Tools – Receptacle closure remover – With additional receptacle-engaging means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-07-10
Morgan, Eileen P. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Receptacle closure remover
With additional receptacle-engaging means
C081S003360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257092
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a corkscrew and corkscrew assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Corkscrews conventionally comprise a screw, which may be in the form of a wire wound helically about an axis, having a point at its lower end for initial insertion into a cork and having a handle at the upper end to aid rotation. The handle conventionally has two similar arms extending symmetrically outwardly on opposite sides of the axis and substantially normal to the axis.
Since the corkscrew is usually gripped in one hand while the bottle is held with the other hand and the handle and helix are then rotated relative to the bottle about the axis this arrangement of handle is not the most convenient from an ergonomic point of view.
Where a corkscrew assembly is of the self pull type, having a screw handle and a holder to grip the bottle neck, in a known assembly disclosed in EP-A-0129301, the screw and handle are permanently retained against separation although they can move axially relative to one another with the screw closely engaging in a bore in the holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention the handle of a corkscrew has three equi-angularly spaced arms extending outwardly from and symmetrically about the axis of the screw.
Preferably each arm has a substantial depth parallel to the axis of the screw and preferably a depth of at least 20 mm, and each arm is of rounded form when viewed from the side.
With advantage the handle has a central boss with a downwardly opening bore in which the top of the screw is secured, each arm having a depth which narrows towards the central boss and being joined to the boss by a concave curved depression at the lower side so as to accommodate the fingers of a user. The handle is preferably moulded from plastics material in a single piece.
The central boss oreferably has a lower portion which is elastically flexible inwardly so that it can be a snap fit in the holder of a self-pull type corkscrew assembly.
In another aspect the invention provides a corkscrew assembly of the self-pull type comprising a screw member and a holding member, the screw member comprising a screw having a lower end adapted to be inserted into a cork and an upper end secured to a handle by which the screw member may be rotated about the axis of the screw, the holding member having a body formed with a bore to loosely receive the screw and a pair of arms extending downwardly therefrom and arranged to engage the top of and opposite sides of the neck of a bottle, the arrangement being such that initially as the screw member is rotated the screw enters the cork while further rotation causes the cork to be pulled from the neck of the bottle, and in which a projecting portion on the lower part of the handle is a retaining fit in the bore of the holding member when the screw is fully inserted into the holding member so as to retain the members together in that position against inadvertent separation, but allow the member to be pulled apart for use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 276804 (1883-05-01), Green
patent: D. 359213 (1995-06-01), Entwistle
patent: 613176 (1898-10-01), Stiles
patent: 1030698 (1912-06-01), Wilson
patent: 4276789 (1981-07-01), Allen
patent: 4727779 (1988-03-01), Lee
patent: 5079975 (1992-01-01), Spencer, Jr.
patent: 0 056 011 (1982-07-01), None
patent: 008711 (1901-04-01), None
patent: 004391 (1907-02-01), None
Danganan Joni B.
Dualit Limited
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Morgan Eileen P.
LandOfFree
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