Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Expansion Bottle Plug.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a bottle plug and more particularly to the
bottle
plug which can.be conveniently inserted into a bottle neck and prevents from
unlawful
reuse in closing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquor, wine or the like is conventionally contained in glass or ceramic
bottle.
Before the bottling process, distilled heat liquor has already situated in
high inner
pressure. In the bottling process, when the traditional bottle plug is
typically forced
into the neck of a filled bottle, the inner pressure in the filled bottle is
essentially
greater than atmospheric pressure. Typically, the diameter of bottle plug is
apt to
greater than the inner circumference of the bottle neck in order to sealably
confront
each other when the plug is axially inserted into the bottle neck. The plug,
therefore,
is capable of withstanding substantial inner pressure over long storage
periods without
deterioration or effect on the contents. During the bottling process, it is
hard while
the plug is inserted as intended into the bottle neck. In particular, the plug
is hard to
be remained in the bottle neck by an axially directed inner pressure from
within the
bottle.
The conventional bottle plug is made of cork which has capillary. The inner
pressure from within the bottle, thus, will be released through the capillary
of the cork
during closing bottle process so that the plug has an improved sealable in the
bottle
neck. However, the plug necessitates to tightly seal the bottle neck and thus
it is hard
to be inserted into the bottle neck in the bottling process. In addition, wet
and aged
cork tends to disintegrate and it is often difficult to remove from the bottle
neck.
Accordingly, it is inconvenient to remove the cork when it is easily snapped
in two.
R.O.C. Pat. Publication No. 314,862 published on September 1, 1997 discloses
"An improved structure of a bottle plug". FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective
view of the
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bottle plug in accordance with No. 314,862. Referring to FIG. 1, No. 314,862
discloses the bottle plug including an elastomer member 41 and a plug 42. The
seal
41 is made of foamed plastic material instead of cork because opening the
bottle will
snap a cork stopper into two. However, the bottle plug of No. 314,862 fails to
be
remained in place by the inner pressure from within the bottle during the
closing
process.
There is a serious problem in the market. Illegal factories fabricate fake
liquor
or wine by using the used bottles and bottle plugs on which covering a new and
intact
cap of tinfoil or a plastic material. Accordingly, there is a need of
performing the
function of indicating whether or not the ~ bottle has previously been opened.
Therefore, preventing from reusing bottle plug is one of solutions.
The present invention intends to provide a bottle plug including gas-tight
means
and reuse-proof means in such way to as to mitigate and overcome the above
problem.
Summary of the Invention
The primary objective of this invention is to provide a bottle plug with a gas-
tight
means which can be easily inserted into a bottle neck and then tightly seals
the bottle
that improves efficiency of bottle closing process.
The secondary objective of this invention is to provide the bottle plug with a
reuse-proof means which cannot be reused as a new one that can prevent illegal
factories from fabricating fake liquor or wine by using the used bottles and
bottle
plugs.
The present invention is the bottle plug. The bottle plug mainly includes a
bottle
plug member and an elastomer member. The bottle plug member consists of a gas-
tight means and a reuse-proof means and further inserts into the elastomer
member
being assembled as a unit to form the bottle plug. When the bottle plug is
inserted
into a bottle neck, the gas-tight means provides an expansion portion to seal
the bottle
neck and the reuse-proof means provides an appearance and the function of
indicating
whether the bottle neck has previously opened or the bottle plug has been
used.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become
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more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying
drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings herein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with R.O.C. Pat.
Publication No. 314,862.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
first
embodiment of the present invention in the first step of closing bottle
process.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug of the first embodiment
of the
present invention in the second step of closing bottle process.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the second
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the third
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
sixth
embodiment of the present invention in the first step of closing bottle
process.
FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
sixth
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embodiment of the present invention in the second step of closing bottle
process.
FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
seventh embodiment of the present invention in the first step of closing
bottle process.
FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
seventh embodiment of the present invention in the second step of closing
bottle
process.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the bottle plug in accordance with the eighth
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the bottle plug in accordance with the
eighth
embodiment of the present invention in the first step of closing bottle
process.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Refernng to FIG. 2, a bottle plug in accordance with a first embodiment of the
present invention mainly includes a body generally designated as numeral 1, a
plug as
numeral 2 and an elastomer member as numeral 3.
