Bottle opener with cork integrity protection device

Abstract

A bottle opener includes a screw shaft and a pair of wings configured to lift the screw shaft when the pair of wings is compressed. The pair of wings are disposed opposite each other with respect to the screw shaft. The bottle opener also includes a housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container. The bottle opener also includes a pair of blades connected to the housing and depending from the housing beyond the first end.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 18 / 349,109, filed July 7, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] When opening a bottle of wine, part or all of the cork may break or crack when using a corkscrew to lift it from the bottle opening. When a cork breaks, it may become more difficult to pull completely out of the bottle. Additionally, cork fragments may unintentionally fall into the wine inside the bottle. Cork fragments in the wine can have a detrimental effect on the taste or drinking experience.

[0004] Additionally, during the process of opening a corked bottle, the screw of the corkscrew often penetrates the bottom of the cork. As a result, cork fragments may unintentionally break off and fall into the wine inside the bottle. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One or more embodiments provide a bottle opener. The bottle opener further includes a screw shaft and a pair of blades configured to lift the screw shaft when the pair of blades are compressed. The pair of blades are disposed opposite to each other relative to the screw shaft. The bottle opener further includes a housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container. The bottle opener further includes a pair of blades connected to the housing and hanging from the housing beyond the first end.

[0006] One or more embodiments also provide a method for opening a corked bottle. The method includes engaging a bottle opener with the bottle. The bottle opener includes a handle and a screw shaft connected to the handle. The bottle opener also includes a pair of wings configured to lift the screw shaft when the wings are compressed. The pair of wings are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft. The bottle opener also includes a housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container. The bottle opener further includes a pair of paddles connected to and hanging from the housing beyond the first end. The pair of paddles are connected to the housing in a manner that pushes the pair of paddles radially inward when the paddles are forced to move radially outward. The method further includes sliding the pair of paddles over the neck of the bottle. The method further includes screwing the screw shaft into the cork. The method further includes compressing the pair of wings to force the screw shaft and the cork partially out of the bottle. The method also includes lifting the pair of blades until the pair of blades slides a distance sufficient to allow the pair of blades to grip the cork and allow the bottom ends of the pair of blades to rest against the top of the bottle.

[0007] One or more embodiments also provide a manufacturing method. The method includes connecting a handle to a screw shaft. The method further includes operably connecting a pair of blades to the screw shaft such that compression of the pair of blades lifts the screw shaft. The pair of blades are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft. The method further includes connecting a housing to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container. The method further includes connecting a pair of blades to the housing. The pair of blades hangs from the housing beyond the first end. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 Examples of bottle openers with cork integrity protection devices according to one or more embodiments are shown.

[0009] Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 Another example of a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device in use, according to one or more embodiments, is shown.

[0010] Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 Another example of a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device in use, according to one or more embodiments, is shown.

[0011] Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12 Another example of a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0012] Figure 13 A method of using a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device according to one or more embodiments is demonstrated.

[0013] Figure 14 A method of manufacturing a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device according to one or more embodiments is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0014] Specific embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For consistency, the same elements in the various figures are represented by the same element symbols. In the following detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description.

[0015] In several instances, the terms "first," "second," or other ordinal terms may be associated with the various components described herein. Such ordinal terms are random and are used only to distinguish similar but different parts. "Similar but different" means that two or more components may have similar, symmetrical, or other common features, but are still considered separate components. Ordinal terms are interchangeable (i.e., in some embodiments, "first blade" may be considered "second blade," and vice versa). Ordinal terms do not imply any structural differences between components unless otherwise specifically described.

[0016] Typically, one or more embodiments relate to a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device. The bottle opener with the cork integrity protection device includes a handle and a screw shaft connected to the handle. The bottle opener also includes a pair of wings configured to lift the screw shaft when the wings are compressed. The pair of wings are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft. The bottle opener also includes a housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container. The bottle opener further includes a pair of paddles connected to the housing and hanging from the housing beyond the first end. The pair of paddles are configured to be pushed radially inward to grip the cork when it is lifted from the bottle.

[0017] The pair of blades may be radially offset by 90 degrees relative to the pair of wings about the screw axis. A pair of foil cutters may be attached to the housing, wherein the pair of foil cutters serve as cutting edges compressible into slots disposed in the housing. The foil cutters may be used by compressing the wings; for example, compression of the wings may force the foil cutters to engage with the foil surrounding the top of the bottle.

[0018] The foil cutter can be a modular component. Therefore, for example, the foil cutter blade can be replaced after it becomes dull or its efficiency decreases. In this case, the foil cutter can slide upwards into the housing and still be compressed by the wing.

[0019] The pair of paddles may have a paddle length along the longitudinal axis of the screw shaft. The paddle lengths are adjusted in size and dimension such that the pair of paddles engage with the cork when the cork is lifted from the bottle. Therefore, the paddles provide additional controlled leverage when the cork is lifted linearly. Consequently, the cork is protected and is less likely to break during the lifting operation.

[0020] Now focus on various charts. Specifically, Figure 1 Examples of a bottle opener (100) according to one or more embodiments are shown. In some embodiments, the bottle opener (100) may be referred to as a “cork lifter”.

[0021] The bottle opener (100) includes a cork integrity protection device (102). As further described below, the cork integrity protection device (102) includes a pair of opposing paddles. Figure 1 The first blade (104) of the pair of opposing blades is shown in the image. The cork integrity protection device (102) is further described below.

[0022] The bottle opener (100) includes a screw shaft (106). The screw shaft (106) is a straight piece of metal, plastic, or other material of a certain length suitable for penetrating a cork (such as the cork of a wine bottle).

[0023] The screw shaft (106) may include one or more features. For example, the screw shaft (106) may include a helical ridge (108) disposed on the outer surface of the screw shaft (106). The helical ridge (108) may be attached to the screw shaft (106) or integrally formed with the screw shaft (106). When the screw shaft (106) is forced into the cork, the helical ridge (108) helps the screw shaft (106) to form a gripping relationship with the cork.

