Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 1888
I, WALTER SYDNEY CRAWSHAY, Author, of 28 Upper Richmond Road, Putney,
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the danger and incon-
venience at present attaching to the opening of bottles of soda water, lemonade,
ginger beer, beer, champagne and other liquids may be obviated. For this purpose
use a combination of a suitably constructed stand or frame and corkscrew. The lower
part of the stand or frame on which the bottle rests is a ring, cup, or plate supported
by a base piece. From the ring, cup, or plate rise three arms shaped somewhat to the
form of the bottle, so as to enclose it. The distance between one pair of arms is
greater than that between the other pairs in order to allow of the insertion of the
bottle. The neck of the bottle is held in position by a collar on the frame having an
opening on one side rather smaller than the neck, and terminating in two springy ends.
The arms of the frame rise some inches higher than the bottle, and support a corkscrew
having its worm directly over the centre of the cork. I do not confine myself to any
particular form of corkscrew, but one capable of resisting the pressure of the gas,
such as those which draw the cork by being continuously turned round is preferable.
The corkscrew may or may not be capable of being detached from the frame. If it is
to be detached, various arrangements may be used. In one form the socket in which
the thread of the corkscrew works is rigidly connected to the frame at the top and the
socket and thread are larger than the worm and of such a size that the worm can pass
through the socket. Or the ordinary threaded spindle may be dispensed with and the
socket adapted for the worin itself to work in it.
In another form the corkscrew is one with a barrel or collar attached in the ordinary
way; but this barrel or collar has a thread on the outside of it and can be screwed
nto another collar attached to the upper part of the frame or stand. Instead of being
hreaded the collar of the corkscrew may be plain with two pins at its lower end, on
pposite sides of it.
And the collar of the frame may have a rectangular slot on each
ide of it, into which the pins may be fitted for the purpose of securing the
corkscrew.

page_text: The collar of the corkscrew in any case may be conical inside, so that it will fit on
to the rim of a bottle if used apart from the frame or stand.
In another modification the corkscrew has a thread working in a socket, but it is
arranged that when it has come to the end of its travel and the worm is fully in the
cork it can still be turned round, thus causing the cork to leave the bottle and rise on
the worm.
To effect this the spindle at the upper end of the thread is made plain and
of such a size that it will fit into the socket.
Or the worm may notched so that if after having entered the cork its motion is
reversed it will draw the cork.
In any case the worm may be made hollow, and with one or more holes at its upper
and lower ends through which the gas can escape.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself exactly to the forms of the
apparatus as herein described.
Dated this 14th dow of October 1887

page_text: I WALTER SYDNEY CRAWSHAY, Author of 28 Upper Richmond Road, Putney in
the county of Surrey 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the danger and incon-
venience at present attaching to the opening of soda water, lemonade, ginger beer,
beer, champagne and other liquids may be obviated.
The apparatus will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a form of the apparatus especially adapted to opening bottles of soda
water, and similarly-shaped bottles containing other liquids. A is a cup adapted
inside to the form of the bottle. B. B and C are three arms also adapted to the form
of the bottle, and rising to support the shoulder D which holds the bottle down when
the cork is being drawn. The arm C is produced upwards above the shoulder D and
terminates in the socket E in which the double-threaded spindle F works. A swivel
secured by the screw G works in the double thread, the action of which on being con-
tinuously turned round in one direction causes the corkscrew to enter the cork and
then draw it. I do not confine myself to the use of the corkscrew shown in the
figure, or to any particular form of corkscrews, but one which cannot be forced
upwards by the pressure of the gas is preferable.
If it is desired to use the apparatus for other bottles besides soda water bottles, the
outer side of the ring or cup may be made large enough to take in such bottles, and
when a ring is used it may be made large enough to take in narrower bottles than soda
water bottles. When the bottles vary much in height, either the corkscrew or the base
must be made adjustable-by means of a rack, or slot and thumbscrew, or some other
arrangement-in height. In this case the well-known collar for fitting on the mouths
of bottles may be substituted for the fixed shoulder D, and the arms B, B may be
dispensed with. In some forms of the apparatus both an adjustable and fixed base may
be used.
Instead of the arrangement attached to the corkscrew for preventing it moving
upwards, holding the bottle at its widest part, it may be made to hold it just under the
rim--as shown in fig. 2-the effect being the same. S. S. are two springs fitting under
the rim, and attached to the collar K by the arms or springs a, a.
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 an apparatus for opening soda water and other bottles, the combination of a
ring, cup, or recess adapted to hold egg-shaped bottles, with a corkscrew.

page_text: 2. In an apparatus for opening soda water and other bottles the combination of a
ring, cup or recess adapted to hold egg-shaped bottles, with a shoulder for holding the
bottle and preventing it rising when the cork is being drawn.
0
3. In an apparatus for opening soda water and other bottles the combination of a
ring, cup, or recess adapted to hold egg-shaped bottles, with a collar for holding the
bottle at the mouth and preventing it rising when the cork is being drawn.
4. The complete apparatus shown in fig. 1.
5. In an apparatus for opening soda water and other bottles, the combination of a
corkscrew with a device or arrangement for gripping or holding the bottle at a part
other than the bottom-where the circumference is smaller than the circumference
immediately above it.
6. The complete annaratus shown in fio 2