Household appraratus for storing bottles,notably bottles of wine that have been opened and/or partially consumed

Abstract

This household apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a vacuum draught head ( 60, 62 ) for each bottle ( 2, 3 ), each head delimiting a suction passageway suitable for being connected to a vacuum source ( 6 ). In order to make the use of this apparatus extremely easy and fast, while obtaining a storage via the vacuum that is of good quality and stable over time, means ( 110 ) for moving each head mechanically guide the head relative to a frame ( 10 ) of the apparatus and press each head in sealed contact against the neck ( 4, 5 ) of the bottle so that its suction passageway emerges in the neck when the bottle occupies a predetermined position that is fixed relative to the frame.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A household appliance for storing at least one bottle containing a beverage and having a neck that is open, such as a bottle of wine that has been uncorked and/or consumed in part, the appliance comprising:
 a vacuum source,   at least one suction head for evacuating the bottle, said head defining a suction passage connected to the vacuum source,   a case supporting the at least one suction head in movable manner, and   means for moving the at least one suction head, adapted to guide the at least one suction head mechanically relative to the case and to press the at least one suction head to bear in leaktight manner against the neck of the bottle so that its suction passage opens out into the neck when the bottle occupies a predetermined stationary position relative to the case.   
   
   
       17 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one suction head is provided at its end facing towards the bottle in its predetermined position, with a frustoconical surface adapted to center the at least one suction head and the bottle relative to each other when the at least one suction head is pressed against the neck of the bottle by the means for moving the at least one suction head. 
   
   
       18 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head comprise at least one slideway or a sheath for guiding the at least one suction head, permanently secured to the case. 
   
   
       19 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein, for the or each bottle that is to be conserved, the case defines a compartment for storing the bottle in its predetermined position and is fitted with a moving door giving access to said compartment, opening and closing movements of the door controlling movements or locking/unlocking of the position of a movable portion of the means for moving the at least one suction head. 
   
   
       20 . An appliance according to  claim 19 , wherein the appliance includes a Peltier element having its main body provided, on its cold side, with two fan units associated respectively with two compartments defined by the case and thermally isolated from each other. 
   
   
       21 . An appliance according to  claim 19 , wherein the appliance includes a double Peltier element having two main bodies that are provided on their respective cold sides with respective fan units that are associated respectively with two compartments defined by the case and separated from each other by a thermally conductive partition. 
   
   
       22 . An appliance according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head comprise mechanical means for transmitting movement between the corresponding door and the at least one suction head, adapted firstly to drive the head so as to be pressed against the neck of the bottle in its predetermined position when the door is moved to close access to the corresponding compartment, and secondly to drive the at least one suction head in the opposite direction when the door is moved to open said access. 
   
   
       23 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head comprise firstly a stationary portion secured to the case and connected to the vacuum source, and secondly a movable portion for driving the at least one suction head, being mounted movably in the stationary portion and actuated by the vacuum delivered by the vacuum source. 
   
   
       24 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head include resilient means interposed directly or indirectly between the case and the at least one suction head, said resilient means being adapted to be compressed when the bottle is moved relative to the case into its predetermined position, so that the resilient means apply a resilient compression force on the at least one suction head so as to drive it and press it against the neck of the bottle when said bottle occupies its predetermined position. 
   
   
       25 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head comprise a housing for housing the at least one suction head and suitable for being moved manually relative to the case so as to move the at least one suction head until it is pressed against the neck of the bottle in its predetermined position. 
   
   
       26 . An appliance according to  claim 25 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head further comprise resilient means interposed directly or indirectly between the case and the housing so as to be tensioned when the housing is driven to move the at least one suction head so as to be pressed against the neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       27 . An appliance according to  claim 25 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head further comprise means for locking the housing in a position in which the head is pressed against the neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       28 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the case defines a concave depression on which the bottle stands in its predetermined position, said depression presenting an axis of revolution that substantially coincides with the direction in which the at least one suction head is guided relative to the case, and presents a center of curvature situated in the region in which the at least one suction head moves. 
   
   
       29 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for moving the at least one suction head include an over-stroke spring adapted to accommodate the over-stroke of a movable portion of said means relative to the head when the head is pressed against the neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       30 . An appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one suction head includes a main body constrained to move with a movable portion of the means for moving the at least one suction head, and a base for bearing against the neck of the bottle, the base being assembled to the main body so as to be movable in the direction in which the at least one suction head is guided relative to the case, and wherein the suction passage includes two through orifices that are defined respectively by the main body and the bearing base and that are in fluid flow communication with a valve interposed therebetween, the valve being adapted both to open the suction passage when the main body and the bearing base are pressed in leaktight manner against each other, and to close said suction passage when the main body and the bearing base are spaced apart from each other in non-leaktight manner.