Device for releasing a content of a champagne bottle

Abstract

A champagne bottle (20) comprises a bottleneck (30) which ends at a distal outer end in a bottle opening (60) in which is placed a stopper (50) which seals a content of the bottle under pressure. The bottleneck (30) comprises under the bottle opening (60) a protruding edge (40). A device for releasing a content thereof comprises a slide block (2) which comprises at a front outer end a chamfered nose (3) and is intended and configured to strike against the edge of the bottleneck therewith. The slide block is provided with a handle (5) for thereby guiding the slide block along the bottleneck and moving it with the nose against the edge of the bottle.

Description

[0001] Device for releasing a content of a champagne bottle

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for releasing a content of a champagne bottle, wherein it is noted that this relates to the type of bottle and not so much to the specific liquid contained therein under pressure. This liquid can for instance also be a sparkling wine from a geographical region other than the Champagne region in France, or even a beverage other than wine, such as beer and cider. Generally, and in the present application, the bottle in which the beverage in question is contained is nevertheless referred to as a champagne bottle. The stated champagne bottle comprises a bottleneck which ends at a distal outer end in a bottle opening in which is placed a stopper which seals a content of the bottle under pressure, wherein the bottleneck comprises under the bottle opening a protruding edge.

[0003] Such a bottle can per se be opened manually without any tools or other auxiliary means being required for the purpose. The stopper is formed by a characteristic toadstool-shaped cork or plastic stopper, which is usually surrounded by a wire muzzle, the so-called muselet, with which the stopper is held in place. The muselet is usually formed from a metal wire which closes under the protruding edge and is tightly wound six times there. In order to open the bottle it suffices to wind the closure of the muselet six times in opposite direction so as to thus release it from the edge after a foil, which may have been arranged thereover, has been removed. The cork or stopper can then be driven from the bottle opening manually.

[0004] An alternative and more appealing manner of releasing the content of a champagne bottle is so-called sabrage with a sabre. Use is for this purpose often made of a champagne sabre, and an experienced sabrer will slide it along the neck of the bottle so it strikes against the edge of the bottleneck, causing it to break off. This causes the upper part of the bottle with the cork therein to fly off the bottle. If the bottle has been chilled properly, the cork with a part of the neck of the champagne bottle therearound will fly about 5 metres away from the sabrer.

[0005] Although sabring is seen as considerably more appealing and festive, it has been found that champagne bottles are in practice nevertheless opened mainly in the more traditional, cautious manner. A significant cause hereof is the sizeable sabre, as well as the skill needed for the sabring.

[0006] The present invention has for its object, among others, to provide a device for opening a champagne bottle, whereby sabrage can take place in a more accessible manner. In order to achieve the stated object a device of the type described in the preamble is characterized according to the invention by a slide block comprising at a front outer end a nose and intended and configured to strike against the edge of the bottleneck therewith, which slide block is provided with a handle for thereby guiding the slide block along the bottleneck and moving it with the nose against the edge. Such a device is considerably easier to use than a champagne sabre and can thereby also be used more easily by an inexperienced user. By sliding it along the neck of the champagne bottle and striking it against the protruding edge of the bottleneck, as would also be done with a sabre, the bottleneck is broken off at the position of the edge in similar manner. This causes the outer end, including the stopper still placed therein, to fly off so that the content of the bottle can be poured out.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment a device according to the invention has the feature that at least the nose has adjacently of the bottleneck a concave curvature which fits at least substantially against a convex curvature of the bottleneck. The curvature at the bottom of the nose and optionally further along the slide block thus fits against the curvature of the bottle so that a linear guide is provided therebetween. This helps even an inexperienced user to project the device onto the edge of the neck with good aim. In a further preferred embodiment the device according to the invention has the feature that the nose is chamfered. This is conducive for the contact surface between the slide block and the edge of the bottle to lie close to the bottleneck and for the play of forces to be concentrated linearly on the edge in the manner of a blade.

[0008] A particularly practical embodiment of the device according to the invention has the feature that the handle comprises a stem which extends between a support surface and the nose of the slide block and is intended and configured to be received between a first and second finger of a hand of the user, particularly between a little finger and ring finger of the user. The device is here handled between the little finger and the ring finger, while the remaining part of the hand is supported at least partially by the support surface. This has been found to enhance a particularly stable position of the hand in the movement of the device over the bottleneck.

[0009] In order to prevent the device from being able to shoot out from between the fingers with the stem a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention has the feature that the stem has at a distal outer end a shield. The hand thus lies with the fingers around the stem enclosed between the base of the slide block on one side and the shield on the other. The shield moreover provides a surface on which an attractive decoration, symbol or logo can be arranged. An additional fixation and control provides here a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, which is characterized in that the stem between the slide block and the shield is axially adjustable.

[0010] Adjustment of the shield reduces the intermediate space to the base of the slide block, whereby the fingers are wedged in more or less without clearance.

[0011] In order to prevent the outer end of the bottle from shooting off too far away and possibly hitting a bystander when it does so, a further particular embodiment of the device according to the invention has the feature that catching means are coupled thereto, comprising a cord for attaching to the outer end of the bottle. The catching means thus provide a safety device whereby the broken-off outer end remains fixed to the cord and can therefore move at most one cord's length away from the bottle.

[0012] The slide block preferably has a significant mass, causing the segregation of the bottle end to take place without any significant exertion. For this purpose a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention has the feature that the slide block is formed by an at least substantially solid body of which the nose forms a monolithic part, and more particularly that the body comprises a metal body, particularly of titanium, stainless steel or a precious metal such as platinum, silver, copper or bronze.

