EP3377437B1 - Device for ejecting a cork from a corkscrew and corkscrew provided with such an ejection device - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the present invention is a device for ejecting a cork from a corkscrew of the type comprising a body traversed by a passage of tubular appearance defining a housing in which is received a swirl capable of being driven in rotation. around the longitudinal axis of said body by means of a gripping element connected to one of its ends and extending outside of said body.

The invention also relates to a corkscrew, of the type comprising a body traversed by a passage of tubular appearance defining a housing in which a cork is received, equipped with such a device for ejecting a cork.

Conventionally, to uncork a bottle by means of such a corkscrew, a user first fits the body of the latter onto the neck of the bottle. He then screws the twist into the cork sealing the bottle, then exerts a rotational force on it causing the cork to translate by the effect of a helical twist, allowing it to be extracted from the bottle and brought to abutment at the bottom of the housing delimited by the body of the corkscrew. The user then removes the body of the corkscrew from the neck of the bottle, and unscrews the twist. Ideally, the released cork should then fall from the body of the corkscrew by gravity in order to be able to be recovered, for example in the hand of the user placed under the corkscrew, and then to allow a new use of the corkscrew.

In practice, however, it is frequently observed that many corks, in particular because of their slight expansion once extracted from a bottle, remain stuck in the housing delimited internally by the body of the corkscrew and whose dimensions are generally adjusted to those of the cap. When this happens, the user obviously has no choice but to introduce his fingers into the body of the corkscrew in order to grasp the cork, and to release it manually from the housing, or to push the cork by half unscrewing the twist out of the corkscrew. Such a way of proceeding is not only tedious but also has the unacceptable drawback of causing, in some cases, slight injuries to the fingers of the user operating in a compressed manner in the reduced volume of the body of the corkscrew to remove the cap. Finally, a stopper, in particular when it is made of a friable material such as cork, can be damaged by the somewhat brutal treatment to which it is inevitably subjected during its forced extraction. This can then prohibit its possible subsequent reuse to close a bottle that has only been partially opened, and force the user to obtain a spare cap, which may, if necessary, prove to be of lesser quality.

A corkscrew comprising the technical characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 is known from CN 101 081 684 B .

The object of the present invention is to overcome the said drawbacks by proposing a solution allowing a user to extract easily, and successfully at each attempt, a cork retained in the body of a corkscrew without having to insert his fingers into that -this, or to have to push the cork with the twist, therefore in a secure manner, and while preserving the structural integrity of the cork concerned.

To this end, the present invention relates to a device for ejecting a cork from a corkscrew of the type indicated in the preamble, said device comprising a cradle of tubular appearance capable of being accommodated in the housing of a corkscrew. -cap and to accommodate said auger and a cap screwed onto the auger, said cradle being formed of a fixed sleeve intended to be secured to said body of the corkscrew and of a sliding sleeve, movable in translation relative to the fixed sleeve, between a position in which it is fully fitted into the fixed sleeve and a position in which it is at least partially extracted from said fixed sleeve, said fixed sleeves and slide having a high end and a low end considering a vertical position of the ejection device, and said sliding sleeve comprising means capable of exerting, on a cork retained in said corkscrew, a force oriented in the direction of the end bottom of the fixed sleeve, when it is brought to its position in which it is at least partially extracted from said fixed sleeve.

The invention also relates to a corkscrew comprising a hollow body providing a housing in which is received a swirl capable of being driven in rotation about the longitudinal axis of said body by means of a gripping element connected to the one of its ends and extending outside of said body, said housing being capable of receiving a cap screwed onto the auger and having, in the vicinity of the free end of the auger, at least one portion of circular section capable of be fitted onto the neck of a bottle, characterized in that it comprises a device for ejecting a cork as defined above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows relating to an embodiment of the ejection device given solely by way of indication and not limitation.

