Stopper for use with beverage container

Abstract

The present invention provides a plug for use with a beverage container having a neck, an opening at the neck for access to an interior space of the container, and a lip on an outer surface of the neck, the plug comprising: a plug body having a sealing surface, the sealing surface is arranged to be in contact with and form a seal with a portion of the neck located near the opening; a lip engagement member comprising a pawl mounted for pivotal movement between a lip engagement position for engagement with the lip on the neck of the container and a release position, the lip engagement member mounted for sliding movement relative to the plug body; and a handle, movement of the handle relative to the plug body causing the lip engaging member to move toward and away from the plug body.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application date of March 5, 2021, application number 202180018622.5 (PCT / US2021 / 021029), and invention name “Beverage Container Plug and Pressurization System”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 986,014, filed on March 6, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 037,702, filed on June 11, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention generally relates to dispensing a liquid from a container, such as pouring sparkling wine from a bottle, and subsequently resealing the container, for example, to retain carbonation in the beverage. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One or more embodiments according to aspects of the present invention allow a user to dispense a beverage, such as wine, from a bottle or other container. In some cases, dispensing liquid from such a bottle may be performed one or more times, and after each beverage dispensing, a stopper may engage with the bottle to seal the interior of the bottle. Thus, a beverage can be dispensed from the bottle multiple times and the beverage can be stored for a longer period of time between each dispensing while minimizing the impact on the beverage's quality. In some embodiments, after dispensing the beverage from the bottle, little or no gas, such as air that reacts with the beverage, is introduced into the bottle. Therefore, in some embodiments, a user can dispense wine from a wine bottle and then seal the bottle to prevent air or other potentially harmful gases or liquids from entering the bottle. In some embodiments, a pressure above ambient pressure can be maintained in the bottle after dispensing is complete, which can help maintain the carbonation level in a sparkling beverage. This pressure can be established by introducing pressurized gas through the stopper.

[0006] In one embodiment, a plug for use with a beverage container is provided, the beverage container having a neck, an opening at the neck for entering the interior space of the container, and a lip on the outer surface of the neck. The plug can include a plug body having a sealing surface that is arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck located near the opening, for example, to seal the interior space of the bottle relative to gas or other external environmental conditions. The carrier member can be mounted to move relative to the plug body, for example, in a direction toward the body and / or the sealing surface and in a direction away from the plug body and / or the sealing surface. The lip engagement member can also be mounted to move relative to the plug body (for example, toward the plug body and / or the sealing surface and away from the plug body and / or the sealing surface) and relative to the carrier member (for example, toward the carrier member and away from the carrier member). For example, the lip engagement member can be mounted to the carrier member so that it moves with the carrier member in some cases, but can move relative to the carrier member in other cases. The lip engagement member can include a pawl that is mounted to move between a lip engagement position for engaging with the lip on the neck of the container and a release position that prevents the pawl from engaging with the lip. In another embodiment, the pawl is provided with a plurality of lip engagement members, each of which is provided with a plurality of lip engagement members. For example, the pawl can be mounted to pivot between a lip engagement position and a release position. The lip engagement member can be elastically biased toward the carrier member by a first elastic element to move toward the carrier member, and this elastic bias can force the container neck to contact the sealing surface, thereby helping to establish a seal and / or maintain a seal at the container opening. For example, when the lip engagement member is engaged with the container lip, the carrier member can move toward the plug body, which can cause the lip engagement member to push the container lip and therefore the part of the container at the opening toward the sealing surface. The elastic bias that pushes the lip engagement member toward the carrier member to move can help to establish a seal at the container opening, and allows the plug to adapt to different sizes of container arrangements, such as different distances between the container lip and the opening area that is sealed with the sealing surface. The elastic bias can also be a part of a stopper that operates to keep the handle for moving the carrier member and the lip engagement member in the closed position.

[0007] In some embodiments, movement of the carrier member toward the plug body forces the pawl to move toward the sealing surface. For example, the lip engagement member may be resiliently biased to move toward the carrier member or otherwise coupled to move with the carrier member, and thus movement of the carrier member toward the plug body may force the pawl to move toward the sealing surface. This may result in the pawl forcing the container neck into contact with the sealing surface.

[0008] In some cases, the carrier member is elastically biased by the second elastic element to move away from the plug body at least in a portion of the range of motion of the carrier member relative to the plug body. This bias can help the carrier member and the lip engagement member to be moved to the position where the container neck is disconnected from the plug. For example, in some cases, the movement of the lip engagement member can cause the pawl to move between the lip engagement position and the release position. If the movement of the carrier member is coupled to the movement of the lip engagement member, the movement of the carrier member can cause the pawl to move between the lip engagement position and the release position. Therefore, the bias that causes the carrier member to move away from the plug body can cause the pawl to move to the release position, thereby allowing the plug to be disconnected from the container.

