AU734479B2 - Airtight stopper - Google Patents

Description

71 1 la AIRTIGHT STOPPER OBJECT OF THE INVENTION As expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention relates to airtight stoppers.

Such stoppers are especially applicable to all types of carbonated beverages (champagne, sparkling wines, beer, carbonated drinks, etc.), having the purpose, aside from ensuring perfect closing that prevents accidental opening of the stopper by an accumulation of overpressure inside the container or vessel that closes, that the container can easily be closed again for subsequent use, until the contained liquid is consumed, without losing the gas, that is to say, without the gaseous content dissipating from the container.

In the specific case of champagne and sparkling wine, contained in bottles that are normally closed by a cork stopper (very costly), upon the stopper being replaced by the one that the invention proposes, effectiveness and greater economy are likewise achieved.

20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION **Spanish utility model no. 9,602,251 claimed a stopper of this type, which had an inside tubular wall for insertion in the mouth of the bottle or container, and another outside covering that was placed around the neck 25 of the container, having some through windows through which respective teeth of some radial tongues that could articulate in their connecting line with the top part of the outside covering itself, entered. Once these teeth that passed through the cited windows, they became housed under the ring-shaped projection conventionally provided for on the outside of the neck of the bottle or container, Tmaintaining the retaining position by means of a ring that moved axially in order to remain overlying the tongues, rJ preventing the teeth from coming out of their housing.

Spanish utility model no. 9,500,853 contemplates a ring-shaped seal with a central tubular rod that seals the mouth of the bottle and whose walls are provided with circular ribs, to provide greater airtightness. In the top part it has a ring-shaped flange from which descend some wings that are placed around the mouth of the bottle until the first recess where the stoppers are of another type normally fastened by different processes. This body of the stopper is completed with another top one that constitutes a ring that is connected by means of some tearable points, which break when the ring is pushed in the packaging operation to remain fitted blocking the descending wings of the bottom body, this airtight closing position remaining until it is not released again upon being moved in the opposite direction, or broken.

U.S. patents numbers 4,456,143, 5,314,084 and 5,522,518 also refer to stoppers and closing systems that reflect the prior art related to the patent of invention 20 applied for over which the latter provides outstanding advantages DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an o airtight stopper, for connection to containers or bottles 25 that contain carbonated beverages, the stopper including: :o:engaging means including S• a central neck for insertion in the bottle or the oo container; an outside covering; retaining means for retaining the engaging means on the container or bottle; a tubular portion extending from the engaging means in an axial direction away from the central neck, the tubular portion having a detachable ring-shaped part; and an outside ring-shaped stopping projection on the tubular portion; and a top cap adapted to releasably couple to the engaging means, the top cap including blocking means for blocking the retaining means on the container or bottle; a sealing ring; and a plurality of tongues axially directed from the cap, each tongue ending in a spear tip, wherein when the top cap is raised with respect to the engaging means to open the container or bottle, it is able to move in an axial path limited by the complementary engagement of the ring-shaped stopping projection and spear tips, allowing repeated opening and closing of the top cap with respect to the engaging means, and preventing :eg the accidental separation of the engaging means, and S* wherein the tongues are guided by the ring-shaped part.

20 Preferably, the cap includes a discoidal closing **surface, from the bottom of which originates the cylindrical wall or neck that is inserted inside the container to close its mouth, there being parallel to this e :cylindrical surface some tongues which in their inside 25 part support the teeth which are to remain retained in the ring-shaped recess of the neck of the bottle or container.

Precisely due to the presence of the contained gas, it is preferable that such lugs are kept blocked in order to prevent the accidental discharge of the stopper, which is achieved upon placing the cap in the correct position.

Preferably, the discoidal sealing surface of the RA4 stopper has at the top a tubular portion that has an outside ring-shaped projection in order to constitute the Sretaining means of the cap in the uppermost position of 4 the same, the cap being axially movable from a bottom closing and sealing position of the peripheral tongues, up to another top position that permits removal of the stopper, or the opening of the bottle or container.

Preferably, the cap has in the center a threaded axial projection for connection thereof in the threaded inside of the top tubular portion of the stopper itself.

