Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER STOPPERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to container stoppers and,
more particularly, to such a container stopper that can repeatedly
used to seal the mouth of a container tightly.
2. Description of the Related Art:
A container, for example, a bottle of wine or the like, is
normally sealed with a cock. The cock keeps the bottle in a good
sealing status. However, the cock is not durable in use because it
tends to be damaged accidentally. Further, the cock is less
attractive in outer appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is one ohject of the present invention to
provide a container stopper, which can be used repeatedly to seal
the mouth of a container in a good sealing status. It is another
object of the present invention to provide a container stopper,
which fits the shape of the container, causing a sense of beauty.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
container stopper comprises a hollow elastic stopper body
insertable into the mouth of a container, anal a plug rod inserted
into the axially extended center through hole of the stopper body
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and vertically moved between a first position, where the stopper
body is radially expanded by the plug rod against the periphery of
the mouth of the container to seal the mouth of the container, and a
second position, where the plug rod released the pressure from the
stopper body, for enabling the stopper body to be removed from the
mouth of the container. According to another embodiment of the
present invention, the container stopper comprises an elastic
stopper body fixedly fastened to the mouth of a container, the
stopper body having an axially extended center through hole; a
plug rod inserted through the axially extended center through hole
of the stopper body and axially movable relative to the stopper
body between a first position where the plug rod close the passage
through the axially extended center through hole of the stopper
body and a second position where the plug rod opens the passage of
the axially extended through hole of the stopper body, the plug rod
having a bottom cone, a plurality of radial through holes through
the bottom cone, and an axial hole axially upwardly extended from
the center of the bottom cone to a top end thereof in communication
with the radial through holes, the radial through holes being
received inside the stopper body and sealed by the stopper body
when the plug rod moved to the first position, the radial through
holes being extended out of the stopper body when the plug rod
moved to the second position; and a lever pivoted to the top end of
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the plug rod and adapted to move the plug rod between the first
position and the second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAdVINGS
FIG. 1 is a cutaway of a container stopper according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container stopper
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing an application
example of the container stopper according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates another application example of the
container stopper according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 5 shows still another application example of the
container stopper according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 shows still another application example of the
container stopper according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 shows an alternate form of the container stopper
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cutaway of a container stopper according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
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FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the container stopper
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 (I is similar to FIC'r. 8 but showing a hard insert
installed in the stopper body.
FIG. 11 is a cutaway of an alternate form of the container
stopper according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing showing an application
example of the container stopper shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is an elevational view of a container stopper
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the container stopper
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a sectional assembly view of the container
stopper according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing an application example
of the container stopper according to the third embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 17 is a cutaway showing a container stopper installed
in a container according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the container stopper
of the fourth embodiment of the present invention opened.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container stopper 1 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown
comprised of a hard plug rod 11 and a hollow cylindrical elastic
stopper body 12. The plug rod 11 comprises a top handhold portion
111, a positioning flange 112 extended around the periphery of the
bottom side of the handhold portion 111, a through hole 113
transversely extended through the top handhold portion 11I, bottom
cone 115, and a tapered shank 114 connected between the top
handhold portion 111 and the bottom cone 115. The tapered shank
114 has a diameter gradually reduced in direction from the bottom
cone 115 toward the top handhold portion 111. The stopper body 12
has a tapered upper section 121 made gradually greater toward the
top, an axially extended center through hole 122 adapted to receive
the plug rod 11.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 again, when in use, the
stopper body 12 is inserted into the mouth 31 of a container 3, the
tapered upper section 121 is stopped above the mouth 31,
preventing the stopper body 12 from falling to the inside of the
container 3. Thereafter, the plug god 11 is inserted through the
axially extended center through hole 122 to expand the stopper
body 12 radially against the inner surface of the mouth 31 of the
container 3, sealing the container 3 tightly. When the plug rod 11
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inserted into the axially extended center through hole 122 to
expand the stopper body 12 radially outwards, the stopper body 12
is stopped against the inner surface of the mouth 31 and closely
pressed on the periphery of the tapered shank 114 and the periphery
of the bottom cone 115, preventing a leakage. When removing the
container stopper 1 from the container 3, hold the tapered upper
section 121 with one hand and then press the plug rod 11 with the
other hand to force the positioning flange 112 into the inside of the
axially extended center through hole 122, at this time the diameter
of the lower part of the stopper body 12 is relatively reduced and
disengaged from the inner surface of the mouth 31, and therefore
the container stopper 1 can easily be pulled out of the mouth 31 of
the container 3.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 3 again, the container
stopper 1 can be used to seal a container of any of a variety of
shapes. Further, a cord member 4 or chain 4' may be fastened to the
through hole 113.
