Rectangular Bottle Neck and Cork for Easy Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle closure devices face difficulties in easy cork removal, damage during extraction, increased packaging height, and limited usability for left-handed individuals, with existing solutions being complex, costly, and prone to tearing or requiring excessive force.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a neck and rim with oppositely arranged arc protrusions and a tapered, hook-shaped design, allowing for easy cork removal by rotating and rocking, suitable for both right- and left-handed use, using a handle that engages with the protrusions to facilitate cork extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a natural cork is used, then the bottle can be sealed, but the cork is difficult to release and requires aids that may damage the cork integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The cork transitions from a static friction-locked state to a dynamic rotational state. The groove geometry allows the cork to rotate and rock within the neck, converting static adhesion into controlled movement that facilitates easy removal without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds rotational and rocking dimensions to the traditionally linear extraction motion. The groove enables multi-directional movement (rotation around the neck axis and rocking side-to-side), providing additional degrees of freedom for cork removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cork with a cylindrical upper portion of the same diameter as the rim is used, then the cork can be inserted, but it takes time to release due to sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The groove transforms the static friction interface into a dynamic mechanism. During removal, the cork rotates and rocks within the groove, continuously changing the contact points and reducing adhesion buildup, thereby preventing sticking and enabling quick release.
3Force
If gripping force is applied to round necks, then the bottle can be held, but the force is insufficient to prevent slipping and easily remove the cork
Solution Approach 1:
The neck transitions from a symmetric circular cross-section to an asymmetric D-shaped cross-section with a flat side. This asymmetry provides a stable resting surface that prevents rotational slipping during gripping, increasing friction and improving control without requiring excessive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The neck maintains a predominantly curved, ergonomic shape that is easy to grip, while introducing a localized flat surface on one side. This combines the benefits of curvature (comfort and grip) with the stability of a flat surface (preventing slipping).
4Ease of operation
If a cork with a T-shaped handle superstructure is used, then the cork can be easily removed, but the packaging height must be increased and placement in standard boxes and refrigerators becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The unnecessary T-shaped handle superstructure is completely removed. The invention extracts only the essential functional elements (the groove and shaped upper portion) needed for easy removal, eliminating excess length while maintaining operational ease.
5Ease of operation
If the Helix spiral twist system is used, then the cork can be released by twisting, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase and the cork upper portion may tear off
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adopts a simpler, more robust groove-based mechanism instead of the complex Helix spiral twist system with thread members. This simpler structure reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining ease of removal, and is less prone to tearing or failure during extraction.
6Ease of operation
If the Helix cork stopper is used, then the cork can be twisted out, but left-handed persons cannot use it and bidirectional rotation with rocking is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The D-shaped neck cross-section with flat side provides a stable gripping surface that works equally well for right-handed and left-handed users. The groove geometry is symmetric enough to allow bidirectional rotation and rocking motions, making the device universally adaptable to different user preferences and handedness.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to devices for corking bottles, and more particularly to the corking of glass bottles having necks containing a cork with an upper portion which rises above a rim, and may be used for corking bottles. A device for corking bottles contains a neck with a rim, and a cork, an end portion of the rim having protrusions, providing the ability to raise the cork by rotating same by the upper portion thereof. The neck, rim and upper portion of the cork are rectangular and/or oval in horizontal cross-section. The neck and rim are, on the two wide sides thereof, made in the form of parallel flat common surfaces. The narrow sides of the rim are hook-shaped.