Improvements in Cork Extractors.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1894--Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMELIE DIDUIFICATION.
Improvements in Cork Extractors.
I, HENRY CLIFF of 293 Oak Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America, Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in so-called power cork extractors,
under which term is generally included all forms of cork extractors which employ
a lever or other similar mechanism, whereby the cork may be drawn by an indirect
motion, instead of a direct pulling strain upon the hand. The class of cork
extractors to which my invention more particularly relates is that in which
provision is made for driving the corkscrew into the cork, extracting the cork from
the bottle and removing the cork from the corkscrew in a single movement of an
operating lever. The operating lever in some instances moves in a vertical arc,
and in others in a horizontal arc or a circle, and in the latter instance sometimes
rotates more than once in either or both directions to effect the operation. In its
specific details my improvement in its preferred form employs a revolving lever
which is connected to the corkscrew, and which when revolved in one direction
serves to drive the corkscrew into the cork, and to extract the cork from the
bottle, while the reverse rotation expels the cork from the corkscrew; but in its
more general or broader features I do not limit the invention to the use of a
rotating lever, as will appear further on in the Specification.
The object of my invention is to produce a cork extractor having all the
necessary functions which shall be cheaper than those of a similar nature heretofore
produced and the operation of which shall involve a minimum expenditure of effort
by the operator. A further object of my invention is to produce a cork extractor,
the operation of which shall involve no danger of breaking the bottle in the act of
extracting the cork.
To the foregoing ends my invention consists primarily in a cork extractor
employing a corkscrew having a screw-threaded or spiral extension, a travelling
sleeve or nut internally engaged by the corkscrew extension, and capable of
revolving, and a spiral guide connected. with the travelling sleeve and serving to
cause the latter when rotated to rise and fall, the functions of the parts being that
the rotation of the corkscrew by reason of engagement of the sleeve or nut drives.
the corkscrew into the cork, while the rotation of the sleeve or nut causes the lifting
of the corkscrew and the withdrawal of the cork from the bottle, the reverse
rotation producing the removal of the cork from the corkscrew.
My invention further consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of
parts, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a view in sectional side elevation of a cork extractor involving my
improvements, the outer casing being shown in section and the inner parts partly
in section, partly in elevation, the extractor being shown in the position that it
assumes when not in operation;
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the corkscrew
is driven. into the cork;
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the corkscrew
is withdrawn from: the bottle;
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the extractor indicated in Figure 3;
and.
1201

page_text: A represents a ledge or bracket through the medium of which the extractor may
be secured to a table or other suitable support. B represents a tube terminating at
its lower end in a flaring bottle neck receiver C. In its upper part the tube B is
provided with a spiral slot D. Within the tube B is a sleeve or nut E, having the
internal screw-thread or spiral guide t and the external studs to enter the slot D.
The corkscrew F is provided with the spirally cut or screw-threaded extension G,
terminating in the rotatable handle or lever H. The pitch of the spiral slot D is
opposite to that of the screw-threads on the extension G. The upper end of the
slot D is provided with a stop, q, and the corkscrew extension is provided with a
similar stop p, both said stops being supplied to prevent the parts from leaving the
tube B at the upper limit of revolution. In the modification shown in Figure 5,
the screw-threaded extension G is supplied by an elongation of the corkscrew F,
there being a lower spiral opening for the sleeve or nut E, which opening receives
the corkscrew. The tube B may be incased in an outer tube or case I.
The operation is as follows:
"..
The parts being in the position shown in Figure 1, and the bottle being brought
into position, the rotation of the lever H under slight downward pressure serves
first to turn and drive the corkscrew F downward. The upper end of the
extension now engaging the upper end of the tube B, a continuation of its rotation
carries with it the sleeve or nut E, which is also rotated, causing the studs to
travel upward in the slot D. This lifts the sleeve and corkscrew and extracts the
cork, as shown in Figure 3. The reverse movement of the handle H serves first
to return the parts to the position indicated' in Figure 2, and then rotates the cork-
screw in reverse direction, withdrawing it from the cork, which is prevented from
rising by enagement with the lower end of the sleeve E.
It will be apparent that the only function of the lever or handle H is to rotate
the corkscrew and sleeve, and that its place may be supplied with any other
mechanism serving the same purpose. It will also be obvious that the spiral
slot D may be upon the sleeve E, the stud's being upon the tube B; and that the
particular stud and spiral slot form of connection may find a substitute in a male
and female screw. Such merely mechanical modifications, not departing from the
principles of operation herein described are intended to be included in my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
:-
1. In a cork-extractor, the combination with a corkscrew, of a rotatable nut
. affording a bearing for the corkscrew, whereby the latter is advanced and retracted
by rotation, a spiral guide engaging the rotatable nut, and a connection such as the
studs, between the nut and spiral guide, whereby the nut when rotated is advanced
and retracted, substantially as described.
2. In a cork-extractor, in combination, a corkscrew having a screw-threaded
extension and a means for rotating the same, a rotatable nut around the corkscrew
extension and having screw-threads for engagement therewith, whereby the rotation
of the corkscrew produces its advance and retraction, and the lifting of the nut
lifts the corkscrew, a bearing adjacent to the nut and a spiral slot and stud
connection between the nut and bearing, whereby the rotation of the nut causes it
to be advanced and retracted, substantially as described.
3. In a cork-extractor, the combination with the corkscrew having a screw-
threaded extension and a handle for rotating it, a nut internally screw-threaded
and surrounding the extension, a tube surrounding said nut and having the bottle-
neck receiver at its lower end, and a spiral slot and a stud affording a connection
between the nut and the tube, whereby the corkscrew and nut are supported by the
tube and the rotation of the corkscrew produces the operation of driving the
corkscrew into the cork and extraction of the cork from the bottle, substantially as
described.

page_text: 4. In a cork-extractor, in combination, a cork-screw F having the screw-
threaded part G and handle H, a tube B having the spiral slot, a nut E having a
stud entering said slot and located within the tube, said nut having internal screw-
threads to receive the screw-threaded parts of the corkscrew, whereby the nut
serves as a bearing for the rotation of the corkscrew to cause the latter to advance
when rotated, and is itself caused to rise and fall when rotated, and the reverse
rotation of the corkscrew and its nut produces the withdrawal of the corkscrew
from the cork, all as set forth.
5. In a cork-extractor, the combination with a corkscrew having a screw-
threaded extension and means for rotating it, a nut E having internal screw
threads to engage the screw-threaded extension and a stud, and a tube receiving
the nut having a spiral slot to receive the stud, the direction of the spiral of said
slot being opposite to the spiral direction of the screw-threads on the extension,
whereby the rotation of the corkscrew in one direction first drives it into the cork
and then draws the cork from the bottle, while the reverse rotation strips the cork
from the corkscrew, all as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Max 1201
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.