Vacuum bottle stopper for wine and method

摘要

A stopper for wine, a method of preserving wine, and a method of serving wine from a bottle stored in a vacuum are disclosed. The stopper has a vacuum valve in a vacuum indicator in a removable cap. The vacuum valve has a self-closing passageway due to the passageway traversing an elastomeric material. The vacuum indicator moves in response to vacuum and reveals a marking on a valve opener when a desired vacuum is achieved. The stopper may have a filter, which also aerates. The method of preserving wine includes installing the stopper in the neck of the bottle and withdrawing air from the bottle through the stopper. The method of serving wine includes releasing vacuum from the bottle by unseating the removable cap, removing the cap and pouring wine through the stopper. Pumps for the stopper are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A bottle stopper for maintaining a vacuum inside a wine bottle, comprising:
a bottle stopper having a body composed of a neck portion for insertion into the neck of a wine bottle, the neck portion configured for liquid sealing the neck of the bottle and for maintaining a vacuum inside the bottle, an upper portion extending above the neck portion, and a fluid passageway for pouring wine from the bottle through the neck portion and the upper portion, a removable cap comprising a vacuum valve having a self-closing valve passageway that extends to the fluid passageway, the valve passageway adapted to be opened by mechanical insertion of a valve opener into the passageway and the cap adapted to be inserted into the upper portion of the stopper body to form a closed position to form a vacuum-maintaining seal and to close the stopper.