Corkscrew with height-adjustable supporting plate for the bottle

Abstract: A bottle uncorking apparatus comprises: an uncorking unit (2) having a holding mouth (3) for the upper end of a bottle (4) provided with a cork (4a) to be pulled out, a guide bar (8) to be fixedly positioned relative to the uncorking unit (2) and close thereto, a base (17) , a slider (14) supporting said base (17) and slidable on the guide bar (8) parallelly of a trajectory (18) passing through the base (14) and the holding mouth (3), translation means (19) supported by the guide bar (8) and adapted to translate the slider (14) towards the holding mouth (3), and operating members (20) to be manually actuated against the action of the translation means (19) in a manner adapted to position the base (17) along said trajectory (18).

Description: The invention relates to a bottle uncorking apparatus for restaurants, bars and the like, of the type defined in the preamble of the appended claim 1, capable of easily and readily pulling out corks or stoppers from bottles, flasks, large bottles. It is known that presently there are different means for uncorking bottles and the like, going from completely manual means of occasional use to the more professional means, typically fastened to a wall and employed in premises where bottle-opening work is more frequent. A known type of the last mentioned means consists of bottle uncorking units utilised through two specific members; a drive lever by rotation of which a spiral puller to be fitted into the cork is moved in an appropriate manner and a holding mouth into which the upper end of a bottle or the like with its cork fitted therein is to be inserted. The weak point in use of this type of bottle uncorking units resides in the effort to be exercised with one hand for supporting the bottle and keeping it fitted in the holding mouth, whereas with the other hand said drive lever is actuated as shown in Fig. 1 . In fact the effort is of such a degree that female staff is practically unable to carry out these operations and above all this effort becomes too heavy when a great number of bottles are to be uncorked quickly and while somebody is waiting. A typical case is that of convivial meetings for marriages: on these occasions, a restaurateur must uncork dozens of bottles with great rapidity. The cork pulling out operations become then more difficult if bottles are externally moist and/or if they have been stored in a refrigerator, as in the case of white wines, which will give rise to stiffening of the corks. In these cases it is difficult to counteract the downward stroke exerted by the spiral puller operated by the drive lever, and bottles can slip out of the hand holding them, as can be understood from Fig. 1. Therefore, the spiral puller does not succeed in entering the cork in an appropriate or correct manner, so that often said cork is not sufficiently pulled out of the bottle, or tends to break , which will jeopardise a subsequent attempt to withdraw it and at all events will greatly slow down uncorking operations. Briefly, this type of uncorking apparatus supplies efficient uncorking units adapted to bottles of all sizes, but substantially does not solve the above mentioned users' problems connected with bottle support. DE-C-53 428 discloses an uncorking machine for bottles provided with a support base for the bottle to be uncorked, so that it is no longer necessary to manually hold the bottle during the uncorking operation. The base is urged by a spring in the direction of the holding mouth and a braking means is provided to lock the base with the bottle in position during insertion of the screw into the cork. The braking means comprises a braking band acting on a braking shoe rigid with the base, and can be disactivated by the operator through a pedal in order to release the base for allowing arrangement of the bottle before starting uncorking. Owing to the spring action onto the base, the operator besides disactivating the braking means must however manually hold the base to avoid that the base moves under the action of the spring reducing the space for inserting the bottle. This known machine, besides being of complex structure, is therefore also complicated in operation. Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a bottle uncorking apparatus capable of obviating the drawbacks of the prior art. Within the scope of this technical task it is an important aim of the invention to devise a bottle uncorking apparatus capable of enabling precise and careful uncorking operations to be carried out without any important effort being required during all steps involved in pulling out corks, and therefore capable of allowing a prolonged use of the apparatus itself. Another important aim of the invention is to devise a bottle uncorking apparatus of the universal type, i.e. adapted to bottles, flasks and large bottles of different sizes and also adapted for use of uncorking units of various types. The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are attained by a bottle uncorking apparatus for restaurants, bars and the like, as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in claims 2-9. Details and advantages of the invention are highlighted by the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows the efforts to be made for uncorking a bottle, when said bottle is supported manually; Fig. 2 is a partial diagrammatic front view of an embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded view in detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, with a bottle to be uncorked; Fig. 4 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, at two work positions, one of which is in chain line; and Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, the maximum-lifting and maximum-lowering positions of the bottle-supporting base being shown in chain line. With reference to the drawings, the apparatus in accordance with the invention is generally identified by reference numeral 1. It comprises an uncorking unit 2 provided with a holding mouth 3 adapted to