IMPROVEMENTS IN CORK SCREWS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
:
I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORK SCREWS" (a communication to me
from abroad by William Rockwell Clough of Brooklyn Kings County in the United
States of America) to be as follows:-
.
-
This invention relates to an improvement in cork screws and more particularly
to that class of cork screws applicable to small corks or vials. The object of the
invention is to produce a corkscrew of the required strength which shall be light in
weight and attractive in appearance at a moderate cost and adapted to all its uses
without danger of injuring the hand or fingers of the user as is possible with such
articles when made from single rods of small wire.
The object of the invention is further to provide a strong light weight folding
cork screw which may with safety be carried in the pocket and the separate parts
of which namely the handle and screw may be separately treated according to their
special requirements and afterwards combined to produce a complete article. In
the manufacture of cork screws the handle thereof frequently requires fine finishing
while the screw or worm must undergo quite a different process to be properly
tempered. In the cork screws in which the handle and screw are formed of one
piece of wire it frequently occurs that the tempering of the screw precludes the
possibility of treating the handle as desired and furthermore when the screw does
not need tempering it is often desirable to construct the handle, and screw of
different weight and shape of material altogether particularly in the manufacture
of the small cork screws mentioned. The latter are used mostly by manufacturers
of bottled liquids such as inks patent medicines and the like the cork screw being
furnished with each bottle and it is extremely desirable that the screw or worm
should be slender so as not to split the cork and equally as desirable that the
handle should be broad so as not to cut or hurt the finger or hand. in extracting
the cork. Now I have found that all these desirable features and other advantages
may be obtained by constructing the screw in the ordinary manner by any well
known means, the handle to consist of a flat metal band such as might be cut from
"

page_text: sheet metal or made by flattening wire of the proper size; this band is bent into
the form of a ring about the size of a large finger ring, or into any desired shape or.
size with the ends meeting the handle and screw are now to be united by any
suitable means but I prefer to bend the ends of the band forming the handle into a
neck which I provide with holes for the passage of an eyelet or rivet, the shank
extremity of the screw is provided with a hole or eye the screw is then secured to
the handle by placing its shank eye between the two eyed extremities of the
handle and rivetting with an ordinary eyelet or rivet which makes a strong swivel
joint thus producing an inexpensive folding cork screw. It will be particularly
observed that the two free ends of the handle which are brought together to form
the neck between the handle and screw are fastened rigidly to the pivot of the
screw shank in respect to the longitudinal direction thereof whereas in the folding
cork screws in use heretofore the free ends of the handle have been left free at the
pivot or joint depending on the bodily spring tension in the bow of the handle to
be kept in position and it will be seen that in such a construction the handle must
be of heavy material both.in order to produce the necessary strength of spring
tension and to prevent the parts opening far enough at the joint to endanger the
security of the fastening. It will be seen that my construction permits the use of
very thin metal in the bandle which reduces the cost lessens the weight and admits
of the use of sheet metal from which the handle blanks can be most readily cut,
and in addition to ther before mentioned advantages I desire to call particular
attention to the fact that by this construction corkscrews with decorated handles
can be cheaply produced, as for instance sheets of tin decorated in any suitable or
well known manner to suit with appropriate or suitable titles and names may be
readily utilized in producing the blanks for the handles which will bear on either
surface any desired motto design tille or name painted or printed thereon; this
process can be used to very great advantage with corkscrews for inks medicines
and tho like which shall contain the predetermined name design or title with
which the manufacturer or. others may wish to advertize. These blanks need not
however be cut from previously decorated sheets of metal although I deem that
preferable as they, may be treated in a similar manner singly. The screw will in
most cases turn upon the pivot and be held more or less tightly at the joint by the
headed rivet and need not in all cases more particularly in the smaller corkscrews
be provided with any special means for more positively holding the shank when
closed into the handle or when outwardly extended for use but for the larger sizes
and with all sizes when necessary I have provided a simple means of so holding or
steadying the screw in the positions named. I propose to form the handle with an
élongated neck 'so that there will be an extension beyond the rivet or eyclet joint
terminating at the free ends of the bandle blank; the two free ends forming the
extension may be pressed or set towards each other more or less so as to pinch and
hold firmly the shank of the screw when' extended or open so also may the portions
of the handle above the joint be pressed or set towards each other so as to similarly
bold the screw when closed into 'the handle, the spring of the metal immediately.
