Year: 1898

page_text: I, JAMES BLUNDELL; of 64, Kensington Road, Southport, in the County of Lan-
caster, Barman; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to corkscrews to be used by hand and has for its object to
render them more efficient in use, and more convenient.
In using an ordinary corkscrew as heretofore constructed it is necessary to
remove the hand from the handle after each turn thereof, and to regrasp the handle,
and this is liable to shake the bottle and its contents.
A corkscrew constructed according to my invention obviates these disadvantages.
The screw is made as usual heretofore and is attached to the stem or made in one
therewith, but the upper part of the stem is not rigidly attached to the handle
but is free to rotate relatively thereto. At the upper end of the stem, or at other
convenient part, is keyed or otherwise fixed a toothed ratchet wheel, and a spring
pawl connected to, and revolvable with, the handle, engages said wheel in such
manner that a to and fro rotary movement of said handle serves to drive the screw
into the cork, on a similar principle to an ordinary ratchet drill. The cork is
pulled from the bottle in the ordinary way, and to remove said cork from the screw
a button or catch is pressed which causes the handle and screw to be rigidly locked
together, and the said cork is then removed in the usual manner. The catch is
then released and the device is ready for further use. I do not confine myself
to the details above specified.
Dated this 26th day of May 1808
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Applicant's Agent.
I, JAMES BLUNDELL, of 64, Kensington Road, Southport, in the County of Lan-
caster, Barman, 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 corkscrews to be used by hand, and has for its object
to render them more efficient in use and more convenient, In using an ordinary
corkscrew as hitherto usually constructed it is necessary to remove the hand from
the handle after each turn thereof, and to regrasp said handle, and this is liable

page_text: to shake the bottle and its contents. A corkscrew constructed according to my
invention obviates this disadvantage, as well as being more rapid in use, inasmuch
as when once the handle is grasped, a to and fro motion thereof drives the screw
into the cork. The screw is connected to the handle so as to turn one way only
with relation thereto by means of a ratchet and pawl device, and a detent is pro-
vided whereby relative motion may be entirely prevented when desired, in order
that the cork may be removed from the screw by unscrewing in the usual manner.
In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a vertical section through my cork-screw. Fig. 2,
is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a plan, the cap 19 hereafter
described being removed. 1 is the handle preferably of cast metal, its two arms
being bored out as shown. It has a depending bored out trunk 2 provided with
a guard 3. 4 is the screw proper, rigidly attached to or formed in one with the
revolving spindle 5. 6 is a ratchet wheel rigidly attached to spindle 5, and 7 is
its pawl. 8 is the stem or iail of pawl 7, having squared end 9 sliding in
washer 10 in the handle, and 11 is its spring. 12 is a screw plug to close that end
of the handle. At the other end of the handle 3 I provide a stem 13 carrying a
detent 14, normally kept out of engagement with ratchet wheel 6 by spring 15,
and having a finger button 16 on its projecting end. This detent 14 is adapted to
enter notches 17 made between the teeth of ratchet wheel : (see Fig. 3). 18 is
a screw plug to close this end of handle 1. The hollow in the top of handle 1 is
closed by a removable cap 19, and a reversed footstep bearing thereon takes up
the thrust of spindle 5.
In action when it is desired to withdraw a cork from a bottle the point of
screw 4 is pressed against it and the handle is partially rotated backwards
and forwards. On its forward stroke the screw 4 is turned by reason of pawl 7
meshing with ratchet wheel 6, but on the return stroke the end of pawl rides
idly over the teeth. The cork is withdrawn by pulling in the ordinary way, and
when it is wished to remove it from the screw 4, finger button 16 is pressed and
detent 14 thus caused to mesh with a notch 17 in ratchet wheel 6. The screw 4
and handle 1 being thus held relatively rigid, the cork may be removed as usual.
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. In a corkscrew the combination of a handle having a hollow trunk, a spindle
to which the screw proper is attached located within said trunk, and means such as
ratchet and pawl for allowing relative rotation in one direction only, substantially
as described.
2. In a corkscrew such as described, the combination of ratchet wheel 6, having
notches 17 between the teeth thereof, pawl 7 adapted to engage said teeth, detent 14
adapted to engage said notches, and suitable springs and guides for the parts,
substantially as set forth.
3. The improved corkscrew, taken as a whole, substantially as described and
for the purposes set forth.
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Agent for the Applicant.