EP3269660B1

EP3269660B1 - Stopper for beverage containers

Info

Publication number: EP3269660B1
Application number: EP16178774.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Dal Bo; Paolo Ragone
Original assignee: Greencork Srl
Current assignee: Greencork Srl
Priority date: 2016-07-11
Filing date: 2016-07-11
Publication date: 2019-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-11
Also published as: EP3269660A1

Description

The present invention relates to a stopper for beverage containers according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular alcoholic beverages, which meets the requirements of some DOCG specifications as regards wine bottling.
It is known that, in order to close wine bottles, spirit and the like, stoppers are used which, depending on the constructive approaches and needs, are distinguished in stoppers made up of cork or plastic, caps or crown stoppers.
The present invention turns to, in particular, the first type of stoppers which was just mentioned, i.e. to the stoppers the extraction of which from the bottle occurs by means of corkscrews, as the stoppers made up of cork or plastic.
Such known stoppers comprise a shaped body, in general having a cylindrical shape, completely made up of cork or in plastic material or in an appropriate combination thereof.
The stoppers made up of only cork are the most ancient and the most common, as well as the ones which are considered the most appropriate for the conservation of quality wines, especially in case conservation for long periods is intended.
Such stoppers made up of only cork have several disadvantages which may adversely affect the conservation of the wine or even modify its taste or its other organoleptic qualities. In fact, it is possible that the contamination by mould or fungi would give to the wine the characteristic taste "of cork".
The completely synthetic stoppers are, instead, made up of a mix of thermoplastic petroleum-derived materials, called elastomers, which are aggregated by an injection moulding process.
The synthetic stoppers have good properties since they do not crumble, they are not dusty, they cannot be attacked by moulds or bacteria, offer an excellent and long lasting barrier to the oxygen preserving over time the organoleptic qualities of the liquid which is contained in the bottle and, furthermore, they are totally immune to any type of transfer.
Moreover, the synthetic stoppers insert in the neck of the bottle by the common automatic corking machines which are used for the stoppers made up of cork, so as they can be extracted by a traditional corkscrews.
In respect with those which are made up of cork, the synthetic stoppers may anyway be customized by producing them in the desired colour and with ink-prints marked, e.g., with the trademark of the producer.
For such reasons, the synthetic stoppers are preferable to the stoppers made up of cork, as now widely recognised by many producers and oenologists.
In fact, in some markets as those of the South East Asia, the stopper made up of cork is even an obstacle to the consumer. Furthermore, more modern stoppers bring benefits for new opportunities for consumption of a glass in bars and clubs for young people, facilitating the bottle closure and then the conservation of the wine.
Nevertheless, other insiders, as owners of wine stores or restaurateurs who serve quality wines, support the absolute need to use the stoppers made up of cork, because such material turns out to be the only one able to allow the wine exchanging the proper air quantity with the outside of the container within which it is preserved.
Furthermore, some specifications relating to the DOP wine bottling and to some wines DOCG not sparkling are still in force, which require using stoppers having at least 51% of cork.
Although adhering well to the neck of the bottle, in fact, the stopper made up of cork allows a minimum of aeration, which is natural and valuable, because allows the ageing wines acquiring, by slowly oxidising, all the organoleptic qualities required in this type of valuable wine.
In particular, small amounts of oxygen make the wine evolving, while big amounts of it facilitate it quickly oxidising, which is not always appreciated. Furthermore, the synthetic stoppers still are not competitively priced in respect with those made up of cork.
Basing on the above, in order to obtain the typical advantages of the synthetic stoppers without prejudicing nor the slowly oxidising required for a ageing wine, nor the image of the quality of a younger wine, which would be anyway perceived a considerable portion of final users, stoppers were proposed which, although being mainly made up of cork, comprise also parts in plastic material.
The stoppers for bottles, so to speak, composite are products according to various embodiments, one of which provides a shaped body, having a shape substantially cylindrical, made up of cork, to which a laminar element is applied from top and/or from bottom, having a minimum thickness, made up of plastic material.
According to the current manufacturing process, the laminar elements are produced by injection moulding performed in a separate mould and distinct from the one used far the shaped body, to which the laminar elements are coupled by interposition by junction means, typically adhesive substances. The main problem that is found in the known art is, therefore, that the process just examined far manufacturing stoppers in part made up of cork and in part in plastic material is extremely hard-working and articulated.
Another problem in such stoppers comes from the fact that, with a view to avoid mistrust of the insiders relating to the quality of the wine enclosed in the bottles trying, however, and introducing the exclusive advantages of the synthetic stoppers, we end up with obtaining a final product which is spurious, and does not completely please the operators involved.
Yet, composite stoppers were introduced on the market, the assembling of which was found minimizing the elastic properties of the final product, making difficult, or even impossible, extracting the stopper from the bottle. Another risk, on the other hand, is due to the poor contact area between cork and plastic material, so that the leak of the two pieces is not always reliable aver time, in particular in case of long life wines, with obvious consequences.
EP 2.657.148 discloses a cork based closure having the features of the preamble of the independent claim.
