Self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly

Abstract

A self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly configured to seal and opening of a bottle and to preserve an oxygen sensitive substance under pressure therein and/or for sealing the bottle for transport or horizontal storage. The assembly generally includes an anchor member for inserting onto a neck of a bottle or other container, and a retainer member for covering the stopper and coupling to the anchor member to secure the stopper to the bottle.

1 . A self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly configured to secure a stopper to a bottle, the assembly comprising:
 a retaining member configured to fit over the stopper; and   an anchor member, wherein where in the anchor member is configured to fit onto a neck of the bottle, and   wherein the retaining member is operably coupleable to the anchor member to secure the stopper onto the bottle.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises an annular sidewall, and wherein a least a portion of an exterior surface of the annular sidewall includes structure defining threading, thereby defining a threaded portion. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the anchor member comprises a ring, wherein an internal surface of the ring includes structure defining threading, and wherein the ring is configured to fit over a bottom portion of the annular sidewall such that the threaded portion of the annular sidewall is engages the threading of the ring when the ring is rotated relative to the retaining member. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of any preceding  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert configured to be inserted into a bottom portion of the retaining member, wherein when the retaining member is operably coupled to the anchor member, the insert grips the neck of the bottle.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of fingers extending longitudinally below the threaded portion. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the insert is configured to fit in the retaining member such that the insert abuts an internal surface of the each of the plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the assembly is configured such that when the ring is rotated with respect to the retaining member, the fingers move inwardly to tighten the insert onto the neck of the bottle, thereby securing the stopper to the bottle. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member and the anchor member are formed of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the insert is formed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a top cage member configured to fit over the stopper, and two or more longitudinally extending arms depending from a bottom end of the cage member. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor member comprises one or more straps coupled to the two or more arms, wherein the one or more straps are configured to be tightened to secure the two or more arms to the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the anchor member comprises a first strap coupled to a first arm, and a second strap coupled to a second arm, wherein the first strap includes a plurality of fabric loops, and wherein the second strap includes a plurality of hook members configured to engage the plurality of loop members to secure the assembly and the stopper to the bottle. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member comprises at least two upwardly extending ratchet arms, and wherein the retaining member comprises structure defining a pawl configured to engage the ratchet arms. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet arms each comprises a plurality of ratchets extending along a length of the ratchet arm, wherein the ratchets are evenly spaced. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  1 , wherein the anchor member comprises at least two hinged arms configured to operable latch to corresponding structure of the retaining member, wherein the at least two hinge arms are shiftable between an unlatched position, and a latched position. 
     
     
         16 . A method of securing a stopper to a bottle, the method comprising:
 providing a bottle stopper;   providing a self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly according to any of the preceding claims;   inserting the bottle stopper into a neck of a bottle;   covering the bottle stopper with the retainer member of the assembly; and   coupling the retainer member and the anchor member to secure the stopper to the bottle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining member comprises an annular sidewall, a least a portion of an exterior surface of the annular sidewall including structure defining threading to define a threaded portion, wherein the anchor member comprises a ring, and wherein an internal surface of the ring includes structure defining threading, the method further comprises:
 inserting a bottom portion of the retaining member into the ring; and   rotating the ring relative to the retainer member to tighten the assembly on the bottle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the assembly further comprises an insert, the method further comprises:
 inserting the insert into the bottom portion of the retaining member,   wherein rotating the ring relative to the retainer causes the insert to grip the bottle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the retaining member further comprises a plurality of fingers extending longitudinally below the threaded portion, and wherein the insert abuts the plurality of fingers, and wherein rotating the ring relative to the retainer causes the fingers to urge the insert into sealing contact with the bottle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 storing the bottle with the secured stopper in a sideways position, wherein a liquid contained in the bottle is sufficiently sealed within the bottle so as to avoid leakage of the liquid.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a liquid contained in the bottle comprises a carbonated liquid, and the method further comprising:
 disassembling the self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly; and   removing the stopper, wherein a carbonation level before securing the stopper to the bottle is substantially similar to a carbonation level after removing the stopper.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stopper comprises an oxygen scavenging stopper including an oxygen scavenging agent. 
     
     
         23 . A kit comprising:
 a self retaining bottle stopper fixture assembly according to  claim 1 ; and   one or more stoppers.   
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more stoppers comprises an oxygen scavenging stopper including an oxygen scavenging agent.