Abstract:
A corkscrew comprising a body and a handle, the body including a socket adapted to receive the neck of a bottle sealed by a cork, an actuation lever, an axially rotatable worm spiral mounted on a carriage within the body and arranged to rotate and penetrate the cork as the lever is lowered, the spiral being further arranged to cease rotation as the lever is raised to withdraw the cork from the bottle, the corkscrew being further arranged to discharge the cork from the screw by lowering and raising the lever after the neck of the bottle has been removed from the socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a corkscrew which may be used for removing a cork from a bottle, for example a bottle of wine, vegetable oil or other liquid.  
         [0002]     There are many designs of corkscrews wherein a sharpened worm screw extends from a handle or lever mechanism. Such corkscrews can be dangerous in use and may require dexterity and manual strength in their operation.  
         [0003]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a corkscrew which overcomes these disadvantages.  
         [0004]     In this specification references to upward and downward are intended to refer to the corkscrew as used with respect to an upright bottle, that is with the proximal region uppermost and the distal region in contact with the bottle neck.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0005]     GB-A-2399566 discloses a corkscrew comprising a body and a handle, the body including a socket adapted to receive the neck of a bottle sealed by a cork, an actuation lever, an axially rotatable worm spiral mounted on a carriage within the body and arranged to rotate and penetrate the cork as the lever is lowered, the spiral being further arranged to cease rotation as the lever is raised to withdraw the cork from the bottle, the corkscrew being further arranged to discharge the cork from the screw by lowering and raising the lever after the neck of the bottle has been removed from the socket.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to the present invention there is a provided a corkscrew comprising a body and a handle,  
         [0000]     the body including a socket adapted to receive the neck of a bottle sealed by a cork,  
         [0000]     an actuation lever,  
         [0007]     an axially rotatable worm spiral mounted on a carriage within the body and arranged to rotate and penetrate the cork as the lever is lowered, the spiral being further arranged to cease rotation as the lever is raised to withdraw the cork from the bottle,  
         [0000]     the corkscrew being further arranged to discharge the cork from the screw by lowering and raising the lever after the neck of the bottle has been removed from the socket;  
         [0000]     wherein the carriage is mounted for movement between upper and lower positions along one or more, preferably two, guide runners extending longitudinally of the body,  
         [0000]     the spiral being connected to the carriage by a bearing so that the spiral is rotatable with respect to the carriage,  
         [0000]     and further comprising a guide member having an aperture, the screw extending through the guide member, the aperture being adapted to cause the screw to rotate as the screw moves axially through the guide member,  
         [0000]     first latch means being adapted to releasably engage the guide member to the corkscrew body, and  
         [0000]     second latch means being adapted to releasably engage the guide member to the carriage, wherein the socket comprises an actuator adapted to engage an upper surface of the neck of a bottle inserted into the socket,  
         [0000]     the actuator being mounted in a guideway the actuator being axially moveable between upper and lower positions within the guideway,  
         [0000]     wherein the first latch means is caused to move to an open position to disengage the guide member when the actuator is moved to the upper position.  
         [0008]     The actuator may comprise an annular member which serves as a neck engaging portion dimensioned to contact the upper surface of a bottle neck.  
         [0009]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spiral is wholly contained within the body and thereby shielded by the body during all stages of use to remove a cork. This reduces the likelihood of injury to a user. The corkscrew of this invention may efficiently remove the cork from a bottle and then release the cork from the spiral without use of excessive force or any need for dexterity by a user. The corkscrew is therefore easy and quick to use. Use by elderly, infirm or disabled persons is facilitated.  
         [0010]     The present invention provides an improvement on the previously disclosed corkscrew. The construction is more robust and uses a smaller number of moving parts or metal components. Furthermore the mechanism will operate correctly even if the bottle is not inserted correctly into the socket, for example if the neck of the bottle is inserted at an angle. Actuation of a corkscrew in accordance with this invention requires less precision. The corkscrew is smaller, lighter and quieter in use.  
         [0011]     The aperture may have a helical threaded bore adapted to receive the helical screw, permitting the screw to rotate as the guide member moves axially relative to the screw.  
         [0012]     When the first latch means is dis-engaged the guide member and carriage may move together so that the spiral screw may be raised by the actuation lever without rotation of the screw, allowing a cork to be withdrawn from a bottle.  
