Integrated Wine Stopper Assembly with Vacuum Valve and Serving Needle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and increased risk of malfunction when needing to use multiple devices for pouring and storing wine, as existing solutions require separate stoppers and serving devices for vacuuming and serving.

Innovation Solution

A stopper assembly that integrates a valve element with a serving device, allowing for both vacuuming and serving functions using a single assembly, which includes a body element with ribs for smooth liquid flow and adjustable positions for sealing and serving, and can be used with a vacuum pump for maintaining reduced pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate stoppers and serving devices are used for vacuuming and serving, then each device can perform its specific function reliably, but the user needs to use multiple devices and perform multiple handlings which is inconvenient and increases the risk of malfunctioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of vacuuming and serving functionsVSAvoidconvenience of using single assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the stopper assembly and serving device into a single integrated unit. The stopper assembly includes a stopper portion for sealing the bottle and a serving device portion with a serving needle that can pierce the stopper. This merging eliminates the need for separate vacuum pump adapters and serving devices, allowing users to perform both vacuuming and serving operations with one device, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability through dedicated functional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated stopper assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as a seal for vacuuming operations and as a serving device for pouring wine. The serving needle can pierce the stopper to allow wine flow, while the stopper portion maintains the seal for vacuum preservation. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate tools, enhancing user convenience without compromising the reliability of either vacuuming or serving functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a single integrated stopper assembly is used for both vacuuming and serving, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to separate devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of using single assemblyVSAvoidstructural complexity of integrated assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a stopper portion for sealing, a serving device portion with a serving needle, and connection interfaces for vacuum pumps. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while being part of an integrated whole. The modular structure reduces overall complexity by clearly defining functional boundaries and interfaces, making the integrated device easier to manufacture and maintain compared to a fully monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the serving device neck part is made from resilient material with resilient ribs, then tight fitting into the bottle neck is ensured, but the device becomes more complex and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetight fitting of neck partVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of resilient components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The neck part of the serving device incorporates resilient ribs made from flexible material that can elastically deform to adapt to the bottle neck dimensions. These resilient ribs provide a tight seal between the serving device and the bottle opening without requiring precise machining or complex assembly. The flexibility of the material allows for simple molding processes, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable tight fitting for various bottle sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 efficient storage and serving of wine by eliminating the need for multiple devices, ensuring the wine remains sealed until needed, while allowing for drip-free and smooth pouring.

Implementation Method 1

air can be removed out of the container, until a reduced pressure, also referred to as 'vacuum' is obtained in the container with respect to the environmental pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP3568359B1Stopper assembly, use of a stopper assembly

Publication Date: 2022.09.28 VACU VIN INNOVATIONS

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Figure 5

AI summary

Stopper assembly (1) for a serving device (2) configured to be positioned in a neck of a container, such as a bottle, wherein the stopper assembly comprises a body element (3) arranged to fit in the serving device; a valve element (4) mountable on the body element, wherein the body element extends substantially in a direction transverse to the valve element; and a handling element (5) that is connectable to the valve element and extending in a direction substantially transverse to the valve element at an opposite side of the body element, such that the valve element is arranged in between the handling element and the body element.