Improvements in or relating to the Construction or Manufacture of Stoppers or Covers for Bottles, Pots, Jars, Cans, and other Hollow Vessels, and in the Material Employed therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
Improvements in or relating to the Construction or Manufacture of
Stoppers or Covers for Bottles, Pots, Jars, Cans, and other Hollow
Vessels, and in the Material Employed therefor.
I, HENRY LOUIS PHILLIPS, of 28, Brownswood Park, South Hornsey, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying drawing, (that is to say):
:-
In my Specification dated the 7th January A.D. 1888 and numbered 323 I described
inter alia a method of making external screw threaded stoppers or covers adapted to
operate over the mouths or openings of bottles pots jars and other hollow vessels.
formed with corresponding external screw threads. In order to make such stoppers
or covers certain depressions or grooves were described as being formed upon a strip
or piece of suitable sheet metal or other substance in the manner therein set forth and
the said grooved strip or piece was then bent into a cylindrical shape and inserted
into the flange of a hollow cap, to which it fitted closely, and was attached thereto by
solder. Cork or other suitable packing was then placed in the cap to complete the
stopper or cover.
I also stated in the aforesaid Specification that I sometimes found it convenient
by the means therein set forth to form the depressions or grooves upon a suitably
curved or semi-cylindrical strip or piece of suitable metal plate or other suitable
substance, after which I bent the curved strip into a cylindrical shape and joined
its ends by solder, or other means to form a ring or cylinder, which I then
inserted into the cap, and attached it thereto by solder, and I further stated that I
sometimes formed the grooves or screw threads in or upon two or more curved or
semi-cylindrical parts or pieces and afterwards joined the ends of the respective
parts together by means of solder so as to form a complete cylinder for the purposes
therein set forth.
I now find in practice that those soldering processes are not only slow, and expensive,
but that the preparation or fluid used in the operation of soldering the parts causes
rust to form wherever it comes in contact with the metal, besides which, the screw
threaded cylinder often gets pulled out of the cap when the stopper is screwed up tightly
upon the vessel and thus renders the stopper worthless. I also find that the method
of keeping the packing in place in the stopper, by bringing the edge of the scrow-
threaded cylinder against it, is objectionable, as the packing is sometimes cut and thus
rendered useless.
My present invention has for its object generally the improved production of the
screw threaded cylinder and also a better method of fixing it in the cap or cover to
form the stopper, by which 1 avoid the process of soldering the parts and make it
impossible for the screw-threaded cylinder to become detached from its cap or cover
when the stopper is in use. I also provide an improved packing for the stopper as
well as a better means for securing it therein.
I attain those several objects by the methods herein particularly set forth and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1. is the cap or cover having a
milled or grooved flange extending to a a.
Figure 2 is the blank or strip upon which the screw thread or parts thereof, are to
be formed.
Figure 3 is the blank or strip curved into two nearly semi-cylindrical portions
showing the flat portion or space & b as described.
Figure 4 is the same, but also shewing the grooves or depressions thereon forming
the screw-thread.

page_text: Figure 5 shews the two cylindrical portions bent at 6 b so as to form the ring or
cylinder, with the projecting part or bead cc for the purpose set forth.
Figure 6 is a section of the flanged ring for holding the cork or other packing.
Figure 7 is a section shewing the edge of the cap turned over so as to embrace the
edge of the grooved ring cylinder placed within.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.
Any
I have already in my hereinabove mentioned Specification described the method of
making a cap or cover having a milled or vertically grooved flange. In my present
invention make the milling or fluting to stop somewhat short of the free edge of the
cap as shown at a Figure 1 which as will be hereafter scen, is to be turned over.
rough edge caused by the stamping or drawing processes should be cut off or trimmed.
I make my improved screw-threaded cylinder or ring as follows. I first cut or
stamp out from suitable metal plate or sheet metal (such as tinned plate) or from other
suitable substance a blank or strip (Figure 2) of such a length and width that after
it has been impressed with the grooves to form a screw thread as heroinafter set forth
and curved into a cylindrical shape it will fit closely the inside of the flange of the cap,
Figure 1 but the precise dimensions and shape of the blank or strip will be more
accurately ascertained by actual adjustment in the cap for the reasons hereinafter set
forth. The strip (after it has been impressed with the necessary grooves to form the
screw thread) must not be quite so wide as the depth of the flange of the cap for the
reasons also hereinafter mentioned. I then by means of nearly semi-circular dies
preferably operated by a stamping press of adequate power curve or bend the strip so
that it shall have two equal nearly semi-cylindrical portions as shown in Figure 3
but divided by a preferably somewhat narrow flat or unstamped portion as shown
at bb, Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.
