Plug For Bottle

Abstract

An improvement to the plugs of bottles generally cylindrical in shape, delineated by a so-called upper end ( 4 ) and a so-called lower end ( 5 ). The cylindrical body ( 1 ) of the plug includes a cylindrical wall ( 6 ) made of moulded plastic material, inside which are provided—a sealing structure ( 20 ) at least liquid-proof, and—a stiffening honeycomb structure ( 7 ), also made of moulded plastic material, provided as single block with the cylindrical wall; the honeycomb structure ( 7 ) is formed of a plurality of longitudinal channels ( 10 ) juxtaposed, which channels ( 10 ) extend from the sealing structure ( 20 ) up to at least one of the upper ( 4 ) and/or lower ( 5 ) ends of the cylindrical body ( 1 ), at which they emerge, and it is in the form of a beehive structure, formed of channels, whereof at least the greater portion exhibits transversal hexagonal or substantially hexagonal section. The sealing structure ( 20 ) includes advantageously of a compound-filled insert ( 21 ) whose nature is appropriate for optimising the preservation and/or the evolution of the liquid packed in the bottle.

1 . A plug generally cylindrical in shape intended for sealing the neck of a bottle, said cylindrical body ( 1 ) being delineated by a so-called upper end ( 4 ) and by a so-called lower end ( 5 ), the latter being intended for engaging first into said bottle neck, said cylindrical body ( 1 ) including a cylindrical wall ( 6 ) made of moulded plastic material, inside which are provided—a sealing structure ( 12 ,  20 ) at least liquid-proof, and—a stiffening honeycomb structure ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″), also made of moulded plastic material, provided as single block with said cylindrical wall ( 6 ), which honeycomb structure ( 7 ;  7 ′,  7 ″) is formed of a plurality of juxtaposed longitudinal channels ( 10 ), extending from said sealing structure ( 12 ,  20 ) up to at least one of the upper ( 4 ) and/or lower ( 5 ) ends of said cylindrical body, at which they emerge, characterised in that the honeycomb internal structure ( 7 ;  7 ′,  7 ″) is in the form of a beehive, formed of channels ( 10 ) whereof at least the greater portion exhibits transversal hexagonal or substantially hexagonal section. 
   
   
       2 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing structure ( 12 ,  20 ) is provided at the so-called lower end ( 5 ) of the cylindrical body ( 1 ). 
   
   
       3 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing structure ( 12 ,  20 ) is provided at intermediate position over the length of the cylindrical body ( 1 ), between the upper ( 4 ) and lower ( 5 ) ends. 
   
   
       4 . A plug according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the stiffening honeycomb structure is provided in two sections ( 7 ′ and  7 ″) extending on both sides of the sealing structure ( 12 ,  20 ). 
   
   
       5 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing structure consists of a single-piece pellet of plastic material ( 12 ). 
   
   
       6 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing structure ( 20 ) contains a compound-filled insert ( 21 ) made of a material of appropriate nature for optimising the preservation and/or the evolution of the liquid packed in the bottle. 
   
   
       7 . A plug according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the compound-filled insert ( 21 ) is made of cork. 
   
   
       8 . A plug according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the compound-filled insert ( 21 ) is made of wood. 
   
   
       9 . A plug according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the compound-filled insert ( 21 ) is provided at the so-called lower end ( 5 ) of the cylindrical body ( 1 ), and is in the form of a cylindrical pellet whereof the axis is coaxial to said cylindrical body ( 1 ), which circular pellet ( 21 ) is held by the compound-filling material—by means of a tubular extension ( 24 ) at its cylindrical peripheral wall,—by means of two annular flanges ( 25 ,  26 ) at the external rings of its upper ( 22 ) and lower ( 23 ) faces, and—by means of the wall of the channels ( 10 ) of the honeycomb structure ( 7 ) at its upper face ( 22 ) accessible through the opening ( 27 ) delineated by said upper flange ( 25 ). 
   
   
       10 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that its cylindrical wall ( 6 ) has an average thickness ranging between 1 and 3 mm. 
   
   
       11 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the honeycomb internal structure ( 7 ;  7 ′,  7 ″) is formed of channels ( 10 ) whereof the ratio between the average diameter and the average thickness of the walls ranges between 1 and 8, and preferably between 2 and 6. 
   
   
       12 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the honeycomb internal structure ( 7 ;  7 ′,  7 ″) is formed of a juxtaposition of longitudinal channels ( 10 ), in number ranging between 10 and 50, preferably between 15 and 40. 
   
   
       13 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the honeycomb internal structure ( 7 ;  7 ′,  7 ″) includes a channel ( 10 ′) arranged on the axis ( 2 ) of the cylindrical body ( 1 ). 
   
   
       14 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that its cylindrical wall ( 6 ) includes a juxtaposition of external annular protrusions ( 8 ), over at least a portion of its height, for optimising its sealing capacities. 
   
   
       15 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the lower portion ( 5 ) of its cylindrical body ( 1 ) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the upper portion of said cylindrical body ( 1 ), in particular for easier positioning on the neck ( 16 ) of the bottle. 
   
   
       16 . A plug according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the upper portion ( 4 ) of the cylindrical body ( 1 ) is extended by a single-piece skirt ( 31 ) intended for covering the external face of the upper portion of the neck ( 16 ) of the bottle. 
   
   
       17 . A plug according to  claim 16 , characterised in that it includes, at the linking portion between the cylindrical body ( 1 ) and the overlaying skirt ( 31 ), two parallel circular lines ( 32 ,  33 ) tapering in section, delineating a ring ( 30 ), united by a line ( 34 ) also tapering in section, said ring ( 30 ) forming a tongue easy to be removed manually or by means of an appropriate tool, in order to separate the “plug” portion ( 1 ) properly speaking of the “skirt” portion ( 31 ). 
   
   
       18 . A plug according to  claim 17 , characterised in that it includes a skirt ( 31 ) whereof the upper portion ( 35 ), situated just below said tongue ( 30 ) for separating the cylindrical body from the skirt, is shaped so as to be spaced apart slightly from the external face of the neck ( 16 ) of the bottle, once the assembly placed correctly on said bottle neck, to provide a small annular tank ( 36 ) for receiving possible liquid overflows during service. 
   
   
       19 . A plug according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the sealing structure consists of a single-piece pellet of plastic material ( 12 ). 
   
   
       20 . A plug according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the compound-filled insert ( 21 ) is provided at the so-called lower end ( 5 ) of the cylindrical body ( 1 ), and is in the form of a cylindrical pellet whereof the axis is coaxial to said cylindrical body ( 1 ), which circular pellet ( 21 ) is held by the compound-filling material—by means of a tubular extension ( 24 ) at its cylindrical peripheral wall,—by means of two annular flanges ( 25 ,  26 ) at the external rings of its upper ( 22 ) and lower ( 23 ) faces, and—by means of the wall of the channels ( 10 ) of the honeycomb structure ( 7 ) at its upper face ( 22 ) accessible through the opening ( 27 ) delineated by said upper flange ( 25 ).