ES2302252T3 - BOTTLE PLUG. - Google Patents

Abstract

An improvement to the plugs of bottles generally cylindrical in shape, delineated by a so-called upper end ( 4 ) and a so-called lower end ( 5 ). The cylindrical body ( 1 ) of the plug includes a cylindrical wall ( 6 ) made of moulded plastic material, inside which are provided-a sealing structure ( 20 ) at least liquid-proof, and-a stiffening honeycomb structure ( 7 ), also made of moulded plastic material, provided as single block with the cylindrical wall; the honeycomb structure ( 7 ) is formed of a plurality of longitudinal channels ( 10 ) juxtaposed, which channels ( 10 ) extend from the sealing structure ( 20 ) up to at least one of the upper ( 4 ) and/or lower ( 5 ) ends of the cylindrical body ( 1 ), at which they emerge, and it is in the form of a beehive structure, formed of channels, whereof at least the greater portion exhibits transversal hexagonal or substantially hexagonal section. The sealing structure ( 20 ) includes advantageously of a compound-filled insert ( 21 ) whose nature is appropriate for optimising the preservation and/or the evolution of the liquid packed in the bottle.

Description

Bottle cap

The present invention relates to a new bottle cap structure.

Numerous different types of plugs, adapted to ensure tightness at the level of the neck opening of the equipped bottles.

For several centuries, plugs are used Cylindrical shape generates cork. But cork is more and more criticized due to its high price in high quality, or due to inconstant qualities, even mediocre, in the ranges of reasonable prices.

Consequently, users are interested every again towards the plugs of synthetic material, in particular of molded or extruded plastic material (see in particular the plugs described in documents GB-1 030 775, CH-307 930 or also FR-1 078 273). But the synthetic plugs presented in these documents they comprise an alveolar structure whose channels have sections circular or oblong that deform when the introduction into the neck of a bottle. The visual aspect of compressed caps is not optimal, as well as its characteristics of resistance, elasticity and tightness

Moreover, these synthetic plugs do not generally allow to optimize the conservation or evolution of conditioned liquid, particularly when it comes to wine.

The present invention aims to propose a new effective plug, that is to say that provides a tightness exemplary, which has good compressibility characteristics radial, of relatively simple structure and a cost price Little onerous.

To this end, the cap according to the present invention is in the form of a cylindrical body, delimited by a end called upper and by an end called lower, the latter being destined to be introduced first in the neck of the bottle; this cylindrical body comprising a cylindrical wall made of molded plastic material, in the inside of which are provided - a shutter structure by at least liquid tight, and - a honeycomb structure of stiffening, also of molded plastic material, obtained monoblock with said cylindrical wall; this honeycomb structure is constituted by a plurality of longitudinal channels juxtaposed, which extend from said shutter structure up to one of at least the upper and / or lower ends of the cylindrical body, at the level of which or from which they flow, and It is in the form of a honeycomb structure, consisting of channels of which at least most have a section Hexagonal or substantially hexagonal transverse.

The corresponding honeycomb structure confers to this plug an excellent resistance to axial compression as well as a relative radial flexibility, which optimize their qualities intrinsic resistance and sealing capacity. In in particular, its radial understanding is carried out in a homogeneous way when its introduction takes place in the bottle neck. A once housed in its reception neck, the nest structure of bees does not appear practically deformed, which allows to obtain good sealing characteristics, lasting over time, and which allows to maintain an optimal visual appearance.

In addition, this honeycomb structure allows the introduction of any type of corkscrew, and then the cap removal without any problem.

In a first interesting embodiment, the sealing structure is provided at the end level lower cylindrical body.

In a second possible embodiment, the shutter structure is provided at the level of a position intermediate over the length of the cylindrical body, between the upper and lower ends.

In this case, the alveolar structure of stiffening, consisting of a plurality of channels longitudinal juxtaposed, is provided in two parts that extend on each side of the shutter structure.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the sealing structure consists of a pill Monobloc of plastic material.