receive the upper end of a bottle 4 or the like, provided with a cork 4a to be pulled out. The uncorking unit 2 is known per se and can be of any type, on the condition that it is provided with the holding mouth 3. In the example shown the uncorking unit 2 has a spiral or helix puller 5 defining a work axis 5a. The spiral puller 5 is operated in a manner known per se by a drive lever 6 and the uncorking unit 2 is then provided with a plaque 7 enabling fastening thereof. In apparatus 1, plaque 7 is mounted on a fixed guide bar 8 comprising a plate 9 having a major extension direction substantially defined by vertically-disposed main edges 9a. Said extension direction is substantially parallel to the work axis 5a located in the middle of the spiral puller 5. The guide bar 8 then has elements 10 for wall attachment and a channel-shaped case 11, which is fastened to plate 9 and positioned parallelly of the major extension direction of the plate 9 itself and the work axis 5a. Practically, the uncorking unit 2 is fastened to plate 9 at the upper edge thereof. The channel-shaped case 11 has its upper end, which is close to the uncorking unit 2, provided with side slots 12, whereas the opposite end in the particular example shown faces a pair of angle brackets 13 provided with holes 13a, which are fastened to plate 9 too. A slider 14 is at least partly and slidably inserted in the channel-shaped case 11; it has a main extension direction with the respective central axis 15 parallel to the work axis 5a. In the embodiment shown, the slider 14 is a rod 14a of circular cross section passing through holes 13a. Rod 14a has an upper end passed through by a peg 16 projecting from the rod itself to be fitted into the side slots 12, and a lower end projecting beyond holes 13a. Apparatus 1 further comprises a base 17 connected to rod 14a through a crosspiece 24 and consisting of a platform to be engaged by contrast with the lower end or bottom of a bottle 4, at an opposite position relative to said upper end provided with the cork 4a. Base 17 is movable relative to the guide bar 8, together with rod 14a, along a trajectory 18 extending in a direction approaching the holding mouth 3. In the embodiment shown trajectory 18 is a direction of movement of base 17 substantially parallel to the work axis 5a. Translation means 19 and operating members 20 are arranged for displacement of base 17. The translation means 19 is active in the direction of the holding mouth 3 and comprises at least one helical compression spring 19a wound up on rod 14a and placed inside the channel-shaped case 11, between peg 16 and an angle bracket 13. Spring 19a is selected of a rather stiff type, so that it is adapted to counteract both the weight of base 17 with a bottle 4, and the downward thrust of the spiral or helix puller 5 of the uncorking unit 2, when the drive lever 6 is lowered. The operating members 20 can be actuated manually against the action of the translation means 19 and comprise an operating bar 21 rotating about a rotation axis 20a defined by a pivot 20b. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rotation axis 20a passes through plate 9 perpendicularly thereof at an offset position relative to rod 14a, and the operating bar 21 is a second class lever extending between a handle section 21a at one end and a pivoting section 21b at the opposite end where the rotation axis 20a is provided. Between the handle section 21a and pivoting section 21b the operating bar 21 has an intermediate section 21c pivotally connected to rod 14a. As shown in the drawings the pivoting region on the intermediate section 21c is closer to the pivoting section 21b than to the handle section 21a, to define a very advantageous lever. In addition, in order to avoid jamming, the operating bar 21 is movable in a plane including the central axis 15 of rod 14a. Furthermore, it is pivotally connected to rod 14a through a connecting-rod connection 22. Also provided is a means 23 for adjustment of the position of base 17 relative to rod 14a. This adjustment means 23 is disposed close to said crosspiece 24 which is fastened to rod 14a by means of a plug 25. It comprises a stem-like element 26 rigid with base 17 and passing through the crosspiece 24 which is preferably defined by a sleeve 24a, and elements 27 for snap locking of the stem-like element 26. The stem-like element 26 is substantially parallel to rod 14a and provided with a series of cavities 28 to be engaged by the snap locking elements 27. The last-mentioned elements are partly located in sleeve 24a and comprise a stud29 to be fitted into one of cavities 28 and adapted to be disengaged against the action of a spring 30. The adjustment means 23 can be omitted and actually in Fig. 2 base 17 is substantially fixed to crosspiece 24. Operation of apparatus 1 is as follows. When uncorking of a bottle 4 or the like is required, it is first of all necessary to position said bottle between base 17 and the holding mouth 3. This is achieved by actuating the operating bar 21 and driving slider 14 more or less downwards, against the action of the compression spring 19a. Such an operation takes place by partial rotation of the operating bar 21 around the rotation axis 20a. Being the arm of the operating bar 21 very favourable for an operator, displacement of slider 14 is made easy even in the presence of a relatively stiff spring 19a. Slider 14 moves downwards as much as allowed by the side slots 12 and lowering of the slider 14 causes base 17 to move downwards thereby creating the necessary space for insertion of bottle 4 or the like between the holding mouth 3 and base 17. Stabilisation of bottle 4 to this position merely takes place by releasing the operating bar 21 and enabling lifting of base 17. In the embodiment shown all movements of the operating bar 21 are made easier by the presence of a connecting-rod connection 22 co-ordinating movements of the operating bar 21 and slider 14, thereby avoiding jamming. If the bottle has very reduced sizes or on the contrary is very big, as compared with common bottles approximately having a one litre capacity, position of base 17 can be previously displaced. For performing this operation use of the adjustment means 23 is needed: tensioning of stud 29 must be carried out so that the stem-like element 26 is set free, then it is necessary to position said stem like element 26 again and release the stud 29, thereby enabling insertion of the stud itself into a cavity 28. Once the position of bottle 4 has been stabilised, no other operation is required for final locking of the bottle itself: the spring 19a, which is selected of a stiff type, is sufficient to keep the bottle immobile during the uncorking operations. Therefore, the drive lever 6 of the uncorking unit 2 can be operated in full freedom. This lever in known manner operates the spiral or helix puller 5 which penetrates through the cork 4a and then moves upwardly pulling the cork out. When uncorking is over the drive lever 6 is left free and the operating lever 21 is operated again so as to displace base 17 arid release bottle 4 that can be grasped and removed. The invention achieves important advantages. In fact, while a simple apparatus utilising known uncorking units has been provided, the technical problem of reducing the operators' efforts has been completely solved, as well as that of maintaining the bottles to a steady position during uncorking. As a matter of fact, it is well apparent that operators do not make any effort for bottle support during the uncorking operations: once bottle 4 has been positioned, they can concentrate their attention on the drive lever 6 of the uncorking unit 2. Steady positioning of the bottles between the holding mouth 3 and base 17 is then of quick accomplishment and with very reduced or substantially zero efforts. In fact, the effort is very reduced because the operating bar 21 acts on slider 14 against spring 19a, with a wide lever arm in favour of the operator. In addition, the operator's action on the bar 21 is carefully synchronised with the movements of slider 14 by means of the connecting-rod connection 22. The operator's effort however cannot be almost zero, in spite of the strong advantage of the lever, since steadiness in the uncorking position completely relies on spring 19a which therefore must have appropriate stiffness. In addition, with the apparatus of the invention, the cork removal operations are not limited or conditioned by the sizes of the bottles and the like. In fact, the natural adaptability of the compression spring 19a is combined with the possibility of carrying out immediate adjustment of the position of the bottle base 17.

Claims: A bottle uncorking apparatus for restaurants, bars and the like, comprising an uncorking unit (2) having a holding mouth (3) for housing an upper end of a bottle (4) or the like having a cork (4a) to be pulled out, comprising: a guide bar (8) fixedly positioned relative to said uncorking unit (2) and close thereto, a base (17) connected with said guide bar (8) and movable relative to said uncorking unit (2) along a trajectory (18) extending in alignment with said holding mouth (3), said base (17) defining a rest for a lower end of said bottle (4), a slider (14) supporting said base (17) and slidable along said guide bar (18) parallely of said trajectory (18), translation means (19) supported by said guide bar (8) for translating said base (17) towards said holding mouth (3) along said trajectory (18), said translation means being active on said slider (14), characterised in that it comprises operating members (20) to be manually operated against said translation means (19) for positioning said base (17) relative to said holding mouth (3) along said trajectory (18), and in that : said operating members (20) are active on said slider (14) and comprise an operating bar (21) pivoted to said guide bar (8) and pivotally connected with said slider (14), and in that said translation means (19) comprise at least one spring (19a) having a stiffness adapted to resist thrusts from said uncorking unit (2) during the uncorking operation. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating-bar (20) has a handle section (21a) at one end and a pivoting section (21b) at the opposite end, and wherein said slider (14) is pivotally connected to an intermediate section (21c) of said operating bar (20) at a pivoting region lying closer to said pivoting section (21b) than to said handle section (21a). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said slider (14) is pivotally connected to said operating bar (20) through a connecting-rod connection (22). An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slider (14) has a central axis (15) parallel to said trajectory (18) and said intermediate section (21c) is movable in a plane passing through said central axis (15). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slider (14) is a rod (14a) of substantially circular cross section, and wherein said translation means (19) comprise a helical compression spring (19a) wound about said rod (14a). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide bar (8) comprises a channel-shaped case (11) extending parallely of said trajectory (18), and wherein said slider (14) is at least partly and movably housed in said channel-shaped case (11). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slider (14) and said base (17) are joined to each other by a crosspiece (24) extending transversely of said slider (14) and fastened thereto. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means (23) for adjusting the position of said base (17) relative to said crosspiece (24). An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said adjustment means (23) comprise a stem-like element (26) rigid with said base (17) and substantially parallel to said trajectory (18), and elements (27) for snap locking said stem-like element (26) with respect to said crosspiece (24).

Inventors: SCHIAVI LUIGI, SCHIAVI, LUIGI
Applicants: SCHIAVI LUIGI, SCHIAVI, LUIGI
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B67B7
IPC codes: B67B7