Abstract: A safety closure device for a bottle or the like is described. The device includes a cylindrical closure element which fits within the mouth of the bottle and which is restrained from flying free of the bottle by a cylindrical retainer collar which fits around the neck of the bottle. The closure element is attached to the collar by a tether strip which is molded integrally with the closure element and the collar and which tears free thereof, except for attachment to the collar and closure element at the ends of the tether. The tether is folded upon itself and when manually torn free, and is long enough to permit the closure element to be withdrawn from the bottle while still remaining tethered to the collar.

Abstract: A mold and a molding method are described for forming a closure device having a cap portion, a cylindrical plug portion extending therefrom, and a cylindrical collar extending substantially coextensively and coaxially with the plug portion spaced therefrom to provide an annular recess for receiving the open end of the container to be closed. The mold cavity is defined by mold segments and by a substantially cylindrical hollow outer core which extends into the mold cavity and defines the annular recess in the closure device between the collar and the plug portion. The mold segments include a gripping portion for retaining the closure device. The gripping portion retains the closure device while the outer core is extracted from the cavity. The gripping portion of the mold segments is then separated along with the remainder of the mold segments to remove the molded device.

Abstract: A molded tethered safety closure device for use on bottles containing pressurized liquids such as champagne or sparkling wines comprising a cork or closure element and a retainer collar joined by an intercoupling section. The intercoupling section is comprised of a tabbed tear strip and a tether strip that are integrally formed in a helical configuration extending in a plurality of turns from the cork to the collar. The tether strip and the tear strip are interconnected by a pair of grooved frangible webs that can be torn by pulling on the tear strip. This allows the tear strip to be manually removed from the intercoupling section. Following removal of the tear strip, the helical tether strip interconnects the cork and the retainer collar, thus enabling the cork to be released from the bottle without flying free.