The Twisted-Rod Push Corkscrew: Press the Handle and a Twisted Stem Spins the Screw In

"To accomplish this object, I attach to the middle of the handle a metallic tube, in the position usually occupied by the shank of the instrument, and extend the shank of the screw or spiral to about double its usual length, making the upper part in the form of a regularly twisted square, or other prism-shaped rod, having about one twist to the inch, and turned in the opposite direction from that of the screw or spiral itself, and make this twisted square portion to run up into the said tube through a plate at its lower extremity." "In using my cork-screw, the stem is first thrown out, which can easily be done by pressing back the spring-catch I, and the point of the screw A being placed against the centre of the cork, the handle is pressed down, thereby turning the twisted part B and spiral A, and forcing the said spiral into the cork. So soon as the shoulder C passes above the spring-catch I, the said spring-catch hooks under the said shoulder, and gives a bearing against which the stem is supported while the cork is being pulled."

**Twisted rod.** Cut 18 cm of 6 mm mild steel square bar. Heat 10 cm of it red with the torch and, with one end in the vise, twist it with an adjustable wrench about four turns, so it has about one twist to the inch, the opposite way to the spiral you will wind. **Spiral and shoulder.** Wind 2 mm steel wire into an open helix round a 6 mm rod, file a point, and silver-solder it to the square bar's plain end. Silver-solder a washer round the bar where the twist ends, as the shoulder C. **Plate and tube.** Drill and file a square hole in a small piece of mild steel plate so the twisted rod slides through it and turns as it goes. Silver-solder the plate across the end of a 12 cm length of tube that the rod turns freely in. **Handle and catch.** Drill a hardwood handle across its middle and fix the tube's other end in it with a rivet. Rivet a strip of spring steel beside the plate so its bent end springs under the shoulder when the rod is pushed fully in. **Test.** Cork several bottles of water with the corking kit. Press the spring catch back, draw the stem out, set the point on a cork's centre and press the handle down. When the catch clicks under the shoulder, draw the cork.

**William H. Van Gieson** of Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, received US 61,485, dated 22 January 1867. A head or button D on the twisted part stopped it leaving the tube, the tube E was fixed in the handle F by a pin G, and the spring catch I was held by a circular spring J in a slot in the tube, with a pin b to limit its throw. His claims cover the stem's upper part twisted opposite to the spiral, and its combination with the tube, plate, catch and handle. **Honest limits.** A twisted square bar, a filed plate and aluminium tube stand in for his parts; the head D and circular spring J are simplified. The notebook ignores friction; its forces, spiral lead and stroke are examples. Your pressed-in corks are the result.