Stopper particularly for a bottle for containing wine

Abstract

A stopper particularly for a bottle for containing wine comprising a body which can be associated within or at the open end of the neck of the bottle so as to close it; at least one block is associated axially and internally with the body and is made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous, its ends being connected, directly or by means of at least one duct, to the inside and the outside of the bottle.

Description

The present invention relates to a stopper particularly for a bottle suitable for containing wine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, bottles typically made of glass are used particularly to preserve and transport wine and are closed with stoppers.

A first known type of stopper consists of a small cylinder, obtained from a single piece of cork, which is slightly larger in diameter than the neck of the bottle, so that it can be inserted therein following radial compression.

Once it has been thus inserted in the open end of the neck of the bottle, the cylinder tends to expand radially, adhering to the internal surface of the bottle and accordingly closing it.

Due to the material of which it is made, the cylinder is crossed by small irregularly-shaped cavities, which connect the inside of the bottle to the outside and allow a minimal exchange of air; this is essential in particular for wines that must undergo an aging process in a bottle.

The cavities or natural channels that pass through the cork further form, in certain portions, receptacles for a substance, known as suberin, which has antibacterial properties which limit the formation of bacteria, molds or fungi, which might cause deterioration of the wine.

These known types of stopper, obtained from a single piece of cork, have a drawback: the characteristics of air-permeability of the stopper depend directly on the quality of the cork, which being a natural element is subject to many environmental factors that are difficult to control; in particular, the characteristics of the cork depend on the location and on the level of growth attained by the plant, on the climate conditions in which it has grown, on any fungi, molds or bacteria that might have attacked it, and on the detergents used to wash the cork to make it adapted for contact with wine.

Therefore, the characteristics of these known types of stopper cannot be determined easily beforehand, with the consequent risk of not ensuring perfect preservation of the wine and/or the uniformity of the aging process of a same wine contained in several bottles closed by different stoppers.

Further, the enormous number of bottles of wine produced each year has caused a drastic reduction in the quantity of cork available, in particular of pieces of cork large enough to provide the stoppers described earlier.

Stoppers are also known which are constituted by a small cylinder obtained from a plurality of small cork cylinders which have a same radius and a reduced height and are arranged one above the other and fixed axially to each other by means of a suitable adhesive; in this manner, it is possible to obtain stoppers starting from cork pieces which are smaller and are therefore available in larger quantities.

These known types of stopper, however, have the drawback that their permeability to air is extremely reduced by the presence of the adhesive, which can also cause the deterioration of the wine contained in the bottle.

In order to be able to use even small cork fragments, or to reuse pieces of cork stoppers that have already been used, for the production of stoppers, stoppers are known which are constituted by a small cylinder obtained by pressing and monolithically coupling small cork pieces by means of appropriate adhesives.

However, even these known types of stopper have, due to the presence of the adhesive, a reduced air permeability, and there is also the risk that the adhesive agent might cause deterioration of the wine.

In an attempt to overcome the problem of the limited availability of cork, it is known to provide stoppers constituted by a small cylinder made of an elastically deformable plastic material, which is generally silicone-based and is inserted, after radial compression, in the open end of the neck of the bottle to be closed; however, said known types of stopper are completely airtight and therefore cannot be used for wines that need to age in the bottle.

Again as an alternative to cork stoppers, stoppers are also in use which are made of rigid or semirigid plastics, glass, or ceramics and comprise a substantially cylindrical or frustum-shaped stem, from the lateral surface of which annular ribs protrude in some cases; the stem is inserted, optionally with the interposition of suitable gaskets, in the open end of the neck of a bottle, so as to rigidly couple by friction to the internal surface of the neck and close the bottle.

However, even these known types of stopper have the drawback that they are completely airtight and do not ensure protection of the wine against bacteria, molds or fungi.

As a partial solution to these drawbacks, WO02/055397 discloses a stopper, particularly for wine bottles, which comprises a small cylinder made at least partially of synthetic material, such as for example a polyethylene resin with the addition of an expanding agent, which can be inserted by pressing in the neck of a bottle so as to close it; at least one tubular duct is formed within the cylinder and connects the inside of the bottle to the outside environment through at least one membrane, which is permeable to oxygen but impermeable to liquids and is arranged transversely with respect to the duct.

