A wine decanter device

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a device used to decant wine before consumption.

The peculiarities and advantages of the invention will result more evident following to short description of the prior art.

As it is known, some wines, especially red wines that undergo ageing, will result totally satisfactory for users only after being subject to an operation called "decantation".

Practically speaking, wine is subject to an oxygenation operation, knowing that wine - which has remained in the bottle for long - will release its aromas only after remaining for some time in contact with air.

In such a perspective, wine lovers are well aware, at least, of the need to open a bottle of aged red wine a few hours before the estimated consumption time.

Such a solution is not very effective, not only because of the reduced access section of the air inside the bottle (reference is made to the narrow pouring conduit provided in the neck of the bottle), but also and most of all because of the reduced exchange surface (basically corresponding to the surface of a coin) offered by the wine to the oxygen penetrating in the bottle.

As a matter of fact, in a full bottle the exchange surface of oxygen is represented by the free surface of the "wine column" contained in the bottle, which is basically disposed at the base of the neck.

In order to overcome such a drawback, wine to be oxygenated is poured into a suitably devised instrument - known as "decanter" - the peculiarity of which consists in that it is provided, under a traditional pouring neck, with a receptacle with very large base and rather reduced height. It is easy to understand that, whereas wine forms a column with considerable height and reduced surface inside a bottle, a layer with large surface and reduced thickness is formed inside a decanter.

Such a remedy is particularly advantageous because the exchange surface offered by the wine to oxygen is enormously larger than the surface offered inside an ordinary bottle. Moreover, also the reduced thickness of said wine layer formed inside the decanter is another reason for hoping that the entire wine volume undergoes the desirable oxygenation process.

However, it must be noted that the use of decanters is not completely free from drawbacks.

The most critical aspect of this technology is related with the rather long time that is necessary to obtain effective oxygenation of the wine poured in a decanter.

It can be otherwise said that wine needs to "rest" for several minutes - if not hours - inside the decanter before being consumed with total satisfaction.

Such a long permanence of the wine inside a decanter may not cause any problem when used in a domestic environment, when consumers can be rather certain about the time in which the wine will be actually consumed.

Instead, a different situation is encountered in public places (such as restaurants, wine bars and the like), when customers asking for a particular wine cannot wait any longer than a few minutes after opening the bottle.

The specific purpose of the present invention is to solve the latter problem of the prior art and, more precisely, to obtain perfect oxygenation of the wine also in a very short time, in a practically instantaneous way.

In particular, the inventive idea has been to create a device able to considerably increase the exchange surface offered by wine to oxygen compared to an ordinary decanter. To that end, the device of the invention is composed of a series of components mounted "in column" configuration, where the wine poured from a bottle can flow in sequential order, by force of gravity, until it is directly poured into glasses and served to consumers.

The structure of said components has been studied so that each component can contribute, when crossed by the wine flow, to favor air exposure and maximum oxygenation.

The main component of the device of the invention consists in a funnel-shaped receptacle adapted to contain a plurality of small freely- movable spheres.

When the contents of a bottle is poured inside such a receptacle, because of interference by force of gravity with said plurality of spheres, the wine flow is "broken up" and subject to a continuous alternate series of deviations that tend to expand the surface in contact with air.

In view of the above, the wine increases its exchange surface with oxygen, thus carrying out the desired oxygenation process much more rapidly, practically in an instantaneous way.

Moreover, it must be considered that, according to the device of the invention, said funnel-shaped receptacle is adapted to convey the wine poured inside it into another receptacle with cup-shaped profile disposed in lower position, which is likewise able to additionally favor oxygenation.

Because of the cup-shaped profile, such a receptacle allows the wine to occupy a rather large surface in the very short time in which wine is contained inside it.

In effect, the authentic peculiarity of the cup-shaped receptacle consists in the fact that it is provided, under its bottom wall, with four radial distribution tubes forming four thin wine flows towards the additional lower component of the device of the invention.

The third component practically consists in a conveyor with pyramidal profile adapted to support said cup-shaped receptacle on its point. Said pyramidal conveyor is also provided at the four corners with corresponding inclined conduits with basically U-shaped profile, practically configurable as grooves.

