Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that is configured to secure a stopper to a beverage container or other container. The apparatus could be used, for instance, after a person has removed a cork or other stopper from the mouth of a bottle. Such an apparatus reduces the chance that the stopper will be lost. A portion of the apparatus may also be configured to absorb drips that could result from pouring a beverage or other liquid from the container. The apparatus may also display a message and/or provide other decorative features. Other embodiments of the invention provide a method for manufacturing the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/125,716, filed on Apr. 28, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to a bottle or other container, and more particularly, but without limitation, to an apparatus configured to secure a cork or other stopper, and a method for manufacturing the apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Some containers, and especially wine bottles or other beverage containers, utilize a stopper made of cork, plastic, or other material to seal the mouth of the container. It may be advantageous to retain such a stopper after removal from the mouth of the container. For instance, persons may wish to smell or otherwise inspect a cork stopper that has been removed from a wine bottle, for example. Persons may also wish to save the cork or other stopper as a memento. 
         [0006]    If a person merely sets the stopper aside, the stopper may become lost. In addition, if the stopper is temporarily stored on a tablecloth, trace amounts of the wine or other beverage remaining on the stopper could stain the tablecloth. Some persons might retain a stopper by repeatedly replacing it in the mouth of a wine bottle. But such a method carries the risk that loose cork particles from the stopper will contaminate the wine that remains in the bottle. 
         [0007]    For at least the foregoing reasons, an apparatus for securing a cork or other stopper after a person removes the stopper from the mouth of a container is needed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the invention seek to overcome one or more of the shortcomings described above. An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that is configured to secure a stopper to a beverage container or other container. The apparatus could be used, for instance, after a person has removed a cork or other stopper from the mouth of a bottle. Such an apparatus reduces the chance that the stopper will be lost. The apparatus may also be configured with an absorbent collar to absorb drips that could result from pouring a beverage or other liquid from the container. The apparatus may also display a message and/or provide other decorative features. Other embodiments of the invention provide a method for manufacturing the apparatus. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, reference designators may be duplicated for the same or similar features. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; some features may be exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated therein, a collar  105  is disposed around a neck of a bottle  135 . The collar  105  may be or include, for instance, an elastic band. In addition, the collar  105  may include a handle portion  110 . The handle portion  110  may be used, for instance, to facilitate assembly of the collar  105  around the neck of the bottle  135 . The handle portion  110  may be formed by, and include, a fastener  115 . The fastener  115  may be or include, for instance, a stud, a snap, a rivet, or other fastener. In one respect, the collar  105  provides an anchor for the cord  140 . In another respect, the collar  105  may be absorbent and thus configured to absorb drips that are created at the mouth of the bottle  135  when wine or other liquid in the bottle  135  is being dispensed. 
         [0019]    The cord  140  may be or include elastic. The cord  140  may encircle a portion of the collar  105 , such that two ends of the cord  140  extend from the collar  105 . Both ends of the cord  140  may be threaded through a decorative bead  120 . A crimp  125  on two portions of the cord  140  may secure the decorative bead  120  near the collar  105 . A slip knot may be formed by twice passing both ends of the cord  140  through a retaining bead  145 . When the apparatus is in use, a cork  130  may be secured between portions of the cord  140  that are disposed between the crimp  125  and the slip knot that is formed using the retaining bead  145 . 
         [0020]    A first end of the cord  140  may further pass through a decorative bead  150  and include a crimp  155  at its terminus. A second end of the cord  140  may further pass through a decorative bead  160  and include a crimp  165  at its terminus. 
         [0021]    The crimps  125 ,  155 , and  165  may be or include, for instance, deformable metal. The beads  120 ,  145 ,  150  and  160  may be or include, for example, metal, plastic, or other suitable material. 
         [0022]    Variations to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  are possible. For instance, the collar  105  need not include the handle portion  110  and/or the fastener  115 . Moreover, in an alternative embodiment, the collar  105  need not be elastic (e.g., the collar  105  could be rigid and snap onto the bottle  135 , or the collar  105  could be flexible and fasten to the bottle  135  using a buckle or other known means). Likewise, the cord  140  need not be elastic. Furthermore, any one or more of the decorative beads  120 ,  150 , and  160  could be deleted, according to design choice. Additional decorative beads could be added to the cord  140 , for instance on one or more sides of the decorative beads  120 ,  150 , and/or  160 . It also should be appreciated that a variety of shapes could be used for the decorative beads  120 ,  150 ,  60 , and the retaining bead  145 , and that it is not necessary for any of the foregoing beads to have the same shape. In alternative embodiments, any one or more of the crimps  125 ,  155  and  165  could be omitted or replaced with a knot in the cord  140 . The shape of the crimps  125 ,  155  and  165  may also be varied, according to design preference. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to another embodiment of the invention. For brevity, the description of common features discussed above is not repeated. 
         [0024]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes crimp  205  at one terminus of the cord  140  and crimp  215  at the other terminus of the cord  140 . The crimp  205  retains the decorative bead  150  on the cord  140 . Likewise, the crimp  215  retains the decorative bead  160  on the cord  140 . The crimp  205  includes a hook  210 , and the crimp  215  includes a hook  220 . A charm  225  that includes eyelets  230  and  235 . Hook  210  engages with the eyelet  230 ; hook  220  engages with the eyelet  235 . In an alternative embodiment, the hooks  210  and  220  could be flattened to more robustly secure the charm  225 . The charm  225  could include, for example, a printed greeting such as “Happy Birthday”, or “Happy Anniversary.” Alternatively, the charm  225  could include a person&#39;s name, an expression of emotion, or other text. The charm  225  need not include text, however. 
