AU2004220341A1 - Packaging system for a beverage bottle, in particular a bottle of sparkling wine or wine and method for packaging a beverage bottle - Google Patents

Description

'1',7 V, JU JJ U IJ PUBLISHED SPECIF CATION VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION I, Mrs Hannelore Hussein, of UnterfOrberger Str. 38, 90768 FOrth, Germany, declare as follows: 1. ThatI am well acquainted with both the English and German languages, and 2. That the attached document is a true and correct translation made by me to the best of my knowledge and belief of: (a) The specification of International Bureau pamphlet numbered WO 20041080837 International Application No. PCT/EP20041002629 4 October 2005 , _ (Signature of Translator) (No witness required) *~4 ' Z) UJJLU IJ 021T 13 As a translator for the English language publicly appointed and officially accredited in Bavaria by the President of the Regional Court of N(rnberg-FOrth, I herewith certify that the above translation of the document presented before me in original, written in German language, is correct and complete. Als in Bayern vom Prasidenten des Landgerichts Nmrnberg-Farth ffentlich bestellte und allgemein beeidigte Obersetzerin fOr die englische Sprache bestatige ich: Vorstehende Obersetzung der mir im Original vorgelegten, in deutscher Sprache abgefassten Urkunde ist richtig und vollstbndig. FOrth, 04.10.2005 &Hannefore Hussein Uriterflirberger Sir 38 90768 F(;rth* Tel. 7297 03 CERTIFIED TRANSLATION P030217T 1 Description 2 3 Packing System for a Beverage Bottle, in particular a Wine or 4 Sparkling-Wine Bottle, and Method for Packing a Beverage Botle 6 6 , The present Invention relates to a packing system for a beverage bottle, In a particular a wine or sparkling-wine bottle. It relates, furthermore, to a boeve age 9 bottle provided with such packing system, a method for packing a beverag bottle 0 and the use of such packing system of a beverage bottle. 12 In a century-long tradition, a wine bottle or a sparkling-wine bottle usually as a 3 cork or cork stopper as closure element which is introduced into the pourir g 14 opening of the bottle neck of the wine bottle. Closing wine and sparkling-w ne is bottles in this manner has proven worthwhile, in particular, because cork, as a , natural material, satisfies the preconditions given for a long-term storage wine Sin thebottle to a particularly great extent. Especially with respect to process ibility ,a and tightness, cork is an inexpensive closure material involving a reasonable 1 manufacturing outlay. Due to the long tradition in using cork for closing wire zo bottles, moreover, the consumers associate a cork stopper of that kind with 21 extensive experience in the production of wine. Therefore, wine offered in wine 22 bottle which is closed in such a manner usually enjoys a comparatively high 23 esteem in consumer circles. 24 25 Contrary to the high esteem among the consumers, however, a closure us ng a 2, cork stopper can also have negative effects on the wine stored in a wine b ttle 27 closed in such a manner. In particular, as a result of contact with the wine Ptored z in the wine bottle, a cork stopper can release flavoring substances into the wine, Sthus impairing or corrupting the taste of the wine. Such impairments of the wine 30 can occur in 10 % to 16 % of the wine stored in such a manner. Moreover, for a 31 sufficient sealing effect, the cork stopper must be adapted to the inside dimension S of the bottle neck or of the pouring opening in a comparatively exact manner and, a in addition, be treated thermally, involving a comparatively high manufacturing * outlay. 30 Alternatively to using cork, a wine bottle can also be equipped with a screvy 37 closure. In this case, usually a metallic closing cap is used which is screwed on as the bottle neck via a screw thread, thus closing the pouring opening of the wine so bottle. A wine bottle closed with such a screw cap can be clearly distinguis ed 40 from a wine bottle closed with a cork stopper already by its outer appearar ce. 4i However, closure systems using screw closures are predominantly used fqr 42 comparatively cheaper and, consequently, Inferior wines. Because of this, 43 moreover, a wine offered in a wine bottle having a screw closure enjoys on ly a .1 lower esteem among the consumers than a wine offered in a wine bottle hich is 45 closed with a cork stopper.

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2 Recently, wine bottles are offered which are closed with a mechanically stable 2 crown cap. This crown cap can be provided, on its side facing the interior of the bottle, in an inner region or in the region of its mirror, with a seal made of plastic, * e.g. of low-density polyethylene, which is also referred to as LD-PE. In this way, in s particular an easily processable closure with high sealing effect is provided. This Makes it possible to prevent the beverage stored in a bottle closed in this Way 7 from being impaired in its taste even during a long storage period. The dis a advantage of the use of a crown cap, like of the screw closure, is the low esteem Sof beverages offered in this way among the consumers. For this reason, it is to known from DE 100 33 222 Al to provide wine bottles closed with a crow cap, , with a molded cap and to seal them with a capsule, made for example of t n, so 12 that the bottle in question in its condition ready for sale cannot be distinguished 13 from a conventional cork stopper-closed bottle and enjoys high esteem. But even 14 with this advanced packing concept, it cannot completely be excluded that the Is crown cap used will give the consumer, at least in part, an impression of i wer 1r esteem. 17 1o Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to specify a modified packing is system based on a crown cap, which maintains in the consumer in all step s of zo opening the bottle an impression of high quality of the bottle and its conter nts. 21 Furthermore, a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or sparkling-wine bottle, zz provided with such packing system shall be offered, a particularly suitable method 23 for attaching such a packing system on a beverage bottle shall be specified, and a 24 particularly suitable use of such a packing system shall be specified. 25 25 With regard to the packing system, this objective is achieved according to he 27 present invention in that, a covering cap is associated with a crown cap, Ahich is 2 provided with a cylindrical casing encircling the crown cap. 30 The present invention is based on the consideration that for a continuous :1 impression of high quality, a possible impairment of the consumer's perce tion 32 through the crown cap should persistently be avoided. For this purpose, thp typical 33 well-marked appearance of a crown cap, which is usually visible when acr Pwn 3, cap is used, should be covered as far as possible. To hide the crown cap nd its '3 teeth, it is particularly advantageous to cover it completely. For this purpose, a Covering cap is provided whose circumferential edge ends expediently at iast 3 flush with the teeth of the crown cap, the covering cap being designed in such a 38 way that in mounted condition, its overall appearance is particularly harmonious. 39 For this purpose, the covering cap possesses a cylindrical casing which encircles 40 the crown cap and which guarantees in particular a smooth surface design of the 41 covering cap in its circumferential area. 42 1, Furthermore, the smooth design of the entire outer surface of the covering cap Excludes a mechanical sticking and damage caused by the toothed design of 4 typical crowns caps, which would otherwise be possible if a number of cron caps 4a contacted each other. To guarantee this in any case, the covering cap is prefer 4 ably dimensioned in such a manner that its circumferential edge ends flush with 4o the testh of the crown cap.

I "r.T Qd dUO 0! 1 SPo3o217T ,In different situations, in particular during the opening of the beverage bottle, there 2 is the risk that the covering cap is pulled off the crown cap. In order to, on the one 3 hand, slip the covering cap In a particularly simple manner over the crown cap, 4 but, on the other hand, avoid the undesired removal of the covering cap from the 5 crown cap and fasten It particularly firmly on the crown cap, the covering cap is 6 advantageously provided with a snap-in locking edge integrally molded onto its , circumferential edge. This snap-in locking edge functions like a snap closure, as it e enables an easy mounting on the crown cap and guarantees a secure fastening, Sso that the covering cap will not be removed, when the other external packing Is 10 pulled off during the opening of the bottle. 11 12 Alternatively, a firm locking of the covering cap on the crown cap can also be 13 guaranteed advantageously through locking means, such as, for example, a ,, number of grains, knobs or bulges, distributed over the circumference of the Is cylindrical casing of the covering cap. These locking means are preferably ,s dimensioned in such a manner that - when the covering cap is slipped over the , crown, cap in an automated manner - they are guided between the teeth of the is crown cap and then, through a suitable rotation of the covering cap relative to the i crown cap, can be caught under Individual teeth of the crown cap. In view of usual 2 types of crown caps, advantageously about nine segments of knobs or bulges are a, distributed over the circumference of the cylindrical casing, whereby, indepen 22 dently of the orientation, firm locking can be obtained even when slipping the 23 covering cap over in an automated manner. 24 25 An alternative or cumulatively lasting fastening of the covering cap on the crown 2 cap is achieved by gluing the two together in a particularly advantageous design. 28 To make the covering cap particularly well suited as a cover for the crown cap, its 2 shape and graphic design can expediently be of a relatively simple and attractive 0 visual appearance. For this reason, the covering cap is advantageously made of 31 aluminium, tinplate or plastic. This allows on the one hand a desired embodiment 32 of the covering cap with relatively little manufacturing outlay and on the other hand 33 a use of the covering cap with an insignificant contribution to weight and volume, s which is important in view of the handling, in particular transport and storage. 36 ao To give the covering cap a particular esteem of the consumer, for example 37 through customer-specific imprint of the bottler, it is preferably provided with an 38 information carrier element. This also meets in a particularly simple manner any = statutory regulations requiring a proof of origin by stating the name of the bottler or ,o producer of the wine. A covering cap thus designed in a particularly extraordinary 4 way might in addition be a collector's piece. 42 's To ensure, in addition to the good storage properties achievable through the , crown cap, a particular esteem with regard to the entire external packing among 46 the buyers, the wine bottle closed ready for sale is expediently provided with a ,s packing system whose appearance is similar to that of a wine bottle closed with a a cork stopper. For such a visual appearance, advantageously a molded cap and a • ' 40 Uzi OUI! LU Ili 3021717 4 capsule encircling the latter together with a part of the bottle neck are provided as 2 an external packing of the crown cap provided with the covering cap. 3 4 To guarantee a compatible use of the molded cap in a multipart packing system, s the inner diameter of the molded cap is advantageously adapted to the cylindrical 6 casing of the covering cap. 7 SThe molded cap serves in addition to safeguard a particularly high dimensional 9 stability and thus to protect the crown cap and the covering cap encircling it o against possible damage through different handling steps and in particular during , transport. For use in large quantities with a particularly low manufacturing outlay, ,2 the molded cap is preferably made of plastic, in particular high-density poly ,3 ethylene, which is also referred to as HD-PE. 14 Is In a further expedient embodiment, the molded cap is dimensioned in such a is manner that, in view of the dimensioning of the bottle neck with a first circum 17 ferentlal lip bead arranged in the immediate vicinity of the pouring opening and a le second circumferential lip bead arranged, as compared with the first one, at a 19 slightly larger distance from the pouring opening, the impression of an upper-band 2 mouth arises. In the case of an upper-band mouth, the bottle has a broad circum 21 ferental bead at the bottle neck, the bead ending flush with the pouring opening. 