IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR DRAWING CORKS FROM BOTTLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyrus Price, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford;
Safe and Lock Manufacturer, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKS
AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR DRAWING CORKS FROM
BOTTLES."
Sealed the 11th February 1879, and dated the 14th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cyrus Price at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1878.
CYRUS PRICE, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford; Safe and Lock
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS. IN CORKS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR DRAWING CORKS FROM BOTTLES."
My Invention relates,―
First. To improvements in the means of drawing corks manufactured in the
ordinary way.
And, Second. To an improved means of drawing corks according to which the
corks are prepared to receive a hook instead of a corkscrew.
I will first describe my improvements as they relate to drawing corks manufac-
tured in the ordinary way.
Upon a frame made of metal or wood I mount a lever working on a fulcrum near
the back of the frame, and terminating in a fork or jaw towards the front. The
said lever is raised or depressed by means of a lever terminating in a handle, and
connected to the spindle of the first-mentioned lever, or forming part of the first-
mentioned lever. A spiral or other spring is used to return the mechanism to its
normal position when the handle is released.
According to one modification, a corkscrew having a plain cylindrical shank or
base, and a collar by which it is carried, is passed vertically through the fork or jaw
aforesaid, which in this case is above the frame, and thence through a bush in the
top of the said frame. The corkscrew is provided with a knob at the top, by which
it may be raised, and also with a crank, by which rotary motion is imparted to it.

page_text: Within the said frame is placed a shelf having a slotted opening sufficiently wide to
admit of the neck of a bottle, and extending backwards from the front of the shelf
sufficiently far to allow of 'the bottle being pushed under the corkscrew.
To draw a cork with the above apparatus the corkscrew is first lifted by the
knob, the bottle is then pushed into its place with the neck within the slot, the
corkscrew is then allowed to drop upon the cork, and is screwed into it by turning
round the crank, the bottle being held at the same time by the left hand and lifted
gradually as the corkscrew is screwed up. When the corkscrew is screwed up the
lever with the handle at the end is pulled, thus raising the jawed lever, which latter
raises the corkscrew, and draws the cork. The bottle is prevented from rising too
high by the shelf aforesaid bearing on the shoulder of the bottle.
According to another modification an ordinary corkscrew may be used if desired,
in which case it is screwed into the cork, and the bottle is then pushed into the slot
aforesaid, with the upper part of the corkscrew passing over the front end of the
first-mentioned lever (in this case either jawed or otherwise to suit the shape of the
corkscrew handle). A slot in the top of the frame is formed to allow the corkscrew
to pass. When the handle is pulled, as before, the corkscrew is lifted up and the
cork withdrawn.
According to another modification, instead of the corkscrew being raised, the
bottle may be forced down and the cork thus withdrawn. In such a case the shelf
is dispensed with, and the jawed lever is fixed under the top of the frame and acts
by being forced downwards upon the shoulder of the bottle. The handle of the
corkscrew is in this case supported by the top of the frame, being pushed into a
slot formed therein (if first screwed into the cork) or carried in a bush.
In either modification the handle lever, instead of being connected direct to the
first-mentioned lever or to the same spindle, may if desired be connected to a short
arm or lever bearing against the first-mentioned lever near the fork thereof, thus
giving a greater leverage, whilst the vibration of the first-mentioned lever is kept
as before.
My improved method of constructing corks as a means of facilitating their with-
drawal consists in forming a groove at the top and bottom of the cork, the said
grooves being at right angles to each other, and then winding hemp or other suitable
material longitudinally around the cork, passing along the bottom groove and
crossing the top groove; this is done before the corks are inserted into the bottles.
I draw the corks so constructed by means of a hook, which is inserted within the
top groove and below the hemp. The said hook is provided with a handle, and
used in conjunction with the improved mechanism described for drawing corks, into
which an ordinary corkscrew is inserted, or the corks may be drawn by simply
pulling the hook.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Cyrus Price in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th February
1879.
CYRUS PRICE, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Safe and Lock
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKS AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR DRAWING CORKS FROM BOTTLES."
This Invention relates,-
First. To improvements in the means of drawing corks manufactured in the
ordinary way.
And, Second. To an improved means of drawing corks according to which the
corks are prepared to receive a hook instead of a corkscrew.
I will first describe my improvements as they relate to drawing corks manufac-
tured in the ordinary way.
Upon a frame made of metal or wood I mount a lever working on a fulcrum near
the back of the frame, and terminating in a fork, or jaw, or other shaped end
towards the front to catch under the handle of the corkscrew. The said lever is
raised by means of a cross lever carried upon a fulcrum upon the top of the frame,
the inner end passing under the first-mentioned lever, and the outer end terminating
in a handle. The first-mentioned lever is raised by pulling down the handle of the
second-mentioned lever, and the levers are pulled back again to their normal posi-
tion by means of a spring or weight. The said frame is provided with a shelf placed
somewhat more than the length of the neck of the kind of bottle from which the
cork is to be drawn under the top of the frame. The said shelf has a slotted opening
extending from the front backwards, and the top of the frame also is slotted for a
purpose immediately to be described.
