Closable containers

Abstract

Disclosed are containers for wine and other beverages which will avoid the problem of cork taint, be easy to manufacture and use, and have consumer acceptance. In particular, disclosed is a container which is characterized by a body having an axial bore defining an opening for the container, a cylindrical stopper within the bore, and a screw cap for closing off the bore, wherein the cylindrical stopper is made of synthetic material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention also relates to an assembly for providing a closable container such as a wine bottle containing a stopper and a screw cap. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]“Corked” wine containing 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is a significant problem in the wine industry. TCA is a by-product of the chlorine bleaching process used to sanitize cork during manufacture, and give rise to an unacceptable smell something akin to wet cardboard or moldy bread. About 1 in 20 to about 1 in 10 bottles are corked, thus leading to significant economic losses. [0003] The wine industry is actively looking for ways to avoid TCA taint. One way to avoid this taint is to bottle with screw caps. Screw caps are also much more economical than natural corks that are in limited supply. However, the use of screw caps is associated by consumers with low cost jug wines. Thus, the use of screw caps has yet to take off to a significant extent. [0004] Another way to avoid TCA taint is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide containers for wine and other beverages which will avoid the problem of cork taint, be easy to manufacture and use, and have consumer acceptance.

[0008] When opening the container, the screw cap is first removed and then the cylindrical stopper is removed. The cylindrical stopper may be removed by any conventional means such as a cork screw, cork puller or by insertion of a needle with a compressed air source. When such a container is a wine bottle and is presented to a customer by the waiter or sommelier, the screw cap may be removed surreptitiously and then the cylindrical stopper may be removed, e.g. with a cork screw, thus simulating the opening of a wine bottle with a natural cork. This is expected to result in much greater consumer acceptance compared to when the wine bottle contains just a screw cap. In addition, the problems of TCA taint and oxidation of wine are avoided.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the axial bore comprises a seat that contacts the cylindrical stopper and forms a seal. In this embodiment, the cylindrical stopper may be fitted relatively loosely within the axial bore so that it may be easily extracted. The screw cap contacts the cylindrical stopper and forces the stopper onto the seat thereby forming the seal.

Problems solved by technology

“Corked” wine containing 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is a significant problem in the wine industry.

TCA is a by-product of the chlorine bleaching process used to sanitize cork during manufacture, and give rise to an unacceptable smell something akin to wet cardboard or moldy bread.

About 1 in 20 to about 1 in 10 bottles are corked, thus leading to significant economic losses.

However, synthetic corks are not as compressible as natural corks and sometimes do not give a good fit leading to leakage and oxidation of the wine.

However, none of these solutions deal with the problem related to the limited supply of cork from Portugal.

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