DE102024111817B4 - Bottle opener for opening a bottle sealed with a crown cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle opener (10) for opening a bottle sealed with a crown cap, comprising a crown cap holder (11) and a collection container (14) connected to the crown cap holder (11) for the removed crown caps. The crown cap holder (11) includes an insertion opening (13) through which a section of the bottle sealed with the crown cap can be inserted. The bottle opener (10) has a gripping edge (15) for grasping behind an edge section of the crown cap, wherein the gripping edge (15) is arranged on a pivoting element (20) for locking and releasing the crown cap, and wherein the pivoting element (20) is pivotable about a pivot axis (21).

Description

The invention relates to a bottle opener for opening a bottle sealed with a crown cap.

Bottle openers are generally known from the state of the art. For example, it is described... EP 0 407 803 A1 a bottle opener with a circular notch for inserting a bottle end and a blade for opening the bottle. Furthermore, it shows DE 2020 17 006 039 U1 a bottle opener with a collection container, but the crown caps are difficult to remove and a secure slide back out of the collection container towards the opening is not guaranteed. EP 3 544 923 B1 reveals a bottle opening and additive dispensing device. DE 71 09 412 U It describes a device for opening containers, especially bottles with a crown cap.

The aforementioned disadvantages are overcome by a bottle opener designed to open bottles sealed with crown caps. This bottle opener includes a crown cap holder, which may be part of the opener's interior. Furthermore, the opener incorporates a collection container connected to the crown cap holder to collect the removed crown caps. In other words, the interior of the collection container is integrated with the crown cap holder. Finally, the bottle opener features an insertion opening for the crown cap holder, through which a section of the bottle, still sealed with the crown cap, can be inserted.

The bottle opener includes a gripping edge for grasping the rim of the bottle's crown cap. This gripping edge is attached to a pivoting element of the bottle opener. The pivoting element serves to lock and release the crown cap and can be rotated around a pivot axis.

In particular, the swivel element can pivot between a first and a second position. In the first position, the swivel element is designed to secure the crown cap. In other words, the crown cap is hooked under the swivel element or its gripping edge. By levering the bottle opener, the bottle can be opened by releasing the crown cap. In the second position, a crown cap that is already hooked but still sealed or not yet released can be released without opening the bottle. Crucially, the swivel element is held in the first position by spring force. The swivel element can be mounted on an integrated shaft. It can be moved against the spring force by manual action into the second position to release a crown cap that is not yet loosened. In other words, the swivel element is pre-tensioned by spring force in such a way that it remains in the first position without external force and is held under the edge of the crown cap during the opening process. This allows for a mechanical locking of the crown cap by the swivel element, which ensures a reliable opening process of the bottle.

The pivoting element can clamp an angle between the first position and the second position, in particular between 5° and 30°, preferably between 10° and 20°, most preferably between 12° and 15°. The pivot axis runs parallel to the insertion opening or to a plane encompassing the insertion opening. The pivot axis runs through the shaft.

In particular, one end face of the bottle opener, running lengthwise, is at least partially formed by the swivel element. Specifically, the bottle opener has a first end region and a second end region running lengthwise, with the swivel element located in the first end region and the collection container in the second end region.

The swivel element can have a grip area, preferably designed as an operating lever. This can be located at the opposite end of the swivel element from the gripping edge. The swivel element serves to lock, lever, and release the unloosened crown cap. Since the gripping edge is a lever surface and is moved by pivoting the swivel element, a crown cap that is already engaged but not yet released can be freed in this way. By releasing the cap, it is possible to remove an unopened bottle from the crown cap holder. In other words, the grip area is pressed, triggering a movement of the swivel element to the second position, which releases the crown cap.

According to the invention, the insertion opening is arranged laterally on the bottle opener and is longitudinally limited on one side by the pivoting element. Furthermore, it can be limited on the other side by a chamfered outer wall section. The outer wall section or the pivoting element thus preferably borders directly on the insertion opening in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the outer wall section forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the bottle opener, preferably between 20° and 70°, and more preferably The angle of the opener is between 30° and 60°. The beveled outer wall section is designed to facilitate the opening of the bottle. Part of the crown cap is held under the gripping edge, and the bottle is then preferably pivoted towards the beveled outer wall section, thus releasing the crown cap. This prevents the bottle opener from striking the bottle during the opening process.

In particular, the bottle opener has a channel extending from the insertion opening and thus into the interior, for guiding the removed crown caps into the collection container. In a transition area between the channel and the collection container, the bottle opener may have at least one beveled inner wall section to hinder the movement of the removed crown caps in the collection container towards the insertion opening.

The channel is characterized in particular by a reduced dimension in at least one transverse direction of the bottle opener, whereby this dimension may increase again in the transition area. The channel can, in particular, have dimensions, namely a width and a length, that are adapted to the dimensions of a crown cap. Thus, the channel can have a length that is at least equal to the length of a crown cap and a width that is at least twice the width of the crown cap, but at most three times its width. The width of the channel can be between 4 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 10 mm.

The at least one inner wall section can extend radially outwards obliquely towards the first end region, at least in a longitudinal section of the bottle opener. The channel is thus located in a central area, with the beveled inner wall section extending radially outwards obliquely towards the first end region. In particular, the inner wall section forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the bottle opener, preferably between 20° and 70°, and more preferably between 30° and 60°. Preferably, the bottle opener can comprise two correspondingly beveled inner wall sections.

The bottle opener may have a restrictor located in the channel to prevent the loosened crown caps in the collection container from moving towards the insertion opening. This restrictor can be understood primarily as a blocking element. It could, for example, be a spring positioned between the two inner wall sections and/or within the channel to prevent or at least impede such movement. The restrictor is replaceable or retrofittable.

The stop is located primarily laterally behind the opening surface. In other words, the stop acts as a distance limiter for the crown cap, restricting how far the bottle neck can be pushed into the interior by the swivel lever. The longitudinal elevation on both sides thus limits the movement of the released crown cap in three directions, allowing movement only on the side facing the channel.

Furthermore, the stop serves as an additional opening or lever surface for the crown cap. Depending on the bottle opener's material, a harder opening surface may be mounted separately to prevent wear on softer materials. This applies particularly to the surface of the stop and/or the gripping edge. The surface of the stop and/or the gripping edge may preferably be smooth and/or rough and/or chamfered to prevent slipping during opening.

In particular, the bottle opener can be made in two parts: a first part at the first end and a second part at the second end, the second part being formed by the collection container. In a two-part design, the collection container can be a hollow body into which the first part, comprising the first end, can be inserted. The first part can include all the features mentioned above except for the collection container. In a two-part design, at least one beveled inner wall section facilitates assembly of the bottle opener.

The bottle opener may have openings, preferably drilled holes, to lock the bottle opener to the collection container and/or to attach optional accessories such as magnetic holders, beverage crate holders, belt clips, wall mounts, handle grips, etc. The openings may be threaded. In a two-part design, the first part may be inserted into the cylindrical body of the collection container and fixed, for example, by means of screws in the corresponding openings.

Furthermore, the bottle opener can be manufactured as a single piece. The bottle opener can, in particular, be made of metal and/or plastic. In the case of a single-piece design, the bottle opener can be manufactured primarily by injection molding, aluminum die casting, or 3D printing.

• 1: eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Flaschenöffner;
• 2: eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines Abschnitts des Flaschenöffners der 1 im ersten Endbereich;
• 3: eine Längsschnittdarstellung des Abschnitts des Flaschenöffners der 1 und 2 im ersten Endbereich;
• 4: eine Draufsicht des Flaschenöffner der 1 bis 3;

They show, in purely schematic form:

• 1 : a perspective view of a bottle opener;
• 2 : a longitudinal section view of a portion of the bottle opener of the 1 in the first terminal area;
• 3 : a longitudinal section view of the bottle opener section of the 1 and 2 in the first terminal area;
• 4 : a top view of the bottle opener of the 1 to 3 ;

In 1 A bottle opener 10 is shown in perspective view with a longitudinal direction 30. It has a first end region 31 and a second end region 32.

In the first end area 31, the bottle opener has a swivel element 20, which is extended by a 1 The pivot axis 21, not directly shown, is pivotable. 1 The swivel element 20 is shown in the first position 22. The bottle opener has an insertion opening 13 on the side. This leads to a crown cap receptacle 11 into which a crown cap from a bottle can be inserted. The swivel element 20 has a gripping edge 15 which is located in 1 is not visible. Furthermore, the swivel element 20 includes a handle area 25.

Furthermore, the bottle opener has a collection container 14 for collecting removed crown caps. A beveled outer wall section 50 is also clearly visible, directly adjacent to the insertion opening 13. On the other side, the swivel element 20 adjoins the insertion opening 13. The beveled outer wall section 50 forms an angle 51 with its longitudinal direction 30. A raised section on both sides of the insertion opening 13, in the longitudinal direction 30, prevents the removed crown cap from slipping out laterally.

In 2 is a longitudinal section view of section 10 of the bottle opener 1 The first end section 31 is visible in the longitudinal direction 30. The insertion opening 13 and the crown cap receptacle 11 are again visible. The crown cap receptacle 11 is limited in the transverse direction of the bottle opener 10 by a stop 26. In the longitudinal direction, it is limited by the swivel element 20. The crown cap receptacle 11 is part of the interior 12.

In 2 The gripping edge 15 is also clearly visible. The pivoting element 20 is mounted on the shaft 27, through which the pivot axis 21 extends into the blade. The pivoting element 20 is again shown in the first position 22. The end face 33 in the longitudinal direction 30 is formed by the pivoting element 20. Furthermore, the chamfered outer wall section 50, which delimits the insertion opening 13, is shown again.

