GB2045730A - Bottle seals - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle seal (1) comprises a sleeve (2) defining a through bore (3) for receiving a dispensing tube or, for example, an optic measure, the outer surface of the sleeve having radially outwardly extending, flexible annular ribs (5) for contact with the inside surface of a neck of a bottle for producing a liquid tight seal between the bottle neck and a dispensing tube. Bore (3) may also be provided with annular ribs for sealing engagement with the tube. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bottle seals This invention relates to bottle seals for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck.

Such seals are used for example in optic spirit measures where the seals are conventional formed as cork stoppers provided with a through bore for a dispensing tube. These seals are subject to wear and at best each seal can only be transferred from one bottle to another a few times. There is also a possibility that they present a health hazard.

Merely making the known cork seals in a rubber of so-called 'food quality' does not provide an acceptable alternative because in use such seals swell and form too tight a fit within the bottle neck to enable easy and safe removal of the seal from the neck.

An object of this invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems and with this in mind the invention provides a bottle seal for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck, formed of a resilient plastics or rubber material and comprising a sleeve portion defining a through bore for receiving a dispensing tube and having at least one radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular rib for sealing contact with the inside surface of a bottle neck.

In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawing which is an axial section of a bottle seal for an optic spirit measure.

The illustrated seal 1 is formed of a socalled 'food quality' resilient plastics material or rubber which may be synthetic or natural or a combination thereof and is substantially tubular in overall configuration. The seal 1 has a sleeve portion 2 which defines a through bore 3 for receiving a dispensing tube (not shown) of an optic. The exterior surface 4 of the sleeve portion is provided with a plurality of axially spaced apart, radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular ribs 5.

The outer diameters of the ribs are chosen such that when the seal is inserted into a bottle neck with which it is intended to be used the ribs sealingly engage that inside surface of the bottle neck to provide what may be described as line contacts therewith.

Some deformation of the ribs occurs on such sealing contact but the spaces 6 between the ribs are maintained. These spaces are able to take up any swelling of the material of the seal which might otherwise significantly increase the tightness of the fit between the ribs and the bottle neck.

The external diameters of the ribs 5 and that of the sleeve portion 2 decrease axially in the seal towards the end 7 thereof, which in use is the end first inserted into the bottle neck, to assist such insertion.

Removal of the seal from a bottle neck has found to be relatively easy and can be effected without causing any discernible wear, or damage to, the seal. The ribs are soon able to recover from their deformed state so that the seal can be reused in a new bottle almost immediately.

Whilst the illustrated seal is provided with four ribs 5, it is to be understood that more or less could be employed. Indeed, a single rib would be sufficient.

Again, whilst the through bore 3 is illustrated as having a plain cylindrical surface, its surface could be provided with annular ribs for engagement with the optic dispensing tube or be provided with one or more radial steps locatable against a corresponding step or steps on an optic dispensing tube.

1. A bottle seal for forming a liqud tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck, formed of a resilient plastics or rubber material and comprising a sleeve portion defining a through bore for receiving a dispensing tube and having at least one radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular rib for sealing contact with the inside surface of the bottle neck.

2. A bottle seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial thickness of the sleeve portion decreases axially towards one end thereof which is adapted to be first inserted into a bottle neck.

3. A bottle seal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising 'food-quality' synthetic or natural rubber or a combination thereof.

4. A bottle seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of said ribs are provided, and the external diameters of said ribs decrease axially towards one end which is adapted to be inserted into a bottle neck.

5. A bottle seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through bore is provided with annular ribs for engagement with a dispensing tube received therein, in use.

6. A bottle sleeve for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bottle seals This invention relates to bottle seals for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck. Such seals are used for example in optic spirit measures where the seals are conventional formed as cork stoppers provided with a through bore for a dispensing tube. These seals are subject to wear and at best each seal can only be transferred from one bottle to another a few times. There is also a possibility that they present a health hazard. Merely making the known cork seals in a rubber of so-called 'food quality' does not provide an acceptable alternative because in use such seals swell and form too tight a fit within the bottle neck to enable easy and safe removal of the seal from the neck. An object of this invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems and with this in mind the invention provides a bottle seal for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck, formed of a resilient plastics or rubber material and comprising a sleeve portion defining a through bore for receiving a dispensing tube and having at least one radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular rib for sealing contact with the inside surface of a bottle neck. In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawing which is an axial section of a bottle seal for an optic spirit measure. The illustrated seal 1 is formed of a socalled 'food quality' resilient plastics material or rubber which may be synthetic or natural or a combination thereof and is substantially tubular in overall configuration. The seal 1 has a sleeve portion 2 which defines a through bore 3 for receiving a dispensing tube (not shown) of an optic. The exterior surface 4 of the sleeve portion is provided with a plurality of axially spaced apart, radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular ribs 5. The outer diameters of the ribs are chosen such that when the seal is inserted into a bottle neck with which it is intended to be used the ribs sealingly engage that inside surface of the bottle neck to provide what may be described as line contacts therewith. Some deformation of the ribs occurs on such sealing contact but the spaces 6 between the ribs are maintained. These spaces are able to take up any swelling of the material of the seal which might otherwise significantly increase the tightness of the fit between the ribs and the bottle neck. The external diameters of the ribs 5 and that of the sleeve portion 2 decrease axially in the seal towards the end 7 thereof, which in use is the end first inserted into the bottle neck, to assist such insertion. Removal of the seal from a bottle neck has found to be relatively easy and can be effected without causing any discernible wear, or damage to, the seal. The ribs are soon able to recover from their deformed state so that the seal can be reused in a new bottle almost immediately. Whilst the illustrated seal is provided with four ribs 5, it is to be understood that more or less could be employed. Indeed, a single rib would be sufficient. Again, whilst the through bore 3 is illustrated as having a plain cylindrical surface, its surface could be provided with annular ribs for engagement with the optic dispensing tube or be provided with one or more radial steps locatable against a corresponding step or steps on an optic dispensing tube. CLAIMS

1. A bottle seal for forming a liqud tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck, formed of a resilient plastics or rubber material and comprising a sleeve portion defining a through bore for receiving a dispensing tube and having at least one radially outwardly extending, flexible, annular rib for sealing contact with the inside surface of the bottle neck.

2. A bottle seal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial thickness of the sleeve portion decreases axially towards one end thereof which is adapted to be first inserted into a bottle neck.

3. A bottle seal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising 'food-quality' synthetic or natural rubber or a combination thereof.

4. A bottle seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of said ribs are provided, and the external diameters of said ribs decrease axially towards one end which is adapted to be inserted into a bottle neck.

5. A bottle seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through bore is provided with annular ribs for engagement with a dispensing tube received therein, in use.

6. A bottle sleeve for forming a liquid tight seal between a bottle neck and a dispensing tube inserted into the neck substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.