WO2019202268A1

WO2019202268A1 - Bottle opening-closing device

Info

Publication number: WO2019202268A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/050925
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maxime BOUCHES; Kévin DAUBONS
Original assignee: D&B' Innov
Priority date: 2018-04-17
Filing date: 2019-04-17
Publication date: 2019-10-24
Also published as: FR3080109B1; FR3080109A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle opening-closing device (500) for using with a metal cap (600) that hermetically closes a bottle, said device comprising a housing (100) provided with an opening (130), said housing containing an articulated system (300) consisting of two levers (310, 320), said lever system allowing the cap to be ejected from the neck of said bottle when a vertical top-to-bottom pressure is exerted on the housing (100). Said device is characterised in that it also comprises: a metal structure (400) used to hold the articulated lever system (300) in a dedicated receiving space, a frame (200) that can be moved in vertical translation in said housing (100) and supports said metal structure (400), and a hollow circular receiving space (141) in the wall (140) of the housing (100) opposite the opening (130).

Description

DECAPSULATOR-RECAPSULATOR DEVICE

[Field of the invention

The invention relates to a bottle opener / recover device of a metal cap hermetically sealing a bottle.

[0002] The bottle closure capsule method existed since the late ^19th century. Since the creation of the capsule, the devices bottle openers to remove the capsule have all been created on the same principle of leverage. This principle consists in taking support under the ring gear of the capsule and in the center of the capsule then, by pressure from bottom to top, to drive some teeth, which has the effect of deforming the metal capsule by folding it and to release from the neck of the bottle.

Existing bottle openers therefore generally require the use of both hands. In addition, the leverage effect requires some wrist effort that can be difficult for people who do not have enough strength in the wrist, or that can be tiring for bartenders to open bottles all day long.

A first problem is to find a solution to make a bottle opener that does not solicit the wrist and is very easy to use.

Among the existing solutions, the patent application FR2 836 138 discloses a bottle opener that can be used with one hand and does not require any effort of the wrist. This bottle opener comprises a plastic casing 3 comprising a plastic skirt 1 equipped with a horizontal wedging means 5 and a vertical wedging means 6 in order to be able to fit properly on the neck of a bottle. The skirt 1 moves vertically inside the housing 3. The housing further comprises a system 2 of two levers 12, 9 interconnected by an axis 14, each lever being respectively retained by a spring 13, 1 1 in position rest. A downward pressure on the bottle opener installed on the neck of a bottle moves the skirt 1 upwardly until a stop 19 formed inside the casing 3, supported on a first lever 12 which pivots about its axis of rotation 15 and drives in motion a second bottle-opening lever 9, a projecting portion 10 is placed under the collar of the capsule. By prolonging the pressure on the device, the vertical wedging means 6 pressed against the flat surface of the capsule and the bottle-opening lever 9 exerts a pulling force from below.

DBI-0585-01 at the top under the toothed collar of the capsule, so that it deforms the metal cap by twisting it, thus freeing it from the neck of the bottle.

The disadvantage of the bottle opener described in this document lies mainly in the fact that in use, the system 2 of metal levers tends to damage the plastic structure of the skirt 1 on which it is fixed via of the axis of rotation 15 of the first lever 12. The repeated rotations of the first lever 12 cause the creation of a game in the plastic structure of the skirt, around its axis of rotation 15. The bottle opener described in this document therefore wears out very quickly and needs to be regularly replaced.

In addition, just like the bottle openers of the prior art, this device causes a folding of the capsule. However, the applicant also seeks to avoid such folding in order to reuse the capsule to reseal the bottle when needed. Indeed, in the case of an individual, when the bottle has not been fully consumed, it may be advantageous to be able to recapsulate to keep intact the drink. Similarly, in the case of a drinking establishment, it may be that the consumer has not finished the contents of his bottle and wants to leave with. It is also possible that the bartender makes a mistake by opening a bottle that had not been ordered. In this case, it would be advantageous for him to be able to encapsulate it.

It has for example been proposed a bottle opener device comprising an articulated system of two levers, capable of exerting a traction force on the toothed flange of a bottle cap and allow its expulsion of the bottle neck (GB2193194). However, such a system does not allow to recapsulate the bottle with the capsule expelled and further has a rapid wear of these components resulting in a decrease of the decapsulation efficiency. In addition, it has been proposed a bottle opener - recover (US2,641, 397) having a housing for uncapping and a housing for recapsulating. Nevertheless, this device requires at least two steps to recap a bottle. Indeed, in a first step, the housing for uncapping is used to reintroduce the capsule on the neck through the structure of its jaw allowing the capsule to expand radially and the housing to recap is used.

However, the applicant, in addition to reusing the capsule to reseal the bottle when needed, looking for a robust device and easy to use.

DBI-0585-01 [Technical problem

The invention therefore aims to remedy at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention aims in particular to provide a bottle opener / recapsulator device that is easy to use, that is to say requiring no effort of the wrist and can be used with one hand, solid in time, to decapsulate a capsule and completely seal it on the neck of a bottle if necessary.

