REUSABLE CLOSURE

• US 20150217912A1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZERO Oxygen Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ZERO Oxygen Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Luzaich, Gregory John
• Granted Patent: US 11,001,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/0076 Plastic closures other than those covered by groups B65D39/0058 - B65D39/007
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/244 provided with oxygen absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A preservation apparatus and method for using the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the preservation apparatus comprising: a removable closure adapted to fit together in sealed relationship with a first container for containing an item, where the removable closure comprises a second container to contain a substance operable to collect oxygen molecules contained within the first container. The preservation apparatus also comprises a removable cap adapted to cover a portion of the removable closure including the second container, in order prevent the second container from being exposed to oxygen molecules outside the cap.

Claims

1. A preservation apparatus comprising:

a removable closure adapted to fit together in sealed relationship with a first container for containing an item, the removable closure comprising a second container to contain a substance operable to collect oxygen molecules contained within the first container and render them harmless to the item; and

a removable cap adapted to cover a portion of the removable closure including the second container, in order prevent the second container from being exposed to oxygen molecules outside the cap.

2. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the second container comprises a material that allows oxygen molecules to pass through to at least a portion of the second container and chemically react with the substance.

3. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the material that allows oxygen molecules to pass through to the second while preventing the item from entering the interior of the second container.

4. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the material comprises porous plastic or Tyvek.

5. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the substance includes an aldehyde absorber.

6. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein a vacuum within a first portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure increases as more of the oxygen molecules are rendered harmless.

7. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the second container is operable to be removably coupled to another portion of the removable closure.

8. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising an indicator to indicate information regarding a state of the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure.

9. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a visual or audio indicator.

10. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the visual indicator comprises one or more lights.

11. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the information indicates oxygen is being collected or has been rendered harmless by the substance.

12. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the information indicates that the removable enclosure is not engaged with the first container adequately.

13. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the information indicates whether the removable enclosure is working properly.

14. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising an indicator to indicate the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure is at a vacuum pressure has reached a predetermined amount.

15. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the visual indicator comprises a top portion coupled to the second container that is movable in response to changes in vacuum pressure in the sealed portion of the first container.

16. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the top portion includes an open area between the removable closure and the top portion to enable pressure within the first container to be transferred to an interior of the top portion to cause displacement of the top portion.

17. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 15 further comprising registration marks for use in indicating an amount of displacement of the top portion due to the changes in vacuum pressure.

18. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the top portion becomes flush with another portion of the removable closure in response to the vacuum pressure in the sealed portion of the first container reaching a predetermined amount.

19. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a visual indicator to indicate information regarding a state of the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure, wherein the removable closure further comprises a transparent top portion to enable viewing of the visual indicator.

20. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the removable closure further comprises:

a pressure sensor; and

an indicator coupled to the pressure sensor to provide an indication based on one or more pressure values from the pressure sensor.

22. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein the indication indicates, based on the pressure values, that the substance needs to be replaced.

23. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein the indication indicates at least one of a group consisting of:

preservation status is improving within the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure, preservation status is not improving within the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure, the substance needs to be replaced, and the portion of the container sealed by the removable closure has reached a a predetermined vacuum pressure level.

24. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 23 wherein the indication comprises a flashing or non-flashing lights of particular colors to set forth different states of the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure.

25. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the cap is adapted for coupling to the removable closure when the removable closure is in sealed relationship with the first container in a manner that does not impede oxygen in the first container from chemically reacting with the substance.

26. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the cap is adapted for coupling to the removable closure when the removable closure is in sealed relationship with the first container in a manner that prevents oxygen in the first container from chemically reacting with the substance.

27. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the removable closure is sized to fit within a neck of the first container.

28. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 26 wherein the first container comprises a bottle.

29. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the removable closure comprises annular sealing rings to engage the first container when the removable closure is inserted into the first container and remain engaged while the vacuum is being created in the first container.

30. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the item comprises one selected from a group consisting of a beverage, wine, cooking oil, beer, and spirits.

31. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the substance is packaged in a sachet within the second container, and further wherein the removable closure includes a top portion removably coupled to the second container for use in replacing the sachet.

21. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 21 wherein the indication indicates, based on the pressure values, that the removable closure is not properly engaged with the first container.

32. A preservation apparatus comprising:

a removable closure adapted to fit together in sealed relationship with a first container for containing an item, the removable closure comprising a second container to contain a substance operable to collect a type of molecule contained within the first container and render them harmless to the item, wherein the second container comprises a material that allows molecules of the type to pass through to at least a portion of the second container and chemically react with the substance while preventing the item from entering the interior of the second container; and

a removable cap adapted to cover a portion of the removable closure including the second container, in order prevent the second container from being exposed to molecules of the type outside the cap.

33. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 32 wherein the material comprises porous plastic or Tyvek.

34. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 32 wherein the substance collects oxygen molecules and absorbs at least one other type of molecule.

35. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 32 wherein a vacuum within a first portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure increases as more of the oxygen molecules are rendered harmless.

36. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 32 wherein the second container is operable to be removably coupled to another portion of the removable closure.

37. The preservation apparatus defined in claim 32 further comprising an indicator to indicate information regarding a state of the portion of the first container sealed by the removable closure.

38. A method for using a preservation apparatus comprising:

removing a cap adapted to cover a portion of a removable closure that includes a first container that contains a substance operable to collect a type of molecule contained within a second container and render them harmless to the item; and

inserting the removable closure into the second container to cause molecules of the type to chemically react with the substance to collect the molecules to render the molecules of the type harmless to an item in the second container.

39. The method defined in claim 38 further comprising allowing molecules of the type to pass through to at least a portion of the first container and chemically react with the substance while preventing the item from entering the interior of the first container.

40. The method defined in claim 38 further comprising using an indicator to indicate information regarding a state of the portion of the second container sealed by the removable closure.