FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to beverage aerators.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Often, wine is enhanced with entrained air through an aeration device, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US 2012/0156338 Al and U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,584 B2, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Aerators are used to soften tannins and improve taste but are not capable of eliminating undesirable wine additives, such as preservative sulfites.

[0003] Oenophiles generally agree that different wines require different preparative approaches to attain the peak possible experience. Not all wines are enhanced by aerating the wine because too much exposure to oxygen can adversely alter the flavor of the wine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an assembly;

[0005] Figures 2A-2C are various views of embodiments of a support member of the assembly;

[0006] Figure 3A is a top view of an embodiment of a diverter member of the assembly in a first diverter position;

[0007] Figure 3B is a top view of an embodiment of a diverter member of the assembly in a second diverter position;

[0008] Figure 4A is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a diverter member of the assembly in a first diverter position;

[0009] Figure 4B is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a diverter member of the assembly in a second diverter position;

[0010] Figure 5 is an embodiment of a diverter member of the assembly; [0011] Figure 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4A; [0012] Figures 9 to 28 are various views of components of the assembly or of the assembly itself; and

[0013] Figure 29 is an embodiment of the assembly disposed in a carafe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The disclosure provides an assembly for the selective aeration of a liquid, for example a beverage such as wine. Optionally, the assembly can advantageously include a filter pod for the filtering (removal) of a chosen material, such as sulfites.

[0015] As illustrated in Figure 1 and 4A, an assembly 10 for selectively aerating a liquid (not shown) includes a base member 14 having at least one surface 16 that defines a reservoir 18 adapted to receive the liquid. The base member 14 extends along an assembly axis 20 from an open first end 22 to a second end 24, and the base member 14 having at least one base aperture 25 formed in the surface 16 defining the reservoir 18. The assembly 10 also includes a support member 26 non-rotatably coupled to the base member 14, the support member 26 having at least one support aperture 28 that is in fluid communication with the reservoir 18 of the base member 14. The assembly 10 further includes a diverter member 30 rotatably coupled to the support member 26 and rotatable between a first diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3A) and a second diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3B). The diverter member 30 has at least one primary aperture 32 disposed within a trough portion 34, and at least one secondary aperture 36 disposed at a first end 38 of a channel portion 40. The assembly 10 additionally includes an aerator member 42 non-rotatably secured to the diverter member 30, the aerator member 42 having a plurality of raised elongated flow features 44 that each extends from a first end 46 to a second end 48, the aerator member having an aeration aperture 50.

[0016] In the first diverter position illustrated in Figure 3A (in which the support aperture 28 is aligned with a dotted line) and 4B, the at least one support aperture 28 is aligned with the trough portion 34 such that a portion of the liquid in the reservoir 18 flows through the base aperture 25 and into the recess 27 of the support portion 26 and through the support aperture 28 into the trough portion 34, and through the primary aperture 32. The at least one primary aperture 32 is aligned with or adjacent to a portion of the flow feature 44 such that the portion of the liquid flowing through the primary aperture 32 contacts the portion of the flow feature 44 and flows though the aeration aperture 50. In the second diverter position illustrated in Figure 3B (in which the support aperture 28 is aligned with a dotted line) and 4A, the at least one support aperture 28 is aligned with a second end 52 of the channel portion 40 such that a portion of the liquid in the reservoir 18 flows through the base aperture 25 and into the recess 27 of the support portion 26 and through the support aperture 28, into the channel portion 40 at or adjacent to the second end 52, through the secondary aperture 36, and though the aeration aperture 50.

[0017] So configured, a beverage (such as a red wine) may be poured into the reservoir 18 with the diverter member 30 in the first diverter position, and the red wine may be aerated by flowing along the spiraling flow feature(s) 44 before flowing out of the aeration aperture 50 and into a container, such as a carafe or glass. In addition, a beverage (such as a white wine) may be poured into the reservoir 18 with the diverter member 30 in the second diverter position, and the white wine may bypass the aeration provided by the flow feature(s) 44 and flow directly out of the aeration aperture 50 and into a container, such as a carafe or glass. In addition, the beverage (either white or red wine) may flow through a filter pod 54 placed on a top surface 56 of the support member 26 before flowing into or through the support aperture 28, thereby filtering the beverage of a chosen material, such as sulfites.

