Corkscrew-free bottle stopper

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a stopper, especially to a stopper for a bottle which can be removed without use of a corkscrew and can be used repeatedly.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, a wine bottle (30) has a mouth (31) and a cork (32). The cork (32) has an upper portion (321) and a lower portion (322).

[0006] To remove the cork (32) of the wine bottle (30) needs a corkscrew. However, on many occasions, there is no such tool at hand, and it will then be extremely difficult to remove the cork (32).

[0007] Additionally, when the conventional cylindrical cork (32) is removed from the mouth (31) of the bottle (30), it will swell and be very difficult to insert into the mouth (31) again as originally air tight. In such a situation the wine will have to be consumed fairly quickly, or be transferred to another container, or replace it with other caps.

[0008] One objective of the invention is to provide a stopper for a bottle which does not require use of a corkscrew in its extraction from the bottle.

[0009] Another objective of the invention is to provide a stopper for a bottle which can be used repeatedly.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the invention when the stopper is inserted into the mouth of a bottle;

[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the stopper partly removed from the bottle;

[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the stopper completely removed from the bottle; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a conventional stopper.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stopper (20) for an opening (11) of a bottle (10) comprises a plug (21), a cylinder (23), a retainer (24), a pin (25) and a disc (26). The plug (21) is hollow and substantially T-shaped in side cross-section, with a head and a taper neck (22) integrally extending downward from the head. A circumferential wall of the head has an outer diameter similar to an outer diameter of the neck of a bottle (10). The circumferential wall defines a top opening leading into a top cavity. An inner flange (222) defines a bottom opening (221) in the neck (22) leading upward to a taper cavity (212) which is in communication with the top cavity. The taper cavity (212) has a small bottom diameter and a large top diameter.

[0017] The disc (26) is securely received on a circumferential step (211) defined in an inner face of the circumferential wall.

[0018] The cylinder (23) is hollow and has an outer diameter dimensioned to fit in the opening (11) of the bottle (10). The cylinder (23) defines an open top end in communication with a large recess (231) thereunder. The recess (231) is taper in side cross-sectional view with a large upper diameter and a small lower diameter, and is configured to mate with the taper neck (22). A step defining the bottom of the recess (231) further defines a small bore (232) therethrough which is in communication with the recess (231) and the under face of the cylinder (23). The pin (25) includes a rod and an integral cap (251) formed at the top of the rod. The cap (251) has a diameter larger than the bottom opening (221) of the neck (22) of the plug (21). The rod is sized to extend through the bottom opening (221) of the neck (22), the recess (231) and the small bore (232) of the cylinder (23), and into a hole (241) defined in the retainer (24). The retainer (24) has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylinder (23).

[0019] In assembly, the pin (25) is received in the taper cavity (212) of the plug (21), and extends sequentially through the bottom opening (221) of the neck (22), the recess (231) and small bore (232) of the cylinder (23), whereafter a protruding tip of the pin (25) is securely received in the hole (241) of the retainer (24) which is secured to the under face of the cylinder (23). The pin (25) has a length dimensioned to allow the plug (21) to rise out of the cylinder (23) but not knock out the disc (26) fitted on the step (211) when the plug (21) is in its lowermost position in the cylinder (23). In its uppermost position, the plug (21) is clear of the cylinder (23) and the outer wall of the neck (22) does not contact the inner wall of the cylinder (23), whereby the stopper (20) is in a contracted mode. In the lowermost position of the plug (21), the outer wall of the neck (22) urges against the inner wall of the cylinder (23) and pushes it outward, whereby the stopper (20) is in its expanded mode.

[0020] Still referring to FIG. 2, in use, the plug (21) is pushed into the cavity (231) of the cylinder (23), whereafter, due to the design of the plug (21), the stopper (20) can be eased into the opening (11) of the bottle (10).

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, to remove the stopper (20) from the opening (11) of the bottle (10), the head of the plug (21) is pulled away from the cylinder (23) until the cap (251) of the pin (25) abuts on the inner flange (222) whereafter further pulling urges the retainer (24) against the underface of the cylinder (23) and the stopper (20) is ultimately extracted. A ring gasket (223) is optionally fitted between the bottom opening of the plug (21) and the step of the neck (230).

[0022] The head of the plug (21) may optionally have ridges around the circumferential wall thereof, to increase easy opening.

[0023] The cylinder (23) may be made of cork or any material commonly employed in the manufacture of stoppers.

[0024] Although the stopper of the present invention is directed toward a wine bottle, it will be equally effective on any bottle and its contents.

[0025] From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

[0026] 1. the stopper can be removed without using a corkscrew; 2. the stopper can be used repeatedly which makes the preservation of the remaining contents in the bottle easily achieved.

[0027] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.