Referring to FIG. 6, the container stopper 1 can be installed
in an application stick llb and mounted with an ornamental
member 5 for use to seal the mouth 21 of a bubble-blowing solution
container 2.
Referring to FIG. 7, the container stopper 1' is shown
comprised of a hard plug rod 11' and an elastic stopper body 12'.
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The plug rod 11' comprises a top handhold portion 111', a
positioning flange 112' extended around the periphery of the
bottom side of the handhold portion 111', a bottom cone 114', and a
tapered shank 113' connected between the top handhold portion
111' and the bottom cone 114'. The stopper body 12' has a shoulder
122' extended around the periphery of the top end. When inserting
the stopper body 12' into the mouth 31 of a container 3, the
shoulder 122' is press on the periphery of l:he mouth 31, stopping
the stopper body 12' in position. Further, the positioning flange
112' has a bottom surface radially downwardly sloping toward the
tapered shank 113' fitting a sloping inner surface portion 121' of
the stopper body 12'.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show another alternate form of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the container stopper 6 is
comprised of a plug rod 61, an elastic stopper body 62, and a knob
63. The stopper body 62 has a tapered upper section 623 made
gradually greater toward the top, an axially extended center
through hole 621 adapted to receive the plug rod 61, and an inner
thread 622 spirally extended in the axially extended center through
hole 621. The plug rod 61 has a bottom cone 614, a rectangular top
coupling block 613, a shank 611 connected between the bottom
cone 614 and the rectangular top coupling block 613, and an outer
thread 612 spirally extended around the periphery of the shank 611.
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The plug rod 61 is inserted into the axially extended center through
hole 621 of the stopper body 62 from the bottom side to force the
outer thread 612 into engagement with the inner thread 622,
keeping the rectangular top coupling block 613 suspended out of
the stopper body 62. The knob 63 has a rectangular bottom
coupling hole 631 adapted to accommodate the rectangular top
coupling block 613. When rotating the knob 63 in one direction
after installation of the container stopper 6 in the mouth of a
container, the stopper body 62 is expanded to seal the mouth of the
container. On the contrary, when rotating the knob 63 in the
reversed direction, the stopper body 62 is re;Ieased and disengaged
from the inner surface of the mouth of the container, enabling the
container stopper 6 to be removed from the container.
