EP0550026B2 - Methods and combinations for sealing corked bottles - Google Patents
Methods and combinations for sealing corked bottles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0550026B2 EP0550026B2 EP92121964A EP92121964A EP0550026B2 EP 0550026 B2 EP0550026 B2 EP 0550026B2 EP 92121964 A EP92121964 A EP 92121964A EP 92121964 A EP92121964 A EP 92121964A EP 0550026 B2 EP0550026 B2 EP 0550026B2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- neck
- disc
- cork
- bottle
- beveled
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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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
- B65D39/0052—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in more than one piece
- B65D39/0058—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in more than one piece from natural or synthetic cork, e.g. for wine bottles or the like
-
- 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
- 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
- B65D39/0011—Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers made in one piece from natural or synthetic cork, e.g. for wine bottles or the like
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
- B67B5/00—Applying protective or decorative covers to closures; Devices for securing bottle closures with wire
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
- B67B5/00—Applying protective or decorative covers to closures; Devices for securing bottle closures with wire
- B67B5/03—Applying protective or decorative covers to closures, e.g. by forming in situ
- B67B5/05—Applying protective or decorative covers to closures, e.g. by forming in situ by applying liquids, e.g. by dipping
Definitions
- the present invention relates to methods and combinations for sealing corked bottles according to the preambles of claims 1, 2 or 3 and 19, 20 or 21, respectively, and in particular for sealing corked bottles containing beverages including wines.
- Another conventional method utilizes seals made of plastic. This is undesirable for many products because plastic seals are not considered suitable for premium beverages, including higher-priced wines.
- this invention will not leave any harmful or messy residue on the exterior of the bottle neck, will produce an elegant seal suitable for use on premium beverage bottles, including higher-priced wines, and will leave the entire exterior surface of the glass neck of the bottle exposed. It will also allow for the use of embossing on the wax seal.
- the present invention is directed to a method for sealing a corked bottle.
- this sealing method utilizes a cylindrical disc 10 of a slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the bottle neck 12 into which it will be placed, measured at the point in the bottle neck at which the top of the cork 14 lies.
- the disc 10, according to FIG. 3, is flat on the bottom and may be crowned or flat on the top, with a total height 20.
- the height 20 of the disc is selected so that when the disc 10 is partially melted and removably secured to the top of the cork 14 and the interior surface 16 of the bottle neck, all of the disc material is contained entirely within the bottle neck.
- the preferred embodiment of the claimed method utilizes a disc with a total height 20 of 2 to 3 mm.
- the disc 10 resides entirely below the mouth of the bottle neck 12. This permits shipping of the bottles upside down without damaging the top of the wax chip.
- the disc is made of a thermoplastic material, which will melt and seal inside of the bottle neck under temperature conditions compatible with beverage manufacture and handling. A suitable melting point is between 26 and 82° C (80° and 180° F).
- the thermoplastic material should also be chosen in light of prevailing standards for the contact of materials by foods and beverage products. Non-toxic, substantially inert materials are preferred for this application.
- the disc should also be made of a thermoplastic material which will cleanly release its seal when it is removed from the bottle neck with the cork. Ideally, the thermoplastic material will not crumble or substantially fracture when pierced with a cork screw.
- the disc is comprised of a material which can accept and hold an embossed design on the top of the disc, for example, a logo or design embossed on the disc.
- thermoplastic materials both natural and organically synthesized, which will fit the above-noted criteria for the disc.
- Natural beeswax is a preferred material because of its demonstrated compatibility with food and beverage products.
- One disadvantage, however, of beeswax is its low melting point which make handling and storage difficult.
- Another preferred wax is granulate which would be suitable for high speed assembly line use of the disc.
- thermoplastic material for the disc, the ability of the disc to retain an embossed design after heating to create the seal should be considered.
- a material should be selected which can be sealed by contact with a heated bottle neck but which will not lose the pre-embossed design under these temperature conditions. For this reason, it is conceived that an aggregation or combination or mixture of materials may provide a suitable disc construction.
- thermoplastic materials suitable for the disc from among organic polymer thermoplastic materials and from among naturally occurring wax materials is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
- the sealing method of the present invention utilizes a bottle as shown in FIG. 4, in which the interior neck surface 36 near the mouth 38, is beveled at an obtuse angle 44 measured from the horizontal axis of the neck 32. As shown in FIG. 4,
- the disc 30 utilized in this embodiment has a frusto conical configuration where the obtuse angle 44 is substantially equivalent to the obtuse angle 44 of the beveled interior neck surface 36. This is so the disc 30 will tend to center itself above the cork 34 when inserted into the bottle mouth 38 by hand or by automatic dispenser.
- the frusto conical disc 30 has a flat bottom with either a flat top, a crowned top or any shape desired by the bottle sealer.
