Device for Chilling Wine

Abstract

A carafe containing a heat sink that a liquid such as wine may be poured into is disclosed. The heat sink absorbs the thermal energy of the wine, thereby rapidly cooling it. The heat sink is comprised of a series of fins or energy absorbing masses with a surface area of about 30-40 square inches for every 100 ml of liquid contained in the carafe. The heat sink may comprise a single structure or a plurality of structures operating in unison. The operation of said heat sink may be supplemented by a secondary heat sink comprised of the carafe itself. The invention will chill wine that is poured into it at room temperature by about 15-20 F degrees in approximately 1 minute.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for chilling wine, comprising:
 a carafe configured to receive a heat sink and having a volume, and   a heat sink having a surface area;   wherein said heat sink is positioned inside said carafe and occupies a portion of the volume of said carafe such that said carafe has a remaining volume configured to receive a liquid; and   wherein the ratio of the surface area of said heat sink to the remaining volume is from about 30 square inches per 100 milliliters to about 40 square inches per 100 milliliters.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink further comprises:
 a circular base having a top side and a bottom side,   a plurality of plates, each of which has a top end and a bottom end, and   a plurality of channels;   wherein the bottom end of each of the plurality of plates is joined to the top side of said circular base;   wherein each of the plurality of plates is vertically parallel to the remaining plates;   wherein each of said plurality of channels is positioned between two of the plurality of plates;   wherein the combination of the plurality of plates and the plurality of channels has the shape of a cylinder; and   wherein said heat sink is positioned within said carafe with said bottom side facing down.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said heat sink is manufactured from one of aluminum and stainless steel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink further comprises:
 a circular base having a top side and a bottom side,   a plurality of circular disks, each of which has a concentric opening,   a central member passing through the concentric opening of each of the plurality of circular disks and having a top end and a bottom end, and   a plurality of channels;   wherein the bottom end of said central member is joined to the top side of said circular base;   wherein each of the plurality of plates is horizontally parallel to the remaining disks;   wherein each of said plurality of channels is positioned between two of the plurality of disks;   wherein the combination of the plurality of disks, the plurality of channels, and the central member has the shape of a cylinder; and   wherein said heat sink is positioned within said carafe with said bottom side facing down.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said heat sink is manufactured from one of aluminum and stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink further comprises:
 a circular base having a top side and a bottom side,   a plurality of fins, each having a proximal end and a distal end;   a central member having a top end and a bottom end, and   a plurality of channels;   wherein the bottom end of said central member is joined to the top side of said circular base;   wherein the proximal end of each of the plurality of fins joined to the central member;   wherein each of said plurality of channels is positioned between two of the plurality of fins;   wherein the combination of the plurality of fins, the plurality of channels, and the central member has the shape of a cylinder; and   wherein said heat sink is positioned within said carafe with said bottom side facing down.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said heat sink is manufactured from one of aluminum and stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink further comprises a plurality of units, each of said units having a shape and configured to absorb thermal energy; and
 wherein said shape is one of a cube, a sphere, a triangular prism, and a triangular pyramid.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of units is manufactured from one of aluminum and stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , where each of said plurality of units further comprises a volume of water encapsulated within a layer of plastic. 
     
     
         11 . A device for chilling wine, comprising:
 a carafe configured to receive a primary heat sink and having a volume an outer surface, an inner surface, and a fill line, and   a primary heat sink having a surface area;   wherein said primary heat sink is positioned inside said carafe and occupies a portion of the volume of said carafe such that said carafe has a remaining volume configured to receive a liquid;   wherein said fill line indicates the height of said remaining volume within said carafe;   wherein said carafe is manufactured from glass, metal, or other such material capable of absorbing thermal energy such that said carafe acts as a secondary heat sink having an inner surface from the base of said carafe up to said fill line;   wherein the ratio of the sum of the surface areas of said inner surface and said primary heat sink to said remaining volume is from about 30 square inches per 100 milliliters to about 40 square inches per 100 milliliters.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said heat sink further comprises a plurality of units, each of said units having a shape and configured to absorb thermal energy; and
 wherein said shape is one of a cube, a sphere, a triangular prism, and a triangular pyramid.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of units is manufactured from one of aluminum and stainless steel.