EP1135301A1 - Composite stopper with controlled permeability - Google Patents

Composite stopper with controlled permeability

Info

Publication number
EP1135301A1
EP1135301A1 EP99958243A EP99958243A EP1135301A1 EP 1135301 A1 EP1135301 A1 EP 1135301A1 EP 99958243 A EP99958243 A EP 99958243A EP 99958243 A EP99958243 A EP 99958243A EP 1135301 A1 EP1135301 A1 EP 1135301A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cavity
face
elastomer
stopper
bottle
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
EP99958243A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1135301B1 (en
Inventor
François LITOUX-DESRUE
Philippe Poitevin
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.)
Cortex SAS
Original Assignee
Preteux Bourgeois Ets Ste
Cortex SAS
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 Preteux Bourgeois Ets Ste, Cortex SAS filed Critical Preteux Bourgeois Ets Ste
Publication of EP1135301A1 publication Critical patent/EP1135301A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1135301B1 publication Critical patent/EP1135301B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/005—Closures provided with linings or internal coatings so as to avoid contact of the closure with the contents
    • 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
    • B65D2539/00—Details relating to closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D2539/001—Details of closures arranged within necks or pouring opening or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers
    • B65D2539/008—Details of closures arranged within necks or pouring opening or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers with coatings or coverings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a composite stopper with controlled permeability for corking bottles, in particular wine bottles, comprising a body made of a compressible material such as cork, provided at least at its end facing the contents of the bottle to butcher of complementary means forming joint.
  • the additional means forming a seal may consist of sheets, films, coatings, discs, etc., made of synthetic material, rubber, elastomer, for example silicone elastomer, covering at least all from the end face of the cork turned towards the content of the corking bottle.
  • cork in wine corking is linked to the exceptional qualities of this material, namely the almost rot-proofness, the compressibility, the elastic return, the sealing, the ease of machining from the raw oak bark. -cork, the ability to allow possible gas exchanges, good behavior over time, etc.
  • cork is also the source of certain organoleptic deviations due to an interaction with wine.
  • the cork stopper is sometimes incapable of ensuring total liquid tightness at the cork-glass interface, where the well-known phenomenon known as "pouring bottle".
  • the proposals according to the aforementioned patents are not satisfactory, in particular because the additional means provided on at least one end face of the stopper cause corking difficulties, when the stopper is inserted into the neck of the bottle.
  • these means cover the entire end face of the stopper facing the contents of the bottle, it is the material constituting these complementary means which, when the stopper is pressed, after radial compression of the latter, comes into contact with the end of the cervix.
  • the material of these additional means being non-compressible, unlike the cork constituting the body of the stopper, these additional means do not undergo the same deformation as the body of the stopper and are thus exposed to alterations such as puckering, cracks, detachments, etc. .
  • the corking of a bottle includes a radial compression operation of the cork, with a diameter of 24 mm for a cork for still wine and of 31 mm for a cork for sparkling wine, with a diameter of 15.5 mm, in jaws, the compressed stopper is then pressed into the neck of the bottle where it expands to the inside diameter of the neck, namely 19 mm for a still wine and 17 mm for a sparkling wine.
  • this complementary means which first comes into contact with the end of the neck and is stressed to the point of being damaged.
  • the material of these complementary means has a high coefficient of friction compared to the glass of the bottle neck, unlike the cork of conventional stoppers which are moreover often treated to improve sliding.
  • the present invention relates to a composite stopper overcoming both the drawbacks of the usual cork stoppers made entirely of cork and the drawbacks of the composite stopper according to the aforementioned prior patents.
  • the composite stopper, object of the invention, for corking the neck of bottles, in particular of wine bottles, comprises a body made of a compressible material such as cork provided at least at its end facing the content of the bottle of means complementary forming joint.
  • the seal means consist of an element of a substantially incompressible elastomer, filling almost completely a cavity of circular section formed in a concentric position in at least one end face of the cap body so that a crown of the face of end of the plug body remains around said cavity, said cavity having a volume such that said element, under the effect of the compression to which the plug body is subjected during plugging, elastically deforms in front of said face end, after capping, so as to establish after capping, in front of said end face of the cap body, a tight seal which covers all of said end face and is in contact with the inside face of the neck of the bottle , thus achieving a total seal against the liquid contained in the bottle.
  • the substantially incompressible elastomer element filling the cavity of the end face does not cover the entire end face of the stopper, but on the contrary leaves a crown of cork between its edge outside and the outside edge of the end face.
  • This cork wreath allows the bottling operation to take place in the usual way, without modification.
  • the relaxation time of the elastomers used being greater than 1 second and the interval between the compression of the caps and the driving in of the caps, on the usual bottling machines, being generally less than 1 second, the elastomer has no time to completely deform, in response to compression of the cap body, before the cap is inserted into the bottle neck. So this is the outer edge of the crown of cork which, at the moment of the insertion of the stopper, comes into contact with the top of the neck of the bottle, so that the conditions of sliding of the stopper in the neck are the same as with fully cork stoppers.
  • the closure operation is in no way modified by the presence of the elastomer element on the stopper according to the invention.
  • the volume (diameter and depth) of the cavity filled with elastomer is variable, in particular according to the degree of compression of the cork body which varies according to the type of wine to be corked.
  • the depth of the cavity corresponds to at least
  • the elastomer element is shaped so as to leave, before compression of the plug body, on the end face of the latter, a crown with a (radial) width of at least
  • Said cavity may for example have a substantially cylindrical shape, but it may preferably have a divergent shape, that is to say a diameter which increases from the bottom towards its outlet.
  • the elastomer constituting the element filling said cavity may preferably be a silicone elastomer, of food grade.
  • the elastomer element is formed by molding and crosslinking before it is placed in the cavity, but can also be produced by molding and crosslinking of the raw elastomer in the cavity of the stopper body.
  • the elastomer can be constituted by an elastomer permeable to small gas molecules such as H 2 , N 2 , 0 2 , C0 2 , but impermeable to large molecules such as molecules with aromatic rings including those responsible "corky taste".
  • the seal formed by the elastomer element does not in any way alter the exchange of gases with small molecules, letting the cork of the cap body alone ensure its role in controlling the usual gas exchange.
  • a stopper 1 intended for corking a bottle containing sparkling wine for example Champagne, comprises a stopper body 2 made of natural or agglomerated cork, or a mixture of the two, in the form of a cylinder or a parallelepiped rectangle with rounded edges, having two plane and parallel end faces.
  • a circular cavity 3 in the form of a bowl or cap, the edge of the cavity 3 being spaced from the edge of the corresponding end face so that a crown 4 of the flat end face of the stopper body remains around the cavity 3.
