WO2016125062A2

WO2016125062A2 - Bung for self-release

Info

Publication number: WO2016125062A2
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050487
Authority: WO
Inventors: David SHABTAY
Original assignee: O.D.S. Exit Technologies Projects Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-02-02
Filing date: 2016-01-31
Publication date: 2016-08-11
Also published as: WO2016125062A3

Abstract

Various bungs including a bunging substance, for inserting into a neck of a bottle to seal the bottle. An ampule is disposed within the bunging substance. The ampule is configured to include a compressed gas. A hollow-bore needle having a hollow bore is disposed within the bung, and on activation of self-release, the hollow-bore needle is configured to convey a portion of the gas through the hollow bore into the bottle.

Description

BUNG FOR SELF-RELEASE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of bungs, corks and particularly to a bung and releasing the bung from a bottle and for a method for maintaining beverage quality.

BACKGROUND ART

A bung is a cylindrical or conical closure for sealing a bottle, tube or barrel. Unlike a lid, which encloses the container from the outside without displacing the inner volume, the bung is at least partially inserted inside the container, i.e., into the bottle neck, to act as a seal.

Bungs used for wine bottles are often referred to as "corks", even when made from another material other than cork. A cork typically requires an external tool, e.g. corkscrew, for releasing it from the bottle neck. The external tool screws into the cork and a pulling action upwards is applied also on the inserted portion of the cork. However, releasing a cork from a bottle using a corkscrew may occasionally fail, especially when the material of the cork is disintegrated. A corkscrew may not be readily available.

Wine exposed to air before drinking is stripped it of its vibrancy as aromatic compounds in the wine evaporate and compounds in the wine oxidizes. Eventually the wine may begin to turn brown and bitter and into vinegar. Merely re-inserting a cork into a bottle of wine may be insufficient to prevent oxidation of the wine as significant air has entered the bottle.

There is thus a need for and it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus for reliably releasing a bung without requiring any external tool. There is also a need for maintaining beverage quality such as protecting wine from oxidation after the wine bottle is first opened. BRIEF SUMMARY

Various bungs are provided for herein including a bunging substance, for inserting into a neck of a bottle to seal the bottle. An ampule is disposed within the bunging substance. The ampule is configured to include a compressed gas. A hollow-bore needle having a hollow bore is disposed within the bung, and on activation of self-release, the hollow-bore needle is configured to convey a portion of the gas through the hollow bore into the bottle. The hollow- bore needle may include an aperture for releasing at least a portion of the gas into the bottle. The bung may be in one of two states: a bunged state in which the compressed gas is sealed from entering the bore through the aperture and a release state which allows the portion of the gas to enter the bore through the aperture and into the bottle to release the bung from the bottle. During the release state, the bung is configured to be released from the bottle assisted by gas pressure from the expanding gas inside the bottle. An activation mechanism may be configured to change the state of the bung irreversibly from the bunged state to the release state. The ampule may be sealed by a diaphragm and on activation of self-release, the hollow- bore needle is configured to pierce the diaphragm and release gas through the bore into the bottle. The hollow-bore needle may include a needle point for piercing the bunging substance at a bottom thereof to convey the portion of the gas into the bottle. The hollow-bore needle may include an aperture in the wall for releasing gas into the bore of the hollow-bore needle. The hollow-bore needle may be configured to slide relative to the ampule for bringing the aperture of the bore internal to the ampule in communication with the compressed gas. The bunging substance may be natural cork. The gas may be Carbon Dioxide, Argon, Helium, Xenon, Nitrogen and Krypton or mixtures thereof.

Various methods are provided herein for producing a bunged bottle enabled for self-release. An ampule is disposed within a bung configured to bung the bottle. The ampule is configured to include a compressed gas. Self-release may be activated to convey a portion of the gas through a hollow bore needle into the bottle. The bottle may be bunged with the ampule filled with compressed gas. The ampule may be sealed by a diaphragm. The diaphragm may be pierced by the hollow-bore needle to release the portion of gas into the bottle. The upper end of the hollow-bore needle may pierce the diaphragm. The lower end of the hollow-bore needle may pierce the bottom of the bung, may exit the bung and enter space inside the bottle. Release of the bung from the bottle is assisted by gas pressure from the expanding gas inside the bottle. The activation may include sliding the hollow-bore needle relative to the ampule or sliding the ampule relative to the hollow-bore needle. The hollow-bore needle may include an aperture in the wall of the hollow-bore needle. Gas may be released into the bore of the hollow-bore needle by bringing the aperture of the bore internal to the ampule and in communication with the compressed gas.