[0024] Another feature of the screw shaft (106) may be a casing drill (110) located at the distal end of the screw shaft (106). In one or more embodiments, the term "distal end" refers to the direction oriented toward the cork when the bottle opener (100) removes the cork from the bottle in use. In one or more embodiments, the term "proximal end" refers to the direction oriented toward the handle (112) of the bottle opener (100).

[0025] The sleeving drill (110) can have various shapes and sizes, but its size and dimensions are adjusted to facilitate penetration of the cork when using the bottle opener (100). For example, the sleeving drill (110) can have a sharp edge with a diameter smaller than that of the screw shaft (106). The sleeving drill (110) can be adjusted to extend a distance (e.g., 2 mm) below the collar (136) to pierce the foil a short distance. In this way, the sleeving drill (110) can be more easily kept centered, and further more stable during the early stages of penetration of the sleeving drill (110) and the screw shaft (106) into the cork (202) (see [link]). Figure 2 ).

[0026] A handle (112) is positioned near the proximal end of the screw shaft (106). The handle (112) is adjustable in size and dimensions to fit the hand. The handle (112) may be ergonomically shaped to fit the hand; the term "ergonomically shaped" may be determined by an engineer. In any case, the handle (112) may be fixedly attached to the screw shaft (106). However, in some embodiments, the handle (112) may be removably attached to the screw shaft (106), allowing the user to attach different handles. In any case, turning the handle (112) will also turn the screw shaft (106).

[0027] In this embodiment, the handle may be a ratchet handle. The ratchet handle may be a T-shaped handle, or may have various other shapes and styles, such as a round handle, an oval handle, etc. The ratchet handle allows for a more stable grip and eliminates or reduces the need to re-grip the handle after each half-turn, thereby achieving a more centered spiral into the cork, while reducing the risk of micro-torque and cork breakage.

[0028] Another feature of the screw shaft (106) may be a gear step (114). As described below, when the handle (112) is turned, the gear step (114) facilitates the advancement of the screw shaft (106) into the cork. Specifically, when the screw shaft (106) is advanced into the cork, the screw shaft (106) forces the mouth of the bottle into the base of the corkscrew housing. This action causes the first wing (116) and the second wing (118) to rise proportionally to the advancement of the screw shaft (106) into the body of the cork.

[0029] Note that the screw shaft (106) may not move relative to the housing. As the screw shaft (106) is pushed into the cork, the mouth of the bottle is forced into the base of the corkscrew housing. Therefore, the wing rises proportionally to the advancement of the screw shaft (106) into the body of the cork.

[0030] Specifically, the bottle opener (100) may also be equipped with a pair of wings, including a first wing (116) and a second wing (118). The pair of wings may be symmetrically arranged relative to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis (120) of the screw shaft (106). Alternatively, the pair of wings may be more simply described as being arranged relative to each other with respect to the screw shaft.

[0031] Each of the first wing (116) and the second wing (118) is rotatably connected to the cross support (122), through which the screw shaft (106) is mounted. The rotatable connection can be achieved using a first bearing (124) for the first wing (116) and a second bearing (126) for the second wing (118). However, other mechanisms can be used to rotatably connect the pair of wings to the cross support (122).

[0032] Each of the pair of wings may include a gear tooth disposed at the proximal end of the wing. Thus, for example, the first wing (116) includes a first gear tooth (128) and the second wing (118) includes a second gear tooth (130). The gear teeth of the pair of wings are operatively engaged with a gear step (114) of the screw shaft (106). Thus, when the pair of wings is lifted, the first gear tooth (128) and the second gear tooth (130) engage with the gear step (114), thereby forcing the screw shaft (106) in a distal direction (e.g., toward the cork). Similarly, when the handle (112) is turned, the gear step (114) engages the first gear tooth (128) and the second gear tooth (130), thereby forcing both the first wing (116) and the second wing (118) upward (i.e., in the proximal direction), while simultaneously forcing the gear step (114) downward (i.e., in the distal direction). Thus, the pair of wings are configured to lift the screw shaft (106) when the pair of wings are compressed.

[0033] The corkscrew (100) may also include a pair of supports, including a first support (132) and a second support (134). The first support (132) and the second support (134) are connected to a cross support (122). The first support (132) and the second support (134) are also connected to a collar (136) disposed toward the distal end of the corkscrew (100). The collar (136) is hollow and adjusted in size and dimensions to receive a cork, such as, but not limited to, a wine bottle cork.

[0034] A pair of slots (e.g., a first slot (138) and a second slot (140)) may be disposed in a collar (136). The pair of slots are openings in the collar (136). The first slot (138) and the second slot (140) may be disposed opposite each other relative to the longitudinal axis (120), and specifically may also face the pair of wings. Thus, the first slot (138) faces the first wing (116), and the second slot (140) faces the second wing (118).

[0035] The cross brace (122), the first brace (132), the second brace (134), and the collar (136) together constitute a housing. The distal end of the housing may be referred to as the "first end of the housing." The screw shaft (106) is connected to the housing via the pair of gear teeth of the engaging gear step (114). The first end of the housing is configured to engage a container, such as, but not limited to, a wine bottle, a spirits bottle, etc. The term "configured to engage" means that the collar (136) is adjusted in size and dimensions to fit over the cork, and the bottom (i.e., distal) end of the housing is positioned against the lip (for bottles with a lip).

[0036] Now focus on the cork integrity protection device (102). Again, the cork integrity protection device (102) includes a pair of paddles, wherein the first paddle (104) is in Figure 1 The image is shown in the image. For a view showing both of the pair of blades, see [link to image]. Figure 7 and Figure 8 The pair of blades (including the first blade (104)) hang from and are connected to the housing, extending beyond the first end of the collar (136). The pair of blades may be radially offset by 90 degrees relative to the pair of wings about the screw axis. However, in other embodiments, the pair of blades may have different positional relationships relative to the pair of wings. Figure 1 As shown, the pair of paddles can be adjusted in size and dimensions to engage between the shell and the top of the bottle during cork removal.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the pair of paddles is rotatably connected to a collar (136). The rotatable connection may include a spring that pushes the pair of paddles inward toward the longitudinal axis (120) of the bottle opener (100). The rotatable connection can also be achieved using a shape-memory material (some metals, composite materials, etc.) that retains its shape. For example, when the paddles are pushed radially outward (along the transverse axis (156), as described below), the paddles will be pushed back radially inward. Thus, the pair of paddles is connected to the housing in such a way that it pushes the pair of paddles radially inward when the pair of paddles are forced to move radially outward.

