GB2091705A - Decanting Aid and Method for Decanting Enclosures - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of decanting liquids having sediments, from an enclosure 15, comprises inserting a decanting aid into the enclosure. The aid comprises a length of tubing 11 with a clip 12 which engages the side of the opening and so holds the tubing to that side. The bottom end of the tubing can be provided with a oneway valve arranged to stop entry of the liquid into the tubing. Liquid is decanted without disturbing any sediment since air enters the enclosure smoothly through tube 11 rather than by an irregular sequence of inrushes of large air bubbles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Decanting Aid and Method for Decanting Enclosures The present invention concerns a decanting aid and a method for decanting enclosures.

There is a problem in decanting bottles used especially for home-brewing of beer in that the act of pouring disturbs sediment.

According to one aspect of the invention, a decanting aid comprises a length of tubing with a clip such that the tube can be inserted into a bottle and lie on one side of the bottle.

When decanting or pouring beer from the bottle the tube would be on the higher side of the bottle so that air can enter the bottle smoothly rather than the beer glugging out followed by an air inrush and then further beer glugging out. Beer or another liquid can be kept out of the tube during insertion by sealing off the free end with a finger which is removed during pouring, by a valve, or by having the end at ieast of the tube of, or treated with, a hydrophobic substance, in which case it may be better to use a flattish tube.

The length of tube should preferably be such that the bottom end of the tube is above the sediment and a convenient position for the tube end is just below the bottle neck where the bottle widens out.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of decanting or pouring liquid from bottles and other enclosures comprising inserting one end of a length of tubing fitted with a clip into the enclosure to a depth preestablished by the clip such that the end projects only part way down the enclosure and then tipping the enclosure to decant or pour out the contents from the enclosure gently.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is the simplest form of a decanting aid, Figure 2 shows the decanting aid of Figure 1 with a valve, and Figure 3 shows the method of decanting or pouring.

Figure 1 shows a length of semi-rigid plastic tubing 11 about 7 mm. in diameter and about 23 cm. long fitted with a clip 1 2 which is preferably tightly slidable along the tubing. The clip is designed to fit over a bottle neck. In Figure 2 a valve 14 is fixed at the bottom end of the tubing.

This valve is illustrated as a float operated valve but a one-way flap valve, a non-return valve of the type having an easily distended rubber tube covering ports in the side of the tubing, any other version of non-return valve, or surface tension effects could be used. For surface tension effects at least the bottom part would be made of, or treated with a hydrophobic substance; these effects rely on the surface tension of the contents holding the contents out of the tubing and can be assisted by partially flattening the bottom end of the tubing possibly to the extent of ending up with a row of smaller air flow ducts.In both Figures 1 and 2, the tubing has a slight curvature with the clip being fitted on the inside of the curvature and the clip is shown as a type similar to that used on a pen, wherein the resiliency of a plastics material or of a springy metal draws the tubing hard against the side of the bottie. Especially if the tubing had a more enhanced curvature, the clip need only locate the tubing lengthwise and could have an elongate dependent external tongue which would be gripped when the bottle would be gripped.

Figure 3 shows the method of pouring out the contents from a bottle 1 5. The tubing is inserted into the bottle neck and the clip engaged. Due to the curvature of the tubing the inserted end lies closely adjacent to the side of the bottle engaged by the clip below the neck of the bottle and well above any sediment to be expected in the bottle.

The bottle is then gently tilted, so as to not disturb the sediment more than is necessary, and the contents flow smoothly out with air entering directly into the air space within the bottle (even if the bottom end of the tubing is still immersed, the air flow will take the form of a more even flow of air bubbles rather than an irregular sequence of inrushes of large air bubbles).

The internal bore of the tubing can occupy only a small part of the bottle neck cross-section in view of the better flow characteristics of gases over liquids but care should be taken to ensure that there is sufficient air flow through the tubing to avoid glugging.

Claims

1. A decanting aid comprising a length of tubing with a clip such that the tubing can be inserted into a bottle and lie on one side of the bottle.

2. A decanting aid according to claim 1 wherein the clip is a tight sliding fit on the tubing.

3. A decanting aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a one-way valve is fitted at the end of the tubing to be inserted int the bottle neck.

4. A decanting aid according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubing has a slight curvature and wherein the clip is fitted on the inside of that curvature.