[Brief description of the invention]

[001 1] For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a bottle-opener device for a metal cap hermetically sealing a bottle, said device comprising a housing provided with an opening, said housing enclosing an articulated system of two levers, said system of levers for expelling the capsule from the neck of said bottle when a vertical pressure from top to bottom is exerted on the housing, said device being characterized in that it further comprises:

a metal structure intended to maintain the articulated system of levers in a dedicated housing,

a mobile frame in vertical translation in said housing and supporting said metal structure,

- A flared circular housing formed in the housing wall opposite the opening.

In particular, the invention relates to a bottle-opener device - a metal capsule hermetically sealing a bottle cap, said device comprising a housing having an opening, said housing enclosing an articulated system of two levers, said system of levers for expelling the capsule from the neck of said bottle when a vertical pressure from top to bottom is exerted on the housing, said articulated system of two levers comprising a first lever, substantially horizontal in a rest position, capable of driving in motion a second lever in a vertical translation movement, said second lever having a free end

DBI-0585-01 comprising a suitable notch, under the application of a pulling force exerted from below upwards by said second lever, to eject the capsule from the neck of a bottle,

said device being characterized in that it further comprises:

a flared circular housing formed in a wall of the housing opposite to the opening, and

a flexible elastic means positioned facing the second lever, said flexible elastic means being arranged to allow a lateral displacement amplitude of the second lever of at least 2 mm.

Thus, the levers system being maintained in a dedicated housing, the device offers great strength over time. In addition, the device is efficient, and of increased quality. In addition, the presence of the elastic means arranged to allow a lateral displacement amplitude of the second lever of at least 2 mm, causes increased efficiency and durability of the device and also allows a subsequent hermetic sealing of the bottle through the capsule. Preferably, the device further comprises a plasto-magnet ring fixed on a periphery of the opening of said housing. Such a ring as will be detailed later facilitates the recovery of a capsule and improves the possibilities of recapsulation.

According to other optional features of the device:

the flexible elastic means consists of a material having a yield strength of at least 500 MPa. This improves the robustness and is one of the possibilities available to the manufacturer to increase the lateral displacement amplitude of the second lever.

the flexible elastic means comprises a first end held locked between a base of the frame and the metal structure, and of which another end is left free, said flexible elastic means being able to hold the notch of said second lever against a toothed collar of the capsule, in the ejection position. In particular, the first end of the flexible elastic means is kept locked between the base of the frame and the vertical walls of the metal structure located next to the second

DBI-0585-01 lever, and whose other end located under the protuberance of said second lever, is left free;

the frame has an upper part devoid of horizontal wall and the metal structure has an upper part devoid of horizontal wall. Thus, the device does not exhibit premature wear of the elastic return means.

- The first lever has a notch cut in an area of an upper surface of the first lever and located above the second lever, said notch having a length of between one fifth and one quarter of the length of the first lever. Such characteristics as will be detailed also allow the device not to show premature wear of the elastic return means.

the metal structure is in a substantially U-shaped parallelepipedal shape whose vertical lateral walls frame the lever system, said lever system being fixed to the metal structure by means of a metal shaft passing through said metal structure of a lateral wall; , preferably vertical, to the other, said metal fastening axis further forming an axis of rotation of the first lever of the lever system, and in that a front vertical wall, located opposite the second lever of the lever system connects said vertical side walls;

- The metal structure further comprises, in a lower portion and opposite to the vertical front wall, an abutment against which bears a rounded angle of said capsule;

- The frame comprises a first recess, in a lower part, for receiving a neck of a bottle and a second recess, made in an upper part and intended to accommodate the metal structure and in that a stiffener is provided between said bottom and top recesses;

a lower part of the metal structure is cut in a profile complementary to the shape of the stiffener of the frame, so that a central zone of the lower profile of the metal structure rests on said stiffener, while the stop and a portion of the metal structure flanking the free end of the second lever emerging in the lower recess of the frame, on either side of said stiffener and in a plane below the stiffener;

DBI-0585-01 the metal structure further comprises a fastening means, located at the upper end of the front vertical wall, for attaching a first end of an elastic return means, the other end of which is fastened to another fastening means arranged on the first lever of the lever system, said resilient return means allowing, when at rest, to maintain said lever system in its rest position;

- The second lever has, in an upper part, a protuberance intended to be placed in abutment against the vertical front wall of the metal structure, when said second lever moves from its rest position to its ejection position, the pressure exerted by said front vertical wall against said protuberance causing a pivoting of said second lever about its axis of rotation;

- The free end of the second lever comprises a notch adapted, under the application of a pulling force exerted from below upwards by said second lever, to move the teeth of the toothed flange of a capsule to eject the latter of the neck of a bottle;

- The device further comprises a resilient flexible means, a first end is kept locked between the base of the frame and the vertical walls of the metal structure located opposite the second lever, and the other end located under the protuberance of said second lever , is left free, said flexible elastic means being able to maintain the notch of said second lever against the toothed flange of the capsule, in the ejection position;

- The housing comprises: at least two guide rails along which the frame can slide vertically, and a stop against which one end of the first lever, opposite the articulation with the second lever, is intended to abut;

- A plasto-magnet ring is further fixed on the periphery of the opening of said housing; In addition, the plasto-magnet ring has a greater magnetization density on an outer edge of the ring with respect to an inner edge;

the flared circular housing provided in the upper wall of the housing and opposite to the opening, is intended to receive a metal cavity which has a bottom whose diameter is smaller than that of the cavity flush with the outer surface of the housing, and such that an angle formed between the bottom and the wall of the cavity is between 92 and 100 °;

DBI-0585-01 - The frame and the housing are made of food grade polymer;

- The metal structure, the levers system and the cavity are made of stainless steel.

According to another aspect, the subject of the invention is a bottle capping method using a bottle-opener device, said bottle-opener device comprising a housing provided with an opening, said box enclosing an articulated system of two levers, a metal structure intended to maintain the articulated system of levers in a dedicated housing, a frame movable in vertical translation in said housing and supporting said metal structure, a flared circular housing formed in a wall of the housing opposite the opening housing a cavity of flared circular form, said method comprising the following steps:

- Position the bottle opener - bottle opener on a bottle closed by a metal capsule, preferably a crown capsule type capsule,

- Exert a vertical pressure up and down on the casing of the bottle opener - recapsulator, so as to expel the capsule of a neck of said bottle,

- Position the capsule on the neck of the bottle,

- Position the cavity just above the capsule, and

- Exert a vertical pressure on the capsule to insert it into force in the cavity.

[0015]

Such a process can decapsulate and then hermetically recapsulate a bottle. In addition, the vertical pressure may be accompanied by a circular motion of the housing portion opposite the flared circular housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended figures which represent:

FIG. 1, the device according to the invention seen in vertical section,

DBI-0585-01 FIG. 2, the casing of the device of FIG. 1 seen in vertical section,

FIG. 3, the frame of the device of FIG. 1 seen in vertical section,

FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively the system of levers and the metal structure in which it is inserted seen in perspective,

• Figure 5, a diagram of an exploded perspective view of the device according to the invention.

[Detailed description of the invention

In the following description, the term "vertical", an axis or a plane parallel to the height of the device when disposed on the neck of a bottle. "Horizontal" means an axis or a plane perpendicular to the axis or to the vertical plane.

In the figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

By convention, in the following description we define "the front" of the device as being the face facing the ejector lever 320 of the articulated lever system 300, and "the back" as being the opposite side diametrically opposite . Similarly, by convention, the direction "from the bottom up" is defined as the direction, along a vertical axis, from the opening 130 of the housing 100 to the opposite wall 140.

Figure 1 illustrates the device 500 bottle opener-recover according to the invention, seen in vertical section. This device comprises a housing 100. This housing is provided, in its lower part, with an opening 130. In its upper part, the housing comprises an upper wall 140, opposite to the opening 130, in which a recess 141 is made. This recess forms a flared circular housing, intended to receive a cavity 144 of complementary flared circular shape. The cavity 144 is for example fixedly held in its housing 141 by gluing, crimping or any other equivalent means. The side wall 143 of the cavity 144 is slightly inclined outwards, so that the diameter of the bottom 142 is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the cavity flush with the surface of the top wall 140 of the housing 100. The angle between the bottom 142 of the cavity 144 and its side wall 143 is between 92 and 100 °. Preferably, this angle is 96 °. This cavity 144 is preferably made of metal, such as stainless steel for example. It advantageously allows a bottle to be recapped. For this, a

DBI-0585-01 capsule is placed on the neck of a bottle and the device is disposed above the capsule so that the cavity 144 is disposed opposite the capsule. Pressure applied to the capsule, via the device 500, causes a force insertion of the capsule towards the bottom of the cavity 144 and lateral pressure on the toothed flange of the capsule, so that the toothed flange of the capsule tightens the neck of the bottle.

The housing further comprises a plasto-magnet ring 150 which is fixed on the periphery of the opening 130. Such attachment can be achieved by gluing, crimping or any other equivalent means. Preferably, this plasto-magnet ring comprises ferrite, which does not rust. Alternatively, the plastomagnet ring may comprise a rare earth such as neodymium (e.g. NdFeB type alloy). This ring advantageously makes it possible to recover the capsule at the time of its uncapping. For this purpose, this plasto-magnet ring 150 has a magnetization density gradient. The plasto-magnet ring 150 may in particular have axial magnetization. In particular, the magnetization density is greater on the outer edge of the ring so that the capsule is attracted to the outer edge of the ring at the time of its ejection and is not trapped inside the ring. device. In particular, the magnetization density is greater on the outer edge of the ring than on the inner edge. Thus, such a plasto-magnet ring 150 having such a magnetization density allows better recovery of the capsule once it separated from the cool bottle. The capsule is therefore less prone to a fall and is therefore less often soiled which is particularly advantageous in the context of the bottle opener-recover device according to the invention where it will be used to be used to close the bottle and without leakage as this will be detailed later. More preferably, the magnetization density is greater on the outer edge of the ring is permitted by: a ferrite gradient, neodymium gradient or orientation of metal particles (eg ferrite, NdFeB) during injection .

