U.S. patent application number 10/527213 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for closure or stopper forms a surface tension seal.
Invention is credited to David William Manley.
Application Number | 20060151422 10/527213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27792592 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060151422 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manley; David William |
July 13, 2006 |
Closure or stopper forms a surface tension seal
Abstract
A closure or stopper for a container to contain liquid, powder
or paste, the container having means to define a first extremely
flat annular surface, the closure comprising a sealing member
defining a second extremely flat surface, an annular groove that
locates an O-ring, and means such as thread to urge the extremely
flat surfaces into parallel abutting contact, the extremely flat
surfaces adapted to form a surface tension seal when they are urged
into parallel abutting contact and means to prevent lateral or
shear relative movement. Another form of the closure is the sealing
member being a disc that seats on the flat annular sealing surface
defined by the top of the neck of a bottle to form a seal, and a
metal cap to place the seal under axial load and protects the seal
from vibration.
Inventors: |
Manley; David William;
(Murwillumbah, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE WEBB LAW FIRM, P.C.
700 KOPPERS BUILDING
436 SEVENTH AVENUE
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Family ID: |
27792592 |
Appl. No.: |
10/527213 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
September 10, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU03/01181 |
371 Date: |
November 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/341 ;
215/276; 215/352; 215/354 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 39/16 20130101;
B65D 41/48 20130101; B65D 50/062 20130101; B65D 55/063 20130101;
B65D 39/08 20130101; B65D 41/04 20130101; B65D 41/045 20130101;
B65D 53/02 20130101; B65D 1/0246 20130101; B65D 51/145 20130101;
B65D 41/0442 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/341 ;
215/276; 215/352; 215/354 |
International
Class: |
B65D 53/00 20060101
B65D053/00; B65D 45/30 20060101 B65D045/30; B65D 41/00 20060101
B65D041/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 10, 2002 |
AU |
2002951318 |
Claims
1. A closure for a container arranged to contain liquid, powder or
paste, the container having means to define a first extremely flat
surface, the closure comprising a sealing member defining a second
extremely flat surface, means to urge the extremely flat surfaces
into parallel abutting contact, the extremely flat surfaces adapted
to form a surface tension seal when they are urged into parallel
abutting contact and means to prevent lateral relative movement
whereby the sealing member prevents escape of liquid, powder or
paste from the container.
2. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member
forms part of, or is housed by, a cap that threadedly engages the
container.
3. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the cap has an internal
thread arranged to engage an external thread on the liquid
container.
4. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the cap has an external
thread arranged to engage an internal thread on the container.
5. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member
forms part of, or is housed by, a cap which has location means so
that in use when the cap is pressed onto the container and rotated
relative to the container the location means engages the container
to hold the cap and sealing member in compression on the
container.
6. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the cap has a
peripheral flange surrounding an aperture, the flange bearing
against the sealing member.
7. The closure according to claim 6 wherein the sealing member is a
thin, clear disc that acts as a window allowing the contents of the
container to be viewed through the closure.
8. The closure according to claim 2 wherein biasing means is
disposed between the cap and sealing member to urge the flat
surfaces into parallel abutting contact.
9. The closure according to claim 8 wherein the biasing means is
one of a spring washer, a Belleville washer and a wave washer.
10. The closure according to claim 8 wherein the cap has inturned
projections that are compressible to act as biasing means.
11. The closure according to claim 6 wherein the sealing member has
a domed upper surface that extends through the aperture.
12. The closure according to claim 1 wherein a resilient membrane
is positioned between part of the parallel abutting surfaces.
13. The closure according to claim 12 wherein the resilient
membrane is an O-ring or gasket.
14. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the sealing member is
held captive to the cap.
15. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the cap has resilient
location means that engages an undercut on the container to hold
the cap against displacement relative to the container.
16. The closure according to claim 15 wherein a collar fits over
the cap to hold the cap on the container.
17. The closure according to claim 16 wherein the collar and cap
have inter-engaging formations that engage when the collar and cap
are in one relative position to prevent separation of the collar
from the cap and on turning of the collar disengage to allow
separation.
18. The closure according to claim 1 wherein a wire frame is
adapted to engage the container to hold the sealing member so that
the flat surfaces are in parallel abutting contact.
19. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the container is a
wine bottle having a neck and an aperture, the first extremely flat
surface being provided around the neck of the bottle, the sealing
member being adapted to extend across the aperture to prevent
escape of the wine.
20. The closure according to claim 19 wherein the first extremely
flat surface is defined by the neck of the bottle.
21. The closure according to claim 20 wherein the first extremely
flat surface is at the top section or opening defined at the neck
of the bottle.
22. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member is
a disc of glass, ceramic carbon, metal carbide, metal oxide or any
other hard plastics that can define a flat surface.
23. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the closure has a
degree of porosity that allows controlled air entry.
24. The closure according to claim 23 wherein the porosity of the
closure is controlled by varying the finish of the surface tension
seal surfaces and/or the pressure applied to the surfaces.
25. The closure according to claim 23 wherein the sealing member
has an inherent porosity.
26. The closure according to claim 23 wherein the sealing member
has a porous plug to facilitate a degree of air entry.
27. The closure according to claim 25 wherein a plurality of
sealing members with varying porosity are superimposed, one on top
of the other, and with removal of one or more of the sealing
members varying the porosity of the closure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to closures or stoppers for
containers containing liquid, powder or pastes, particularly wine
bottles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A major technical issue in the wine industry is the
unpredictable incidences of problems that occur once the wine has
been bottled due to the properties of the closures used.
[0003] Traditional cork closures have problems with taint, caused
in a major part by Trichloroanisoles (TCA), known more commonly as
corked taint or causing "corked wine". It has been estimated that
the wine in up to 10% of all bottles of wine produced worldwide may
be affected in this manner. A more recently recognised problem with
using cork as a closure is the physical nature of cork having
variability to the permeation of oxygen which can lead to
inconsistent and uneven development of the bottled wine. Leakage
has always been an issue associated with cork caused by a fault
line or lines or porosity in the cork.
[0004] The continued and increasing dissatisfaction amongst wine
makers with the performance of natural cork as a closure has led to
some use of synthetic material and varying forms of approach such
as the screw top "STELVIN.TM." cap. There have been issues of taint
and other performance issues from synthetic materials and the screw
type closures and there is limited experience and testing of the
performance of these materials. There is also considerable market
resistance to the use of synthetic materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided a closure for a container arranged to contain liquid,
powder or paste, the container comprising means to define a first
extremely flat surface, a sealing member defining a second
extremely flat surface, the extremely flat surfaces adapted to form
a surface tension seal when they are pressed into parallel abutting
contact and means to prevent lateral relative movement whereby the
sealing member prevents escape of liquid, powder or paste from the
container.
[0006] The first surface may be formed on the container or on a
component attached to the container. The closure may also include
means to urge the extremely flat surfaces into parallel abutting
contact.
[0007] In accordance with the second aspect of the present
invention there is provided a closure for a wine bottle having a
neck and an aperture, the closure comprising a first extremely flat
surface around the neck of the bottle, a sealing member having a
second extremely flat surface, the sealing member being adapted to
fit onto the first surface and across the aperture with the second
surface in parallel abutting contact to form a surface tension
seal, and means to prevent relative lateral movement of the
surfaces.
[0008] The first extremely flat surface may be defined by the neck
of the bottle, preferably the top section or an opening defined at
the neck. The sealing member may be a disc of glass, ceramic,
carbon, metal carbide, metal oxide or other hard materials that can
define a flat surface. Preferably a removable member locates the
sealing member laterally of the first surface. The closure may also
include means to urge the surfaces into parallel abutting
contact.
[0009] An extremely flat surface is understood to embrace a surface
that is finished with a roughness low enough (level of polish) to
ensure a liquid-tight seal (that totally prevents escape of the
liquid from the container) at maximum differential pressure allowed
for the container. At the same time the roughness (level of polish)
of the flat surface can be designed to create an airtight seal
(hermetic seal) or to create air permeable seal (breathing seal) at
specified pressure conditions inside the container. It is
understood that the differential pressure allowed across the seal
will be related to the degree of downward force urging of the
surfaces into parallel abutting contact. In a preferred embodiment
where the liquid is wine the surface is finished to have optical
flatness to a few wavelengths of light. The surfaces are preferably
provided on glass sintered ceramic, carbon, metal carbide, metal
oxide or other hard materials which are inert to the materials it
contains.
