SCREW CAP FOR WINE BOTTLES

Abstract

A screw cap for wine bottles, has an outer capsule screwable to the bottle and an insert inserted in the outer capsule and intended to stay interposed between the mouth of the bottle and the outer capsule, is described. At the bottom, the insert is provided with a metal foil intended to directly stay in contact with the mouth of the bottle by intercepting the same. The metal foil is the only component of the cap wettable by the wine and is made of a precious metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an alloy of precious metals inert at room temperature. The insert also has a gasket positioned on the metal foil, which has a radial extent larger than the metal foil itself, and has an outer crown surrounding the metal foil by adhering to the mouth of the bottle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a screw cap for wine or liquor bottles, in particular fine or collectible liquors or wines.

STATE OF THE ART

Conventionally wine bottles are closed with corks, and for decades cork has been considered the most suitable material in order to preserve the organoleptic characteristics of the wine contained in bottles. However it has been found that in a significant portion of the bottles closed with corks, wine undergoes taste alterations, just due to smells and drynesses the cork releases to the wine. In certain instances the wine acquires the so called cork flavor caused by a substance, the trichloroanisole (TCA), in turn produced by a fungus, Armillaria mellea, pest of the cork oak.

Lately other systems for closing the bottles have been proposed; the new systems are taking rapidly growing market shares.

For example synthetic caps, improperly called “silicon caps”, glass caps and screw caps have been proposed.

The present invention actually relates to a screw cap, often also called Stelvin closure by one of the most popular trade names used by the manufacturing company Amcor.

A common screw cap comprises:

a metal screw capsule, i.e. a capsule screwable on the neck of the bottles at the respective screw finish level, or the respective screw collar, and

an insert positioned in the capsule, intended to stay interposed and pressed between the capsule itself and the mouth of the bottle, acting as a gasket. The insert is wettable by the wine when the bottle is closed.

The metal capsule is usually made of aluminium. The insert is a disk of synthetic material, or rubber, or multilayer material, for example a multilayer of aluminium, polyethylene PE, polyethylene terephthalate PET, expanded polyethylene EPE.

Depending on the structure of the insert, higher or lower cap oxygen permeability can be obtained.

The sustained contact of wine with the screw cap insert can however cause undesired changes of the organoleptic characteristics of the wine itself. Although polymers and rubbers are widely used in the food industry, for the food packaging, wine storage is an exception, since the storage times can also be several years long. Furthermore wine can age in bottle, undergoing slow but appreciable chemical transformations. Therefore also the insert of the screw caps can change, over time, the wine taste, worsening it.

In order to prevent polymeric materials of which the caps are made from changing the wine organoleptic characteristics, in the German Patent Application DE10060418 a plastic cap is described on which a layer of metal is coated by using the physical vapor deposition PVD method. The metal layer, for example gold, prevents the components to be released from the cap to the wine and thereby preserves its quality.

However the physical vapor deposition PVD is not an easy and fast way that can be used to manufacture caps on industrial scale especially when a significant thickness is intended to be obtained in order to increase the impermeability.

Furthermore, another limit of the current screw caps is that they do not promote the good aging of the bottled wine for the opposite reason, i.e. for the nearly total absence of interaction with the atmospheric oxygen when the cap is effective.

Other known solutions are described in CH-A-499436, DE 202007002075U1 and GB-A-05095.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a screw cap which overcomes the drawbacks of the nowadays available solutions, being simple to be implemented, effective in promoting the bottled wine aging and chemically inert in order not to modify the organoleptic characteristics of the wine not even after long periods in contact with the same.

Therefore the present invention relates to a screw cap according to claim 1.

Specifically, the cap comprises a preferably metal outer capsule screwable on the bottle, and at least one insert inserted in the outer capsule and intended to stay interposed between the mouth of the bottle and the outer capsule. Advantageously, at its lower face the insert comprises at least one metal foil intended to stay in contact directly with the mouth of the bottle, in order to intercept it, when the cap is correctly screwed onto the bottle. The metal foil is made of a precious metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an alloy of precious metals inert at room temperature.

Preferably the metal foil is made of gold and even more preferably it is made of 24-carat gold.

The metal foil is the only element of the cap wettable by the bottled wine, for example when the bottle is tilted. The other elements of the cap, in fact, can not be reached by the wine.

For example, the metal foil can be made of a metal selected among gold, iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an alloy of these metals.

Differently from other proposed solutions, the insert also comprises a gasket positioned above the metal foil. The gasket has a radial extent greater than the metal foil, such to surround it and ensure it always remains centered with respect the mouth of the bottle. The gasket also adheres to the mouth of the bottle with its peripheral portion, in practice a circular crown.

The gasket is made of one or more materials according to known art: for example, natural materials (such as cork, rubber or a not precious metal), or synthetic materials (such as elastomers, tetrafluoroethylene, silicon) or combinations thereof can be used.

The advantages offered by such a solution are many. Firstly the metal or metal alloy of the foil does not chemically interact with the wine contained in the bottle, not even when the wine stays for months or years in contact with the metal foil. This ensures that the cap does not negatively affect the organoleptic wine characteristics. In other words, the metal foil does not release substances able to change the wine taste and aroma, not even after long periods of time, even if the wine is left aging in the bottle.

Another advantage is related to the physical characteristics of the foil. The precious metals taken into account have high electronegativity value. For example, 24-carat gold has an electronegativity value equal to 2.54 in the Pauling scale, the highest among the metals. Therefore the metal foil is chemically inert, but can activate the ions usually contained in solution in the wine, and this can in turn trigger phenomena related to the good aging of wine.

It is apparent that the afore described gasket is essential for the metal foil to positively concur to the wine aging: without the gasket the metal foil could be radially displaced and the wine could come into contact with parts of the cap which are able to alter its organoleptic properties.

Last but not least, another advantage is of commercial nature. The metal foil of precious metal enhances the value of the bottle and is a collectible element per se.

Preferably the metal foil is engraved on its upper side, i.e. on the side not contacting the bottle content, with bottle identification data, such as for example the wine name and the manufacturer data; optionally, the metal foil can be engraved also or only on the lower side. The engraving can be carried out by means of various techniques, for example by the use of laser, or by engraving or chemical etching.

Providing screw caps with a metal foil of gold with a sign is a circumstance which could promote the diffusion of the screw cap for closing fine wine bottles. Of course the cap according to the present invention can also be used for closing bottles of liquors and other fine beverages, not only wine.

In the preferred case in which the metal foil is made of gold, the same foil, due to the metal malleability, can be deformed in order to perfectly adhere to the bottle mouth when the cap is completely screwed. Therefore gold malleability helps to obtain a foil also acting as a gasket. Generally, regardless of the metal selected for the foil, it is preferable that the edges of the same adhere to the circular edge of the bottle mouth.

Preferably the metal foil is a disk with thickness lower than 0.5 mm, more preferably lower than 0.1 mm. For example in case of 24-carat gold foil the thickness is 0.01 mm-0.05 mm.

In an embodiment the metal foil is micro-pierced, meaning that it comprises a plurality of micro through-holes whose function is to allow the adduction towards the wine of an air volume smaller than 500 mm³/year, amount deemed compatible with the good aging of the bottled wines. Alternatively to the holes, the foil comprises a calibrated porosity portion, which can be defined microporous and allows obtaining the same result in terms of exchanged air volume, i.e. a volume smaller than 500 mm³/year. Such an air volume can be present in the cap upon screwing the cap on the bottle, for example it can be implemented with an inner air chamber, or more easily the cap allows a minimum air passage from the outside towards the insert and the metal foil.

Optionally, in order to facilitate the air passage, the outer capsule of the cap is also micropierced.

Preferably, the micro-holes have a diameter smaller than 0.1 mm; the micro-holes can be obtained by laser piercing processes such as those used for making the aerosol device meshes.

It should be underlined that, in addition to the permeability of the metal foil, the effective air volume reaching the wine also depends on the permeability of the other cap elements positioned above or around the foil, and that air has to pass through before—actually—reaching the wine.

For example the paper “Permeability of Cork to Gases”, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2011, 59, 3590-3597, published Mar. 24, 2011, provides a mathematical model which can be used to calculate the gas flow rate through a cork. The same mathematical model can be used in order to calculate the air flow rate passing though the cap according to the present invention, specifically the layer composed of the metal foil and the other cap elements positioned above or around the foil.

