GB2462521A

GB2462521A - Screw closure opening device

Info

Publication number: GB2462521A
Application number: GB0913340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Roberts-Carlson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-11
Filing date: 2009-07-31
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-31
Also published as: GB0913340D0; GB2462521B

Abstract

Device for opening screw closure containers, the device comprises a housing portion 1 including gripping means 4, means 2 for detecting opening movement of the screw closure and means 3 for producing sound when opening movement is detected, wherein the detecting means includes an acceleration detecting means. The gripping means may be provided by an adjustable collet that firmly grips the screwcap at its break line and the acceleration detecting means may be provided by an accelerometer switch. The housing when rotated in the horizontal plane safely removes the screwcap. A 'pop' sound may be synchronously produced electronically or otherwise. The screwcap may then be manually ejected using the integrated, manual ejection means 8. An important feature of the device is the protection it gives to the user from potential injury caused by sharp edges left at the break point of the removed cap.

Description

SCREW CLOSURE OPENING DEVICE

BACKGROUND

The following invention concerns a device for opening containers provided with a screw closure or top, in particular wine bottles. Wine bottles are increasingly being sold using screw top closure caps. Whilst this method does confer advantages over the traditional cork closure, there is no satisfying pop' when the screw cap is removed.

The invention seeks to solve this problem in providing an opening device which simu-lates the pop' sound when a screw topped closure, in particular a screw topped wine bottle has its closure removed.

The invention solves the problem by providing a device for opening screw closure con-tainers, including a housing portion, said housing portion including closure gripping means, means for detecting opening movement of a screw closure container and a means for producing sound when the detecting means detects an opening movement, characterised in that the detecting means comprises an acceleration detecting means.

In a preferred embodiment, the device acceleration detecting means detects an angular acceleration and a sound is produced when a particular angular acceleration is detected.

In a further preferred embodiment, the acceleration detecting means detects angular ac- celerations, that the device is put into a state of alert on detecting a first angular accel-eration and that a sound is produced when a particular linear acceleration is detected thereafter.

In a further preferred embodiment, a timer means is provided to produce an adjustable time delay between the detection of acceleration and the initiation of the sound.

In a further preferred embodiment, the closure gripping means comprise a collet. The collet can be adjustable.

Advantageously, a closure ejecting means is provided for expelling the removed closure from the collet.

Advantageously, an off switch is provided to isolate the battery when not using the de-vice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

Wine bottles using screwtop closure do not pop' when opened. This invention contrives to produce a pop' sound when bottles with screw top closure are opened. The sound is generated electronically using a suitably programmed and synchronized sound chip.

The timing interval between the unscrewing of the cap and the production of the pop'

sound is adjustable.

The unscrewed screwcap may then be ejected by an included means.

The housing (1) of the invention during and after the unscrewing of the screw cap pro-tects the user from potential cuts etc that could be caused by the sharp edges of the cap during use.

DESCRI PTION

The parts set out in Fig 1 are as follows:- 1) The outer housing of the invention. This is shaped to fit over the bottle with its screw cap. It is comfortable shaped for use for left and right handed users. Because the housing fits over the screwcap during the removal operation it shields the user from potential injury from metal edges left when the cap is removed.

2) Initiation switch. This switch activates the pop' sound when the outer housing is 3) rotated to unscrew the bottle cap. The switch initiation of the pop' sound does not 4) depend on contact with the metal cap but utilises the sensing of the housing as it is 5) rotated by the means of an accelerometer switch or similar.

3) A loudspeaker or similar which is activated by the sound chip and allows the pop' to be heart via the appropriately located sound exit holes.

4) Closure gripping means, Collet. This element is contained within the outer housing (1) and is required to locate and grip the screwcap at is separation milled edge. On rota-tion of the outer housing, the collet grips the screwtop and releases it.

5) Battery compartment incorporating user access to allow battery replacement.

6) Compartment for electronic elements eg sound chip, timing, resetting and 7) synchronisation.

7) Coupling mechanism arranged firmly to grip the collet element when the outer housing (1) is rotated in the horizontal plane to remove the screwcap.

8) The screwcap ejection mechanism.

An example for opening screw closure containers includes a housing portion 1 which contains closure gripping means 4, means for detecting movement 2 and means for produc-ing sound. The housing portion 1 can be of a size to fit comfortably in the hand of a user when a container is opened.

The housing 1 may be made of metal, plastics, wood or any suitable material which is fit for the purpose and preferably attractive in appearance. The housing contains the closure gripping means 4 which may comprise a collet or a conical aperture. The collet may be adjustable to accept different sizes of closure. The gripping means preferably includes a mechanism which ejects the closure after the container has been opened. This ejecting mechanism preferably comprises a pin or rod which passes from one end of the housing into the c'osure gripping means. Pressing the end of the ejecting mechanism expels the closure from the closure gripping means. An electromagnetic ejecting means would also be possible. The closure gripping means may be made of metal, plastics or material suitable for gripping the screw top of the container which is to be opened.

The device produces sound by means of an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is contained in the housing and includes an initiation switch, an on/off switch, a battery and sound producing circuitry. The battery is contained in a battery compartment. Such circuitry is well known to the man skilled in the art and requires no further explanation. The initiation switch is operated by a detecting means. The detecting means includes an acceleration detecting means. The acceleration detecting means is preferably an angular acceleration detecting means or a linear acceleration detecting means or more preferably an acceleration detecting means which detects a first angular acceleration followed by a linear acceleration. A timer means may further be included to provide a time delay between the detection of acceleration and initiation of the sound. The timer may also be adjustable.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Device for opening screw closure containers, including a housing portion (1) said housing portion including closure gripping means, means for detecting opening movement of the screw closure container and means for producing sound when the detecting means detects an opening movement, characterised in that the detecting means comprises an acceleration detecting means.
2) Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the acceleration detection detect-ing means detects an angular acceleration and that a sound is produced when a particular angular acceleration is detected.
3) Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the acceleration detecting means detects linear accelerations and that a sound is produced when a particular linear acceleration is detected.
4. Device according to claim 1, characterised that the acceleration detecting means detects angular accelerations and linear accelerations, that the device is put into a state of alert on detecting a first angular acceleration and that a sound is produced when a particular linear acceleration is detected thereafter.
5. Device according to claims 2 to 4 further including a timer means to provide a time delay between the detection of acceleration and the initiation of the sound.
6. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the closure gripping means comprise a collet.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the collet is adjustable.
8. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a closure ejecting means is provided for expelling the removed closure from the collet.
9. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that an on/off switch is provided to isolate the battery when the device is not in use.
1 0. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the time delay is ad-justable.
11. Device according to claim 1, where the article gripping means comprised a flexible sleeve mechanism such that the screw closure cap may be removed by gripping the cap utilising the external housing (1).