Lever corkscrew with removable wrapper cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9670043-B2
Application number	US-201414471532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2014
Priority date	Aug 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A corkscrew includes a main body, a grip moveably connected with the main body, a lever moveably connected with the main body, a worm operably connected with the lever, and a wrapper cutter detachably connected with the main body. The grip and the main body define a space configured to receive a neck of an associated bottle, such as a wine bottle. The worm connects with the lever such that movement of the lever results in movement of the worm. The wrapper cutter includes a cutting element for cutting a wrapper surrounding the neck of the associated bottle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A corkscrew comprising:
a main body;
a grip movably connected with the main body, wherein the grip and the main body define a space configured to receive a neck of an associated bottle;
a lever movably connected with the main body;
a worm operably connected with the lever such that movement of the lever results in movement of the worm; and
a wrapper cutter detachably connected with the main body and including a cutting element for cutting a wrapper surrounding the neck of the associated bottle, wherein the space between the grip and the main body can receive the neck of the associated bottle when the wrapper cutter is connected with the main body,
wherein the wrapper cutter has a U-shaped configuration with an opening that faces the lever when connected with the main body, opposing first and second members of the wrapper cutter are releasably connected to opposing exterior sides of the main body.

2. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a recess and the wrapper cutter is received in the recess when connected with the main body.

3. The corkscrew of claim 2 , further comprising a catch in the recess and the wrapper cutter includes a catch element that cooperates with the catch for retaining the wrapper cutter in the recess.

4. The corkscrew of claim 3 , wherein the catch includes a first catch positioned near a first end of the recess and a second catch positioned near a second end of the recess, and the catch element includes a first catch element positioned near a first end of the wrapper cutter and a second catch element positioned near a second end of the wrapper cutter.

5. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper cutter includes a depression configured to receive a finger or a thumb of an operator to facilitate removal of the wrapper cutter from the main body.

6. The corkscrew of claim 5 , wherein the depression includes a first depression positioned near a first end of the wrapper cutter and a second depression positioned near a second end of the wrapper cutter.

7. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper cutter includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the cutting element extends inwardly from the inner surface, wherein the inner surface is not visible when the wrapper cutter is received in the recess and connected with the main body and at least a majority of each of the upper surface and the lower surface is not visible when the wrapper cutter is received in the recess and connected with the main body.

8. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the worm is movable along a first axis and the wrapper cutter is removable from the main body by pulling the wrapper cutter in a removal direction that is nearer to perpendicular with the first axis as compared to parallel or coaxial with the first axis.

9. The corkscrew of claim 1 , further comprising a first block connected with the worm such that movement of the first block results in movement of the worm, wherein the grip pivots about a first pivot axis with respect to the main body, wherein the lever pivots about a second pivot axis and a third pivot axis with respect to the main body, wherein the lever is connected with the first block and pivots about a fourth pivot axis with respect to the first block, wherein the first axis is parallel to the second, third and fourth pivot axes.

10. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a handle section that extends in a rearward direction from the main body.

11. The corkscrew of claim 10 , wherein the wrapper cutter is removed by pulling in a generally forward direction, which is generally opposite the rearward direction.

12. The corkscrew of claim 11 , wherein the main body includes a head and a lower wall extending down from the head, wherein the space configured to receive the neck of the associated wine bottle is positioned between an inner surface of the lower wall and an inner surface of the grip.

13. The corkscrew of claim 12 , wherein the head includes a recess and the wrapper cutter is received in the recess when connected with the main body.

14. The corkscrew of claim 13 , further comprising a catch formed in the recess and the wrapper cutter includes a catch element that cooperates with the catch for retaining the wrapper cutter in the recess.

15. The corkscrew of claim 14 , wherein the head includes a further recess and the cutting element of the wrapper cutter is received in the further recess when connected with the main body.

16. The corkscrew of claim 15 , wherein the wrapper cutter includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the cutting element extends inwardly from the inner surface, wherein the inner surface is not visible when the wrapper cutter is received in the recess formed in the head and connected with the main body and at least a majority of each of the upper surface and the lower surface is not visible when the wrapper cutter is received in the recess formed in the head and connected with the main body.

17. The corkscrew of claim 12 , wherein the head includes a recess and the wrapper cutter is received in the recess when connected with the main body.

18. The corkscrew of claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a connection portion which connects the lever to the main body and a handle portion, the connecting portion is positioned within the opening of the wrapper cutter when the wrapper cutter is connected with the main body.

19. A corkscrew comprising:
a main body including a head and a lower wall extending down from the head;
a grip movably connected with the main body, wherein the grip and the lower wall define a space configured to receive a neck of an associated bottle;
a lever movably connected with the main body;
a worm operably connected with the lever such that movement of the lever results in movement of the worm; and
a wrapper cutter detachably connected with the head of the main body and including a cutting element for cutting a wrapper surrounding the neck of the associated bottle,
wherein the wrapper cutter is U-shaped and includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein a curved recess is provided on the inner surface to receive the neck of the associated bottle and the cutting element extends inwardly from the inner surface and into the curved recess.

Assignees

• Helen Of Troy Ltd

Inventors

• Blanchard Russell Lewis Ernest
• Worden Iv Morris Elijah
• Lopez Dario Alejandro Narvaez
• Baxter Anthony John
• Brush Carly
• Mor Mackenzie

Classifications

• B67B2007/0458

  Means for cutting sealing capsules · CPC title

• B67B7/0441 Primary

  whereby the supporting means abut around the whole periphery of the neck of the bottle · CPC title