# US 5,710,184 A · Molded styrene block copolymer closure for a liquid container

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- Number: US 5,710,184 A
- Document ID: US5710184A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/807,639
- Filed: 1997-02-27
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1993-05-05
- Assignees: Supreme Corq
- Inventors: Dennis L. Burns
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710184A

## CPC

- C08J 9/0061: {characterized by the use of several polymeric components}
- B65D 39/00: Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers (lids or covers B65D43/00)
- B65D 39/0011: {from natural or synthetic cork, e.g. for wine bottles or the like}
- C08J 9/00: Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof (mechanical aspects of shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state for the production of porous or cellular articles B29C)
- C08J 9/06: by a chemical blowing agent
- C08J 9/08: developing carbon dioxide
- C08J 9/10: developing nitrogen {, the blowing agent being a compound containing a nitrogen-to-nitrogen bond}
- B41M 1/40: Printing on bodies of particular shapes, e.g. golf balls, candles, wine corks {(sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035)}
- C08J 2201/024: Preparation or use of a blowing agent concentrate, i.e. masterbatch in a foamable composition
- C08J 2353/00: Characterised by the use of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J 2353/02: of vinyl aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
- C08J 2423/00: Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
- Y10T 428/131: Glass, ceramic, or sintered, fused, fired, or calcined metal oxide or metal carbide containing [e.g., porcelain, brick, cement, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24496: Foamed or cellular component
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A molded closure for a liquid container comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a blowing agent. The molded closure is particularly suitable for use as a synthetic wine cork in a wine bottle. The molded closure does not permit passage of oxygen into the container, does not absorb oxygen from the contents of the container, can be removed from the container using a corkscrew without significant expansion, crumbling or disintegration, does not significantly taint a liquid in the container, permits the container to be placed horizontally immediately after insertion of the molded closure, and can permanently retain printed matter on its surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A molded closure suitable for insertion into a liquid container comprising:
(a) a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a styrene block copolymer, and
(b) a blowing agent,
wherein, upon insertion of said molded closure into a container containing wine, said molded closure does not permit substantial passage of oxygen into the container, does not substantially absorb oxygen from the wine, does not substantially taint the wine, permits said container to be placed horizontally substantially immediately after insertion of said molded closure into said container, and can permanently retain printed matter on a surface of said molded closure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer comprises one or more of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and a styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The molded closure of claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer comprises a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, ozodecarbonoxide, and sodium bicarbonate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said blowing agent comprises at least 1% of the composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent comprises from about 1.3% to about 3% of the composition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent comprises from about 1.5% to about 2.5% of the composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent comprises about 2.0% of the composition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said blowing agent comprises sodium bicarbonate in a mixture with a low-density polyethylene and citric acid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 4)

The molded closure of claim 1 or 4 comprising about 70% to about 97% of said thermoplastic elastomer and about 3% to about 5% of said blowing agent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, further comprising a filler.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The molded closure of claim 11 wherein said filler comprises about 5% to about 20% of the molded closure.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, further comprising a coloring agent selected from the group consisting of a powder pigment and a liquid pigment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, further comprising a lubricant selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, a silicon, an alcohol and water.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The molded closure of claim 12 wherein said lubricant is a fatty acid.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a chemical blowing agent activator and a material able to enhance the aroma or flavor of said contents.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said molded closure has a symbol embossed thereon.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The molded closure of claim 1 wherein said molded closure comprises a marbled surface texture.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1, 3)

The molded closure of claim 1 or 3 sized to fit a wine bottle.

### Claim 20

A method of making a stoppered bottle containing a liquid comprising:
(a) combining a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a styrene block copolymer and a blowing agent into a mixture suitable for injection into an injection mold;
(b) injecting said mixture into an injection mold;
(c) maintaining said mixture in said injection mold until said mixture effectively hardens to form a molded closure;
(d) removing said molded closure from said injection mold;
(e) inserting said molded closure into said bottle; and
(f) substantially immediately placing said bottle in a horizontal position.

### Claim 21

A molded closure suitable for insertion into a liquid container comprising a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a styrene block copolymer and a blowing agent in a ratio such that, upon insertion of said molded closure into a container containing wine, said molded closure does not permit substantial passage of oxygen into the container, does not substantially absorb oxygen from the wine, does not substantially taint the wine, permits said container to be placed horizontally substantially immediately after insertion of said molded closure into said container, and can permanently retain printed matter on a surface of said molded closure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The molded closure of claim 21 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer comprises a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer.