Title of Invention

"AIRTIGHT STOPPER CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS OR BOTTLES THAT CONTAIN CARBONATED BENERAGES"

Abstract The sealed closure cap applies specially to containers or bottles which contain carbonated beverages, and has a central neck (6) intended to be introduced into container mouth (2), and an external envelope provided with retention means (8, 20) in counterforms of the external surface of the bottle neck, with additional locking means (18, 18") which ensure the closing position. The cap incorporates an overcap (3, 3*) carrying the seal ring (4, 4s) which surrounds axial fins (7, 8, 20) of the main body of the cap (1, 1*), and can adopt a lower position or nesting position with respect to the cap (1) itself in order to lock the retention means (8, 20) to the external part of the container (2, 22). During the unsealing operation and opening of the cap, the overcap (3, 3) can be displaced without being detached, in an axial path limited by stops (12, 17), appropriately guided and by means of a threading provided on the complementary surfaces of both components. The opening and closing can be done repeatedly with great easy.
Full Text The present invention relates to airtight stopper closure for containers or bottles that contain carbonated beverages.
OBJECT OP THE INVENTION
As "expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention consists of an airtight stopper and has a series of relevant and advantageous characteristics with regard to those that presently exist for the same purpose and which are of the same type.
This stopper is especially applicable to all types of carbonated beverages (champagne, sparkling wines, beer, carbonated drinks, etc.), having the purpose, aside from ensuring perfect closing that prevents accidental opening of the stopper by an accumulation of overpressure inside the container or vessel that closes, that the container can easily be closed again for subsequent use, until the contained liquid is consumed, without losing the gas, that is to say, without the gaseous content dissipating from the container.
In the specific case of champagne and sparkling wine, contained in bottles that are normally closed by a cork stopper (very costly), upon the stopper being replaced by the one that the invention proposes, effectiveness and greater economy are likewise achieved. The bottle or . container can be closed repeatedly without the effectiveness of the airtight seal being lost.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spanish utility model no. 9602251 claimed a stopper of this type, which had an inside tubular wall for insertion in the mouth of the bottle or container, and another outside covering that was placed around the neck of the container, having some through windows through which respective teeth of some radial tongues that could articulate in their connecting line with the top part of the outside covering itself, entered. Once these teeth that passed through the cited windows, they became housed under the ring-shaped projection conventionally provided

for on the outside of the neck of the bottle or container, maintaining the retaining position by means of a ring that moved axially in order to remain overlying the tongues, preventing the teeth from coming out of their housing.
Spanish utility model no. 9500853 contemplates a ring-. shaped seal with a central tubular rod that seals the mouth of the bottle and whose walls are provided with circular ribs, to provide greater airtightness. In the top part it has a ring-shaped flange from which descend some wings that are placed around the mouth of the bottle until the first recess where the stoppers of another type normally fasten by different processes. This body of the stopper is completed with another top one that constitutes a ring that is connected by means of some tearable points, which break when the ring is pushed in the packaging operation to remain fitted blocking the descending wings of the bottom body, this airtight closing position remaining until it is not released again upon being moved in the opposite direction, or broken.
U.S. patents numbers 4,456,143, 5,314,084 and 5,522,518 also refer to stoppers and closing systems that reflect the prior art related to the patent of invention applied for over which the latter provides outstanding advantages.
Another prior art document is US-5031785, which discloses a pressure/vacuum pump which works by means of a coupling with a one way (retention) valve which is coupled in turn to a food or liquid container, where said pressure (or vacuum (depending on the configuration of said valve)) is intended to be applied. In order to generate pressure (or vacuum), the piston of the pump is shifted downwards (or upwards) within cylinder by means of driving the handle of the pump between its lowermost position and its uppermost position (not shown); which has very, very little similarity (if any) with both the device disclosed in the present application, and the features contained in independent claim 1 of the present application. Perhaps, the most similar element that somehow could be considered as equivalent to the device claimed in the present application, would be the one way (retention) valve due to the fact that it is coupled in turn to the food or liquid container to which said pressure (or vacuum) Is intended to be applied; nevertheless, said one way (retention) valve does not comprise: an outside covering provided with retaining means on the outside of the neck of the container, nor blocking means that guarantee an airtight closing, nor a top cap supporting a sealing ring that upon being raised in the operation of breaking the seal and opening the stopper, releases tongues, nor due to its different structure can be repeatedly opened and closed, nor an outside ring-shaped stopping projection ending in a spear tip of any axial tongues emerging from the bottom of the cap, nor a detachable ring-shaped part."
In broad outline, the airtight stopper that constitutes the object of the invention, presents as a special characteristic, the inclusion of an independent top cap that is connected to the rest of the stopper in the bottling stage, this cap in turn supporting the sealing ring. In the coupling position, coinciding with its bottommost location with regard to the bottle, once the stopper is closing the neck of the bottle or container, this cap keeps the retaining means of the stopper itself blocked. The cap includes a discoidal closing surface,

