Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This utility patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/685,799 filed May 31, 2005, entitled Modified Wine Bottle Opener, the entire content of which provisional application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Wine bottle openers that are available on the market function only as tools to extract the cork out of a bottle of wine. Wine holds a unique and special stature in many societies. The opening of a bottle of wine is a custom that can be symbolic of friendships or celebrations of various events such as marriages, sporting events, or the coming of a new year.  
         [0004]     The problem with cork-screw wine bottle openers is that they can be utilized only to extract the cork from the bottle and contribute little or nothing to the commemoration of special events. If a person wishes to convey a message further celebrating the ritual of opening a bottle of wine, he or she must either affix a greeting card to the bottle or express the message in some other way.  
         [0005]     In these respects, the wine bottle opener according to the present invention departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so, provides an apparatus for those who wish to commemorate a special occasion with a bottle of wine to further convey a celebratory message or gesture, simultaneous with the opening of the bottle, that can signify something about the consumer, the gathering or the occasion for which the bottle of wine is being opened.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     To address the shortcomings inherent in wing style (cork-screw) wine bottle openers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new type of cork-screw wine bottle opener. The new type of cork-screw wine bottle opener provides consumers not only with the means to remove cork from wine bottles, but also with the opportunity to express a message underscoring the significance of the bottle opening.  
         [0007]     The present invention generally comprises of a wine bottle opener with cylinder molded to resemble a human torso, wings molded to resemble human arms, wing tips molded to resemble human hands, cap piece assembly molded to resemble a human head, and a spiral assembly mounted within the cylinder. In another embodiment, the invention comprises of a wine bottle opener wherein specific parts of human body are substituted with analogous animal or alien body parts.  
         [0008]     One object of the present invention is to provide wine consumers with a tool to remove the cork from bottles of wine. Another object of the invention is to provide a means to communicate a message about or to commemorate a gathering or occasion. Another object of the invention is to provide a means of communicating a symbolic gesture that is of importance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction and method illustrated:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevational view of a prior art wine bottle opener;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear elevational view of a prior art wine bottle opener;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener in a first embodiment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener with message delivered in text form in a second embodiment;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener with message delivered in hand gesture form in a third embodiment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener with message delivered in physical gesture form in a fourth embodiment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener with message delivered in object form in a fifth embodiment; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a rear elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate front and rear elevational views of a prior art cork-screw wine bottle opener  10 , respectively. In one embodiment, cork-screw wine bottle opener  10  has a cap piece assembly  12  on top. In one embodiment, cap piece assembly  12  is fabricated by method of die-cast and is directly connected to a cork-screw  14 . In one embodiment, cap piece assembly  12  is slightly oval in shape and has an opening  13  in the center that serves as a handle to grasp wine bottle opener  10 . Opening  13  is proportionally smaller to fit within cap piece assembly  12 . In one embodiment, cork-screw  14  is fabricated out of metal and contains a descending spiral groove  16 . Descending spiral groove  16  allows a spiral assembly  18  to descend down a cylinder  20  when cap piece assembly  12  is manually twisted.  
         [0019]     Cylinder  20  contains a rectangular vertical opening  22  through which spiral assembly  18  can be viewed. A wing  24  and a wing  25  are attached to opposing sides of cylinder  20  by way of a metallic screw  26  and a metallic screw  27 , respectively. In one embodiment, wings  24  and  25  are elongated lengths of metal with arched tips at the ends. Wings  24  and  25  are pivotally connected to cylinder  20  with the aid of metallic screws  26  and  27 . Metallic screws  26  and  27  allow wings  24  and  25  to rise as the cap piece assembly  12  is manually twisted and spiral assembly  18  descends down cylinder  20 . In one embodiment, wings  24  and  25  are in a downward position at an approximate 30 degree angle to cylinder  20 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  30  in a first embodiment. In one embodiment, cap piece assembly  32  of wine bottle opener  30  is solid and is shaped to resemble a human head. Alternatively, cap piece assembly  32  could be shaped to resemble other things, for example, an alien or animal head. In another embodiment, cap piece assembly  32  is flat with relief molding to resemble facial features. Cap piece assembly  32  could be fabricated by method of molding or by method of die-cast. Cap piece assembly  32  serves as a handle to grasp wine opener  30 . Cap piece assembly  32  is connected to a corkscrew  34 . In one embodiment, corkscrew  34  is fabricated out of metal and contains a descending spiral groove  36 . Descending spiral groove  36  allows a spiral assembly  38 , as detailed by the perforated outline, to descend down a cylinder  40  when cap piece assembly  32  is manually twisted.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, cylinder  40  is cylindrical in shape and contains no external openings on the surface of cylinder  40  through which spiral assembly  38  can be seen. Alternatively, cylinder  40  is cylindrical in shape, and is manufactured of transparent material to allow a viewer to see spiral assembly  38  ascending or descending through cylinder  40 . Cylinder  40  of wine bottle opener  30  is shaped to resemble a human torso. In another embodiment, cylinder  40  could be shaped to resemble other things, for example, an alien or animal torso. A wing  42  and a wing  43  are attached to opposite sides of cylinder  40  by way of a metallic screw  44  and a metallic screw  45 , respectively. In one embodiment, wings  42  and  43  are made to resemble human arms with the tips of wings  42  and  43  made in the shape of human hands. In another embodiment, wings  42  and  43  can be made to resemble other things, for example, alien or animal arms with the tips made in shape of claws. Wings  42  and  43  are pivotally connected to cylinder  40  with the aid of metallic screws  44  and  45 . Metallic screws  44  and  45  allow wings  42  and  43  to rise as the cap piece assembly  32  is manually twisted and spiral assembly  38  descends down cylinder  40 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , wings  42  and  43  are in a downward position at an approximate 30 degree angle to cylinder  40 . Wings  42  and  43  could be fabricated out of metal and plastic. Other embodiments are possible and can be appropriately implemented depending on the physical form of an alien, an animal or a cartoon character.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  50  in a second embodiment. Wine bottle opener  50  is similar to wine bottle opener  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), in many respects, but has some additional modifications. In one embodiment, a wing  51  and a wing  52  have a wing tip  53  and a wing tip  54 , respectively. Wing tip  53  is molded to include a die-cast protrusion  55 . Protrusion  55  could be made out of plastic or other similar material. Protrusion  55  is approximately 0.75 inches by 0.75 inches. Protrusion  55  is affixed with a written communication message  56 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , written communication message  56  contains the message “Yippee! It&#39;s Wine Time!.” 
