Systems, devices and methods for opening a bottle sealed with a stopper and for sealing a bottle

Abstract

An apparatus for removing a stopper from a bottle by rotating a threaded capsule surrounding the threaded neck of a bottle. The capsule is preferably received over a narrowed neck of the bottle to maintain the appearance of a foil-wrapped and cork-closed bottle. The bottle may be sealed with plugs (natural cork, synthetic cork, molded plugs), planar seals, or a combination thereof. The capsule may engage the stopper directly or by way of a stopper anchor. Aspects of the invention include preventing uncontrolled egress of stoppers from pressurized bottles, the resealing of various forms of bottles after removal of the stopper, locking the closure in place, and providing evidence of tampering.

1 - 77 . (canceled)  
   
   
       78 . An apparatus for removing a stopper from the pouring spout within the neck of a bottle, comprising: 
 an anchor;    said anchor having a shank portion configured for being retained within a stopper;    said anchor having a head portion attached to an upper portion of said shank;    a sleeve having internal threads;    said sleeve configured for threadably rotating on external bottle threads;    wherein said sleeve is configured to engage an underside of said head portion of said anchor member; and    means for restricting the passage of the stopper through said sleeve.    
   
   
       79 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 78:   wherein said means for restricting stopper passage comprises a flange on an upper portion of said sleeve;    wherein at least a portion of said flange is configured to extend over a pouring spout in the neck of the bottle and thereby constraining stopper egress.    
   
   
       80 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 78 , wherein said anchor is configured for retaining a stopper within a bottle of pressurized fluid.  
   
   
       81 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 80 , wherein said pressurized fluid comprises a form of sparkling wine or beer.  
   
   
       82 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 78 , further comprising a stopper configured for receiving said anchor.  
   
   
       83 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 82 , wherein said stopper comprises a cork.  
   
   
       84 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 78 , wherein said sleeve is configured to remain threadably engaged on said bottle during unthreading of said sleeve until after a seal between said stopper and the bottle is broken.  
   
   
       85 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 84 , wherein said sleeve is configured to threadably engage the bottle threads over a distance exceeding the length of the stopper.  
   
   
       86 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 78 , further comprising a cap member joined to said sleeve and configured to cover said head portion of said anchor.  
   
   
       87 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 86:   wherein said cap member is removably coupled to said sleeve; and    wherein said cap member is configured for threadably engaging and sealing the bottle after said sleeve and stopper have been removed.    
   
   
       88 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 87 , further comprising a seal member on the underside of said cap which is configured to form a liquid-tight seal with an upper portion of said bottle.  
   
   
       89 . An apparatus for removing a stopper from the pouring spout within the neck of a bottle, comprising: 
 a sleeve having internal threads configured for engaging external bottle threads; and    a flange on said sleeve configured for being retained proximal to the bottle rim to engage a portion of a stopper, which protrudes out from a neck portion of the bottle neck, in response to unthreading of said sleeve from the bottle.    
   
   
       90 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , wherein said sleeve is configured to remain threadably engaged with the bottle during unthreading of said sleeve until after a seal between the stopper and the bottle is broken.  
   
   
       91 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , further comprising a restraining member joined to said sleeve for retaining the stopper proximal to said sleeve.  
   
   
       92 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 91 , wherein said restraining member comprises a cap joined to said sleeve and configured to cover the bottle stopper.  
   
   
       93 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , further comprising a reseal cap removably joined to said sleeve for resealing the bottle after removal of said sleeve.  
   
   
       94 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 93 , further comprising a seal joined to the underside of said reseal cap.  
   
   
       95 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 93 , further comprising a recess in the top of said reseal cap.  
   
   
       96 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 89 , further comprising: 
 a stopper configured for insertion within a pouring spout in the neck portion of the bottle;    wherein said stopper is configured for being engaged by said flange of said sleeve for extraction from the pouring spout.    
   
   
       97 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 96 , wherein said stopper comprises a cork configured with one or more protrusions or recesses adapted for being engaged by said flange of said sleeve.  
   
   
       98 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 97 , wherein said cork comprises a cork stopper having a bulbous substantially uncompressed top portion configured to protrude out from the bottle neck.  
   
   
       99 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 98 , wherein said bulbous top cork is configured for sealing pressurized fluids.  
   
   
       100 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 98 , wherein said bulbous top cork is configured for sealing a bottle containing sparkling wine or beer.  
   
   
       101 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 97 , wherein said cork comprises a cork stopper having a protruding top rim.  
   
   
       102 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 97 , wherein said cork comprises a cork stopper having at least one recessed area configured for being engaged by said flange.  
   
   
       103 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 102 , wherein said recessed area comprises a recessed ring around a circumferential portion of said cork.  
   
   
       104 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 102 , wherein said flange is further configured with engagement fingers for unidirectional engagement of said recessed area of said cork.  
   
   
       105 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 96 , wherein said stopper comprises a molded polymeric stopper.  
   
