TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the identification of the presence of solids in a liquid observed through a wall of a vessel.

A particular application of the present invention is in the assistance of separating the liquid and solids, such as when decanting wine.

BACKGROUND

There have been previous attempts to provide devices and methods for decanting a liquid to leave behind solids in a vessel. Filtration through a filter medium has been used, as has pumping out the liquid to leave behind the solids.

For wine aficionados, an age old method of holding up a candle or other naked flame behind a bottle as the bottle is tipped has been used for decanting. The light from the naked flame illuminates through the side walls of the bottle sufficiently for the pourer to identify when solids (sediment) in the wine begin to travel with the flow of wine, and to stop pouring at the correct moment. A powered light, such as a dedicated battery powered lamp has been proposed to improve over the naked flame. For example, published US patent document

2008151529 describes a lamp that attaches to the outside of a wine bottle. The Illuminator' has a battery powered light bulb that is operated by a switch. In use, the device is mounted to the outside of the bottle just below the base of the bottle neck. The switch is actuated to turn on the light. As the wine is poured out, the light illuminates through the walls of the bottle to reveal the sediment and to allow a user to judge when to stop pouring. When decanting is complete, the user uprights the bottle, puts it down on a surface and switches off the light or switches off the light with one hand whilst holding the bottle with the other.

Needless to say, such a device has deficiencies in that electrical energy is wasted between first switching on the light before picking the bottle up and commencing decanting. Further, additional electrical energy is wasted after the decanting is finished until the light is switched off manually.

Another problem with this type of illuminator is that the light intensity, spread of the light beam and colour of the light cannot be adjusted. It has been found efficacious in certain applications to adjust the brightness of the light for a given ambient light level, a given darkness or opacity of the vessel containing the liquid, the sensitivity of a users eyes to the brightness or colour of the light transmitted through the vessel, or to adjust the spread or focus of the light from a wide beam to a narrow beam or vice versa.

Such issues occur in other applications where the presence and/or position of solids when removing a liquid from a vessel needs to be observed, such as in medical, veterinary, scientific, industrial, agricultural and commercial applications. One example would be in the removal of a liquid after a flocculant has been added to settle out suspended solids in a vessel.

With the aforementioned in mind, it is desirable of the present invention to provide an improved illuminator that reduces electrical energy use.

It is alternatively desirable of the present invention to provide an improved illuminator whereby the amount and/or colour of emitted light can be adjusted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in view, one form of the present invention provides an illuminator apparatus for illuminating contents of a vessel, the illuminator apparatus having a source of electrical energy, an electrically powered light source and a tilt switch, the tilt switch arranged such that when the vessel is tipped the tilt switch enables electrical connection between the source of electrical energy and the light source thereby illuminating the light.

Thus, advantageously, the light source is not illuminated until the vessel is tipped sufficiently in order to actuate the tilt switch, thereby saving electrical energy that would otherwise be consumed more quickly if a manual light switch was operated before the vessel was tipped.

The illuminator apparatus according may include a body housing the source of electrical energy, the light source and the tilt switch, the body including mounting means configured to releasably mount the illuminator to a container holding a liquid.

The illuminator apparatus may include a collar portion configured such that, in use, the collar portion is applied over a neck of the vessel to releasably mount the apparatus to the vessel. Preferably the body and the collar form a single continuous housing of the illuminator apparatus.

The illuminator apparatus may be configured such that the collar fits over a neck of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, and preferably provides a snug fit or interference fit such that the apparatus does not appreciably swing away from the bottle when the bottle is tilted and the body of the apparatus housing the light source is below the bottle.

The collar portion may include a first cushion on an inner side thereof providing a contact surface between the illuminator apparatus and the vessel. This not only reduces or prevents contact noise between the vessel and the apparatus, but also helps avoid damage to either or both. This is particularly advantageous when the vessel is made of glass and the illuminator apparatus, at least at contact points with the vessel, is formed of metal. Preferably the body of the apparatus is formed of or includes stainless steel, aluminium, plastic, co- moulded plastic and rubber like material, such as neoprene, or combinations thereof.

The first cushion may include at least one of felt, rubber, silicon rubber, neoprene, a padded synthetic or natural fabric, or combinations of one or more thereof.

