System and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids

摘要

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) products.

主权项

1. A system for storing and selectively dispensing at least one portion of a liquid volume, comprising:
a hermetically sealed compressible container comprising an interior region of a predetermined volume magnitude substantially filled with the liquid volume disposed therein, and further comprising a hermetically sealed interface component operable to receive a hermetically sealed connection therewith while maintaining the hermetically sealed state of said compressible container; a hollow pressurized container, comprising:
a hollow housing portion having an hermetically sealable opening and a pressure sealed housing interface operable to receive a hermetic connection therewith; anda lid portion operable to releasably connect to said housing portion to form a hermetic seal with said sealable opening, wherein, said sealable opening is sized and configured to receive said sealed compressible container therethrough, and wherein said housing portion is sized and configured to store said sealed compressible container therein, such that when said sealed compressible container is disposed therein and said lid portion is connected to said housing portion, said hollow pressurized container is operable to maintain said compressible container therein in a pressurized environment; a dispensing system, connected to said compressible container hermetically sealed interface component through said pressurized container pressure sealed housing interface in a hermetically sealed manner forming a hermetic seal therewith, said dispensing system being operable to selectively lock and unlock while maintaining said hermetic seal when said dispensing system is locked; a regulated pressure system, connected to said pressurized container, operable to exert and maintain a sufficient pressure level in said pressurized environment that is sufficient to continually compress said compressible container to reduce said predetermined volume magnitude of said internal region to substantially match a magnitude of the liquid volume stored therein and to maintain said internal region volume reduction, and that is further sufficient to cause at least one portion of the liquid volume to be expelled through said compressible container hermetically sealed interface component and through said dispensing system in a form of a liquid pour, when, and for as long as, said dispensing system has been unlocked; and control system operable to selectively unlock and lock said dispensing system.