- the disc 30 is fabricated from a thermoplastic material such as those described above the reference to the first embodiment.
- the length 46 of the beveled interior. neck surface 36 may vary depending upon the obtuse angle 44 of the beveled interior neck surface 36.
- the interior neck surface 36 may be beveled at an obtuse angle 44 of 100 degrees with the length of the beveled surface 46 approximately 4 millimeters.
- the selection of the bevel angle is determined by the overall bottle design. The magnitude of this angle is not critical to the practice of the present invention.
- the cork 34 is inserted into the bottle neck 38 so that the distance 40 from the top of the cork 34 to the top edge of the mouth 38 of the bottle is at least 1 millimeter greater than the height 42 of the disc 30.
- One way is to insert the disc into the bottle neck so it rests upon the cork top surface before heating the bottle neck.
- the bottle neck is then heated for a period of time so that the interior surface of the bottle neck and the top surface of the cork are hot enough to partially melt the outer surface of the disc, causing it to adhere to the interior neck surface of the bottle neck and the top surface of the cork.
- This method may require the use of a disc with a composite structure so that the application of heat after the insertion of the disc will not cause the embossed design to melt and to obscure. This method, however, may be used when no embossing is present.
- the bottle neck is heated before the disc is inserted therein, so that any brand identification embossed on the top of the disc is preserved without damage.
- an additional cover layer 48 may be used to cover the top of the disc 30 in both cylindrical and frusto conical disc embodiments.
- This additional cover layer 48 protects the disc 30 inside the bottle neck.
- the cover layer 48 also presents unlimited opportunity for design and decoration since the top of the cover layer 48 may be plain, embossed, printed or otherwise.
- the cover layer 48 may be made of paper of various weights or plastic.
- the cover layer 48 may be adhered to the disc 30, partially melted according to either of the heating methods described above. Thus, while the disc 30 is partially melted, the cover layer 48 may be placed upon the top surface of the disc 30 by hand or automatic dispenser so that when the disc 30 hardens, the cover layer 48 will be adhered to the top surface of the disc 30.
- a non-toxic adhesive can be used after the disc 30 is inserted into the bottle neck, heated and cooled.
- cover layer 48 may simply be pressed onto the top surface of the disc 30 by hand or machine.
- the height 50 of the cover layer 48 may be selected so that the cover layer 48 is displaced entirely within the bottle neck. Ideally, the height 50 of the cover layer 48 is less than 1 mm. This permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle suppported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on the cover layer 48. Although this is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of the cover layer 48 may also be selected such that the cover layer 48 extends beyond the edge of the bottle opening.
- the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sealing a corked bottle. As shown in FIG.7, this sealing method utilizes a thermoplastic material which is injected into the mouth of a corked bottle neck 110 to form a thermoplastic layer 112 on top of the cork 114.
- the thermoplastic material in liquified form is injected into the mouth of a corked bottle to form a layer on top of the cork 114.
- the outer surface of the layer 112 forms a moisture resistant seal with the interior surface 116 of the bottle neck 110 and the bottom surface of the layer 112 forms a moisture resistant seal with the top surface of the cork 114.
- the amount of the liquified thermoplastic material to be injected is selected so that when the thermoplastic layer 112 is formed and removably secured to the top of the cork 114 and to the interior surface 116 of the bottle neck, all of the thermoplastic material is contained entirely within the bottle neck. This alleviates the messy or harmful residue on the exterior of the bottle that occurs when bottles are sealed according to the current methods.
- the preferred embodiment of the claimed method utilizes 0.05 to 0.15g (approximately 1 to 3 drops) of liquified thermoplastic material.
- the thermoplastic layer 112 resides entirely below the mouth of the bottle neck 110. This permits shipping of the bottles upside down without damaging the top of the thermoplastic layer.
- the thermoplastic material is selected such that it will melt and seal the inside of the bottle neck under temperature conditions compatible with beverage manufacture and handling.
- a suitable melting point is between 26 and 82° C (80° and 180° F).
- the thermoplastic material should also be chosen in light of prevailing standards for the contact of materials by foods and beverage products. Non-toxic, substantially inert materials are preferred for this application.
- the thermoplastic material should also be able to cleanly release its seal when it is removed from the bottle neck with the cork. Ideally, the thermoplastic material will not crumble or substantially fracture when pierced with a cork screw.
- thermoplastic materials both natural and organically synthesized, as well as aggregations or combinations or mixtures of materials, which will fit the above-noted criteria.
- Natural beeswax is a preferred material because of its demonstrated compatibility with food and beverage products.
- One disadvantage, however, of beeswax is its low melting point which make handling and storage difficult.
- Another preferred wax is granulate which would be suitable for high speed assembly line use of the thermoplastic layer.
