Improvements in or Connected with Corkscrews and like Instruments.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 29th Jan., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Corkscrews and like
Instruments.
I, HUGH MCBRIDE, 18, Claremont Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention. to be as
follows:
This invention consists of the improvements in or connected with corkscrews and
like instruments herein described the objects being to facilitate the opening of
Champagne and other like bottles in which the corks are secured by wire, string
or the like and, to so form the handle as to afford a better grip by the hand and
to indicate the purpose for which the instrument is intended to be used.
One of the said improvements consists in forming an angular edge along the cork-
screw extending for a certain distance from its pointed end, this part of the
corkscrew being made longer than usual and very stout to serve for breaking the
wires which secure the corks in Champagne, and other bottles, which is accomplished
by inserting the said pointed part and its angular edge between the wire and the
bottle neck and then pressing the handle end of the corkscrew towards the bottle,
on the wormed part of the corkscrew as the fulcrum, when the wire will be easily
broken by the angular edge pressing against it.
Another of the said improvements consists in providing a knife edge along the
stem of the corkscrew from the wormed part for a certain distance towards the
handle which edge can readily be sharpened, and is for the purpose of cutting
the strings which secure the corks in Champagne and other bottles.
I sometimes altogether dispense with the wormed part when the instrument
will serve for breaking the wire or cutting the string but cannot be used for drawing
corks.
2
In order to afford a better grip by the hand I fix the handle part of the instrument
to the stem in a slanting direction instead of being at right angles thereto which
accommodates the handle better to the shape of the hand, and in order to indicate
the purpose for which the instrument is intended I make the handle thereof to
represent a Champagne or other cork or a Champagne or other bottle.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Corkscrews and like
Instruments.
I, HUGH MCBRIDE, of Claremont Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire,
· Commercial Traveller, 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 consists of the improvements in or connected with corkscrews and
like instruments herein described the objects being to facilitate the opening of
Champagne and other like bottles in which the corks are secured by wire, string
or the like and to so form the handle as to afford a better grip by the hand and
to indicate the purpose for which the instrument is intended to be used.
One of the said improvements consists in forming an angular edge along the
corkscrew extending for a certain distance from its pointed end, this part of
the corkscrew being made longer than usual and very stout to serve for breaking the
wires or strings which secure the corks in Champagne and other bottles, which is
accomplished by inserting the said pointed part and its angular edge between the
wire and the bottle neck and then pressing the handle end of the corkscrew towards
the bottle, on the wormed part of the corkscrew as the fulcrum, when the wire will
be easily broken by the angular edge pressing against it.
•
Another of the said, improvements consists in providing a knife edge along
the stem of the corkscrew from the wormed part for a certain distance towards the
handle which edge can readily be sharpened and is for the purpose of cutting the
strings which secure the corks in Champagne and other bottles.
1 sometimes altogether dispense with the wormed part when the instrument
will serve for breaking the wire or cutting the string but cannot be used for drawing
corks.
In order to afford a better grip by the hand I fix the handle part of the instrument
to the stem in a slanting direction instead of being at right angles thereto which
accommodates the handle better to the shape of the hand, and in order to indicate
the purpose for which the instrument is intended 1 make the handle thereof to
represent a Champagne or other cork or a Champage or other bottle.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 represents in side elevation a corkscrew or
instrument for opening Champagne and other bottles embodying my improvements;
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the
same in which the wormed part is dispensed with and Figs. 5 and 6 représent
corkscrews provided with my improved handles.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a is. the pointed end of the
corkscrew which is provided with the angular edge this edge being made very
stout to serve for breaking the wires or strings which secure the corks in Champagne
and other bottles, and c is the, augular edge which I provide along the stem of
the corkscrew extending from the wormed part d for a certain distance towards the
handle e. This edge is by preference-formed by grinding or otherwise forming a

page_text: flat c at one side of the stem. The handle part è of the instrument is fixed to the
stem by the usual means but in a slanting direction so as to give a better grip
by the hand. In the examples illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 the handle is
made to represent a Champagne or other sparkling wine cork so as to indicate the
purpose for which the instrument is intended to be used and in the example
illustrated by Fig. 6 the handle is for the same purpose made to represent a
Champagne bottle.
b
In opening for instance a Champagne bottle the wires can readily be broken by
the angular edge being inserted between the wires and the bottle neck as above
described, and the knife edge e can, as above described, be used for the purpose
of cutting the strings or for knocking off the neck of a bottle.
In the example illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 the wormed part is dispensed with,
the instrument consisting by preference of a round stem with a flat ground or
otherwise formed on one side for a certain distance from the pointed end so as to
form the edges ċ and for the purpose of breaking the wires and cutting the strings
which secure the corks.
It will be evident that the stem of the corkscrew above described and illustrated
by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing can be fitted with a handle of other
shape than that illustrated without departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In a corkscrew and in combination with the wormed part thereof, the
angular edge extending from the pointed end to the wormed part for the purpose
and substantially as described.
2nd. In a corkscrew and in combination with the wormed part thereof, the edge c
formed along the stem of the corkscrew from the said wormed part towards the
handle for the purpose and substantially as described.
3rd. In corkscrews and like instruments, making the handle part in the form of
a Champagne or other cork or of a Champagne or other bottle for the purpose and
substantially as described and illustrated.
4th. A corkscrew or bottle opening instrument constructed substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the acccompanying
drawing.
5th. A bottle opening instrument constructed as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
6th. A corkscrew or bottle opening instrument constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawing.
7th. A corkscrew constructed as hereinbefore described and illustrated. by Fig. 5
of the accompanying drawing.
IL 1 il: an
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1000
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