Stopper for bottle

Abstract

A stopper for sealing a bottle comprising a core having a top surface, a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces and an enclosure that covers the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces of the core. The seal between the stopper and the inner surface of the neck of the bottle is formed with a radially protruding sealing member that circumferentially engages the enclosure. The core may be made of materials selected from cork, synthetic cork, material that simulates cork or from combinations thereof. The core may also be made of other materials that may create a pleasing design for a particular application or need. The sealing member may be an O-ring that may be received by an O-ring gland formed in the enclosure or the sealing member may be injection molded with the enclosure, wherein the sealing member and the enclosure form an integral piece.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stopper for sealing a bottle, comprising 
 a core having a top surface, a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces;    an enclosure covering the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces of the core; and    a radially protruding sealing member circumferentially engaging the enclosure,    wherein the stopper is adapted for being inserted into a neck of the bottle, wherein the sealing member forms an interference fit with an inner surface of the neck of the bottle, and wherein the interference fit forms a fluid tight seal between the sealing member and the inner surface of the neck of the bottle.    
     
     
         2 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises cork.  
     
     
         3 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a synthetic cork.  
     
     
         4 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the core is made of a material that simulates cork.  
     
     
         5 . The stopper of  claim 4 , wherein the material is selected from a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a styrene block copolymer and a blowing agent.  
     
     
         6 . The stopper of  claim 5 , wherein the blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, ozodecarbonoxide and sodium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         7 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises acrylic.  
     
     
         8 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is made of materials selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The stopper of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a radially protruding lip encircling an upper perimeter of the enclosure, wherein the lip extends outwardly beyond an inner diameter of an opening of the bottle.    
     
     
         10 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is a wine bottle.  
     
     
         11 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is an O-ring.  
     
     
         12 . The stopper of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 an O-ring gland formed in the enclosure, wherein the O-ring gland receives the O-ring.    
     
     
         13 . The stopper of  claim 12 , wherein the O-ring gland is positioned below the bottom surface of the core.  
     
     
         14 . The stopper of  claim 11 , wherein the O-ring comprises an elastomer.  
     
     
         15 . The stopper of  claim 11 , wherein the O-ring is made of a material selected from the group consisting of chloroprene, rubber, epoxy, silicone and fluorocarbon.  
     
     
         16 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the core is bonded to the enclosure.  
     
     
         17 . The stopper of  claim 16 , wherein the bonding is with an adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is formed around the bottom surface and one or more side surfaces of the core by injection molding.  
     
     
         19 . The stopper of  claim 18 , wherein the core is injection molded and wherein the one or more side surfaces of the core comprise a surface feature selected from one or more grooves, one or more ridges and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The stopper of  claim 19 , wherein the enclosure is injected molded to bond the one or more side surfaces of the core to an inner surface of the enclosure.  
     
     
         21 . The stopper of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is injection molded with the enclosure, and wherein the sealing member is integral with the enclosure.  
     
     
         22 . The stopper of  claim 21 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomer.  
     
     
         23 . A method for making a stopper for a bottle, comprising: 
 a. providing a core having a top surface, a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces;    b. enclosing the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces of the core with an enclosure;    c. encircling the enclosure with a radially protruding circumferential sealing member, wherein the sealing member forms an interference fit with an internal surface of the bottle, wherein the stopper is inserted into a neck of the bottle, and wherein the interference fit forms a fluid tight seal between the sealing member and the internal surface of the neck of the bottle.    
     
     
         1 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the core comprises cork.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the core comprises a synthetic cork.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the core is made of a material that simulates cork.  
     
     
         4 . The method of claim  26 , wherein the material is selected from a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a styrene block copolymer and a blowing agent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of claim  27 , wherein the blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, ozodecarbonoxide and sodium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the enclosure comprises acrylic.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the enclosure is made of a material selected from polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polycarbonate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 encircling an upper perimeter of the enclosure with a radially protruding lip, wherein the lip extends outwardly beyond an inner diameter of an opening of the bottle.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bottle is a wine bottle.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member is an O-ring.  
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  33 , further comprising: 
 forming an O-ring gland in the enclosure, wherein the O-ring gland receives the O-ring gasket.    
     
     
         12 . The method of claim  34 , further comprising: 
 positioning the O-ring gland below the bottom surface of the core.    
     
     
         13 . The method of claim  33 , wherein the O-ring comprises an elastomer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  33 , wherein the O-ring is made of a material selected from chloroprene, rubber, epoxy, silicone and fluorocarbon.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 bonding the core to the enclosure.    
     
     
         16 . The method of claim  38 , wherein the bonding is with an adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the enclosure is formed around the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces of the core by injection molding.  
     
     
         18 . The method of claim  40 , wherein the core is injection molded, the method further comprises: 
 forming a surface feature in the one or more side surfaces of the core, wherein the surface feature is selected from one or more ridges, one or more grooves and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         19 . The method of claim  41 , wherein the enclosure is injection molded to bond the one or more side surfaces of the core to an inner surface of the enclosure.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member is injection molded with the enclosure, and wherein the sealing member is integral with the enclosure.  
     
     
         21 . The method of claim  43 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomer.