Corkscrew

Abstract: This corkscrew has an actuating lever (1) upon which are mounted, by means of turning axes (2 and 3), a corkscrew (4) for introducing into the cork (51) to be extracted and supporting means on the mouth of the bottle (5) during extraction of the cork (51). The supporting means are made up of an arm (6) which defines an end claw (61) on its inner side for supporting on the mouth of the bottle (5), and a connecting rod (7) whose ends are fixed to the lever (1) by means of the axis (3) and to the rear end of the arm (6) by means of a turning axis (62).

Description: OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to a corkscrew of the type comprising an actuating lever upon which are mounted, by means of turning axes, a corkscrew for introducing into the cork to be extracted and supporting means on the mouth of the bottle during extraction of the corresponding cork. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Currently, there are different types of corkscrews on the market, which are provided with an operating lever that can be gripped, upon which are mounted, by means of corresponding turning axes, a corkscrew or helicoidal spike, which is threaded into the cork to be extracted and means which make up the support of the lever on the mouth of the bottle during extraction of the cork. In these corkscrews, the supporting means are mounted on one of the ends of the lever and the corkscrew in an area close to said end and moved towards the middle area of the lever. Corkscrews of this type which exist on the market, basically differ in the configuration of the supporting means, which may be made up simply of an arm with a claw at the end or by two articulated arms provided with end claws which remain at a different distance from the front end of the lever, the claw closest to the end of the lever being used as a supporting element in the initial stage of cork extraction, and the claw furthest from the end of the lever being used in the second phase of cork extraction. This corkscrew corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and is disclosed in FR 2 689 115 A. Corkscrews of the first type, that is, which have a supporting arm with a single claw have the drawback that by means of actuating the lever, the corkscrew is not raised sufficiently to extract the cork completely, it being necessary to pull on the corkscrew assembly to extract the cork completely. In corkscrews of the second type mentioned, that is, which are provided with an articulated arm made up of two sections with supporting claws, actuation of the bottle opener is complicated since in the intermediate stage of extraction the supporting arm must be manipulated in order to separate the first claw from the bottle and establish the support with the second claw. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The corkscrew that is the object of the invention, as defined by claim 1, provides a series of constructive peculiarities which allow the cork to be extracted in two stages, completely releasing it from the bottle, with the same claw remaining supported on the mouth of the bottle. In accordance with the invention, this corkscrew, being of the above mentioned type, that is, of the type comprising an actuating lever on which are mounted by means of turning axes a corkscrew for introducing into the cork to be extracted and supporting means on the mouth of the bottle during extraction of the cork, said supporting means being made up of an arm which defines an end claw in its inner side for supporting on the mouth of the bottle, said arm being related with the lever by means of a connecting rod. One of the ends of the connecting rod is fixed to the lever by means of a turning axis and the opposite end is fixed to the rear end of said arm by means of a second turning axis. In accordance with the invention in its front end and in its lower side, the actuating lever has areas for supporting the arm in two extreme operation positions determined by the rotation of the connecting rod with respect to the axis which relates them with the lever, the claw of the arm being positioned in the two extreme operation positions at a different distance with respect to the front end of the lever. It is also provided that the arm defining the claw has areas on its inner side and on the rear end for making contact with the areas of the lever mentioned above in the respective extreme operation positions. With this arrangement of elements, a bottle can be uncorked simply by introducing the spike into the cork and supporting the arm upon the mouth of the bottle, with the connecting rod initially in the position which allows the side and inner part of the arm to be supported by the front end of the lever, so that when the latter is actuated in the first operational stage, the cork is extracted. The second operation position is obtained by turning the connecting rod with respect to the axis which fixes it to the lever until the rear end of the arm makes contact with the lower side of the lever. In this second position, complete extraction of the cork is achieved when the lever is actuated again. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description that is being given and in order to aid understanding of the features of the invention, the present specification is accompanied by drawings in which the following is represented by way of illustration and non-restrictively: Figure 1 shows a profile view of the corkscrew that is the object of the invention, partially opened out. Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 show a succession of positions of the corkscrew during extraction of a cork. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As may be observed in the drawings referred to, the corkscrew that is the object of the invention is provided with an actuating lever (1) upon which are mounted, by means of turning axes (2 and 3), a corkscrew (4) for introducing into the cork (51) to be extracted and supporting means on the mouth of the bottle (5) during extraction of the cork (51). The supporting means are made up of an arm (6) which defines an end claw (61) on its inner side for supporting on the mouth of the bottle (5), and which is related with the lever (1) by means of a connecting rod (7). One of the ends of the connecting rod is fixed to the lever (1) by means of the axis (3) and the opposite end is fixed to the rear end of the arm (6) by means of a turning axis (62). In its front end and lower side, the lever (1) has areas (11 and 12) for supporting the arm (6) in two extreme operation positions which are reached by the rotation of the connecting rod (7) with respect to the axis (3) and in which the claw (61) of the arm (6) is positioned at a different distance with respect to the front end of the lever (1). In its inner side and rear end, the arm (6) is provided with areas (63 and 64) which are intended to contact with the areas (11 and 12) of the lever (1) in the respective extreme operation positions. In the first operation position shown in figures 2 and 3, the arm (6) makes contact with the area (63) against the area (11) of the front end of the lever (1), so that in said position the claw (61) can be supported on the mouth of the bottle (5) in order to extract a portion of the cork (51) when the lever (1) is actuated towards the upper area. In the second operation position shown in figures 4 and 5, the arm (6) makes contact with the area (64) of its rear end against the area (12) of the lower side of the lever (1). Said position is obtained by the rotation of the connecting rod (7) with respect to the axis (3). In this second position, the claw (61) remains supported on the mouth of the bottle (5) and is arranged at a greater distance from the front end of the lever (1) than in the previous position, thus allowing in this second position the cork (51) to be completely extracted by means of a further actuation of the lever (1). Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention as well as a preferred embodiment thereof, for relevant purposes it is stated that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the disclosed elements may be modified, providing that this does not mean an alteration of the essential features of the invention as claimed below.

Claims: A bottle opener of the type comprising an operating lever (1) on which are mounted, by means of respective turning axes (2, and 3), a corkscrew (4) intended for being introduced into the cork (51) to be extracted and supporting means on the mouth of the bottle (5) during extraction of the cork (51) the supporting means being made up of an arm (6) which defines an end claw (61) on its inner side for support on the mouth of the bottle (5) and which is connected with the lever (1) by means of a connecting rod (7) whose ends are fixed to the lever (1) and to the rear end of the arm (6) by means of respective turning axes (3, 62); characterized in that the front end and the lower side of the lever (1) have two areas (11, 12) for supporting respective areas (63,64) of the arm (6) in two extreme operative positions determined by the rotation of the connecting rod (7) with regard to the axes (3,62) so that in the said positions the claw (61) of the arm (6) is positioned at a different distance with regard to the front end (11) of the lever (1). A bottle opener according to the previous claim, characterized in that the areas (63, 64) of the arm (6), intended for directly contacting, respectively and in the extreme operative positions, areas (11, 12) of the lever (1), are defined on the inner side and on the rear end of the arm (6).

Inventors: BRUCART PUIG RAMON, BRUCART PUIG, RAMON
Applicants: INVENCIONES TECN Y MECANICAS S, INVENCIONES TECNICAS Y MECANICAS, S.L.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B67B7
IPC codes: B67B7