IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Adam Briggs, of 1, David Place, St. Heliers,
Jersey, Doctor of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR
STOPPERING BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Adam Briggs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1879.
EDWIN ADAM BRIGGS, of 1, David Place, Saint Heliers, Jersey, Doctor of
Medicine. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES AND SIMILAR
VESSELS."
This Invention consists of a stopper of hard wood, porcelain, or other convenient
material.
The stopper is composed of a lower portion which enters the neck of the bottle,
and an upper portion.
The lower portion or projection is transversely grooved for the reception of a
washer of india-rubber or other material.
The upper part of the stopper also has a deep indentation or groove on one side,
into which fits the head or transverse projection of a latchet or catch by means of
which the stopper is secured. The latchet or catch consists of a small flat piece of
metal so made as to have a ring at the lower part.
This ring enables it to be attached to the neck of the bottle by means of a piece
of wire, or band of metal, or other suitable substance, which is fastened round the
neck of the bottle below the rim. At the other end the latchet is bent at an
angle so as to form a projection, and so curved as to pass readily into the deep
groove in the upper part of the stopper and securely fasten it. The latchet has
also a spur at or near the angle, which enables the latchet to be easily pushed back,
and then the stopper can be removed.
In cases of aërated waters and other liquids containing superabundant gas it is
necessary to fasten the stopper to the neck of the bottle, and this can be done by
means of a wire, or small chain, or other suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Adam Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
April 1880.
66
EDWIN ADAM BRIGGS, of 1, David Place, Saint Heliers, Jersey, Doctor of
Medicine. IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES AND SIMILAR
VESSELS."
This Invention relates to improved means of securing stoppers in bottles, and
has for its object facility of air tight closing, and for convenience of explanation I
will now describe same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1
represents the stopper; Fig. 2, the washer; Fig. 3, latchet; and Fig. 4, stopper
attached to bottle.
The stopper is made of hard wood, porcelain, or other convenient material. The
stopper is composed of a lower portion A (Fig. 1) which enters the neck of the
bottle, and an upper portion B (Fig. 1). The lower portion or projection is trans-
versely grooved for the reception of a washer of india-rubber or other suitable
material a (Fig. 1).
The upper part has one or more deep indentations or grooves b (Fig. 1) on the
side, into which fit the heads or (transverse projections of one or more latchets or
catches, by means of which the stopper is secured.
The interior of the neck of the bottle is shaped as an inverted cone in order that
when the stopper is inserted the washer should press against the sides of the cone
and render the bottle air tight.
The latchet or catch consists of a small band of metal (see Fig. 3) so made as to
have a ring c (Fig. 3) at the lower extremity. This ring enables it to be attached
to the neck of the bottle by means of a wire, or band of metal, or other suitable
substance (d, Fig. 4), which is fastened to the neck of the bottle below the rim. At
the other extremity the latchet is bent at an angle so as to form a transverse
projection e (Fig. 3), and so curved as to pass readily and fit into the deep groove
or indentation in the upper part of the stopper and securely fasten it. The latchet
has also a spur or projection 61 (Fig. 3) at or near the angle, which enables the
latchet to be readily pushed back, and then the stopper can be removed.
When one latchet or catch only is used the transverse portion of the latchet may
be prolonged so as to pass cutirely over a groove in the stopper and fasten with a
spring, or otherwise, to the opposite side; or a hinge fastening can be made to
secure the stopper to the opposite side of the latchet fastening.
In the former case, and also when more than one latchet is used with aërated
waters and other liquids containing superabundant gas, it is necessary to fasten the
stopper to the bottle, this can be done by attaching a small chain, or wire, or other
suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improved Appliances for
Stopppering Bottles and similar Vessels," substantially as herein before set forth, and
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, wherein the important
point or feature is the latchet fastening, it being understood that variations or
modifications thereof may be used without departing from my Invention, as
berein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Adam Briggs, have hereunto set my
land and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eight