GB2348638A

GB2348638A - Corkscrew with lockable foil cutter

Info

Publication number: GB2348638A
Application number: GB9908052A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwok Kuen So
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-08
Filing date: 1999-04-08
Publication date: 2000-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-08
Also published as: CN1270141A; CN1117692C; GB2348638B; HK1028226A1; GB9908052D0

Abstract

A corkscrew 100 has a pair of hinged elongate handgrips 20,30 for engaging the neck of a bottle, a central cork remover 40 with a helix 44, and a foil cutter 50 associated with one of the handgrips, the foil cutter having a press-knob 52 protruding from the associated handgrip, a cutting element 64 supported inside the handgrip, and a resiliently biased locking device 53 which can prevent unintentional depression of the press-knob. The locking device may be connected to the press-knob via an integral U-shaped web 55 which biases the locking device away from the press-knob into engagement with a blocking step 62 on the associated handgrip. Alternatively, the locking device may have a blocking portion (62A, fig 6A) and may be biased towards the press-knob. To operate the foil cutter, the locking device must be moved to an unlocking position before the press-knob can be depressed.

Description

CORKSCREW The present invention relates to a corkscrew which incorporates a built-in foil cutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Corkscrews per se are known. An existing corkscrew has a pair of hinged elongate handgrips for disposal over and around the neck of a wine bottle and a central helix for turning to pull out the cork. Before the cork may be removed, it is normally necessary to cut open a tin foil sealing around the cork and the bottle neck by using a knife or a built-in cutting blade of the existing corkscrew. However, as the cutting blade is fixed on one of the handgrips, unintentional operation is inevitable.

The invention seeks to provide a modified corkscrew of this type, which solves the aforesaid problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a corkscrew which comprises a pair of hinged elongate handgrips for use over and around the neck of a wine bottle, a central cork remover comprising a helix for removing the cork, and a foil cutter associated with one of the handgrips for cutting a sealing foil around the cork and bottle neck, said foil cutter being in the form of a press-knob protruding from the associated handgrip and a cutting element supported inside the associated handgrip for movement by the press-knob and including a resiliently biassed locker for normally locking the press-knob against unintentional depression.

Preferably, the cutting element is supported by the pressknob.

Preferably, the cutting element is provided by a rotary cutting disc.

It is preferred that the press-knob is supported on the associated handgrip for movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locker is supported for movement between a locking position holding the press-knob in the normal position and an unlocking position releasing the press-knob from the normal position for depression.

In a first preferred embodiment, the associated handgrip has a part for blocking the locker in the locking position, and the locker is connected to the press-knob by means of a resilient element biasing the locker off the press-knob towards the handgrip part.

More preferably, the resilient element is in the form of a U-shaped web integrally connecting between the press-knob and the locker, said web bending beyond the back of the press-knob and locker.

In a second preferred embodiment, the locker has a part for blocking the press-knob in the normal position, and the locker is biassed by a resilient element towards the press-knob.

It is preferred that the press-knob is hinged at one end to the associated handgrip for pivotal movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locker is provided at the opposite end of the press-knob.

It is preferred that the first handgrip has an internal part for engaging the rim of a mouth of the bottle to enable the helix to remove the cork, and the foil cutter is provided behind the back of the handgrip part and at a small distance below it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a corkscrew in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the corkscrew of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a perspective side view of the corkscrew of Figure 1, with certain components thereof shown apart; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional side view of a part of the corkscrew of Figure 3; Figures 4 and 4A are cross-sectional side views of the aforesaid corkscrew, shown in use on the neck of a wine bottle; Figures 5A to 5D are fragmentary cross-sectional side views of the corkscrew of Figure 4, illustrating its operation in sequence; and Figures 6A and 6B are fragmentary cross-sectional side views of a second embodiment of a corkscrew in accordance with the invention, shown in use on the neck of a wine bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5D of the drawings, there is shown a first corkscrew 100 embodying the invention, which corkscrew 100 has an upright body 10 formed by a pair of elongate handgrips 20 and 30 and includes a separable central cork remover 40. The first handgrip 20 has an upper end 22 to which an upper end 32 of the second handgrip 30 is pivotally connected, together forming an openable tubular structure for embracing a neck 210 of a wine bottle 200. Originally, the bottle 200 is closed by a cork 220, and the cork 220 and neck 210 are sealed around by a tin foil 230.

