Pressurized gas source with hole-making means and pressure regulator

Abstract

To maintain carbonation levels of beverages during storage.SOLUTION: A gas source repressurizes sparkling beverages and other beverage containers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 986,038, filed March 6, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] Background of the Invention The present invention relates generally to dispensing pressurized gas for repressurizing a bottle of wine, for example, after pouring sparkling wine from the bottle. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] Summary of the Invention 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 of liquid from such a bottle can occur one or more times, with a stopper engaged with the bottle after each beverage dispense to seal the interior of the bottle. Thus, beverages can be dispensed from a bottle multiple times and stored for extended periods of time between dispenses with minimal impact on beverage quality. In some embodiments, after dispensing a beverage from within the bottle, little or no gas, such as air, that reacts with the beverage may be introduced or remain within the bottle. Thus, in some embodiments, a user may dispense wine from a wine bottle and then remove the air from the bottle, sealing the bottle from the intrusion of air or other potentially harmful gases or liquids within the bottle. In some embodiments, after dispensing is complete, a pressure greater than ambient pressure may be introduced and maintained within the bottle, which may help maintain the carbonation level of the sparkling beverage; such pressure may be established by introducing pressurized gas through the stopper.

[0004] In one embodiment, a pressurized gas source for use in delivering pressurized gas into a beverage container or other receptacle includes a housing having a support for a gas cylinder. The housing may be configured to be held in a hand, e.g., having a handle that a user can grip or that can provide assistance for the user's grip. A gas outlet may be attached to the housing, e.g., at a bottom end of the housing, and may be configured to deliver pressurized gas for delivery to the beverage container or other receptacle. For example, the gas outlet may be configured with a valve such that pressing the housing downward against a gas port of a gas-receiving device (such as a stopper on a beverage container) moves a portion of the valve upward, opening the valve to deliver gas. Removing the downward force on the housing may close the valve and stop the delivery of gas. A regulator may be supported by the housing and configured to receive gas at a first pressure from the gas cylinder and deliver gas at a second pressure lower than the first pressure to the gas outlet. The regulator may be configured in various ways, such as having one or more pressure regulation stages, an adjustable output pressure, etc. A drilling lance may be positioned to drill a hole in the gas cylinder outlet to release the pressurized gas and may be fixed relative to the regulator. For example, the drilling lance may be attached to a valve body of the regulator. The regulator and drilling lance may be movable relative to both the housing and the gas cylinder to drill a hole in the gas cylinder outlet. Thus, the gas cylinder support may be positioned to hold the gas cylinder stationary relative to the housing during movement of the regulator and drilling lance to drill the gas cylinder outlet. This arrangement may allow the gas source to accommodate a wide variety of different sizes and / or shapes of gas cylinders, as the cylinder only needs to be held in a stationary position within the housing to enable effective and repeatable drilling.

[0005] In one embodiment, the housing includes a lever mounted for rotation and coupled to move the regulator and drilling lance between a retracted position and a drilling position. For example, the lever may be movable between an open position and a closed position to move the regulator and lance between the retracted position and the drilling position, respectively. In some embodiments, the lever defines an exterior surface of the housing; for example, a user may grasp and move an outer portion (the lever) of the housing to cause the gas cylinder to be drilled and / or the gas cylinder to be released from the gas source. In one embodiment, the lever includes a cam that contacts and moves the regulator and drilling lance from the retracted position to the drilling position. In one example, the regulator may include a follower, such as a rail or other cam follower, that moves in accordance with movement of a cam attached to the lever. The regulator and drilling lance may be spring-biased to move to the retracted position; for example, the lever may operate to move the regulator and lance toward the drilling position, and the spring may operate to move the regulator and lance toward the retracted position.

[0006] In one embodiment, the housing includes a door movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the gas cylinder storage compartment. In some cases, the door may include a cylinder holder so that a user can place the cylinder in a holder on the door and then close the door to load the cylinder into the gas supply housing. To accommodate different size cylinders, an adapter may receive the bottom of the cylinder, and the adapter and cylinder may be placed in the cylinder holder. The housing may include a latch to hold the door in the closed position; for example, once the door is in the closed position, it cannot be moved to the open position unless the latch is released. In some cases, a lever used to move the regulator and lance may be positioned to prevent operation of the latch to open the door when the lever is in the closed position. For example, in some cases, the lever defines an outer surface of the housing, and in the closed position, the lever covers the latch. Thus, a user may have to move the lever to the open position to access the latch so that the gas cylinder storage door can be opened. This can help ensure that the cylinder within the housing is vented before the door is opened, for example, movement of the lever causes the lance to disengage from the cylinder, allowing the cylinder to be vented before the door is opened.

