Improved Means of Extracting Corks or Portions of Cork from the Interior of Bottles and other Necked Vessels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 9th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Extracting Corks or Portions of Cork from the
Interior of Bottles and other Necked Vessels.
THOMAS ANDREW MCKEE, Bachelor of Arts, Wesley College, Stephen's Green,
Dublin, and HENRY SPILLAR MCINTOSH, 65, Stephen's Green, Dublin, Teacher,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The instrument consists of a suitable handle and shank, from the end of which
and continuous with it in direction project a number of wires of an elastic metal,
gradually curving outwards.
The method of using the instrument is as follows:--
The wires being compressed together are introduced through the neck, upon
which, being elastic they open out so that their ends are in contact with the sides of
the vessel. The wires thus form a sort of funnel-shaped cage, into which, on the
vessel.being inverted the cork falls. The instrument is now gently drawn outwards
until the wires forced inwards by the internal aperture of the neck grip the cork.
The vessel being now reversed the instrument is fully withdrawn removing the cork
with it.
It will be found that in the process of withdrawal the wires forced together by
the neck compress the cork with a lateral pressure, thereby rendering its removal
easy without risk of breakage. There are on the wires no hooks or projections of
any kind, the extraction of the cork depending solely on the lateral pressure of the
wires; hence the superiority of this method over the hooked wires usually employed,
which by pressure from below necessarily expand the cork, thereby increasing the
difficulty of withdrawal, damaging the cork so as to render it unfit for further use,
and frequently fracturing the neck of the vessel. The absence of hooks has this
additional advantage that the instrument can be employed with the very smallest of
bottles.
•
The advantages of the invention may be summed up as follows:-
1° Great simplicity and cheapness of construction.
2° Great ease in manipulation.
3° That it can be used with necked vessels of every size & shape.
4° That it is applicable to opaque as well as to transparent vessels.
5° That it removes a cork entire, thereby permitting the cork to be used again if
necessary.
6° That it will also remove portions of cork of any shape.
7° That in the process of extraction there is no danger of breaking the vessel.
8° That it never fails in working, and can never get out of order.
Dated this 6th day of June 1890.
THOMAS ANDREW MCKEE.
HENRY SPILLAR MCINTOSH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Extracting Corks or Portions of Cork from the
Interior of Bottles and other Necked Vessels.
We, THOMAS ANDREW MCKEE, of Wesley College, Stephen's Green, Dublin,
Bachelor of Arts, and HENRY SPILLAR MCINTOSH, of 65, Stephen's Green, South
Dublin, Teacher, 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 has reference to an improved apparatus for extracting corks, or

page_text: fragments of cork from the interior of empty bottles, and other similar vessels in
convenient, simple, and effectual manner.
a
The apparatus consists of a handle and shank, similar to those of an ordinary
corkscrew. From the shank and for some distance continuous with it in direction,
project a number of elastic wires, each of which is bent outwards at the free end
from the middle line of the apparatus, so that all the wires taken together partially
enclose a somewhat conical space, the apex of which is at the point of emergance of
the wires from the shank.
A collar or piece of tube embracing the wires, and sliding freely upon them
enables the spreading wires to be readily closed together, when introducing the
instrument through the neck of a bottle.
The accompanying drawing will enable the nature and construction of our
invention to be more readily understood.
a,
It will be perceived that in its construction the group of wires embrace the
handle and their free ends being passed through the tube b, expand in the manner
shown.
When it is desired to use the apparatus the sliding collar e, is drawn towards the
ends of the wires, thereby closing them together, whereupon the instrument is
inserted through the mouth of the bottle, holding back at the same time the
collar c.
As the instrument enters, the free ends of the wires expand, and upon inverting
the bottle, the cork or fragment of cork is readily embraced, when upon withdrawing
the instrument the cork is squeezed firmly, and effectually removed from the interior
of the bottle.
It will be obvious that the instrument may be composed of any number of wires
found convenient for the object in view.
For the purpose of preventing the collar c, slipping off over the free ends of the
wires, a suitable transverse notch is cut near the ends, forming a kind of shoulder,
against which the collar impinges.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In the operation of extracting corks or fragments of cork from empty bottles and
similar vessels, the use of apparatus, constructed, arranged, and operating substan-
tially in the manner herein specified and set forth.
Dated this 7th day of March 1891.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicants.