Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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"Put it on a plate, son. You'll enjoy it more."

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Nitinol Corkhook

jab, heat, pull
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The sharp, thin memory alloy pick is pressed through the cork, keeping it above the surface of the wine. At the push of a button, the tip heats up causing it to bend sideways. Pull out the cork.
FarmerJohn, Jun 03 2005

The competition. http://froogle.goog...&tab=ff&oi=froogler
[daseva, Jun 03 2005]

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       Yeah, cause I was getting really sick of those "rabbit" corkscrews.
daseva, Jun 03 2005
  

       How does the tip get heated?
bristolz, Jun 03 2005
  

       Much like a soldering iron, I'd imagine.
justaguy, Jun 03 2005
  

       Would that work?
bristolz, Jun 03 2005
  

       Resistive heating of nitinol, for instance, causes it to shrink in linear dimension by 5-10%. I'm not so sure that it can be made to "bend sideways" with enough strength to pull a cork. Might require a hinged tip of (for instance) stainless steel, actuated sideways by the nitinol.   

       Thin strips of Nitinol have resistances on the order of a few Ohms, suitable to create a few Watts from a few Volts (i.e. AA batteries.) This should be able to create a 40-50 degree C temperature rise, and suitable shrinkage.
csea, Jun 03 2005
  
      
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