WO2008072240A2

WO2008072240A2 - Apparatus for maintaining co2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage

Info

Publication number: WO2008072240A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Golan Fredi Hawk
Original assignee: A.I.T. Technical Development Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-12-12
Filing date: 2007-12-12
Publication date: 2008-06-19
Also published as: IL180015A0; WO2008072240A8; WO2008072240A3

Abstract

An apparatus for maintaining CO2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base portion for mounting on the bottle, a CO2 releasing mechanism for allowing CO2 to be released from the bottle, a housing for receiving and storing CO2 that is released from the bottle, a sealing portion for alternatingly sealing CO2 within the housing and allowing CO2 to exit the housing, and an internal volume control for regulating the volume of the portion of said housing that receives and stores CO2. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a conduit in communication with a bottle interior, such as with use of a hollow piercing element or a sealed pierceable closure element, and a valve in communication with the conduit for regulating an outflow of the carbonated beverage from the bottle interior.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING COa IN A BOTTLE CONTAINING A

CARBONATED BEVERAGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to the field of pressurized bottles.

In particular, the present invention relates to bottles containing a carbonated beverage, and an apparatus for maintaining CO2 therein, such as by storing CO2 released from the bottle and readmitting the CO2 to the bottle.

Background of the Invention

A carbonated beverage generally comprises CO2 dissolved in a water and sugar mixture under pressure. The liquid is generally cooled and the CO2 is added at a high pressure in order to maximize the amount of gas dissolved in the liquid. When the bottle is opened for the first time, the pressure differential inside and outside of the bottle equalizes itself and the high pressure CO2 in the space above the surface of the liquid escapes from bottle. Since the pressure of the dissolved CO2 is dependent on the pressure of the gas above the surface of the liquid, CO2 escapes from the liquid as well.

As the beverage is used and the volume of liquid in the bottle decreases, the volume of the empty space in the bottle increases, and -the partial pressure of the dissolved CO2 gas in the liquid and the CO2 above the liquid arrives at a new equilibrium in which the amount of gas dissolved steadily is reduced until eventually, the beverage goes "flat".

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for maintaining CO2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for storing and readmitting CO2 released from a bottle containing a carbonated beverage.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a CO2 maintaining apparatus that does not require skill to operate.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a CO2 maintaining apparatus that is disposable.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining CO2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage. The apparatus comprises a base portion for mounting on said bottle; a CO2 releasing mechanism for allowing CO2 to be released from said bottle; a housing for receiving and storing CO2 that is released from said bottle; a sealing portion for alternatingly sealing CO2 within said housing and allowing CO2 to exit said housing; and, an internal volume control for regulating the volume of the portion of said housing that receives and stores CO2.

In one aspect, the base portion is mounted on the cap of the bottle and the internal surface of the base portion comprises a screw tap.

In one aspect, the CO2 releasing mechanism further comprises a sharp object such as a pin.

According to an embodiment, the internal volume control is a slidable piston.

In one aspect, the housing comprises a plurality of internally protruding guides, and the piston comprises indented grooves for accommodating said guides, such that said piston is slidable within said housing only along a predetermined path.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for maintaining CO2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage, said apparatus comprising conduit means in communication with a bottle interior and valve means in communication with said conduit means for regulating an outflow of said carbonated beverage from said bottle interior.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is a bottle supporting apparatus, said bottle supporting apparatus comprising a bottle supporting surface from which protrudes a hollow piercing element in communication with the conduit means, said piercing element adapted to pierce said bottle when the latter is brought substantially in contact with said bottle supporting surface, whereby to urge the beverage to exit the bottle interior.

In one aspect, the bottle supporting apparatus is configured with a bottle supporting surface which is complementary to a bottle bottom surface and with substantially vertical guiding surfaces, the distance between said guiding surfaces being substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the outer diameter of the bottle.

In one aspect, the apparatus further comprises a planar bottom surface to be placed on a suitable underlying surface.

In another embodiment, the conduit means is attached to, and extends downwardly from a sealed closure element provided in bottle cap means. In one aspect, a bottommost portion of the conduit means is slightly spaced from a bottle bottom surface.

In one aspect, the conduit means comprises an internal conduit and an external conduit in communication with said internal conduit, the valve means being in communication with said external conduit.

In one aspect, the external conduit is releasably attachable to the closure element or to the internal conduit.

In one aspect, the apparatus further comprises a releasable protective enclosure attached to the bottle, for protecting the external conduit and the valve means.

In one aspect, the apparatus further comprises bottle cap means occluding a neck of the bottle which remains in a closed position.

In one aspect, the external conduit and the valve means are available as a kit.

