EP0056320A1 - Procédé et dispositif pour boucher des bouteilles modifiées utilisant un dispositif de bouchage en une pièce - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour boucher des bouteilles modifiées utilisant un dispositif de bouchage en une pièce Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0056320A1
EP0056320A1 EP19820300107 EP82300107A EP0056320A1 EP 0056320 A1 EP0056320 A1 EP 0056320A1 EP 19820300107 EP19820300107 EP 19820300107 EP 82300107 A EP82300107 A EP 82300107A EP 0056320 A1 EP0056320 A1 EP 0056320A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bottle
ring
tether
stopper
corking
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP19820300107
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0056320B1 (fr
Inventor
Efim Zaltsman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Monarch Wine Co Inc
Original Assignee
Monarch Wine Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Monarch Wine Co Inc filed Critical Monarch Wine Co Inc
Publication of EP0056320A1 publication Critical patent/EP0056320A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0056320B1 publication Critical patent/EP0056320B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D39/0005—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in one piece
    • B65D39/0017—Injection-molded plastic closures for "Champagne"- or "Sekt"-type bottles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D39/00—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/16—Devices preventing loss of removable closure members

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to stoppering bottles with pressurized, carbonated, water-based liquid contents and, more particularly, to a plastic one-piece corking means for stoppering bottles with elongated necks having two annular flanges on said neck close to the mouth.
  • United States patent specification 3,986,627 describes a stoppering system for bottles and discloses a cap portion which is attached to a securing ring on the bottle through a flexible bridging member. The cap portion is not inserted into the neck of the bottle.
  • United States patent specification 4,054,221 also discloses a capping device in which the cap is attached to a ring on the bottle by a strap portion. This patent, as did the foregoing, discloses a stoppering device that is not inserted into the neck of the bottle.
  • United States patent specification 773,345 discloses a multi-part stoppering system in which the cork portion is attached to a loop around the bottle neck via a chain or wire.
  • United States patent specification 1,265,263 discloses a stoppering system in which a cork portion is secured to a bottle via a rope or wire loop system. This is a multi-part device.
  • British patent specification No. 15267 discloses a multi-part corking device in which the cork is secured to the bottle via a chain.
  • West German patent specification No. 2,200,857 also discloses a multi-part corking device in which the cork portion is secured to the bottle neck via a tether.
  • Swiss patent specification No. 338,108 discloses a bottle stoppering system in which a cap portion is secured to a bottle via a tether. This stoppering system utilizes a capping, and not a corking device.
  • the tether extends horizontally outward of the outer surface of the bottle.
  • the corking device is of a one-piece plastic construction.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive closure arrangement of the character described.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a closure arrangement of the character described which is capable of being easily inventoried.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for closing bottles whose contents are liquid, water-based, pressurized and carbonated, which allows inexpensive, efficient stoppering of such bottles.
  • a closure arrangement for stoppering bottles with pressurized, carbonated, water-based liquid contents which consists of a bottle having an elongated neck portion, a mouth portion, a body portion, two axially spaced annular flanges on the neck portion adjacent to the mouth portion, and a one-piece corking means for stoppering said bottle.
  • the corking means has an annular ring which is receivable between the annular flanges of the neck portion, a stoppering portion which is receivable within the mouth portion, an elongated flexible tether which is in a folded state prior to the corking of the bottle and which is capable of unfolding slightly as the bottle is corked and further unfolding as the bottle is opened, and a plurality of frangible bridges which connect the stoppering . portion to the ring in order to hold the parts of the corking means in proper alignment with one another before assembly on the bottle neck so as to efficiently stopper the bottle.
  • Another feature of the present invention resides in forming the flexible elongated tether so that it does not extend beyond the external periphery of the annular ring. In this manner, wiring of the bottles, which is standard practice for bottles with pressurized contents, is facilitated as is also the storing of large numbers of stoppered bottles.
  • a further feature of the invention resides in the connection between the corking means and the bottle provided by the flexible tether in its unfolded condition which prevents possible injury from a cork forcefully propelled out of a bottle.
  • Still a further feature of this invention resides in an apparatus for stoppering bottles of the character described with a corking means of the character described.
  • the stoppering apparatus has a means for holding the corking means in proper position and orientation above an opened bottle and a driving means for driving the stoppering portion into the mouth portion of the bottle and for concomitantly forcing the annular ring between the two annular flanges.