The membrane is constituted by a film made of an acrylic copolymer and is fixed to an appropriately provided substrate made for example of non-woven fabric.

Optionally, the membrane can be fixed inside a small cylindrical tube arranged coaxially with respect to the tubular duct.

Although this known embodiment allows to obtain a chosen exchange of the air between the outside environment and the wine, it provides no protection to the wine against the formation of molds, fungi or bacteria that might cause its deterioration.

Further, the membrane, made of synthetic material, over time may release chemical substances which might cause deterioration of the wine.

Further, the membrane, over time, can lose its characteristics of air-permeability and/or impermeability to liquids, with the consequent risk of causing deterioration of the wine and/or allowing its leakage from the bottle.

Moreover, if the bottle is inverted, the wine enters the duct formed within the cylinder, thus making contact with the membrane; such membrane, being very thin, may break under the pressure of the wine, causing the wine to leak from the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a stopper that allows to close in particular a bottle of wine, so as to prevent the leakage of said wine, at the same time ensuring a chosen exchange of air between the inside of the bottle and the outside environment.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a stopper which allows to close in particular a bottle of wine so as to reduce the formation of molds, fungi or bacteria.

Another object is to provide a stopper which can be obtained in a chosen quantity and has constant air-permeability characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to ensure that the wine does not leak from the bottle even if the bottle is inverted.

Another object is to provide a stopper which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a stopper particularly for a bottle for containing wine, which comprises a body which can be associated within or at the open end of the neck of said bottle so as to close it, characterized in that at least one block is associated axially and internally with said body and is made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous, its ends being connected, directly or by means of at least one duct, to the inside and the outside of said bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, taken along a diametrical plane, of the neck of a bottle to which the stopper is applied, and of the stopper according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 9 are views, similar to FIG. 1, of further embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 10 to 17 are various views of further embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the reference numeral 1 designates a stopper, particularly for a bottle 2, which comprises a substantially cylindrical body 3, which can be associated with an open end 4 of a neck 5 of the bottle 2 so as to close it.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the body 3 is constituted by a plurality of small cylinders 6, preferably made of cork, which have a same radius and approximately a same height and are arranged one on top of the other and joined together by means of a suitable adhesive.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the body 3 is instead constituted by a plurality of fragments 7, which are preferably made of cork and are suitably pressed and mutually joined by means of a suitable adhesive.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the body 3 is made of an elastically deformable plastic material, such as for example a silicone resin.

Preferably starting from the lower end face 8 of the body 3, which during use is directed toward the inside of the bottle 2, advantageously but not necessarily there is, at the central axis of the body 3, a cavity or receptacle 50, which is at most as high as the body 3.

At least one complementarily shaped block 9, made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous, is associated within the cavity or receptacle 50, which is advantageously approximately cylindrical.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cavity or receptacle 50 and the block 9 contained therein are not as high as the body 3 and are arranged so that a first end 10 of the block 9 is connected directly, during use, to the inside of the bottle 2.

Advantageously, a second end 11 of the block 9 is connected to at least one duct 12, which is preferably but not necessarily approximately cylindrical and is formed in the body 3 starting from its upper end face 13, which lies opposite the lower end face 8.

In another embodiment, the body 3 can be associated with the neck 5 of the bottle 2 by turning it through 180°, so that the block 9 is directly connected to the outside of the bottle 2 (environment).

As an alternative, the cavity or receptacle 50 and the block 9 contained therein may be as high as the body 3, so that the first and second ends of said block are connected directly respectively to the inside and the outside of the bottle 2; in this case, not shown in the accompanying figures, the cavity or receptacle 50, and therefore the block 9, are arranged in a position which is axial but axially offset with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the body 3, so as to allow the insertion, approximately centrally with respect to the upper end face 13, of the tip of a corkscrew which is adapted to extract the stopper 1 from the bottle 2.

Advantageously but not necessarily, the outer lateral surface of the block 9 is knurled, so as to improve its grip on the lateral surface of the cavity or receptacle 50 within which it is accommodated.

Advantageously, the block 9 can be obtained for example by sintering a material which has such characteristics as not to cause the wine to deteriorate, such as for example stainless steel, glass or ceramics.

