Wine distribution method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A closed conduit system for distributing wine from a winery in a first location to consumers in locations remote from said first location, including a first storage container at said winery, a mobile container mounted on a vehicle, a first air-tight conduit connectable between said first storage container and said mobile container, a second storage container at an intermediate location remote from said first location, a second air-tight conduit connectable between said mobile container and said second storage container, a relatively smaller portable container, a third air-tight conduit connectable between said second storage container and said smaller portable container, nitrogen injection means operatively associated with each of said first, second and third air-tight conduits to fill them with nitrogen to displace other fluid materials and expel such other fluid materials from said conduits, and fluid outlet means operatively associated with said conduits to permit said other fluid materials to escape as said conduits become filled with said nitrogen, including a filling machine, said filling machine including a wine distribution tube, a nitrogen distribution tube, said third air-tight conduit being connected between said second storage container and said wine distribution tube, a source of pressurized nitrogen connected to said nitrogen distribution tube, a plurality of wine outlet ports in said wine distribution tube in spaced apart location thereof, a plurality of nitrogen outlet ports in said nitrogen distribution tube in corresponding spaced apart locations thereof, said smaller portable container including a wine port opening to its interior and a nitrogen port opening to its interior, a first filler conduit connectable between one of said wine outlet ports of said wine distribution tube and said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second filler conduit connectable between one of said nitrogen outlet ports of said nitrogen distribution tube and said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, including a first coupling member connected to said first filler conduit for coupling to said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second coupling member connected to said second filler conduit for coupling to said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wine distribution method from winery to retail customer in which the wine is completely enclosed or sealed throughout until it is finally dispensed into a glass or carafe for customers in a restaurant or lounge or other retail establishment. The wine originates in a winery where it is stored in closed containers until it has been properly aged. It is then pumped through a sealed conduit from the winery vats into the closed tank of a tanker truck for shipment to a wholesale distributor. In accordance with this invention the wholesale distributor pumps the wine from the tank of the tanker truck through lines which are closed to air into large holding tanks which are also closed to the atmosphere. When delivered to retail establishments, the wine is pumped from the holding tanks through a closed or air-tight system which includes a filtering device, into a filling machine which in turn flows the wine through its tubes into smaller canisters connected thereto, the canisters also being closed to the air and having outlet nozzles for air-tight connection at the retail establishment to a pressurized nitrogen tank and to a dispensing conduit which leads to a tap or faucet where the wine is ultimately poured into a glass or carafe from the canister under pressure from the nitrogen tank.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A closed conduit system for distributing wine from a winery in a first location to consumers in locations remote from said first location, including a first storage container at said winery, a mobile container mounted on a vehicle, a first air-tight conduit connectable between said first storage container and said mobile container, a second storage container at an intermediate location remote from said first location, a second air-tight conduit connectable between said mobile container and said second storage container, a relatively smaller portable container, a third air-tight conduit connectable between said second storage container and said smaller portable container, nitrogen injection means operatively associated with each of said first, second and third air-tight conduits to fill them with nitrogen to displace other fluid materials and expel such other fluid materials from said conduits, and fluid outlet means operatively associated with said conduits to permit said other fluid materials to escape as said conduits become filled with said nitrogen, including a filling machine, said filling machine including a wine distribution tube, a nitrogen distribution tube, said third air-tight conduit being connected between said second storage container and said wine distribution tube, a source of pressurized nitrogen connected to said nitrogen distribution tube, a plurality of wine outlet ports in said wine distribution tube in spaced apart location thereof, a plurality of nitrogen outlet ports in said nitrogen distribution tube in corresponding spaced apart locations thereof, said smaller portable container including a wine port opening to its interior and a nitrogen port opening to its interior, a first filler conduit connectable between one of said wine outlet ports of said wine distribution tube and said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second filler conduit connectable between one of said nitrogen outlet ports of said nitrogen distribution tube and said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, including a first coupling member connected to said first filler conduit for coupling to said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second coupling member connected to said second filler conduit for coupling to said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container.
