Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for retarding oxidation of a wine or other liquid that only partly fills a container formed with an opening through which said liquid can be poured, said apparatus comprising: non-sealing cap means mountable adjacent to said opening; inflation tube mean insertable through said non-sealing cap means; air bladder means connected to said inflation tube means and postionable within said container; pump means connected to said inflation tube means and positionable outside said container; valve means connected to said pump means and said inflation tube means; and exhaust tube means insertable through said non-sealing cap means and having an inlet portion positionable within said container and an outlet portion positionable outside said container; whereby, when said non-sealing cap means is mounted adjacent to said opening, said bladder means and said inlet portion of said exhaust tube means are positioned within said container, said pump means and said outlet portion of said exhaust tube means are outside said container, and said pump means is activated, said bladder means expands within and forms a seal with said container and expels air from said container through said non-sealing cap means both through and exterior to said exhaust tube means, so that oxygen is substantially prevented from coming into contact with said liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
Apparatus for retarding oxidation of a wine or other liquid that only partly fills a container formed with an opening through which said liquid can be poured, said apparatus comprising: non-sealing cap means mountable adjacent to said opening; inflation tube mean insertable through said non-sealing cap means; air bladder means connected to said inflation tube means and postionable within said container; pump means connected to said inflation tube means and positionable outside said container; valve means connected to said pump means and said inflation tube means; and exhaust tube means insertable through said non-sealing cap means and having an inlet portion positionable within said container and an outlet portion positionable outside said container; whereby, when said non-sealing cap means is mounted adjacent to said opening, said bladder means and said inlet portion of said exhaust tube means are positioned within said container, said pump means and said outlet portion of said exhaust tube means are outside said container, and said pump means is activated, said bladder means expands within and forms a seal with said container and expels air from said container through said non-sealing cap means both through and exterior to said exhaust tube means, so that oxygen is substantially prevented from coming into contact with said liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bladder means comprises an elastomeric balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet portion of said exhaust tube means is flexible and displaced laterally by said bladder means as said bladder means expands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a squeeze bulb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said valve means comprises a check valve connected to said squeeze bulb, whereby said bladder means can be inflated by manually squeezing said squeeze bulb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a stopcock separate from said check valve connected to said inflation tube means for maintaining said bladder means in an inflated condition after said bladder means is inflated.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of retarding oxidation of a wine or other liquid that only partly fills a container formed with an opening through which said liquid can be poured, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a non-sealing cap adjacent to said opening; positioning an air bladder within said container; inserting an exhaust tube through said non-sealing cap into said container beside said bladder; inflating said bladder so that it expands within and forms a seal with said container, said exhaust tube extending below said seal and exhausting air from a position within said container below said seal to facilitate downward expansion of said bladder, and said non-sealing cap being above said seal and exhausting air from a position within said container above said seal to facilitate upward expansion of said bladder; and then withdrawing said exhaust tube to a position above said seal in order to provide closer contact of said bladder with said container and improve said seal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of retarding oxidation of a wine or other liquid that only partly fills a container formed with an opening through which said liquid can be poured, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a non-sealing cap adjacent to said opening; positioning an air bladder within said container; inserting an exhaust tube through said non-sealing cap into said container beside said bladder; inflating said bladder so that it expands within and forms a seal with said container, said exhaust tube extending below said seal and exhausting air from a position within said container below said seal to facilitate downward expansion of said bladder, and said non-sealing cap being above said seal and exhausting air from a position within said container above said seal to facilitate upward expansion of said bladder; and then withdrawing said exhaust tube to a position above said seal in order to provide closer contact of said bladder with said container and improve said seal.