The present invention aims overcome the problems of the known art just mentioned.
In particular, the primary purpose of the invention is developing a stopper having a structure simpler in respect with stoppers of known type.
So, a purpose of the invention is making available a stopper of the said type which is realizable more quickly than the known art.
Another purpose of the invention is realizing a stopper that, although being apparently a stopper made up of cork which, thus, keeps in the eyes of the insiders a positive image, has better values than the ones of the known art in some properties, consequences of providing parts in composite material.
In other words, the invention aims to realize a stopper in composite material that, in respect with similar known stoppers, has a greater ability to avoid dust, a lower transfer to the liquid contained in the bottle, a more effective barrier to the oxygen, a lower crumbling and a greater ability to resist against attacks by moulds or bacteria.
Furthermore purpose of the invention is producing a stopper reliable over time from point of view of the leak and the conservation of the organoleptic qualities of the wine, and which meets the requirements of some specifications respective to the wines DOC and DOCG bottling.
Said objects are achieved through a stopper according to the claim 1, to which reference is made for the sake of brevity.
More detailed characteristics of the stopper according to the invention are contained in the respective dependent claims.
Advantageously, the stopper of the invention allows simplify the operations necessary for its production.
Still advantageously, the stopper of the invention is obtained more rapidly in respect with known equivalent stoppers, in respect to which the stopper of the invention has better technical characteristics on account of the fact of providing a lower percentage of plastic material.
It is not to the detriment of the safety and trust profile some time ago attributed, and for now still well established for the insiders, to the stopper made up of cork, material that, in the invention, still keeps a significant role.
In particular, the stopper of the invention comprises a shaped element suitable for being associated to a container for its closure and an insert in composite material, associated with the shaped element, wherein the insert has at least one anchor stem and a screen, and the shaped element has at least a channel, communicating with at least one of the external surfaces of the shaped element, wherein such anchor stem can be inserted; the screen acts as protection for the external surface of such shaped element. The invention consists in the fact that the screen of the insert has a side facing to the external surface of the shaped element and a protruding element on such side (for sides it is meant the two faces of the screen) and that such external surface of the shaped element has a slot, having a shape corresponding to that of such protruding element, so that the clutch between the insert and the shaped element has less leak. Advantageously, the screen, in detail, protects the beverage from possible contacts with the shaped element, that could transfer and transmit to it moulds or bacteria.
According to the invention, the channel linearly develops along a longitudinal axis, allowing an easy insertion of the anchor stem within it. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis is preferably placed in a central zone of the shaped element. Always according to the invention, advantageously the anchor stem and the screen are in a single piece with each other, in order to speed up and simplify the production of the stopper.
According to the invention, the material of the anchor stem and of the screen comprises sterilized cork powder and a thermoplastic compound based on SBS and/or SEBS.
This allows, advantageously, having a product which does not crumble, and does not transfer to the beverages with which comes into contact. Preferably, the material comprises a plasticizing agent in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 27%.
In such way, advantageously, the anchor stem and the screen of the invention are realized in a material easily formable, especially during the productive stage.
According to the invention, furthermore, the thermoplastic compound of the material may comprise a blowing agent in a percentage by weight ranging between the 3 and the 40% of the total weight of the material. The advantage due to such component is due to the lightness, softness and porosity of the anchor stem and of the screen, then suitable for perspire, as well as to their elastic response to compression.
Always according to the invention, the thermoplastic compound of the material may comprise polypropylene in a percentage by weight ranging between 2 and 24% of the total weight of the material.
Moreover, according to the invention, the thermoplastic compound of the material may comprise EVA in a percentage by weight ranging between 20 and 60% of the total weight of the material.
This contributes to obtaining a chemical expansion reaction, with the abovementioned advantages, keeping the compatibility of the material of the anchor stem and of the screen of the invention with the contact with an alimental beverage.
In particular, the fact that the thermoplastic compound of the material comprises SEBS in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 15% of the total weight of the material is preferable.
Always preferably, according to the invention, using as plasticizing agent pharmacological paraffinic oil is possible, so that the material obtained is suitable for the food contact. In particular, using such pharmacological paraffinic oil in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 15% of the total weight of the material is possible.
Moreover, an advantage of the invention is due to the cylindrical shape of the shaped element, able to adapt to most of the bottles on the market. Preferably, according to the invention, the shaped element is coated with a thin lubricating layer, which facilitates the insertion and extracting of the stopper into or from the container.
In detail, such lubricating layer may be a plasto-silico-paraffinic preparation.
The purposes and the advantages will become apparent from said following description of a preferred form of implementation and execution of the invention, given by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

