Gas Dispensing Device and Method

Abstract

A gas dispensing device (1) is provided for injecting inert gas (13) into previously opened containers of perishable liquids to prevent subsequent oxidation of the liquids, such as wine. The dispensing device comprising a surface mountable means for supporting a gas conduit pipe and a gas dispensing nozzle in generally vertical relation thereto, in which the conduit pipe (4) is connectable at one end to a source of gas and at an opposite end to a compressible actuating gas dispensing nozzle (6) which includes an actuable valve (22). The nozzle is adapted to engage an open end of a container, preferably a wine bottle (2), at its operatively lower end and the dispensing device is characterized in that the nozzle includes at least one gas discharge outlet (9) in which the outlet is orientated off-centre to a vertical axis of the nozzle and is operatively locatable within the container and in which the nozzle includes at least one escape passage (12) for operatively facilitating release of excess gas from the container and in which operative movement of the container in a generally upwards direction against the compressible nozzle actuates the valve and releases gas into the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a gas dispensing device and method. In particular, the invention relates to a gas dispensing device of the type used for dispensing inert gases into opened containers of perishable liquids, but not necessarily so.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is a well-known problem that the quality of certain perishable liquids, such as wine, remaining in a container after partially dispensing the contents thereof has a tendency to deteriorate in quality when exposed to reactive gases such as oxygen as a result of chemical processes. This is a problem that particularly effects the wine industry where it can be observed that this process of deterioration, casually referred to “oxidation”, involves the rapid alteration of various critical elements which contribute to the wine quality including, but not limited to, the taste, bouquet and various other constituent elements of the wine, all of which contribute to the determination of a favorable wine. Furthermore, by the time that oxidation of a wine has been detected, deterioration has already occurred and, consequently, the wine is ruined.

Due to the non-reactive properties of certain inert gases, they are often used to prevent the aforementioned undesirable chemical reactions from taking place. Since certain inert gases do not cause any reactions to take place in foods or perishable liquids which might affect their intrinsic taste or smell, they are used as passive preservatives which prevent biological decay while simultaneously being undetectable to the consumer. In order to prevent oxidation of a perishable liquid once the airtight seal has been broken, such a residual wine in a bottle, a protective layer of inert gas must be formed between the exposed wine and the air.