Preferably, in a position coaxial to this threaded projection, there are other axial tongues whose ends finish in a spear tip, in a similar way that the retaining tongues have in the ring-shaped recess of the bottle neck, naturally emerging from the bottom of said cap. These tongues are duly guided in a ring-shaped part that forms part of the stopper itself, placed in the top part of the same and that keeps them in an axial position, preventing their deviation. These spear tipped projections will remain located between the discoidal surface of the .stopper itself and the ring-shaped projection of the top tubular portion of the same, determining the distance at 20 which these cited elements are located, the axial path of the cap.

eeoc The cap is placed in a closed position, first with a slight axial movement and then by screwing. In this position, the cap's ring-shaped flap surrounds the neck of 25 the container or bottle in order to ensure the sealing ooo0 thereof. The same thing happens when opening the bottle or container, in the initial breaking of the seal and the different times when the bottle is opened until the 0000 contained liquid is consumed. Naturally in the latter opening operations the sealing ring is detached or broken and the ring remains on the neck or is thrown away.

,RA Preferably, the ring-shaped part that keeps the tongues of the cap together, preventing them from coming ,u off the ring-shaped tooth of the top tubular portion of the stopper itself, is connected to the rest of the stopper by easily breakable portions, this breaking taking place in the initial assembly of the stopper, in the bottling factory. Preferably, this ring-shaped part is formed in the injection moulding process itself of the stopper itself and advantageously the easily breakable ribs or portions emerge from the edge of the tooth or ring-shaped projection of the outside of the top tubular portion or neck of the stopper itself, these ribs breaking when sealing itself takes place upon axially introducing the cap.

Forward and backward movement of the cap with regard to the main body of the stopper, which happens by means of screwing, can also be achieved more effectively by providing retaining tongues, formed by axial cuts in the outside covering of the main body, whose outside periphery is fitted with a thread that connects with the one existing on the inside edge of the cap.

S. In the last embodiment referred to the sealing ring remains connected to the cap where the threaded area ends and the inviolability is ensured due to the fact that it remains retained by its bottom edge on the neck itself of the bottom or container.

:BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the S"accompanying drawings in which: o Figure 1 is an exploded section view of the two component parts of the stopper of the invention.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are respective sequential views of the connection between both component parts of the same T stopper of figure 1.

IFigure 5 is a bottom view of figure 4.

Figure 6 is the subsequent assembly position of the two component parts of the stopper.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of figure 6, corresponding to the position of the cap that allows removal of the stopper from the container or bottle, once the sealing ring has been broken.

Figure 8 is a section view that shows in an exploded manner the two component parts of the airtight seal of the invention, also showing in an exploded manner a portion of the neck of the bottle or container containing the carbonated beverage.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal raised section view of the same stopper of figure 8, now coupled to the bottle and with the guarantee seal that ensures the inviolability of the contents.

~Figure 10 is a view similar to figure 9, once the cap has been unscrewed in order to proceed to break the seal and subsequently open the stopper by axial traction of the assembly, this position in which the airtight closing of the container being able to take place again.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Making reference to the numbering used in the e figures, we can see how the airtight stopper, which the 25 invention proposes, just as it is more especially shown in oo figure 1, *o 6 includes a part that materializes the stopper itself (1) that fits on the neck of the bottle or container, and the independent part materialized by the cap supporting the sealing ring The stopper is comprised by the discoidal surface from which descends coaxially the cylindrical neck (6) that fits inside the mouth of the bottle or container On the periphery of this discoidal surface there are axial lugs and distributed in the way shown in figure 5. The axial lugs have an inside projection (9) that fits in the outside ring-shaped recess of the neck of the bottle or container as one can clearly see in figure 1.

Above the discoidal surface of the stopper itself the tubular portion (10) is provided with a bottom thread (11) and an outside ring-shaped projection (12) with stop functions for the movement of the cap as we will see hereinafter. In the top part of the tubular portion there is the ring-shaped part (13) connected to the rest of the stopper by the breakable ribs (14).

On its part, the cap has the threaded axial projection (15) to connect the thread (11) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper itself, also having some axial lugs (16) provided on their free end with a spear tip (17).