[0038] In use, as further explained below, the pair of paddles initially grip the bottle. However, as the screw shaft (106) of the corkscrew (100) advances into the cork, the pair of paddles (116, 118) rise. Compression of the pair of paddles (116, 118) in a downward direction drives the screw shaft (106) and the cork partially away from the bottle opening along the longitudinal axis (120). Lifting the paddles upward again raises the housing and causes the attached pair of paddles to slide upward along the mouth of the bottle until the pair of paddles passes the lip of the bottle. When the housing has been lifted along the longitudinal axis (120) by a distance greater than the length of the pair of paddles, a spring will push the pair of paddles to slide onto the exposed cork and grip the cork. Concurrently, the distal ends (i.e., the bottoms) of the pair of paddles will be positioned (e.g., located) on top of the lip of the bottle. Thus, as further described below, the bottom of the pair of paddles will serve as the basis for pushing against the lip of the bottle during the final cork lifting operation.

[0039] The bottle opener (100) may also include other features. For example, in one embodiment, the bottle opener (100) may have a pair of foil cutters, shown as a first foil cutter (142) and a second foil cutter (144). The pair of foil cutters may be positioned below the pair of wings. Thus, the first foil cutter (142) may be positioned below the first wing (116), and the second foil cutter (144) may be positioned below the second wing (118).

[0040] The pair of foil cutters may be connected to a pair of flexible components, namely a first flexible component (146) and a second flexible component (148). The flexible components may be metal or some other shape-memory material that tends to spring back to its original shape after being pushed inward into the slots in the collar (136). Alternatively, the pair of flexible components may be connected to a spring or other rotatable mechanism that pushes the pair of foil cutters away from the slots in the collar (136) by a certain distance.

[0041] In use, the user places the collar (136) over the foil covering the bottle and positions the pair of slots near where the user wishes to cut the foil. The user then pushes the pair of wings, which in turn pushes the pair of foil cutters into the slots in the collar (136), thereby penetrating the foil covering the top of the bottle. The user can then rotate the housing of the corkscrew (100), which forces the cutting edges of the pair of foil cutters through the foil, thus cutting it. Alternatively, the user can rotate the bottle within the retaining collar.

[0042] The bottle opener (100) may have other features. For example, the bottle opener (100) may have gripping ridges, including a first gripping ridge (150), a second gripping ridge (152), and a third gripping ridge (154). The first gripping ridge (150) is connected to a first wing (116). The second gripping ridge (152) is connected to a second wing (118). The third gripping ridge (154) is connected to a cross support (122). The three gripping ridges may be arranged together symmetrically about a transverse axis (156), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (120) and located approximately in the middle of the three gripping ridges. Figure 1 The page appears.

[0043] The gripping ridge may be referred to as a "torsion assist". Torsion assist features can take various forms, such as serrated jaws or other bottle-top gripping devices built into the wing handle and / or housing. Torsion assists can also take the form of clamps or other features that can be used to grip bottle caps.

[0044] In use, the user can tilt the bottle opener (100) over the top or lid of a bottle, jar, or can. The pair of wings can be lifted into a position where the three gripping ridges are positioned together around the top or lid. The user can then squeeze the pair of wings and grip the top or lid with the gripping ridges. The user can then twist the bottle opener (100) to open the top or lid. Therefore, the bottle opener (100) can also be used as a bottle, jar, or can opener.

[0045] The bottle opener (100) may have additional features. For example, the bottle opener (100) may include depth-penetrating marks, at least one static mark (158), and at least one moving mark (160). The static mark (158) is a line drawn, engraved, etc., at a predetermined position on the cross brace (122) (i.e., at a predetermined angle and positioned at a predetermined longitudinal and lateral distance relative to the longitudinal axis (120) and the lateral axis (156). Figure 1 As shown, movable markings (160) are drawn, engraved, etc., at predetermined positions on the second wing (118). However, similar movable and static markings can be drawn on the opposite side of the cross support (122) and on the first wing (116). The opposite static and movable markings can be mirror images of each other, since the opposite static and movable markings are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis (120).

[0046] In use, such as Figure 3As shown, when the static and moving marks are aligned along a single line, the depth to which the casing drill (110) and screw shaft (106) have penetrated the cork (i.e., the length by which the casing drill (110) and screw shaft (106) have moved beyond the end of the collar (136)) has reached the predetermined penetration depth. This allows the user to know to stop driving the casing drill (110) into the cork, thereby preventing the casing drill (110) from penetrating the bottom portion of the cork. Therefore, the static mark (158) and moving mark (160) can be used to prevent cork fragments from falling into the wine or other beverages before consumption.

[0047] In one embodiment, multiple static and movable markers may be radially positioned around the cross brace (122), for example around the first bearing (124) or the second bearing (126), and positioned at different radial angles on the first wing (116) or the second wing (118). Thus, the bottle opener (100) provides the user with a means to measure different penetration depths of the casing drill (110) and the screw shaft (106) when the bottle opener (100) is in use.

[0048] Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 Another example of a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device in use, according to one or more embodiments, is shown. Therefore, Figures 2 to 6 Use common element symbols to refer to common objects that share a common description.

[0049] Figure 2 A bottle opener (100) in use is shown. The bottle opener (100) is placed on a bottle (200), which contains a cork (202) disposed inside an opening (204) of the bottle (200). A foil sheet (206) is placed above the top of the bottle (200). In summary, Figure 2 The demonstration involves placing a bottle opener (100) over a bottle (200), squeezing a pair of wings to engage a pair of foil cutters, and twisting the bottle (200) or the bottle opener (100) to cut the foil (206).

