Bottle closure having a wood top

Abstract

A closure for a bottle includes a wooden element, a first polymer layer, and a second polymer layer. The wooden element has a shaft portion and a head portion. The head portion is wider than the shaft portion. The shaft portion extends in an axial direction. The first polymer layer is molded onto the shaft portion, and has an outer surface having at least one annular discontinuity. The second polymer layer is disposed over the first polymer layer, and is configured to be received by a bottle in the axial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a bottle, comprising
 a stopper portion having a first axial length and a first width, the stopper portion configured to be received at least in part within a bottle in the axial direction, the stopper portion comprising a wooden inner part and a polymer outer part, the wooden inner part having a second axial length that is less than 75% of the first axial length; and   a wooden head portion having a second width that exceeds the first width; and wherein the first axial length and the second axial length are defined from a bottom of the wooden head portion.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said wooden head portion and said wooden inner part are integrally formed from a single piece of wood. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the wooden inner part comprises a shaft, said shaft comprising a cylindrical structure having at least one discontinuity. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein said shaft includes at least one annular groove defining the at least one discontinuity. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the shaft includes at least two annular grooves defining the at least one discontinuity. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer defines a substantially cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer outer part further comprises a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer, the first polymer layer disposed between the second polymer layer and the wood inner part. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the first polymer layer includes an outer surface and at least one annular discontinuity in the outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the first polymer layer part has a different hardness than the second polymer layer. 
     
     
         10 . A closure for a bottle, comprising
 a wooden element having a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion having a width greater than the shaft portion, the shaft portion extending in an axial direction;   a first polymer layer molded onto the shaft portion, the first polymer layer having an outer surface having at least one annular discontinuity; and   a second polymer layer disposed over the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer configured to be received by a bottle in the axial direction.   
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the first polymer layer includes an inner shaft, and wherein the at least one annular discontinuity comprises a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the each of the plurality of ribs extends axially along said inner shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the head has a width that exceeds a width of an opening in the bottle. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft portion comprises a cylindrical structure having at least one axial discontinuity. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein said shaft includes at least one annular groove defining the at least one axial discontinuity. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein the annular groove defines at least one undercut, the undercut having a surface extending substantially in a radial direction normal to the axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the first polymer layer part has a different hardness than the second polymer layer. 
     
     
         18 . A closure for a bottle, comprising
 a wooden element having a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion having a width greater than the shaft portion, the shaft portion extending in an axial direction, the shaft including at least two annular grooves;   a first polymer layer molded onto the shaft portion; and   a second polymer layer molded onto the first polymer layer and configured to be received by a bottle in the axial direction.   
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 18 , wherein the first polymer layer has a different hardness than the second polymer layer. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the first polymer layer includes an inner shaft and a plurality of ribs extending radially outward from the shaft.