[0018] Turning to the assembly 10 in more detail, and referring to Figure 4 A, the base member 14 extends along the assembly axis 20 from the open first end 22 to a second end 24 that is opposite the first end 22. At least one surface 16 defines the reservoir 18, and the surface may be a top surface 57 of a transverse wall 58 that may extend substantially normal to the assembly axis 20. The top surface 57 of a transverse wall 58 may be concave, and the base aperture 25 may be formed through the transverse wall 58 at or along the assembly axis 20. The transverse wall 38 may have a peripheral edge 59 disposed between the first end 22 and the second end 24 (which may be open) of the base member 14.

[0019] A cylindrical top wall 60 may upwardly extend (extend in a direction from the second end 24 towards the first end 22 and along the Z-axis of the reference coordinate system of Figure 4A) from the peripheral edge 59 of transverse wall 58 to the first end 22 of the base member 14. The peripheral edge 59 may be circular and have a first diameter, and a diameter of the cylindrical top wall 60 may diverge from the first diameter at the peripheral edge to a second diameter at the first end 22. A cylindrical bottom wall 62 may downwardly extend (extend in a direction from the first end 22 towards the second end 24 and along the Z- axis of the reference coordinate system of Figure 4A) from the peripheral edge 59 of transverse wall 58 to the second end 24 of the base member 14. A diameter of the cylindrical bottom wall 62 may converge from the first diameter at the peripheral edge 59 to a third diameter at the second end 24, and the third diameter may be less than the first diameter and the second diameter.

[0020] As illustrated in the cross- sectional view of Figure 6 (taken normal to the assembly axis 20 and taken with the support member 26 removed for clarity), a receiving recess 64 may be formed in a bottom surface 66 of the transverse wall 58 of the base member 14, and the receiving recess 64 may be defined by a peripheral edge 68. The peripheral edge 68 may be non-circular and may correspond in shape to a non-circular peripheral edge 70 of a tab portion 71 of the support member 26 (see Fig. 2). Accordingly, all or a portion (i.e., a top portion) of the tab portion 71 of the support member 26 may be (removably) received into the receiving recess 64 such that that the non-circular peripheral edge 70 of the tab portion 71 of the support member 26 is slightly inwardly offset from the peripheral edge of the receiving cavity 64 such that the support member 26 cannot rotate about the assembly axis 20 when the tab portion 71 is disposed in the receiving recess 64. In some embodiments, the peripheral edge 70 of the support member 26 and the peripheral edge 68 of the receiving recess 64 may both be hexagonal, pentagonal, octagonal, or any non-circular shape or combination of shapes that prevents the support member 26 from rotating about the assembly axis 20 relative to the base member 14.

[0021] The base member 14 may be made from various materials including but not limited to a silicone rubber or from a plastic, such as a semi-rigid or rigid plastic. An optional cylindrical internal support portion 72 (see Figure 1) may be disposed within a cavity formed by the bottom wall 62 to provide structural support to the base member 14.

[0022] Referring to Figures 1, 2 A, and 2B, the assembly 10 also includes the support member 26 non-rotatably coupled to the base member 14. The support member 26 may have a tray portion 74 disposed inward of the tab portion 71, and the tray portion 74 may have an outer wall 75 extending downward from the tab portion 71. A lower wall 76 may inwardly extend from a lower peripheral portion of the outer wall 75, and an inner surface of the outer wall 75 and an upper surface of the lower wall 76 may at least partially define the recess 27. The at least one support aperture 28 may be formed in the recess 27 (e.g., formed through the lower wall 76 adjacent to a peripheral edge 77 of the lower wall 76). In some embodiments, the support member 26 may include a plurality (such as 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more) of support apertures 28, and the plurality of support apertures 28 may be uniformly arrayed about a center axis (e.g., aligned with the assembly axis 20) of the support member 26. The lower wall 76 of the tray portion 74 may be convex such that liquid contacting the tray portion 74 may flow towards the peripheral edge 77 of the lower wall 76. The top surface 56 of the lower wall 76 may support the filter pod 54, which may be disk-shaped and may have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer wall 75. The outer wall 75 may have any shape or combination of shapes, such as a stepped profile when viewed in cross-section.

