CORK DERIVED PRODUCT

Abstract

A cork derived product formed by a bonded mass of granulated and/or microgranulated cork particles and activated carbon particles mixed with the cork particles; wherein the cork particles and the activated carbon particles are bonded together by means of a binder; and the cork derived product includes the activated carbon particles in a proportion between 10% and 40% of the dry weight of the product, giving the cork derived product a darkened color.

Claims

1. A cork derived product formed by a bonded mass of granulated and/or microgranulated cork particles and activated carbon particles mixed with the cork particles; wherein the cork derived product is selected among a container or a surface for use in contact with food, cosmetic, or perfume products, a container stopper or as a part thereof; the cork particles and the activated carbon particles are bonded together by a binder; and the cork derived product includes the activated carbon particles in a proportion between 10% and 40% of the dry weight of the product, giving the cork derived product a darkened color.

2. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the activated carbon particles are or include microparticles and/or nanoparticles, or are particles with a size comprised between 0.5 micra and 5 mm.

3. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the cork particles are particles with a size comprised between 0.2 mm and 10 mm.

4. The cork derived product according to claim 1 wherein the binder is an isocyanate or a polyisocyanate.

5. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the darkened color has a mean color brightness value of at least 10% or at least 15% less than the mean color brightness value of an equivalent product lacking activated carbon.

6. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the darkened color has a mean color brightness value equal to or less than 50% or equal to or less than 40%.

7. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the product includes parts, or parts adhered to one another, with different concentrations of activated carbon particles, with a different particle size distribution of activated carbon particles, and/or with a different particle size distribution of cork particles.

8. (canceled)

9. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the cork derived product is at least one part of the stopper in contact with a hollow interior of the container and/or at least one part of the stopper defining a sealing ring pressing against a mouth of the container.

10. The cork derived product according to claim 1, wherein the cork derived product is a cutting board.

11. A method of manufacturing a cork derived product selected among a container or a surface for use in contact with food, cosmetic, or perfume products, a container stopper or as a part thereof; the method including the steps of: mixing granulated and/or microgranulated cork particles with a binder precursor; compressing and heating the mixture in a mold or in an extruder, causing the polymerization of the binder precursor, transforming the binder precursor into a binder; mixing activated carbon particles with granulated and/or microgranulated cork particles before compressing and heating the mixture, the activated carbon particles being in a proportion between 10% and 40% of the dry weight of the product, giving the cork derived product a darkened color.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the activated carbon particles are mixed with the cork particles before or simultaneously with the mixing of cork particles with the binder precursor.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the activated carbon particles are mixed with the cork particles after the mixing of cork particles with the binder precursor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood based on the following detailed description of an embodiment in reference to the attached drawings which must be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner. In the figures:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a cork derived product without activated carbon, corresponding to the state of the art, in the form of a flat rectangular sheet;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a cork derived product in the form of a flat rectangular sheet with activated carbon in a first proportion and having a first darkened color depicted with hatching;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a cork derived product in the form of a flat rectangular sheet with activated carbon in a second greater proportion and having a second darker darkened color depicted with a denser hatching;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a cork derived product in the form of a flat rectangular sheet with activated carbon in a third proportion and with the color being darker in the interstices between the cork particles than on the cork particles;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a cork derived product in the form of a flat rectangular sheet with activated carbon in a fourth proportion and which, in addition to the general darkened color, includes activated carbon particles having a size equivalent to the size of the cork particles, for example particles greater than 1 mm;

[0048] FIGS. 6 to 9 show four examples of stoppers including the cork derived product, with the first two examples of stoppers being formed entirely by said cork derived product, the third example showing a large-headed stopper only partially formed by said cork derived product, and the fourth example showing a stopper in which the cork derived product only forms a sealing ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0049] The attached figures show illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

[0050] According to a first embodiment of the invention, a stopper for bottles containing wine, cava, champagne, or another beverage, which is formed, at least in part, by a cork derived product formed by a bonded mass of granulated and/or microgranulated cork particles mixed with activated carbon particles, is proposed.

[0051] The activated carbon particles contained in the cork derived product can all have a homogenous or heterogeneous particle size distribution. For example, it is contemplated to mix particles equal to or greater than 1 mm with microparticles and/or nanoparticles.

[0052] Activated carbon will be present in the product in a sufficient proportion so that the color brightness of the resulting cork derived product is equal to or less than 50%, or even 40%, providing cork derived products with a range of colors ranging from dark brown to black.

[0053] Said stopper can be formed entirely by the mentioned cork derived product, for example, forming a stopper for wine, cava, or champagne such as those schematically shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0054] Alternatively, only a part of the stopper will be formed by the proposed cork derived product. For example, FIG. 8 shows a large-headed stopper in which only the part intended for being inserted into the neck of the bottle is formed by the proposed cork derived product, with the head of the stopper being made of another material. Said another material can be, for example, plastic, wood, glass, or even a natural cork derived product or granulated cork bonded without activated carbon, or with a different particle size distribution or proportion of activated carbon.

[0055] It is also proposed for the stopper to possibly include the proposed cork derived product with different concentrations of activated carbon in different parts thereof.

[0056] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment according to which the stopper only includes the proposed cork derived product in a sealing ring intended for being pressed against the mouth of a container covered by said stopper. Said sealing ring will filter the gas passing therethrough.

[0057] Other uses of the cork derived product are also contemplated. For example, FIGS. 2 to 5 show different flat rectangular sheets of said material which can be used as cutting surfaces for food products, as trays, as a coating for floors, walls, or furniture, or even as a breathable insulating material, among many other possible uses.

[0058] Said cork derived product also can have the shape of container, for example a dish, plate, or the like, or be a part thereof.

[0059] It will be understood that the different parts forming the invention described in an embodiment can be freely combined with the parts described in other different embodiments although said combination has not been explicitly described, provided that the result of said combination is within the scope of the claims and provided that there is no incompatibility in the combination.