# US 9,434,588 B1 · Apparatus and method for removing broken corks

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- Number: US 9,434,588 B1
- Document ID: US9434588B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/263,075
- Filed: 2014-04-28
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-26
- Applicants: Timothy W. Dziuk
- Inventors: Timothy W. Dziuk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434588B1

## CPC

- B67B 7/0411: {without supporting means for assisting the pulling action}
- B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D)

## Abstract

A large diameter corkscrew is inserted into a cork, or into the remaining portion of a broken cork, so that the cork can be extracted through the top of the wine bottle without contacting the wine. In one example, the large diameter corkscrew has a diameter of about 17 mm, as opposed to approximately 8 mm for conventional corkscrews. This larger diameter permits the corkscrew to be inserted into the cork in its unbroken periphery, as opposed to attempting to insert a corkscrew into the debris in the center of a broken cork. In one example, the large diameter corkscrew has a cross section with a flat, angled top portion and a tapered lower portion. This non-circular cross section provides a relatively large contact area for engaging the cork, while providing a reduced cross section area to minimize cork breakage as the corkscrew is inserted into the cork.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cork removal device for removing cork from a wine bottle, the wine bottle having a neck with an inside neck diameter, the cork removal device comprising
a corkscrew insertion element; and
a large diameter spiral corkscrew comprising
a proximal end portion attached to the corkscrew insertion element,
a distal tip, and
a spiral portion between the proximal end portion and the distal tip, the spiral portion having a plurality of revolutions about a longitudinal axis of the spiral portion, the revolutions having an outer diameter about 1 to 4 mm less than the inside neck diameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cork removal device of claim 1 wherein
the corkscrew insertion element is a screwpull device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cork removal device of claim 1 wherein
the corkscrew insertion element is a waiter's friend device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cork removal device of claim 1 wherein
the corkscrew insertion element is a butterfly device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cork removal device of claim 1 wherein
the spiral portion has a non-circular cross section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cork removal device of claim 5 wherein
the spiral portion has a triangular cross section.

### Claim 7

A method of removing a broken cork from the neck of a wine bottle, the wine bottle having a neck with an inside neck diameter, the method comprising
providing a large diameter corkscrew device comprising
a corkscrew insertion element, and
a large diameter spiral corkscrew comprising
a proximal end portion attached to the corkscrew insertion element,
a distal tip, and
a spiral portion between the proximal end portion and the distal tip, the spiral portion having comprising a plurality of revolutions about a longitudinal axis of the spiral portion, the revolutions having an outer diameter about 1 to 4 mm less than the inside neck diameter;
inserting the spiral portion into the broken cork, such that the spiral portion engages portions of cork in proximity to the neck of the wine bottle; and
retracting the spiral portion and cork from the neck of the wine bottle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein
the corkscrew insertion element is selected from the group consisting of a “screwpull” device, a “waiter's friend” device, a “butterfly” device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein
the spiral portion has a non-circular cross section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein
the spiral portion has a triangular cross section.