[0023] The assembly 10 further includes the diverter member 30 rotatably coupled to the support member 26 and rotatable between a first diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3A and 4B) and a second diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3B and 4A). The diverter member 30 extends along the assembly axis 20 from an open first end 78 to a second end 80 that is opposite the first end 78. The diverter member 30 has a cylindrical upper wall 82 that extends from the first end 78 to an intermediate point 83 between the first end 78 and the second end 80. A top portion of the upper wall 82 has a plurality of first engagement features 84 disposed around the circumference of the top portion 85. When the circumference of the top portion 85 (at the first end 78 of the diverter member 30) is disposed around an outer portion of the outer wall 75 of the support member 26, each of the first engagement features 84 may engage with a corresponding second engagement feature 86 of the support member 26 to secure the diverter member 30 to the support member 26. The skilled person would recognize that the first engagement features 84 and the second engagement features 86 may be any features that cooperate to removably lock or position the diverter member 30 in a desired position relative to the support member 26. For example, the first engagement features 84 may be tabs with detents and the second engagement features 86 may be recesses or aperture that receive the detents on the tabs. Alternatively, the second engagement features 86 may be tabs with detents and the first engagement features 84 may be recesses or aperture that receives the detents on the tabs, or any combination thereof.

[0024] With the diverter member 30 secured to the support member 26 such that the first engagement features 84 is engaged with the corresponding second engagement feature 86 (a first one of the second engagement features 86), the diverter member 30 is disposed in the first diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3A). When the diverter member 30 is rotated relative to the support member 26 (in a first rotational direction), the first engagement features 84 may disengage with the corresponding second engagement feature 86 (the first one of the second engagement features 86) and may rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature 86 (a second one of the second engagement features 86) such that the diverter member 30 is disposed in the second diverter position (illustrated in Figure 3B).

[0025] A further rotation of the diverter member 30 relative to the support member 26 (in the first rotational direction) will cause the first engagement features 84 to disengage with the corresponding second engagement feature 86 (the second one of the second engagement features 86) and to rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature 86 (a third one of the second engagement features 86) such that the diverter member 30 is disposed in the first diverter position. One more rotation of the diverter member 30 relative to the support member 26 (in the first rotational direction) will cause the first engagement features 84 to disengage with the corresponding second engagement features 86 (the third one of the second engagement features 86) and to rotate into engagement with an adjacent second engagement feature 86 (a fourth one of the second engagement features 86) such that the diverter member 30 is disposed in the first diverter position. The rotations may repeat indefinitely. The skilled person would recognize that any or all of the rotations may be in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

[0026] The diverter member 30 has at least one primary aperture 32 disposed within the trough portion 34. As illustrated in Figure 5, each trough portion 34 includes a side wall 88 that surrounds the primary aperture 32 such that liquid flowing through the support aperture 32 when the diverter member 30 is in the first diverter position is retained within the side walls 88. Opposing walls of the side walls 88 may converge as the walls extend towards the assembly axis 20. A bottom surface 90 of the trough portion 34 may be angled towards the primary aperture 32 so that any liquid in the trough portion 32 flows though the primary aperture 32. Any number of primary apertures 32 and trough portions 34 may be included in the diverter member 30, and the number of primary apertures 32 may be equal to the number of support apertures 28 (for example, six primary apertures 32 and six trough portions 34). [0027] The diverter member 30 has at least one secondary aperture 36 disposed at the first end 38 of the channel portion 40. The channel portion 40 may extend from the second end 52, disposed adjacent to a bottom portion 92 of the upper wall 82 to the first end 38 disposed adjacent to or at the secondary aperture 36. The secondary aperture 36 may be defined by a downwardly extending spout that decreases in diameter as the spout approaches the second end 80 of the diverter member 30. Each channel portion 40 may be disposed between adjacent trough portions 34 such that portions of the side walls 88 of the adjacent trough portions 34 maintain liquid in the channel to flow from the second end 52 of the channel portion 40 to the first end 38 and through the secondary aperture 36. Any number of channels may be included in or on the diverter member 30 and the number of channel portions 40 may be equal to the number of support apertures 28 (for example, six channel portions 40).

