Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/02—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing stoppers
  • B67B7/04—Cork-screws
  • B67B7/0417—Cork-screws with supporting means for assisting the pulling action
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/02—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing stoppers
  • B67B7/04—Cork-screws
  • B67B7/0417—Cork-screws with supporting means for assisting the pulling action
  • B67B7/0441—Cork-screws with supporting means for assisting the pulling action whereby the supporting means abut around the whole periphery of the neck of the bottle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/02—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing stoppers
  • B67B7/04—Cork-screws
  • B67B7/0417—Cork-screws with supporting means for assisting the pulling action
  • B67B7/0447—Cork-screws with supporting means for assisting the pulling action whereby the supporting means abut around parts of the periphery of the neck of the bottle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
  • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
  • B67B7/02—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for removing stoppers
  • B67B7/04—Cork-screws
  • B67B2007/047—Means for reducing friction

Definitions

• This invention relates to a lever type corkscrew assembly with an increased level of travel in the levers.
• the present invention in a general form proposes that the rotating linear rack of gear formations in conventional devices be replaced by a non-rotating rack of linear gear formations and the conventional rotational handle on top of the rotating linear rack of gear formations be replaced by a pair of rotational handles either side of the non-rotating linear rack of gear teeth, or by facilitating rotation of the screw element via rotation of the assembly as a whole, hence allowing more room for the levers to move when in their uppermost position.
• a lever type cork screw assembly including:
• a frame having a lower portion adapted to bear against a bottle neck portion adjacent a cork and an upper portion for ratably supporting one or more levers
• the linear rack formation being disposed in interacting engagement with the gear formation on the connection end of the lever; the linear rack being constrained rotationally by guiding elements on the frame but free to move axially in a direction parallel to or coincident with the centre line of the screw element;
• two levers are provided, ideally on opposing sides of the linear rack formation.
• the assembly includes handle means rigidly connected with the rack formation.
• the screw element is axially aligned with the rack formation.
• the rack formation is offset from the axis of the screw element thereby providing additional clearance in which the lever or levers can operate.
• Figure 1 Shows a traditional lever type corkscrew in three positions as it pulls a cork from a bottle showing clashes at both extremes of travel of the levers.
• Figure 2. shows a lever type corkscrew where the rotating linear rack of gear formations and rotational handle above it, have been replaced by a non rotating linear rack of gear teeth and rotational handles either side of the linear rack according to the invention.
• Figure 3 Shows a design similar to Fig 2 where the linear rack of gear formations has been offset from the centre line of the screw detail.
• Figure 4. shows a design identical to figure 2 but with a spring to ensure the cork is presented outside the frame for ease of removal
• Figure 5 Shows a design similar to figure 4 where the spring has been replaced by a weight to perform the same function.
• a conventional corkscrew such as that shown in Figures 1a-1c, is structured as follows.
• a pair of levers 3 with a plurality of gear formations radially disposed around a pivot at one end are rotably connected to the frame 4 with the gear formations engaged with a linear rotating rack formation 2.
• a screw element 1 has a centre line which is parallel and in line with the linear rotating rack formation 2 is connected rigidly to the linear rack 2.
• a handle detail 5 is attached directly above and in line with the linear rack 2.
• the linear rack 2 is rotationally symmetrical about the centre line of the screw element .
• the linear rack 2 which is held by guides 10 on the frame 4 is free to move rotationally and axially about the centre line of the screw element 1. As the handle detail 5 is rotated it rotates the attached linear rack 2 and screw element 1 hence driving the screw element 1 into the cork 6.
• FIG. 2 there is shown a first embodiment corkscrew of the invention. In all cases like reference numerals will be used to denote corresponding features.
• a pair of levers 3 with a plurality of gear formations radially disposed around a pivot at one end are ratably connected to the frame 4 with the gear formations engaged with a linear non rotating rack formation 2.
• a screw detail 1 has a centre line which is parallel and in line with the linear rack 2 is connected rigidly to the linear non rotational rack 2.
• a handle detail 5 is attached rigidly to either side horizontally of the linear rack formation 2.
• the linear rack formation 2 being constrained rotat/onally by guiding elements 10 on the frame 4 but free to move axially in the same direction as the centre line of the screw element 1 ;
• the levers 3 operate in a plane which is not penetrated or obstructed by the means by which the screw detail 1 and rack 2 operate. At some point the levers 3 are in a position sufficiently close to the height of their pivots, that they are readily accessible to the user and can also be used to apply a torsional load to the screw detail 1 via the frame 4. Once the levers 3 are in their uppermost position relative to the frame 4 with the screw detail embedded in the cork, the levers 3 are pushed down relative to the frame 4 which drives the linear rack of gear teeth 2 and screw detail 1 up relative the frame 4, which in turn pulls the cork from the bottle. The screw element 1 can be twisted into the cork 6 by the user applying a torsional load to any part of the corkscrew assembly including, but not restricted to, the frame 4, levers 3, linear rack 2 and or the handle details 5.
• This second embodiment is very similar to the first except that the levers 3 and linear rack formation 2 are offset from the centre line of the screw element 1. Therefore the levers 3 are able to move further in their lowest position as their path is not blocked by the frame 4.
• This third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment with the addition of a spring 7 to drive down the screw element 1 to ensure the cork 6 is outside of the frame 4 to make it assessable for removal from the screw element 1.
• the spring 7 could also be applied to the second embodiment.
• This fourth embodiment is the same as the third embodiment with the spring replaced by a counter weight 8 to achieve the same purpose.
• the counter weight 8 could also be applied to the second embodiment.
• the corkscrew may also include a bearing detail attached to the lower part of the frame and located between the bottle and the frame to aid the smooth rotation of the corkscrew assembly relative to the static bottle as the screw detail is inserted into the cork.
• the corkscrew device may also include friction damping of the lever or levers rotation to reduce any rattle or vibration of the lever and ensure smooth operation. This can be achieved by any suitable means including the use of an additional flexible part fixed to the top of frame near to the pivot point to the rotatabie levers and in intimate contact with the lever in order to provide frictional resistance to the rotation of the lever or levers.
• the new structure with improved travel, flexibility in structure and/or improved operation also better facilitates customisation of the appearance of the device if desired.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46177114

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2012
  • 2012-04-11 GB GB1206340.0A patent/GB2501677A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2013
  • 2013-04-08 WO PCT/GB2013/000158 patent/WO2013153348A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (8)

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