U.S. patent application number 13/079769 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for reusable resilient bottle capsule.
Invention is credited to Walter J. Averill.
Application Number | 20110240589 13/079769 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44708391 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110240589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Averill; Walter J. |
October 6, 2011 |
REUSABLE RESILIENT BOTTLE CAPSULE
Abstract
A reusable resilient bottle capsule having a top cap portion, a
medial portion that extends downwardly from and is integral with
the top cap portion, a lower sleeve portion extending downwardly
from and integral with the medial portion. The interior wall of the
capsule has a surface configuration dividing the interior wall into
a generally cylindrical lower portion with a first diameter that
tightly conforms to the neck of a bottle below the banded collar of
a bottle, an annular medial channel with a second diameter, larger
than that of the first diameter, that permits the medial channel to
straddle and accommodate the banded collar of a bottle, and an
upper cylindrical portion with a third diameter substantially the
same as that of the first diameter and which tightly surrounds and
engages the pouring spout portion of the bottle. An annular channel
in the underside of the top cap portion may be provided to
facilitate a tight seal around the bottle pour spout. The resilient
material has a Shore rating that allows the capsule to be installed
and removed repeatedly without losing its efficacy in preventing
oxidation and spillage of bottle contents, even when the bottle is
laid on its side or inverted.
Inventors: |
Averill; Walter J.;
(Windsor, CA) |
Family ID: |
44708391 |
Appl. No.: |
13/079769 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61320672 |
Apr 2, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/18 20130101;
Y02W 30/80 20150501; Y02W 30/807 20150501; B65D 41/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/321 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/18 20060101
B65D041/18 |
Claims
1. A resilient reusable bottle capsule, comprising: a top cap
portion; a medial portion integral with said top cap portion; a
lower sleeve portion integral with said medial portion; and an
interior wall having a surface configuration dividing said interior
wall into a generally cylindrical lower portion having a first
diameter, an annular medial channel having a second diameter larger
than said first diameter that permits said medial channel to
straddle and accommodate the banded collar of a bottle of a
predetermined size, and an upper cylindrical portion having a third
diameter substantially the same as that of said first diameter
which tightly surrounds and engages the pouring spout portion of
the bottle.
2. The resilient reusable bottle capsule of claim 1, wherein when
installed on a bottle having a banded collar finish, said top cap
portion tightly circumscribes the upper portion of the bottle above
the banded collar and said lower portion tightly circumscribes the
neck of the bottle below the banded collar.
3. The resilient reusable bottle capsule of claim 1, wherein said
top cap portion includes an integral enlarged rim to facilitate
gripping when installing or removing said capsule.
4. The resilient reusable bottle capsule of claim 1, wherein said
capsule includes an exterior surface that tapers inwardly from said
top portion to a bottom edge of said lower sleeve portion.
5. The resilient reusable bottle capsule of claim 1, wherein said
capsule is fabricated from a material selected from pure gum
rubber, synthetic rubber, and food grade silicone.
6. The resilient reusable bottle capsule of claim 5, wherein said
material has a shore durometer of about Shore A-50, +/-5 points,
under the ASTM D2240 testing standard.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/320,672, filed Apr. 2,
2010.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0004] Not applicable.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0005] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] 1. Field of the Invention
[0007] The present invention relates to bottle seals, and more
particularly to secondary wine bottle seals, and still more
particularly to a resilient wine bottle capsule that may be reused
after the bottle has been uncorked.
[0008] 2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed
Under 37 CFR .sctn..sctn.1.97, 1.98
[0009] Wine bottles are the most well known of bottles sealed with
corks, though several other products also employ cork seals,
including olive oils, vinegars, beer, spirits, perfumes, and so
forth. The industry standard for sealing wine bottles is to insert
a standard or synthetic cork in the bottle mouth and then to
provide a secondary seal with a bottle capsule, typically
fabricated from tin, polylaminate, or polyvinyl chloride. Until the
1990s, capsules were generally made from lead. Wine producers have
also used wax as a secondary seal, as this provides significant
enhanced protection from inadvertent oxygen contact with the
wine.