  • the cavity 3 is filled with a substantially incompressible elastomer 5, for example a silicone elastomer, and this flush with the face of end in the example shown.
  • FIG. 2 shows the stopper 1 of FIG. 1 after being inserted into a bottle neck 6.
  • the cork stopper 1 is subjected in the usual manner, over the part of its length intended to be pressed into the bottle neck 6 , a radial compression which reduces its diameter from 31 to 15.5 mm. This radial compression is followed, in less than 1 second, by the insertion of the compressed part of the stopper 1 into the neck of the bottle 6.
  • the elastomer element 5 which is not compressible undergoes, after a relaxation time of approximately 1 second, therefore after pressing the stopper 1 into the neck of the bottle 6 and re-expansion to the inside diameter of the neck (17 mm) in front of the end face in which the elastomer element 5 is arranged, so that the element 5 adopts, inside the neck of the bottle 6, the shape illustrated in FIG. 2, projecting radially outward on the crown 4 until it touches the inner face of the neck 6, thereby establishing a tight seal over the entire end face of the plug 1.
  • the insertion of the stopper 1 into the bottle neck 6 is not modified with respect to the insertion of an entirely cork stopper, insofar as where, during insertion, only the cork of the stopper 1 comes into contact with the glass of the neck 6.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a stopper 11 for still wine, comprising a cork stopper body 12 which comprises, in each end face, a cavity 13a, 13b in the form of a cap or bowl.
  • Each cavity 13a, 13b is circular in shape and is formed concentrically in the corresponding end face so as to leave around it a crown 14a, 14b of cork in the plane of the end face.
  • Each cavity 13a, 13b is filled with a substantially incompressible elastomer constituting, in the example illustrated, an element 15a, 15b with a convex outer face.
  • the cap 1 1 of Figure 3 is pressed into a bottle neck 16 after a radial compression of the cap 1 1 which reduces the diameter of the latter from 24 to 15.5 mm.
  • This radial compression that the cork of the stopper body 12 undergoes by elastic compression causes, after a relaxation time of approximately 1 second, an axial deformation of the non-compressible elements 15a, 15b, these two elements 15a, 15b thus adopting the illustrated form. in FIG.
  • each element 15a, 15b undergoing, in front of the corresponding end face of the plug body 12 re-expanded to the inside diameter of the neck (17 mm), a radial expansion until it comes into contact with the glass of the neck 16 of the bottle and here constitute a seal tight to the liquid contained in the bottle.
  • a circular shaped cavity can be machined directly in the end face of the plug body.
  • a cylindrical cavity it is possible, for example in the case a plug body made up of several washers, to hollow out (casing) the last washer and to stick it on the remaining part of the plug body.
  • this technique can also be used for a cavity of a shape other than cylindrical.
  • the elastomer element can be produced, for example, by molding and crosslinking of "raw" elastomer directly in the cavity, but can also be molded and crosslinked separately to be attached and fixed, for example by gluing or clipping in the cavity.
  • the cavity at the point of its outlet, can occupy almost the entire end face of the plug body, but the element allows to remain here, before radial compression of the plug, a crown 4 of width (radial) of at least 1 mm.
  • this crown 4 may have a width of between approximately 1 and 2 mm on a still wine stopper of 24 mm in diameter and a width of between approximately 3 and 7 mm on a sparkling wine stopper of 31 mm of diameter.
  • the cavity 23 formed concentrically in an end face of the body 22 of a stopper 21, leaving an outer crown 24 of said end face, has a diameter increasing from the bottom towards the outlet of the cavity, so that the cavity has a profile in
  • this cavity has flanks which are convex instead of being concave as in the previous examples.
  • the cavity 23 has, on its bottom, an annular groove 27 which increases its depth.
  • the elastomer element 25 preformed by molding has an outer part 28 in the form of an annular bead which projects beyond the positioning of the element 25 in the cavity 23, at least partly on the end face of the plug body 21 , the central part 29 of the outer face of the elastomer element 25, set back relative to this bead 28, being substantially at the level of the end face (crown 24) of the plug body (front compression of the latter).
  • the element 25 is here fixed to the plug body 22 only at the location of the annular rib 30 which it has projecting on its bottom to come to fit in the groove 27 of the cavity 23.
  • the element 25 has here, at the place of its part embedded in the cavity 23, therefore subjected to elastic deformation in response to the radial compression of the plug body 22, a smaller diameter than in the previous examples, corresponding at around 50%, or even less, of the diameter of the stopper body before compression, depending on the degree of compression of the stopper.
  • the (axial) thickness of the element 25, at the place of its embedded part is greater, being able to be equal to at least 3 mm, for example, for a still wine stopper of 24 mm diameter or for a sparkling wine stopper 31 mm in diameter.
  • the elastomer used according to the invention defined as being “substantially incompressible”, is an elastomer which deforms elastically without substantially reducing its volume when it is compressed.
  • the reduction in volume of the elastomer is advantageously less than 15%, preferably less than 10%.
  • the elastomers capable of being used in the context of the invention it is possible to mention in particular the silicone elastomers vulcanizable under heat (ENC), for example polydimethyl / vinylmethylsiloxane (VMQ), of food quality, capable of be shaped by molding and having a hardness between about 35 and 70 Shore A.
  • ENC silicone elastomers vulcanizable under heat
  • VMQ polydimethyl / vinylmethylsiloxane
  • Successful tests have been performed, for example with a platinum-catalyzed ENC, hardness 60 Shore A, reference S 60 i 59 X, from the company NER ⁇ ERET in LA MOTHE-AUX-AUL ⁇ AIES, F-89120 CHAR ⁇ Y.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns a composite stopper for closing bottles, in particular wine bottles, comprising a body made of a compressible material such as cork, provided at least at its end facing the contents of the bottle to be closed with matching means forming a joint. Said means consist of an element (25) made from a substantially incompressible elastomer, filling up a cavity arranged circular in shape and in a concentric position in the end surface (24) of the stopper body (22) and having a volume such that said element, under the effect of compression whereto the stopper body is subjected when the bottle is closed, is elastically deformed at the front of said end surface, so as to produce after closure, at the front of the cork body end surface, a sealing joint covering the whole of said end surface and in contact with the bottle neck inner surface (26). The invention is useful for closing bottles of sparkling or non-sparkling wine.

Description

Bouchon composite à perméabilité contrôlée. Composite cap with controlled permeability.
La présente invention se rapporte à un bouchon composite à perméabilité contrôlée pour le bouchage de bouteilles, notamment de bouteilles de vin, comprenant un corps en un matériau compressible tel que le liège, muni au moins à son extrémité tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille à boucher de moyens complémentaires formant joint.The present invention relates to a composite stopper with controlled permeability for corking bottles, in particular wine bottles, comprising a body made of a compressible material such as cork, provided at least at its end facing the contents of the bottle to butcher of complementary means forming joint.
Des bouchons de ce type sont décrits, par exemple, par les brevets français n°s 983 488, 1 068 263, 1 100335, 1 338 657, 1 573 650, 2 644 142 et 2736 036, et la demande de brevet européen EP-A-0532 367. Suivant ces documents, les moyens complémentaires formant joint peuvent être constitués par des feuilles, pellicules, enductions, disques, etc., en matière synthétique, caoutchouc, élastomère, par exemple élastomère de silicone, recouvrant au moins la totalité de la face d'extrémité du bouchon tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille à boucher.Corks of this type are described, for example, by French patents no. 983 488, 1 068 263, 1 100 335, 1 338 657, 1 573 650, 2 644 142 and 2 736 036, and the European patent application EP -A-0532 367. According to these documents, the additional means forming a seal may consist of sheets, films, coatings, discs, etc., made of synthetic material, rubber, elastomer, for example silicone elastomer, covering at least all from the end face of the cork turned towards the content of the corking bottle.
L'utilisation du liège dans le bouchage des vins est liée aux qualités exceptionnelles de ce matériau, à savoir la quasi imputréscibilité, la compressibilité, le retour élastique, l'étanchéité, la facilité d'usinage à partir de l'écorce brute du chêne-liège, l'aptitude à permettre d'éventuels échanges gazeux, le bon comportement dans le temps, etc.The use of cork in wine corking is linked to the exceptional qualities of this material, namely the almost rot-proofness, the compressibility, the elastic return, the sealing, the ease of machining from the raw oak bark. -cork, the ability to allow possible gas exchanges, good behavior over time, etc.
Toutefois, le liège est également à l'origine de certaines déviations organoleptiques dues à une interaction avec le vin. En outre, compte tenu de son usinage, des tolérances en vigueur et des défauts parfois difficilement décelables, malgré des contrôles rigoureux, le bouchon en liège est parfois incapable d'assurer une étanchéité totale au liquide à l'interface liège-verre, d'où le phénomène bien connu dit de "bouteille couleuse". Les propositions selon les brevets précités ne donnent pas satisfaction, notamment du fait que les moyens complémentaires prévus sur au moins une face d'extrémité du bouchon provoquent des difficultés de bouchage, au moment de l'enfoncement du bouchon dans le col de bouteille. Du fait que ces moyens recouvrent toute la face d'extrémité du bouchon tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille, c'est la matière constitutive de ces moyens complémentaires qui, au moment de l'enfoncement du bouchon, après compression radiale de ce dernier, entre en contact avec l'extrémité du col. La matière constitutive de ces moyens complémentaires étant non compressible, contrairement au liège constituant le corps du bouchon, ces moyens complémentaires ne subissent pas la même déformation que le corps du bouchon et sont ainsi exposés à des altérations telles que plissements, fissures, décollements, etc. Il convient de noter à ce sujet que le bouchage d'une bouteille comprend une opération de compression radiale du bouchon, d'un diamètre de 24 mm pour un bouchon pour vin tranquille et de 31 mm pour un bouchon pour vin effervescent, à un diamètre de 15,5 mm, dans des mors, le bouchon comprimé étant ensuite enfoncé dans le col de bouteille où il se réexpanse au diamètre intérieur du col, à savoir 19 mm pour un vin tranquille et 17 mm pour un vin effervescent.However, cork is also the source of certain organoleptic deviations due to an interaction with wine. In addition, given its machining, tolerances in force and defects which are sometimes difficult to detect, despite rigorous controls, the cork stopper is sometimes incapable of ensuring total liquid tightness at the cork-glass interface, where the well-known phenomenon known as "pouring bottle". The proposals according to the aforementioned patents are not satisfactory, in particular because the additional means provided on at least one end face of the stopper cause corking difficulties, when the stopper is inserted into the neck of the bottle. Because these means cover the entire end face of the stopper facing the contents of the bottle, it is the material constituting these complementary means which, when the stopper is pressed, after radial compression of the latter, comes into contact with the end of the cervix. The material of these additional means being non-compressible, unlike the cork constituting the body of the stopper, these additional means do not undergo the same deformation as the body of the stopper and are thus exposed to alterations such as puckering, cracks, detachments, etc. . It should be noted in this regard that the corking of a bottle includes a radial compression operation of the cork, with a diameter of 24 mm for a cork for still wine and of 31 mm for a cork for sparkling wine, with a diameter of 15.5 mm, in jaws, the compressed stopper is then pressed into the neck of the bottle where it expands to the inside diameter of the neck, namely 19 mm for a still wine and 17 mm for a sparkling wine.
L'enfoncement des bouchons ainsi comprimés ne pose pas de problème lorsque ces bouchons sont entièrement en liège.The insertion of the caps thus compressed does not pose any problem when these caps are entirely made of cork.
Il n'en est pas de même lorsque toute la face d'extrémité du bouchon tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille à boucher, est recouverte d'un moyen complémentaire sous forme de feuille, pellicule, disque, enduction de matière synthétique.It is not the same when the entire end face of the stopper facing the content of the corking bottle is covered with a complementary means in the form of a sheet, film, disc, coating of synthetic material.
En effet, c'est alors ce moyen complémentaire qui entre en premier en contact avec l'extrémité du col et se trouve sollicité au point d'être endommagé. De plus, la matière constitutive de ces moyens complémentaires présente un coefficient de frottement élevé par rapport au verre du col de bouteille, contrairement au liège des bouchons classiques qui sont par ailleurs souvent traités pour améliorer le glissement.Indeed, it is then this complementary means which first comes into contact with the end of the neck and is stressed to the point of being damaged. In addition, the material of these complementary means has a high coefficient of friction compared to the glass of the bottle neck, unlike the cork of conventional stoppers which are moreover often treated to improve sliding.
Pour toutes ces raisons, les bouchons composites suivant les documents précités n'ont pas pu s'imposer dans la pratique pour le bouchage de vins.For all these reasons, the composite caps according to the aforementioned documents could not prevail in practice for the wine corking.
La présente invention vise un bouchon composite remédiant à la fois aux inconvénients des bouchons usuels intégralement en liège et aux inconvénients des bouchons composites selon les brevets antérieurs précités.The present invention relates to a composite stopper overcoming both the drawbacks of the usual cork stoppers made entirely of cork and the drawbacks of the composite stopper according to the aforementioned prior patents.
Le bouchon composite, objet de l'invention, pour le bouchage du col de bouteilles, notamment de bouteilles de vins, comprend un corps en un matériau compressible tel que le liège muni au moins à son extrémité tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille de moyens complémentaires formant joint. Les moyens formant joint sont constitués par un élément en un élastomère sensiblement incompressible, remplissant pratiquement complètement une cavité de section circulaire ménagée en position concentrique dans au moins une face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon de manière qu'une couronne de la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon subsiste autour de ladite cavité, ladite cavité présentant un volume tel que ledit élément, sous l'effet de la compression à laquelle le corps de bouchon est soumis lors du bouchage, se déforme élastiquement en avant de ladite face d'extrémité, après bouchage, de manière à établir après bouchage, en avant de ladite face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon, un joint étanche qui recouvre toute ladite face d'extrémité et se trouve en contact avec la face intérieure du col de la bouteille, réalisant ainsi une étanchéité totale au liquide contenu dans la bouteille.The composite stopper, object of the invention, for corking the neck of bottles, in particular of wine bottles, comprises a body made of a compressible material such as cork provided at least at its end facing the content of the bottle of means complementary forming joint. The seal means consist of an element of a substantially incompressible elastomer, filling almost completely a cavity of circular section formed in a concentric position in at least one end face of the cap body so that a crown of the face of end of the plug body remains around said cavity, said cavity having a volume such that said element, under the effect of the compression to which the plug body is subjected during plugging, elastically deforms in front of said face end, after capping, so as to establish after capping, in front of said end face of the cap body, a tight seal which covers all of said end face and is in contact with the inside face of the neck of the bottle , thus achieving a total seal against the liquid contained in the bottle.
Suivant la présente invention, avant compression du bouchon, l'élément en élastomère sensiblement incompressible remplissant la cavité de la face d'extrémité ne recouvre pas toute la face d'extrémité du bouchon, mais laisse au contraire subsister une couronne de liège entre son bord extérieur et le bord extérieur de la face d'extrémité.According to the present invention, before compression of the stopper, the substantially incompressible elastomer element filling the cavity of the end face does not cover the entire end face of the stopper, but on the contrary leaves a crown of cork between its edge outside and the outside edge of the end face.
Cette couronne de liège permet à l'opération d'embouteillage de se dérouler de façon habituelle, sans modification. En effet, le temps de relaxation des élastomeres utilisés étant supérieur à 1 seconde et l'intervalle entre la compression des bouchons et l'enfoncement des bouchons, sur les embouteilleuses usuelles, étant en général inférieur à 1 seconde, l'élastomère n'a pas le temps de se déformer complètement, en réponse à la compression du corps de bouchon, avant l'enfoncement du bouchon dans le col de bouteille. C'est donc le bord extérieur de la couronne de liège qui, au moment de l'enfoncement du bouchon, entre en contact avec le haut du col de la bouteille, de sorte que les conditions de glissement du bouchon dans le col sont les mêmes qu'avec des bouchons intégralement en liège. En d'autres termes, l'opération de bouchage n'est aucunement modifiée par la présence de l'élément en élastomère sur le bouchon conforme à l'invention.This cork wreath allows the bottling operation to take place in the usual way, without modification. Indeed, the relaxation time of the elastomers used being greater than 1 second and the interval between the compression of the caps and the driving in of the caps, on the usual bottling machines, being generally less than 1 second, the elastomer has no time to completely deform, in response to compression of the cap body, before the cap is inserted into the bottle neck. So this is the outer edge of the crown of cork which, at the moment of the insertion of the stopper, comes into contact with the top of the neck of the bottle, so that the conditions of sliding of the stopper in the neck are the same as with fully cork stoppers. In other words, the closure operation is in no way modified by the presence of the elastomer element on the stopper according to the invention.
Le volume (diamètre et profondeur) de la cavité remplie d'élastomère est variable, en particulier en fonction du degré de compression du corps de bouchon qui varie selon le type de vin à boucher.The volume (diameter and depth) of the cavity filled with elastomer is variable, in particular according to the degree of compression of the cork body which varies according to the type of wine to be corked.
Toutefois, de préférence, la profondeur de la cavité correspond à au moinsHowever, preferably, the depth of the cavity corresponds to at least
1 mm au plus creux de la cavité, avant compression.1 mm at the bottom of the cavity, before compression.
Par ailleurs, l'élément en élastomère est conformé de manière à laisser subsister, avant compression du corps de bouchon, sur la face d'extrémité de ce dernier, une couronne d'une largeur (radiale) d'au moinsFurthermore, the elastomer element is shaped so as to leave, before compression of the plug body, on the end face of the latter, a crown with a (radial) width of at least
1 mm.1 mm.
Ladite cavité peut présenter par exemple une forme sensiblement cylindrique, mais elle peut de préférence avoir une forme divergente, c'est-à-dire un diamètre allant en augmentant depuis le fond en direction de son débouché.Said cavity may for example have a substantially cylindrical shape, but it may preferably have a divergent shape, that is to say a diameter which increases from the bottom towards its outlet.
L'élastomère constituant l'élément remplissant ladite cavité, peut être de préférence un élastomère de silicone, de qualité alimentaire.The elastomer constituting the element filling said cavity, may preferably be a silicone elastomer, of food grade.
De préférence, l'élément en élastomère est formé par moulage et réticulation avant sa mise en place dans la cavité, mais peut également être réalisé par moulage et réticulation de l'élastomère cru dans la cavité du corps de bouchon.Preferably, the elastomer element is formed by molding and crosslinking before it is placed in the cavity, but can also be produced by molding and crosslinking of the raw elastomer in the cavity of the stopper body.