[0007] In some embodiments, the support for the gas cylinder may include a U-shaped plate arranged to receive a portion of the neck of the gas cylinder, and the support may be arranged to resist the drilling force of the drilling lance when drilling the outlet of the gas cylinder. That is, the support may not only hold the cylinder in the gas cylinder housing but also provide the necessary force for the cylinder to resist the force of the lance during drilling. In some embodiments, the gas cylinder may have a flange arranged on the neck of the cylinder, and the support may be arranged to receive the neck of the gas cylinder with the flange positioned on an upper surface of the support. Reception of the neck and / or flange by the support may properly position the cylinder not only vertically (e.g., parallel to the drilling direction) but also laterally, e.g., transverse to the drilling direction. In some cases, the housing includes a gas cylinder holder arranged for movement between an open position and a closed position, and the gas cylinder holder is arranged to position a portion of the gas cylinder on the support as it moves to the closed position. For example, the cylinder holder may be attached to the door such that the cylinder holder can receive the cylinder when the door is in the open position, and such that the cylinder holder properly positions the cylinder on the support when the door is moved to the closed position.

[0008] In some embodiments, the housing has an elongated shape with a top and a bottom, and the gas outlet is located at the bottom of the housing. The gas cylinder support may be arranged to support the gas cylinder with the outlet located at the top of the gas cylinder. That is, the gas cylinder may be oriented vertically so that the gas outlet of the gas cylinder is located above the rest of the cylinder. This allows the gas outlet to be located above the gas-receiving component and for gas to be dispensed while the cylinder is oriented vertically. This arrangement may be useful for use with carbon dioxide cylinders, which may contain carbon dioxide in liquid and gaseous form. Orienting the cylinder vertically can prevent liquid carbon dioxide from escaping the cylinder during use. In addition to, or instead of, orienting the gas cylinder so that the gas outlet is located at the top of the gas cylinder during gas dispense, gas received from the gas cylinder can be routed or otherwise conveyed upward and then downward to the gas outlet of the pressurized gas source. As an example, a conduit receiving gas from a gas cylinder may convey gas upward during dispense and then reverse downward to the gas outlet of the pressurized gas source. This can help prevent liquid received from the gas cylinder from reaching the gas outlet of the pressurized gas source, which can cause freezing of certain components, such as the gas outlet valve. That is, gas cylinders often contain carbon dioxide in liquid and gaseous states. When liquid carbon dioxide is received by a conduit, routing the flow upward and then downward can help prevent the liquid from reaching the lower segment of the conduit, and therefore the liquid from reaching the gas outlet of the pressurized gas source.

[0009] In one embodiment, the pressurized gas source includes a housing including a support for a gas cylinder that holds pressurized gas; a drilling lance arranged to puncture an outlet of the gas cylinder to release the pressurized gas; and a gas outlet attached to the housing, fluidly coupled to the drilling lance, and arranged to supply pressurized gas for delivery to the beverage container. A door may be movable between open and closed positions on the housing to open and close the gas cylinder storage compartment, and an actuator may be arranged to move the drilling lance and the gas cylinder relative to one another to cause the drilling lance to puncture the outlet of the gas cylinder. The actuator may have a drilling state in which the lance and the gas cylinder are engaged and a retracted state in which the lance and the gas cylinder are not engaged. For example, the actuator may include a lever arranged to move the lance and the gas cylinder relative to one another based on movement of the lever between the open and closed positions. The door may be prevented from moving from the closed position unless the actuator is in the disengaged state, e.g., the gas cylinder storage compartment may be locked in the closed position and cannot be moved unless the lever is moved to the open position. In some cases, the lever may define an exterior surface of the housing and, in the closed position, cover at least a portion of the door to prevent the door from opening.

[0010] In one embodiment, the gas cylinder includes a body having a storage space and a neck having an upper surface with a pierceable gas outlet. A flange may be secured to the neck, for example, extending radially outward from the neck, and positioned to support the gas cylinder for piercing the gas outlet. The flange may thus receive the force necessary to counter the piercing force of the lance from the support of the gas supply device. A cap may be secured to the neck, extend around the upper surface, and have a sidewall defining an interior space and an upper opening to the interior space. A gasket may be positioned in the interior space and form a seal with the upper surface and a piercing element extending into the interior space to pierce the gas outlet.

[0011] The flange and cap may be fabricated as a single, integral part, or the flange may be fabricated as one piece with the body and separately from the cap. In some embodiments, the sidewall of the cap is positioned to extend above the upper surface of the neck. For example, the sidewall may be located at the upper part of the cap, and the lower part of the cap may include female threads arranged to engage with male threads on the neck of the gas cylinder. The gasket may have an upper surface, and a region of the upper surface may be exposed at the upper opening of the cap. The upper surface of the gasket may be arranged to contact a drilling element received in the upper opening of the cap to drill a hole in the gas outlet of the cylinder, and the lower surface may be arranged to form a seal with the upper surface of the neck. In some embodiments, the cap includes an upper wall extending radially inward from the sidewall and having an annular shape including a radially inner portion that defines the upper opening. The gasket may have an uppermost portion of its upper surface located radially inward of the radially inner portion of the upper wall, such that the uppermost portion is exposed at the upper opening for contact with a drilling lance, for example. In some cases, the top of the gasket's upper surface may extend into the top opening. The interior space of the cap may have a cylindrical shape and the gasket may have a toroidal shape, although other shapes are possible. Contact between the piercing element and the gasket may cause the gasket to change shape and at least partially conform to the shape of the interior space defined by the cap and the piercing element. In some embodiments, the top opening of the cap may be operable to engage the piercing element and prevent rotation of the gas cylinder relative to the piercing element.

