WO2017119813A1

WO2017119813A1 - Assembly of liquid container and holder, method for aerating

Info

Publication number: WO2017119813A1
Application number: PCT/NL2017/050005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Lambertus Kerkhof; Irazya Korver; Rui Medeiros Santos; Eelco Jan Gerardus Witteveen
Original assignee: Vacu Vin Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Vacu Vin Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2016-01-08
Filing date: 2017-01-06
Publication date: 2017-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-08
Also published as: NL2016070B1; NL2016070A

Abstract

Assembly (1) for rotation of a liquid (4) container (2) comprising a liquid (4) container (2) comprising a reservoir (2A) for receiving the liquid (4) and a pouring device through which the liquid (4) can pass in and out of the reservoir (2A); a holder (3) for receiving the liquid (4) container (2), comprising a holder surface (5) for cooperating with the container (2); a support surface (7) for positioning the assembly (1); wherein the container (2) is rotatable arranged around (10) a rotation axis defining a rotation plane perpendicular to the rotation axis; wherein at least one of the holder surface (5) and the rotation plane has an angle with respect to the support surface (7).

Description

Title: Assembly of liquid container and holder, method for aerating

The invention relates to an assembly of a liquid container and a holder.

In restaurants, cafes or bars, liquids such as wine or other alcoholic beverages are served directly from the bottle. However, some liquids may benefit from being exposed to air for a certain period of time, this may be known as decanting of the alcoholic beverage. Often, the decanting process is being done by pouring the liquid into a liquid container, and then by rotating the liquid container eccentric. The liquid container may thereto be provided with a convex bottom surface such that it can being rotated on a table top for example. Otherwise, a person may hold the container and rotate it manually. Due to the eccentric motion of the container, the liquid in the container is being swayed and air may being mixed with the liquid in the container.

However, a drawback of rotating the liquid container on the table top is the unpredictability of the motion of the container, it may roll of the table etc. Also, due to the convex bottom of the container, the container tips over when not rotating. So, alertness and/or quick response may be required. Also, the rotating of such a container becomes more difficult when the table top is provided with a table cloth and other objects placed thereupon. A drawback of moving the container around by hand, is the unpredictability of the movement. Also, it may require specific skills of the person performing the movement which need to be learned and trained.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide for an improved method of decanting liquid such as wine. In particular, a more predictable and/or reproducible and/or more reliable method of decanting would be strive d for.

Thereto, the invention provides for an assembly for rotation of a liquid container comprising a liquid container comprising a reservoir for receiving the liquid and a pouring device through which the liquid can pass in and out of the reservoir; a holder for receiving the liquid container, comprising a holder surface for cooperating with the container; a support surface for positioning the assembly; wherein the container is rotatable arranged around a rotation axis defining a rotation plane perpendicular to the rotation axis; wherein at least one of the holder surface and the rotation plane has an angle with respect to the support surface.

By providing the holder surface and/or the rotation plane angled with respect to the support surface, a certain obliqueness is obtained in the assembly. Due to this obliqueness, when rotating the container, the liquid is being moved in the reservoir to allow air to mix with the liquid as to aerate the liquid, as such a similar effect is obtained with the assembly according to the invention as with the prior art methods of decanting. Preferably, the angle is between approximately 2 and 25 degrees, more preferably between approximately 5 and 15 degrees and more preferably around 10 degrees. The angle is preferably sufficiently large to provide for a swaying

movement, but also sufficiently small to provide for a stable rotation of the container.

By providing a holder for receiving the liquid container, the container can be positioned in a stable and reliable manner onto a surface such as a table top, irrespective of the shape of the bottom surface of the container. When using a holder that holds the container, a more stable and/or reliable and/or predictable way of mixing air with the liquid in the container can be obtained. Also, a compact and simple device may be obtained, as complex toothed gears can be obviated.