Suivant un mode de réalisation, l'élastomère peut être constitué par un élastomère perméable aux petites molécules de gaz telles que H2, N2, 02, C02, mais imperméable aux grosses molécules telles que les molécules à cycles aromatiques dont celles responsables du "goût de bouchon". Ainsi, le joint constitué par l'élément en élastomère n'altère en aucune manière l'échange des gaz à petites molécules, laissant le liège du corps de bouchon assurer à lui seul son rôle de contrôle d'échange de gaz habituel. En se référant aux dessins schématiques annexés, on va décrire ci-après plus en détail plusieurs modes de réalisation illustratifs et non limitatifs d'un bouchon composite conforme à l'invention; sur les dessins : les figures 1 et 2 représentent un bouchon conforme à l'invention pour vin effervescent, avant compression radiale du bouchon et après enfoncement du bouchon dans un col de bouteille; les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues correspondantes d'un bouchon pour vin tranquille; les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues correspondantes d'un mode de réalisation préféré d'un bouchon conforme à l'invention. Selon la figure 1, un bouchon 1 destiné au bouchage d'une bouteille contenant du vin effervescent, par exemple du Champagne, comprend un corps de bouchon 2 en liège naturel ou aggloméré, ou un mélange des deux, en forme de cylindre ou de parallélépipède rectangle à arêtes arrondies, ayant deux faces d'extrémité planes et parallèles. Dans l'une des faces d'extrémité est ménagée en position concentrique, une cavité 3 circulaire, en forme de cuvette ou calotte, le bord de la cavité 3 étant espacé du bord de la face d'extrémité correspondante de manière qu'une couronne 4 de la face d'extrémité plane du corps de bouchon subsiste autour de la cavité 3. La cavité 3 est remplie d'un élastomère 5 sensiblement incompressible, par exemple d'un élastomère de silicone, et cela à ras de la face d'extrémité dans l'exemple représenté.According to one embodiment, the elastomer can be constituted by an elastomer permeable to small gas molecules such as H 2 , N 2 , 0 2 , C0 2 , but impermeable to large molecules such as molecules with aromatic rings including those responsible "corky taste". Thus, the seal formed by the elastomer element does not in any way alter the exchange of gases with small molecules, letting the cork of the cap body alone ensure its role in controlling the usual gas exchange. Referring to the accompanying schematic drawings, we will describe below in more detail several illustrative and nonlimiting embodiments of a composite stopper according to the invention; in the drawings: FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a stopper in accordance with the invention for sparkling wine, before radial compression of the stopper and after driving the stopper into a bottle neck; Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views of a stopper for still wine; Figures 5 and 6 are corresponding views of a preferred embodiment of a plug according to the invention. According to FIG. 1, a stopper 1 intended for corking a bottle containing sparkling wine, for example Champagne, comprises a stopper body 2 made of natural or agglomerated cork, or a mixture of the two, in the form of a cylinder or a parallelepiped rectangle with rounded edges, having two plane and parallel end faces. In one of the end faces is formed in a concentric position, a circular cavity 3, in the form of a bowl or cap, the edge of the cavity 3 being spaced from the edge of the corresponding end face so that a crown 4 of the flat end face of the stopper body remains around the cavity 3. The cavity 3 is filled with a substantially incompressible elastomer 5, for example a silicone elastomer, and this flush with the face of end in the example shown.
La figure 2 représente le bouchon 1 de la figure 1 après enfoncement dans un col de bouteille 6. A cet effet, le bouchon 1 en liège subit de façon usuelle, sur la partie de sa longueur destinée à être enfoncée dans le col de bouteille 6, une compression radiale qui ramène son diamètre de 31 à 15,5 mm. Cette compression radiale est suivie, en l'espace de moins de 1 seconde, de l'enfoncement de la partie comprimée du bouchon 1 dans le col de bouteille 6. Sous l'effet de la compression radiale du corps de bouchon 2, l'élément 5 en élastomère qui n'est pas compressible subit, après un temps de relaxation d'environ 1 seconde, donc après enfoncement du bouchon 1 dans le col de bouteille 6 et réexpansion au diamètre intérieur du col (17 mm), une déformation élastique en avant de la face d'extrémité dans laquelle est disposé l'élément 5 en élastomère, de sorte que l'élément 5 adopte, à l'intérieur du col de bouteille 6, la forme illustrée sur la figure 2, en débordant radialement vers l'extérieur sur la couronne 4 jusqu'à toucher la face intérieure du col 6, pour établir ainsi un joint étanche sur toute la face d'extrémité du bouchon 1.FIG. 2 shows the stopper 1 of FIG. 1 after being inserted into a bottle neck 6. For this purpose, the cork stopper 1 is subjected in the usual manner, over the part of its length intended to be pressed into the bottle neck 6 , a radial compression which reduces its diameter from 31 to 15.5 mm. This radial compression is followed, in less than 1 second, by the insertion of the compressed part of the stopper 1 into the neck of the bottle 6. Under the effect of the radial compression of the stopper body 2, the elastomer element 5 which is not compressible undergoes, after a relaxation time of approximately 1 second, therefore after pressing the stopper 1 into the neck of the bottle 6 and re-expansion to the inside diameter of the neck (17 mm) in front of the end face in which the elastomer element 5 is arranged, so that the element 5 adopts, inside the neck of the bottle 6, the shape illustrated in FIG. 2, projecting radially outward on the crown 4 until it touches the inner face of the neck 6, thereby establishing a tight seal over the entire end face of the plug 1.
Compte tenu du temps de relaxation de l'élastomère de l'élément 5, l'enfoncement du bouchon 1 dans le col de bouteille 6 n'est pas modifié par rapport à l'enfoncement d'un bouchon intégralement en liège, dans la mesure où, pendant l'enfoncement, seul le liège du bouchon 1 entre en contact avec le verre du col 6.Taking into account the relaxation time of the elastomer of the element 5, the insertion of the stopper 1 into the bottle neck 6 is not modified with respect to the insertion of an entirely cork stopper, insofar as where, during insertion, only the cork of the stopper 1 comes into contact with the glass of the neck 6.
La figure 3 illustre un bouchon 11 pour vin tranquille, comprenant un corps de bouchon 12 en liège qui comporte, dans chaque face d'extrémité, une cavité 13a, 13b en forme de calotte ou cuvette. Chaque cavité 13a, 13b est de forme circulaire et est ménagée concentriquement dans la face d'extrémité correspondante de manière à laisser subsister autour d'elle une couronne 14a, 14b de liège dans le plan de la face d'extrémité. Chaque cavité 13a, 13b est remplie d'un élastomère sensiblement incompressible constituant, dans l'exemple illustré, un élément 15a, 15b à face extérieure convexe.FIG. 3 illustrates a stopper 11 for still wine, comprising a cork stopper body 12 which comprises, in each end face, a cavity 13a, 13b in the form of a cap or bowl. Each cavity 13a, 13b is circular in shape and is formed concentrically in the corresponding end face so as to leave around it a crown 14a, 14b of cork in the plane of the end face. Each cavity 13a, 13b is filled with a substantially incompressible elastomer constituting, in the example illustrated, an element 15a, 15b with a convex outer face.