Brief Description of the Figures In the drawings ^: -Fig. 1 illustrates a front perspective schematic view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention situated above a bottle containing a carbonated beverage.

-Fig. 2 illustrates a cross- sectional view taken along A-A of Fig. 1, showing the initial position of the internal components of the apparatus of the present invention.

-Fig. 2a illustrates a top view of a bottle cap having external threading formed on its outer surface.

-Fig. 3 illustrates the view of Fig. 2 after the piston is thrust downward, pushing the pin into the sealing layer and the cap.

-Fig. 4 illustrates the view of Fig. 2, after the housing fills up with

CO2 released from the bottle.

-Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

-Fig. 6 is a schematic, vertical cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

When a bottle of carbonated beverage is opened, the surplus CO2 that was introduced into the bottle when it was filled escapes and some of the CO2 that is dissolved within the liquid also escapes until the partial pressure of the gas dissolved within the liquid equals that in space above it in the bottle. As the beverage is used (and the bottle is repeatedly opened and closed), the empty volume in the bottle increases and the amount of CO2 dissolved in the liquid decreases until the carbonated beverage goes "flat".

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, CO2 is maintained in the carbonated beverage bottle by means of an apparatus for receiving and storing CO2 that is released from the bottle, and for readmitting the stored CO2 to the bottle.

The terms, "mounted on the cap" and, "mounted on the bottle" are used herein interchangeably, and refer to the placement and fastening of the apparatus of the present invention on the cap of a bottle.

The apparatus of the present invention, shown in Fig. 1 and generally designated by the numeral (lOO), comprises a housing (llO) for receiving and storing CO2 that is released from a bottle (12), a base portion (140) integrally extending from the lower end of housing (llO) for mounting apparatus (lOO) on the cap (lO) of bottle (12), and a piston mechanism (160) for adjusting the portion of the internal volume of housing (llO) that receives and stores the released CO2.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of apparatus (lOO) taken along A-A of Fig. 1, wherein apparatus (lOO) in Fig. 2 is shown mounted on cap (lO) of bottle (12) (wherein bottle (12) is in a side elevation view, i.e. not cross- sectional) and the internal components of apparatus (100) can be seen. Internal surface (142) of base portion (140) comprises a screw tap, which, when positioned above cap (10) and rotated counterclockwise, forms an external thread (14) on the outer surface of cap (lθ). External thread (14) is preferably formed in the vertical ribbing (16) that protrudes from the outer surface (ll) of a conventional bottle cap (lθ), as shown in the top view of cap (10) in Fig. 2a. Since vertical ribbing (16) comprises a non- continuous surface, external thread (14) may be formed relatively easily by rotating the screw tap, without having to pierce the continuous outer surface (ll) of the cap.

In an initial position, shown in Fig. 2, the lower end (162) of piston (160) is in contact with lower stopper (112). Preferably, the height of lower stopper (112) is at least as great as the length of pin (164), which depends from lower end (162) of piston (160). Thus, the sharp tip (166) of pin (164) is in casual contact with, or spaced slightly from the sealing layer (116) of housing (llO).

Sealing layer (116) is preferably made of a thin metal material, and is capable of being punctured by pin (164). When apparatus (100) is mounted on bottle (12), as shown in Fig. 2, the top of cap (lθ) is essentially in contact with the lower surface of sealing layer (116). Pin (164) is shown in the figures herein in a conical shape, however, any sharp-tipped object capable of puncturing both sealing layer (116) and cap (lθ), as described herein below, may be utilized. Lower stopper (112) (as well as upper stopper (114)) is preferably made of a compressible elastic, foam or sponge- like material, which is rigid enough to support piston (160) in an initial position, yet may be compressed when piston (160) is thrust downward toward bottle (12) such that pin (164) punctures sealing layer (116) followed by cap (lθ), as described herein below.

Although not shown in the figures herein for clarity purposes, housing (110) comprises internally protruding guides, and piston (160) comprises indented grooves for accommodating the guides, such that piston (160) is slidable along a predetermined path. Piston (160) preferably does not undergo any rotational motion about its longitudinal axis (158) within housing (llO). Hence, pin (164) is maintained directly above the aperture formed in sealing layer (116), as described herein below.

