An Improved Method of and Means for Withdrawing Corks and the like from Bottles and other Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
An Improved Method of and Means for Withdrawing Corks and the
like from Bottles and other Vessels.
I, JOHN MCMURTRIE, of Colonial House, in the City of Montreal in the Province
of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada, Engineer, 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 improvements in combined corks and extractors therefor.
The object of the invention is to provide a cork and extractor, whereby the
necessity of employing cork-screws or other implements designed for the removal
of corks is entirely dispensed with, and further, to provide a combination of elements
as stated, which shall be simple, cheap, and easily manufactured.
The invention further aims to provide, that, in the construction of the combined
cork and extractor the liability of the latter to corrode shall be entirely overcome.
With these objects in view, the invention consists substantially in a novel construction,
combination and arrangements of parts substantially such as is hereinafter illustrated,
described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1. is a side view of a combined cork and
extractor constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2. is a vertical
transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3. is a cross section at right angles to
Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a top plan view. Similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, a is a cork, which may be formed of any suitable
material, and provided at diametrically opposite points on the sides of said cork
with incisions or slits two of which are shewn at b. These slits extend into the
body of the cork and from the top thereof to a point near the lower end. The
cork a is provided at the lower ends of the slits b with a transversely extending
passage in which is seated a wire extracting strip d, which strip need not of.
necessity be formed of wire, but may be of any material suited for the purpose.
The central portion of the strip d lies within the passage e so that an equal portion
of the strip d
disposed at each side of the cork a, and after positioning the wire
within the passage c, the sides thereof are bent upwardly and forced into the slits b.
It will thus be seen that the strip d is rigidly held within the body of the cork a,
the slits b closing over the said wire, the sides of which are by this means entirely
concealed within the body of the cork. After the sides of the strip d have been
placed within the slits b, the upper ends of the said sides are twisted together, or
otherwise secured, so that a finger loop e is provided, which loop extends above the
upper end of the cork a and affords efficient means for grasping the strip d to enable
the cork a to be removed. After the strip & has been placed within the body a and
the ends of said strip secured together in the manner stated, the finger loop e is bent
downwardly so that it lies upon the upper end of the cork a, and in this position it
is obvious that labels or suitable sealing devices may be placed over the loop e after
the desired contents have been placed in the bottle or other vessel in connection with
which the cork a is employed, and thus the loop e will in nowise project so as to
prevent the free handling of the vessel in which the cork is placed. If desired, the
loop e may be hinged just above the cork a to the upper ends of the wire d.
A locking pin or strip f is inserted in the body of the cork, and this locking pin or
strip flies at right angles to the central portion of the strip d which occupies the

page_text: +
passage c, f being between the horizontal part of d and the outer end of the cork a.
It is evident that should the central portion of the strip d have a tendency to leave
the passage c when extracting the cork, the said central portion will come in contact
with the locking pin or strip™ƒ, and further outward movement of the strip & be thus
effectually overcome.
In use after the cork a has been placed within a bottle or other vessel, and it is
desired to remove the said cork, the sealing medium or the label as the case may be,
which lies over the loop e is removel. The finger loop e is then bent or turned
upwardly so that the same is in a vertical position over the cork a, or in such position
that the said loop may be readily grasped, and after the fingers are placed upon the
loope and pressure applied thereto, the cork a may be readily withdrawn. In the
event of the central portion of the strip & breaking through the cork a for a distance,
the locking pin or strip f will prevent further movement of d. It will be seen that
the extractor and cork are always ready for use when occasion demands.
From the foregoing specification, it will be seen that a combined cork and extractor
is provided, which is exceedingly simple in its construction. and at the same time
adapted to be manufactured at a comparatively, low price, and it will be further seen
that the improvements may be embodied in, corks of various constructions, and I do
not. therefore restrict myself to any particular form, but reserve to myself the right to
use the invention wherever applicable.
By placing the central portion of the extracting strip d at a distance from the inner
end of the cork a, and also disposing the sides of the said strip within the slits b, the
said strip is not liable to corrosion from the contents of the vessel, and after the cork a
has been placed in the vessel, the slits become closed over to such an extent that
no portion whatever of the sides of the strip d is exposed, and in order that liability
to corrosion may be further reduced, the strip d may be formed of heavily tinned
wire or other suitable material.
of my
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature
'invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
CLAIM.
Combining with corks or the like of any kind an extractor, the said extractor
'consisting essentially of a suitable length of wire or an equivalent passed diametrically
through the cork near its lower end, the ends of the wire extending beyond the sides
of the cork, being then bent up within slits provided to receive them at the sides of
the cork, the upper ends of the said wire being then twisted above the top of the cork'
into, or hinged to, a finger loop, the extractor being prevented from breaking out of
the cork by a pin passed through the cork between its upper end and the lower part
of the extractor and in a diametrically opposite direction to that of the said lower
part, the whole substantially as described in the above specification, and exemplified
in the accompanying drawings.
is
Dated this 12th day of April 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.