EP4100357B1 - Device for opening a bottle of wine or the like with a hot clamp - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of wine and more particularly a device for opening bottles of natural sweet wines such as port for example.

State of the art

In the wine industry, it is well known that it is particularly difficult to open a bottle of old port using a traditional corkscrew due to the deterioration of its cork. In fact, the cork stoppers closing port bottles disintegrate over time due to the alcohol level and the sugar content of the port in particular, the lower part of the cork stopper generally being the most degraded due to the fact that it is partly in direct contact with the port.

Thus, the older the port, the more degraded the cork is so that it becomes impossible to remove the cork using a corkscrew.

Note that this problem of deterioration of the cork over time also occurs with other wines, whether red wine or white wine.

In order to remedy this drawback, it is well known to open these bottles of old port using a technique known as hot pliers. This technique consists of using so-called port pliers made up of two arms articulated around an axis, each arm comprising at one end a handle and at its opposite end a semi-annular shaped jaw.

The process consists of heating the jaws of the port tongs on the embers of a fireplace or the like then positioning the white-hot jaws around the neck of the port bottle under the lower end of the cork, then removing the jaws hot water from the neck and place a cloth soaked in cold water on the neck in the area heated by the jaws. The thermal shock causes the glass to break and the upper end of the neck of the bottle can be removed with the cork and the port can then be served after decanting if necessary.

The downside of this process is that it requires some practice so it is only done by rare sommeliers, usually in restaurants.

There is therefore a need to provide a device allowing the implementation of this process by individuals who have no particular knowledge of said hot clamp process.

The article entitled " Room technique: Opening Porto with fire at La Pyramide", published on April 27, 2016 in the magazine "un oeil en salle", written by Hélène Binet and found at the internet address https://unoeilensalle.fr/ room-technique-opening-of-port-to-fire-at-the-pyramid/ on December 21, 2020, describes a known device which includes the technical characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the invention

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a device for opening a bottle of wine with hot pliers of a simple and inexpensive design, easy to use and providing good security. for the user.

For this purpose, and in accordance with the invention, a device is proposed for opening a bottle of wine comprising a clamp consisting of two arms articulated around an axis, each arm comprising at a first end a handle or a ring and at its opposite end a jaw of semi-annular or semi-cylindrical shape, the radius of curvature of each jaw being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the wine bottle; said device is remarkable in that it comprises at least one base, heating means positioned on said base and a bracket secured to the base and comprising means for retaining the pliers such that the jaws of the latter extend to the right of the heating means.

Preferably, said bracket comprises a vertical lower part, i.e. extending substantially perpendicular to said base, and an inclined upper part.

Furthermore, the upper part of the stem forms an angle of between 100° and 130° with the lower part of said stem and, preferably, the upper part of the stem forms an angle of 115° with the lower part of said stem .

In addition, the distal end of the stem, ie the upper end of the upper part of said stem, is folded upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to form a so-called retaining tab provided with at least one slot capable of receiving the arms of the pliers.

In order to ensure the stability of the clamp, the upper part of the stem includes at least one cradle in which the arms of the clamp are supported.

According to a first variant of execution, the heating means consist of at least one electrical heating resistance coupled to a thermostat or a rheostat, said electrical heating resistance being in contact with the jaws of the pliers when the latter is supported by the bracket.

According to a second alternative embodiment, the heating means consist of at least one gas bottle provided with a burner and a gas flow adjustment dial, said gas bottle extending into a casing whose lower end is open and rests on the base and the upper end of which is provided with an upper cover provided with an opening for the passage of the burner.

Preferably, the casing has a cylindrical shape.

Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment, the upper cover is made up of two half-discs, each half-disc comprising a semi-circular recess in the central part of the rectilinear edge and a curved tab secured to the curvilinear edge and capable of bearing on the upper edge of the housing.

In order to allow the use of different sizes of gas bottle, the casing comprises, in its lower part, a crown secured to the interior wall of said casing on which a circular plate rests, said plate being able to receive the gas bottle .

In addition, the device comprises a remote control means of the gas flow adjustment wheel, said remote control means consisting of a rod extending through a hole made in the casing and comprising at its free ends a wheel and a flat head respectively, said flat head being able to cooperate with a slot made in the gas flow adjustment wheel.