FIG. 1 Q shows still another alternate form of the present
invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in
FIGS. ~ and 9 with the exception of a hard insert 44 in the stopper
body 62 to guide movement of the plug rod 61 relative to the
stopper body 62.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show still another alternate form of the
present invention. According to this embodiment, the container
stopper 6' is comprised of a plug rod 61', an elastic stopper body
62', a knob 63', and a hard insert 64'. The stopper body 62' has a
tapered upper section 623' made gradually greater toward the top,
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an axially extended center through hole 621' adapted to receive the
plug rod 61, and an inner thread 622' spirally extended in the
axially extended center through hole 621'. The hard insert 64' is a
hollow member fixedly fastened to the inside of the stopper body
62' around the upper end of the axially extended center through
hole 621'. The plug rod 61' has a bottom cone 614', a rectangular
top coupling block 613', a shank 611' connected between the
bottom cone 614' and the rectangular top coupling block 613', an
outer thread 612' spirally extended around the periphery of the
shank 611', a horizontal through hole 615' transversely extended
through the bottom cone 614', and a vertical hole 616' vertically
upwardly extended from the horizontal through hole 615' through
the shank 611' and the rectangular top coupling block 613'. The
plug rod 61' is inserted into the axially extended center through
hole 621' of the stopper body 62' from the bottom side to force the
outer thread 612' into engagement with the inner thread 622',
keeping the rectangular top coupling block 613' suspended out of
the stopper body 62'. The knob 63' has a rectangular bottom
coupling hole 631' adapted to accommodal.e the rectangular top
coupling block 613'. V~hen rotating the knob 63' in one direction
after installation of the container stopper 6' in the mouth 81" of a
container 8", the stopper body 62' is expanded to seal the mouth of
the container. On the contrary, when rotating the knob 63' in the
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reversed direction, the stopper body 62' is released and disengaged
from the inner surface of the mouth 81"of the container 8",
enabling the container stopper 6' to be removed from the container
FIGS. 1316 show still another alternate form of the
present invention. According to this embodiment, the container
stopper 7 is comprised of a plug rod 71, a stopper body 72, a cap 73,
a coupling plate 733, and a locating plate 734. The stopper body 72
has an axially extended center through hole 721, an inner thread
722 spirally extended in the axially extended center through hole
721, and a recessed locating hole 723 in the top end around the
axially extended center through hole 721. The plug rod 71 has a
bottom cone 714, a rectangular top coupling block 713, a shank 711
connected between the bottom cone 714 and the rectangular top
coupling block 713, and an outer thread 712 spirally extended
around the periphery of the shank 711. The plug rod 71 is inserted
into the axially extended center through hole 721 of the stopper
body 72 from the bottom side to force the outer thread 712 into
engagement with the inner thread 722, keeping the rectangular top
coupling block 713 suspended out of the stopper body 72. The
locating plate 734 is fastened to the cap 73 and partially
press-fitted into the recessed locating hole 723 of the stopper body
72. The coupling plate 733 is supported on the locating plate 734
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and fixedly fastened to the inside the cap 73, having a rectangular
center coupling hole 7331 coupled to the rectangular top coupling
block 713 of the plug rod 71. The cap 73 further has a toothed
bottom tear strip 731 sealed to the mouth 81 of the container 8.
When opening the cap 73 to open the container, the toothed bottom
tear strip 731 is broken. According to this design, the stopper body
72 is radially expanded or released by means of controlling the
direction of rotation of the cap 73.
FIGS. 17 and 18 show still another alternate form of the
present invention. The container 8' has a mouth 81', and a recess
82' at one side of the mouth 81'. A container stopper 9 is installed
in the container 8' to seal the mouth 81'. The container stopper 9
comprises a plug rod 91, a hollow elastic stopper body 92, and a
ring-head lever 93. The stopper body 92 is fixedly fastened to the
mouth 81', having an axially extended center through hole 921. The
plug rod 91 is inserted through the axially extended center through
hole 921 of the stopper body 92, having a vertical hole 911 axially
extended from the center of the bottom cone 912 to the top end and
a plurality of radial through holes 913 radia.lly extended from the
bottom end of the vertical hole 911 to the periphery of the bottom
cone 912. The ring-head lever 93 is pivoted to the top end of the
plug rod 91 outside the stopper body 92 and rested in the recess 82'.
When lifting the ring-head lever 93 (see FIG. 18), the plug rod 91
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is lowered, and the radial through holes 913 are moved out of the
stopper body 92 to the inside space of the container 8', enabling
contained liquid to be poured out of the container 8' through the
radial through holes 913 and the vertical hole 911. When the
ring-head lever 93 lowered and rested in the recess 82', the plug
rod 91 is lifted relative to the stopper body 92, and the radial
through holes 913 are moved to the inside of the stopper body 92
and sealed again.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have
been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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