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 4  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. 
     
     
         10 . The closure means set forth in  claim 2  wherein said engagement means is configured to positively engage with said retainer means in its operative position with said retainer means in one of a plurality of angular orientations of said retainer means relative to said stopper. 
     
     
         11 . The closure means set forth in  claim 10  wherein said engagement means comprises a plurality of grooves formed in and extending across said end surface of said stopper, said plurality of grooves being arranged so as to intersect one another at an angle to each other. 
     
     
         12 . 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, said stopper comprising first location means;   retainer means secured, in use, to the neck of said bottle to be closed; said retainer means comprising a second location means; and   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;   wherein said first location means on said stopper and said second location means on said retainer are interengageable with one another so that the stopper can only be fully inserted into the neck of said bottle in one or more predetermined angular positions relative to one another.   
     
     
         13 . Closure means according to  claim 12  wherein said first location means on said stopper defines a first cam surface and said second location means on said retainer define a second cam surface; the first and second cam surfaces being so configured that, as the stopper is inserted into the neck of said bottle, said first and second cam surfaces are brought into contact with one another so that further insertion of the stopper into said bottle causes said first and second cam surfaces to slide over one another to rotate said stopper and said retainer relative to one another to bring the stopper into one of said predetermined angular positions. 
     
     
         14 . Closure means as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 said stopper is provided with engagement means on at least one surface thereof external to said bottle when closed; and 
 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; 
 said engagement means is configured to positively engage with said retainer means in its operative position with said retainer means in one of a plurality of angular orientations of said retainer means relative to said stopper. 
 
     
     
         15 . The closure means set forth in  claim 14  wherein said engagement means comprises a plurality of grooves formed in and extending across said end surface of said stopper, said plurality of grooves being arranged so as to intersect one another at an angle to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The closure means set forth in  claim 12  where in said first and second location means each comprise a plurality of teeth arranged around the circumference of said stopper and said retainer respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The closure means set forth in  claim 15  wherein said first and second location means each comprise a plurality of teeth arranged around the circumference of said stopper and said retainer respectively, the number of teeth in each of the first and second location means being an exact multiple or an exact divisor of the number of grooves forming the engagement means on said stopper. 
     
     
         18 . 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, said stopper comprising a first cam surface;   retainer means secured, in use, to the neck of said bottle to be closed; said retainer means comprising a second cam surface; and   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;   wherein the first and second cam surfaces are so configured that, as the stopper is inserted into the neck of said bottle, said first and second cam surfaces are brought into contact with one another so that further insertion of the stopper into said bottle causes said first and second cam surfaces to slide over one another to rotate the stopper and retainer relative to one another to bring the stopper into one of one or more predetermined angular positions relative to the retainer.   
     
     
         19 . Closure means as set forth in  claim 18  wherein:
 said stopper is provided with engagement means on at least one surface thereof external to said bottle when closed; and 
 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; 
 said engagement means is configured to positively engage with said retainer means in its operative position with said retainer means in one of one or more angular orientations of said retainer means relative to said stopper. 
 
     
     
         20 . The closure means set forth in  claim 19  wherein said engagement means comprises a plurality of grooves formed in and extending across said end surface of said stopper, said plurality of grooves being arranged so as to intersect one another at an angle to each other. 
     
     
         21 . The closure means set forth in  claim 19  where in said first and second cam surfaces are each defined by a plurality of teeth arranged around the circumference of said stopper and said retainer respectively. 
     
     
         22 . The closure means set forth in  claim 20  wherein said first and second cam surfaces are each defined by a plurality of teeth arranged around the circumference of said stopper and said retainer respectively, the number of teeth in each of the first and second location means being an exact multiple or an exact divisor of the number of grooves forming the engagement means on said stopper.