         [0025]    Alternative embodiments are possible. For instance, any of the variations discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1  are also possible with respect to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view drawing of an apparatus configured to hold a bottle stopper, according to an embodiment of the invention. For brevity, the description of common features discussed above is not repeated. 
         [0027]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  includes a charm  305  that has eyelets  310  and  315 . The charm  305  is secured to each end of the cord  140 . More specifically, a first end of the cord  140  is looped through the eyelet  310  and is secured to one portion of the cord  140  by a crimp  320 . A second end of the cord  140  is looped through the eyelet  315  and is secured to another portion of the cord  140  by a crimp  325 . The crimp  320  also retains the decorative bead  150  on the cord  140 . Similarly, the crimp  325  retains the decorative bead  160  on the cord  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, two additional decorative beads  330  are disposed on the cord  140  between the retaining bead  145  and the decorative bead  150 . Two other decorative beads  335  are disposed on the cord between the retaining bead  145  and the decorative bead  160 . 
         [0028]    Alternative embodiments are possible. For instance, any of the variations discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1  are also possible with respect to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention. After starting in step  405 , the process applies a fastener  115  to a collar  105  to form a handle portion  110  in step  410 . Then, in step  415 , the process threads a first end of a cord  140  through the collar  105 . Next, in step  420 , the process threads the first end and a second end of the cord  140  through a first decorative bead  120 . The process applies a first crimp  125  to a first and second portion of the cord  140  to secure the first decorative bead  120  near the collar  105  in step  425 . In step  430 , the process trims the cord  140  to a predetermined length. The process threads the first and second ends of the cord  140  through a retaining bead  145  in a first direction in step  435 , and re-threads the first and second ends of the cord  140  through the retaining bead  145  in the first direction to form a slip knot in step  440 . The process threads the first end of the cord  140  through a decorative bead  150  in step  445  and threads the second end of the cord  140  through a third decorative bead  160  in step  450 . 
         [0030]    Variations to the process illustrated in  FIG. 4  and described above are possible. For instance, step  410  could be omitted in the case of a rigid collar, or where a handle is not desired. In addition, one or more of steps  420 ,  445  and/or  450  can be eliminated to omit one or more decorative beads, according to design choice. Alternatively, one or more steps could also be added to include one or more additional decorative beads. Step  425  could be omitted, although such step may be preferable when step  420  is performed so that the first decorative bead does not interfere with operation of the slip knot. Step  430  could be eliminated or performed at a different point in the sequence of steps illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]    The process illustrated in  FIG. 4  and described above can be used for manufacturing a portion of the apparatuses illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention. The process illustrated in  FIG. 5  can be used to complete the manufacture of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In step  505 , the process applies a second crimp  155  to a third portion of the cord  140  to retain the second decorative bead  150 , the third portion being near the first end. Then, in step  510 , the process applies a third crimp  165  to a fourth portion of the cord  140  to retain the third decorative bead  160 , the fourth portion being near the second end. The process terminates in step  515 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention. The process illustrated in  FIG. 6  can be used to complete the manufacture of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In step  605 , the process applies a second crimp  205  to a third portion of the cord  140  to retain the second decorative bead  150 . The second crimp  205  has a first hook  210 . The third portion of the cord  140  is near the first end of the cord  140 . In step  610 , the process applies a third crimp  215  to a fourth portion of the cord  140  to retain the third decorative bead  160 . The third crimp  215  has a second hook  220 . The fourth portion of the cord  140  is near the second end of the cord  140 . In step  615 , the process assembles a charm  225  to the first hook  210  and the second hook  220 . The charm  225  has a first eyelet  230  configured to communicate with the first hook  210 , and a second eyelet  235  configured to communicate with the second hook  220 . The process terminates in step  620 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing method, according to an embodiment of the invention. The process illustrated in  FIG. 7  can be used to complete the manufacture of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In step  705 , the process threads the first end of the cord  140  through a first eyelet  310  in a charm  305 . In step  710 , the process applies a second crimp  320  to fasten a third portion of the cord  140  to a second portion of the cord  140 . The third portion of the cord  140  is near the first end of the cord  140 ; the fourth portion of the cord  140  is disposed between the first eyelet  310  and the second decorative bead  150 . In step  715 , the process threads the second end of the cord  140  through a second eyelet  315  in the charm  305 . Then, in step  720 , the process applies a third crimp  325  to fasten a fifth portion of the cord  140  to a sixth portion of the cord  140 . The fifth portion of the cord  140  is near the second end of the cord  140 ; the sixth portion of the cord  140  is disposed between the second eyelet  315  and the third decorative bead  160 . The process terminates in step  725 . 
         [0035]    To manufacture the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3 , step  445  could include threading the first end of the cord  140  through decorative beads  330 , and step  450  could include threading the second end of the cord  140  through decorative beads  335 . 
         [0036]    Embodiments of the invention thus provide an apparatus to secure the cork  130  or other stopper between portions of the cord  140  that are disposed between the crimp  125  and the slip knot formed by the cord  140  and the retaining bead  145 . Other embodiments of the invention provide a method for manufacturing the apparatus. In embodiments of the invention, the collar  105  may absorb drips that that may be created when a person pours wine or other liquid from the bottle  135 . The beads  120 ,  150 ,  160 ,  330 , and/or  335  may be used to decorate the apparatus. Likewise, the charms  225  or  305  may decorate the apparatus. 
         [0037]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, alternative features described herein could be combined in ways not explicitly illustrated or disclosed. Moreover, although the illustrated embodiments were described with reference to a wine bottle, the invention is applicable to water bottles or other containers. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover any such modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.