Improvements in Cork Screws.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cork Screws.
I, THOMAS CRELLIN, of Cattle Market Inn, Stanley in the County of
Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a device for withdrawing corks from bottles, and has for
its object more especially to facilitate the insertion of the cork screw into the cork
while in the bottle by means of a ratchet and pawl device, whereby the handle need
not receive a complete rotation, but can be operated somewhat on the same plan as
the drilling apparatus known as a ratchet brace. The invention is also designed to
facilitate the removal of the cork from the screw after the cork has been drawn out
of the bottle.
The device comprises a spindle having at one end an ordinary cork screw, and at
the other a screw adapted to travel rapidly by having two, three or more threads.
The spindle is mounted in, and a portion of it and the screw aforesaid are enclosed
by a sleeve, secured at the end to a handle of convenient shape. The length of the
said sleeve is such that the cork screw, at the end of the spindle, is left perfectly
free to bite the cork. The lower portion of the sleeve is capable of engaging the
multiple threaded screw aforesaid, thus forming a nut; the other end is of larger
bore, so as to clear the said screw and enable the spindle, under certain conditions,
to rotate independently of the handle and sleeve. The end of the spindle adjacent to
the said multiple threaded screw, is cut with ratchet teeth, and these are normally
engaged in one direction by a pawl, which, however, can be made to release the
teeth by depressing a button or similar device. The handle may have a receptacle
for spare cork screws, if desired.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The point of the cork screw, at the end of the spindle, is pressed against the
cork, and screwed into it by rotating the handle first in one direction and then in
the other. By means of the ratchet teeth and pawl the cork screw spindle is
thereby alternately rotated in one direction and released. When the cork screw
has sufficiently engaged the cork, the cork is drawn out of the bottle in the usual
way. To remove the cork from the screw, the pawl is raised from engagement
with the ratchet teeth; the cork and the handle of the device are held in the hands,
and, on pulling the same in opposite directions, the multiple threaded screw is
engaged by the nut in the sleeve which causes the spindle to rotate and unscrew the
cork screw from the cork.
The device may be made to enter the cork without rotating the handle. I have
not yet completed my experiments, but I think this can be accomplished by simply
forcing the screw into the cork by pressure.
In another arrangement, I propose to provide the outside of the sleeve with a
suitable screw on which is placed a thimble having an open mouth at one end
adapted to receive the mouth of the bottle. When drawing out the cork this
thimble is placed on the bottle over the cork, and the handle is operated. The
force brought to bear on pulling out the cork, is by means of this device, considér-
ably augmented.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cork Screws.
I, THOMAS CRELLIN, of Cattle Market Inn, Stanley, in the County of
Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, 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 certain improvements in devices for withdrawing corks. 5
from bottles. By this invention the corkscrew is enabled to enter the cork while
in the bottle without having to rotate the handle and the cork is withdrawn from
the bottle by screwing instead of having to-give a direct pull. The removal of the.
cork from the screw after the cork has been drawn out of the bottle is also greatly.
facilitated.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation;
Figure 2 a transverse section through the handle.
In these, A is a spindle, having a screw running a considerable part of its length
formed with two, three or more threads, so as to travel rapidly... a is a corkscrew.at
the end of the spindle.
The spindle Aris mounted in the sleeve B, which is secured at the end to a
handle, Cof convenient shape. The length of the said sleeve B is such that the
corkscrew a projects when in the position shown in the drawings.
1
The lower portion of, the sleeve B, forms a 'mut b for the multiple threaded screw 2
spindle A aforesaid, the remainder of its length_is_of_larger_bore.so as to provide.
clearance for the said spindle. A, and enable-the-spindle-under certain conditions to
rotate independently of the handle. Cand sleeve B. The end of the spindle A has,
a hoss alin which is cut a tooth or cavity a²; this is normally engaged by a spring,
controlled, pawl or detent D preventing the screw from being rotated, which how 2
ever can be released by depressing the button D', thereby moving the detent D.out
of engagement with the boss.
The handle C.may have a receptacle_for_spare_corkscrews if desired. Eis.an
outer, thimble or sleeve, having an open bell mouth at one end, adapted to receive
the mouth of the bottle. The interior of said sleeve E, is of rather larger diameter. 3
than the corks the apparatus is required to withdraw, and has a thread into which the
sleeve Bis. screwed at e.
The mode of action is as follows
The spindle, A. is screwed out of the sleeve to its fullest. extent and the point
of the corkscrew, a is then driven into or pressed against the cork., The apparatus 3
is then pressed with some force against the cork, causing the screw spindle. A with
its corkscrew a to revolve and causing at the same time the corkscrew to be forced.
through the cork without, rotating the handle, the screw spindle A rotating as the
corkscrew passes through. The length of the spindle, A and pitch of screw, is such
that when the corkscrew a has been pressed through the cork, the position is that 4
shewn in Figure 1, and the spindle is locked in that position by means of the
detent D. The handle, C is then, rotated, pressing down the bell mouthed, sleeve E
on to the mouth of the bottle, and screwing the sleeve Bitogether with the, spindle, A.
upward, thus drawing the cork from the bottle up into the interior of the sleeve, E.
The force thus brought, to bear on pulling out the cork is by the above, means 4
very great.
To remove the cork from the screw after the cork is drawn out of the bottle, the
handle is rotated in the reverse way until the apparatus again assumes the position
shewn in Figure 1, the button D is then depressed, thereby releasing the detent D
from engagement with the spindle. A and enabling it to revolve independently of
the sleeve B. By holding the cork stationary, it can be drawn off by simply pulling,
the spindle A rotating as it comes off.

page_text: 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 device for withdrawing corks from bottles, the arrangement herein
described for inserting the corkscrew into the cork while in the bottle without
rotating the handle, namely, constructing the device with a multiple threaded screw
spindle A. having a corkscrew a at one end, the said multiple threaded screw being
adapted to work in a nut band to be rotated, and the corkscrew forced through the,
cork, on longitudinal pressure being brought to bear on the nut, substantially as
described.
2. A. device for withdrawing corks from bottles having the combination of a
multiple threaded screw spindle A. with a corkscrew at one end, a hollow sleeve B
provided with a nut at one end in which said screw spindle A works, a handle such
as C to which said hollow sleeve is rigidly attached, and a bell mouthed sleeve or
thimble E whose internal periphery has a thread into which the sleeve B is screwed,
substantially as described.
3. In combination with the multiple threaded screw spindle A having a cork-
screw at one end, and the sleeve B with nut in which the said screw spindle A is
screwed, a spring-controlled detent or catch D adapted to engage when required
said spindle and prevent it rotating except in unison with the sleeve B substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The herein described arrangement of parts forming my improved device for
drawing corks from bottles substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.