[0010] In one embodiment the sealing member will have a degree of
porosity to ensure restricted entry of air to allow the wine to
breathe. The breathability could relate to the material per se or
use of a porous plug in the material or the level of finish of the
sealing surfaces and the pressure of surface to surface
contact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:--
[0012] FIG. 1(a) is a side elevation view of a wine bottle with a
closure having an internal screw thread,
[0013] FIG. 1(b) is a cross section view of the bottle taken along
the lines L-L of FIG. 1(a),
[0014] FIGS. 1(c) and 1(d) are a perspective view and cross
sectional view of the closure,
[0015] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective and sectional views of a
closure with an internal screw thread and insert,
[0016] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are similar illustrations of a closure
with an internal screw thread and internal sealing surface,
[0017] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are similar illustrations of a closure
secured in position by an external cap,
[0018] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are similar illustrations of a closure
that incorporates a domed projection through the cap,
[0019] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are similar illustrations of a closure
that has an external screw threaded cap,
[0020] FIGS. 6(c) and 6(d) are perspective views of modified
caps,
[0021] FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are perspective and cross sectional
views of an externally mounted screw top closure,
[0022] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are perspective and sectional views of a
screw closure that incorporates a spring washer,
[0023] FIG. 8(c) is an exploded view of the closure of FIG.
8(b),
[0024] FIG. 8(d) is a perspective view of the underside of the cap
of FIG. 8(c),
[0025] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are perspective and sectional views of a
screw closure with an inbuilt spring washer,
[0026] FIG. 9(c) is a perspective view of a sealing disc of the
closure,
[0027] FIG. 9(d) is a sectional view of the closure of
[0028] FIG. 9(b) with a porous insert,
[0029] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are respectively elevational and
cross-sectional views of a closure that includes a push-on outer
sleeve in an open configuration,
[0030] FIGS. 10(c) and 10(d) are elevational and cross section
views of the closure in a closed sealed configuration,
[0031] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are a perspective and sectional view
of a closure incorporating an outer collar and spring cap in an
open configuration,
[0032] FIGS. 11(c) and 11(d) are perspective and sectional views of
the closure in a closed sealed configuration, and
[0033] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a closure using a wire
cap.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] The embodiments of the invention described hereunder with
reference to the accompanying drawings, all relate to closures for
liquid containers and especially wine bottles. In essence the
sealed closure is performed by the abutting contact between two
extremely flat and smooth surfaces that are pressed into engagement
to form a shear seal. All the embodiments include means to urge the
surfaces into parallel abutting contact and to laterally locate the
flat surfaces to prevent the seal being broken.
[0035] The abutting flat surfaces are extremely flat with the
flatness being in the order of a few wavelengths of light. The
wavelength of light in the visible spectrum range is between about
400 nanometres for deep violet and about 700 nanometres for deep
red. A nanometre is a billionth of a metre. The flat surfaces that
form the shear seals may be formed in glass with one portion
defined by a hardened coating on the bottle itself and the other
portion being defined by a glass or other hard material sealing
member. In other embodiments suitable inserts are provided in the
bottle and the sealing member seals against those inserts. The
surfaces of the bottle and sealing members are either manufactured
from hard materials such as sintered ceramics that are lapped and
polished to the desired flatness and surface finish, or
alternatively the glass itself can be lapped and polished to the
desired flatness and surface finish.
[0036] Shear seals operate by pressing two extremely flat surfaces
together to evacuate the air between the surfaces with the
resulting surface tension providing a seal that is strong in the
axial direction. The seal can only be broken by either lateral
relative displacement of the surfaces that shears the seal or by
the application of a significant force in the axial direction i.e.
perpendicular to the seal surface. Consequently in all of the
embodiments described hereunder, means is provided to place the
flat surfaces into parallel abutting contact under pressure. All of
the seals also incorporate means to prevent lateral displacement of
the surfaces and thus prevent the shear force that would break the
seal.
[0037] In the embodiments described hereunder the same reference
numerals are used for common features.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) a wine bottle 10 has a main
body 11 tapering upwardly to a neck 12. The neck has an opening 13
at the top that is sealed by a closure 20 that is a subject of this
invention. The closure 20, shown in detail in FIGS. 1(c) and 1(d),
essentially comprises a sealing member 21 that has a flat annular
sealing surface or seat 22 that is arranged to be pressed into a
parallel sealed engagement with a similarly profiled flat surface
23 on the top of the neck of the bottle. The flat surface 23 is
known as the finish of the bottle. The sealing member 21 has a
central downwardly extending core 24 with an outwardly projecting
coarse thread 25. The coarse thread can be coated with "giving"
material that will not cause abrasion of the contacting surfaces.
