AU6124900A - Closure for a liquid container - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

p p p p COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Closure for a liquid container The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Freehills Carter Smith BeadleMELC600370817.6 CD/00368711.6 1A CLOSURE FOR A LIQUID CONTAINER The present invention relates to closures for liquid containers. In one aspect, the present invention relates to stoppers for bottles, particularly wine bottles, produced from a thermoplastic elastomer which includes a styrene block copolymer.

The most commonly used material for making stopper-type bottle closures is natural cork. There are, however, significant disadvantages to using cork in the S"manufacture and marketing of bottle closures. Cork has variable properties with respect to colour, drying, shrinkage or expansion, crumbling, sticking to containers 10 and seal formation. These features are generally unsatisfactory in terms of production and consumer costs as well as product performance. In the case of wine closures, cork may also impart an odour to the product, causing it to be rejected by consumers. In addition, nearly 10% of bottled wine is discarded because of unpredictable contamination by mold from natural cork. Further, the 15 use of cork for producing bottle closures is becoming increasingly expensive as the supply of trees from which cork is obtained rapidly diminishes.

Numerous attempts have been made to develop alternatives to natural cork bottle stoppers. Among these, screw top closures for wine containers have been found largely unsuitable because they do not provide the appearance, ceremony or romance that surrounds traditional cork wine closures. A number of synthetic cork closures have also been developed. In particular, recent efforts to develop closures from injection molded foam thermoplastics have encountered numerous pitfalls, particularly in terms of production costs, product performance, and consumer acceptance. Some of these closures have exhibited a tendency to noticeably taint the product and/or offer low resistance to oxygen permeation into the container. In addition, synthetic closures from foam thermoplastics have generally exhibited poor uniformity in terms of size, shape, weight and other features important to production, marketing and performance.

In a particular case of injection molding of foam thermoplastic closures for liquid containers, thermoplastic compositions are injected into relatively cool CD/00368711.6 2 molds, leading to the formation of a dense outer "skin" at the surface of the closure and a porous, foam-like interior. The composition of the closure and the structural relationship between the outer skin and porous core of the closure may be critical to the sealing capabilities of the finished closure. Other foam thermoplastic closures have suffered problems due to wrinkling of the outer skin layer, which can produce leakage fissures between the closure and the container.

Other prior art closures have different sealing problems, for example, failing to quickly return to normal size after compression, such that reliable seal formation requires containers to be kept in an upright position for an extended period after S" 10 insertion of the closure. Further, prior art closures are unable to significantly retain printed matter for a significant period of time.

United States Patent No 4,363,849 discloses the production of thermoplastic closures having a natural cork-like appearance. Special molding apparatus are used, however, and it is necessary to gradually release the air in logo 15 the cold molding cavity that is displaced by the injected thermoplastic resinous material by means of controlled minimum venting or other means in order to •maintain a heightened pressure, for example about 16,000 psi, within the mold.

United States Patent No. 4,188,457 discloses a thermoplastic composition that is also used to form closures for wine bottles. The thermoplastic composition 20 includes sulfur dioxide and water, and sulfur dioxide is said to act as an oxygen scavenger. This method is undesirable, however, because the sulfur dioxide or the metabisulphite from which it is produced may taint the liquid in the closure.

We have now found a synthetic closure for a liquid container containing wine which ameliorates some of the above mentioned difficulties which arise from prior art closures.

According to the present invention, there is provided a closure for a wine bottle formed from components including a thermoplastic elastomer, which includes a styrene block copolymer.

Preferably the closure of the invention is formed from components including: CD/00368711.6 3 a thermoplastic elastomer, which includes a styrene block copolymer, and a blowing agent.

More preferably, there is provided a closure for insertion into the neck of a wine bottle containing wine formed from components including a thermoplastic elastomer containing a styrene block copolymer; and a blowing agent, *0 wherein the closure returns to at least 90% of its original diameter 10 substantially immediately after being released from a compressed state.

The term thermoplastic elastomer is used in the art and in the present specification to refer to synthetic high polymers that soften when exposed to heat and return to their original condition when cooled to room temperature. Hence the closures of the invention are synthetic closures which include a specific type of 15 thermoplastic elastomer, that is, the synthetic closures of the invention are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer which includes a styrene block copolymer.

