Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
I, CHARLES HOPKINS, of 82, Kingswood Road, New Brompton, Kent, Engine
Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device to be employed for opening mineral water
bottles, and is intended to provide an arrangement which will allow these bottles
to be opened with safety.
The outer
In carrying out my invention I propose to employ a double bottle shaped case,
which may be made from tin. One part of this case consists of
a cylinder of tin which fits around the lower end of the main part, this being
also cylindrical but formed with its upper end tapering or conical to receive the
top of the bottle. These parts are connected together by means of vertical slots,
three being preferably employed formed in the inner part of the case.
portion is provided with extending slides or pins projecting internally and passing
through the slots. This allows the case to be elongated or shortened to the required
extent so as to fit any size of bottle. To the upper part of the case the opening
device is secured, consisting of a hollow vertical spindle, which projects within
the neck of the case to a suitable distance. To the top of this spindle a handle
is fitted, this handle or knob being formed with a recess in its lower part to receive
the spindle, the internal part of the recess being lined by a brass bush to prevent
the knob splitting. The spindle is not rigidly connected to the knob, but is
fitted to it by a slot and pin, and in the recess of the knob above the end of the
spindle a small pad of rubber is placed, forming a cushion. The lower end of
the knob is also provided with rubber which bears on the top of the case.
lower end of the spindle is provided with a flange, this part being adapted to bear
Above this flange
on the ball of the stopper when the opener is pressed down.
The
a short sleeve is placed also flanged, the sleeve being adapted to slide upon the
spindle. The lower side of the sleeve is furnished with a rubber surface, this
part being adapted to bear on the top of the bottle. Around the spindle a strong
spring is placed, bearing against the flange of the sleeve, and against a second
flange on the spindle.
The case is placed over the bottle so that the sliding sleeve above described
bears on top of the bottle, the end of the spindle projecting slightly within it.
On pressing down, the spindle will be forced down opening the bottle in a simple
and safe manner.
Owing to the whole bottle being enclosed in the case, there is no danger with
the present opener.
.11: . -AL do of August 1907

page_text: A New or improved Bottle Opener.
I, CHARLES HOPKINS, of 82, Kingswood Road, New Brompton, Kent, Engine
Fitter, 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;
-
"
This invention relates to a device to be employed for opening mineral water
bottles, and is intended to provide an arrangement which will allow these bottles
to be opened with safety.
In carrying out my invention I propose to employ a double bottle shaped case.
which may be made from it. One part of this case consists of
a cylinder of tin which fits around the lower, end of the main part, this being
also cylindrical but formed with its upper end tapering or conical to receive the
top of the bottle. These parts are connected together by means of vertical slots,
three being preferably employed formed in the inner part of the case. The outer
portion is provided with extending slides or pins projecting internally and passing
through the slots. This allows the case to be elongated or shortened to the required
extent so as to fit any size of bottle. To the upper part of the case the opening
device is secured, consisting of a hollow vertical spindle, which projects within
the neck of the case to a suitable distance. To the top of this spindle a handle
is fitted, this handle or knob being formed with a recess in its lower part to receive
the spindle, the internal part of the recess being lined by a brass bush to prevent
the knob splitting. The spindle is not rigidly connected to the knob, but is
fitted to it by a slot and pin, and in the recess of the knob above the end of the
spindle a small pad of rubber is placed forming a cushion. The lower end of
the knob is also provided with rubber which bears on the top of the case. The
lower end of the spindle is provided with a flange, this part being adapted to bear
on the ball of the stopper when the opener. is pressed down. Above this flange
a short sleeve is placed also flanged, the sleeve being adapted to slide upon the
spindle. The lower side of the sleeve is furnished with a rubber surface, this
part being adapted to bear on the top of the bottle. Around the spindle a strong
spring is placed, bearing against the flange of the sleeve, and .against a second
flange on the spindle.
The case is placed over the bottle so that the sliding sleeve above described
bears on top of the bottle, the end of the spindle projecting slightly within it.
On pressing down, the spindle will be forced down opening the bottle in a simple
and safe manner.
Owing to the whole bottle being enclosed in the case, there is no danger with
the present opener.
In order to more clearly describe this invention reference is had to the accom-
panying drawings showing in section an apparatus constructed according to this
invention and applied to a bottle.
"
The bottle shaped case A is constructed in two parts a, a¹ and the lower portion a¹
is provided with three pins b engaging with the slots formed in the upper
portion a so that the case A can be lengthened or shortened according to the
size of the bottle to be opened.
Within the head as of the portion a a hollow vertical spindle d is secured, and
to the top of this spindle a handle e is fitted, a brass bush e¹ being provided in
the recess in which the end of the spindle d fits to prevent splitting of the handle e.
The spindle d is not rigidly connected to the knob or handle e, a slot being
formed in the spindle and a pin passing through. A pad of rubber e³ is

page_text: placed above the end of the spindle d forming a cushion. A washer f of rubber
is also provided where the knob e hears on the top a² of the case a.
The lower end of the spindle is provided with a flange this part being
adapted to bear on the ball of the stopper of the bottle to be opened, when the
opener is pressed down. A sliding sleeve 9 provided with a rubber surface g¹
adapted to bear on the top of the bottle is arranged upon the spindle d and a
spring g is fitted bearing at one end against the sliding sleeve g and at the other
against a flange attached to the spindle d.
When desired to use the appliance the case A is placed over the bottle and
arranged so that the sliding sleeve g¹ bears on the top of the bottle as shown in
the drawing, the end of the spindle & projecting slightly within the bottle. The
handle e is then pressed down forcing the spindle d down and opening the bottlo
in a simple and safe manner.
The case A acts as a guard to the bottle while it is being oponed.
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:-
-
(1) An improved bottle opener comprising a casing which is placed round the
bottle to be opened, a spindle fitted within the upper portion of said casing and
provided with an operating knob or handle, the lower end of said spindle being
adapted to bear on the ball of the bottle stopper, and a sliding sleeve arranged
on said spindle and adapted to bear on the top of the bottle a spring being pro-
vided for pressing said sliding sleeve downwards substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
(2) In a bottle opener, casing A formed in two parts a, al connected together
by pins 6 and slots c, spindle & fitted at the top of the casing A and provided with
operating knob c and at its lower end with flange, sliding sleeve g having rubber
surface g', and spring g bearing against said sliding sleeve 9 and against the
flange substantially as described with reference to the drawings and for the
purposes specified.
(3) In a bottle opener, casing A formed in two portions a a¹, pins b, slots c,
spindle d, knob or handle e, bush e¹ slot d, pin e, rubber pad e³, washer f, flange d
sliding sleeve g, rubber surface g¹, spring g³ and flange all arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 6th day of May 1808
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for the Applicant.