Abstract:
A combined function foil cutter and cork remover comprising a hollow main body member with a circular upper and circular lower open end. The main body member comprises a plurality of flexible fingers separated by longitudinal slots extending a desired distance upward from the lower open end. The interior surface of each finger comprises at least one individual elongated blade located a designated distance from the lower open end. There is a spiral corkscrew inserted longitudinally within the main body member. The corkscrew is rotatably secured with a handle located at the upper open end of the main body member. There is a collar slidably set around the main body member. When the collar is slid towards the lower open end, the collar compresses each of said fingers together to align said individual elongated blades into one continuous circular blade.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates generally to wine bottle corkscrews and more generally to corkscrews which also cut the foil from the mouth of a wine bottle. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   The wine industry is a profitable segment of the economy. There are many different types of wines and wine bottles. As a result, the number of devices related to the consumption of wine is significant. Numerous different devices for removing corks from the bottle are available. Several devices for cutting the foil seal are available. However, there are no devices which easily cut the foil and remove the cork in a simple, efficient and continuous motion. There have been several attempts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,086 issued on Mar. 6, 2001 to Gort-Barten entitled FOIL CUTTER FOR A CORKSCREW teaches a foil cutter that is separable from a corkscrew, but snaps together. The foil cutter comprises a pair of cutting wheels each having a circular cutting edge. The foil cutter is operated by pressing push buttons inwardly into foil and then rotating the cutter at least 180 degrees relative to the bottle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,715 issued on Apr. 11, 2006 to Heffi et al. entitled CORK SCREW PROVIDED WITH A CAP CUTTER WHICH CAN BE INSERTED IN THE HANDLE teaches a cap cutter that is integrated into a corkscrew. The cap cutter is U-shaped and has an elastic connector and two legs stiffened by means of transverse ribs. The cap cutter has three rolling cutting disks. The cap cutter can be inserted into the rotatable handle of the corkscrew, and must be rotated at least 120 degrees to cut the foil. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,899 issued on Aug. 15, 2000 to Nikolic entitled ELECTRIC CORKSCREW teaches a corkscrew and foil cutter in the same device. The device has a main portion and a handle. The foil cutter is located in the handle. The foil cutter comprises a rotary de-briding cutter having a pair of opposed resiliently mounted cutter blades. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,844 issued on Jul. 11, 1989 to Allen entitled FOIL CUTTER teaches a cutting device comprising first and second force application members having cutting surfaces or edges facing inwardly. The device is in a U-shape with two flanges being connected by a back portion. The device or bottle is rotated at least 90 degrees when cutting the foil. The device is to be used with the thumb pushing one flange and the other finger pushing the other flange to cause force downward upon the foil. The Allen patent also contemplates the cutter being incorporated into the side of a cork remover. Thus, the user removes the foil and then alters the position of the cork screw to remove the cork. 
   The wine industry still lacks a device which can easily cut the foil and remove the cork in one continuous motion in easy fashion and in one complete structure, and does not alter or change the position of the corkscrew itself during the process of the cork removal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A combined function foil cutter and cork remover comprising a hollow main body member with a circular upper and circular lower open end. The lower open end of the main body member has a larger diameter than the upper open end of the main body member. The main body member comprises six flexible finger elements separated by longitudinal slots extending a desired distance upward from the lower open end. The interior surface of each finger element comprises at least one individual annular blade located a designated distance from the lower open end. There is at least one internal shoulder surface located a desired distance away from the lower open end and upward from each at least one internal annular blade. There is a spiral corkscrew inserted longitudinally within the main body member. The corkscrew is rotatably secured with a handle located at the upper open end of the main body member. There is a frustoconical collar slidably set around the main body member. When the collar is slid towards the lower open end, the collar compresses each of said finger elements together to align said individual elongated blades into one continuous circular blade. 
   An object of the combined foil cutter and cork remover is to provide a device which easily cuts the foil on a bottle mouth and removes the cork from a bottle mouth without altering or changing the shape or position of the device, and manual contact with the cork is not required in the removal process. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side plan view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a side cross sectional view of one embodiment of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
       FIG. 3   b  shows a side cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
       FIG. 4  shows an exploded perspective view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
       FIG. 5  shows a plan view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover as taken from underneath the bottom opening. 