22 By appropriate dimensioning, it is ensured In a particularly favorable manner that 23 for a wine bottle closed in this manner, the same esteem can be achieved among 24 the buyers as with a wine bottle which is traditionally closed using a cork stopper. 25 26 In closed condition, ready for sale, of the bottle, the circumferential edge of the 7 molded cap expediently ends without large offset or flush with the second za circumferential lip bead of the bottle mouth. In this way, an edge tearing, when 2o fixing the single-piece capsule provided as a cover, at the molded cap as well as 30 at the respective part of the bottle neck, is to a great extent avoided. In addition, 1 the molded cap is particularly well supported on the bottle neck against externally 2 acting forces, resulting in a particularly high stability and resistance, for example 3 when the outer capsule is mechanically attached. The capsule extends beyond 34 the molded cap and still encircles also an upper part of the bottle neck of the wine 31 bottle. Especially through this design, the visual impression is almost the same as a that of a wine or sparkling-wine bottle closed with a cork stopper. 3, , With respect to the beverage bottle, the mentioned objective is achieved by 3s closing it with such a packing system. 40 41 With respect to the method for packing a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or 42 sparkling-wine bottle, the mentioned objective is achieved in that the covering cap 43 is slipped over a pouring opening provided with the crown cap, the molded cap is Spreassembled with a starting body provided for forming the capsule and then put ,5 over the pouring opening provided with the covering cap and the crown cap, the 46 starting body subsequently being rolled or shrunk onto the molded cap as well as 0 on the respective part of the bottle neck to form the capsule. 40 PO302171"r n an alternative, particularly advantageous embodiment of the method, first the covering cap and the molded cap are preassembled into a starting body provided 3 for forming the capsule and then put over a pouring opening provided with the , crown cap, the starting body subsequently being rolled or shrunk onto he molded 5 cap as well as on the respective part of the bottle neck to form the capsule. 6 SThrough the preassembly of the molded cap into a starting body provided for a forming the capsule, a particularly time-saving and effective manufacturing Process can be achieved. The intermediate product prepared in such a manner ,o can then easily be slipped over the covering cap already encircling the crown cap ,1 or, after insertion of the covering cap into the molded cap, slipped over the crown 1 cap closing the pouring opening. Subsequently, in the case of a capsule formed of 13 tin, the capsule is rolled, and in the case of a capsule formed on a PVC basis, the 14 capsule is shrunk onto the molded cap and onto the upper part of the bottle neck, Is giving the packing system a particularly uniform and, consequently, high-quality 16 impression. In this sequence, the wine bottle as such is subjected to the packing 17 measures only during a comparatively short period of time, so that comparatively 16 high throughput rates are achievable. 10 20 In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the two methods, the covering cap 1 and the crown cap are connected with each other through a glue, in particular 22 silicone. This ensures, alternatively or cumulatively to the fixation through the a snap-in locking edge integrally molded onto the circumferential edge of the 24 covering cap, a particularly secure fastening of the covering cap on the crown cap. 2 When adequately opening the bottle, for example with a so-called waiter's knife, a first of all, in one handling step, the capsule together with the molded cap is 27 removed. After this step, only the covering cap will be visible, as the crown cap 2a reliably fastened on its inner surface will be completely hidden by the covering 20 cap. 30 3, The outside of the covering cap which becomes exposed when the bottle is 2 opened offers itself for use as an information carrier surface for approval numbers, a information of origin, such as coats of arms, bottler's name, place of bottling, or Advertising, and others. 