Automatic wine stirrer incorporating a ferromagnetic stir bar and method for aerating wine

• US 10,160,940 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mario Cifaldi
• Original Assignee: Mario Cifaldi
• Inventors: Cifaldi, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles
• Application Number:
  US14/655,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20150329809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 366273-274
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0241 for bottles; Decanters
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/17 Aeration of wine
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2361 within small containers, e.g. within bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237611 Air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/45 Magnetic mixers; Mixers with magnetically driven stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3204 Motor driven, i.e. by means of an electric or IC motor
• CPC Class Codes: C12G 1/00 Preparation of wine or sparkling wine

Abstract

An automatic wine stirrer is adapted for aerating wine contained in an open vessel. The wine stirrer comprises a housing, and a fan assembly operatively mounted within the housing. The fan assembly comprises a rotatable hub, a plurality of fan blades attached to the hub, and an electric motor. At least one magnet is carried by the fan assembly. When the rotatable hub is substantially stopped, the magnet attracts and holds a ferromagnetic stir bar located inside the wine vessel. When the rotatable hub starts, the magnet rotates relative to the housing thereby rotating the stir bar and substantially swirling the wine contained in the wine vessel.

Claims

1. In combination with an open wine vessel and a ferromagnetic stir bar located inside said vessel, an automatic wine stirrer comprising:

a housing;

a fan assembly operatively mounted within said housing, and comprising a rotatable hub, a plurality of fan blades attached to said hub, and an electric motor;

at least one magnet carried by said fan assembly and adapted for being magnetically connected to said stir bar; and

means for electronically controlling intermittent rotation of said fan assembly, said means configured to control said fan assembly to spin said stir bar intermittently between a run condition sufficient for substantially swirling the wine contained in said wine vessel and a substantially stopped condition less than 20 RPM, whereby;

(i) when said fan assembly is in the substantially stopped condition, said magnet attracts and holds said stir bar located inside said wine vessel, and

(ii) when said fan assembly moves to the run condition, said magnet rotates relative to said housing thereby rotating said stir bar and substantially swirling the wine contained in said wine vessel.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a nonmagnetic top wall.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the top wall of said housing is constructed of a plastic material.

4. A combination according to claim 1, said means further comprising a printed circuit board electronically connected to said fan assembly, and residing adjacent a bottom wall of said housing.

5. A combination according to claim 4, and comprising at least one rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor of said fan assembly.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said fan assembly comprises a multiple pin connector electronically interconnecting said electric motor and printed circuit board.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said means utilizes pulse-width modulation for controlling said intermittent rotation between said substantially stopped condition and said run condition.

8. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said fan assembly comprises a square-framed plastic case.

9. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said stir bar comprises a magnetic material selected from a group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein said stir bar comprises a synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymer coating.