[0012] In one embodiment, a stopper for use with a beverage container having a neck, an opening in the neck for accessing the interior volume of the container, and a lip on the exterior surface of the neck is provided. The stopper may include a stopper body having a sealing surface arranged to contact and form a seal with a portion of the neck around the opening, e.g., to seal the interior volume of the bottle from gases or other external environmental conditions. The stopper may include a gas inlet port arranged to receive pressurized gas from a gas outlet of a gas source and deliver the pressurized gas to the interior volume of the container. The stopper may be arranged to seal the opening of the container to retain or otherwise properly maintain a pressure above ambient pressure within the container, e.g., to help maintain an appropriate carbonation level of the beverage. For example, the stopper may include a gas pathway extending from the gas inlet port to the gas outlet. The gas pathway may extend from the top of the stopper body, where the gas inlet is located, to a location adjacent the sealing portion, where the gas outlet is located, to introduce pressurized gas into the container. A check valve or other one-way valve may be provided in the gas pathway to prevent flow from the gas outlet to the inlet. A vent and / or pressure indicator may also be provided in the stopper to vent pressure above a threshold, for example to allow air to be expelled from the bottle, and to indicate the pressure within the bottle.

[0013] Various exemplary embodiments of the device are further depicted and described below.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention are described with reference to various embodiments and figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a front right perspective view of a gas source in an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 shows a bottom right perspective view of the gas source of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the gas source of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the gas source with the lever in the open position. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the gas source with the lever in the open position and the door and gas cylinder compartment in the open position. [Figure 6] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a gas cylinder in an illustrative embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 shows a perspective view of the gas source with the lever, door, and side portion of the housing removed. [Figure 8] 1 shows a close-up side view of the lever, regulator and drilling lance with a portion of the housing removed. [Figure 9] 1 shows a close-up rear view of the lever, regulator and drilling lance with a portion of the housing removed. [Figure 10] 1 shows a perspective view of a stopper arranged for use with a gas source to introduce pressure into a container. [Figure 11] 11 shows the stopper of FIG. 10 removed from the container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Detailed Description Although aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that the aspects of the present invention are not to be narrowly construed in light of the specific embodiments described. Accordingly, the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described herein. It should also be understood that various aspects of the present invention can be used alone and / or in any suitable combination with one another, and thus, various embodiments should not be construed as requiring any particular combination of features. Rather, one or more features of the described embodiments can be combined with any other suitable features of other embodiments. For example, the following gas supply device embodiment includes a regulator and lance that are movable relative to the housing and gas cylinder, and a gas cylinder storage door that can only be opened after a lever that performs the drilling operation is moved to an open position. These features can be used independently of one another; for example, a gas cylinder door feature can be used in a gas supply device that allows the cylinder to be moved relative to the housing for drilling, and vice versa.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gas source 1 that can be used for a variety of applications, such as inflating tires, pressurizing or repressurizing bottles of sparkling wine and other carbonated beverages after dispensing, charging accumulators, etc. In the following description, specific reference is made to its use in pressurizing carbonated beverage containers, although aspects of the invention should not be limited to this application. The gas source 1 has a housing 2 that supports various components of the gas source 1. In this embodiment, the housing 2 has an elongated shape having a top 21 and a bottom 22, and a handle 23 that a user can grasp to operate the gas source 1. For example, a user can extend their fingers through openings in the handle 23 and grasp the body of the housing 2 with their fingers and thumb. Of course, the housing 2 is not limited to an elongated shape and can take other suitable shapes. In this embodiment, the gas source 1 has a gas outlet 9 located at the bottom 22 of the housing 2, as best seen in FIG. 2. This positioning of the gas outlet 9 may allow a user to place the gas source 1 over a gas receiving port (such as an inflator valve) and press the gas source 1 downward over the receiving port to deliver gas. In this embodiment, the gas outlet 9 is arranged with a valve that is normally closed and opens to allow gas flow when the gas outlet 9 is pressed downward on the receiving port (which moves a portion of the gas outlet valve upward, toward the housing 2). When the gas source 1 is released from the receiving port, the gas outlet valve closes and gas flow stops. However, in other embodiments, the user can operate a lever or button, squeeze the handle 23, or release the gas in other ways.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the gas source 1 includes a gas cylinder 4 holding pressurized gas in a storage space, a drilling lance 6 for drilling a hole in the gas outlet of the cylinder 4, and a regulator 5 for receiving the high-pressure gas from the cylinder 4 and reducing its pressure (e.g., via a tube or other conduit 55—see FIG. 7 ) for delivery to the gas outlet 9. For example, a gas cylinder 4 holding carbon dioxide may have an internal pressure of 500-1000 psi, and the regulator 5 may reduce this pressure to one appropriate for the intended use, such as 15-50 psi for repressurizing a sparkling beverage container. In some cases, the regulator 5 may be adjustable by a user or technician to provide different gas pressures to the gas outlet 9. For example, the regulator 5 may include a dial, adjustment screw, or other feature used to adjust the output gas pressure. According to one aspect of the present invention, the regulator 5 and the drilling lance 6 are fixed together and may be moved relative to the housing 2 and the gas cylinder 4 to drill a hole in the gas cylinder outlet. This can be done in different ways, such as those described below, allowing the gas source 1 to use gas cylinders 4 of different sizes and shapes, as is the case with most gas cylinder drilling arrangements, because the size and shape of the cylinder are not relevant to the drilling operation. That is, many gas cylinder drilling arrangements support the bottom of the cylinder opposite the gas outlet for drilling. As a result, variations in the length, shape, or other characteristics of the cylinder can interfere with proper drilling. However, in this arrangement, where the regulator and drilling lance move toward a cylinder that remains stationary relative to the housing during drilling, the size and / or shape of the cylinder is not critical to the process.