from the bottom of which originates the cylindrical wall or neck that is inserted inside the container to close its mouth, there being parallel to this cylindrical surface some tongues which in their inside part support the teeth which are to remain retained in the ring-shaped recess of the neck of the bottle or container. Precisely due to the presence of the contained gas, it is necessary that such lugs are kept blocked in order to prevent the accidental discharge of the stopper, which is achieved upon placing the cap in the correct position.
The discoidal sealing surface of the stopper has at the top a tubular portion that has an outside ring-shaped projection in order to constitute the retaining means of the cap in the uppermost position of the same, the cap being axially movable from a bottom closing and sealing position of the peripheral tongues, up to another top position that permits removal of the stopper, or the opening of the bottle or container.
The cap has in the center a threaded axial projection for connection thereof in the threaded inside of the top tubular portion of the stopper itself. In a position coaxial to this threaded projection, there are other axial tongues whose ends finish in a spear tip, in a similar way that the retaining tongues have in the ring-shaped recess of the bottle neck, naturally emerging from the bottom of said cap. These tongues are duly guided in a ring-shaped part that forms part of the stopper itself, placed in the top part of the same and that keeps them in an axial position, preventing their deviation. These spear tipped projections will remain located between the discoidal surface of the stopper itself and the ring-shaped projection of the top tubular portion of the same, determining the distance at which these cited elements are located, the axial path of the cap.
The approximation of the cap so that its ring-shaped

flap surrounds the neck of the container or bottle in order
to ensure the sealing thereof, in a closing operation
subsequent to the opening operation, is achieved once the
container or bottle is closed, first with a slight axial
movement and then by screwing. The same thing happens when
opening the bottle or container, in the initial breaking of
the seal and the different times when the bottle is opened
until the contained liquid is consumed. Naturally in the
latter opening operations the sealing ring is detached or
broken and the ring remains on the neck or is thrown away.
The ring-shaped part keeps the tongues of the cap together, preventing them from coming off the ring-shaped tooth of the top tubular portion of the stopper itself, thus preventing the separation of the cap from the rest of the stopper. This ring-shaped part is connected to the rest of the stopper by easily breakable portions, being detached to occupy its correct position in the initial assembly of the stopper, in the bottling factory. This ring-shaped part is formed in the injection molding process itself of the stopper itself and advantageously the easily breakable ribs or portions emerge from the edge of the tooth or ring-shaped projection of the outside of the top tubular portion or neck of the stopper itself, these ribs breaking when sealing itself takes place upon axially introducing the cap.
Forward and backward movement of the cap with regard to the main body of the stopper, which happens by means of screwing, can also be achieved more effectively upon providing that the retaining tongues are formed by means of axial cuts in the outside covering of the main body, whose outside periphery is fitted with a thread that connects with the one existing on the inside edge of the cap.
In the last case referred to the sealing ring remains connected to the cap where the threaded area ends and the inviolability is ensured due to the fact that it remains

