Bottle stopper with expandable o-ring

Abstract

An improved stopper featuring an o-ring. The o-ring is sandwiched between two cylindrical bodies. The surfaces that contact the o-ring are chamfered. The lower cylindrical body has a boss that extends through the center of the o-ring. The cylindrical bodies are rigidly connected by a connecting link that travels through the center of the upper body and is rigidly attached to the lower body. A portion of the connecting link has external threads that mate with an internally threaded hole that extends through the center of the upper cylindrical body. By rotating a handle attached to the connecting link, the chamfered surfaces compress the o-ring, forcing it to expand outward and increase in diameter. Once inside a bottle, the handle is rotated, the o-ring expands and presses against the inner wall of the bottle and the bottle is sealed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to bottle stoppers, specifically to a stopper that has an o-ring capable of increasing or decreasing in diameter.

[0004] Currently, there are many bottle stoppers available that have an o-ring. These stoppers are designed with an o-ring with a diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of the bottle for which they are supposed to seal. The user is required to force the stopper inside the bottleneck and in doing so compress the o-ring enough to cause the o-ring to collapse and enter the bottleneck. In order to open the bottle, the user must pull the stopper with enough force to dislodge it from the neck of bottle.

[0005] One problem with this type of stopper is that the inside diameter of bottles varies. Specifically, the inside diameter of wine bottles can vary from 0.680″ to 0.770″. This makes it very difficult to design and build a stopper that works well in all bottles. If the stopper has a large o-ring but the opening of the bottle is toward the smaller end of the range, the seal will be very good but the force to insert the stopper will be very high, assuming that the stopper fits inside the bottle at all. Conversely, when the o-ring is the same size or smaller than the opening of the bottle, the seal will be poor or will not exist at all.

[0006] Another problem associated with these stoppers is that there is no way to replace the o-ring seal. This is unfortunate since the stopper must be discarded when the seal becomes worn or is contaminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved bottle stopper with an o-ring.

[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide a bottle stopper that allows the user to quickly, easily, and inexpensively replace the o-ring.

[0009] It is a further object of this invention to provide a bottle stopper that reduces the force required when inserting or removing the stopper from the bottle, thus making the stopper safer and easier to use.

[0010] It is the final object of this invention to provide a bottle stopper with a novel approach that does not rely on an o-ring with a fixed diameter and instead allows the o-ring to be expanded after being placed inside the bottle.

[0011] With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of the stopper inside a partial section of a bottle. The bottle is hidden from view by the stopper but is visible in a subsequent cross section view.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1. The bottle has been sectioned at line I-I of FIG. 1 to allow the stopper to be visible.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the stopper inside a bottle. The cross sections of the stopper and the bottle are along line I-I of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the stopper with the o-ring in the contracted position.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the stopper with the o-ring in the expanded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Now, with more particular reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the stopper of this invention indicated generally at 1.

[0018] In FIG. 2, the stopper of this invention is generally indicated at 1. The stopper is inside a bottle generally indicated at 7. The bottle has been sectioned at line I-I of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken at line I-I of FIG. 1. The stopper is shown generally at 1 inside a bottle that is shown generally at 7. A main body 2 has a concentric, internally threaded hole 3 and a concentric, blind hole 14. The main body 2 has a chamfered, bottom face 24. A connecting link 4 contains a section with external threads 10 and a lower portion with a cylindrical boss 13. Minor body 6 has a chamfered flange 25, a boss 11, and a concentric, blind hole 12. The cylindrical boss of connecting link 4 is mated with blind hole 12 of minor body 6. Handle 8 is mated to connecting link 4 and is used to rotate connecting link 4. An o-ring 9 is positioned between the chamfered face 24 and chamfered flange 25.

[0020] When handle 8 is rotated clockwise, the chamfered face 24 and chamfered flange 25 press against o-ring 9, causing o-ring 9 to expand outward and increase in diameter. When handle 8 is rotated counterclockwise, the chamfered face 24 and the chamfered face 25 move apart and o-ring 9 contracts and reduces in diameter. The diameter of o-ring 9 can be increased or decreased by rotating handle 8 clockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.

[0021] FIG. 4. shows stopper 1 with the o-ring seal 9 in the expanded position.

[0022] FIG. 5. shows stopper 1 with the o-ring seal 9 in the contracted position.

[0023] Referring back to FIG. 3., to seal a bottle, place the stopper 1 inside the bottle 7. Rotate handle 8 in a clockwise direction while the bottle 7 and main body 2 remaining stationary, the o-ring 9 expands and compresses against the inner walls 5 of the bottle 7. The bottle is now sealed.

[0024] The stopper 1 is capable of sealing bottles whose contents are under pressure, including champagne and carbonated liquids, as well as non-pressurized bottles with wine, mineral water, and other contents.

[0025] The quality of the seal is not affected by eccentricity in the bottleneck. The o-ring 9 deforms more at some radial positions and less at others, adapting to the eccentricities of the bottleneck and providing a good seal.

[0026] The stopper 1 provides a good seal for a large range of bottle diameters and allows the user to expand the o-ring seal 9 more or less depending on the diameter of the bottleneck 7.

[0027] The o-ring seal 9 may be removed and replaced. Expand the o-ring seal 9 and push the o-ring seal 9 off minor body 6. A new o-ring seal 9 may be added by pushing an o-ring seal 9 over minor body 6.

[0028] The invention may be subject to changes and improvements, or adaptations for particular uses. For example, changes may be made in the size, shape, materials and proportion of the elements, without altering the way in which the stopper works.

[0029] Inasmuch as the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative of only one form of the invention, whose scope is to be measured by the following claims.

Claims

1. A stopper comprising:

(a) a main body with a chamfered, bottom face of round cross-section, a concentric, internally threaded through hole and a concentric, blind hole, and

(b) a minor body with a chamfered flange and a concentric boss, said boss has a concentric, blind hole, and

(c) a rigid, connecting link features external threads that are mated with said concentric, internally threaded hole in said main body, the lower portion of said rigid, connecting link features a cylindrical boss that is connected with said concentric, blind hole of said minor body, and

(d) a handle is attached to upper portion of said rigid connecting link, and

(e) an o-ring is positioned between said chamfered bottom face of said main body and said chamfered flange of said minor body, said concentric boss of said minor body extends through the center of said o-ring,

(f) whereby said stopper is placed inside the bottle and said handle is rotated while said main body remains stationary thereupon causing said chamfered, bottom face of said main body and said chamfered flange of said minor body to move together and force said o-ring to expand and press against inner surfaces of said bottle, sealing said bottle.