The foregoing and/or other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a bung, at the bunged state, according to a feature of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the sectional view of the bung of Fig. 1 and at the state of Fig. 1 of bunging a bottle neck, according to a feature of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the bung of Fig. 1 at the releasing state, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figures 4a-4e show a series of cross sectional assembly drawings for a bung, according to features of the present invention.

Figure 5a shows a bung in a bunged state, according to features of the present invention.

Figures 5b and Figure 6 show various features during a de-bunging state, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figure 7a shows a cross sectional drawing of a bung fitted internally with a simplified mechanism, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figures 7b and 7c which show drawings of a plan view as cross sectional view respectively of the top of second chamber, according to a feature of the present invention.

Figure 7d and Figure 7e which shows the effects of activation of an actuator, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a flow chart of a method, according to a feature of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to features of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The features are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Before explaining features of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other features or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

By way of introduction, various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a bung which includes an internal mechanism to release a gas into the bottle. The bung may be released from the bottle without the need of a corkscrew or other external tool. In different embodiments of the invention: 1) the bung is removed with the assistance of gas pressure of gas released into the bottle. The gas may be a pressurized gas previously stored in the bung or the gas may be chemically produced within the bung and released into the bottle.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a bottle may be sealed multiple times by multiple insertions of the bung followed by a controlled released amount of the compressed gas contained in the tank into the bottle by a controlled release mechanism built into the device. The compressed gas may be Argon which is heavier than air so that when a bottle is stored upright, the heavier argon gas covers the beverage in the bottle so as to prevent oxidation of the beverage. Alternatively, the compressed gas may be carbon dioxide which may prevent further release of carbon dioxide of a carbonated beverage and/ or if the bottle is turned upside down, carbon dioxide may be re-introduced back into the carbonated beverage. Alternatively a bottle cap with a screw thread includes the device, according to another embodiment of the present invention and the compressed gas may be used to seal a screw top bottle to avoid beverages being oxidized or otherwise maintain beverages and/or re-introduce carbons dioxide into carbonated beverages.

Referring to the drawings, reference is now made to Fig. 1 which shows a sectional view of a bung 10, in the bunged state 10A, according to a feature of the present invention. The bunged bottle is not shown. Bung 10 includes a bunging substance 12, the external shape is normally cylindrical. Bunging substance 12 may be cork, wood, plastic or other synthetic and natural substance usable for bunging. Bunging substance 12 fills and seals the mouth of the bottle, except for a syringe-like device 40 shown embedded within bunging substance 12.

Bung 10 includes a hollow-bore needle 42 and a tank 14. Hollow-bore needle 42 may be slideable in relation to tank 14. The inside volume 16 of tank 14 is filled by compressed air or another non-toxic gas 52. Hollow-bore needle 42 may include a bore 22 containing air or gas.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which shows the sectional view of bung 10 of Fig. 1 during the state of bunging a bottle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Bung 10 is depicted bunging a bottle neck 46. The bottle is typically supplied with beverage 44 leaving a relatively small volume 48 of air at the top of the bottle.

Device 40 may include a top peripheral seal 30, for sealing the top of tank 14, even upon sliding hollow-bore needle 42 in relation to tank 14. Device 40 may include a bottom peripheral seal 28A, for sealing the bottom of tank 14, even upon sliding hollow-bore needle 42 in relation to tank 14.

Thus, peripheral seals 28A and 30A maintain the high pressure of air/gas 52 within tank 14. Hollow-bore needle 42 may protrude above and/or below tank 14. The top protrusion 60 of bore 54 of hollow-bore needle 42 includes an opening 24, and the bottom protrusion 62 of bore 54 of hollow-bore needle 42 includes an opening 24.

