Abstract:
An apparatus for removing a cork from a mouth of a bottle comprises a member for engaging the mouth of the bottle and a handle connected to the member and movable relative to the member. A shaft is operatively coupled with the handle so that movement of the handle rotates the shaft. The shaft includes two helical spikes extending around a common longitudinal axis. The helical spikes embed into the cork upon rotation of the shaft through movement of the handle. The helical spikes, when embedded in the cork, are resistant to toggling in the cork and to being pulled axially from the cork which can cause the cork to break into multiple pieces. The apparatus is particularly useful for removing a cork in an oversized wine bottle, such as a magnum.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/436,922, entitled APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A CORK FROM A BOTTLE, filed Dec. 27, 2002. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle, and is particularly useful for removing a cork from an oversized bottle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is common practice to utilize a cork to close and seal a bottle containing liquid, such as wine, for an extended period of time. Such a cork fits tightly (i.e. an interference fit) within the mouth of the bottle and requires a tool for removal. A wide variety of tools for removing corks are known, many of which utilize a single helical screw or worm that penetrates into the cork with sufficient purchase to withstand the force required to pull the cork from the bottle yet still remain embedded in the cork.  
           [0004]    Oversized bottles, such as magnums, double magnums, and the like, can be more difficult to remove the cork from due to the larger sizes of the mouths of the bottles and corresponding corks. When the known cork removal tools are used to remove a cork from such an oversized bottle, it is common for the cork to tear or break into multiple pieces. Such tearing of the cork can complicate the cork removal process and result in pieces of the cork falling into the liquid inside the bottle. Hence, a need exists for an apparatus for removing a cork from an oversized bottle and which avoids tearing or breaking the cork during the removal process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is an apparatus for removing a cork from inside a mouth of a bottle. The apparatus comprises at least one member for engaging the outside of the mouth of the bottle and at least one handle connected to the at least one member and movable relative to the at least one member. A shaft is operatively coupled with the at least one handle so that movement of the at least one handle rotates the shaft. The shaft includes at least two helical spikes projecting from an end portion of the shaft and extending around a common longitudinal axis. The at least two helical spikes embed into the cork upon rotation of the shaft through movement of the at least one handle. The at least two helical spikes, when embedded in the cork, are resistant to toggling in the cork and to being pulled axially from the cork which can cause the cork to break into multiple pieces.  
           [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the at least two helical spikes comprise a pair of intertwined corkscrews.  
           [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the bottle has an oversized mouth and the cork is correspondingly oversized. The at least one member is adapted to mate with the oversized mouth of the bottle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2 ;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 3;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an alternate configuration for a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a side view of an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a side view of an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 showing parts of the apparatus in different positions; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a side view of an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle, and is particularly useful for removing a cork from an oversized bottle. As representative of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus  10  for removing a large cork  12  from a mouth  14  of an oversized bottle  16 , such as a magnum of wine, in accordance with a first embodiment. The apparatus comprises a handle  20 , a lever  30 , and a shaft  40  centered about a longitudinal axis  42 .  
         [0019]    The handle  20  is manually engagable by the user and may be made from any suitable material. The handle has oppositely disposed first and second ends  22  and  24  and main body portion  26  between the ends. The lever  30  is pivotally attached to the first end  22  of the handle  20 . The lever  30  has an end portion  32  for engaging the outside of the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . The lever  30  may also include a bottle cap opening portion  34 . A blade or cutting member  36  may be pivotally attached to the second end  24  of the handle  20 .  
         [0020]    The shaft  40  is pivotally attached to the main body portion  26  of the handle  20 . First and second helical spikes  50  and  52  project from an end portion  44  of the shaft  40 . The helical spikes  50  and  52  comprise a pair of intertwined corkscrews. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  extend around the axis  42 . The spikes  50  and  52  extend in a helical pattern about the axis  42  at the same, constant radius R 1 . The radius of the helical spikes  50  and  52  should be selected so that the spikes will fit into a cork in a standard 750 ml bottle but are also well suited for removing a cork from an oversized bottle.  
         [0021]    It is contemplated, however, that the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  could extend about the axis  42  at different radiuses. Further, it is contemplated that the radius of one or both of the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  could increase or decrease as the helical spikes extend away from the end portion  44  of the shaft  40 .  
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4 , the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  have the same axial length, and also have the same circular cross-sectional shape. It is contemplated, however, that the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  could have different axial lengths. Further, it is contemplated that the helical spikes  50  and  52  could have a different cross-sectional shape, such as an oval shape. It also contemplated that the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  could have different cross-sectional areas (i.e., one spike being thicker than the other spike), and that the helical spikes could be either solid or hollow in cross-section. Finally, the helical spikes  50  and  52  shown in FIG. 1 have the same pitch, but this is not required.  