   
       106 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 105 , wherein said stopper is manufactured from a softer material than said sleeve.  
   
   
       107 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 106 , wherein said stopper comprises a low density polyethylene material.  
   
   
       108 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 105 , wherein said molded polymeric stopper comprises: 
 a protruding head for being engaged by said flange of said sleeve;    a plug extending from said head and configured for insertion within the neck of a bottle; and    ridges protruding from the circumference of said plug to increase seal integrity.    
   
   
       109 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 108 , wherein said stopper comprises a planar head and open end plug.  
   
   
       110 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 108 , wherein said stopper comprises an open ringed top head and a seal disposed across the plug at a position between the top and bottom of said stopper.  
   
   
       111 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 110 , wherein said seal is substantially planar.  
   
   
       112 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 111 , wherein said seal is non-planar.  
   
   
       113 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 111 , wherein said stopper comprises an open ringed top head and a seal disposed across the bottom of said plug.  
   
   
       114 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 108 , wherein said stopper comprises a plug having a seal disposed near the bottom of said plug and said head joined to said plug interior of the periphery of said plug.  
   
   
       115 . An apparatus for removing a stopper from the pouring spout within the neck of a pressurized bottle, comprising: 
 a sleeve having internal threads configured for engaging external bottle threads;    a flange on said sleeve;    said flange configured for being retained proximal to a rim portion of said bottle;    said flange configured for engaging a protruding head portion of a stopper in said bottle in response to unthreading of said sleeve from the bottle; and    a restraining member joined to said sleeve for retaining the stopper proximal to said sleeve and preventing uncontrolled egress of said stopper from said bottle.    
   
   
       116 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 115 , wherein said sleeve has a length that exceeds its diameter.  
   
   
       117 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 115 , wherein said sleeve has a length approximately equivalent to one and one half to four times its diameter.  
   
   
       118 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 117 , wherein said restraining member comprises a cap joined to said sleeve and configured to cover the bottle stopper.  
   
   
       119 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 117 , further comprising: 
 a bottle configured with sufficient material thickness to withstand the pressures exerted by its contents;    threads external to a portion of the neck of said bottle configured for threadably engaging said sleeve;    a stopper configured for partial insertion within the neck of said bottle for sealing the contents of said bottle; and    a protruding head on said stopper.    
   
   
       120 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 119 , wherein said stopper comprises cork.  
   
   
       121 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 119 , wherein said stopper comprises synthetic cork.  
   
   
       122 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 119 , wherein said stopper comprises a polymeric stopper.  
   
   
       123 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 119 , wherein said bottle is configured for retaining a form of sparkling wine or beer.  
   
   
       124 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 117 , further comprising a reseal cap configured for removable retention from said sleeve for sealing the bottle after stopper removal.  
   
   
       125 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 124:   wherein said reseal cap has a threaded interior configured for engaging the exterior of the bottle; and    wherein an upper portion of said sleeve is configured with external threads upon which said reseal cap can be threaded for retention prior to use in sealing the bottle.    
   
   
       126 . An apparatus for removing a stopper from the pouring spout within the neck of a bottle, comprising: 
 a sleeve having internal threads configured for engaging external bottle threads; and    a stopper engagement member on said sleeve configured for being retained proximal to the bottle rim;    wherein said stopper engagement member is configured for engaging the periphery of a stopper in response to unthreading of said sleeve from the bottle.    
   
   
       127 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 126 , wherein said sleeve has a length that exceeds its diameter.  
   
   
       128 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 126 , wherein said sleeve has a length approximately equivalent to one and one half to four times its diameter.  
   
   
       129 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 126 , further comprising a reseal cap removably joined to said sleeve for resealing the bottle after removal of said sleeve.  
   
   
       130 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 129 , further comprising a seal joined to the underside of said reseal cap.  
   
   
       131 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 129 , further comprising a recess in the top of said reseal cap.  
   
   
       132 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 126 , further comprising: 
 a bottle configured with a threaded exterior over which said sleeve can be threadably engaged; and    a stopper configured for insertion within the pouring spout of said bottle;    wherein said stopper is configured with one or more protrusions or recesses adapted for being engaged by said stopper engagement member.    
   
   
       133 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 132 , wherein said stopper has a protruding top rim configured for being engaged by said stopper engagement member.  
   
   
       134 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 132 , wherein said stopper has at least one recessed area configured for being engaged by said stopper engagement member.  
   
   
       135 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 134 , wherein said recessed area comprises a recessed ring about the circumference of said stopper.  
   
   
       136 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 136 , further comprising engagement fingers on said stopper engagement member which are configured for unidirectional engagement of a stopper in response to unthreading of said sleeve from the bottle.  
   
   
       137 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 136 , wherein said stopper comprises cork.  
   
   
       138 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 136 , wherein said stopper comprises synthetic cork.  
   
   
       139 - 220 . (canceled)