EP2323945B1

EP2323945B1 - Method and system for cork removal

Info

Publication number: EP2323945B1
Application number: EP09806519.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nahman Soussan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-10
Filing date: 2009-08-10
Publication date: 2016-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-10
Also published as: WO2010018527A1; EP2323945A1; EP2323945A4

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of drink and food industries, and in special it deals with removal of corks out of wine bottles. In particular the invention relates to a cover for a container according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method according to the preamble of claim 13, as known from US 3,135,410 .

Description of related art

Good wines are often sold in glass bottles having cork cover for sealing. To drink the wine, a waiter or an owner of the bottle has to remove the cork out of the bottle. A special device, a wine opener or a corkscrew, is screwed into the cork and a lever arm of the opener is used to extract the cork out of the bottleneck.
For comparison, food/drink hermetically sealed metal containers or cans had been sold in the past without any attached can opener, and part of them are so made also nowadays. To use them while traveling, the user had to take with him a can opener. However, for many years already, most cans are sold with an attached opener and can be easily opened without a need to provide a can opener.
It would be advantageous to provide a system and a method for opening wine bottles having a cork without any need for a special opener, or in other words to have opening means as part of the bottle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is provided according to the present invention, a cover for a container having internal volume and an opening according to claim 1.
In some embodiments, the container is a bottle and the sealing member is a cork.
In some embodiments, the compressed gas has initial pressure from 1.5 to 3.0 bar, and it includes air, nitrogen, or helium.
In some embodiments, the cover includes safety means to prevent accidental activation of the gas channel mechanism.
In some embodiments, the gas channel mechanism includes an elongated duct having a sharp end, the sharp end is adapted for penetrating the sealing member upon pushing of the elongated duct towards the container. The portion of the sealing member penetrated by the sharp end is preferably 1-3 mm thick. The gas channel mechanism preferably includes means for hiding the sharp end within the sealing member while the compressed gas pushes the cover outwardly, thereby preventing injury by the sharp end of a person opening the cover. The elongated duct is preferably cylindrically shaped with an outside diameter from 1.0 to 2.0 mm.
In some embodiments, the gas cell is cylindrically shaped with an outside diameter from 8 to 12 mm.
In some embodiments, the sealing member is made of cork, wood, paper, polymer, or rubber. The gas cell is made of aluminum, steel, or polymer.
It is also provided according to the present invention, a method for handling an opening of a container having internal volume according to claim 13.
Preferably, activating includes the actions of rotating the gas cell relative to the ferrule, sliding the gas cell within the ferrule towards the container, breaking out a diaphragm sealing the gas cell, and penetrating the sealing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to system organization and method of operation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a bottle of wine opened by a gas jet from within a cork.
Fig. 2a depicts a gas cell within a cork with a channel gas mechanism before activation.
Fig. 2b is an expanded view of the upper part of the gas channel mechanism before activation.
Fig. 3a depicts the gas channel mechanism after activation.
Fig. 3b is an expanded view of the upper part of the gas channel mechanism after activation.
Fig. 3c is an expanded view of a part of the gas channel mechanism after activation.
Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method for handling an opening of a container.
Fig. 5a is an exploded view of the gas cell and the gas channel mechanism.
Fig. 5b is an exploded view of the ferrule and the gas cell having the gas channel mechanism there within.
Fig. 5c is a top perspective view of the cover with a handle before activation of the gas channel mechanism.
Fig. 6a shows the ferrule and the gas cell before activation.
Fig. 6b shows the ferrule and the gas cell after rotation.
Fig. 6c shows the ferrule and the gas cell after sliding the gas cell within the ferrule towards the bottle.
Fig. 7 shows a safety measure for preventing uncontrolled activation of the gas channel mechanism.
Fig. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a method for activating the gas channel mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and systems handling the described cover is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and features of device are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.
Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways within the scope of the appended claims. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs "comprise", "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
Referring to Fig. 1, it is provided a cover 10 for a container 20 having internal volume 30 and an opening 40. In the example of Fig. 1, the container 10 is a wine bottle 20 having a cork 50 as a sealing member for opening 40 which is disposed at the end of bottleneck 55. Fig. 1 illustrates the opening of bottle 10, whereas a gas jet 60 is sprayed into the internal volume 30 above wine level 70, increasing the gas pressure in volume 30. The increased pressure pushes cover 10 outwardly, either completely or at least enough to allow a user to conveniently remove cover 10 by tilting cover 10 aside. Also shown in Fig. 1 is a rotating handle 80 which operation is explained bellow.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the mechanism for spraying gas jet 60 into internal volume 30. Fig. 2a depicts cover 10 at rest, before opening bottle 20. Cover 10 includes cork 50 for sealing opening 40, a gas cell 90 containing compressed gas, and a gas channel mechanism 100 for constituting a gas channel between the gas cell 90 and the internal volume 30. Preferably, the compressed gas has an initial pressure level from 1.5 to 3.0 bar, and the gas includes air, nitrogen, or helium. Cylindrical gas cell 90 preferably has an outside diameter from 8 to 12 mm.
A ferrule 110 is disposed between gas cell 90 and an interior part of cork 50, whereas gas cell 90 is slidably coupled to ferrule 110.
The gas channel mechanism 100 includes an elongated duct 120 having a sharp end 130. Sharp end 130 is adapted for penetrating cork 50 upon pushing of elongated duct 120 towards container 10. For that aim, elongated duct 120 is preferably cylindrically shaped with an outside diameter from 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The portion of cork 50 to be penetrated by the sharp end 130 is preferably 1-3 mm thick.
Duct 120 has an aperture 135 on a side, for connecting the duct interior to volume 140, which is enclosed between duct 120 and an enclosing annulus 145. Duct 120 is attached to a cylinder 150, which in turn is attached to cylindrical post 155. A spring 160 is disposed on post 155, supported by cylinder 150 on one end and limited by an housing 165 on the other end. A diaphragm 170 seals a bore 175 in housing 165, and a thick elastic ring 180 encircles duct 120 outside housing 165.
Referring now to Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c, activating the gas channel mechanism is made by slidably pushing gas cell 90 inside ferrule 110 towards bottle 20. As sharp edge 130 approaches the cork, there is some resistance to penetration and the end of post 155 breaks diaphragm 170. Consequently, the compressed gas residing in gas cell 90 expands into volume 185. At the same time, the movement of post 155, attached cylinder 150 and duct 120 towards the interior of gas cell 90, slides annulus 145 relative to duct 120 and exposes aperture 135 to volume 185. Consequently, the compressed gas flows into duct 120, as exemplified by gas flow line 190.
Further pushing of gas cell 90 towards bottle 20 applies force on spring 160 which in turn pushes duct 120 towards bottle 20 such that sharp end 130 penetrates cork 50, allowing the compressed gas enter into internal volume 30, thus constituting a gas channel between gas cell 90 and internal volume 30. The compressed gas pushes cover 10 outwardly, facilitating opening of bottle 20. Bottle 20 may be opened either by total removal of cover 10 out of opening 40 by the pressurized gas, or by enabling the user to complete the cover removal by tilting the cover aside.
Gas channel mechanism 100 preferably includes means for hiding sharp end 130 while the compressed gas pushes cork 50 outwardly, thereby preventing injury by sharp end 130 of a person opening cover 10. Thick elastic ring 180 of Figs 2 and 3 serves as an exemplary hiding means. While pushing gas cell 90 towards bottle 20, thick elastic ring 180 is pressed against cork 50 and becomes somewhat thinner. As pushing gas cell 90 stops and cover 10 gets out by the compressed gas, ring 180 expands enough to draw duct 120 into gas cell 90, hiding sharp end 130 inside cork 50.
Referring now to Fig. 4, it is provided a method 200 for handling an opening of a container having internal volume 30. Method 200 includes the step 210 of assembling a cover 10, and the step 220 of installing cover 10 on opening 40 for sealing. Cover 10 includes a sealing member 50 adapted for sealing the opening 40, a gas cell 90 containing-compressed gas, and a gas channel mechanism 100 adapted for constituting a gas channel between gas cell 90 and internal volume 30. Preferably, method 200 also includes the step 230 of activating gas channel mechanism 100 to constitute a gas channel between gas cell 90 and internal volume 30.
In some embodiments, cover 10 includes safety means to prevent accidental activation of the gas channel mechanism 100, as shown in Figs 5 and 6. Fig. 5a is an exploded view of gas cell 90 and gas channel mechanism 100. To assemble mechanism 100 into gas cell 90, housing 165 is screwed onto gas cell 90. Two pins 250 are disposed on opposing sides of gas cell 90 close to the end receiving gas channel mechanism 110, and a slit 260 is made on the end of cell 90 opposite to the gas channel mechanism 100.
Fig. 5b is an exploded view of ferrule 110 and gas cell 90. Ferrule 110 has two L-shaped slots on opposing sides close to the end of gas cell 90 receiving gas channel mechanism 110. Each slot has a longitudinal leg 280 and a transverse leg 290. Gas cell 90 is inserted within ferrule 110 such that two opposing pins 250 get initially into two opposing longitudinal legs 280, and then moving along transverse leg 290, until resting in a safety position illustrated in Fig. 6a. To get out the rest position, a series of actions which could not occur accidentally should be taken as detailed below. As a second safety measure, rotating handle 80 is attached to cover 10, preventing access to slit 260, as shown in Fig. 5c.
Once a user wants to open bottle 20, the user removes rotating handle 80 from cover 10, puts it in slit 260 and rotates gas cell 90 such that pins 250 move in transverse leg 290 until they access longitudinal leg 280, as shown in Fig. 6b. Then, the user pushes gas cell 90 towards bottle 20, such that gas cell 90 slides inside ferrule 110 with pins 250 moving along longitudinal slot leg 280 towards bottle 20. As duct 120 approaches cork 50, it is stressed back into housing 165, breaking diaphragm 170, and the activation of gas channel mechanism 100 propagates to constitute a gas channel between gas cell 90 and internal volume 30, as described above.
Fig. 7 illustrates an additional safety measure for preventing premature breaking of diaphragm 170. For that sake two pins 300 are attached to gas cell 90, while two inverted wedges 305 are attached to duct 120. A ring 310 is also attached to duct 120. Initially, pins 300 and inverted wedges 305 are aligned such that duct 120 is kept away of diaphragm 170. Then, as duct 120 penetrates sealing member 50 and the gas cell is being rotated as described above, inverted wedges 305 move away of pins 300, allowing pins 300 to approach ring 310, and thus allowing duct 120 to enter gas cell 90 and break diaphragm 170.
Referring now to Fig. 8, it illustrates a flow chart of a method 350 for activating gas channel mechanism 100. The method includes step 360 of rotating gas cell 90 relative to ferrule 110, step 370 of sliding gas cell 90 within ferrule 110 towards bottle 20, step 380 of breaking out a diaphragm 170 sealing gas cell 90, and step 390 of penetrating cork 50.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the present invention is not limited by the examples described.