The screw thread is formed upon the two nearly semi-cylindrical parts of the blank
or strip by means of corresponding recesses and projections formed upon the respective
faces of the stamping dies or tools in such manner, that when the two nearly semi-
cylindrical parts are bent at the flat portion (6 b) provided for that purpose and their
ends brought together as shown in Figure 5 à screw-threaded ring or cylinder will be
formed.
To produce such screw-thread, I form in or upon the double semi-cylindrically
curved blank or strip by means of the above described dies or tools a sufficient
number of depressions or grooves all of them equi-distant and parallel with each
other but sufficiently inclined to the longer edge of the entire blank or strip so
that when it is bent round at the flat part bb into a cylindrical form (Figure 5)
the end of each such depression or groove will meet the commencement of the
next lower depression or groove and the series of curved depressions or grooves will
thus form a screw-thread of the length required and of any desired pitch size and
shape of thread. This operation may be performed when forming the straight
blank, figure 2, into the double semi-cylindrical blank, figure 3, above mentioned
if the dies or tools be so arranged, or the operations of bending the blank and
forming the screw-thread thoreon may be separately performed. I then bend the
grooved double semi-cylindrically shaped strip (which by reason of the central flat
portion is easily accomplished by hand) into a cylindrical shape, figure 5,
and I insert it into the aforesaid cap or cover (figure 1) in the flange of which it
should fit closely.
Provision must be made when cutting out the blank or strip for the amount of
metal plate or other substance required to be taken up or used when forming the
depressions or grooves to be made therein and its proper length and width can be only
determined by actual trials as the length, shape and size of the screw thread; the
hardness, softness or elasticity of the metal or substance employed; and the inner
dimensions of the cap or cover have all to be provided for when shaping the blank or
strip.
'
The plain space bb is expressly left unstamped across the centre of the grooved strip
in order as above mentioned that after the screw thread is formed in or upon the blank
or strip as set forth, it may be easily bent at that place by hand and curved into a

page_text: cylindrical shape. When thus curved the flat central portion (bb) if it has been left
sufficiently narrow will be found to take externally the shape of a half round vertical
projection or bead (as shown at cc Figure 5) which I utilize for the purpose of.
preventing the screw-threaded cylinder or ring from turning round in the cap, by
fitting the projection or bead into one of the inner vertical grooves or flutes of the
cap previous to fitting the parts together as described below. The size of the vertical
projection or bead will be determined by the width of the flat part bb, left unstamped
which should be such that the projection or bead when made shall correspond in size
with the width of the flute or recess into which it is to be placed.
Having brought the ends of the screw-threaded strip together so as to form a shallow
cylinder and inserted it within the flange of the cap or cover with the projection or
bead placed in a groove as described, I then by means of suitable tools or dies bend
the edge of the cap completely over the edge of the screw-threaded cylinder (as shown
in section in Figures 7 and 8) and thus retain it securely in the cap.
Instead of forming a nearly continuous screw-thread upon the blank or strip
Figure 2 as described and shewn in some of the figures of the drawing, a sufficient
number of suitable studs or projections, or parts of screw-threads may be forined
thereon arranged to operate in like manner upon screw-threads, grooves or inclines
formed upon the bottle or other vessel. Sometimes instead of screw threads or parts
thereof or studs or projections, slots, openings, or recesses may be formed in or upon
the blank or strip adapted when curved to operate upon suitably shaped projections
or raised portions formed upon the neck of the bottle or other vessel.
Instead of leaving a plain or unstamped portion across the curved blank or strip
(upon which screw threads or parts thereof or studs or projections, or slots openings
or recesses have been or are intended to be made in the manner herein described) I
sometimes cause a nick notch groove or depression to be made across the blank or
strip in or upon a plain or unstamped portion thereof in order to facilitate the
operation of bending the curved strip into the cylindrical form and for the purposes
herein set forth. These nicks, notches, grooves, or depressions may be made either
by means of separate tools, or by means of the dies or tools used either for cutting out.
the blanks or used for the subsequent operations. Figure 9 shews the nick or
depression made across the blank or strip at d d, but the notch or groove may be
made if preferred in or upon one of the flat spaces shewn at b6 in figures 3 and 4.
