Bottle Closure with Two Interlocking Parts One Fitting Over the Other

Abstract

The present invention describes a bottle closure for bottles containing liquids at high pressure, such as bottles of sparkling wine, the closure having a first part and a second part, the first part having a portion adapted to receive a portion of an upper section of a neck of the bottle, and a second part that fits substantially over the first part, which is relatively movable with respect to the first part and has at least two positions, a first of which is in a free position and a second of which is in an interlocking position whereby a portion of the second part urges against a portion of the first part receiving the upper section of the neck of the bottle so as to be engaging against an outer side of the said first part to hold it thereby to resist release from its interlocking position with respect to the said neck of an industry standard bottle.

1 . A bottle closure for bottles containing liquids at high pressure, the closure having a first part and a second part, the first part having a portion adapted to receive a portion of an upper section of a neck of the bottle, and a second part that fits substantially over the first part, which is relatively movable with respect to the first part and has at least two positions, a first of which is in a free position and a second of which is in an interlocking position whereby a portion of the second part urges against a portion of the first part receiving the upper section of the neck of the bottle so as to be engaging against an outer side of the first part to hold it thereby to resist release from its interlocking position with respect to the said neck of the bottle, wherein the second part includes a lower section that engages with an interlocking fit an outwardly extending integral collar on a neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       2 . The bottle closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first part has a section of an outermost periphery shaped to engage with an inner portion of the second part. 
   
   
       3 . The bottle closure of  claim 1 , wherein the second part includes a cap adapted to fit over at least a substantial portion of the body of the first part, the cap engaging with the outer surround of the first part in a first holding position so as to provide a compression force against an outer surface of the outer surround of the first part to effect a tightening of the outer surround to the bottle. 
   
   
       4 . The bottle closure of  claim 1 , wherein there is at least a first seal to be held under compression against the uppermost rim of the bottle mouth. 
   
   
       5 . The bottle closure of  claim 4 , wherein the lower section has an inwardly directed lip that affects the interlocking fit with a lower edge of the integral collar of the bottle. 
   
   
       6 . The bottle closure of  claim 5 , wherein the lower surround section is joined to the upper surround section by a weakened zone. 
   
   
       7 . The bottle closure of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surround section is a tear away strip. 
   
   
       8 . The bottle closure of  claim 7 , wherein the upper section of the first part has an inwardly directed lip that affects an interlocking fit with a lower edge of an integral bead on the mouth of the bottle. 
   
   
       9 . The bottle closure of  claim 8 , wherein the upper section has at least a first groove on its outer surface shaped to engage a bead positioned on an inner surface of the second part. 
   
   
       10 . The bottle closure of  claim 9 , wherein the upper surround section has a second groove on its outer surface shaped to engage with a bead positioned on an inner surface of the second part, the second groove being located above the first groove to provide a second holding position. 
   
   
       11 . The bottle closure of  claim 10 , wherein when in the second holding position the cap no longer provides a compression force against the outer surface of the upper section of the first part. 
   
   
       12 . The bottle closure of  claim 1 , wherein the cap has at least two positions, the first being a free or open position that does not provide any compression force against the first part and the second position being the closed or interlocking position in which the cap does apply a force to the first part such that the first part interlocks with the bottle. 
   
   
       13 . The bottle closure of  claim 12 , wherein there is a second seal located between the first seal and the body. 
   
   
       14 . The bottle closure of  claim 13 , wherein the first seal has a central portion that extends substantially into the mouth of the bottle. 
   
   
       15 . The bottle closure of  claim 14 , wherein the central portion has at least one longitudinal groove extending along a direction of elongation of the central portion so as to allow fluid communication between the inside of the bottle and the outside of the bottle during extraction of the central portion from the neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       16 . The bottle closure of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one longitudinal groove has a first end and a second end, the first end terminating at least substantially midway along the direction of elongation of the central portion. 
   
   
       17 . A closure for bottles containing liquids at high pressure, the closure having a first part and a second part, the first part which engages with interlocking fit an outwardly extending neck of the bottle, and a second part which is relatively movable with respect to the said first part and has at least two positions, a first of which is in a free position and a second of which is in an interlocking position whereby to be engaging against an outer side of the said first part to holds it thereby to resist release from its interlocking position with respect to the said neck of the bottle. 
   
   
       18 - 24 . (canceled)