[0028] The assembly 10 additionally includes the aerator member 42 non-rotatably secured to the diverter member 30. The aerator member 42 extends along the assembly axis 20 from an open first end 94 to a second end 96 that is opposite the first end 94, and the aeration aperture 50 may be disposed at the second end 96. The second end 96 may disposed at or adjacent to the second end 80 of the diverter member (and the end of the spout defining the end of the secondary aperture 36). In some embodiments, the end of the spout defining the end of the secondary aperture 36 of the diverter member 30 may extend through the aeration aperture 50. The aerator member 42 may have a generally parabolic cross-sectional shape, and the first end 94 of the aerator member 42 may be secured to a portion (i.e., a lower external portion) of the upper wall 82 of the diverter member 30. The first end 94 of the aerator member 42 may be removably secured to the portion of the upper wall 82 in any suitable manner, such as by snap features, for example. The first end 94 of the aerator member 42 may be non-rotatably secured to the portion of the upper wall 82 such that rotation of the aerator member 42 about the assembly axis 20 results in a corresponding rotation of the diverter member 30 (relative to the support member 26 and the base member 14).

[0029] The aerator member 42 may also have a plurality of raised elongated flow features 44 disposed on or along an inner surface 98 of the aerator member 42. Each flow feature 44 extends from the first end 46 to the second end 48 such that the flow feature extends in a portion of a spiral shape on or along an inner surface 98 of the aerator member 42.

[0030] That is, each flow feature 44 extends from the first end 46 to the second end 48, and the first end 46 of each flow feature 44 is separated by a vertical distance (along the assembly axis 20, and the first end 46 is higher than the second end 48 when the assembly axis 20 is disposed vertically) and a circumferential distance on or along the inner surface 98 of the aerator member 42. So configured, liquid flowing from the primary aperture 32 (when the diverter portion 30 is in the first diverter position) contacts a portion of the flow feature 44 (e.g., a portion at or adjacent to the first end 46) and flows along the elongated flow feature 44 to (or adjacent to) the second end 48 and then flows out of the aeration aperture 50 (or a gap between the aeration aperture 50 and an outer surface of the spout defining the secondary aperture 36) or into engagement with another portion of an adjacent flow feature 44. A plurality of flow features 44 may be disposed on the aeration member 30, and the flow features 44 may have varying lengths and/or positions. At least one flow feature 44 may have a first end 46 that is vertically aligned with a primary aperture 32 when the diverter member 30 is in the first diverter position. Each flow feature 44 maximizes the flow path length of a liquid (e.g., a red wine) though the aeration member 30, thereby aerating the liquid prior to the liquid exiting the aeration aperture 50. As previously, mentioned, if it is desired to filter a liquid without aerating the liquid (e.g., white wine), the diverter member 30 is rotated into the second diverter position such that flow along the flow features 44 of the aerator member 42 is avoided, as previously described. Indicia may be printed on an exterior of the base member and/or the aeration member 42 so a user can visually determine if the diverter member 30 is in the first or second diverter position.

[0031] In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in Figure 29, the assembly 10 may be disposed within a neck 99 of a carafe 101 or similar container. The assembly 10 and the carafe 101 may be a fit packaged and/or sold as a single unit

[0032] While various embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments that are still within the scope of the appended claims.