U.S. patent application number 16/624056 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for screw cap for wine bottles.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mario GAIA. Invention is credited to Mario GAIA.
Application Number | 20200148426 16/624056 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60183011 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200148426 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GAIA; Mario |
May 14, 2020 |
SCREW CAP FOR WINE BOTTLES
Abstract
A screw cap for wine bottles, has an outer capsule screwable to
the bottle and an insert inserted in the outer capsule and intended
to stay interposed between the mouth of the bottle and the outer
capsule, is described. At the bottom, the insert is provided with a
metal foil intended to directly stay in contact with the mouth of
the bottle by intercepting the same. The metal foil is the only
component of the cap wettable by the wine and is made of a precious
metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an alloy of
precious metals inert at room temperature. The insert also has a
gasket positioned on the metal foil, which has a radial extent
larger than the metal foil itself, and has an outer crown
surrounding the metal foil by adhering to the mouth of the
bottle.
Inventors: |
GAIA; Mario; (Cassina De'
Pecchi (MI), IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GAIA; Mario |
Cassina De' Pecchi (MI) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
60183011 |
Appl. No.: |
16/624056 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2018/054798 |
371 Date: |
December 18, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/045 20130101;
B65D 53/04 20130101; B65D 51/1622 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04; B65D 53/04 20060101 B65D053/04; B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2017 |
IT |
102017000073534 |
Claims
1. A screw cap (10a-10n) for wine bottles (B), the screw cap
comprising: an outer capsule (2) screwable on a bottle (B); at
least one insert (11a-11n) inserted in the outer capsule (2) and
intended to be interposed between the mouth (13) of the bottle (B)
and the outer capsule (2), wherein the at least one insert
(11a-11n) comprises at least one metal foil (12) configured to stay
in contact directly with the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) and
intercept it, and wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is made
of a precious metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an
alloy of precious metals inert at room temperature, wherein the at
least one insert (11a-11n) comprises a gasket (14) positioned on
the at least one metal foil (12) and having a radial extent greater
than the at least one metal foil (12) itself, and wherein an outer
crown of the gasket (14) surrounds the at least one metal foil (12)
while adhering to the mouth (13) of the bottle (B).
2. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is made of a metal selected among gold,
iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an alloy of these
metals.
3. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is a disk with thickness less than 0.5
mm.
4. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 3, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is made of 24-carat gold and has a
thickness between 0.01 mm and 0.05 mm.
5. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is the only element of the cap contacting
the wine contained in the bottle (B).
6. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is subjected to deformation when the cap
is screwed to the bottle (B) and edges of the at least one metal
foil (12) adhere to the upper surface of the mouth (13) of the
bottle (B).
7. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) comprises a plurality of micro
through-holes (19), or a zone with calibrated porosity, which allow
adduction of an air volume up to 500 mm.sup.3/year into the bottle
(B).
8. The screw cap (10a-10h) according to claim 7, wherein the
micro-holes have diameter smaller than 0.1 mm.
9. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 7, comprising an
inner volume wherein air, or a layer of porous material containing
air, is in fluidic communication with the micro-holes (19) of the
at least one metal foil (12).
10. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 9, further
comprising a layer of granular or porous materials (18) which
release volatile components in the air inside the screw cap
(10a-10n), fluiclically communicating with the micro-holes (19) of
the metal foil.
11. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 7, wherein the outer
capsule (2) comprises a plurality of micro through-holes (27) which
fluiclically communicate the outside of the screw cap (10a-10n)
with its inside.
12. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the
gasket (14) comprises a circular portion (14') whose cross section
has a S-, L-, W- or U-shape, and the circular portion being
deformed when the cap is screwed and adhering to the at least one
metal foil (12) at a respective upper surface.
13. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 11 wherein the at
least one insert (11a-11n) comprises an elastic element (15)
interposed between the gasket (14) and the outer capsule (2),
wherein the elastic element is preloaded upon screwing the cap on
the bottle (B) and continuously applies a thrust directly onto the
gasket (14) and, indirectly, onto the metal foil (12).
14. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the
elastic element (15) is made of cork, rubber or a plastic
material.
15. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the
elastic element (15) extends between the outer capsule (2) and the
bottle (B) at the thread.
16. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is provided with a thickening (23)
extending perimetrically and above the mouth (13) of the bottle (B)
and applying a thrust on the portion of the at least one metal foil
(12) contacting the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) in response to the
thrust the elastic element (15) applies on the thickening (23).
17. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the
insert (11a-11n) comprises a stiffening element (16) rigid with
respect to the gasket (14) and the elastic element (15), which is
positioned between the at least one metal foil (12) and the gasket
(14), directly in contact with the at least one metal foil
(12).
18. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 17, wherein the
stiffening element (16) is made of glass, ceramic, metal or a
high-density plastic material.
19. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the
gasket (14) is made of rubber, or a polymeric material.
20. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the
gasket (14) has micro-holes, or a zone with calibrated porosity, at
the at least one metal foil (12).
21. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is provided on its lower side and/or its
upper side with an identification sign.
22. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) can be separated from the screw cap
(10a-10n) in response to a force applied on the metal foil by the
user.
23. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is provided, on its lower side, with at
least one stalk (24) extending towards the inside of the bottle (B)
and wherein the at least one metal foil (12) can be separated from
the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to a force applied by the user
on the at least one metal foil (12) at said the least one stalk
(24).
24. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one metal foil (12) is provided with three stalks (24'-24''')
configured to abut against the inner side of the neck (N) of the
bottle (B) in response to radial movements of the at least one
metal foil (12) itself.
25. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 24, wherein the
stalks (25'-25''') are horseshoe shaped and define with the at
least one metal foil (12) an eyelet configured to house a
threadlike through-element.
26. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the
insert (11a-11n) comprises a leaf (26) positioned above the at
least one metal foil (12) and made of ferromagnetic material and
wherein said leaf (26) can be moved away from the screw cap
(10a-10n) in response to the force applied on said leaf (26) by a
magnet such that, when the magnet and the leaf (26) move away from
the screw cap (10a-10n), the at least one metal foil (12) also
moves away from the screw cap (10a-10n), thus separating itself
from the same.
27. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the leaf
(26) is made of a high magnetic permeability material, or is made
of a permanently magnetized material.
28. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the
gasket (14) is interposed between the leaf (26) and the at least
one metal foil (12) and wherein the gasket (14) can be moved away
from the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to the movements away of
the leaf (26) and screw cap (10a-10n).
29. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the leaf
(26) is interposed between the gasket (14) and the at least one
metal foil (12).
30. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the
insert (11a-11n) is made in one piece.
31. A bottle provided with the screw cap according to claim 1.
32. Wine bottle provided with screw cap according to claim 1,
wherein the bottle has a volume smaller than 100 ml in order to be
transportable in the hand baggage on airplanes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a screw cap for wine or
liquor bottles, in particular fine or collectible liquors or
wines.
STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Conventionally wine bottles are closed with corks, and for
decades cork has been considered the most suitable material in
order to preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the wine
contained in bottles. However it has been found that in a
significant portion of the bottles closed with corks, wine
undergoes taste alterations, just due to smells and drynesses the
cork releases to the wine. In certain instances the wine acquires
the so called cork flavor caused by a substance, the
trichloroanisole (TCA), in turn produced by a fungus, Armillaria
mellea, pest of the cork oak.
[0003] Lately other systems for closing the bottles have been
proposed; the new systems are taking rapidly growing market
shares.
[0004] For example synthetic caps, improperly called "silicon
caps", glass caps and screw caps have been proposed.
[0005] The present invention actually relates to a screw cap, often
also called Stelvin closure by one of the most popular trade names
used by the manufacturing company Amcor.
[0006] A common screw cap comprises:
[0007] a metal screw capsule, i.e. a capsule screwable on the neck
of the bottles at the respective screw finish level, or the
respective screw collar, and
[0008] an insert positioned in the capsule, intended to stay
interposed and pressed between the capsule itself and the mouth of
the bottle, acting as a gasket. The insert is wettable by the wine
when the bottle is closed.
[0009] The metal capsule is usually made of aluminium. The insert
is a disk of synthetic material, or rubber, or multilayer material,
for example a multilayer of aluminium, polyethylene PE,
polyethylene terephthalate PET, expanded polyethylene EPE.
[0010] Depending on the structure of the insert, higher or lower
cap oxygen permeability can be obtained.
[0011] The sustained contact of wine with the screw cap insert can
however cause undesired changes of the organoleptic characteristics
of the wine itself. Although polymers and rubbers are widely used
in the food industry, for the food packaging, wine storage is an
exception, since the storage times can also be several years long.
Furthermore wine can age in bottle, undergoing slow but appreciable
chemical transformations. Therefore also the insert of the screw
caps can change, over time, the wine taste, worsening it.
[0012] In order to prevent polymeric materials of which the caps
are made from changing the wine organoleptic characteristics, in
the German Patent Application DE10060418 a plastic cap is described
on which a layer of metal is coated by using the physical vapor
deposition PVD method. The metal layer, for example gold, prevents
the components to be released from the cap to the wine and thereby
preserves its quality.
[0013] However the physical vapor deposition PVD is not an easy and
fast way that can be used to manufacture caps on industrial scale
especially when a significant thickness is intended to be obtained
in order to increase the impermeability.
[0014] Furthermore, another limit of the current screw caps is that
they do not promote the good aging of the bottled wine for the
opposite reason, i.e. for the nearly total absence of interaction
with the atmospheric oxygen when the cap is effective.
[0015] Other known solutions are described in CH-A-499436, DE
202007002075U1 and GB-A-05095.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a screw cap which overcomes the drawbacks of the nowadays available
solutions, being simple to be implemented, effective in promoting
the bottled wine aging and chemically inert in order not to modify
the organoleptic characteristics of the wine not even after long
periods in contact with the same.
[0017] Therefore the present invention relates to a screw cap
according to claim 1.
[0018] Specifically, the cap comprises a preferably metal outer
capsule screwable on the bottle, and at least one insert inserted
in the outer capsule and intended to stay interposed between the
mouth of the bottle and the outer capsule. Advantageously, at its
lower face the insert comprises at least one metal foil intended to
stay in contact directly with the mouth of the bottle, in order to
intercept it, when the cap is correctly screwed onto the bottle.
The metal foil is made of a precious metal inert at room
temperature, or it is made of an alloy of precious metals inert at
room temperature.
[0019] Preferably the metal foil is made of gold and even more
preferably it is made of 24-carat gold.
[0020] The metal foil is the only element of the cap wettable by
the bottled wine, for example when the bottle is tilted. The other
elements of the cap, in fact, can not be reached by the wine.
[0021] For example, the metal foil can be made of a metal selected
among gold, iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an
alloy of these metals.
[0022] Differently from other proposed solutions, the insert also
comprises a gasket positioned above the metal foil. The gasket has
a radial extent greater than the metal foil, such to surround it
and ensure it always remains centered with respect the mouth of the
bottle. The gasket also adheres to the mouth of the bottle with its
peripheral portion, in practice a circular crown.
[0023] The gasket is made of one or more materials according to
known art: for example, natural materials (such as cork, rubber or
a not precious metal), or synthetic materials (such as elastomers,
tetrafluoroethylene, silicon) or combinations thereof can be
used.
[0024] The advantages offered by such a solution are many. Firstly
the metal or metal alloy of the foil does not chemically interact
with the wine contained in the bottle, not even when the wine stays
for months or years in contact with the metal foil. This ensures
that the cap does not negatively affect the organoleptic wine
characteristics. In other words, the metal foil does not release
substances able to change the wine taste and aroma, not even after
long periods of time, even if the wine is left aging in the
bottle.
[0025] Another advantage is related to the physical characteristics
of the foil. The precious metals taken into account have high
electronegativity value. For example, 24-carat gold has an
electronegativity value equal to 2.54 in the Pauling scale, the
highest among the metals. Therefore the metal foil is chemically
inert, but can activate the ions usually contained in solution in
the wine, and this can in turn trigger phenomena related to the
good aging of wine.
[0026] It is apparent that the afore described gasket is essential
for the metal foil to positively concur to the wine aging: without
the gasket the metal foil could be radially displaced and the wine
could come into contact with parts of the cap which are able to
alter its organoleptic properties.
[0027] Last but not least, another advantage is of commercial
nature. The metal foil of precious metal enhances the value of the
bottle and is a collectible element per se.
[0028] Preferably the metal foil is engraved on its upper side,
i.e. on the side not contacting the bottle content, with bottle
identification data, such as for example the wine name and the
manufacturer data; optionally, the metal foil can be engraved also
or only on the lower side. The engraving can be carried out by
means of various techniques, for example by the use of laser, or by
engraving or chemical etching.
[0029] Providing screw caps with a metal foil of gold with a sign
is a circumstance which could promote the diffusion of the screw
cap for closing fine wine bottles. Of course the cap according to
the present invention can also be used for closing bottles of
liquors and other fine beverages, not only wine.
[0030] In the preferred case in which the metal foil is made of
gold, the same foil, due to the metal malleability, can be deformed
in order to perfectly adhere to the bottle mouth when the cap is
completely screwed. Therefore gold malleability helps to obtain a
foil also acting as a gasket. Generally, regardless of the metal
selected for the foil, it is preferable that the edges of the same
adhere to the circular edge of the bottle mouth.
[0031] Preferably the metal foil is a disk with thickness lower
than 0.5 mm, more preferably lower than 0.1 mm. For example in case
of 24-carat gold foil the thickness is 0.01 mm-0.05 mm.