At the bunged state 10A, each of aperture 24 and bottom opening 22 is blocked by substance 12

A physical obstacle 50 may be disposed between the handle 26 of hollow-bore needle 42 and the top of substance 12, for disabling inadvertent activation by lowering of plunger 26 and hollow-bore needle 42.

Reference is now made Fig. 3 which shows a sectional view of the bung of Fig. 1 during the releasing state 10B.

Upon removing obstacle 50 if present, and upon pressing handle 26 downwards, as depicted by arrow 34, hollow-bore needle 42 slides downwards in relation to tank 14, and aperture 24 and bottom opening 22 are disposed lower. At the low location of hollow-bore needle 42, aperture 24 through the wall of hollow-bore needle 42 enters internal volume 16 of tank 14, and bottom opening 22 of bore of hollow- bore needle 42 enters the space 48 inside bottle 46.

Thus, compressed gas 52 expands, through aperture 24 through wall of hollow-bore needle 42, from volume 16 of tank 14 into bore 54 of hollow-bore needle 42. Further, compressed gas 52 expands from inside bore 54 of hollow-bore needle 42, through bottom opening 22 of hollow-bore needle 42, into top volume 48 of the bottle.

At the next step, gas 52 expands into space 48, and exert pressure on the internal walls bottle neck 46 and on bottom 56 of bunging substance 12. The upward pressure on bunging substance 12 assists removal of bung 10 from bottle 46.

The bottom of hollow-bore needle 42 may include a bottom needle point 20 for piercing through the bottom of bunging substance 12, for allowing hollow-bore needle 42 to slide in relation to the bottom of bunging substance 12.

According to features of the present invention, bottom needle point 20 may be spiral, and handle 26 may be be rotated, for threading through the bottom of bunging substance 12.

Thus aspects of the present invention are directed to bung 10, including a bunging substance 12, for inserting a bottom 56 thereof into a bottle neck 46, for sealing the bottle, a device 40 installed within bunging substance 12 including tank 14, compressed gas 52 contained within the tank 14; a hollow-bore needle 42, for releasing the compressed gas 52 to expand between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and a beverage 44 inside the bottle, thereby pressing on the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 outward from bottle 46. Hollow-bore needle 42 includes a bore 54, the hollow-bore needle 42 may be partly disposed within the tank 14, and may be longer than the tank 14, and may be sealed to a top end 30 and to a bottom end 28 of the tank 14, and may be slideable in relation to the tank 14 there-along, and compressed gas 52 may not be contained within the bore 54 at the bunged state 10A of the bung 10, and the bore 54 may include on aperture 24 through the wall of needle 42 into bore 54. Aperture 24 is disposed above top end 30 of tank 14 at the bunged state 10A, for not allowing the compressed gas 52 to enter the bore 54 through aperture 24, and for being disposed below the top end 30 of the tank 14. Upon sliding hollow-bore needle 42 from the bunged state 10A to a releasing state 10B, the compressed gas 52 contained within the tank 14, is allowed to enter the bore 54 through t aperture 24. A bottom opening 22 into bore 54, is now disposed below the bottom 56 of bunging substance 12, at least upon sliding of hollow- bore needle 42 from the bunged state 10A. Gas 52 enters bore 54, and bottle neck 46 through the bottom opening 22. Hollow-bore needle 42 may protrude above the top 18 of the bunging substance 12 there-through, thereby top 26 of the hollow-bore needle 42 is accessible for allowing the user to slide hollow-bore needle 42 in relation to tank 14. The bottom opening 22 of the bore 54 may be disposed above the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 at the bunged state 10A. The bottom of the hollow-bore needle 42 may comprise a needle point 20, for piercing through the bunging substance 12 at the bottom thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention is a method for releasing a bung 10, the method comprising the steps of: installing a tank 14 within a bunging substance 12, inserting at least the bottom 56 thereof into a bottle neck 46, for sealing the bottle; containing compressed gas 52 within the tank 14; and releasing the compressed gas 52 from the tank 14 to expand into bottle 46, thereby exerting pressure on bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 outward of bottle 46. The step of releasing the compressed gas 52 from the tank 14 to expand between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and a beverage 44 of the bottle, may comprise the steps of: releasing the compressed gas 52 from the tank 14 to expand into a bore 54 within a hollow-bore needle 42 within the tank 14; and releasing the compressed gas 52 from the bore 54 to expand into between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and beverage 44 of bottle 46. The step of releasing the compressed gas 52 from the tank 14 to expand into the bore 54 within the hollow-bore needle 42 within the tank 14 may comprise the step of sliding the hollow-bore needle 42 in relation to the tank 14 and bringing an opening 24 through the wall of needle 42 to enter tank 14. The step of releasing the compressed gas 52 from the bore 54 to expand into between bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and beverage 44 of the bottle may comprise the step of bringing an opening 22 of the bore 54 to enter space 48 between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and the surface of beverage 44 inside bottle 46.