Selon la figure 4, le bouchon 1 1 de la figure 3 est enfoncé dans un col de bouteille 16 après une compression radiale du bouchon 1 1 qui ramène le diamètre de ce dernier de 24 à 15,5 mm. Cette compression radiale que le liège du corps de bouchon 12 subit par compression élastique provoque, après un temps de relaxation d'environ 1 seconde, une déformation axiale des éléments 15a, 15b non compressibles, ces deux éléments 15a, 15b adoptant ainsi la forme illustrée sur la figure 4, chaque élément 15a, 15b subissant, en avant de la face d'extrémité correspondante du corps de bouchon 12 réexpansé au diamètre intérieur du col (17 mm), une expansion radiale jusqu'à entrer en contact avec le verre du col 16 de la bouteille et constituer ici un joint étanche au liquide contenu dans la bouteille. Le second joint créé par l'élément 15b à l'extrémité libre du colAccording to Figure 4, the cap 1 1 of Figure 3 is pressed into a bottle neck 16 after a radial compression of the cap 1 1 which reduces the diameter of the latter from 24 to 15.5 mm. This radial compression that the cork of the stopper body 12 undergoes by elastic compression causes, after a relaxation time of approximately 1 second, an axial deformation of the non-compressible elements 15a, 15b, these two elements 15a, 15b thus adopting the illustrated form. in FIG. 4, each element 15a, 15b undergoing, in front of the corresponding end face of the plug body 12 re-expanded to the inside diameter of the neck (17 mm), a radial expansion until it comes into contact with the glass of the neck 16 of the bottle and here constitute a seal tight to the liquid contained in the bottle. The second seal created by element 15b at the free end of the neck
16 protège le liège du corps de bouchon 12 contre toute moisissure, attaque de vers, etc., venant de l'extérieur.16 protects the cork from the stopper body 12 against any mold, attack by worms, etc., coming from the outside.
Une cavité de forme circulaire, quelle que soit sa forme, peut être usinée directement dans la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon. Pour réaliser une cavité cylindrique, il est possible, par exemple dans le cas d'un corps de bouchon composé de plusieurs rondelles, d'évider (tubage) la dernière rondelle et de la coller sur la partie restante du corps de bouchon. Bien entendu, cette technique peut être utilisée également pour une cavité d'une forme autre que cylindrique. L'élément en élastomère peut être réalisé, par exemple, par moulage et réticulation d'élastomère "cru" directement dans la cavité, mais peut également être moulé et réticulé à part pour être rapporté et fixé, par exemple par collage ou clipsage dans la cavité.A circular shaped cavity, whatever its shape, can be machined directly in the end face of the plug body. To make a cylindrical cavity, it is possible, for example in the case a plug body made up of several washers, to hollow out (casing) the last washer and to stick it on the remaining part of the plug body. Of course, this technique can also be used for a cavity of a shape other than cylindrical. The elastomer element can be produced, for example, by molding and crosslinking of "raw" elastomer directly in the cavity, but can also be molded and crosslinked separately to be attached and fixed, for example by gluing or clipping in the cavity.
Pour permettre à l'élément en élastomère d'assumer ses fonctions, la cavité, à l'endroit de son débouché, peut occuper presque la totalité de la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon, mais l'élément laisse subsister ici, avant compression radiale du bouchon, une couronne 4 de largeur (radiale) d'au moins 1 mm.To allow the elastomer element to assume its functions, the cavity, at the point of its outlet, can occupy almost the entire end face of the plug body, but the element allows to remain here, before radial compression of the plug, a crown 4 of width (radial) of at least 1 mm.
A titre d'exemple, cette couronne 4 peut avoir une largeur comprise entre environ 1 et 2 mm sur un bouchon pour vin tranquille de 24 mm de diamètre et une largeur comprise entre environ 3 et 7 mm sur un bouchon pour vin effervescent de 31 mm de diamètre.By way of example, this crown 4 may have a width of between approximately 1 and 2 mm on a still wine stopper of 24 mm in diameter and a width of between approximately 3 and 7 mm on a sparkling wine stopper of 31 mm of diameter.
Dans le mode de réalisation préféré selon les figures 5 et 6, qui est illustré ici à titre d'exemple pour le bouchage d'un col de bouteille 26 pour vin tranquille, mais peut être utilisé pratiquement sans changement également pour le bouchage de bouteilles pour vin effervescent, la cavité 23 ménagée concentriquement dans une face d'extrémité du corps 22 d'un bouchon 21 , en laissant subsister une couronne extérieure 24 de ladite face d'extrémité, présente un diamètre allant en augmentant du fond vers le débouché de la cavité, de telle manière que la cavité présente un profil enIn the preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, which is illustrated here by way of example for corking a bottle neck 26 for still wine, but can be used practically without change also for corking bottles for sparkling wine, the cavity 23 formed concentrically in an end face of the body 22 of a stopper 21, leaving an outer crown 24 of said end face, has a diameter increasing from the bottom towards the outlet of the cavity, so that the cavity has a profile in
"trompette". En d'autres termes, cette cavité présente des flancs qui sont convexes au lieu d'être concaves comme dans les exemples précédents."trumpet". In other words, this cavity has flanks which are convex instead of being concave as in the previous examples.
De plus, il est à remarquer que la cavité 23 présente, sur son fond, une gorge annulaire 27 qui en augmente la profondeur. L'élément en élastomère 25 préformé par moulage présente une partie extérieure 28 en forme de bourrelet annulaire qui déborde après mise en place de l'élément 25 dans la cavité 23, au moins en partie sur la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon 21, la partie centrale 29 de la face extérieure de l'élément en élastomère 25, en retrait par rapport à ce bourrelet 28, étant sensiblement au niveau de la face d'extrémité (couronne 24) du corps de bouchon (avant compression de ce dernier).In addition, it should be noted that the cavity 23 has, on its bottom, an annular groove 27 which increases its depth. The elastomer element 25 preformed by molding has an outer part 28 in the form of an annular bead which projects beyond the positioning of the element 25 in the cavity 23, at least partly on the end face of the plug body 21 , the central part 29 of the outer face of the elastomer element 25, set back relative to this bead 28, being substantially at the level of the end face (crown 24) of the plug body (front compression of the latter).
Il y a également lieu de noter que l'élément 25 est ici fixé au corps de bouchon 22 uniquement à l'endroit de la nervure annulaire 30 qu'il comporte en saillie sur son fond pour venir s'emboîter dans la gorge 27 de la cavité 23.It should also be noted that the element 25 is here fixed to the plug body 22 only at the location of the annular rib 30 which it has projecting on its bottom to come to fit in the groove 27 of the cavity 23.
Cela favorise la déformation élastique de l'élément 25 en avant de la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon, après bouchage du col 26 suite à la compression radiale du corps de bouchon 22, l'élément 25 pouvant aisément glisser sur les flancs de la cavité 23, de manière que le bourrelet 28 dans son ensemble s'applique parfaitement contre la face interne du colThis favors the elastic deformation of the element 25 in front of the end face of the plug body, after plugging of the neck 26 following the radial compression of the plug body 22, the element 25 being able to easily slide on the sides of the cavity 23, so that the bead 28 as a whole is applied perfectly against the internal face of the neck
26, en avant de la couronne 24, après bouchage, comme le montre la figure 6.26, in front of the crown 24, after capping, as shown in FIG. 6.