Optionally, the insert comprises a layer of granular or porous substances (for example pepper grains) composing a bed promoting the good aging of the wine contained in the bottle; for example the layer of granular or porous substances can act as a reaction bed or it can release, in the air contained in the cap, volatile components which can pass, over the years, to the wine contained in the bottle thanks to the fluidic communication ensured by the micro-holes obtained in the metal foil. Preferably the insert also comprises an elastic element interposed between the gasket and the outer capsule. The elastic element, for example of a plastic material, rubber or cork, is preloaded upon screwing the cap on the bottle and has the function of constantly applying a thrust onto the gasket and, thus, indirectly onto the metal foil in order to ensure the sealed coupling with the bottle mouth.

In an embodiment the metal foil has a thickening circumferentially extending on the upper side of the metal foil and generating an embossed circular profile on the surface of the metal foil. The thickening is in the portion of the metal foil resting on the bottle mouth and can be made by edging, welding or by means of a ring rested on the metal foil. Such a thickening concurs, together with the just described elastic element, to apply a greater thrust on the metal foil itself in order to ensure a better seal.

Preferably the thickening is in proximity of the edge of the metal foil and constitutes a frame for possible identification engravings, previously described, obtained on the surface of the metal foil.

Optionally the insert can comprise a stiffening element, rigid with respect to the gasket and the elastic element, positioned between the metal foil and the gasket, directly contacting the metal foil. For example, the stiffening element can be made of glass, ceramic or high-density plastic material and provides the cap with increased strength.

Advantageously the cap is particularly useful for closing the small volume bottles, smaller than 100 ml, which are not subjected to the restrictions on hand baggage on airplanes. In the small volume bottles, in fact, the afore described drawbacks related to the known art occur more frequently, since the exchange surface with wine is significant in proportion to the amount of wine contained in the bottle. In other words, in the small volume bottles closed with traditional stopper, the stopper has a greater effect than in the large volume bottles.

Preferably the metal foil can be separated from the insert once the cap is needed to be used no more: by applying a minimum force the user can remove the metal foil from the cap and store it for collection purposes.

Preferably the metal foil is provided on its lower side with at least one stalk, i.e. an appendix protruding towards the inside of the bottle.

The at least one stalk is positioned at a distance from the edge such as to allow the metal foil to adhere to the bottle mouth and ensure a minimum overlapping of at least 1 mm on the entire circumference of the bottle mouth and preferably in a self-centering way.

The at least one stalk can be connected to the foil already in the mold from which the metal foil is drawn, or it can be later connected by welding thereto (preferably by laser welding).

Advantageously, the at least one stalk facilitates the separation of the metal foil from the screw cap: the user in fact, by using a clamp, can easily grasp the stalk and separate the metal foil from the cap in order to store the metal foil made of precious metal.

In an embodiment, the metal foil is provided with three substantially cylindrical stalks with axis substantially perpendicular to the lower side of the metal foil. In addition to allow the metal foil to be removed, advantageously, the presence of three stalks allows ensuring that the metal foil does not move radially and thus does not move away from its centered position on the neck of the bottle. In other words the stalks limit the radial movements of the metal foil: it can move on the plane formed by the bottle mouth as long as the stalks do not come into abutment against the bottle neck, thus preventing further movements in that direction.

In another embodiment the metal foil has three horseshoe shaped, i.e. U-shaped, stalks, which delimit an eyelet between the metal foil and each stalk.

In addition to provide the above described advantages, the particular U-shape of the stalks allows a threadlike element, such as a chainlet, to be inserted inside the eyelet such to be able to connect several stalks of the same metal foil or different metal foils. For example, in this way, necklaces or collectible ornaments can be created.

Optionally, the metal foil can be provided with stalks with different shape, also different from the described ones.