• La figure 1 illustre une vue en perspective d'un tire-bouchon selon l'invention,
• La figure 2 illustre une vue en perspective de l'ensemble des pièces constitutives du tire-bouchon de la figure 1,
• Les figures 3 à 8 représentent des vues en coupe du tire-bouchon de la figure 1 au cours des différentes étapes de son utilisation pour déboucher une bouteille.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a corkscrew according to the invention,
• The figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of all the component parts of the corkscrew of the figure 1 ,
• The figures 3 to 8 represent sectional views of the corkscrew of the figure 1 during the different stages of its use to uncork a bottle.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in the figures, the corkscrew 1 according to the invention comprises a body 2 of generally tubular appearance, the outer wall of which is solid and which can be made of a material such as in particular wood, a metal, a plastic, a composite material, or any other equivalent material that is both solid and aesthetic. Conventionally, the body 2 internally delimits a housing 5 able to house a twist 3 intended to be driven in rotation around the longitudinal axis of the body 2 by a user manipulating a gripping element, such as a handle 4 emerging from the body 2 and connected to one end of auger 3.

In accordance with the invention, the corkscrew 1 is moreover equipped with a device for ejecting a cork 7 which remains housed in the housing 5 after its extraction from a bottle 11. The ejection device comprises a cradle 6, tubular in appearance. As seen at figures 3 to 8 , the housing 5 and the cradle 6 have a complementary shape allowing them to fit together. The cradle 6 is also shaped so as to be able to accommodate the auger 3 and a plug 7 screwed into the auger 3. The cradle 6 can be made of a material such as for example a plastic, a composite material, a material ceramic, metal or other equivalent material.

In the variant embodiment illustrated, the cradle 6 is formed of a fixed sleeve 8 intended to be secured to the body 2 of the corkscrew 1 and of a sliding sleeve 9, movable in translation relative to the fixed sleeve 8, between a position in which it is fully fitted and housed in the fixed sleeve 8 (cf. for example fig. 5 ) and a position in which it is at least partially extracted from the fixed sleeve 8 (cf. fig. 6 ).

The fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves have a high end 80, 90 and a low end 81, 91 considering a vertical position of the cradle 6. They each have a first section 82, 92, whose section is provided capable of receiving, in a tight manner, a plug 7 screwed onto the auger 3 and a second section 83, 93, of section greater than that of the first section 82, 92 capable of being fitted onto the neck 10 of a closed container by the stopper 7, such as a bottle 11. Each of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves thus has a shoulder 84, 94 formed between its first section 82, 92 and its second section 83, 93.

In the variant embodiment illustrated, the peripheral wall of the fixed sleeve 8 comprises on the one hand two strips of material 85, 85', the external faces of which are curved while the internal faces 850, 850' are flat in appearance. These two strips of material 85, 85' are symmetrical with respect to the axis of the fixed sleeve 8 and extend over its first section 82 between its upper end 80 and its shoulder 84. Their internal faces 850, 850' are spaced 'a distance dl allowing the tightening of a cap 7. Furthermore, the strips of material 85, 85' extend under the shoulder 84 and thus define two fins 101, 101' of height h2 extending at the level of the upper end of the second section 83 of the fixed sleeve 8. Furthermore, the strips of material 85, 85' define two longitudinal slots 86, 86' also extending between the upper end 80 and the shoulder 84 of the first section 82 .

The peripheral wall of the fixed sleeve 8 further comprises two strips of material 87, 87' symmetrical with respect to the axis of the fixed sleeve 8 and extending over its second section 83 between its shoulder 84 and its lower end 81, delimiting two longitudinal slots 88, 88' (cf. fig. 2 ). The strips of material 87, 87' of the second section 83 of the fixed sleeve 8 have curved internal faces, spaced apart by a diameter d2 and have a width 12 greater than the width 11 of the strips of material 85, 85' of the first section 82 , and chosen so as to give an identical width to all of the longitudinal slots 86, 86', 88, 88' of the fixed sleeve 8.

The sliding sleeve 9 has a peripheral wall complementary to that of the fixed handle 8. Indeed, it comprises on each of its first and second sections 92, 93 two strips of material 95, 95', 97, 97' extending respectively between its upper end 90 and the shoulder 94, and between the latter and its lower end 91. These strips of material 95, 95', 97, 97' are complementary to the longitudinal slots 86, 86', 88, 88' of the fixed sleeve 8 and thus delimit on the sliding sleeve 9 longitudinal slots 96, 96', 98, 98' complementary to the strips of material 85, 85', 87, 87' of the fixed sleeve 8.

It should also be noted that the strips of material 85, 85', 87, 87', 95, 95', 97, 97' have straight longitudinal edges.