The enveloping cylindrical wall is referred to as number (18) and on its free edge there is the sealing ring (4) connected by the breakable ribs (19).

With this arrangement, in the bottling' factory the initial sealing of the container or bottle is proceeded with by placing the stopper itself as is seen in figure i. Hereinafter, the cap is assembled as shown in figures 2, 3, 4 and 6. One can see in figure 3 how the spear tipped ends (17) of the axial lugs (16) of the cap abut against the sloped bevel edge of the ring-shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper

A

7 itself springing elastically in order to remain behind it as one can see in figure 4. The axial tongues (16) cannot be radially separated because it is prevented by the ring-shaped part (13) that remains placed between them and the covering (18) of the cap. In the initial assembly of the cap the tearable ribs (14) of this ring-shaped part (13) break, and the same moves ending up contacting with the discoidal surface of the stopper itself when the cap is totally assembled, as indicated in figure 6.

In figure 6 one can also see how the sealing ring (4) of the cap remains retained by the axial lugs of the stopper the complementary threaded areas of the tubular portion (10) and of the axial projection (15) also being interconnected. The outside covering (18) of the cap firmly surrounds the tongues and of the stopper itself forcing the inside projections of the axial tongues to remain in the inside of the ringshaped recess of the bottle or container not being able to come off although the pressure rises in the inside of the bottle.

In these conditions shown in figure 6, when the bottle or container is opened, an operation that is done by unscrewing the cap first of all the axial ribs (19) of the sealing ring break and then the cap rises until the spear tipped projections (17) of the axial tongues (16) of the same, abut against the ring-shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper itself in the highest point of its path, which coincides with the end of the thread. Upon the retaining tongues remaining released, one can proceed with the total separation of the stopper from the bottle or container Thus one can proceed to open and close the container repeatedly given that, although the sealing ring has been broken, once the cap is screwed back completely, a position similar 8 to figure 6 is reached inasmuch as the lugs are covered by the covering preventing the stopper from being able to accidentally come off.

Making special reference to figures 8 to 10, we can see a second embodiment of the structure of the airtight stopper, where the references that designate the common modified elements are accompanied by the suffix I'll (prime). The outside covering of the main body of the stopper, coaxial to the cylindrical neck sealing the contents of the bottle has a plurality of axial cuts to form the retaining tongues (20) or tongues identical to each other and that have the inside projection (21) that is housed in the ring-shaped recess (22) of the outside of the neck of the bottle Reference designates the ring-shaped part that groups the axial tongues (16) of the cap, in the assembled condition of the assembly.

The cap has the side wall and a top wall (23) or bottom of the same. The sealing ring is referred to in this case as and it is connected to the edge of the side wall by means of some axial breakable ribs that define the frangible line The cylindrical neck that emerges from the bottom (23) is smooth and fits telescopically in the tubular portion of the main body which can be smooth although in this illustrated embodiment it has a helicoidal ridge to optimize guiding.

The cap has inside thread (25) with various ridges and that connect with the thread existing on the outside of all the retaining tongues (20) of the main body this thread being referred to as number When the unscrewing finishes, the cap can idle, although overcoming a certain resistance.

With this arrangement, in the packaging factory the container or bottle is initially closed with the stopper itself or the main body or so that the cylindrical neck seals the neck of the bottle then assembling the cap or 0so that the assembly adopts the position shown in figure 9, taking place in this axial movement: the pulling of the ring-shaped part (13), or by breaking the axial ribs (14) upon the tongues (16) of the cap impinging on them, or else, by the pressure exerted by the edge of the small partitions (27) existing between them and the side wall of the cap upon pressing on the top edge of said ring-shaped part (13, the location of the threaded portion (25) of the cap on the outside thread (26) of the retaining tongues and the correct location of the sealing ring with regard to the profile of the neck of the bottle. As one can see in figure 9, the tongues (16) of the cap have surpassed the ring-shaped rib (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the main body and are situated in the inside of the ring-shaped part In this same axial movement, the cylindrical neck of the inside of the cap is inserted tightly inside the top tubular portion of the main body The stopper assembly hermetically and securely closes the mouth of the container or bottle given that the bottom edge of the cap hides and blocks the retaining tongues (20) (or axial lugs provided with the projection of the embodiment corresponding to figures 1 to preventing removal of the stopper.