  • the reference numeral 10 denotes the corking means of the present invention.
  • the corking means 10 is used to stopper bottles 12 with pressurized, carbonated, water-based.liquid contents.
  • the bottles 12 are discussed in detail hereinafter but generally consist of a body portion (not pictured); an elongated home portion 14 with two annular flanges 16, 18 thereon;- and a mouth.portion 20, the flanges being parallel to one another, close to one another and near the mouth portion.
  • the corking means 10 is a one-piece moulded plastic unit constructed of elastomeric material.
  • the corking means is constructed of a high density polyethylene, but any other appropriate elastomeric material may be used.
  • the corking means includes an elongated stopper 22.
  • the stopper 22 is capable of being inserted with frictional engagement into the mouth portion 20 of the bottle 12.
  • the stopper 22 is generally cylindrical.
  • the stopper portion has on it a plurality of integral concentric annular ribs 24. The ribs 24 increase the amount of friction between the stopper 22 and the mouth portion 20 thereby providing a tighter closure for the bottle 12. They also improve the seal effected by the stopper.
  • the corking means 10 also has an enlarged head portion 26 which is integral to the stopper 22.
  • the head is provided with evenly spaced longitudinal wedges 28.
  • the wedges 28 provide a user with a better grip on the head portion 26 at the time the corking means 10 is removed from the bottle 12.
  • the corking means 10 is further provided with an annular circumferential ring 30.
  • the annular circumferential ring 30 is dimensioned and shaped for snug reception between the two annular flanges 16, 18 of the neck portion 14 of the bottle 12.
  • the annular circumferential ring is positioned and spaced below the head portion 26 and is concentric with the stopper 22; it is parallel to the lower surface of the head portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stopper.
  • the corking means 10 has a flexible, slender elongated tether 32.
  • One end 34 of the tether 32 is integrally connected to the bottom of the head portion 26 and the other end 36 of the tether 32 is integrally connected to the top of the annular circumferential ring 30.
  • the tether 32 is in a folded state before the corking means 10 is inserted in the bottle 12. In other words, the length of the folded tether 32 is substantially greater than the distance between ends 34 and 36.
  • the tether 32 serves to join the head 26 to the ring 30.
  • the reaches of the folded tether are disposed in the space between the head and the ring and are oriented circumferentially of the longitudinal axis of the stopper at a radius approximately to that of the ring.
  • the corking means Prior to insertion in the bottle, the corking means includes a plurality of frangible bridges 38 which connect the bottom of the head 26 to the top of the ring 30.
  • the frangible bridges break when the annular ring 30 is forced between the two flanges 16, 18 as best shown in FIGs. 5, 6, 7, and 9.
  • the bottle 12 whose contents are pressurized and carbonated as mentioned heretofore has a mouth portion 20, a body portion (not depicted) and a neck portion 14 with two annular flanges 16 and 18 thereon.
  • the two annular flanges 16 and 18 are relatively axially proximate. Further, flanges 16 and 18 are circumferential and squat. The flanges 16 and 18 are spaced apart longitudinally of the neck portion 14 and lie adjacent to the mouth portion 20.
  • the bottle 12 may be made of any appropriate material. As the bottle will contain pressurized, carbonated contents, the bottle 12 must be constructed so that it can withstand the pressure of the contents. Further as the contents of the bottle will usually be champagne, the bottle in a preferred embodiment is made of a coloured glass and is shaped and constructed to augment the feelings of celebration and wealth that people usually associate with champagne consumption.
  • the diameter of the upper annular neck flange 16 is slightly greater than the diameter of the lower annular neck flange 18. Further, the inner diameter of the annular ring 30 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the upper annular neck flange 16. In a preferred embodiment the outer diameter of the upper annular neck'flange 16 is about one millimeter more than the outer diameter of the lower annular neck flange 18 and the inner diameter of the annular ring 30 is about 1.5 millimeters less than the outer diameter of the upper annular neck flange 16. The inner diameter of the annular ring 30 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lower annular neck flange 16.
  • this respective dimensioning of the two annular neck flanges 16 and 18 and the annular ring 30 permits the annular ring 30 to be pushed down mechanically over the upper neck flange, expanding as it does so, and then constrict and come to rest between the two neck flanges 16 and 18 and further permits the annular ring 30 to be reversibly releasable from its position between the two flanges 16 and 18 by manual pressure in a downward direction to expand over the lower neck flange. This is desirable to facilitate pouring of the bottle contents after removal of the stopper from the bottle 12.
  • the neck portion 14 of the bottle 12 is straight in shape for a few inches and then flares outwardly at a small angle. In a preferred embodiment the neck portion 14 is straight for approximately two to three inches below the mouth and then flares outwardly approximately 2°-3°.
  • the flexible tether 32 is approximately 1/16 of an inch to a side in square cross-section providing a proper amount of flexibility for said tether to perform all of the functions required of it.
  • the frangible bridges 38 are broken when the corking means is assembled with the bottle.