This ring also allows to store the device on a metal wall, whether it is horizontal or vertical. Finally, this ring also makes it possible to hold a chassis 200 inside the casing 100.

The device 500 further comprises a metal structure 400, intended to maintain an articulated system 300 of two levers 310, 320 in a dedicated housing, and a frame 200 supporting the metal structure 400.

DBI-0585-01 The frame 200, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, is movable in vertical translation inside the housing 100. It fits into the housing through the opening 130 and is held in place inside the casing after attachment of the plasto-magnet ring 150 around the periphery of the opening 130. So that the frame can slide vertically in the casing, without turning on itself inside the casing, at least two rails 121, 122, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are provided in the upper part of the housing 100. The outer surface of the upper wall of the frame 200 is in contact with these rails so that the frame slides along these rails. These rails thus make it possible to maintain the chassis in a position such that the rear of the system 300 of levers is located opposite a stop 1 10 formed inside the housing and described in more detail in the following description. Advantageously and as shown in Figure 5, the frame 200 does not have a horizontal wall on its upper part. In particular, the frame 200 has no upper wall connecting the side walls forming the second recess 250. In other words, the frame 200 is open on its upper part. Thus, as will be detailed later, the resilient biasing means 350 will not rub on the chassis. The elastic return means 350 may then have an improved service life and the bottle opener / recover device according to the invention will be less noisy than the devices of the prior art. The absence of closure on its upper part could weaken the structure of the chassis but it can be reinforced by side reinforcements may or may not form two blind holes 21 1 formed along the vertical wall of the frame 200. The side reinforcements may for example take the form of overthickness, for example in the form of strips or tubes.

The lever system 300 and the metal structure 400 are illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4B. Lever system 300 is also metallic. It comprises two levers 310, 320 interconnected by an axis of rotation 321. A first lever 310 is substantially horizontal in its rest position, that is to say that it is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of rotation. the opening 130 of the housing 100, more or less an angle of 20 °. This first lever 310 is articulated about an axis of rotation 31 1. When it pivots about its axis of rotation 31 1, it drives in movement the second lever 320, also called ejector lever in the following description, in a vertical translation movement. This second lever 320, substantially vertical in the rest position, comprises a notch 323 adapted, under the application of a pulling force exerted upwards, to separate the teeth of the toothed flange of a capsule and to eject this last of the neck of a bottle.

DBI-0585-01 The lever system 300 is disposed in the metal structure 400 to be maintained in a housing. For this, the metal structure 400 is in a substantially U-shaped parallelepipedal shape, the vertical side walls 410, 420 are located on either side of the system 300 levers to hold it laterally in place. The lever system 300 is fixed to the metal structure 400 by means of a metal axis passing through said metal structure from one side wall to the other, via orifices 431 made opposite each other in the two opposite walls. This metal fixing axis advantageously constitutes the axis of rotation 31 1 of the first lever 310. The vertical wall 430 of the metal structure located forward, that is to say facing the ejector lever 320, connects the two vertical side walls 410, 420. This vertical wall 430 is still called the vertical wall before 430 in the following description. The first lever 310 is thus protected in its housing by the lateral vertical walls 410, 420 of the metal structure and the second ejector lever 320 is surrounded by a portion 444 of the metal structure formed by the lateral vertical walls 410, 420 and before 430 Advantageously, the metal structure 400 does not have a horizontal wall on its upper part. In other words, the metal structure 400 is open on its upper part. Thus, as will be detailed below, the elastic return means 350 will not rub on the metal structure 400. The resilient biasing means 350 may then have an improved life and the bottle opener - recover device according to the invention will be less noisy than the devices of the prior art.

The second ejector lever 320 comprises a protrusion 322 located in its upper part, near its axis of rotation 321. This protrusion 322 is intended to bear against the vertical wall before 430 of the metal structure, when the first lever 310 causes it to move upwards. The pressure exerted by the front wall 430 on the protrusion 322 makes it possible to pivot the lever 320 about its axis of rotation 321 and to drive it towards the central vertical axis of the device. A flexible resilient means 450, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 and described below, then makes it possible to keep the ejector lever 320 in its ejection position, with the notch 323 held firmly under the toothed flange of the capsule.

The metal structure 400 further comprises, in its lower part and opposite to the vertical wall before 430, a stop 442. This stop 442 advantageously connects the two lateral vertical walls 410, 420. More preferably, this stop 442 consists of a double return each return being an extension

DBI-0585-01 two lateral vertical walls 410, 420. It is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° relative to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. This abutment 442, opposite to the ejector lever 320, makes it possible to rest against the rounded angle of the capsule and to hold the capsule against the neck of the bottle. No part of the device is supported on the flat surface of the capsule, only this stop 442 holds the capsule by its bending angle. Thus, when the ejector lever 320 exerts a pulling force from bottom to top on the toothed collar of the capsule, the flange moves apart and the capsule is ejected without being twisted.

The metal structure 400 may further comprise a retaining pin, referenced 440 in Figure 5, passing through the structure of a side wall to the other, via orifices 441 made opposite each other in the two opposite side walls 410, 420. This retaining pin 440 stiffens the metal structure 400. It is arranged so as not to interfere with the articulation of the lever system 300.

Preferably, the lever system 300 and the metal structure 400 are made of stainless steel.

The frame 200 comprises a first recess, referenced 230 in Figures 3 and 5, in its lower part. This first recess 230 is intended to accommodate the neck of a bottle to be decapped. The frame 200 further comprises, in its upper part, a second recess, referenced 250 in Figure 5, of substantially parallelepipedal shape and intended to accommodate the metal structure 400 in which is fixed the levers system 300 to allow the expulsion of the capsule of the neck of the bottle.

Between the two lower recesses 230 and 250, is provided a reinforcement means 220, also called stiffener. This stiffener 220, extends along a direction transverse to the metal structure, that is to say perpendicular to the planes of the lateral vertical walls 410, 420 of the metal structure 400. The stiffener 220 has a profile such that no element of the frame bears on the flat surface of the capsule. This stiffener 220 makes it possible on the one hand to mechanically reinforce the frame and, on the other hand, to support the metal structure 400. The lower part of the metal structure 400 is cut in a profile complementary to the shape of the stiffener 220 of the frame 200 of so that a central zone 443 of the lower profile of the metal structure rests on said stiffener 220, while the stop 442 and the portion 444 of the metal structure flanking the end

DBI-0585-01 free of ejector lever 320, which are diametrically opposed, emerge in the lower recess 230 of the frame, on both sides of the stiffener and in a plane below the stiffener. The base of the frame further comprises a bead 241 (Figure 3) which abuts against the plasto-magnet ring 150 fixed on the periphery of the opening of the housing 100, in the rest position.

The frame 200 and the housing 100 are respectively manufactured in one piece three-dimensional plastic, for example by extrusion, or using a three-dimensional printer or any other equivalent means. The plastic is preferably a food grade plastic and antibacterial. Thus, it is for example chosen from at least one of the following food grade polymers: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyurethane.

The metal structure 400 further comprises two tongues 41 1, 421 disposed respectively on the upper end of each vertical side wall 410, 420 and perpendicular thereto. Each tongue 41 1, 421 is pierced with a through hole respectively 412, 422. These two orifices 412, 422 are provided to be positioned opposite two blind holes 21 1 formed along the vertical wall of the frame 200 (see FIG. 5). Thus, two fasteners can be positioned in the facing holes 412, 422 and 21 1, the metal structure and the frame, so that the metal structure is securely fixed to the frame. The tongues 41 1, 421 are particularly suitable when the frame 200 and the metal structure 400 do not have an upper horizontal wall. These fasteners, referenced 460 in Figure 5, may for example be screws or pins or any other equivalent means. The metal structure 400 is thus firmly fixed to the plastic frame 200 without any fastener rotating, so that the plastic structure of the frame can not be damaged.

A resilient flexible means 450 is positioned opposite the ejector lever 320. This elastic means 450 is advantageously in the form of a flexible metal blade. Preferably, the flexible elastic means 450 consists of a material (eg composite, alloy) having a yield strength (in tension and / or in compression) of at least 500 N / mm ² , more preferably less than 700 N / mm ² and even more preferably at least 900 N / mm ² . In particular, the metal blade is preferably made of steel having a yield strength (in tension or in compression) of at least 900 N / mm ² . In addition, the elastic means

DBI-0585-01 flexible 450 may have a tensile strength of between 1200 N / mm ² and 16000 N / mm ² , preferably between 1300 N / mm ² and 1500 N / mm ² . In particular, the metal blade is preferably made of steel having a tensile strength of at least 1300 N / mm ² . On the other hand, the flexible elastic means 450 may have an elongation at break or elongation of at least 15, preferably at least 20 and more preferably at least 25. In particular the metal blade is preferably made of steel having an elongation at break of at least 20. These values being calculated according to the standards in force. Also preferably, the flexible elastic material 450 may have a thickness of between 15 mm and 45 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm and even more preferably between 25 and 35 mm. The metal blade preferably has a thickness of between 25 mm and 35 mm.

In the prior art, it has been proposed metal leaf springs. Nevertheless, the metal leaf springs of the prior art are not adapted to allow the bottle opener / rewinder to remove the capsule without damaging it.

