Patents by Inventor Daniel N. O'Connor

Daniel N. O'Connor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7022283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preserving one or more collectible items. The apparatus includes a housing and a nitrogen generator. A nitrogen generator generates a nitrogen rich gas and supplies the nitrogen gas to the housing, which displaces the oxygen inside the housing to preserve the collectible item or items enclosed by the housing. The nitrogen rich gas significantly reduces the degradation of the collectible item due to the exposure of the item to oxygen in the air. In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a temperature control system and a humidity control system to control the temperature and humidity inside the housing. This further aids in preserving a collectible item for relatively long periods of time by reducing the effects of the environment on the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. McGuire, Daniel N. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6913167
    Abstract: An apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Patent number: 6658859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling at least one wine or champagne container in a wine or champagne preservation and dispensing apparatus. The cooling system includes a housing; a container support mounted in the housing; a cool air generating unit mounted in the housing; and a circulator mounted in the housing. In one embodiment, the cool air generating unit generates cooled air. The cooled air is circulated in the housing by the circulator to cool the wine or champagne container on the container support. In another embodiment, the container support includes a removable divider which separates the container support into two areas where at least one wine or champagne container is included in each of the areas and at least one of the areas is adjacent to the circulator. The divider includes at least one air baffle to control the amount of generated cooled air circulated in each of the areas by the circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Publication number: 20030213814
    Abstract: An apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Publication number: 20030177912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preserving one or more collectible items. The apparatus includes a housing and a nitrogen generator. A nitrogen generator generates a nitrogen rich gas and supplies the nitrogen gas to the housing, which displaces the oxygen inside the housing to preserve the collectible item or items enclosed by the housing. The nitrogen rich gas significantly reduces the degradation of the collectible item due to the exposure of the item to oxygen in the air. In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a temperature control system and a humidity control system to control the temperature and humidity inside the housing. This further aids in preserving a collectible item for relatively long periods of time by reducing the effects of the environment on the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy C. McGuire, Daniel N. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6607105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Justin R. Lydon
  • Patent number: 6607100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Publication number: 20030145606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling at least one wine or champagne container in a wine or champagne preservation and dispensing apparatus. The cooling system includes a housing; a container support mounted in the housing; a cool air generating unit mounted in the housing; and a circulator mounted in the housing. In one embodiment, the cool air generating unit generates cooled air. The cooled air is circulated in the housing by the circulator to cool the wine or champagne container on the container support. In another embodiment, the container support includes a removable divider which separates the container support into two areas where at least one wine or champagne container is included in each of the areas and at least one of the areas is adjacent to the circulator. The divider includes at least one air baffle to control the amount of generated cooled air circulated in each of the areas by the circulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Publication number: 20030098320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Justin R. Lydon
  • Publication number: 20030098314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Patent number: 6557459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Justin R. Lydon
  • Patent number: 6557369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire