Improvements in Bottle Openers for Ball-stoppered Bottles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle Openers for Ball-stoppered Bottles.
1, ENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A., F.I. Inst.,
practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention communicated to me by
Captain W. H. Rothwell, of the British India Steam Navigation Company,
Limited, at present of the Steam Ship Assyria, Bombay, India, to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in bottle openers for stoppered
botties, and its object is to enable such bottles, especially glass ones containing
a liquid with gas in solution to be easily and safely opened.
According to my invention such an instrument consists of two levers pivoted
together in such manner that one can be opened out at an angle above the other.
The lower one consists of a handle, a ring-like opening to pass over the neck
of the bottle or a forked or bifurcated end to embrace the body of the bottle,
the fulcrum for the upper lever. The part of the lower lever that is formed to
embrace the bottle may be separate from the upper part; and in such case it
is provided at its upper end with notches and the other part of the same lever is
provided with a block with an opening or hole through it. This latter is passed
over the notched end just referred to and is held in position in any one of the
said notches by means of a flat locking spring screwed to the end of the lever
having the hole, in such manner as to engage in any notch as desired on pushing
or adjusting the notched end more or less through the said hole. Instead of
notches in the end of this part of the bottom lever, holes may be made through
it and the adjustment effected by means of holes and a peg.
use,
The upper lever which is the only one operated when the instrument is in
is provided with a downwardly projecting spur the function of which is to
press on and thus dislodge the usual ball-stopper, when the two levers are
brought together.
00
1900
Improvements in Bottle Openers for Ball-stoppered Bottles.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Ch. Inst. P.A., F.I. Inst.,
practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
Pine 871

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
The present invention relates to improvements in bottle openers for ball-
stoppered bottles and its object is to enable such bottles and more particularly
glass ones containing a liquid with gas in solution to be easily and safely opened.
Up to the present time it has been the custom to open such bottles by pressing
the ball-stopper down into the bottle simply by means of the bare thumb or
finger, or by means of a device consisting of a small annular cap or guard from
the inside of which projects a conical plug which latter is pressed downwards
on to the ball or stopper; the top of the neck of the bottle fitting in the annular
space between the said conical plug and the annular guard.
Both these methods in question give considerable trouble, are noisy and at
times even dangerous, and young or feeble people have not the strength to per-
form the operation at all with such crude means, as some considerable power is
often required to force the stopper in against the pressure of the gas from within.
According to my invention such an instrument consists of two levers pivoted
together in such a manner that one can be opened out at an angle to the other.
The lower one consists of a handle and a ring-like opening to pass over the
neck of the bottle, or a forked or bifurcated end to embrace the neck or body of
the bottle, and forms the fulcrum for the upper one. The part of the lower
lever that is formed to embrace the bottle may be separate from the upper part;
and in such case it is provided at its upper end with notches and the other part
of the same lever is provided with a block with an opening or hole through it.
This latter is passed over the notched end first referred to, and is held in position
in any one of the said notches by means of a flat locking spring screwed to the
end of the lever having the hole, in such a manner as to engage in any notch
as desired on pushing or adjusting the notched end more or less through the
said hole. Instead of notches in the end of this part of the bottom lever, holes
may be made through it and the adjustment effected by means of said holes and
a peg.
The upper lever which is the only one operated to depress the stopper when
the instrument is in use, is provided with a downwardly-projecting spur the
function of which is to press on and thereby dislodge the usual ball-stopper when
the two levers are brought together.
The following is a detailed description of my invention reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, in which:--
Figures 1 and 2 shew respectively the elevation and plan of the modification
of my invention with rack adjustment for the bottle catch.
Figure 3 shews in elevation the modification of my lever bottle opener fitted
with plain peg-and-hole adjustment for the bottle catch.
Figure 4 shews the modification of my lever opener with a spring-controlled
adjustment peg or pin.
Figure is a plan of the lever A and the adjustment peg shewn in Figure 4.
Figure 6 shews the modification of my lever opener with a conical spur and a
curved slot-and-pin adjustment for the levers.
Figure 7 shews the modification of my lever opener wherein the upper lever
is hinged to the bottle catch.
Figure 8 is a plan of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an end view of Figure 12 (looking towards the left hand) excluding
the bottle.
