Patent Description:
A stopper for closing a bottle is known in the art. This stopper has a head with a cylindrical shank extending therefrom. The shank, which is made of cork or a polymeric material, is adapted to fit into the bottle to close it. In particular, when the bottle is closed, the shank is inserted in the neck of the bottle until the head abuts the edge of the neck. It shall be noted that the shank must be suitably sized to conform with the neck of the bottle be able to fit therein. On the other hand, the head remains outside the bottle, for a user to be possibly able to reopen the bottle. This head can be formed with a variety of materials such as wood or plastic and may have inscriptions engraved therein or printed thereon.

Documents <CIT> and <CIT> show tamper evident bottle stoppers comprising a support element, a ring portion fitting over the support element, and a cover element coupled to the support element. These stoppers are conformed so as to change configuration after a first opening, in order to allow to check if an opening of the bottle has occurred.

One drawback of this stopper is that it is only compatible with particular types of bottles, for example it is not suitable for bottles with a threaded neck.

Hence, the production line of the stopper must be adapted to each type of bottle.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a bottle stopper that can overcome the aforementioned prior art drawbacks.

In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a stopper that can be adapted to various types of bottles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cap that can be customized, while maintaining its simple structure.

The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are substantially fulfilled by a bottle stopper that comprises the technical features as disclosed in one or more of the accompanying claims.

The stopper of the present invention solves the aforementioned technical problem in that it comprises modular portions that can be assembled as desired. In particular, this stopper comprises a support element, which is associated with the bottle type, and other parts (such as a ring portion and a cover element) not associated to the bottle type. These parts may be customized and freely assembled to the support element.

This will afford the use of a single production line for the individual parts and of different production lines for the support element depending on the type of bottle.

The stopper of the present invention may be also employed also as an overcap, mounted to various stoppers. Once again, the support element is adapted to the type of stopper and/or bottle and the other parts are assembled thereon.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of a possible practical embodiment, illustrated as a non-limiting example in the annexed drawings, in which:.

Even when this is not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and/or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the accompanying figures, the present invention relates to a stopper <NUM>, which is configured to be placed on a bottle neck and/or a similar container adapted to receive liquids.

The stopper <NUM> comprises a support element <NUM>. This support element <NUM> is adapted to hold other parts of the stopper <NUM> in position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support element <NUM> is made of a plastic material for light weight and processability reasons. For example, the support element <NUM> may be formed by molding, for example injection molding.

The stopper <NUM> comprises a ring portion <NUM>, which fits on the support element. In particular, the ring portion <NUM> is connected to the support element <NUM> to be prevented from rotating relative to the support element <NUM>. In other words, the ring portion <NUM> is rotationally locked with respect to the support element <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the ring portion <NUM> is glued to the support element <NUM>.

More in detail, the support element <NUM> has a top edge <NUM> and a bottom edge <NUM> and extends along a center axis J. The ring portion <NUM> extends on the support element <NUM> from the top edge <NUM> to the bottom edge <NUM>. This ring portion <NUM> is configured to be held by the hand of a user, wherefore it is a portion of the stopper <NUM> that remains at least partially visible. The ring portion <NUM> may be made, for example, of a plastic material, wood, metal, a combination thereof or any other suitable material well-known to the skilled person. This ring portion <NUM> may be customized with designs or text, engraved therein or printed thereon. According to a preferred embodiment, the ring portion <NUM> has a circular outer perimeter. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the outer perimeter of the ring portion <NUM> may also have a square, polygonal or any other shape.

The stopper <NUM> also comprises a cover element <NUM>. The cover element <NUM> is coupled to the support element <NUM>, particularly at its upper edge <NUM>. By way of example and without limitation, the cover element <NUM> may be sealed or glued to the support element <NUM>. Alternatively, the cover element <NUM> may be coupled with the support element <NUM> by means of a snap-fit mechanism.

It shall be noted that the cover element <NUM> may be formed with various materials. For example, the cover element <NUM> may be made of a plastic material, metal or a combination thereof.

The cover element <NUM> is also visible to a user, like the ring portion <NUM>. The cover element <NUM> is also customizable with designs or text, engraved therein or printed thereon.

The cover element <NUM> is also connected to the ring portion <NUM>. In particular, the cover element <NUM> contacts and abuts the ring portion <NUM>.

Particularly referring to <FIG>, it shall be noted that the cover element <NUM> and the support element <NUM> form a seat for the ring portion <NUM>. In particular, the ring portion <NUM> is locked along the center axis J by the support element <NUM> and the cover element <NUM>. In other words, the ring portion <NUM> is held stationary along the axis J by the support element <NUM> and the cover element <NUM>. This means that the ring portion <NUM> is stably locked along the center axis J relative to the support element <NUM> and to the cover element <NUM>, before and after a first opening of the bottle. Specifically, the ring portion <NUM>, the support element <NUM> and the cover element <NUM> are fixed to each other before and after a first opening of the bottle.

More in detail, the support element <NUM> comprises a lower abutment member <NUM> at the bottom edge <NUM>. The ring portion <NUM> is configured to abut the lower abutment member <NUM> at the bottom edge <NUM> of the support element <NUM>.

It shall be noted that the cover element <NUM> also comprises an upper abutment member <NUM>. When the stopper <NUM> is mounted with the cover element <NUM> coupled to the support element <NUM>, the ring portion <NUM> is configured to abut the upper abutment element <NUM> at the top edge <NUM>. It shall be indeed noted that the support element <NUM> is also configured to abut the upper abutment member <NUM> of the cover element <NUM> when the cover element <NUM> is coupled to the support element <NUM>.