The thread is arranged to engage a similarly profiled coarse thread
26 formed on the interior surface of the interior of the top of the
neck 12 of the bottle 10. The sealing member 21 can also include a
small annular groove 29 that houses an O-ring 30 of rubber,
plastics or cork. The O-ring 30 can be replaced by an annular
membrane of rectangular cross section. The upper surface of the
sealing member 21 defines a slightly convex crown 31.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1(c) the crown 31 may carry a trade mark
and its periphery 32 may be knurled to assist purchase when the
sealing member 21 has to be rotated relative to the bottle 10. To
seal the bottle after it has been filled to the desired level, the
sealing member 21 is simply screwed into the threaded interior 26
of the neck. The sealing member 21 is turned until the sealing
surface 22 is into tight parallel abutting contact with the annular
seat 23. The rubber, cork or composite O-ring 30 or like member
provides a precaution against release by vibration and acts as a
secondary backup seal. The threaded engagement between the core 24
of the sealing member 21 and the neck of the body is sufficiently
coarse to provide a degree of clearance that allows the parallel
abutting surfaces to come into positive infinite parallelism to
effect the seal. The core is preferably of a material or coated in
a material which is soft or giving in nature so that the interior
of the bottle is not abraded and thus no debris falls into the
container. The core 24 allows the parallel abutting surfaces to
come into positive infinite parallelism to effect the seal.
[0040] To release the seal it is a simple matter to turn the
sealing member 21 anti-clockwise to release the threaded engagement
and break the seal. The combination of the seal between the
parallel abutting surfaces and the axial force required to break
the seal coupled with the interconnection between the threaded core
and the neck of the bottle ensures a totally efficient seal that
can withstand vibration, noise and relative temperature
fluctuations.
[0041] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the mouth of
the neck of the bottle has a frustoconical cutout 40 with a
triangular groove 41 towards the base. The cutout supports a
similarly shaped insert 42 that is bonded to or moulded into the
interior surface of the neck of the bottle. The insert provides an
annular flat surface 44 on which the sealing member 21 is arranged
to be in abutting sealed engagement when it is screwed into the
neck of the bottle. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the core 24 of
the insert and the internal wall 27 of the bottle is internally
threaded. An O-ring 30 of rubber, cork or composite or like member
is also located in an annular groove 29 on the underside of the
sealing surface to absorb vibration and act as a backup seal.
[0042] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the neck 12 of the
bottle 10 has an internal undercut portion 50 that ends in an
annular shoulder that defines the sealing surface 51 or finish on
which the sealing member 21 engages. The sealing member is of
cylindrical configuration with an external coarse thread 25 that
mates with a similarly profiled thread 26 on the interior of the
neck of the bottle. A rubber or cork O-ring 53 or like member
locates between the top of the shoulder of the sealing member 21 to
provide precaution against release by vibration. The sealing member
is a screw fit into the threaded recess and is thus located from
axial movement by the annular wall of the neck of the bottle. To
release the seal an elongate cutout 55 is provided in the upper
surface 56 into which a coin or screwdriver can be inserted to
effect anti-clockwise rotation of the sealing member to break the
seal. This embodiment has the advantage that the sealing member 21
is protected from damage by the wall of the bottle. The whole of
the sealing member is recessed into the top of the bottle.
[0043] In an embodiment (not shown) the construction is very
similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3 except that instead of using a
polished surface of the bottle to support the seal a tapered recess
of the kind described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 2 is
incorporated into the neck of the bottle to support an insert that
is bonded to the glass of the bottle. The insert provides the
optically flat surface against which the sealing member
engages.