A second cushion may provide a contact surface between a portion of the body of the illuminator apparatus and the vessel. The first and second cushions may be portions of a single cushion or cushion material. The first and/or second cushion may be or include a liquid absorbent material, such as a felt or foam.

When the illuminator apparatus is mounted in place to a bottle, the light source may be positioned at or adjacent a lower part of a shoulder of the bottle, at a transition between the shoulder part and a side wall of the bottle or at an upper part of the side wall adjacent the shoulder.

The illuminator apparatus may be arranged such that the vessel is tipped back upright or to a desired degree of tip, the tilt switch turns the light off, thereby saving further electrical energy.

According to another form of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for illuminating contents of a vessel, the illuminator having a source of electrical energy, an electrically powered light source, and actuation switch to turn the light on and off, and a light adjuster to adjust a characteristic of the light illuminating the contents of the vessel.

Advantageously, adjusting the light may include adjusting a focus/spread of the light and/or colour of the light illuminating the contents of the vessel. Thus, focussing the light may assist in concentrating available light output from the illuminator and thereby enabling a user to detect solids in opaque liquid or through highly opaque vessels. Alternatively, or in addition, the colour of the light may be adjusted, such as by applying a filter. This may change light colour, for example, from white light to blue, green, red or other colours. This can be particularly efficacious for users sensitive to white light or with light colour recognition problems/requirements.

The apparatus may include a retainer, wherein the retainer removably mounts the apparatus to the vessel. For example, the retainer may be a collar or suction pad to removably attach the apparatus to the vessel. The retainer may include an absorbent material, which may be replaceable, to absorb some of the liquid. The collar may be placed over a neck of the bottle to retain the apparatus in place, such as even when not is use.

The apparatus may include an onboard electrical power supply, such as a battery, which may be rechargeable or a replaceable battery. Alternatively, power may be derived from an electrical capacitor or induction charged source, or from a spring powered electrical drive such as a manually wound electrical power source.

The light may be adjusted by a diffuser over the light source. This may be integral to the device or may be releasably attachable, such as a clip on diffuser, which may be a coloured material to alter the colour of the output light and/or may include a lens arrangement to modify the focus/spread of light. Alternatively or in addition, modifying the focus/spread of light may be achieved by varying an angle of a light reflector relative to the light source, such as by moving or adjusting a reflector behind the light source.

The tilt switch may be an electrical/electronic or mechanical switch, a mercury switch or other type of attitude sensing switch. For example, the tilt switch may be a ball operated switch whereby a ball constrained to move in a channel, race, tube or container moves when the switch is tilted, the ball creating electrical contact to operate the switch to illuminate the light.

In essence, the light source in at least one form of the present invention is automatically switched on or off, or both, depending on an amount of tilt. The amount of tilt may be an amount of tilt of the switch itself if the switch is mounted to tip with the vessel but the light source does not tip, or of the apparatus itself tipping with the vessel. Thus, the tilt switch can be remote from the rest of the apparatus but operatively connected thereto to actuate/deactivate the light.

Preferably tilt switch activation occurs at 45° tilt or less.

The light source may be one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for low energy usage, but may be or include other light sources.

The apparatus may include an electrical power/battery reserve indicator, which may be in the form of one or more low power lights, such as a green, yellow, red indicator and or sliding/stepped scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1a to ^" Id show various stages of use of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an indication of a degree of tilt activation of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a cutaway diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing positioning of internal parts.

Figures 4a and 4b show front and rear perspectives of a particular embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 5a to 5d show respective left side, front, right side and rear views of an illuminator according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted for use on a wine bottle.

Figure 6a shows a rear view of the illuminator of figures 5a to 5d on a bottle and designates section line A-A. Figure 6b shows a cross section through the illuminator and bottle according to section A-A.

Figures 7 and 8 show various views of an illuminator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 shows a left side view of a cross section through the embodiment of the present invention of figures 7 and 8.

Figure 10 shows a right side view of a cross section through the embodiment shown in figures 7 and 8 and mounted in situ on a bottle.

