US3307727A - Removable cork - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1967 M. A. GARAY 3,307,727

REMOVABLE CORK Filed Aug. 13, 1965 N INVENTO United States Patent T 3,307,727 REMOVABLE CORK Miguel A. Garay, 2978 W. San Marino Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90006 Filed Aug. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 479,400 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-55) This invention relates generally to devices for sealing containers and more particularly to a novel cork for sealing bottles, which cork includes means carried therein for efiiciently removing, when desired, the cork seal.

It is a known and well established practice to bottle certain beverages, notably wine. This facilitates storage and is an efiicient way to transport and distribute such items commercially. For the ultimate consumer, however, the task of removing the cork typically used demands time and patience and invariably the assistance of some mechanical device. The common cork screw for example damages, often destroys, the cork resulting too frequently with cork particles getting into the beverage. Gas driven devices likewise are not desirable since their use results in altering the flavor of the beverage. Expensive bottle opening machines, often used by establishments serving banquet sized gatherings capable of consuming the contents of many bottles within a relatively short time, are not the solution either since bottle breakage occurs and results in exposing patrons to the danger of unknowingly swallowing minute glass particles.

These disadvantages as well as such dangerous risks are obviated by the use of a removable cork in accordance with the invention. In brief, a removable cork to be described is provided with its own cork removing device. The installing of this novel cork is achieved in the usual manner; only its removal is different, conventional cork screws and other nonconventional external devices not being needed.

More specifically, after removal of the outer cover or wrapper, a force is applied to the ring like tab provided which first unwinds the coiled springlike flexible member to give the operator additional leverage. Upon continuing, this force is applied to a pin, embedded in the cork, which in turn transmits this force to the cork itself causing it to be withdrawn from the bottle in one piece. The cork is undamaged and hence no cork particles end up in the bottle. Bottle breakage is virtually nonexistent thereby eliminating the risk of deadly glass particles in the beverage. Since the cork remained intact, it may be temporarily reinserted if desired. In addition, the cost of manufacturing a removable cork having the above features and advantages is relatively low even without taking into account'its value in the form of protection to human life.

According to the invention, there is provided a removable cork for a bottle comprising in combination means including a cork for sealing the bottle and means including a flexible member extending partially into the cork and a rigid member anchored in the cork and coupled to the flexible member, the rigid member coacting with the flexible member in response to a force applied thereat in a direction to remove the cork from the bottle.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable cork for a bottle comprising in combination means including a cork for sealing the bottle, the cork including a first circular opening extending axially into the cork to a predetermined depth, the outer portion of the first circular opening having a diameter substantially larger than the remaining portion, the cork further including a second circular opening extending transversely through the cork and in communication with the first circular opening at the predetermined depth, and means for removing the cork from the bottle, the cork removing 3,307,727 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 means comprising a ring, a flexible wire coupled to the ring and including a coiled portion and a co-extending straight portion terminating in a loop and a pin extending through the loop, the flexible wire being received in the first circular opening with the terminating loop in axial alignment with the second circular opening for receiving the pin in operable disposition, the coiled portion being carried in the enlarged outer portion of the first circular opening, the pin coacting with the cork and the force applied to the ring to straighten the coiled portion and to remove the cork from the bottle.

It is therefore the primary objective and purpose of this invention to provide a novel removable cork for sealing a bottle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel removable cork for sealing a bottle, which cork can be quickly removed without the aid of conventional cork removing apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel removable cork of the type described having built-in cork removing means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel removable cork of the type described having means integrally associated therewith for opening bottles and the like without damaging or destroying the cork and causing cork and other particles to fall into and contaminate the contents.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification reference being had to accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the removable cork in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view showing the instant cork top of the invention operatively disposed in a bottle to seal the contents thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a planned view of the invention taken along a line 33 as seen'in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the removable cork in the process of being removed from a bottle using the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the various elements comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference 10 indicates a removable cork in accordance with the invention comprising a co-rk body 12 and a cork removing device 14. The cork body 12 may be cylindrical in configuration or as seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, the cylindrical configuration may include a slight taper. The diameter and length of the cork body 12 is determined by the type and size of the bottle to be sealed. In FIGURE 2, the cork body 12 is shown properly positioned in a bottle 16.

An opening 18 extends downwardly from the top 20 of the cork body 12 and includes an upper portion 22 of larger diameter for reasons to be described. Another opening 24, extending transversely into the cork body 12 from a point 26, passes through the opening 18 near the lower end thereof. The opening 18- may be axially positioned.

The cork removing device 14 as best seen in FIGURE 5 includes a flexible member 28, a ring 30, and a pin 32. The flexible member 28 may include an upper coiled portion 34 anchored to the ring 30 and a lower straightened portion 36 forming an extension of the coiled portion 34 and having a loop 38 formed at the lower most end as seen in FIGURES 2 and 5.

The flexible member 28 of the device 14 is carried in the opening 18 with the upper coiled portion 34 being positioned in the enlarged upper portion 22 of the opening 18. The flexible member 28 may be rotated so that the opening of the loop 38 is in alignment with the opening 24 so that the pin 32 can be passed through the loop 38 when inserted in the opening 24. When the flexible member 28 is in this position, the ring 30 may be pressed or positioned to lie flat along the top 20, as seen in FIG- URES 2 and 3, and ultimately held in this position by a suitable cover or wrapper 40 extending over the bottle 16 after the cork is inserted therein.

The removing cork device 14 may be assembled in the cork body 12 and the resultant removable cork 10 may be treated or handled in the same or similar manner as in the case of a conventional cork.

To open a bottle using the removable cork 10 such as the bottle 16 in FIGURE 2, the operator tears back the cover or wrapper 40 and grasps the ring 30 to pull it against the bottle 16. The coiled portion 34 is first straightened as shown by the reference 42 in FIGURE 4 and thereafter the force supplied is transmitted to the pin 32 by way of the flexible member 28. When the flexible member 28 is completely straightened, the force, shown by an arrow 44 in FIGURE 4, is imparted to the cork body 12 by the pin 32 in the region directly above the pin 32 as indicated by the reference 46.. With this arrangement, a bottle sealed with the cork 10 may be readily opened without particles of any type falling into the contents to be consumed.

It should be pointed out that the opening 24 may extend all the way through the cork body 12 from the point 26. The preferred length of the pin 32 is one slightly shorter than the length of the opening 24. If desired a plastic filter, not shown, may be applied at the end or ends of the opening 24, after the pin 32 is inserted therein through the loop 38. I have found that when no such plastic filler is used, the outer end or ends of the opening 24- is nevertheless sealed by the cork material surrounding the opening 24, such as in the region of the point 26, due to the compressing action as the cork 10 is inserted in the bottle 16 as seen in FIGURE 2 at the reference 48.

It should be also pointed out that the flexible member 28 may comprise a flattened wire or strip like material, not shown. As another suitable substitute, the flexible member 28 may be formed by folding a wire of mode termined length backward in U-type configuration at the middle and the loop 38 formed by twisting the folded wire. The ring 30 may then be formed by spiraling inwardly the two ends of this Wire to form tabs, both of which may be pressed or positioned to lie flat under the wrapper 40 along the top 20 of the cork 10.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

I claim:

A removable cork for a bottle comprising, in combination:

a generally cylindrical cork member having a first cylindrical opening formed in its upper end, concentric to the longitudinal axis of said member and extending to a predetermined depth, the upper portion of said first opening being of substantially greater diameter than the lower portion and providing an annular shelf, said cork member also having a second cylindrical opening extending transversely therethrough at said predetermined depth and communicating with said first opening;

a metal ring concentrically disposed on the upper end of said cork member above said upper portion of said,

first opening;

a flexible wire having its upper end secured to a point: on said ring, extending then horizontally to said first; opening, being then coiled into a coil which occupies;

said upper portion of said first opening and rests on said shelf, extending then downwardly through saidlower portion and having its lower end formed in a loop aligned with said second opening;

and a pin inserted into said second opening and through;

said loop for retaining said wire, the length of said pin being less than the width of said cork member atv said second opening location.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Celenza 2l555 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

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