[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) the
external profile of the neck 12 of the bottle 10 has an annular
land 65 that defines an undercut 64. A coarse external thread 63 is
positioned above the land 65 and the top of the bottle known as the
finish defines a flat annular sealing surface 67. The neck 12 is
designed to accommodate a crimped metal foil cylindrical closure
member 69 often referred to as a STELVIN.TM. or screw cap
enclosure. The closure member 69 is rolled onto the neck of the
bottle to form a coarse internal thread 61 and terminates in a
closure band 62 that locates in the undercut 64. By rotating the
top of the closure member 69 by the knurled exterior 32 shown in
FIG. 4(a) the foil of the closure band 62 is broken and the metal
cap can be removed. The actual seal is effected through the
interface between a disc like sealing member 66 that seats on the
flat annular sealing surface 67 defined by the top of the neck 12
of the bottle. A rubber or cork ring or spring 68 sits on the
exterior of the top of the sealing member 66 on the underside of
the metal cap 65 to place the seal under axial load and protects
the seal from vibration.
[0045] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) the sealing
member 70 has a domed upper surface 71 that extends through 72 an
aperture in the top of the metal closure 73. In all other respects
the closure is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0046] In the embodiment of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) the metallic screw
cap is replaced by a thicker plastics cap 80 that is in threaded
engagement with the exterior of the neck of the bottle. To improve
the aesthetics of the cap it is understood that it could be made in
other suitable materials. The cap has an opening 81 through which
the dome 71 of the sealing member 70 extends but the sealing member
engages and seals with the top of the bottle as in embodiment shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5. An annular cork or rubber ring 68, metal spring
or wave washer locates under the top of the cap against the sealing
member 70 to place the sealing member in axial compression against
the top of the bottle.
[0047] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6(c) and 6(d), the cap 85
is not in screw threaded engagement with the exterior of the bottle
but includes three equally spaced inwardly projecting lugs 86 that
are adapted to slide down elongate channels in the exterior of the
bottle and then engage on a shoulder defined by the annular recess
87 shown in FIG. 6(b). In this manner, the cap can be slid down the
grooves in the bottle and then turned to assume a locked position
similar to that shown in FIG. 6(b). The annular cork or rubber ring
68 is compressed when the cover 85 is in this position to pull the
sealing member 70 into compression on the top of the bottle. The
embodiment shown in FIG. 6(d) is similar to that of FIG. 6(c)
except that the cap 85 has a skeletal or open walled structure.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) an external
screw threaded closure 120 covers the top of the neck 12 of the
bottle 10. The sealing member 121 is defined by the underside of a
ceramic cap with a downward skirt 122 that terminates in a lip 124
that engages in a groove 125 in the bottle neck 12. The top of the
bottle 10 defines an annular flat sealing surface 128 on which the
sealing member seals. The inside of the cap has a coarse thread 129
that co-operates with a similar coarse thread 127 on the exterior
of the bottle neck 12.
[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) the neck 12 of
the wine bottle 10 terminates in an annular land 45, an external
coarse screw thread 63 and a substantially flat annular sealing
surface 67 on the top of the bottle. The closure comprises a
circular glass disc 66 that is adapted to sit on the sealing
surface 67 on the top of the neck 12 of the bottle, a spring steel
dished washer 130 and a cap 131. The cap is stepped and has a
central aperture 132 bounded by an internal flange 133. The spring
washer 130 locates between the top of the disc 66 and the underside
of the in turned flange 133. The cap 131 has a lower rim 134
terminating in four equally spaced inwardly facing lugs 138 that as
shown in FIG. 8(b) engage the coarse thread 63 on the neck of the
bottle. In this embodiment, as the cap 131 is turned through a
quarter or half a turn on the coarse thread 63 on the neck of the
bottle, it is pulled down onto the neck of the bottle and the
dished washer 130 is pressed flat to further urge the sealing disc
66 into positive engagement with the upper surface 67 of the bottle
to assume the assembled/sealed configuration as shown in FIG.
8(b).
[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) the
bottle 11 has a similar neck portion 12 to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 8, namely with provision of an annular land 65 and external
coarse thread 63 with the sealing surface 67 provided at the top of
the bottle. A metal or plastics cap 200 has a central aperture 251
and a lateral rim 252 terminating in inwardly facing lugs 253 like
the embodiment of FIG. 8 which enable the cap 250 to be screwed
onto the neck 12 of the bottle in the same manner as the previous
embodiment. The top of the cap has an internal spring steel lip 254
that replaces the separate spring washer of the embodiment of FIG.
