Method and apparatus for beverage extraction needle guiding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9061877-B2
Application number	US-201414478302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2014
Priority date	Oct 9, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2015
Grant date	Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

Devices and methods for guiding a needle in movement through a bottle closure, such as a cork, to extract fluids from the bottle without removal of the cork. A needle may be attached to a device body by a needle base, which includes a surface arranged to engage with a needle guide to guide movement of the needle base and needle relative to the guide. A needle guide may also provide a shield for the needle tip and/or a needle opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage extraction device, comprising:
a base for supporting components of the beverage extraction device;
a needle having at least one lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the needle being movably mounted to the base between a withdrawn position and an inserted position to insert the needle through a closure at an opening of a beverage container, the needle having an opening near a distal end of the needle; and
a needle guide attached to the base and having a through hole arranged to receive and guide the needle in movement relative to the base, wherein the through hole includes a flared portion arranged so the through hole is wider at a lower end than at an upper end of the through hole, the lower end being further from the proximal end of the needle than the upper end;
wherein the needle opening is positioned in the through hole with the needle in the withdrawn position, and wherein with the needle in the withdrawn position, the flared portion of the through hole is shaped to direct any liquid expelled from the needle opening in a direction away from the proximal end of the needle.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the through hole is arranged to closely fit around the needle and support the needle.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a size and shape of the through hole at the upper end closely approximates the needle.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle guide includes a conically shaped hole, and wherein the needle includes a needle base with a conically shaped member arranged to fit into the conically shaped hole.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle guide includes a protrusion, and wherein the needle includes a needle base with a hole arranged to receive and engage with the protrusion.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the protrusion includes a conically shaped member with a size and shape that is complementary to the hole of the needle base.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle guide is fixed relative to the base.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a gas source fluidly coupled to the needle and arranged to deliver pressurized gas to the at least one lumen at the proximal end of the needle.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the gas source includes a compressed gas cylinder.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle is attached to a rail, and the base includes a channel arranged to receive and guide movement of the rail relative to the base.

11. The device of claim 10 , comprising a body that includes the rail, and the needle is attached to the body.

12. The device of claim 1 , comprising a body that is movable relative to the base, and wherein the needle is threadedly engaged with the body such that the needle is removable from the body.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle is arranged for insertion through a cork of a wine bottle and for delivery of a gas into the wine bottle.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle is arranged for insertion through a cork of a wine bottle and for delivery of wine from the bottle.

Assignees

• Coravin Inc

Inventors

• Lazaris Nicholas G
• Deruntz Otto
• Rider Mike

Classifications

• B67D2001/0092

  Containers for gas, for, e.g. CO2, N2 · CPC title

• B67D1/0809

  Opening means, e.g. means for assisting the opening · CPC title

• B67D1/0004

  the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl · CPC title

• B67D1/0412 Primary

  the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container · CPC title

• B67D1/0418 Primary

  comprising a CO2 cartridge for dispensing and carbonating the beverage · CPC title