Container stopper and opener

Abstract

A bottle stopper includes: a cylindrical guide having multiple slits that run parallel to a center axis along a portion of the guide; a cylindrical nut that is able to move along the center axis, the nut including multiple ridges, each ridge engaging a particular slit such that the nut is not able to rotate relative to the guide about the center axis; a knob coupled to a threaded bolt; and a set screw that secures the knob relative to the guide such that the guide and the knob move together as a rigid body along the center axis, where the threaded bolt is able to engage the nut such that the nut is moved along the center axis when the knob is rotated about the center axis. A method of sealing a container includes: inserting a plug and stopper; and rotating a knob to reach a specified sealing pressure.

Claims

1. A bottle stopper comprising: a cylindrical guide having a plurality of slits that run parallel to a center axis along a portion of the cylindrical guide; a cylindrical nut that is able to move along the center axis, the cylindrical nut comprising a plurality of ridges, each ridge from the plurality of ridges engaging a particular slit from the plurality of slits such that the cylindrical nut is not able to rotate relative to the cylindrical guide about the center axis; a knob coupled to a threaded bolt; and a set screw that secures the knob relative to the cylindrical guide such that the cylindrical guide and the knob move together as a rigid body along the center axis, wherein the threaded bolt is able to engage the cylindrical nut such that the cylindrical nut is moved along the center axis when the knob is rotated about the center axis.

2. The bottle stopper of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical plug able to engage a mouth of a bottle in order to seal the bottle, wherein the cylindrical guide is able to fit within an inner diameter of the cylindrical plug.

3. The bottle stopper of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical guide further comprises a circumferential ridge that secures the cylindrical guide to the cylindrical plug such that the cylindrical guide and the cylindrical plug move as a rigid body along the center axis.

4. The bottle stopper of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical plug comprises cork.

5. The bottle stopper of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical guide comprises a tapered inner surface.

6. The bottle stopper of claim 1, wherein the threaded bolt comprises a collar able to retain the knob relative to the set screw along the center axis.

7. The bottle stopper of claim 1, wherein rotating the knob in a clockwise direction increases sealing pressure and rotating the knob in a counterclockwise direction decreases sealing pressure.

8. A method of sealing a container, the method comprising: inserting a cylindrical plug into a mouth of the container; inserting a stopper into the cylindrical plug, the stopper comprising a knob, a threaded bolt, a tapered guide having a center axis, and a nut; wherein the knob is coupled to the threaded bolt that is able to engage the nut such that the nut is moved along the center axis when the knob is rotated about the center axis; and rotating the knob in a first direction such that the nut is moved along the center axis of the tapered guide and a specified sealing pressure is attained, wherein the stopper further comprises a set screw that secures the knob relative to the tapered guide such that the tapered guide and the knob move together as a rigid body along the center axis.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: rotating the knob in a second direction that is opposite the first direction such that the nut is moved along the center axis of the tapered guide and a specified removal pressure is attained; removing the stopper; and removing the cylindrical plug.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical plug comprises cork.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein: the tapered guide comprises a plurality of prongs extending along the center axis; and the nut comprises a plurality of grooves that engage the plurality of prongs and prevent the nut from rotating relative to the tapered guide.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the tapered guide comprises a circumferential ridge that secures the tapered guide to the cylindrical plug such that the tapered guide and the cylindrical plug move as a rigid body along the center axis.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the set screw engages a collar on the threaded bolt able to retain the knob relative to the set screw along the center axis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nut comprises a threaded inner surface that is able to accept the threaded bolt.

15. A mechanical container stopper comprising: a cylindrical plug able to engage a mouth of a container, the cylindrical plug having a center axis; a tapered guide that fits within the cylindrical plug; a cylindrical nut that is able to move along the center axis; a knob coupled to a threaded bolt that is able to engage the cylindrical nut; and a pair of set screws that engage a collar of the threaded bolt in order to prevent the knob from moving along the center axis.

16. The mechanical container stopper of claim 15 further comprising a nut retention element that prevents the cylindrical nut from rotating relative to the tapered guide.

17. The mechanical container stopper of claim 16, wherein the nut retention element comprises a set of grooves along an outer surface of the cylindrical nut and an associated set of prongs on the tapered guide that engage the set of grooves.

18. The mechanical container stopper of claim 17, wherein the tapered guide comprises a ridge that secures the tapered guide to the cylindrical plug such that the tapered guide and the cylindrical plug move as a rigid body along the center axis.

19. The mechanical container stopper of claim 18, wherein the set of grooves includes five grooves and the set of prongs includes five prongs.

20. The mechanical container stopper of claim 19, wherein rotating the knob in a clockwise direction increases sealing pressure and rotating the knob in a counterclockwise direction decreases sealing pressure.

