Cork Remover Using Compressed Gas and Hollow Needle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for removing corks from bottles are either multi-use and not adaptable for specialty corks or require installation during bottling, failing to provide a solution for regular corks in existing bottles.
Innovation Solution
A single-use, retrofit cork remover device that uses compressed gas, featuring a hollow needle with a safety mechanism and anchoring means, which is inserted into the cork and activated by rotating a container to release pressurized gas, forcing the cork out of the bottle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-use cork remover device is used, then the device can remove corks from lots of different bottles, but the device cannot adapt to specialty corks and requires separate components
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow needle is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate both regular corks and specialty corks (such as agglomerated or synthetic corks). The needle's hollow configuration and anchoring spines allow it to function across multiple cork types without requiring separate devices or components, thereby achieving multi-functionality while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cork remover with built-in expelling mechanism is installed during bottling, then the cork can be expelled effectively, but the solution is not available for existing bottles with regular corks
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow needle is pre-loaded with compressed gas in a ready-to-use configuration. The gas is contained in a reservoir that is activated only when needed. This preliminary preparation allows the device to be retrofitted into existing bottles with regular corks without requiring complex installation procedures or modifications to the bottling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The expelling mechanism is extracted from the cork itself and placed in a separate, removable hollow needle that can be inserted into the cork. This separation allows the device to be applied retroactively to existing bottles with regular corks, rather than requiring the mechanism to be built into the cork during the bottling process.
3Productivity
If a sharp proximal end is used to puncture the container, then the path of fluid communication is formed effectively, but the safety risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A safety mechanism is implemented that prevents the sharp proximal end from puncturing the container and releasing the compressed gas unless specific conditions are met. The safety mechanism acts in advance to counteract the potential harm from the sharp needle, allowing efficient activation when needed while preventing accidental activation.
Solution Approach 2:
A safety mechanism serves as an intermediary between the sharp proximal end and the container. This intermediary component controls whether the puncturing action occurs, mediating between the need for effective activation and the need to prevent safety hazards from the sharp needle.
4Ease of operation
If the hollow needle is designed to rotate about its axis, then the device can be actuated by rotation, but the needle may rotate unintentionally causing accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
A safety mechanism is implemented that prevents the hollow needle from rotating about its axis unless specific conditions are met. This preliminary protective measure counteracts the potential harm of unintentional rotation, allowing easy actuation through rotation when intended while preventing accidental activation.
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
Effectively removes corks from bottles without the need for installation during bottling, providing a safe and efficient solution for both regular and specialty corks, with a focus on user safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a container adapted to hold pressurized gas and having a release mechanism, adapted to move the device from the rest state to the release state
Implementation Method 2
the proximal end punctures the single use aluminum capsule, thereby forming the path of fluid communication
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~6B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A device for removing a cork from a bottle, the device including: (a) a hollow needle (110), adapted to be inserted in the cork; and (b) pressurized gas sealed in an inner volume of a container (130); wherein the pressurized gas is adapted to be released from the container when a path (120) of fluid communication is formed between a proximal end (112) of the hollow needle and the inner volume of the container (130), such that the pressurized gas is channeled through the hollow needle (110), and into the cork or into the bottle, below the cork thereby forcing the cork out of the bottle.