         [0013]     The second latch means is preferably actuated by the first latch means. When the first latch is in the closed position, the second latch is opened during downward movement of the carriage releasing the carriage for movement independently of the guide member and also engaging the guide member with the first latch member. In this state, the spiral screw is caused to pass through the guideway and rotate when the carriage is subsequently raised and lowered by the actuation lever.  
         [0014]     In preferred embodiments of the invention the first latch member extends upwardly from an horizontal pivot mounted on the main body of the corkscrew, for example, on the guideway member. A spring is provided to bias the upper portion of the latch member radially inwardly towards the closed position. The upper portion of the latch member may be provided with radially inwardly and outwardly facing cam surfaces. These cam surfaces may meet at a uppermost pointed or narrow leading edge, arranged to contact and co-operate with a flange or other contact surface of the second latch member as the carriage is lowered.  
         [0015]     A radially inwardly extending contact surface provided by a lower protrusion or foot is located at a lower part of the latch member. Engagement of the contact surface with an upwardly moving part of the actuator or neck engaging portion causes the latch to rotate about the horizontal pivot, moving the upper portion radially outwardly against the action of the spring.  
         [0016]     In a first embodiment of the invention, one or more preferably four resilient members extend upwardly from the actuator or neck engaging portion. The or each resilient member has a tooth which can engage a respective tooth or other complimentary formation in the guideway member to lock the actuator in its upper location. Downward movement of the neck engaging portion due to the action of the spring and first latch member is thereby prevented. In this situation the latch remains in an open and armed condition. Insertion of the neck of a bottle into the body of the corkscrew thus moves the first latch member into the armed condition.  
         [0017]     When the first latch member is in the armed condition the second latch member contacts and engages the radially inner surface of the latch as the handle is moved downwards. As the carriage approaches the lower extent of the range of movement, the downwardly extending members of the carriage engage the resilient members of the actuator or neck engaging portion, urging the resilient members out of engagement with the complimentary formations of the guideway member. In this way the guideway member is released to move downwardly and the first latch member is released to be moved inwardly by the spring.  
         [0018]     In a second embodiment the teeth and preferably all of the four resilient members are omitted so that neck engaging position does not engage and become locked to the guideway member.  
         [0019]     The first latch member includes an upper radially inwardly facing projection, for example a hook or tooth, located above the pivot. This upper projection includes a downwardly facing surface. The carriage includes a radially outwardly facing projection or other formation providing a radially outwardly extending and upwardly facing surface adapted to engage the upper projection of the first latch member when the guideway is at the lower position of its range of movement. In this way the latch engages the guide member locking the guide member to the latch or to the neck engaging portion of the sleeve and hence to the main body of the corkscrew. Vertical movement of the guide member is thus prevented.  
         [0020]     The second latch member may comprise a plate or other elongate formation secured at an upper end to the carriage by means of a spring arranged so that the lower end of the second latch member may move radially outwardly against the restoring force of the spring. An aperture in a lower part of the plate is arranged to receive a pin or other projection from the guide member. When the pin is engaged in the aperture the guide member and carriage are locked together.  
         [0021]     The second latch member includes a flange, providing a downwardly facing and outwardly inclined surface. This surface of the flange may engage the upper leading edge of the first latch member, causing the second latch member to pass along the outer surface of the first latch member urging the second latch member radially outwardly. The pin is caused to disengage from the aperture releasing the carriage for movement independently of the guide member.  
         [0022]     In a preferred embodiment the upper leading edge of the first latch member includes a rebate or cut away portion dimensioned to receive the end of the pin. When the head of the pin is received in the rebated of the first latch member, the aperture of the second latch member cannot engage the pin. The handle may then be freely moved up and down to rotate the spiral as it is raised and lowered. In this way a cork may be penetrated or released from the spiral.  
         [0023]     The first latch member may serve as a switch moveable between locked and armed conditions. In the locked condition the spiral rotates as it is raised the lowered. In the armed condition the spiral does not rotate as it is raised and lowered.  
         [0024]     A preferred embodiment of the invention includes gripping means adapted to move inwardly when grasped by a user to engage and prevent movement of the neck of a bottle received in the socket.  