[0032] In an embodiment the metal foil is micro-pierced, meaning
that it comprises a plurality of micro through-holes whose function
is to allow the adduction towards the wine of an air volume smaller
than 500 mm.sup.3/year, amount deemed compatible with the good
aging of the bottled wines. Alternatively to the holes, the foil
comprises a calibrated porosity portion, which can be defined
microporous and allows obtaining the same result in terms of
exchanged air volume, i.e. a volume smaller than 500 mm.sup.3/year.
Such an air volume can be present in the cap upon screwing the cap
on the bottle, for example it can be implemented with an inner air
chamber, or more easily the cap allows a minimum air passage from
the outside towards the insert and the metal foil.
[0033] Optionally, in order to facilitate the air passage, the
outer capsule of the cap is also micropierced.
[0034] Preferably, the micro-holes have a diameter smaller than 0.1
mm; the micro-holes can be obtained by laser piercing processes
such as those used for making the aerosol device meshes.
[0035] It should be underlined that, in addition to the
permeability of the metal foil, the effective air volume reaching
the wine also depends on the permeability of the other cap elements
positioned above or around the foil, and that air has to pass
through before--actually--reaching the wine.
[0036] For example the paper "Permeability of Cork to Gases",
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2011, 59, 3590-3597,
published Mar. 24, 2011, provides a mathematical model which can be
used to calculate the gas flow rate through a cork. The same
mathematical model can be used in order to calculate the air flow
rate passing though the cap according to the present invention,
specifically the layer composed of the metal foil and the other cap
elements positioned above or around the foil.
[0037] Optionally, the insert comprises a layer of granular or
porous substances (for example pepper grains) composing a bed
promoting the good aging of the wine contained in the bottle; for
example the layer of granular or porous substances can act as a
reaction bed or it can release, in the air contained in the cap,
volatile components which can pass, over the years, to the wine
contained in the bottle thanks to the fluidic communication ensured
by the micro-holes obtained in the metal foil. Preferably the
insert also comprises an elastic element interposed between the
gasket and the outer capsule. The elastic element, for example of a
plastic material, rubber or cork, is preloaded upon screwing the
cap on the bottle and has the function of constantly applying a
thrust onto the gasket and, thus, indirectly onto the metal foil in
order to ensure the sealed coupling with the bottle mouth.
[0038] In an embodiment the metal foil has a thickening
circumferentially extending on the upper side of the metal foil and
generating an embossed circular profile on the surface of the metal
foil. The thickening is in the portion of the metal foil resting on
the bottle mouth and can be made by edging, welding or by means of
a ring rested on the metal foil. Such a thickening concurs,
together with the just described elastic element, to apply a
greater thrust on the metal foil itself in order to ensure a better
seal.
[0039] Preferably the thickening is in proximity of the edge of the
metal foil and constitutes a frame for possible identification
engravings, previously described, obtained on the surface of the
metal foil.
[0040] Optionally the insert can comprise a stiffening element,
rigid with respect to the gasket and the elastic element,
positioned between the metal foil and the gasket, directly
contacting the metal foil. For example, the stiffening element can
be made of glass, ceramic or high-density plastic material and
provides the cap with increased strength.
[0041] Advantageously the cap is particularly useful for closing
the small volume bottles, smaller than 100 ml, which are not
subjected to the restrictions on hand baggage on airplanes. In the
small volume bottles, in fact, the afore described drawbacks
related to the known art occur more frequently, since the exchange
surface with wine is significant in proportion to the amount of
wine contained in the bottle. In other words, in the small volume
bottles closed with traditional stopper, the stopper has a greater
effect than in the large volume bottles.
[0042] Preferably the metal foil can be separated from the insert
once the cap is needed to be used no more: by applying a minimum
force the user can remove the metal foil from the cap and store it
for collection purposes.
[0043] Preferably the metal foil is provided on its lower side with
at least one stalk, i.e. an appendix protruding towards the inside
of the bottle.
[0044] The at least one stalk is positioned at a distance from the
edge such as to allow the metal foil to adhere to the bottle mouth
and ensure a minimum overlapping of at least 1 mm on the entire
circumference of the bottle mouth and preferably in a
self-centering way.
[0045] The at least one stalk can be connected to the foil already
in the mold from which the metal foil is drawn, or it can be later
connected by welding thereto (preferably by laser welding).
[0046] Advantageously, the at least one stalk facilitates the
separation of the metal foil from the screw cap: the user in fact,
by using a clamp, can easily grasp the stalk and separate the metal
foil from the cap in order to store the metal foil made of precious
metal.