Preferably the insert of the screw cap also comprises a leaf made of ferromagnetic material (i.e. with high magnetic permeability), for example made of iron, martensitic stainless steel, cobalt or other permanently magnetized materials. Advantageously, the leaf is positioned above the metal foil and, due to its ferromagnetic characteristics, is able to follow the movements of a magnet which is preferably provided with the bottle. When the user moves the magnet closer to the lower side of the metal foil, it applies an attraction force on the leaf and if the user later moves away the magnet from the cap, the leaf follows the movement away of the magnet and separates from the cap. Since the leaf is positioned above the metal foil and since the magnet gets closer to the metal foil at the lower side of the metal foil, the movement of the magnet and the leaf away from the cap also causes the concurrent separation from the cap of the metal foil, since the latter is interposed between the leaf and the magnet.

In an embodiment the leaf is positioned above the metal foil and the gasket: in this way the gasket is in a position interposed between the metal foil and the leaf and it is less likely that the bottle content comes into contact with the leaf of ferromagnetic material.

In another embodiment the leaf is interposed between the metal foil and the gasket and preferably the leaf is in contact with the metal foil. By arranging the leaf in a position interposed between the gasket and the metal foil the separation of the leaf, and thus also of the metal foil, is promoted, since, the gasket not being between the leaf and the metal foil, the greatest is the force applied by the magnet on the leaf the easiest is the separation from the cap. Indeed the gasket, not being interposed between the leaf and the magnet, does not move away from the screw cap in response to the movement away of the leaf and the magnet but it remains seated in the screw cap.

Advantageously the insert of the screw cap can be made in one piece, i.e. of a single material, able to ensure the good aging of wine and ensure the proper positioning on the bottle mouth also for many years.

Further characteristics and advantages of the cap according to the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

BRIEF LIST OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted by the review of the following specification of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1a is an axial/vertical section view of a portion of screw cap according to the known art;

FIG. 1b is a partial sectional view, of another screw cap according to the known art;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a first embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of a second embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a third embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a fourth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of a fifth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a sixth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8-10 are schematic views of a detail of corresponding embodiments of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of a seventh embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of an eighth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a portion of a ninth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a portion of a tenth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of two embodiments of the metal foil of the screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a portion of an eleventh embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a portion of a twelfth embodiment of screw cap according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1a shows a vertical section, which can also defined as axial or diametrical, of a portion of screw cap T′ according to the known art, the screw cap closing a wine bottle B. The bottle B is provided with a neck provided with a screw finish level 1 on which the cap T′ is screwed. The cap T in turn comprises a capsule of aluminium 2, threaded in 2′, and an insert 3 positioned between the capsule 2 and the neck of the bottle B.

In turn the insert 3 is composed of a first element 3′, for example of cork, plastic material or rubber, and a second element 3″, acting as a sealant, of polymeric material. When the bottle B is tilted, the wine contacts the sealing element 3″.

FIG. 1b shows a partial vertical section of another screw cap T″ according to known art. The cap T″ comprises an insert 3 composed of three elements: the same elements 3′ and 3″ described afore plus an additional element 3′″ made of a polymeric material, adapted to compress the elements 3′ and 3″ against the mouth of the bottle B and to embody the screw coupling at the screw finish level 1 of the bottle B.

With a convenient selection of the used materials, the elements composing the insert 3, i.e. the elements 3′, 3″, 3′″ (if present), can be made of a single material, i.e. in one piece.

Numeral reference 4 indicates the weakened zone of the aluminium capsule 2, i.e. the predetermined weakened line allowing the cap T′, T″ to be rotated with respect to the neck of the bottle B.

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section of a first embodiment 10a of a screw cap according to the present invention, applied to a glass or ceramic bottle B. The cap 10a comprises a metal capsule 2, an insert 11a being housed inside the latter. The capsule 2 comprises a screw portion 2′ for screwing on the finish level 1 of the bottle B, as also described relating to the known art.

However, differently from known solutions, advantageously the insert 11a comprises a lower element 12 intended to contact the wine contained in the bottle B. It is a metal foil made of gold, or another precious metal inert at room temperature, for example iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an alloy of these metals. Preferably the lower element 12 is a twenty four-carat gold (24 kt) disk. Preferably the lower element 12 is a disk whose thickness is lower than 1 mm, for example 0.01-0.05 mm, and whose diameter is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

The advantages offered by the presence of the disk 12 of precious metal are many. The listed precious metals are chemically inert and do not release in the wine substances which could modify its taste and aroma, not even when the bottle is stored for long periods of time in tilted position, with the wine directly contacting the metal. Therefore this ensures that wine organoleptic properties, specifically taste and aroma, do not undergo negative alterations.

