Freshness prolonging smart beverage container

Abstract

The invention is a container for liquids, such as milk, juices and wines, which are subject to spoilage enhanced by contact with air. The container may be partially filled with liquid in a sub-chamber made anaerobic by a divider plate positioned on-the surface of the liquid and fitting sufficiently snugly within the container. The divider plate prevents contact between the beverage and air and thus reduces air-induced spoilage. Various embodiments provide springs and divider pullers to place the divider at the liquid surface, easy pouring and easy cleaning. A significant intended use is prolonging freshness of beverages in environments lacking refrigeration.

1 . A method for storing and transporting a variable amount of potable liquid, which: liquid is subject to oxygen-induced spoilage, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, at least the first chamber having a portion with a common cross-section so as to present a smoothly variable volume as a function of placement of a divider, dimensionally related to such cross-section of such first chamber, which divider effectively closes a liquid at its surface within such first chamber, to provide anaerobic characteristics to a first sub-chamber of such first chamber at a fill level for an enclosed volume of such potable liquid;   b) providing such a dimensionally-related divider;   c) placing a quantity of such potable liquid in said first sub-chamber of such container up to an unspecified fill level defined by the surface of such potable liquid;   d) placing such dimensionally-related divider in such first chamber at the surface of such liquid to provide anaerobic characteristics to such first sub-chamber, which may temporarily be referred to as “anaerobic sub-chamber;” and   e) allowing time for storage and transport of such liquid in such anaerobic sub-chamber;   whereby such liquid has reduced spoilage as a function of oxygen deprivation.   
   
   
       2 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-accelerated spoilage, according to  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises the function of locking such divider in place to maintain such potable liquid in said anaerobic sub-chamber. 
   
   
       3 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-accelerated spoilage, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 such stored liquid is milk.   
   
   
       4 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-accelerated spoilage, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 such stored liquid is a fruit/vegetable juice.   
   
   
       5 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-accelerated spoilage, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 such stored liquid is a wine.   
   
   
       6 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-induced spoilage, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, at least the first chamber having a cylindrical portion (of any cross-section, such as round or polygonal) so as to present a smoothly variable volume as a function of placement of a divider, dimensionally related to such cylindrical portion of such first chamber, which divider effectively closes a liquid at its surface within such cylinder, to provide anaerobic characteristics to such first chamber at a fill level for an enclosed liquid;   b) placing such liquid in such container up to an unspecified fill level defined by the top surface of such liquid;   c) placing a dimensionally-related divider in such first chamber at the surface of such liquid to provide anaerobic characteristics to such first chamber at such fill level, which may temporarily be referred to as “anaerobic sub-chamber;”   d) allowing time for storage and transport of such liquid in such anaerobic sub-chamber;   e) altering the volume of such liquid; and   f) repeating steps c and d;   
     whereby such liquid has spoilage reduced as a function of oxygen deprivation. 
   
   
       7 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-induced spoilage, according to  claim 6 , wherein step (c) additionally comprises the function of locking such divider in place to maintain such potable liquid in said anaerobic sub-chamber and said step (f) additionally comprises the function of unlocking said divider. 
   
   
       8 . A method for storing and transporting a variable amount of potable liquid, which liquid is subject to oxygen-induced spoilage, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, at least the first chamber having a portion with a common cross-section so as to present a smoothly variable volume as a function of placement of a divider, dimensionally related to such cross-section of such first chamber, which divider effectively closes a liquid at its surface within such first chamber, to provide anaerobic characteristics to a first sub-chamber of such first chamber at a fill level for an enclosed volume of such potable liquid;   b) providing such a dimensionally-related divider;   c) placing a quantity of such potable liquid in said first sub-chamber of such container up to an unspecified fill level defined by the surface of such potable liquid;   d) placing such dimensionally-related divider in such first chamber in a manner to provide at least partial air pressure support above the surface of such potable liquid, with selective slow leakage of air but not potable liquid remaining in such first sub-chamber to provide final anaerobic characteristics to such first sub-chamber, which may temporarily be referred to subsequently as “anaerobic sub-chamber;” and   e) allowing time for storage and transport of such potable liquid in such anaerobic sub-chamber;   whereby such potable liquid has reduced spoilage as a function of oxygen deprivation.   
   
