8

Book Notes

The patent drawings shown in this book are representative examples of the

patent and do not always include all multiple patent drawings if used in the

original application. In some cases drawings from several pages have been

combined. The majority of the patents are shown on half pages. Some are

shown as full pages where additional drawings are needed to better

understand the patent. Patent drawings have been resized for consistency and

each has been computer retouched and enhanced to remove spots, dots, dust

and dirt.

Where multiple views are shown in a drawing, most have been have been

converted to Western style (drawings left to right instead of right to left).

There are 437 patents shown. The corkscrew patents have been divided into

the four eras and prong pullers, cork ejectors, and cork retrievers are

included in separate chapters.

Total patents in each chapter are:

Mutsuhito (Meiji) Era: 57

Yoshihito (Taishô) Era: 32

Hirohito (Shôwa) Era: 195 (32 are pre WWII)

Akhito (Heisei era) Era: 73

Prong Puller: 35

Cork Ejector: 33

Cork Retriever: 12