Alternatively according to a feature of the present invention there are provided methods/systems for resealing a bottle neck 46 of a bottle using a bung 10. As described above device 40 is provided within a bunging substance 12 and tank 14 contains a compressed gas 52. Bung 10 is inserted into bottle neck 46. Once bung 10 is inserted compressed gas 52 from tank 14 is released by a press of hollow-bore needle 42. The press of hollow-bore needle 42 causes needle point 20 to pierce through the bottom of bunging substance 12 and gas 52 is released into the space 48 between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and surface of beverage 44. An amount of compressed gas 52 expands into space 48.

Multiple releases of compressed gas 52 may allow for multiple resealing(s) of a bottle neck 46 of a bottle may be provided by bung 10. Depressing hollow-bore needle 42 allows the return of needle point 20 back into the bottom of bunging substance 12 by virtue of the decompression of spring 32. The return of needle point 20 back into the bottom of bunging substance 12 closes opening 24, so that the seal of bottle neck 46 is maintained.

The compressed gas 52 may be argon gas which is heavier than the air in space 48 between the bottom 56 of the bunging substance 12 and the surface of beverage 44 of bottle 46. Argon gas rests predominantly on top of the beverage 44 when the bottle is vertical and tends to prevent further oxidation of beverage 44.

Alternatively compressed gas 52 may be carbon dioxide which is the same as the gas used or produced in a carbonated beverage 44, beer, ale and/or sparkling wine, which may help to prevent further release of carbon dioxide contained in beverage 44 and may maintain the flavor and sparkle. Gas 52 is preferably inert and may be Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Argon, Helium, Xenon, and Krypton or mixtures thereof.

Thus, according to other aspects of the present invention are provided herein method for resealing a bottle neck 46 of a bottle using a bung 10, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tank 14 within a bunging substance 12; inserting a bottom 56) thereof into the bottle neck 46; containing compressed gas 52 within tank 14; and releasing gas 52 from tank 14 to expand between bottom 56 of bunging substance 12 and surface of beverage 44 of a bottle 46; thereby sealing a bottle neck 46. Gas 52 may be heavier than the air in the space 48 between bottom 56 of bunging substance 12 and the surface beverage 44 of a bottle, thereby reducing oxidization of beverage 44. Gas 52 may be a gas, e.g carbon dioxide, which is the same as a gas dissolved in beverage 44, e.g carbonated beverage, thereby preventing further release of the gas from beverage 44. In the figures and/or description herein above, the following reference numerals have been mentioned: numeral 10 denotes a bung, according to one feature of the present invention; numeral 10A denotes the bunged state of the bung; numeral 10B denotes the releasing state of the bung; numeral 12 denotes the bunging substance; the prior art bung normally includes only this element; numeral 14 denotes a tank disposed within the bunging substance; numeral 16 denotes the inside volume of the tank, not including the bore of the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 18 denotes the top of the bunging substance; numeral 20 denotes a spearhead disposed at one end of the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 22 denotes the bottom opening of the bore of the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 24 denotes the aperture through the wall of the hollow-bore needle 42 communicating with the bore of the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 26 denotes the handle of the hollow-bore needle 42; the handle may include the top of the bore of the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 28 denotes the bottom end of the tank; numeral 28A denotes a peripheral seal disposed at the bottom end of the tank; numeral 30 denotes the top end of the tank; numeral 30 A denotes a peripheral seal disposed at the top end of the tank; numeral 32 denotes a spring, for returning the hollow-bore needle 42 upwards, after sliding it to the releasing state; this spring may allow the user cease the expansion of the gas, for limiting the pressure applied on the bottom of the bunging substance, for avoiding extreme release of the bung; numeral 34 denotes an arrow, depicting the sliding of the hollow-bore needle 42 in relation to the tank; numeral 42 denotes the hollow-bore needle 42, being surrounded by the tank, and being slideable in relation thereto; numeral 44 denotes the beverage of the bottle; numeral 46 denotes the bottle neck; numeral 48 denotes the volume of air at the top of the bottle; numeral 50 denotes a physical obstacle, for not allowing hollow- bore needle 42 to be lowered inadvertently; numeral 52 denotes air or non-toxic air being at a compressed stated within the tank; numeral 54 denotes the bore within the hollow-bore needle 42; numeral 56 denotes the bottom of the bunging substance; numeral 60 denotes the part of the hollow-bore needle 42 protruding above the tank, at the bunged state; and numeral 62 denotes the part of the hollow-bore needle 42 protruding below the tank, at both states.

