Wine storage and preservation device

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for extracting fluids from within a container sealed by a cork or septum without removal of the cork or septum or the contamination of the fluid within the container by reactive gases or liquids. Embodiments of the device can include a needle connected to a valve which is in turn connected to a source of pressurized gas for displacing the fluid. Further embodiments of the device can comprise additional components that act to force the needle to be inserted through the cork or septum along a linear path, to aid in preventing buckling of the needle, to clamp the device to the container, to prevent expulsion of the cork or septum from the container, and to guide the needle through a specified region of the cork or septum. Various valves, pressure regulators, pressure ranges, needle geometries, gas selections are also presented. This device is particularly suited for the dispensing and preservation of wine.

1 . A wine bottle, comprising:
 a bottle having an interior and a neck that defines an opening to the interior;   a volume of wine contained in the bottle interior;   a standard wine bottle cork positioned in the opening at the time of bottling the volume of wine, the standard wine bottle cork including a passageway extending through the cork from a top of the cork exposed at the bottle opening to a bottom of the cork exposed at an interior of the bottle, the passageway being formed by extending a needle through the cork to remove wine from the bottle interior without removing the cork from the opening, the passageway being self-sealed by the cork after removal of the needle to prevent undesired gaseous or liquid egress or ingress through the passageway; and   a volume of non-reactive gas in the interior of the bottle,   wherein the volume of wine contained in the bottle interior is less than a bottled volume of wine contained in the bottle interior at the time of bottling, and the volume of non-reactive gas is provided into the bottle interior via the cork passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising a foil covering over the top of the cork and a portion of the bottle neck, the foil covering having a hole formed by the needle used to form the passageway in the cork. 
     
     
         3 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the non-reactive gas is argon or nitrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the standard wine bottle cork is made of natural cork. 
     
     
         5 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is formed in a location offset from a center of the cork. 
     
     
         6 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising multiple passageways formed through the cork. 
     
     
         7 . The wine bottle of  claim 6 , wherein each of the passageways is formed in a location offset from a center of the cork. 
     
     
         8 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the non-reactive gas is a mixture of gasses. 
     
     
         9 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is made of glass. 
     
     
         10 . The wine bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the non-reactive gas is argon. 
     
     
         11 . A wine bottle, comprising:
 a bottle having an interior and a neck that defines an opening to the interior;   a volume of wine contained in the bottle interior;   a standard wine bottle cork positioned in the opening to seal the interior closed, the standard wine bottle cork including a passageway extending through the cork formed by extending a needle through the cork to remove wine from the bottle interior without removing the cork from the opening, the passageway being self-sealed by the cork after removal of the needle to prevent undesired gaseous or liquid egress or ingress through the passageway; and   a volume of non-reactive gas in the interior of the bottle,   wherein the volume of wine contained in the bottle interior is less than a bottled volume of wine contained in the bottle interior at the time of bottling, and the volume of non-reactive gas is provided into the bottle interior via the cork passageway.   
     
     
         12 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , further comprising a foil covering over the top of the cork and a portion of the bottle neck, the foil covering having a hole formed by the needle used to form the passageway in the cork. 
     
     
         13 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the non-reactive gas is argon or nitrogen. 
     
     
         14 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the standard wine bottle cork is made of natural cork. 
     
     
         15 . The wine bottle of  claim 15 , wherein the passageway is formed in a location offset from a center of the cork. 
     
     
         16 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , further comprising multiple passageways formed through the cork. 
     
     
         17 . The wine bottle of  claim 16 , wherein each of the passageways is formed in a location offset from a center of the cork. 
     
     
         18 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the non-reactive gas is a mixture of gasses. 
     
     
         19 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the bottle is made of glass. 
     
     
         20 . The wine bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the non-reactive gas is argon. 
     
     
         21 . A wine storage device comprising:
 a glass bottle having a neck region;   a cork seal disposed within said neck region operable to seal said bottle against the ingress or egress of fluid or gas at atmospheric pressures;   a foil covering an outer surface of said cork and neck;   a non-reactive gas and wine disposed within said bottle wherein said gas is in contact with said wine; and   at least one passageway through said cork, wherein said passageway is self-sealed.   
     
     
         22 . A storage device comprising:
 a bottle having a neck region forming an opening, said bottle containing a quantity of wine and a non-reactive gas;   a resealable cork member sealing said neck region wherein said cork prevents the ingress or egress of fluid at atmospheric pressures; and   at least one path through said cork, said path sealed against ingress or egress of fluid.