The inventors have compared the decapsulation devices of the prior art with the bottle opener - recover device according to the invention on their ability to remove the capsule without damaging it and have determined that the bottle opener - recover device according to the invention present, after two hundred uses, a decapsulation rate much higher than the devices of the prior art on the one hand and that the capsules ejected via the bottle opener-recover device according to the invention have, once encapsulated, a pressure resistance superior to the capsules ejected via the devices of the prior art. These results are illustrated in Table 1 below.

Table 1

DBI-0585-01

It has been noticed by the inventors premature wear of most existing decapsulation devices and a loss of efficiency. A comparison such as that illustrated in Table 1 shows that after two hundred uses the opening rate in a movement drops dramatically for the devices of the prior art unlike the device according to the invention. In addition, the various characteristics enabling the device to gain in efficiency and robustness, the inventors have identified a notable difference associated with the flexible elastic means 450. Indeed, the resilient flexible means 450 is advantageously arranged in the device according to the invention to enable a displacement amplitude, preferably lateral, of the ejector lever 320 of at least 1.5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm. On the contrary, the devices of the prior art have lower lateral displacement amplitudes.

Moreover, bottles equipped with a crown cap are generally watertight up to about 10 bar. Indeed, considering that carbonation rates vary on average from 4 g to 10 g, most soft drinks have differential pressure equilibrium between 4 and 8 bar. Thus, a study of the degree of leaktightness of a bottle that has been recapsulated may show that the capsules, which have been decapsulated and recapsulated with the device according to the invention, make it possible to achieve sealing ratios at 10 bar which are much greater than the sealing ratios obtainable with decapsulated capsules with the devices of the prior art.

Without being limited by theory, the inventors make the assumption that the lateral displacement amplitude of the ejector lever 320, possibly combined with other features of the present invention, allows a better positioning of the ejector lever 320 and a better ejection of the capsule which is not deformed during the operation. This, coupled with the use of the cavity 144, allows tight encapsulation. The devices of the prior art, not having such an amplitude

DBI-0585-01 optionally combined with other features of the present invention exhibit premature wear and result in deformation of the capsule.

In addition, a first end 451 at right angles is fixedly held by locking between the base of the frame 200 and the vertical walls 410, 420, 430 of the metal structure 400, at the time of insertion of the metal structure. in the chassis. The other end 452 of this flexible blade, located below the protrusion 322 of the ejector lever 320, is left free. Thus, this elastic means 450 keeps the notch 323 of the ejector lever 320 against the toothed flange of the capsule, when the ejector lever 320 is in the ejection position, so that the vertical pulling force exerted by the notch 323 on the collar causes ejection of the capsule.

A fixing means 432 located at the upper end of the vertical wall before 430 of the metal structure 400 is provided for attaching a first end 352 of a resilient biasing means 350 whose other end 351 is fixed on the first lever 310. The fixing means 432 of the metal structure may for example be made in the form of an orifice passing through the thickness of the front wall 430. A second fastening means 312 provided on the first lever 310 may for example take the form of a lug formed or cut on the upper surface of the first lever 310. The elastic return means 350, such as a spring for example, allows, when at rest, to maintain the first lever 310 in its rest position, substantially horizontal.

A notch 313 is further cut in an area of the upper surface of the first lever 310 and located above the second lever 320. The length of the notch is between a fifth and a quarter of the length of the first lever 310. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the length of this notch 313 may for example be at least 8 mm, preferably at least 9 mm. Preferably, this notch has a length of between 8 and 1 1 mm, more preferably between 8 and 10 mm and even more preferably between 9 and 10 mm. This cut notch prevents any friction of the first lever 310 against the elastic return means 350, when moved from its rest position to its ejection position. Thus, the device according to the invention does not generate noise nuisance as the devices of the prior art. In addition, as already mentioned, this makes it possible to reduce the damage of the elastic return means 350.

The housing 100 further comprises a stop 1 10 (see Figures 1 and 2) intended to be disposed above the rear end of the first lever 310, that is to say

DBI-0585-01 the end opposite the hinge 321 with the second lever 320. When the frame 200 rises in the housing 100, at the time when a pressure is exerted on the device 500, the first lever 310 is pressed against the stop 1 10. The pressure exerted by the stop 1 10 on the lever 310 causes a pivoting thereof around its axis of rotation 31 1, which then drives the second ejector lever 320 in an upward translation movement.

