Chambered Bottle Stopper

Abstract

A stopper apparatus for closing wine bottles and like receptacles having an elongated stopper body of flexible material adapted for insertion into the neck of the bottle so as to create a water-tight and air-tight seal between the media contained within said bottle and the outside environment. The stopper body has a generally cylindrical shape with a slight taper near the base of the cylinder and features a cavity near the top of the cylinder. The cavity features a concealed apparatus therein. At least one self revealing handle is attached to the stopper body for extracting said stopper from the neck of the bottle, wherein extracting said stopper body from the neck of said bottle exposes said concealed apparatus contained therein.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A stopper apparatus for closing bottles comprising:
 an elongated, unitary, stopper body including a cavity, said stopper body being composed of flexible material and adapted for insertion into the neck of the bottle so as to create a water-tight and air-tight seal between the media contained within said bottle and the outside environment;   said stopper body having a lower base portion and an upper edge portion where said stopper body has a generally cylindrical shape and tapers from the upper edge portion to the lower base portion and;   a cavity located near the upper edge of the stopper body, said cavity imparting additional flexibility to the stopper body and comprising a concealed apparatus therein;   a structural element sealing said cavity concealing said concealed apparatus;   at least one handle coupled to said stopper body for extracting said stopper from the neck of the bottle;   wherein extracting said stopper body from the neck of said bottle exposes said concealed apparatus contained therein.   
     
     
         11 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one handle is a self revealing handle. 
     
     
         12 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one self revealing handle lays flat against said stopper top in the inserted position and rotates around hinge means to reveal itself and allow facilitate use of said at least one handle to extract said stopper from the neck of said bottle. 
     
     
         13 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said concealed apparatus is a concealed gift item. 
     
     
         14 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said concealed apparatus is a concealed message. 
     
     
         15 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said concealed apparatus is a media package. 
     
     
         16 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein structural element is integrally formed with said body. 
     
     
         17 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one self revealing handle lays flat in the inserted position and rotates up to 90 degrees around each hinge means. 
     
     
         18 . A stopper means for sealing bottles comprising:
 an elongated stopper body of flexible material adapted for insertion into the neck of the bottle to create an elongated, unitary, stopper body including a cavity, said stopper body being composed of flexible material and adapted for insertion into the neck of the bottle so as to create water-tight and air-tight seals between the media contained within said bottle and the outside environment;   said stopper body having a lower base portion and an upper edge portion where said stopper body has a generally cylindrical shape tapering from the upper edge portion to the lower base portion and;   a chamber disposed near the upper edge of the stopper body, said chamber imparting additional flexibility coextensive therewith to the stopper body and containing concealed marketing means.   
     
     
         19 . The stopper means of  claim 18  further comprising an integral extraction assembly featuring a handle attached to a structural member contained within the stopper assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The stopper means of  claim 18  further comprising a displaceable structural member integrally formed on said stopper body covering said chamber and an integral extraction assembly featuring a handle coupled to said upper edge of said stopper body wherein extracting said stopper means from the neck of said bottle displaces said structural member to expose said concealed marketing means. 
     
     
         21 . The stopper means of  claim 18  wherein said chamber is offset from said extraction assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The stopper means of  claim 18 , wherein said concealed apparatus is a sensor package. 
     
     
         23 . A stopper means of  claim 22  where said sensor package is a thermometer for indicating the highest temperature the liquid has been exposed to after bottling. 
     
     
         24 . A stopper apparatus for a liquid containing bottle, comprising:
 an elongated stopper body of flexible material adapted for insertion into the neck of the bottle to create a water-tight and air-tight seal between the liquid contained within the bottle and the ambient environment;   the elongated stopper body having a upper edge region, a lower base region and a substantially cylindrical shape tapering from the upper edge region to the base region;   a concealable chamber disposed in the upper edge region of the elongated stopper body and defining greater flexibility in the upper region than in the base region, where the chamber is of sufficient dimensions to conceal a marketing means.   
     
     
         25 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said stopper body defines a central axial in the direction of elongation and the chamber is offset from the central axis. 
     
     
         26 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising a structural element formed integrally with the stopper body for overlying and securing the chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The stopper apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the concealed apparatus is a sensor package. 
     
     
         28 . A stopper apparatus of  claim 27  where the sensor package is a thermometer for indicating the highest temperature the liquid has been exposed to after bottling. 
     
     
         29 . A stopper apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising at least one handle integrally formed at the upper edge region and hingedly coupled thereto where the handle lays substantially flat in a concealed position against the upper edge region until pivoted to expose the structural element concealing the chamber and to assist in extraction of the stopper apparatus from the bottle