Figure 10 is a detached elevation of the post to which the upper lever is
hinged.
Figure 11 is a plan of Figure 12, excluding the bottle.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the lever bottle opener and bottle, the instru-
ment being shewn in operative position.
Throughout this description and drawings; similar reference letters denote
the same or corresponding parts of the device: A is the lower lever, B is the

page_text: upper lever, C is the bottle catch or grip, 1 is the spur or stud, m is the fixing
screw of the spur D. a is the handle of the lever A, is the handle of the
lever B, is the hinge-pin of the levers A and B, c is the rack-like end of the
bottle catch C, c are the two bifurcating members of the bottle catch, dis
the ring-like opening in the lever A, are the notches in the upper end of the
catch C, is the pierced block at the front end of the lever A to receive the
upper end of
the bottle catch C, is the locking-spring of the bottle
catch, is the slot or hole in the locking-spring h, indicates the back edge of
the said hole in the locking-spring, indicates the holes in the upper end of the
catch C, and is the peg or pin for securing the said end after adjustment;
k is the corresponding hole in the block g for the peg j, is the spring which
controls the peg or pin j, n is the spring provided to keep the upper lever in
its raised position when out of use, o is the post or support for the fulcrum of
the upper lever, indicates the point at which the spring n is fixed to the post o,
s is the ball stopper, and indicates the ridge around the upper part of the neck
of the bottle.
According to my invention and referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings, the instrument consists of two levers A and B,
pivoted or hinged together at 61 near one end one above the other in such a
manner that one can be opened out at an angle to the other, as shewn in Figures 1
and 6, the lower one A being the one held stationary, and the one above it, B,
being the one that can be opened out away from it at an angle, or moved up
and down or in the vertical plane only. The lower one A of these levers consists
of a handle a having a stout ring or ring-like opening dat its front end; the
said ring or opening being sufficiently large to fit loosely over the neck of the
bottle; or in place of the said ring & the front end of the lever A may be forked
or provided with two bifurcating members to embrace the bottle neck.
From the front end of the ring d the lower lever extends downwardly at or
about right angles to the said lever and the lower end of this extension is
branched out or divided into two bifurcating members, which are first bent out
or apart just sufficient to embrace or clip the bottle and then round so as to
project out in the direction of the handle a, parallel to and beneath the ring d.
This extension of the lever A is called the bottle catch or grip and is indicated
in the drawings by the letter C, and its two bifurcating members forming the
catch proper, by c¹. The said extension C may be formed integral with or fixed
immovably to the lever A as shewn in Figures 6, 7 and 8, or it may be a
When made integral
separate piece therefrom as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4.
with or fixed immovably to the lever A the means provided for regulating the
position of the levers upon the bottle catch for rendering the device adjustable
to different sized bottles, may be by means of a curved slot in its upper end such
as shewn in Figure 6; and when C is a separate piece from the lever A, its
upper end may be formed into a rack-like piece (see Figures 1 and 2) having
notches e formed thereon, said rack-like piece being in cross-section either
round, square, or any prismatic shape but preferably rectangular as shewn.
The end of the lever A is extended beyond the pin or hinge 6' constituting the
fulcrum of the upper lever B and formed into a block y having an internal
socket or hole vertically through it corresponding in shape to the upper end of
the bottle catch or grip C, the said end fitting in it with a sliding fit.
the two are together in position they are adjusted as desired, and then locked
so by means of a flat locking-spring h fixed to the outside of the block g. This
springh has a slot or hole i in it through which the upper end of the bottle
catch C passes; the back edge of this hole i engaging with any one of the
teeth or notches e according to the adjustment, and in consequence fixing the
lever A to the bottle catch C. The locking-spring hit will be seen is also fitted
so that when the lever B is raised to an upright position, the said spring is
thereby forced out of the notch in the upper end of the bottle catch C, and
When

page_text: the block g at the end of lever A will be free to be raised or lowered into any
required position along the said end 2
When this latter method is adopted, instead of the separate holes j a central
vertical slot or elongated hole is or may be provided in the upper end of the
catch bar and a vertical series of recesses or counter-sinks formed in the bat
along the face of the said slot, and, to work in the said slot, a double-headed
pin or stud which is passed through the holes in the socket y from side to
side thereof and consequently traversing the slot in the end of the bottle
catch; the adjustment being maintained by means of a compression spring such
as l.
