Freshness prolonging smart beverage container

Abstract

The invention is a container for liquids, such as milk, juices and wines, which are subject to spoilage enhanced by contact with air. The container may be partially filled with liquid in a sub-chamber made anaerobic by a divider plate positioned on-the surface of the liquid and fitting sufficiently snugly within the container. The divider plate prevents contact between the beverage and air and thus reduces air-induced spoilage. Various embodiments provide springs and divider pullers to place the divider at the liquid surface, easy pouring and easy cleaning. A significant intended use is prolonging freshness of beverages in environments lacking refrigeration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to beverage containers of various sizes for beverages such as milk, juices and wines, and specifically relates to a beverage container in which the contents are kept fresh for longer than the usual time as a result of limiting access for contaminants and oxygen by isolating the beverage from the surrounding air.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]It is well known that most beverages begin to spoil with time as they stay in a container, particularly container which allows even a small amount of air to come in contact with the beverage. Beverages “become stale” or “become sour”, etc., with time, depending on the type of beverage, temperature and air intrusion. The most familiar example is milk. Milk in a glass left on a kitchen counter begins to spoil after a day or two. Milk in a glass left in a refrigerator also undergoes the same spoilage process but at a slower rate. A principal cause of the spoilage of various beverages, including m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The object of the invention is to provide a low-cost and convenient oxygen-depriving method and storage container for storing spoilable beverages for longer durations than when stored in traditional containers open to oxygen and airborne bacteria.

[0010]A feature of the invention is the provision of a movable divider between an anaerobic sub-chamber that contains the beverage and a complementary aerobic sub-chamber that contains the air which is thus prevented from coming in contact with the beverage.

[0011]In addition to being freshness prolonging, an important advantage of the disclosed beverage container is its low cost. A great number of people, particularly those who cannot afford refrigeration, simply cannot afford to frequently purchase a complex container. Even when people have such a container, there may also be a problem of cleaning and maintenance between usages. Accordingly, it is desirable that a container to retard spoilage by oxygen deprivation be cheap, long-lasting and easy to clean.

[0013]An advantage of the disclosed method and device is that it is very inexpensive and can be afforded by disadvantage people, can be easily and repeatedly used, and can be easily kept clear of spoiling mechanisms between uses.

[0014]Another advantage is that the air removal can be done quickly, conveniently and repeatedly, to enable repeated opening and closing of the container as the beverage is consumed.

[0015]Still another advantage of the invention is that it requires no replacement of parts for subsequent usage.

Problems solved by technology

This is very difficult for some milk users to provide, especially for persons of very limited financial resources and in warmer climates.

The problem with prior-art vacuum packing methods, however, is that they are essentially designed for single-use packages, and cannot be conveniently used for applications that require easy and repeated opening of the container several times a day.

A disadvantage of such a bag container is that it is essentially single-use, which may be preferred in developed countries but is too expensive for use in less developed countries or even in developed countries for less expensive beverages such as milk and juices.

A great number of people, particularly those who cannot afford refrigeration, simply cannot afford to frequently purchase a complex container.

Even when people have such a container, there may also be a problem of cleaning and maintenance between usages.

One of the major causes of death among very poor people, particularly children, is dehydration by diarrhea spread by various bacteria.

In heavy concentrations, such bacteria may cause diarrhea, with dehydration leading in some children to death.

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