[0013] The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to an exemplary embodiment and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing: Figure 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a side view of the device of figure 1;

[0015] Figure 3 is a side view of the device in contact with a bottleneck of a champagne bottle; and

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device and champagne bottle of figure 3.

[0017] It is otherwise noted here that the figures are purely schematic and not always drawn to (the same) scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numeral.

[0018] The device 1 of figure 1 comprises a slide block 2, a shield 6 and a stem 5 connecting slide block 2 and shield 6. Slide block 2 is located on an underside of device 1. Slide block 2 comprises a relatively flat body which is substantially diamond-shaped in this embodiment. The shield 6 is likewise substantially diamond-shaped, ending in a point. Both slide block 2 and the shield express hereby the luxurious character of the device 1 as a whole. Shield 6 can optionally be covered in gemstones or other decoration. A symbol or other identifying mark, such as initials of the user, can also be adhered thereto.

[0019] On a front side of slide block 2 a chamfered nose 3 is formed thereon. As shown in figure 2, nose 3 comprises a thickened portion for striking against an edge 40 of a bottleneck 30 of a champagne bottle 20 therewith, see figures 3 and 4. Nose 3 has a concave curvature 4 on an underside. This concave curvature 4 fits against a convex curvature of the bottleneck 30 of champagne bottle 20. In this embodiment the slide block 2 is embodied as a solid metal body, and nose 3 forms a monolithic part thereof. The metal can be titanium, stainless steel or a precious metals such as platinum, silver, copper or bronze. What is important is that the solid slide block 2 forms a substantial mass and is rigid in order to transmit the impulse exerted therewith to the neck of the bottle in substantially inelastic manner.

[0020] The stem 5, which connects shield 6 to slide block 2, is adjustable in this embodiment. For this purpose the stem comprises on one side a monolithic extension 51 of slide block 2 and on the other side a part 52 extending from shield 6 and falling over the extension 51. Provided between the two parts 51, 52 is a toothing 53 so that the two parts 51, 52 will be axially adjustable relative to each other and will be adjustable to the dimensions of the hand of the user by means of a control 9 provided close to stem 5 for this purpose. Behind stem 5 the slide block 2 provides a support surface 25 on which a hand of the user can be comfortably received.

[0021] Figures 3 and 4 show a typical example of a champagne bottle 20. Bottle 20 has a body, typically with a volume of 750 mm, ending in a bottleneck 30. At a distal outer end the bottleneck comprises an opening 60 which is closed with a cork 50 or other type of stopper. Upstream of outer end 60 the bottleneck has a protruding edge 40 behind which will usually hook a wire muzzle, usually referred to as muselet, which fixes the cork 50 onto the bottle. In the shown situation this muselet has already been removed, as has a metal foil which may have been arranged thereover.

[0022] In order to open a champagne bottle 20 the cork 50 is firstly freed of the muselet and the optional metal foil. The device is now grasped with stem 5 between the little finger and ring finger of the user and clamped firmly therebetween. If desired, the user adjusts the length of stem 5 to fit precisely between the two fingers, preferably the little finger and the ring finger, by displacing shield 6 relative to slide block 2. The fingers are now enclosed between slide block 2 and shield 6, which prevents device 1 from being able to shoot out from between the fingers. The user holds champagne bottle 20 in his or her other hand and now places the device with hollow nose 3 onto the neck 30 of bottle 20, and performs a smooth sliding movement toward the protruding edge 40 therewith. Owing to the curvature at the bottom of nose 3, which fits against the curvature of bottleneck 30, the device is guided thereto almost automatically with slide block 2. This co-axial guiding moreover prevents the device from shooting off the neck 30.

[0023] Finally, the device strikes with nose 3 against the edge, see figures 3 and 4, causing the bottleneck to break off there. Under the influence of the pressure of the liquid contained in the bottle the outer end 60 of the bottle with the cork therein will now shoot off, so that the bottle is no longer closed. The bottle can now be poured. Shield 6 comprises in stem 5 an opening 7 to which a cord, which was tied around the outer end 60 beforehand, can optionally be attached. This provides catching means as safety, whereby the outer end of the bottle is caught as soon as it shoots off the bottle.

[0024] A particularly practical and especially easy-to-use device is thus provided, whereby a champagne bottle can be opened safely and in a unique manner, even by an inexperienced user. Although the invention has been further elucidated above with reference to only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

Claims:1 . Device for releasing a content of a champagne bottle with a bottleneck which ends at a distal outer end in a bottle opening in which is placed a stopper which seals a content of the bottle under pressure, wherein the bottleneck comprises under the bottle opening a protruding edge, comprising a slide block which comprises at a front outer end a nose and is intended and configured to strike against the edge of the bottleneck therewith, which slide block is provided with a handle for thereby guiding the slide block along the bottleneck and moving it with the nose against the edge.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the nose has adjacently of the bottleneck a concave curvature which fits at least substantially against a convex curvature of the bottleneck.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nose is chamfered.

4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the handle comprises a stem which extends between a support surface and the nose of the slide block and is intended and configured to be received between a first andsecond finger of a hand of a user, particularly between a little finger and ring finger of the user.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the stem has at a distal outer end a shield.

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the stem between the slide block and the shield is axially adjustable.

7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that catching means are coupled thereto, comprising a cord for attaching to the outer end of the bottle.

8. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide block is formed by an at least substantially solid body of which the nose forms a monolithic part.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the body comprises a metal body, particularly of titanium, stainless steel or a precious metal such as platinum, silver, copper or bronze.

Images