36 36 The advantages attained using the present invention are in particular, that, by 37 combining a crown cap with a covering cap encircling the crown cap with its D cylindrical casing, on the one hand, a high-quality closure having a high sealing 3a effect is given, and, on the other hand, on all outer surfaces, thanks to the smooth '0 surface of the covering cap, an optically attractive imprint with picture and/or letter 41, information for the customer is possible. In this way, the crown cap, which as such 42 usually does not enjoy a particularly high esteem among the consumers of wine or 43 sparkling wine or is even considered as being of inferior value, is optically en Snobled. The flush termination of the circumferential edge of the covering cap with 46 the teeth of the crown cap as well as the consistently close connection between 46 the two elements of the packing system by gluing the inner surface of the covering 47 cap and the outer surface of the crown cap together and/or by the fastening 40 between crown cap and covering cap through their snap-in locking edge on the PO30217'f 6 03s circumferential edge guarantee, in addition, that upon opening of the bottle, the 2 used typical crown cap will in all steps reliably remain hidden to the consumer, a thus maintaining a high-quality impression of the bottle and its contents. By , adapting the inner diameter of the molded cap provided as a further element of s the packing system of the bottle mouth to the cylindrical casing of the covering * cap, the covering cap can be inserted with exact fit into the respective molded Scap. By covering the molded cap, which is, furthermore, formed taking into a account the dimensioning of the bottle neck with a first circumferential lip bead 9 in the immediate vicinity of the pouring opening and a second circumferential lip 1o bead arranged, as compared with the first one, at a slightly greater distance from Sthe pouring opening, and the upper part of the bottle neck with a shared capsule, 12 it is also guaranteed that the impression of a wine or sparkling-wine bottle having 1 an upper-band mouth can be given. Therefore, the buyers will associate a corn 14 paratively high esteem with a beverage offered in such a manner. 15 lB An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained in greater detail Son the basis of a drawing in which 18 SFigure 1 shows a side view of a wine bottle with a packing system, 20 Figure 2a shows a sectional view of a pouring opening closed with a crown cap, a, Figure 2b shows a sectional view of a pouring opening closed with a crown cap az and a covering cap, 2 Figure 3 shows a top view of a covering cap, 2, Figure 4a shows a side bottom view of a covering cap, 2s Figure 4b shows a side bottom view of a covering cap slipped over a crown cap, 2 and zz Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the packing system of the wine bottle 2 according to Figure 1. 29 .30 in all Figures, identical parts are marked with identical reference symbols. 31 i n Wine bottle 1 according to Figure 1 includes a bottle body 2 having a bottle neck 4 33 integrally molded therewith. Instead of wine bottle 1, this could also be a sparkling a wine bottle. Bottle neck 4 leads into a pouring opening 6 (not shown in Figure 1), 3s which is encircled by packing system 8. In this context, with respect to its visual 36 impression, i.e., in particular, with respect to its dimensioning in view of the 37 dimensioning of bottle neck 4, packing system 8 is formed as bead 9, so that the as impression of a so-called upper-band mouth arises for a buyer or consumer. 39 ,D Packing system 8 is formed in such a manner that an impairment in taste of the 41 stored beverage, in particular, of the wine stored in wine bottle 1, is excluded even 42 during a long storage period. To this end, in the design of packing system 8, a , cork stopper is consistently dispensed with. Instead, as shown in the sectional , view of Figure 2a, crown cap 10 closes pouring opening 6 of wine bottle 1. In this • context, a number of bending lips 12, which are arranged at the outer edge of 48 crown cap 10, and which are separated from each other by so-called teeth 13 of 7 crown cap 10, embrace a first upper lip bead 14, which is integrally molded with 48 bottleneck 4 in the immediate vicinity of pouring opening 6.

