Bottle cap

Abstract

A bottle cap formed throughout of a single piece of readily deformable, highly stretchable resilient material such as LSR; and comprised of a cap member having a cavity therein with a mouth and an interior surface adapted to receive the neck of a wine bottle therewithin and having a readily deformable resilient closing bead at its mouth for positively engaging the neck of the bottle and securing the cap member thereon. A pair of rings formed integrally with the cap member are carried by opposite exterior sides of the cap member and extend outwardly therefrom, one of said rings being of a larger interior diameter than the other and which is slightly less than the exterior diameter of the exterior lip found on most, if not all, wine bottles. The larger ring is connected to the outer edge of the cap member by a hinge panel which, in its free form, extends horizontally outwardly from the bead at the lower end of the cap and supports the ring and an upstanding stabilizer in the form of a flap. The opposite ring consists of a loop having ends which are spacedly connected to the bead at the lower end of the cap member and is useful in applying the cap member to a bottle and in removing same therefrom, when desired.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Various bottle caps have been known and utilized widely for many years in various forms and have been of many different designs, in an effort to serve different specific purposes. As a consequence, scores of patents have been obtained, and a huge number of terms have been utilized in seeking to define their novelty. Terms such as beads, pull tabs, latch rings, deformable teeth, inside seals, outside seals, slots, flanges, rims, clamps, coating agents, stoppers, seals, gossets, and tear strips are only a few of such terms which have been utilized in seeking to describe the construction and operation of the devices patented in scores of patents which have issued on such devices.

[0002] To the best of our knowledge, however, no one has suggested or designed a reusable bottle cap which includes integral bottle-neck engaging means and inherent elastic means for facilitating application thereof to a bottle-neck and an integral stabilizer for application of the cap member to a bottle-neck. Also, no one has conceived of a reusable bottle cap which includes a pair of rings or tabs extending outwardly at opposite sides of the cap to facilitate the successful application of the bottle cap to a bottle, in order to seal the bottle, or to remove the bottle cap from a sealed bottle. Thus, a need exists for a simple and inexpensive bottle cap which enables the user to apply and remove the bottle cap, and which successfully self-seals in an effective manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Our invention constitutes a definite improvement in the manufacture and performance of bottle caps, especially those previously known and used by wine drinkers and purveyors. It provides a self-sealing cap which is effective in sealing liquids within a bottle, particularly wines. Since it can be manufactured of solely liquid silicone rubber, it simplifies the manufacturing procedures and limits the number of said procedures markedly, as well as the costs thereof.

[0004] This bottle cap is self-sealing and permits storage of open bottles of wine on their sides, without leakage or loss. It remains attached to the neck of the wine bottle while wine is being poured therefrom, without need for attention. It transfers no color or flavor to the wine or other drinkable liquids while the liquids are stored therein. It is self-adjusting to bottle-necks of different diameters and automatically provides a drip-recovering edge during the wine-pouring activities. In addition, it is relatively inexpensive to be manufactured.

[0005] Our invention is relatively simple in construction and can be manufactured in a single injection molding procedure, since the entire member is made of the same material (LSR) which has an elongation or stretchability factor of at least 200%. As shown, it is comprised of a cap member which is of generally cylindrical shape with an open mouth defined by an annular bead at its lower end, and a closed ceiling, and is designed to self-seal when applied to the top of an open wine bottle-neck. The cap member has opposite sides, to one of which a relatively large ring member is secured in spaced relation, by a flat, relatively wide hinge member. A thin upright stabilizer in the form of an outwardly curved thin sheet is mounted upon the upper surface of that ring member and extends upwardly therefrom, opposite the cap member.

[0006] At the opposite side of the cap member, a tab member in the form of a somewhat smaller ring is secured to the bead at two circumferentially spaced locations which enables the user to manipulate the mouth of the bead as required to properly address the open mouth of the wine bottle-neck. The spaced locations of attachment to the bead facilitates such manipulation, so that during application, the mouth of the cap member can be maintained in true alignment with the mouth of the wine bottle.

[0007] It should be noted that the lower surfaces of the above two rings and that of the bead all extend in the same general plane.

[0008] It is an object of our invention to provide a relatively more effective bottle cap than has heretofore been known.

[0009] It is also an object of our invention to provide a bottle cap which is relatively less expensive but more satisfactory when all aspects of comparison are considered.

[0010] A further object is to provide a satisfactory bottle cap which is self-sealing.