Enfin, l'élément 25 présente ici, à l'endroit de sa partie encastrée dans la cavité 23, donc soumise à déformation élastique en réponse à la compression radiale du corps de bouchon 22, un diamètre plus faible que dans les exemples précédents, correspondant à environ 50%, voire même moins, du diamètre du corps de bouchon avant compression, selon le degré de compression du bouchon. En contrepartie, l'épaisseur (axiale) de l'élément 25, à l'endroit de sa partie encastrée, est plus importante, pouvant être égale à au moins 3 mm, par exemple, pour un bouchon à vin tranquille de 24 mm de diamètre ou pour un bouchon à vin effervescent de 31 mm de diamètre.Finally, the element 25 has here, at the place of its part embedded in the cavity 23, therefore subjected to elastic deformation in response to the radial compression of the plug body 22, a smaller diameter than in the previous examples, corresponding at around 50%, or even less, of the diameter of the stopper body before compression, depending on the degree of compression of the stopper. In return, the (axial) thickness of the element 25, at the place of its embedded part, is greater, being able to be equal to at least 3 mm, for example, for a still wine stopper of 24 mm diameter or for a sparkling wine stopper 31 mm in diameter.
Il convient de noter que l'élastomère utilisé suivant l'invention, défini comme étant "sensiblement incompressible", est un élastomère qui se déforme élastiquement sans diminuer sensiblement de volume lorsqu'il est comprimé.It should be noted that the elastomer used according to the invention, defined as being "substantially incompressible", is an elastomer which deforms elastically without substantially reducing its volume when it is compressed.
Dans le cadre de l'invention, la réduction de volume de l'élastomère est avantageusement inférieure à 15%, de préférence inférieure à 10%. Parmi les élastomeres susceptibles d'être utilisés dans le cadre de l'invention, il est possible de mentionner en particulier les élastomeres silicones vulcanisables à chaud (ENC), par exemple le polydiméthyl/vinylméthylsiloxane (VMQ), de qualité alimentaire, susceptibles d'être mis en forme par moulage et présentant une dureté comprise entre environ 35 et 70 Shore A. Des essais concluants ont été effectués, par exemple avec un ENC catalysé au platine, de dureté 60 Shore A, référence S 60 i 59 X, de la Société NERΝERET à LA MOTHE- AUX-AULΝAIES, F-89120 CHARΝY.In the context of the invention, the reduction in volume of the elastomer is advantageously less than 15%, preferably less than 10%. Among the elastomers capable of being used in the context of the invention, it is possible to mention in particular the silicone elastomers vulcanizable under heat (ENC), for example polydimethyl / vinylmethylsiloxane (VMQ), of food quality, capable of be shaped by molding and having a hardness between about 35 and 70 Shore A. Successful tests have been performed, for example with a platinum-catalyzed ENC, hardness 60 Shore A, reference S 60 i 59 X, from the company NERΝERET in LA MOTHE-AUX-AULΝAIES, F-89120 CHARΝY.
Des essais concluants ont également été effectués avec un élastomère silicone liquide de dureté 60 Shore A, référence S 60 i 01 L, de cette même société.Conclusive tests have also been carried out with a liquid silicone elastomer of hardness 60 Shore A, reference S 60 i 01 L, from the same company.
En remplacement de ces élastomeres silicones, qui sont peι néables aux petites molécules de gaz, il est possible d'utiliser également par exemple un caoutchouc de butyle chloré, de qualité alimentaire, de dureté 50 Shore A, référencé B 50 i 20 B de la même société, ou également un caoutchouc de butyle brome correspondant. Ces caoutchoucs présentent la particularité d'être parfaitement imperméables, même aux petites molécules de gaz. Les bouchons équipés d'éléments formant joints réalisés en de tels caoutchoucs, sont utilisables plus particulièrement pour des vins à consommer rapidement, c'est-à-dire des vins qui n'ont pas à subir un vieillissement en vue de leur bonification. To replace these silicone elastomers, which are harmless to small molecules of gas, it is also possible to use, for example, chlorinated butyl rubber, of food quality, of hardness 50 Shore A, referenced B 50 i 20 B of the same company, or also a corresponding bromine butyl rubber. These rubbers have the particularity of being perfectly impermeable, even to small gas molecules. The corks equipped with elements forming seals made of such rubbers, can be used more particularly for wines to be consumed quickly, that is to say wines which do not have to undergo aging for the purpose of their improvement.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Bouchon composite pour le bouchage du col de bouteilles, notamment de bouteilles de vin, comprenant un corps en un matériau compressible tel que le liège, muni au moins à son extrémité tournée vers le contenu de la bouteille à boucher de moyens complémentaires formant joint, caractérisé par le fait que lesdits moyens sont constitués par un élément (5, 15, 25) en un élastomère sensiblement incompressible, remplissant pratiquement complètement une cavité (3, 13, 23) de section circulaire ménagée en position concentrique dans au moins une face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon (2, 12, 22), de manière qu'une couronne (4, 14, 24) de la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon subsiste autour de ladite cavité, ladite cavité présentant un volume tel que ledit élément, sous l'effet de la compression à laquelle le corps de bouchon est soumis lors du bouchage, se déforme élastiquement en avant de ladite face d'extrémité, après bouchage, de manière à établir, après bouchage, en avant de ladite face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon, un joint étanche recouvrant toute ladite face d'extrémité et se trouvant en contact avec la face intérieure du col de bouteille.1. Composite stopper for corking the neck of bottles, in particular of wine bottles, comprising a body made of a compressible material such as cork, provided at least at its end facing the contents of the corking bottle with complementary means forming a seal , characterized in that the said means consist of an element (5, 15, 25) of a substantially incompressible elastomer, filling almost completely a cavity (3, 13, 23) of circular section formed in the concentric position in at least one face end of the plug body (2, 12, 22), so that a crown (4, 14, 24) of the end face of the plug body remains around said cavity, said cavity having such a volume that said element, under the effect of the compression to which the plug body is subjected during plugging, elastically deforms in front of said end face, after plugging, so as to establish, ap very corking, in front of said end face of the cap body, a tight seal covering all of said end face and being in contact with the inside face of the bottle neck.
2. Bouchon suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que la profondeur de ladite cavité (3, 13, 23) correspond au moins à 1 mm au plus creux de la cavité.2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the depth of said cavity (3, 13, 23) corresponds to at least 1 mm at the most hollow of the cavity.