Whilst the use of inert gases in the prevention of oxidation in wine is well know, methods of inserting the gases into partially filled containers containing residual perishable liquids, such as opened wine are known to be ineffective in preventing wastage of gas or build up of pressure during the insertion process.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a gas dispensing device and method for use in inserting preservative gases into partially filled containers of perishable liquids that has advantages over prior art devices and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a gas dispensing device for injecting inert gas into a previously opened container containing perishable liquid, the device comprising a surface mountable means for supporting a gas conduit pipe, in which the conduit pipe is connectable at one end to a source of gas and terminates at an opposite end in a compressible dispensing nozzle incorporating an actuable valve, the nozzle being adapted at its generally lower end to engage an open end of a container and in which the compressible nozzle is operatively moveable between a compressed and a relaxed position, the nozzle including at least one off-centre discharge means operatively locatable within the container and one or more gas escape passages in fluid communication with the air outside of the container for operatively facilitating release of excess gas from the container and in pushing of the container in a generally upwards direction against the nozzle in use causes the nozzle to move into the compressed position, operatively actuating the valve and releasing gas into the container.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the container to be preferably comprise a wine bottle; for the residual fluid to be wine; for the gas to be any suitable inert gas such as argon or carbon dioxide; for the surface to preferably be a wall or counter top; for the mountable support means to preferably comprise a generally elongate, steel bracket structure in which the bracket extends in generally horizontal relation to the support surface; for the surface mountable bracket to be secured to the surface by means of bolts or by any other suitable means; for the off-centre discharge means to comprise an elongated tube terminating at its remote end in an opening or outlet; for the conduit pipe to comprise any conventional, flexible and insulated length of piping suitable for conducting gas; for the source of gas to preferably comprise a free-standing pressurized gas cylinder or capsule; for the nozzle to be slightly tapered in configuration in order to operatively facilitate alignment of the nozzle with an open end of a bottle; and for the excess gas to comprise mainly air contained within the bottle.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preserving perishable liquids contained within a previously opened container comprising the steps of: locating an open end of the container over an actuating gas dispensing nozzle, the nozzle having a valve as herein described and having a generally off-centre gas outlet such that the gas outlet is not directly juxtaposed to the operatively upper surface of the liquid; moving the container in a generally upwards direction to operatively actuate the valve and release the gas into the container and release of excess gas from the container through one or more gas escape passages included in the nozzle.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the container to preferably comprise a wine bottle; for the perishable liquid to preferably comprise wine and for the gas to constitute any suitable inert gas such as argon or carbon dioxide.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a gas dispending nozzle adapted to engage a sealable opening provided on a commercially available champagne or sparkling wine bottle stopper in situ on the bottle, in which the nozzle has an operatively upper and lower part and in which the operatively lower part comprises an elongated, tapering needle formation and in which the needle formation includes operatively proximal and distal ends, the distal end incorporating a generally off-centre gas outlet and in which the needle formation is adapted to engage the opening of the stopper in use.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a gas dispensing device as described herein in which the gas dispensing device includes a nozzle having gas dispensing means adapted to connect in sealable engagement with an actuable valve of a pressurized, refillable gas dispensing container to operatively form a gas communication channel and in which gas operatively flows into the empty gas dispensing container until pressure equilibrium is achieved.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the gas to comprise an inert, preservative gas such as argon or carbon dioxide or the like; for the pressurized gas dispensing container to be of the readily available portable aerosol dispensing type; for the portable gas dispensing container to include a spout having a removable actuator cap; for the nozzle of the dispensing device to include a gas outlet which is connectable in sealable engagement with the spout of the gas dispensing container and for the portable gas dispensing container to include an actuable valve.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood a description of the invention follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:—

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the gas dispensing device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view illustration of the gas dispensing device of the invention in use on a wine bottle;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional side view illustration of the nozzle in use;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the nozzle of the gas dispensing device of the invention adapted for use with a commercial champagne or sparkling wine stopper;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view illustration of the embodiment of the dispensing device of FIG. 4 shown in use on a champagne bottle stopper; and

FIG. 6 is an illustrative representation of the gas dispensing device of the invention adapted for re-filling portable gas dispensing containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a gas dispensing device is provided, generally illustrated by numeral (1), for injecting inert, preservative gas into a previously opened, partially filled (2) wine bottle. It will be understood that the inert gas can comprise any suitable gas that is heavier than oxygen, such as argon and carbon dioxide and which does not mix with the wine when subjected to temperature changes.

The device of the invention has particular relevance in the wine industry where preservation of residual wine in a previously opened bottle is imperative to prevent oxidation of the wine which affects its bouquet, taste and other characteristics which determine the quality of a wine. The device seems to inject inert gas into the opened bottle to form a protective layer between the wine and the outside air in order to prevent oxidation.

The gas dispensing device generally includes a surface mountable bracket (3) for supporting a flexible gas conduit pipe (4). The bracket, which may be manufactured from steel or other suitable material, is mountable to a surface, such as a wall or a counter top and, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a surrounding flange (5) which is mountable to a wall or counter surface of the type found in bars or restaurants. The conduit pipe is connectable to a source of inert gas typically contained in a pressurized cylinder or capsule.