[0011] Another object is to provide a bottle cap which will automatically catch wine drops which frequently drip from the neck of a wine bottle after wine has been poured therefrom.

[0012] Another object is to provide a bottle cap which is self-adjustable to bottle-necks of various diameters.

[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention, taken from above;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof,

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof,

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an open wine bottle with one of our bottle caps applied thereto preparatory to sealing same;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the bottle-neck receiving ring of one of our bottle caps in its free form;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a wine bottle-neck and the bottle-neck receiving ring of one of our bottle caps mounted thereon; and

[0020] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of one of our bottle caps, taken along the longitudinal center thereof

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] As shown in the drawings, our invention includes a reusable, plastic, self-sealing bottle cap which is designed to improve the performance of bottle caps, especially for wine bottles and to minimize the cost of manufacture thereof. Our bottle cap is designed to self-seal in a highly effective manner and to provide advantages over all bottle caps previously known. To begin with, we have found a self-sealing bottle cap which will perform in a highly improved manner and can be manufactured at a reduced cost. It is a single piece elongated item which can be injection molded in a singled-step procedure of liquid silicone rubber (LSR), which is highly stretchable and imperious to liquids, such as wine. It seals in a highly satisfactory manner and attaches directly to the bottle at all times, irrespective of whether it is in bottle-sealing position or removed therefrom to dispense wine from the bottle.

[0022] As shown, our improved bottle cap is comprised of a centrally disposed cap member 10 which, in its free form, is generally cylindrical in shape, having a closed ceiling 11 at its upper end and an open mouth 12 at its lower end. It has a vertical sidewall 13 and opposite vertical sides 13a and 13b which terminate at the lower end of the cap member in an annular bead 14.

[0023] This bead 14, as best shown in the vertical sectional view of the drawings, has larger thickness dimensions than the thickness of the sidewall 13.

[0024] At the opposite side 13b of the cap member 10 a thin, flat, relatively broad hinge member 15 is connected to the bead 14 and extends radially outwardly therefrom as best shown in the vertical sectional view of FIG. 7. The outer end 15b of the hinge member 15 is connected directly to a relatively large ring member 16 which has an internal diameter which is slightly smaller than the exterior diameter of a conventional wine bottle-neck.

[0025] The ring member 16 is designed to be applied to the neck of a wine bottle so as to encircle same shortly below the lip which is carried by most, in not all wine bottles, at a short distance below the wine bottle's mouth. It has a unique cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIG. 7, the vertical sectional view of the drawings. It's lower surface 17, in its free form extends horizontally and is planar with the bottom surface 15a of the hinge 15 and of the bead 14. The upper surface 18 of the ring 16 also extends horizontally in its free form, and thus extends parallel with the lower surface 17.

[0026] The lower and outer exterior circumferential surface 19 of the ring 16 extends vertically while the inner surface 20 extends at 75 degrees off horizontal. The axially longer circumferential surface 21 of the ring 16 extends at an angle which is 50 degrees off vertical and extends between the top horizontal surface 18 and the vertical surface 19. As described hereinafter, the peculiar cross-sectional shape of the larger ring 16 plays an important part in providing a drip-catching function in conjunction with wine-serving activities. Mounted upon the upper horizontal surface 18 of the ring 16 is an upstanding stabilizer 22 in the form of a flap or panel which is concaved to correspond with the curvature of the wine bottle and ring 16, and is adapted to conform to the exterior shape of the neck of a wine bottle and which when gripped by the index finger of the user when the ring 16 is in encircling relation to the bottle-neck, will stabilize the hinge 15 and the cap member 10.

[0027] At the opposite side 13a of the cap member 10, a second ring member 23 extends outwardly from the bead 14 and is secured, as shown, at spaced locations along the circumference of that bead. This ring member 23, like ring member 16 has a flat under-surface 24 which extends in the same plane as the lower flat surface 14a of the bead 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the ring 23 utilizes the exterior surface of a portion of bead 14 to complete the ring. The two points of connection thereof to the bead 14 are each spaced an equal distance from the longitudinal center-line of the entire assembly, as shown in FIG. 2, which is a top plan view thereof.

[0028] The smaller ring 23 has a greater thickness than that of the sidewall 13 of the cap member 10 and is connected directly to the bead 14 at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the integrally formed assembly, which includes the cap member 10 and its bead 14, hinge 15, larger ring 16 and smaller ring 23. It is somewhat less in its inner diameter than the exterior diameter of the average wine bottle neck.