In a preferred embodiment variant, the sealing structure of the cylindrical body comprises a overmoulded insert made of a nature material suitable to optimize the conservation and / or evolution of the liquid conditioning in the bottle; this overmolded insert is advantageously provided with cork (preferably of high quality) or also of wood, of a suitable nature.

According to a preferred embodiment of this variant, the overmolded insert is provided at the level of lower end of the cylindrical body, and comes in the form of a circular tablet whose axis is coaxial with the cylindrical body of the cap; This circular tablet is wrapped and held by the overmolding material - by means of a tubular extension to level of its cylindrical peripheral wall, - by means of two annular collars at the level of the outer crowns of their faces upper and lower, and - by means of the wall of the channels of the alveolar structure at the level of its upper face accessible through of the opening delimited by said upper annular collar.

According to other characteristics particularly interesting, the cylindrical wall of the cap has a medium thickness between 1 and 3 mm; the alveolar structure is constituted by channels whose relationship between the average diameter and the average thickness of the walls is between 1 and 8, preferably between 2 and 6; the alveolar structure is constituted by a juxtaposition of longitudinal channels, in number between 10 and 50, preferably between 15 and 40.

Moreover, in particular to facilitate the Corkscrew centering, one of the structure's channels Alveolar is arranged on the axis of the cylindrical body.

According to another feature, the cylindrical wall the cap has a juxtaposition of annular protuberances external, at least part of its height, to optimize its sealing capacity of the bottle neck.

According to yet another particularity, the bottom of the cylindrical body of the cap has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the upper part of said body cylindrical, in particular to facilitate its positioning on the bottle neck.

Also according to another particularity, the part upper cylindrical body is extended by a skirt monobloc destined to happen to cover the external face of the part top of the bottle neck.

In this framework, at the level of the union part between the cylindrical body and the cover skirt, the cap advantageously presents two parallel circular lines of material thinned, which delimit a crown, joined by a line of also thinned material, constituting said thinned lines an easy-to-remove tongue manually or by means of a appropriate tool, to separate the "plug" part proper of the "skirt" part.

According to yet another feature, the top of the skirt, which is located just under the tongue of cylindrical body / skirt separation, is shaped so that is slightly separated from the outer face of the neck of the bottle, once the set is correctly positioned in said bottle neck, to constitute a small annular deposit of reception of any liquid spills at the time of service.

The invention will now be illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of several particular embodiments, given only by way of examples, and represented in the attached drawings, in the
which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first possible embodiment of a cap according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a sectional view length of the cap illustrated in figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a view above the cap of figures 1 and 2;

- Figure 4 is a sectional view longitudinal showing the positioning of the cap of figures 1 to 3 on the neck of a bottle;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second possible embodiment of a plug according to the present invention;

- Figure 6 is a sectional view length of the cap of Figure 5 in position on the neck of a bottle;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third possible embodiment of a plug according to the invention, equipped with a monobloc external skirt;

- Figure 8 is a view above the cap illustrated in figure 7,

- Figure 9 is a side view of the cap illustrated in figures 7 and 8,

- Figure 10 is a sectional view length of the cap illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, in position in the neck of a bottle;

- Figure 11 is a sectional view longitudinal of a fourth possible embodiment of a plug according to the invention, in which an overmoulded insert it is arranged in a central intermediate position, framed by the honeycomb stiffening structure arranged on either side.

The plug 1, shown in figures 1 to 4, It comes in the form of a general cylindrical shaft shaped body central 2, made monobloc in a molded synthetic material, of the plastic type of food contact such as for example the Polypropylene. The cylindrical body 1 is mainly delimited - by a peripheral surface 3 and at two ends, a superior one 4 the other bottom 5.