- thermoplastic materials suitable for the thermoplastic layer from among organic polymer thermoplastic materials and from among naturally occurring wax materials is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
- the present invention utilizes a circular cover 122 over the thermoplastic layer 112, which is removably secured in a groove 124 around the interior surface 116 of the bottle neck 110.
- the groove 124 is positioned above and adjacent to the thermoplastic layer 112 and has a depth 126 for receiving the outer edge 132 of the cover 122. This holds the cover 122 tightly in place on top of and adjacent to the thermoplastic layer 112 which in turn, helps to retain the cork in place.
- the diameter of the cover 122 is slightly larger than the diameter of the interior surface 116 of the bottle neck.
- the outer edge 132 of the cover 122 snaps into the groove 124 around the inside of the bottle neck 110.
- the width 120 of the groove will vary depending upon the thickness of the cover 122 used.
- the advantage of using the groove 124 for securing the cover 122 is that it avoids the use of adhesives.
- the inside diameter of the bottle neck is approximately 9.5 mm (12/32 of an inch) and the diameter of the cover 122 is approximately 10.3 mm (13/32 of an inch), with the groove 124 having a depth 126 of approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch) and a width 130 of approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
- the preferred thickness 128 of the cover 122 is approximately 0.8 to 0.4 mm (1/32 to 1/64 of an inch).
- the cover 122 may be made of plastic or rigid paper of various weights and must be capable of being pierced by a cork screw.
- the cover layer 122 presents unlimited opportunity for design and decoration since the top of the cover layer 122 may be plain, embossed, printed or otherwise.
- the cork 114 is inserted into the bottle neck 110 so that when the thermoplastic layer 112 and cover 122 are positioned therein, the distance 118 from the top of the cover 122 to the top edge of the mouth 120 of the bottle is at least 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
- This prevents any of the disc material from melting over the mouth 120 of the bottle and onto the exterior of the bottle neck during the sealing process.
- this permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle supported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on the thermoplastic layer 112 or the cover 122.
- thermoplastic material in liquid form is injected on to the top surface of the cork 114 where it hardens to form a moisture resistant seal with the interior surface 116 of the bottle neck 110 and the top surface of the cork 114.
- a cover 122 is inserted into the mouth 120 of the bottle on to the top of the thermoplastic layer 112. By pressing down on the center of the cover 122, the outer edge of the cover 122 will move radially outward from the center of the cover until snapping into place in the groove 124. When properly snapped into place in the groove 124, the cover 122 will lay flat on top of the thermoplastic layer 112.
- the thickness 128 of the cover layer 112 may be selected so that the cover layer 122 is displaced entirely within the bottle neck. This permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle supported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on the cover layer 122.
- the height of the cover layer 122 may also be selected such that the cover layer 122 extends beyond the edge of the bottle opening.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
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- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to methods and combinations for sealing corked bottles according to the preambles of
claims - Existing methods of sealing corked bottles have several disadvantages. One current method of sealing corked bottles requires the use of thin metal foils containing lead, which are now widely believed to leave traces of harmful lead particles on the glass surface of the bottle after removal. In view of the recent bans in many states on the use of lead, this method is undesirable.
- Another conventional method utilizes seals made of plastic. This is undesirable for many products because plastic seals are not considered suitable for premium beverages, including higher-priced wines.
- Current methods have also attempted to employ wax seals. However, the current method as described e.g. in the FR-A-1 094 743 involves forming wax seals by dipping the opening and neck of the bottle in wax. This method has the disadvantages of requiring the bottle to be inverted during the sealing process and of leaving a messy residue of wax 25 when the bottle is opened.
- There is also known a method of sealing corked wine bottles by injecting a liquid sealing wax into the cylindrical neck of the bottle on the top surface of the cork as shown in the product catalogue of the Weingut Georg Messer, Weisenheim am Berg, 1988.
- All of the conventional sealing methods described above result in seals which cover all or most of the exterior of the glass neck of the bottle with the sealing material.
- In contrast to the existing sealing methods, this invention will not leave any harmful or messy residue on the exterior of the bottle neck, will produce an elegant seal suitable for use on premium beverage bottles, including higher-priced wines, and will leave the entire exterior surface of the glass neck of the bottle exposed. It will also allow for the use of embossing on the wax seal.
- It will also allow for the use of embossing on the paper or plastic cover.
- According to the invention there is provided a method comprising the features of
claims claims 19, 20 or 21. -
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a neck of a conventional corked bottle showing a cork and the disc positioned therein according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is a top view of the disc of the first embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the disc of the first embodiment.
- In FIGS. 1-3, the same reference numerals are being used to refer to the same elements shown in different views.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a neck of a corked bottle showing a cork and the disc positioned therein according to a second embodiment.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a disc having a frusto conical configuration in accordance with the second embodiment. The same reference numerals used in FIG. 4 are used in FIG. 5 to refer to the same elements.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a neck of a corked bottle showing a cork, the disc and a cover layer positioned therein according to one embodiment. The same reference numerals used in FIG. 4 are used in FIG. 6 to refer to the same elements.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a neck of a corked bottle showing a cork and the thermoplastic seal layer positioned therein and further showing a groove for receiving the cover.
-
- The present invention is directed to a method for sealing a corked bottle. As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, this sealing method utilizes a
cylindrical disc 10 of a slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of thebottle neck 12 into which it will be placed, measured at the point in the bottle neck at which the top of thecork 14 lies. Thedisc 10, according to FIG. 3, is flat on the bottom and may be crowned or flat on the top, with atotal height 20. As shown in FIG. 1, theheight 20 of the disc is selected so that when thedisc 10 is partially melted and removably secured to the top of thecork 14 and theinterior surface 16 of the bottle neck, all of the disc material is contained entirely within the bottle neck. This alleviates the messy or harmful residue on the exterior of the bottle that occurs when bottles are sealed according to the current methods. The preferred embodiment of the claimed method utilizes a disc with atotal height 20 of 2 to 3 mm. In this preferred embodiment, thedisc 10 resides entirely below the mouth of thebottle neck 12. This permits shipping of the bottles upside down without damaging the top of the wax chip. - The disc is made of a thermoplastic material, which will melt and seal inside of the bottle neck under temperature conditions compatible with beverage manufacture and handling. A suitable melting point is between 26 and 82° C (80° and 180° F). The thermoplastic material should also be chosen in light of prevailing standards for the contact of materials by foods and beverage products. Non-toxic, substantially inert materials are preferred for this application. The disc should also be made of a thermoplastic material which will cleanly release its seal when it is removed from the bottle neck with the cork. Ideally, the thermoplastic material will not crumble or substantially fracture when pierced with a cork screw.
- In a particularly preferred embodiment, the disc is comprised of a material which can accept and hold an embossed design on the top of the disc, for example, a logo or design embossed on the disc.
- There is a large number of thermoplastic materials, both natural and organically synthesized, which will fit the above-noted criteria for the disc. Natural beeswax is a preferred material because of its demonstrated compatibility with food and beverage products. One disadvantage, however, of beeswax is its low melting point which make handling and storage difficult. Another preferred wax is granulate which would be suitable for high speed assembly line use of the disc.
- In the selection of a thermoplastic material for the disc, the ability of the disc to retain an embossed design after heating to create the seal should be considered. In other words, a material should be selected which can be sealed by contact with a heated bottle neck but which will not lose the pre-embossed design under these temperature conditions. For this reason, it is conceived that an aggregation or combination or mixture of materials may provide a suitable disc construction.
- The selection of thermoplastic materials suitable for the disc from among organic polymer thermoplastic materials and from among naturally occurring wax materials is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
- One potential disadvantage of this method using a bottle with a straight
interior neck surface 16, as seen in FIG. 1, is that when thedisc 10 is inserted into themouth 18 of the bottle by hand or by automatic dispenser, thedisc 10 may get hung up on theinterior neck surface 16 so that thedisc 10 is oriented at an angle to thecork 14 top surface. This misplacement may prevent the disc from forming a moisture resistant seal with theinterior surface 16 of thebottle neck 12. To avoid this potential problem, the sealing method of the present invention, according to a second embodiment, utilizes a bottle as shown in FIG. 4, in which theinterior neck surface 36 near themouth 38, is beveled at anobtuse angle 44 measured from the horizontal axis of theneck 32. As shown in FIG. 4, thedisc 30 utilized in this embodiment has a frusto conical configuration where theobtuse angle 44 is substantially equivalent to theobtuse angle 44 of the beveledinterior neck surface 36. This is so thedisc 30 will tend to center itself above thecork 34 when inserted into thebottle mouth 38 by hand or by automatic dispenser. The frustoconical disc 30 has a flat bottom with either a flat top, a crowned top or any shape desired by the bottle sealer. Thedisc 30 is fabricated from a thermoplastic material such as those described above the reference to the first embodiment. - In FIG. 4, the
length 46 of the beveled interior.neck surface 36, measured from themouth 38 of the bottle to the top of thecork 34, may vary depending upon theobtuse angle 44 of the beveledinterior neck surface 36. For example, theinterior neck surface 36 may be beveled at anobtuse angle 44 of 100 degrees with the length of thebeveled surface 46 approximately 4 millimeters. The selection of the bevel angle is determined by the overall bottle design. The magnitude of this angle is not critical to the practice of the present invention. - In practicing a preferred embodiment of the claimed method, as seen in FIG. 4, the
cork 34 is inserted into thebottle neck 38 so that thedistance 40 from the top of thecork 34 to the top edge of themouth 38 of the bottle is at least 1 millimeter greater than theheight 42 of thedisc 30. The advantages of this are twofold. First, this prevents any of the disc material from melting over themouth 38 of the bottle and onto the exterior of the bottle neck during the sealing process. Second, this permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle supported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on thedisc 30. - There are two ways of performing the claimed method. One way is to insert the disc into the bottle neck so it rests upon the cork top surface before heating the bottle neck. The bottle neck is then heated for a period of time so that the interior surface of the bottle neck and the top surface of the cork are hot enough to partially melt the outer surface of the disc, causing it to adhere to the interior neck surface of the bottle neck and the top surface of the cork. This method may require the use of a disc with a composite structure so that the application of heat after the insertion of the disc will not cause the embossed design to melt and to obscure. This method, however, may be used when no embossing is present.