Instead of the notches e and locking spring h, a vertical series of holes may
be pierced through the upper end of the bottle catch C and one k through
the block y and a pin or peg j' for insertion therein to effect the necessary lock-
ing; such an arrangement being shewn in Figure 3. Further, the said locking-
pin or peg may be under the control of a spring, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5,
to prevent it getting slack and falling out, and to prevent it getting separated
from the instrument and lost or not being at hand when required.
The upper lever B consists simply of the handle b the front end of which is hinged
or pivoted at to the lower lever A, or to the upper end of the bottle caich,
and projecting downwardly from the underside of it centrally over the ring d
of the lower lever A, is a stud or spur D, which may be either formed integral
with or fixed to the lever B, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, or it
may be separate therefrom and secured loosely thereto, that is to say, allowed a
certain amount of play by slotting and drilling the top end of it and loosely
fixing it to the upper lever B, by means of a screw m passing through both
lever and spur from side to side, as seen in Figures 9, 11 and 12, so that it can
move freely through an arc limited by the width of the bottle neck. The spur
or stud in question may be any suitable shape, several different ones being
illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, but preferably it is of conical form as
shewn in Figure 12.
Figures 9 to 12 inclusive also illustrate other slight modifications in the
general construction. Herein the lower lever A is shewn in two halves hinged
horizontally so as to open apart for placing the instrument on the bottle instead
of passing it over the bottle as would be necessary with the ring d, and the
upper lever B instead of being hinged directly to the lower one or to the bottle
catch as before described, it is hinged to the upper end of a post o which is
secured vertically upon the hinge-pin of the lower lever A.
It has been found desirable to have some means of retaining the upper lever
B in a raised position after use, and this is provided by the flexible flat spring n
which may however be any other form of spring. Said spring is fixed to the
posto at p and loosely connected to the end of the lever B by means of a wire
or other tie as at p. The tendency of this spring is to keep the lever B in its
raised position, and on account of the way it is connected and the shape and
relative position of the back of the said lever it offers no perceptible impediment
to the easy depression of this lever B when in use. The spring in question also
serves to prevent the handle of the lever B ever falling lower than the upper side
of lever A, which is desirable.
The handles a of the lever A may be suitably shaped to fit the hand com-
fortably, and the said lever may be provided at the part which grips the bottle
with a leather or other covering or padding, if required, to afford a firmer and
softer grip.
The manipulation of the instrument in opening a ball-stoppered bottle is as
follows:
After effecting the adjustment by means of the notches or holes in the upper
end of the bottle catch or by the adjustment of the are of movement of the spur
(when it is constructed movable as described with reference to Figure 12), as
the case may be, the lever A, which may be called the clutch, is first passed over

page_text: or around the upper part of the neck of the bottle preferably immediately
beneath the ridge indicated by the letter r in Figure 12, and horizontal as shewn
therein and gripped firmly in the hand; the upper lever B is then brought down,
which may be done either by the thumb of the same hand when the lever A is
not horizontally hinged or when that is the case, it is performed with the
other hand. The
spur I) is thereby caused to press upon the ball
stopper s with sufficient force to dislodge it from its seat and force
it down into the neck of the bottle where it is arrested in its fall by the well
known depressions or indentations in the said neck. Owing to the leverage
there is required a comparatively small amount of power at the handles, which
is the main object and great advantage of this invention. Not only is the un-
pleasant jarring to the hand due to the heavy sudden pressure required with the
openers hitherto in use, entirely obviated, but the cause of many accidents and
also the unpleasantness of the water escaping along with the gas and spurting
out over one is avoided and the bottle can be easily, gently and safely opened
even by a child, as desired.