To allow a better understanding, a sectional view of the capsule, referenced 600, is shown schematically in dashed line in Figure 1. To uncap a bottle, the device 500 is disposed on the bottle so that the neck is inserted into the lower recess 230 of the frame 200. At the time of insertion of the neck, the ejector lever 320 of the lever system is slightly pushed towards the vertical wall before 430 of the metal structure and the bottle is positioned so that the rounded angle of the capsule 600 is placed in abutment against the inclined stop 442 of the metal structure and that the base of the collar of the capsule is positioned in the notch 323 of the free end of the ejector lever 320. The profile of the lower recess 230 of the frame 200 is such that no part comes to rest on the flat surface of the capsule, the stiffener 220 being located well above the rface of the capsule whose angle of curvature bears against the stop 442. The free space between the flat surface of the capsule and the stiffener 220 facilitates the release of the capsule during its ejection. The stiffener 220 is advantageously inclined relative to the horizontal. This inclination is such that the space between the flat surface of the capsule and the stiffener increases in approaching the ejector lever 320, so that the ejection of the capsule is facilitated. Preferably, the angle of inclination of the stiffener relative to the horizontal is between 20 and 30 °. Vertical pressure from top to bottom on the device 500 causes the chassis 200 to move vertically upwardly so that the rear end of the first lever 310, opposite the hinge 321 with the second lever 320, comes into position. press against the stop 1 10 of the housing 100. The pressure exerted by this stop 1 10, represented by the arrow F1 in Figure 1, causes the rotation of the first lever 310 around its own axis of rotation 31 1 according to the arrow R1 on Figure 1. This rotation of the first lever 310 then drives the second lever 320 in an upward translation movement, according to the arrow F2 in Figure 1, and the elastic return means 350 is stretched. The protrusion 322 of the lever 320 then bears against the vertical front wall 430 of the metal structure 400. The pressure exerted by this wall 430 on the second lever 320, represented by the arrow F3 in FIG. 1, then causes the rotation of the second lever 320 around its own axis of rotation 321, according to the arrow

DBI-0585-01 R2 in Figure 1. The free end 452 of the flexible blade 450 maintains the free end of the ejector lever 320 in its ejection position, so that the notch 323 of the lever exerts a pulling force upwards on the toothed flange of the capsule 600. The capsule 600 undergoing this pulling force is then ejected upwards and then attracted by the ring 150 plasto-magnet during its fall. When the pressure on the device is released, the frame descends and the first lever 310 is released from the pressure exerted by the abutment 1 10. It therefore returns to the rest position due to the restoring force exerted by the elastic return means 350 and carries with it the second lever which is also placed in its rest position.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a bottle capping process using a device 500 bottle opener - recover according to the invention, said device according to the invention comprising a box 100 having an opening 130, said housing 500 enclosing an articulated system 300 of two levers 310, 320, a metal structure 400 intended to maintain the articulated lever system 300 in a dedicated housing, a frame 200 movable in vertical translation in said housing 100 and supporting said metal structure 400 , a flared circular housing 141 formed in the wall 140 of the housing 100 opposite the opening 130 housing a cavity 144 of flared circular shape, said method comprising the following steps:

Positioning the 500 bottle opener-recover device according to the invention on a bottle closed by a metal capsule, preferably a crown capsule type capsule,

- Exert a vertical pressure from top to bottom on the housing 100 of the device according to the invention, so as to expel the capsule from the neck of said bottle,

- Position the capsule on the neck of the bottle,

- Position the cavity 144 just above the capsule, and

- Apply a vertical pressure on the capsule to insert it into force in the cavity 144.

This device allows, during decapsulation, to avoid any support against the flat surface of the capsule. The capsule is thus expelled without being twisted, which then facilitates the subsequent re-capping. The levers are articulated with respect to the metal structure, which is held fixed in the chassis. Therefore, no chassis wear is

DBI-0585-01 observed during repeated use of the device. The device according to the invention is therefore very solid in time.

The capsule has not been bent at the time of uncapping, it becomes easy to be able to recap on the neck of a bottle. For this, simply place the capsule on the neck of a bottle, then turn the device so that the cavity 144 comes to be positioned just above the capsule. Vertical pressure on the capsule then makes it possible to forcefully insert it into the cavity 144. Preferably, the vertical pressure may be accompanied by a circular movement of the part of the casing 100 opposite to the flared circular housing 141. Such circular movement improves the tightening of the toothed flange.

This insertion force causes a tightening of the toothed flange. The toothed collar then tightly grip the neck of the bottle. The device can then be removed gently and the bottle is thus recapsulated, so that the beverage it contains may be kept intact.

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Claims

Claims:

1. Device (500) bottle opener - a metal capsule (600) cap clipper hermetically sealing a bottle, said device comprising a housing (100) having an opening (130), said housing enclosing an articulated system (300) of two levers (310, 320), said system of levers for expelling the capsule from the neck of said bottle when a vertical pressure from top to bottom is exerted on the housing (100), said articulated system of two levers comprising a first lever (310), substantially horizontal in a rest position, adapted to drive a second lever (320) in motion in a vertical translation movement, said second lever (320) having a free end comprising a notch (323) suitable, under applying a pulling force exerted upwardly by said second lever, ejecting the capsule from the neck of a bottle, said device being characterized in that it further comprises:

a metal structure (400) intended to keep the articulated lever system (300) in a dedicated housing,

a frame (200) movable in vertical translation in said housing (100) and supporting said metal structure (400),

a flared circular housing (141) formed in a wall (140) of the housing (100) opposite the opening (130),

a flexible elastic means (450) positioned facing the second lever (320), said flexible elastic means (450) being arranged to allow a lateral displacement amplitude of the second lever (320) of at least 2 mm, and

