Types of Bottle Openers
Once wine and beer made it from the kegs to the bottles, two new inventions followed. Imbibers needed a method to remove the cork from wine bottles and the metal caps from bottles. Soft drinks, first sold at fountains, soon arrived in bottles but had that same opener problem: Getting the cap off. Even though beverages come with twist-off caps, corks and even in boxes, most wine and beer bottles still require mechanical assistance to get to the beverage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bottle Cap Openers
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Leverage and a lip that fits under the edge of the bottle cap is the basic design of every bottle cap opener. The openers come as hand-held and wall-mounted. With the hand-held opener, you hold the bottle firmly in one hand, place the lip of the opener under the edge of the bottle top and lift up. Brewers gave away bottle cap openers as promotions with soda and beer sales. They now come in a variety of forms such as hammer heads, flash drives, crowbars and belt buckles. It's not unusual for a man or woman to carry a bottle opener on a key chain.
Advances in the Bottle Cap Opener
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Nothing has replaced the standard bottle opener, but those with difficulty applying the necessary pressure tcan turn to the automatic beer bottle opener. This innovation removes twist-off caps, crowns and fixed caps. It's the shape of a wide shot glass and fits over the bottle top and neck. A magnet at the top holds the metal twist-off cap in place, making it easier to twist it off. For the crowns and fixed caps, put the automatic opener in place and push down. A spring-loaded mechanism opens the bottle and releases the cap immediately.
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Basic Corkscrews
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There are six basic styles of corkscrews, all working as an extension of the hand and arm. Like the bottle cap remover, you need leverage. You still have to remove the cork. This requires the screw. The waiter's corkscrew, resembles a Swiss army knife but is a good tool. Twist the corkscrew into the cork. Brace the fold-out arm against the lip of the bottle. Twist and pull. A fancier lever corkscrew works on the same principle. The T-shaped cork screw is the simplest but most difficult to use. After twisting the screw into the cork, only use your own muscle to pull the cork up. The winged corkscrew makes it easier. Push down the levers called wings, twist in the screw and lift up the wings. A pronged opener requires inserting two flat prongs and twisting the cork. The continuous turning corkscrew, true to its name, removes the corkscrew as you turn the handle. The screw goes down through the cork and pulls it up. You have no levers to pull or push.
Innovations in Cork Screws
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Electric corkscrews are easy to use and affordable. Press a button to pull up the cork and press the same button to release it. They come with rechargeable batteries and a charging base.
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References
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