Moreover, said radial tubes of the cup-shaped receptacle exactly end into the four inclined conduits provided in said pyramidal conveyor, so that the four thin wine flows penetrating inside said inclined conduits can directly flow into corresponding glasses.

Also in this case, it is important to mention that the four thin wine flows running by force of gravity into said inclined conduits of the pyramidal conveyor are additionally exposed to air in a dynamic condition that favors additional oxygenation.

The additional components of the device of the invention - which will be illustrated in detail hereinafter - are represented by vertical structures adapted to favor stacking of said three main components, and a height-adjustable base adapted to support in perfectly horizontal position all other components of the device, as well as the glasses to be filled with the wine poured in the device.

For explanatory reasons, the description of the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which only have an illustrative, non-limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a side view of the device of the invention, complete with all its components;

- Fig. 2 is a top view of the height-adjustable base provided in the device of the invention;

- Fig. 3 is a top view of the pyramidal conveyor provided in the device of the invention;

- Fig. 4 is a top view of the cup-shaped receptacle provided in the device of the invention;

- Fig. 5 is a top view of the structure adapted to support said funnel- shaped receptacle provided in the device of the invention, already mounted above said pyramidal conveyor. Referring to said figures, the device (1 ) is provided with a stabilization base (10) with basically square shape, adapted to rest on a table or any other horizontal surface.

The peculiarity of said base (10) consists in the fact that it is provided with four height-adjustable feet, basically consisting in four screws with vertical axis (1 1 ) engaged into threaded holes crossing the entire thickness of the base (10).

The suitable adjustment of the screws (1 1 ) allows the user to perfectly level said base (10), together with the entire device (1 ).

In fact, the perfectly horizontal position of said base (10) is the necessary condition to obtain - as explained hereinafter - a uniform filling of the glasses (8) positioned at the four corners of the base (10).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, from the upper surface of the base (10), and towards the four corners, four slightly curved vertical edges (9) protrude, being adapted to support in upper horizontal position a conveyor (7) provided with empty pyramidal structure with square base.

As shown in Fig. 3, said conveyor (7) has a considerably smaller surface than the square base (10), with respect to which it has a substantially "concentric" position.

Fig. 3 also shows the presence, in external position on the conveyor (7), of four inclined conduits (12) with upper opening, disposed at the four corners of the pyramidal structure.

In view of the above, the conduits (12) substantially end at the height of the four corners of the base (10) in areas (10') expressly adapted to act as support surface for the four glasses (8) in correspondence of the base (10).

As shown in Fig. 1 , the height of said vertical edges (9) interposed between base (10) and conveyor (7) is slightly higher than the height of a typical wine goblet.

In view of the above, after being positioned on the base, each of said glasses (8) is disposed with opening immediately under the lower end of a corresponding inclined conduit (12) of said conveyor (7). Referring to Fig. 2, said curved edges (9) are disposed on the base (10) in more internal position with respect to said angular areas (10') adapted to support the glasses (8).

Such a position of said edges (9), as well as the decision to position them with their concave profile facing the angular areas (10') of the base (10), guarantees that their presence does not hinder the positioning of glasses (8) in correspondence of the angular areas (10').

As mentioned, a receptacle with cup-shaped profile is positioned above said pyramidal conveyor (7), the main peculiarity of which is that it is provided under the bottom wall with four radial discharge tubes (6), each of them being spaced from the immediately adjacent tube by an angle of 90°.

Such cup-shaped receptacle (5) is adapted to be mounted on the point of the pyramidal conveyor (7), in such manner that said tubes (6) are exactly aligned with said inclined conduits (12) provided in said conveyor (7).

Fig. 1 clearly shows the position and configuration of said receptacle (5), as well as the special tapered downward profile given to the free end of each of said tubes (6).

Because of this special configuration, in fact, the free ends of the four tubes (6) act as supporting points for the receptacle (5), being exactly inserted in the corresponding inclined conduits (12) of the conveyor (7).

A vertical structure (4), preferably made of metal sections, is fixed above said conveyor (7), being substantially shaped as a truncated- conical cage.

It is composed of four upward-converging rods (4a) connected by two metal circles (4', 4") with horizontal direction, the first one (4') with larger diameter positioned approximately at half of the height of the rods (4a) and the second one (4") with considerably smaller diameter positioned on top of said vertical structure (4), in such manner to be its upper opening. In such a context, the lower end of each of the four rods (4a) is fixed at the center of one of the triangular sloping walls of said pyramidal conveyor (7).

The specific function of a similar truncated-conical vertical structure (4) is to support a funnel-shape receptacle (2) in correspondence of said upper opening.

Moreover, considering that the vertical structure (4) is centered with respect to the pyramidal conveyor (7), it is easily understood that the funnel-shaped receptacle (2) supported by said structure (4) is exactly disposed on the vertical line of the point of the conveyor (7) in perfectly aligned position also with said cup-shaped receptacle (5).

In particular, the funnel-shaped receptacle (2) is adapted to be inserted from up downwards inside the opening of the truncated-conical vertical structure (4), in such manner to be suspended in view of the larger diameter, towards the top, with respect to said second metal circle (4") connecting the four inclined rods (4a).

As shown in Fig. 1 , the funnel-shaped receptacle (2) is provided, starting from the tapered bottom wall, with a tube with vertical axis (2') provided with such length that its lower end is shortly disposed inside said cup-shaped receptacle (5).

As mentioned earlier, said funnel-shaped receptacle (2) is adapted to contain a plurality of small glass spheres (3) for most of its height.

After completing the description of the device of the invention (1 ), this description continues with a detailed explanation of its operation modes.

The user intending to use such a device (1 ) will simply pour the contents of a wine bottle inside said funnel-shaped receptacle (2).

In such way the liquid is subject to force of gravity that naturally tends to convey it towards the bottom of the receptacle (2).

During such vertical travel, the wine flow is subject to multiple deviations due to the interference exerted on it by said spheres (3). It can be otherwise said that the presence of the spheres (3) creates a considerable turbulence in said vertical wine flow, with the advantage of suddenly increasing the oxygen exchange surface.

However, as soon as the wine has passed the interference of the spheres (3) and has reached the bottom of the funnel-shaped receptacle (2), it flows into said vertical tube (2').

In such way, wine is transferred inside said cup-shaped receptacle (5) that, being provided with a large surface, additionally favors oxygenation of the wine that remains therein shortly, practically acting as a traditional decanter.

In fact, after reaching the bottom of the cup-shaped receptacle (5), the wine is directed outwards, by force of gravity, through said radial tubes (6).

The function of said radial tubes (6) is to generate four thin wine flows that are directly poured inside the inclined conduits (12) of the pyramidal conveyor (7).

Considering that the inclined conduits (12) are open on top, it is easily understood that the wine flowing inside them is subject to additional "dynamic" air exposure, which additionally favors oxygenation.

Because of the inclined conduits (12), the wine flows can reach their final destination, being poured in the four glasses (8) positioned on the base (10), immediately under the lower ends of the inclined conduits (12).

Now the wine is ready for immediate consumption, considering that the rapid vertical travel, together with turbulence, has permitted adequate oxygenation in real time.

It is understood that if the user of the device of the invention does not intend to fill the four glasses (8) - but only a lower number of them - he will simply close one of the tubes (6) of the cup-shaped receptacle (5), thus preventing wine from being conveyed towards said inclined conduits (12) of the conveyor (7). Moreover, without leaving the present inventive scope, it must be noted that said funnel-shaped receptacle (2) may abandon the presence of said spheres (3) in favor of alternative means, adapted in any case to put in turbulence the vertical wine flow poured inside it.

Likewise, the device of the invention (1 ) can be obtained according to a different embodiment adapted to simultaneously fill a number of glasses (8) higher than four.

For this reason, said cup-shaped receptacle (5) should be provided with a number of radial distribution tubes (6) higher than four.

Consequently, said pyramidal conveyor (7) should have a different polygonal base (instead of a square base) in order to be provided with a number of inclined conduits (12) equal to the number of tubes (6) of the cup-shaped receptacle (5).

Finally, the base (10) should be provided with a number of areas (10') used to support glasses equal to the number of inclined conduits (12) provided in the conveyor (7).