I TL U UUoq/ ID PO30217T 7 ,-/Crown cap 10 is designed in compliance with DIN 6099 and, adapted to the dimensioning of bottle neck 4, has a clear diameter of 26.75 mm and a height of a 6.8 mn. Depending on the nominal diameter of bottle neck 4, however, other , diameters, for example, 24.75 mm, 29.75 mm, 32.75 mm or 36.75 mm, can also Sbe selected. Crown cap 10 is provided with a sealing element 18 in an inner a region 16 on Its side facing the Interior of the bottle. In the exemplary embodi Sment, sealing element 18 is made of plastic, namely of low-density polyethylene o (LD-PE), and dimensioned in such a manner that is completely covers pouring opening 6. With crown cap 10 In mounted condition, sealing element 18 Is com so pletely pressed against the circumferential rim of pouring opening 6 in response to it the clamping action of bending lips 12 embracing first upper lip bead 14, so that ,2 the pouring opening is closed completely tight. In this context, the wine stored in ,3 wine bottle 1, can only come into contact with the material of sealing element 18. Id Consequently, an impairment of the stored wine, In particular In terms of taste, is due to drag-in of cork material is reliably excluded. 10 w, Crown cap 10 is made on the basis of stainless steel. In this context, its metal 6 body is manufactured from the material ASI 316. Such a material selection per ,a mits a long storage period without Impairing the closing action, e.g. by corrosion, 2 even In unfavorable conditions. Thus, this crown cap 10 is also suitable, in 21 particular, for a long-term storage of wine even in an unfavorable, for example, zz salty or sulfurous outside atmosphere. 23 24 At a, compared to first upper circumferential lip bead 14, slightly larger distance 2s from pouring opening 6, bottle neck 4 has a second circumferential lip bead 20 26 which, compared to first upper lip bead 14 is dimensioned slightly larger. More 27 over, when wine bottle 1 is open, the mouth region designed in such a manner as gives an impression of particularly high quality, a qualitative approximation to a a sparkling-wine or champagne bottle being established. 30 o, Consumers of wine and sparkling wine often consider a bottle closed with a crown a cap 10 and its contents as being of inferior value, in spite of the proved mentioned 3 advantages over cork stoppers, because of the visual impression. For this reason, 34 as shown in Figure 2b, a covering cap 22 provided with a cylindrical casing 23 is encircling crown cap 10 is associated with crown cap 10, covering cap 22 being 38 dimensioned in such a manner that its circumferential edge 24 ends flush with V teeth 13 of crown cap 10 or slightly protrudes over it. In this way, the typical 3o appearance of crown cap 10 is hidden. It is exactly the smoothness of outer sur 30 face 26 of covering cap 22 which ensures that covering cap 22 is not associated o40 with a typical crown cap 10 and, therefore, a particularly elegant appearance is 4, guaranteed. Moreover, this smooth design prevents a mechanical sticking which 42 would otherwise be possible with crown caps 10, due to their teeth 13, in case of 3 contact with other bottles. 44 44 Furthermore, the covering cap is particularly well suited, for example, as an ,e information carrier surface 28 for information carrier elements 30, like approval 47 numbers, Information of origin, such as coats of arms, as shown in Figure 3, 48 bottler's name, place of bottling, or advertising, and others. Information carrier P03021 1T 8 Se elements 30 can, for example, be printed, stamped or embossed during the Manufacturing process of covering cap 22 in impressive presentation onto 3 information carrier surface 28. With an attractive visual design, covering cap 22 4 might also become a collector's piece for the customer. Alternatively or in addition, a relatively plain information carrier elements 30, for example in the form of short a scripts or imprints, may be applied on cylindrical casing 23. 7 SIn the exemplary embodiment, covering cap 22 is made of aluminium, tinplate or * plastic. This material selection permits a design of covering cap 22 which is ,o visually attractive to the consumer, with a relatively low manufacturing outlay, e.g. ,, for forming and imprinting. Moreover, the contribution to weight and volume, which 12 is important in view of the handling, in particular transport and storage, is insigni 13 ficantly small. 15 In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b. a snap-in locking ie edge 32 is integrally molded on circumferential edge 24 of covering cap 22. This '7 snap-in locking edge 32 functions like a snap closure, fastening covering cap 22, to after it has been slipped over crown cap 10 , reliably on the latter. In this way, after to covering cap 22 has been slipped over crown cap 10, it is safely excluded that 20 covering cap 22 is inadvertently pulled off crown cap 10, in particular, during the 2, openir4g of wine bottle 1. Alternatively or cumulatively to the fixation through snap 22 in locking edge 32 on circumferential edge 24 of covering cap 22, a permanent 23 and reliable connection between crown cap 10 and covering cap 22 via a glue, in 24 particular silicone, can be used. The glue is for this purpose applied optionally on 26 inner surface 33 of covering cap 22 and/or on the respective crown cap 10. 