Prior to operating, apparatus (100) is mounted on an unopened bottle (12) (i.e. never been opened subsequent to being filled with a carbonated beverage) by positioning on top of cap (lθ) and rotating in a counterclockwise manner until cap (lθ) is in contact with sealing layer (116), as described herein above. Care is to be taken such that cap (10) does not open, and preferably does not even rotate, during the mounting procedure. As seen in Fig. 3, in order to operate apparatus, piston (160) is thrust downward, as indicated by arrow (120), thereby compressing lower stopper (112), and causing pin (164) to puncture both sealing layer (116) and cap (lθ). Pin (164) is shown, for illustrative purposes, inside of cap (10). When the aperture (not shown) is formed in cap (lθ), CO2 escapes from bottle (12) through the aperture in cap (lO), and is released into housing (HO) through the aperture (not shown) formed in sealing layer (116). As seen in Fig. 4, the release of pressurized CO2 into housing (HO) causes piston (I6θ) to be forced upward, as indicated by arrow (122). When housing (HO) is filled with CO2, lower end (162) of piston (160) is in contact with upper stopper (114).

When bottle (12) is opened for the first time, housing (HO) generally is completely filled with CO2 that is released from the high pressure bottle (12) (Fig. 4). However, as described herein above, after repeatedly opening and closing bottle (12) and removing the carbonated beverage, the amount of CO2 contained within bottle (12) is decreased, and the partial pressure of the dissolved CO2 gas in the liquid and the CO2 above the liquid arrives at a new equilibrium. The amount of CO2 that fills housing (110) decreases, which results in a decrease in upward force applied to piston (160), and hence, a decrease in the volume of housing (HO) which receives and stores CO2. After the released CO2 enters housing (HO), apparatus (IOO) is rotated slightly in a clockwise direction in order to disalign the aperture formed in sealing layer (116) from the aperture formed in cap (lO). Sealing layer (116) and cap (lO) essentially form a sealed housing which does not allow the high pressure CO2 stored within housing (HO) to escape through the apertures.

Apparatus (IOO) and cap (10) may now be removed from bottle (12), typically by rotating in a counterclockwise direction, making sure not to re-align the apertures formed in sealing layer (116) and cap (10) in the process.

Following removal of the desired amount of the desired amount of carbonated beverage from bottle (12), apparatus (IOO) and cap (lO) are replaced on bottle (12), by rotating in a clockwise direction. When cap (10) is fully rotated, apparatus is rotated such that the two apertures are realigned. As soon as the apertures are re-aligned, the high pressure COz contained within housing (HO) immediately rushes out of housing (HO) to, and equalize itself with the lower pressure environment within bottle (12). Depending on the amount of CO2 contained within bottle (12), lower end (l66) of piston (160) may return to the initial position, in contact with lower stopper (112) (e.g. if a relatively small quantity of CO2 remains within bottle (12)), or piston may be maintained suspended within housing (110) in an intermediate position (e.g. if a relatively large quantity of CO2 remains within bottle).

As seen in the figures, pin (164) depends from lower end (162) of piston (160), off-center from the longitudinal axis (158) of piston (l60). This is necessary so that the apertures created in sealing layer (116) and cap (lO) may be alternatingly aligned and disaligned. If pin (164) were to depend from piston (16O) along its longitudinal axis, rotation of apparatus (lOO) will not result in disalignment of the two apertures. Rather, they would merely rotate about their same central axis (158).

The present invention is preferably a disposable apparatus, made from inexpensive materials, which may be discarded after a single use, i.e. for opening only one bottle. The dimensions of the base portion (140) are suitable for mounting on a conventional carbonated beverage bottle cap, as described herein above. The length of housing (HO) and piston (160) preferably vary according to the volume of the bottle with which apparatus (lOO) is utilized with. For use with a large bottle, housing (HO) and piston (16O) are longer than for use with a small bottle.

It is understood that references to rotational directions (e.g. clockwise and counterclockwise) are merely illustrative examples according to conventional bottle and bottle cap structures, and should not be considered limitative in any way.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, the bottle cap remains closed to prevent the escape of high pressure CO≥ from the bottle, and therefore the high pressure CO2 is maintained in the space above the surface of the liquid, thereby ensuring that CO2 remains dissolved within the liquid and maintaining the good taste of the beverage. A conduit is in communication with the interior of the bottle, and the flow of the carbonated beverage through the conduit is regulated by means of a valve.

In Fig. 5, a bottle supporting apparatus (50) is used to cause the beverage liquid to exit bottle (12) having an unopened cap (53). Apparatus (50) is configured with a bottom surface (51) to be placed on a suitable underlying surface, a concave surface (52) which is complementary to the bottom surface (54) of bottle (12), and with substantially vertical guiding surfaces (55) and (56), the distance between which is substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the outer diameter of bottle (12). A hollow piercing element (58), which may be pointed, protrudes from surface (52). The housing (60) of apparatus (50) between bottom surface (51) and concave surface (52) is also formed with an internal conduit (61), which is in communication with the interior of piercing element (58). An external conduit (62) is also in communication with internal conduit (61). External conduit (62) may be suitably connected to outer wall (69) of housing such as by threading, or alternatively, may be integrally formed with internal conduit (61). A valve (65) in fluid communication with external conduit (62) is adapted to regulate the flow of the carbonated beverage from the interior of bottle (12). Apparatus (50) is preferably provided with sealing elements (not shown) surrounding internal conduit (61) on surface (52) and surrounding external conduit (62) on outer wall (69).

