US3451076A - Submerged cork recovery device - Google Patents

Description

A. V. DEAVER June 24, 1969 SUBMERGED CORK RECOVERY DEVICE Filed Oct. 10, 1966 I N\'/ENTOR. AVERNEDEAVER.

United States Patent US. Cl. 7-11 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined tool for bartenders and the like having the usual cork screw, bottle cap lifter, a knife blade, with the improved features of means for recovering a submerged cork from a wine bottle, the latter means consisting of a plurality of flexible outwardly biased prongs having upset ends for engagement with a submerged cork when in use, together with a fulcrum bar to provide leverage. The flexible cork recovery prongs are supported within the back of the tool with a swivel joint so that when not in use these prongs will be concealed within the body of the tool.

My present invention relates to a combined tool of compact design and more particularly to a new and novel type of submerged cork recovery means for champagne and like bottles.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a compact and improved tool of pocket size, having a novel collapsible submerged cork recovery means together with a closure forming fulcrum lever of practical and economical design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination tool for bartenders and the like having corkscrew, a crown cap removing means and blade for removing the foil covering of champagne corks together with a submerged cork removing means for extracting a champagne or the like cork when lost during an initial opening of a full bottle.

Other objects and advantages will be in part evident to those skilled in the art and in part pointed out in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of my improved tool with the parts in their pocket size closed positions,

FIGURE 2, the view is similar to FIGURE 1 with the front face of the tool removed to reveal the interior construction.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view showing my tool as used in the recovery of a champagne cork, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3 looking in direction of the arrows.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawing wherein numeral designates a body forming member, here shown as a pocket knife configuration. Along the top edge of the body member 10 there is a pivotally mounted corkscrew 11, a knife blade 12, and a crown cap lifting tool 13 which doubles as a lever support for the corkscrew 11 when in use in the conventional manner, The lower edge of the body member 10 is open and forms a channel-like chamber or compartment into which there is disposed a group of cork retrieving prongs 14, that are slidably mounted in a swivel like supporting member 15 which turns about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body member 10. Since the body member 10 may be faced with pearl, wood or other nonmetallic material, there is as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, inner reinforcing facings 16 between which the swivel 15 is mounted. The cork engaging prongs 14 have an inherent characteristic which causes them to bow outwardlly, as will be hereinafter explained, and to retain these prongs 14 in their collapsed position for retention in the chamber of the body member 10 there is a slideable sleeve 17 in the form of a tightly coiled spring. As shown, the prongs 14 are secured together as a unit by a knob 18 which also acts as a stop against the prong supporting swivel 15 when the prongs are extended for the removal of a submerged cork. The free ends of the prongs 14 are here shown as bent inwardly and towards each other so that when extended their ends will become disposed about a cork as will be readily understood. Associated with the prong supporting swivel 15 there is a lever arm 19 which will provide a leverage support for the body member 10 during a cork recovering operation.

The prong assembly unit 14 also includes a fourth or additional prong 20 with a bent end 21. The prong 20 is adapted and arranged, as will hereinafter appear, to operate as a prod which will serve to up end and properly l0- cate a cork being recovered between the prongs 14 when extended through the neck of a bottle.

As pointed out above, the three preformed flexible prongs 14 are joined as a unit at one end which passes through the free-turning swivel support 15 and are inherently bowed outwardly to form a triangular space between their extended ends with the inward turned ends spaced to accommodate a submerged cork. The fourth member 20, somewhat shorter in length is positioned at the center of the three outwardly bowed prongs, with the small turned foot 21 at their ends directed inwardly and towards the cork. In this position the fourth member 20 acts as a striker to position the submerged cork in an upright position when found in a horizontal position. The sleeve 17 of coiled wire or short piece of tubing shown disposed about the prong assembly unit 14 serves as a closing device when pushed down along the prongs until it is stopped by the small offset 21 at the end of the striker member 20. At this point the prongs 14 will be confined so that they can be relocated in the aforementioned compartment or channel as provided for in the body member 10. The knob 18 at the end of the prongs 14 will act to prevent removal of the prongs 14 from the free-turning swivel support 15. The prong assembly unit can then be slid back into the prong accommodation channel of the number 10 and thus the assembly will be shortened to pocket knife length. It will be noted that the body member 10 has a notch at a point 22 adjacent the ends of the prongs 14 so that they may be gripped for use when needed.

The novelty and simplicity of my cork-retriever will be apparent from a brief description of its operation for the recovery of a submerged cork. First the fulcrum 19 will be moved into a right-angle position with respect to body member 10, next the cork engaging prongs 14 will be drawn from channel compartment by grasping the ends of prongs at a half-round opening 22 provided near one end of the tool. Move and slide prongs 14 in a direction nearly parallel to body member until knob retainer 18 engages the free-turning swivel 15. Next swing cork recovery prongs 14 into position substantially parallel with the fulcrum forming lever 19, insert ends of prongs 14 into the neck of the bottle from which a submerged cork is to be recovered. Then after observing position of cork, move the prongs with and up and down movement to bring the striker 20 into engagement with the cork as shown in FIGURE 4, to position the cork in an upright position. Following this, lift body member 10 until cork is enclosed by all three prongs 14, then position fulcrum lever 19 on the open end of the bottle, holding the fulcrum lever 19 in position with thumb and forefinger of free hand and with a steady upward movement of the body member the cork will be lifted from the bottle. This leverage feature allows for perfect control of cork recovery and will deposit the cork in the free hand, without the sudden uncontrolable jerk and accidental discharge of contents on release as so often happens with devices now on the market.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose my invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated a specific form and arrangement, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific form disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent is:

1. In a submerged cork recovering device, the combination of a body forming member of pocket-knife configuration having an open channel along one side thereof forming a prong accommodating compartment extending substantially throughout its length, a swivel-like prong supporting member extending across said compartment intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of preformed flexible prongs secured together as a group and slideably mounted upon said swivel-like prong supporting member, said prongs having a length substantially conforming to the length of said compartment and received therein when in one position and when turned with said swivel-lik prong supporting member into another position are extendable into and through the neck of a beverage containing bottle, and a pivotally mounted fulcrum forming a lever adapted in one position to conceal said prongs when disposed within the prong accommodating compartment of said body member and in another position to form a fulcrum for said body member when said prongs are projected through the open end of a bottle for the recovery of a submerged cork.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said plurality of preformed and outwardly biased flexible prong sare so formed that the neck of the bottle will operate independently of any other prong controlling means to close the prongs upon a submerged cork during a cork recovering operation.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said group of preformed flexible prongs include a rigid shorter cork striking prong disposed centrally thereof, adapted and arranged to position a submerged cork into an upstanding position for engagement by said flexible prongs.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said group of prongs carry a slideable sleeve for holding them in an inoperative condition when disposed within said compartment forming channel of said body member.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, characterized by the fact that said rigid cork striking prong has a bent end forming a stop for said slideable sleeve when in its operating position over said prongs.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that said body forming member also carries a support for a pivotally mounted knife blade, a corkscrew and a crown cap removing device at the back of its prong accommodating compartment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 73,435 1/1868 Clapp 8l3.4l X 786,492 4/1905 Garimaldi 7-11 X 946,740 1/1910 Thomas 813.41 X 2,145,129 1/1939 Puccetti 813.41

FOREIGN PATENTS 580,745 9/ 1924 France. 1,273,285 10/1961 France.

ROBERT C. RIORDAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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