The disclosure relates to a synthetic closure for a product-retaining container constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container, said closure comprising at least a core member comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and at least one peripheral layer at least partially surrounding and intimately bonded to at least one surface of the core member, said peripheral layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, wherein the synthetic closure is formed by extrusion, and at least one of the core member and the peripheral layer comprises a plurality of cells, and wherein the synthetic closure comprises cork powder.

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 multi-component synthetic closure and/or a rod-shaped intermediate product which incorporate printed indicia comprising ink that is invisible under normal lighting and/or temperature conditions and a continuous, in-line manufacturing process therefor are described. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the core member of the synthetic closure and/or the rod-shaped intermediate product can be formed by a continuous extrusion process which enables the core to be manufactured as an elongated, continuous length of material. As the continuous elongated length of extruded material forming the central core is advanced from the extruder towards an outer skin forming station, the central core passes through a printing station for forming any desired indicia among which can be a registration mark that can be invisible under normal lighting and/or temperature conditions on the outer surface of the central core prior to the application of the outer skin layer.

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 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.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a product-retaining container is provided. Such method may include intimately combining a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymers, optionally in combination with other constituent(s) to form a composition, heating the composition to form a melt, extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt to provide a specified water content range, and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure for a product-retaining container includes a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymer, optionally in combination with other constituent(s). Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, and additional methods for producing closures are also provided.

The present disclosure is directed to a wine tool for preserving wine in a wine bottle. The wine tool include a body and a grippable portion. The body has an open end, a closed end, and a sidewall extending between the open end and the closed end. The sidewall has an elevated outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. The grippable portion is positioned about a portion of the body for assisting a user with removal and placement of a cork into a wine bottle.

A tamper-evident closure for a container. The closure comprises a first portion including inner and outer parts, and a second portion. The outer part is rotatable relative to the inner part from a first position in which at least part of the first and second portions are adjacent each other to a second position in which there is a gap therebetween. The first portion comprises a locking mechanism for irreversibly locking the closure in the second position upon first opening so that the gap cannot be closed, in which the first portion comprises a compressible stopper for sealing the second portion and/or the container. A tamper-evident closure in combination with a container.