       FIG. 6  shows an enlarged perspective view of the bottom opening of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown. It is contemplated that the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  will be used in conjunction with wine bottles and wine bottle corks. As shown, the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  generally comprises a main body member  12 , a collar  18 , a corkscrew  14  inserted within, and exiting out of the bottom of, the main body member  12 , and a handle  16  secured at the top of the main body member  12 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , a side plan view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown. As shown, a shaft  20  is inserted within the main body member  12  and exits out of the open top  36  of the main body member  12 . The handle  16  secures to the shaft  20 . The collar  18  is inserted over and around the lower portion of the main body member  12 . The collar  18  has the form of a body of revolution with a cylindrical section and a frustoconical section. The collar  18  moves freely upwardly and downwardly along the outer surface of the main body member  12 . A retainer  52  is secured around the main body member  12  so as to contain the movement of the collar within operating limits along the main body member  12 . As shown, the corkscrew  14  exits from the open bottom of the main body member  12  and the collar  18 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3   a , a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown. As shown, the main body member  12  has an upper section and a lower section. The lower section is wider and at the bottom, there is an opening. The lower section of the main body member  12  has a frustoconical section  34 , a cylindrical chamber  38 , and a wide opening  46  at the bottom. The entire main body member  12  is hollow. As shown, there are a plurality of blades  44 ,  42  found on the interior of the wide opening  46 . The blades may be arranged so as to produce openings of different sizes. The blades  42  are contemplated to receive a regular size mouth of a wine bottle. The blades  44  are contemplated to receive a larger size mouth of a wine bottle. It is further contemplated that the blades  42 ,  44  will have an annular shape. As shown, there are a plurality of longitudinal slots  40  which extend from the wide opening  46 , through the blades  42 ,  44 , and upwardly a desired distance towards the upper section of the middle cylindrical chamber  38 . These longitudinal slots  40  divide the lower portion into a plurality of flexible fingers which can be flexed inwardly, so as to align the separated blades  42 ,  44 . When aligned, the blades will form a circle. It is contemplated that the preferred embodiment will utilize six longitudinal slots  40  each separated by sixty degrees to create six flexible fingers. Due to the elastic properties of the material of the main body member  12 , the fingers can deflect or move radially to cut the foil seal of a wine bottle and also to restrain the cork from turning upon removal of the corkscrew  14   a . In this first embodiment, the corkscrew  14   a  is fully contained within the cylindrical chamber  38 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3   a , the shaft  20   a  extends through the main body member  12 . The shaft  20   a  exits through the open top  36  and attaches to the handle  16 . The outer surface of the shaft  20   a  is contemplated to be threaded like a screw. The inner surface of the handle  16  which is placed over the shaft  20   a  is also contemplated to be threaded. It is contemplated that the upper end of the threaded shaft  20   a  will have a stop component that allows the handle to actuate the movable assembly as well as prevent disassembly of the removal components. At the base  32  of the shaft the corkscrew  14  is secured. During operation, it is contemplated that the cork will not come in contact with the base  32  of the shaft of the shaft  20   a . It is contemplated that the shaft of the corkscrew  14  has a helicoidal right hand thread on its exterior surface. The shaft  20   a  is contemplated to be a cylindrical screw with a multiple lead left hand thread, which serves to transmit the necessary forces and movements required for cork removal. It is contemplated that the thread of the shaft  20   a  is of a lesser pitch than the corkscrew. It is contemplated that there may be a hollow cylindrical movable sleeve  50  contained within the main body member  12 . The shaft  20   a  is inserted though the hollow center of the sleeve  50 . The movable sleeve  50  has the geometrical form of a body of revolution. Each end of the sleeve  50  has a small flange to keep it aligned and contained within the upper chamber of the main body  12 . The top flange would sit outside of the top open end of the main body member  12 . The bottom flange would fit within the main body member  12 . Thus, the sleeve  50  can move upward and downward within the main body member  12  to keep the shaft  20   a  aligned. The sleeve  50  serves as a movable guide for the necessary movement of the removal shaft and the precise positioning of the removal element for cork removal. When the handle  16   a  is turned clockwise with respect to the threaded shaft  20   a  it will move upwardly until contact is made with the incorporated stop on the upper end of the shaft. Continuous clockwise movement will then force the corkscrew  14  into the cork until the handle  16   a  comes in contact with the upper flange of the movable sleeve  50 . As shown, the collar  18  fits over the lower portion of the main body member  12 . The bottom opening of the collar  18  has a slightly larger diameter than the external bottom section of the main body member  46 . The frustoconical shape of the collar  18  causes the top opening to be narrower. The top open end of the collar  18  is smaller than the bottom open end  46  of the main body member  12 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3   b , a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown. As shown the shaft  20   b  in the second embodiment is not threaded and there is no sleeve  50  as found in the first embodiment. It is contemplated that the upper end of the threaded shaft  20   b  will be firmly secured to the handle  16   b  to actuate the movable assembly as well as prevent disassembly of the removal components. The second embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   b  shows the corkscrew  14   b  to be longer than that of the first embodiment. The corkscrew  14   b  exits out of the cylindrical chamber  38 . During operation, it is contemplated that the cork will not come in contact with the base  32  of the shaft of the shaft  20   b.    