In accordance with the invention, the conduit pipe terminates in a specialized, slighting tapering actuating nozzle (6) which extends downwards in a generally vertical plane relative to the mounted bracket. Of particular relevance is the fact that the nozzle is compressible and may be moved between a relaxed and a compressed position. Whilst many configurations of the nozzle are possible within the scope of the invention, the nozzle, in the preferred embodiment of the invention has a hardened surface at its operatively lower end (7) for engagement with the opening of a wine bottle with the sides of the nozzle being flexible and collapsible (8). Compression of the nozzle in use actuates the valve contained within the nozzle, thereby releasing gas into the bottle. The operatively lower end of the nozzle locates within the bottle in use, including a gas outlet aperture (9) which is orientated slightly off-centre relative to the vertical axis of the nozzle. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the gas outlet of the nozzle comprises a short tubular (10) extension terminating in a gas outlet aperture and which extends outwardly at an angle from a generally vertically extending tubular formation (11). The valve also includes at least one gas escape passage (12) which is in fluid communication with the air outside of the bottle. In use, an open end of a wine bottle containing residual wine will be positioned over the nozzle such that the gas outlet and part of the escape passages are located within the neck of the bottle. The tapering configuration of the nozzle operatively facilitates its alignment with the neck of a bottle, rendering the nozzle self-aligning to some extent. In use, the bottle is then pushed in a generally upwards direction to actuate the valve causing it to actively release the inert gas (13) into the bottle.

The gas outlet does not come into contact with the residual wine in the bottle and the that fact that it is positioned off-centre, or is “angled”, causes the inert gas to be forced into the bottle's air volume in a turbulent, swirling fashion, thereby preventing it from “bouncing” off the bottle's air volume and subsequently escaping from the bottle through the escape passages.

The escape passages ensure that pressure does not accumulate within the bottle during insertion of the inert gas at relatively high pressure, and furthermore, ensures that predominantly air and not inert gas escapes from the bottle. Accordingly the interaction between the angled discharge outlet and the escape passages retains the inert gas within the bottle irrespective of how full the bottle is.

In a further embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the nozzle of the dispensing device is adapted to be used with commercially available champagne (14) or sparkling wine bottle stoppers. These stoppers generally include an opening (15) on their operatively upper surface which usually includes a one-way valve. In this embodiment of the invention, the operatively lower end of the nozzle is elongated and extends into a needle formation (16) having a proximal and distal end relative to the bracket. The distal end of the needle-like formation is adapted to engage the valve of the stopper in order to insert preservative gas into the champagne or sparkling wine bottle without compromising the pressure levels within the bottle. It is to be understood that the angled or off-centre discharge gas outlet (17) is included in the needle formation at the distal end thereof and, furthermore, also includes gas escape passages (18).

In a further embodiment of the invention, the dispensing device is adapted for use in refilling portable gas dispensing containers as illustrated in FIG. 6. The portable gas dispensing containers are typical pressurized aerosol cans (19) which are commercially available. The cans usually have a spout (20) including an actuable release valve and in which the spout is covered by a cap. In this embodiment of the invention, the cap of the spout is removed and the nozzle (21) is adapted to sealably connect with the spout such that when the can is moved in a generally upwards direction in use, the valves of both the nozzle and can are actuated causing gas (13) to flow from the nozzle into the can until a pressure equilibrium is achieved at which point no more gas is released into the can. This application of the nozzle is primarily intended for use in the refilling of empty portable gas dispensing cans or other containers.

It will be understood that the invention provides for a simple, yet highly effective gas dispensing device and method that has wide application potential depending on requirements. Also, numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

1. A gas dispensing device (1) for injecting inert gas (13) into previously opened containers of perishable liquids, the dispensing device comprising a surface mountable means for supporting a gas conduit pipe (4) and a gas dispensing means (6) in generally vertical relation thereto, in which the conduit pipe is connectable at one end to a source of gas and at an opposite end to the nozzle, the dispensing device being characterized in that the nozzle is a compressible actuating gas dispensing nozzle (6) which includes an actuable valve (22) and in which nozzle is adapted to engage an open end of a container at its operatively lower end, and in which the nozzle includes at least one gas discharge outlet (9), the outlet being orientated off-centre to a vertical axis of the nozzle and is operatively locatable within the container and in which the nozzle includes at least one escape passage for operatively facilitating release of excess gas from the container and in which operative movement of the container in a generally upwards direction against the compressible nozzle actuates the valve and releases gas into the container.

2. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the container is a wine bottle (2).

3. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claims 1 and 2 in which the perishable liquid is wine.

4. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gas (13) is an inert gas such as argon or carbon dioxide.

5. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the surface is a wall or counter top.

6. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the surface mountable means for supporting a gas conduit comprises a bracket structure (3) which extends in generally horizontal relation to the surface.

7. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claim 6 in which the bracket structure is secured to the surface by means of bolts or any other suitable means.

8. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claims 5, 6 and 7 in which the bracket is supported by a surrounding flange (5), the flange being connectable to a surface.

9. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gas conduit pipe comprises a flexible and insulated length of piping suitable for conducting gas.

10. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gas outlet of the nozzle comprises a short tubular extension (10) terminating in a gas outlet aperture (9) and which extends outwardly at an angle from a generally vertically extending tubular formation (11).

11. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the compressible nozzle is compressible between a compressed position and an extended, position and in which the operatively lower end (7) of the nozzle is hardened in order to facilitate engagement with the container in use and in which the nozzle includes resiliently compressible side portions (8).

12. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any of one of the preceding claims in which the nozzle includes a slightly tapered operatively lower end in order to facilitate engagement and alignment with an open end of a container.

13. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claim 12 in which the container is a wine bottle.

14. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the at least one gas dispensing passage (12) comprises an angled passage terminating at one end at the operatively lower end of the nozzle and at terminating at the other end at a position located outside of the container in use.

15. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the source of gas is a pressurized cylinder or capsule containing gas.

16. A gas dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the operatively lower end of the nozzle is extended into a needle-like formation (16) for penetrating a sealable opening (15) on an operatively upper surface of a champagne (15) or sparkling wine bottle stopper secure in position on a bottle.

17. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claim 16 in which the sealable opening of the champagne or sparkling wine bottle stopper includes a one-way valve.

18. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claims 16 and 17 in which the needle-like formation includes a gas discharge outlet aperture at its operatively lower end (17), and in which the gas outlet is aperture is positioned at an angle off-centre to the central vertical axis of the nozzle.

19. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claims 16 to 18 in which the needle-like formation (16) fits snugly within the opening (15) of the stopper.

20. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claimed in claim 1 in which the gas dispensing device is adapted for refilling portable gas dispensing containers.

21. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claim 20 in which the portable gas dispensing containers are typical pressurized aerosol cans (19) having a gas dispensing spout (20) including a one way valve covered by a removable actuator cap.

22. A gas dispensing device as claimed in claims 1, 20 and 21 in which the nozzle (21) is adapted at its operatively lower end to receive the open end of an exposed dispensing spout of the portable gas container, with the actuator cap removed, in sealable engagement.

23. A method for refilling a portable gas dispensing container using a dispensing device claimed in claims 1 and 20, 21 and 22 with gas including the steps of removing the actuator cap to expose the dispensing spout; coupling the spout with the gas outlet aperture of the nozzle in sealable engagement to create a flow communication and operatively moving the container in a generally upwards direction to actuate the valves of the nozzle and the spout to release gas into the container until pressure equilibrium is achieved.

24. A method of preserving perishable liquids contained within an opened container by injecting inert gas into the open container comprising the steps of locating an open end of the container over the operatively lower end of the compressible nozzle of the gas dispensing device claimed in claims 1 to 15, the nozzle characterized in that it includes a gas outlet means which is generally off-set from the central axis of the nozzle; operatively moving the container in a generally upwards direction in use and actuating the valve within the nozzle to release gas into container.

25. A method of preserving perishable liquids as claimed in claim 24 in which the perishable liquid is wine.

26. A method of preserving perishable liquids as claimed in claims 24 and 25 in which the container is a wine bottle.

27. A method of preserving perishable liquids as claimed in claims 24 to 26 in which the inert gas is argon or carbon dioxide.