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More precisely, the cylindrical body 1 it comprises a cylindrical or tubular wall 6 inside which an alveolar stiffening structure 7 is obtained, obtained monoblock with said cylindrical wall 6 when the molding operation

The corresponding cylindrical wall 6 is extends over the entire length of the cylindrical body 1; the same they have average thickness between 1 and 3 mm. Its surface external presents a plurality of parallel annular protuberances 8 participating in the qualities of resistance and plug sealing. These bumps 8 extend perpendicular to axis 2 of the plug; in the example, a first annular bulge 8 'is arranged at the level of the upper end 4 of the cylindrical body 1, and a juxtaposition of protrusions 8 '' they are arranged on a little more than the bottom half of the wall 6. A smooth surface part 9 separates the upper protuberance 8 'of the 8' 'bulge group.

The stiffening honeycomb structure 7 is at in turn constituted by a plurality of longitudinal channels juxtaposed 10, in the example here in number of 19. These channels 10 have a hexagonal cross section thus forming a general structure in honeycomb (it will be noted that some of these channels, located on the periphery of the honeycomb structure 7, they have a truncated hexagonal section, to maintain the thickness of the cylindrical wall 6 at a substantially constant value).

In figures 2 and 4, it is observed that these channels 10 extend parallel to each other, and also parallel to the axis 2 of the plug, from the upper end 4 of the cylindrical body 1 at the level of which each flow through a opening 11; these channels 10 extend to the lower end 5 of the cylindrical body 1, at the level of which a sealing structure 12 in the form of a monobloc tablet plastic material.

In figures 2 and 3 it is also observed that one of the channels 10 'is arranged coaxially with the axis 2 of the cylindrical body 1; the other channels 10 are spread over a few circular, concentric lines, around this channel central 10 '.

The walls of the channels 10 are relatively thin with respect to its average diameter; in particular the relationship between the average diameter of the channels 10, and the thickness middle of its wall, is between 1 and 8, and more preferably even between 2 and 6. Consequently, the volume occupied on channels 10 it is very much larger than the volume occupied for the plastic material.

The channels 10 of the honeycomb structure 7 are homogeneously distributed throughout the section of the cap, in the inside the cylindrical wall 6.

A light plug is thus obtained, which needs little molding material but that nevertheless represents a excellent resistance to longitudinal or axial understanding as well as a relative transversal or radial flexibility.

Classically, the tight seal of a bottle previously filled with a liquid of interest, is made conveniently inserting plug 1 into the bosom of the opening 15 of the neck 16, as illustrated in the figure Four.

In this position, the upper end 4 of the cap 1 is oriented towards the outside of the bottle, so that its channels 10 also flow outwards; the extreme bottom 5 of the cap, provided with the sealing pad 12, passes in turn to position itself on the inner side of the bottle.

The radial flexibility of this plug, linked to the internal alveolar structure 7, associated with the action of the protrusions 8 (8 ', 8' ') allows to obtain good properties of tightness The honeycomb structure does not deform or it practically does not deform after insertion of the cap into the bottle neck.

Cap removal can be done by middle of a classic corkscrew equipped with a spiral screw. He central channel 10 'facilitates the correct positioning of the end of the corkscrew screw; and the stiffening honeycomb structure 7 allows a correct introduction of this screw, and then a effective traction with a view to removing the plug.

The upper part of the honeycomb structure 7 It can serve as a receiving surface for any organ advertising or informational, for example for a protective tablet provided with a fiscal stamp necessary for the commercialization of The wines in particular.

The section of channels 10, 10 'of the honeycomb structure 7 is advantageously slightly decreasing from upper end 4 towards lower end 5. This particularity is attached to the necessary presence of a pluck in the spikes molding, to allow or at least facilitate demolding.

The second embodiment of the plug, illustrated in figures 5 and 6, it differs from that described above in relation to figures 1 to 4, mainly by the presence of an overmoulded insert at the level of its end bottom 5.

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Thus, in these figures 5 and 6, it is found of again a plug 1 in general form of cylindrical body, which it comprises a cylindrical wall 6 provided on its periphery of a plurality of juxtaposed annular protuberances 8 ', 8' '. Be it also finds again the stiffening honeycomb structure 7, made monobloc in molded plastic material with the wall cylindrical 6, and constituted by a plurality of channels longitudinal 10 juxtaposed forming a nest structure of bees (channels 10 are here in number of 37); these channels 10 extend from the upper end 4 where they flow into the outside, to the shutter structure 20 provided with the overmoulded insert 21.