[0029] The ring 23 is an improved form of a tab because of its construction and spaced points of attachment to the bead 14 adjacent the mouth of the cap member 10 at two circumferentially spaced locations, thereby enabling the user to manipulate spaced portions of the bead 14 in the event the area surrounding one point of attachment of the ring 23 progresses ahead of the other, or to one side of the mouth of the wine bottle, as sometimes occurs in the application of a cap member 10 to a wine bottle to be closed. If the user carelessly fails to align the cap member directly opposite the centerline of the neck of the wine bottle, the bead 14 may tend to slip somewhat sidewise as it is applied to the open-mouth bottle. In that event, the advantage of the connection of the outermost portions of the ring 23 to the bead 14 at locations disposed at each side of said centerline come into play, for the user can readily draw the cap member 10 and bead member 14 back into alignment with the mouth of the bottle by increasing the extent of draw applied to the ring 23 at that side of the ring. In this manner, the application of the cap member 10 to the bottle-neck may be facilitated, for then the bead 14 of cap member 10 will readily slip downwardly over the lip of the bottle into sealing position.

[0030] As shown the smaller ring 23 has a horizontal under-surface 24 and a horizontal upper surface 25. Its radial thickness is 0.100″. As shown in the drawings, the ring 23 is generally horseshoe-shaped and measures roughly 0.600″-0.700″ between its points of juncture with the bead 14. Each of its radially spaced surfaces 26 and 27 extend vertically. The sidewall 13 and ceiling 11 of the cap member 10 are each formed of LSR and are 0.020″ thick. The annular bead 14 has an internal diameter of approximately 0.900″ and extends along and below the lower end of the sidewall 13. As shown, the bead 14 has a diameter which extends inwardly of the inner surface 13c of the sidewall 13 only a distance adequate to securely fasten the cap member 10 to the neck of a wine bottle of conventional diameter. As shown, the outermost surface 14b of the bead 14 is vertical except where the hinge member 15 is connected thereto. The lowest surface 14a of the bead 14 is a continuation of the lowest surfaces of the smaller ring 23, the hinge member 15 and the larger ring 16, since each of said surfaces extend in the same plane when in their free form.

[0031] The exterior circumferential surface 14b of the bead 14, in its free form, extends vertically upwardly throughout its circumferential length except for the area at which the hinge member 15 is attached thereto. The upper surface of the bead 14 is connected throughout its circumferential length to the lower annular edge of the sidewall 13, The inner surface 14c of the bead, which defines the interior diameter of the bead 14, is arcuate in shape and has a radius approximating 0.030″.

[0032] The hinge member 15 emanates from the exterior surface 14b at one side of the bead 14, as shown in the drawings. As shown in the plan view and the vertical sectional view, it is comprised of a flat strip of the LSR material extending from the exterior surface 14b of bead 14 to the larger ring 16. The under-surface 15a of the hinge extends co-planar with the under surfaces of the cap member 10 and surface 24 of smaller ring 23. The outer end of the hinge member 15 is connected directly to the larger ring 16 and supports same. The hinge member is flat and relatively thin and 0.700″ wide, as best shown in the plan view of the drawings. Its outer end 15b is arcuate in shape and is connected directly to the outer circumferential portions 16a of the larger ring 16, as a continuation of the LSR molding.

[0033] The ring member 16 has a diameter slightly greater than that of the cap member 10. It has an internal diameter of 1.050″ and an external diameter of 1.150″. Its under-surface 17 is co-planar with the undersurfaces of the hinge member 15, the bead 14 and ring 23. Its circumferential surface is divided between a lower vertical circumferential surface 19 and an upper circumferential surface 21, the latter of which slopes at a 50 degree angle to the surface 19. Its top surface 18 extends horizontally. Its inner circumferential surface 20 extends at an angle of 75 degrees off horizontal. It is surface 18 which modifies and converts into the drip collector, as described hereinafter.

[0034] As shown, the inner diameter of the bead 14 is slightly less than that of the inner surface 13c of bottle cap 10. Its inner diameter is also slightly less than the exterior diameter of the lip 28 of a conventional wine bottle. As a consequence, the bead 14 can be readily stretched so as to slip over the open end of a wine bottle and the lip thereof, and then tighten over the portions of the wine bottle-neck immediately below its lip and seal therearound. As shown, the bead 14 is 0.900″ in its free form internal diameter.