The holder is preferably a stand-alone device, i.e. the holder is not further comprised in a housing. Also, the holder does not form part of an integrated beverage or liquid apparatus having pouring tubes and/or mixing units. As such, the holder is thus stand-alone. The movement of the holder and/or of the container positioned on the holder is induced preferably by manpower. This is contrary to prior art mixing devices or shaking devices. In an embodiment, the holder is stationary and the liquid container is rotatable arranged with respect to the holder. The support surface is embodied as the bottom surface of the holder. The holder surface, which can be an upper surface of the holder for receiving the liquid container, is in this embodiment oblique with respect to the support surface. Here, preferably, the rotation axis is perpendicular with respect to the holder surface, such that the holder surface and the rotation plane are parallel to each other. By rotating the container with respect to the holder, due to the obliqueness of the holder surface, the liquid in the container will being set into movement as to aerate the liquid. In this embodiment, the container can be rotation symmetric as well as rotational asymmetric. To allow rotation of the container with respect to the holder surface, the holder surface can be provided with rollers or bearings, or low-friction coating or a low-friction layer etc. Many variants are possible.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotation axis is eccentric with respect to a central axis of the container. This is in particular advantageous when the container is rotational symmetric. At a bottom level of the container, there is then a distance between the rotation axis and the central axis of the container. This distance is preferably between approximately 4 mm and approximately 10 mm, more preferably about approximately 8 mm. The distance is advantageously optimized between setting the liquid into movement and the stability of the container. By providing this eccentricity between the central axis of the container and the rotation axis, the liquid can be set into a movement that provides for better aerating of the liquid. Preferably, the rotation axis is eccentric with respect to a central axis of the container, while the rotation axis is still within the container. So, the eccentricity is limited, and the rotation axis still falls within the contour of the container, advantageously, the rotation axis also intersects with the bottom of the liquid container. This is contrary to prior art devices, in which the rotation axis may be eccentric to the central axis of the container, but is also outside of the contour of the container. Advantageously, the rotation axis is oblique with respect to the central axis of the container.

In an advantageous embodiment, the assembly further comprises a support plate that at a top side is configured to cooperate with the holder and at a bottom side is configured as the support surface. By providing additionally the support plate, a reliable support can be provided while the holder can be provided in a different material. For example, the support plate can be provided in a recess in a bottom of the holder, such that the holder can be provided in a material suitable to hold the container whereas the support plate can be provided in a material suitable to support the assembly on e.g. a table top or other surface.

Various embodiments are possible, for example a top side of the support plate can be parallel to the support surface whereas the holder surface is oblique with respect to the support surface. In another example, the top side of the support plate can have an angle with respect to the support surface while the holder surface can be parallel to or have an angle with respect to the support surface.

For example, the support plate can be provided with a rotation mechanism to provide for the container and the holder to be rotatable arranged with respect to the support plate. The rotation mechanism can be a bearing or rollers or other rotation devices. Then, the container and the holder are together rotatable with respect to the support plate. The container is mounted on the holder, such that when the holder rotates, the container rotates with the same angular velocity and the liquid in the container is set into movement to mix with air. By providing such a support plate on which the holder can be rotatable arranged, a fully autonomous and compact device can be obtained, as external elements e.g, for rotating the container, or pouring liquid in the container, etc. can be obviated. The user can put the container into rotation and the holder rotates until the rotational movement "dies out" or the user puts the container in rotation again. The support plate is preferably entirely covered by the holder, such that, when the device is e.g. positioned on a table, the support plate is not visible. This provides for a compact and elegant device that can easily be handled, for example, it can easily be picked up and placed somewhere else, or it can easily be moved to a different position on a table surface etc. Due to the device being an autonomous and standalone device, it can easily be stored e.g. in a cupboard.

Advantageously, the holder surface is arranged at least partly complementary to a bottom surface of the container, such that the container can be mounted stable and reliable onto the holder surface.

Advantageously, the holder is rotatable with respect to the support plate around a vertical rotation axis, when the support plate is mounted on a horizontal surface. This provides for a reliable and stable rotational movement. Then, the container that is positioned on the holder, rotates eccentric, due to the obliqueness of the holder surface, which is

advantageous for aerating the wine inside of the container. This holder with at one side a horizontal rotational surface with respect to the support and at an opposite side an oblique surface for holding the container, provides for a stable, compact and reliable device for aerating wine.

Preferably, the holder surface is provided from a high-friction material or a roughened surface from another material and/or can be provided with a high-friction material e.g. as a coating or a top layer. Such a high-friction material can be e.g. cork or rubber or other well-known high- friction materials. In an embodiment, the By providing such a high-friction holder surface, the container can remain in position onto the holder, also during rotation of the holder such that the container rotates together with the holder. As such, the container remains stationary with respect to the holder, also during rotation.

In another embodiment, the holder can be provided with a projection that is receivable in a recess in a bottom side of the container. By providing such a projection that cooperates with a recess of the container, the container can be positioned more easy onto the holder surface as it can be guided along the projection towards the holder surface. Also, the projection may provide for additional safety against sliding of the container with respect to the holder, in particular during rotation. Instead of a single projection, also multiple projections or protrusions such as ribs, grooves can be provided.

Preferably, the container is being set to rotation manually. However, in other embodiments, the container may be set to rotation by means of electrical power, e.g. delivered by a battery or other electrical energy storage devices, or by means of magnetic energy, or other energy providing devices. The energy providing devices may be internal or external to the assembly.

Other embodiments of the invention are provided in the subclaims. The invention further relates to a method for decanting a liquid.

The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are represented in a drawing. The exemplary

embodiments are given by way of non-limitative illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the embodiment of figure i;

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the assembly according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the assembly according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the assembly according to the invention.. It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non-hmiting example. In the figures, the same or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an assembly 1 according to the invention. The assembly 1 comprises a container 2 and a holder 3.

The container has a reservoir part 2a for receiving the liquid 4 and has a pouring part 2b through which the liquid can pass in and out of the reservoir. The container 2 can typically be a carafe for receiving liquid such as wine, of which the reservoir 2a can be shaped having cheeks and the pouring device 2b can be a spout. The container is here a rotational symmetric container 2 having a central axis C. In other embodiments, the container can be rotational a-symmetric.

The holder 3 is configured for receiving the container 2. The holder 3 comprises a holder surface 5 for cooperating with the container 2. Here, the holder surface 5 cooperates with a bottom surface 6 of the container 2. Here, the bottom surface 6 contacts the holder surface 5 when the container 2 is positioned on the holder 3. By using the holder 3, the container 2 can be positioned stable irrespective of the shape of the bottom surface of the container 2.

Further, a support surface 7 is provided. The support surface 7 is arranged for supporting the assembly 1 when the assembly 1 is positioned on a surface such as for example a table top.

The container 2 is rotatable arranged around a rotation axis A. A rotation plane B can be defined that is perpendicular to the rotation axis A. In this embodiment, the holder surface 5 has an angle with respect to the support surface 7, whereas the rotation plane B is approximately parallel to the support surface 7. The angle a between the holder surface 5 and the support surface 7 is between approximately 2 and approximately 25 degrees, here the angle is approximately 10 degrees. Due to the obliqueness of the holder surface 5, the angle between the central axis C of the container 2 and the rotation axis A is equal to angle a.

Additionally, the rotation axis A is eccentric with respect to the central axis C. This means that, at the level of the bottom surface 6 of the container 2, there is distance d between the central axis C and the rotation axis A. The distance d is preferably between approximately 4 mm and approximately 10 mm, here the distance d is approximately 8 mm. Due to this eccentricity, the liquid 4 in the container 2 is set into a movement in which air is more optimally mixed with the liquid. Due to the obliqueness of the holding surface 5 and the eccentricity of the rotation axis A, the container 2 makes a kind of swaying movement during rotation. As such, the liquid is being set into movement during the rotation.

In this embodiment, a support plate 8 is provided. The support plate 8 has a top surface 9 that is arranged for cooperation with the holder 3 and has a bottom surface that is configured as the support surface 7. In this embodiment, the support plate 8 is provided in a recess 10 of the holder 3. The recess 10 is provided in a bottom side 11 of the holder 3. By providing the recess 10 for receiving the support plate 8, the material of the holder 3 can be different from the material of the support plate 8. Also, by providing the recess 10, the support plate 8 can be at least partly covered by the holder 3, as shown in figure 2, which can be esthetically appealing. Also, by providing the recess 10 in which the support plate 8 can be received, a more stable and reliable connecting between the holder 3 and the support plate 8 can be obtained.