[0050] exist Figure 2 In this example, the collar (136) is placed above the top of the bottle (200), such that the top of the bottle (200) fits into the space defined within the collar (136). Therefore, containing Figure 2 The first paddle (104) shown has its pair of paddles pushed outward by pressing the proximal ends of the paddles. As shown, the pair of paddles are positioned below the collar (136) and grip the top of the bottle (200). However, in this embodiment, the grip is not tight enough to prevent the collar 136 from rotating around the top of the bottle (200).

[0051] In use, the user presses the pair of wings (i.e., the first wing (116) and the second wing (118)) inward toward the top of the bottle (200). Thus, the pair of foil cutters (i.e., the first flexible member (146) and the second flexible member (148)) penetrate the foil (206). The user then twists the bottle opener (100), as shown by arrows (208) and (210), while still pressing the first wing (116) and the second wing (118). Thus, the foil (206) is cut around the circumference of the bottle (200). However, note that the user can twist the bottle opener (100) in the opposite direction to that shown by arrows (208) and (210), or can keep the engaged foil cutters stationary and twist the bottle in either direction.

[0052] Figure 2 In addition to Figure 1 In addition to the features shown, the bottle opener (100) may also have additional features. Specifically, the bottle opener (100) may have a bottle opener (214). Figure 2 In this design, the bottle opener (214) is attached to the second wing (118), but may also be attached to either wing or some other part of the bottle opener (100). The bottle opener (214) is adapted to open bottles with a press-top that can be pried open from the top of the bottle. In some instances, the bottle opener (214) may not be suitable for opening bottles with corks, such as... Figure 2 It is shown in the image, but can be used to open other types of bottles.

[0053] Figure 2 Another feature shown is a quick-response code (i.e., a quick-response (QR) code (216)) printed or engraved on the handle (112) or other part of the bottle opener (100). The user can scan the QR code (216) with, for example, a smartphone or some other scanner, and thereby obtain information. This information may be instructions for using the bottle opener (100), marketing information for the beverage or the bottle opener (100), or other useful information, such as different beverages and their uses in cooking, entertainment, drinking, etc.

[0054] Figure 2 The display in Figure 1 Another difference is that the first blade (104) is connected to the cross support (122), rather than as... Figure 1 The image shows another part connected to the housing in that manner. Specifically, a pair of arms (e.g.) Figure 2The first arm (218) shown in the diagram connects the crossbar (122) to the first paddle (104). The first arm (218) may be connected to the crossbar (122) via a spring or some other rotatable assembly that allows the first paddle (104) to move radially outward from the bottle opener (100) (and thus adapt to the outer diameter of the bottle (200), but also to push the first paddle (104) radially inward (in order to grip the bottle (200)). Alternatively, the first arm (218) may be a shape-memory material, such as metal, plastic, composite material, etc., which is flexible enough to bend outward as the first paddle (104) moves above the outer diameter of the bottle (200), but attempts to maintain its original shape. In this way, the first paddle (104) is still pushed radially inward to grip the bottle (200), as described above.

[0055] Figure 3 This demonstrates another stage in the cork-lifting operation using a bottle opener (100). In summary, Figure 3 The demonstration shows how to turn the screw (i.e., by twisting the handle (112) (e.g., clockwise) to... Figure 1 The spiral ridge (108) shown in the diagram is driven into the cork (202). Additionally, the pair of wings are raised until the static mark (158) aligns with the moving mark (160).

[0056] Specifically, the user pushes the handle (112) while simultaneously twisting the screw shaft (106) to advance the casing drill and helix into the cork, thereby causing the pair of wings (i.e., the first wing (116) and the second wing (118)) to rise, as shown by arrows (300) and (302). The clockwise advancement into the cork, combined with the rise of the pair of wings, causes the first gear teeth (128) and the second gear teeth (130) to mesh with the gear step (114). Consequently, the screw shaft (106) moves downward. Therefore, the casing drill ( Figure 3 (Not shown in the text) can penetrate cork (202).

[0057] The penetration depth of the casing drill (110) and screw shaft (106) into the cork (202) can be controlled using a static marker (158) and a moving marker (160). Specifically, the user can stop raising the pair of blades when the static marker (158) and the moving marker (160) are aligned along the same line, as... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram. Because many corks have similar lengths, markings can be used to control the penetration depth of the casing drill to a certain distance so that the casing drill does not penetrate the bottom (304) of the cork (202).

[0058] After the casing drill is desiredly positioned in the cork (202), the user then turns the handle (112), as shown by arrow (306). The user can turn the handle (112) in a direction that will pull the screw shaft (106) towards the proximal end (i.e., away from the bottle (200)) (e.g., counterclockwise).

[0059] Therefore, as Figure 4 As shown, because the screw shaft (106) is embedded in the cork (202), downward compression of the pair of blades forces the cork (202) upward (i.e., towards the proximal end) through the collar and away from the bottle (200). Therefore, Figure 4 The top (400) of the cork (202) exposed outside the bottle (200) is shown.

[0060] In summary, the downward compression wing partially delivers the cork (202) out of the bottle (200). However, Figure 4 The pair of wings are shown to be only partially compressed to demonstrate that the initial cork lifting operation is in the middle of its motion. The full motion (which still only partially lifts the cork from the bottle) would show the pair of wings closer to the longitudinal axis (i.e., Figure 1 The longitudinal axis (120) shown in the figure will be further exposed, and the cork (202) will be more exposed (see example). Figure 6 ).

[0061] Figure 5 A pair of blades are shown rising, which lifts the shell and, specifically the collar (136), from the top of the bottle (200) towards the near end. Thus, the pair of blades slide upwards along the neck of the bottle (200). Note that during this step, the cork (202), the spiral ridge (108), and the screw shaft (106) (see...) Figure 1 All of them are stationary. Therefore, the shell is repositioned, but the cork (202) does not move during this step.

