Pressure equalization apparatus for a bottle and methods associated therewith

Abstract

A device that assists with equalizing air pressure within a bottle with the atmospheric air pressure as liquid is being poured from the bottle and includes one or more relatively short air tubes. The air tubes are situated with an upper inlet rim of the air tubes located flush with or relatively near the bottle rim. Whether an insert or integrated into the manufacture of a container, the one or more air tubes that extend partially into the container allow air to pass into the container as the liquid exits the container. The pressure equalizer not only minimizes or prevents the common glugging effect, but it allows liquid from a bottle to be poured smoothly at any angle and orientation. A cap incorporating a detachable pressure equalizer is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a main body portion configured to contain a liquid;   a container opening which provides a point of exit for liquid contained in the main body portion;   a bottleneck between the container opening and the main body portion, the bottleneck comprising a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the main-body portion; and   a pressure equalizer having more than two and less than six air inlets, each being positioned in the bottleneck, the pressure equalizer enabling the liquid to exit the container opening and simultaneously enabling air to enter the main body portion through the air inlets such that the flow of the liquid from the main body portion is substantially continuous.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalizer comprises four air inlets. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the four air inlets are spaced equally around the bottleneck. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the container opening is less than about 10.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a viscosity of the liquid is greater than a viscosity of oil at room temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the oil is motor oil. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the container opening is less than about 10.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalizer is modular. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the modular pressure equalizer is welded to the bottleneck. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottleneck is incorporated into the pressure equalizer, wherein the pressure equalizer comprises a flange, and wherein the flange of the pressure equalizer is welded to the main body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure equalizer at least partially comprises one or more of high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonate, epoxy, polyamide, nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber, cellulose-based plastics, glass, metal, and metal alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is made of a semi-crystalline PET and wherein the ratio weight of the walls on weight of the bottom is between about 3.4 and 3.8. 
     
     
         13 . A pressure equalizer configured to be incorporated into an opening of a container, the pressure equalizer comprising:
 three or more air inlets having a first opening that substantially coincides with the opening of the container and a second opening that is positioned substantially within a bottleneck of the container.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 13 , wherein the three or more air inlets comprise at least a fourth air inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 14 , wherein the three or more air inlets comprise at least a fifth air inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 15 , wherein the three or more air inlets comprise no more than a sixth air inlet. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 13 , wherein each of the three or more air inlets comprise a length of no more than 3 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the three or more air inlets comprise at least one of an oval shape, egg shape, and eye shape. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure equalizer of  claim 13 , wherein a first of the three or more air inlets comprises a first shape and a second of the three or more air inlets comprises a second shape different from the first shape. 
     
     
         20 . A container comprising the pressure equalizer of  claim 13 .