retained by its bottom edge on the neck itself of the bottle or container.
In order to provide a better understanding of the features of the invention and forming an integral part of this specification, some sheets of drawings, in whose figures the following has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner, are attached hereto.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to airtight stopper closure for containers or bottles that contain carbonated beverages, having, a stopper comprising: a central neck for being inserted into the neck of a bottle or of a container, an outer enveloping part provided with retaining means for retaining said enveloping part at the outside of said container neck, the stopper closure having a top cap bearing a detachable sealing ring, and having a cylindrical wall constituting a blocking means as herein described that guarantees closing, whereby the top cap, when being in a lowest or fitting position with regard to the stopper that is inserted into said container neck by its central neck, blocks the retaining means against the outside of said container or bottle and, when being raised for detaching the sealing ring and opening the stopper, releases the retaining means without becoming detached from the stopper, and a tubular portion emerging from the top part of said stopper, characterised in that the tubular portion has an outside ring-shaped stopping projection, the top cap comprises axial tongues ending in spear-tips, said axial tongues emerging from the bottom of the top cap and being grouped together by a detachable ring-shaped part being provided on said tubular portion, which ring-shaped part in use protrudes between the cylindrical wall and the axial tongues of the top cap, whereby said projection and said spear tips are cooperating stops for limiting the axial path of the top cap and preventing accidental separation of the top cap from the stopper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an exploded section view of the two component parts of the stopper, object of the invention.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are respective sequential views of the connection between both component parts of the same stopper of figure l.
Figure 5 is a bottom view of figure 4.
Figure 6 is the subsequent assembly position of the two component parts of the stopper.
Figure 7 is a view similar to that of figure 6, corresponding to the position of the cap that allows removal of the stopper from the container or bottle, once the sealing ring has been broken.
Figure 8 is a raised section view that shows in an exploded manner the two component parts of the airtight seal object of the invention, also showing in an exploded manner a portion of the neck of the bottle or container containing the carbonated beverage, according to a second embodiment.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal raised section view of the same stopper of figure 8, now coupled to the bottle and with the guarantee seal that ensures the inviolability of the contents.
Figure 10 is a view similar to view 9, once the cap has been unscrewed in order to proceed to break the seal and subsequently open the stopper by axial traction of the assembly, this position in which the airtight closing of

the container being able to take place again.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Making reference to the numbering used in the figures, we can see how the airtight stopper, which the invention proposes, just as it is more especially shown in figure 1, includes a part that materializes the stopper itself (1) that fits on the neck (2) of the bottle or container, and the independent part materialized by the cap (3) supporting the sealing ring (4).
The stopper (1) is comprised by the discoidal surface (5) from which descends coaxially the cylindrical neck (6) that fits inside the mouth of the bottle or container (2). On the periphery of this discoidal surface (5) there are axial lugs (7) and (8) distributed in the way shown in figure 5. The axial lugs (8) have an inside projection (9) that fits in the outside ring-shaped recess of the neck of the bottle or container (2) , as one can clearly see in figure 1.
Above the discoidal surface (5) of the stopper itself
(1), the tubular portion (10) is provided with a bottom
thread (11) and an outside ring-shaped projection (12) with
stop functions for the movement of the cap (3) as we will
see hereinafter. In the top part of the tubular portion
(10) there is the ring-shaped part (13) connected to the
rest of the stopper by the breakable ribs (14).
On its part, the cap (3) has the threaded axial projection (15) to connect the thread (11) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper itself, also having some axial lugs (16) provided on their free end with a spear tip (17). The enveloping cylindrical wall is referred to as number (18) and on its free edge there is the sealing ring (4) connected by the breakable ribs (19).
With this arrangement, in the bottling factory the initial sealing of the container or bottle (2) is proceeded with by placing the stopper itself (1) as is seen in figure

