Tool for closing bottles by a crown cap

A tool for closing bottles with a crown cap, said tool including a handle, tightening means carried by said handle for tightening the crown cap on the neck of the bottle to close the latter, said tightening means comprising an expansible split ring for surrounding said cap, means associated with said handle and with said split ring for causing the latter to contract in response to a certain force applied to said handle so as to tighten the cap about the bottle neck, said split ring defining a plane and said handle defining a lengthwise direction, said means for causing said split ring to contract including pivot means for said handle to permit the latter to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to said plane of said split ring and perpendicular to said lengthwise direction of said handle, cam means associated with said handle for contracting said split ring when said certain force is applied to said handle to cause the latter to turn on said axis, said split ring including an upper lip, as seen in the normal working position of the tool, for supporting the tool on the upper face of the cap of the capped bottle , said split ring having an upper central opening, as seen in the normal working position of the tool, said handle including a nose for entering said central opening when said handle and said tightening means are in said nontightening position and for causing a tell-tale depression in the upper face of the cap to show that the bottle was already opened.