WINE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Abstract

WINE DISPENSING SYSTEM The invention relates to a wine dispensing system comprising a container (1) for holding wine and a dispensing tube (5) connected to a dispensing tap (6), characterized in that it comprises: - a nitrogen cylinder (2), - a connecting tube (3) connecting the nitrogen cylinder (2) to the wine container (1), - a cooler (7) through which the dispensing tube (5) passes, - a siphon (9) for maintaining pressure in the dispensing tube (5) when the dispensing tap (6) is opened. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: WINE DISPENSING SYSTEM Subject of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wine distribution system that makes it possible to completely eliminate waste related to the sale of wine in terms of cartons, bottles, corks, plastics and any other element related to the packaging and identification of the wine apart from the liquid itself. Background to the invention

[0002] Selling wine in a retail outlet involves significant waste management due to the number of different wines handled. In addition to the storage volume required to have open bottles in service for dispensing wine by the glass, the number of bottles of each brand in stock must also be considered. Besides the storage problem posed by this volume of bottles, the volume of waste generated in terms of empty bottles, cardboard boxes, corks, and other items beyond the wine itself must also be taken into account.

[0003] One of the solutions implemented to avoid this problem is the introduction of what is known as the "bag-in-box." This is a container consisting of an airtight bag, which can be made of plastic or aluminum, placed inside a cardboard box, to which a plastic dispensing tap is attached, protruding through a hole in the box. In this way, when the tap is pressed to dispense the wine, the bag is compressed and air cannot come into contact with the wine and oxidize it.

[0004] However, when the point is reached where no more wine comes out when the tap is pressed and the container can be considered empty, a residual amount of wine may still be found in the bag. This is because the tap is located higher than the bottom of the container, so the amount of wine below the tap will always be inaccessible for it to flow out.

[0005] Document ES 1 090 981 U discloses a wine dispensing device that solves the problem of disposing of the residual amount of wine remaining in a conventional bag-in-box. To this end, the device comprises a box with a wedge-shaped bottom, such that the corners of the bag opposite the location of the tap are at a higher level than the location of the tap in the opening of the box, the tap being located at a lower level than the bottom of the bag to allow it to be emptied completely.

[0006] However, devices of this type also pose the problem of waste disposal, both the cardboard box and the bag, whether plastic or aluminum, and the plastic tap, so the only advantage lies in the size of the container which, instead of being a bottle, is a bag of a much larger volume. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention makes it possible to completely avoid the aforementioned problems, by radically eliminating the production of waste.

[0008] The invention relates to a wine distribution system comprising a container for holding wine, a distribution tube connected to a dispensing tap and further comprising a nitrogen bottle, a connecting tube connecting the nitrogen bottle to the wine container, a cooler through which the distribution tube passes and a siphon to maintain pressure when the dispensing tap is opened.

[0009] Once the container is in place, it is connected to the nitrogen bottle by the connecting tube and to the dispensing tap by the dispensing tube.

[0010] In this configuration, when the dispensing tap is opened, the wine contained in the container is served at the temperature previously determined in the cooler, which the user can adjust.

[0011] The nitrogen's function is to preserve the wine in the container without organoleptic changes for as long as necessary until it is emptied. It thus occupies the space that air would occupy when the container is emptied of its liquid.

[0012] The distribution pipe inside the fountain is long enough for the wine it contains to fill a wine glass and is therefore always supplied at the temperature to which the fountain is set.

[0013] However, to ensure that the temperature of the wine supplied is maintained in situations where a quantity exceeding the length of the dispensing tube in the cooler is served, the dispensing tube may include a coil located inside the cooler and of the desired length. In this way, the wine is cooled not only by the volume it occupies in the coil, but also by the cooling process it undergoes from the moment it enters the cooler until it exits through the dispensing tap after passing through the entire coil.

[0014] Finally, the system may also include a pressure regulator inserted in the connecting tube, in order to control the nitrogen pressure in the wine container. Drawing description

[0015] In addition to the description provided in this document and to facilitate understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred exemplary practical embodiment, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings which form an integral part thereof and in which, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following elements have been represented:

[0016] [Fig. 1] shows a perspective view of a diagram of the wine dispensing system of the invention.

