Bottle closure

Abstract

Closure means for providing a resealable closure for a bottle containing champagne, sparkling wines, or the like comprises a stopper for insertion into the neck of a bottle to close it; and retainer means secured to the neck of the bottle to be closed. The retainer means is pivotable between an open position in which the it does not engage the stopper and an operative position in which the retainer positively engages with the stopper so as to retain the stopper in the neck of the bottle. The stopper is preferably provided with engagement means such as a groove on at least one surface thereof external to the closed bottle. The retainer means in its operative position positively engages with the engagement means of the stopper so as resist movement of the retainer means relative to the stopper away from the operative position. The stopper, the retainer means or both are resilient so that it is necessary to deform the stopper, the retainer means or both in order to bring the retainer means into the operative position.

1 . Closure means for providing a resealable closure for a bottle containing champagne, sparkling wines, or the like, said closure means comprising:
 a stopper for insertion into the neck of a bottle to close it; and   retainer means secured, in use, to the neck of said bottle to be closed;   said retainer means being pivotable between an open position in which said retainer does not engage said stopper and an operative position in which said retainer positively engages with said stopper so as to retain said stopper in the neck of the bottle.   
   
   
       2 . The closure means set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said stopper is provided with engagement means on at least one surface thereof external to said bottle when closed;   said retainer means in its operative position positively engaging with said engagement means of said stopper so as to resist movement of said retainer means relative to said stopper away from said operative position.   
   
   
       3 . The closure means set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said stopper, said retainer means or both are resilient so that it is necessary to deform said stopper, said retainer means or both in order to bring said retainer means into said operative position.   
   
   
       4 . The closure means set forth in  claim 2  wherein:
 said stopper has an end surface which is remote from said bottle when said bottle is closed; and   said engagement means comprises a groove formed in and extending across said end surface of said stopper.   
   
   
       5 . The closure means set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said retainer means is of generally U-shaped configuration having a pair of arms which extend from the neck of said bottle and a crosspiece extending between the ends of the arms at a location remote from said bottle so that, in use, said crosspiece engages with said stopper when said retainer means is in said operative position.   
   
   
       6 . The closure means set forth in  claim 5  wherein said crosspiece is rotatably mounted to said arms of said retainer means. 
   
   
       7 . The closure means set forth in  claim 6  wherein said crosspiece is a roller. 
   
   
       8 . The closure means set forth in  claim 1  wherein said closure means further comprises:
 a mounting means for securing to the neck of a bottle; and   said retainer means is pivotably fixed to said mounting means.   
   
   
       9 . The closure means set forth in  claim 8  wherein said mounting means is annular in shape so as to extend, in use, wholly or partially around the neck of said bottle.