AN IMPROVED CORKSCREW
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED CORKSCREW."-A communication from
abroad by William Rockwell Clough, of Newark, New Jersey,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 3rd May 1875, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.
°
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
CORKSCREW," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been com-

page_text: municated to me from abroad by William Rockwell Clough, of Newark,
New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to a corkscrew and has for its object the
production of a device, which wliile fully effecting the purposes of an
ordinary corkscrew is of such construction that it can be manufactured
at greatly reduced cost in a manner heretofore unknown. Its distinctive
novelty consists in fabricating the entire device or completo corkscrew
out of a single piece of wire by twisting, folding, and otherwise
manipulating the same as herein-after more fully set forth.
Corkscrews have heretofore usually been formed of a spirally twisted
rod of metal, pointed at one extremity and provided with a shank at the
other, the latter being connected with a handle adapted to receive and
hold it in divers ways. The shank to ensure the necessary, strength has
been constructed of a greater diameter than the screw or spiral portion,
which to prevent its splitting the cork and for other reasons has been
reduced to as thin a wire as possible. As a consequence it has been
necessary to provide a blank especially adapted to these ends, and also to
provide a suitable handle the fabrication of which has involved very
considerable expense. It has likewise been customary to provide some
expedient, usually a stop secured to the lower part of the shank to
prevent the spiral portion or screw from penetrating the cork to an
unduc depth, which provision has added to the other items of expense.
This Invention is designed to obviate these inconveniences and
defects, to simplify the construction of the class of devices to which it
relates, and to render practicable the production of corkscrews adapted
more specially for use in connection with small corks at a greatly
reduced cost.

page_text: a denotes the twisted or spiral part, and the handle. The whole is
formed of a single piece of wire of a diameter and length dependent
upon the use to which the corkscrew is to be applied. The wire is
twisted to form a screw in any suitable manner for a portion of its
length, the end being sharpened or pointed to readily penetrate the cork.
The remaining portion is bent into the form of a handle preferably a
ring or loop, and the free end c is tied, lapped, twisted, or otherwise
united to the wire at a point immediately above the spiral part at the
termination of the same. By preference the end c is simply tied as
soldering, brazing, or otherwise uniting the same, adds to the cost of
manufacture, it is also coiled or wound upon itself, thus forming an
effective stop besides being strengthened.
By the construction above described the difficulties of producing a
corkscrew at a very small expense herein-before alluded to are over-
come. And the simplicity of the Invention is such that any one familiar
with the fabrication of analagous articles will be able to construct and
practise it without further explanation or description.
It is manifest that this Invention admits of a great number of
modifications, according to the taste or inclination of the manufacturer.
The device herein specifically described may be varied in its details in
divers ways without departing materially from its true nature and intent.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent and the manner of performed the same,
I wish it understood that I claim, a corkscrew formed of wire twisted
spirally for a portion of its length, the remaining portion being bent
into a loop or ring to form a handle, and the free end being secured to
the wire at or about the termination of the spiral portion.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)