The Spring-Button Lemon Squeezer: A Button That Gives Way So the Rind Wraps Round It

"A and B are the two levers, connected by a hinge, C. The lever A has a projection, D, so that when the two levers are shut together, the small end of the button E, which sets in the openings in the lever B, is forced out." "The segregated half of the fruit is placed against the spring-button, and the opposite lever, having the projection, is brought down upon the small end, which presses the rind down upon the smooth surface of the button-lever, completely surrounding the button, and bearing down the spring, which forces out the stem, while the juice of the fruit passes through the centre hole, H, into the tumbler. The face of the button is concave and has grooves centring to the opening."

**Levers.** Cut two 25 cm levers from hardwood board, shaped like Klepzig's with handles at one end, and join the other ends with a butt hinge as C. **Button seat.** Drill a 45 mm stepped hole through lever B, 7 cm from the hinge, narrower at the back to leave a ledge. **Button.** Turn or rasp a hardwood button that slides in the hole, with a concave face carved with grooves running to a centre hole, and fix a short length of tube through its centre as the stem G, passing through the narrow back of the hole. Put a compression spring round the stem, resting on the ledge. **Projection.** Glue a rounded hardwood knob to lever A opposite the button as the projection D. **Test.** Seal the wood with food-safe oil. Hold the squeezer over a tumbler, lay a half lemon cut face down on the button, close the levers and press. Weigh the juice against a half squeezed on a flat board.

**John Klepzig** of San Francisco, California, received US 84,125, dated 17 November 1868. The opening in lever B was smaller at the back than at the face, leaving a ledge on which the spiral spring F rested, and the small end or tube G attached to the button passed through the lesser hole. His claim is the movable button with its opening and spiral spring, with the two levers. **Honest limits.** Hardwood levers, a carved button and a bought spring stand in for his made-up parts. The notebook ignores friction; its forces, lengths and spring are examples. Your juice weights are the result.