Reusable resilient bottle capsule

Abstract

A reusable resilient bottle capsule having a top cap portion, a medial portion that extends downwardly from and is integral with the top cap portion, a lower sleeve portion extending downwardly from and integral with the medial portion. The interior wall of the capsule has a surface configuration dividing the interior wall into a generally cylindrical lower portion with a first diameter that tightly conforms to the neck of a bottle below the banded collar of a bottle, an annular medial channel with a second diameter, larger than that of the first diameter, that permits the medial channel to straddle and accommodate the banded collar of a bottle, and an upper cylindrical portion with a third diameter substantially the same as that of the first diameter and which tightly surrounds and engages the pouring spout portion of the bottle. An annular channel in the underside of the top cap portion may be provided to facilitate a tight seal around the bottle pour spout. The resilient material has a Shore rating that allows the capsule to be installed and removed repeatedly without losing its efficacy in preventing oxidation and spillage of bottle contents, even when the bottle is laid on its side or inverted.

1 . A resilient reusable bottle capsule, comprising:
 a top cap portion;   a medial portion integral with said top cap portion;   a lower sleeve portion integral with said medial portion; and   an interior wall having a surface configuration dividing said interior wall into a generally cylindrical lower portion having a first diameter, an annular medial channel having a second diameter larger than said first diameter that permits said medial channel to straddle and accommodate the banded collar of a bottle of a predetermined size, and an upper cylindrical portion having a third diameter substantially the same as that of said first diameter which tightly surrounds and engages the pouring spout portion of the bottle.   
     
     
         2 . The resilient reusable bottle capsule of  claim 1 , wherein when installed on a bottle having a banded collar finish, said top cap portion tightly circumscribes the upper portion of the bottle above the banded collar and said lower portion tightly circumscribes the neck of the bottle below the banded collar. 
     
     
         3 . The resilient reusable bottle capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said top cap portion includes an integral enlarged rim to facilitate gripping when installing or removing said capsule. 
     
     
         4 . The resilient reusable bottle capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said capsule includes an exterior surface that tapers inwardly from said top portion to a bottom edge of said lower sleeve portion. 
     
     
         5 . The resilient reusable bottle capsule of  claim 1 , wherein said capsule is fabricated from a material selected from pure gum rubber, synthetic rubber, and food grade silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The resilient reusable bottle capsule of  claim 5 , wherein said material has a shore durometer of about Shore A-50, +/−5 points, under the ASTM D2240 testing standard.