   
       9 . A method for storing and transporting a liquid subject to oxygen-induced spoilage, according to  claim 8 , wherein in step (d) selective slow leakage of air involves a valve selectively sealed by flotation of such potable liquid but not sealed by flotation on air. 
   
   
       10 . A method for storing and transporting a beverage, characterized by the following steps:
 Step (a): providing an extended chamber with a sealed bottom and extended walls having a beverage chamber which is dividable into two vertically adjacent and variable-volume sub-chambers having a common closed-figure cross-section;   Step (b): filling a first portion of such extended chamber with fresh beverage, up to a beverage surface;   Step (c): providing a divider configured with such common closed-figure cross-section;   Step (d): emplacing such divider in said extended chamber at such beverage surface to confine a first volume of beverage in an airless first sub-chamber which may be identified as “anaerobic sub-chamber, ” and to provide a second sub-chamber which may be identified as “aerobic sub-chamber,” adjacent to said anaerobic sub-chamber;   whereby such confined beverage volume is subject to an enhanced spoilage-free storage and transport interval resulting from oxygen deprivation.   
   
   
       11 . A method for storing and transporting milk, according to  claim 10 , further characterized by:
 Step e) locking such divider in place prior to storage and transport.   
   
   
       12 . A container for retarding spoilage of a stored liquid, characterized by
 a) a chamber having a significant inner volume of a fixed cross-section, divisible into at least two adjacent sub-chambers, each having essentially the same cross-sectional configuration;   b) divider means, also having essentially the same cross-sectional configuration, for partitioning said chamber into at least a first anaerobic sub-chamber and at least a first aerobic sub-chamber;   c) divider positioning means, providing adjustment mechanism to said divider means so as to form a baffle between said first anaerobic sub-chamber and said first aerobic sub-chamber;   whereby a spoilable liquid may be temporarily stored in said first anaerobic sub-chamber, subjected to a limited-volume spoilage-retarding environment with reduced exposure to a spoilage-causing agent.   
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that:
 said adjacent sub-chambers together form a cylindrical chamber with a commonly dimensioned cross-section to accept movement of said divider means to enclose a spoilable fluid in an anaerobic sub-chamber separated by said divider from air in the adjacent anaerobic sub-chamber dimensioned in response to volume of such liquid.   
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that:
 said divider means comprises a cross-sectional divider plate subject to placement retaining contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber.   
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that:
 said divider means comprises a cross-sectional divider plate subject to placement retaining contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber, and also retaining contact with walls of such container.   
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 15 , further characterized in that:
 said divider means comprises a cross-sectional divider plate with peripheral wiper means, said divider means being subject to placement retaining contact with the surface of such liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber, and also retaining contact with walls of such container.   
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16 , further characterized in that:
 said divider means comprises wiping means selected from an  0 -ring, and a flat flexible peripheral wiping ring.   
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 15 , further characterized in that:
 such placement retaining contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber is surface-to-surface.   
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 18 , further characterized in that:
 such placement retaining contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber is surface-to-surface with said divider plate means being configured as a short cylinder, fitting within the longer cylinder of such container, to maintain a perpendicular attitude with respect to the vertical wall of such container.   
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that:
 said divider plate means comprises grasping means.   
   
   
       21 . A container according to  claim 20 , further characterized in that:
 said grasping means comprises one of a ring, a stub, or an internally-facing extension near the top of the short cylinder of said divider plate means.   
   
   
       22 . A container according to  claim 14 , further characterized in that:
 said placement retaining contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber is surface-to-surface with said divider plate being configured as a short three-dimensional item fitting closely slidable within the longer dimension of such container.   
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that:
 said divider means comprises a divider plate, cross-sectionally matched to such container interior, and further comprises urging means, to urge said divider plate into continuous contact with the surface of a liquid enclosed in such anaerobic sub-chamber.   
   
