Champagne Nippers" for Opening Champagne and other Bottles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1890'
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
Improvements in
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
66
Champagne Nippers" for Opening Champagne
and other Bottles.
I, JACQUES BAY of 16 Cour des Petites Ecuries Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and
letters marked thereon:-
My invention has for its object improvements in instruments known as champagne
nippers for cutting the wire securing the corks of champagne and other bottles.
Hitherto for effecting this operation it has been customary to employ special
forms of hooks which are difficult and even dangerous to use and I would further
remark that these hooks more generally effect a breaking than a cutting of
the wire.
To remedy the inconveniences and imperfections of this form of hook I have
devised cutting nippers of small dimensions, of graceful appearance and of easy
and relatively smooth action.
The accompanying drawing indicates various forms in which I can manufacture
my new champagne nippers.
Figures 1 and 2 represent the face and edge view of scissor nippers the ring
arms a. b of which, beyond the pivot c, are formed to cut by scissors action.
Figures 3 and 4 represent two forms of my cutting nippers of which one of the
arins a represents a champagne bottle furnished with its cork, at the same time that
this arm is provided with a space to receive the arm in similar manner to the
blade of a knife closing within the handle. The nippers shown at Figure 3 pivot
around the axis e situate immediately above the part representing the cork, whilst
the form represented at Figures 4 has this axis situate in the head itself of
the cork.
In both these forms shown at Figures 3 & 4 the handle may enclose one or
several knife blades &c.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 represent two other forms of nippers differing from that shown
at Figures 1 and 2 by the form of the cutting edges of the blades which sever the
wire otherwise than by scissors action. This severing or cutting action of the
blades may be effected by means of a single cutter d, having as its counter part a
plane and tempered steel surface; or it can be effected between two similar
cutters f.fl.
Figures 6 and 7 indicate nippers with two cutting blades combined and Figure 5
nippers with a single cutting blade d and its anvil d¹.
At Figures 8 I represent elevations and plan of champagne nippers whose
blades h¹ are placed in a plane above that of the arms; these nippers give greater
facility of access to the wire fastenings.
Figures 9 and 10 show face views of another form of champagne nippers, at
Figure 9 they are shown partly open and at Figure 10 they are closed.
The peculiar character of this form of my invention consists in the ring
handles ab being superposed in their closed position so as to form an original and
pleasing article which can be ornamented and decorated according to taste with
chasing, engraving &c. it may also be plated with nickel silver or gold.
The arms a. b are connected at their heads by the pivot c and are cut away at
the circumference of the two segments d.. whose radial faces d'' are intended to
cut like scissors by reciprocal action the wire around the cork.
In using these nippers the two arms a and b are opened, the thumb is placed in
the ring of the lower arm, and the first or the middle finger in the ring of the upper

page_text: arm.
The wire is introduced between the segmental spaces, and the finger and
thumb are brought together, which in closing the nippers, cuts the wire cleanly.
Figures 11 and 12 show another form of champagne nippers, in which one of the
arms is fixed in a handle m and the other arm a which is pivotted at c becomes
superposed upon by entering a suitable space in the handle. In this manner the
nippers are smooth and have no projections when closed.
;
b
The upper arm a has an elongated piece a', upon which the thumb presses when
cutting it will be understood that when in use the nippers are taken in the right
hand and they are opened by pushing the arm a from the right to the left with the
thumb; the wire is inserted between the segmental spaces d. f and finally the arm a
is closed by the thumb pressing powerfully upon the elongated piece a.
The drawing shows the arm fixed in a wooden handle, but it should be distinctly
understood that the handle may be made of any other material or of metal.
If desired these champagne nippers may be formed to open in contrary direction
to that above described and in this case the direction or position of the segmental
cutting notches or spaces will be suitably modified.
With the object of giving to my improved champagne nippers an attraction
which augments their commercial utility I place in one or several holes pierced in
the arms or in the handle, or even in the pivot, microscopic photographs repre-
senting the house of the champagne grower, his vineyards &c. or even photographs
having only an object of publicity or of public interest.
My champagne nippers may be made in the form of the Eiffel Tower and also in
most varied forms and be decorated or ornamented by nickeling, silvering, gilding,
painting &c.
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Champagne Nippers" for Opening Champagne
and other Bottles.
I, JACQUES BAY of 16 Cour des Petites Ecuries, Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to those accompanying my. Provisional Specification.
My invention has for its object improvements in instruments known as champagne
nippers for cutting the wire securing the corks of champagne and other bottles.
Hitherto for effecting this operation it has been customary to employ special
forms of hooks which are difficult and even dangerous to use and I would further
remark that these hooks more generally effect a breaking than a cutting of
the wire.
To remedy the inconveniences and imperfections of this form of hook, I have
devised cutting nippers of small dimensions of graceful appearance and of easy and
relatively smooth action.
The accompanying drawing indicates various forms in which I can manufacture
my new champagne nippers.
Figures 1 and 2 represent the face and edge view of scissor nippers the ring
arms a. b of which beyond the pivot c are formed to cut by scissors action.
Figures 3 and 4 represent two forms of my cutting nippers of which one of the
arms a represents a champagne bottle furnished with its cork, at the same time that
this arm is provided with a space to receive the arm bin similar manner to the
blade of a knife closing within the handle. The nippers shown at Figure 3 pivot
around the axis e situate immediately above the part representing the cork, whilst