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2. A closed conduit system for distributing wine from a winery in a first location to consumers in locations remote from said first location, including a first storage container at said winery, a mobile container mounted on a vehicle, a first air-tight conduit connectable between said first storage container and said mobile container, a second storage container at an intermediate location remote from said first location, a second air-tight conduit connectable between said mobile container and said second storage container, a relatively smaller portable container, a third air-tight conduit connectable between said second storage container and said smaller portable container, nitrogen injection means operatively associated with each of said first, second and third air-tight conduits to fil them with nitrogen to displace other fluid materials and expel such other fluid materials from said conduits, and fluid outlet means operatively associated with said conduits to permit said other fluid materials to escape as said conduits become filled with said nitrogen, including a filling machine, said filling machine including a wine distribution tube, a nitrogen distribution tube, said third air-tight conduit being connected between said second storage container and said wine distribution tube, a source of pressurized nitrogen connected to said nitrogen distribution tube, a plurality of wine outlet ports in said wine distribution tube in spaced apart location thereof, a plurality of nitrogen outlet ports in said nitrogen distribution tube in corresponding spaced apart locations thereof, said smaller portable container including a wine port opening to its interior and a nitrogen port opening to its interior, a first filler conduit connectable between one of said wine outlet ports of said wine distribution tube and said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second filler conduit connectable between one of said nitrogen outlet ports of said nitrogen distribution tube and said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, including a first coupling member connected to said first filler conduit for coupling to said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second coupling member connected to said second filer conduit for coupling to said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, wherein said first coupling member includes a cylindrical chamber open at one end to said first filer conduit and having a reduced diameter opening at its other end, said wine port of said smaller portable container includes a cylindrical chamber open at one end to the interior thereof and having a reduced diameter opening at its other end, first valve means to open and close said reduced diameter opening of said cylindrical chamber of said first coupling member, second valve means to open and close said reduced diameter opening of said cylindrical chamber of said smaller portable container, said first and second valve means having respective portions thereof projecting outwardly of said reduced diameter opening when they are seated to close said openings, said first and second valve means being biased to normally close said openings, said projecting portions of said first and second valve means moving each away from said openings when said first coupling member is brought into coupling and abutting relationship with said wine port with their respective reduced diameter openings in registration with each other, and lock means to lock said coupling member in coupling relationship with said wine port.
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3. A closed conduit system for distributing wine from a winery in a first location to consumers in locations remote from said first location, including a first storage container at said winery, a mobile container mounted on a vehicle, a first air-tight conduit connectable between said first storage container and said mobile container, a second storage container at an intermediate location remote from said first location, a second air-tight conduit connectable between said mobile container and said second storage container, a relatively smaller portable container, a third air-tight conduit connectable between said second storage container and said smaller portable container, nitrogen injection means operatively associated with each of said first, second and third air-tight conduits to fill them with nitrogen to displace other fluid materials and expel such other fluid materials from said conduits, and fluid outlet means operatively associated with said conduits to permmit said other fluid materials to escape as said conduits become filed with said nitrogen, including a filling machine, said filling machine including a wine distribution tube, a nitrogen distribution tube, said third air-tight conduit being connected between said second storage container and said wine distribution tube, a source of pressurized nitrogen connected to said nitrogen distribution tube, a plurality of wine outlet ports in said wine distribution tube in spaced apart location thereof, a plurality of nitrogen outlet ports in said nitrogen distribution tube in corresponding spaced apart locations thereof, said smaller portable container including a wine port opening to its interior and a nitrogen port opening to its interior, a first filler conduit connectable between one of said wine outlet ports of said wine distribution tube and said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second filler conduit connectable between one of said nitrogen outlet ports of said nitrogen distribution tube and said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, including a first coupling member connected to said first filler conduit for coupling to said wine port of said smaller portable container, and a second coupling member connected to said second filer conduit for coupling to said nitrogen port of said smaller portable container, wherein said first coupling member includes a cylindrical chamber open at one end to said first filer conduit and having a reduced diameter opening at its other end, said wine port of said smaller portable container includes a cylindrical chamber open at one end to the interior thereof and having a reduced diameter opening at its other end, first valve means to open and close said reduced diameter opening of said cylindrical chamber of said first coupling member, second valve means to open and close said reduced diameter opening of said cylindrical chamber of said smaller poortable container, said first and second valve means having respective portions thereof projecting outwardly of said reduced diameter opening when they are seated to close said openings, said first and second valve means being biased to normally close said openings, said projecting portions of said first and second valve means moving each away from said openings when said first coupling member is brought into coupling and abutting relationship with said wine port with their respective reduced diameter openings in registration with each other, and lock means to lock said coupling member in coupling relationship with said wine port, wherein said lock means to lock said coupling member in coupling relationship with said wine port includes an annular locking collar slidingly mounted on said coupling member for reciprocal movement between a locking and unlocking position, said wine port includes an O-ring around the outer wall of said cylindrical chamber, said annular locking collar includes an annular recess opening to its inner wall, said annular recess of said locking collar being in registration with said O-ring of said wine port when said annular locking collar is moved to said locking position whereupon said O-ring seats in said annular recess of said locking collar to hold it and said coupling member in coupled relationship with said wine port.
Specification