the figure 1 is a cross section of the stopper according to the invention in a first embodiment;
the figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the stopper of figure 1 ;
the figure 3 is a cross section of the stopper according to the invention in a second embodiment;
the figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the stopper of figure 3.
the figure 5 is a cross section of the stopper according to the invention in a third embodiment;
the figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the stopper of figure 5.

The stopper, preferably but not necessarily proper to being applied to bottles of alcoholic beverages, as e.g. wine, spirit and the like, is depicted in a first embodiment in the figures 1 and 2, and in a second embodiment in the figures 5 and 6, wherein it is globally numbered with 10, respectively in cross section along the line B-B and in longitudinal section along the line A-A.
As we can see, the stopper 10 comprises a shaped cylinder 2, suitable for being associated to a container, as e.g. the above said bottle, for its closure, and an insert 3, in composite material, coupled to the bottom of the shaped cylinder 2.
According to the invention, the shaped cylinder 2 has a channel 4, equipped with a first end 5, a dead end, and with a second end 6, communicating with the external surface of the shaped cylinder 2.
The insert 3 comprises one anchor stem 7, placed inside the channel 4, and a screen 8, a protection for the external surface of the shaped cylinder 2, both in composite material.
The channel 4 linearly develops along a longitudinal axis Y and, preferably, is placed in the central zone 1 of the shaped cylinder 2, symmetrically in relation to the same longitudinal axis Y.
According to a third embodiment, shown in the figures 3 and 4, (respectively in cross section along the line B-B and in longitudinal section along the line A-A) the shaped cylinder may have a circular channel, filled with one anchor stem in composite material having a hollow cylindrical shape.
The stopper 20 comprises a shaped cylinder 22, suitable for being associated to a container, as e.g. the above said bottle, for its closure, and an insert 23, in composite material, coupled at the bottom of the shaped cylinder 22.
According to the invention, the shaped cylinder 22 has a circular channel 24, equipped with a first end 25, a dead end, and with a second end 26, communicating with the external surface of the shaped cylinder 22.
The insert 23 comprises one anchor stem 27, placed inside the channel 24, and a screen 28, a protection for the external surface of the shaped cylinder 22, both in composite material.
The channel 24 circularly extends around the axis Y and, preferably, is placed in the central zone 21 of the shaped cylinder 22, symmetrically in relation to the same longitudinal axis Y.
According to further embodiments, not depicted, the shaped cylinder may have more than a single channel, each filled with one anchor stem in composite material, e.g. two channels, not visible from the outside.
The peculiarity of the stopper 10, 20 according to the invention is also in the fact that the anchor stem 7, 27 and the screen 8, 28 are in a single piece with each other.
This allows stating that the stopper 10, 20 is simpler to be produced in respect with analogous stoppers currently existing on the market. Preferably, according to the invention, the anchor stem 7, 27 and the screen 8, 28 are realized according to the following steps:

providing a quantity of cork powder in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 62% of the total material
sterilizing the cork powder
mixing the cork powder with a thermoplastic polymer based on SBS or SEBS
extrusion or hot pressing
chemical expansion, suitable for obtaining a final density ranging between 0,5 g/cm³ and 0,7g/cm³.