Furthermore the mentioned precious metals, even if inert from the chemical point of view, are mostly electronegative. As afore mentioned, for example 24 kt gold has an electronegativity value equal to 2.54 in the Pauling scale. This characteristic can promote the good aging of bottled wine, since wine usually contains ions of various nature in solution. For example, it has been found that the evolution of the flavan-3-ols in the oxidative refinement of red wines is widely related to the formation of ethyl bridges-mediated polymerizations, following the formation of ethanal by ethanol oxidation. This phenomenon originates from the Fe(II/III) ions-mediated phenolic oxidation [talk on May 6, 2015 at the national prize SIVE “G. Versini”, n. 35, “Influenza della natura dei composti fenoli nell'invecchiamento del vino rosso”, D. Fracassetti et al., page 23). The contact with the precious metal can promote the ion action.

In case the disk 12 is of gold, the following advantage can also be found: gold is notoriously malleable and under the compression action of the capsule 2 screwed on the neck N of the bottle B, perfectly suits to the surface of the mouth 13, meaning that it deforms to realize and ensure the airtightness. In practice the disk 12 acts as a gasket, still being of metal and not a synthetic material.

A further advantage is the enhanced commercial value of the cap itself and, thus, the enhanced value of the bottle B. The disk 12 of precious metal can be drawn from the screw cap 10a and can be part of a collection: further embodiments facilitating the separation of the disk 12 from the screw cap will be described in the following.

In addition, identification signs can be inserted on the upper and/or lower side of the disk 12, i.e. respectively on the side contacting the element 14 (described below) and/or on that which can contact the wine contained in the bottle.

In these terms, the presence of the disk 12 of precious metal can be a plus on the market, and could allow attracting potential customers among those who up to now have been skeptical of the use of the screw cap for closing fine wine bottles B.

In the example shown in FIG. 2 the insert 11a comprises two other elements 14 and 15 stacked on the disk 12. The element 14 is preferably a gasket of natural material, such as cork, rubber or a not-precious metal (for example a stainless steel or aluminium thin layer), or synthetic material such as elastomers, tetrafluoroethylene, silicon, or a combination thereof. The element 14 has a radial extent greater than the metal foil 12 itself, and with its outer crown surrounds the metal foil 12 by adhering to the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

The element 15 is preferably elastic, to apply a thrust onto the underlying elements 12 and 14, to promote the adhesion against the surface of the mouth 13 of the bottle B. For example the element 15 can be made of cork, or a polymeric material such as PET or PE.

When the screw cap 10a is mounted on the bottle, the element 15 is slightly compressed, such that the element 15 constantly applies a thrust onto the underlying elements in order to ensure a perfect adherence of the disk 12 on the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

In the example shown, the elastic element 15 comprises a circular crown 15′ protruding downwards and having the function of perimetrically deforming the element 14 in order to make it adhere to the mouth 13 of the bottle B, around the disk 12, which in this way can not move anymore in radial direction and always remains centered and coaxial with respect to the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment 10b of the cap according to the present invention.

The respective insert 11b comprises a disk 12 of precious metal, an elastic element 15 and a gasket 14, for example of rubber or a plastic material. Between the gasket 14 and the disk 12 of precious metal an additional element 16 made of a material selected among a metal, also not precious, preferably glass or ceramic, is interposed. The element 16 has the task of preventing the elastic element 15 from deforming at the axis X-X of the bottle B, for example it prevents the elastic element 15 from “bulging” or curving in the center, by relieving the load on the disk 12 which has to always stay well adhering to the mouth 13 of the bottle B instead.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment 10c of the screw cap. With respect to the solution shown in FIG. 2, the bottle B has a circular convexity 17 on the mouth 13 and the gasket 14 follows the profile thereof by adhering to ensure the tightness, under the thrust of the elastic element 15.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment 10d wherein with the numeral reference 18 air is denoted, or a cork element or an activated carbon element or a layer of granular or powder substances (for example pepper grains) composing a bed that promotes the good aging of the wine contained in the bottle B: such a layer releases volatile substances in the air contained in the cap, which are released to the wine over time. In this embodiment the gasket 14 has an accordion portion 14′ jutting towards the disk 12, which allows the pressure on the disk 12 to be properly applied.

FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment 10e similar to the preceding one but comprising, in addition, the stiffening element 16 made of glass, metal or ceramic. The portion 14′ appears to be deformed, slightly flattened against the element 16.

In the same embodiment 10f shown in FIG. 7 the gasket 14 has a different, less flattened, profile with respect to what shown in FIG. 6.

In practice the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7 differ for the insert shape. For example the gasket 14 can have a different profile among the three embodiments in order to obtain different pressure zones on the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

FIGS. 8-10 schematically show corresponding embodiments of the disk 12 of precious metal. In particular in the version of FIG. 8 the disk 12 is S-shaped (in cross section) in 12′ such as to define a controlled deformation zone and a contact shoulder against the gasket 14, which prevents lateral movements (in radial direction) of the disk 12 itself. In the version of FIG. 9 the disk 12 is U-shaped (in cross section) in 12″ such as to define a controlled deformation zone and a contact shoulder against the gasket 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 10 the disk 12 is L-shaped (in cross section) in 12′″ such as to define a controlled deformation zone and a contact shoulder against the gasket 14.

In FIG. 11 another embodiment 10g of the cap according to the present invention is shown, which is characterized in that the gasket 14 is of annular type: a section can be seen in figure. In particular the gasket 14, seen in vertical section, has a radial pin 20 which rests against the disk 12. The pin 20 radially extends inwards and cantilevered from the remaining part of the gasket 14; a zig-zag, or W-shaped portion 21 is interposed between the pin 20 and the remaining part of the gasket 14 in order to allow the pin to flex and adapt to the definitive shape taken with the cap 10g completely screwed on the bottle B.

By the numeral reference 19 micro-holes pierced through the disk 12 of precious metal are denoted. Clearly the hole size is purposely out of scale in the drawing, in order to make the comprehension easier. The micro-holes 19 are drilled for example by the laser piercing technique and allow a minimum, but important, air exchange with the part overlying the disk 12. By taking care to trap an adequate amount of air inside the capsule 2, for example by using an element 15 of porous cork or leaving a volume filled with air, the holes 19 allow an air passage towards the wine contained in the bottle for a volume corresponding to a few mm³/year. It is an air volume compatible with the good aging of the bottled wine.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 the capsule 2 and the gasket 14, which extends above the disk 12, are also pierced. The numeral reference 27 denotes the micro-holes drilled through the capsule 2 while, by the numeral reference 22, the micro-holes drilled through the gasket 14 are denoted. The object is to allow a minimum air supply towards the bottled wine.

FIG. 13 shows a ninth embodiment 10i of the screw cap; this embodiment differs from the preceding ones in that to the disk 12 is provided with a thickening 23 on the upper side, i.e. on the side opposite to the one contacting the mouth 13 of the bottle B. Such thickening 23 extends circumferentially on the disk 12 at the edge of the disk 12 itself, thus taking the shape of a circular edge of the disk 12.

The thickening 23 is obtained at a distance from the center of the disk 12 such to be positioned above the mouth 13 of the bottle B.

Its function is in fact to apply a thrust onto the disk 12, in addition to the one applied by the element 15, in order to ensure greater tightness.

Furthermore, the thickening 23 also has the aesthetic advantage of constituting a frame on the disk 12, which is able to give greater emphasis to possible identification signs positioned on the upper side of the disk 12.

In FIG. 14 a tenth embodiment 101 of the cap according to the present invention, wherein the disk 12 comprises a stalk 24 with a substantially cylindrical shape protruding from the lower side of the disk 12, is shown. The function of the stalk 24 is to facilitate the separation of the gold disk 12 from the cap 101, for example, by means of a clamp.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 two additional embodiments of the disk 12 are shown (the whole cap is not shown). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the disk 12 is provided with three stalks 24′, 24″, 24′″ on the lower side with the same shape as the stalk 24 described in FIG. 14; such stalks 24′, 24″, 24′″, in addition to facilitate the separation of the disk 12 from the screw cap, have the function of keeping the disk 12 seated on the mouth 13 of the bottle B, especially during the cap positioning and screwing. In fact, when the disk 12 makes radial movements, the stalks 24′, 24″, 24′″ come into abutment against the inner side of the neck N of the bottle B and prevent the disk 12 from moving further to radial position and exiting from the seat which allows the disk 12 to perform the previously described functions.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 differs from the one shown in FIG. 15 for the horseshoe shape, or U shape, of the stalks 25′, 25″, 25′″ of the disk 12. These stalks 25′, 25″, 25′″ have an eyelet delimited by the disk 12 and by each stalk 25′, 25″, 25′″ itself.