page_text: the form represented at Figures 4. has this axis situate in the head itself of the
cork. In both these forms shown at Figures 3 and 4 the handle may enclose
one or several knife blades &c.
Figures 5. 6 and 7 represent two other forms of nippers differing from that shown
at Figures 1 and 2 by the form of the cutting edges of the blades which sever the
wire otherwise than by scissors action.
This severing or cutting action of the blades may be effected by means of a single
cutter d, having as its counter part a plane and tempered steel surface; or it can be
effected between two similar cutters f. f¹.
Figures 6 and 7 indicate nippers with two cutting blades combined and Figure 5
nippers with a single cutting blade d and its anvil d.
At Figures 8 I represent elevations and plan of champagne nippers whose
blades h. are placed in a plane above that of the arms; these nippers give
greater facility of access to the wire fastenings.
Figures 9 and 10 show face views of another form of champagne nippers, at
Figure 9 they are shown partly open and at Figure 10 they are closed.
The peculiar character of this form of my invention consists in the ring
handles a. being superposed in their closed position so as to form an original and
pleasing article which can be ornamented and decorated according to taste with
chasing engraving &c. it may also be plated with nickel, silver or gold.
The arms a. b. are connected at their heads by the pivot c and are cut away at
the circumference of the two segments d. f whose radial faces d¹ f¹ are intended to
cut like scissors by reciprocal action the wire around the cork.
At Figures 94 10 and 10B I have represented a pair of champagne nippers of a
very similar construction to that shown at Figures 9 and 10, the difference being
that except at the cutting parts the arms of the nippers shown at Figures 94 104
and 10 have no sharp angles but they are formed with continuous curved outlines
and are curved around the edges thereof from the back to the meeting face whereby
when the said arms are completely superposed on each other no angles or asperities
are presented thereby; it will also be noticed that the heads of the arms are so
bevelled off as to enable the cutting edges to be easily pushed a short distance into
the cork to obtain access to the wire.
In using the nippers shown at Figures 9, 10, 94, 104, and 10B the two arms a and b
are opened, the thumb is placed in the ring of the lower arm and the first or the
middle finger in the ring of the upper arm.
The wire is introduced between the segmental spaces and the finger and thumb
are brought together, which in closing the nippers, cuts the wire cleanly.
Figures 11 and 12 show another form of champagne nippers, in which one of the
arms b is fixed in a handle m and the other arm a which is pivotted at c becomes
superposed upon 6 by entering a suitable space in the handle. In this manner the
nippers are smooth and have no projections when closed.
The upper arm a has an elongated piece a', upon which the thumb presses when
cutting; it will be understood that when in use the nippers are taken in the right
hand and they are opened by pushing the arm a from the right to the left with the
thumb; the wire to be cut is inserted between the segmental spaces d. f. and finally
the arm
a is closed by the thumb pressing powerfully upon the elongated
piece a¹.
The drawing shows the arm 6 fixed in a wooden handle, but it should be distinctly
understood that the handle may be made of any other material or of metal.
If desired these champagne nippers may be formed to open in contrary direction
to that above described and in this case the direction or position of the segmental
cutting notches or spaces will be suitably modified.
With the object of giving to my improved champagne nippers an attraction
which augments their commercial utility I place in one or several holes pierced in
the arms or in the handle, or even in the pivot, microscopic photographs repre-
senting the house of the champagne grower, his vineyards &c. or even photographs
having only an object of publicity or of public interest.

page_text: My champagne nippers may be made in the form of the Eiffel Tower and also in
most varied forms and be decorated or ornamented by nickeling, silvering, gilding,
painting &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
--
66
"
1. The new or improved champagne nippers constructed with scissors or
cutting action substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
2. The new or improved "champagne nippers" represented at Figures 9 & 10
and 94, 104, and 108 in which the cutting of the binding wire is effected by scissors
action obtained by the co-operation of two notches made in the pivotted heads of
two arms which on the closing of the nippers are exactly superposed so that the two
rings terminating the same then form as it were but one substantially as herein
described.
3. The new or improved champagne nippers represented at Figures 11 and 12 in
which the cutting of the binding wire is effected as above referred to by scissors
action obtained by the co-operation of two notches made in the pivotted heads of
two arms one of which forms or is fixed in a handle of any suitable form, dimensions
and material, the other being pivotted on the first and moving for opening and
closing the nippers by the action of the thumb whilst the handle of the nippers is
held in the hand.
4. In "champagne nippers" constructed substantially as herein shown and
described the application thereto of microscopic photographic views for the purpose
stated.
JACQUES BAY.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.