GB2168959A

GB2168959A - Stopper for a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2168959A
Application number: GB08529692A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Uwe Potreck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-04
Filing date: 1985-12-02
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: NL8503344A; DE3444092C2; SE8505684D0; BE903780A; FR2590873B1; DE3444092A1; IT8524009V0; FR2590873A1; IT1186129B; GB2168959B; ES296331Y; ES296331U; SE8505684L; IT8523042A0; JPS61152564A; BR8506037A; GB8529692D0

Abstract

A stopper for a bottle, preferably for-an aroma-phial, comprises a cap 1 and a spout 3. The spout 3 is tubular, and reaches into the inside of the phial. An annular outwardly-projecting rim 4x on the spout 3 ensures a tight fit between the spout and the phial. The cap is secured to the spout by a screw-threaded or bayonet connection or it may be snap-fitted thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stopper for a bottle The present invention relates to a stopper for a bottle, especially but not exclusively for an aroma phial having a tubular glass body.

Hitherto such stoppers have comprised a single component which extends into the neck of the bottle or phial. It has the disadvantage that it is difficult to remove, particularly as it is so narrow, even though grooves may be formed in the stopper to aid its removal. Housewives often complain about broken fingernails from removing such stoppers.

Reinsertion of these stoppers also envolves certain problems, because the stoppers cannot always be readily re-inserted.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the extent to which a stopper gives rise to these problems.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a stopper for a bottle, especially but not exclusively for an aroma phial having a tubular glass body, the stopper comprising a cap and a spout, in which a portion of the spout extends into the neck or body of the bottle when the stopper is in use, and in which at that portion has an increased external cross-section at a lower end thereof in relation to the rest of that portion.

Examples of a stopper for a bottle made in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side, partly axial-sectional view of such a stopper; Figure 2 shows a full axial-sectional view through the stopper illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an axial-sectional view of the stopper illustrated in Figure 1, with a plug portion in a cap of the stopper; Figures 4a and 4b show diagrammatic views of different parts of a modified form of stopper; Figures 5a and 5b show diagrammatic views of different parts of a further modified form of stopper; Figures 6a and 6b show diagrammatic views of different parts of a further modified form of stopper; and Figure 7 is an axial-sectional view of a stopper substantially like the one shown in Figures 1 and 3, but with an annular horizontal groove instead of a longitudinal vertical groove on the inside of a spout thereof.

The stopper illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is for an aroma phial. It comprises two parts, namely a spout 3 and a cap 1 having a screwthreaded interengagement 5. This avoids the need for a screwthread on the neck of the phial itself, which would make the phial expensive and lead to an increase in production costs.

The spout 3 comprises a tubular portion 3a on the outside surface of which is formed the external screwthread of the interengagement 5, at a position which is roughly central in relation to the length of the tubular portion 3a. Extending inwardly and then downwardly from the tubular portion 3a from a position just below the interengagement 5, is a skirt portion 2 which also acts as a cap.

The lower end of the spout 3 has a thickened wall where it engages the phial when in use. This thickened wall thus forms a radially outwardly protruding annular rim 4. Instead of being of continuous annular form, the rim may be discontinuous, having a plurality of segments. It is important that a firm fit is obtained by this thickened rim between the spout 3 and the aroma phial so that the two are very firmly secured together. Thus the spout has a lower portion with an increased external cross-section at a lower end thereof in relation to the rest of that portion. This thickened rim 13 is intended to be positioned where a neck of the phial merges with the main body thereof, when the stopper is in use.The fact that the tubular portion 3a extends through the skirt portion 2, that the position of the skirt portion 2 from the upper end of the spout 3 corresponds with the length of the cap 1, and also that the skirt portion 2 is a predetermined distance from the lower end of the spout 3, all ensure that a firm and secure fastening between the phial and the stopper is achieved.

To improve the feed of liquid from the phial through the spout when the phial is inverted to form drops at the distal end of the spout, a longitudinally extending groove 6 is formed on the inside of the tubular portion 3a of the spout 3, from the level of the skirt portion 2 to the upper or distal end of the spout 3. The groove has the same surface shape as the inside of a cut-open capillary tube. The groove 6 may be flared at the upper or distal end of the spout 3, like a trumpet. The groove 6 results in a reduction in the thickness of the wall of the spout 3 in a horizontal plane, considering the stopper as being upright.

