Container opener

• US 6,752,040 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Cifelli, Raoul Paul-Alexandre
• Original Assignee: Anthony Cifelli, Raoul Paul-Alexandre
• Inventors: Cifelli, Anthony, Paul-Alexandre, Raoul
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US10/336,891
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 81/30.9, 81/33.6, 81/32.9, 81/33.9, 81/34.5, 81/34.7, 81/34.8, 81/33.5, 81/35.5, 81/35.7
• US Class Current: 81/3.09
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/0423 of wine-waiter, i.e. sommelier type
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/44 Combination tools, e.g. comprising cork-screws, can piercers, crowncap removers combinations of opening devices with cutting tools B26; with devices serving other purposes, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. B25F; B43K29/00

Abstract

The handle of a container opener has between its first and second end a pair of sidewalls. The handle has an underside with a concavity, a topside, and on the topside at the first end, a cap remover. A corkscrew and arm are each pivotally attached to the handle. The corkscrew can swing about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position and a stored position that is located between the sidewalls inside the concavity. The corkscrew in its stored position is shielded along at least most of its length. The corkscrew axis is closer to the second end than the first end. The arm can swing about an arm axis, which is closer than the corkscrew axis to the second end. The arm can operate as a fulcrum for the handle.

Claims

1. A container opener comprising:

a handle having between a first and a second end a partition with a topside and an underside and a pair of sidewalls on either side of said partition, said handle having a cap remover on said topside at said first end;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located between said sidewalls, said corkscrew in its stored position being shielded along at least most of its length, the corkscrew axis being closer to said second end than said first end; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, the arm axis being closer than the corkscrew axis to the second end, said arm being operable as a fulcrum for said handle, said arm being operable to swing into a closed position against said handle to cover said corkscrew in its stored position, said arm being operable to snap into its closed position.

2. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said corkscrew has a stub positioned to project beyond said handle when said corkscrew is in said stored position to allow finger pressure on said stub to swing said corkscrew about said corkscrew axis and out of said stored position.

3. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said corkscrew is pivotally supported between said sidewalls.

4. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said handle has an angular detent for holding the corkscrew in said deployed position.

5. A container opener according to claim 4 wherein said angular detent comprises:

a spring-loaded member between said handle and said corkscrew.

6. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said arm has a transverse tongue that is operable to engage a bottle mouth after said corkscrew is embedded in a cork, so that said arm can act as a fulcrum for said handle to allow extraction of the cork by lifting said handle.

7. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said arm has a transverse ledge that, in said closed position, engages and holds said corkscrew in its stored position.

8. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said sidewalls have at least one notch, said arm having a transverse ledge that, in said closed position, engages said at least one notch to hold said arm in its closed position.

9. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said arm is operable to swing at least 180°

.

10. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said handle has between said sidewalls said partition shielding at least a portion of said corkscrew in its stored position.

11. A container opener according to claim 1 wherein said cap remover comprises:

a notch extending transversely across said handle for engaging a container cap.

12. A container opener according to claim 11 wherein said notch at said first end is a V-shaped notch.

13. A container opener according to claim 11 wherein said notch has a proximal bank and a higher distal bank.

14. A container opener according to claim 11 wherein said notch has a pair of banks, said opener comprising:

a rigid tab mounted at one of said banks and extending partially into said notch for engaging said container cap.

15. A container opener according to claim 14 wherein one of said banks has a longitudinal slot, said rigid tab being mounted in said longitudinal slot.

16. A container opener according to claim 15 wherein said rigid tab is mounted at a proximal one of said banks of said notch, said first end having a an opening extending axially to said notch to give clearance for installing said rigid tab through said first end into said longitudinal slot.

17. A container opener comprising:

a handle having between a first and a second end a partition with a topside and an underside and a pair of sidewalls on either side of said partition, said handle having a cap remover on said topside at said first end, said handle having between said sidewalls a partition with an access holes;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located between said sidewalls, said corkscrew in its stored position being shielded along at least most of its length, the corkscrew axis being closer to said second end than said first end, said corkscrew having a stub positioned to project beyond said handle when said corkscrew is in said stored position to allow finger pressure on said stub to swing said corkscrew about said corkscrew axis and out of said stored position, said stub projecting through said access hole when said corkscrew is in said stored position; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, the arm axis being closer than the corkscrew axis to the second end, said arm being operable as a fulcrum for said handle.

18. A container opener comprising:

a handle having between a first and a second end a partition with a topside and an underside and a pair of sidewalls on either side of said partition, said handle having a cap remover on said topside at said first end;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located between said sidewalls, said corkscrew in its stored position being shielded along at least most of its length, the corkscrew axis being closer to said second end than said first end, said handle having an angular detent for holding the corkscrew in said deployed position, said angular detent having an internal depression on said handle for engaging and holding said corkscrew; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, the arm axis being closer than the corkscrew axis to the second end, said arm being operable as a fulcrum for said handle.

19. A container opener comprising:

a handle having between a first and a second end a partition with a topside and an underside and a pair of sidewalls on either side of said partition, said handle having a cap remover on said topside at said first end;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located between said sidewalls, said corkscrew in its stored position being shielded along at least most of its length, the corkscrew axis being closer to said second end than said first end, said handle having an angular detent for holding the corkscrew in said deployed position, said angular detent having a holding hole in said handle for receiving a portion of said corkscrew in order to hold it in said deployed position; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, the arm axis being closer than the corkscrew axis to the second end, said arm being operable as a fulcrum for said handle.

20. A container opener comprising:

a handle having an underside with a concavity, a topside, and a cap remover on said topside;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located inside said concavity; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, said corkscrew axis being located on said handle between said cap remover and said arm axis, said arm being operable to swing into a closed position against said handle to cover said corkscrew in its stored position;

said arm being operable to snap into its closed position.

21. A container opener according to claim 20 wherein said handle comprises:

a pair of sidewalls having between them said topside, said topside having an access hole, said stub projecting through said access hole when said corkscrew is in said stored position.

22. A container opener according to claim 20 wherein said handle comprises:

a pair of sidewalls having at least one notch, said arm having a transverse ledge that, in said closed position, engages said at least one notch to hold said arm in its closed position.

23. A container opener according to claim 20 wherein said cap remover comprises:

a notch extending transversely across said handle for engaging a container cap.

24. A container opener according to claim 23 wherein said notch is a V-shaped notch.

25. A container opener according to claim 23 wherein said notch has a pair of banks, said opener comprising:

a rigid tab mounted at one of said banks and extending partially into said notch for engaging said container cap.

26. A container opener comprising:

a handle having an underside with a concavity, a topside, and a cap remover on said topside;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located inside said concavity, said corkscrew having a stub positioned to project beyond said topside of said handle when said corkscrew is in said stored position to allow finger pressure on said stub to swing said corkscrew about said corkscrew axis and out of said stored position; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, said corkscrew axis being located on said handle between said cap remover and said arm axis.

27. A container opener comprising:

a handle having an underside with a concavity, a topside, and a cap remover on said topside;

a corkscrew pivotally attached to said handle for swinging about a corkscrew axis between a deployed position under said underside and a stored position located inside said concavity; and

an arm pivotally attached to said handle to swing about an arm axis, said corkscrew axis being located on said handle between said cap remover and said arm axis, said arm being operable to swing into a closed position against said handle to cover said corkscrew in its stored position, said arm having a transverse ledge that, in said closed position, engages and holds said corkscrew in its stored position.