Abstract: A dual-species barrel stave, the stave including a first portion that faces the interior direction of a barrel defined by a premium material such as American White Oak and a second portion that faces the exterior direction of a barrel defined by a second material, this second material of a different quality of wood that may not be intended to important aging and/or flavoring characteristics to the liquid within the barrel, is provided. The first stave portion defines a male projection or “tail” that commences at a first longitudinal end of the stave and widens substantially the entire length of the stave, terminating at the opposing longitudinal end of the stave. Cooperatively, the second stave portion defines a female dovetail groove that commences at a first longitudinal end of the stave and extends substantially the entire length of the stave, terminating at the opposing longitudinal end.

Abstract: A method (10) of making a wood insert (50) from a dismantled stave (20) of a barrel (12), such as a used bourbon barrel. The method (10) comprises the steps of conditioning the exterior surface (24) of a dismantled stave (20); and profiling the conditioned stave (30) to increase its aging surface area. The profiled stave (20) can then be heat treated (e.g., toasted and/or charred) to create the wood insert (50). The insert (50) can be used to integrate a wood flavoring during the aging of an alcoholic beverage, such as a non-bourbon whiskey.

Abstract: A barrel includes a plurality of wood slats that have an inner face, an outer face and side edges, grooves formed in the edges of the slats and keys that join the slats by engaging grooves in the side edges of adjacent slats.

Abstract: A barrel includes a plurality of wood slats that have an inner face, an outer face and side edges, grooves formed in the edges of the slats and keys that join the slats by engaging grooves in the side edges of adjacent slats.

Abstract: Process for treating staves for the manufacture of barrels comprising scarifying in the mass of the wood, by any appropriate mechanical means, shafts that allow the escape of gases and water vapor emerging from the wood during the firing process. The shafts comprise holes or incisions formed at regular intervals on the surface of the inner side of the staves.

Abstract: The wine vat with straight and interchangeable staves consists in a frame comprising elements (1,2,3,4,5) inside which straight staves (6) are assembled and held by wedges. The frame and staves form a rectangular or square vat. Threaded stems (9,10,11) are assembled in the frame elements and are held by bolts and elastic washers in order to offset size differences from the staves expansion.

Abstract: A wine barrel having a rigid external reusable frame with replaceable wooden side panels and substantially identical upper and lower wooden ends assembled within the rigid external frame to provide a wooden enclosure for the wine. A liquid tight container is provided; the wine exposed only to wooden surfaces. Panels can be replaced in the frame with new panels or existing panels having an unused side can be removed, reversed, and reused. Assembly of the barrel is straightforward requiring only minimum tools and skills without the need for the hand-fitting expertise required in constructing a traditional barrel. When assembled, the rigid frame, and not the wood panels, supports all the external and internal loads of the wine barrel. For introduction of a caramel taste to the wine the wood panels can be initially placed in an oven with the degree of caramelization controlled by the oven temperature and exposure time.

Abstract: A collapsible article is disclosed herein which comprises: a plurality of slats, each slat having opposing longitudinally extending edges, a flute extending along one edge, a bead extending along the other edge and adapted to fit within the flute of an adjacent slat, and at least one opening transversely extending between the bead and flute; and at least one elongated elastic member received in and extending through said at least one opening of each slat so that the slats are selectively positionable between (i) an expanded, hollow form having opposing open ends, and (ii) a collapsed, substantially flat form. The collapsible article preferably further comprises a support member engageable with the slats in their expanded form and removable from the slats to allow collapse thereof.

Abstract: A simulated barrel garden for aquatic and terrestrial plants comprising a circumferential sidewall consisting of two sections of vertically extending barrel staves having a plurality of straps fastening the staves together in assembled relation, a barrel liner being inserted into the sidewall and mating with the sidewall top edges and forming a rigid, stand alone half barrel supporting the weight of the garden and a water related accessory mounted on a mounting bracket and fastened to the top rim of the liner. A second embodiment includes a cascade notch in the sidewall and a mating cascade lip formed in the barrel liner. Two additional embodiments of the barrel liner include a planter ring with a shelf in the center or a hole in the center.

