Stopper for bottles and similar containers

Abstract

A stopper for containers with a neck. The stopper includes a resilient and deformable tubular cylindrical assembly (20) that partially receives a pin assembly (70) through one end and a plug assembly (100) through the other end. The tubular cylindrical assembly (20) includes a central through opening (21) where the pin assembly (70) and the plug assembly (100) mate urging closer together as pin assembly (70) is rotated. The frustroconical distal termination of the plug assembly (100) pushes the end (22) of the tubular cylindrical assembly (20) towards the internal surface of the container neck achieving the sealing engagement that protects the contents of the container.

Description

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stopper for bottles, and more particularly, to a stopper that is reusable.

2. Other Related Applications

The present application is a continuation application of pending of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/296,484 filed on Nov. 22, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The parent application Ser. No. (10/296,484) was filed as a national phase application in US for PCT/ES01/00181 filed on May 10, 2001, which in turn claimed priority of Spanish patent application serial No. P 200001355 filed on May 29, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 2,171,350.

3. Description of the Related Art

Several stoppers for bottles have been developed in the past. None of them, however, includes a combination of a tubular cylindrical assembly with a pin assembly and a plug assembly. The tubular cylindrical assembly has a central through opening that partially receives the pin assembly and the plug assembly in mating cooperative engagement. The plug assembly has a discoidal head. A user rotates the pin assembly causing the plug assembly to advance towards the discoidal head with its frustroconical end pushing radically outwardly the internal wall of the central through opening against the interior surface of the container's neck sealing the interior of the container.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 605,125 issued to Nutt on Jun. 7, 1898 for a stopper. Nutt's patented invention includes a device (A) being a rubber stopper that receives expanding device (B). However, in Nutt's patent, soft-rubber stopper “A” is inserted inside the neck and comes in contact with the internal surface of the container's neck. This requires that the dimension for stopper “A” cooperate with the inner diameter of the neck. Spring-jaws 7 expand outwardly and apply pressure on contact points on the internal surface of stopper A. That is the manner in which sealing is achieved. In the present invention, the lower end 22 is deformed to achieve the sealing action in a more effective way. In Nutt, even if stopper “A” is soft-rubber, the pressure applied by spring-jaws 7 is not peripherally uniform and the elasticity of the soft-rubber needs to be fought adjacent to the bottom mass (marked as C by the applicant). In contrast with the invention where the present invention deforms more easily and effectively the lower end 22 to achieve uniform sealing action.

Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 1,307,755 issued on Jun. 24, 1919 for a plug for liquid containers. Ross' patented invention is a plug for liquid containers that discloses the use of wedge member 2 of truncoconical shape that internally receives screw 4. Member 2 co-acts with main portion 10 as the former advances when screw 4 is rotated. Ross requires the use of sleeve 6 which co-acts with the edge that defines hole “B.” Wedge member 2 does not deform main portion 10 to obtain the sealing action against the hole “B” edged. Rather, it merely tightens the engagement of main portion 10. Furthermore, in Ross there may be leakage through the space between wedge member 2 and sleeve 6. The present invention, on the other hand, has a peripheral uniform seal around the internal surface of the neck.

Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a stopper for bottles that uniformly seal bottles.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stopper for bottles that is easy to manipulate.

Another object is to provide a stopper that seals a bottle minimizing the amount of air trapped when containing a liquid.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stopper for bottles that is reusable.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a cross-sectional exploded view of one of the preferred embodiments for the stopper object of the present application. The bottle or container is partially represented.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional front elevational view of another of the preferred embodiments for the stopper object of the present application internally mounted to the neck of a bottle or container (partially represented).

FIGS. 3A; 3B; 3C; 3D and 3E illustrate a progression of the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 as it is mounted to the neck of a bottle or container (partially represented).

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 1, it can be observed that it is used with containers C having neck 10. Stopper 1 subject of the present application includes tubular cylindrical assembly 20, pin assembly 70 and plug assembly 100. Basically, cylindrical assembly 20 is partially and snuggly received within neck 10. Assembly 20 includes a central through opening 21 that partially receives assemblies 70 and 100 in mating cooperative engagement. A user rotates assembly 70 causing assembly 100 to advance (assembly 20 is functionally held in place within neck 10) towards peripheral flange 76 with frustroconical end 108 pushing the internal wall of lower end 22 against the interior surface of neck 10 sealing the interior of the container C.

One of the preferred embodiments is shown in FIG. 1. Tubular cylindrical assembly 20 is made out of a deformable and resilient material, such as rubber or equivalent. Cylindrical assembly 20 has an elongated tubular shape with elongated body 25 and upper and lower ends 26 and 22, respectively. The diameter of elongated body 25 is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the neck of a bottle to achieve a snug fit that resists rotation of assembly 20. At end 26 of assembly 20, peripheral flange 23 is formed with underside 24. Peripheral flange 23 extends beyond the internal diameter of neck 10 with underside 24. Peripheral flange 23 keeps a portion of assembly 20 outside neck 10. Central through opening 21 runs from end 26 to end 22. End 22 is positioned in proximity to the internal surface of neck 10 with a relatively small separation that is traveled when frustroconical end 108 pushes end 22 uniformly outwardly. It is to be noted that the sealing takes place at the lower-most area of neck 10, which minimizes the amount of air trapped in container C. This is a desirable feature for some contents, such as wine.