Reference is now made to Figures 4a-4e which show a series of cross sectional assembly drawings for a bung 400, according to a feature of the present invention. In Figure 4a, a view 400a is shown of bung body 402 which may be made of cork or other suitable substance to seal neck 46 of a bottle. Bung body 402 is shown hollowed out so as to accommodate and/or locate sleeve guide 404 which may include an Ό' ring gasket 404a. Sleeve guide 404 is located in bung body 402 as shown in view 400b, Figure 4b. Sleeve guide 404 may be attached inside bung body 402 with an adhesive. Sleeve guide 404 allows the free movement of pin 406 inside sleeve guide 404 parallel to axis ZZ as shown in view 400c, Figure 4c. Gas ampule 408 may include a ring push or ring twist 410. Gas ampule 408 is shown located with pin 406 in sleeve guide 404 in the hollowed out portion of bung body 402 as shown in view 400d, Figure 4d. Gas ampule 408 may hold a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide for example. The fully assembled bung 400 is shown in internal view 400d in Figure 4d, and external view 400e, Figure 4e. The fully assembled bung 400 may then be inserted into a neck 46 of a bottle so as to seal the bottle and its contents.

Reference is now made to Figure 5a which shows bung 400 in a bunged state and Figures 5b and 6 which shows a de-bunged state respectively, according to a feature of the present invention. The bunged state means that bung 400 is inserted into a neck 46 of a bottle (not shown) so as to seal the bottle and its contents. Gas ampule 408 is shown located in sleeve guide 404 along with pin 406. The narrow portion of pin 406 is located in and is not pierced through the material of bung body 402 so that bung body 402 is maintaining the bunged state with the aid of Ό' ring gasket 404a. The wider portion of pin 406 is located and is in contact with diaphragm 500 of gas ampule 408. Pin 406 has a hollow bore (shown by dotted lines) which extends from the narrow portion to the wider portion parallel to axis ZZ. Diaphragm 500 seals gas ampule 408. Both pin 406 and gas ampule 408 move inside sleeve guide 404 parallel to axis ZZ.

In the discussion that follows for Figures 5b and 6 the same parts are as described in Figure 5a and Figures 5b and 6 refer to the removal of bung 400 from a bottle (not shown in Figure 5b). The bottle neck 46 of the bottle is shown in Figure 6.