In detail, the material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention comprises a thermoplastic compound based on Styrene-Butylene-Styrene SBS) or Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene (SEBS) in a percentage by weight ranging between 58% and 92% , adding to a sterilized cork powder, with a particle size ranging between 0,6 and 1,2 mm.
The material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention is realized through an extrusion or hot pressing process, using a transparent plastifying agent of pharmacological type.
The percentage by weight of the cork contained may vary, and is comprised in a range between 32% and 72%, preferably between 58% and 62%.
A blowing agent may be added to the thermoplastic compound based on SEBS or SBS, in a percentage of the total weight of the material ranging between 3% and 14%.
The material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention may be advantageously produced in three shades of beige and in respective possible variants of such shades.
The material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention, to which a quantity of blowing agent equal to the 3-14% of its weight is added, is subjected to a chemical expansion process, subsequent to which reaches a final density ranging between 0,5 g/cm³ and 0,7g/cm³.
In particular, the material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention contains a percentage of cork, by volume, ranging preferably between 58% and 62%; once expanded, thanks to a blowing agent, which is added in a percentage by volume ranging between 4,5% and 6,5%, density of the final product (i.e. the closure device of the invention) is obtained, between the 0,5 g/cm³ and the 0,7 g/cm³.
In particular, as regards the plastifying agent, it is preferably a paraffinic oil for pharmacologic use, and then advantageously suitable for the food contact.
More in detail, such plastifying element is an oil identified by the code CAS 95883.
Equally preferably, the blowing agent is a blowing master, obtained from the combination of two or more products.
Such products, during the step of heating in order to obtain the closure device of the invention, just thanks to the heat, emit gas in microspheres inside the same closure device, completely evaporating and making it lighter and softer.
In a favourite embodiment, the material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention comprises the following components: SEBS or SBS in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 27% plasticizing agent in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 27% natural cork in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 62%, preferably between 8 and 42%.
Preferably, adding at least one of the following products is possible: polypropylene in a percentage by weight ranging between 2 and 24% component commercially known by the name EXACT, in a percentage by weight ranging between 2 and 40%
EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate) in a percentage by weight ranging between 20 and 60%.
Adding a quantity of blowing agent, equal to the 3-14% of weight of such same compound to the obtained compound, is possible.
A favourite variant of the material of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28 of the invention, provides that at least one of the above listed components correspond with at least one of the following:

SEBS corresponding to the code CAS 66070-58-4
Plasticizing agent corresponding to the code CAS 95883
Polypropylene corresponding to the code CAS 9003-07-07
EXACT corresponding to the code CAS 26221-73-8
EVA corresponding to the code CAS 024937-78-7.

In particular, advantageously, in case all the components above listed are comprised, adopting the following proportions is possible:

SEBS between 5 and 15%, preferably 7,05 %
Plasticizing agent between 5 and 15%, preferably 7%
Polypropylene between 2 and 10%, preferably 3,5%
EXACT between 10 and 30%, preferably 20%
EVA between 30 and 50%, preferably 41,45%
cork natural between 10 and 30%, preferably 21%.