[0009] In some embodiments, the plug may include a carrier driver that is arranged to move the carrier member relative to the plug body. In the case where the movement of the carrier member is coupled to the movement of the lip engagement member, the carrier driver may also be operated to move the lip engagement member. In one embodiment, the carrier driver may include a cam and a cam follower that are arranged to move the carrier member relative to the plug body based on the rotation of the cam. For example, the cam may be pivotally mounted to the plug body for rotation, and the cam follower may be arranged on the carrier member so that the rotation of the cam causes the carrier member to move. The carrier driver may include a handle that is attached to the cam and is arranged to be used, for example, to move the cam by a user so that the user can move the carrier member relative to the plug body. In other arrangements, the handle may be arranged to move the carrier member and the lip engagement member in other ways - that is, without the need for a cam and cam follower configuration, but via another linkage mechanism device.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plug includes a handle that can move between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position, wherein the intermediate position is between the open position and the closed position. The carrier member and the lip engagement member can be coupled to the handle so that when the handle is in the open position, the carrier member and the lip engagement member can be positioned away from the plug body and the pawl is in a released position to disconnect the engagement with the container neck. Since the pawl is in the released position, this arrangement also allows the plug to be removed from the container. The movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position can move the pawl to the lip engagement position and move the carrier member and the lip engagement member toward the plug body. For example, after the container is received by the plug, the handle can be moved to cause the pawl to move into engagement with the lip of the container. The continued movement of the handle toward the closed position can cause the lip engagement member to move toward the plug body until the pawl engages with the lip and the sealing surface engages with the portion of the neck located near the opening. At this point, the carrier member can continue to move toward the plug body and away from the lip engagement member against the push of the first elastic element. However, the lip engaging member may cease moving toward the plug body because the engagement of the pawl with the lip of the container and the contact of the container with the sealing surface prevent further movement of the lip engaging member toward the plug body. Movement of the carrier member toward the plug body and away from the lip engaging member against the urging of the first resilient element (which forces the lip engaging member toward the carrier member) causes the lip engaging member to resiliently force the container into contact with the sealing surface, thereby helping to establish a seal at the container opening.

[0011] In some cases, movement of the handle from the closed position to the intermediate position causes the carrier member and the lip engaging member to move away from the plug body, interrupting the seal at the sealing surface but retaining the pawl in the lip engaging position to prevent removal of the plug from the container. This can allow the interior of the container to be vented while maintaining engagement of the plug with the container.

[0012] In one embodiment, the sliding motion of the lip engagement member away from the plug body causes the pawl to move from the lip engagement position to the release position, and the motion of the lip engagement member toward the plug body causes the pawl to move from the release position to the lip engagement position. Therefore, the motion of the lip engagement member can control whether the pawl is in the release position or the lip engagement position. For example, when the handle is in the open position, the lip engagement member can be positioned relative to the plug body by the handle so that the pawl is in the release position. On the contrary, when the handle is in the closed position, the lip engagement member can be positioned relative to the plug body so that the pawl is in the lip engagement position. In one embodiment, the plug body includes a sidewall defining a cavity, the neck of the container is received in the cavity, and the sidewall may include an opening, the pawl extends into the opening in the lip engagement position to engage with the lip of the container. The pawl can be spring-biased to move toward the lip engagement position, and the motion of the lip engagement member away from the plug body (for example, in response to the motion of the handle toward the open position) can cause the portion of the sidewall located at the opening to contact the pawl and move the pawl to the release position against the spring bias. When the lip engaging member is moved toward the plug body (eg, in response to movement of the handle toward the closed position), the pawl may move out of contact with the portion of the sidewall at the opening, thereby allowing the pawl to move to the lip engaging position.

[0013] In one embodiment, the plug body comprises a cup-shaped body having a side wall defining a cavity and an opening at the lower end for receiving the neck of the container into the cavity. The sealing surface can be located on the side opposite to the opening in the cavity, for example so that the container neck must be fully received in the cavity so that the portion of the container located at the opening contacts the sealing surface. The lip engagement member may comprise a sleeve positioned around the side wall of the plug body and capable of sliding movement relative to the plug body. The pawl may be pivotally mounted to the sleeve, for example for movement around a horizontal axis or an axis perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the lip engagement member relative to the plug body. The carrier member may comprise a ring positioned around the side wall of the plug body and capable of sliding movement relative to the plug body. The carrier member may comprise a guide along which the sleeve of the lip engagement member can move relative to the carrier member, wherein the guide comprises a first elastic element in the form of a spring, the first elastic element being arranged to move the sleeve towards the ring. For example, two or more guides may extend from the carrier member ring and engage the lip engaging member sleeve to guide movement of the sleeve relative to the ring.

[0014] In some embodiments, the plug body includes a gas passage extending from the gas inlet to the gas outlet and arranged to introduce pressurized gas into the container. For example, the gas passage can extend from the top of the plug body provided with the gas inlet to a position adjacent to the sealing surface provided with the gas outlet. A check valve or other one-way valve can be provided in the gas passage to prevent flow from the gas outlet to the inlet. Therefore, pressurized gas can be introduced into the container engaged by the plug to place the beverage under pressure. The plug can include an exhaust port, for example, to discharge the pressure in the container that exceeds a threshold value and prevent potential high pressure conditions in the container. The plug can also include a pressure indicator, for example, to indicate whether the pressure in the container is below a threshold value or above a threshold value.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plug may include a plug body having a sealing surface arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck located near the opening; and a lip engagement member including a pawl mounted to pivotally move between a lip engagement position for engaging with a lip on the neck of the container and a release position for disconnecting from the container. The lip engagement member may be mounted to slide relative to the plug body, and a handle may be arranged to move the lip engagement member relative to the plug body. For example, the handle may be pivotally mounted to the plug body about a horizontal axis and movable between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position, wherein the intermediate position is between the open position and the closed position. Movement of the handle relative to the plug body may cause the lip engagement member to move toward and away from the plug body, and when the handle is in the open position, the lip engagement member may be positioned away from the plug body and the pawl is in the release position to allow the plug to receive or disconnect from the container neck. With the handle in the closed position, the pawl is in the lip engaging position and the lip engaging member is positioned toward the plug body to urge the sealing surface into engagement with the portion of the neck adjacent the opening to form a seal. Movement of the handle from the closed position to the intermediate position can cause the lip engaging member to move away from the plug body, interrupting the seal (thereby allowing the interior of the container to vent), but maintaining the pawl in the lip engaging position to prevent removal of the plug from the container.

[0016] In some embodiments, the carrier member is mounted for sliding movement relative to the plug body, and the lip engagement member can be slidably movable relative to the carrier member and resiliently biased toward the carrier member by a first resilient element. Movement of the handle can cause the carrier member to move toward and away from the plug body. For example, movement of the handle to an open position can move the carrier member away from the plug body, and movement of the handle to a closed position can move the carrier member toward the plug body. Movement of the carrier member toward the plug body can force the pawl to move toward the sealing surface, and therefore force the container neck engaged by the pawl to move toward the sealing surface. In some cases, the carrier member is resiliently biased toward the plug body by a second resilient element.

[0017] The handle may be connected to the lip engaging member in various ways, for example, a cam and cam follower may be arranged to move the carrier member relative to the plug body upon rotation of a cam coupled to the handle. The cam may be pivotally mounted to the plug body for rotation, and the cam follower may be arranged on the carrier member such that rotation of the cam results in movement of the carrier member.

[0018] In some cases, when the handle is in the open position, the carrier member and the lip engagement member can be positioned away from the plug body, and the pawl is in the released position to receive the container neck. The movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position causes the pawl to move to the lip engagement position and causes the carrier member and the lip engagement member to move toward the plug body. The movement of the lip engagement member toward the plug body can continue as the handle moves toward the closed position until the pawl engages with the lip and the sealing surface engages with the portion of the neck located near the opening, whereupon the carrier member continues to move toward the plug body and away from the lip engagement member against the urging of the first resilient element. However, although the handle continues to move toward the closed position, the lip engagement member can stop moving toward the plug body.

[0019] In some embodiments, the plug body includes a sidewall defining a cavity into which the neck of the container is received, and the sidewall includes an opening into which the pawl extends in a lip engagement position to engage with the lip of the container. The pawl can be spring-biased to move toward the lip engagement position, and the movement of the lip engagement member away from the plug body can cause the portion of the sidewall located at the opening to contact the pawl and move the pawl to a release position against the spring bias. For example, the plug body can include a cup-shaped body having a sidewall defining a cavity and an opening located at a lower end for receiving the neck of the container in the cavity. The sealing surface can be located on a side opposite to the opening in the cavity. The lip engagement member can include a sleeve positioned around the sidewall of the plug body and capable of slidingly moving relative to the plug body. The movement of the sleeve away from the cup-shaped body can cause a portion of the pawl to contact the cup-shaped body at the opening into which the pawl extends and move the pawl to a release position. A guide may be provided along which the sleeve of the lip engaging member can move relative to the plug body, and the guide may include a spring arranged to bias the sleeve towards the plug body. In some cases, movement of the handle may cause the guide to move relative to the plug body and thereby cause movement of the lip engaging member.

[0020] In some embodiments, the plug body includes a gas passage extending from a gas inlet to a gas outlet and arranged to introduce pressurized gas into the container. For example, the gas passage can extend from the top of the plug body where the gas inlet is provided to a position adjacent to a sealing surface where the gas outlet is provided to introduce pressurized gas into the container. A check valve or other one-way valve can be provided in the gas passage to prevent flow from the gas outlet to the inlet. As described above, the plug can also be provided with a vent and / or a pressure indicator.

[0021] In some embodiments, the plug can be configured to release pressure from the inside of a container sealed by the plug by manipulating the plug on the container. That is, the plug can engage with the container to seal the inside of the container so as to, for example, keep the pressure in the container higher than the environment, and by moving the plug relative to the container without disconnecting the plug from the container, the pressure in the container can be exhausted by, for example, a temporary interruption of the seal between the plug and the container. As an example, the user can tilt the plug relative to the container so that the sealing surface engaged with the opening of the container is disengaged in one or more regions to release pressure or otherwise exhaust the container interior. In some embodiments, the seal can be elastically engaged with the container at the opening so that manipulation of the plug body moves the sealing surface relative to the opening so as to temporarily interrupt the sealing engagement while the sealing surface remains elastically biased to engage with the opening. Therefore, the interior of the container can be exhausted without removing the plug from the container.

[0022] In some embodiments, the plug includes: a plug body having a sealing surface that is arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck located near the opening; and a lip engagement member that includes a pawl configured to engage with the lip on the neck of the container. A first elastic element, such as one or more springs, can be configured to elastically engage the sealing surface with the portion of the neck located near the opening. For example, a spring or other elastic element can be configured to bias the sealing surface so that the sealing surface moves into engagement with the container opening by being positioned between the sealing surface and the plug body, between the lip engagement member and the plug body, between the pawl and the lip engagement member, and / or by a coupling component included between the lip engagement member and the sealing surface (such as by coupling the lip engagement member to a bearing member of the plug body). The plug can be configured to seal and close the interior space of the container when the plug body is in a stationary position and the first elastic element elastically engages the sealing surface with the portion of the neck located near the opening. The stationary position can be a position in which the plug supports itself on the container, seals and closes the container opening, and is not contacted by the user. The plug can be configured to at least partially disengage the sealing surface from the portion of the neck located near the opening and vent the interior space in response to manipulation of the plug body relative to the container from a rest position when the first resilient element resiliently engages the sealing surface with the portion of the neck located near the opening. For example, when the container is held in a generally vertical orientation, a user can tilt or rotate the plug relative to the container about a horizontal axis, and such manipulation of the plug can allow venting of the interior space of the container.

[0023] Various exemplary embodiments of the apparatus are further depicted and described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Aspects of the invention are described with reference to various embodiments and accompanying drawings, including:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a plug in an illustrative embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 a perspective view of the plug with the handle in the open position;

[0027] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 a bottom perspective view of the stopper showing the container neck receiving cavity;

[0028] Figure 4 Shown along Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the plug at midline 4-4;

[0029] Figure 5 Shown along Figure 1Cross-sectional view of the plug at midline 5-5;

[0030] Figure 6 A perspective view of the plug is shown with the housing and handle removed;

[0031] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 a plug wherein the sleeve portion of the lip engagement member is removed;

[0032] Figure 8 showing a perspective view of a sleeve element of a lip engaging member;

[0033] Figure 9 Shown Figure 6 The plug wherein the sleeve portion of the lip engaging member and the carrier member are removed; and

[0034] Figure 10 A perspective view of a carrier member is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The various aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments, but it should be understood that the various aspects of the present invention should not be narrowly interpreted according to the specific embodiments described. Therefore, the various aspects of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described herein. It should also be understood that the various aspects of the present invention can be used alone and / or in any suitable combination with each other, and therefore, each embodiment should not be interpreted as requiring any specific combination or combination of features. Specifically, one or more features of the described embodiments can be combined with any other suitable features of other embodiments.

[0036] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A stopper 1 is shown for use with a container 5, such as a container 5 that holds a sparkling beverage and that initially has a cork or other closure sealing an opening 51 of the container 5. Thus, the cork or other closure can be removed from the opening 51 to allow the beverage to be poured from the container, and the stopper 1 can be used to reseal or close the opening 51. As discussed more below, the stopper 1 can allow the interior space of the container 5 to be pressurized, for example, so that a carbonated beverage can remain carbonated during storage using the stopper 1, but this is not required. As is the case with many sparkling wine bottles and other wine bottles, the neck of the container includes a lip 52 located below the opening 51 for engaging with a metal cap and wire retainer or other component that helps to retain the cork or other closure in the opening 51. In the embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 2 With the cork holder and cork or other closure removed as shown in FIG, the opening 51 of the container 5 is opened for dispensing the beverage. Thereafter, the stopper 1 can be engaged with the container 5 to Figure 1The opening 51 is sealed closed as shown in FIG, and then as shown in FIG. Figure 2 to allow further dispensing of beverage from the container 5.

[0037] In this embodiment, the plug 1 includes a handle 41 which can be Figure 1 The closed position shown in Figure 2. When the handle 41 is in the closed position, the plug 1 can be fixed to the container 5 so that the plug 1 cannot be removed and the opening 51 is sealed, for example, to maintain the pressure in the container above the ambient pressure. When the plug 1 is fixed to the container 5, pressurized gas can be introduced into the container 5 via the gas inlet 14. For example, pressurized CO2 or other gas can be introduced into the container to pressurize the interior space of the container 5. The plug 1 can include a pressure indicator 19 that provides an indication of the pressure in the container 5, such as a colored light, a digital display, or other indicator. For example, the pressure indicator 19 can indicate a red light when the pressure in the container 5 is below a threshold, and a green light when the pressure is above the threshold. In some cases, when the pressure in the container reaches or approaches ambient pressure, the pressure indicator 19 may not provide a light indication (neither red nor green), which is also the case when the plug 1 is not engaged with the container 5. The plug 1 can include a venting feature to release pressure above a threshold in the interior space of the container 5, for example, to prevent the storage pressure of the container 5 from exceeding the desired pressure if too much pressurized gas is introduced into the container. With the handle 41 in the open position, the stopper 1 can be removed from the container 5 to allow pouring from the container 5 and to allow the stopper 1 to be placed on the container neck. According to one aspect of the present invention and as described in more detail below, the handle 41 can be moved to an intermediate position between the closed and open positions, whereby the seal between the stopper 1 and the container opening 51 is interrupted, but the stopper 1 remains secured to the container 5, so that the stopper 1 cannot be removed. This can allow the interior of the container 5 to vent any internal pressure (e.g., ambient pressure can be established in the interior) while minimizing the risk of the stopper 1 being forcibly ejected from the container 5 due to escaping gases. In some embodiments, the interior of the container can be vented without moving the handle 41, such as when the handle 41 remains in the closed position. As described in more detail below, some stopper configurations can allow the stopper to be manipulated relative to the container while the stopper is engaged with the container, such that the sealing surface that establishes a seal with a portion of the container at the opening 51 temporarily or otherwise interrupts full contact with the portion of the container, allowing pressure in the interior to vent. In some cases, the plug 1 can be manipulated by tilting or rotating the plug 1 about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container (e.g., the longitudinal axis can be along the direction in which a cork or other closure is inserted into / removed from the opening 51 of the container and / or along the direction in which the container neck is received by the plug 1). The tilting or rotation of the plug 1 can cause the sealing surface to lose contact with the container or reduce the contact force with the container, so that the seal with the container is at least partially interrupted to allow pressure to escape from the container. This can allow pressure relief or other venting of the container without having to take any action to disconnect the plug from the container, and thus can reduce the risk that the plug will completely disconnect from the container when pressure is maintained in the interior space.

[0038] Figure 3 A bottom view of a plug 1 is shown, illustrating a plug body 10 positioned within a housing 2 of the plug 1. The plug 1 includes an opening 11 providing access to a cavity 12 defined by a sidewall 16 of the body 10. The neck of a container 5 can be received in the cavity 12 so that the plug 1 can engage with the container 5 to seal the opening 51. In some embodiments, one or more detents 31 can engage with a lip 52 of the container 5 to secure the plug 1 to the container 5 and urge a sealing surface 13 located on a side of the cavity 12 opposite the opening 11 into contact with a portion of the neck located near the opening 51 of the container 5 to form a seal with the container 5. An insert 18 of the plug body 10 can be inserted into the opening 51 of the container 5 to, for example, help stabilize the plug 1 relative to the container 5, to form a seal with the container 5, such as by sealingly engaging an inner surface of the container neck, and / or to position components of the plug 1, such as a pressure sensor, within the container 5. In some cases, the insert 18 can be sized and / or shaped to allow the plug 1 to tilt or otherwise move relative to the container to allow the interior space of the container to be vented when the plug is engaged with the container. For example, the diameter and / or length of the insert 18 can be appropriately small to allow the plug to tilt without the insert 18 contacting or otherwise interfering with the inner surface of the container. The insert 18 can include: a gas outlet through which the pressurized gas introduced at the gas inlet 14 is introduced into the interior space of the container; a vent for releasing high pressure from the interior space; or other components. For example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 A check valve 15 is shown in the gas passageway near the gas outlet, which allows flow from the gas inlet 14 into the container 5 but blocks flow from the container 5 to the gas inlet 14. The insert 18 may also include a pressure sensor arranged as a movable plunger in the insert 18. The plunger may be spring loaded, i.e., biased to move along the insert 18. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The plunger is moved downward in the gas passage and is otherwise sealed to prevent flow from the container through the plunger. The pressure in the container 5 will force the plunger to move upward in the insert 18 against the spring bias. The extent of movement of the plunger will indicate the pressure in the container 5, and the movement of the plunger can be detected by a suitable sensor or other device such as a Hall effect sensor, a magnet / reed sensor, one or more switches activated by the movement of the plunger, etc. The sensor device can provide an indication of the pressure, such as by causing one or more LEDs to illuminate, a digital pressure indicator to be displayed, a physical movement of a pressure dial, or other indicators.

[0039] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Shown are the Figure 14 and 5-5 in a cross-sectional view of FIG1 , but with the handle 41 and the housing 2 of the plug 1 removed for clarity. When the neck of the container 5 is received into the cavity 12, for example by positioning the opening 11 of the plug 1 above the top of the container 5, the insert 18 is received into the opening 51 of the container 5 and the upper surface of the neck proximate the opening 51 is positioned in contact with or at least proximate to the sealing surface 13, which may include a gasket comprising a suitably resilient material or material otherwise arranged to form a seal with the container 5 at the opening 51. The sealing surface 13 may include a radially inner tapered portion 13a and a radially outer flat portion 13b. The tapered portion 13a may help form a seal with the opening 51 at the inner surface of the opening 51, and the flat portion 13b may help form a seal with the outer surface of the opening 51. In order to receive the neck into the cavity 12 (or to disconnect the plug 1 from the container 5), the handle 41 is moved to Figure 2 This causes the pawl 31 to move to the open position shown in Figure 5 This allows the lip 52 and other parts of the neck to be received into (or removed from) the cavity 12 without interference from the pawl 31. The pawl 31 is pivotally mounted to the lip engaging member 30 about the pivot 33 so that the pawl 31 can be engaged with the lip in the released position. Figure 5 To move the pawl 31 to the release position, the lip engagement member 30 moves away from the plug body 10 and / or the sealing surface 13 (as shown in solid lines). Figure 5 As shown by the arrows and dotted lines, Figure 4 and Figure 5 1 and 2. The lip engaging member 30 is configured to move downwardly in the container body 10, such that a portion of the pawl 31 contacts a portion of the plug body 10 at the opening 17, wherein the pawl 31 can extend through the opening 17 to engage the container neck. This contact of the pawl 31 with the plug body 10 at the opening 17 causes the pawl 31 to pivot to a released position against the bias of the spring 32, wherein the spring 32 forces the pawl 31 to move to the lip engaging position. In some embodiments, the lip engaging member 30 is mounted for movement with the carrier member 20, which is also capable of sliding movement toward and away from the plug body 10 (at respective positions 1 and 2). Figure 4 and Figure 5 The movement of the carrier member 20 away from the plug body 10 and / or the sealing surface 13 causes the lip engaging member 30 to also move away from the plug body 10 and / or the sealing surface 13. (The movement of the carrier member 20 and the lip engaging member 30 may be controlled by the carrier driver 4 (see Figure 4), which will be described in more detail below. However, in some embodiments, the carrier member 20 and the carrier driver 4 can be eliminated, and the lip engaging member 30 can be moved in a more direct manner by a handle or other actuator. For example, a handle mounted to the plug 10 can be coupled to the lip engaging member 30, such as by a connecting rod, to move the lip engaging member 30 relative to the plug body 10.

[0040] With the carrier member 20 and lip engaging member 30 positioned away from the plug body 10 and the container neck received in the cavity 12, the handle 41 may be directed toward Figure 1 5 to engage the stopper 1 with the container 5. Movement of the handle 41 from the open position toward the closed position moves the carrier member 20 and the lip engagement member 30 toward the stopper body 10 (e.g., upward in the figure). This movement of the lip engagement member 30 disengages the pawl 31 from contact with the stopper body 10 at the opening 17, thereby allowing the spring 32 to bias the pawl 31 to Figure 5The lip engagement position is shown in solid lines. The distal end of the pawl 31, opposite the pivot axis 33, is positioned below the lip 52 of the container neck, and as the handle 41 continues to move toward the closed position, the carrier member 20 and the lip engagement member 30 move toward the plug body 10, thereby moving the pawl 31 toward the sealing surface 13 and toward the lip 52 of the container. Once the pawl 31 contacts the lip 52 of the container, the lip engagement member 30 will cease moving relative to the container 5 and instead move the container opening 51 toward the sealing surface 13 as the pawl 31 (and, more generally, the lip engagement member 30) moves toward the sealing surface 13. As described more fully below, the lip engagement member 30 is resiliently biased to move toward (e.g., upward relative to) the carrier member 20. Therefore, once the pawl 31 engages the lip 52 of the container and the container opening 51 engages the sealing surface 13, the lip engagement member 30 will no longer move upward toward or relative to the plug body 10. However, the carrier member 20 continues to move towards the plug body 10 against the resilient bias, which forces the lip engaging member 30 to move towards the carrier member 20 until the handle 41 reaches the closed position. This causes the sealing surface 13 to be resiliently biased against the portion of the container 5 at the opening 51, thereby helping to maintain a proper seal at the opening 51. (In some embodiments, the resilient bias on the sealing surface 13 to engage the sealing surface 13 with the container can be provided in other ways, such as by mounting the pawl 31 on the lip engaging member 30 in a spring-biased manner (e.g., so that a spring urges the pawl 31 to move upward relative to the lip engaging member 30 and the spring is compressed when the pawl 31 engages the lip 51 and the sealing surface 13 contacts the container). In some embodiments, the sealing surface 13 can be mounted to the plug body 10 so that the sealing surface 13 is spring-biased to move downward relative to the plug body 10. Thus, once the sealing surface 13 contacts the container, the spring between the sealing surface 13 and the plug body 10 compresses and maintains the resilient bias on the sealing surface 13 while allowing the sealing surface 13 to move relative to the plug body 10. These arrangements can allow for the elimination of the carrier member 20, the carrier driver 4, biasing elements between the carrier member 20 and the lip engaging member 30, etc.)

