A NEW CORKSCREW
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne, of Paris, in the
Department of the Seine, in the Republic of France, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "A NEW CORKSCREW."
Sealed the 30th June 1874, and dated the 5th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Narcisse Alphonse
Delavigne at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th January 1874.
İ, NARCISSE ALPHONSE DELAVIGNE, of Paris, in the Department
5 of the Seine, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW CORKSCREW," to be as
follows:
-
My novel corkscrew, which I propose to term the pump corkscrew,
renders the uncorking of bottles more easy while greatly lessening the
necessary power and the chances of breakage and accident. It is
composed, as shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, of a
lever or handle having a slot in which plays the piece D, E, A, B,

page_text: ending at E in a forked extension and carrying the ring A, B, in the
middle.
The lever C is terminated beyond the above mentioned slot by a
socket or cap in which moves the head of the bit of the corkscrew, so
that it may always lower at a right angle to the lever C. A spring R
fixed on the lever C where the cap begins serves to prevent the bit from
rising in a contrary direction; for this purpose the head of the bit ends
in a stop piece which lodges in a notch made within the cap at its
base.
When the instrument is used it is screwed into the cork in the
ordinary manner and in its rectilineal position, until the ring A, B,
comes against the neck of the bottle where it is stopped by means of a
shoulder or collar B forming bearing made inside the ring and of one
piece with it. It is this shoulder which supports the entire strain of the
operation, and (this strain being in inverse direction to the resistance
there is equilibrium, and all danger of breakage is obviated. The end E
of the fork coming on to the neck of the bottle when the lever C is
brought down, the result is a point of contact serving to completely
counterbalance the lever, upon which it is only necessary to exert a very
moderate pressure to bring the cork out of the bottle in a perfectly
vertical direction, and in the axis of the bottle in the same way as the
beam acts upon the piston in a pump.
It will be evident that with this system very little power is required,
especially compared with the difficulty often met with in uncorking
in the ordinary manner. It may further be reduced by proportionately
increasing the length of the lever C.
Another advantage of this system is that the liquid in the bottle is
not shaken during the operation; and further, as the cork will always
come out entire it may be used again.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NARCISSE
ALPHONSE DELAVIGNE, of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, in the
Republic of France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne,
Her special licence that I, the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter, during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "A NEW CORKSCREW," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigne, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon :-
My novel corkscrew, which I propose to term the pump corkscrew,
renders the uncorking of botles more easy, but little power being needed
and the chances of breakage and accident being lessened.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 is a perspective
view of a complete corkscrew embodying my Invention; Figure 2 being

page_text: a view of same reversed, and Figure 3 a plan of the ring or collar which
bears upon the bottle during the uncorking.
My corkscrew is composed, as shown, of a lever handle C having a
slot in which plays the piece D, E, A, B, ending at E in a forked
extension and carrying the ring A, B, in the middle.
The lever C is terminated beyond the above mentioned slot by a
socket or cap in which moves the head of the bit of the corkscrew, so
that it may always lower at a right angle to the lever C. A spring R
fixed on the lever C where the cap begins, serves to prevent the bit
rising in a contrary direction; for this purpose the head of the bit ends
in a stop piece which lodges in a notch made within the cap at its
base.
When the instrument is used it is screwed into the cork in the
ordinary manner and in its rectilineal position, until the ring A, B,
comes against the neck of the bottle when it is stopped by means of the
shoulder or collar B forming bearing made inside the ring and of one
piece with it. It is this shoulder which supports the entire strain of the
operation, and this strain being in inverse direction to the resistance
there is equilibrium, and all danger of breakage is obviated. The end E
of the fork coming on to the neck of the bottle when the lever C is
brought down the result is a point of contact serving to completely
counterbalance the lever, upon which it is only necessary to exert a very
moderate pressure to bring the cork out of the bottle in a perfectly
vertical direction and in the axis of the bottle, in the same way as the
beam acts upon the piston in a pump.
It will be evident that with this system very little power is required,
especially compared with the difficulty often experienced in uncorking
in the ordinary manner. It may further be reduced by proportionately
increasing the length of the lever C.
Another advantage of this system is that the liquid in the bottle is not
shaken during the operation; and further, as the cork will always come
out entire it may be used again.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I would
have it understood, that I do not confine myself to the use of any
particular metal or material in the manufacture of my improved cork-

page_text: screw or to the precise shape and dimensions represented on the
Drawing, and that I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, the use of the combination of the piece A, B, D, E,
with the lever C, the whole operating substantially as above described
and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Narcisse Alphonse Delavigue, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD,
LOUIS EUGÈNE COLSON.
N. A. DELAVIGNE. (L.S.)