One or more plain spaces or one or more of the vertical projections or beads or one
or more of the nicks grooves or depressions across the blank or strip (curved or not)
may be formed in or upon the plain or unstamped portion for the purposes herein-
above set forth, (as illustrated in figure 9).
A disc of cork or other suitable packing is placed in the cap to make a tight joint.
when the stopper or cover is screwed down over the neck of the bottle jar or other vessel;
but in order to prevent the packing from being cut by the edge of the inner cylinder
or ring I sometimes prefer to retain the disc of cork or other soft or elastic packing
within the cap by means of a flanged ring. I stamp out preferably from tinned plate
a disc (the size or nearly the size of the interior of the cap) having a shallow flange.
I then stamp or cut out the inside portion of the disc and thus produce a shallow ring
having a right angled flange as shewn at e in figure 10. I insert the disc of cork or
other packing in the ring with the flange outward and place it in the cap before
the screw threaded strip is inserted as described so that the edge of the inner
screwed cylinder or ring shal! rest against the flange of the ringe (as illustrated in
figure 8).
"The blank or strip Figure 2 may sometimes have three or more curved parts
formed upon its length with a flat portion or a nicked, notched, or grooved portion,
between each for the purposes already, set forth, as illustrated in figure 11.
The herein described method of forming the screwthread upon two nearly.ṣemi-.,
cylindrical curved portions of a blank or strip (having a clear space between the ends
in order to their being easily curved or bent into a cylindrical form) will also apply:
to the forming the well known screw threaded collar which embraces freely by, means

page_text: of a flange the edge of a loose glass disc or lid and engages with a screw-threaded
neck formed upon the jar or pot. After making as herein set forth and curving the
said screw threaded flanged collar by means of the flat or unstamped portion upon it
as described, the ends will be united by solder or other means. Instead of a screw
thread or parts thereof suitable studs or projections may be formed thereon or suitably
shaped slots openings or recesses adapted to operate upon projections or raised portions
formed on the neck of the vessel as already described..."
Instead of forming a flange upon the upper part of the collar for the purpose of
holding down the loose disc of glass or other material I sometimes affix a shallow
flanged cap or lid to the cylinder ring or collar made as herein set forth by means of
solder or otherwise."
..
*..
When the grooved: cylinder forming the inner screw thread of: my improved
stopper or cover is made from tinned metal plate as described, and the stopper is
used with vessels containing acid or other or moist substances or liquids or is required.
to be used several times in succession, it is found that rust will probably form
upon the cylinder. I therofore sometimes use varnished or lacquered or coloured
tinned plate out of which I cut the blanks so that the rust or discolouration (if
any) may be disguised. I find however after numerous experiments that galvanized
shoet metal and especially ordinary sheet zinc. of suitablo thickness are either of
them well adapted to furnish the metal strips or blanks required for the purposes
herein set forth. I sometimes also form the flanged ring to enclose "the elastic
packing as well as the cap or cover to contain the screw threaded cylinder.
either from galvanized sheet metal or from sheet zinc. of suitable guage or
thickness.