  • the frangible bridges will stretch and break when the annular ring 30 is forced down between the two annular flanges 16 and 18 inasmuch as the axial distance between the head and ring of the corking means as moulded is less than the distance between these elements as mounted on the bottle. This leaves the flexible tether 32 as the sole connection between the annular ring 30 and the head portion 26.
  • the flexible tether 32 partially unfolds.
  • said flexible tether 32 Due to the material and dimensions of said flexible tether 32 it is capable of the afore-mentioned partial unfolding during placement of the corking means 10 on the bottle 12.
  • the flexible tether 32 is capable of additional unfolding when the corking means 10 is removed from the bottle 12 prior to pouring of the contents of the bottle. In this manner the flexible tether 32 continuously provides a means for joining together the head portion 26 and the annular ring 30. The flexible tether retains the corking means 10 attached to the bottle 12 when the bottle is open and thus prevents the injuries that might occur when the cork of the bottle with pressurized contents is propelled from such a bottle.
  • the flexible tether 32 in its unfolded condition is of sufficient length to allow the corking means 10 to be so placed in relationship to the bottle that the corking means 10 does not interfere with the decanting of the bottle contents.
  • the flexible tether 32 In its folded and also in its partially unfolded condition, the flexible tether 32 extends circumferentially below the head 26 and does not extend beyond the external peripheries of said head 26 and said annular ring 30. This is particularly advantageous in that it prevents interference by the tether 32 with the wire 40 that is wrapped about the bottle 12 after the corking means is positioned therein.
  • the corking means 10 may, in addition to the parts heretofore described, contain at least one frangible connecting element (E) for connecting the flexible tether 32 to at least one other element of the corking means 10.
  • the corking means has three such frangible connecting elements, connecting the tether 32 to the annular ring 30, the frangible bridges 38 and the head 26.
  • the frangible .connecting elements provide, if desired, extra stability to the corking means 10 and further provide additional means to keep all other elements of said corking means in proper alignment to one another prior to assembly with the bottle.
  • the present invention provides both a method of and apparatus for stoppering bottles 12 with pressurized, carbonated, water-based contents.
  • the bottle provided in the method of this invention is the bottle 12, heretofore described.
  • the corking means 10 heretofore described is also provided, as moulded, for stoppering the bottle.
  • the stopper portion 22 of the corking means is inserted into the mouth portion 20 of the bottle 12, and the annular ring 30 is concomitantly forced downward until it engages the neck of the bottle between the two annular flanges 16, 18.
  • the wire 40 then is wrapped around the corking means and the bottle.
  • the wire contains a seal (not depicted) to indicate that the bottle has not been opened previously.
  • the corked and wired bottle may be wrapped with a foil-type paper (not depicted).
  • the wire 40 used for wrapping the corked bottle is a thin soft steel wire which is standard in the art.
  • An apparatus 41 for stoppering the bottle 12 with the corking means 10 also is provided.
  • the apparatus includes a locating means 42 for holding the as-moulded corking means 10 in proper position and orientation above an open bottle 12 with the stopper directed downwardly directly above the bottle mouth.
  • the locating means may be any appropriate means for so holding the corking means in place. Appropriately it may include plates capable of moving outwardly away from the centre of the corking means 10 to allow the corking means to be positioned in the bottle.
  • the apparatus 41 further includes a ram 44 for driving the stopper portion 22 into the mouth portion 20 of the bottle 12 and for concomitantly forcing the annular ring 30 between the two annular flanges 16, 18.
  • a ram 44 for driving the stopper portion 22 into the mouth portion 20 of the bottle 12 and for concomitantly forcing the annular ring 30 between the two annular flanges 16, 18.
  • the plunger 48 is attached to the ram by a resilient lost motion means 50 which in a preferred embodiment is a compressible spring for yieldingly driving the stopper portion 22 into the mouth portion 20 of the bottle.
  • the spring is used because after the stopper portion 22 is driven into the mouth 20 by the plunger 48, the sleeve 46 continues to move downwardly, forcing the annular ring 30 between and over the annular flange 16 to come to rest between the flanges 16, 18.
  • the plunger 48 drives the stoppering portion 22 into the mouth portion 20 a split-second before the sleeve 46 forces the annular ring 30 between the flanges 16, 18.
  • the frangible bridges 38 and elements E break as the sleeve forces the annular ring between the annular flanges 16, 18.
  • the sleeve 46 is dimensioned, shaped and guided to accurately drive the annular ring 30 into position, and the plunger 48 is dimensioned, shaped and guided for accurate driving of the stoppering portion 22 into the mouth portion 20.
EP19820300107 1981-01-09 1982-01-08 Procédé et dispositif pour boucher des bouteilles modifiées utilisant un dispositif de bouchage en une pièce Expired EP0056320B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US22389481A 1981-01-09 1981-01-09
US223894 1981-01-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0056320A1 true EP0056320A1 (fr) 1982-07-21
EP0056320B1 EP0056320B1 (fr) 1984-07-25