Pin assembly 70 is made out of a rigid material and includes peripheral flange 76 at end 73 with threaded shank 72 extending perpendicularly and centrally therefrom and ending with distal end 74. Optionally, flange 76 can be knurled. Peripheral flange 76 has substantially the same diameter as the diameter of peripheral flange 23, in the peripheral embodiment.

Plug assembly 100 is made out of a rigid material and has an elongated shape with frustroconical end 108 including distal broader termination 102. End 104 has a central opening 106 connected to internal adjacent central threaded cavity 110. Central threaded cavity 110 extends axially within plug assembly 100 a predetermined distance from end 104. Threaded cavity 110 cooperatively and matingly receives threaded shank 72. Central through opening 21 partially receives assemblies 70 and 100.

Another embodiment for the present invention 1′ is shown in FIG. 2 and the present invention is represented mounted inside neck 10. Axially extending threaded cavity 110′ is formed in pin assembly 70 and threaded portion 72′ is formed on plug assembly 100. Threaded portion 72′ is matingly and cooperatively received by threaded cavity 110′.

A progression for mounting pressure stopper 1′ is represented in FIGS. 3A; 3B; 3C; 3D and 3E. In FIG. 3A, pin assembly 70 is inserted through central opening 21 from upper end 26. Plug assembly 100 is also inserted through central opening 21 from lower end 22 and threaded cavity 110′ of tubular cylindrical assembly 20 partially receives threaded shank 72′ of plug assembly 100. In FIG. 3B, the partially assembled stopper 1‘is inserted through bottle’s neck 10 (partially represented) until underside 24 co-acts with upper end 11 of bottle's neck 10. In FIG. 3C, the user pulls out pin assembly 70 while he/she holds cylindrical assembly 20 in place. End 108 of plug assembly 100 in turn is urged against end 22, so that cylindrical tubular assembly 20 houses shank 72′ of plug assembly 100 and pin assembly 70. In FIG. 3D, pin assembly 70 is rotated and caused to travel axially housing shank 72′ within central threaded cavity 110′ toward end 108 thereby broader termination 102 to deform radially outwardly end 22 resulting in a sealed engagement against the internal surface of neck 10, as seen in FIG. 3E.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A bottle stopper, comprising:

A) a deformable and resilient tubular cylindrical member having an elongated body with first and second ends with a central through opening, said first end including a first peripheral flange, and the diameter of said elongated body being substantially the same as the diameter of the internal surface of a bottle neck;

B) a pin assembly having third and fourth ends, said third end including a second peripheral flange having substantially the same diameter as the diameter of said first peripheral flange and further including a threaded portion adjacent to said fourth end and extending a first predetermined distance; and

C) an elongated plug assembly having fifth and sixth ends, said fifth end having a frustroconical shape with the broader end defining the distal termination of said fifth end and said sixth end including an opening with an adjacent central threaded cavity that extends axially within said plug assembly a second predetermined distance from said sixth end, said threaded central threaded cavity cooperatively receives said threaded portion within said central through opening and said fifth end is urged against said second end so that said cylindrical tubular member houses said threaded portion and said plug assembly being partially inserted within said neck and said threaded portion is rotated and caused to travel axially within said central threaded cavity toward said fifth end thereby causing said frustroconical shaped fifth end to deform radially outwardly said second end resulting in a sealed engagement against said internal surface.

6. The stopper set forth in claim 5 wherein said tubular cylindrical member is made out of a soft rubber material.

7. A bottle stopper, comprising:

A) a deformable and resilient tubular cylindrical member having an elongated body with first and second ends with a central through opening, said first end including a first peripheral flange, and the diameter of said elongated body being substantially the same as the diameter of the internal surface of a bottle neck;

B) a pin assembly having third and fourth ends, said third end including a second peripheral flange having substantially the same diameter of said first peripheral flange and said fourth end including an opening with an adjacent central threaded cavity that extends axially within said pin assembly a predetermined distance from said fourth end; and

C) an elongated plug assembly having fifth and sixth ends, said fifth end having a frustroconical shape with the broader end defining the distal termination of said fifth end and said elongated plug assembly having an external threaded portion adjacent to said sixth end and extending a first predetermined distance matingly receivable within said threaded cavity so that said cylindrical tubular member houses said threaded portion and said plug assembly being partially inserted within said neck, said pin assembly is rotated causing said plug assembly to travel axially within said threaded cavity toward said second peripheral flange thereby causing said frustroconical shaped fifth end to deform said second end resulting in a sealed engagement against said internal surface.

8. The stopper set forth in claim 7 wherein said tubular cylindrical member is made out of a soft rubber material.