Sintering entails the compression, in an appropriate mold, of a powder of the intended material, optionally with the addition of suitable additives, and then heating it to a temperature which is close to its melting point but such as not to change the shape of the particles; interspaces of appropriate sizes are thus formed among the various particles and allow the flow of air.

The dimensions of the interspaces depend on the type of material used, on the pressure with which the particles are compacted, and on the temperature to which they are subjected; by adjusting these factors appropriately, therefore, it is possible to obtain interspaces of chosen dimensions, such as to allow the flow of a chosen amount of air but at the same time prevent the passage of wine.

Advantageously, the powder to be sintered can be enriched with a selected percentage of powder of silver or of other materials having antibacterial characteristics, such as for example titanium oxide; this helps to prevent the formation of molds, fungi or bacteria, which might cause the wine to deteriorate.

Advantageously, in a chosen region of the block 9, the interspaces that are present among the various particles that constitute the sintered material can be filled with a bactericidal substance which does not cause the wine to deteriorate, such as for example suberin, which can be obtained from cork.

As an alternative, the block 9 can be provided for example by means of a solid metallic foam, which has a porous structure; it is therefore possible to predetermine the dimensions of the pores so that they can be crossed by the air but not by a liquid such as wine.

In this case also, in a chosen region of the block 9 the pores that are present therein can be filled with a bactericidal substance which does not cause the wine to deteriorate, such as for example suberin.

Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the lateral surface of the body 3 is compressed radially and then inserted in the open end 4 of the neck 5 of the bottle 2.

Once inserted in the neck 5, the body 3 tends to expand radially, adhering to the internal surface of the neck 5 and thus closing the bottle 2.

Air can pass through the body 3 and enter or exit from the bottle 2 through the duct 12 and the block 9; the flow-rate of the air that passes through the body 3 is determined by the dimensions of the interspaces or pores that are present in the block 9.

It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a stopper particularly for a bottle for containing wine having been provided which allows to close said bottle in order to prevent the outflow of the wine, at the same time ensuring the chosen exchange of air between the inside of the bottle and the outside environment.

The possibility to obtain a block which has interspaces or pores of chosen and predefined dimensions further allows to ensure the perfect preservation and/or aging of the wine.

Further, it is possible to achieve easily a chosen quantity of stoppers according to the invention having the chosen characteristics of air-permeability, so as to meet the requirement of closing the very large number of bottles produced each year.

It is also easy to produce a chosen number of stoppers according to the invention, all of which have substantially the same characteristics of air-permeability, so as to ensure, for example, uniformity of the aging process of a same wine contained in several bottles closed by said stoppers.

Further, the possibility to introduce a percentage of silver or other materials having antibacterial characteristics in the composition of the block helps to prevent the formation of molds, fungi or bacteria which might cause the wine to deteriorate.

Moreover, the possibility to impregnate a chosen region of the block with a bactericidal substance which does not cause wine deterioration further helps to reduce the formation of molds, fungi or bacteria.

Further, the block is very solid and therefore does not run the risk of breaking or separating under the weight of the wine which might press thereon if, for example, the bottle is inverted.

Finally, the production costs of the stopper according to the invention remain low, since the stopper is made of components that are easy to produce and/or assemble.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Thus, for example, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a stopper 101 is shown, particularly for a bottle 102, which comprises a body 103 which is substantially T-shaped and has a head 114 which is substantially cylindrical and from which a stem 115 protrudes which can be inserted in the open end 104 of the neck 105 of the bottle 102.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the body 103 is made of a rigid or semirigid plastic material; annular ridges 116 protrude from the lateral surface of the stem 115, which is likewise substantially cylindrical, and are adapted to adhere by pressure to the internal surface of the neck 105 of the bottle 102.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the body 103 is advantageously made of glass, ceramics or rigid plastic material, and has a substantially frustum-shaped stem 115, in which the smaller end face is directed toward the inside of the bottle 102; in this case, the neck 105 of the bottle 102 is shaped complementarily with respect to the stem 115 of the body 103, so that its internal lateral surface is approximately parallel to the external lateral surface of the stem 115, so as to allow the mutual engagement of said surfaces and the fixing by friction of the stem 115 in the neck 105.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the body 103 is again made of glass, ceramics or rigid plastic material, and has a substantially frustum-shaped stem 115, in which the smaller end face is directed toward the inside of the bottle 102 and the larger end face has a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the neck 105 of the bottle 102; the seal between the stem 115 and the internal surface of the neck 105 in this case is obtained by means of a suitable substantially annular first gasket 117, which is arranged coaxially and externally with respect to the stem 115, adjacent to and below the head 114.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, preferably starting from the upper end face 113 of the head 114 of the body 103, there is advantageously but not necessarily, at the central axis of the head 114, a cavity or receptacle 150, which is at most as high as the body 103.