[0062] therefore, Figure 5 The positions of the pair of propellers and the pair of wings are shown after the housing has been repositioned. The pair of propellers have slid upwards over the lip of the bottle and have engaged in the appropriate positions against the exposed portion of the cork. Concurrently, the distal ends (i.e., the bottoms) of the pair of propellers now rest on or near the lip or edge of the bottle (200). Figure 5 The arrow (500) shown indicates that the paddle slides upwards along the bottle and into place. Figure 5 After the operation shown in the image, the bottle opener (100) is in place and ready for a second press, which lifts the cork from the bottle (see [link]). Figure 6 ).

[0063] in addition, Figure 5The simultaneous rise of the first wing (116) and the second wing (118), as indicated by arrows (502) and (504), is shown after the initial portion of the cork (202) has been removed. As the wings rise, the blades (including the first blade (104)) slide proximally and over the opening (204) of the bottle (200), as indicated by arrow (500). The blades then engage in place against the cork (202). Thus, the cork (202) is reinforced for the final part of the cork removal operation, in which the cork (202) is completely removed from the bottle (200) by a second compression of the wing (see [link to image]). Figure 6 ).

[0064] As mentioned above, Figure 5 The useful aspects of the bottle opener (100) are demonstrated. Because the pair of blades engage the exposed cork (202), the bottom of the pair of blades can make contact with the top of the opening (204) of the bottle (200). Thus, during a second (and possibly final) cork removal process, the pair of blades can act as a support and reset for the functional basis between the bottle opener (100) and the bottle (200).

[0065] For example, when the pair of wings are pressed down again (see...) Figure 6 The bottom of the pair of paddles can be pushed against the lip of the opening (204) of the bottle (200). Then, the screw shaft (106) and the cork (202) are lifted upward together. Thus, unwanted shear forces can be removed from the cork (202), and therefore the cork is more likely to maintain its structural integrity.

[0066] Additionally, as indicated above, the pair of paddles (including the first paddle (104)) are configured to be radially pushed radially outward and then radially pushed inward by the action of placing the pair of paddles on the bottle (200). However, once the cork (202) has been sufficiently lifted beyond the opening (204) of the bottle (200), the pair of paddles (including the first paddle (104)) are pushed inward until the pair of paddles grip the cork (202). The term "sufficiently lifted" means that a certain amount of lifting has occurred such that the length of the cork (202) between the collar (136) and the opening (204) is greater than or approximately equal to the longitudinal length of the first paddle (104). Thus, the cork (202) is gripped between the pair of paddles, thereby helping to prevent the cork (202) from disintegrating and further helping the cork (202) to maintain its structural integrity when it is lifted from the bottle (200). Therefore, the corkscrew (100) helps to ensure that cork fragments (202) do not fall into the bottle (200) and thus reduce the drinking experience of the beverage contained in the bottle (200).

[0067] Figure 6 This demonstrates another step in removing the cork (202) from the bottle (200). The user can further press or squeeze the wings a second time (i.e., the first wing (116) and the second wing (118)) to complete lifting the cork (202) from the bottle (200). (The above text is about...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 The effect of pressing or squeezing the paddles and the effect of the pair of paddles resting against the top of the bottle (200) are described. Afterward, the cork (202) can be removed from the bottle opener (100) and can be preserved or recycled.

[0068] Figure 7 and Figure 8 exhibit Figures 1 to 6 A side view of the bottle opener (100) is shown. The handle (112), screw shaft (106), cross brace (122), collar (136), ferrule drill (110), bottle (200), and cork (202) are shown for reference. Note that the ferrule drill (110) does not penetrate the bottom of the cork (202). One of the pair of wings (the second wing (118) (or, in another embodiment, the first wing (116))) is also shown for reference.

[0069] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This provides a more complete view of the pair of blades. Therefore, Figure 7 and Figure 8 The first blade (104) and the second blade (700) of the pair of blades are shown. Similarly, the first arm (218) and the second arm (702) are shown.

[0070] The first arm (218) and the second arm (702) together may be referred to as a pair of arms. In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm (218) is connected to the housing (704) via a first torsion spring (706). Similarly, the second blade (700) is connected to the housing (704) via a second torsion spring (708). The torsion springs are configured to push the first arm (218) and the second arm (702) radially inward (i.e., toward the screw shaft (106)), and thus push the first blade (104) and the second blade (700).

[0071] In use, the user can press the first arm (218) and / or the second arm (702) to release the pair of paddles from their grip on the cork (202) or bottle (200). Extended handles may be present, such as a first extended handle (710) of the first arm (218) or a second extended handle (712) of the second arm (702). The first extended handle (710) and the second extended handle (712) together may be referred to as a pair of extended handles. The pair of extended handles (individually or together) allow the user to apply greater torque to the pair of arms, thereby making it easier to move the first paddle (104) and the second paddle (700) radially outward to aid in releasing the cork (202) or bottle (200) from the bottle opener (100).

[0072] Figure 8 Further demonstration shows how the pair of paddles (i.e., the first paddle (104) and the second paddle (700)) grip the cork (202) once the cork (202) has been fully lifted from the bottle (200). In some embodiments, the flange edges of the pair of paddles (i.e., the first flange edge (800) of the first paddle (104) and the second flange edge (802) of the second paddle (700) may be present.

[0073] The flange edges can be adjusted in size and dimension to fit within a predetermined radially inward distance below the bottom of the collar (136). The radially inward distance established for the first flange edge (800) and the second flange edge (802) can be selected such that the extensions of the blades (i.e., the first extension (804) and the second extension (806)) will grip the cork (202) before the first arm (218) and the second arm (702) are prevented from further radially inward movement by the collar (136). In other words, the first arm (218) and the second arm (702) will not be raised against the edge of the collar (136) before the first extension (804) and the second extension (806) of the pair of blades grip the cork (202).

