilitate the steps of washing and disinfecting the container 2.

This assembly sub-step is advantageously carried out before the baking sub-step.

Preferably, the step consisting in producing a container 2 comprises a sub-step consisting in placing the container 2 in the position of use before the execution of the baking sub-step but after the assembly sub-step .

According to the preferred embodiment, said sub-step consisting of placing the container 2 in the use position provides for placing the opening 22 of the container 2 facing downwards.

In the present embodiment, the container 2 will be placed on an oven floor 52 of the oven 5 through said opening 22.

In the preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the step consisting in producing a container 2 comprises at least one assembly sub-step; at least one sub-step of placing the container and at least one sub-step of cooking in the oven, as previously specified.

The present mode of implementation makes it possible to produce the container 2 with the assembly of various parts formed using molds before cooking and then to place it in an oven 5 for cooking in the position of use, it is that is to say with the opening 22, which is also useful for the purposes of manufacturing the container 2, facing downwards. In this mode of implementation of the process, the bearing surface of the container 2 in the oven 5 is the edge defining the opening 22. This edge of the opening 22 can be rectified after the sub-step of cooking in the oven .

This mode of implementation has the effect that the enameling produced on the container 2 is devoid of defects.

A preferred embodiment of the container 2 and of the method for producing said container 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which represent by way of non-limiting example the step consisting in producing said container 2 of the assembly according to the present invention. .

There represents in particular a step of producing, by cooking, the container 2 by means of an oven 5.

It is possible to understand from the that said opening 22 is used as a point of support for container 2 on the oven bottom 52 of said oven 5. This arrangement of container 2 is also particularly advantageous for successfully obtaining the substantially spherical, ovoid or cylindrical shape of container 2.

There schematically represents certain structural characteristics of the container 2 intended to be produced via the step of producing the .

We see on the a container 2 defining an interior volume "Wine" by means of the structure 20, which comprises a neck 21 at the distal end of which said opening 22 is located. The distal end of this neck 21 will be the only place at which the container made with the baking sub-step illustrated in the will be devoid of enamel, but at the same time this part can be easily rectified and compensated by appropriately designing the shape of the closure element 3 to be associated with this opening 22.

In the mode of implementation of the method of which the step of selective coupling of said control element 7 forms part, this step is carried out by being able to modify the surface of superposition between the control element 7 and the closure element 3. Depending on the overlapping surface, the total permeability of the closure element will change because part of the permeable part 31 of the closure element 3 is covered, and therefore isolated, by said control element 7.

According to a possible mode of implementation of the method according to the present invention, in the case where the step consisting in coupling said control element 7 to said closure element 3 is such that said closure element 3 becomes completely impermeable, the method can include a sub-step consisting in injecting at least one gas into a chamber or air gap formed between said control element 7 and said closing element 3, for example through a valve element 72.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in industrial and/or artisanal environments such as, for example, for drums, vats, etc., having an internal volume of at least 60 liters.

The step of producing a closure element 3 comprises at least one sub-step consisting of producing at least one gas-permeable part “G” 31.

Said sub-step is preferably implemented by producing this permeable part 31 in a planar form, for example in the form of a planar layer. More preferably, this permeable part 31 can have an area ranging from a few square centimeters to one square meter, depending on the type of drink "L" and/or the internal volume "Wine" of the container to which the closing element 3 will be associated.

The step of making a closure element 3 provides for making said closure element 3 or at least said permeable part 31 out of wood, technical ceramics, porcelain, stoneware and/or terracotta.

The method optionally comprises a subsequent step consisting in associating a valve element 4. Said step can be carried out following any of the steps of the method described.

Said valve element can have the technical characteristics described previously and be associated with the container 2 or with the closure element 3 depending on the embodiment of the assembly that is desired.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in the oenological field, in particular for the production of wine or for the production of fermented drinks, liqueurs and spirits in general, or the like.

The container 2 of the assembly according to the present invention can be made of a material that is substantially impermeable to fluids, in particular impermeable to liquids and gases "G", therefore this container 2 can be made, for example, of materials such as ceramics, synthetic materials, metals, etc., while said closure element 3 comprises at least one part 31 which is made of at least one material permeable in particular to gases "G" but preferably not to liquids, allowing a passage significant, predetermined and/or at least determinable “G” gas. This closure element 3 can be removed from the assembly for its cleaning and/or its disinfection many times, it is therefore reusable.