Figure 3 shows the cap 1 of Figures 1 and 2 provided with a downwardly directed cylindrical plug portion 7 which depends from the upper end of the cap 1 and has a diameter such that it fits snugly into the upper end of the spout 3 when the cap 1 is in position on the spout 3.

Means other than, or in addition to, the screwthreaded engagement 5 are possible to secure the cap 1 on the spout 3. One possibility is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. Two vertically running ribs 8 extend along opposite sides of the spout 3, on the outside thereof. These may be of substantially any length, provided they do not extend into the screwthreaded engagement 5, if there is one, and in any case not below the skirt portion 2. Corresponding elongate recesses or slots 9 are provided on the inside of the cap 1. Thus the ribs 8 can snap into, or be slid into the recesses or slots 9.

Figures 5a and Sb show another possibility. This is a bayonet connection, in which L-shaped slots or recesses 11 are formed on the outside of the spout 3, on opposite sides thereof, and simple protuberances 10 are formed at corresponding positions on the inside of the cap 1. The protuberances 11 engage the L-shaped slots or recesses 11 in the manner of a bayonet connection.

In Figures 6a and 6b, an annular groove 12 is formed on the upper side of the skirt portion 2, with a predetermined separation from the outside surface of the tubular portion 3a. The cap 1 is correspondingly formed with tacks 13 around its lower rim, or an annular collar which can lock into the annular groove 12.

Various modifications to the illustrated stoppers will occur to the reader without taking the stopper outside the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of the screwthreaded engagement 5, the spout 3 may be provided around its outside with an annular protuberance just above its skirt portion 2, and the cap 1 may be formed on its inside with a corresponding annular groove or recess into which the protuberance can snap. The annular protuberance may be discontinuous, comprising a number of sections.

Instead of the longitudinal groove 6, surprisingly there may instead be provided an annular horizontal groove 60 running around the inside of the tubular portion 3a of the spout 3, as shown in Figure 7.

Claims

1. A stopper for a bottle, especially but not exclusively for an aroma phial having a tubular glass body, the stopper comprising a cap and a spout, in which a portion of the spout extends into the neck or body of the bottle when the stopper is in use, and in which that portion has an increased external cross-section at a lower end thereof in relation to the rest of that portion.

2. A stopper according to claim 1, in which the said portion of the spout is tubular and the lower end thereof has a radially outwardly protruding annular rim to give it an increased external cross-section in relation to the rest of that portion.

3. A stopper according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the spout is provided with an integral skirt portion positioned at a distance from the upper end of the spout which is substantially equal to the length of the cap.

4. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which the inside of the spout is provided with a longitudinally extending groove which extends to the upper end of the spout.

5. A stopper according to claim 4, in which the groove is flared at its upper end.

6. A stopper according to claim 4 or claim 5, read as appended to claim 3, in which the groove extends from the position othe skirt portion to the top of the spout.

7. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which, at any place adjacent to or above the skirt portion, the spout is formed with an external screwthread, and the cap is formed with an internal screwthread to engage the external screwthread of the spout.

8. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which the spout is provided with an external annular or part annular protuberance, and the cap is provided with a correspondingly internal annular or part annular recess into which the protuberance of the spout engages.

9. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which the cap is provided with a downwardly extending plug portion which depends downwardly from the inside of the top of the cap, and which has the same cross-section as the interior of the upper end of the spout so that it fits snugly therein when the cap is positioned on the spout.

10. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which the spout is provided on its outside with two longitudinally running ribs on opposite sides of the spout, and the cap is provided on its inside with two corresponding longitudinally extending grooves or slots which are engaged by the ribs.

11. A stopper according to any preceding claim, in which the exterior of the spout is provided with two generally L-shaped recesses on opposite sides of the spout, and the inside of the cap is provided with two protuberances which engage the Lshaped recesses in the manner of a bayonet connection.

12. A stopper according to claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 12 read as appended to claim 3, in which the upper side of the skirt portion is provided with an annular or part annular groove, and the lower rim of the cap is provided with a collar or a number of tacks which engage the groove on the skirt portion.

13. A stopper for a bottle substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 1 and 3 or Figures 1 and 7, with or without the modification shown in Figures 4a and 4b, Figures 5a and 5b, or Figures 6a and 6b of the accompanying drawings.