[0041] To remove the stopper 1 from the container 5, the handle 41 is moved from the closed position toward the open position, which causes the carrier member 20 and the lip engagement member 30 to move away from the stopper body 10. This moves the pawl 31 away from the sealing surface 13, thereby allowing the sealing surface 13 to break the seal with the container 5 at the opening 51. This allows any gas pressure in the container 5 to be released. Although the seal with the container 5 is broken, when the handle 41 is in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions, the pawl 31 remains engaged with the lip 52 of the container 5, thereby preventing the stopper 1 from being removed from the container 5. This allows pressure to be vented or otherwise released without there being pressure to eject the stopper 1 from the container 5. Once the handle 41 is moved to the open position, the pawl 31 contacts the stopper body 10 at the opening 17, thereby moving the pawl 31 to the release position and allowing the stopper 1 to be removed from the container.

[0042] Figures 6 to 9 A perspective view of the plug body 10, carrier member 20 and lip engaging member 30 is shown with various parts removed to illustrate how these parts move relative to each other and operate to engage and disengage with the container 5. Figure 6 , the housing 2 and the handle 41 are removed. Figure 6 The carrier driver 4 is shown, and in this embodiment, the carrier driver 4 includes a cam 43 and a cam follower 42 for moving the carrier member 20 and the lip engaging member 30 in response to movement of the handle 41. That is, the cam 43 is coupled to, e.g., fixed to, the handle 41 so that movement of the handle 41 between the open position and the closed position causes the cam 43 to rotate relative to the cam follower 42 and the carrier member 20. Figure 6 In the embodiment, the cam 43 is in a position corresponding to the closed position of the handle 41, and thus the carrier member 20 is close to the plug body 10 (the uppermost position of the carrier member 20). Figure 5 ) is biased to move away from the plug body 10 (downward), so when the handle 41 is moved to the closed position, the cam 43 drives the carrier member 20 to move toward the plug body 10 against the bias of the spring 25. Similarly, when the cam 43 is moved in the direction of the handle 41 toward the open position Figure 6 When rotating clockwise in the middle, the protrusion of the cam 43 allows the cam follower 42 and the carrier member 20 to move away from the plug body 10 (at Figure 6It is noted that in some embodiments, the handle 41 may be coupled to the carrier member 20 in other ways such that rotation of the handle 41 drives the carrier member 20 both toward and away from the plug body 10, rather than just toward the plug body 10 as in the present embodiment. For example, a linkage mechanism other than a cam and cam follower may be provided, or the cam and cam follower may be arranged to provide such motion (e.g., the cam may include a closed slot and the cam follower may include a pin that rides in the slot and drives the carrier member 20 both toward and away from the plug body 10).

[0043] Guides 21 extend downwardly from the carrier member 20 to guide movement of the lip engaging member 30 relative to the carrier member 20. In this embodiment, the guides 21 comprise four pins extending downwardly from the carrier member 20, but other guide arrangements are possible, such as one or more rails, slots, etc., and corresponding features on the lip engaging member 30. The guides 21 extend through holes in the upper portion of the lip engaging member 30, and a spring 22 is mounted on each guide 21 below the hole in the lip engaging member 30. The spring 22 is captured at the lower end of the guide 21 so that the spring 22 cannot move below the bottom of the guide 21, and the spring 22 is arranged to bias the lip engaging member 30 to move towards the carrier member 20 (at Figure 6 (move up in the middle). Figure 6 The lip engagement member 30 is shown in a position corresponding to a position in which the container neck is received in the cavity 12 and the detent 31 engages the lip 52 of the container 5 to force the container 5 into contact with the sealing surface 13. Figure 6 13. In the embodiment of the present invention, the lip engaging member 30 is positioned away from the carrier member 20 and the spring 22 is compressed, thereby forcing the pawl 31 (and the container neck) toward the sealing surface 13. Thus, in some embodiments, it is the spring 22 that provides the resilient bias to help establish and maintain the seal between the sealing surface 13 and the container opening 51. If the container neck is not received in the cavity 12 and the handle 41 is in a position such as Figure 6 , the lip engaging member 30 will be positioned adjacent the carrier member 20 and the spring 22 will not be compressed (or will be compressed to a lesser extent). As described above, the resilient bias that helps establish and maintain a seal between the sealing surface and the container opening can be provided in other ways, for example, by eliminating the carrier member 20, the guide 21, and the spring 22 and providing a spring coupling between the lip engaging member 30 and / or the detent 31 and the sealing surface 13.