8. The in turned lip 254 can be axially compressed to provide a
degree of axial load on the sealing disc 260 in the assembled view
shown in FIG. 9(b). In this embodiment the flat sealing surfaces
are held in compression by the pull of the cap on the coarse thread
and the resilience of the inturned lip 254 on the top of the cap
250. The disc 240 is a slightly different configuration having a
lower annular sealing surface 261 with a raised central section
242. The top of the disc 260 has an annular surface 264 on which
the spring lip 254 of the cap 250 engages and a slightly raised
central section 265 at the top of the disc 240. As shown in FIG.
9(c), the disc includes three equally spaced projections 266 around
its periphery. The effective diameter of the projections 266 is
greater than an inwardly projecting rib 257 on the cap 250 such
that the disc 240 can not fall out of the cap 250, thus ensuring
that the disc 240 is held captive of the cap 250 even when the
closure is off the bottle. The top of the cap 250 also has three
radial slits 259 to increase the inherent spring capacity of the
cap.
[0051] A further safety feature shown in FIG. 9(b) is the provision
of an outer tape seal 270 that wraps around the annular rim 252 on
the neck of the bottle and the underside of the cap. The tape seal
270 can, if necessary, extend to the top of the cap 250 and
provides a tamper proof indication that the closure has not been
used. To open the closure the tape seal 270 must first be removed
from the closure and then the closure can be released by a quarter
or half turn which causes the cap 250 to spring up from the neck of
the bottle and releases the seal 240.
[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9(c) the same assembly is
illustrated except that the sealing disc 280 includes a central
porous insert 281 that is introduced to provide a degree of
breathability through the seal. A rubber, cork or other slightly
resilient membrane 282 is located in an undercut groove 283 in the
underside of the seal 280 and sits on part of the sealing surface
67 of the neck of the bottle to provide a degree of cushioning to
prevent the seal breaking through vibration. The membrane 282 also
acts as a backup seal especially in the event of faulty sealing
surfaces. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9(d) the anti-vibration
ring or membrane 282 is of rectangular cross section. It is however
understood that it could be of circular or other cross sectional
shapes. The porous insert 281 is preferably positioned in the seal
disc 280 during the moulding process in which the seal disc is
produced.
[0053] In the embodiments that utilise coarse threads to secure the
sealing member the seal can be effected or released by about a
quarter turn.
[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), the
closure 180 comprises a disc shaped seal 181 that seats on the
upper surface of the neck 12 of the bottle 10. A metal, plastics or
ceramic cap 182 sits over the to of the neck of the bottle and
includes a central aperture 183 in the top of the cap 182. The cap
182 has a downwardly extending skirt 190 defined by arcuate fingers
189 as shown in FIG. 10(a). The exterior of the neck 12 of the
bottle includes an annular outwardly projecting land 184 and an
outer collar 185 fits over the cap 182. In use, the collar 185 is
pushed down over the cap 182 to assume the closed sealed position
shown in FIGS. 10(c) and 10(d). The end of the skirt 190 of the cap
defines an inwardly turned lip 187 that engages on the underside of
the land 184. The collar 185 has a rectangular cutout 188 and the
periphery of the skirt 190 has projections 191 that flex outwardly
as shown in FIG. 10(d) to engage within the cutout 188. Thus, in
the position shown in FIG. 10(d) the interface between the
projection 191 and the slot 188 prevents the outer collar 185 from
being pulled up. A wave washer 194 sits between the underside of
the cap 182 and the top of the disc seal 181 to, when in the
position shown in FIG. 10b, urge the seal 181 into parallel contact
with the upper surface of the wine bottle to effect the seal. To
release the seal the outer collar 185 is turned through a quarter
of a turn that has the effect of causing the inner surface of the
collar to press down the projection 191 allowing the collar to
slide upwardly. This then allows the cap to be pulled off the top
of the neck of the bottle and releases the pressure on the seal 181
to break the seal and release the contents of the bottle. In the
open unsealed configuration, shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), a tab
195 formed on the skirt 190 of the cap 182 springs inwardly to
engage against the underside of the disc 181 to prevent the disc
181 and washer 194 from falling out of the cap 182. The closure can
thus be resealed by simply pushing down on the outer collar 185 to
cause the in turned lip 187 of the skirt 190 to again clip under
the base of the land 184.