         [0025]     The gripping means may comprise a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the body and carrying bottle engaging pads adapted to engage and clamp the corkscrew to the bottle. The gripper means may comprise a plurality of arms on the exterior of the body, the bottle engaging pads extending inwardly through apertures in the body. Each arm may be secured by a pivot through an upper part of the body, being biassed outwardly from the body by a spring. The pads are mainly composed of rubber or other resilient or high friction material. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     The invention is described by means of example but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first corkscrew in accordance with this invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the front elevation of the corkscrew;  
         [0029]     FIGS.  3  to  5  are cross-sectional side elevations of the corkscrew illustrating operation of the moving components;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows two elevations of the first latch and spring assembly;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows the guideway member;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  shows the second latch member;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows the neck engaging portion;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows the guide member;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  shows the carriage member;  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  contains views illustrating the use of the first corkscrew;  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of a second corkscrew in accordance with this invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 14  contains views illustrating use of the corkscrew shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 15  shows the guideway member of the second corkscrew;  
         [0040]      FIG. 16  shows the neck engaging portion of the second corkscrew.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     The corkscrew shown in  FIGS. 1-12  comprises a generally cylindrical body having a downward facing opening defining a socket to receive the neck of a bottle. A handle  47  is mounted on a transfer pivot  44  at the top of the body. The body comprises two housing members  3 ,  32 . A pair of bow shaped arms  5 ,  35  attached to the handle by means of shaft  24  extends downwardly through guide slots in the platform  41 .  
         [0042]     Handle  47  has a head and a hand grip extending downwardly from the head. The head has bores to receive a bearing shaft  24  a spring  23  and ball bearing  22  to co-operate with a cup  21  in the body to provide a click stop function. The handle also has a shaft to receive a pin  44  for connection to the bow shaped arms  5  and  35 . The handle includes gripping pad  25  and an integral reinforcing plate  27 .  
         [0043]     The lower ends of the arms  5 ,  35  are pivotally connected by screws  6  to a carriage  33 . The carriage  33  is mounted for sliding movement between upper and lower positions along two longitudinal runners  34 . The two runners  34  extend from the upper platform  41  and are received in apertures  54  in the guideway member  13 . A sharpened spiral worm screw  38  extends axially downwards from a freely rotatable bearing  39 . The screw is coated with a low friction polymer, for example polytetrafluoroethylene to facilitate insertion into the cork and removal in use.  
         [0044]     The screw  38  extends through a helical threaded aperture in a guideway sleeve  12  located in the guide member  10 . The guide member  10  is slidably mounted on the runners  34 . As the carriage  33  moves relative to the guide member, the motion of the screw  38  through the guideway  12  causes the screw to rotate in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.  
         [0045]     A generally cylindrical guideway member  13  has an axial aperture to permit passage of the worm spiral  38 .  
         [0046]     A neck engaging member  17  has a downwardly facing opening with concentric stepped annular surfaces to receive bottle necks of different diameters. The member  17  is axially slidable within the guideway  13  between upper and lower positions.  
         [0047]     In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  12  four resilient members  50  having radially inwardly facing leading surfaces  69  and downwardly facing teeth  70  (see  FIG. 9 ) extend upwardly through respective apertures  52  in the member  13 . When the neck engaging member  13  is in the uppermost position, the teeth  70  of the resilient members lock against complimentary surfaces  53  of the upper surface of the guideway  13 . The resilient members can disengaged by bending them outwardly, by downward pressure on the inclined surfaces  69 .  
         [0048]     First latch members  14  are mounted for pivotal movement on pin  16  received in bores  51  of the guideway  13 . Springs  15  bias the upper parts of the latch members  14  radially inwardly.  
         [0049]     The first latch members  14  extend upwardly from the pivot  16 . The upper portion of each latch member has inner  57  and outer  58  surfaces which converge at a leading edge  55 . A radially inwardly extending protrusion  60  on the lower part of member  14  serves to co-operate with a complimentary surface  71  of the upper moveable guideway portion  33  ( FIG. 11 ) to cause the latch member to rotate against the actual spring  15 .  
         [0050]     An upper inwardly facing hook shaped projection  59  has a downwardly facing surface to engage a complimentary surface  66  of the guide member.  
         [0051]     A U-shaped channel is cut out of the leading edge  55  to receive the head of the pin  11  of the guide member.  
         [0052]     A helical insert  12  in guide member  10  contains a helical aperture to receive in the worm screw  38 . The guide member  10  carries a radially outwardly facing pin or stud  11  arranged to be received in aperture  61  in the second latch member  8 . The latch member  8  comprises an elongate plate having an outwardly downwardly extending lower flange  62 .  
         [0053]     A screw  62  and spring  64  pass through a bore  65  in the upper part of each plate  8  to secure the second latch to the carriage  33  permitting outward movement of the lower portion of the latch against the action of the spring.  