[0047] In an embodiment, the metal foil is provided with three
substantially cylindrical stalks with axis substantially
perpendicular to the lower side of the metal foil. In addition to
allow the metal foil to be removed, advantageously, the presence of
three stalks allows ensuring that the metal foil does not move
radially and thus does not move away from its centered position on
the neck of the bottle. In other words the stalks limit the radial
movements of the metal foil: it can move on the plane formed by the
bottle mouth as long as the stalks do not come into abutment
against the bottle neck, thus preventing further movements in that
direction.
[0048] In another embodiment the metal foil has three horseshoe
shaped, i.e. U-shaped, stalks, which delimit an eyelet between the
metal foil and each stalk.
[0049] In addition to provide the above described advantages, the
particular U-shape of the stalks allows a threadlike element, such
as a chainlet, to be inserted inside the eyelet such to be able to
connect several stalks of the same metal foil or different metal
foils. For example, in this way, necklaces or collectible ornaments
can be created.
[0050] Optionally, the metal foil can be provided with stalks with
different shape, also different from the described ones.
[0051] Preferably the insert of the screw cap also comprises a leaf
made of ferromagnetic material (i.e. with high magnetic
permeability), for example made of iron, martensitic stainless
steel, cobalt or other permanently magnetized materials.
Advantageously, the leaf is positioned above the metal foil and,
due to its ferromagnetic characteristics, is able to follow the
movements of a magnet which is preferably provided with the bottle.
When the user moves the magnet closer to the lower side of the
metal foil, it applies an attraction force on the leaf and if the
user later moves away the magnet from the cap, the leaf follows the
movement away of the magnet and separates from the cap. Since the
leaf is positioned above the metal foil and since the magnet gets
closer to the metal foil at the lower side of the metal foil, the
movement of the magnet and the leaf away from the cap also causes
the concurrent separation from the cap of the metal foil, since the
latter is interposed between the leaf and the magnet.
[0052] In an embodiment the leaf is positioned above the metal foil
and the gasket: in this way the gasket is in a position interposed
between the metal foil and the leaf and it is less likely that the
bottle content comes into contact with the leaf of ferromagnetic
material.
[0053] In another embodiment the leaf is interposed between the
metal foil and the gasket and preferably the leaf is in contact
with the metal foil. By arranging the leaf in a position interposed
between the gasket and the metal foil the separation of the leaf,
and thus also of the metal foil, is promoted, since, the gasket not
being between the leaf and the metal foil, the greatest is the
force applied by the magnet on the leaf the easiest is the
separation from the cap. Indeed the gasket, not being interposed
between the leaf and the magnet, does not move away from the screw
cap in response to the movement away of the leaf and the magnet but
it remains seated in the screw cap.
[0054] Advantageously the insert of the screw cap can be made in
one piece, i.e. of a single material, able to ensure the good aging
of wine and ensure the proper positioning on the bottle mouth also
for many years.
[0055] Further characteristics and advantages of the cap according
to the present invention are described in the dependent claims.
BRIEF LIST OF THE FIGURES
[0056] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
be better highlighted by the review of the following specification
of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated for
illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0057] FIG. 1a is an axial/vertical section view of a portion of
screw cap according to the known art;
[0058] FIG. 1b is a partial sectional view, of another screw cap
according to the known art;
[0059] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a first
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0060] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of a second
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a third
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a fourth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of a fifth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0064] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a sixth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0065] FIGS. 8-10 are schematic views of a detail of corresponding
embodiments of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0066] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of a seventh
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0067] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of an eighth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0068] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a portion of a ninth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0069] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a portion of a tenth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0070] FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of two embodiments of
the metal foil of the screw cap according to the present
invention;
[0071] FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a portion of an eleventh
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;
[0072] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a portion of a twelfth
embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0073] FIG. 1a shows a vertical section, which can also defined as
axial or diametrical, of a portion of screw cap T' according to the
known art, the screw cap closing a wine bottle B. The bottle B is
provided with a neck provided with a screw finish level 1 on which
the cap T' is screwed. The cap T in turn comprises a capsule of
aluminium 2, threaded in 2', and an insert 3 positioned between the
capsule 2 and the neck of the bottle B.
[0074] In turn the insert 3 is composed of a first element 3', for
example of cork, plastic material or rubber, and a second element
3'', acting as a sealant, of polymeric material. When the bottle B
is tilted, the wine contacts the sealing element 3''.
[0075] FIG. 1b shows a partial vertical section of another screw
cap T'' according to known art. The cap T'' comprises an insert 3
composed of three elements: the same elements 3' and 3'' described
afore plus an additional element 3''' made of a polymeric material,
adapted to compress the elements 3' and 3'' against the mouth of
the bottle B and to embody the screw coupling at the screw finish
level 1 of the bottle B.