The holder 3 is rotatable connected to the support plate 8 by means of a bolt 12 as connection means. The bolt 12 is rotatable positioned in the support plate 8 by means of a bearing 13. The bolt 12 then protrudes through an opening in the holder 3 such that it by means of a closing element, such as a nut can be fixedly connected to the holder 3. As such, the holder 3 is rotatable connected to the support plate 8. A recess 14 in which an upper end of the bolt and the nut reside, can be closed by a cover 15 that fits to the holder 3.

The holding surface 5 is preferably from a high-friction material and/or is preferably provided with a high-friction coating or high-friction layer, such as a roughened surface or a cork or rubber-like material. Many materials, coatings or layers are known that can provide for the high- friction such that the container 2 can remain stationary in position on the holder also during rotation. In an advantageous embodiment, the material of the holding surface 5, and advantageously, of the holder 3 is natural cork. Cork is advantageous in view of the high-friction characteristics or no-slip characteristics such that the container 2 can remain in position onto the holder 3, also during rotation. By using a bolt-and-nut connection, with bolt 12, with the support plate 8, the cork holder 3 can be clamped in by the nut and any tolerances or imperfections of the cork can thus be compensated for.

As shown in figure 1, the bottom surface 6 of the container 2 is complementary formed to the holder surface 5 such that the bottom surface 6 fits well onto the holder surface 5 and a stable and reliable positioning can be obtained.

In the embodiment of figure 1, a projection 16 is provided on the holder surface 5 of holder 3. The projection 16 is receivable in a recess 17 in the bottom surface 6 of the container 2. By providing the projection 2, positioning of the container 2 onto the holder surface 5 is guided and a more unambiguous and reproducible position of the container 2 onto the holder surface 5 can be obtained. Advantageously, the recess 17 is at least partly complementary to the projection 16. Alternatively, multiple projections or protrusions may be provided on the holder surface that may be

complementary to multiple recess in the container bottom surface, or side walls of the holder may be provided with guides or other shapes to

complement with the shape of the container. Also, by providing the projection, the eccentric positioning of the container 2 with respect to the rotation axis A can be facilitated. In this embodiment, the projection 16 is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, which automatically provides for the eccentric positioning of the container 2.

By providing this recess 17 in the bottom surface 6 of the container

2, the liquid 4 is set more into movement during rotation of the container 2 around the rotation axis A, since during rotation, the recess 17 describes a swaying movement and thus may delay the situation in which the liquid rotates with the same rotational velocity as the container, thereby

improving aerating of the liquid. Also, due to the obliqueness of the holder surface 5 and the cheek-shape of the reservoir 2a the liquid is being kept set in movement during rotation as the shape of the reservoir with respect to the liquid changes during rotation. This may improve aerating and may delay the liquid becoming to rotate with the same rotational velocity as the container 2.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of an assembly 1 according to the invention. Here too, a support plate 8 is provided having the support surface 7 that supports the assembly on a surface such as a table top. The container 2 and the holder 3 are rotatable mounted with respect to the support plate 8. The container 2 is here rotationally symmetric around a central axis C. The mounting mechanism between the holder 3 and the support plate 8 can be similar as the one shown in figure 1, comprising the nut-and-bolt mechanism, but alternatives are possible, e.g. a rotating plate at an upper side of the support plate 8 that couples with the holder 3, etc.

The rotation axis A is angled with respect to the vertical, so the rotation plane B has an angle a with respect to the support surface 7. The holder surface 5 is parallel to the rotation plane B. Further, the rotation axis A is eccentric to the central axis C with a distance d. Due to the obliqueness of the rotation axis A and the eccentricity of the container 2, the liquid 4 in the container 2 is set into a movement to mix with air and thus to be aerated. Additionally, the embodiment of figure 3 may also be provided with a projection on the holder surface that fits into a recess in the bottom surface of the container 2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of an assembly 1 according to the invention. This embodiment also comprises a container 2 and a holder 3 that are rotatable connected to the support plate 8. The container 2 is here also rotationally symmetric having a central axis C. The rotation axis A is angled with respect to the vertical, such that the rotation plane B has an angle a with respect to the support surface 7. The holder surface 5 is parallel to the support surface 7. Due to this obliqueness of the rotation plane, rotation of the container with the holder 3 with respect to the support plate 8 results in a swaying movement of the container 2 that sets the liquid into a movement for aerating.

