167

For Pockets and Picnics

On June 27, 1939 Danbury, Connecticut

resident Knud Knudsen obtained U. S.

Patent Number 2,164,191 for his

―

Remover for Bottle Closures

‖

. When

Knud dreamed up his invention three

years earlier, he had

―

simple,

inexpensive, compact, and efficient

‖

on

his list of priorities. His opener is

designed with simplicity in mind - the

cap lifter and sheath are on one piece

and the worm is protected by a ribbed

sheath made of three parts. When the

sheath is on, a crown cap can be

removed using the bottom of the

―

S

‖

curve top. To use the implement to

extract corks, just remove the worm and slip it through the top of the

―

S

‖

for a

direct pull

―

T

‖

handle corkscrew.

The patent was assigned to Danbury-Knudsen, a Connecticut corporation.

Knudsen had high expectations for the opener and he wrote about

manufacturing goals

―

...individual parts of speedy and inexpensive manufacture

and in which the assembly is simple and inexpensive.

‖

Another product made by Danbury-Knudsen was a double door bell button

based on Knudsen August 8, 1944 U. S. Patent No. 2,355,308 for

―

Push Button

Switch Construction.

‖