IP Library Granted Patent US 7,481,134
Granted Patent B2
US 7,481,134 · App. 11/589,504 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

Bottle opener with integrated wrapper cutter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,481,134
App. No.
11/589,504
Granted
Jan 27, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bottle opener has a holding body that holds the top of the container. The holding body has a support that contacts the container and a gripping member opposite the support. The gripping member moves relative to the support between a released position, in which the gripping member permits the container to be released from the device, and an engaged position, in which the gripping member causes the container to be held between the gripping member and the support. The bottle opener also has an extracting element, such as a corkscrew, operably connected to the holding body which extracts the stopper from the container. The bottle opener has an integrated cutter positioned on at least one of the support and the gripping member, the cutter being adapted to cut the wrapper.

Claims (43)

1. A device for extracting a stopper from a top of a container, the container having a wrapper surrounding the stopper and an upper portion of the container, the device comprising:

a holding body adapted to hold the top of the container, the holding body comprising:

a support adapted to contact the container; and

a gripping member opposite the support, the gripping member being movable relative to the support between a released position, in which the gripping member permits the container to be released from the device, and an engaged position, in which the gripping member causes the container to be held between the gripping member and the support;

an extracting element operably connected to the holding body, the extracting element adapted to extract the stopper from the container;

at least one cutter positioned on one of the support and the gripping member, the at least one cutter being adapted to cut the wrapper, wherein the at least one cutter comprises a blade; and

a biasing element operably connected to the blade and adapted to bias the blade into contact with the wrapper.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutter includes a first cutter positioned on the gripping member and a second cutter positioned on the support.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one cutter further includes a third cutter positioned on the support.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the first, second, and third cutters lie on an imaginary circle and the arc-lengths between adjacent cutters on the imaginary circle are equal.

5. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second cutters are positioned on a common plane substantially parallel to the top of the container.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an extended surface biased toward the gripping member.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one cutter includes a first cutter positioned on the gripping member and a second cutter positioned on the extended surface.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a curved edge oriented substantially parallel to the top of the container.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutter further comprises a mount adapted to hold the blade, the mount positioning the blade to contact the wrapper when the gripping member is in the engaged position.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the mount further comprises two walls separated by a gap, and the blade is disc-shaped and is held in the gap between the walls of the mount.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the disc-shaped blade is rotatable in the gap between the walls of the mount.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping member pivots relative to the support about a hinge.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping member is biased into the released position.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support is contoured to correspond with the top portion of the container.

15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping member is contoured to correspond with the top portion of the container.

16. A device for extracting a stopper from a top of a container, the container having a wrapper surrounding the stopper and an upper portion of the container, the device comprising:

a receiving body, the receiving body having a wall, the wall defining a receiving area to receive the container and having an interior surface;

an extracting element, the extracting element being movable between a capture position and an extracted position, the capture position corresponding with capture of the stopper and the extracted position corresponding with removal of the stopper from the container;

a lever pivotably connected to the receiving body and operably connected to the extracting element, the lever having an end extending from the receiving body and causing movement of the extracting element between the capture position and the retracted position;

at least one cutter positioned in the receiving area, the at least one cutter being adapted to cut the wrapper, wherein the at least one cutter comprises a blade; and

a biasing device operably connected to the blade and adapted to bias the blade into contact with the wrapper.

17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the lever pivots about a hinge on the receiving body.

18. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the extracting element comprises an elongate spiral member.

19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein movement of the lever rotates the spiral member.

20. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one cutter is positioned on the interior surface of the wall.

21. The device according to the claim 16 , wherein the wall further defines a side opening in the receiving area, and a gripping member is positioned along the side opening, the gripping member adapted to move relative to the receiving body.

22. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the gripping member is pivotable relative to the receiving body.

23. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one cutter is positioned on the gripping member.

24. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one cutter includes a first cutter positioned on the gripping member and a second cutter positioned on the interior surface of the wall.

25. The device according to claim 24 , wherein the at least one cutter further includes a third cutter positioned on the wall.

26. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the gripping member is contoured to correspond with the container.

27. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the blade has a curved edge oriented substantially parallel to the top of the container.

28. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the blade comprises a curved edge oriented substantially parallel to the top of the container.

29. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one cutter further comprises a mount adapted to hold the blade, the mount positioning the blade to contact the wrapper.

30. The device according to claim 29 , wherein the mount further comprises two walls separated by a gap, and wherein the blade is disc-shaped and is held in the gap between the walls of the mount.

31. The device according to claim 30 , wherein the disc-shaped blade is rotatable in the gap between the walls of the mount.

32. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the interior surface of the wall is contoured to correspond with the container.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 33282/FRAME 664, REEL 36992/FRAME 599, REEL 37333/FRAME 878, AND REEL 39669/FRAME 0205 Recorded Oct 23, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BIG BLUE AUDIO, LLC; BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.
Reel/Frame 047296/0766 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 31, 2018
From: BIG BLUE AUDIO LLC; BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 047570/0677 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT FOR PATENTS Recorded Aug 12, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039669/0205 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2014
From: BIG BLUE AUDIO LLC; BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033282/0664 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2014
From: WELLS FARGO BANK
To: BROOKSTONE, INC.; BROOKSTONE COMPANY, INC.; BROOKSTONE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; BROOKSTONE HOLDINGS, INC.; BROOKSTONE PROPERTIES, INC.; BROOKSTONE PURCHASING, INC.; BROOKSTONE PUERTO RICO, INC.; BROOKSTONE STORES, INC.; GARDENERS EDEN, INC.; BROOKSTONE MILITARY SALES, INC.; BIG BLUE AUDIO LLC; BNM, LLC
Reel/Frame 033282/0721 →