- Alternatively, and preferably, the bottle neck is heated before the disc is inserted therein, so that any brand identification embossed on the top of the disc is preserved without damage.
- In another embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6, an
additional cover layer 48 may be used to cover the top of thedisc 30 in both cylindrical and frusto conical disc embodiments. Thisadditional cover layer 48 protects thedisc 30 inside the bottle neck. Thecover layer 48 also presents unlimited opportunity for design and decoration since the top of thecover layer 48 may be plain, embossed, printed or otherwise. Thecover layer 48 may be made of paper of various weights or plastic. - There are various ways of securing the
cover layer 48 to the top of thedisc 30. If a hard wax is used, thecover layer 48 may be adhered to thedisc 30, partially melted according to either of the heating methods described above. Thus, while thedisc 30 is partially melted, thecover layer 48 may be placed upon the top surface of thedisc 30 by hand or automatic dispenser so that when thedisc 30 hardens, thecover layer 48 will be adhered to the top surface of thedisc 30. Alternatively, a non-toxic adhesive can be used after thedisc 30 is inserted into the bottle neck, heated and cooled. - If a soft, sticky waxy is used, no partial melting of the disc or use of adhesives will be necessary. The
cover layer 48 may simply be pressed onto the top surface of thedisc 30 by hand or machine. - The selection of methods of adhering the cover layer to the top of the disc is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
- In practicing a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, as seen in FIG. 6, the
height 50 of thecover layer 48 may be selected so that thecover layer 48 is displaced entirely within the bottle neck. Ideally, theheight 50 of thecover layer 48 is less than 1 mm. This permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle suppported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on thecover layer 48. Although this is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of thecover layer 48 may also be selected such that thecover layer 48 extends beyond the edge of the bottle opening. - The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sealing a corked bottle. As shown in FIG.7, this sealing method utilizes a thermoplastic material which is injected into the mouth of a
corked bottle neck 110 to form athermoplastic layer 112 on top of thecork 114. - In carrying out the method of the present invention, the thermoplastic material in liquified form is injected into the mouth of a corked bottle to form a layer on top of the
cork 114. When the thermoplastic material hardens, the outer surface of thelayer 112 forms a moisture resistant seal with theinterior surface 116 of thebottle neck 110 and the bottom surface of thelayer 112 forms a moisture resistant seal with the top surface of thecork 114. The amount of the liquified thermoplastic material to be injected is selected so that when thethermoplastic layer 112 is formed and removably secured to the top of thecork 114 and to theinterior surface 116 of the bottle neck, all of the thermoplastic material is contained entirely within the bottle neck. This alleviates the messy or harmful residue on the exterior of the bottle that occurs when bottles are sealed according to the current methods. - The preferred embodiment of the claimed method utilizes 0.05 to 0.15g (approximately 1 to 3 drops) of liquified thermoplastic material. In this preferred embodiment, the
thermoplastic layer 112 resides entirely below the mouth of thebottle neck 110. This permits shipping of the bottles upside down without damaging the top of the thermoplastic layer. - The thermoplastic material is selected such that it will melt and seal the inside of the bottle neck under temperature conditions compatible with beverage manufacture and handling. A suitable melting point is between 26 and 82° C (80° and 180° F). The thermoplastic material should also be chosen in light of prevailing standards for the contact of materials by foods and beverage products. Non-toxic, substantially inert materials are preferred for this application. The thermoplastic material should also be able to cleanly release its seal when it is removed from the bottle neck with the cork. Ideally, the thermoplastic material will not crumble or substantially fracture when pierced with a cork screw.
- There is a large number of thermoplastic materials, both natural and organically synthesized, as well as aggregations or combinations or mixtures of materials, which will fit the above-noted criteria. Natural beeswax is a preferred material because of its demonstrated compatibility with food and beverage products. One disadvantage, however, of beeswax is its low melting point which make handling and storage difficult. Another preferred wax is granulate which would be suitable for high speed assembly line use of the thermoplastic layer.