Refernng again to FIG. 2, the body 1 includes an annular rib 11 formed on an
inner circumference of a wall 14 and a plurality of flexible walls 12
encircled an axis
to define a space 15 with an opening. An annular partition 13 of the body 1
provides
an upper surface for axially extending the wall 14 defining a compartment and
a lower
surface for axially extending the walls 12 defining an expansion portion. The
inner
distal circumference of each wall 12 provides a slightly retracted surface 16
projecting
inwardly in a common plane perpendicular to the axis defined by the body 1.
The
outer circumference of each wall 12 further provides a plurality of ribs 17
projecting
outwardly and encircling co-axially around the axis of the body 1. The shape
of the
plug 2 is dictated somewhat by tradition and etiquette corresponding to the
inner
circumference of the body 1. Accordingly, the plug 2 essentially consists of a
top and
a leg. The distal end of the leg provides a slightly tapered end adapted to
engage with
the retracted surface 16 of the body 1. Correspondingly, the radially outer
annular
surface of the top provides an annular groove 21 extended around the axis of
the plug
2 and adapted to engage with the rib 11 of the body 1. When the leg of the
plug 2 is
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axially inserted into the inner circumference of the body 1, the tapered end
is axially
aligned to the retracted surface 16. Once the tapered end is engaged with the
retracted surface 16, the end of the walls 12 will be forced to expand
radially and
outwardly. The groove 21 eventually engaged with the rib 11 to form a securely
locked position after insertion. The body 1 further provides an annular flange
18 at
the edge of a hole of the partition 13 for holding the inserted leg of the
plug 2 slightly
tight before it is in. lock position. The elastomer member 3 may be made of
cork,
foamed plastic material or the like which cannot chemically contaminate the
content
within the bottle giving it a distressing taste and permits only a miniscule
amount of air
to enter the bottle as well as breathing. The elastomer member 3 is cup-shaped
part
with a cavity in which adapted to receive the combination of the body 1 and
the plug 2
aligned co-axially to the elastomer member 3. The inner circumference of the
elastomer member 3 includes a plurality of grooves 31 encircling co-axially
around its
axis corresponding to the ribs 17 for assembling. The outer circumference of
the
elastomer member 3 corresponding to the expansion portion of the body 1 is
adapted
to sealably confront the inner circumference of the bottle neck during
inserting. It is
for convenient to insert the assembled bottle plug into the bottle neck, the
outer
diameter of the elastomer member 3 is slightly less than the inside bottle
neck diameter.
The radially outer annular surface 32 of the elastomer member 3 is further
provided for
confronting the rim of the bottle neck upon insertion.
FIG. 3 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the first embodiment of
the
present invention in the first step of closing bottle process. FIG. 4 is a
sectional view
taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 illustrating the preferred number of five walls
12
inserting into the cavity of the elastomer member 3. The combination of the
body 1
and elastomer member 3 has been inserted into the bottle neck 4 in the first
step.
Because of the body 1 allowing the deformation of the elastomer member 3 in
the
bottle neck while insertion, it is very convenient to be inserted. Suppose the
inner
circumference of the bottle neck 4 is 18.2 mm, the maximum outer diameter of
the
elastomer member 3 is approximately 18.4 mm for insertion as shown by test
data.
FIG. 5 illustrates the bottle plug of the first embodiment of the present
invention
in the second step of closing bottle process. Refernng to FIGS. 4 and 5, the
plug 2 is
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axially aligned to the center of the body l and then the leg is inserted into
the inner
circumference. When the tapered distal end of the plug 2 is Being inserted
into the
space 15 to engage with the retracted surface 16 of the body 1, the distal end
actuates
the expansion portion defined by the wall expanding in radial outward.
