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Magnetic treatment device for beverages including a rack and associated methodsRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Receptacle Support, Bottle Or JarMagnetic treatment device for beverages including a rack and associated methods description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070108144, Magnetic treatment device for beverages including a rack and associated methods. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of magnetic treatment and, more particularly, to the field of magnetically treating beverages to change properties thereof and associated methods. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is recognized that the flavor of some beverages may be enhanced by exposure to a magnetic field, which alters the molecular properties. U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,614 to Peiffer, for example, describes reducing the sensory perception of acids and tannins in alcoholic beverages by treating the beverage with a magnetic field. This treatment is asserted to give the alcoholic beverage a more aged flavor. [0003] Accordingly, a number of products have been developed to expose beverages to magnetic fields to enhance flavor. Some of these products also attempt to enhance user convenience when magnetically treating beverages. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,401 to Lee discloses a container including surrounding sidewalls that have a plurality of magnets mounted on the inner side of the surrounding sidewalls to improve the flavor of fermented substances, such as wine, sauce, and tobacco. Another example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,319 to Yu which discloses a beverage magnetizing container that exposes a beverage within the container to a magnetic field to promote preservation. The magnetic field is created by permanent magnets in the sidewalls, base, or cap of the container. [0004] Other products magnetically treat beverages during initial processing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,942 to Freije, III discloses a liquid treatment unit that includes a pipe having a plurality of magnets coupled thereto. The magnets treat liquid as it passes through the pipes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,353 to Ceccarani discloses an apparatus for accelerating the aging of alcoholic beverages. The apparatus exposes beverages to low-frequency polarized pulsating magnetic fields. [0005] U.S. Published Application No. 2003/0228399 to Flick, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a user-friendly and effective device for treating a single beverage container, for example. The device includes a base and a plurality of posts extending upwardly from the base. Each post may carry one or more neodymium permanent magnets. In some embodiments, the posts may be slidable with respect to the base to accommodate different sized containers. The magnetic treatment may enhance the flavor of beverages, particularly spirits, such as wine or liquor, by imparting an aged flavor. [0006] Despite the continuing developments relating to magnetic treatment of beverages, there may still exist a need for an easier to use treatment device that can treat more than a single beverage container at a time, if desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage treatment device that may effectively magnetically treat beverage containers, such as containing wine or other spirits, and provide an associated method for making such a device. [0008] These and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a beverage treatment device comprising a rack defining a plurality of beverage container holding positions for holding beverage containers in a generally horizontal orientation, and a plurality of permanent magnets associated with the rack for causing a magnetic field in the beverage container holding positions. The rack may define the plurality of beverage container holding positions in vertically stacked courses. For example, the vertically stacked courses may have a decreasing number of beverage container holding positions from lower to higher courses. In addition, adjacent ones of the vertically stacked courses may be nested for additional compactness. [0009] The rack may comprise a pair of spaced apart first and second frames, and a plurality of struts interconnecting the first and second frames. In these embodiments, the plurality of permanent magnets may include a first set of permanent magnets carried by the first frame, and a second set of permanent magnets carried by the second frame. Additionally or alternatively, the permanent magnets may be carried by the interconnecting struts. Each of the plurality of permanent magnets may comprise a neodymium magnet. [0010] The first and second frames may each comprise a plurality of rings joined together at adjacent peripheral portions thereof. For example, the first and second frames and the interconnecting struts may comprise integrally molded plastic. The rack may further comprise a plurality of feet depending from lowermost portions of the first and second frames. [0011] A method aspect of the invention is for making a beverage treatment device. The method may include forming a rack defining a plurality of beverage container holding positions for holding beverage containers in a generally horizontal orientation, and associating a plurality of permanent magnets with the rack for causing a magnetic field in the beverage container holding positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the beverage treatment device in accordance with the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a frame of the beverage treatment device as shown in FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a frame of another embodiment of the beverage treatment device in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a strut of still another embodiment of the beverage treatment device in accordance with the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a strut of yet another embodiment of the beverage treatment device in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and multiple prime notations are used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. [0018] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a beverage treatment device 10 in accordance with the invention is now described. The beverage treatment device illustratively includes a rack 15 defining a plurality of beverage container holding positions 16 for holding beverage containers in a generally horizontal orientation, one such beverage container 12 being illustrated for clarity of explanation. The treatment device 10 also includes a plurality of permanent magnets 17 carried by the rack 15 for causing a magnetic field in the beverage container holding positions 16. [0019] The rack 15 illustratively defines the plurality of beverage container holding positions 16 in lower and upper vertically stacked courses. For enhanced stability, the vertically stacked courses have a decreasing number of beverage container holding positions from lower to higher courses. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower course has three side-by-side container holding positions, and the upper course has two side-by-side holding positions. As also shown in the illustrated embodiment, adjacent ones of the vertically stacked courses may be nested for additional compactness and stability. This configuration of decreasing holding positions 16 and/or nesting can be extended to greater than the two illustrated courses as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Continue reading about Magnetic treatment device for beverages including a rack and associated methods... 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