         [0023]    Each of the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  can be divided into three portions: a connecting portion  54 , an intermediate portion  56 , and a tip portion  58 . The connecting portion  54  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  is located at a proximal end  60  that adjoins the end portion  44  of the shaft  40 . According to one method for manufacturing the apparatus  10 , the connecting portion  54  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  is fixedly attached to the shaft  40  by inserting, in a tangential direction, the proximal ends  60  of the helical spikes into openings (not shown) in the end portion  44  and welding the connecting portions  54  to the shaft. The inserted proximal ends  60  of the helical spikes  50  and  52  help to reduce tensile bending stresses on the helical spikes under tensile (or pull-out) loads.  
         [0024]    Alternatively, the helical spikes  50  and  52  may be formed integrally with the shaft  40 , such as by casting. If the shaft  40  is cast, it is contemplated that a fillet (not shown) may be added at the junction of the helical spikes  50  and  52  and the end portion  42  to strengthen the junction and minimize stress concentrations at the connecting portions  54 . The fillet at the junction of the helical spikes  50  and  52  and the end portion  42  also helps to reduce bending stresses in the connection portions  54  of the helical spikes under tensile (or pull-out) loads.  
         [0025]    As best seen in FIG. 4, the connecting portions  54  at the proximal ends  60  of the first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  are spaced 180° apart about the axis  42  to balance the apparatus  10  and evenly distribute loads on the helical spikes. It is contemplated that the apparatus  10  could have more than two helical spikes spaced evenly apart about the axis  42 .  
         [0026]    The tip portion  58  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  is located at a distal end  62  of the helical spikes. The intermediate portion  56  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  extends between the tip portion  58  and the connecting portion  54 . The intermediate portion  56  and the tip portion  58  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  has a cross-sectional diameter that is less than or equal to the cross-sectional diameter of the connecting portions  54  to help provide the apparatus  10  with increased tensile strength at the junction of the helical spikes and the end portion  44 .  
         [0027]    The tip portion  58  of each of the helical spikes  50  and  52  illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4  has an elongated conical shape with a sharp pointed tip  68  for penetrating into the cork  12  as the shaft  40  of the apparatus  10  is rotated in a clockwise direction. FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative, self-tapping configuration for the tip portions  58  which includes a planar surface  66  for driving into the cork  12 , in the same manner that a wood chisel turned upside-down drives into wood, as the shaft  40  is rotated. It is contemplated that the tip portions  58  could also have a pyramid shape (not shown), similar to the tip of a nail.  
         [0028]    To remove the cork  12  from the bottle  16  using the apparatus  10 , the tip portions  58  of the helical spikes  50  and  52  are pressed against the upper surface of the cork. The handle  20  is then rotated, causing the shaft  40  to rotate as well. Rotation of the shaft  40  screws the helical spikes  50  and  52  into the cork  12  and embeds the spikes into the cork.  
         [0029]    With the helical spikes  50  and  52  embedded into the cork  12 , the cork is removed by manually pulling on the handle  20  in the axial direction. During this pulling process, substantial forces are placed on the cork  12  which can result in tearing or breaking of the cork. However, due to the twin helical spike design of the apparatus  10 , these forces are distributed over the entire width and length of the cork by the two helical spikes  50  and  52 . This force distribution prevents tearing and/or breaking of the cork  12  while the cork is being pulled from the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . Thus, the two helical spikes  50  and  52  provide the apparatus  10  with a high resistance to pull-out forces which can destroy the cork  12 . Further, the helical spikes  50  and  52  provide a high resistance to toggling when they are embedded in the cork  12 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus  210  constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of FIG. 6, reference numbers that are the same as those used in the first embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4  designate parts that are the same as parts in the first embodiment.  
         [0031]    According to the second embodiment, the apparatus  210  comprises a shaft  220 , a base member  230 , and a pair of oppositely disposed handles  240  and  242 . The base member  230  is generally tubular in shape and includes a central passage  232  through which the shaft  220  extends. The base member further includes an end portion  234  for engaging the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 .  
         [0032]    The handles  240  and  242  are pivotally mounted to the base member  230  and are disposed on opposite sides of the shaft  220  that extends through the base member. Each of the handles  240  and  242  includes a gear wheel  244  with teeth  246  located at the connection of the handle to the base member  230 . The teeth  246  are meshing engagement with rack teeth  222  that extend along the outer surface of a main body portion  224  of the shaft  220 .  
         [0033]    In addition to the rack teeth  222 , the shaft  220  includes a manually engagable knob  226  the an upper end of the shaft and first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  that project from the lower end of the shaft. As described previously, the helical spikes  50  and  52  comprise a pair of intertwined corkscrews that extend around the axis  42 .  
         [0034]    To remove the cork  12  from the bottle  16  using the apparatus  210 , the tip portions  58  of the helical spikes  50  and  52  are pressed against the upper surface of the cork. The knob  226  is then rotated, causing the shaft  220  to rotate as well. Rotation of the shaft  220  screws the helical spikes  50  and  52  into the cork  12  and embeds the spikes into the cork.  