The shutter structure 20 in question, which Contains the insert 21, is visible in detail in Figure 6.

The corresponding insert 21 consists of a cylindrical tablet, made of a material suitable for optimize the conservation and / or evolution of the conditioned liquid In the equipped bottle. The type of insert used is chosen according to the liquid conditioned in the bottle, and according to the parameters of conservation and / or evolution desired. For the wine, this insertion is preferably made in cork, advantageously high quality; this allows to propose a plug "type traditional ", of high quality but at an acceptable cost due to the small amounts of cork used.

The insertion in question may also be made of wood, of a suitable nature.

To allow you to conveniently fulfill your function, the insertion 21 is maintained within the structure of bottom seal 20, for the overmoulded plastic material, so, on the one hand, that its upper part 22 is in relation with the outside by means of some at least 10 channels of the honeycomb structure 7, and on the other hand, that its lower part 23 the bottle is in relation to the internal environment, once the Stopper 1 is conveniently placed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 21 is presented in the form of a circular tablet arranged coaxially with shaft 2 of the plug. It is maintained by the material of overmoulded at the level of its cylindrical peripheral wall, by means of a tubular extension 24, and at the level of the external crowns of its upper faces 22 and lower 23, by means of two collars annular, respectively 25 and 26. Collars 25 and 26 delimit thus each respectively an opening 27 and 28, through the which the upper 22 and lower 23 faces of the insert are in relationship with the outside; the upper face 22 of the insert 21, accessible through opening 27, is also retained by the walls of the channels 10 of the honeycomb structure 7.

The insert 21 can have a diameter between 3 and 16 mm and a thickness between 3 and
20 mm

The lower opening 28, delimited by the overmold collar 26 is centered on axis 2 and can have a diameter between 2 and 15 mm. Top opening 27, also centered on axis 2, can have the same caliber.

The upper overmoulded collar 25 which delimits the upper opening 27, and the honeycomb structure of stiffening 7, together define mechanical support means able to avoid, or at least greatly limit, the deformations or alterations of insertion 21 when it takes place placing the cap on the receiving bottle (in particular for inserts of relatively soft material such as cork). In effect when the placement of the caps takes place in the bottles, in particular by the classic mechanized means, the axial pressures supported are sometimes very high.

The honeycomb structure 7 fulfills a function of protection of the integrity of the insertion 21 by doing a barrage to the accidental introduction of external objects; also if uses an insert 21 of the microporous type, it favors the exchanges between the conditioned liquid and the outside.

In figures 5 and 6, it is also observed that the lower end 5 of the plug 1 has a diameter slightly inferior to the rest of the cylindrical body. This particularity allows facilitate the positioning and insertion of the cap into the neck the bottle

The slightly lower diameter part is devoid of annular protuberance and corresponds here to the thickness of the sealing structure 20. The decrease in diameter corresponding can be obtained under the procedure of manufacture of the cap, and in particular naturally, due to the compression of the insertion linked to high pressures used

The corresponding compression is obtained in particular for cork inserts; this compression has also as a consequence improve the characteristics of tightness between materials after molding.

The third embodiment of the plug, illustrated in figures 7 to 10, it has a general structure identical to the embodiment described above in relationship with figures 5 and 6, and further comprises a skirt peripheral monobloc, intended to cover the outer face from the neck of the receiving bottle.

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A shaped plug is here again cylindrical body 1 comprising a cylindrical wall 6, in which an alveolar structure 7 constituted by a juxtaposition of longitudinal channels 10, organized in shape general honeycomb; these channels extend from the top end 4 of the plug where they flow, to the end bottom 5 where they are closed by the shutter structure 20 provided with the appropriate insert 21.