When bottle (12) is lowered onto bottle supporting apparatus (50) as indicated by arrow (64), bottom surface (54) of bottle (12) is pierced. The high pressure CO2 occupying the space above the liquid surface urges the carbonated beverage through hollow piercing element (58) and conduits (61) and (62). Upon actuation of valve (65), the carbonated beverage having a partial pressure of dissolved COz much greater than prior art devices can exit from the interior of bottle (12) and be delivered to a selected liquid receptacle, e.g. cup (67).

Fig. 6 illustrates apparatus (70) for maintaining CO2 within beverage bottle (12). Apparatus (70) comprises an internal conduit (71) disposed within bottle (12) such that bottommost portion (79) thereof is slightly spaced from bottom surface (54) of bottle (12). Internal conduit (71) is attached to sealed closure element (78), e.g. a membrane, provided within a portion of cap (76). Cap (76) may be a conventional commercially available cap, or may be integrally formed with bottle (12). An external conduit (72) is also in communication with internal conduit (71). External conduit (72) may be suitably connected to closure element (78) of housing such as by threading, or alternatively, may be integrally formed with internal conduit (71). A valve (75) in fluid communication with external conduit (72) is adapted to regulate the flow of the carbonated beverage from the interior of bottle (12). The high pressure CO2 occupying the space above the liquid surface urges the carbonated beverage through conduits (71) and (72) .via bottommost portion (79).

When apparatus (70) is provided with a single conduit by which the carbonated beverage exits the bottle interior, an additional protective enclosure (81) schematically indicated by dotted lines may be releasably attached to bottle (12) by any means well known to those skilled in the art, to protect the portion of the conduit which protrudes from cap 76 during transportation, storage and handling. Walls (83) of protective enclosure (8l) may be arranged to form a continuous surface with walls (73) of bottle (12) and a flat upper surface (85) as shown, or alternatively may be configured in any other desired fashion.

When apparatus (70) is provided with an internal conduit (71) and an external conduit (72), external conduit (72), together with valve 75, may be sold as a kit attached to walls (73) of bottle (12), or alternatively, separately from bottle (12). One end of external conduit (72) is suitable arranged such that when it is attached to closure element (78), the latter is pierced and the carbonated beverage is allowed to exit the interior of bottle (12).

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining COz in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage, said apparatus comprising: a. a base portion for mounting on said bottleJ b. a CO2 releasing mechanism for allowing CO2 to be released from said bottle; c. a housing for receiving and storing CO2 that is released from said bottle; d. a sealing portion for alternatingly sealing CO2 within said housing and allowing CO2 to exit said housing; and, e. an internal volume control for regulating the volume of the portion of said housing that receives and stores CO2.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is mounted on the cap of the bottle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the internal surface of the base portion comprises a screw tap.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the CO2 releasing mechanism comprises a sharp object such as a pin.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal volume control is a slidable piston.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of internally protruding guides, and the piston comprises indented grooves for accommodating said guides, such that said piston is slidable within said housing only along a predetermined path.

7. An apparatus for maintaining CO2 in a bottle containing a carbonated beverage, said apparatus comprising conduit means in communication with a bottle interior and valve means in communication with said conduit means for regulating an outflow of said carbonated beverage from said bottle interior.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, which is a bottle supporting apparatus, said bottle supporting apparatus comprising a bottle supporting surface from which protrudes a hollow piercing element in communication with the conduit means, said piercing element adapted to pierce said bottle when the latter is brought substantially in contact with said bottle supporting surface, whereby to urge the beverage to exit the bottle interior.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bottle supporting apparatus is configured with a bottle supporting surface which is complementary to a bottle bottom surface and with substantially vertical guiding surfaces, the distance between said guiding surfaces being substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the outer diameter of the bottle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a planar bottom surface to be placed on a suitable underlying surface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the conduit means is attached to, and extends downwardly from a sealed closure element provided in bottle cap means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a bottommost portion of the conduit means is slightly spaced from a bottle bottom surface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the conduit means comprises an internal conduit and an external conduit in communication with said internal conduit, the valve means being in communication with said external conduit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the external conduit is releasably attachable to the closure element or to the internal conduit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a releasable protective enclosure attached to the bottle, for protecting the external conduit and the valve means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 11, further comprising bottle cap means occluding a neck of the bottle which remains in a closed position.

17. A kit according to claim 13, comprising the external conduit and the valve means.