AUTOMATIC WINE STIRRER AND METHOD FOR AERATING WINE

• US 20150329809A1
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mario Cifaldi
• Original Assignee: Mario Cifaldi
• Inventors: Cifaldi, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 10,160,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An automatic wine stirrer adapted for aerating wine contained in an open vessel, said 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

means for electronically controlling intermittent rotation of said fan assembly such that said rotatable hub substantially stops and starts at predetermined intervals, whereby;

(I) when said rotatable hub is substantially stopped, said magnet attracts and holds a ferromagnetic stir bar located inside the wine vessel, and

(ii) when said rotatable hub starts, said magnet rotates relative to said housing thereby rotating the stir bar and substantially swirling the wine contained in the wine vessel.

2. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a non-magnetic top wall

3. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 2, wherein the top wall of said housing is constructed of a plastic material.

4. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 1, and comprising a printed circuit board electronically connected to said fan assembly, and residing adjacent a bottom wall of said housing.

5. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 4, and comprising at least one rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor of said fan assembly.

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

7. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 6, wherein said fan assembly utilizes pulse-width modulation for controlling intermittent rotation between substantially stopped and start conditions.

8. An automatic wine stirrer according to claim 1, and comprising a plurality of electrical terminals extending through said housing and exposed on opposing top and bottom sides of said housing, such that respective electrical terminals of multiple wine stirrers align and engage when stacked, thereby placing the stacked wine stirrers in electrical communication with each other.

9. 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

means for electronically controlling intermittent rotation of said fan assembly such that said rotatable hub substantially stops and starts at predetermined intervals, whereby;

(I) when said rotatable hub is substantially stopped, said magnet attracts and holds said stir bar located inside said wine vessel, and

(ii) when said rotatable hub starts, said magnet rotates relative to said housing thereby rotating said stir bar and substantially swirling the wine contained in said wine vessel.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein said housing comprises a non-magnetic top wall.

11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the top wall of said housing is constructed of a plastic material.

12. A combination according to claim 9, and comprising a printed circuit board electronically connected to said fan assembly, and residing adjacent a bottom wall of said housing.

13. A combination according to claim 12, and comprising at least one rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor of said fan assembly.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein said fan assembly comprises a multiple pin connector electronically interconnecting said electric motor and printed circuit board

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein said fan assembly utilizes pulse-width modulation for controlling intermittent rotation between substantially stopped and start conditions.

16. A combination according to claim 9, wherein said fan assembly comprises a square-framed plastic case.

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

18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein said stir bar comprises a synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymer coating.

19. A combination according to claim 9, and comprising a plurality of electrical terminals extending through said housing and exposed on opposing top and bottom sides of said housing, such that respective electrical terminals of multiple wine stirrers align and engage when stacked, thereby placing the stacked wine stirrers in electrical communication with each other.

20. A method for aerating wine contained in an open wine vessel, said method comprising:

placing the wine vessel on an automatic wine stirrer; and

intermittently rotating a stir bar contained in the wine vessel, such that the stir bar moves at predetermined intervals between a substantially stopped condition and a rotating condition.