Brief description of the drawings

• [Fig.1] est une vue de côté du dispositif pour l'ouverture d'une bouteille de vin suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.2] est une vue en coupe verticale de la partie inférieure du dispositif suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.3] est une vue de dessus de la molette des moyens de chauffage du dispositif suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.4] est une vue en perspective de la molette des moyens de chauffage du dispositif suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.5] est une vue de face de la molette des moyens de chauffage du dispositif suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.6] est une vue en perspective d'une variante d'exécution du dispositif pour l'ouverture d'une bouteille de vin suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.7] est une vue en perspective éclatée du capot supérieur des moyens de chauffage de la variante d'exécution du dispositif suivant l'invention représenté sur la figure 6,
• [Fig.8] est une vue de dessus d'un dispositif de refroidissement du goulot du dispositif pour l'ouverture d'une bouteille suivant l'invention,
• [Fig.9] est une vue de côté du dispositif de refroidissement suivant l'invention représenté sur la figure 8.

Other advantages and characteristics will become clearer from the description which follows of several variants of execution, given by way of non-limiting examples, of the device for opening a bottle of wine or the like conforming to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig.1 ] is a side view of the device for opening a bottle of wine according to the invention,
• [ Fig.2 ] is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the device according to the invention,
• [ Fig.3 ] is a top view of the wheel of the heating means of the device according to the invention,
• [ Fig.4 ] is a perspective view of the wheel of the heating means of the device according to the invention,
• [ Fig.5 ] is a front view of the wheel of the heating means of the device according to the invention,
• [ Fig.6 ] is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device for opening a bottle of wine according to the invention,
• [ Fig.7 ] is an exploded perspective view of the upper cover of the heating means of the alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention shown on the Figure 6 ,
• [ Fig.8 ] is a top view of a device for cooling the neck of the device for opening a bottle according to the invention,
• [ Fig.9 ] is a side view of the cooling device according to the invention shown on the figure 8 .

Mode of carrying out the invention

In the remainder of the description of the device for opening a bottle of wine or the like according to the invention, the same numerical references designate the same elements. Furthermore, the different views are not necessarily drawn to scale.

It will be observed that the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for opening old port bottles whose cork is damaged; however, it is obvious that the device according to the invention could also be used not only for opening bottles of all types of natural sweet wines which encounters the same type of degradation of their cork stoppers but also for the opening of any type of wine bottle whether the cork is degraded or not without departing from the scope of the invention.

With reference to figures 1 And 2 , the device for opening a bottle of natural sweet wines such as port or the like comprises a clamp 1 consisting of two arms 2 articulated around an axis 3, each arm 2 comprising at a first end a handle 4 and at its opposite end a jaw 5 of semi-annular shape, the radius of curvature of each jaw 5 being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the wine bottle, not shown in the figures, a base 6, heating means 7 positioned on said base 6 and a bracket 8 integral with said base 6 and comprising means for retaining the clamp 1 such that the jaws 5 of said clamp 1 extend to the right of the heating means 7. Said base 6 consists of a substantially square horizontal metal plate provided with four feet 9 positioned at the four corners of the metal plate on its underside. Said feet 9 may advantageously consist of feet made of silicone or synthetic or natural elastomer in order to prevent said base 6 from sliding on the support, such as a table for example, on which it will be positioned.

It is quite obvious that the pliers 1 could have a different shape such as a scissor shape, i.e. with rings in place of the handles 4 and/or with semi-cylindrical jaws 5 in place of the semi-cylindrical jaws 4 -annular for example without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, said bracket 8 comprises a vertical lower part 8a, ie extending substantially perpendicular to said base 6, and an inclined upper part 8b. Said bracket 8 is, for example, obtained in a metal bar whose lower end is welded in the central part of one of the edges of the base 6 and whose middle part is folded to form the lower parts 8a and upper 8b. Said upper part 8b of the bracket 8 forms an angle of between 100° and 130° with the lower part 8a of said bracket 8, and, preferably, an angle of 115° with the lower part 8a of said bracket 8. In addition , the distal end of the bracket 8, ie the upper end of the upper part 8b of said bracket 8, is folded upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to form a so-called retaining tab 10 provided with at less a slot 11 capable of receiving the arms 2 of the clamp 1, the handles 4 of the clamp 4 bearing on the upper face of the tab 10. In order to hold the clamp 1 substantially parallel to the upper part 8b of the bracket 8, said upper part 8b of the bracket 8 comprises at least one cradle 12 in which the arms 2 of the clamp 1 are supported.

