Container closure device

Abstract

The closure device may be used to seal bottles or other liquid containers, while avoiding contamination by 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA). The closure device may include a sleeve that is inserted into the neck of a bottle. A stopper may be inserted into the sleeve to seal the bottle. To prevent TCA contamination, the stopper may include a stopper cap made of a TCA scavenger material, providing a barrier between the stopper and the contents of the bottle. A filter may be added to remove particulates and impurities from the contents when poured from the unstoppered bottle. Various types and shapes of filters may be used, and the filter may include a spring or other movement assistance or a ventilation mechanism. In some embodiments, the sleeve may be removably attached to the bottle, such as by interfacing threading, or to the filter, such as by frangible connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid container closure device for closing a liquid container, comprising:
 a sleeve fitted to insert into an opening of the liquid container; and   a stopper fitted to insert into the sleeve,   wherein the combination of the sleeve and the stopper forms a removable seal to close the liquid container when inserted into the opening of the liquid container.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid container may be opened by either (i) removing the stopper alone or (ii) removing both the sleeve and the stopper. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the sleeve comprises at least one of: an oxygen scavenger or a TCA scavenger. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the sleeve comprises at least one of: polyethylene, zeolites, a ferrous material, activated carbon, sodium sulfite, sodium chloride, or glucose oxidase; and wherein the portion of the sleeve is exposed to the contents of the liquid container only upon removal of the stopper. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal between the sleeve and a portion of the liquid container, wherein the seal comprises at least one of the following: a deformable ring, a gasket, an adhesive layer, or a flange. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following: a filter or an aerator. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 6 , wherein the filter comprises one or more of the following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 6 , wherein the filter further comprises one or more of the following: a spring, a ventilation tube, a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanism applying tension to the filter. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the filter comprises at least one of: polyethylene, zeolites, a ferrous material, activated carbon, sodium sulfite, sodium chloride, or glucose oxidase. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes an interior opening configured to receive the stopper, and wherein at least one portion of the interior opening has a cross-sectional area lesser than the cross sectional area of another portion of the interior opening. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the liquid container further comprises a neck; and   the sleeve is further fitted to insert into the neck.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the neck further comprises a threaded portion on the exterior of the neck;   the sleeve further comprises a threaded portion of the sleeve; and   the threaded portion of the sleeve and the threaded portion on the exterior of the neck are configured to removably connect the sleeve to the liquid container by fitting together the threaded portions.   
     
     
         13 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 12 , wherein the neck further comprises an unthreaded portion adjacent to the threaded portion on the exterior of the neck, and wherein the maximum cross-sectional radius of the threaded portion on the exterior of the neck does not exceed the maximum cross-sectional radius of the unthreaded portion of the neck. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve contains one or more breaches configured to permit liquid to flow between the interior and exterior of the sleeve within the neck. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more breaches are covered with a filter material comprising one or more of the following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a cloth, or a sponge. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more breaches include a plurality of perforations facilitating ventilation across the sleeve, and wherein the plurality of perforations are disposed within a portion of the sleeve forming a basket. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 11 , further comprising a pilfer band connected to the sleeve by one or more frangible connectors, wherein removing the sleeve from the neck breaks the one or more frangible connectors and disconnects the pilfer band from the sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 17 , further comprising a cladding surrounding an external portion of the sleeve that is outside the liquid container when the sleeve is inserted within the neck. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the neck further comprises a threaded portion on the interior of the neck;   the sleeve further comprises a threaded portion on the exterior of the sleeve; and   the sleeve is fitted to insert into the neck such that the threaded portion on the exterior of the sleeve fits within the threaded portion on the interior of the neck.   
     
     
         20 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 11 , wherein the neck further comprises an internal shoulder, which internal shoulder comprises a ledge within the neck protruding from the interior surface of the neck. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 20 , further comprising a filter, wherein:
 the filter is connected to the internal shoulder by one or more of the following: adhesive, tabs, hooks, threading, clips, flanges, friction, or tension;   the filter is further connected to the sleeve by one or more frangible connectors; and   the one or more frangible connectors cause the filter and the sleeve to decouple when the sleeve is removed from the neck.   
     
     
         22 . A liquid container closure device for closing a liquid container, comprising:
 a removable cap fitted to seal an opening of the liquid container; and   a lining fitted to form a barrier between the interior of the removable cap and the interior of the liquid container, wherein at least a portion of the filter comprises at least one of: an oxygen scavenger or a TCA scavenger;   wherein the combination of the removable cap and the lining forms a removable seal to close the liquid container.   
     
     
         23 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 22 , further comprising a filter, wherein the filter further comprises one or more of the following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge. 
     
     
         24 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 23 , further comprising a second removable cap fitted to seal an opening in the removable cap, wherein the filter is connected to the removable cap. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the liquid container further comprises a neck; and   the filter is further disposed within the neck.   
     
     
         26 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 25 , wherein the filter is connected to the neck by one or more of the following: an adhesive, a tab, a hook, a threading, a clip, a flange, or by friction or tension between the filter and the neck. 
     
     
         27 . A liquid container closure device for closing a liquid container, comprising:
 at least one of (i) a removable cap or (ii) a removable stopper, fitted to seal an opening of the liquid container; and   a filter,   wherein the filter is disposed within a neck of the liquid container.   
     
     
         28 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 27 , wherein the filter comprises one or more of the following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge. 
     
     
         29 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 27 , wherein the filter further comprises one or more of the following: a spring, a ventilation tube, a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanism applying tension to the filter. 
     
     
         30 . The liquid container closure device of  claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of the filter comprises at least one of: polyethylene or zeolites.