- The selection of thermoplastic materials suitable for the thermoplastic layer from among organic polymer thermoplastic materials and from among naturally occurring wax materials is within the skill of the ordinary artisan.
- As further seen in FIG. 7, the present invention utilizes a
circular cover 122 over thethermoplastic layer 112, which is removably secured in agroove 124 around theinterior surface 116 of thebottle neck 110. Thegroove 124 is positioned above and adjacent to thethermoplastic layer 112 and has adepth 126 for receiving theouter edge 132 of thecover 122. This holds thecover 122 tightly in place on top of and adjacent to thethermoplastic layer 112 which in turn, helps to retain the cork in place. - The diameter of the
cover 122 is slightly larger than the diameter of theinterior surface 116 of the bottle neck. Thus, when thecover 122 is inserted into themouth 120 of the bottle neck and pressed down into place on top of thethermoplastic layer 112, theouter edge 132 of thecover 122 snaps into thegroove 124 around the inside of thebottle neck 110. Thewidth 120 of the groove will vary depending upon the thickness of thecover 122 used. The advantage of using thegroove 124 for securing thecover 122 is that it avoids the use of adhesives. - In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the bottle neck is approximately 9.5 mm (12/32 of an inch) and the diameter of the
cover 122 is approximately 10.3 mm (13/32 of an inch), with thegroove 124 having adepth 126 of approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch) and awidth 130 of approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch). Thepreferred thickness 128 of thecover 122 is approximately 0.8 to 0.4 mm (1/32 to 1/64 of an inch). - The
cover 122 may be made of plastic or rigid paper of various weights and must be capable of being pierced by a cork screw. Thecover layer 122 presents unlimited opportunity for design and decoration since the top of thecover layer 122 may be plain, embossed, printed or otherwise. - In a preferred embodiment of the claimed method, as seen in FIG. 7, the
cork 114 is inserted into thebottle neck 110 so that when thethermoplastic layer 112 and cover 122 are positioned therein, thedistance 118 from the top of thecover 122 to the top edge of themouth 120 of the bottle is at least 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch). The advantages of this are twofold. First, this prevents any of the disc material from melting over themouth 120 of the bottle and onto the exterior of the bottle neck during the sealing process. Second, this permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle supported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on thethermoplastic layer 112 or thecover 122. - Once the cork is in place in the bottle neck, thermoplastic material in liquid form is injected on to the top surface of the
cork 114 where it hardens to form a moisture resistant seal with theinterior surface 116 of thebottle neck 110 and the top surface of thecork 114. Once thethermoplastic layer 112 is formed, acover 122 is inserted into themouth 120 of the bottle on to the top of thethermoplastic layer 112. By pressing down on the center of thecover 122, the outer edge of thecover 122 will move radially outward from the center of the cover until snapping into place in thegroove 124. When properly snapped into place in thegroove 124, thecover 122 will lay flat on top of thethermoplastic layer 112. - In practicing a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, as seen in FIG. 7, the
thickness 128 of thecover layer 112 may be selected so that thecover layer 122 is displaced entirely within the bottle neck. This permits the bottles to be stored and shipped upside down with each bottle supported on the edge of the opening of the bottle neck without putting pressure on thecover layer 122. Although this is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of thecover layer 122 may also be selected such that thecover layer 122 extends beyond the edge of the bottle opening. - While the present invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (35)
- A method of sealing a corked bottle comprising the steps of:a) providing a corked bottle having:i) a cylindrical neck (32) terminating in a mouth (38) having a top edge, said neck (32) having a cylindrical interior surface (36);ii) a cylindrical cork (34), having a top flat surface and a bottom surface;
characterized by the interior surface (36) being partially beveled near said mouth (38) to form an obtuse angle (44) measured from a horizontal axis of said neck (32) and the cylindrical, cork (34) being displaced entirely within said neck below said beveled interior surface;b) inserting a frusto conical disc (30) having a top surface, a flat bottom surface, and a beveled outer surface, into said beveled interior bottle neck surface (36), wherein said disc bottom surface rests on said cork top surface, wherein said disc beveled outer surface is adjacent to but does not substantially contact said beveled interior neck surface (36) and wherein said disc outer surface is beveled at an obtuse angle (44) measured from the horizontal plane of the said disc bottom surface which angle is substantially equivalent to said beveled interior surface obtuse angle (44); andc) heating said neck (32) so that said beveled interior surface and said cork top surface reach a temperature sufficient to partially melt said outer and bottom surfaces of said disc (30) so as to form a moisture resistant seal between said cork (34), said interior neck surface (36) and said disc (30). - A method of sealing a corked bottle, comprising the steps ofa) providing a corked bottle comprising:i) a cylindrical neck (12) terminating in a mouth (18) having a top edge, said neck (12) having a cylindrical interior surface (16) and an inside diameter;ii) a cylindrical cork (14), having a top flat surface and a bottom surface, displaced entirely within said neck (12);b) inserting a cylindrical disc (10) having an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said neck (12), an outer surface, a top surface, and a flat bottom surface, into said neck (12) such that said disc bottom surface rests on said cork top surface such that said disc outer surface is adjacent to but does not substantially contact said interior neck surface (16); andc) heating said mouth so that said neck interior surface (16) and said cork top surface reach a temperature sufficient to partially melt said outer and bottom surfaces of said disc (10) so as to form a moisture resistant seal between said cork (14), said interior neck surface (16) and said disc (10).