Figures 11 and 12 show sectional views through a bottle with the illuminator apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 13 shows side sectional views through various bottle profiles/outlines with an illuminator mounted thereon, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 a to 1 d show a particular embodiment of the present invention mounted to a wine bottle. It will be appreciated that other applications are envisaged for the present invention. The apparatus 10 has a collar 12 slipped over a neck 14 of the bottle 16. The collar supports a body 18 of the apparatus depending thereform when mounted. The body houses a light source 20, a power supply 22 in the form of a battery pack, a tilt switch 24 and control circuitry 26. One or more of these components can be provided in an electronics package. Figures 1 a to 1 d show various stages of the apparatus in operation. As the wine bottle is tilted for decanting purposes, once the tilt switch gets to a required angle of tilt, the light source illuminates. The emitted light illuminates through the side walls of the bottle and through the wine contained therein. Sediment within the wine is detected. It will be appreciated that this works particularly efficaciously for red wine, particularly unfiltered, robust or aged wine having a tendency to include sediment.

Figure 1 c shows the bottle and illuminator tipped to an angle a of 45°. This angle of activation of the light may be set at or varied to a different angle, greater or lesser than 45° depending on the required application.

It will be appreciated that tilting the bottle less than 45°, in this embodiment, means that the light is not illuminated. At 45° the tilt switch is activated and the light comes on. Rotating the bottle back to less than 45° tilt deactivates the switch and turns off the light. The light remains activated through the pouring procedure provided the bottle is titled at 45° or more.

Figure 2 shows the collar around the lower neck of the bottle. The collar provides a snug fit to the neck in order to prevent the collar and thus reduce the risk of the apparatus sliding along the neck when the bottle is tipped.

Cushioning may be provided in the retainer, in this instance the collar, to accommodate variations in neck diameter.

Absorbent material may also be provided to soak up or catch drips of liquid on the neck of the bottle. This absorbent material may also provide the cushioning.

Illuminating through a diffuser, which may be a lens, can widen or focus the light. Widening the light beam can be employed to soften the light in order to emulate the light from a candle for improved aesthetic effect. To this end, the diffuser may modify the colour of the light transmitted through the diffuser.

Figure 3 shows an internal view of the apparatus. A battery 22 supplies electrical power to the light 20 (an LED in this example) via control circuitry and tilt switch. A diffuser 26 spreads and softens the light when emitted. This can be especially useful where the light source is relatively intense, such as can be found with some LED sources. The angle β shows an example of spread of the light beam created by the diffuser. This angle can be varied by the size, lensing effect and shape of the diffuser.

Figures 4a and 4b show a particular embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a housing 30 within a body 32 of the apparatus. Advantageously and aesthetically pleasing, the apparatus can be configured with a variety of alternative body shapes, such as animals, mythological characters and other aesthetically pleasing shapes. The outer body shell may be interchangeable over an underlying housing, such a variety of alternative forms can be interchanged for different visual effect for the one apparatus.

In use, with a power source, the device activates when tilted a sufficient amount to cause the tilt switch to operate. This causes the apparatus to illuminate the liquid in the vessel through the vessel walls. A user can identify the presence and location of sediment, and determine when to stop decanting or pouring liquid from the vessel before the bulk of the sediment starts to decant. The apparatus saves electrical energy by only switching on when the apparatus is tipped and switches off again when the device is tipped back. The degree of tipping may be adjustable so that activation only occurs at a desired degree of tilt or to suit a particular application or style of vessel. Thus, a tilt switch activation adjustment may be provided. This may be a physical adjustment of the tilt switch itself eg by rotating the tilt switch, or an electrical control to delay or advance activation of the tilt switch.

Returning the vessel towards an upright position turns off the light, thereby further saving energy.

The present invention provides for enhanced battery life or increased time between battery change or recharging.

Embodiments of the present invention may include both the tilt switch and the diffuser.