1. Hereinafter, the cap (3) is assembled as shown in figures 2, 3, 4 and 6. One can see in figure 3 how the spear tipped ends C17) of the axial lugs (16) of the cap (3) abut against the sloped bevel edge of the ring-shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper itself (1), springing elastically in order to remain behind it as one can see in figure 4. The axial tongues (16) cannot be radially separated because it is prevented by the ring-shaped part (13) that remains placed between them and the covering (18) of the cap. In the initial assembly of the cap (3) , the tearable ribs (14) of this ring-shaped part (13) break, and the same moves ending up contacting with the discoidal surface (5) of the stopper itself (1) , when the cap is totally assembled, as indicated in figure 6.
in figure 6 one can also see how the sealing ring (4) of the cap (3) remains retained by the axial lugs (7) of the stopper (l) , the complementary threaded areas of the tubular portion (10) and of the axial projection (15) also being interconnected. The outside covering (18) of the cap (3) firmly surrounds the tongues (7) and (8) of the stopper itself (l), forcing the inside projections (9) of the axial tongues (8) to remain in the inside of the ring-shaped recess of the bottle or container (2) , not -being able to come off although the pressure rises in the inside of the bottle.
In these conditions shown in figure 6, when the bottle or container (2) is opened, an operation that is done by unscrewing the cap (3), the axial ribs (19) of the sealing ring (4) break and then the cap (3) rises until the spear tipped projections (17) of the axial tongues (16) of the same, abut against the ring-shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the stopper itself (l), in the highest point of its path, which coincides with the end of the thread. Upon the retaining tongues (8) remaining

• released, one can proceed with the total separation of the stopper from the bottle or container (2) . Thus one can proceed to open and close the container repeatedly given that, although the sealing ring (4) has been broken, once the cap (3) is screwed back completely, a position similar to figure 6 is reached inasmuch as the lugs (8) are covered by the covering (18) , preventing the stopper from being able to accidentally come off.
making special reference to figures 8 to 10, we can see a second embodiment of the structure of the airtight stopper, where the references that designate the common modified elements are accompanied by the suffix ' (prime). The outside covering of the main body (!') of the stopper, coaxial to the cylindrical neck (6) sealing the contents of the bottle has a plurality of axial cuts to form the retaining tongues (20) or tongues identical to each other and that have the inside projection (21) that is housed in the ring-shaped recess (22) of the outside of the neck of the bottle (2).
Reference (13') designates the ring-shaped part that groups the axial tongues (16) of the cap, in the assembled condition of the assembly.
The cap (3') has the side wall (18') and a top wall
(23) or bottom of the same. The sealing ring is referred
to in this case as (4') and it is connected to the edge of
the side wall (18') by means of some axial breakable ribs
that define the frangible line (24) . The cylindrical neck
(15') that emerges from the bottom (23) is smooth and fits
telescopically in the tubular portion (10') of the main
body (1), which can be smooth although in this illustrated
embodiment it has a helicoidal ridge to optimize guiding.
The cap (3') has inside thread (25) with various ridges and that connect with the thread existing on the outside of all the retaining tongues (20) of the man body (!'), this thread being referred to as number (26). When

the unscrewing finishes, the cap can idle, although - overcoming a certain resistance.
With this arrangement, in the packaging factory the container or bottle (2) is initially closed with the stopper itself or the main body (l) , or (1'), so that the cylindrical neck (6) seals the neck of the bottle (2), then assembling the cap (3), or (3'), so that the assembly adopts the position shown in figure 9, taking place in this axial movement: the pulling of the ring-shaped part (13), or (13') by breaking the axial ribs (14) upon the tongues (16) of the cap (3, 3') impinging on them, or else, by the pressure exerted by the edge of the small partitions (27) existing between them and the side wall of the cap (3'), upon pressing on the top edge of said ring-shaped part (13, 13'); the location of the threaded portion (25) of the cap (3')on the outside thread (26) of the retaining tongues (20); and the correct location of the sealing ring (4') with regard to the profile of the neck of the bottle. As one can see in figure 9, the tongues (16) of the cap (3') have surpassed the ring-shaped rib (12) of the tubular portion (10) of the main body (1') and are situated in the inside of the ring-shaped part (13'). In this same axial movement, the cylindrical neck (15') of the inside of the cap (3') is inserted tightly inside the top tubular portion (10') of the main body (1').
The stopper assembly hermetically and securely closes the mouth of the container or bottle (2) , given that the bottom edge -of the cap (3, 3') hides and blocks the retaining tongues (20) (or axial lugs (8) provided with the projection (9) of the embodiment corresponding to figures l to 7), preventing removal of the stopper.
When the seal of the container is broken, that is to say, when the stopper is opened for the first time, upon unscrewing the cap the axial ribs of the sealing ring (4') break and this ring remains resting on the neck of the

