Handheld Vacuum Sealer for Wine Bottle Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bottle vacuum sealers are cumbersome, costly, and require device-specific stoppers, limiting their versatility and effectiveness in preserving partially consumed wine by allowing air leakage and necessitating multiple devices for multiple bottles, while also failing to provide a means for opening bottles.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device with a vacuum pump and actuator assembly that forms airtight seals, evacuates air from the bottle headspace, and secures the original stopper using an electric motor, allowing for multiple bottles to be sealed without additional parts or devices, and includes features for both opening and resealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional vacuum sealers use device-specific stoppers with one-way valves, then vacuum sealing function is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase, and reliability decreases due to air leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidstopper complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex one-way valve mechanism from the stopper entirely, extracting only the essential function of sealing. The simplified stopper relies on the vacuum pressure differential to prevent air ingress, eliminating the unreliable valve component while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum seal system uses the vacuum pressure differential itself to maintain the seal, without requiring active valve components. The pressure difference between the vacuum interior and ambient exterior automatically prevents air leakage, making the system self-regulating and more reliable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple device-specific stoppers are used to seal multiple bottles, then vacuum sealing capability is provided, but loss of substance increases due to multiple stoppers required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-bottle compatibilityVSAvoidstopper quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal stopper that can be used across multiple bottles and vacuum sealers, eliminating the need for device-specific stoppers. The standardized stopper design allows users to seal multiple bottles with a single type of stopper, reducing consumption and waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If conventional vacuum sealers remain fixed atop the bottle, then vacuum evacuation is achieved, but device complexity increases and productivity decreases when preserving multiple bottles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum evacuation effectivenessVSAvoidmulti-bottle processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the vacuum pump from the stopper, allowing the pump to be reused across multiple bottles while only the simple stopper needs to be exchanged. This segmentation enables efficient processing of multiple bottles by reusing the expensive vacuum pump component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If separate bottle opener and vacuum sealer are used, then bottle opening function is provided, but device complexity and loss of substance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle opening capabilityVSAvoidnumber of devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the bottle opening function with the vacuum sealing system by integrating a corkscrew mechanism into the stopper or device housing. This allows users to both open and seal bottles with a single integrated system, reducing the number of separate devices needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The device effectively preserves wine by creating a vacuum in the bottle headspace, preventing oxidation, and allowing reuse of the original stopper, reducing costs and complexity by eliminating the need for device-specific stoppers and additional devices.

Implementation Method 1

a vacuum pump adapted to evacuate air out of the interior air cavity and the headspace to create a vacuum or partial vacuum within the headspace

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS10773872B2Apparatuses and methods for container content preservation

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 KAGRAMANYAN NORIK

AI summary

One feature pertains to a device that includes a main body having a bottle-receiving end that receives a bottle and forms a substantially airtight seal between the main body and an exterior surface of the bottle surrounding a mouth of the bottle. The bottle-receiving end has a bottom opening to allow for fluid-flow communication between an interior air cavity of the main body and a headspace of the bottle. The device further includes a stopper securement device, and a vacuum pump that evacuates air out of the interior air cavity and the headspace to create a vacuum or partial vacuum within the headspace. The device also includes a means for inserting the stopper into the mouth of the bottle using the stopper securement device after the vacuum pump evacuates air out of the interior cavity and the headspace.