[0076] With a convenient selection of the used materials, the
elements composing the insert 3, i.e. the elements 3', 3'', 3'''
(if present), can be made of a single material, i.e. in one
piece.
[0077] Numeral reference 4 indicates the weakened zone of the
aluminium capsule 2, i.e. the predetermined weakened line allowing
the cap T', T'' to be rotated with respect to the neck of the
bottle B.
[0078] FIG. 2 shows a vertical section of a first embodiment 10a of
a screw cap according to the present invention, applied to a glass
or ceramic bottle B. The cap 10a comprises a metal capsule 2, an
insert 11a being housed inside the latter. The capsule 2 comprises
a screw portion 2' for screwing on the finish level 1 of the bottle
B, as also described relating to the known art.
[0079] However, differently from known solutions, advantageously
the insert 11a comprises a lower element 12 intended to contact the
wine contained in the bottle B. It is a metal foil made of gold, or
another precious metal inert at room temperature, for example
iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an alloy of these
metals. Preferably the lower element 12 is a twenty four-carat gold
(24 kt) disk. Preferably the lower element 12 is a disk whose
thickness is lower than 1 mm, for example 0.01-0.05 mm, and whose
diameter is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mouth 13
of the bottle B.
[0080] The advantages offered by the presence of the disk 12 of
precious metal are many. The listed precious metals are chemically
inert and do not release in the wine substances which could modify
its taste and aroma, not even when the bottle is stored for long
periods of time in tilted position, with the wine directly
contacting the metal. Therefore this ensures that wine organoleptic
properties, specifically taste and aroma, do not undergo negative
alterations.
[0081] Furthermore the mentioned precious metals, even if inert
from the chemical point of view, are mostly electronegative. As
afore mentioned, for example 24 kt gold has an electronegativity
value equal to 2.54 in the Pauling scale. This characteristic can
promote the good aging of bottled wine, since wine usually contains
ions of various nature in solution. For example, it has been found
that the evolution of the flavan-3-ols in the oxidative refinement
of red wines is widely related to the formation of ethyl
bridges-mediated polymerizations, following the formation of
ethanal by ethanol oxidation. This phenomenon originates from the
Fe(II/III) ions-mediated phenolic oxidation [talk on May 6, 2015 at
the national prize SIVE "G. Versini", n. 35, "Influenza della
natura dei composti fenoli nell'invecchiamento del vino rosso", D.
Fracassetti et al., page 23). The contact with the precious metal
can promote the ion action.
[0082] In case the disk 12 is of gold, the following advantage can
also be found: gold is notoriously malleable and under the
compression action of the capsule 2 screwed on the neck N of the
bottle B, perfectly suits to the surface of the mouth 13, meaning
that it deforms to realize and ensure the airtightness. In practice
the disk 12 acts as a gasket, still being of metal and not a
synthetic material.
[0083] A further advantage is the enhanced commercial value of the
cap itself and, thus, the enhanced value of the bottle B. The disk
12 of precious metal can be drawn from the screw cap 10a and can be
part of a collection: further embodiments facilitating the
separation of the disk 12 from the screw cap will be described in
the following.
[0084] In addition, identification signs can be inserted on the
upper and/or lower side of the disk 12, i.e. respectively on the
side contacting the element 14 (described below) and/or on that
which can contact the wine contained in the bottle.
[0085] In these terms, the presence of the disk 12 of precious
metal can be a plus on the market, and could allow attracting
potential customers among those who up to now have been skeptical
of the use of the screw cap for closing fine wine bottles B.
[0086] In the example shown in FIG. 2 the insert 11a comprises two
other elements 14 and 15 stacked on the disk 12. The element 14 is
preferably a gasket of natural material, such as cork, rubber or a
not-precious metal (for example a stainless steel or aluminium thin
layer), or synthetic material such as elastomers,
tetrafluoroethylene, silicon, or a combination thereof. The element
14 has a radial extent greater than the metal foil 12 itself, and
with its outer crown surrounds the metal foil 12 by adhering to the
mouth 13 of the bottle B.
[0087] The element 15 is preferably elastic, to apply a thrust onto
the underlying elements 12 and 14, to promote the adhesion against
the surface of the mouth 13 of the bottle B. For example the
element 15 can be made of cork, or a polymeric material such as PET
or PE.
[0088] When the screw cap 10a is mounted on the bottle, the element
15 is slightly compressed, such that the element 15 constantly
applies a thrust onto the underlying elements in order to ensure a
perfect adherence of the disk 12 on the mouth 13 of the bottle
B.