The assembly according to the present invention makes it possible to combine the high aptitude for washing and disinfection of a container 2, insofar as it is impermeable and/or smoother, with a closure element 3 having at least one permeable 31, which is easily removable so that it can be disinfected with more thorough methods and means. The advantage is even more evident in the case where said closure element 3, and in particular the permeable part 31, has a planar layer structure. This flatness facilitates the coupling of this closure element 3 with the control element 7, which is also removable from the outside, therefore without having to transfer the liquid contained in the container 2.

The lateral edge or the remaining part of the closure element 3, since it is completely permeable, potentially not sealed by the control element 7, can be characterized, if it is made of ceramic material, by a layer of gas-impermeable enamel “G”.

The use of at least one closure element 3, having at least one permeable part 31, and/or of at least one control element 7, makes it possible to obtain characteristic customizations of organoleptic and/or gaseous exchanges, allowing, for example, a wine or a spirit to develop as it "ages", since there will be an exchange of substances between the liquid and the container 2 and/or through the container 2 in a more manageable way and controlled.

The present invention is particularly advantageous in the case where said permeable part 31 is a flat structure because the production of flat surfaces is facilitated, in particular those of moderate dimensions, in the case where it is a question of materials based on wood but also traditional ceramics or technical ceramics.

The present invention makes it possible to produce said permeable part 31 of the closure element 3 from wood or natural earth, that is to say intended for the manufacture of ceramics, the choice of which may be linked to a particular interest. manifested by the end customer, for example for personal reasons which are specific to him, for scientific, parascientific, affective, aesthetic reasons, etc., thus making it possible to personalize the machining and to obtain a very great flexibility of applications of the together, until it is possible to make each supply and use unique, for example by exclusively modifying said permeable part 31.

DIGITAL REFERENCES
Container 2
Frame 20
Collar 21
Opening 22
Closing element 3
Part 31
Valve element 4
Oven 5
Oven floor 52
Support structure 6
Control element 7
Valve element 72
Gas “G”
“L” drink
“R” residues
“Wine” interior volume.

Claims (15)

Set including:
- a container (2) intended for ageing, storing and/or aging an alcoholic beverage (L) in crafts and/or industry, comprising at least one opening (22) and an interior volume (Wine);
- at least one closure element (3) intended to close the opening (22) of the container (2) in a sealed manner;
- said closure element (3) being selectively removable from said opening (22) and being reusable;
characterized in that:
- said container (2) is impermeable to gases (G);
- said closure element (3) comprises at least one part (31) made of at least one material permeable to gases (G), in a controlled manner, but impermeable to liquids. Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one control element (7), made of a gas-impermeable material (G), intended to modify, at least in part, the permeability of the closure (3) with which it is associated. Assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said container (2) has an interior volume (Vin) greater than or equal to 60 litres. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that among the gases (G) to which said part (31) of said closure element (3) is permeable is at least oxygen. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said container (2) is made of technical ceramics, porcelain, stoneware or their derivatives. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said closing element (3) has a planar configuration. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said opening (22) is located in the part of the container (2) intended to fulfill the function of base or support for the said container (2). Assembly according to Claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the said closure element (3) is made of wood-based materials, technical ceramics, porcelain, stoneware and/or terracotta. Assembly according to Claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the said container (2) has a substantially spherical or ovoid structure, comprising a support part defining a neck (21) in which this opening (22) is made. Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has a valve element (4) at least intended to allow the release of a gaseous constituent contained in the internal volume of the said container (2). Assembly according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said valve element (4) is further intended to allow the controlled entry of inert gases. Method for producing an assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following steps consisting in:
- making a container (2) impermeable to gases (G) having at least one opening (22);
- producing a closure element (3) comprising at least one part (31) permeable to gases (G);
- assembling said container (2) and said closure element (3) together, removably connecting said closure element (3) to said opening (22) so as to seal said opening (22). Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the step consisting in producing a container (2) comprises at least one baking sub-step. Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the step consisting in producing a container (2) comprises at least one sub-step of assembling various parts produced using moulds, which is carried out before a sub-step baking;
prior to a baking sub-step, it has a sub-step consisting in placing said container (2) in an oven (5), as obtained after the assembly sub-step, with an opening (22) turned down. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that it comprises the following steps consisting in:
- making a control element (7) in any gas-impermeable material (G);
- selectively coupling said control element (7) to said closing element (3) so as to selectively modify the permeability of said closing element (3).