The cork remover 40 takes the form of a turning knob 42 and a helix 44 connected co-axially to below the knob 42.

The first handgrip's upper end 22 has a hole 24, through which the helix 44 extends co-axially down into the body 10 between the handgrips 20 and 30. On the inner surface of each handgrip 20/30, a transverse flange 26/36 and a longitudinal rib 28/38 are integrally formed. The flanges 26 and 36 together form an annular stop for engaging the bottle neck 210 by the rim of its mouth so that the helix 44 may, upon rotation by means of the turning knob 42, pull the cork 220 out. The ribs 28 and 38 are provided on opposite sides of the cork 220 for holding it against turning with the helix 44.

The corkscrew 100 incorporates a built-in foil cutter 50 in the form of an oval press-knob 51 provided on the first handgrip 20, where an oval aperture 60 is formed, extending across the back of the flange 26, for receiving the knob 51. The aperture 60 is formed with a small hole 61 at the lowermost end of its periphery and a step 62 at the uppermost end. The press-knob 51 has a main body 52 and a locker 53 which is relatively much smaller than and is connected to below the body 52, across a small gap 54, by means of a resilient integral U-shaped web 55. The press-knob body 52 is formed with an end hook 56 at the lowermost end of its periphery and a pair of opposite side hooks 57 near the uppermost end.

The press-knob 51 is located within the aperture 60, protruding from the outer surface of the first handgrip 20, through engagement of the knob's end hook 56 with the aperture's hole 61 and subsequent snapping of the knob's side hooks 57 behind the rim of the aperture 60. The engagement between the hook 56 and the hole 61 provides a hinge connection for the press-knob body 52 to be pivotable, albeit slightly, between a normal position (Figure 5A) and a depressed position (Figure 5C). A coil spring 63 is used between the upper end of the press-knob body 52 and the back of the flange 26 for biasing the press-knob body 52 outwards, to an extent limited by the engagement between the side hooks 57 and the rim of the aperture 60, into the normal position.

The U-shaped web 55 bends and extends beyond the back of the press-knob body and locker 52 and 53 to such an extent that, in practice, the locker 53 is only movable in opposite directions across the gap 54 or up and down relative to the body 52. While the press-knob body 52 is in the normal position, under the resilient action of the web 55, the press-knob locker 53 is blocked by the step 62 of the aperture 60 for locking the body 52 in that position against unintentional depression.

The foil cutter 50 includes a small rotary cutting disc 64 having a shaft 65 supported for rotation about a vertical axis by means of upper and lower brackets 66 formed on the inner surface of the first handgrip 20. The cutting disc 64 is provided at a small distance below the flange 26 for cutting open the tin foil 230 at a position slightly below the upper end of the cork 220.

In operation, the corkscrew 100 is disposed over the bottle neck 210, with the handgrips 20 and 30 squeezed together, for firstly cutting open the tin foil 230 by using the foil cutter 50 and then removing the cork 220 by using the cork remover 40. For foil cutting, the pressknob locker 53 is pushed downwards off the step 62 of the aperture 60 for unlocking the press-knob body 52 (Figures 5A and 5B). The press-knob body 52 is then pressed inwards, with the press-knob locker 53 simultaneously depressed (as shown) or following as a connected piece, for pivoting the cutting disc 64 to bear against the tin foil 230 (Figure 5C) for cutting open the tin foil 230 through rotation of the bottle 200. After the tin foil 230 has been cut completely around, the press-knob 51 is released (Figure 5D). For cork removal, the helix 44 is screwed into the cork 220 by pushing and rotating the turning knob 42, as well known in the art.