- container or bottle (2), as one can see in figure 10. The unscrewing takes place until the inside projections (17) of
4
the tongues (16) of the cap (3') knock against the ring-shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10') of the main body (1'), this position which corresponds with the one shown in figure 10 and very similar to the one shown in figure 7, although in the latter case detachment of the sealing ring (4) takes place upon remaining retained in the other tongues (7) that are inserted between the retainers (8) . The two component parts of the stopper cannot be totally separated because the tongues (16) are deprived of angular movement towards the outside due to the existence of the ring-shaped part (13, 13') that blocks them in this direction and therefore the ring-shaped dentation (12) cannot be surpassed.
The separation of the stopper upon opening the bottle, is produced by axial traction since the retaining tongues (20), or (8) can open angularly towards the outside so that their projections (21) come out of the ring-shaped recess (22) of the neck (2) , task which is facilitated by the sloped arrangement of the top or inside part of said projections.
If the sparkling contents of the bottle (2) has not been consumed in the same position in which the stopper assembly has been removed, the bottle is closed by axial pressure until the position of figure 10 is occupied again. Then and maintaining slight axial pressure the cap is screwed on entirely and thus the retaining tongues (20) are blocked, thus preventing accidental opening thereof, as if the seal on the bottle had not been broken for the first time, these operations being possible as many times as necessary until the entire liquid content has been consumed, without reducing the proposed characteristics of airtightness and secure closing.
As one can see in figure 9, the sealing ring (4;)

before the seal is broken, occupies a position that ensures inviolability due to the fact that it remains retained by its bottom edge on the neck (2) and when the cap (3') is unscrewed, the axial ribs that comprise the frangible line (24)unavoidably broken. The effectiveness of the closing is carried out due to the close fitting and interconnection the broadest part of the stopper, between the cap and the retaining tongues (20) that remain pressed and blocked against the neck of the bottle (2) . Undesired lateral movement and above all an fraudulent operation of trying to separate the stopper assembly from the container are prevented, due to the above mentioned close fitting, as well as to the penetration of the sealing neck (6) into the inside of the neck, and due to the telescopic fitting in the top part of the stopper, between the cap (3') and the main body or stopper itself (1'), upon the respective telescopic parts (10') and (15') sliding tightly, which is also contributed to by the sliding fit of the top tongues (16) between the ring-shaped part (13') and the cylindrical portion (10'), as one can infer upon observing this figure 9 which we are considering.
The movement of the cap (3') with regard to the stopper itself (1') is carried out as it has been indicated above by screwing or unscrewing the cap, which takes place simply by turning a fourth of a turn, since the thread system, as shown in figure 8, has in this case multiple ridges.




WE CLAIM:
1. Airtight stopper closure (1, 3, 1', 3'), for containers or bottles that contain carbonated beverages, having, a stopper (1, I1) comprising:
- a central neck (6) for being inserted into the neck (2, 22) of a
bottle or of a container,
- an outer enveloping part (1) provided with retaining means
(8, 9, 20, 21) for retaining said enveloping part (7) at the
outside of said container neck (2), the stopper closure having
- a top cap (3, 3') bearing a detachable sealing ring (4, 4'), and
having a cylindrical wall (18, 18') constituting a blocking
means as herein described that guarantees closing, whereby
the top cap (3, 3'), when being in a lowest or fitting position
with regard to the stopper (1, 1') that is inserted into said
container neck (2) by its central neck (8), blocks the retaining
means (8, 9, 20, 21) against the outside (2, 22) of said
container or bottle and, when being raised for detaching the
sealing ring (4, 4') and opening the stopper (1, 1'), releases
the retaining means (8, 9, 20, 21) without becoming
detached from the stopper (1, 1'), and
- a tubular portion (10, 10') emerging from the top part (5) of
said stopper (1,1'), characterised in that
- the tubular portion (10, 10') has an outside ring-shaped
stopping projection (12),
- the top cap (3, 3') comprises axial tongues (16) ending in
spear-tips (17), said axial tongues (16) emerging from the
bottom (23) of the top cap (3, 3') and being grouped together
by a detachable ring-shaped part (13, 13') being provided on
said tubular portion (10,10'), which ring-shaped part (13,

13') in use protrudes between the cylindrical wall (18, 18') and the axial tongues (16) of the top cap (3, 3'), whereby said projection (12) and said spear tips (17) are cooperating stops for limiting the axial path of the top cap (3, 3') and preventing accidental separation of the top cap (3, 3') from the stopper (1, 1').
2. Airtight stopper closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring-
shaped part (13,13') is initially connected to the edge of the ring-
shaped projection (12) of the tubular portion (10,10') by means
of breakable ribs (14), such that upon assembly of the top cap
(3,3') during the bottling operation, it detaches from the ring-
shaped projection (12) to become positioned in a location
surrounding the axial tongued (16) in a ring-shaped space
between said tongues (16) and the cylindrical wall (18,18') of the
top cap (3, 3').
3. Airtight stopper closure as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the top cap (3) has a threaded inner axial
projection (15) for connection in a threaded inside (11) of the
tubular portion (10).
4. Airtight stopper closure as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2,
wherein the retaining means (20, 21) of said enveloping part (7)
comprises retaining tongue (20), and in that the inside edge of
the top cap (3') Is provided with an inner thread (25) that
connects with a thread (26) provided on the outsidee of all
retaining tongues (20).
5. Airtight stopper closure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
inner thread (25) has several entries provided such as to achieve
precise positions for blocking and release of the retaining tongue
(20) by quarterly turns.

6. Airtight stopper closure as claimed in claim 1, wherein it
comprises a tap neck
(15') that emerges from the bottom (23) of the top cap (3'), and in
that during: forward and backward threading the top cap (3') is
axially guided by said tubular portion (10') fitting telescopically
within said top neck (15'). '
7. Airtight stopper closure (1, 3, 1', 3'), particularly for containers
or bottles that contain carbonated beverages, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.

Documents:

3392-del-1997-abstract.pdf

3392-del-1997-claims.pdf

3392-del-1997-correspondence-others.pdf

3392-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

3392-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

3392-del-1997-drawings.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-1.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-13.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-19.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-2.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-29.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-3.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-4.pdf

3392-del-1997-form-6.pdf

3392-del-1997-gpa.pdf

3392-del-1997-petition-137.pdf

3392-del-1997-petition-138.pdf


Patent Number 241692
Indian Patent Application Number 3392/DEL/1997
PG Journal Number 30/2010
Publication Date 23-Jul-2010
Grant Date 20-Jul-2010
Date of Filing 25-Nov-1997
Name of Patentee DISENO INDUSTRIAL MAGO, S.L.
Applicant Address AVDA, TORREBLANCA, 1818970 SANT JOAN DESPI, (BARCELONA), SPAIN.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 RAMON Y CAJAL. N 5-08750 MOLINS DE REI (BARCEELONA), SPAIN.
2 JOSE LUIS GOMEZ CAO RAMON Y CAJAL, N 5-08750 MOLINS DE REI (BARCELONA), SPAIN.
PCT International Classification Number B65D 51/16
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 9603012 1996-11-25 Spain