At least one complementarily shaped block 109 is associated within the cavity or seat 150 and is made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the cavity or seat 150 and the block 109 contained therein are not as high as, i.e. lower than, the body 103; a first end 110 of the block 109 is directed, during use, toward the inside of the bottle 102 and is connected to at least one duct 112, which is advantageously but not necessarily approximately frustum-shaped and is formed in the body 103 starting from the lower end face 108 of the stem 115 thereof to the receptacle or cavity 150.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the second end 111 of the block 109 is arranged flush with the upper end face 113 of the head 114 of the latter.

As an alternative, in another embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the cavity or receptacle 150 and the block 109 contained therein have a same height, which is equal to the height of the body 103, so that the first and second ends of the block 109 are connected directly respectively to the inside and to the outside of the bottle 102.

Advantageously, as in the embodiments described earlier with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the block 109 can be obtained for example by sintering a material which has such characteristics as not to cause wine to deteriorate, such as for example stainless steel, glass or ceramics, and the powder to be sintered can optionally be enriched with a chosen percentage of a material which has antibacterial characteristics.

As an alternative, in this case also the block 109 can be made for example of a solid metallic foam, which has a porous structure, and a chosen region of the block 109 can be impregnated with a bactericidal substance which does not cause wine to deteriorate.

With reference to FIG. 7, a stopper 201, particularly for a bottle 202, is shown which comprises a body 203 which is approximately T-shaped and is provided with a substantially cylindrical head 214 from which a stem 215 protrudes, said stem being likewise approximately cylindrical or frustum-shaped and being partially insertable in the open end 204 of the neck 205 of the bottle 202.

A second annular gasket 219 is interposed between the head 214 of the body 203 and the perimetric edge of the end 204 of the neck 205 of the bottle 202 and is arranged coaxially and externally with respect to the stem 215.

Advantageously, a suitable lever 220 of a known type is rotatably associated with the head 214 and with the neck 205 and is adapted to compress selectively the head 214 toward the neck 205, so as to couple the stopper 202 thereto.

Preferably starting from the lower end face 208 of the stem 215 of the body 203 there is, advantageously but not necessarily, at the central axis of the stem 215, a cavity or receptacle 250, which is at most as high as the body 203.

At least one complementarily shaped block 209, made of a material which is permeable to air and impermeable to liquids and porous, is associated within the cavity or receptacle 250.

With reference to FIG. 7, the cavity or receptacle 250 and the block 209 contained therein are not as high as the body 203; a first end 210 of the block 209 is connected directly to the inside of the bottle 202, while a second end 211 thereof is connected to at least one duct 212, which is advantageously but not necessarily approximately cylindrical and is formed axially with respect to the body 203 starting from the upper end face 213 of the head 214.

In a further embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures, the cavity or receptacle 250 and the block 209 contained therein are again lower than the body 203 and are arranged so that the second end 211 of the block 209 is flush with the upper end face 213 of the stem 214, thus being connected directly to the outside of the bottle 202; in this case, the first end 210 of the block 209 is connected to at least one duct, which passes axially through the body 203 starting from the lower end face 208 of the stem 212 thereof up to the cavity or receptacle 250.

As an alternative, in another embodiment not shown in the accompanying figures, the cavity or seat 250 and the block 209 contained therein are as high as the block 203, and therefore the first and second ends of the block 209 are connected directly to the inside and outside of the bottle 202 (environment), respectively.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a stopper 301 particularly for a bottle 302 is shown which comprises a body 303 constituted by a disk 321, which has a substantially circular plan shape and can be positioned on the free end 304 of the neck 305 of a bottle 302 in order to close it, with the optional interposition of a suitable third gasket 322, which is advantageously annular.