[0074] Figures 9 to 12 exhibit Figures 1 to 8 An alternative embodiment of the bottle opener (100) shown in the figure. Figure 9 The bottle opener (900) shows that the housing (902) has expanded to occupy, for example... Figure 1 The horizontal support (122), the first support (132), and the second support (134) shown in the diagram form a larger continuous area. In this case, a circular gripping ridge (904) can be housed within the housing (902). The circular gripping ridge (904) can be used as a bottle or can opener, for example, when the bottle or can has a curling cap or twist cap that covers the top of the bottle or can.

[0075] Figures 10 to 12 exhibit Figures 1 to 9Alternative dimensions, sizes, and shapes of the bottle opener (100) shown in the image. For example, see reference. Figure 10 The bottle opener (1000) includes multiple depth-penetrating marks embossed or engraved on the housing (1001), including shallow marks (1002) and deeper marks (1004). In this example, the user measures the approximate horizontal height of the first wing (1006) and the second wing (1008) until the wing is approximately aligned with the corresponding mark. The user can select which depth-penetrating mark should be aligned with the wing during use of the bottle opener (1000).

[0076] In addition, still refer to Figure 10 The pair of blades (in) Figure 10 The first blade (1010) is shown in the middle, which is placed in the slot of the collar (1014). Figure 10 The first slot (1012) is shown in the middle. (and...) Figures 2 to 9 Unlike the example shown, the pair of blades are attached to the collar (1014) instead of the housing (1001).

[0077] Figure 11 and Figure 12 Showing from different perspectives Figure 10 Bottle opener (1000). Figure 11 A side view is shown, illustrating both the first blade (1010) and the second blade (1016). Additionally, the foil cutter (1018) is fully housed within the collar (1014). In this configuration, the foil cutter (1018) takes the form of a hinged lever, which is radially pushed outward via a torsion spring or through a memory material. When the user presses against the lever, the lever is radially pressed inward, thereby engaging the foil cutter (1018) against the foil disposed around the bottle, as described above.

[0078] Figure 12 Showing a side perspective view of the bottle opener (1000). Figure 12 The view shows the second slot (1020) in the collar (1014). The second blade (1016) is located in the second slot.

[0079] Now presenting information about such Figures 1 to 12 Additional descriptive text showing the bottle opener with cork integrity protection device. Figures 1 to 12 One or more embodiments shown in the diagram may be described as a "cork lifter".

[0080] The cork lifter includes a paddle, as described above and as... Figures 1 to 12The paddle is hinged directly above the base housing of the corkscrew (or integrally formed with the housing and configured to push the bottom of the paddle radially inward toward the axis), thus forming a stepped paddle. The initial feature of the paddle acts as a centering device, while the springback of the paddle centers the cork lifter onto the top of the bottle. This feature allows for easier centering and holding of the cork lifter on the top of the bottle when ready to use the (optional) built-in foil cutter. The wing of the cork lifter is then compressed, which engages the foil cutting blade with the side of the bottle neck. The bottle is rotated only two to three times while the wing is squeezed to cut the foil.

[0081] Next, drive the screw into the cork about 35 mm to about 40 mm, as indicated by the screw depth mark on the cork lifter. Optionally, a stop prevents the screw shaft from penetrating more than about 40 mm.

[0082] Initially, the screw is inserted into the cork. As the screw is driven into the cork, the wing partially rises. Once the screw is centered in the cork, the wing is then pressed downwards, partially pulling the cork out of the bottle. The wing is then raised again, causing the stepped paddle to slide upwards beyond the lip of the bottle. The paddle then engages against or near the cork by being radially pushed inwards via a hinge or housing. In some embodiments, the paddle does not need to be pushed against the cork. However, the bottom of the paddle engages against the top of the bottle to leverage the cork from the bottle.

[0083] In other words, the wing can be raised again until the blades engage properly around the exposed cork (above the top of the bottle and below the bottle opener housing). The blades then rest against the top of the bottle, providing another reinforcing step against the bottle as more of the cork (or the remainder) is pulled out. At this point, the wing can be compressed downwards a second time to completely pull out the cork linearly without twisting or pulling.

[0084] Figure 13 This demonstrates how to remove a cork from a bottle. (You can use the "About" option.) Figures 1 to 12 The described bottle opener embodiment is implemented Figure 13 The method.

[0085] Step 1300 involves fitting the bottle opener to the bottle. For example, the ring of the bottle opener may be placed above and around the bottle. The cannula drill remains at or above the cork, or may penetrate the cork slightly (e.g., about 2 mm or less).

[0086] Step 1302 involves sliding a pair of paddles over the neck of the bottle. For example, a user may open the pair of paddles radially outward and then slide them over the neck of the bottle. The user may then allow the pair of paddles to move radially inward to press against the neck of the bottle. Note that in some embodiments, step 1302 may be performed concurrently with step 1300.

[0087] Step 1304 involves screwing the screw shaft into the cork. (See also: Regarding...) Figures 1 to 9 The description states that rotating and pressing the handle drives the casing drill into the cork. The wing first rises as the screw shaft is driven into the cork by the rotation of the handle.

[0088] Step 1306 involves compressing the pair of blades to force the screw shaft and cork partially away from the bottle. The degree of compression can be determined by the user. Compressing the pair of blades forces the screw shaft to move upwards. Because the cork is attached to the screw shaft by a helical ridge around it, the cork begins to lift from the bottle. At this point, the blades continue to support the bottle and maintain a lateral upward push against the neck of the bottle. Note that compressing the pair of blades at step 1306 can be considered as the first compression of the pair of blades.

[0089] It should also be noted that during step 1306, it is not important whether the cork is considered to be removed from the bottle or the bottle is considered to be removed from the cork for the purposes of one or more embodiments. However, the cork body moves proximally along the longitudinal axis of the corkscrew into the housing of the corkscrew and is at least partially removed from the bottle.

[0090] Step 1308 involves lifting the pair of wings until the pair of blades slides a sufficient distance to allow the pair of blades to grip the cork and allow the bottom ends of the pair of blades to rest against the top of the bottle. Therefore, step 1308 involves a second manual raising of the pair of wings until the pair of blades slides upward along the neck of the bottle, past the lip, and then against the exposed cork, with the bottom ends of the pair of blades resting against the top of the bottle.

