Synthetic closure

A stopper or closure for a product retaining container constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal forming neck of the container, said stopper/closure comprising:

• D. an elongated, solid cylindrically shaped member dimensioned for insertion in the neck of the fluid product retaining container for closing and sealing the fluid product in the container;
• B. comprising at least two components concentrically mounted to each other and integrally bonded together in the manner which prevents passage of the fluid therebetween;
• C. said first component comprising an elongated, solid, cylindrically shaped core member having an outer curved surface and substantially flat terminating ends
• a. formed from extruded foamed polymer material,
• b. having a substantially homogeneous, uniform composition and cross-section throughout the entire length thereof,
• c. comprising a first set of physical properties, particularly suited for providing compression and resilient return thereof to its original shape
• d. comprising a density ranging between about 100 kg/m3 to 500 kg/m3, and
• e. constructed for sealing the fluid product retained in the container and preventing transfer of the fluid product from the container prior to removal;
• and
• D. said second component comprising a separate and independent substantially uniform layer
• a. peripherally surrounding the outer surface of the cylindrically shaped core member, with the flat terminating ends of the core member being devoid of said separate and independent layer,
• b. comprising a substantially uniform thickness and possessing a second set of physical properties distinct from the physical properties of the core member and particularly suited for resisting scoring and/or cutting thereof, and
• c. formed directly onto the outer curved surface of the core member by extrusion and comprising a polymeric material mounted in peripheral surrounding, intimate, bonded engagement with the cylindrical surface of the first component and comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of foamable or non-foamable thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic olefins, thermoplastic vulcanizates, flexible polyolefins, fluoroelastomers, fluoropolymers, polyethylenes, and blends thereof;
• and
• d. having an exposed surface constructed for frictionally engaging a surface of the portal formed in the neck of the container and being securely engaged therewith until forcibly removed therefrom, sealing the fluid product in the container and resisting all forces generated by the fluid product when retained in said container;
• whereby a multi-layer/multi-component synthetic closure is attained which is capable of completely sealing any desired fluid product in a container, retaining the product in the container for any desired length of time without any degradation of the fluid product or degradation of the closure.

A stopper or closure for a wine-retaining container constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal forming neck of the container, said stopper/closure comprising:

• A. an elongated, solid, cylindrically shaped member dimensioned for insertion in the portal of the neck of the wine retaining container for closing and sealing the wine in the container;
• B. comprising two components concentrically mounted to each other and integrally bonded together in a manner which prevents passage of any fluid therebetween;
• C. said first component comprising an elongated, solid, cylindrically shaped core portion having an outer curved surface and substantially flat terminating ends
• a. formed from extruded foamed polymer material,
• b. having a substantially homogeneous, uniform composition and cross-section throughout the entire length thereof,
• c. comprising a first set of physical properties, particularly suited for providing compression and resilient return thereof to its original shape
• d. comprising a density ranging between about 100 kg/m3 and 500 kg/m3, and
• e. constructed for sealing the wine retained in the container and preventing transfer of the wine and any gases produced thereby out of the container prior to removal thereof;
• and
• D. said second component comprising a separate and independent substantially uniform layer
• a. peripherally surrounding the outer surface of the cylindrically shaped core member with the flat terminating ends of the core member being devoid of said separate and independent layer,
• b. comprising a substantially uniform thickness and possessing a second set of physical properties distinct from the physical properties of the core member and particularly suited for resisting scoring and/or cutting thereof;
• and
• c. formed directly onto the outer curved surface of the core member by extrusion and comprising a polymeric material formed in peripheral surrounding, intimate, bonded engagement with the cylindrical surface of the first component comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of foamable or non-foamable thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic olefins, thermoplastic vulcanizates, flexible polyolefins, fluoroelastomers, fluoropolymers, polyethylenes, and blends thereof,
• d. having a density ranging between about 300 kg/m3 and 1,500 kg/m3, and
• e. having an exposed surface comprising a tough, score and mar resistant construction for resisting the compressive force of a corking machine employed for inserting the closure/stopper into the portal of a wine retaining bottle, and constructed for frictionally engaging a surface of the portal formed in the neck of the container and being securely engaged therewith until forcibly removed therefrom, sealing the wine in the container and resisting all forces generated by the wine retained in said container.