초록 ▼

An improved wine bottle closure and vacuum pump apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus provides an improved bulb structure to be used for pumping and storage purposes, the bulb remaining with a closure plug even after pumping is completed and the wine is to be stored for later consumption. The bulb s

An improved wine bottle closure and vacuum pump apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus provides an improved bulb structure to be used for pumping and storage purposes, the bulb remaining with a closure plug even after pumping is completed and the wine is to be stored for later consumption. The bulb structure can be collapsed in two different positions including a first position that maintains overall height of the bulb structure and a second position that enables the bulb structure to be shortened in height as an optional feature. The bulb structure provides an enlarged central section that is much larger in diameter than the lower end portion. The lower end portion provides a closure plug for fitting the opening of a wine bottle.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A wine bottle closure apparatus that evacuates air from a wine bottle having a neck and bottle top with a bottle opening that communicates with a bottle interior, comprising: a) a hollow bulb structure that has a bulb interior, an enlarged diameter center section, oppos

The invention claimed is: 1. A wine bottle closure apparatus that evacuates air from a wine bottle having a neck and bottle top with a bottle opening that communicates with a bottle interior, comprising: a) a hollow bulb structure that has a bulb interior, an enlarged diameter center section, opposed upper and lower smaller diameter sections, and tapered sections that extend from each of the upper and lower smaller diameter sections to the larger diameter section, the bulb structure having an inflated position with an overall maximum bulb height and two different collapsed bulb positions including a first collapsed bulb position that does not substantially alter the bulb height and a second collapsed bulb position that shortens the bulb height to a minimum bulb height, and wherein in the second collapsed position a part of the bulb enlarged diameter center section is folded downwardly and wherein there is no fold in between the center section and the upper smaller diameter section; b) a bottle closure plug that is sized and shaped to form a seal with the plug attaching to the lower section of the bulb, the closure plug having a bottom surface, an open ended air flow channel that communicates with the bulb interior, an upper opening and a lower opening at respective end portions of the channel; c) a first check valve mounted to an assembly of bulb structure and closure plug at a position that is next to the bulb structure lower section, the first check valve enabling air flow in an upward direction from the plug air passage to the bulb interior and disallowing substantial air flow in a downward direction from the bulb interior to the plug lower opening; d) a second check valve mounted to the bulb structure at a position next to the upper smaller diameter section; e) a bulb flow outlet carried by upper smaller diameter section; f) wherein the second check valve enables flow between the bulb interior and the bulb flow outlet; g) the bulb structure being a resilient structure having a memory so that when the bulb is squeezed, air is evacuated from the bulb interior via the bulb flow outlet and the bulb assumes the first collapsed positions that maintains maximum bulb height, subjecting the bulb interior to subatmospheric pressure; and h) wherein in the second collapsed bulb position, part of the larger diameter section of the bulb extends below the bottle top and to the level of the bottom surface of the closure plug. 2. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower smaller diameter sections are about the same diameter. 3. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bulb structure has a bulb height and can be collapsed to a position that shortens the bulb height. 4. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug is generally cylindrically shaped having a central longitudinal axis, said air flow channel being generally aligned with said longitudinal axis. 5. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug. 6. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug. 7. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bulb structure includes a flexible side wall. 8. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 7 wherein in the second collapsed position, the flexible side wall folds to provide a circumferentially extending fold that surrounds the closure plug and shortens bulb height. 9. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wine bottle having a body, a tapered neck and a bottle opening at the top of the neck, wherein the closure plug occupies the bottle opening during use. 10. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 9 wherein the check valve occupies a position in the bottle opening. 