An annular tab 323 protrudes from the perimetric edge of the disk 321 toward the neck 305 of the bottle 302 so as to partially surround it.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the disk 321 and the annular tab 323 are advantageously metallic, and said tab can be pressed radially toward the neck 305 so as to undergo a permanent deformation and be rigidly coupled to a suitable annular protrusion 324, which protrudes radially from the outer lateral surface of the neck 305 at the open end 304 thereof; in this manner, it is possible to obtain a stopper of the type known commonly as crown cap.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the annular tab 323 is advantageously threaded internally, so that it can engage a thread 325 which protrudes from the outer surface of the neck 305 of the bottle 302 at the open end 304 thereof; in this manner it is possible to obtain a stopper of the type commonly known as screw cap.

Approximately centrally with respect to the disk 321, toward the inside of the bottle 302, there is an axial cavity or receptacle 350 which is approximately U-shaped and on the bottom of which there is at least one first hole which forms a duct 312.

An approximately complementarily shaped block 309, similar to the blocks described earlier with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, can be accommodated in the cavity or receptacle 350.

The block 309 is connected to the inside of the bottle 302 through the duct 312.

As an alternative, the bottom of the cavity or receptacle 350 can be completely open, so that the block 309, rigidly coupled beforehand to the cavity or receptacle 350, is connected directly to the inside and the outside of the bottle 302.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the second end 311 of the block 309 is connected directly to the environment outside the bottle 302.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a stopper 401, particularly for a bottle, is shown which comprises a body 403 constituted by a disk 421 which has a substantially circular plan shape, is advantageously made of metal, and from the perimetric edge of which an annular tab 423 protrudes toward the neck 405 of the bottle so as to partially wrap around it.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the annular tab 423 can be pressed radially toward the neck 405 so as to undergo a permanent deformation and be rigidly coupled to a suitable annular protrusion 424, which protrudes radially from the outer lateral surface of the neck 405 at the open end thereof; in this manner, it is possible to obtain a stopper of the type known commonly as crown cap.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the annular tab 423 is instead advantageously threaded internally, so that it can engage a thread 425 which protrudes from the outer surface of the neck 405 of the bottle at the open end thereof; in this manner it is possible to obtain a stopper of the type commonly known as screw cap.

Advantageously, a second hole 426 is provided in the disk 421, preferably approximately centrally thereto.

The body 403 comprises a fourth gasket 427, which is associated in a lower region with respect to the disk 421 and is interposed during use between said disk and the open end of the neck 405 of the bottle.

Advantageously, the fourth gasket 427 is approximately W-shaped in a cross-section taken along a diametrical plane, so as to form a central portion 428 which is preferably approximately cylindrical and hollow, is open in a lower region and faces the second hole 426 formed in the overlying disk 421.

Two approximately S-shaped wings 429a and 429b protrude radially from the lower end of the central portion 428, and their free ends are interposed, during use, between the open end of the neck 405 of the bottle and the disk 421.

Advantageously, the fourth gasket 427 is made of elastically deformable plastic material.

An axial and preferably cylindrical cavity or receptacle 450 is formed within the central portion 428 of the fourth gasket 427, on the opposite side with respect to the disk 421, and at least one first hole, which forms a duct 412, is formed in the bottom of said cavity or receptacle.

The cavity or receptacle 450 can accommodate an approximately complementarily shaped block 409, which is similar to the blocks described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

The block 409 is connected directly, with its first lower end 410, to the inside of the bottle; the second upper end of the block 409 is connected to the outside of the bottle through the duct 412 and the second hole 426.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is possible to apply a stopper 401 similar to the one shown in FIG. 11 to a container 430 of the type made for example by Tetra-Pak for packaging liquid products instead of a bottle.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in a first upper surface 431 of the container 430 there is a third preferably circular hole 432, to the perimetric edge of which an appropriately provided substantially cylindrical inlet 433 is fixed, said inlet being externally threaded complementarily with respect to the annular tab 423 which protrudes from the disk 421, so that it can be associated with the inlet 433 by screwing.

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a stopper 501, particularly for a bottle, is shown in which the central portion 528 of a fourth gasket designated as 527 protrudes with its upper end to an appropriately provided complementarily shaped cavity, not shown in the accompanying figures, which is formed in the overlying disk 521, so that the duct 512 formed in the bottom of the cavity or receptacle 550 in which the block 509 is accommodated is connected directly to the outside environment.