Claims

A cover (10) for a container (20) having internal volume (30) and at least one opening(40), the cover(10) comprising:
(a) a sealing member(50) for sealed closing of said at least one opening(40);

(b) a gas cell(90) containing compressed gas, said gas cell(90) being coupled to said sealing member(50); and

(c) a gas channel mechanism(100) adapted for constituting a gas channel between said gas cell(90) and said internal volume(30);
characterized in that the cover further includes:
(d) a ferrule (110) disposed between said gas cell (90) and said sealing member (50), said gas cell(90) being slidably coupled to said ferrule (110);
wherein initially said gas cell(90) has compressed gas therein, and upon constituting of said gas channel, said compressed gas penetrates said internal volume(30), and the compressed gas pushes said cover(10) outwardly, thus facilitating opening of the container(20).
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said container (20) is a bottle and the sealing member (50) is a cork.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said compressed gas has initial pressure from 1.5 to 3.0 bar.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said compressed gas includes at least one of a group of gases consisting of air, nitrogen, and helium.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein the cover (10) further includes at least one safety mechanism (305) to prevent accidental activation of said gas channel mechanism.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said gas channel mechanism(100) includes an elongated duct (120) having a sharp end (130), said sharp end (130) adapted for penetrating said sealing member (50) upon pushing of said elongated duct (120) towards said container (20).
The cover (10) of claim 6 wherein the portion of said sealing member (50) penetrated by said sharp end (130) upon constituting a gas channel is 1-3 mm thick.
The cover (10) of claim 6 wherein said gas channel mechanism includes means (180) for hiding said sharp end (130) while the compressed gas pushes said sealing member (50) outwardly, thereby preventing injury by the sharp end (130) of a person opening the cover (10).
The cover (10) of claim 6 wherein said elongated duct (120) is cylindrically shaped with an outside diameter from 1.0 to 2.0 mm.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said gas cell (90) is cylindrically shaped with an outside diameter from 8 to 12 mm.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said sealing member (50) is made of at least one material selected of a group of materials consisting of cork, wood, paper, polymer, and rubber.
The cover (10) of claim 1 wherein said gas cell (90) is made of at least one material selected of a group of materials consisting of aluminum, steel, and polymer.
A method (200) for handling an opening (40) of a container (20) having internal volume (30), the method (200) including:
(a) assembling (210) a cover (10), said cover (10) comprising:
(i) a sealing member (50) adapted for sealing e said opening (40) ;

(ii) a gas cell (90) containing compressed gas; and

(iii) a gas channel mechanism (100) adapted for constituting a gas channel between said gas cell (90) and said internal volume (30);
the gas channel mechanism (100) including (iv) an elongated duct (120) for a compressed gas flow, having a sharp end (130) characterized in that the cover includes
(v) a ferrule (110), said ferrule (110) being disposed between said gas cell (90) and said sealing member (50), and said gas cell (90) is slidably coupled to said ferrule (110),
and the method including

(b) installing (220) said cover (10) on said opening (40) for sealing.
The method (200) of claim 13 wherein the method (200) further includes the step of:
(c) activating (230) said gas channel mechanism (100) to constitute a gas channel between said gas cell (90) and said internal volume (30).
The method (200) of claims 13 wherein said activating includes the actions of:
(A) rotating (360) said gas cell (90) relative to said ferrule (110) ;

(B) sliding (370) said gas cell (90) within said ferrule (110) towards said container (20);

(C) breaking (380) out a diaphtagm(170) sealing the gas cell (90); and

(D) penetrating (390) said sealing member (50).
The method (200) of claim 13 wherein said container (20) is a bottle and the sealing member (50) is a cork.