11. A wine bottle closure apparatus that evacuates air from a wine bottle having a neck and bottle top with a bottle opening that communicates with a bottle interior, comprising: a) a hollow bulb structure that has a bulb interior, an enlarged diameter center section, opposed upper and lower smaller diameter sections, and tapered sections that extend from each of the upper and lower smaller diameter sections to the larger diameter section, the bulb structure having an inflated position with an overall maximum bulb height and two different collapsed bulb positions including a first collapsed bulb position that maintains the maximum bulb height and a second a collapsed bulb position that shortens the bulb height to a minimum bulb height, and wherein in the second collapsed bulb position a part of the bulb enlarged diameter center section is folded to form only a single fold, the single fold being lowered; b) a bottle closure plug that is sized and shaped to form a seal with the plug attaching to the lower section of the bulb, the closure plug having a bottom surface, an open ended air flow channel that communicates with the bulb interior, an upper opening and a lower opening at respective end portions of the channel; c) a first check valve mounted to an assembly of bulb structure and closure plug at a position that is next to the bulb structure lower section, the first check valve enabling air flow in an upward direction from the plug air passage to the bulb interior and disallowing substantial air flow in a downward direction from the bulb interior to the plug lower opening; d) a second check valve mounted to the bulb structure at a position next to the upper smaller diameter section; e) a bulb flow outlet carried by upper smaller diameter section; f) wherein the second check valve enables flow between the bulb interior and the bulb flow outlet; g) the bulb structure being a resilient structure having a memory so that when the bulb is squeezed, air is evacuated from the bulb interior via the bulb flow outlet collapsing the bulb to the first collapsed position that subjects the bulb interior to a vacuum and wherein the collapsed position can be selected to either shorten the bulb's height or maintain the bulb's maximum bulb height; and h) wherein in the second collapsed position, formed fold of the enlarged diameter center section is lowered to the level of the plug bottom surface. 12. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 wherein the upper and lower smaller diameter sections are about the same diameter. 13. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 wherein in the second collapsed position the bulb structure center section folds downwardly at a fold to shorten bulb height and wherein the center section surrounds the bottle top at the fold. 14. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plug is generally cylindrically shaped having a central longitudinal axis, said air flow channel being generally aligned with said longitudinal axis. 15. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug. 16. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug. 17. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 wherein the bulb structure includes a flexible side wall. 18. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 17 wherein in the second collapsed position, the flexible side wall can be folded to provide an annular fold that surrounds the closure plug and shortens bulb height. 19. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a wine bottle having a body, a tapered neck and a bottle opening at the top of the neck, wherein the closure plug occupies the bottle opening during use. 20. The wine bottle closure apparatus of claim 19 wherein the check valve occupies a position in the bottle opening. 21. A wine bottle closure apparatus that evacuates air from a wine bottle having a neck and bottle top with a bottle opening that communicates with a bottle interior, comprising: a) a hollow bulb structure that has a bulb interior, an enlarged diameter center section, opposed upper and lower smaller diameter sections, and tapered sections that extend from each of the upper and lower smaller diameter sections to the larger diameter section, the bulb structure having an inflated position with an overall maximum bulb height and multiple collapsed bulb positions; b) the bulb structure lower section including a bottle closure plug that is sized and shaped to form a seal with the bottle opening, said closure plug having a bottom surface, an air flow channel for communicating between the bulb interior and the wine bottle interior, the channel providing apposed openings; c) a first check valve mounted to an assembly of bulb structure and closure plug at a position that is next to the bulb structure lower section, the first check valve enabling air flow in an upward direction from the plug air passage to the bulb interior and disallowing substantial air flow in a downward direction from the bulb interior to the plug lower opening; d) a second check valve mounted to the bulb structure at a position next to the upper smaller diameter section; e) a bulb flow outlet carried by upper smaller diameter section; f) wherein the second check valve enables flow between the bulb interior and the bulb flow outlet; g) the bulb structure being a resilient structure having a memory so that when the bulb is squeezed, air is evacuated from the bulb interior via the bulb flow outlet and the bulb has a collapsed position that subjects the bulb interior to subatmospheric pressure; and h) wherein the collapsed position can be selected from a first collapsed bulb position that maintains the maximum bulb height and a second collapsed bulb position that reduces bulb height and wherein the enlarged diameter center section folds to produce a folded portion about halfway between the opposed upper and lower smaller diameter sections that is lowered to the plug bottom surface.