Bottle Stopper

Abstract

In one aspect the invention provides a bottle stopper for a wine bottle or the like, which bottle stopper comprises a body having a sealing member which sits within the peck ( 1 ) of the bottle in use and which extends radially outwardly from the body of the stopper to seal the bottle neck, the stopper further having a passageway extending upwardly therethrough to communicate with the interior of the bottle and which incorporates or communicates with a chamber within the stopper in which is housed an oxygen-scavenging medium. In a further aspect the invention provides a bottle stopper for a wine bottle or the like, which bottle stopper comprises a body having a sealing member ( 30, 31 ) which sits within the neck of the bottle in use and which extends radially outwardly from the body of the stopper to seal the bottle neck, the bottle stopper further having a mechanism for compressing the sealing member substantially axially of the stopper to expand the sealing member laterally/substantially radially of the stopper into sealing contact with the neck of the bottle.

1 . A bottle stopper for a bottle, which bottle stopper comprises a body having a sealing member which sits within a neck of the bottle in use and which extends radially outwardly to seal the bottle neck, the stopper further having a passageway extending upwardly therethrough to communicate with an interior of the bottle and which incorporates or communicates with a chamber within the stopper in which is housed an oxygen-scavenging medium or oxygen absorber, wherein the stopper further has a closure to close the passageway and which is operable by an actuator that is external to the bottle in use to enable the user to open the passageway when the stopper is in place. 
     
     
         2 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottle stopper has a mechanism for compressing the sealing member substantially axially of the stopper to expand the sealing member laterally/substantially radially of the stopper into sealing contact with the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         3 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the actuator for opening the closure for the passageway is the same as or coupled to an actuator of the mechanism for compressing the sealing member. 
     
     
         4 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-scavenging medium or oxygen absorber, comprises reduced iron or a polymer containing unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds. 
     
     
         5 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber has or is associated with an indicator to indicate when the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber has scavenged the oxygen within the bottle. 
     
     
         6 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the indicator comprises an indicator compound which changes colour. 
     
     
         7 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the indicator compound is separate from the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber and is housed within a chamber in the stopper that has a transparent wall or has a window to enable a change of appearance of the indicator to be viewed externally. 
     
     
         8 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the indicator and/or oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber is housed within a chamber that is externally accessible. 
     
     
         9 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the chamber is accessible through removal of a screw-threaded or push/snap-fit cap that encloses and seals the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the indicator is housed in an uppermost chamber having a cap with a window for visibility. 
     
     
         11 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber is housed in a chamber below the indicator and separately accessible by uncoupling an upper part of the bottle stopper body. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A bottle stopper for a bottle, which bottle stopper comprises a body having a sealing member which sits within a neck of the bottle in use and which extends radially outwardly to seal the bottle neck, the stopper further having a passageway extending upwardly therethrough to communicate with an interior of the bottle and which incorporates or communicates with a chamber within the stopper in which is housed an oxygen-scavenging medium or oxygen absorber, wherein the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber has or is associated with an indicator to indicate when the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber has scavenged or absorbed the oxygen within the bottle, the stopper having a transparent wall or a window to enable a change of appearance of the indicator to be viewed externally by the user. 
     
     
         14 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the bottle stopper has a mechanism for compressing the sealing member substantially axially of the stopper to expand the sealing member laterally/substantially radially of the stopper into sealing contact with the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         15 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the oxygen-scavenging or oxygen absorber, comprises reduced iron or a polymer containing unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds. 
     
     
         16 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the indicator comprises an indicator compound which changes colour. 
     
     
         17 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the indicator and/or the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber is housed within a chamber that is externally accessible. 
     
     
         18 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the chamber is accessible through removal of a screw-threaded or push/snap-fit cap that encloses and seals the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the indicator is housed in an uppermost chamber having a cap with a window for visibility. 
     
     
         20 . A bottle stopper as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber is housed in a chamber below the indicator and separately accessible by uncoupling an upper part of the bottle stopper body. 
     
     
         21 . A bottle stopper for a bottle, which bottle stopper comprises a body having a sealing member which sits within a neck of the bottle in use and which extends radially outwardly to seal the bottle neck, the stopper further having a passageway extending upwardly therethrough to communicate with an interior of the bottle and which incorporates or communicates with a chamber within the stopper in which is housed an oxygen-scavenging medium or oxygen absorber, wherein the oxygen scavenging medium or oxygen absorber is housed within a chamber that is externally accessible by a portion of the bottle stopper that is readily demountable by the user to enable the user to access wherein the chamber is accessible through removal of a screw-threaded or push/snap-fit cap that encloses and seals the chamber.