[0089] In the example shown, the elastic element 15 comprises a
circular crown 15' protruding downwards and having the function of
perimetrically deforming the element 14 in order to make it adhere
to the mouth 13 of the bottle B, around the disk 12, which in this
way can not move anymore in radial direction and always remains
centered and coaxial with respect to the mouth 13 of the bottle
B.
[0090] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment 10b of the cap according to
the present invention.
[0091] The respective insert 11b comprises a disk 12 of precious
metal, an elastic element 15 and a gasket 14, for example of rubber
or a plastic material. Between the gasket 14 and the disk 12 of
precious metal an additional element 16 made of a material selected
among a metal, also not precious, preferably glass or ceramic, is
interposed. The element 16 has the task of preventing the elastic
element 15 from deforming at the axis X-X of the bottle B, for
example it prevents the elastic element 15 from "bulging" or
curving in the center, by relieving the load on the disk 12 which
has to always stay well adhering to the mouth 13 of the bottle B
instead.
[0092] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment 10c of the screw cap. With
respect to the solution shown in FIG. 2, the bottle B has a
circular convexity 17 on the mouth 13 and the gasket 14 follows the
profile thereof by adhering to ensure the tightness, under the
thrust of the elastic element 15.
[0093] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment 10d wherein with the
numeral reference 18 air is denoted, or a cork element or an
activated carbon element or a layer of granular or powder
substances (for example pepper grains) composing a bed that
promotes the good aging of the wine contained in the bottle B: such
a layer releases volatile substances in the air contained in the
cap, which are released to the wine over time. In this embodiment
the gasket 14 has an accordion portion 14' jutting towards the disk
12, which allows the pressure on the disk 12 to be properly
applied.
[0094] FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment 10e similar to the preceding
one but comprising, in addition, the stiffening element 16 made of
glass, metal or ceramic. The portion 14' appears to be deformed,
slightly flattened against the element 16.
[0095] In the same embodiment 10f shown in FIG. 7 the gasket 14 has
a different, less flattened, profile with respect to what shown in
FIG. 6.
[0096] In practice the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7 differ for
the insert shape. For example the gasket 14 can have a different
profile among the three embodiments in order to obtain different
pressure zones on the mouth 13 of the bottle B.
[0097] FIGS. 8-10 schematically show corresponding embodiments of
the disk 12 of precious metal. In particular in the version of FIG.
8 the disk 12 is S-shaped (in cross section) in 12' such as to
define a controlled deformation zone and a contact shoulder against
the gasket 14, which prevents lateral movements (in radial
direction) of the disk 12 itself. In the version of FIG. 9 the disk
12 is U-shaped (in cross section) in 12'' such as to define a
controlled deformation zone and a contact shoulder against the
gasket 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 10 the disk 12 is L-shaped (in
cross section) in 12''' such as to define a controlled deformation
zone and a contact shoulder against the gasket 14.
[0098] In FIG. 11 another embodiment 10g of the cap according to
the present invention is shown, which is characterized in that the
gasket 14 is of annular type: a section can be seen in figure. In
particular the gasket 14, seen in vertical section, has a radial
pin 20 which rests against the disk 12. The pin 20 radially extends
inwards and cantilevered from the remaining part of the gasket 14;
a zig-zag, or W-shaped portion 21 is interposed between the pin 20
and the remaining part of the gasket 14 in order to allow the pin
to flex and adapt to the definitive shape taken with the cap 10g
completely screwed on the bottle B.
[0099] By the numeral reference 19 micro-holes pierced through the
disk 12 of precious metal are denoted. Clearly the hole size is
purposely out of scale in the drawing, in order to make the
comprehension easier. The micro-holes 19 are drilled for example by
the laser piercing technique and allow a minimum, but important,
air exchange with the part overlying the disk 12. By taking care to
trap an adequate amount of air inside the capsule 2, for example by
using an element 15 of porous cork or leaving a volume filled with
air, the holes 19 allow an air passage towards the wine contained
in the bottle for a volume corresponding to a few mm.sup.3/year. It
is an air volume compatible with the good aging of the bottled
wine.
[0100] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 the capsule 2 and the
gasket 14, which extends above the disk 12, are also pierced. The
numeral reference 27 denotes the micro-holes drilled through the
capsule 2 while, by the numeral reference 22, the micro-holes
drilled through the gasket 14 are denoted. The object is to allow a
minimum air supply towards the bottled wine.
[0101] FIG. 13 shows a ninth embodiment 10i of the screw cap; this
embodiment differs from the preceding ones in that to the disk 12
is provided with a thickening 23 on the upper side, i.e. on the
side opposite to the one contacting the mouth 13 of the bottle B.
