A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CORKS FROM BOTTLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES WEEKES, of 27, Essex Quay, Dublin, Gun Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
EXTRACTING CORKS FROM BOTTLES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has reference to a new or improved apparatus for facilitating the
removal or extraction of corks from bottles.
To this end I form a hollow standard or tube provided at one side with a pair of
jaws or cheeks, in one of which a thumb screw operates for the purpose of clamping
the apparatus to a bench, or counter, as the case may be, while at the upper end
of the standard or tube a fork is provided projecting at right angles to the
clamping jaws or cheeks, for the purpose presently described.
Within this standard or tube a sliding block is supported on a spiral spring, and
is pivotted to a lever handle capable of imparting an up-and-down motion to said
sliding block.
A spur piece projects from the sliding block through a suitable slot
in the side of the standard or tube in the same vertical plane as the projecting
fork.
The construction of my Invention will be more readily understood on reference
to accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 is a front view and fig. 2 a side view of
my invention, and figs. 3 and 4 modifications of same as hereinafter more fully
described.
In figs. 1 and 2 a a represents the hollow standard or tube, b b, the jaws or
cheeks, c the thumb screw for clamping the apparatus to the counter or bench, & the
fork for the reception of the handle of the corkscrew, e the spur which partly
embraces the shoulder of the bottle, and is carried by the sliding block facting
within the standard or tube, and indicated by dotted lines, g the spiral spring
which supports the sliding block, to which latter the lever handle is connected by
neans of the intermediate lever h.
Fig. 3 represents a modification intended for portable purposes in which the
clamping arrangement is dispensed with and the standard or tube supported on a
suitable pedestal or base as shown. In practice this modification may be made
ornamental, so as to form a suitable ornament for the dinner table.
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page_text: Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, a modification intended for rougher work and as a
cheaper article. Instead of a hollow standard or tube I use a flat plate L, having
a curved forked end at the top as shown, and provided with jaws and thumb
screw for clamping as in the first instance. On the face of this plate slides the
rod which carries the spur.
P
A spiral spring 8, arranged in a suitable groove in
the plate l, is connected to the back of the rod, and, maintains same in an elevated
position. The downward motion is imparted to the rod by. means of a stud t
which penetrates a vertical slot in the plate and also a curved slot formed in the
curved lever handle; so that when the handle is pressed down the stud working
in the curved slot causes the rod to descend. The action of my Invention is fully
illustrated in this figure.
An ordinary corkscrew is inserted in the cork in the usual manner and, the
bottle held in position, as shown. The lever handle is then pressed down, when
the bottle caused to descend quickly, leaving the cork attached to the corkscrew,
suspended from the fork overhead.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
The construction and application of an apparatus for extracting or removing
corks from bottles in the manner substantially as herein specified and set forth.
Dad thin Comansh dow of November 1885