   
       24 . A container according to  claim 23 , further characterized in that:
 said urging means is at least one of an accordion spring, a coil spring, and a divider-puller.   
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 23 , further characterized in that:
 said urging means includes at least one pushrod,: and   said container comprises a top surface member equipped with a divider-puller control collar.   
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 25 , further characterized in that:
 said pushrod is equipped with an elbow means dimensioned to pass upward through said divider puller control collar and fold down for self-storage.   
   
   
       27 . A container according to  claim 26 , further characterized in that:
 said divider puller is equipped with adjustment means dimensioned to pass downward through said divider means for self-storage partially within said anaerobic sub-chamber.   
   
   
       28 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized by a pouring opening and a container lid movable to cover or uncover said pouring opening. 
   
   
       29 . A container according to  claim 12 , further characterized in that it is configured with a first cylinder portion, appropriate for cooperating with said divider means with limited range of motion to form an anaerobic sub-chamber with a divider means positionable manually at a range of positions, alternatively positionable to float on the surface of a liquid to form a semi-anaerobic sub-chamber, and alternatively positionable to allow pouring. 
   
   
       30 . The method of prolonging the freshness of a beverage comprising the following steps:
 (a) Providing a movable divider means in the beverage container such that for any given volume of beverage in the container, the divider means can be guided down to come in contact with the surface of the beverage;   (b) Providing a flexible or rigid sealing ring on the rim of the divider means so as to prevent the beverage and air from going from one side of the divider to the other;   (c) Pulling the divider means up so as to enable the beverage to pour out from an opening;   (d) Upon pouring out the desired amount of the beverage, sliding the divider means down so as to contact the surface of the beverage.   
   
   
       31 . The method of prolonging the freshness of a beverage according to  claim 30 , comprising the following additional step:
 (e) Providing urging means, such as a gentle spring, on the divider means so as to enable it, after a desired amount of beverage has been dispensed, to move automatically down to return into contact with the surface of the beverage.   
   
   
       32 . A method for storing and transporting beverages, characterized by the following steps:
 Step (a): providing a neck-extended chamber, with a sealed bottom and extended walls, which is dividable into two adjacent, variable-volume sub-chambers having a common cross-section;   Step (b): filling a first portion of such extended chamber with liquid, up to a liquid surface;   Step (c): providing a divider that is configurable selectively to a folded configuration of minimal cross-section to fit through such neck, and expandable to such common cross-section;   Step (d): emplacing such divider in said extended chamber at such liquid surface to confine a first volume of liquid in an airless first sub-chamber which may be identified as “anaerobic sub-chamber,” and to provide a second sub-chamber which may be identified as “aerobic sub-chamber,” adjacent to said anaerobic sub-chamber;   whereby such confined liquid volume is subject to an reduce spoilage-rate storage and longer transport interval resulting from air deprivation.   
   
   
       33 . A container for retarding spoilage of a stored liquid, characterized by:
 a) a chamber having a significant inner volume of a fixed cross-section, divisible into at least two adjacent sub-chambers, each having essentially the same cross-sectional configuration, and having a neck opening of a smaller cross-section that that of said sub-chambers;   b) divider means, also having essentially the same cross-sectional configuration, for partitioning said chamber into at least a first anaerobic sub-chamber and at least a first aerobic sub-chamber;   c) divider positioning means, providing adjustment mechanism to said divider means so as to form a baffle between said first anaerobic sub-chamber and said first aerobic sub-chamber;   whereby a spoilable liquid may be temporarily stored in said first anaerobic sub-chamber, subjected to a limited-volume spoilage-retarding environment due to reduced exposure to air.   
   
   
       34 . A container according to  claim 33 , further characterized in that:
 said chamber (a) is in a baffle-in-bottle configuration with an inlet significantly smaller than the bulk of said chamber;   said divider means (b) has a variable configuration foldable to fit through the inlet of said chamber when folded and deployable as unfolded to serve as divider means; and   said divider positioning means (c) serves to control both positioning and folding/unfolding and to form such baffle selectively.