Additionally, the container 2 is positioned eccentric with respect to the rotation axis A, wherein at the level of the bottom surface 6 there is a distance d between the rotation axis A and the central axis C. This distance d is between approximately 4 mm and approximately 10 mm and is preferably optimal to provide for sufficient setting in movement of the liquid without instability of the container. By additionally providing for this eccentricity, the liquid can be set more in movement to better mix with air and improve aerating.

Also in this embodiment, a projection with corresponding recess may be provided in the holder and container respectively.

Figure 5 shows schematically a fourth embodiment of the assembly according to the invention. In this embodiment, a container 2 is provided and a holder 3. The holder 3 comprises the support surface 7 at a bottom side thereof and the holder surface 5 at a top side thereof. The holder 3 is here stationary, and the container 2 rotates with respect to the holder 3. On the holder surface rotation elements 18 such as rollers or bearings can be provided. Alternatively, the holder surface 5 can be provided with a low- friction coating or layer to allow rotation of the container over the holder surface 5 when the bottom side 6 of the container 2 is contacting the holder surface 5. Here, the holder surface 5 has an angle a with respect to the support surface 7, such that, upon rotation of the container 2 over the holder 3, a swaying movement of the container 2 is obtained that sets the liquid 4 in the container into a movement to aerate. The container 2 is here rotationally asymmetric, which may add to the aerating movement of the liquid. In a further embodiment, the holder 3 may be provided with upwardly extending edges within which the container 2 can rotate. The upwardly extending edges are then preferably provided from or with a high- slip and/or low-friction material and/or coating and/or layer. The container used may be rotationally symmetric or rotationally a-symmetric. Then, sufficient space can be provided for the container to be movable within, such that the rotation axis too is movable. This is different from previous embodiments wherein the rotation axis has a fixed position defined by the configuration of the assembly.

In the embodiments described above, the container is set into rotation by manual action. A person can push the container and/or the holder into rotation. Alternatively and/or additionally, the assembly can be provided with drive means for rotating the container and/or holder e.g.

electrically. The drive means can comprise e.g. an electric motor or a magnetic motor having an internal, e.g. a battery, or an external, e.g. the mains, power source. For example an electric motor can drive a rotation mechanism. For example by varying the speed of the electric motor, the angular velocity of the container and/or holder can be varied and as such, the aerating of the liquid can be obtained as well. Many variants are possible.

For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include

embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Many variants are possible and fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Assembly for rotation of a liquid container comprising

- a liquid container comprising a reservoir for receiving the liquid and a pouring device through which the liquid can pass in and out of the reservoir;

- a holder for receiving the liquid container, comprising a holder surface for cooperating with the container;

- a support surface for positioning the assembly;

wherein the container is rotatable arranged around a rotation axis defining a rotation plane perpendicular to the rotation axis;

wherein at least one of the holder surface and the rotation plane has an angle with respect to the support surface.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is eccentric with respect to a central axis of the container.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a support plate of which a bottom surface is configured as the support surface and a top surface is configured to cooperate with the holder.

4. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the container and the holder are rotatable arranged with respect to the support plate.

5. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holder surface of the holder is arranged at least partly complementary to a bottom surface of the container, such that the bottom surface of the liquid container fits onto the holder surface of the holder.

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder surface of the holder is provided with a projection that is receivable in a recess of a bottom surface of the liquid container.

7. Assembly according to claim 6, wherein the projection is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis.

8. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of the holder surface and/or the rotation plane with respect to the support surface is between approximately 2 - 25 degrees.

9. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation plane is parallel to the support surface.

10. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holder surface is at least partly provided of a high-friction material such as cork.

11. Method for aerating a liquid in a liquid container, comprising

- providing an assembly according to any of the claims 1 - 10,

- rotating the liquid container of the assembly, such that the liquid in the container is aerated during rotation.