Once the bottle B has been uncapped and the disk 12 separated from the cap, a preferably gold thread can be inserted through this eyelet, such to connect several stalks for ornamental purpose, both belonging to the same disk 12 and belonging to different disks, in order to add them to a collection.

The stalks described in FIGS. 14-16 can be made separately and subsequently weld to the disk 12 or, in case of the stalks in FIGS. 14 and 15, directly connected to the disk 12 already directly in the mould.

The stalks 24, 24′-24′″ and 25′-25′″ place themselves on the disk 12 in such a position to both ensure that the disk 12 rests on the mouth 13 of the bottle B and ensure that the stalks 24, 24′-24′″ and 25′-25′″ are able to intercept the neck N of the bottle B thus preventing the disk 12 from exiting from its own seat; in practice such stalks 24, 24′-24′″ and 25′-25′″ are inscribed in such a circumference that a superposition of at least 1 mm with the mouth 13 is ensured.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show, respectively, two embodiments 10m and 10n whose respective inserts 11m and 11n comprise a leaf 26 made of a ferromagnetic material, i.e. having high magnetic permeability; for example the leaf 26 can be made of iron, martensitic stainless steel, cobalt or a permanently magnetized material. The leaf 26 is positioned above the disk 12 and, since it is provided with ferromagnetic properties, can follow the movement of a magnet, preferably provided together with the bottle B. In order to separate the disk 12 from the screw cap it is therefore required that the user moves the magnet closer to the front face of the cap where the disk 12 is, and then he/she moves the magnet away in the opposite direction: in this way the leaf 26 follows the movement of the magnet away and brings the disk 12, which is in a position interposed between the magnet and the leaf 26.

In the embodiment 10m shown in FIG. 17, the leaf 26 is positioned above the gasket 14 such that the gasket 14 is interposed between the leaf 26 and the disk 12. Such an embodiment ensures that the content of the bottle B does not come into contact with the material the leaf 26 is made of, in case the disk 12 moves radially on the mouth 13 of the bottle B or incidentally shows a leak.

On the contrary, in the embodiment 10n shown in FIG. 18, the leaf 26 is directly above the disk 12 and in contact with the same. Therefore in this case the leaf 26 is in a position interposed between the gasket 14 and the disk 12. This arrangement allows an easier separation of the disk 12 from the cap since there is no screw cap component between the disk and the leaf 26 which is able to prevent the separation thereof.

It has to be specified that also the screw cap according to the present invention can be provided with an element such as the element 3′″ shown in FIG. 1b.

Claims

1. A screw cap (10a-10n) for wine bottles (B), the screw cap comprising:

an outer capsule (2) screwable on a bottle (B);

at least one insert (11a-11n) inserted in the outer capsule (2) and intended to be interposed between the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) and the outer capsule (2),

wherein the at least one insert (11a-11n) comprises at least one metal foil (12) configured to stay in contact directly with the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) and intercept it, and wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is made of a precious metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an alloy of precious metals inert at room temperature,

wherein the at least one insert (11a-11n) comprises a gasket (14) positioned on the at least one metal foil (12) and having a radial extent greater than the at least one metal foil (12) itself, and wherein an outer crown of the gasket (14) surrounds the at least one metal foil (12) while adhering to the mouth (13) of the bottle (B).

2. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is made of a metal selected among gold, iridium, platinum, osmium, rhodium, palladium or an alloy of these metals.

3. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is a disk with thickness less than 0.5 mm.

4. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is made of 24-carat gold and has a thickness between 0.01 mm and 0.05 mm.

5. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is the only element of the cap contacting the wine contained in the bottle (B).

6. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is subjected to deformation when the cap is screwed to the bottle (B) and edges of the at least one metal foil (12) adhere to the upper surface of the mouth (13) of the bottle (B).

7. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) comprises a plurality of micro through-holes (19), or a zone with calibrated porosity, which allow adduction of an air volume up to 500 mm3/year into the bottle (B).

8. The screw cap (10a-10h) according to claim 7, wherein the micro-holes have diameter smaller than 0.1 mm.

9. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 7, comprising an inner volume wherein air, or a layer of porous material containing air, is in fluidic communication with the micro-holes (19) of the at least one metal foil (12).

10. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 9, further comprising a layer of granular or porous materials (18) which release volatile components in the air inside the screw cap (10a-10n), fluiclically communicating with the micro-holes (19) of the metal foil.

11. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 7, wherein the outer capsule (2) comprises a plurality of micro through-holes (27) which fluiclically communicate the outside of the screw cap (10a-10n) with its inside.

12. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the gasket (14) comprises a circular portion (14′) whose cross section has a S-, L-, W- or U-shape, and the circular portion being deformed when the cap is screwed and adhering to the at least one metal foil (12) at a respective upper surface.

13. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 11 wherein the at least one insert (11a-11n) comprises an elastic element (15) interposed between the gasket (14) and the outer capsule (2), wherein the elastic element is preloaded upon screwing the cap on the bottle (B) and continuously applies a thrust directly onto the gasket (14) and, indirectly, onto the metal foil (12).

14. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the elastic element (15) is made of cork, rubber or a plastic material.

15. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the elastic element (15) extends between the outer capsule (2) and the bottle (B) at the thread.

16. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is provided with a thickening (23) extending perimetrically and above the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) and applying a thrust on the portion of the at least one metal foil (12) contacting the mouth (13) of the bottle (B) in response to the thrust the elastic element (15) applies on the thickening (23).

17. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 13, wherein the insert (11a-11n) comprises a stiffening element (16) rigid with respect to the gasket (14) and the elastic element (15), which is positioned between the at least one metal foil (12) and the gasket (14), directly in contact with the at least one metal foil (12).

18. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 17, wherein the stiffening element (16) is made of glass, ceramic, metal or a high-density plastic material.

19. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the gasket (14) is made of rubber, or a polymeric material.

20. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the gasket (14) has micro-holes, or a zone with calibrated porosity, at the at least one metal foil (12).

21. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is provided on its lower side and/or its upper side with an identification sign.

22. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) can be separated from the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to a force applied on the metal foil by the user.

23. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is provided, on its lower side, with at least one stalk (24) extending towards the inside of the bottle (B) and wherein the at least one metal foil (12) can be separated from the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to a force applied by the user on the at least one metal foil (12) at said the least one stalk (24).

24. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal foil (12) is provided with three stalks (24′-24′″) configured to abut against the inner side of the neck (N) of the bottle (B) in response to radial movements of the at least one metal foil (12) itself.

25. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 24, wherein the stalks (25′-25′″) are horseshoe shaped and define with the at least one metal foil (12) an eyelet configured to house a threadlike through-element.

26. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the insert (11a-11n) comprises a leaf (26) positioned above the at least one metal foil (12) and made of ferromagnetic material and wherein said leaf (26) can be moved away from the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to the force applied on said leaf (26) by a magnet such that, when the magnet and the leaf (26) move away from the screw cap (10a-10n), the at least one metal foil (12) also moves away from the screw cap (10a-10n), thus separating itself from the same.

27. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the leaf (26) is made of a high magnetic permeability material, or is made of a permanently magnetized material.

28. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the gasket (14) is interposed between the leaf (26) and the at least one metal foil (12) and wherein the gasket (14) can be moved away from the screw cap (10a-10n) in response to the movements away of the leaf (26) and screw cap (10a-10n).

29. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 26, wherein the leaf (26) is interposed between the gasket (14) and the at least one metal foil (12).

30. The screw cap (10a-10n) according to claim 1, wherein the insert (11a-11n) is made in one piece.

31. A bottle provided with the screw cap according to claim 1.

32. Wine bottle provided with screw cap according to claim 1, wherein the bottle has a volume smaller than 100 ml in order to be transportable in the hand baggage on airplanes.