Reference is now made to Figure 5b which shows gas ampule 408 pushed further into bung body 402 such that the narrow end of pin 406 pierces through the bottom of bung 400. The narrow end of pin 406 is shown as a point which is similar to the point of a hypodermic needle. The narrow end of pin 406 may have other pointed shapes known in the art to pierce through the bottom of bung 400. Gas ampule 408 pushed further into bung body 402 is achieved by a direct push on the end of bung body 402 where ring twist 410 is located. Alternatively a screw and/or cam mechanism as a part of bung body 402 and/or gas ampule 408 may allow a rotation of ring twist 410 which causes gas ampule 408 to be pushed further into bung body 402.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 which shows the effect of a pushing of gas ampule 408 further into bung body 402. The pushing of gas ampule 408 further into bung body 402 cause diaphragm 500 of gas ampule 408 to be pierced. The compressed gas in gas ampule 408 is released through the bore of pin 406 (shown by dotted line) into volume 48 which in between the bottom of bung body 402 and beverage 44. The expansion of compressed gas released into volume 48 causes bung 400 to be released upwards and out of bottle neck 46. The expansion of compressed gas released into volume 48 is maintained in volume 48 by virtue of the compression of Ό' ring 404a between pin 406 and sleeve guide 404 and compression between the wider part of needle 406 with diaphragm 500.

Reference is now made to Figure 7a which shows a cross sectional drawing of a bung 71 fitted internally with a simplified mechanism, according to a feature of the present invention. Bung 71 includes a bung housing 72 made from cork, rubber, synthetic material, composite material and/ or made from another material suitable to be able to seal a bottle using bung 71. Located and attached into bung housing 72 are the various parts of the mechanism. The mechanism includes a mechanism housing 712 which is made from a metal alloy or other composite material with sufficient wall thickness to allow compression of bung housing 72. Compression of bung housing 72 allows bung 71 to be inserted into the neck of a bottle without damaging the mechanism and in order to seal the bottle.

Symmetrically placed around longitudinal axis ZZ are the various parts of the mechanism. A T shaped actuator 76 at one end is hermetically held against the walls of mechanism housing 712 with Ό' rings 720. The other end of actuator 76 which sticks out from bung 71 includes a button which allows actuator 76 to be pressed down into mechanism housing 712 along longitudinal axis ZZ. Actuator 76 includes an inverted T shaped first chamber 78 which holds a first chemical reactant which may be in solid, e.g. powder, or liquid state The first chemical reactant may be held and hermetically sealed in first chamber 78 by a membrane 78a. Actuator 76 is prevented from moving out of the mechanism by a bushing 714.

Included further is a second chamber 710 in which a second chemical reactant is stored and may be in powdered form. The top end of second chamber 710 includes a piercing point 710a and the bottom end of chamber 710 is attached to a needle 716. Needle 716 is hermetically sealed and held against a reduced diameter walls 712a of mechanism housing 712 with Ό' rings 718. Needle 716 is shown hermetically sealed between apertures 716a and 716b. Apertures 716a and 716b are connected together by an internal bore shown by dotted lines. Two pairs of apertures 716a and 716b with respective bores are shown but one pair of apertures 716a and 716b with bore may implemented. Both needle 716 and second chamber 710 are capable of moving up and down longitudinal axis ZZ. Further attached around the diameter of chamber 710 is a droplet separator 74 which allows the movement of chamber 710 up and down longitudinal axis ZZ between the walls of mechanism housing 712.

Reference is now made to Figures 7b and 7c which show drawings, a plan view and cross sectional view respectively of the top of second chamber 710, according to a feature of the present invention. The top of second chamber 710 is shown with triangular piercing point 710a which is used to pierce membrane 78a and four apertures 110 located between the triangular sections of piercing point 710a. Any number of apertures 110 beginning with one aperture 110 may be located in the vicinity of piercing point 710a. A further four apertures 100 are also shown located at an outer diameter of the top of second chamber 710. As with apertures 110, any number of apertures 100 beginning with one aperture 100 may be located on the outer diameter of the top of second chamber 710 as shown.

Reference is now made to Figure 7d and Figure 7e which shows the effects of activation of actuator 76 and Figure 8, a flow chart of 801 respectively, according to features of the present invention. Figure 7d shows actuator 76 pressed down (step 803) by a user in order for the user to open a bottle which is sealed by bung 710. Actuator 76 pressed down in step 803 causes piercing point 710a to pierce membrane 78a which causes the liquid chemical reactant in first chamber 78 to run into second chamber 710 through apertures 110. The chemical reactant, e.g. liquid, in first chamber 78 reacting with the chemical reactant, e.g. powder, held in second chamber 710 produces a chemical reaction which releases carbon dioxide or other similar inert gas in second chamber 710 (step 805).

