GB2489418A

GB2489418A - Bottle stopper extracting device with cutting means

Info

Publication number: GB2489418A
Application number: GB201105047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-25
Filing date: 2011-03-25
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-25
Also published as: GB2489418B; GB201105047D0

Abstract

A bottle stopper extracting device is disclosed for extracting a stopper from a neck of a bottle. The device comprises: a frame (12, fig 1); a screw member 16 which is arranged to move along the frame between a first end and second end of the frame and which is arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the member, to engage with the stopper 11; cutting means 30 rotatably coupled to the frame and arranged to rotate about said axis to cut a wrapper disposed upon a neck of the bottle; and, coupling means disposed upon the screw member which is arranged to couple with the cutting means as the member moves along the frame from the first end to the second end, and which is further arranged to cause the cutting means to rotate in dependence of rotation of the member.

Description

A Bottle Stopper Extracting Device The present invention relates to a bottle stopper extracting device.

A corkscrew is a well known device for extracting a stopper such as a cork from a neck of a wine bottle, typically by means of a screw provided by the corkscrew. A wine bottle requiring uncorking typically comprises a metal foil wrapper arranged to closely fit about the neck of the bottle so as to cover the cork and a portion of the neck. A user of the corkscrew typically pre-prepares the bottle by first removing the wrapper from the bottle.

This is often achieved by using a knife or other sharp implement. Alternatively, a user may not pre-prepare the bottle in this way and may instead pierce the screw of the corkscrew substantially through the foil wrapper and thus directly engage the cork for subsequent extraction. A cork extracted in this way will generally tear the wrapper when the cork is pulled out by the user and this action may cause foil debris to enter the neck of the bottle.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bottle stopper extracting device for extracting a stopper from a neck of a bottle, the device comprising: a frame; a screw member which is arranged to move along the frame between a first end and second end of the frame and which is arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the member, to engage with the stopper; cutting means rotatably coupled to the frame and arranged to rotate about said axis to cut a wrapper disposed upon a neck of the bottle; coupling means disposed upon the screw member which is arranged to couple with the cutting means as the member moves along the frame from the first end to the second end, and which is further arranged to cause the cutting means to rotate in dependence of rotation of the member.

Preferably, the cutting means comprises an annular socket which is arranged to receive a portion of the bottle neck. The socket preferably comprises at least one cutting device which is arranged to cut the wrapper as the socket rotates upon the bottle neck.

The cutting device preferably comprises a plurality of cutting teeth, which are preferably directed substantially radially inwardly of the socket, and which are preferably angularly separated around the socket.

Preferably, the socket is disposed within an annular race which is rigidly coupled to the frame, and is preferably constrained to rotate within said race.

The socket preferably further comprises a plurality of castellations disposed around a periphery thereof, which are arranged to couple with the coupling means. Preferably, the castellations are directed substantially along the frame toward the first end thereof Preferably, the coupling means comprises at least one tab which is arranged to locate between castellations as the member moves along the frame from the first end to the second end. The at least one tab is preferably rigidly mounted with respect to the screw member, such that as the member rotates, the tabs are arranged to engage with the castellations to drive the socket to rotate.

The screw member is preferably arranged to pass through a central portion of the socket and preferably comprises a substantially helical projection which is arranged to extend into the stopper.

The castellations preferably extend to a distance away from the socket such that as the tabs move along the castellations, the tabs cause the socket to rotate through a rotational distance which is sufficient to cut around the periphery of the bottle neck.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle stopper extracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the extracting device illustrated in Figure 1, with the frame removed for clarity; and, Figure 3 is a magnified view of the extracting device illustrated in Figure 2, illustrating the location of the tabs between the castellations on the socket.

Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a bottle stopper extracting device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for extracting a stopper 11 from a neck of a bottle (not shown).

The device comprises a frame 12, a cutting head 14 and a screw member 16.

The frame 12 is substantially frusto-conical in shape and substantially circular in section which may enable assisted gripping of said frame by a user. The frame 12 is provided with an elongate bore 18 at a first end thereof, the bore being arranged to receive the screw member 16. The screw member 16 is arranged to move within the bore 18 along the frame 12 between the first end and a second end of the frame, and is further arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the member 16, to engage with a stopper 11 disposed within a neck of a bottle (not shown).

The screw member 16 is provided with a substantially helically shaped projection at a proximal end thereof and a handle 22 at a distal end. The member 16 further comprises a ribbed section disposed intermediate the screw 20 and the handle 22, which comprises a plurality of annular ribs 24, which extend around the member 16 substantially parallel to each other. The member 16 further comprises a first and second tab 26 disposed intermediate the screw 20 and the ribbed section which extend substantially perpendicular to the screw 20, and in substantially opposite directions away from the screw 20. The tabs 26 are arranged to couple with the cutting head 14 as the screw member 16 is moved by a user along the frame 12 from the first end of the frame 12 towards the second end, and are further arranged to cause the cutting head 14 to rotate in dependence of rotation of the member 16 by a user.

