85

Austria

Rudolf Hartmann from Glattbrugg, Switzerland applied for an

Austrian patent on May 20, 1963 for

Vorrichtung zum Entkorken

von Flaschen.

Before Hartmann, gas cartridge ejectors had already had

considerable refinements among American, French, German,

Swiss inventors. Hartmann's idea was to use the entire handle

to cause the needle to open the cartridge valve allowing gas into

the bottle. He had two short points next to the needle. Once

the needle was fully inserted into the cork, the points would

seat in the top of the cork to secure the position. Then the

user could engage the cartridge by turning the handle on the

slots provided.

Hartmann was issued Austrian Patent No. 245,962 on March

25, 1966.

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A cork ejector currently marketed in

Austria by the firm Leopold uses the

trade name Aeropull. Instead of the

usual vertical drive, this unit has a

right angle drive. It is made for

Leopold by Wecomatic in Solingen,

Germany. For more details on the

ejector, see the section on Germany.