When the seal of the container is broken, that is to say, when the stopper is opened for the first time, upon unscrewing the cap the axial ribs of the sealing ring break and this ring remains resting on the neck of the container or bottle as one can see in figure 10. The unscrewing takes place until the inside projections (17) of the tongues (16) of the cap knock against the-ring- 7 shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion of the m-in-body(-l'), this position wh-i-ch- corresponds with the one shown in figure 10 and very similar to the one shown in figure 7, although in the latter case detachment of the sealing ring takes place upon remaining retained in the other tongues that are inserted between the retainers The two component parts of the stopper cannot be totally separated because the tongues (16) are deprived of angular movement towards the outside due to the existence of the ring-shaped part (13, 13') that blocks them in this direction and therefore the ring-shaped dentation (12) cannot be surpassed.

The separation of the stopper upon opening the bottle, is produced by axial traction since the retaining tongues or can open angularly towards the outside so__ that their projections 21) come out of-h-6-ri:ng-shaped recess (22) of the neck task which is facilitated by the sloped arrangement of the top or inside part of said projections.

If the sparkling contents of the bottle has not been consumed in the same position in which the stopper assembly has been removed, the bottle is closed by axial pressure until the position of figure 10 is occupied again.

Then the screwing on of the cap up to the stop is then proceeded with and thus the retaining tongues (20) are blocked, thus preventing accidental opening thereof, as if the seal on the bottle had not been broken for the first time, these operations being possible as many times as necessary until the entire liquid content has been consumed, without reducing the proposed characteristics of airtightness and secure closing.

As one can see in figure 9, the sealing ring before the seal is broken, occupies a position that ensures Inviolability due to the fact that it remains retained by its bottom edge on the neck and when the cap is unscrewed, the axial ribs that comprise the frangible line 3 (24) unavoidably broken. The effectiveness of the closing is carried out due to the close fitting and interconnection the broadest part of the stopper, between the cap and the retaining tongues (20) that remain pressed and blocked against the neck of the bottle Undesired lateral movement and above all a fraudulent operation of trying to separate the stopper assembly from the container are prevented, due to the above mentioned close fitting, as well as to the penetration of the sealing neck into the inside of the neck, and due to the telescopic fitting in the top part of the stopper, between the cap and the main body or stopper itself upon the respective telescopic parts and sliding tightly, which is also contributed to by the sliding fit of the top tongues (16) between the ring-shaped part and the cylindrical portion as one can infer upon observing this figure 9 which we are considering.

The movement of the cap (31) with regard to the stopper itself is carried out as it has been .0:0 20 indicated above by screwing or unscrewing the cap, which e ."takes place simply by turning a fourth of a turn, since the thread system, as shown in figure 8, has in this case multiple ridges.

2 It is to be understood that, if any reference to :99 25 prior art is made herein, such reference does not o constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of ooo.

the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (5)

1. 3. Airtight stopper, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap has a threaded axial projection for connection in the inside of the threaded inside of the tubular portion of the main body of the stopper.
2. 4. Airtight stopper, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inside edge of the cap is provided with a thread that connects with the one existing on the outside of all the retaining tongues that emerge from the main body of the stopper.
3. 5. Airtight stopper, according to claim 4, sees *0 characterized in that said thread has several ridges, 0 20 which enables it to precisely achieve the blocking and release positions of the retaining tongues with a quarter turn.
4. 6. Airtight stopper, according to claim 4 or characterized in that the axial path of the cap is guided 25 during the forward and backward movement by the thread, by .00: S: the cylindrical tubular portion that emerges from the top part of the stopper itself and that fits telescopically in a top neck that emerges from the bottom of the cap.
5. 7. Airtight stopper substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -Dated this 4 th day of April 2001 I DISENO INDUSTRIAL MAGO, S.L. U By their Patent Attorneys 3'GRIFFITH HACK