Now making reference to Figure 7e, the release of carbon dioxide in second chamber 710 expands out of second chamber 710 through apertures 100. The expansion of carbon dioxide in the gap between actuator 76 and second chamber 710, causes actuator 76 to move upwards until actuator 76 can no longer move upwards because of bushing 714. The expansion of carbon dioxide in the gap between actuator 76 and second chamber 710, also causes second chamber 710 attached to needle 716 to move downwards (step 807) and for the carbon dioxide to pass through droplet separator 74 into the first top apertures 716a/ 716c of needle 716 (step 809). Passing the carbon dioxide gas through droplet separator 74 allows droplet separator 74 to prevent any slurry from the chemical reaction in step 805 to enter the first top aperture 716a/ 716c of needle 716.

In decision 811 if enough gas has caused needle 716 to move downwards (step 807) through bung housing 72, the carbon gas is able to pass through the internal bores of needle 716 and out of respective apertures 716b/ 716d into the space between the bottom of bung body 72 and the beverage inside the bottle sealed by bung 710 (step 813). The build up and expansion of gas in the space between the bottom of bung body 72 and the beverage inside the bottle as the chemical reaction in step 805 continues is sufficient to force bung 710 out of the bottle. Otherwise the carbon dioxide continues to pass through droplet separator 74 into the first top apertures 716a/ 716c of needle 716 through bung housing 72 in step 809.

With respect to the nature of the two chemical reactants, the gas generated, e.g. carbon dioxide, is preferably non-toxic and devoid of smell. Carbon dioxide may be generated from sodium bicarbonate by a reaction with an acid such as phosphoric acid. In order to avoid caking by insoluble salts which may prevent the reaction from going to completion and thus give less gas, sufficient solvent, e.g. water should be present to dissolve most or all of the salts formed.

Carbon dioxide can be generated by the reaction of sodium bicarbonate with 85% phosphoric acid. Of the three salts that can be prepared by this reaction, the mono sodium phosphate is the most soluble, so the reaction stoichiometry is as follows:

H3P04 + NaHC03→ NaH2P04 + C02† + H20

In gram moles:

98g + 84g→ 120g + 48g (l mole) + 18g

Since technical phosphoric acid is 85% by weight, the actual mass required to produce one gram mole of carbon dioxide is 115g.

The solubility of mono-sodium phosphate is 59.9g/100ml water at 0°C. Thus in order to dissolve one gram mole (120g) of the sodium mono-phosphate formed, about 200ml of water are used. These are added to the phosphoric acid. Thus the acid stored prior to the reaction is about 33% by weight. Some extra water may be available from the phosphoric acid and 18g are produced by the reaction. Thus complete solubility of the mono-sodium phosphate produced is ensured as is complete evolution of carbon dioxide.

Thus, various bungs for self-release are provided for herein, the bung including at least two chambers containing at least two chemical reactants. The bung includes an activation mechanism, e.g lever, ring, button, and on activation, e.g press or twist, the chemical reactants are combined and react to form a gas. The gas is conveyed to the space interior to the bottle and the gas pressure increase inside the bottle assists release of the bung from bottle. The bung includes a droplet separator which is configured to prevent residual reactants, solvent and reaction products other than the gas produced from entering the bottle. The self-release of the bung is performed when the bunged bottle is vertical and the upper chamber holding a first reactant is pierced. The first reactant falls into the second chamber holding the second reactant. A method for producing a bunged bottle for self-release includes preparing a bung with two chambers including the two chemical reactants respectively.

The term "bung" as used herein refers a round piece of rubber, wood, cork etc. that is used to close the hole in a container such as a bottle, a barrel, a cask, or a keg.

The terms "bung", "cork" and "stopper" are used herein interchangeably.

The term "aperture" refers to one or more holes with fluid communication with a bore of a hollow-bore needle which may be: a hole at either end of the needle, both ends of the needle and/or through a wall of the needle.

The terms "tank", and "ampule" are used herein interchangeably. The term "disposed" in the context of the ampule "disposed" within the bung as used herein means that the ampule is installed substantially entirely within the bung.

The terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom" refer to a bunged bottle standing vertically.

The term "communication" or "fluid communication" is used herein refers to a path over which gas may flow.

The term "space" as used herein in the context of inside the bottle refers to the space outside the bung and interior to the bottle belong the bung in a volume normally occupied by air. The indefinite articles "a", "an" as used herein, such as "a bung", "a bore" has the meaning of "one or more" that is'One or more bungs", "one or more bores".

All optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments and dependent claims are usable in all aspects of the invention taught herein. Furthermore, the individual features of the dependent claims, as well as all optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments are combinable and interchangeable with one another.

Although selected features of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood the present invention is not limited to the described features. Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these features are defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A bung comprising:

a bunging substance, for inserting into a neck of a bottle for sealing the bottle;

an ampule disposed within the bunging substance, wherein the ampule is configured to include a compressed gas; and

a hollow-bore needle having a hollow bore is disposed within the bung, and on activation of self-release, the hollow-bore needle is configured to convey a portion of the gas through the hollow bore into the bottle.

2. A bung according to claim 1, wherein the hollow-bore needle includes an aperture for releasing at least a portion of the gas into the bottle, wherein the bung is in a state selected from the group consisting of:

a bunged state, wherein the compressed gas is sealed from entering the bore through the aperture; and

a release state which allows the portion of the gas to enter the bore through the aperture and into the bottle to release the bung from the bottle.

3. A bung according to claim 2, wherein during the release state, the bung is configured to be released from the bottle assisted by gas pressure from the expanding gas inside the bottle

4. A bung according to claim 2, further comprising an activation mechanism configured to change the state of the bung irreversibly from the bunged state to the release state.

5. A bung according to claim 2, wherein the ampule is sealed by a diaphragm and on activation of the self-release, the hollow-bore needle is configured to pierce the diaphragm and release the portion of the gas through the bore into the bottle.

6. A bung according to claim 2, wherein the hollow-bore needle includes a needle point for piercing the bunging substance at a bottom thereof to convey the portion of the gas into the bottle.

7. A bung according to claim 1, wherein the hollow-bore needle includes an aperture in the wall of the hollow-bore needle, for releasing at least a portion of the gas into the bore of the hollow-bore needle.

8. A bung according to claim 7, wherein hollow-bore needle is configured to slide relative to the ampule for bringing the aperture of the bore internal to the ampule and in communication with the compressed gas.

9. A bung according to claim 1, wherein the bunging substance is natural cork.

10. A bung according to claim 1, wherein the gas is selected from the group of gases consisting of: Carbon Dioxide, Argon, Helium, Xenon, Nitrogen and Krypton.

11. A method for producing a bunged bottle enabled for self-release, the method comprising : disposing an ampule within a bung configured to bung the bottle, wherein the ampule is configured to include a compressed gas; and

enabling activation of the self-release to convey a portion of the gas through a hollow bore needle into the bottle.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

bunging the bottle with the ampule filled with the compressed gas disposed within the bung.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ampule is sealed by a diaphragm, the method further comprising:

enabling piercing of the diaphragm by the hollow-bore needle to release the portion of the gas into the bottle.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the upper end of the hollow-bore needle is configured to pierce the diaphragm, the method further comprising:

enabling the lower end of the hollow-bore needle to pierce the bottom of the bung, exit the bung and enter space inside the bottle.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

enabling release of the bung from the bottle assisted by gas pressure from the expanding gas inside the bottle.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the activation includes sliding the hollow-bore needle relative to the ampule.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the activation includes sliding the ampule relative to the hollow-bore needle.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the hollow-bore needle includes an aperture in the wall of the hollow-bore needle, the method further comprising:

releasing at least a portion of the gas into the bore of the hollow-bore needle by bringing the aperture of the bore internal to the ampule and in communication with the compressed gas.