In a preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer comprises one or more of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer a styrenebutadiene-styrene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, and a styreneisoprene-styrene copolymer. Most preferably the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer. The inclusion of a styrenic block copolymer, and particularly SEBS, is especially advantageous in the closure (especially when the closure is a wine cork) because such copolymers provide superior properties to the closure when compared to other thermoplastic elastomers. Many of these copolymers are available under the tradename KRATON®. In a still further preferred embodiment, the styrenic block copolymer is SEBS. Examples of such SEBS copolymers include J-VON®, DYNAFLEX GS6771-000 AND DYNAFLEX GX67681000, which possess desirable ozone and heat resistance for a long service life. In addition, such SEBS copolymers are CD/00368711.6 4 resistant to water, bases, acids, and alcohol. J-VON® is commercially available from J. Von Ltd. Partnership, Leominster, Massachusetts; DYNAFLEX GS6771- 000 and GX67681000 are available from CC&P, Portland, Oregon.

The blowing agent which may be used as a component in the composition used to form the closure of the invention generally comprises greater than 1% of the composition, and typically comprises a range that includes at least about 1.4% or 2.0% of the composition, and less than about 4.0% or of the composition. Preferably, the blowing agent comprises from about S- 1.3% to about 3% of the composition, typically from about 1.5% to about 10 and preferably about 2% of the composition. The precise amount of blowing agent used may be determined by one skilled in the art taking into account the precise polymer, blowing agent, and other ingredients used, as well as the conditions under which the closure is formed. The use of too much blowing agent will 9*g9 generally result in a closure that has excessively large cells in its interior, thus eeoo 15 causing the closure to be overly spongy and potentially inconsistent during production. The use of too little blowing agent will generally result in a closure that does not have enough cells or inadequately sized cells. Such closures can be too hard for routine removal using a corkscrew, among other problems.

In a preferred embodiment, the blowing agent is Spectratech FM1150H, which is commercially available from Quantum Chemical Corp., US Division, Cincinatti, Ohio. SpectratechTM FM1150H is a polyolefin-based compound consisting of low-density polyethylene based endothermic foam concentrate, comprising 50% of resin of the formula CH 3

-(CH

2 )n-CH 3 and 50% of a combination of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 and citric acid. The beneficial qualities of Spectratech T M FM1150H include rapid degassing, improved cycle times, improved density distribution, and superior surfaces for molded articles, Other suitable blowing agents such as azodicarbonamide, ozodecarbonoxide, and sodium bicarbonate also may be used. Still other blowing agents mrnay be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As indicated above, the specific blowing agent and the amount of blowing agent used may be determined by one skilled in the art. It will also be evident to CD/00368711.6 the skilled artisan that while the blowing agent may be used in making the synthetic closures of the invention, depending on the blowing agent used, the blowing agent may not be present in its original form in the finished synthetic closure product. For example, blowing agents such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, azodicarbonamide and ozodecarbonoxide decompose during processing in order to effect blowing. Hence the finished synthetic closure product may contain residual blowing agent, may not contain the original blowing agent, or may contain decomposition products from the blowing agent. Hence the synthetic closures of the invention may include a thermoplastic elastomer wherein 10 the thermoplastic elastomer includes a styrene block copolymer.

Advantageously, the closure can function as a suitable replacement for natural cork wherein it is possible to control the size, shape, surface texture, surface lubricity, resilience, elasticity, density distribution, and aesthetic **appearance of the closure.

15 Accordingly, the present invention features a closure for a liquid container, preferably a wine bottle, formed from a thermoplastic elastomer including a styrene block copolymer and a blowing agent in a ratio suitable to provide a closure able to close a bottle of wine, thereby preventing spillage, and able to S"prevent passage of oxygen from the atmosphere to the wine, while simultaneously not substantially absorbing oxygen from the wine or the air space within the bottle between the closure and the wine. The closure has the ability to be removed with a corkscrew without substantial expansion, crumbling or disintegration (such expansion, crumbling or disintegration either causes the wine to become generally unpalatable and/or render the closure unusable).

It is possible to print on the closure, including on the surface of the closure that contacts the container, and the container can be placed on its side immediately after the closure is inserted in the container. Advantageously, in respect of closures for wine bottles, the closure also has the ability to be used over an extended period (suitable for the wine to properly age to reach an appropriate drinkability, which can be about two years or more), and the ability to CD/00368711.6 6 resist solvation in alcohol, acid or base, thereby keeping the wine free from tainting. Preferably, the closure further comprises one or more of a lubricant, a colouring agent, a filler, or other additives that can improve the performance and/or producibility of the closures. The closure does not, for example, include an oxygen scavenger, such as sulfur dioxide, which has been used in the past to increase the impermeability of synthetic corks, but which can taint the wine.

The closure may be formed from a composition comprising one or more thermoplastic elastomers and one or more blowing agents. The durometer .measurement of the closure, which is effectively an indirect measure of the hardness of the thermoplastic elastomer used to make the closure, is generally from about 65A to about 90A, typically from about 70A to about 85A, and preferably from about 71A or 75A to about 80A. The thermoplastic elastomer generally comprises from about 70% to about 97% of the composition, typically from about 80% to about 95%, and preferably from about 90% to about 95% of the composition (unless otherwise noted, all percentages herein are by volume).

The thermoplastic elastomer exhibits little or no interaction with, or tainting of, *.liquids such as wine. The thermoplastic elastomer also has a suitable force of compression for improved sealability and long service life. The thermoplastic elastomer is easily processed, enabling fast cycle times and high production rates.

20 Further, selected thermoplastic elastomers meet FDA requirements for indirect food additives intended to come in contact with food.

In another embodiment, one or more fillers may be used in combination with the thermoplastic elastomer and other added materials. For example, the filler may comprise calcium carbonate. If such a filler is used, it comprises up to about 20% or more of the composition, but preferably up to about 5% of the composition. Using such a filler can economise material expenditures. Other filler materials are apparent to those skilled in the art.

In another embodiment of the present invention, powder or liquid pigments are added to the mixture of thermoplastic elastomer and other materials. The powder or liquid pigments generally comprise about 1% of the total composition.

Preferably, the pigment is pre-blended with a thermoplastic resinous material such CD/00368711.6 7 as polypropylene, and/or a portion of the thermoplastic elastomer before its addition to the main feedstock of thermoplastic elastomer and other materials.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises about 96% thermoplastic elastomer, about 2% blowing agent, about 2% low density polypropylene, and a minor percentage of a desired pigment. In a further preferred embodiment, the pigment, the polypropylene and about 2% of the thermoplastic elastomer are pre-blended, then introduced as a homogenous mixture to the remaining thermoplastic elastomer and blowing agent. In an alternative preferred •embodiment, wherein the composition further comprises a filler, the composition 10 comprises from about 75% to about 95% thermoplastic elastomer, from about 1.5% to about 2.5% blowing agent, and up to about 20% filler.

In yet another preferred embodiment, a lubricant such as a fatty acid, a silicone, alcohol or water (including mineral water) is added, which may ease insertion of the closure into a container. Preferably, the lubricant is a fatty acid, and comprises less than about 0.5% of the total composition.

o• The closure may have a rounded edge, or radius, which is preferably convex. Preferably, the radius is on both edges (ie. the top and bottom) of the :closure. Such a radius allows easier and more effective insertion of the closure into a container (particularly a wine bottle), allows the closure to maintain a more uniform exterior surface when the closure is placed within a container, and is believed to assist in the ability of the closure to permit a container to be placed on its side substantially immediately after insertion of the closure.

It is a feature of the present invention that the closure can permanently retain printed matter on the surface of the molded closure, preferably the surface that contacts the container. The surface of prior closures is typically very slick and therefore unable to effectively receive or retain such printed matter. Further, the closure, subsequent to forming, may be preferably subjected to a treatment to prepare the surface for printing. The treatment may comprise subjecting the closure to high intensity electromagnetic radiation, and preferably in the visible light range or near the visible light range (eg. U.V. light). One example of such a CD/00368711.6 8 treatment is known as a corona pre-treatment, which is a standard treatment in the printing industry. The treatment is preferably performed prior to printing, but can be performed after printing.

It is yet another feature of the present invention that a container, such as a wine bottle, can be placed horizontally generally within about 4 hours, typically within about 1 hour, and preferably substantially immediately after receiving a closure produced according to the present invention. It is believed that this property of the closure is attained because the inventive composition permits the closure to achieve an interior cell size that causes the closure to return to at least 10 about 90% of its original diameter within about 4 to about 5 seconds after being released from a compressed state. It is also believed that the inclusion of a radius edge on the closure advantageously aids this property of the closure.

Accordingly, after the closure is compressed and inserted into the container, the closure returns to approximately its normal size within from about 4 to about 5 seconds, thereby allowing the container to be immediately placed horizontally without spilling the contents of the container and without interfering with the seal between the closure and the container. For example, when the container is a wine bottle, it does not need a standing period before being racked.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, one or more other materials may also be added to the overall composition, including chemical blowing agent activators and other additives that can improve the producibility and/or performance of the closures. For example, if desired, a material can be added that can enhance the aroma and/or flavour of the liquid in the container.

It is known in the art that thermoplastic elastomers containing a styrene block copolymer, that is thermoplastic elastomers from which the synthetic closures of the invention are made, are able to flow. Hence such thermoplastic elastomers may be melt processed and shaped or formed in conventional thermoplastic processing equipment, such as, for example, conventional injection molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, solution casting and calendaring processing equipment. Preferably the synthetic closures of the invention are CD/00368711.6 9 shaped by molding and are molded synthetic closures.

