Stopper intended for bottling still wines, characterized in that it includes cork strips laterally joined by a polyurethane binder so as to form a plurality of cork strips, the cork strips being disposed such that the thickness thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the stopper, at least one lateral cork strip joined by a polyurethane binder to each face of the plurality of cork strips revealing all cork strips, the lenticels possibly present in the cork strips extending parallel to the thickness of the strips while those in the lateral cork strips extend perpendicular to the thickness of the strips, such that all lenticels of the stopper are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the stopper in order to limit the variation in oxygen permeability from one stopper to the other.

Stopper intended for bottling still wines, characterized in that it includes cork strips laterally joined by a polyurethane binder so as to form a plurality of cork strips, the cork strips being disposed such that the thickness thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the stopper, at least one lateral cork strip joined by a polyurethane binder to each face of the plurality of cork strips revealing all cork strips, the lenticels possibly present in the cork strips extending parallel to the thickness of the strips while those in the lateral cork strips extend perpendicular to the thickness of the strips, such that all lenticels of the stopper are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the stopper in order to limit the variation in oxygen permeability from one stopper to the other.

A manual craft cutting machine comprises a housing, a template, a press roller, a retainer, a backing plate, and a drive mechanism. The press roller is composed of a first press roller and a second press roller. The press roller is rotated under restriction of the retainer. The retainer comprises a positioning retainer and a sliding retainer. The positioning retainer is provided with a slide groove. The sliding retainer is inserted in the slide groove and movable along the slide groove. The sliding retainer comprises a first sliding retainer rotatably connected with the first press roller and a second sliding retainer rotatably connected with the second press roller. The manual craft cutting machine further comprises a press roller spacing adjustment mechanism. The press roller spacing adjustment mechanism comprises a shift adjusting mechanism for adjusting a large spacing between the press rollers and a fine adjustment mechanism for adjusting a fine spacing between the press rollers. The shift adjustment mechanism drives the first sliding retainer to move along the slide groove, and the fine adjustment mechanism drives the second sliding retainer to move along the slide groove, so that the spacing between the press rollers can be quickly and largely adjusted according to the needs, and a fine spacing adjustment can be achieved according to the needs.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed to be inserted and securely retained in a neck of a product-retaining container includes intimately combining a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and other optional constituents; heating the composition to form a melt; extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt; and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure includes a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and one or more blowing agents. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional method for producing closures are also provided.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed to be inserted and securely retained in a neck of a product-retaining container includes intimately combining a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and other optional constituents; heating the composition to form a melt; extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt; and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure includes a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and one or more blowing agents. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional method for producing closures are also provided.

A thermoplastic material includes one or more thermoplastic polymers in the form of particles having a specified average particle size distribution (e.g., less than 1000 microns or another range) measured by mechanical sieving. Such thermoplastic material may be incorporated in a cork composite material that includes cork, such as in the form of cork particles. The thermoplastic material and cork may be used to produce an article of manufacture, such as a closure for a product retaining container, the closure being constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed to be inserted and securely retained in a neck of a product-retaining container includes intimately combining a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and other optional constituents; heating the composition to form a melt; extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt; and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure includes a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and one or more blowing agents. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional method for producing closures are also provided.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed to be inserted and securely retained in a neck of a product-retaining container includes intimately combining a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and other optional constituents; heating the composition to form a melt; extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt; and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure includes a plurality of coated particles (each comprising a cork material core and a first plastic material) with a second plastic material, and one or more blowing agents. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional method for producing closures are also provided.

A particulate material includes cork particles having a particle size distribution D.sub.50 measured by mechanical sieving in a specified range (e.g., from 0.25 millimetres to 5 millimetres) for use in the production of a cork composite material. A cork composite material may include the particulate material and a thermoplastic material The particulate material and/or cork composite material may be used to produce an article of manufacture, such as a closure for a product-retaining container constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container. Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and closures are also provided.

A method for manufacturing coated particles, said coated particles comprising (1) a core comprising cork material and (2) at least one outer shell comprising a plastic material, includes providing a mixture including cork particles and plastic material comprising thermoplastic material, applying mechanical and/or thermal energy to the mixture to at least partially soften the plastic material, and blending the mixture, whereby the plastic material is at least partially distributed over the surfaces of the individual cork particles. Use of coated particles obtainable by such method in the manufacture of a closure for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a product-retaining container, is also provided.