FIG. 14 illustrates the case of a stopper of the type commonly known as crown cap, while FIG. 15 illustrates the case of a stopper of the type commonly known as screw cap.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, an application of the invention to a substantially cylindrical can 634, made for example of aluminum, is shown.

In this embodiment, the body 603 is constituted by a fifth gasket 635, which is fixed within an appropriately provided opening 636 which is formed in a second upper surface 637 of the can 634.

Advantageously, the fifth gasket 635 is substantially cylindrical and hollow and open in a lower region, and has, on its lateral surface, adapted means for nonremovable fixing to the second upper surface 637 of the can 634, which are constituted preferably by appropriately provided wings 638a, 638b, which protrude radially from said lateral surface.

Advantageously, the fifth gasket 635 is made of elastically deformable plastic material.

A preferably cylindrical axial cavity or receptacle 650 is formed within the fifth gasket 635 toward the inside of the can 634, and at least one first hole which forms a duct 612 is formed in its bottom.

An approximately complementarily shaped block 609, similar to the blocks described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15, can be accommodated within the cavity or receptacle 650.

The block 609 is connected directly, by means of its first lower end 610, to the inside of the can 637, while the second upper end of the block 609 is connected to the outside of the can 634 by means of the duct 612.

Advantageously, the block made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous can be made of a plastic material which has such characteristics, such as for example a plastic material of the polyolefin family; optionally, it is possible to add to the mixture of the plastic material that constitutes the block a bactericidal substance which does not cause the wine to deteriorate, such as for example a percentage of silver.

The density of the plastic material must be calibrated appropriately so as to achieve such an air permeability as to allow optimum micro-oxygenation of the wine, comparable to that of cork, adapted for maturation and proper preservation of the wine.

The materials used and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

Claims

1. A stopper for a wine bottle that has a neck with an open end and encloses an inside space, comprising: a body which can be placed within or at the open end of the neck of the bottle so as to close it; at least one duct provided in said body; at least one block that is connectable axially and internally with said body, said block being made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous, and having ends thereof that are connected, directly or by way of said at least one duct, to the inside space and to environment.

2. The stopper of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a cavity or receptacle formed therein, which is at most as high as said body, within which said block is connected.

3. The stopper of claim 2, wherein said cavity or receptacle extends in said body starting from a lower end face thereof, which upon placement of the body in the neck of the bottle is directed toward the inside space of the bottle, so that a first end of said block is connected directly to the inside space of the bottle.

4. The stopper of claim 3, wherein said cavity or receptacle and said block are shorter than said body, a second end of said block being connected to said at least one duct, which is formed in said body starting from its upper end face, which is arranged opposite said lower end face.

5. The stopper of claim 4, wherein said body is coupleable with the neck of said bottle turned through 180°, so that said block is connected directly, upon placement of the body in the bottle neck, to the environment.

6. The stopper of claim 3, wherein said cavity or receptacle and said block are as high as said body, so that said first and second ends of said block are connected directly to said inside space and the environment, respectively.

7. The stopper of claim 2, wherein said cavity or receptacle, and therefore said block, are arranged in a position which is axial but axially offset with respect to a longitudinal central axis of said body.

8. The stopper of claim 1, wherein said block is provided with an outer lateral surface that is knurled, so as to improve grip on a lateral surface of said cavity or receptacle within which the block is accommodated.

9. The stopper of claim 4, wherein said body is T-shaped, so as to form a substantially cylindrical head from which a likewise cylindrical stem protrudes which is insertable in said neck of said bottle, said cavity or receptacle being formed at a central axis of said head and being at most as high as said body, at least one complementarily shaped block being inserted within said cavity or seat.

10. The stopper of claim 9, wherein said cavity or receptacle and said block contained therein are shorter than said body, said first end of said block being directed, during use, toward the inside space of said bottle and being connected to said at least one duct, which is formed in said body starting from a lower end face of said stem to said receptacle or cavity, said second end of said block being arranged flush with said upper end face of said head.

11. The stopper of claim 9, wherein said cavity or receptacle and said block contained therein are as high as said body, said first and second ends of said block being connected directly to the inside space and the environment, respectively.