Accordingly,
when the wall 12 is in expansion, the outer circumference of the elastomer
member 3
corresponding to the expansion portion of the body 1 is sealably confronted
the inner
circumference of the bottle neck 4 that can perform the function of tightly
sealing the
bottle neck 4. As shown in test data, the maximum outer diameter of the
elastomer
member 3 removed from the bottle neck accomplishing preferred seal effect is
approximately between 1 ~.7 mm and 19.2 mm. While the distal end is rested in
the
opening of space 15, the groove 21 is engaged with the rib 11 in order to
perform the
function of positioning the plug 2 that securely locked in the body 1. The
elastomers
member 3 permits only a miniscule amount of air via the space 15 of the body 1
to
enter the bottle as well as breathing. After that package machine covers the
bottle
plug with a tinfoil or plastic cap mounting on the bottle neck 4.
When the bottle plug of the present invention is removed from the bottle neck
4,
it releases the inner pressure of the content within the bottle. Thus users
can reuse the
bottle plug to insert into and remove from the bottle neck 4 which has been
previously
opened. However, the bottle plug cannot appear intact if the plug 2 is forced
to
release or loosen from the body 1 as well as disengaging the rib 11 with the
groove 21.
On the one hand the used bottle plug is impossible to remove the plug 2 from
the body
1, and on the other hand the bottle plug with the maximum outer diameter
cannot
apply to the high inner pressure, temperature of the content within the bottle
in the
bottling process. Therefore, illegal factories cannot reuse the bottle plug
for
fabricating fake liquor because the appearance of the bottle plug reveals
initial opening
of the bottle.
FIG. 6 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the second embodiment of
the
present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, reference numerals of the
second
embodiment has applied the identical numerals of the previous embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 6, the body I of the second embodiment further includes an
annular
groove corresponding to the annular partition 13 provided on the bottom of the
outer
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circumference, as well as a radially outer annular surface, of the wall 14. A
tear strip
19 connects between the bottom of the wall 14 and the annular partition 13 so
that the
wall 14 can tear off from the body 1 along its groove. The bottle plug has
been
inserted into the bottle neck 4 and the elastomer member 3 confronts with the
inner
circumference of the bottle neck 4 for tightly sealing. For removing the
bottle plug
from the bottle neck 4, users can tear off the strip 19 and thus the wall 14
is cut along .
the groove. As the wall 14 is' cut along the groove of the body 1 the plug 2
can
release from it. The expansion portion of the body 1 is disengaged with the
tapered
end of the plug 2; meanwhile, the bottle can remove from the bottle neck 4.
The
appearance of the plug 2 without the wall 14 performs the function of
indicating
whether the bottle neck 4 has previously opened or the bottle plug has been
used.
Therefore, it can prevent reuse of the bottle plug.
FIG. 7 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the third embodiment of
the
present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, reference numerals of the third
embodiment has applied the identical numerals of the previous embodiment.
Refernng to FIG. 7, the body 1 of the third embodiment includes a thread 11
and a
recession A co-axially formed on an inner circumference of a wall 14 and
abutting
parallel each other. The plug 2 of the third embodiment provides a
corresponding
thread 21 for tightening it with the thread 11 while the plug 2 is inserted
into the body
1 assembled as a unit. The top of the plug 2 further provides a slot 22 for
manually
or automatically screwing it. The combination of the body 1 and elastomer
member 3
has been inserted into the bottle neck 4 in the first step. The plug 2 for
sealing the
bottle neck 4 is screwed clockwise to mount in the body 1. Thus the expansion
portion of the body 1 is expanded in radial outward due to the tapered
distal,end of the
plug 2 engaging with a protrusion 16 of each the wall 12. For removing the
bottle
plug from the bottle neck 4, the plug 2 is screwed counterclockwise to release
from the
body 1 and thus the outer diameter of the bottle plug will reduce due to
shrinkage of
the expansion portion. Furthermore, the leg of the plug 2 further provides an
annular
groove 23 for unreleasably engaging with the protrusion 16 of the body 1 in
order to
prevent reuse. For removing the bottle plug from the bottle neck 4, the plug 2
is
screwed clockwise to enable the leg of the plug 2 disengaged with the
protrusion 16 of
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the body 1. The annular groove 23 of the plug 2 is engaged with the inner
circumference of the protrusion I6 of the body I and thus the outer diameter
of the
bottle plug will reduce due to shrinkage of the expansion portion. The top of
the plug
2 is restricted with an appearance in lock position as it drops into the
recession A of
the body 1. It performs the function of indicating the bottle plug has been
used.
FIG. 8 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the fourth embodiment of
the
present invention. Refernng to FIGS. 2 and 8, reference numerals of the fourth
embodiment has applied the identical numerals of the previous embodiment.
Refernng to FIG. 8, the body 5 of the fourth embodiment includes an annular
plate 53
having a hole provided on its center. The body 5 further includes a plurality
of
flexible walls 52 extended from the periphery of the hole and encircled an
axis to
define a space 55 with an opening. The inner circumference of each wall 52
provides
a groove 51 extending along a circle coaxial to the axis defined by the body 5
and a
slightly retracted surface 56 projecting inwardly in a common plane
perpendicular to
the axis of it. The outer circumference of each wall 52 further provides a
plurality of
ribs 57 projecting outwardly and encircling co-axially around the axis of the
body 5.
The shape of the plug 6 of the fourth embodiment is dictated corresponding to
the nut-
shaped body S. Accordingly, the plug 6 essentially consists of a top and a
leg. The
leg provides an annular projection 61 and a slightly tapered end adapted to
engage
with the groove 51 and the retracted surface 56 of the body 5 respectively.
When the
leg of the plug 6 is axially inserted into the inner circumference of the body
5, the
tapered end is axially aligned to the retracted surface 56. Once the tapered
end is
engaged with the retracted surface 56, the end of the walls 52 will be forced
to expand
radially and outwardly. The annular projection 61 eventually engaged with the
groove 51 to form a securely locked position after insertion. The body 5
further
provides an annular flange 58 at the edge of a hole of the annular plate 53
for holding
the inserted leg of the plug 6 slightly tight before it is in lock position.
The elastomer
member 3 is cup-shaped part with a cavity in which adapted to receive the
combination of the body 5 and the plug 6 aligned co-axially to the elastomer
member 3.
The inner circumference of the elastomer member 3 includes a plurality of
grooves 31
encircling co-axially around its axis corresponding to the ribs 57 for
assembling. The
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outer circumference of the elastomer member 3 corresponding to the expansion
portion
of the body 5 is adapted to sealably confront the inner circumference of the
bottle neck
during inserting. The technique of inserting and removing the bottle plug has
been
described in detail in previous embodiment for reference.
FIG. 9 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the fifth embodiment of
the
present invention. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numerals of the fifth
embodiment has applied the identical numerals of the previous fourth
embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 9, the plug 7 of the fifth embodiment further includes an
annular
wall extended from the radially outer annular surface in a direction from the
top 72 to
the leg. An annular tear strip 73 is attached to the rim of the wall and thus
the inner
lip 71 forms a retainer for retaining the annular plate 53 while the plug 7 is
inserted
into the body 5. When the leg of the plug 7 is axially inserted into the space
55 of the
body 5, the retainer receives fittingly the annular plate 53 and the tapered
end is axially
aligned to the retracted surface 56. Once the tapered end is engaged with the
retracted surface 56, the end of the walls 52 will be forced to expand
radially and
outwardly. The outer circumference of the elastomer member 3 corresponding to
the
expansion portion of the body 5 is adapted to sealably confront the inner
circumference of the bottle neck during inserting.
Users can tear off the strip 73 from the plug 7 and thus it is cut along the
radially
outer annular surface of the top 72. The plug 7 releases the annular plate 53
and then
the bottle plug can remove from the bottle neck 4. The appearance of the plug
7
without the tear strip 73 performs the function of indicating whether the
bottle neck 4
has previously opened or the bottle plug has been used. Therefore, it can
prevent
reuse of the bottle plug.
FIG. 10 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the sixth embodiment of
the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, the body 8 includes a first annular
rib 81 a
and a second annular rib 81b formed on an inner circumference of a wall 84 and
a
plurality of flexible walls 82 encircled an axis to define a space 85 with an
opening.
