Capsule for Bottle and Apparatus for Use with Capsule

Abstract

A capsule for covering the top of a bottle includes a lower portion configured to wrap about a neck of the bottle, an upper portion connected to the lower portion and configured to be removed from the lower portion to expose a top of the neck, and a trench formed about a periphery of an upper edge of the lower portion. An assembly used to form the trench in the capsule includes a housing, and a blade extending outwardly from the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A capsule to be secured about a neck of a bottle, comprising:
 a lower portion configured to be secured about a neck of a bottle;   an upper portion connected to the lower portion and configured to be removed from the lower portion to expose a top of the neck; and   wherein a top portion of the lower portion has an inner diameter greater than a remainder of the lower portion so as to define a trench about an entire periphery of an upper edge of the lower portion.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and lower portion are connected to one by a weakened region of the capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner sleeve that is received in the trench of the lower portion. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule of  claim 3 , wherein the inner sleeve is connected to and extends outwardly from the upper portion. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule of  claim 3 , wherein the upper portion is flexibly connected to the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable ring positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion, the detachable ring including an outwardly extending tab. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the upper portion is threaded. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly for forming a trench in a capsule to be secured about a neck of a bottle, the assembly comprising:
 a housing; and   a blade extending outwardly from the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a ring, the blade extending outwardly from the ring, an arm extending outwardly from the ring, and a shoulder extending outwardly from ring and extending substantially parallel to the blade. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising another blade extending outwardly from the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the another blade extends in a direction that is one of (a) substantially parallel to the blade, and (b) different than a direction in which the blade extends. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a first wall, a second wall spaced from the first wall, and a connecting member extending between the first and second walls, the connecting member including an outer cylinder, and inner cylinder movable within the outer cylinder, and a biasing member contained within the inner cylinder, the blade extending outwardly from the connecting member. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a first wall, a second wall spaced from the first wall, a third wall connected to the first wall by a first hinge, a fourth wall connected to the second wall by a second hinge, and a third hinge connecting the third wall to the fourth wall. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising an engagement assembly positioned on an interior of the walls. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement assembly is formed of one of (a) a plurality of projections, and (b) a pliable material. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing is a substantially U-shaped member with a stopping block extending inwardly toward an interior of the U-shaped member. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the blade is movable with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a positioning indent configured to align a bottle with respect to the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of blades extending outwardly from the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a heating coil operably connected to the blade, a battery operably connected to the heating coil, and a switch operably connected to the heating coil. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a first wall extending outwardly from the housing, and a second wall extending outwardly from the housing and movable with respect to the first wall. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a first stopping block formed on the first wall and a second stopping block formed on the second wall, the stopping blocks configured to engage an exterior of a bottle. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall is pivotally attached to the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a motor positioned within the housing, and a battery operably connected to the motor, wherein the blade is operably connected to the motor and configured to rotate about a periphery of a bottle to be held in contact with the assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising a rotatable cutting disc positioned within the housing and operably connected to the motor. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising a cork screw positioned within the housing and operably connected to the motor. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising a heating ring configured to heat a capsule of a bottle and operably connected to the battery. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the blade is donut-shaped. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of slits formed in the blade. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising a biasing member positioned within the housing and configured to bias the blade away from the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one cutting blade positioned within the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the housing includes a cork screw. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the assembly has dimensions sufficient for the assembly or device to fit or engage on top of a neck of a bottle or match the thickness of the wall of the neck of the bottle.