Wine Closure with Oxidant Releasing Agent for Oxygen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wine closures that provide a hermetic seal, such as screw caps, can lead to reduction processes due to lack of oxygen, resulting in unpleasant aromas and compromised wine quality, while natural cork stoppers allow oxygen ingress but are limited by availability and 'cork taint' issues.
Innovation Solution
A closure system with an oxidant releasing agent, such as a peroxide compound, integrated into the liner or seal, which allows for controlled oxygen release over time, balancing oxidation and prevention of spoilage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hermetic seal closure (screw cap) is used, then leakage prevention and contamination avoidance are improved, but oxygen ingress is blocked leading to reduction processes and unpleasant aromas
Solution Approach 1:
The closure liner incorporates a microporous structure with controlled pore sizes that permit selective oxygen diffusion while maintaining a hermetic seal against liquids and contaminants. This porous design allows minimal oxygen ingress to prevent reduction processes while preserving the protective barrier function of the closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure liner is constructed as a composite material system combining multiple layers with different permeability characteristics. This multi-layer composite structure enables controlled oxygen transmission while maintaining barrier properties against other contaminants, resolving the contradiction between seal integrity and oxygen ingress.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If natural cork stoppers are used, then oxygen ingress for maturation is improved, but cork availability and cork taint issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces scarce natural cork with synthetic polymer materials that can be manufactured consistently and abundantly. The closure liner is designed as a single-use component that provides reliable performance without the supply constraints and variability of natural cork, while maintaining appropriate oxygen transmission characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure design modifies the oxygen permeability parameter through controlled microporosity and material selection, achieving oxygen transmission rates similar to natural cork but with synthetic materials. This parameter optimization allows consistent oxygen ingress for maturation without relying on natural cork's variable properties.
3Reliability
If conventional airtight screw caps are used, then leakage prevention is improved, but oxygen-dependent flavor development is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The closure liner employs microporous materials that create a selective barrier allowing oxygen diffusion while maintaining hermetic sealing against liquids and solid contaminants. This enables the dual function of preventing leakage while permitting oxygen-dependent flavor development in wine bottles.
Solution Approach 2:
The microporous liner acts as an intermediary between the hermetic closure and the wine, mediating oxygen transmission. It allows beneficial oxygen exchange for flavor development while maintaining the protective seal, resolving the contradiction between airtight sealing and oxygen availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables winemakers to optimize oxygen-dependent flavor development and prevent reduction-related aromas, ensuring consistent wine quality without the limitations of traditional closures.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (91) allowing an at least partial exchange of gas between the inside (93) of the reservoir and the inside of said container
Implementation Method 2
a barrier layer (92) at least partially preventing exchange of gas between the outside of the closure and the inside (93) of the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
an oxidant releasing agent, such as a peroxide compound, integrated into the liner or seal, which allows for controlled oxygen release over time
Data Source
Figure 1~5
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a closure (10) for a container (12), such as, for example, a wine bottle. In one embodiment, the closure (10) includes an oxidant releasing agent (26) that is adapted to release oxygen into an interior portion of the container according to a predefined desired profile. In another embodiment, the closure (80) comprises a gas containing reservoir (13), a membrane (91) and a barrier layer (92), said membrane allowing an at least partial exchange of gas between the inside of said reservoir and the inside of said container, and said barrier layer at least partially preventing exchange of gas between the outside of said closure and the inside of said reservoir.