An annular partition 83 of the body 8 provides an upper surface for axially
extending
the wall 84 defining a compartment and a lower surface for axially extending
the walls
82 defining an expansion portion. The inner distal circumference of each wall
82
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provides a protrusion 86 projecting inwardly in a common plane perpendicular
to the
axis defined by the body 8. The outer circumference of each wall 82 further
provides
a plurality of ribs 87 projecting outwardly and encircling co-axially around
the axis of
the body 8. The plug 9 essentially consists of a top and a leg. The leg
provides a
recession 92 and a slightly tapered end adapted to engage in turn with the
protrusion
86 , of the body 8. Correspondingly, the radially outer annular surface of the
top
'provides an annular groove 91 extended around the axis of the plug 9 and
adapted to
engage with the ribs 81 of the body 8. When the leg of the plug 9 is axially
inserted
into the inner circumference of the body 8, the tapered end is axially aligned
to the
protrusion 86. Once the tapered end is engaged with the protrusion 86, the end
of the
walls 82 will be forced to expand radially and outwardly. The first groove 81
a is
engaged with the rib 91 to form a securely locked position after insertion.
The body
8 further provides an annular flange 88 at the edge of a hole of the partition
83 for
holding the inserted leg of the plug 9 slightly tight before it is in lock
position. The
inner circumference of the elastomer member 3 includes a plurality of grooves
31
encircling co-axially around its axis corresponding to the ribs 87 for
assembling.
FIG. 11 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the sixth embodiment of
the
present invention in the first step of closing bottle process. FIG. 12
illustrates the
bottle plug in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention
in
remove process. Referring to FIG. 11, the outer circumference of the elastomer
.member 3 corresponding to the expansion portion of the body 8 is adapted to
sealably
confront the inner circumference of the bottle neck 4 when the distal end of
the plug 9
engaged with the inner circumference of the body 8. While the distal end of
the plug
9 is rested in the opening of space 85, the rib 91 is engaged with the first
groove 81 a in
order to perform the function of positioning the plug 9 that securely locked
in the body
8. Referring to FIG. 12, the plug 9 is manually pressed downward along the
space 85
of the body 8 by users so that the protrusion 86 is slid into the groove 92 to
shrink the
expansion portion such that the bottle plug can conveniently remove from the
bottle
neck 4. The wall 82 is shrunk inwardly and thus the outer diameter of the
bottle plug
will reduce due to shrinkage of the expansion portion. While the groove 92 of
the
plug 9 is engaged with the protrusion 86 of the body 8, the rib 91 is engaged
with the
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second groove 81b in order to perform the function of positioning the plug 9
that
securely locked in the body 8. The appearance of the plug 9 positioned in the
groove
81a or 81b performs the function of indicating whether the bottle neck 4 has
previously opened or the bottle plug has been used. Therefore, it can prevent
reuse of
the bottle plug.
FIG. 13 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the seventh embodiment
of
the present invention in the first step of closing bottle process. FIG. 14
illustrates the
bottle plug in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention
in
remove process. Referring to FIG. 13, the body 80 of the seventh embodiment
further includes a annular groove 801 formed on an inner circumference of a
wall 804
and a plurality of flexible walls 802 encircled an axis to define a space 805
with an
opening. An annular partition 803 of the body 80 provides an upper surface for
axially extending the wall 804 defining a compartment and a lower surface for
axially
extending the walls 802 defining an expansion portion. The inner circumference
of
each wall 802 provides a slightly retracted surface 806 projecting inwardly in
a
common plane perpendicular to the axis defined by the body 80. The outer
circumference of each wall 802 further provides a plurality of ribs 807
projecting
outwardly and encircling co-axially around the axis of the body 80. The plug
90
essentially consists of a top and a leg. The ends of the plug 90 provide an
annular
first flange 901 and an annular second flange 902 adapted to engage with the
groove
801 and the retracted inner circumference 806 of the body 80 respectively.
When the
leg of the plug 90 is axially inserted into the inner circumference 806 of the
body 90,
the end of the leg is axially aligned to the inner circumference 806 of the
wall 802.
Once the annular flange 902 is engaged with the inner circumference 806 while
pressing the plug 90, the walls 802 will be forced to expand radially and
outwardly.
The inner circumference of the elastomer member 3 includes a plurality of
grooves 31
encircling co-axially around its axis corresponding to the ribs 807 for
assembling.
The outer circumference of the elastomer member 3 corresponding to the
expansion
portion of the body 80 is adapted to sealably confront the inner circumference
of the
bottle neck 4 when the annular flange 902 of the plug 90 engaged with the
inner
circumference 806 of the body 80. While the annular flange 902 is rested in
the
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space 805, the annular first flange 901 is positioned at the topside of the
groove 801 in
order to perform the function of positioning the plug 90 securely locked in
the body 80.
