Wine bottle closure apparatus

Abstract

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.

1 . A wine bottle closure apparatus that evacuates air from a wine bottle having a neck 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 a height;    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 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; and    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.    
   
   
       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 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 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 a height;    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 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; and    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 a 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 height.    
   
   
       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 the bulb structure has a height and can be collapsed to a position that shortens bulb height.  
   
   
       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 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 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 a height;    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 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; and    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.    
   
   
       22 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the upper and lower smaller diameter sections are about the same diameter.  
   
   
       23 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the bulb structure has a height and can be collapsed to a position that shortens bulb height.  
   
   
       24 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the plug is generally cylindrically shaped having a central longitudinal axis, said air flow channel being generally aligned with said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       25 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug.  
   
   
       26 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the first check valve is contained in the closure plug.  
   
   
       27 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the bulb structure includes a flexible side wall.  
   
   
       28 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 27  wherein in the collapsed position, the flexible side wall can be folded to provide an annular fold that shortens bulb height.  
   
   
       29 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 21  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.  
   
   
       30 . The wine bottle closure apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the check valve occupies a position in the bottle opening.