[0035] The preferred range of hardness of the LSR material from which our improved bottle cap is manufactured is about 40-60 Shore A. We prefer to utilize LSR having a Shore A value of 50. The outer range of LSR suitable for use in the manufacture of our improved bottle cap is 5-80 Shore A. The inner diameter of the bottle cap 10 is slightly less than the exterior diameter of the bottle neck of a conventional wine bottle immediately below the lip of the bottle neck.

[0036] The radius of the arcuate portions of the ring 23 is 0.300″. The distance from the centerline of the bottle cap 10 and the outer surface of ring 23, taken along the longitudinal centerline of the entire molding as disclosed herein is 1.000″. The vertical thickness of the hinge 15 is 0.040″. The overall length of the entire molded assembly is 2.995″. The radial thickness of the ring 16 is 0.100″ and the diameter of its interior is 1.050″.

[0037] As shown in the drawings, the claimed bottle cap includes an upstanding stabilizer 22 which is mounted upon the upper surface 15c of hinge 15 at the outer end of the latter. It is curved in its horizontal sectional form to conform with the curvature of the inner surface 16a of ring 16 and extends upwardly 0.50″.

[0038] The above bottle cap is unique in both structure and operation. The two rings at opposite sides of the cap member supplement each other. To utilize same, the ring 16 is applied to the mouth area of a wine bottle which may or may not have been previously opened, with the mouth 12 of the bottle cap 10 facing upwardly. In doing so, the depending stabilizer 22 conforms to and bears against the neck of the bottle and the thin cap member 10 with its mouth facing upwardly; is ready for capping the wine bottle when same is desired.

[0039] Once the bottle of wine has been opened, our bottle cap 10 remains attached at all times to the bottle-neck, as described above. At the termination or interruption of the wine-pouring activities, it is a simple procedure to move the bottle cap 10 into closing position over the open wine bottle-neck. It can be accomplished by merely grasping the wine bottle neck, with the index finger of one hand, around the stabilizer 22 and wine bottle-neck, and grasping the other ring 23 with the fingers of the other hand, and bringing the mouth of the cap member 10 into closing position over the mouth of the wine bottle-neck, until the bead 14 passes downwardly over and beyond the lip 28 of the bottle-neck 29, which is the position in which the bead 14 of the bottle cap member 10 effectively seals the bottle-neck 29. Thereafter, if deemed desirable, the wine may be stored in the sealed bottle, on its side, indefinitely and without loss of wine.

[0040] In the event that the user does not draw our bottle cap directly over the mouth of the bottle-neck 29, it can be readily re-aligned by the user applying a greater pull upon the side of the ring 23 which has failed to draw the bead of the bottle cap directly over the open bottle neck. In this manner, the widely spaced single points of attachment of the ring 23 to the bead 14 greatly facilitates the correct alignment of the mouth of the bottle cap 10 with the mouth of the bottle neck 29. From this position, the bottle cap 10 can readily be moved downwardly into sealing position below the lip 28.

[0041] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate how the ring 16 functions to perform the drip collection referred to hereinabove. FIG. 5 shows the cross-sectional shape of the ring 16 in its inverted free form prior to its application to the bottle-neck of a wine bottle. As shown in FIG. 7, the opening in bottom surface 17 is of a larger diameter than the opening in upper surface 18. When the ring 16 is applied to a wine bottle in inverted condition, as shown in FIG. 6, the narrower opening in inverted upper surface 18 is stretched to a greater extent than the larger opening in inverted lower surface 17, which distorts the cross-sectional shape of ring 16 and in doing so, causes the outer edge 30 of the inverted lower surface 17 to swing upwardly toward the mouth of the bottle, thereby creating a drip-catching groove 31 at the lower edge of the lip 28 of the wine bottle. This obviates the well-known drip problem which waiters have in pouring wine for their customers.

[0042] Wherever herein we utilize the term “plastic,” that term is being utilized in its descriptive sense only.

[0043] It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention which comprises the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A reusable, plastic, self-sealing, bottle cap comprising:

(a) a centrally disposed cap member having an inner surface, a bottle-neck receiving cavity and mouth, and opposite sides;

(b) said cap member including a deformable, resilient, annular bead carried thereby and extending inwardly therefrom adjacent said mouth in bottle-neck-engaging position;

(c) a pair of ring members, each of which is connected to a different opposite side of said cap member, and extends outwardly therefrom in different directions to thereby facilitate the application of said cap member to, and the removal from, a bottle-neck in sealing and non-sealing relation, respectively;

(d) each of said ring members, bead and cap member being integral and comprised of a highly-elastic material.

2. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, and a hinge member carried by said bead and extending between said bead and one of said ring members in supporting relation to said cap member.

3. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein said bead and said ring members extend, in their free form, in the same generally horizontal plane.

4. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein said pair of ring members and said bead, in their free form, extend in the same generally horizontal plane and said cap member extends upwardly from said bead.

5. The self-sealing bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein one of said ring members is constructed and arranged to receive the neck of a wine bottle therethrough and thereby mount said cap member upon the neck adjacent the mouth of the wine bottle for mouth-closing application thereto.

6. The self-sealing bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein one of said ring members is connected to one side of said cap member and arranged to receive the neck of a wine bottle therethrough and thereby mount said cap member upon that neck adjacent the mouth of the wine bottle for mouth-closing application thereto, and the other of said ring members is connected to the opposite side of said cap member to facilitate the closing application of the cap member to the mouth of the bottle.

7. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, and a stabilizer carried by one of said ring members and extending in its free form upwardly away therefrom.

8. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein one of said ring members is constructed and arranged to engage a wine bottle neck in supported relation, and a hinge member extending radially outwardly from said bead in supporting relation to said wine bottle neck-engaging ring member.

9. The bottle cap defined in claim 1, wherein one of said ring members is positioned and connected to said bead to constitute a tab for facilitating the closing application of said cap member to the neck of a wine bottle and the removal therefrom.

10. A reusable, all-plastic, self-sealing bottle cap comprising:

(a) a cap member comprised throughout of thin, highly-elastic material and having opposite sides, a bottle-neck receiving cavity, and a mouth;

(b) a ring member integral with said cap member and of the same material as said cap member;

(c) said ring member carrying said cap member and extending outwardly therefrom;

(d) said ring member being constructed to receive the neck of a bottle of wine therewithin in tight-fitting supported relation; and

(e) a tab member connected to said cap member and extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate the closing of such a bottle with said cap member.

11. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said tab member is connected to said cap member at two separate circumferentially spaced locations thereon.

12. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, and a hinge member carried by said ring member and extending between said cap member and said ring member.

13. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said tab member is connected to said cap member at two separate circumferentially spaced locations thereon, and a hinge member carried by said ring member and extending between said cap member and said ring member.

14. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, and a stabilizer carried by said ring member and being integral with said cap member and said ring member and extending away from the general plane of said ring member.

15. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said ring member and said tab member extend in the same general plane.

16. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said ring member is connected to said cap member by a hinge member extending therebetween.

17. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein a flat, thin hinge member extends between said ring member and said cap member.

18. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said cap member includes a bead at its lower end and said tab member is connected directly to said bead at spaced locations.

19. The bottle cap defined in claim 10, wherein said cap member includes a bead at its lower end and said tab member is connected directly to said bead at locations spaced circumferentially of said bead.

20. A reusable, all-plastic, self-sealing bottle cap comprising:

(a) a cap member comprised throughout of thin, highly-elastic material and having opposite sides;

(b) a pair of spaced ring members being integral with said cap member and of the same material as said cap member;

(c) each of said ring members being carried by said cap member and extending outwardly from one of said opposite sides;

(d) one of said ring members being constructed and arranged to be applied to the neck of a bottle in supporting relation to said cap member; and

(e) the other of said ring members being positioned relative to said cap member to facilitate the application of said cap member to bottle-closing position.

21. A reusable, all-plastic, self-sealing bottle cap comprising:

(a) a bottle cap member comprised throughout of thin, highly elastic material;

(b) a ring member integral with said bottle cap member and of the same material as said bottle cap member;

(c) said ring member being carried by said bottle cap member and extending outwardly therefrom;

(d) said ring member being adapted to be applied to the neck of a bottle in bottle-neck encircling relation to thereby support said bottle cap member upon the neck of a bottle in position to be swung over the mouth of such a bottle and moved downwardly thereover into bottle-closing position; and

(e) a stabilizer member integral with said bottle cap member said ring member and carried by said ring member and extending downwardly therefrom, when said ring member is applied to the neck of a bottle, into stabilizing position for facilitating the application of said bottle cap member to the mouth of a bottle into bottle-closing position.