Referring to FIG. 14, the plug 90 is manually pressed downward along the inner
circumference of the wall 804 by users for removing bottle plug so that the
annular
flange 902 slides out of the circumference 806 to shrink the walls 802. The
wall 802
is shrunk inwardly and thus the outer diameter of the bottle plug will reduce
due to
shrinkage of the body 80. While the annular flange 902 of the plug 90 is
engaged
with the distal end of the body 80, the annular flange 901 is positioned at
the bottom
side of the groove 801 in order to perform the function of removing the bottle
plug.
The position of the plug 90 at the topside or bottom side of the groove 801
performs
the function of indicating whether the bottle neck 4 has previously opened or
the bottle
plug has been used. The plug 90 cannot remove from the body 80 due to the
annular
flange 902 engaged with the opening for preventing reuse.
FIG. 15 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the eighth embodiment
of
the present invention. Referring to FIG. 15, the body 10 of the eighth
embodiment
further includes a annular groove 101 formed on an inner circumference of a
wall 104
and a plurality of flexible walls 102 encircled an axis to define a space 105
with an
opening. An annular partition 103 of the body 10 provides an upper surface for
axially extending the wall 104 defining a compartment and a lower surface for
axially
extending the walls 102 defining an expansion portion. The inner circumference
of
each wall 102 provides a protrusion 106 projecting inwardly in a common plane
perpendicular to the axis defined by the body 10. The outer circumference of
each
wall 102 further provides a plurality of ribs 107 projecting outwardly and
arranged at a
helical angle with respect to the axis of the body 10. The plug 9 essentially
consists
of a top and a leg. The leg provides a recession 92 adapted to engage with the
protrusion 106 of the body 10. The top of the plug 9 provides an annular
flange 91
on its radially outer annular surface adapted to engage with the groove 101 of
the body
10. Once the leg of the plug 9 is engaged with the protrusion 106, the end of
the
walls 102 will be forced to expand radially and outwardly. The inner
circumference
of the elastomer member 30 includes a plurality of grooves 301 arranged at a
helical
angle corresponding to the ribs 807 for assembling. Accordingly, the body 10
is
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inserted into the elastomer member 30 and then rotated at an appropriate angle
with
respect to the axis of it for fittingly assembly. The body 10 is adhesively
received in
the elastomer member 30 by adhesive for fear taking apart each other. The
bottom of
the elastomer member 30 further provides a hole 302 and a filter 303 arranged
therein.
The filter 303 is made of cork material and permits only a miniscule amount of
air to
enter the bottle.
FIG. 16 illustrates the bottle plug in accordance with the eighth embodiment
of
the present invention in the first step of closing bottle process. Referring
to FIG. 16,
the outer circumference of the elastomer member 30 corresponding to the
expansion
portion of the body 10 is adapted to sealably confront the inner circumference
of the
bottle neck 4 when the distal end of the plug 9 engaged with the inner
circumference
106 of the body 10. While the leg of the plugs is rested on the inner
circumference of
the body 10, the annular flange 91 is positioned at the topside of the groove
101 in
order to perform the function of positioning the plug 9 securely locked in the
body 10.
Referring again to FIG. 16, the plug 90 can be manually pressed downward along
the inner circumference of the wall 104 by users for removing bottle plug so
that the
groove 92 is engaged with out of the protrusion 106 to shrink the walls 102.
The wall
802 is shrunk inwardly and thus the outer diameter of the bottle plug will
reduce due to
shrinkage of the body 10. While the groove 92 of the plug 9 is engaged with
the
protrusion 106 of the body 10, the annular flange 91 is positioned at the
bottom side of
the groove 101 in order to perform the function of removing the bottle plug.
The
position of the plug 9 at the topside or bottom side of the groove 101
performs the
function of indicating whether the bottle neck 4 has previously opened or the
bottle
plug has been used. The plug 9 cannot remove from the body 10 due to the
groove
92 engaged with the protrusion 106 for preventing reuse.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its
presently
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art that
various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the
scope of
the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
13