         [0035]    With the helical spikes  50  and  52  embedded into the cork  12 , the cork is removed by manually rotating the handles  240  and  242  downward from the position shown in FIG. 6, which causes the shaft  220  to moved axially upward by virtue of the engaged gear teeth  246  and rack teeth  222 . During this pulling process, substantial forces are placed on the cork  12  which can result in tearing or breaking of the cork. However, due to the twin helical spike design of the apparatus  210 , these forces are distributed over the entire width and length of the cork by the two helical spikes  50  and  52 . This force distribution prevents tearing and/or breaking of the cork  12  while the cork is being pulled from the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . Thus, the two helical spikes  50  and  52  provide the apparatus  210  with a high resistance to pull-out forces which can destroy the cork  12 . Further, the helical spikes  50  and  52  provide a high resistance to toggling when they are embedded in the cork  12 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an apparatus  310  constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, reference numbers that are the same as those used in the first embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4  designate parts that are the same as parts in the first embodiment.  
         [0037]    According to the third embodiment, the apparatus  310  comprises a frame  320  and a support member  330  connected by an axially extending rod  340 . The apparatus  310  further includes a pair of clamping arms  350  and  352 , a handle  360 , and a shaft  370 .  
         [0038]    The support member  330  has an inverted L-shape and is movable relative to the frame  320 . The shaft  370  is mounted to and projects downwardly from the support member  330  as may be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The support member  330  includes a row of axially extending rack teeth  332  facing towards the handle  360 .  
         [0039]    The handle  360  is pivotally mounted to the frame  320 . The handle  360  includes gear teeth  362  that are in meshing engagement with the rack teeth  332  on the support member  330  so that rotation of the handle about its pivotal connection to the frame causes axial movement of the support member and the shaft  370  attached thereto. As described previously, first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  project from the shaft. The helical spikes  50  and  52  comprise a pair of intertwined corkscrews that extend around the axis  42 .  
         [0040]    The clamping arms  350  and  352  are hingedly attached to the frame  320  about the rod  340 . The arms  350  and  352  define an opening  354  (FIG. 8) for receiving the mouth  14  of the bottle  16  and through which the helical spikes  50  and  52  project.  
         [0041]    To remove the cork  12  from the bottle  16  using the apparatus  310 , the apparatus is placed in the position shown in FIG. 7 and the tip portions  58  of the helical spikes  50  and  52  are pressed against the upper surface of the cork. The handle  360  is then rotated in a clockwise direction, causing the support member  330  to move axially downward. This downward motion pushes the shaft  370  downward and drives the helical spikes  50  and  52  into the cork  12 .  
         [0042]    With the helical spikes  50  and  52  embedded into the cork  12 , the cork is removed by manually rotating the handle  360  counterclockwise relative to the frame  320 , which moves the support member  330  and the shaft  370  axially in an upward direction and pulls the cork from the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . During this pulling process, substantial forces are placed on the cork  12  which can result in tearing or breaking of the cork. However, due to the twin helical spike design of the apparatus  310 , these forces are distributed over the entire width and length of the cork by the two helical spikes  50  and  52 . This force distribution prevents tearing and/or breaking of the cork  12  while the cork is being pulled from the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . Thus, the two helical spikes  50  and  52  provide the apparatus  310  with a high resistance to pull-out forces which can destroy the cork  12 . Further, the helical spikes  50  and  52  provide a high resistance to toggling when they are embedded in the cork  12 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus  410  constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9, reference numbers that are the same as those used in the first embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4  designate parts that are the same as parts in the first embodiment.  
         [0044]    According to the fourth embodiment, the apparatus  410  comprises a handle  420  and a shaft  430  projecting from the handle. As with the previous embodiments, first and second helical spikes  50  and  52  project from an end portion of the shaft  430 .  
         [0045]    To remove the cork  12  from the bottle  16  using the apparatus  410 , the tip portions  58  of the helical spikes  50  and  52  are pressed against the upper surface of the cork. The handle  420  is then rotated, causing the shaft  430  to rotate as well. Rotation of the shaft  430  screws the helical spikes  50  and  52  into the cork  12  and embeds the spikes into the cork.  
         [0046]    With the helical spikes  50  and  52  embedded into the cork  12 , the cork is removed by manually pulling on the handle  420  in the axial direction. During this pulling process, substantial forces are placed on the cork  12  which can result in tearing or breaking of the cork. However, due to the twin helical spike design of the apparatus  410 , these forces are distributed over the entire width and length of the cork by the two helical spikes  50  and  52 . This force distribution prevents tearing and/or breaking of the cork  12  while the cork is being pulled from the mouth  14  of the bottle  16 . Thus, the two helical spikes  50  and  52  provide the apparatus  410  with a high resistance to pull-out forces which can destroy the cork  12 . Further, the helical spikes  50  and  52  provide a high resistance to toggling when they are embedded in the cork  12 .  
         [0047]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.