[0019] The gas source 1 may include an actuator that causes the lance to drill a hole in the gas cylinder. In this embodiment, the actuator includes a lever 24 mounted for rotational movement about a rotation axis 241, visible in FIG. 3. FIGS. 1-3 show the lever 24 in a closed position, while FIG. 4 shows the lever 24 in an open position. Movement of the lever 24 drives movement of the regulator 5 and the drilling lance 6 relative to the gas cylinder 4, i.e., up and down in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the lever 24 is in the closed position, the regulator 5 and the drilling lance 6 are in a lowered position, i.e., forward position, closest to the outlet of the gas cylinder 4. Thus, with the lever 24 in the closed position, as in FIG. 3, the drilling lance 6 drills a hole in the gas outlet of the gas cylinder 4. When the lever 24 is in the open position in FIG. 4, the regulator 5 and the lance 6 are in an upper position, i.e., retracted position, away from the outlet of the gas cylinder. This allows, for example, the gas cylinder 4 to be removed from the housing 2 and replaced with another cylinder 4. Although detailed embodiments of the mechanism by which the lever 24 moves the regulator 5 and lance 6 are described below, various actuator arrangements, including linkages, drives, and other devices for moving the regulator 5 and lance 6 in response to movement of the lever 24, may be employed. For example, a two-bar linkage may be employed in which one end of a first linkage is rotatably attached to the housing 2 above the regulator 5, one end of a second linkage is rotatably attached to the regulator 5 / lance 6, and the other ends of the links are rotatably coupled to each other. The lever 24 may be attached to the coupled linkage ends so that movement of the lever 24 causes a scissors-like action of the links, moving the regulator 5 / lance 6 up and down. Another arrangement may include a gear drive in which rotation of the lever 24 rotates a pinion gear, thereby moving a rack coupled to the regulator 5 / lance 6 up and down with movement of the lever 24. Other variations, including a motor drive that may be activated by a user pressing a button, will occur to those skilled in the art.Also, in some embodiments, the regulator and lance are not fixed together and the actuator can be arranged to move the lance and gas cylinder relative to one another, for example, to move the gas cylinder relative to the lance which remains stationary relative to the housing. Thus, the actuator can have a drilling state in which the lance and cylinder are engaged and a retracted state in which the lance and cylinder are disengaged.

[0020] Although not required, in this embodiment, a portion of the lever 24 defines the exterior surface of the housing 2. This may allow a user to more easily identify the function of and access the lever 24. Furthermore, this may allow the lever 24 to control whether and how a gas cylinder is removed from or provided to the gas source 1. For example, in this embodiment, the gas source 1 includes a door 25 that covers a gas cylinder storage compartment in which the gas cylinder 4 is located. The door 25 is movable between a closed position shown in FIG. 4 and an open position shown in FIG. 5. However, to move the door 25 from the closed position, the latch 26 must be released (e.g., slid upward against a spring bias) so that the door 25 can be opened. However, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the lever 24 is in the closed position, the lever 24 covers the latch 26, preventing access to the latch 26. Therefore, the gas cylinder storage compartment cannot be opened without first moving the lever 24 to the open position. Needless to say, moving lever 24 to the open position disengages lance 6 from gas cylinder 4, venting any gas pressure within cylinder 4 and / or regulator 5. As a result, whenever a user wishes to open the gas cylinder compartment (i.e., open door 25), they must first open lever 24, thereby venting gas cylinder 4 and associated gas lines to ambient pressure. This can help prevent a user from handling cylinder 4 during venting and causing problems. For example, carbon dioxide cylinders often cool to a relatively low temperature when gas is rapidly vented from the cylinder. Venting the cylinder before allowing the user to open the gas cylinder compartment delays handling of the cylinder and allows the cylinder to warm up before being touched by the user.