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. The improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered bottles, consisting of
two handles or levers hinged together at the front end one above the other on
a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being formed into a horizontal
ring adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle and the upper lever having
near its front end a spur projecting downwardly from its underside adapted to
enter the mouth of the bottle and force in the stopper on bringing the levers
together, all substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The combination with the improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered
bottles, consisting of two handles or levers hinged together at the front end one
above the other on a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being formed
into a horizontal ring adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle and the upper
lever having near its front end a spur projecting downwardly from its underside
adapted to enter the mouth of the bottle and force in the stopper on the levers
being brought together, of means for holding the bottle steady consisting of a
through socket integral with the front extremity of the lower lever, a locking
spring fixed to and projecting over the socket, a separate bottle catch consisting
of an upright bar, the lower end of which is formed into two laterally projecting
arms adapted to clip or embrace the body of the bottle, said bottle catch being
vertically adjustable in said socket by means of a vertical series of notches in
the upper end of the catch bar engaging with the locking spring on the socket,
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The combination with the improved instrument for opening ball stoppered
bottles, consisting of two handles or levers hinged together at the front end one
above the other on a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being
formed into a horizontal ring adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle and
the upper lever having near its front end a spur projecting downwardly from
its underside adapted to enter the mouth of the bottle and force in the stopper
on bringing the levers together, of means for holding the bottle steady con-
sisting of a through socket integral with the front extremity of the lower lever,
a lateral hole through two opposite sides of the socket, a separate bottle catch
consisting of an upright bar the lower end of which is formed into two laterally
projecting arms adapted to clip or embrace the body of the bottle, said bottle
catch being vertically adjustable in the socket by means of a vertical series of
holes in the upper end of the catch bar, and a separate peg which is passed through
the holes from side to side of the socket engaging in its passage one of the holes
in the catch bar, substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The combination with the improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered

page_text: bottles, consisting of two handles or levers hinged together at the front end one
above the other on a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being formed
into a horizontal ring adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle and the upper
lever having near its front end a spur projecting downwardly from its underside
adapted to enter the mouth of the bottle and force in the stopper on the levers
being brought together, of means for holding the bottle steady consisting of a
through socket integral with the front extremity of the lower lever, a lateral
hole through two opposite sides of the socket, a separate bottle catch consisting
of an upright bar the lower end of which is formed into two laterally projecting
arms adapted to clip or embrace the body of the bottle said bottle catch being
vertically adjustable in the socket by means of a central vertical slot in the
upper end of the catch bar a vertical series of recesses or countersinks formed
in the bar along the slot and a double-headed pin or stud which is passed through
the holes in the socket from side to side and traverses the slot in the end of the
bottle catch; the adjustment being maintained by means of a compression spring
around the pin or stud which spring holds one of the heads of the stud in
engagement with one of the recesses or countersinks in the upper end of the
bottle catch, substantially as described and illustrated.
5. The combination with the improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered
bottles, consisting of two handles or levers hinged together at the front end one
above the other on a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being formed
into a horizontal ring adapted to fit around the neck of the bottle and the upper
lever having near its front end a spur projecting downwardly from its underside
adapted to enter the mouth of the bottle and force in the stopper on the levers
being brought together, of means for adjusting the position of delivery of the
said spur consisting of a tortuous or return-curve slot in an extension integral
with the front extremity of the lower lever, the hinge pin being free to traverse
said slot, and of means for holding the bottle steady, consisting of an upright
bar the upper end of which is integral with the said extension of the lower lever
and the lower end of which is formed into two laterally projecting arms adapted
to clip or embrace the body of the bottle, substantially as described and illustrated.
6. The combination with the improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered
bottles, consisting of two handles or levers hinged together at the front end
one above the other on a horizontal pin the front part of the lower lever being
bent downwards and the upper lever being hinged to a bottle cateh which latter
consists of an upright bar the lower end of which is formed into two members
adapted to clip or embrace the body of the bottle, substantially as described and
illustrated.
7. The improved instrument for opening ball-stoppered bottles, consisting of
two handles or levers hinged or sector jointed together at the front end so as to
open and close horizontally and adapted at their front end to fit around and grip
the neck of the bottle, a post secured by its lower end to the joint of the said
levers, a third lever hinged vertically over the centre of the two horizontal levers
to the top end of the said post, said upper lever being provided near its front
end with a movable downwardly projecting conical spur secured to the under-
side of the upper lever and adapted to enter the neck of the bottle and force in
the stopper when the upper lever is brought towards the lower ones, and means
for keeping the upper lever normally in its raised position consisting of a spring
attached to the vertical post and connected at its upper end to the upper lever
just above its hinge pin, substantially as described and illustrated.
1000
HENRY H. LEIGH, (.P.A.