In this variant embodiment, the upper part of the cylindrical wall 6 is provided with an extension in the form of a monobloc peripheral crown 30 designed to cover the upper part of the neck of the bottle, from which a skirt 31 extends covering the outer face of said neck, also obtained mono-
block.

The corresponding crown 30 is structured to form a kind of tongue easily removed manually or by means of an appropriate tool, so that it separates the "plug" part 1 of the "skirt" part 31, in order to allow the removal of the "plug" 1 by the consumer.

For this, the crown 30 is delimited by two parallel annular lines 32, 33, in which the material is thinned to form a kind of precut lines; these lines constitute for a 32, the junction line with the end upper 4 of the cylindrical body 1, and for the other 33, the line of union with the skirt 31.

In addition, this crown 30 is also provided with a line of thinned material 34, which extends between the two junction lines 32 and 33 cited; this line of thinned material 34, here shaped slightly rounded, facilitates the held by one end of the crown / tongue 30, and its extraction by traction according to a revolution movement around the neck 16 Of the bottle.

In Figure 10, it will also be noted that the upper end 35 of the skirt 31 is slightly flared, so that it separates by a few millimeters from the face outer neck of the bottle. This particular conformation allows to constitute a kind of small annular deposit 36 on the contour of the neck, one is removed the tongue 30. This small peripheral tank 36 is adapted to collect the possible spills of liquid at the time of service.

This plug structure is adapted so that the monobloc skirt 31 better wrap the bottle neck when the cap part is correctly positioned on the neck. The corresponding placement is done by any mechanical means suitable, or manually.

In a variant embodiment, the cap with its monobloc skirt may be devoid of annular deposit
36.

Regardless of the present invention, you will notice that the monobloc skirt 31, with or without annular deposit 36, may be provided in the extension of the upper part of a plastic plug that will not present the structure stiffening socket 7 defined above, nor, eventually, the insert 21 of cork or wood.

It is also possible to provide such a skirt 31 with the annular tank 36 and no associated plug structure, being the top of this skirt simply provided with a monobloc circular tablet surrounded by the tongue 30.

Another possible embodiment of the cap according to the present invention, illustrated in figure 11, it is uncheck in the structural plane with respect to the described cap above in relation to figures 5 to 10, because its Overmolded insertion is provided according to an intermediate position in the length of the cylindrical body, between two parts of the structure alveolar that allow its relation with the outside.

In this figure 11, there is again a general cylindrical body stopper 1 comprising a cylindrical wall 6, which surrounds the overmolded insert 21 in shape cork or wood circular tablet, coaxially arranged with shaft 2 of the cap.

In the present embodiment, the insert 21 is centrally located in the length of the plug, and the stiffening honeycomb structure is made in two parts 7 'and 7' 'identical or at least similar, arranged to either side of said insertion 21. These two parts of honeycomb structure 7 'and 7' 'are constituted by a juxtaposition of longitudinal channels 10, in general nest form of bee, and are identical to those described above in relation to with figures 1 to 10. Channels 10 extend from the insert 21 to ends 4 and 5 of the cap at the level of the which lead to

The overmoulded insert 21 is retained here by cylindrical wall 6, at the level of its peripheral surface, and by the two parts of honeycomb structure 7 'and 7' ', respectively at the level of its upper face 22 and its lower face 23. This insertion 21 is thus in relation to the outside through channels 10 of the honeycomb structure 7 'for its upper face 22, and by means of the channels 10 of the honeycomb structure 7 '' for its face bottom 23.

You get a symmetric plug that can be positioned in any direction on the neck of a bottle.

According to a variant embodiment, the insertion overmolded of figure 11 can be replaced by a Monobloc sealing structure of plastic material, similar to the one described above in relation to figures 1 to 4.

In yet another possible embodiment of the cap according to the present invention, the structure of sealing will be provided at the level of the upper end of the body cylindrical and the stiffening alveolar structure will be extended by below, to the lower end.