- A ring (150) in plasto-magnet fixed on a periphery of the opening (130) of said housing (100).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible elastic means (450) consists of a material having a yield strength of at least 500 MPa.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible elastic means (450) comprises a first end (451) held locked between a base of the frame (200) and the metal structure (400), and another end (452) is left free, said flexible elastic means (450) being adapted to

DBI-0585-01 holding the notch (323) of said second lever (320) against a toothed flange of the capsule, in the ejection position.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (200) has an upper portion devoid of horizontal wall and the metal structure (400) has an upper portion devoid of horizontal wall.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lever (310) has a notch (313) cut in an area of an upper surface of the first lever (310) and located above the second lever (320), said notch having a length of between one fifth and one quarter of the length of the first lever (310).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal structure (400) is in a substantially parallelepipedal U-shaped whose vertical side walls (410, 420) surround the system (300) levers, said system (300) of levers being fixed to the metal structure (400) by means of a metal axis (31 1) passing through said metal structure from one vertical side wall to the other, said fixing metal axis (31 1) further forming an axis of rotation of the first lever (310) of the lever system, and in that a front vertical wall (430) facing the second lever (320) of the lever system connects said vertical side walls (410, 420).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the metal structure (400) further comprises, in a lower portion and opposite to the front vertical wall (430), a stop (442) against which is supported by an angle rounded of said capsule.

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (200) comprises a first recess (230) in a lower part for receiving a neck of a bottle and a second recess (250 ), made in its upper part and intended to accommodate the metal structure (400) and in that a stiffener (220) is provided between said lower recesses (230) and upper (250).

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9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that a lower portion of the metal structure (400) is cut to a profile complementary to the stiffener (220) of the frame (200), so that a central area (443) of the lower profile of the metal structure (400) rests on said stiffener (220), while the stop (442) and a portion (444) of the metal structure (400) flanking the free end of the second lever ( 320) emerge in the lower recess (230) of the frame (200), on either side of said stiffener (220) and in a plane below the stiffener.

10. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 9 characterized in that the metal structure (400) further comprises a fixing means (432), located at an upper end of the front vertical wall (430), there fixing a first end (352) of an elastic return means (350) whose other end (351) is fixed to another fastening means (312) provided on the first lever (310) of the system (300) of levers, said elastic return means (350) allowing, when at rest, to maintain said lever system in its rest position.

1 1. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the second lever (320) has, in an upper part, a protuberance (322) intended to be placed in abutment against the vertical front wall (430) of the metal structure (400), when said second lever (320) moves from its rest position to its ejection position, the pressure exerted by said front vertical wall (430) against said protuberance (322) causing a pivoting of said second lever (320) about an axis of rotation (321).

12. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end (451) of the flexible elastic means (450) is held locked between the base of the frame (200) and the vertical walls (410, 420, 430) of the metal structure (400) located opposite the second lever (320), and the other end (452) located under the protrusion (322) of said second lever, is left free.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (100) comprises:

at least two guide rails (121, 122) along which the frame (200) can slide vertically, and

- A stop (1 10) against which one end of the first lever (310), opposite an articulation with the second lever (320), is intended to come to rest.

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14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring (150) plasto-magnet has a higher magnetization density on an outer edge of the ring relative to an inner edge.

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (141) circular recess provided in the wall (140) of the upper housing (100) and opposite the opening (130), is intended to receive a cavity (144) having a bottom (142) whose diameter is smaller than that of the cavity flush with the outer surface of the housing, and such that an angle formed between the bottom (142) and the wall of the cavity is between 92 and 100 °.

16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (200) and the housing (100) are made of food grade polymer.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the metal structure (400), the system (300) of levers and the cavity (144) are made of stainless steel.

18. Bottle capping method using a bottle opener (500), said bottle opener (500) including a housing (100) having an opening (130), said housing (500) enclosing a system (300) articulated two levers (310, 320), a metal structure (400) for maintaining the system (300) articulated levers in a dedicated housing, a frame (200) movable in vertical translation in said housing (100) and supporting said metal structure (400), a flared circular housing (141) formed in a wall (140) of the housing (100) opposite the opening (130) housing a flared circular cavity (144), said method comprising the following steps:

- Position the device (500) bottle opener - recapsulator on a bottle closed by a metal capsule, preferably a crown capsule type capsule,

- Exert a vertical pressure up and down on the housing (100) of the device (500) bottle opener - recapsulator, so as to expel the capsule of a neck of said bottle,

- Position the capsule on the neck of the bottle,

- Position the cavity (144) just above the capsule, and

- Exert a vertical pressure on the capsule to insert it into force in the cavity (144).

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Bottle capping method according to claim 18, characterized in that the vertical pressure can be accompanied by a circular movement of the housing part (100) opposite to the flared circular housing (141).

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