According to those proportions, the obtained material fulfils all the regulatory requirements regarding the food contact, as the EU law 10/2011 (art.5 and 6) and subsequent updates, including the EU Regulation n. 1183/2012 from the D.M. 21/3/73 (art. 9 and 10) and their subsequent updates), (FDA - Federal Regulations - T. 21 on 01/04/2012), in addition to the requirements of the Reach and Rohs Directives. According to such variant, adding to this resulting compound a blowing agent in quantity equal to the 3-14% of the total weight of the compound, preferably the 12%, is possible.
In such way, advantageously, during the step of heating provided during the production of the anchor stem 7, 27 and of the screen 8, 28, the blowing agent turns into gaseous parts, making the final material porous, light and soft.
In each case, the anchor stem 7, 27 and the screen 8, 28 are realized with the same material, but it is clear that, in other executive variants of the stopper according to the invention, the composite material of the laminar elements may differ from the composite material which composes the core.
The screen 8, 28 comprises a disc having the lateral edge bevelled and the diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the shaped cylinder 2.
Preferably, the screen 8, 28 has, on the surface 8a, 28a facing to the external surface of the shaped cylinder 2, 22 a circular protruding element 9, 29, which can be inserted in a slot on the external surface of the shaped cylinder 2, having a shape corresponding to that of the same circular insert 9, 29.
Such circular insert 9, 29 further facilitates the anchorage of the insert 3, 23 into the shaped cylinder 2, 22.
In the first two embodiments shown in the figures 1-4, such circular insert 9, 29 turns out to be hollow, while it is possible that it has the shape of a solid disc, as e.g. it is depicted in the figures 5 and 6.
On a preference but non-exclusive basis, the insert 3, 23 when the stopper 10, 20 is in working conditions, faces to inside the container.
The operation of realizing the insert 3, 23 may consist of an operation of injection moulding of composite material on the external surface and inside the channel 4, 24 and of the slot of the shaped cylinder 2, 22. Advantageously, the operation of injection moulding of the screen 8, 28 and the operation of injection moulding of the anchor stem 7, 27 may belong to a single operation of injection moulding, so that the anchor stem 7, 27 and the screen 8, 28 are in a single piece with each other.
In a favourite embodiment of the invention, the shaped cylinder 2, 22 is coated with a thin lubricating layer which facilitates its insertion.
In particular, the lubricating layer is a plasto-silico-paraffinic preparation, preferably solvent free, able to not alter then the organoleptic qualities of the liquid contained into the container.
This is a further simplification of a process of production of the stopper of the invention, in respect with the current state of the art.
Basing on the above, we understand, therefore, that the stopper 10, 20 according to the invention reaches the purposes and realizes the advantages previously mentioned.
In particular, the stopper 10, 20 of the invention can be produced more quickly than by the known art.
Furthermore, the obtained stopper 10, 20 has better characteristics in respect with similar stoppers of known type, made up of parts made up of cork and of parts in composite material, because the latter is present in a lower percentage, but anyway sufficient to offer a shielding between the liquid and the cork, in order to preserve the liquid in aseptic conditions.
As said, this implies significant improvements in the stopper, as e.g.:

perfect tightness during carbonation, in order to completely eliminate the unbecoming loss of the original perlage;
perfect adhesion to glass and an extraordinary force of tightness for the sparkling wines, thanks to the body made up of cork;
higher resistance to moulds and to bacteria;
more effective barrier to the oxygen;
lower transfers to the liquid contained in the bottle to which the stopper is applied.

In implementation stage, changes to the application process of the invention for realizing stoppers could be made, consisting of, e.g., in an injection moulding of different plastic materials for the core and for one or more laminar elements.
In such case, the injection moulding of the plastic materials different to each other will occur in close sequence within a mould: so e.g., in the case of the insert 3, 23 described above, the injection moulding of the screen 8, 28 and then the injection moulding of the anchor stem 7, 27 could be performed.

Claims

Stopper (10, 20) comprising a shaped element (2, 22), suitable for being associated to a container as its closure, and an insert (3, 23) in a composite material, associated with the shaped element (2, 22), wherein the insert (3, 23) has at least one anchor stem (7, 27) and a screen (8, 28), and the shaped element (2, 22) has at least a channel (4, 24), communicating with at least one of the external surfaces of the shaped element (2, 22), wherein said anchor stem (7, 27) can be inserted, the screen (8, 28) acting as a protection for said external surface of said shaped element (2, 22), wherein said screen (8, 28) of the insert (3, 23) has a side (8a, 28a) facing the external surface of the shaped element (2, 22) and a protruding element (9, 29) on said side (8a, 28a) and said external surface of said shaped element (2, 22) has one slot, having a shape corresponding to that of said protruding element (9, 29), characterized in that the composite material comprises sterilized cork powder and a thermoplastic compound based on SBS and/or SEBS.
Stopper (10, 20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said channel (4, 24) extends linearly along a longitudinal axis (Y).
Stopper (10, 20) according to claim 2, characterized in that said longitudinal axis (Y) is placed in a central zone (2b) of said shaped element (2, 22).
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that said anchor stem (7, 27) and said screen (8, 28) are in a single piece with each other.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that the composite material comprises a plasticizing agent in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 27%.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that the thermoplastic compound comprises a blowing agent in a percentage by weight ranging between 3 and 40% of the total weight.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that the thermoplastic compound comprises polypropylene in a percentage by weight ranging between 2 and 24% of the total weight.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that the thermoplastic compound comprises EVA in a percentage by weight ranging between 20 and 60% of the total weight.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that the thermoplastic compound comprises SEBS in percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 15% of the total weight.
Stopper (10, 20) according to one of the claims from 1 to 9, characterized in that the plasticizing agent is a pharmacological paraffinic oil in a percentage by weight ranging between 5 and 15%.