above and below the joint' being sufficient 'to' accomplish the desired end. If
Decessary the said folding parts may be provided with indentations or notches for
greater security. In some cases the handle and screw may be fastened permanently,
together. In use I prefer the eyelet for the joint as it produces a larger diameter
with less metal and is 'more readily rivetted than a solid rivet or pin. In the
construction of the larger sizes of cork screws it will be found advantageous to
introduce into the annular ring handle a supplementary oblong handle similar to
those now in use with 'cork screws. 138
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORK SCREWS" (a communication to
me from abroad by William Rockwell Clough of Brooklyn, Kings County in the
United States of America) 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 more. particularly to that class of corkscrews applicable
to small corks or vials. The object of the invention is to produce a cork screw of
the required strength which shall be light in weight and attractive in appearance,
at a moderate cost and adapted to all its uses without danger of injuring the hand
or finger of the user as is possible with such articles when made from single rods
of small wire. The object of the invention is further to provide a strong light,
weight folding cork screw which may with safety be carried in the pocket and the
separate parts of which namely the handle and screw may be separately treated
according to their special requirements and afterwards combined to produce a
completed article. In the manufacture of corkscrews the handle thereof frequently
requires fine finishing while the screw or worm must undergo quite a different
process to be properly tempered. In the corkscrew in which the handle and screw
are formed of one piece of wire it frequently occurs that the tempering of the
screw precludes the possibility of treating the handle as desired. And furthermore
when the screw does not need tempering it is often desirable to construct the handle
and screw of different weight and shape of material altogether, particularly in the
manufacture of the small cork screws mentioned. The latter are used mostly by
manufacturers of bottled liquids, such as Inks, patent Medicines and the like, the
cork screw being furnished with each bottle and it is extremely desirable that the
screw or worm should be slender so as not to split the cork and equally as desireable
that the handle should be broad so as not to cut or hurt the finger or hand in
extracting the cork. All these desirable features and other advantages may be
obtained by constructing the screw in the ordinary manner by any well known
means; the handle thereof to consist of a flat metal band such as might be cut
from sheet metal or made by flattening wire of the proper size, this band is bent
into the form of a ring about the size of a large finger ring or into any desired
shape or size with the ends meeting. The handle and screw are then to be united
by any suitable means but I prefer to bend the ends of the band forming the
handle into a neck which I provide with holes for the passage of an eyelet or rivet,
the shank extremity of the screw is provided with a hole or eye, the screw is then.
secured to the handle by placing its shank eye between the two eyed extremities
of the handle and rivetting with an ordinary eyelet or rivet which makes a strong
swivel joint thus producing an inexpensive folding cork screw.
Figure 1 of the annexed sheet of Drawings is a side elevation (full size) of the
said improved folding corkscrew in its simplest form folded for the pocket.
Figure 2 is an.edge view thereof.
T
Annd made for naa

page_text: Figure 3 is an enlarged part section of the lower portion of the cork screw
showing the mode of joining the handle and screw.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a slightly. modified form of cork-screw
constructed on the same principle but better adapted for screws of larger size.
Figure 5 is an edge view thereof and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same with the worm or screw extended or
opened out for use.
In all these figures corresponding parts are indicated by the sanie letters of
reference.