26 27 For further external packing of crown cap 10 hidden with covering cap 22, a z8 molded cap 34 and a capsule 36 encircling It jointly with a part of the bottle neck 4 Z are provided, as shown in Figure 5. For a compatible use of molded cap 34 in a 30 multipart packing system 8, the inner diameter d of molded cap 34 is advanta. 31 eously adapted to cylindrical casing 23 of covering cap 22 in that molded cap 34 IV encircles covering cap 22, possibly with a little play. In this way, covering cap 22 3, can easily be placed in molded cap 34. Furthermore, the inner diameter d in the a, region of second circumferential lip bead 20 is such that, in view of the outer 3s diameter of bottle neck 4, a secure, possibly positive-locking fit of molded cap 34 W on second lip bead 20 results. 37 is Moreover, this molded cap 34 is dimensioned in such a manner that, together with 3a second lip bead 20, it forms a jacket which on the closed wine bottle 1 completely AO encircles covering cap 22 and crown cap 10, so that any direct mechanical contact 41 with foreign substances is excluded and the impression of an upper-band mouth 42 of the wine bottle 1 arises. 43 ,, Molded cap 34 is made of plastic, namely of high-density polyethylene (HD-PE). 46 Molded cap 34 and an upper part 38 of bottle neck 4 are jointly encircled by 4e capsule 36. Capsule 36 can be formed as a tin capsule, but In the exemplary 47 embodiment, it is made of a polyethylene film which is laminated with aluminum 4, on both sides and is also referred to as "duplo film" or from polyvinyl chloride P03021?'T 9 (PVC). Covering cap 22, molded cap 34 and capsule 36 Jointly form packing 2 system 8 encircling crown cap 10. Capsule 36 is similar, in Its make, to a bottle 3 capsule or tin capsule usually used for a wine bottle which is closed with a cork , stopper so that, in particular, with regard to the selected dimensioning of molded 6 cap 34, of second lip bead 20, and of bottle neck 4, the impression of a wine 6 bottle which is conventionally closed with a cork stopper results for the completely 7 closed wine bottle 1. Consequently, packing system 8 formed in such a manner a not only allows a high-quality storage of the wine without impairment in taste even During a long storage period, but also ensures a special esteem among the buyers o because of the visual design. 11 12 In the exemplary embodiment, for packing wine bottle 1, covering cap 22 is put 1s over pouring opening 6 closed with crown cap 10 and in a parallel or prior further U operation, molded cap 34 is inserted into a starting body 40 provided for forming is capsule 36 and glued in there. Then, this partial packing product, consisting of Molded cap 34 and starting body 40, is slipped over crown cap 10 provided with ,7 covering cap 22. Finally, starting body 40 fixed on molded cap 34 is, by shrinking 1o on, brought into firm contact with molded cap 34 as well as with upper part 38 of is the bottle neck 4, thus forming capsule 36. If the capsule is made on the basis of 20 tin, it is rolled on instead of shrunk on. In this sequence, wine bottle 1 as such is 21 subjected to the packing measures only during a comparatively short period of 22 . time, so that comparatively high throughput rates are achievable. 23 24 When opening wine bottle 1 closed in this way, capsule 36 is first of all cut open 25 by means of a suitable cutting'tool in a region below molded cap 34, for example 26 in the groove formed by circumferential edge 42 of molded cap 34 and bottle V neck 4. Then, molded cap 34 - among others, because of its adequately selected o dimensioning - can be pulled off bottle neck 4 in a relatively simple way, so that 29 covering cap 22 completely encircling crown cap 10 becomes exposed, as shown o in Figure 2b. Crown cap 10 firmly connected with covering cap 22 is, therefore 31 without becoming visible as such to the observer - accessible for opening pouring 32 opening 6 and can be lifted off, for example, by means of a bottle opener. In this S ,manner, during the entire unpacking and opening measures, the sight of the "naked" typical crown cap 10 remains hidden to the observer. Instead, the graphic 35 design of covering cap 22 desired by the bottler or manufacturer gives the con as sumer additional information and advertising remarks, ensuring in any case an 37 impression of higher quality among the consumers than the typical crown cap 10 a can usually do. An embodiment of covering cap 22 which is attractive to the 39 customer might even subsequently be used as a collector's piece. 40 41 Therefore, wine bottle 1 is in closed condition provided with a packing system 8, 42 which on the one hand safely avoids an impairment of the tightness of crown cap 3 10 and on the other hand, during the opening process, even after removal of Capsule 36 with molded cap 34 gives the buyer a continuous overall impression 4s of high quality, as crown cap 10 is permanently completely encircled by covering 48 cap 22. 47 P030217T 10 List of Reference Symbols 1 Wine bottle 38 Upper part 2 Bottle body 40 Starting body 4 Bettle neck 42 Circumferential edge of molded cap 6 Pouring opening d Inner diameter 8 Packing system 9 Bead 10 Crown cap 12 Bending lips 13 Teeth 14 Lip bead 16 Inher region 18 Sealing element 20 Lip bead 22 Covering cap 23 Cylindrical casing 24 Circumferential edge of the covering cap 26 Outer surface 28 Information carrier surface 30 Information carrier element 32 Snap-in locking edge 33 Inner surface 34 Ml61ded cap 36 C4psule