[0010] However, once a wine bottle has been opened, the quality of
the wine quickly degrades due to exposure to oxygen. To retard the
degradation, especially in the case of white wines, consumers will
frequently reinsert the removed cork into the bottle and place it
in a temperature controlled wine closet or a refrigerator. The
problem with this approach is that the seal is imperfect and leaks
are common, particularly when the bottle is laid on its side.
[0011] Other solutions include the production of a vacuum and the
insertion of a specialized stoppers using a system such as the VACU
VIN.RTM. wine saver and bottle resealing system by Vacu-Products of
As Delft Netherlands. Another solution is to introduce a blanket of
inert gas over an open wine by squirting it into the bottle though
an elongate tube connected to the nozzle of a pressurized can of
nitrogen or argon, such as the WINE SAVER PRO.RTM. by Wine Gadgets,
LLC of Allentown, Pa. The former has not held up well in tests
(that is, the contained product suffers considerable oxidation),
and the latter is prohibitively expensive for the ordinary
consumer. [VACUVIN is a registered trademark of Vacu-Products B.V.,
of Delft, Netherlands; WINE SAVER PRO is a registered trademark of
Timothy S. Fallon, of Center Valley, Pa.]
[0012] The need remains for an inexpensive and easy-to-use device
for resealing and temporarily preserving and preventing evaporation
or spillage of products from open wine bottles, or from bottles
containing other perishable or messy products, such as olive oil,
soap, vinegar, and the like. The instant invention is directed to
this objective and provides a resilient bottle capsule, installed
contemporaneously or nearly contemporaneously with the initial cork
insertion at bottling. This is especially well-suited for use as a
wine bottle capsule, though use as a cap for preserving other
perishable products is clearly contemplated. The resilient capsule
is fabricated from silicon or synthetic rubber and is provided with
interior dimensions, internal surface features and a
cross-sectional profile that combine to make placement of the
capsule over the open mouth of an open bottle easy and removal of
the capsule also easy, while at the same time providing effective
resealing of the bottle so as to prevent further exposure to oxygen
from the atmosphere outside the bottle. When a bottle is resealed
with the inventive capsule, spills are entirely prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wine bottle in an unopened
state, showing the inventive resilient capsule installed over the
bottle mouth (i.e., its pouring spout or "finish");
[0015] FIG. 2 is a closer detailed side view in elevation of the of
the capsule installed on the bottle;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of the
capsule installed on a wine bottle with its initially installed
cork inside the bottle neck;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a closer detailed side view in elevation showing
how the resilient capsule conforms to the wine bottle upper neck
and open mouth; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of the
capsule installed on a wine bottle with its initially installed
cork removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is
illustrated therein a new and improved resilient wine bottle
capsule, generally denominated 10 herein. The capsule includes a
top cap portion 12 with an enlarged rim 14 to facilitate gripping.
When installed on a wine bottle 16, the top cap portion
circumscribes the upper portion of the banded collar finish
characteristic of wine bottles. This is the upper pouring spout
portion 18 immediately above the top flange 20 of the bottle.
[0020] The capsule further includes a medial portion 22, which
tightly circumscribes the upper portion banded collar or top flange
20, and a lower sleeve portion 24 which tightly circumscribes the
bottle neck 26 immediately below the banded collar 20.