5
a is the worm or screw the shank extremity of which is provided with a hole or 1
eye. b.is the handle consisting of a flat metal band suitably bent into shape. c is
the metal eyelet or rivet which connects the eye of the worm or screw with the
extremities of the handle. It will be particularly observed that the two free ends b'
of the handle b which are brought together to form the neck between the handle
and screw a are in the said improved corkscrew's fastened rigidly to the pivot of
the screw shank in respect to the longitudinal direction thereof whether such pivot
be in the form of an ordinary metal eyelet c (as shown more clearly in the enlarged
part sectional detail Figure 3ª) or in the form of a solid rivet, whereas in tlie folding
corkscrews in use heretofore the free ends of the handle have been left free at the
pivot or joint depending on the bodily spring tension in the bow of the handle to
be kept in position. hence in such a construction the handle, must be of heavy
material both in order to produce the necessary strength of spring tension and to
prevent the part opening far enough at the joint to endanger the security of the
fastening. It will be seen that the said improved construction permits the use of
very thin metal in the handle which reduces the cost and weight of the article and
admits of the employment of sheet metal from which these handle blanks can be
most readily cut. In addition to the before-mentioned advantages particular
attention is directed to the fact that by this construction corkscrews with decorated
handles can be cheaply produced as for instance sheets of metal decorated in any
suitable or well known manner or having appropriate or suitable titles names and
Trade Marks printed or otherwise produced thereon may be readily utilized in
producing the blanks for the handles which will thus bear on either surface any
desired motto design title name or Trade Mark..
This process, can be used to very great advantage with cork screws for inks
medicines and the like which shall contain the predetermined name, design, title,
or Trade Mark under, which the manufacturers or others may wish to advertise.
These blanks need not however be cut from previously decorated sheets of metal
although that is preferred as they may be treated in a similar manner singly. The
screw will in most cases turn upon the pivot and be held more or less tightly
at the joint by the headed rivet or eyelet; and need not in all cases (more
particularly in the smaller class of corkscrew shown at Figures 1, and 3) be
provided with any special means for more positively holding the shank when closed
into the handle or when outwardly extended for use but for the larger sizes (shown
in Figures 4, 5 and 6) and with all sizes when necessary a simple means can be
provided of so holding or steadying the screw in the positions named. For this
purpose the handle may be formed with an elongated neck so that there will be an
extension d, beyond the rivet or eyelet joint terminating at the free ends b₁ of the
handle blank, the two free ends forming this extension may be pressed or set
towards each other more or less as at é so as to pinch and hold firmly the shank of
the screw when extended or open (see figure 6), so also may the portions of the
handle above the joint be pressed or set towards each other as at f.so as to similarly
hold the screw when closed into the handle (see figure 4) the spring of the metal
immediately above and below the pivot or joint c being sufficient to accomplish the
desired end.
31
If necessary the said holding parts may be provided with indentations or notches
fitting over the shank of the screw as shown at y (figure 5) for greater security.
In some cases the hereinbefore mentioned flat band handle and screw may be

page_text: fastened or united together permanently or rigidly without folding. In practice
the eyelet is preferred for the joint as it gives a larger diameter with less metal
and is more readily rivetted than a solid rivet or pin. In the construction of the
larger sizes of the improved corkscrew it will be found advantageous to introduce
into the annular flat band ring handle a supplementary oblong handle of wood
metal or other suitable material similar to those now in use with ordinary cork-
screws.
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
1. In a corkscrew the combination of a worm or screw with a flat band handle.
2. In a corkscrew composed of a flat band handle and separate screw the uniting
of the said parts by means of an eyelet or rivet substantially as described.
3. A. folding corkscrew having the joint or two ends of the handle rigidly held
or secured in the longitudinal direction of the pivot substantially as described.
4. In a folding corkscrew having the joint rigidly secured in the longitudinal
direction of the pivot, the setting towards each other of the parts of the handle
above and below the said joint so as to pinch and hold the corresponding parts of
the screw whether in its closed or opened position substantially as described.
•
Dated this 18th day of April 1885.