Reference is now made to Figures 6A and 6B of the drawings, showing a second corkscrew 100A embodying the invention, which corkscrew 100A has a construction very similar to that of the previous corkscrew 100, except having a slightly different foil cutter 50A, as described below. Equivalent parts of this foil cutter 50A are designated by the same reference numerals, but suffixed by a letter"A", as the previous corkscrew 100. In the case of the foil cutter 50A, the press-knob locker 53A is a separate piece from the press-knob body 52A and provide the step 62A for blocking the press-knob body 52A against unintentional depression. The press-knob locker 53A is slidable close to or away from the press-knob body 52A. A coil spring 67, which does not exist in the previous corkscrew 100, is used to bias the press-knob locker 53A against the press-knob body 52A for normally locking the press-knob body 52A.

In operation, the press-knob locker 53A is firstly slid upwards off the press-knob body 52A for unlocking it (Figure 6A) before the press-knob body 52A can be pressed inwards for causing the cutting disc 64A to cut the tin foil 230 open.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A corkscrew comprising a pair of hinged elongate handgrips for use over and around the neck of a wine bottle, a central cork remover comprising a helix for removing the cork, and a foil cutter associated with one of the handgrips for cutting a sealing foil around the cork and bottle neck, said foil cutter being in the form of a press-knob protruding from the associated handgrip and a cutting element supported inside the associated handgrip for movement by the press-knob and including a resiliently biassed locker for normally locking the pressknob against unintentional depression.
2. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting element is supported by the press-knob.
3. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cutting element is provided by a rotary cutting disc.
4. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the press-knob is supported on the associated handgrip for movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locker is supported for movement between a locking position holding the press-knob in the normal position and an unlocking position releasing the press-knob from the normal position for depression.
5. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 4, wherein the associated handgrip has a part for blocking the locker in the locking position, and the locker is connected to the press-knob by means of a resilient element biasing the locker off the press-knob towards the handgrip part.
6. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient element is in the form of a U-shaped web integrally connecting between the press-knob and the locker, said web bending beyond the back of the press-knob and locker.
7. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the locker has a part for blocking the press-knob in the normal position, and the locker is biassed by a resilient element towards the press-knob.
8. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the press-knob is hinged at one end to the associated handgrip for pivotal movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locker is provided at the opposite end of the press-knob.
9. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first handgrip has an internal part for engaging the rim of a mouth of the bottle to enable the helix to remove the cork, and the foil cutter is provided behind the back of the handgrip part and at a small distance below it.
10. A corkscrew substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5D or Figures 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings.

10. A corkscrew substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5D or Figures 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A corkscrew comprising a pair of hinged elongate handgrips for use over and around the neck of a wine bottle, a central cork remover comprising a helix for removing the cork, and a foil cutter associated with one of the handgrips for cutting a sealing foil around the cork and bottle neck, said foil cutter comprising a pressknob protruding from the associated handgrip, a cutting element supported inside the associated handgrip for movement by the press-knob and a resiliently biassed locking device which can prevent unintentional depression of the press-knob.

2. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting element is supported by the press-knob.

3. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cutting element is provided by a rotary cutting disc.

4. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the press-knob is supported on the associated handgrip for movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locking device is supported for movement between a locking position holding the pressknob in the normal position and an unlocking position releasing the press-knob from the normal position.

5. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 4, wherein the associated handgrip has a part for blocking the locking device in the locking position, and the locking device is connected to the press-knob by means of a resilient element biasing the locking device away from the pressknob towards the handgrip part.

6. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient element is in the form of a U-shaped web integrally connecting between the press-knob and the locking device, said web bending beyond the back of the press-knob and locking device.

7. A corkscrew as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking device has a part for blocking the press-knob in the normal position, and the locking device is biassed by a resilient element towards the press-knob.

8. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the press-knob is hinged at one end to the associated handgrip for pivotal movement between a normal position and a depressed position, and the locking device is provided at the opposite end of the press-knob.

9. A corkscrew as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first handgrip has an internal part for engaging the rim of a mouth of the bottle to enable the helix to remove the cork, and the foil cutter is provided behind the back of the handgrip part and at a small distance below it.