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , an exploded perspective view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown. As shown, the main body member  12  has a wider bottom opening  46  than the narrow top opening  36 . The cylindrical hollow collar  18  slides over the main body member  12  and is stopped by the wide open bottom  46 . The retainer  52  is inserted over the main body member  12  and prevents the collar  18  from moving upwardly along the main body member  12 . The shaft  20  is inserted within the main body member  12  and exits out of the open top  36 . The corkscrew  14  is secured to the base  32  of the shaft  20 . As shown, the handle is secured to the top of the shaft  20 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , a plan view of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is shown as viewed from the bottom open end of the main body  46 . As shown the corkscrew  14  is inserted within the main body member  12 . The lower section of the main body member  12  is shown as having inner blades  42  and outer blades  44 , all of which are separated by the longitudinal slots  40 . There are inner shoulder structures  51  which will provide a stop when the mouth of a wine bottle is inserted. It is contemplated that a second set of outer shoulders  53  will provide a stop when a larger mouth of a larger wine bottle is inserted. It is contemplated that the shoulder structures  51 ,  53  will comprise sturdy flat surfaces which support the lower section of the main body member  12  while the blades  42 ,  44  are pressed inwards. As shown, the collar  18  is inserted over the flexible fingers of the main body member  12 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , an enlarged perspective view of the lower open end  46  of the main body member  12  is shown. The cylindrical chamber  38  in the lower main body is shown as being divided by longitudinal slots  40 . As shown, the bottom portion  46  has a larger circumference than the cylindrical chamber  38 . The bottom portion is divided by the same longitudinal slots  40  as the cylindrical chamber  38 . As shown, the blades  42  have a smaller circumference than blades  44 . The blades  42 ,  44  are separated by longitudinal slots  40 . The inner blades  42  are mounted to a sturdy shoulder  53  that extends inwardly from the main body member. A second sturdy shoulder  51  with a smaller circumference is located above the blades  42  within the main body member  12 . The purpose of the shoulders is to provide a surface on which to rest the top of the mouth of a wine bottle when the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is in use. 
   The combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is operated as follows, reference is made for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   a . The open bottom end  46  of the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  is placed over the mouth of a wine bottle so that the blades  42 ,  44  are positioned around the circumference of the foil seal. Depending on the size of the wine bottle, either the outer  44  or inner  42  blades will be used. The mouth of a wine bottle is inserted and the particular shoulder provides a surface on which the combined function foil cutter and cork remover  10  rests. With a manual movement, the collar  18  is moved downwardly over the wider open end  46  of the main body member  12 . The frustoconical shape of the collar  18  and the downward force causes the separated fingers and blades  42 ,  44  to be compressed inwardly into alignment. This alignment causes the blades  42 ,  44  to pierce the foil seal of a wine bottle. At this point, the user manually turns the collar slightly back and forth thus cutting the foil. Very little turning is required. The handle  16  is then turned with a clockwise movement causing the shaft  20  to move downward through the sleeve  50 . This also turns the corkscrew  14  and pushes the corkscrew  14  downward through the top of the foil seal and into the cork in the wine bottle. The handle  16  is turned clockwise until the corkscrew  14  is completely inserted through the cork. The handle is then turned in the counter clockwise direction and the shaft  20  will begin to exit the main body member  12 . Because of the lesser pitch, this also removes the cork from the wine bottle and pulls it into the lower section of the main body member  12 . To remove the cork from the corkscrew  14 , the handle is further rotated in the counter clockwise manner further until the cork comes in contact with the frustoconical section  34  of the lower chamber of the main body  12  to prevent the turning of the cork while the corkscrew  14  is being extracted. It is contemplated that the actions of removing the foil seal and removing the cork are integral and continuous processes. The combined function corkscrew remover  10  allows the user to remove the foil seat and the cork without touching either the foil seal or the cork and without altering the position of structure of the combined function corkscrew remover  10 . 
   The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.