Abstract:
A composite synthetic cork is provided, wherein the synthetic cork is operatively coupled with a decorative handle via an interlocking component. In an exemplary embodiment, the interlocking component is molded within an interior space of said synthetic cork component, such that the interlocking component is not readily apparent or not visible upon assembly with the decorative handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/141,725, filed Dec. 31, 2008; the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to container closures using natural looking synthetic cork. 
         [0003]    Producers of liquid consumable products, such as wine, liquor and other products, that are sold in bottles or other containers that are traditionally closed and sealed with cork stoppers have long been concerned about contamination due to the cork, which can lead to spoilage or alteration of the product within the container. In the case of wine or cooking oil, for example, such spoilage is immediately noticeable by the consumer and renders the product unfit for consumption. 
         [0004]    For that reason, there has been a movement in recent times toward the use of synthetic stoppers in place of cork. If the synthetic materials used are non-reactive with the contents of the container, the synthetic stopper is a viable solution to the problem of contamination due to the cork, and consequently the contents of the container. 
         [0005]    However, penetration of synthetic stoppers into the food and beverage container industry has been slow. Many producers of food and wine are reluctant to switch from traditional corks to synthetic stoppers for purely aesthetic reasons. 
         [0006]    While synthetic stoppers generally exist in the marketplace, there is room in the industry for innovation, particularly as it relates to generating a more aesthetically appealing product. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention comprises a composite synthetic cork, wherein the synthetic cork is operatively coupled with a decorative handle via an interlocking component. In an exemplary embodiment, the interlocking component is molded within an interior space of said synthetic cork component, such that the interlocking component is not readily apparent or not visible upon assembly with the decorative handle. 
         [0008]    In other exemplary embodiments, the decorative handle comprises a transparent portion and an interior void, and the synthetic cork includes an aperture through a central portion of the cork, configured such that fluid from a stoppered container may pass through the cork and into the interior void, which is viewable through the transparent portion of the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the following FIGURES: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is cross-sectional side view of an exemplary composite stopper; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary cork component and interlocking component; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary mold; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary mold of  FIG. 3 , wherein an interlocking component is installed prior to molding; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary mold for provision of an aperture through the cork and interlocking component; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary cork component and interlocking component including an aperture therethrough; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary composite stopper having an internal handle reservoir and an aperture through the cork stopper and interlocking component; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cutaway perspective view of a complementary ridge in groove interface between the interlocking component and the cork; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a non-cutaway perspective view of the cork of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    As was noted above, the present disclosure relates to an improved composite synthetic cork, wherein the synthetic cork is operatively coupled with a decorative handle via an interlocking component. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary improved composite synthetic cork is illustrated generally at  10 . A synthetic cork portion  12  is joined to a decorative handle portion  14  at an exemplary neck  16  thereof. The neck portion includes an annular indent  18 , into which a protruding portion  20  of the interlocking component  22  installs. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a washer  24  is also installed in between the synthetic cork and the decorative handle. In exemplary embodiments, such washer may be used to prevent the handle (which may be, e.g., glass) from hitting the bottle (which also may be, e.g., glass). 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary exaggerated view of the synthetic cork portion  12  and interlocking component  22 . As may be seen from the FIGURE, the interlocking component  22  nests within an inner aperture  26  of the synthetic cork portion  12  and itself includes a projection  28  that interfaces with the indent  18  of the handle neck  16 . In exemplary embodiments, and depending on the materials used, the interlocking component  22  may fuse with the synthetic cork portion  12  during the molding process. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in an exemplary embodiment, the interlocking component may be installed into the synthetic cork component during formation of the synthetic cork portion.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary injection mold, shown generally at  30  that includes an interior region  32  for the synthetic cork and a mold projection  34  simulating the neck of the handle. It should be noted that the shape of the components and the mold are merely exemplary, and alterations in the shape are contemplated. For example, the mold could also include a straight or round chamfer to give a corresponding shape on the top of the cork (a rounded chamfer  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and a straight chamfer  44  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0023]    In exemplary embodiments, the synthetic cork component and the interlocking component may be molded together, e.g. co-injected with the cork and the interlocking component having the same or different material qualities (in preferred exemplary embodiments, the interlocking component comprises a more rigid material, such as polyethylene, among others, to facilitate a secure grip on the handle). In other exemplary embodiments, the interlocking component and the synthetic cork component may be introduced in separate sequence (e.g., with the cork being introduced as a secondary operation). 
         [0024]    The synthetic cork component may comprise any acceptable synthetic cork material, and the cork may be formed by any convenient mechanism, including such materials and mechanisms as are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/640,999, filed Dec. 19, 2006 and prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/751,299, the entire contents of each of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference (In short, these applications describe methods of creating the random and irregular markings including molding the details directly into the surface of the stopper and extruding the synthetic material into a desired shape before passing it through forming cylinders or rollers that contain the negative of the desired surface texture, and which imprint the texture onto the material&#39;s exterior surface). 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , in other exemplary embodiments a separate interlocking component  22  may be placed over the projection  34  (by hand, by robot, etc.) prior to closing of the mold and injection of suitable material for the synthetic cork. In such case, the interlocking component  22  is molded within the cork, and the mold may be configured (as it is in the exemplary FIGURE) to completely conceal the interlocking component once the cork is installed on the handle. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in other exemplary embodiments, the cork and interlocking component may include an aperture  36  passing therethrough. Such aperture  36  may be formed in any convenient way (e.g., cut, bore, mold).  FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary mold  30 , wherein the projection  34  is extended to create the aperture in the cork  32  and the interlocking component  22 . If the interlocking component is a separate component that is installed in the mold over the projection  34 , then the interlocking component may be pre-made including an aperture sized to permit the interlocking component to slide over the mold projection  34 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in exemplary embodiments wherein the handle  14  includes an interior space  38 , material from within a stoppered container (not shown) will be allowed to pass through the aperture  36  and into the interior space  38  of the handle  14 . Thus, in exemplary embodiments wherein at least a portion of the handle  14  is at least partially transparent (e.g., non-opaque glass), the fluid may be seen within the handle if the bottle is tipped or upended. In exemplary embodiments, this feature also increases the head space in the bottle and makes for a better seal when the bottle is subjected to temperature changes. 
         [0028]    In other exemplary embodiments, the cork to handle interface may be constructed to prevent or resist rotation of the cork around the handle. For example, rather than using an annular projection in recess arrangement between the interlocking component and the handle, a pin in hole or elongated projection in recess configuration may be used. Also, interfering or friction ridges may be used on the cork interior space, wherein the ridges are configured to directly contact the handle to resist or prevent rotation. Further, the interface between the interlocking component  22  and the cork  12  may be stabilized (to prevent or resist rotation) using a complementary ridge in groove arrangement, such as is illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  at  40 . 
         [0029]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, while exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and variations can be made to the synthetic cork and method of making disclosed herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, recitations of projections and recesses on particular pieces are non-limiting, it being recognized that the arrangement may be reversed for a given piece. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the various embodiments have been described by way of illustration and not limitation.