RING-PULL BOTTLE TOP

BACKGROUND FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001 ] The present invention pertains to beverage container closures and, more particularly, to a bottle top for bottles for wine and beverages.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Presently, many bottle tops to seal glass bottles for wine and beverages are crown-shaped. A bottle opener is needed to open such a bottle top, which can be inconvenient. In one attempt to solve this problem, a bottle top was devised having a riveted ring and two pre-cut lines thereon. However, manufacturing such a riveted bottle top involves complicated processing procedures and may require a variety of dies. Moreover, it can be difficult to maintain uniformity of the depth of the pre-cut lines on different types of bottle tops which, in turn, may affect the overall quality of the sealed products. In addition, such a solution cannot guarantee easy uncapping of a bottle.

[0003] To meet the increasing demands for better packaging and ease of use, other bottle tops with different structures have been devised, for example, side- mounted bottle cap ring pull tabs. However, thus far, such structures cannot avoid breaking the top of a bottleneck, when the user uncaps the bottle. Moreover, such bottle top structures increase the risk of cracking sealed glass bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention described herein provides embodiments of a ring- pull bottle top, which can be easily uncapped without a separate bottle opening device, which can increase the rate of glass bottle reuse, and which reduce the risk of cracking when a sealed glass bottle. One embodiment of a sealable top for a container, includes a body including a top and a side; a connecting strip extendably connected to the body; a handle connected to the connecting strip distal to the body, and configured to be disposed within a recess in the cap top, when the container is sealed; and at least one cut disposed in the side and configured in a predetermined alignment with the handle. The at least one cut is configured to unsealingly expand when the handle is moved distally relative to the container to which the sealable top can be sealably attached. In selected embodiments of the sealable top, at least the rim of the body is configured as a crown cap. In some embodiments of the sealable top, the body includes a bottom and the top also includes a pliant seal attached to at least a portion of the body bottom. [0005] Other embodiments of the present invention provide a bottle top, which includes a cap body having a cap top, a cap side, and a cap rim opposite the cap top; a connecting strip connected proximally to the cap rim; a handle connected distally to the connecting strip; and a first cut and a second cut set apart from and disposed generally symmetrically relative to, the connecting strip, wherein at least one of the cuts extends over the cap side from the cap rim to about the cap top. In some embodiments, a respective length for the first cut and the second cut is between about 4 mm to about 7 mm. In yet other embodiments, the connecting strip is generally rectangular in shape with a width of between 5 mm to about 8 mm. [0006] In certain embodiments, the handle of the bottle top is in the form of a pull ring. In selected certain embodiments, the pull ring of the bottle top has an outer rim and an inner rim, and at least one of the outer or inner rims is formed into a smooth curve shape. Also provided are bottle top embodiments in which the cap top includes a recess and the recess is shaped to receive at least a portion of the handle. Moreover, embodiments described herein provide a cap top having a recess that is shaped to receive the pull ring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: [0008] Fig.l is a vertical view of the structure in the present invention; [0009] Fig.2 is an A-A sectional view of Fig.l ; and [0010] Fig.3 is a plan view of Fig.l with full extension of the pull ring. [001 1 ] Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention provide a container closure system, generally at 100, which can be used, for example, with crown-capped containers, including bottles. In FIC. 1 , container closure system 100 in accordance with present embodiments may include cap body 4 having top 9, side 8, and rim 7, which may be configured as a crown-type cap, such as those used for sealing glass beverage bottles. Embodiments of container closure system 100 can be configured a crown-type bottle cap having an extendable ring-pull mechanism, which facilitates access to a beverage or a wine (hereinafter, "beverage") within the bottle. As shown in FIGS. 1 -3, the main body of the bottle cap 4 can be formed in a generally crown shape, inclusive of cap top 8 and cap side 9. Connecting strip 1 , which may include handle 3, can extend from rim 7. Recess 5 may be formed in cap top 8 to receive handle 3. In certain embodiments, a first cut 2 and a second cut 6 may at least partially extend generally radially from rim 7 of cap side 9 to about cap top 8. Cuts 2 and 6 also may be in the form of a groove, slit, or perforation, and may at least partially penetrate cap side 9, although such is not a requirement. In addition, cuts 2 and 6 may extend generally symmetrically lateral to connecting strip 1 and may be set apart from strip 1 . In selected embodiments, the lengths of first cut 2 and second cut 6 each may be between about 4 mm to about 7 mm. Connecting strip 1 may be generally rectangular in shape, with a width of between about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[001 3] A handle, for example, pull ring 3, can be integratively formed at the end of connecting strip 1 , distal to cap top 8, although other types of handles may be used in certain selected embodiments. Connecting strip 1 may be integratively formed, on its proximal end, with at least a portion of cap body 4, although such is not required. For user convenience, an inner diameter of pull ring 3 may be about 1 2mm. Pull ring 3 may be a circular structure, although other shapes may be suitable. In addition, in particular embodiments, pull ring 3 may have smooth inner and outer curves such that user fingers are unlikely to encounter sharp edges when operating pull ring 3. Such a smooth-edged pull ring may be formed, for example, by rim rolling.

[0014] Typically, when a bottle (not shown) is sealed by system 1 00, connecting strip 1 can be pushed tightly against said cap side 9. In addition, said circular recess 5 can be formed to receive pull ring 3, which may fit within recess 5, so that pull ring 3 may be substantially flush with cap top 8. In such a configuration, bottle cap embodiments in accordance with system 100 can be easily handled, packed, stored, and used in automated or manual bottle crowning systems, for example, in bottle sealing lines for wine and beverage bottling. Furthermore, cuts 2 and 6 may be configured to provide overpressure relief, should pressure within the bottle exceed a predetermined pressure limit due to one or more extrinsic factors, for example, heat. In an overpressure example, if gas pressure within a bottle (not shown), sealed by a bottle cap in accordance with system 100, meets or exceeds the predetermined pressure value, cuts 2 and 6 may open such that the pressure within the bottle is vented. Such overpressure venting may be useful in reducing cracking, bursting, or catastrophic depressurization, and consequent loss, of a sealed bottle.

[001 5] In use, a container sealed in accordance with system 100 may be opened by a user inserting a finger into pull ring 3 and pulling or applying traction to ring 3, until one or both of cuts 2 and 6 separate and form an opening, after which the user may pull the handle upward at an angle, for example, at an oblique angle, relative to axis 200 of system 100. Typically, this action generally applies force substantially evenly to the container or bottle top, so that the top of the container (e.g., bottleneck) remains unbroken or undamaged, resulting in an improved rate of re- use for containers, such as glass bottles.

[0016] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one, or more than one. The term "plurality", as used herein, is defined as two, or more than two. The term "another", as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including" and/or "having", as used herein, are defined as "comprising" (i.e., open language). The term "attached", as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

[001 7] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.