12. The stopper of claim 9, wherein said cavity or receptacle and said block contained therein are shorter than said body, said first end of said block being connected directly to the inside space of said bottle, said second end of said block being connected to said at least one duct, which is formed axially with respect to said body starting from an upper end face of said head.

13. The stopper of claim 2, comprising: a said body which is constituted by a disk which is substantially circular in plan shape and can be positioned on a free end of said neck of said bottle in order to close it; an annular tab protruding from a perimetric edge of said disk toward said neck and so as to partially wrap around it, said cavity or receptacle being formed centrally with respect to said disk, toward the inside space of said bottle; at least one first hole that is formed in a bottom of said cavity or receptacle, said hole forming said at least one duct within which said block can be accommodated, said block being shaped complementarily with respect to said cavity or receptacle.

14. The stopper of claim 13, wherein said bottom of said cavity or receptacle is completely open, so that said block, rigidly coupled beforehand to said cavity or receptacle, is connected directly to said inside space and the environment.

15. The stopper of claim 1, wherein said block is made of sintered material which has such characteristics as not to cause deterioration of wine, and is selectable among stainless steel, glass and ceramics.

16. The stopper of claim 15, wherein the sintered material is a sintered powder that is enriched with a selected percentage of powder of silver or titanium oxide or of any other sinterable material having antibacterial characteristics.

17. The stopper of claim 16, wherein said block made of sintered material comprises interspaces that are present among various particles that constitute the sintered material which are filled in a selected region of said block with a bactericidal substance which does not cause wine deterioration.

18. The stopper of claim 1, wherein said block is made of a solid metallic foam which has a porous structure.

19. The stopper of claim 18, wherein said porous structure comprises pores which, in a selected region of said block, are filled with a bactericidal substance which does not cause wine deterioration.

20. The stopper of claim 2, wherein said body is constituted by a disk, which has a substantially circular plan shape and in which a second hole is formed, and by a fourth gasket, which is associated in a lower region with respect to said disk and has, in a cross-section taken along a diametrical plane, a W-shaped configuration so as to form a central portion, which is substantially cylindrical, hollow and open downward and faces said second hole of said disk, said central portion having two S-shaped wings protruding radially from a lower end thereof, free ends of said wings being interposed, during use, between said disk and the open end of said neck of said bottle.

21. The stopper of claim 20, wherein said cylindrical axial cavity or receptacle is formed within said central portion of said fourth gasket, on an opposite side with respect to said disk, at least one first hole being formed in a bottom of said cavity or seat and forming said duct, said block being accommodatable within said cavity.

22. The stopper of claim 21, wherein said fourth gasket is made of elastically deformable plastic material.

23. The stopper of claim 20, wherein it is associable with a container which is of a type suitable to contain liquids fabricated by Tetra-Pak and having, in a first upper surface thereof, a circular third hole, to a perimetric edge of which an appropriately provided substantially cylindrical inlet is fixed, said inlet being threaded externally complementarily with respect to an annular tab which is threaded internally and protrudes downward from said disk, so that it can be associated with said inlet by screw coupling.

24. The stopper of claim 20, wherein said central portion of said fourth gasket protrudes with an upper end thereof through an appropriately provided complementarily shaped cavity formed within said overlying disk, so that said duct provided in said bottom of said cavity or receptacle is connected directly to the environment.

25. The stopper of claim 2, wherein said body is constituted by a fifth gasket, which is fixed within an appropriately provided opening formed in a second upper surface of a can.

26. The stopper of claim 25, wherein said fifth gasket is substantially cylindrical and hollow and open in a lower region, and has, on a lateral surface thereof, appropriately provided fixing means for nonremovable fixing to said second upper surface of the can.

27. The stopper of claim 26, wherein said nonremovable fixing means are constituted by appropriately provided wings which protrude radially from said lateral surface of said fifth gasket.

28. The stopper of claim 27, wherein said cavity or receptacle in which said block can be accommodated is formed within said fifth gasket toward an inside space of said can.

29. The stopper of claim 28, wherein said fifth gasket is made of elastically deformable plastic material.

30. The stopper of claim 1, wherein said block is made of a plastic material which is permeable to air and impermeable to liquids.

31. The stopper of claim 30, wherein said block is made of a polyolefin plastic material.

32. The stopper of claim 31, comprising a bactericidal substance, that does not cause wine deterioration, that is added in a mixture of said plastic material.