From the interior 12, or the crown cap receptacle 11, a channel 40 leads into the collection container 14. In a transition area 41 to the collection container 14, the width increases in the transverse direction, while it is reduced in the area of the channel 40. In this transition area 41, the bottle opener 10 has two inner wall sections 42 that extend radially outwards in at least the longitudinal section that is 2 As shown, the inner wall sections 42 slope obliquely outwards towards the first end region 31. They form an angle 43 with the longitudinal direction 30. This prevents a crown cap that has already been removed from the interior of the collection container from moving back towards the crown cap receptacle 11.

Furthermore, in 2 two openings 70, preferably boreholes, for fastening the in 2 The illustrated part of the bottle opener includes the collection container. Furthermore, opening 70 can be used to attach optional accessories, such as a holder (e.g., a magnetic holder), a beverage crate holder, a belt clip, a strap holder, or handle scales, etc.

In 3 The bottle opener number 10 is back again. 2 The longitudinal section view shows the pivoting element 20 in its second position 23. A difference can be seen between the first and second positions. 3 schematically represented - an angle of 24° is included.

In 4 is a top view of the bottle opener 10 of the 1 to 3 shown, where the bottle opener 10 or the section is now rotated by 90° so that one can clearly see an inner wall section 42, the beveled outer wall section 50, the insertion opening 13 and the swivel element 20.

In 5 This is again section 10 of the bottle opener from the previous section. 2 The diagram shows a perspective view. Again, the channel 40, an inner wall section 42 in the transition area 41, the chamfered outer section 50, and the pivoting element 20 with the gripping edge 15 and the handle area 25 are visible. An opening 70 can be provided in an inner wall section 42 to accommodate a retaining element, such as a spring, which can extend from one inner wall section to the opposite inner wall section, thus mechanically preventing slippage. In other words, the retaining element extends through the channel 40.

Reference symbol list

10

bottle opener

11

bottle cap recording

12

interior

13

insertion opening

14

Collection container

15

Gripping edge

20

Swivel element

21

Swivel axis

22

first position

23

second position

24

Angle between first and second position

25

Grip area

26

stop

27

Wave

30

Longitudinal direction

31

first end area

32

second end area

33

Front

40

channel

41

Transition area

42

Interior wall section

43

Angle of the inner wall section to the longitudinal direction

50

bevelled exterior wall section

51

Angle of the beveled outer wall section to the longitudinal direction

70

opening

Claims (13)

Bottle opener (10) for opening a bottle sealed with a crown cap, comprising a crown cap receptacle (11) and a collection container (14) connected to the crown cap receptacle (11) for loosened crown caps, wherein the crown cap receptacle (11) has an insertion opening (13) through which a crown cap-sealed section of the bottle can be inserted, wherein the bottle opener (10) comprises a gripping edge (15) for gripping behind an edge section of the crown cap, wherein the gripping edge (15) is arranged on a pivoting element (20) for locking and releasing the crown cap, wherein the pivoting element (20) is pivotable about a pivoting axis (21), characterized in that the insertion opening (13) is arranged laterally on the bottle opener (10) and is limited on one side in the longitudinal direction (30) of the bottle opener (10) by the pivoting element (20). Bottle opener (10) Claim 1 , characterized in that the pivoting element (20) is pivotable between a first position (22) and a second position (23), wherein the pivoting element (20) is designed to fix the crown cap in the first position (22) and to release the unreleased crown cap together with the bottle in the second position (23). Bottle opener (10) Claim 2 , characterized in that the pivoting element (20) clamps an angle (24) between 5° and 30° between the first position (22) and the second position (23). Bottle opener (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis (21) is arranged parallel to the insertion opening (13). Bottle opener (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting element (20) is pre-tensioned by spring force such that it is in the first position (22) without external influence. Bottle opener (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an end face (33) in longitudinal direction (30) of the bottle opener (10) is at least partially formed by the pivoting element (20). Bottle opener (10) Claim 1 , characterized in that the insertion opening (13) to the opposite side of the pivoting element (20) is limited by a chamfered outer wall section (50). Bottle opener (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle opener (10) comprises a channel (40) adjoining the insertion opening (13) for guiding the loosened crown caps into the collection container (14). Bottle opener (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle opener (10) has at least one beveled inner wall section (42) in a The transition area (41) of the channel (40) to the interior of the collection container (14) has a feature to make it more difficult for the loosened crown caps located in the collection container (14) to move towards the insertion opening (13). Bottle opener (10) Claim 9 , characterized in that the bottle opener (10) comprises a first end region (31) and a second end region (32), wherein the crown cap receptacle (11) is arranged in the first end region (31) and the collection container (14) is arranged in the second end region (32), wherein the inner wall section (42) extends radially outwards obliquely in the direction of the first end region (31) in at least one longitudinal section of the bottle opener (10). Bottle opener (10) Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the bottle opener (10) has two beveled inner wall sections (42). Bottle opener (10) after one of the Claims 8 until 11 , characterized in that the bottle opener (10) comprises a hindrance element arranged in the channel (40) to prevent the loosened crown caps located in the collection container (14) from moving towards the insertion opening (13). Bottle opener (10) Claim 12 characterized in that the obstruction element is a spring.