The corkscrew is screwed into the cork in the usual manner, and the bottle is
then pushed with its neck in the slot of the shelf aforesaid, and the corkscrew
within the slot in the top of the frame, and the handle of the corkscrew over the
first-mentioned lever. The first-mentioned lever is then raised, as before described,
and the cork is withdrawn, the shelf aforesaid preventing the bottle from being
raised.
According to another modification a lever is used in place of the shelf aforesaid,
having a similar slot to that of the shelf aforesaid. The lever is depressed by means
of a lever upon the same axis terminating in a handle, the levers being returned to
their normal position by means of a spring or weight. In this case the levers at the
top of the frame are dispensed with. The corkscrew after being screwed into the,
cork is hung upon a fixed part at the top of the frame, the neck of the bottle being
within the slot of the lever. The cork is drawn by forcing down the lever upon the
shoulder of the bottle, and thus forcing the bottle from the cork.
My improved means of constructing corks as a means of facilitating their with-
drawal consists in forming a groove at the top and bottom of the cork, the said,
grooves being at right angles to each other, and then winding hemp or other suitable
material longitudinally around the cork, passing along the bottom groove and
crossing the top groove; this is of course done before the corks are inserted into the
bottles. I draw the corks so constructed by means of a hook, which is inserted
within the top groove and below the hemp or corresponding material. The said
hook is provided with a handle, and may be used in conjunction with the improved
mechanism described for drawing corks, or the corks may be drawn by simply,
pulling the hook.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed more
particularly to describe the method of carrying out the same with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a vertical section on
line x, x, (of Figure 2) of my improved apparatus by which the cork is drawn up
out of a bottle.
A, etc., is the frame (shewn in this case of wood); B; a shelf having a slot C; D
is a corresponding slot in the top of the frame; E is a lever having a slot F and
projections f, f, to receive and retain the handle of the corkscrew G. The lever E
has its fulcrum at H, and is pulled down by means of the spiral spring J. K is the
bottle, shewn in its position when the cork is about to be drawn. L is a cross lever
having its fulcrum a upon the top of the frame, and its inner end b extending
underneath the lever E. As the handle of the lever L is depressed, the lever E
is raised into the position shewn by broken lines, Figure 3, and the cork is thus
withdrawn.
The frame may be fixed to a counter or table, or may be simply placed thereon,
as the pressure upon the handle is in a downward direction.
Figure 4 is a front elevation, and Figure 5 a section on line y, y, (of Figure 4) of
my improved apparatus by which the cork of a bottle is drawn by drawing down
the bottle from the cork.
M, etc., is the frame (the sides being shewn in this case of wood, and the top and
bottom of metal). N is a lever having a slot. P, and wood or other packings 0, 0,
fixed thereunder and on either side of the slot to bear upon the shoulder of the
bottle. The lever N is carried on the spindle Q, and a lever R is connected to the
lever N, as shewn, near the spindle Q. S is the corkscrew and T the bottle. The
corkscrew S is pushed into a slot U in the top of the frame, and the handle is hung
upon a fixed part W corresponding to the front end of the lever E in the former
modification. As the levers R and N are pulled into the positions shewn by broken
lines (Figure 5), the bottle T is pulled down, and the cork thus withdrawn. The
levers are returned to their normal position by the spiral spring X. This apparatus
should be screwed or cramped down to a counter or table, as the pull upon the
handle is sideways.
In cases where a number of corks have to be withdrawn in a short space of time,
as at a railway refreshment room, it is advisable to have a number of corkscrews
screwed a short distance into as many corks just previously to the time when the
hurried demand is likely to occur. The corkscrews may then be rapidly screwed a
turn or two further, and the corks drawn by the machine.
".
My improved method of constructing corks is illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, the
one being an elevation at right angles to the other.
g is the cork; h, a groove across the top of the cork; k, a groove across the
bottom of the cork, and at right angles to the groove h; m, m, is a girdle of string,
or hemp, or other similar yielding material wound round the cork, as shewn, that
is, passing down both sides of the cork, along the groove k, and across the groove h.
The cork is withdrawn from a bottle by means of a hook inserted under the string,
or hemp, or other material, as aforesaid, just where it crosses the groove h, the said
hook being pulled by hand or by means of my improved apparatus for drawing
corks, according to either modification, substantially as described and illustrated.
The string or other material which is wound round the cork is of a strength and
quality depending upon the nature of the purpose for which the cork is to be used,
but ordinarily (say for ginger-beer corks) pack thread or light twine wound about
4 to 6 times round and held by having the ends tied in a knot will be found
sufficient.
T
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and described the manner
of carrying out the same, I declare that I do not limit myself to the exact details
described and shewn, but what I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
1st. The improvements in apparatus for drawing corks from bottles, substantially
as described, and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

page_text: 2nd. The improved construction of cork, substantially as and for the purpose
described, and illustrated by Figures 6 and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus Price, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Vitness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. Inst. C.E.,
Patent Office,
Wolverhampton.
CYRUS PRICE. (LS.)