Thanks to such a structure, the two fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves can be fitted together, their respective strips of material 85, 85', 87, 87', 95, 95', 97, 97' being inserted into their longitudinal slots 86, 86', 88, 88', 96, 96', 98, 98' and therefore being in contact with each other at their respective rectilinear longitudinal edges. The latter define, as will be described in more detail below, first means for guiding the sliding sleeve 9 in translation relative to the fixed sleeve 8. It should be noted that the sliding sleeve 9 is locked in rotation relative to the fixed sleeve 8 thanks to the contact between the respective longitudinal edges of the strips of material 85, 85', 87, 87', 95, 95', 97, 97' whatever its position relative to the fixed sleeve 8.

In accordance with the invention, the upper end 90 of the sliding sleeve 9 is also closed by a lid 99 having a central orifice 12 able to allow the passage of the auger 3 when the cradle 6 is fitted into the body 2 of the puller. cap 1.

With reference to the picture 2 , the edge of the lid 99 of the sliding sleeve 9 has two opposite grooves 13, centered in the extension of each of the longitudinal slots 96, 96'. They are provided capable of cooperating, when the two sleeves 8, 9 are nested, with two opposite longitudinal ribs 14, centered on the flat inner face 850, 850' of each of the complementary strips 85, 85' of the peripheral wall of the first section 82 of the fixed sleeve 8, intended to be received in said slot 96, 96'. The assembly formed by the two grooves 13 of the sliding sleeve 9 and the two longitudinal ribs 14 of the fixed sleeve 8 defines second means for guiding the sliding sleeve 9 in translation relative to the fixed sleeve 8.

It should be noted that the ribs 14 also make it possible to block a stopper 7 in rotation, housed in the part of the corkscrew 1 formed by the first sections 82, 92 of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves, after its extraction of a bottle 11, during the unscrewing of the auger 3. Of course, other means of blocking the stopper 7 in rotation can be envisaged, such as for example a pair of ribs formed on the internal face of each of the bands of materials 95, 95' of the sliding sleeve 9, or any other equivalent means.

On the other hand, the cover 99 also comprises two opposite lugs 15, 15' extending in its plane, on its edge, in the extension of the two strips of material 95, 95' of the first section 92 of the sliding sleeve 9. These two lugs 15, 15' bear on the shoulder 84 of the fixed sleeve 8 when the sliding sleeve 9 is brought to its position in which it is at least partially extracted from the fixed sleeve 8, so as to prevent its total extraction from the sleeve 8. Furthermore, each of the lugs 15, 15' has two opposite lateral edges which extend in abutment against the longitudinal edges of the strips of material 85, 85' of the fixed sleeve 8 which also prevents any rotation of the sliding sleeve 9 relative to the fixed sleeve 8. Finally, the underside of the cap 99 is extended by a tubular stop 100, centered on its central orifice 12, and having a height h1 identical to the height h2 of the fins 101, 101'.

The fixed sleeve 8 also comprises a third section 16 extending in the extension of its first section 82 and having an external diameter smaller than the external diameter of the first section 82. Thus, the fixed sleeve 8 comprises a second shoulder 17 extending between its first section 82 and its third section 16.

On the other hand, the lower end 81 of the fixed sleeve 8 comprises a flange 18 on which extend a plurality of regularly distributed holes 19 and allowing the fixing of the fixed sleeve 8 to the body 2 of the corkscrew 1 for example by means screws 20 introduced into the holes 19 and screwed into the body 2. Of course, other equivalent fixing means can be envisaged.

The lower end 91 of the sliding sleeve 9 is extended by a collar 21 extending in front of the collar 18 of the fixed sleeve 8 when the two sleeves are fitted together. This collar 21 performs the function of gripping means allowing a user to manipulate the ejection device according to the invention more easily. In the variant embodiment illustrated, the gripping collar 21 comprises two transverse slots 22 dividing it into two half-collars 21a, 21b extending in the extension of the strips of material 97, 97' of the second section 93 of the sliding sleeve 9. This allows the bringing together of these two strips of material 97, 97' to facilitate the sliding of the sliding sleeve 9 with respect to the fixed sleeve 8, as will be explained below.

