초록 ▼

An enclosure apparatus for enclosing a pressurized container within a non-defeatable safety structure, and for pressurizing the container with pressurized carbon dioxide gas to preserve and recarbonate beverages within the container. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a rigid body tha

An enclosure apparatus for enclosing a pressurized container within a non-defeatable safety structure, and for pressurizing the container with pressurized carbon dioxide gas to preserve and recarbonate beverages within the container. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a rigid body that receives a previously opened container having a beverage therein. A top member is releasably connected to an upper portion of the rigid body, and the top member includes an alignment guide that coaxially aligns the top of the container with the top member. An aperture extends through the top member and communicates with the opening of the container and a seal around the aperture is positioned to engage the top portion of the container and to form a gas-tight seal. A valve, which is connectable to a high-pressure carbon dioxide gas source, is located within the aperture and allows pressurized carbon dioxide gas to pass into the container so as to pressurize the container to a selected pressure. A bottom member having an integral alignment guide is attached to the lower portion of the rigid body and is adapted to support and align the bottom portion of the container within the rigid body. The bottom member includes a quick release mechanism that engages the rigid body and allows the bottom portion to be quickly and easily removed from the rigid body, thereby allowing the container to be easily removed from the enclosure apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

A safety enclosure and carbonation apparatus for containing and pressurizing with pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a gas source a container having a beverage therein and having an opening, comprising: a rigid body having sidewalls that define an interior cavity that removably receives and contain

A safety enclosure and carbonation apparatus for containing and pressurizing with pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a gas source a container having a beverage therein and having an opening, comprising: a rigid body having sidewalls that define an interior cavity that removably receives and contains the container therein, said rigid body having upper and lower portions that define top and bottom portions of said interior cavity; a top member connected to said upper portion of said rigid body and covering said top portion of said interior cavity, said top member having an aperture therein and a seal around said aperture, said aperture being positioned to communicate with the opening of the container, an inner portion of said top member being shaped to extend into the opening of the container and terminate at a position substantially adjacent to the opening of the container so said top member extending into the opening is out of engagement with the beverage, said aperture extending through said inner portion of said top member, and said seal being positioned to sealably engage the container around the opening to form a gas-tight seal therebetween; a valve attached to said top member and positioned to communicate with said aperture, said valve being connectable to the gas source to allow the pressurized carbon dioxide gas to pass through said aperture into the container at the opening to pressurize the container and the beverage; a bottom member attached to said lower portion of said rigid body and covering said bottom portion of said interior cavity, said rigid body, said bottom member, and said top member being interconnected to enclose the container within the interior cavity, thereby providing a safety enclosure around the container when the container is pressurized with the carbon dioxide gas; and a pressure relief device that communicates with said interior cavity, said pressure relief device being positioned to maintain a pressure within the interior cavity at atmospheric pressure when the container is in said interior cavity. A method of preserving and re-carbonating a carbonated beverage contained in a previously opened container having a top portion with an opening therein and a bottom portion, comprising the steps of: placing the previously opened container that is partially filled with the carbonated beverage in a rigid safety enclosure having an upper portion with a first aperture therein, the top portion of the container being adjacent to the first aperture; securing a top member onto the upper portion of the rigid safety enclosure over the first aperture with the top member being out of engagement with the beverage, the top member having a second aperture therein that communicates with the opening of the container and the top member having a seal around the second aperture that sealably engages the top portion of the container around the opening and forms a gas-tight seal therebetween, the second aperture having a valve therein; and adding pressurized carbon dioxide gas into the container through the valve and above the beverage until the container is pressurized to a selected elevated pressure above atmospheric pressure with said rigid body being at atmospheric pressure, the pressurized carbon dioxide gas being contained within the container so as to interact with the beverage to preserve and re-carbonate the beverage.