[0017] [Fig. 2] shows a version of the wine dispensing system of the invention in which the tap is located on a part simulating the front of a wine barrel.

[0018] [Fig. 3] shows a version of the wine dispensing system of the invention in which the tap is located on a conventional tap handle.

[0019] [Fig. 4] shows a version of the wine dispensing system of the invention in which the tap is located on a wine barrel.

[0020] A list of references used in the figures is given below for ease of reference:

[0021] 1. Container

[0022] 2. Nitrogen cylinder

[0023] 3. Connecting tube

[0024] 4. Pressure regulator

[0025] 5. Distribution tube

[0026] 6. Distribution valve.

[0027] 7. Cooler.

[0028] 8. Coil.

[0029] 9. Siphon.

[0030] 10. Tank front.

[0031] 11. Handle.

[0032] 12. The Reservoir Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0033] The present invention relates to a wine dispensing system that completely eliminates waste associated with wine sales.

[0034] As shown in [Fig. 1], the system is mainly composed of the following elements.

[0035] First, there is a container (1) in which the wine is placed. This container (1) is preferably made of stainless steel and has a large capacity, specifically 19 liters, as this is a standard type of container on the market.

[0036] Another element is a nitrogen cylinder (2). This cylinder (2) includes a connecting tube (3) that connects to an inlet of the container (1), to which a pressure regulator (4) is attached in order to control the nitrogen pressure in the wine container (1).

[0037] Nitrogen is used to eliminate the presence of air in the wine container (1) and thus prevent its oxidation.

[0038] A third element is a distribution tube (5) which connects the wine container (1) with a dispensing tap (6) through which the wine is served.

[0039] The fourth element is a cooler (7), which has the function of maintaining the wine at a given temperature.

[0040] To ensure this temperature in the wine supplied by the tap (6), the distribution tube (5) incorporates a coil (8) housed inside the cooler (7). The coil (8) has a certain length so that the time required for the wine to pass through the coil (8) allows the temperature of the coil (8) to be transferred to the wine so that it can leave the cooler (7) at the determined temperature.

[0041] Another necessary element is a siphon (9), located at the outlet of the cooler (7). The siphon (9) ensures that the outlet pressure of the wine remains constant, without alteration, when the dispensing tap (6) is opened.

[0042] A final element is the aesthetic presentation element of the distribution system of the invention. Although it is the least technically important element of the system and is entirely optional, it is also the element that provides the appearance necessary to inspire consumer confidence when ordering the wine in question, making it an indispensable element.

[0043] Thus, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the distribution system is presented to customers in three forms.

[0044] Fig. 2 shows how the tap (6) can be housed in a front of the barrel (10), giving the impression that the barrel is embedded in a wall, for example.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows how the tap (6) can be housed in the typical tap handle (11) which is connected to the container (1).

[0046] Figure 4 shows how the tap (6) can be housed in a barrel (12), giving the impression that the barrel (12) is filled with wine. In this case, the interior of the barrel (12) is intended only to house some of the aforementioned elements, whether it is the single distribution tube (5), the rest of the system components remaining in an external area, or all the components inside the barrel, from the wine container (1) itself to the cooler (7), the siphon (9) or even the nitrogen bottle (2).

Claims

Claims

1. Wine dispensing system comprising a container (1) for containing wine and a dispensing tube (5) connected to a dispensing tap (6), characterized in that it comprises: - a nitrogen bottle (2), - a connecting tube (3) connecting the nitrogen bottle (2) to the wine container (1), - a cooler (7) through which the dispensing tube (5) passes, - a siphon (9) for maintaining the pressure in the dispensing tube (5) when the dispensing tap (6) is opened.

2. A wine dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing tube (5) comprises a coil (8) located inside the cooler (7).

3. A wine dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting tube (3) comprises a pressure regulator (4) for nitrogen in the container (1).

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