Family

ID=22838405

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19820300107 Expired EP0056320B1 (fr) 1981-01-09 1982-01-08 Procédé et dispositif pour boucher des bouteilles modifiées utilisant un dispositif de bouchage en une pièce

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0056320B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1170214A (fr)
DE (1) DE3260407D1 (fr)
ES (4) ES270947Y (fr)
PT (1) PT74258B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0152171A2 (fr) * 1984-02-03 1985-08-21 Monarch Wine Co., Inc. Bouteille et son bouchon
EP0443504A1 (fr) * 1990-02-23 1991-08-28 Alexander Kau Bouchons de liège
WO1992010409A1 (fr) * 1990-12-07 1992-06-25 Walter Cananzi Pare-bouchon

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH295001A (fr) * 1951-11-29 1953-12-15 Marcoux Daniel Denis Michel Obturateur destiné à assurer la fermeture d'une bouteille.
US3145872A (en) * 1960-10-07 1964-08-25 American Can Co Captive cap for container
DE1200857B (de) * 1963-06-25 1965-09-16 Linke Hofmann Busch Eisenbahnkesselwagen fuer den Transport tiefsiedender verfluessigter Gase
US3269575A (en) * 1964-06-19 1966-08-30 Hammes Wilhelm Multipart closure for filling and discharging openings for containers
FR2329536A1 (fr) * 1973-07-02 1977-05-27 Somepla Sa Nouvelle capsule a vis inviolable et imperdable

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH295001A (fr) * 1951-11-29 1953-12-15 Marcoux Daniel Denis Michel Obturateur destiné à assurer la fermeture d'une bouteille.
US3145872A (en) * 1960-10-07 1964-08-25 American Can Co Captive cap for container
DE1200857B (de) * 1963-06-25 1965-09-16 Linke Hofmann Busch Eisenbahnkesselwagen fuer den Transport tiefsiedender verfluessigter Gase
US3269575A (en) * 1964-06-19 1966-08-30 Hammes Wilhelm Multipart closure for filling and discharging openings for containers
FR2329536A1 (fr) * 1973-07-02 1977-05-27 Somepla Sa Nouvelle capsule a vis inviolable et imperdable

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0152171A2 (fr) * 1984-02-03 1985-08-21 Monarch Wine Co., Inc. Bouteille et son bouchon
EP0152171A3 (fr) * 1984-02-03 1986-08-20 Monarch Wine Co., Inc. Bouteille et son bouchon
EP0443504A1 (fr) * 1990-02-23 1991-08-28 Alexander Kau Bouchons de liège
WO1992010409A1 (fr) * 1990-12-07 1992-06-25 Walter Cananzi Pare-bouchon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1170214A (fr) 1984-07-03
ES8308285A1 (es) 1983-08-16
ES8308284A1 (es) 1983-08-16
PT74258B (en) 1983-08-23
ES270947Y (es) 1984-03-01
ES514871A0 (es) 1983-08-16
ES514872A0 (es) 1983-08-16
EP0056320B1 (fr) 1984-07-25
PT74258A (en) 1982-02-01
ES266863Y (es) 1984-04-01
ES266863U (es) 1983-10-16
ES270947U (es) 1983-08-16
DE3260407D1 (en) 1984-08-30

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