Champagne Wire Cap Reducing Metal Length via Three-Leg Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wirehoods for champagne and sparkling drink bottles require a long length of metal wire, leading to increased material costs, machine wear, labor usage, packaging, weight, and transport costs.
Innovation Solution
A wirehood device made of two parts, a body with three legs that meet at the top and a belt, where one or two legs are formed by twisting a single wire, and the third leg is secured to the junction, using a metal plate with three grooves forming a Y shape, reducing the overall wire length by up to 46% compared to conventional designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wirehoods use four legs extending radially from a ring, then the structural stability and sealing function are maintained, but the length of metal wire required increases to an average of 0.615 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the traditional four-leg radial structure into three legs that meet at a common point, segmenting the wire path to reduce overall length while maintaining the cage structure's sealing function around the bottle neck
Solution Approach 2:
The three legs are merged at a common junction point at the top of the body, consolidating the wire structure to eliminate redundant wire length compared to four separate radial legs, while still providing adequate coverage and sealing
2Ease of manufacture
If the body is made by shaping a single metal wire doubled and twisted to form tabs, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the wire length requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the wire into three distinct legs that meet at a junction, allowing each leg to be optimized for minimal length while maintaining structural integrity, rather than using a single doubled and twisted wire configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The three legs are configured with different orientations and lengths as needed, with two legs contained in planes forming a right angle, allowing local optimization of wire usage in different regions of the cage structure
3Strength
If more wire is used in the wirehood, then the material strength and durability increase, but the manufacturing cost and transport cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses exactly three legs meeting at a common point, which is the minimum number needed to provide adequate structural strength and sealing function, avoiding the excessive wire usage of four-leg configurations while maintaining necessary durability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the wirehood structure from four radial legs to three converging legs, optimizing the wire distribution and length while maintaining the mechanical strength required for sealing and securing the bottle
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a significant reduction in metal wire usage, resulting in lower production costs, simpler machine design, reduced labor and packaging, lighter weight, and lower transport costs while maintaining equivalent functionality.
Implementation Method 1
one of the three legs is made by twisting two threads
Implementation Method 2
one of the three legs is made by twisting two threads, while the other two legs are each made up of each of said threads
Data Source
Figure 1a~3b
Figure 4a~5b
AI summary
The invention relates to a wire cap device for closing bottles of champagne and other fizzing beverages, of the type made of a metal wire and including two portions, i.e. a body or cage (2) including tabs (20, 21, 22) and a belt (3) connecting the free ends of the tabs (20, 21, 22) and to be seized under the ring of a bottle neck, while a metal plate is associated with the body or cage (2) in order to define an interface with the cork. There are three tabs (20, 21, 22) that join at the top of the body or cage (2).