In practice, and with reference to figures 3 to 8 , when using the corkscrew 1 according to the invention, equipped with the ejection device which has just been described, to uncork a bottle 11, the user first ensures that the sliding sleeve 9 is completely nested in the fixed sleeve 8 and that it is therefore erased therein. He then fits the corkscrew 1 on the neck 10 of the bottle 11, closed by the stopper 7. The assembly formed by the respective second sections 83, 93 of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves is then placed around the neck 10 (cf. fig. 3 ). The auger 3 is then screwed into the stopper 7 and a tensile force exerted on the latter makes it possible to bring it gradually into the assembly formed by the respective first sections 82, 92 of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves until it is stopped by the annular stop 100 of the cover 99 of the sliding sleeve 9 (cf. fig. 4 ). The distance d1 between the flat internal faces 850, 850' of the strips of material 85, 85' of the first section 82 of the fixed sleeve being chosen so as to obtain a tight fit of the plug 7 received in the cradle 6, said plug 7 remains in the compressed state in which it was when it was housed in the bottle 11. The latter being now uncorked, the user removes the corkscrew 1 from the neck 10, the cork 7 remaining screwed onto the auger 3 and blocked in body 2 of corkscrew 1.

In order to allow a new use of the corkscrew 1, and consequently release the stopper 7 blocked in the cradle 6, the user unscrews the auger 3 (cf. fig. 5 ). He then grasps the two half-collars 21a, 21b bordering the lower end 91 of the sliding sleeve 9. This has the effect of causing the strips of material 97, 97' of the sliding sleeve 9 to tighten, and of facilitating the sliding of this last with respect to the fixed sleeve 8. The sliding sleeve 9, guided in translation by the first and second means for guiding in translation described above, is gradually extracted from the body 2 of the corkscrew 1. During its displacement, the sleeve slider 9 carries with it the stopper 7 on which the tubular abutment 100 of the cover 99 exerts a force F1 oriented towards the lower end 80 of the fixed sleeve 8. When the tabs 15 of the cover 99 come into abutment on the shoulder 84 of the fixed sleeve 8, the first section 92 of the sliding sleeve 9, still containing the plug 7, is housed inside the second section 83 of the fixed sleeve 8 (cf. fig. 6 ). The stopper 7 is then no longer constrained between the strips of material 85, 85', 95, 95' of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves and can at least partially expand between the strips of material 95, 95' of the sliding sleeve 9 , and the strips of material 87, 87' of the fixed sleeve 8. Thanks to the presence of the tubular abutment 100 having a height h1 equivalent to that h2 of the fins 101, 101', the upper face of the stopper 7 is located just below the lower end of said fins 101, 101'. Then, due to its at least partial expansion, the edge of the upper face of the stopper 7 finds itself in abutment against the lower end of the fins 101, 101' of the fixed sleeve 8. Consequently, when the user pushes the sleeve slider 9 so as to refit it in the fixed sleeve 8, the stopper 7 is no longer driven with it but remains in the assembly formed by the respective second sections 83, 93 of the fixed 8 and sliding 9 sleeves, retained by the fins 101, 101' (cf. fig. 7 ). The internal diameter d2 of this assembly being greater than that of the stopper 7, the latter now falls by gravity and can be easily recovered by the user (cf. fig. 8 ).

It should be noted that the ejection device according to the invention can be designed as a universal module adapted to adapt to a large number of corkscrews having different shapes and characteristics.

Claims (15)

1. Device for ejecting a cork (7) from a corkscrew (1), comprising a body (2) which has a tubular through-passage that defines a housing (5) in which a gimlet (3) is received which is capable of being rotated about the longitudinal axis of said body by means of a gripping element (4) that is connected to one its ends and extends outside said body (2), said device comprising a tubular cradle (6) which is capable of being housed in the housing (5) of the corkscrew and of accommodating said gimlet (3) and a cork (7) that is screwed into the gimlet (3), characterized in that said cradle (6) is formed by a fixed sleeve (8) which is intended to be secured to said body (2) of the corkscrew (1) and by a sliding sleeve (9) which is movable in translation relative to the fixed sleeve (8) between a position in which it is fully fitted into the fixed sleeve (8) and a position in which it is at least partially extracted from said fixed sleeve (8), said fixed sleeve (8) and sliding sleeve (9) having an upper end (80, 90) and a lower end (81, 91) taking into account a vertical position of the ejection device, and said sliding sleeve (9) comprising means which are capable of exerting a force (F1), which is oriented in the direction of the lower end (81) of the fixed sleeve (8), on a cork (7) that is retained in said corkscrew (1) when said sliding sleeve is brought to the position thereof in which it is at least partially extracted from said fixed sleeve (8).
2. Ejection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper end (90) of the sliding sleeve (9) is closed by a closing member (99) having a central opening (12) which is capable of allowing the gimlet (3) to pass through.
3. Ejection device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said fixed sleeve (8) and sliding sleeve (9) comprise means for locking the sliding sleeve (9) against rotation.
4. Ejection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said fixed sleeve (8) and sliding sleeve (9) comprises a first portion (82, 92) which is capable of accommodating a cork (7) that is screwed onto the gimlet (3) and a second portion (83, 93) which is capable of being fitted onto the neck (10) of a bottle (11), each of the fixed sleeve (8) and sliding sleeve (9) having a shoulder (84, 94) which is formed between the first and second portion (82, 92, 83, 93) thereof.
5. Ejection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the peripheral wall of each of the fixed sleeve (8) and sliding sleeve (9) comprises at least one longitudinal slot (86, 86', 88, 88', 96, 96', 98, 98') which extends respectively over the first portion (82, 92) thereof between the upper end (80, 90) thereof and the shoulder (84, 94) thereof and over the second portion (83, 93) thereof between the shoulder (84, 94) thereof and the lower end (81, 91) thereof, and in which a strip of complementary material (85, 85', 95, 95', 87, 87', 97, 97') of the peripheral wall of the first and the second portion (83, 92, 83, 93) of the other sleeve is received.
6. Ejection device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one groove (13) and one rib (14) which are longitudinal and complementary and extend respectively over the edge of the closing member (99) of the sliding sleeve (9) in the extension of the slot (96, 96') that said sleeve comprises, and over the internal face (850, 850') of the complementary strip (85, 85') of the peripheral wall of the first portion (82) of the fixed sleeve (8) which is intended to be received in said slot (96, 96'), or vice versa.
7. Ejection device according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the sliding sleeve (9) comprises at least one tab (15) which extends the outer edge of the closing member (99) in the extension of the peripheral wall (95, 95') thereof, said tab (15) being capable of bearing on the shoulder (84) formed between the first portion (82) and the second portion (83) of the fixed sleeve (8) when the sliding sleeve (9) is brought to the position thereof in which it is at least partially extracted from said body (2).
8. Ejection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding sleeve (9) comprises gripping means which are capable of allowing it to be operated by a user.
9. Ejection device according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower end (91) of the sliding sleeve (9) is extended by a gripping collar (21).
10. Ejection device according to claim 9, characterized in that said gripping collar (21) comprises at least one transverse slot (22) which extends in the extension of the slot (98, 98') that the peripheral wall of the sliding sleeve (9) comprises.
11. Ejection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower end (81) of the fixed sleeve (8) comprises a collar (18) which is capable of allowing said collar to be fastened to the body (2) of a corkscrew (1) by suitable joining means.
12. Ejection device according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the closing member (99) of the sliding sleeve (9) comprises an annular stop (100) of height h1 which is centered on the central opening (12) thereof and extends under the lower face thereof.
13. Ejection device according to claim 12, characterized in that the fixed sleeve (8) comprises at least one flange (101, 101') of height h2 which is equal to that of the annular stop (100) of the sliding sleeve (9).
14. Corkscrew (1) comprising a hollow body (2) which provides a housing (5) in which a gimlet (3) is received which is capable of being rotated about the longitudinal axis of said body (2) by means of a gripping element (4) that is connected to one of its ends and extends outside said body (2), said housing (5) being capable of accommodating a cork (7) that is screwed onto the gimlet (3) and having, in the vicinity of the free end of the gimlet (3), at least one portion which has a circular cross-section and is capable of being fitted onto the neck (10) of a bottle (11), characterized in that it comprises a device for ejecting a cork (7) according to any of the preceding claims.
15. Corkscrew (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the housing (5) has a shape which is complementary to that of the cradle (6) that said ejection device comprises.

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