Movement-assisted corkscrew

• US 7,437,973 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ghidini Cipriano S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Farmitaly S.R.L.
• Inventors: Cellini, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US10/588,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 81/34.7, 81/30.9, 81/33.6, 81/33.7, 81/32.9, 81/34.5, 81/35.5, 81/34.8
• US Class Current: 81/3.47
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 2007/0458 Means for cutting sealing capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/0429 having means for varying the effective lever arm length

Abstract

A corkscrew includes a handgrip (1), a screw (2) associated to the handgrip (1) by means of a first pivoting connection (3), and an arm (4, 4′) comprising first abutting members (5, 5′) and associated to the handgrip (1) by means of a second connection (21) that enables the arm (4, 4′) to rotate, with the arm (4, 4′) being further capable of performing a second movement relative to the handgrip (1).

The inventive corkscrew is characterized in that it comprises elastic means (10) that are adapted to affect at least the second movement of the arm (4, 4′) so as to assist in pulling out a cork (7) from a bottle (6).

Claims

1. A corkscrew comprising:

a handgrip;

a screw associated with said handgrip via a first connection, said first connection being a pivoting connection;

an arm having first abutting members and being associated with said handgrip via a stud-and-slot coupling which enables said arm to pivotally rotate relative to said handgrip in a first movement, said arm being further capable of performing a second movement relative to said handgrip;

an elastic member adapted to affect at least said second movement of said arm, wherein said elastic member is configured to exert a force adapted to move said arm away from said screw so as to assist an angular displacement of said handgrip in a direction in which a cork is to be extracted.

2. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said elastic member supports a movement of said arm in a first direction of displacement, while opposing a movement of said arm in a second direction of displacement opposite to the first direction of displacement.

3. A corkscrew according to claim 2, in which the first direction of displacement is a direction in which said arm moves away from said first connection of said screw.

4. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which a displacement of said arm in a direction in which said arm moves closer to said first connection causes a potential energy of said elastic member to increase.

5. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said elastic member is arranged between said handgrip and said arm.

6. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said elastic member is constituted by either a coil spring or a flat spring.

7. A corkscrew according to claim 6, in which said elastic member is constituted by said flat spring, wherein said flat spring comprises at least a first surface portion in a cusp-like conformation so as to generate a variation in a speed of said second movement of said arm.

8. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said stud is firmly joined to said arm and said slot is provided in said handgrip.

9. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said stud is firmly joined to said handgrip and said slot is provided in said arm.

10. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said arm further comprises second abutting members arranged between said stud-and-slot coupling and said first abutting members.

11. A corkscrew according to claim 1, in which said handgrip comprises a cutting arrangement for cutting off a film used to seal off a neck of a bottle.

12. A corkscrew according to claim 11, in which said cutting arrangement comprises a stationary portion and a support, said support being displaceable relative to said stationary portion between a resting position and an operating position thereof.

13. A corkscrew according to claim 12, in which said stationary portion and said support comprise cavities arranged so as to face each other such that, when said support is in said operating position, said cavities form a recess adapted to accommodate an end portion of the neck of the bottle.

14. A corkscrew according to claim 13, in which said cutting arrangement comprises at least a cutting member in a form of a wheel.

15. A corkscrew according to claim 12, in which said cutting arrangement comprises at least a cutting member in a form of a wheel.

16. A corkscrew according to claim 11, in which said cutting arrangement comprises at least a cutting member in a form of a wheel.