[0091] In other words, because the pair of paddles are radially inwardly pushed by the initial position of the spring or memory material, they grip the cork when a sufficient amount of cork is exposed between the bottom of the collar and the top of the bottle. Furthermore, as indicated above, once the pair of paddles are properly engaged, their bottoms rest against the top of the bottle opening. Therefore, during this stage of cork removal, there is a reinforced support relationship between the bottom of the paddles and the top of the bottle. For two reasons (i.e., because the cork is gripped and because of the support relationship between the paddles and the top of the bottle), the paddles help maintain the integrity of the cork as it is lifted and finally removed from the bottle.

[0092] Step 1310 involves a second downward compression of the pair of blades to completely pull the cork out of the bottle in a linear manner. In some embodiments, step 1310 is considered optional. For example, in some cases, a user may wish to only partially pull out the cork before being ready to pull it out completely. In other cases, the cork may be longer than normal, in which case additional lifting operations may be required to completely remove the cork (i.e., by further pulling the opener and / or the bottle, by a third repositioning of the blades and performing another lifting operation, etc.). Note that the opener of one or more embodiments may include multiple stacked or stepped blades to accommodate multiple cork lifting operations. In this case, each time the cork is partially lifted, the bottom of another set of multiple stacked or stepped blades may engage the top of the bottle to further secure the cork during the cork lifting operation.

[0093] Changeable Figure 13 Methods. For example, one or more embodiments also provide a method for opening a corked bottle. The method includes engaging a bottle opener with a cork integrity protection device as described above to the bottle. The method further includes screwing the helical portion of a screw shaft into the cork. The method further includes compressing the pair of blades to partially lift the cork from the bottle. The blades can then be raised upwards, causing stepped blades to slide upwards along the cylindrical outer wall of the bottle near the top. Because the blades are pushed radially inwards toward the bottle, once the blades have slid upwards and past the lip of the bottle, the sides of the blades will abut against or bounce or move inwards near the exposed cork. This action resets the base throw of the cork removal device.

[0094] In one embodiment, the pair of stepped paddles attached to the corkscrew housing can be converted from a self-centering, self-holding function by lifting the paddles upwards after an initial press (partially removing the cork). This process causes the stepped paddles to slide upwards and eventually over the top of the bottle. As they pass the top edge of the bottle's neck, the stepped paddles will engage in place around the exposed cork. The bottom of the paddles rests against the top of the bottle. This function can act as an auxiliary step or support, allowing a second press of the paddles to completely remove the remaining captured cork.

[0095] Alternatively, the cork-lifting technique can be described as follows: First, pinch the stepped paddle to open the mouth of the cork lifter, spreading the paddle. Second, place the cork lifter opener above the top of the bottle and release the paddle. The paddle will engage around the upper neck of the bottle, centering the cork lifter and screw.

[0096] Third, squeeze the bottle opener wings to engage the built-in foil cutter, driving the blade to the side of the foil / bottle. Rotate the bottle while compressing the wings to cut the foil. Remove the foil disc or leave it for later removal.

[0097] Fourth, drive the worm gear into the cork (approximately 35 mm to 40 mm), as indicated by the worm depth gauge mark near the wing shaft. Fifth, perform an initial press on the wing to partially remove the cork.

[0098] Sixth, raise the wing a second time until the blades pass over the top of the bottle and are lodged around or near the exposed cork, thus establishing a new functional base. Seventh, press the wing down a second time to completely remove the cork.

[0099] Eighth, remove the cork from the screw by gently compressing the outside of the paddle and reversing the handle. The cork will then be delivered out of the cork lifter's housing.

[0100] Figure 14 It is a method for manufacturing bottle openers. Figure 14 The method can be used to manufacture Figures 1 to 12 The bottle opener shown in any of them.

[0101] Step 1400 involves connecting the handle to the screw shaft. The connection can be performed by gluing, welding, or fastening.

[0102] Step 1402 involves operably connecting a pair of wings to the screw shaft such that compression of the pair of wings causes the screw shaft to lift. The pair of wings may be positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft. Operability can be achieved by using gear teeth disposed on the pair of wings, which interact with gear steps disposed on the screw shaft. Operability can also be achieved by other components, such as by using electric or hydraulic actuators.

[0103] Step 1404 involves attaching a housing to the screw shaft such that the housing has a first end configured to engage a container. Thus, for example, the housing may be fixed closer to one end of the screw shaft so that the other end of the screw shaft can engage the container without the container impacting the housing. The first end may be configured to engage the container via a casing drill or some other end effector.

[0104] Step 1406 includes connecting a pair of blades to the housing such that the pair of blades hang from the housing beyond the end of the screw shaft, and such that the pair of blades are connected to the housing or bottle opener collar in such a way that they are pushed radially inward when forced to move radially outward.

[0105] For example, such as Figures 1 to 9 As shown, the pair of paddles can be attached to the housing via a torsion spring, or they can be integrally formed with the housing. In the latter case, the pair of paddles can be made of a shape-memory material that seeks to maintain its original shape as it is displaced from its initial position. In another example, the pair of paddles can be connected to the bottle opener's collar in a similar manner, such as... Figures 10 to 12 It is displayed in the middle.

[0106] Changeable Figure 14 The manufacturing method may include, for example, forming a first end as a collar. The manufacturing method may further include connecting a bottle opener to at least one of the pair of wings. The manufacturing method may further include connecting at least a set of ridges to at least one of the housing or at least one of the pair of wings. The manufacturing method may further include placing a static mark on the housing and further placing a movable mark on at least one of the wings. The wings may be fitted with flanges or tabs (i.e., "tab lifters"), which can be used, for example, to assist in opening a soft drink can. The manufacturing method may include combinations of the above variations.