Such thickening 23 extends circumferentially on the disk 12 at the
edge of the disk 12 itself, thus taking the shape of a circular
edge of the disk 12.
[0102] The thickening 23 is obtained at a distance from the center
of the disk 12 such to be positioned above the mouth 13 of the
bottle B.
[0103] Its function is in fact to apply a thrust onto the disk 12,
in addition to the one applied by the element 15, in order to
ensure greater tightness.
[0104] Furthermore, the thickening 23 also has the aesthetic
advantage of constituting a frame on the disk 12, which is able to
give greater emphasis to possible identification signs positioned
on the upper side of the disk 12.
[0105] In FIG. 14 a tenth embodiment 101 of the cap according to
the present invention, wherein the disk 12 comprises a stalk 24
with a substantially cylindrical shape protruding from the lower
side of the disk 12, is shown. The function of the stalk 24 is to
facilitate the separation of the gold disk 12 from the cap 101, for
example, by means of a clamp.
[0106] In FIGS. 15 and 16 two additional embodiments of the disk 12
are shown (the whole cap is not shown). In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15, the disk 12 is provided with three stalks 24', 24'', 24'''
on the lower side with the same shape as the stalk 24 described in
FIG. 14; such stalks 24', 24'', 24''', in addition to facilitate
the separation of the disk 12 from the screw cap, have the function
of keeping the disk 12 seated on the mouth 13 of the bottle B,
especially during the cap positioning and screwing. In fact, when
the disk 12 makes radial movements, the stalks 24', 24'', 24'''
come into abutment against the inner side of the neck N of the
bottle B and prevent the disk 12 from moving further to radial
position and exiting from the seat which allows the disk 12 to
perform the previously described functions.
[0107] The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 differs from the one shown
in FIG. 15 for the horseshoe shape, or U shape, of the stalks 25',
25'', 25''' of the disk 12. These stalks 25', 25'', 25''' have an
eyelet delimited by the disk 12 and by each stalk 25', 25'', 25'''
itself.
[0108] Once the bottle B has been uncapped and the disk 12
separated from the cap, a preferably gold thread can be inserted
through this eyelet, such to connect several stalks for ornamental
purpose, both belonging to the same disk 12 and belonging to
different disks, in order to add them to a collection.
[0109] The stalks described in FIGS. 14-16 can be made separately
and subsequently weld to the disk 12 or, in case of the stalks in
FIGS. 14 and 15, directly connected to the disk 12 already directly
in the mould.
[0110] The stalks 24, 24'-24''' and 25'-25''' place themselves on
the disk 12 in such a position to both ensure that the disk 12
rests on the mouth 13 of the bottle B and ensure that the stalks
24, 24'-24''' and 25'-25''' are able to intercept the neck N of the
bottle B thus preventing the disk 12 from exiting from its own
seat; in practice such stalks 24, 24'-24''' and 25'-25''' are
inscribed in such a circumference that a superposition of at least
1 mm with the mouth 13 is ensured.
[0111] FIGS. 17 and 18 show, respectively, two embodiments 10m and
10n whose respective inserts 11m and 11n comprise a leaf 26 made of
a ferromagnetic material, i.e. having high magnetic permeability;
for example the leaf 26 can be made of iron, martensitic stainless
steel, cobalt or a permanently magnetized material. The leaf 26 is
positioned above the disk 12 and, since it is provided with
ferromagnetic properties, can follow the movement of a magnet,
preferably provided together with the bottle B. In order to
separate the disk 12 from the screw cap it is therefore required
that the user moves the magnet closer to the front face of the cap
where the disk 12 is, and then he/she moves the magnet away in the
opposite direction: in this way the leaf 26 follows the movement of
the magnet away and brings the disk 12, which is in a position
interposed between the magnet and the leaf 26.
[0112] In the embodiment 10m shown in FIG. 17, the leaf 26 is
positioned above the gasket 14 such that the gasket 14 is
interposed between the leaf 26 and the disk 12. Such an embodiment
ensures that the content of the bottle B does not come into contact
with the material the leaf 26 is made of, in case the disk 12 moves
radially on the mouth 13 of the bottle B or incidentally shows a
leak.
[0113] On the contrary, in the embodiment 10n shown in FIG. 18, the
leaf 26 is directly above the disk 12 and in contact with the same.
Therefore in this case the leaf 26 is in a position interposed
between the gasket 14 and the disk 12. This arrangement allows an
easier separation of the disk 12 from the cap since there is no
screw cap component between the disk and the leaf 26 which is able
to prevent the separation thereof.
[0114] It has to be specified that also the screw cap according to
the present invention can be provided with an element such as the
element 3''' shown in FIG. 1b.
* * * * *