21. The mechanical container stopper of claim 20, wherein the cylindrical plug comprises cork.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a stopper and its components for a container.

(2) FIG. 1B shows a close up view of the guide and setscrews included in the stopper according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2A shows a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a plug included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A.

(4) FIG. 2B shows a top plan view of the plug of FIG. 2A.

(5) FIG. 3A shows a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a nut included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A.

(6) FIG. 3B shows a section view of the nut of FIG. 3A.

(7) FIG. 3C shows a perspective view of the nut of FIG. 3A.

(8) FIG. 3D shows a top plan view of the nut of FIG. 3A.

(9) FIG. 4A shows a preferred embodiment of a knob included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A.

(10) FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the knob of FIG. 4A.

(11) FIG. 4C shows a bottom plan view of the knob of FIG. 4A.

(12) FIG. 5A shows a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a guide included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A.

(13) FIG. 5B shows a rotated front elevation view of the guide of FIG. 5A.

(14) FIG. 5C shows a section view of the guide of FIG. 5A.

(15) FIG. 5D shows a top plan view of the guide of FIG. 5A.

(16) FIG. 5E shows a top perspective view of the guide of FIG. 5A.

(17) FIG. 5F shows a bottom perspective view of the guide of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(18) FIG. 1A depicts a diagram 100 of an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a stopper comprising a substantially cylindrical plug 112, a substantially tubular guide 108, a substantially cylindrical nut 110, and a substantially cylindrical knob 102. In this preferred embodiment, the stopper further comprises two setscrews 104 and 106 and a circumferential ridge 118. A partial view of the stopper assembly is also shown in FIG. 1B to clearly show the two setscrews 104 and 106 and the guide 108 which includes the ridge 118. The stopper of the present invention is provided to seal a container 116 which in this preferred embodiment is depicted as a wine bottle. The plug 112 operates to engage a mouth 114 of the container 116 to seal the container 116.

(19) The stopper seals the container 116 via the plug 112 whose sealing pressure against the mouth 114 can be controlled. Specifically, the nut 110 in inserted in the plug 112. The guide 108 is inserted in the plug 112 and the knob 102 which comprises a threaded bolt (shown in more detail in FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C) is inserted in the guide 108. The threaded bolt engages the nut 110 which moves up and down in an axial direction 120 along the axial direction of the container 116 when the knob 102 is rotated in either circumferential direction 122. The guide 108 comprises prongs (shown in more detail in FIG. 5A-FIG. 5F) which engage the grooves of the nut 110 (shown in more detail in FIG. 3A-FIG. 3D). The inner surface of the guide 108 (shown in more detail in FIG. 5A-FIG. 5F) is tapered along the axial direction 120. As the knob 102 is rotated, for instance clockwise, in the circumferential direction 122, the nut 110 moves up along the axial direction 120 and the prongs of the guide 108 expand which increase the radial pressure caused by the plug 112 against the mouth 114 of the container 116. As the knob 102 is rotated counterclockwise in the circumferential direction 122, the nut 110 moves down along the axial direction 120 and the prongs of the guide 108 contract which decrease the radial pressure caused by the plug 112 against the inner surface of the mouth 114 of the container 116. In this preferred embodiment, the stopper includes two setscrews 104 and 106 which are inserted in the guide 108 to secure the knob to the guide so that the knob 102 and the guide 108 move together as a rigid body along the axial direction 120 while allowing the knob 102 to freely rotate in either direction along the circumferential direction 122 inside the guide 108. In this preferred embodiment, the guide 108 includes the ridge 118 to rigidly secure the guide 108 to the plug 112 so that the guide 108 and the plug 112 move as a rigid body along the axial direction 120 and the circumferential direction 122.

(20) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B depict two views of a preferred embodiment of a substantially cylindrical plug 200 included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A. The plug 200 comprises a blind hole having a first depth along an axial direction 216 of the plug 200 parallel to the axial direction 120, thereby defining a plug inner surface 214 having a plug inner diameter D2 at 208 and a plug inner height L2 at 202, a plug outer surface 210 having a plug outer diameter D1 at 206 and a plug outer height L1 at 204, and a plug base 212 having a plug thickness 218.

(21) In a preferred embodiment of the plug 200, the plug outer diameter 206 is equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the inner surface of the mouth 114. As such, the plug 200 exerts a small, if any, radial pressure against the inner surface of the mouth 114. In a preferred embodiment, the inner height 202 of the plug 200 is equal to or greater than the guide height L10 at 510, shown in more detail in FIG. 5. In a preferred embodiment, the plug 200 is made from cork material.

(22) FIG. 3A-FIG. 3D depict several views of a preferred embodiment of a substantially cylindrical nut 300 included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A. The nut 300 comprises a nut outer surface 318 having a nut outer diameter D3 at 304, a nut height L3 at 308, and a nut inner surface 320. The nut inner surface 320 is threaded along the axial direction 216. The nut 300 comprises grooves 314 along the axial direction 216. In this preferred embodiment, the nut 300 comprises five grooves 314. The grooves 314 define five protrusions 322 of thickness 324.

(23) Section 3B-3B in FIG. 3A depicts a cross sectional view of the nut 300. The inner surface 320 of the nut 300 is threaded at 312 along the nut height 308. The length L4 at 310 is the distance from the groove surface to the nut outer surface 318. The length L5 at 316 is the distance from the center line of the nut 300 to the nut outer surface 318. As discussed in more detail below in connection with a guide 500 shown in FIG. 5A-FIG. 5F, the nut 300 operates to engage the tapered inner surface of the guide 500 via its grooves 314 moving upwardly and downwardly in the axial direction 216 thereby expanding and contracting the guide prongs 512.

(24) FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C depict three views of a preferred embodiment of a substantially cylindrical knob 400 included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A. The knob 400 comprises a threaded bolt 404 having a bolt height L7 at 408. In this preferred embodiment, the knob 400 has a gnarly top 402 having an outer surface of diameter D4 at 412 and a base 416 situated a length L8 at 410 from the bottom 418 of the threaded bolt 404. In one preferred embodiment, the diameter 412 of the knob 400 is equal to an outer diameter of the mouth 114 of the container 116.

(25) The top 402 is where a user's fingers engage the knob 400 to turn it in either circumferential direction 122, thereby, moving the nut 300 up and down along the axial direction 216, causing tightening and loosening of the stopper assembly inside the mouth 114 of the container 166 shown in FIG. 1A. The annular region between the top of a collar 414 of the threaded bolt 404 and the base 416 of the gnarly top 402 is provided for setscrews 104 and 106 so that the knob 400 and the guide 500 move together as a rigid body along the axial direction 120 while allowing the knob 400 to freely rotate in either circumferential direction 122 inside the guide 500.

(26) FIG. 5A-FIG. 5F depict several views of a preferred embodiment of a substantially tubular guide 500 included in the stopper shown in FIG. 1A. The guide 500 comprises a guide outer surface 526 having a guide outer diameter D5 at 530, a guide height L10 at 510, and a guide inner surface 532. The guide inner surface 532 is tapered along the axial direction 216 at an angle 8 at 514. Specifically, diameter D7 at 516 of the guide 500 decreases linearly as a function of distance along the axial direction 216 to diameter D6 at 528. The guide 500 comprises five slits 534 having a second depth L9 at 506 and thickness 504, thereby, defining five guide prongs 512. These five prongs 512 will engage the five grooves 314 of the nut 300.

(27) In this preferred embodiment, the guide 500 comprises two threaded holes 522 and 524 where setscrews 104 and 106 can be screwed into the guide, thereby, securing the knob 400 to the guide 500 so that the knob 400 and the guide 500 move together as a rigid body along the axial direction 216, while allowing the knob 400 to freely rotate inside the guide 500 in either circumferential direction 122 inside the guide 500. The outer surface 526 of the guide 500 further comprises a circumferential ridge 502 having a diameter D8 at 508 along the axial direction 216. According to one preferred embodiment, the guide 500 is molded in the plug 200. In one preferred embodiment, the guide outer diameter 530 is equal to or less than the inner diameter 206 of the plug 200. In one preferred embodiment, the bolt height 408 is equal to the guide height 510. The guide can be made from a variety of materials including aluminum and steel.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 1 thru 5, one embodiment of the operation of the stopper mechanism is now described. The nut 300 is inserted inside the blind hole of the plug 200. The guide 500 is inserted inside the plug 200 and the knob 400 is inserted inside the guide 500 where the knob threaded bolt 404 engages the threaded surface 312 of the nut 300. This subassembly is inserted into the mouth 114 of the container 116. The outer diameter 206 of the outer surface 210 of the plug 200 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mouth 114 producing an initial sealing pressure when the stopper is inserted into the mouth 114. As the knob 400 is rotated, for instance in the clockwise direction, the nut 300 moves upward along the axial direction 120. The guide prongs 512 engage the nut grooves 314 and the protrusions 322 move inside the slits 534. Because the inner surface 532 of the guide 500 is tapered along the axial direction 120, the nut 300 causes the guide prongs 512 to expand which increase the radial pressure caused by the plug 200 against the mouth 114. As the knob 400 is rotated counterclockwise, the nut 300 moves down along the axial direction 120 and the guide prongs 512 contract which decrease the radial pressure, thereby facilitating easy removal of the stopper from the container 116 without the need for any external opener device.

(29) The foregoing explanations, descriptions, illustrations, examples, and discussions have been set forth to assist the reader with understanding this invention and further to demonstrate the utility and novelty of it and are by no means restrictive of the scope of the invention. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope of this invention.