3. Bouchon suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé par le fait que l'élément (5, 15, 25) en élastomère est conformé de manière à laisser subsister, avant compression du corps de bouchon, une couronne (4, 14, 24) d'une largeur (radiale) d'au moins 1 mm sur la face d'extrémité du corps de bouchon.3. Cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastomer element (5, 15, 25) is shaped so as to leave a crown (4, 14, 24 remaining before compression of the cap body). ) of a width (radial) of at least 1 mm on the end face of the plug body.
4. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ledit élastomère est un élastomère de silicone.4. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said elastomer is a silicone elastomer.
5. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ledit élastomère est un élastomère perméable aux petites molécules de gaz telles que H2, N2, 02, C02, et imperméable aux grosses molécules telles que les molécules à cycles aromatiques. 5. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said elastomer is an elastomer permeable to small gas molecules such as H 2 , N 2 , 0 2 , C0 2 , and impermeable to large molecules such as aromatic ring molecules.
6. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé par le fait que ledit élément en élastomère (5, 15, 25) est moulé et réticulé avant d'être rapporté et fixé dans ladite cavité.6. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said elastomeric element (5, 15, 25) is molded and crosslinked before being attached and fixed in said cavity.
7. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ledit élément en élastomère (25) comprend une partie (28) en forme de bourrelet annulaire dépassant de ladite face d'extrémité (24) du corps de bouchon avant compression de ce dernier.7. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said elastomer element (25) comprises a part (28) in the form of an annular bead projecting from the said end face (24) of the front cap body compression of the latter.
8. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que ladite cavité (23) présente une forme divergente à flancs convexes.8. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said cavity (23) has a divergent shape with convex sides.
9. Bouchon suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le fait que l'élément en élastomère (5, 15, 25) est fixé au corps de bouchon uniquement au fond de la cavité (3, 13, 23). 9. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastomer element (5, 15, 25) is fixed to the cap body only at the bottom of the cavity (3, 13, 23).
10. Bouchon suivant la revendication 9, caractérisé par le fait que l'élément en élastomère (25) présente sur son fond une nervure annulaire (27) et que la cavité (23) présente sur son fond une gorge annulaire (30) dans laquelle ladite nervure est emboîtée et fixée. 10. Stopper according to claim 9, characterized in that the elastomer element (25) has on its bottom an annular rib (27) and that the cavity (23) has on its bottom an annular groove (30) in which said rib is fitted and fixed.
EP99958243A 1998-12-04 1999-12-03 Composite stopper with controlled permeability Expired - Lifetime EP1135301B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9815351A FR2786753B1 (en) 1998-12-04 1998-12-04 COMPOSITE PLUG WITH CONTROLLED PERMEABILITY
FR9815351 1998-12-04
PCT/FR1999/003014 WO2000034140A1 (en) 1998-12-04 1999-12-03 Composite stopper with controlled permeability

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1135301A1 true EP1135301A1 (en) 2001-09-26
EP1135301B1 EP1135301B1 (en) 2004-03-31

Family

ID=9533604

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99958243A Expired - Lifetime EP1135301B1 (en) 1998-12-04 1999-12-03 Composite stopper with controlled permeability

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (1) US6601722B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1135301B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1117013C (en)
AR (1) AR021868A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE263072T1 (en)
AU (1) AU759563B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69916102T2 (en)
DZ (1) DZ2956A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2219084T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2786753B1 (en)
HK (1) HK1040386B (en)
MA (1) MA25774A1 (en)
PT (1) PT1135301E (en)
TN (1) TNSN99226A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000034140A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA200104615B (en)

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US7533781B1 (en) * 2002-05-21 2009-05-19 James Spooner Extraction facilitating cork closure
EP1375371A1 (en) * 2002-06-25 2004-01-02 Compagnie du Baou Composite cork with improved tightness
WO2004024585A1 (en) * 2002-09-16 2004-03-25 Amorim Cork Italia S.P.A. Closing stopper for containers
US9415904B1 (en) 2003-05-13 2016-08-16 James E. Spooner Extraction facilitating cork closure
FR2855999B1 (en) 2003-06-13 2006-04-07 Philippe Allasio PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A PLUG AND CAP OBTAINED
US20050247662A1 (en) * 2004-05-04 2005-11-10 Esmond Brendy B Closable containers
FR2871087B1 (en) * 2004-06-07 2007-01-05 Barange Fabrique De Bouchons S METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELEMENT COMPRISING AT LEAST THE CORK, IN PARTICULAR A PLUG, AND ELEMENT OBTAINED BY SUCH A METHOD
PT103591B (en) 2006-10-17 2010-03-23 Inst Superior Tecnico PROCESS OF PRODUCTION OF CYLINDRICAL BODIES OF CORK COMPOSITE MATERIAL, INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ROLLS FOR PRESSURE WINES, AS WELL AS THE ROLLS PRODUCED BY THIS PROCESS
US8011522B2 (en) * 2007-03-22 2011-09-06 EPOLI—Espumas de polietileno SA Synthetic closure with multiple internal layers, each layer having a variable cross section (VCS) along the closure length
US20090039052A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 Antonio Martin Galvez-Ramos Plastic cap protector for bottle corks
PT2185436E (en) * 2007-09-11 2012-09-10 Nomacorc Llc Closure/stopper with multi-layer film affixed thereto
US8714383B2 (en) * 2011-08-19 2014-05-06 Corson Family Enterprises, Llc Compound bung for wine and spirits barrels
US8807363B1 (en) * 2013-05-19 2014-08-19 James R. Gilliam Wine cork having molded anti-taint barrier tip
FR3124497B1 (en) * 2021-06-24 2024-03-08 Diam Bouchage Cap having gas permeability control and corresponding manufacturing process
CN113682633B (en) * 2021-08-27 2022-10-28 芜湖集拓橡胶技术有限公司 Low-hardness low-emission ethylene propylene diene monomer sealing element

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK1040386B (en) 2003-11-28
EP1135301B1 (en) 2004-03-31
AR021868A1 (en) 2002-08-07
ZA200104615B (en) 2002-01-16
US6601722B1 (en) 2003-08-05
FR2786753A1 (en) 2000-06-09
ATE263072T1 (en) 2004-04-15
PT1135301E (en) 2004-08-31
CN1117013C (en) 2003-08-06
CN1328517A (en) 2001-12-26
TNSN99226A1 (en) 2001-12-31
DE69916102D1 (en) 2004-05-06
FR2786753B1 (en) 2001-01-19
MA25774A1 (en) 2003-07-01
HK1040386A1 (en) 2002-06-07
DZ2956A1 (en) 2004-03-15
ES2219084T3 (en) 2004-11-16
AU759563B2 (en) 2003-04-17
WO2000034140A1 (en) 2000-06-15
DE69916102T2 (en) 2004-11-18
AU1565500A (en) 2000-06-26

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