Closure or stopper forms a surface tension seal

Abstract

A closure or stopper for a container to contain liquid, powder or paste, the container having means to define a first extremely flat annular surface, the closure comprising a sealing member defining a second extremely flat surface, an annular groove that locates an O-ring, and means such as thread to urge the extremely flat surfaces into parallel abutting contact, the extremely flat surfaces adapted to form a surface tension seal when they are urged into parallel abutting contact and means to prevent lateral or shear relative movement. Another form of the closure is the sealing member being a disc that seats on the flat annular sealing surface defined by the top of the neck of a bottle to form a seal, and a metal cap to place the seal under axial load and protects the seal from vibration.

1 . A closure for a container arranged to contain liquid, powder or paste, the container having means to define a first extremely flat surface, the closure comprising a sealing member defining a second extremely flat surface, means to urge the extremely flat surfaces into parallel abutting contact, the extremely flat surfaces adapted to form a surface tension seal when they are urged into parallel abutting contact and means to prevent lateral relative movement whereby the sealing member prevents escape of liquid, powder or paste from the container.  
   
   
       2 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member forms part of, or is housed by, a cap that threadedly engages the container.  
   
   
       3 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein the cap has an internal thread arranged to engage an external thread on the liquid container.  
   
   
       4 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein the cap has an external thread arranged to engage an internal thread on the container.  
   
   
       5 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member forms part of, or is housed by, a cap which has location means so that in use when the cap is pressed onto the container and rotated relative to the container the location means engages the container to hold the cap and sealing member in compression on the container.  
   
   
       6 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein the cap has a peripheral flange surrounding an aperture, the flange bearing against the sealing member.  
   
   
       7 . The closure according to  claim 6  wherein the sealing member is a thin, clear disc that acts as a window allowing the contents of the container to be viewed through the closure.  
   
   
       8 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein biasing means is disposed between the cap and sealing member to urge the flat surfaces into parallel abutting contact.  
   
   
       9 . The closure according to  claim 8  wherein the biasing means is one of a spring washer, a Belleville washer and a wave washer.  
   
   
       10 . The closure according to  claim 8  wherein the cap has inturned projections that are compressible to act as biasing means.  
   
   
       11 . The closure according to  claim 6  wherein the sealing member has a domed upper surface that extends through the aperture.  
   
   
       12 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein a resilient membrane is positioned between part of the parallel abutting surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . The closure according to  claim 12  wherein the resilient membrane is an O-ring or gasket.  
   
   
       14 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein the sealing member is held captive to the cap.  
   
   
       15 . The closure according to  claim 2  wherein the cap has resilient location means that engages an undercut on the container to hold the cap against displacement relative to the container.  
   
   
       16 . The closure according to  claim 15  wherein a collar fits over the cap to hold the cap on the container.  
   
   
       17 . The closure according to  claim 16  wherein the collar and cap have inter-engaging formations that engage when the collar and cap are in one relative position to prevent separation of the collar from the cap and on turning of the collar disengage to allow separation.  
   
   
       18 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein a wire frame is adapted to engage the container to hold the sealing member so that the flat surfaces are in parallel abutting contact.  
   
   
       19 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein the container is a wine bottle having a neck and an aperture, the first extremely flat surface being provided around the neck of the bottle, the sealing member being adapted to extend across the aperture to prevent escape of the wine.  
   
   
       20 . The closure according to  claim 19  wherein the first extremely flat surface is defined by the neck of the bottle.  
   
   
       21 . The closure according to  claim 20  wherein the first extremely flat surface is at the top section or opening defined at the neck of the bottle.  
   
   
       22 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member is a disc of glass, ceramic carbon, metal carbide, metal oxide or any other hard plastics that can define a flat surface.  
   
   
       23 . The closure according to  claim 1  wherein the closure has a degree of porosity that allows controlled air entry.  
   
   
       24 . The closure according to  claim 23  wherein the porosity of the closure is controlled by varying the finish of the surface tension seal surfaces and/or the pressure applied to the surfaces.  
   
   
       25 . The closure according to  claim 23  wherein the sealing member has an inherent porosity.  
   
   
       26 . The closure according to  claim 23  wherein the sealing member has a porous plug to facilitate a degree of air entry.  
   
   
       27 . The closure according to  claim 25  wherein a plurality of sealing members with varying porosity are superimposed, one on top of the other, and with removal of one or more of the sealing members varying the porosity of the closure.