[0021] In this embodiment, the door 25 is rotatably mounted near the bottom 22 of the housing 2 so that the door 25 can be rotated forward and downward to expose the gas cylinder storage compartment. The door 25 includes a cylinder holder 251 on its interior side, allowing a cylinder 4 to be placed inside the door 25 and then moved to a closed position to attach the cylinder 4 to the gas cylinder storage compartment. The cylinder holder 251 is configured to hold cylinders 4 of multiple different sizes and shapes, including cylinders 4 of different lengths. In some cases, for example, if the cylinder 4 is smaller than a typical or nominal size, an adapter 252 may be used with the cylinder 4. In such cases, the cylinder 4 may be placed into the adapter 252, and the adapter / cylinder combination may be placed in the cylinder holder 251. The door 25 may then be moved to a closed position, allowing the cylinder 4 to be placed in the gas cylinder storage compartment of the housing 2.

[0022] The cylinder housing includes a support 3 for holding the cylinder 4 in the gas cylinder housing. In this embodiment, the support 3 is arranged to support the gas cylinder 4 with the outlet located at the top of the gas cylinder 4. That is, the gas cylinder 4 is oriented vertically with the outlet located higher than the rest of the cylinder. This arrangement may be useful for use with a carbon dioxide cylinder, which may contain carbon dioxide in both liquid and gaseous forms. Orienting the cylinder vertically can prevent liquid carbon dioxide from escaping the cylinder during use. In addition to or instead of orienting the gas cylinder so that the gas outlet is located at the top of the gas cylinder during gas dispensing, gas received from the gas cylinder 4 may be routed or otherwise conveyed upward and then downward to the gas outlet 9. For example, the regulator 5 and conduit 55 may direct liquid received from the gas cylinder 4 upward in an initial flow path, after which the conduit 55 turns downward and directs it to the gas outlet 9. This may help prevent liquid received from the gas cylinder 4 from reaching the gas outlet 9 and freezing certain components, such as the gas outlet valve. That is, when liquid carbon dioxide is received by conduit 55, routing the flow upward and then downward may help to prevent the liquid from reaching the lower segment of the conduit, and therefore the gas outlet of the pressurized gas source. In some cases, the initial upward flow path may help to prevent the liquid from reaching the top of conduit 55, for example, because liquids are denser than gases. Also, the upward flow path and subsequent downward flow path of conduit 55 increases the overall length of the flow path, which may help to warm any liquid in conduit 55 and cause the liquid to evaporate into a gas within conduit 55.

[0023] The support 3 for the gas cylinder 4 can also be positioned to counteract the force applied by the drilling lance 6 during drilling. That is, the force required to drill a hole in the gas outlet of the cylinder 4 can vary but in some cases can be relatively high, e.g., 10 pounds or more. The support 3 may provide all the necessary counterforce against the cylinder 4 to enable effective drilling by the lance 6. For example, the support 3 may prevent movement of the cylinder 4 relative to the housing during drilling. The support 3 may engage the cylinder 4 in different ways, such as by engaging the neck of the cylinder or by engaging a cap that engages the neck of the cylinder. In this embodiment, the support 3 is positioned to engage a flange attached to the neck of the cylinder. FIG. 6 shows the cylinder 4 in one exemplary embodiment, including a flange 41 suitable for mounting the cylinder 4 on the support 3 of the gas source 1. In this embodiment, the flange 41 extends radially outward from a neck 42 of a cylinder body 43 having a storage space for holding pressurized gas. The flange 41 in this embodiment is made as an integral part of the cap 44, but may also be made as an integral part of the body 43 or neck 42. Alternatively, the flange 41 may be attached to another portion of the cylinder by threaded connection, welding, adhesive, or the like. The cap 44 in this embodiment has a sidewall with a lower portion that engages with the neck 42, for example, by threaded connection, adhesive, press fit, or the like, and an upper portion that extends above the upper surface of the neck 42 where the pierceable gas outlet is located. The upper portion of the sidewall defines an interior space in which the gasket 45 is located. The interior space can be accessed, for example, by an upper end of the sidewall and / or an upper opening 46 defined by a wall portion extending radially inward. The upper surface of the gasket 45 may be at least partially exposed at the upper opening of the cap 44 or may extend into the upper opening 46. The upper surface may be arranged to form a seal with the drilling lance 6 extending into the upper opening, and the lower surface of the gasket 45 may form a seal with the upper surface of the neck portion.Thus, when the lance 6 extends into the top opening of the cap 44, the lance 6 forms a seal with the gasket 45 and causes the underside of the gasket 45 to form a seal with the upper surface of the neck 42, puncturing the gas outlet of the cylinder and releasing the pressurized gas. Contact between the drilling lance 6 and the gasket 45 causes the gasket to change shape and at least partially conform to the shape of the interior space defined by the cap 44 and to the shape of the drilling lance 6. In some cases, the top opening 46 of the cap 44 may be operable to engage the drilling lance 6 and prevent rotation of the gas cylinder 4 relative to the drilling lance 6; for example, the top opening may include a groove that engages a rib on the lance 6 to prevent rotation of the cap 44 relative to the lance 6.

[0024] When a cylinder 4 as shown in FIG. 6 is placed in the cylinder holder 251 of the door 25 and the door 25 is closed, the neck 42 of the cylinder 4 is received by the support 3, thereby positioning the flange 41 of the cylinder 4 above the support 3. This allows the support 3 to hold the cylinder against not only vertical forces, such as gravity, acting on the cylinder 4, but also the drilling force of the lance 6. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the support 3 includes a U-shaped plate that can receive the cylinder neck 42 within its U-shaped opening and contact the underside of the flange 41. The leading end of the U-shaped portion is inclined or angled so that the flange 41 can be guided to the upper side of the support 3 when the door 25 is closed. The support 3 can also engage with the flange 41 to position the gas outlet laterally, horizontally, or transverse to the drilling direction so that the gas outlet is properly positioned to be drilled by the lance 6. To do so, the support 3 may engage with the outer radial surface of the flange 41 and / or with the outer radial surface of the neck 42, e.g., by fully receiving the neck 42 into the U-shaped opening of the support 3, the gas outlet may be properly positioned for drilling.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of the regulator 5 and lance 6, illustrating how they move relative to the housing 2 and cylinder 4 in this embodiment. The housing 2 includes a pair of rails 27 (only one is shown in FIG. 8) that guide the vertical movement of the regulator 5 and lance 6. Each rail 27 includes an elongated slot through which a pair of pins 51 attached to the regulator 5 travel, guiding the regulator's movement. A spring 52 is positioned to bias the regulator 5 upward and away from the cylinder 4, such that in the absence of a downward force on the regulator 5, the regulator 5 and lance 6 move upward and away from the cylinder 4. The downward force is exerted on the regulator 5 and lance 6 by the lever 24 through a cam 28 fixed to the lever 24. Thus, when the lever 24 rotates relative to the housing 2, the cam 28 similarly rotates. FIG. 9 shows a close-up view of the cam 28 and regulator 5. The cam 28 has a groove that engages with a follower 53 on the regulator 5, which in this embodiment has a linear rail configuration. As the lever 24 and cam 28 rotate about the lever rotation axis 241, the cam 28 advances along the follower 53. For example, as the cam 28 and lever 24 rotate from the closed position shown in FIG. 9 toward the open position, the follower 53 gradually contacts a portion of the cam 28 closer to the rotation axis 241. Because the spring 52 continuously biases the regulator 5 upward, this movement of the cam 28 moves the regulator 5 and the lance 6 upward and away from the cylinder 4. Conversely, as the cam 28 moves from the open position to the closed position, the cam 28 pushes the follower 53 downward, causing the regulator to move downward until the lance 6 pierces the cylinder gas outlet. The cam 28 has an over-center feature so that once the lever 24 and cam 28 are in the closed position, any upward force on the regulator 5 / lance 6 (whether due to the spring 52, the gasket 45 and / or the resistance of the cylinder to drilling) will not move the lever 24 from the closed position. Only the user lifting the lever 24 will actuate the lever 24 to move from the closed position.

[0026] As discussed above, gas source 1 may be used to repressurize a carbonated beverage container after the container has been opened to dispense the beverage. To introduce pressurized gas into the container, a stopper may be used to deliver the pressurized gas and maintain the interior space of the container under pressure for an extended period of time. Figures 10 and 11 show a stopper 7 for use with a container 8, such as a container 8 for holding a sparkling beverage, initially having a cork or other closure that seals an opening 81 of the container 8. Thus, the cork or other closure may be removed from the opening 81 to allow the beverage to be poured from the container, and the stopper 7 may be used to reseal or close the opening 81. As discussed further below, the stopper 7 may, but is not required to, allow the interior space of the container 8 to be pressurized, for example, so that the carbonated beverage may remain carbonated during storage with the stopper 7. As with many sparkling and other wine bottles, the neck of the container includes a lip 82 below the opening 81 that is used to engage a metal cap and wire retainer or other component that helps retain the cork or other closure in the opening 81. With the cork retainer and cork or other closure removed, as shown in FIG. 11 , the opening 81 of the container 8 is open for dispensing a beverage. The stopper 7 may then be engaged with the container 8 to seal the opening 81, as shown in FIG. 10 , and then removed, as shown in FIG. 11 , to allow further dispensing of a beverage from the container 8. To engage the container 8, the handle 72 can be manipulated between an open position and a closed position (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , respectively), such that an appropriately positioned mechanism engages the lip 82 of the container 8 to seal the opening 81. With the stopper 7 engaged with the container 8 as shown in FIG. 10 , a user can introduce pressurized gas into the interior space of the container 8. In this embodiment, the stopper 7 includes a gas inlet port 71 at the top of the stopper housing 74 that is mateable with the gas outlet 9 of the gas source 1. As mentioned above, pressing the gas source housing 2 downward opens the gas outlet 9 and allows gas to be delivered to the inlet port 71 in the stopper and into the container 8 .The stopper 7 may include, for example, a pressure indicator 73 that provides an indication when the pressure within the container 8 is at an appropriate level and gas delivery can be stopped. As will be appreciated, the inlet port 71 may communicate with a gas pathway extending through the stopper 7 to where gas is delivered to the interior space of the container 8. A check valve or other valve arrangement may allow gas flow into the container 8 but resist flow from the container 8 to the inlet port 71. To repressurize the carbonated beverage container, the gas source 1 may include a cylinder of pressurized CO2 and may be fluidly coupled to the gas inlet port 71 by a quick-connect type fitting, a threaded fitting, a press fit, or other suitable engagement, such as simply having the user hold the gas source 9 against the inlet port 71. The gas source may include a pressurized gas container, such as a gas cylinder that holds a suitable gas (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, etc.) under a relatively high pressure, such as 100-3000 psi. The gas source may be configured to supply gas at two or more selectable pressures and / or flow rates, as desired. For example, gas may be provided at a first pressure and / or a first flow rate, e.g., to displace any air in container 8 with a suitable inert or non-reactive gas from a gas source. The displaced air may be vented through stopper 7 via a vent. In some cases, the vent may be manually operated by a user, e.g., by pressing a button. The second pressure and / or second flow rate may be higher than the first pressure and may be suitable for establishing a storage pressure in container 8, e.g., to help maintain a desired carbonation level in container 8. Because stopper 7 may seal container opening 81, a pressure above ambient pressure may be maintained in the interior space of container 8 for an extended period of time, such as a day, a week, a month, or more. Gas inlet port 71 or other portions of the gas inlet path may include a check valve or other one-way valve that allows gas flow into container 8 but resists gas flow from container 8. Additionally or alternatively, gas inlet port 71 may be capped or otherwise closed to prevent pressure leakage.

[0027] While aspects of the present invention have been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A pressurized gas source for use in supplying pressurized gas to a beverage container, comprising: a housing including a support for a gas cylinder that holds the pressurized gas; a gas outlet attached to the housing and arranged to deliver and supply the pressurized gas to the beverage container; a regulator supported by the housing and positioned to receive gas at a first pressure from the gas cylinder and to supply gas at a second pressure lower than the first pressure to the gas outlet; a drilling lance arranged to drill a hole in the outlet of the gas cylinder and release the pressurized gas, the drilling lance being fixed relative to the regulator, and the regulator and the drilling lance being movable relative to the housing and the gas cylinder to drill a hole in the outlet of the gas cylinder; a pressurized gas source comprising:

2. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein a support for the gas cylinder is positioned to keep the gas cylinder stationary relative to the housing while the regulator and the drilling lance move to drill the outlet of the gas cylinder.

3. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a rotationally mounted lever coupled to move the regulator and drilling lance between a retracted position and a drilling position.

4. The pressurized gas source of claim 3 , wherein the lever defines an exterior surface of the housing.

5. 4. The pressurized gas source of claim 3, wherein said lever includes a cam that contacts and moves said regulator and said drilling lance from said retracted position to said drilling position.

6. 6. The pressurized gas source of claim 5, wherein the regulator and the drilling lance are spring biased to move to the retracted position.

7. 10. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a door movable between an open position and a closed position to open and close a gas cylinder compartment.

8. 8. The pressurized gas source of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a latch that holds the door in the closed position.

9. 9. The pressurized gas source of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a lever mounted for rotation between an open position and a closed position and coupled to move the regulator and drilling lance between a retracted position and a drilling position, the lever in the closed position preventing operation of the latch to open the door.

10. 10. The pressurized gas source of claim 9, wherein the lever defines an exterior surface of the housing, and in the closed position, the lever covers the latch.

11. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the support for the gas cylinder includes a U-shaped plate positioned to receive a portion of the neck of the gas cylinder.

12. 12. The pressurized gas source of claim 11, wherein the support for the gas cylinder is positioned to resist a drilling force from the drilling lance when drilling the outlet of the gas cylinder.

13. 13. The pressurized gas source of claim 12, further comprising: the gas cylinder having a flange disposed on the neck of the gas cylinder; and the support for the gas cylinder is positioned to receive the neck of the gas cylinder with the flange positioned on an upper surface of the support.

14. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a gas cylinder holder arranged for movement between an open position and a closed position, the gas cylinder holder arranged to position a portion of the gas cylinder on the support upon movement to the closed position.

15. 15. The pressurized gas source of claim 14, wherein the gas cylinder holder is mounted to a door of the housing that is movable between a closed position and an open position.

16. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the housing has an elongated shape having a top and a bottom, the gas outlet is located at the bottom of the housing, and the support for the gas cylinder is positioned to support the gas cylinder with the outlet of the gas cylinder located at a top of the gas cylinder.

17. 17. The pressurized gas source of claim 16, wherein the regulator and the drilling lance are arranged for vertical movement to drill holes in the gas cylinder.

18. 2. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a gas cylinder holder adapted to receive a first gas cylinder having a first size within an adapter and to receive a second gas cylinder having a second size larger than the first size without the adapter.

19. 10. The pressurized gas source of claim 1, wherein the gas outlet comprises a normally closed valve that is opened by moving a portion of the valve upward.

20. 1. A gas cylinder comprising: a body having a storage space and a neck having an upper surface with a pierceable gas outlet; a flange secured to the neck and extending radially outward from the neck and positioned to support the gas cylinder for drilling the gas outlet; a cap secured to the neck portion, the cap having a sidewall extending around the top surface and defining an interior space and an upper opening to the interior space; a gasket positioned in the interior space, the gasket forming a seal with the top surface and arranged to form a seal with a piercing element extending into the interior space to pierce the gas outlet; Gas cylinders including:

21. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the flange and the cap are made as a single, integral piece.

22. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the sidewall of the cap is positioned to extend above the top surface of the neck, and the gasket has an upper surface, an area of the upper surface exposed at the top opening of the cap, positioned to contact the piercing element received in the top opening of the cap to pierce the gas outlet of the gas cylinder, and a lower surface positioned to form a seal with the top surface of the neck.

23. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the cap includes a top wall extending radially inward from the side wall and having an annular shape including a radially inner portion that defines the top opening.

24. 24. The gas cylinder of claim 23, wherein the gasket has a top portion of its upper surface located radially inward of the radially inner portion of the top wall.

25. 25. The gas cylinder of claim 24, wherein the top of the upper surface of the gasket extends into the top opening.

26. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the interior space has a cylindrical shape and the gasket has a toroidal shape.

27. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the sidewall is located on top of the cap, and the bottom of the cap includes female threads positioned to engage male threads on the neck of the gas cylinder.

28. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein contact between the gasket and the piercing element causes the gasket to change shape to at least partially conform to the shape of the interior space defined by the cap and the piercing element.

29. 21. The gas cylinder of claim 20, wherein the top opening of the cap is operable to engage a piercing element and prevent rotation of the gas cylinder relative to the piercing element.

30. 1. A pressurized gas source for use in supplying pressurized gas to a beverage container, comprising: a housing including a support for a gas cylinder that holds the pressurized gas; a perforating lance arranged to perforate an outlet of the gas cylinder to release the pressurized gas; a gas outlet attached to the housing, fluidly coupled to the drilling lance, and positioned to supply the pressurized gas for delivery to the beverage container; a door movable between an open position and a closed position on the housing to open and close a gas cylinder compartment; an actuator arranged to move the drilling lance and the gas cylinder relative to one another to cause the drilling lance to drill a hole in the outlet of the gas cylinder, the actuator having a drilling state in which the lance and the gas cylinder are engaged and a retracted state in which the lance and the gas cylinder are disengaged; Including, the door is prevented from moving from the closed position unless the actuator is in the disengaged state; Pressurized gas source.

31. 31. The pressurized gas source of claim 30, wherein the housing includes a latch for holding the door in the closed position.

32. 31. The pressurized gas source of claim 30, wherein the actuator includes a lever mounted to rotate between an open position and a closed position and coupled to move the gas cylinder and drilling lance between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the lever in the closed position preventing operation of a latch to open the door.

33. 33. The pressurized gas source of claim 32, wherein the lever defines an exterior surface of the housing.

34. 31. The pressurized gas source of claim 30, further comprising a regulator supported by the housing, the regulator positioned to receive gas at a first pressure from the gas cylinder and to supply gas at a second pressure lower than the first pressure to the gas outlet.

35. 35. The pressurized gas source of claim 34, wherein the drilling lance is fixed relative to the regulator, and the regulator and the drilling lance are movable relative to the housing and the gas cylinder to drill a hole in the outlet of the gas cylinder.

36. 36. The pressurized gas source of claim 35, wherein the support for the gas cylinder is arranged to keep the gas cylinder stationary relative to the housing during movement of the regulator and the drilling lance to drill an outlet of the gas cylinder.

37. 1. A pressurized gas source for use in supplying pressurized gas to a beverage container, comprising: a housing including a support for a gas cylinder holding pressurized gas, the support being arranged to support the gas cylinder such that an outlet of the gas cylinder is positioned above other portions of the gas cylinder; a drilling lance arranged to drill a hole in the outlet of the gas cylinder to release the pressurized gas; a gas outlet attached to the housing, fluidly coupled to the drilling lance, and positioned to supply the pressurized gas for delivery to the beverage container; a gas flow path including a conduit arranged to route a flow of gas upward from the outlet of the gas cylinder and then downward to the gas outlet; a pressurized gas source comprising:

38. 38. The pressurized gas source of claim 37, wherein the gas flow path includes a regulator fluidly coupled to the drilling lance and the conduit.

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