Composite closure for removable insertion into wine or similar style bottle

Abstract

A closure for a container provides a secure closure for liquid containers while eliminating the disadvantages of traditional cork closures. The closure includes a reduced density core encapsulated by an agglomerated cork layer to which a cork veneer or printed paper or plastic layer is attached. This composite structure provides uniform pressure against the sides of the bottle finish while eliminating the problems normally associated with real cork closures, such as leakage of oxygen in and product out caused by lenticels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure for a container, comprising: 
 an olefinic core element; and    an agglomerated cork sheathing layer surrounding the core element.    
     
     
         2 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the core element is fabricated from an extruded olefinic material.  
     
     
         3 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the core element is foamed with pieces of cork.  
     
     
         4 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the core element is filled with pieces of cork.  
     
     
         5 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the core element has a density in the range of 0.2 g/cm 3  to 0.8 g/cm 3 .  
     
     
         6 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sheathing layer is extrusion mounted to the core element.  
     
     
         7 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sheathing layer is laminated to the core element.  
     
     
         8 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sheathing layer is laminated to the core element by means of thermoplastic hot-melt adhesives.  
     
     
         9 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sheathing layer is an aggregate of small pieces of cork in a polymer matrix.  
     
     
         10 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a decorative layer adhered to the sheathing layer.  
     
     
         11 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the decorative layer is formed from a cork veneer.  
     
     
         12 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an outer protective layer.  
     
     
         13 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the outer protective layer is extrusion coated.  
     
     
         14 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the outer protective layer is an olefinic material.  
     
     
         15 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the outer protective layer consists of a plurality of sublayers.  
     
     
         16 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the outer protective layer comprises: 
 at least one oxygen barrier sublayer; and  
 at least one protective sublayer.  
 
     
     
         17 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the oxygen barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of ethyl vinyl alcohol, nylon, MDX6 nylon, poly acrylonitrile and polyvinylidene chloride.  
     
     
         18 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising end caps attached to the opposite ends of the closure.  
     
     
         19 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the end caps include an oxygen barrier material.  
     
     
         20 . The closure for a container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the end caps are attached using a method selected from the group consisting of hot melt adhesive, ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding and heat sealing.