BOTTLE WITH SCREW TOP AND CORK ENCLOSURE

Abstract

A bottle with screw top and cork enclosure that includes a cork and a screw top that has a first threaded portion and wherein the bottle includes a tubular throat and a second threaded portion wherein the bottle is configured to couple with the cork and the screw top, wherein the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion are configured to couple with one another and wherein the cork is configured to couple with the tubular throat of the bottle. The apparatus optionally includes a punt and optionally includes a screw top holder configured to hold the screw top. The apparatus optionally includes at least one wine charm coupled with the bottle and optionally may include a cork screw coupled with the bottle and optionally, a foil cutter coupled with the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of bottles. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a bottle with screw top and cork enclosure wherein for example the cork may be removed and replaced by the screw top.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are currently no known bottles that provide both a cork and screw top enclosure. Current bottles are provided with either a cork, or mutually exclusively, a screw top, the purpose of either of which is to seal the bottle.

The problem with some cork enclosures is that any mold on the cork may potentially taint the bottle and produce what is known as a “corked” bottle. Synthetic corks were developed to preserve the aesthetic technique of uncorking a bottle, while providing a cork that is less hospitable to contaminants.

Screw tops have also been utilized with wine bottles for example to provide a potentially better seal with the bottle, which is thought to preserve the wine better, but which fails to provide the experience for example at a restaurant of uncorking the wine.

Furthermore, there are no known bottles that also provide a cork screw, foil cutter, wine charms for glasses to identify the owner of a glass for example, or label saver, which is generally an adhesive plastic sheet that is utilized to peel the front of a wine label to save the label. Bottles are generally standalone apparatus that require further instruments to cut the foil, pull the cork, identify the individuals drinking from particular glasses, and save the label for example.

For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a bottle with screw top and cork enclosure for example so that the cork may be removed and replaced by the screw top.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include a bottle with screw top and cork enclosure that includes a cork and a screw top that has a first threaded portion and wherein the bottle includes a tubular throat and a second threaded portion wherein the bottle is configured to couple with the cork and the screw top. Specifically, the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion are configured to couple with one another and wherein the cork is configured to couple with the tubular throat of the bottle.

Embodiments of the invention may be configured with foil over the screw top or alternatively, may be configured without foil and may simply provide direct access to the screw top without foil on top of the bottle. Once the screw top is removed, the cork may then be pulled and when desired, the screw top may be screwed back onto the bottle to preserve the liquid contained therein. Embodiments of the bottle may or may not include a punt, or indentation located at the bottom of the bottle.

For embodiments of the invention that include a punt in the bottle, the punt may be utilized to hold the screw top. For example, for embodiments configured with a cork (and optional foil) and no screw top covering the cork, after the cork is pulled the screw top may be removed from the punt and threaded onto the bottle to preserve the liquid therein.

Embodiments of the invention may include any combination of at least one wine charm, a cork screw, a foil cutter or a label saver coupled with the bottle, for example in the punt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a bottle configured with a screw top and a cork, wherein the cork is exposed so as to be removed, after the screw top is removed from the bottle.

FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, with the cork and screw top shown above their seated positions, i.e., removed from the tubular throat and threaded portion of the bottle respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention configured to store the screw top in the punt when the screw top is coupled with a screw top holder, and wherein for example the foil on the bottle is removed to expose the cork which is then removed after which the screw top is removed from the screw top holder and coupled with the threaded portion of the bottle.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 3, showing the foil cutter screw top, screw top holder, and cavity.

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of the punt area of the bottle of FIG. 3, showing the screw top holder and cavity, for example configured to hold wine charms.

FIG. 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of the punt area of an embodiment of the screw top holder that does not include a cavity.

FIG. 7 shows side cross-sectional view of the punt area of the bottle of FIG. 3 showing the foil cutter, screw top, wine charms in the cavity of the screw top holder, a cork screw and label saver all coupled with the bottle within the punt.

FIG. 8 shows a side cross-sectional view of the punt area of the bottle of FIG. 2 showing the foil cutter, screw top, wine charms, a cork screw and label saver all coupled with the bottle within the punt and held in place by the punt enclosing device 180, that may be implemented for example with plastic booty coupled with the bottle and opened similarly with respect to the foil on top of the bottle or in any other manner.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a foil cutter, which is generally a annular element with cutting elements located within to scar or cut the foil so that it can be removed from the bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A bottle with screw top and cork enclosure will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of bottle 100 configured with cork 101 and screw top 102, wherein cork 101 is exposed so as to be removed, after screw top 102 is removed from bottle 100. Generally, wine bottles include foil (either metal or plastic) that is wrapped around the upper neck of the bottle and which covers the cork for example. The foil is scarred or cut with a foil remover to exposed the cork after which a cork screw is utilized to pull the cork out of the neck of the bottle, thereby allowing access to the honored and precious fluid contained within the bottle. Embodiments of the invention may be configured with foil over the screw top or alternatively, may be configured without foil and may simply provide direct access to the screw top without foil on top of the bottle. Once screw top 102 is removed, cork 101 may then be pulled and when desired, screw top 102 may be screwed back onto bottle 100 to preserve the liquid contained therein. In this embodiment, bottle 100 may or may not include a punt, or indentation located at the bottom of the bottle.

FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, with cork 101 and screw top 102 (having threaded portion 170) shown above their seated positions, i.e., removed from the tubular throat of bottle 100a and threaded portion 171 of the bottle respectively. In this embodiment, bottle 100a includes punt 110 that may be utilized to couple other elements as described herein to bottle 110a.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention configured to store screw top 102 in punt 110 when screw top 102 is coupled with screw top holder 120. In this embodiment, after the foil (not shown for brevity, but generally surrounding threaded portion 171) on bottle 100b is removed to expose cork 101, cork 101 is removed after which screw top 102 is removed from screw top holder 120 and coupled with threaded portion 171 of bottle 100b. When screw top 102 is removed from screw top holder 120 in this embodiment, cavity 121 is exposed. Cavity 121 may be utilized to hold wine charms for example. Wine charms are small wire or plastic rings for example with identifying colors, materials, or shapes that allow individual wine drinkers to determine the ownership of individual glasses after the wine charms are coupled to the individual glasses. This allows for individuals to drink their own wine, which depending on the particular wine may be highly desirable.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 3, showing foil cutter 150 placed over screw top 102 that is coupled with screw top holder 120, which encloses cavity 121. See FIGS. 7 and 8 for other items that may be coupled with the bottle.

FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of punt 110 of bottle 100b of FIG. 3, showing screw top holder 120 and cavity 121, for example configured to hold wine charms.

FIG. 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of the punt that includes an embodiment of screw top holder 120a that does not include a cavity. Although shown as an element that includes threads, screw top holder 120a may also be implemented as any other device or mechanism that couples screw top 102 to bottle 100, 100a or 100b, such as a clip or hook and loop fastener for example.

FIG. 7 shows side cross-sectional view of the punt area of the bottle of FIG. 3 showing foil cutter 150, screw top 102, wine charm(s) 130 in cavity 121 of screw top holder 120, cork screw 140 and label saver 160 all coupled with the bottle within the punt.

FIG. 8 shows a side cross-sectional view of the punt area of the bottle of FIG. 2 showing foil cutter 150, screw top 102, wine charm(s) 130, cork screw 140 and label saver 160 all coupled with the bottle within the punt and held in place by the punt enclosure 180. Punt enclosure 180 may be implemented for example with plastic booty coupled with the bottle and opened similarly with respect to the foil on top of the bottle or in any other manner. Alternatively, a rubber booty or any adhesive based wrapper may be coupled to the bottom of the bottle to held items 150, 102, 130, 140 and 160 or any combination thereof so long as the booty or wrapper can support the weight of the items stored in the punt without falling off when the bottle is not supported from below. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the booty or wrapper may be sold independently of the bottle and later coupled with a bottle for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the booty can extend minimally up the side of the bottle at 122 (and hence is shown beneath that point as clear plastic that extends down to the bottommost portion of the bottle), or may extend in other embodiments up further, for example up to the label or up past the neck. The larger the punt, the more items that may be coupled to bottle 100a, or 100b for that matter.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of foil cutter 150, which is generally an annular element with cutting elements located within to scar or cut the foil so that it can be removed from the bottle.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A bottle with screw top and cork enclosure comprising:

a cork;

a screw top comprising a first threaded portion;

a bottle comprising a tubular throat and a second threaded portion; and,

said bottle configured to couple with said cork and said screw top, wherein said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion are configured to couple with one another and wherein said cork is configured to couple with said tubular throat.

2. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 wherein said cork is a natural tree bark cork.

3. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 wherein said cork is a synthetic cork.

4. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 wherein said bottle comprises a punt.

5. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt; and,

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top.

6. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one wine charm coupled with said bottle.

7. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

at least one wine charm coupled with said bottle.

8. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and, at least one wine charm coupled with said punt.

9. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

at least one wine charm coupled with said screw top holder.

10. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

a cork screw coupled with said bottle.

11. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

a cork screw coupled with said bottle.

12. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

a cork screw coupled with said punt.

13. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

a foil cutter coupled with said bottle.

14. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

a foil cutter coupled with said bottle.

15. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top; and,

a foil cutter coupled with said punt.

16. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 1 further comprising: a label saver coupled with said bottle.

17. A bottle with screw top and cork enclosure comprising:

a cork;

a screw top comprising a first threaded portion;

a bottle comprising a tubular throat and a second threaded portion;

said bottle configured to couple with said cork and said screw top, wherein said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion are configured to couple with one another and wherein said cork is configured to couple with said tubular throat;

said bottle comprising a punt; and,

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top.

18. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one wine charm coupled with said bottle.

19. The bottle with screw top and cork enclosure of claim 17 further comprising:

a cork screw coupled with said bottle.

20. A bottle with screw top and cork enclosure comprising:

a cork;

a screw top comprising a first threaded portion;

a bottle comprising a tubular throat and a second threaded portion;

said bottle configured to couple with said cork and said screw top, wherein said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion are configured to couple with one another and wherein said cork is configured to couple with said tubular throat;

said bottle comprising a punt;

said punt comprising a screw top holder configured to hold said screw top;

at least one wine charm coupled with said bottle;

a cork screw coupled with said bottle; and,

a foil cutter coupled with said bottle.