Patent ID: 6622595
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: B67B

Abstract:
A cork extractor tool for withdrawing a cork from the neck of a bottle, the cork extractor tool which utilizes a replaceable pressurized container having a generally cylindrical fluid container which contains a pressurized fluid having a boiling point below room temperature so as to expand upon depressurization, and a valve covering an opening in an end portion of the fluid container with an outlet tube which opens the valve when depressed to release pressurized fluid from the pressurized container through the outlet tube, the cork extractor tool comprising:a tubular sleeve having an annular outer wall adapted to receive at least the end portion of the fluid container therewithin, and having a positioning portion extending from a bottom end of said tubular sleeve adapted for grasping in-hand and coaxially engaging the neck of the bottle above the cork, the pressurized container being longitudinally movable within said tubular sleeve to actuate the valve to release pressurized fluid therefrom; a handle coaxially disposed about said tubular sleeve, said handle having a longitudinal bore that extends completely through said handle in which said tubular sleeve is closely slidably disposed; a needle carrier slidably disposed within said tubular sleeve which is operatively connected to said handle for axial and rotational movement therewith within said tubular sleeve, said needle carrier having a longitudinal bore therethrough adapted to receive pressurized fluid from the outlet tube of the pressurized container; a hollow needle extending axially from said needle carrier adapted for axial and rotational movement with said needle carrier and being of sufficient length to penetrate axially through the cork and having a longitudinal passage for transporting the pressurized fluid therethrough, said needle being operatively connected to the needle carrier to receive pressurized fluid therefrom and pass the pressurized fluid through into the bottle; and a rotation device operatively interconnecting said tubular sleeve and said handle, and being adapted to produce relative rotational motion therebetween upon axial translation thereof; and wherein when said positioning portion of said tubular sleeve coaxially engages the neck of the bottle above the cork and said handle is forced downwardly toward the cork, said needle is axially driven through the cork with an axial rotation to facilitate penetration, and when the pressurized container is subsequently depressed to inject the pressurized fluid into the bottle through said needle, with a resulting rise in pressure within the bottle as the pressurized fluid expands to a gas acting to eject the cork from the bottle.