[0021] From the capsule rim 14 to the bottom edge 28 of the lower
sleeve portion 24, the exterior surface 30 of the capsule
preferably tapers gently inward. The capsule is divided interiorly
into three distinct portions, including an upper, medial, and lower
portion, each defined by the surface configuration of the interior
wall 32 of the capsule. The interior wall thus includes a generally
cylindrical lower portion 34 having a first diameter that defines
the lower sleeve portion; an annular medial channel 36 has a second
diameter larger than the first diameter and defines the medial
portion that accommodates the top flange 20; and a small upper
cylindrical portion 38, having a third diameter substantially the
same as that of the first diameter, defines the upper portion and
closely surrounds and engages the pouring spout portion 18 of the
bottle.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule is installed when the bottle
is first corked during bottling, or shortly thereafter. As with
conventional capsules, the inventive capsule enhances protection of
the cork 40 and substantially prevents the cork from drying out and
permitting oxygen to enter the bottle. FIG. 4 shows how the capsule
conforms to the upper end of the bottle so as to seal the opening
at the bottle mouth, which sealing is enhanced by the resilient
material from which the capsule is fabricated, and by an optional
annular channel 42 in the interior underside 44 of the top cap
portion. FIG. 5 shows that the inventive capsule seals the bottle
to prevent further oxidation of the bottle contents and to prevent
spillage.
[0023] The resilient capsule of the present invention is preferably
fabricated from pure gum rubber, synthetic rubber, or food grade
silicone, and are sized such that they can be gently stretched to
cover the top of the bottle when first installed, and gently peeled
from the top of the bottle when the consumer wishes to remove the
cork. The capsule is preferably fabricated from a resilient
material having a shore durometer of approximately Shore A-50 (+/-5
points) under the ASTM D2240 testing standard. With appropriate
sizing, a capsule fabricated from this material is sufficiently
resilient to accept the stretch needed for removal and also the
stretch required for replacement after cork removal. When so
replaced, the resilient material again conforms to the surface
features of the bottle to provide an airtight and watertight seal,
such that liquid cannot escape from the bottle and air cannot get
back in to the bottle. Thus, the open but resealed bottle may be
laid on its side in a refrigerator for storage. Accordingly, the
capsule may supplement the initial seal and thus replace it after
the bottle is uncorked, or it may be employed exclusively as a seal
for an opened bottle that is kept ready-at-hand for use as
needed.
[0024] Finally, the resilient capsule of the present invention
lends itself to product branding and promotional programs. Whereas
conventional capsules are generally discarded as rubbish after
removal (thrown away and never to be used again), the inventive
capsule may be reused nearly indefinitely. This provides producers
with the motivation to mark the capsules with names 44, either of
goods, or services, or events, special occasions, product and
company graphics, colors, logos, and the like, and such indicia
will provide an enduring brand statement that will continue to
complement labels on their own resealed bottles, and may even
eclipse or compete with brand elements on other producer bottles
resealed with the resilient capsule by consumers who keep them for
future use after the original product is consumed.
[0025] As will be appreciated from the foregoing, in its most
essential aspect, the resilient bottle capsule of the present
invention includes a top cap portion, a medial portion that extends
downwardly from and is integral with the top cap portion. Next, a
lower sleeve portion extends downwardly from and is integral with
said medial portion. Interiorly, the capsule includes an interior
wall having a surface configuration that divides the interior wall
into three regions, including a generally cylindrical lower portion
with a first diameter that tightly conforms to the neck of a bottle
below the banded collar of a bottle. It next includes an annular
medial channel with a second diameter, larger than that of the
first diameter and that permits the medial channel to straddle and
accommodate the banded collar of a bottle of a predetermined size.
Finally, the capsule includes an upper cylindrical portion with a
third diameter substantially the same as that of the first diameter
and which tightly surrounds and engages the pouring spout portion
of the bottle. The resilient material with a carefully selected
Shore rating allows the capsule to be installed and removed
repeatedly without losing its efficacy in preventing oxidation and
spillage of bottle contents, even when the bottle is laid on its
side or inverted.
[0026] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best
mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the
inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete
disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction,
dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described.
Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and
equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may
be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit
and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative
materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes,
forms, functions, operational features or the like.
[0027] Therefore, the above description and illustrations should
not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is
defined by the appended claims.
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