- A method of sealing a corked bottle, comprising the steps of:a) providing a corked bottle comprising:i) a cylindrical neck (110) terminating in a mouth (120) having a top edge, said neck (110) having a cylindrical interior surface (116) and an inside diameter andii) a cylindrical cork (114), having a top flat surface and a bottom surface, displaced entirely within said neck (110),b) the neck of the corked bottle provided in step a) also comprising a groove (124) near said top edge of said mouth (120), said groove (124) having a depth (126);c) injecting a liquified thermoplastic material into said neck on top of said cork top surface such that when said thermoplastic material hardens, it forms a moisture resistant seal with said cork top surface and said interior neck surface (116); andd) inserting a circular cover (122) having a diameter and an outer edge (132), on top of said thermoplastic layer (112) such that said edge (132) snaps into said groove (124).
- The method according to one of claim 1 to 3 further comprising the step of adhering a cover layer (48) on said disc top surface.
- The method according to one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said heating step (c) is performed before said inserting step (b).
- The method according to one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said cork (34) is displaced in said neck (32) such that the distance (40) from said cork top surface to said top edge of said mouth (38) is at least 1 mm greater than the height (42) of said disc (30).
- The method according to one of claim 1 to 6 wherein the height of said disc (30) is between 2 and 3 mm.
- The method according to one of claim 1 or 7 wherein said beveled interior surface obtuse angle (44) is 100 degrees.
- The method according to one of claim 1 to 8 wherein the length (46) of said beveled interior surface (36) is 4 mm measured from said mouth (38) of the bottle.
- The method according to one of claim 1 to 9 wherein said disc (10, 30) is made of a thermoplastic material capable of melting at a temperature between 26 and 82° C (80 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The method according to one of claim 1 to 10 wherein said disc (10, 30) is fabricated from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of beeswax, granulate wax and mixtures thereof.
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 11 wherein said cover layer (122) is made of paper or plastic.
- The method according to one of claim 4 to 12 wherein the height (128) of said cover layer (122) is less than 1 mm.
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 13 wherein said thermoplastic material is capable of melting at a temperature between 26 and 82° C (80 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 14 wherein said cover diameter is approximately 10.3 mm (13/32 of an inch).
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 15 wherein said neck inside diameter is approximately 9.5 mm (12/32 of an inch).
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 16 wherein said depth (126) of said groove (124) is approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
- The method according to one of claim 3 to 17 wherein said cover (122) is positioned in said neck (110) at a distance from said neck top surface of at least 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
- A combination comprising:a) a corked bottle having a cylindrical neck (12) terminating in a mouth (18) having a top edge, said neck (12) having a cylindrical interior surface (16);b) a cylindrical cork (14) having a top flat surface, said cork (14) being displaced entirely within said neck (12); andc) a cylindrical disc (10) having a top surface, a flat bottom surface and an outer surface, said disc (10) being displaced within said neck (12) above said cork (14), wherein said disc bottom surface is partially melted and removably secured to said cork top surface and wherein said disc outer surface is partially melted an removably secured to said interior neck surface (16), to create a seal to retain moisture within said cork (14) and said bottle;
characterized byd) said disc (10) being displaced entirely within said neck (20);e) a cover layer (48) being displaced entirely within said neck (12,32) above said disc (10, 30), wherein said cover layer (48) is adhered to said disc top surface. - A combination comprising:a) a corked bottle having a cylindrical neck (32) terminating in a mouth (38) having a top edge, said neck (32) having a cylindrical interior surface (36);b) a cylindrical cork (34) having a top flat surface;
characterized byc) the interior surface (36) being partially beveled near said mouth (38) to form an obtuse angle (44) measured from a horizontal axis of said neck (32) and said cork (34) being displaced entirely within said neck (32) below said beveled interior surface (36) and;d) a frusto conical disc (30) having a top surface, a flat bottom surface and a beveled outer surface beveled at an obtuse angle (44) measured from plane of said flat bottom surface which is substantially equivalent to said beveled interior surface obtuse angle (44), said disc (30) being displaced entirely with-in said neck (32) above said cork (34) such that said disc bottom surface is partially melted and removably secured to said cork top surface and wherein said disc beveled outer surface is partially melted and removably secured to said beveled interior neck surface (36), to create a seal to retain moisture within said cork (34) and said bottle. - A combination comprising:a) corked bottle having a cylindrical neck (110) terminating in a mouth (12) having a top edge, said neck (110) having a cylindrical interior surface (116);b) a cylindrical cork (114) having a top flat surface, said cork (114) being displaced entirely within said neck (110)
characterized byc) said neck also having a groove (124) near said top edge of said mouth (120), said groove (124) having a depth (126);d) a thermoplastic layer having a top, bottom and outer surface, said thermoplastic layer (112) being displaced entirely within said neck (110) above said cork (114), wherein said bottom surface of said thermoplastic layer (112) is removably secured to said cork top surface and wherein said thermoplastic outer surface is removably secured to said interior neck surface (116), to create a seal to retain moisture within said cork (114) and said neck (110); ande) a cover (122) having an outer edge (132) wherein said outer edge (132) is secured in said groove (124). - The combination according to claim 20 or 21 further comprising a cover layer (48) being displaced entirely within said neck (12,32) above said disc (10, 30), wherein said cover layer (48) is adhered to said disc top surface.