[0107] When used in relation to measurable physical properties, the term "approximately" refers to an engineering tolerance anticipated or determined by a person skilled in the art or a manufacturer. The precision of the engineering tolerance depends on the product being manufactured and the technical nature of the measurement. For a non-limiting example, if the values ​​of two angles are within 10 percent of each other, then the two angles can be considered "approximately equal." However, if an engineer determines that the engineering tolerances for a particular product should be more stringent, then "approximately equal" can be two angles having values ​​within 1 percent of each other. Similarly, in other embodiments, the engineering tolerance can be relaxed such that "approximately equal" angles have values ​​within 20 percent of each other. In any case, a person skilled in the art can assess what acceptable engineering tolerances are for a particular product and therefore can assess how to determine the measurement variance anticipated by the term "approximately."

[0108] As used herein, the term “connected to” encompasses at least two meanings. In a first meaning, unless otherwise stated, “connected to” means that component A is separated from component B at least at some point, but is subsequently attached to component B by a fixed or removable attachment arrangement. In a second meaning, unless otherwise stated, “connected to” means that component A may have been integrally formed with component B. Thus, for example, suppose the bottom of a pan is “connected to” the walls of the pan. The term “connected to” can be interpreted as the bottom and walls being separate components snapped together, welded, or otherwise fixedly or removably attached to each other. Additionally, the term “connected to” can also be interpreted as the bottom and walls being continuously together as a monolithic shell body formed by, for example, a molding process. In other words, when “connected” to each other, the bottom and walls may be separate components brought together and connected, or they may be a single piece of material bent at an angle such that the bottom panel and wall panel are identifiable parts of a single piece of material.

[0109] Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as adjectives for elements (i.e., any noun in the application). Unless explicitly stated, for example by using the terms “before,” “after,” “single,” and other such terms, the use of ordinal numbers does not imply or create any particular ordering of elements, nor does it limit any element to a single element. In fact, the use of ordinal numbers is for distinguishing elements. By example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and a first element may encompass more than one element and be after (or before) the second element in the element ordering.

[0110] Although the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure will understand that other embodiments can be devised without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope should be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bottle opener comprising: Screw shaft; A pair of wings configured to lift the screw shaft when the pair of wings are compressed, wherein the pair of wings are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft; A housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container; and A pair of blades, the pair of blades being connected to and suspended from the housing, extending beyond the first end.

2. The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein the pair of paddles are connected to the housing in such a way that they push the pair of paddles radially inward when the pair of paddles are forced to move radially outward.

3. The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein the pair of paddles are adjusted in size and dimensions to engage between the housing and the top of the bottle during a cork lifting operation.

4. The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein the pair of blades are radially offset by 90 degrees relative to the pair of wings about the screw axis.

5. The bottle opener of claim 1, further comprising a pair of foil cutters connected to the housing, wherein the pair of foil cutters includes cutting edges.

6. The bottle opener according to claim 1, further comprising at least one static mark disposed on the housing and at least one movable mark disposed on at least one of the wings.

7. The bottle opener of claim 1, further comprising a bottle opener disposed on at least one of the wings.

8. The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein the screw shaft further comprises a helical ridge disposed around the outer surface of the screw shaft.

9. The bottle opener of claim 1, further comprising a first set of gripping ridges disposed on one of the pair of wings and a second set of gripping ridges disposed on the other of the pair of wings.

10. The bottle opener of claim 9, further comprising a third set of gripping ridges connected to the housing.

11. The bottle opener of claim 10, wherein the first set of gripping ridges, the second set of gripping ridges, and the third set of gripping ridges are adjusted in size and dimension to surround the transverse axis of the bottle opener relative to the longitudinal axis of the screw shaft of the bottle opener.

12. The bottle opener of claim 1, wherein the first end includes a collar connected to the housing and positioned close to the pair of blades such that the pair of blades extend toward the distal end of the collar.

13. The bottle opener of claim 12, wherein the collar further comprises a slot disposed in the collar.

14. The bottle opener of claim 13, further comprising a foil cutter connected to the housing, wherein the cutting edge of the foil cutter is configured to move in and out of the slot in the collar.

15. The bottle opener according to claim 1, further comprising: A handle, which is connected to the screw shaft; and Multiple gear steps are arranged around the screw shaft and further arranged at the distal end of the handle and the proximal end of the casing drill at the opposite end of the screw shaft relative to the handle.

16. The bottle opener of claim 15, further comprising: Multiple gear teeth are connected to the pair of wings, wherein the multiple gear teeth are configured to engage the multiple gear steps.

17. A method for opening a bottle sealed with a cork, the method comprising: A bottle opener is fitted to the bottle, the bottle opener comprising: handle; A screw shaft, which is connected to the handle; A pair of wings configured to lift the screw shaft when the pair of wings are compressed, wherein the pair of wings are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft; A housing connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage a container; and A pair of blades, which are connected to and hang from the housing beyond the first end, wherein the pair of blades are connected to the housing in such a way that they push the pair of blades radially inward when the pair of blades are forced to move radially outward; The pair of paddles are slid over the neck of the bottle; Screw the screw shaft into the cork; Compress the pair of wings to force the screw shaft and the cork partially away from the bottle; and Lift the pair of blades until the pair of blades slide sufficiently to allow the pair of blades to grip the cork and allow the bottom of the pair of blades to rest against the top of the bottle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: The pair of wings are compressed downwards a second time to completely pull the cork out of the bottle in a linear manner.

19. A manufacturing method, comprising: Connect the handle to the screw shaft; A pair of wings are operably connected to the screw shaft such that compression of the pair of wings causes the screw shaft to lift, wherein the pair of wings are positioned opposite each other relative to the screw shaft; The housing is connected to the screw shaft, the housing having a first end configured to engage the container; and A pair of blades are attached to the housing, wherein the pair of blades hang from the housing beyond the first end.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising at least one of the following steps: The first end is formed into a collar; Connect the bottle opener to at least one of the pair of wings; Connecting at least one set of ridges to at least one of the housings or at least one of the pair of wings; and A static marker is placed on the housing, and a movable marker is further placed on at least one of the wings.

Images