Capsule For An Item

Abstract

This invention relates generally to capsules for containers, and more particularly to capsules for housing items with beverage containers, such as wine bottles, champagne bottles, beer bottles, liquor bottles, soda bottles, and the like.

1 . A capsule for a bottle, comprising:
 a substantially tubular, conformable skirt; and   a chamber for housing an item, the chamber positioned at least partially inside and releasably secured to at least a portion of the skirt, the chamber comprising at least one standoff extending from the housing for mounting the chamber on a top of the bottle, wherein the at least one standoff includes at least one rim guide for centering the chamber on the bottle, and at least one bottle mount for connecting the chamber to the top of the bottle.   
   
   
       2 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule forms a secondary closure on the bottle. 
   
   
       3 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt includes an aperture for displaying the item through at least a top wall of the chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The capsule of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the chamber protrudes through the aperture in the skirt for displaying the item through a top wall of the chamber and also through at least one side wall of the chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the skirt is formed from a thin sheet comprising one of a metal, a thermoplastic, wood pulp, or wax. 
   
   
       6 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule includes indicia on an inner surface of the capsule. 
   
   
       7 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises:
 a housing having a cavity;   an opening in the housing to permit the insertion and removal of the item into and from the cavity;   a cover releasably covering the opening to releasably secure the item inside the chamber; and   at least one vent aperture aligned with at least one vent hole in the skirt to permit gas to pass through the skirt.   
   
   
       8 . The capsule of  claim 7 , wherein the skirt includes a tear strip circumferentially positioned on an inner surface of the skirt and axially below the at least one vent hole, wherein an end of the tear strip is exteriorly accessible to permit actuation of the tear strip, wherein actuation of the tear strip releases the chamber from the bottle and permits access to the cover and also to a primary closure of the bottle. 
   
   
       9 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is capable of bearing a compressive force longitudinally transmitted through the at least one standoff when the capsule is mounted on the bottle. 
   
   
       10 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is one of a wine bottle, a champagne bottle, a liquor bottle, or a soda bottle. 
   
   
       11 . A capsule for forming a secondary closure on a bottle, comprising:
 a skirt having at least one vent hole therethrough; and   a chamber positioned at least partially inside and releasably secured to at least a portion of the skirt, the chamber comprising:
 an item removably insertable into and from a cavity in the chamber through an opening in the chamber; 
 a cover removably secured to the chamber and covering the opening for releasably securing the item in the cavity; 
 a tear strip positioned on the skirt, wherein an end of the tear strip is exteriorly accessible for gripping and actuating the tear strip, wherein actuation of the tear strip releases the chamber from the bottle and permits access to the cover and also to a primary closure of the bottle; and 
 at least one vent cavity aligned with the at least one vent hole. 
   
   
   
       12 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the item is visible through at least one wall of the chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber has a plan form that is one of a circle or a polygon. 
   
   
       14 . The capsule of  claim 13 , wherein a top wall of the chamber includes one of a raised surface or a recessed surface. 
   
   
       15 . The capsule of  claim 13 , wherein a top wall of the chamber includes a lens for magnifying the item. 
   
   
       16 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the skirt is conformably attached to the chamber. 
   
   
       17 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the skirt is transparent. 
   
   
       18 . The capsule of  claim 11 , wherein the capsule includes indicia on an inner surface of the capsule. 
   
   
       19 . A system for housing an item with a bottle, comprising:
 a closure having a chamber for housing the item, the closure positioned in a mouth of the bottle;   a cap releasably positioned on the closure and over the chamber for releasably retaining the item, wherein the cap includes a first aperture along an outer edge of the cap to assist in removing the cap from the closure for accessing the item; and   a skirt positioned over the closure and the cap and releasably secured to at least a portion of the bottle.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the skirt includes a second aperture that exposes at least a portion of the cap, wherein the cap is transparent for displaying the item. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the skirt comprises:
 a second aperture exposing at least a portion of the first aperture to permit communication of gas through the first and second apertures; and   a tear strip positioned on the skirt, wherein an end of the tear strip is exteriorly accessible for gripping and actuating the tear strip, wherein actuation of the tear strip separates at least a portion of the skirt to permit access to the cap.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the capsule includes indicia on an inner surface of the capsule. 
   
   
       23 . A punt capsule for a bottle punt, comprising:
 an inner capsule including a cavity adapted to be received by the bottle punt;   a chamber positioned in the cavity for housing an item, the chamber comprising a cover forming a bottom of the chamber, the cover releasably secured to the chamber to releasably secure the item inside the chamber; and   an outer capsule connected to the inner capsule and enclosing the chamber in the cavity, the outer capsule including a tear strip wherein an end of the tear strip is exteriorly accessible for gripping and actuating the tear strip, wherein actuation of the tear strip at least partially separates a portion of the outer capsule from the inner capsule to release the chamber from the punt capsule.   
   
   
       24 . The punt capsule of  claim 18 , wherein the inner capsule nests in the outer capsule and the punt capsule is inserted over and shrink-fit to a bottom of a bottle. 
   
   
       25 . The punt capsule of  claim 18 , wherein the chamber nests in the cavity.