Claims (14)

1. Packing system (8) for a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or sparkling-wine bottle (1), with a crown cap (10) with which a covering cap (22) is associated, which is provided with a cylindrical casing (23) encircling the crown cap (10).

2. Packing system (8) as recited in Claim 1, wherein the covering cap (22) is dimensioned in such a manner that its circumferential edge (24) ends flush with the teeth (13)of the crown cap (10).

3. Packing system (8) as recited in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a snap-in locking edge (32) is integrally molded onto the circumferential edge (24) of the covering cap (22).

4. Packing system (8) as recited in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the covering cap (22) and the crown cap (10) are glued together.

5. Packing system (8) as recited in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the covering cap (22) is made of aluminium, tinplate or plastic.

6. Packing system (8) as recited in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the covering cap (22) is provided with an information carrier element (30).

7. Packing system (8) as recited in any of the preceding Claims, wherein for external packing of the crown cap (10) provided with the covering cap (22), a molded cap (34) and a capsule (36) encircling the molded cap jointly with a part of the bottle neck (4) are provided.

8. Packing system (8) as recited in Claim 7, wherein the inner diameter (d) of the molded cap (34) is adapted to the cylindrical casing (23) of the covering cap (22).

9. Packing system (8) as recited in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the molded cap (34) is dimensioned in such a manner that, in view of the dimensioning of the bottle neck (4), with a first circumferential lip bead (14) in the immediate vicinity of the pouring opening (6) and a second circumferential lip bead (20) arranged, as compared with the first one, at a slightly larger distance from the pouring opening, the impression of an upper-band mouth arises.

10. Beverage bottle, in particular wine or sparkling-wine bottle (1), closed with a packing system (8) as recited in Claims 1 to 9.

11. Method for packing a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or sparkling-wine bottle (1), as recited in Claim 10, wherein the covering cap (22)is slipped over a pouring opening (6) provided with the crown cap (10), the molded cap (34) is preassembled with a starting body (40) provided for forming the capsule (36) and then put over the pouring opening (6) provided with the covering cap (22) and the crown cap (10), the )30217T 12 starting body (40) for forming the capsule (36) being subsequently rolled or shrunk onto the molded cap (34) as well as the respective part of the bottle neck (4).

12. Method for packing a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or sparkling-wine bottle (1), as recited in Claim 10, wherein first of all the covering cap (22) and the molded cap (34) are preassembled into a starting body (40) provided for forming the capsule (36) and are subsequently put over a pouring opening (6) provided with the crown cap (10), the starting body (40) for forming the capsule (36) being afterwards rolled or shrunk onto the molded cap (34) as well as on a respective part of the bottleneck (4).

13. Method as recited in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the covering cap (22) and the crown cap (10) are connected with each other through a glue, in particular silicone.

14. Use of a covering cap (22) of a packing system (8) as recited in any of Claims 1 to 9 as an information carrier surface (28) for approval numbers, information of origin, such as coats of arms, bottler's name, place of bottling, or advertising, and others. Abstract Packing System for a Beverage Bottle, in particular a Wine or Sparkling-Wine Bottle, and Method for Packing a Beverage Bottle A packing system (8) based on a crown cap shall be modified in such a manner that the consumer maintains in all steps of opening a beverage bottle, in particular a wine or sparkling wine bottle (1), a high-quality impression of the bottle and its contents. For this purpose, a covering cap (22) provided with a cylindrical casing (23) encircling the crown cap (10) is associated with the crown cap (10). The covering cap (22) is dimen sioned in such a manner that its circumferential edge (24) ends flush with the teeth (13) of the crown cap (10). In a method particularly well suited for applying such a packing system (8) for packing the wine bottle (1), the covering cap (22) is slipped over a pouring opening (6) provided with the crown cap (10), the molded cap (34) is pre assembled with a starting body (40) provided for forming the capsule (36) and then put over the pouring opening (6) provided with the covering cap (22) and the crown cap (10), the starting body (40) for forming the capsule (36) being subsequently rolled or shrunk onto the molded cap (34) as well as the respective part of the bottle neck (4). Figure 5 END OF TRANSLATION