5. A decanting aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of decanting or pouring liquid from bottles and other enclosures comprising inserting one end of a length of tubing fitted with a clip into the closure to a depth preestablished by the clip such that the end projects only part way down the enclosure and then tipping the enclosure to decant or pour out the contents from the enclosure gently.

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Decanting Aid and Method for Decanting Enclosures The present invention concerns a decanting aid and a method for decanting enclosures. There is a problem in decanting bottles used especially for home-brewing of beer in that the act of pouring disturbs sediment. According to one aspect of the invention, a decanting aid comprises a length of tubing with a clip such that the tube can be inserted into a bottle and lie on one side of the bottle. When decanting or pouring beer from the bottle the tube would be on the higher side of the bottle so that air can enter the bottle smoothly rather than the beer glugging out followed by an air inrush and then further beer glugging out. Beer or another liquid can be kept out of the tube during insertion by sealing off the free end with a finger which is removed during pouring, by a valve, or by having the end at ieast of the tube of, or treated with, a hydrophobic substance, in which case it may be better to use a flattish tube. The length of tube should preferably be such that the bottom end of the tube is above the sediment and a convenient position for the tube end is just below the bottle neck where the bottle widens out. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of decanting or pouring liquid from bottles and other enclosures comprising inserting one end of a length of tubing fitted with a clip into the enclosure to a depth preestablished by the clip such that the end projects only part way down the enclosure and then tipping the enclosure to decant or pour out the contents from the enclosure gently. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is the simplest form of a decanting aid, Figure 2 shows the decanting aid of Figure 1 with a valve, and Figure 3 shows the method of decanting or pouring. Figure 1 shows a length of semi-rigid plastic tubing 11 about 7 mm. in diameter and about 23 cm. long fitted with a clip 1 2 which is preferably tightly slidable along the tubing. The clip is designed to fit over a bottle neck. In Figure 2 a valve 14 is fixed at the bottom end of the tubing. This valve is illustrated as a float operated valve but a one-way flap valve, a non-return valve of the type having an easily distended rubber tube covering ports in the side of the tubing, any other version of non-return valve, or surface tension effects could be used. For surface tension effects at least the bottom part would be made of, or treated with a hydrophobic substance; these effects rely on the surface tension of the contents holding the contents out of the tubing and can be assisted by partially flattening the bottom end of the tubing possibly to the extent of ending up with a row of smaller air flow ducts.In both Figures 1 and 2, the tubing has a slight curvature with the clip being fitted on the inside of the curvature and the clip is shown as a type similar to that used on a pen, wherein the resiliency of a plastics material or of a springy metal draws the tubing hard against the side of the bottie. Especially if the tubing had a more enhanced curvature, the clip need only locate the tubing lengthwise and could have an elongate dependent external tongue which would be gripped when the bottle would be gripped. Figure 3 shows the method of pouring out the contents from a bottle 1 5. The tubing is inserted into the bottle neck and the clip engaged. Due to the curvature of the tubing the inserted end lies closely adjacent to the side of the bottle engaged by the clip below the neck of the bottle and well above any sediment to be expected in the bottle. The bottle is then gently tilted, so as to not disturb the sediment more than is necessary, and the contents flow smoothly out with air entering directly into the air space within the bottle (even if the bottom end of the tubing is still immersed, the air flow will take the form of a more even flow of air bubbles rather than an irregular sequence of inrushes of large air bubbles). The internal bore of the tubing can occupy only a small part of the bottle neck cross-section in view of the better flow characteristics of gases over liquids but care should be taken to ensure that there is sufficient air flow through the tubing to avoid glugging. Claims

1. A decanting aid comprising a length of tubing with a clip such that the tubing can be inserted into a bottle and lie on one side of the bottle.

2. A decanting aid according to claim 1 wherein the clip is a tight sliding fit on the tubing.

3. A decanting aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a one-way valve is fitted at the end of the tubing to be inserted int the bottle neck.

4. A decanting aid according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubing has a slight curvature and wherein the clip is fitted on the inside of that curvature.

5. A decanting aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of decanting or pouring liquid from bottles and other enclosures comprising inserting one end of a length of tubing fitted with a clip into the closure to a depth preestablished by the clip such that the end projects only part way down the enclosure and then tipping the enclosure to decant or pour out the contents from the enclosure gently.

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising adjusting the position to suit the enclosure prior to inserting said one end into the enclosure.

8. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.