The cutting head 14 is rotatably coupled at the second end of the frame 12 and is arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the screw member 16, to cut a wrapper disposed upon a neck of the bottle. The cutting head 14 comprises an annular socket 28 which is arranged to receive a portion of the bottle neck. The socket 28 comprises a plurality of cutting teeth 30 which are arranged to cut the wrapper (not shown) as the socket 28 rotates upon the bottle neck (not shown). The plurality of teeth 30 are directed substantially radially inwardly of the socket 28, and are angularly separated around the socket 28. In use, this may enable a neat, substantially circular cut of the bottle wrapper (not shown) due to each of the plurality of teeth being arranged to follow the same path as its neighbour when the cutting head 14 is rotated. The socket 28 is disposed within an annular race 32 and is constrained to rotate within said race 32. The race 32 comprises four engagement pins 34 angularly separated about an outer surface 35 of said race and each pin 34 is arranged to be received within an aperture 36 provided on the frame 12. In this way, the race 32 is rigidly and securely coupled to the frame 12.

The socket 28 further comprises a plurality of castellations 38 disposed around a periphery 40 thereot which are arranged to couple with the tabs 26. The castellations 38 are directed substantially along the frame 12 toward the first end thereof. Each tab 26 is arranged to locate between castellations 38 as the screw member 16 is moved along the frame 12 by a user from the first end to the second end thereof. Each tab 26 is rigidly mounted with respect to the screw member 16, such that as the member 16 rotates, the tabs are arranged to engage with the castellations 38 to drive the socket 28 to rotate within the race 32.

The frame 12 further comprises a pair of sprockets 42 rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed either side of the screw member 16. The sprockets 42 separately comprise a plurality of teeth disposed around an outer periphery thereof which are arranged to extend into the bore 18 of the frame and engage between the ribs 24. Each toothed sprocket 42 comprises an arm 44 rigidly mounted thereon, which enable a user to rotate the sprockets. The sprockets 42 are each mounted on a lug 46 provided by the frame 12 and coupled to the respective lug by a fastener 48. Pivoting of the arms 44 by a user thus causes rotation of the sprockets 42 and corresponding movement of the screw member 16 along the frame 12. Longitudinal movement of the member 16 in this way is found to assist a user in extracting a stopper 11 from the bottle (not shown).

Each arm 44 enables improved leverage of a respective sprocket 42 against the ribs 24.

In use, a portion of the bottle neck comprising the stopper 11 and the wrapper (not shown) is received within the socket 28. The screw member 16 is the pushed along the frame by a user so that the screw 20 engages with the wrapper and stopper 11 of the bottle. The user may then rotate the handle 22 and hence cause the screw 20 to engage with the stopper II. As the screw member screws into the stopper 11, the tabs 28 will move toward the castellations 28 disposed upon the socket 28. As the tabs 28 move between the castellations 38, the socket 28 will begin to rotate within the race 32 thereby causing the cutting teeth 30 to cut around the wrapper (not shown). Continued rotation of the member 16 causes further rotation of the socket 28, thereby enabling the wrapper (not shown) to be completely cut around a circumference thereof, until the tabs 28 move into contact, namely abut, the upper portion of the socket 28. In this respect, the socket 28 is arranged to limit the extent to which the screw 20 can pass into the stopper 11 to prevent the screw 20 from passing completely through the stopper 11 into the bottle, and thus minimise any debris from falling into the contents of the bottle.

The arms 44 are then pivoted by the user so as to lift the stopper 11 from the bottle by means of rotation of the sprockets 42 and a corresponding consequential longitudinal movement of the rotatable member 16 provided by the engagement of the sprockets 42 with the parallel ribs 24 of the member 16.

From the foregoing therefore it is evident that the bottle stopper extracting device 10 provides a simple yet effective means of assisting a user in the removing of both a wrapper and a stopper from a bottle neck.

Claims

Claims 1. A bottle stopper extracting device for extracting a stopper from a neck of a bottle, the device comprising: a frame; a screw member which is arranged to move along the frame between a first end and second end of the frame and which is arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the member, to engage with the stopper; cutting means rotatably coupled to the frame and arranged to rotate about said axis to cut a wrapper disposed upon a neck of the bottle; coupling means disposed upon the screw member which is arranged to couple with the cutting means as the member moves along the frame from the first end to the second end, and which is further arranged to cause the cutting means to rotate in dependence of rotation of the member.

15 2. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means comprises an annular socket which is arranged to receive a portion of the r bottle neck.

3. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 2, wherein the socket comprises at least one cutting device which is arranged to cut the wrapper as the CO 20 socket rotates upon the bottle neck.

4. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 3, wherein the cutting device comprises a plurality of cutting teeth.

5. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 4, wherein the teeth are directed substantially radially inwardly of the socket.

6. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the teeth are angularly separated around the socket.

7. A bottle stopper extracting device according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the socket is disposed within an annular race which is rigidly coupled to the frame,.

8. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 7, wherein the socket is constrained to rotate within said race.

9. A bottle stopper extracting device according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the socket further comprises a plurality of castellations disposed around a periphery thereof, which are arranged to couple with the coupling means.

10. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 9, wherein the castellations are directed substantially along the frame toward the first end thereof.

11. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the coupling means comprises at least one tab which is arranged to locate between castellations as the member moves along the frame from the first end to the second end.

12. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one tab is rigidly mounted with respect to the screw member, such that as the member rotates, the tabs are arranged to engage with the castellations to drive the socket to rotate.

13. A bottle stopper extracting device according to any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the screw member is arranged to pass through a central portion of the socket.

14. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 13, wherein the screw member comprises a substantially helical projection which is arranged to extend 15 into the stopper.

15. A bottle stopper extracting device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the r castellations extend to a distance away from the socket such that as the tabs move along the castellations, the tabs cause the socket to rotate through a rotational distance which is sufficient to cut around the periphery of the bottle CO 20 neck. (4