         [0054]     The carriage  33  has four downwardly extending members  67  having feet  68  which engage the inclined surfaces  69  of the resilient members  50  when the latter are in their upper most position and when the carriage moves downwardly, to release the neck engaging portion  17  from the guideway.  
         [0055]      FIG. 12 ( a ) shows successive steps in the use of a corkscrew in accordance with this invention.  
         [0056]     In  FIG. 12  the handle of the corkscrew is lowered so that the carriage and guideway are in their lower position. The first latch member is biassed radially inwardly so that the guide member is locked in the lower position. The upper part of the first latch member receives the pin  11  and the second latch member passes over the outer cam surface of the first latch member without engaging the head of the pin  11 . Raising of the handle as shown in  FIG. 12 ( b ) causes the carriage  33  to be raised with the guideway  10  retained in the lower position. The relative movement of the spiral relative to the guide member causes the spiral to rotate as it is raised.  
         [0057]     The corkscrew may then be placed over the neck of a bottle as shown in  FIG. 12 ( c ). The neck of the bottle engages the actuator or neck engaging portion moving the latter upwardly opening the first latch member as shown by the small arrow in  FIG. 12 ( c ). The handle is then lowered driving the worm spiral inwards with rotation into the cork as shown in  FIG. 12 ( d ). In this position the second latch member passes inside the first latch member and engages the pin of the guideway. The downwardly extending feet of the carriage disengage the corresponding feet  69  of the actuator legs  50 , pushing the latter downwardly.  
         [0058]     Raising of the handle as shown in  FIG. 12 ( e ) withdraws the cork from the bottle into the body of the corkscrew. The bottle is then removed as shown in  FIG. 12 ( f ).  
         [0059]     Subsequent lowering of the handle moves the cork to a lower position as shown in  FIG. 12 ( g ).  
         [0060]     Subsequent raising and lowering of the handle as shown in FIGS.  12 ( h  to j) allows the first latch member to move inwardly under the action of its spring so that the second latch member passes on the outside of the cam surface. The mechanical arrangement is the same as at the start of the cycle and the subsequent raising of the handle as shown in  FIG. 120 ) releases the cork from the spiral, completing the process.  
         [0061]     Operation of the corkscrew is simple and does not require any dexterity. Firstly the lever is raised and the corkscrew is placed over the neck of a bottle and pressed downwardly. The neck of bottle is gripped with the gripper members. Lowering of the lever causes the spiral to move downwardly with rotation to penetrate the cork. The lever is then raised to withdraw the cork and the corkscrew may be removed from the bottle. The lever is then lowered to reset the latch by disengaging the guideway from the carriage. The lever is then raised to release the cork and lowered finally to the rest position.  
         [0062]     FIGS.  13  to  16  illustrate a second embodiment of the invention similar to the corkscrew shown in FIGS.  1  to  12  but in which the neck engaging portion ( 100 ) is modified by removal of the resilient members ( 50 , in  FIGS. 1 and 9 ). In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) the resilient members are modified by removal of the teeth ( 70 , in  FIG. 9 ). The height of the lower part of the resilient members ( 101 ) may be limited to be flush with the surface ( 102 ) of the main body of the neck engaging portion.  
         [0063]     Removal of the teeth or complete removal of the resilient members prevents locking of the neck engaging portion ( 100 ) to the guide member ( 103 ). When the engaging member ( 100 ) is pushed upwardly by insertion of the neck of a bottle, the first latch means ( 104 ) is pushed upwardly and rotated outwardly in the same way as in the first embodiment. However, the engaging member ( 100 ) moves back to a lower position after the bottle neck is removed. Thus the engaging member ( 100 ) automatically returns to the lower position where the cork has been removed and the bottle withdrawn as shown in  FIG. 12 ( f ) for the first embodiment. In the second embodiment stages  12 ( g ) and  12 ( h ) are omitted so that the corkscrew is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 12 ( i ). Thus when using the second embodiment a simplified operating procedure is achieved. Construction of the second embodiment is simpler and the corkscrew is therefore more reliable in use.  
         [0064]     One of more springs or other resilient members (not shown) may be provided between the downward facing surface of the guide member ( 103 ) and the upward facing surface of the engaging member ( 100 ). The spring or springs facilitate separation of these components to ensure that the engaging member returns to the lower initial position as soon as the bottle neck is removed from the corkscrew body.  
         [0065]     In a preferred embodiment the downwardly extending legs ( 67 ) of  FIGS. 1 and 11  are removed as shown in Figure ( 15 ).