Claims (18)

1. Cap in general form of cylindrical body intended for sealing the neck of a bottle, said cylindrical body (1) being delimited by an end called upper (4) and by an end called lower (5), the latter being intended to first being introduced into said bottle neck, said cylindrical body (1) comprising a cylindrical wall (6) made of molded plastic material, inside which are provided - a sealing structure (12, 20) whereby less liquid tight and - an alveolar structure (7; 7 ', 7'') of stiffening, also of molded plastic material, obtained monoblock with said cylindrical wall (6), which alveolar structure (7; 7', 7 '') is constituted by a plurality of juxtaposed longitudinal channels (10), which extend from said sealing structure (12, 20) to at least one of the upper (4) and / or lower (5) ends of said cylindrical body, an level of which or of which they flow, characterized in that the alveolar internal structure (7; 7 ', 7'') is in the form of a honeycomb structure, consisting of channels (10) of which at least the majority have a hexagonal or substantially hexagonal cross-section. 2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing structure (12, 20) is provided at the level of the so-called lower end (5) of the cylindrical body (1). 3. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing structure (12, 20) is provided at the level of an intermediate position in the length of the cylindrical body (1), between the upper (4) and lower (5) ends. 4. Cap according to claim 3, characterized in that the stiffening honeycomb structure is provided in two parts (7 'and 7'') that extend to each side of the sealing structure (12, 20). 5. Cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sealing structure consists of a monobloc tablet of plastic material (12). 6. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sealing structure (20) comprises an overmoulded insert (21) made of a material of a suitable nature to optimize the preservation and / or evolution of the conditioned liquid in the bottle . 7. Cap according to claim 6, characterized in that the overmoulded insert (21) is cork. 8. Cap according to claim 6, characterized in that the overmoulded insert (21) is made of wood. 9. Cap according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the overmoulded insert (21) is provided at the level of the lower end (5) of the cylindrical body (1), and is presented in the form of a cylindrical pad whose axis is coaxial with said cylindrical body (1), which circular pellet (21) is retained by the molding material - by means of a tubular extension (24) at the level of its cylindrical peripheral wall, - by means of two annular collars (25, 26) at the level of the outer crowns of its upper (22) and lower (23) faces, and - by means of the wall of the channels (10) of the honeycomb structure (7) at the level of its upper face (22) accessible through the opening (27) delimited by said upper collar (25). 10. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that its cylindrical wall (6) has an average thickness between 1 and 3 mm. 11. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the internal honeycomb structure (7; 7 ', 7'') is constituted by channels (10) whose ratio between the average diameter and the average thickness of the walls is comprised between 1 and 8, and preferably between 2 and 6. 12. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the internal honeycomb structure (7; 7 ', 7'') is constituted by a juxtaposition of longitudinal channels (10), in number between 10 and 50, preferably between 15 and 40 13. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the internal honeycomb structure (7; 7 ', 7'') has a channel (10') arranged on the axis (2) of the cylindrical body (1). 14. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that its cylindrical wall (6) has a juxtaposition of external annular protuberances (8), at least a part of its height, to optimize its sealing capabilities. 15. Cap according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the lower part (5) of its cylindrical body (1) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the upper part of said cylindrical body (1), in particular to facilitate its positioned on the neck (16) of the bottle. 16. Cap according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the upper part (4) of the cylindrical body (1) is extended by a monobloc skirt (31) intended to cover the outer face of the upper part of the neck ( 16) of the bottle. 17. Cap according to claim 16, characterized in that it has, at the level of the connecting part between the cylindrical body (1) and the covering skirt (31), two parallel circular lines (32, 33) of thinned material, which delimit a crown (30), joined by a line (34) of also thinned material, said crown (30) constituting a tongue easy to remove manually or by means of an appropriate tool, to separate the "plug" part (1) itself of the "skirt" part (31). 18. Cap according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises a skirt (31) whose upper part (35), located just below said cylindrical body / skirt separation tab (30), is shaped so as to be slightly separated from the external face of the bottle neck (16), once the assembly is correctly positioned in said bottle neck, to constitute a small annular tank (36) for receiving any liquid spills at the time of service.