More in detail, particularly referring to <FIG>, the support element <NUM> has an inner surface <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface <NUM> contacts the cover element <NUM>. Preferably, the inner surface <NUM> of the support element <NUM> and the cover element <NUM> comprise respective mutually complementary first interlocking portions 71a, 71b. In other words, the cover element <NUM> is configured for interlocking arrangement on the support element <NUM> at the inner surface <NUM>. For example, the first interlocking portions 71a of the support element <NUM> comprise projecting elements 72a and recesses 73a on the inner surface <NUM>. The first interlocking portions 71b of the cover element <NUM> also comprise projecting elements 72b and recesses 73b on the cover element <NUM>. Preferably, the projecting elements 72a on the inner surface <NUM> are configured to fit into the recesses 73b on the cover element <NUM> and vice versa.

The support element <NUM> has an outer surface <NUM> that contacts the ring portion <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the outer surface <NUM> contacts the ring portion <NUM>. Preferably, the outer surface <NUM> of the support element <NUM> and the ring portion <NUM> comprise respective mutually complementary second interlocking portions 81a, 81b. For example, the second interlocking portions 81a of the support element <NUM> comprise projecting elements 82a and recesses 83a on the outer surface <NUM>. The second interlocking portions 81b of the ring portion <NUM> also comprise projecting elements 82b and recesses 83b on the ring portion <NUM>. Preferably, the projecting elements 82a on the outer surface <NUM> are configured to fit into the recesses 73b on the ring portion <NUM> and vice versa.

According to a preferred embodiment, the ring portion <NUM> comprises a plurality of rings placed one on top of the other along the center axis J. In particular, the rings are adjacent to each other.

Preferably, the ring portion <NUM> comprises three rings. In particular, the ring portion <NUM> comprises a lower ring <NUM> placed at the bottom edge <NUM>, an upper ring <NUM> placed at the top edge <NUM> and a middle ring <NUM>. According to a preferred embodiment, the lower ring <NUM> and the upper ring <NUM> are identical. Such lower ring <NUM> and upper ring <NUM> preferably have respective inclined surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> for accommodating the lower abutment member <NUM> and the upper abutment member <NUM> respectively. According to a preferred embodiment, such lower ring <NUM> and upper ring <NUM> are made of wood or metal. In certain alternative embodiments, not shown, the rings <NUM>, <NUM> may be made of any other material or a combination of various different materials.

Preferably, the middle ring <NUM> is made of plastic. According to this embodiment, referring to <FIG>, the middle ring <NUM> has a bottom surface 330a, that faces the lower ring <NUM>, and a top surface 330b that faces the upper ring <NUM>. The bottom surface 330a and the top surface 330b each have a respective recess <NUM>. This recess <NUM> has the purpose to reduce the weight of the structure and prevent warping of the lower ring <NUM> and the upper ring <NUM>.

Particularly referring to <FIG>, the support element <NUM> comprises a bottom <NUM>. This bottom <NUM> is placed transverse to the inner surface <NUM> and perpendicular to the center axis J. In particular, the bottom <NUM> defines an upper cavity <NUM> and a lower cavity <NUM> with the inner surface <NUM> of the support element <NUM>.

It shall be noted that, in this embodiment, the cover element <NUM> is inserted into the upper cavity <NUM>.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the stopper <NUM> comprises a shank <NUM>. The shank <NUM> is configured to fit into a bottle neck to close the bottle. More in detail, the shank <NUM> is inserted into the lower cavity <NUM>. More in detail, the shank <NUM> extends along the center axis J, from the bottom <NUM> of the support element <NUM> away from the bottom <NUM>. In particular, the shank <NUM> is joined to the support element <NUM>. For example, the shank <NUM> is glued to the support element <NUM> or is mechanically fixed. This shank <NUM> is locked with respect to the support element <NUM>, rotationally and along the center axis J.

According to a second embodiment as shown in <FIG>, which is alternative to the preferred embodiment, the stopper <NUM> comprises a threaded element <NUM>. This threaded element <NUM> is configured to be coupled to a threaded bottle neck to close the bottle. In particular, the threaded element <NUM> is placed in the lower cavity <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element <NUM> comprises one or more through openings <NUM>. The through openings <NUM> of the present invention are configured to receive an adhesive between the support element <NUM> and the ring portion <NUM>, to join the support element <NUM> to the ring portion <NUM>. Preferably, these through openings <NUM> are located at the lower cavity <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A stopper (<NUM>) configured to be placed on the neck of a bottle, comprising:
- a support element (<NUM>) having a top edge (<NUM>) and a bottom edge (<NUM>) and extending a long a center axis (J),
- a ring portion (<NUM>) fitting on the support element (<NUM>) and extending from the top edge (<NUM>) to the bottom edge (<NUM>), the ring portion (<NUM>) being connected to the support element (<NUM>) to be rotationally locked with respect to the support element (<NUM>),
- a cover element (<NUM>), which is coupled to the support element (<NUM>) at the top edge (<NUM>) and is connected to the ring portion (<NUM>), the ring portion (<NUM>) being locked along the center axis (J) by the support element (<NUM>) and by the cover element (<NUM>);
characterized in that the ring portion (<NUM>) is stably locked along the center axis (J) relative to the support element (<NUM>) and to the cover element (<NUM>) before and after a first opening of the bottle.