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 22 wherein said cork (32) is displaced in said neck (32) such that the distance from said cork top surface to said top edge of said mouth (38) is at least 1 mm greater than the height (42) of said disc (30).
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 23 wherein the height (42) of said disc (30) is between 2 and 3 mm.
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 24 wherein said disc (10, 30) is made of a thermoplastic material capable of melting at a temperature between 26 and 82° C (80 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 25 wherein said disc (10, 30) is made of thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of beeswax, granulate wax and mixtures thereof.
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 26 wherein said cover layer (122) is made of paper or plastic.
- The combination according to one of claim 19 to 27 wherein the height (128) of said cover layer (122) is less than 1 mm.
- The combination according to one of claim 20 to 28 wherein said beveled interior surface obtuse angle (44) is 100 degrees.
- The combination according to one of claim 20 to 29 wherein the length (46) of said beveled interior surface (36) is 4 mm measured from said opening of the bottle.
- The combination according to one of claim 21 to 30 wherein said thermoplastic material is capable of melting at a temperature between 26 and 82° C (80 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The combination according to one of claim 21 to 31 wherein said cover diameter is approximately 10.3 mm (13/32 of an inch).
- The combination according to one of claim 21 to 32 wherein said neck inside diameter is approximately 9.5 mm (12/32 of an inch).
- The combination according to one of claim 21 to 33 wherein said depth (126) of said groove (124) is approximately 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
- The combination according to one of claim 21 to 34 wherein said cover (122) is positioned in said neck (110) at a distance from said neck top edge of at least 0.4 mm (1/64 of an inch).
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US81486391A | 1991-12-30 | 1991-12-30 | |
US814863 | 1991-12-30 | ||
US84223792A | 1992-02-26 | 1992-02-26 | |
US842237 | 1992-02-26 | ||
US89737092A | 1992-06-11 | 1992-06-11 | |
US897370 | 1992-06-11 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0550026A1 EP0550026A1 (en) | 1993-07-07 |
EP0550026B1 EP0550026B1 (en) | 1995-06-21 |
EP0550026B2 true EP0550026B2 (en) | 2000-03-01 |
Family
ID=27420099
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92121964A Expired - Lifetime EP0550026B2 (en) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-12-23 | Methods and combinations for sealing corked bottles |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0550026B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE124016T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69203086T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2075584T5 (en) |
GR (1) | GR3017356T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3016874B1 (en) * | 2014-01-27 | 2016-02-26 | Okj Concept | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HEATING THE BOTTLE OF WINE AND REMOVING A HOT LIQUID WAX |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1094743A (en) * | 1955-05-24 | |||
DE3500269A1 (en) * | 1985-01-05 | 1986-07-10 | Hans-Joachim Dr. 6500 Mainz Huf | Process for coating objects, in particular for encapsulating bottles, cans and the like |
-
1992
- 1992-12-23 AT AT92121964T patent/ATE124016T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-12-23 DE DE69203086T patent/DE69203086T3/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-12-23 EP EP92121964A patent/EP0550026B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-12-23 ES ES92121964T patent/ES2075584T5/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-09-13 GR GR950402471T patent/GR3017356T3/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69203086T3 (en) | 2000-10-12 |
ATE124016T1 (en) | 1995-07-15 |
DE69203086D1 (en) | 1995-07-27 |
EP0550026A1 (en) | 1993-07-07 |
ES2075584T5 (en) | 2000-08-01 |
GR3017356T3 (en) | 1995-12-31 |
EP0550026B1 (en) | 1995-06-21 |
DE69203086T2 (en) | 1996-01-11 |
ES2075584T3 (en) | 1995-10-01 |
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