It is a further feature of the present invention that the molded closure may be created using standard injection molding procedures.

In one example of the molding process, the bulk of the materials of the composition are thoroughly mixed to provide a uniform feedstock. The feedstock is next processed to be suitable for injection into an injection mold. In another vessel, pigment, polypropylene and a small portion of the thermoplastic elastomer (preferably SEBS compound) are mixed to homogeneity. The prepared feedstock the pigment bearing mixture are then injected into the mold, generally over a 10 period of from about 0.02 to about 6 seconds, typically from about 0.03 to about 2 seconds, and preferably from about 0.04 to 1 second. The mold has a desired shape, which preferably is the shape of a wine cork. The molding pressure is generally from about 200 psi to about 900 psi, typically from about 300 psi to about 800 psi, and preferably from about 400 psi to about 700 psi. The molding temperature is generally from about 300 F to about 550 F, typically from about 3259 F to about 425 F and preferably from about 350 F to about 400 F, and further preferably about 375- F. The mixture is generally maintained in the mold from about 20 seconds to about 90 seconds, typically from about 30 seconds to about 80 seconds, and preferably from about 35 seconds to about 60 seconds.

Further preferably, the molding is performed as quickly as possible. Further, no special venting is required.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is injected into the mold at a rate and temperature such that the softened or molten composition randomly coils about in the mold, much like a string being lowered into a bottle, to produce visible random curling along the surface of the molded closure, as depicted in Figure 1.

In an alternative embodiment, the composition is injected at a rate and temperature such that random curling is avoided.

Further, the air in the mold at the beginning of a mold cycle is preferably removed from the mold by means of a vacuum assist coordinated with the CD/00368711.6 injection of the composition. The vacuum assist can be applied for about the last second of the injection period, or it may be first applied after the end of the injection period. Applying the vacuum assist too early in the injection period may result in overly large cell spaces within the molded closure, yielding an overly spongy product. Failure to use a vacuum assist may result in increased cycle times.

After a time period sufficient for the overall composition to effectively harden within the mold, the mold is opened and the molded closure is removed.

.00:*0 Molding times, pressures, venting, cooling, vacuum assisting, product 10 removal and other factors relevant to injection molding will be based upon the .:*.precise combination of materials included in the overall composition, the type, size and shape of the mold, and other factors apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.

••go The closure of the present invention is preferably molded in the shape of a cork sized to fit a wine bottle. It has a substantial uniformity of size, shape and weight and is aesthetically pleasing. Its appearance may be distinctive from the look of natural cork by virtue of the present invention's artificial colouring, marbled :surface texture, and ability to have a symbol embossed on its surface, preferably at one or both of its ends. In addition, the closure may be readily inserted into liquid containers using standard bottling equipment, and is easily removed using a traditional corkscrew without sticking, crumbling or subsequent expansion.

Because the molded closure of the invention does not expand upon removal, it may be re-inserted into the liquid container, thereby reclosing the container when it is not fully emptied. The molded closure may also be contacted with liquid contents in the container immediately after insertion, thereby removing the need for a waiting period to allow for formation of a proper seal between the molded closure and the container before the container is placed horizontally. The molded closure can also permanently retain printed matter.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawing.

CD/00368711.6 11 It is a feature of the present invention that the mold, preferably at one or both ends, can have embossed thereon a desired symbol such as a crest of a wine cellar or lettering, and that such embossed symbol will be imparted to the cork.

Advantageously the molded closure for liquid containers comprising a thermoplastic elastomer ("thermoplastic elastomer") and a blowing agent that, when fitted into a liquid container, offers high resistance to oxygen permeation and produces little or no product tainting. The molded closure can also be produced for non-liquid containers.

10 The molded closure may advantageously be readily fabricated into suitable closures for liquid containers, for example, wine bottles. Such closures advantageously may have essentially all of the desirable qualities of natural cork but preferably none of the undesirable features.

Figure 1 depicts a molded closure suitable for a wine bottle, the molded 15 closure evidencing a marbled surface texture, an embossed symbol on an end,

BOO•

printing on its side, and a radius at its edge.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (3)

1. A closure for insertion into the neck of a wine bottle containing wine formed from components including a thermoplastic elastomer containing a styrene block copolymer; and a blowing agent, wherein the closure returns to at least 90% of its original diameter substantially immediately after being released from a compressed state.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer 10 includes one or more of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, styrene- butadiene-styrene copolymer, and a styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer.

3. A closure according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer includes a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer. *o 15 Supreme Corq By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 22 September 2000