[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d), a similar
closure is provided except that in this case the interior of the
upper surface of the cap 200 has a series of spaced downwardly
extending in turned fingers 201 that act as a spring member to, as
shown in FIG. 11(d), urge the sealing disc 181 into parallel
contact with the upper surface of the neck 12 of the bottle 10.
This embodiment also includes an external collar 185 that pushes
down on the exterior of the bottle with a lip 187 on the skirt 190
of the cap 200 springing into engagement with the underside of the
land 184 on the exterior of the bottle neck. The resilient fingers
201 formed on the interior of the aperture of the cap 200 provide
the resilience that causes the sealing compression of the sealing
member 181 on the sealing surface defined at the top of the bottle.
As the collar 185 is pulled up to the position shown in FIG. 11b
the spring force is relieved thereby releasing the seal. Pushing
the collar 185 back down onto the cap 200 again places the seal in
compression and reseals the bottle. This embodiment may also
include means to locate the disc 181 within the cap 200 when in the
open unsealed configuration of FIG. 11(b).
[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 the closure comprises a
sealing disc 231 that sits in parallel abutting contact with the
top surface of the neck 12 the bottle 11. The abutting surfaces of
the disc 231 and the bottle have the desired surface finish to
produce the seal and the assembly is held in position by a wire
frame 233 that is similar to the wire used on conventional
champagne corks. The frame 233 pulls the disc 231 into axial
compression and can be released by undoing the rim 234 of the frame
233 that sits under an external rim on the neck 12 of the bottle
11. Once the wire frame 233 has been removed, it is a simple matter
to either laterally or axially displace the sealing disc off the
top of the bottle thereby releasing the contents.
[0057] Still wine usually has the capacity of resisting internal
pressures of 140 kPa (20 psi). Thus, the closures to wine bottles
are usually designed to resist internal pressures of 170 kPa (25
psi). The closures described provide vent resistance of 200-350 kPa
(30-50 psi). With a bottle neck having an internal diameter of 19
mm the force required to hold a sealing member at an internal
pressure of 140 kPa is 40N (4 kg) whilst at a pressure of 350 kPa
it would by 99N (9.9 kg). The maximum acceptable extraction force
for a cork closure is usually 450N (45 kg).
[0058] In all of the seals described above, the optically flat
contact between the sealing member and the sealing surface can
provide an airtight seal. This is in contrast with more
conventional corks where a certain degree of breathing is allowed,
allowing air to enter the space between the top of the wine and the
end of the cork. There are many in the wine industry that view this
entry of air as being crucial to enhance the ageing of the wine. If
seals of the kind described above are to be used with wine of that
type where a degree of permeation of oxygen is required then it is
understood that the sealing member could have an inherent degree of
porosity that provides this access to oxygen.
[0059] The capacity of the closure to permit entry of air can be
controlled not only by the material of the sealing disc but by the
quality of the sealing surfaces. A rougher, less smooth and flat
surface could be used to prevent liquid escape yet allow a
controlled degree of air entry. In a further option the sealing
disc, preferably in glass, can include a plug of porous material
with its porosity and cross section controlled to provide the
desired air entry. In this manner the closure of this invention can
allow wine to age in the same manner as cork without the
possibility of cork contamination. In embodiments where porosity is
controlled by the seal and anti-vibration membranes are included it
is understood that they too would have a degree of porosity to
allow passage of air. Where the sealing disc is porous or includes
a porous plug the closure could comprise a series of such discs
superimposed one on the other. The porosity could thus be
selectively varied by removing one or more of the discs to vary the
rate of air passage. The cap could be designed to allow removal of
one or more discs without disturbing the actual seal.
[0060] The combination of the abutting flat surfaces and the axial
pressure therebetween coupled with the geometry of the closure
preventing lateral or shear movement between the surfaces ensures a
positive and generally airtight seal that can last for many years
and withstand the shocks, loads and other distorting criteria that
can come from vibration, noise and temperature fluctuations.
[0061] It is understood that in some circumstances the closures
discussed above may be applied in a zone of partial vacuum to
remove air from the top of the bottle.
[0062] It is furthermore understood that the invention is not
limited to wine bottles. The closures may be used on many other
types of containers for liquids, powders or pastes.
[0063] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description
of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due
to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise"
or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an
inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated
features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further
features in various embodiments of the invention.
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