Figures 5a to 5d show an illuminator 50 in situ on a bottle 52. The illuminator 50 has a collar 54 that slips over the neck 56 of the bottle and the main portion 58 is positioned adjacent the shoulder 60 of the bottle. The illuminator has a removable battery cover 62. The collar is sufficiently tight fitting to the neck of the bottle to prevent the body of the illuminator from swinging freely when the bottle is tilted, but not so tightly fitting as to prevent removal of the illuminator by lifting it up and off of the neck of the bottle. The collar can include an absorbent material, such as felt or foam material, to absorb any drips of wine that might run down the neck of the bottle, but also helps provide cushioned contact between the collar and the bottle. This also helps prevent the illuminator from slipping off the bottle or rotating around the bottle when the bottle is tipped for pouring.

Figures 6a and 6b also show the illuminator 50 on a bottle 52. Figure 6b shows a cross section through the illuminator. It will be appreciated that the light source 66 within the illuminator that transmits light through the bottle wall 68 is positioned at 90° to the central axis A' of the bottle. The light source is positioned such that the light transmits through the wall of the bottle in a region where the shoulder 70 of the bottle and the side 72 of the bottle converge. As the bottle is tipped, with the illuminator underneath the bottle, the light is transmitted up through the liquid contents of the bottle. Solid matter, such as sediment, present in the liquid can be seen by observing the illuminated liquid from the side of the bottle. This solid matter can be seen at the shoulder region of the bottle as it flows in the liquid towards the neck of the bottle during pouring or decanting.

The body of the illuminator houses the light source 66, preferably an LED, a battery 74, a tilt switch and a PCB assembly 76, and the battery cap 62.

Figures 7 and 8 show various views of the illuminator 50. The light source 66 is positioned within the protection of the hollow 76 formed by the inner surface 78 of the outer shell 80 of the body. The light source is recessed into the body of the illuminator for protection and prevent direct contact against the glass wall of the bottle. The collar portion 54 is shown with its through aperture 82 for receiving a neck of a bottle. The cap 62 is shown at the base 84 of the illuminator. Unscrewing the cap reveals access to the replaceable battery and internal components for replacement or repair.

Figure 9 shows a sectional view through the illuminator 50. The collar 54 defines the through aperture 82 for receiving the neck of a bottle. The collar is lines or coated with a plastic, foam, felt or rubber material, such as neoprene, to soften contact between the illuminator and the bottle (which also prevents or deadens noise from metal of the illuminator against the glass of the bottle). Such material may also be provided at a contact point adjacent the light source and/or base of the illuminator where the lower body portion 86 contacts against the glass wall of the bottle. The battery cap 62 has a circular metal contact 94 (not reliant on cap orientation) with a surrounding resilient seal 96. This contact connects the battery to the PCB and light source (LED).

Figure 10 shows the same illuminator as in figure 9 but in the opposite view cross section. The illuminator 50 is orientated as if it was mounted to a bottle. Section outlines 98 of various bottle styles are shown passing through the collar 54 aperture 82 of the illuminator, giving examples of the position of the light source relative to the lower shoulder portion/upper side portion of the bottle.

Preferably the body casing and collar are formed of plastic or metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably the body and collar is a metal, such as silver, stainless steel or aluminium, and the collar lined with a rubber or rubberised material.

Figures 1 1 and 12 show an embodiment of the illuminator 100 mounted over a neck of a bottle 102. The tilt switch 104 is aligned at an angle 0 with respect to the centreline 106 of the bottle. Preferably the angle 0 is at or approximately 52.5° with respect to that centreline. When the bottle is tilted to a required angle, such as 45°, this tilt switch actuates and switches on the light source. This provides preferred lighting into the bottle to identify presence of sediment 108. The tilt switch deactivates when the bottle is tipped back towards upright e.g. less than 45°. This is particularly useful when decanting or pouring wine because the illuminator automatically switches on as the bottle is tilted to pour/decant wine, and sediment can be identified before it reaches the decanter or glass. The angle may vary to suit a given style of bottle (shape, colour, thickness of glass) and characteristics of the wine therein.

As shown in Figure 13, the illuminator 100 can be used with a variety of bottle 109 styles. The outlines 1 10 of the bottles can vary, such as shown at the shoulder 1 12 examples and the corresponding base 1 14 examples. The light source 1 16 shines its light approximately at right angles to the outline of the bottle or at an acute angle thereto. This position at the transition between the lower shoulder 1 18 and the top of the side wall 120 is considered a 'sweet spot' for preferentially identifying presence of sediment.