Ratcheted Cork Screw

• US 20080271573A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Built NY Incorporated (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Built NY Incorporated (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lown, Aaron, Swartz, John Roscoe, Kwok, Wilson, Xing, Chen Wai, Akok, Tugrul
• Application Number:
  US12/027,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271573A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/3.45
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 2007/0458 Means for cutting sealing capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 2007/0476 by coating the screw
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/0411 without supporting means for assisting the pulling action

Abstract

A corkscrew includes a ratcheting feature to facilitate insertion of the bit into a closure and a locking feature to facilitate removal of the bit from the closure. A corkscrew also includes a removable bit (e.g., a worm, auger, or the like).

Claims

1. A corkscrew comprising:

a handle;

a ratcheting mechanism disposed in the handle;

a chuck to receive a bit, the chuck disposed in the handle and coupled to the ratcheting mechanism;

a removable bit mechanism disposed in the handle and coupled to the chuck, the removable bit mechanism comprising;

spring loaded jaws biased in a first position; and

a release mechanism to spread the spring loaded jaws to a second position, the release mechanism comprising an actuator disposed on an outside surface of the handle; and

a locking mechanism disposed in the handle and coupled to the chuck to selectively prevent rotation of the bit.

2. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises:

a ratchet gear comprising a first row of teeth;

a tab spring-biased against the first row of teeth.

3. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the chuck comprises a non-circular cross section.

4. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the removable bit mechanism maintains the bit within the chuck despite tension applied to the bit.

5. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a button.

6. The corkscrew of claim 5 wherein the button has a chamfered bottom that presses against the spring loaded jaws, thereby spreading the spring loaded jaws.

7. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the bit is an auger or a worm.

8. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the bit engages the outside of cork.

9. The corkscrew of claim 1 wherein the bit is adapted to remove the cork from a bottle of sparkling wine.

10. The corkscrew of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a lock gear comprising a second row of teeth, the lock gear coupled to the ratchet gear; and

a gear brake member movable between a locking position and a non-locking position;

wherein in the locking position, the gear brake engages with the second row of teeth and prevents rotation of the bit relative to the handle.

11. The corkscrew of claim 10 wherein the lock gear and ratchet gear are formed as a single assembly.

12. A corkscrew comprising:

a handle;

a bit;

a ratcheting mechanism disposed in the handle and coupled to the bit; and

a bit capture mechanism to non-removably receive the bit, the bit capture mechanism disposed in the handle and coupled to the ratcheting mechanism.

13. The corkscrew of claim 12 comprising a locking mechanism disposed in the handle and coupled to the ratcheting mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the bit relative to the handle.

14. The corkscrew of claim 12 wherein the ratcheting mechanism comprises:

a ratchet gear comprising a first row of teeth;

a tab spring-biased against the first row of teeth.

15. The corkscrew of claim 12 wherein the bit capture mechanism comprises a pair of opposing plates that couple to the bit.

16. The corkscrew of claim 12 wherein the bit is an auger or a worm.

17. The corkscrew of claim 14 wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a lock gear comprising a second row of teeth, the lock gear coupled to the ratchet gear; and

a gear brake member movable between a locking position and a non-locking position;

wherein in the locking position, the gear brake engages with the second row of teeth and prevents rotation of the bit.

18. The corkscrew of claim 17 wherein the lock gear and ratchet gear are formed as a single assembly.

20. The corkscrew of claim 12 comprising locking means for selectively preventing rotation of the bit in both the first and the second directions.

19. A corkscrew comprising:

a handle;

a bit;

ratchet means coupled to the bit for selectively allowing rotation of the bit in a first direction and preventing rotation of the bit in a second direction; and

means for non-removably receiving the bit, the means for non-removably receiving the bit coupled to the ratchet means.