Vented screwcap closure with diffusive membrane liner

Abstract

A liner for a wine bottle cap is constructed such that a gas, such as oxygen, that diffuses through the liner moves along a path within the liner whose length is greater than the thickness of the liner. In this manner, oxygen from the atmospheric air can diffuse through a relatively thin liner at a slow rate before reaching the bottled wine. The liner is comprised of alternating layers of material semi-permeable to oxygen and material impermeable to oxygen, the impermeable layers containing open areas through which oxygen can diffuse. As oxygen diffuses through the alternating layers, the path(s) along which the oxygen diffuses is determined by the locations of the open areas in the impermeable layers. The liner may be assembled with a screw cap closure that comprises ventilation holes connected by a raceway for distribution of atmospheric air to the liner.

1 . A liner for a bottle cap constructed such that a gas passing through the liner moves along a path within the liner, the length of the path within the liner being greater than the thickness of the liner. 
     
     
         2 . The liner of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of layers that includes one or more semi-permeable layers and one or more impermeable layers, the one or more semi-permeable layers being constructed of a material that is semi-permeable to the gas and the one or more impermeable layers being constructed of a material impermeable to the gas. 
     
     
         3 . The liner of  claim 2 , wherein layers within the plurality of layers alternate between a semi-permeable layer of the one or more semi-permeable layers and an impermeable layer of the one or more impermeable layers. 
     
     
         4 . The liner of  claim 3 , wherein each impermeable layer of the one or more impermeable layers comprises one or more apertures through which the gas is allowed to pass through. 
     
     
         5 . The liner of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the locations of the one or more apertures of a first impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers, are different from the locations of the one or more apertures of a second impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers;   the second impermeable layer is immediately below a permeable layer, of the one or more permeable layers, that is immediately below the first impermeable layer.   
     
     
         6 . The liner of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the one or more apertures of the first impermeable layer comprise a hole located in the center of the first impermeable layer; and   the one or more apertures of the second impermeable layer comprise a plurality of holes located on a ring-shaped path along the periphery of the second impermeable layer.   
     
     
         7 . The liner of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more impermeable layers are constructed from sheets of material that include a first strip area and a second strip area, the first strip area containing a plurality of perforations and the second strip area containing no perforations. 
     
     
         8 . The liner of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more impermeable layers are constructed from sheets of material that include a first strip area and a second strip areas the first strip area separated from the second strip area by a gap. 
     
     
         9 . The liner of  claim 3 , wherein;
 the plurality of layers includes an impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers;   the diameter of the impermeable layer is smaller than the diameter of a semi-permeable layer, of the one or more semi-permeable layers, immediately above the impermeable layer; and   the diameter of the impermeable layer is smaller than the diameter of a semi-permeable layer, of the one or more semi-permeable layers, immediately below the impermeable layer.   
     
     
         10 . A liner for a bottle cap constructed such that the thickness of the liner at the center of the liner is greater than the thickness of the liner at the periphery of the liner. 
     
     
         11 . The liner of  claim 10 , comprising a single layer of material that is semi-permeable to the gas. 
     
     
         12 . A screw cap closure for a bottle that comprises a plurality of ventilation holes that are connected by at least one race way. 
     
     
         13 . The screw cap closure of  claim 12 , further comprising a liner constructed such that a gas passing through the liner moves along a path within the liner, the length of the path within the liner being greater than the thickness of the liner. 
     
     
         14 . The screw cap closure of  claim 13 , wherein the liner comprises a plurality of layers that includes one or more semi-permeable layers and one or more impermeable layers, the one or more semi-permeable layers being constructed of a material that is semi-permeable to the gas and the one or more impermeable layers being constructed of a material impermeable to the gas. 
     
     
         15 . The screw cap closure of  claim 14 , wherein layers within the plurality of layers alternate between a semi-permeable layer of the one or more semi-permeable layers and an impermeable layer of the one or more impermeable layers. 
     
     
         16 . The screw cap closure of  claim 15 , wherein each impermeable layer of the one or more impermeable layers comprises one or more apertures through which the gas is allowed to pass through. 
     
     
         17 . The screw cap closure of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the locations of the one or more apertures of a first impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers, are different from the locations of the one or more apertures of a second impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers;   the second impermeable layer is immediately below a permeable layer, of the one or more permeable layers, that is immediately below the first impermeable layer.   
     
     
         18 . The screw cap closure of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of layers includes an impermeable layer, of the one or more impermeable layers;   the diameter of the impermeable layer is smaller than the diameter of a semi-permeable layer, of the one or more semi-permeable layers, immediately above the impermeable layer; and   the diameter of the impermeable layer is smaller than the diameter of a semi-permeable layer, of the one or more semi-permeable layers, immediately below the impermeable layer.   
     
     
         19 . The screw cap closure of  claim 12 , the plurality of ventilation holes located on a ring-shaped path along the periphery of the top of the screw cap closure. 
     
     
         20 . The screw cap closure of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one raceway comprises an embossed channel; and   at least part of the at least one raceway is not attached to the liner.   
     
     
         21 . A method for bottling wine in a bottle, comprising:
 closing the bottle with a screw cap closure that comprises a plurality of ventilation holes that are connected by at least one raceway.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the screw cap closure further comprises a liner constructed such that a gas passing through the liner moves along a path within the liner, the length of the path within the liner being greater than the thickness of the liner. 
     
     
         23 . A method for bottling wine in a bottle, comprising:
 closing the bottle with a cap closure that comprises a liner that is constructed such that a gas passing through the liner moves along a path within the liner, the length of the path within the liner being greater than the thickness of the liner