[0044] In some embodiments, manipulation of the plug 1 relative to an engaged container from a rest position can at least partially disrupt the seal between the sealing surface 13 and the container opening 51. For example, tilting the plug 1 about a horizontal axis (when the plug and container are oriented vertically) can cause the sealing surface 13 to tilt or otherwise orientate to lose contact with the container opening 51 or reduce the contact force on the container opening 51. This can also allow pressure in the container to be vented even when the plug 1 is fully engaged on the container, such as when the handle 41 is in a closed position. In some embodiments, tilting or other manipulation of the plug 1 relative to the container can be permitted by providing a spring 22 that provides a resilient bias between the lip engagement member 30 (and the pawl 31) and the sealing surface 13. That is, movement of the plug body 1 can cause one or more of the springs 22 to compress more than the other springs, thereby allowing the sealing surface 13 to move relative to the container opening 51. This can cause the seal between the sealing surface 13 and the container opening 51 to be at least temporarily disrupted, thereby allowing pressure in the container to be vented. Release of the plug 1 can allow the plug 1 to move back to the rest position, in which the spring 22 also biases the sealing surface 13 into engagement with the container opening 51. Other biasing arrangements that provide a spring force to engage the sealing surface 13 with the container opening 51 can allow manipulation of the plug 1 and subsequent venting. For example, a spring bias between the pawl 31 and the lip engagement member 30 and / or a spring bias between the sealing surface 13 and the plug body 10 can allow manipulation of the plug and subsequent venting while the plug 1 remains engaged with the container 5.

[0045] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 17 is a view of the arrangement with the sleeve portion of the lip engagement member 30 removed from view. The pawl 31 can be seen in the lip engagement position, extending through the corresponding opening 17 in the plug body 10 to engage the container neck. The torsion spring 32 that biases the pawl 31 toward the lip engagement position can also be seen. Since the pawl pivot 33 is properly positioned relative to the opening 17, the pawl 31 is disengaged from the plug body 10 at the opening 17, thereby allowing the pawl 31 to move to the lip engagement position under the bias of the spring 32. However, if the lip engagement member 30 is removed from the Figure 7 The cam 43 is rotated to move the cam follower 42 away from the plug body 10 (downward), and the pivot 33 and the pawl 31 are moved so that the pawl 31 contacts the plug body 10 at the opening 17 and moves the pawl 31 to the release position. This movement occurs when the handle 41 is moved to the open position, and the movement is achieved by rotating the cam 43 to allow the cam follower 42 to move away from the plug body 10 (downward). Figure 7 When the plug body 10 is moved downward (in the middle), the spring 25 pushes the carrier member 20 and the lip engagement member 30 to move away from the plug body 10 and be driven. Figure 8A perspective view of the sleeve portion of the lip engaging member 30 is shown without the detent 31 and spring 32. In this embodiment, the sleeve portion of the lip engaging member 30 extends around the side wall 16 of the plug body 10. Aperture 34 that receives the guide 21 can be seen, as well as a slot 35 that receives the guide track 24 of the carrier member 20 to help guide movement of the lip engaging member 30 relative to the carrier member 20.

[0046] Figure 9 Shown Figure 6 1 , with the lip engaging member 30 and the carrier member 20 removed from view. This reveals the spring 25 biasing the carrier member 20 to move away from the plug body 10, and the cam 43 being pivotally mounted to a bushing in the side wall 16 of the plug body 10. Figure 10 The carrier member 20 is shown separated from the rest of the plug 1, and illustrates the recessed portion 23 for receiving the spring 25, and the guide rail 24 engaging the groove 35 of the lip engaging member 30. In this embodiment, the carrier member 20 is generally arranged as a ring to support the guide 21 and the guide rail 24, as well as the cam follower 42. Since the carrier member 20 supports the guide 21, the lip engaging member 30 is mounted to the carrier member 20, but the lip engaging member 30 is movable relative to the carrier member 20.

[0047] Any appropriately arranged gas source can be used to provide pressurized gas to the inlet port 14. For example, a gas source comprising a cylinder of pressurized CO2 can be fluidically coupled to the gas inlet port 14 via a quick-connect connector, threaded fit, press fit, or other suitable coupling method, such as simply having the user hold the gas source against the inlet port 14. The gas source can include a pressurized gas container, such as a cylinder that stores a suitable gas (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, etc.) at a relatively high pressure of, for example, 100 psi to 3000 psi. The gas source can include a pressure regulator that can include one or more regulating valves, such as a restrictor that limits an orifice, and / or other devices for controlling the flow and / or pressure of gas provided to the gas inlet port 14. Alternatively or additionally, such a feature can be provided with the plug 1. The gas source can also include a valve that can be operated by the user to control the flow of gas. For example, the user can press a button on the valve to allow gas to flow into the container 5 and release the button to stop the flow of gas. If desired, the gas source can provide two or more selectable pressures and / or flow rates of gas. For example, gas can be provided at a first pressure and / or a first flow rate, for example, to replace any air in the container 5 with a suitable inert or non-reactive gas from a gas source. The replaced air can be discharged through the stopper 1 via the exhaust port as described above. In some cases, the exhaust port can be manually operated by the user, for example, by pressing a button. The second pressure and / or the second flow rate can be higher than the first pressure and can be suitable for establishing a storage pressure in the container 5, for example, to help maintain the desired carbonation level in the container 5. Since the stopper 1 can seal the opening 51 of the container, a pressure higher than the environment can be maintained in the internal space of the container 5 for a long period of time, such as 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or longer. The gas inlet port 14 or other parts of the gas inlet passage may include a check valve or other one-way valve that allows gas to flow into the container 5 but blocks gas from flowing out of the container 5. Additionally or alternatively, the gas inlet port 14 can be capped or otherwise closed to prevent pressure leaks.

[0048] While aspects of the present invention have been shown and described with reference to illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. A plug for use with a beverage container having a neck, an opening at the neck for accessing an interior space of the container, and a lip on an outer surface of the neck, the plug comprising: a plug body having a sealing surface arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck proximate the opening; a lip engaging member including a pawl mounted for pivotal movement between a lip engaging position for engaging the lip on the neck of the container and a release position, the lip engaging member being mounted for sliding movement relative to the stopper body; as well as a handle pivotally mounted to the plug body about a horizontal axis and movable between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position, the intermediate position being between the open and closed positions, wherein movement of the handle relative to the plug body causes the lip engaging member to move toward and away from the plug body, wherein, with the handle in the open position, the lip engaging member is positioned away from the plug body and the pawl is in the released position to receive the neck of the container, wherein, with the handle in the closed position, the pawl is in the lip engaging position, and the lip engaging member is positioned toward the plug body to cause the sealing surface to engage the portion of the neck located near the opening to form a seal, and wherein movement of the handle from the closed position to the intermediate position causes the lip engaging member to move away from the plug body such that the seal is interrupted, but the pawl remains in the lip engaging position to prevent the plug from being removed from the container.

2. The plug of claim 1 further comprising a carrier member mounted for sliding movement relative to the plug body, wherein The lip engaging member is slidably movable relative to the carrier member and is resiliently biased toward the carrier member by a first resilient element.

3. The plug according to claim 2, wherein Movement of the handle causes movement of the carrier member toward and away from the plug body.

4. The plug according to claim 3, wherein Movement of the carrier member toward the plug body forces the pawl toward the sealing surface.

5. The plug according to claim 3, wherein The carrier member is resiliently biased by a second resilient element to move away from the plug body.

6. The plug of claim 5, further comprising a cam and a cam follower arranged to move the carrier member relative to the plug body based on rotation of the cam, wherein The cam is coupled to the handle.

7. The plug according to claim 6, wherein The cam is pivotally mounted to the plug body for rotation, and the cam follower is arranged on the carrier member.

8. The plug according to claim 7, wherein With the handle in the open position, the carrier member and the lip engagement member are positioned away from the plug body, and the pawl is in the released position to receive the neck of the container, and wherein movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position moves the pawl to the lip engagement position and moves the carrier member and the lip engagement member toward the plug body, movement of the lip engagement member toward the plug body continuing until the pawl engages with the lip and the sealing surface engages with the portion of the neck located near the opening, whereupon the carrier member continues to move toward the plug body and away from the lip engagement member against the push of the first elastic element, but the lip engagement member stops moving toward the plug body.

9. The plug according to claim 1, wherein The plug body includes a sidewall defining a cavity into which the neck of the container is received, the sidewall including an opening into which the detent extends in the lip engaging position to engage the lip of the container.

10. The plug according to claim 9, wherein The pawl is spring biased toward the lip engaging position, and movement of the lip engaging member away from the plug body causes the portion of the sidewall at the opening to contact the pawl and move the pawl against the spring bias to the released position.

11. The plug according to claim 1, wherein The plug body comprises a cup-shaped body having side walls defining a cavity and an opening at a lower end for receiving the neck of the container into the cavity, and wherein the sealing surface is located on a side of the cavity opposite to the opening.

12. The plug according to claim 11, wherein The lip engaging member includes a sleeve positioned about the sidewall of the plug body and slidably movable relative to the plug body.

13. The plug according to claim 12, wherein The pawl is pivotally mounted to the sleeve.

14. The plug of claim 13, further comprising a guide along which the sleeve of the lip engaging member is movable relative to the plug body, the guide comprising a spring arranged to bias the sleeve towards the plug body.

15. The plug according to claim 1, wherein The plug body includes a gas passage arranged to introduce pressurized gas into the container, the gas passage extending from a top of the plug body to a position adjacent the sealing surface.

16. The plug of claim 15, further comprising a gas supply adapted to be fluidly coupled to the gas passageway and to provide pressurized gas to the gas passageway.

17. The plug according to claim 16, wherein The gas passage includes a one-way valve that allows flow in the gas passage into the container and blocks flow from the container.

18. A plug for use with a beverage container having a neck, an opening at the neck for accessing an interior space of the container, and a lip on an exterior surface of the neck, the plug comprising: a plug body having a sealing surface arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck proximate the opening; a lip engaging member comprising a detent configured to engage the lip on the neck of the container; as well as a first resilient element for resiliently engaging the sealing surface with the portion of the neck adjacent the opening; wherein the plug is configured to seal and close the interior space of the container when the plug body is in a rest position and the first elastic element elastically engages the sealing surface with the portion of the neck located near the opening, and the plug is configured to at least partially disengage the sealing surface from the portion of the neck located near the opening and vent the interior space in response to manipulation of the plug body relative to the container from the rest position when the first elastic element elastically engages the sealing surface with the portion of the neck located near the opening.

19. The plug according to claim 18, wherein The plug body comprises a cup-shaped body having side walls defining a cavity and an opening at a lower end for receiving the neck of the container into the cavity, and wherein the sealing surface is located on a side of the cavity opposite to the opening.

20. The plug according to claim 19, wherein The lip engaging member includes a sleeve positioned about the sidewall of the plug body and slidably movable relative to the plug body.

21. The plug according to claim 20, wherein The pawl is pivotally mounted to the sleeve.

22. The plug according to claim 21, further comprising a guide along which the sleeve of the lip engaging member is movable relative to the plug body, the guide comprising the first resilient element arranged to bias the sleeve to move towards the plug body.

23. The plug according to claim 18, wherein The container has a longitudinal axis, and manipulating the plug body includes rotating the plug body about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

24. The plug of claim 18, further comprising a handle mounted to the plug body and arranged for movement by a user to move the lip engaging member relative to the plug body.

25. The plug according to claim 24, wherein The handle is coupled to the lip engaging member via the carrier member, which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the plug body and the first resilient element.

26. The plug according to claim 25, wherein Movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position moves the carrier member upward relative to the sealing surface, and the upward movement of the carrier member causes the first resilient element to resiliently bias the lip engagement member upward relative to the sealing surface.

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