Abstract: A cast aluminum structural ring into which is seated a cast aluminum top normally locked to the structural ring and secured by threaded-type fastenings to the upper portions of a slatted-type slanted top receptacle for recycled materials or refuse materials. The outside portion of the structural ring is provided with an angle which varies from portion to portion of the outside surface of the structural ring to conform it to the angle with which it meets the inside of the slats of the slatted receptacle when the structural ring is inserted into the receptacle at approximately the same angle as the slanted top of the receptacle. Preferably the outside of the structural ring and a further reinforcing ring are slightly inclined inwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the receptacle to provide a pleasing bow to the outward surface of the receptacle.

Abstract: A wine barrel provides a stainless steel barrel body having at least one removable end, with at least one circumferential stave holder member secured to the barrel inside surface. This stave holder bears a plurality of stave receiving portions for releasable capture of oak stave elements.

Abstract: A method for producing and using oak chips or other divided forms of the oak for aging wine is described. The chips or other divided forms are provided in a permeable container. In particular a method is described for removing undesirable flavors from the oak by soaking the oak in an aqueous solution of water or water and ethanol and toasting the oak to enhance desirable flavors prior to or after the soaking. The method produces wines which are comparable to the best barrel aged wines.

Abstract: A vat for the storage of wines and other liquids, the vat having a peripheral frame of metal forming the top, bottom and end walls. The side walls are formed of staves of timber in a frame, each side wall being clamped by its frame to a peripheral flange on the peripheral frame of the metal.

Abstract: A wine cask has a circular metal base and a circular metal end cover. A plurality of staves arranged circumferentially and lying edge to edge are clamped by a circumferential clamp which retains them in a cylindrical configuration and a tension clamp extends in an axial direction between the base and end cover and clamps the staves between them.

Abstract: A rectangular barrel having four flat sides. Each side comprises a plurality of board of substantially square cross section. Each board has right angular grooves extending laterally near the end and has a tongue on one edge and a groove on the other edge which interfit to form each side. Both end of the barrel are square with tongues extending into the right angular grooves of the boards and partially into the tongues and grooves of all the boards for sealing the ends of the barrel.

Abstract: Insulating panels or plates are formed along their opposite longitudinal edges with a cylindrically segmental projection and a cylindrically segmental groove receiving the projection, both of these formations being preferably formed as extruded polyvinyl chloride shells. The arc length of the groove is greater than 180.degree. but less than that of the projection so that the plates can be interfitted and angularly offset to fit around a vessel, the angular adjustability allowing the plates to be accommodated to greater and lesser curvatures of the vessel.

Abstract: A process for maturing strong beverages comprising activation of an oak stave after separation of a matured strong beverage therefrom by a cyclic application of a multimode electromagnetic field of standing waves with a frequency of from 2,000 to 4,500 MHz thereto to a heating temperature of from 35.degree. to 55.degree. C. At the same time, an oxygen-containing medium is purged. As a result of the cyclic application of the multimode electromagnetic field the stave releases the spirit vapors in a residual content thereof ranging from 5 to 10%. Between cycles of application of the multimode electromagnetic field the stave is cooled to a temperature of 15.degree. to 25.degree. C. by means of an oxygen-containing medium. The spirit vapors are entrained by the oxygen-containing medium and condensed. The strong beverage is kept in the activated oak stave. The matured strong beverage is then from the stave.

Abstract: A rectangular barrel-like structure having four wooden stave sides and two wooden stave head sections, joined together by specially designed triangular corner members. Each of the staves used in making the side walls and in making the head sections are of white oak and are of tongue-and-groove construction. Additionally, each of the staves utilized in the wall sections contains a croze at the top and at the bottom for snug engagement with the staves forming the head sections. Each of the triangular corner members is truncated at the junction of the leg and the base of the triangle so as to form a planar section equal in width to the width of the wall section stave. The truncated planar section contains a projecting tongue on one side for engagement with a complementary groove of a wall stave of one side section and a complementary groove on the other for engagement with a projecting tongue of one of the wall staves of the other wall section.

Abstract: A stave for a tub has opposite elongate edges formed with formations each having a section transverse to the stave including an arcuate portion, and a rabbet for receiving a floor of the tub extending between the edges. The formations on each stave are desirably complementary, but need not be. Staves placed in edge-to-edge relation define a tub wall which can conform to an arbitrary shape and size. A tub is formed by a plurality of staves, an appropriately shaped floor, and bands extending around the outside of the tub wall.