The present invention relates to a retention device for bottle stoppers for sparkling wines, champagne and the like.
In the prior art, once the conventional mushroom-like stopper has been inserted into the neck of the bottle, there is arranged on the stopper a small metal cap or plate which is retained by a small cage of twisted metal wire which is formed at the opposite end relative to the cap with rings for the passage of a pair of pieces of metal wire in order to form the conventional closure of the device on the neck of the bottle.
Even though small cages as described above are functionally satisfactory, they have some disadvantages.
The construction of the small cage with twisted metal wire involves substantial problems in terms of processing and assembly precision, as well as hygiene problems because, during storage, dust may be introduced between the turns of the wire.
The quantity of intertwined wire used is relatively high and, furthermore, since the small cages of conventional type are standardised and readily commercially available, it is possible to re-use some caps, which normally have the mark or the name of the production company, for bottling non-genuine sparkling wine (this is obviously important to very well-known companies), thereby succeeding in putting forward non-genuine products using a famous image.
An object of the present invention is to provide a retention device for bottle stoppers for sparkling wines which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, is easy to construct and cheap.
The present invention achieves the above-mentioned objects by means of a retention device for bottle stoppers for sparkling wines and champagne having the features claimed specifically in the appended claims.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:
With reference to the Figures, the retention device for bottle stoppers for sparkling wines according to the invention is generally designated 2; the device 2 comprises a cap or plate 4 which has perforated seats or slots 6 in the peripheral portion thereof. There is accommodated in each perforated seat 6 a hook-like end 8 of legs 10 which are composed of shaped metal tube having a substantially quadrangular cross-section, with faces which are substantially at right-angles relative to each other. The opposite ends of the legs 10 relative to the hook-like ends 8 terminate in a ring or half-ring 12 which is able, when in use, to receive an open piece of metal wire which, at one end, is intertwined so as to form a knot 14, which is known per se, and the opposite end is available for the conventional twisted ring for opening the retention device.
The half-rings 12 each have a notch I.
In the embodiment of
After the hook-like ends 8 have been positioned in the slots 6, the portions of the plate 4 adjacent to the slots 6 and therefore the legs 10 are flattened (bevelled) in order to flatten the legs 10 of the portion adjacent to the plate 4, enclosing them, in a manner of speaking, in the plate itself in an almost non-detachable manner.
The advantages of a retention device according to the invention are evident.
The quantity of metal wire necessary is greatly reduced in comparison with the retention devices of known type.
The length of the legs is practically always constant and, furthermore, the plate cannot be re-used without the provision of equipment which is relatively costly and not commercially available in any case.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely.
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