In addition, the heating means 7 consist of at least one gas bottle 13 provided with a burner 14 and a wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow, said gas bottle 13 extending into a casing 16 of which the the lower end is open and rests on the base 6 and the upper end of which is provided with an upper cover 17 provided with an opening 18 for the passage of the burner 14. In this particular embodiment, the casing 16 has a cylindrical shape; however, it goes without saying that it can have any shape as long as it is capable of receiving a gas bottle, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Advantageously, with reference to the figure 2 , the casing 16 comprises, in its lower part, a crown 19 secured to the interior wall of said casing 16 on which rests a removable circular plate 20, said plate 20 being capable of receiving the gas bottle 13. Thus, the casing 16 allows two different sizes of gas bottle 13 to be received. For this purpose, for the largest size of gas bottle 13, the plate 20 is removed and the gas bottle rests directly on the base 6 and, for the smallest size of gas bottle 13, the plate 20 is positioned on the crown 19 and the gas bottle rests on said plate 20.

Furthermore, with reference to figures 2 to 5 , the device according to the invention comprises a remote control means 21 of the wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow, said remote control means 21 consisting of a rod 22 extending through a hole 23 made in the casing 16 and comprising at its free ends a wheel 24 and a flat head 25 respectively, said flat head 25 being able to cooperate with a slot 26 made in the wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow.

According to a first variant of execution of the device according to the invention, with reference to the figures 6 And 7 , the device comprises in the same manner as previously a clamp 1 consisting of two arms 2 articulated around an axis 3, each arm 2 comprising at a first end a handle 4 and at its opposite end a jaw 5 of semi-annular shape , the radius of curvature of each jaw 5 being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the wine bottle, not shown in the figures, a base 6, heating means 7 positioned on said base 6 and a bracket 8 integral with said base 6 and comprising means for retaining the clamp 1 such that the jaws 5 of said clamp 1 extend to the right of the heating means 7. Said base 6 consists of a substantially square horizontal metal plate provided with four feet 9 positioned at the four corners of the metal plate on its underside.

Furthermore, said bracket 8 comprises a vertical lower part 8a and an inclined upper part 8b. Its lower end is welded in the central part of one of the edges of the base 6 and the middle part is folded to form the lower parts 8a and upper 8b. Said upper part 8b of the bracket 8 forms an angle of between 100° and 130° with the lower part 8a of said bracket 8, and, preferably, an angle of 115°. In addition, the distal end of the bracket 8, i.e. the upper end of the upper part 8b of said bracket 8, is folded upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to form a so-called retaining tab 10 provided with at least one bayonet slot 11 capable of receiving the arms 2 of the pliers 1, the handles 4 of the pliers 4 bearing on the upper face of the tab 10. In order to maintain the pliers 1 substantially parallel to the upper part 8b of the bracket 8, said upper part 8b of the bracket 8 comprises at least one cradle 12 in which the arms 2 of the clamp 1 are supported.

In addition, the heating means 7 consist of at least one gas bottle 13 provided with a burner 14 and a wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow, said gas bottle 13 extending into a cylindrical casing 16 of which the lower end is open and rests on the base 6 and the upper end of which is provided with an upper cover 17 provided with an opening 18 for the passage of the burner 14.

Although not shown on the figures 6 And 7 , the casing 16 also comprises, in its lower part, a crown 19 secured to the interior wall of said casing 16 on which rests a removable circular plate 20, said plate 20 being capable of receiving the gas bottle 13. Thus, the casing 16 makes it possible to receive two different sizes of gas bottle 13. Furthermore, the device according to the invention also comprises a remote control means 21 of the wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow, as shown on the figures 3 to 5 , said remote control means 21 consisting of a rod 22 extending through a hole 23 made in the casing 16 and comprising at its free ends a wheel 24 and a flat head 25 respectively, said flat head 25 being capable of cooperate with a slot 26 made in the wheel 15 for adjusting the gas flow.

The device differs from that described previously by the fact that the upper cover 17 is made up of two half-discs 17a, 17ab, each half-disc 17a, 17b comprising a semicircular recess 18a and 18b respectively in the central part of the rectilinear edge and a curved tab 19a and 19b respectively secured to the curvilinear edge and capable of bearing on the upper edge of the casing 16.

According to another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, not shown in the figures, the device according to the invention comprises heating means consisting of at least one electrical heating resistance coupled to a thermostat or a rheostat, said electrical resistance heating being in contact, or extending close to, the jaws of the pliers when the latter is supported by the bracket. For example, the electric heating resistance may be covered with a ceramic material and have a circular shape. According to another variant, the heating means may comprise two electrical heating resistors covered with ceramic and articulated around an axis so as to pivot from an open position where the electrical heating resistors extend on either side of the jaws of the pliers to a closed position where the electrical heating resistors cap the jaws of the pliers.

Finally, in order to provide a thermal shock making it possible to break the neck, with reference to the figures 8 And 9 , the device according to the invention comprises a second clamp 27 consisting of two arms 28 articulated around an axis 29, each arm 28 comprising at a first end a ring 30 and at its opposite end a jaw 31 of semi-annular shape, the radius of curvature of each jaw 31 being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the neck of the wine bottle. Advantageously, the concave face of each jaw 31 comprises one or more thermal accumulation elements 32. These thermal accumulation elements 32 can be obtained in stone such as sandstone or granite for example. Preferably, these thermal storage elements are obtained in at least one solid material having a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 5 Wm-1.K-1 and a density greater than or equal to 2000 kg/m3. Thus, the thermal accumulation elements 32 are obtained in a single-piece natural stone or in powder form, compacted or not. For example, the thermal storage elements 32 are obtained in steatite and/or cordierite and/or feolite. Said clamp 1 is thus placed in a tray of ice or in a refrigerator or freezer before being used.

It goes without saying that the rings 30 of the pliers could be replaced by handles and that the semi-annular jaws 31 could be replaced by semi-cylindrical jaws without departing from the scope of the invention.

Finally, it is quite obvious that the examples which have just been given are only particular illustrations in no way limiting as to the fields of application of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A device for opening a wine bottle comprising a clamp (1) consisting of two arms (2) articulated around an axis (3), each arm (2) comprising at a first end a handle (4) or a ring and at its opposite end a jaw (5) having a semi-annular or semi-cylindrical shape, the radius of curvature of each jaw (5) being substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the neck of the wine bottle, the device comprising at least one base (6) and heating means (7), characterized in that said heating means (7) are positioned on said base (6) and in that the device further comprises a bracket (8) secured to the base (6) and comprising means for retaining the clamp (1) so that the jaws (5) of the latter extend in line with the heating means (7).
2. The device according to claim 1 characterized in that said bracket (8) includes a vertical lower portion (8a), i.e. extending substantially perpendicular to said base (6), and an inclined upper portion (8b).
3. The device according to claim 2 characterized in that the upper portion (8b) of the bracket (8) forms an angle comprised between 100° and 130° with the lower portion (8a) of said bracket (8).
4. The device according to claim 3 characterized in that the upper portion (8b) of the bracket (8) forms an angle of 115° with the lower portion (8a) of said bracket (8).
5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the distal end of the bracket (8), i.e. the upper end of the upper portion (8b) of said bracket (8), is bent upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to form a so-called retaining tab (10) provided with at least one slot (11) capable of receiving the arms (2) of the clamp (1).
6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the upper portion (8b) of the bracket (8) includes at least one cradle (12) in which the arms (2) of the clamp (1) rest.
7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the heating means (7) consist of at least one electric heating resistor coupled to a thermostat or a rheostat, said electric heating resistor contacting the jaws (5) of the clamp (1) when the latter is supported by the bracket (8).
8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the heating means (7) consist of at least one gas cylinder (13) provided with a burner (14) and a gas flow rate adjustment knob (15), said gas cylinder (13) extending into a casing (16) whose lower end is open and rests on the base (6) and whose upper end is provided with an upper cover (17) provided with an opening (18) for the passage of the burner (14).
9. The device according to claim 8 characterized in that the casing (16) has a cylindrical shape.
10. The device according to claim 9 characterized in that the upper cover (17) consists of two half-discs (17a, 17b), each half-disc comprising a semicircular recess (18, 18b) in the central portion of the straight edge and a curved tab (26a, 26b) secured to the curvilinear edge and capable of resting on the upper edge of the casing (16).
11. The device according to any one of claims 9 or 10 characterized in that the casing (16) includes, in its lower portion, a crown (19) secured to the inner wall of said casing (16) on which a circular plate rests (20), said plate (20) being capable of receiving the gas cylinder (13).
12. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 11 characterized in that it includes a remote control means (21) of the gas flow rate adjustment knob (15), said remote control means (21) consisting of a rod (22) extending through a hole (23) formed in the casing (16) and comprising at its free ends a knob (24) and a flat head (25) respectively, said flat head (25) being capable of cooperating with a slot (26) formed in the gas flow rate adjustment knob (15).

Images