         [0023]     As shown by solid lines, wings  51  and  52  are in a downward position. Furthermore, as shown by a perforated outline  58 , wings  51  and  52  are in an upright position delivering written communication message  56 .  
         [0024]     The material suggested for manufacturing of wine bottle opener  50  and the dimensions of protrusion  55  as well as placement of protrusion  55  are exemplary only, and changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as herein described and claimed. In one embodiment, text or message or logo can be placed on wings of the wine bottle opener or at any other location that is most effective in conveying the message for the occasion. The text, message or logo may be placed vertically, horizontally or diagonally.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  60  in a third embodiment. Wine bottle opener  60  is similar to the aforementioned modified wine bottle opener  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), but with some additional modifications. In one embodiment, a wing  61  and a wing  62  have a wing tip  63  and a wing tip  64 , respectively. Wing tips  63  and  64  are molded to resemble hands giving the “Thumbs Up!” message.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , wings  61  and  62  are in a downward position. Additionally, as shown by a perforated outline  66  in  FIG. 5 , wings  61  and  62  are in an upright position delivering the “thumbs Up!” message.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  70  a fourth embodiment. Wine bottle opener  70  is similar to the aforementioned modified wine bottle opener  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), but with some additional modifications. In one embodiment, a cap piece assembly  71  is fabricated by utilizing a die-cast process and has been relief molded to resemble a sports referee&#39;s face and hat. In another embodiment, cap piece assembly  71  could be fabricated by another commercially known method with a material such as plastic or other durable material. Cylinder  72 , along with a wing  73  and a wing  74 , has been adorned with the traditional dress of a sports referee.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , wings  73  and  74  are in a downward position. Additionally, as shown by a perforated outline  76  in  FIG. 6 , wings  73  and  74  are in an upright position delivering the “Touchdown!” message.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , cap piece assembly  71  further includes a commercially available chip that delivers an audible message. This audible sound, either musical or vocal, can convey a celebratory message or communicate something about the consumer or occasion for which the bottle of wine is being opened. Alternatively, the chip can be implanted into cylinder  72 . The chip is activated by the rotation of the corkscrew  34  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Upon movement of corkscrew  34 , the chip is triggered and the sound becomes audible. The modified wine bottle opener that includes commercially available chip may be distributed pre-programmed or can be re-programmed or programmed by a consumer based on simple instructions. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made as to how a commercially available chip can be used or programmed without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevational view of a modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  80  in a fifth embodiment. Wine bottle opener  80  is similar to the wine bottle opener  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) in many respects, but has some additional modifications. In one embodiment, a wing  81  and a wing  82  have a wing tip  83  and a wing tip  84 , respectively. Wing tips  83  and  84  are fabricated by die-cast to resemble a cheerleader&#39;s pompoms. In another embodiment, wing tips  83  and  84  could be fabricated out of plastic or other durable material by utilizing a commercially known manufacturing method. Wing tips  83  and  84  could also be molded to resemble a baseball glove and bat.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , wings  81  and  82  are in a downward position. Additionally, as shown by a perforated outline  86  in  FIG. 7 , wings  81  and  82  are in an upright position delivering the message by raising the cheerleader&#39;s pompoms.  FIG. 8  illustrates a rear elevational view of modified cork-screw wine bottle opener  80  shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0032]     The above description of modified wine bottle openers are exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting since simple changes may be made within the spirit of the modified bottle openers disclosed. Additionally, various embodiments disclosed are not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. For example, other embodiments include wine bottle openers representing sports athletes, cartoon characters, famous theme-related figures, and may further include various messages and/or communications. While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims. With such possibilities in mind, the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.

Technology Category: b