•
J
After numerous experiments I find that an excellent packing for my improved
stoppers or covers consists of acombination of three separate materials or substances―-
vie: (a) a disc of the felted material or substance known as paper pulp; paper felt
cedar felt or feltine, or other similar or suitable felted material or substance (b), a
disc of waxed material such as waxed paper or cardboard, waxed linon or other
waxed fabric (and sometimes I use stearine or other fatty- substance) instead of a
wax, and sometimes wax and stearine mixed in suitable proportions for saturating or
coating the paper, cardboard, or fabric, (c) a disc of the material known as vegetable
parchment or parchment paper. I arrange the said discs or pieces as follows. I
first place a disc of the above described felted material: inside the cap or cover, then
a disc of the waxed paper or other waxed material or fabric (or wax and stearine as a
the case may be) and then a disc of the above described vegetable parchment or
parchment paper so that this last mentioned disc-shall como in contact with the con--
tents of the vessel. I sometimes dispense with the use of the waxed paper or waxed
material or fabric and employ only the vegetable parchment in combination with the
paper pulp paper felt cedar felt or feltine above described or with other similar or 4
suitable material or substance or in combination with sufficiently soft paper or other
soft material or substance, or I use the vegetable parchment in combination with the
waxed paper or other-waxed material or fabric (or a mixture of wax and stearine or
other fatty substance or with stearine alone as the caso may be). Or I use a 'disć
of vegetable parchment or parchment paper in combination with a disc of gutta
perchia tissue or thin gutta porcha or india rubber or with paper or other material
having a solution of india rubber thereon and preferably, placing the vegetable:
parchment next the mouth of the vessel; and sometimes I use a disc of,cork in
combination with a disc of vegetable parchment placed therein at the back or 'in
front thereof, or, I use a disciofcork in icombination with a disc of waxed paper or 5
other waxed material or fabric placed either before or behind the disc of cork
-
I preferably employ paraffin wax or beeswax for coating or waxing the paper or
other material or fabric above described.
The Figures of the drawing annexed hereto and forbiing partihereof are only liven.
by way of illustration generally of my invention and do not restrict myself to the
exact proportions of the figures therein shewn.. we allow lot of

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same to is be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim broadly the use of an external stopper or cover for the mouths or
openings of bottles pots jars cans and other hollow vessels having a screw-thread upon
its flange; but 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. In the construction of external stoppers or covers the method of forming the
metal or other blank or strip (upon which grooves or depressions forming screw
threads have been or are intended to be formed) with one or more plain spaces or
unstamped portions of any desired width left between the euds of the grooves as and
for the purposes described herein and shewn.
2. In external stoppers or covers the method of forming the metal or other blank
or strip (upon or in which studs or projections of any desired shape or suitable slots
openings or recesses have been or are intended to be formed) with one or more plain
spaces or unstamped portions left between the ends of the several studs projections
slots openings or recesses as and for the purposes described herein.
3. In the construction of external stoppers or covers the combination of the inner
curved strip or piece having one or more plain spaces or unstamped portions between
the ends of suitable grooves depressions studs projections, slots openings or recesses
formed therein (as described herein and claimed in claims 1 and 2) with a hollow cap
or cover in which it is fixed, us and for the purposes herein described and shown.
4. In the construction of external stoppers or eovers, the method of securing the
inner cylinder or ring (having a screwthread or parts thereof or suitable grooved
depressions studs or projections or slots openings or recesses formed therein) to the
cap or cover by turning the edge of the flange of the cap over the edge of the inner
cylinder or ring as and for the purposes set forth and shewn.
5. In the construction of external stoppers or covers the method of making the
vertically grooved or fluted flanged cap by stopping such grooves or flutes a suitable
distance from the edge of the flange of the cap in order to enable such edge to be
turned over as claimed, in claim 4, as and for the purposes set forth and shewn.
6. In the construction of external, stoppers or covers the combination of the
cylinder or ring having a screw thread or parts of a screw-thread or studs or pro-
jections thereon or having suitable slots openings or recesses formed therein and
formed with one or more plain spaces or unstamped portions as herein described with
a shallow flanged cap or cover fixed thereon as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a collur or cylinder having
a screwthread or parts thereof for the purpose of holding by means of a flange a glass
or other disc or lid upon the correspondingly screwthreaded neck of a jar or other
vessel such collar or cylinder having one or more plain spaces or unstamped portions
as heroin described as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a collar or cylinder as
described and claimed in claim 7 instead of with screwthreads, with studs or
projections or slots openings or recesses such collar having one or more plain spaces
or unstamped portions as herein set forth as and for the purposes described.
have
9. In the construction of external stoppers or covers the method of forming the
metal or other blank or strip (upon which grooves or depressions forming screw-
threads or parts thereof or studs or projections or slots openings or recesses,
been, or are intended to be made) with one or more nicks, notches, grooves or
depressions made across the blank or strip as and for the purposes described.
10. In external stoppers or covers the making of the cylinder or ring to be
inserted in the cap or cover (in or upon which cylinder a screwthread or parts thereof
or studs or projections or slots openings or recesses have been formed) out of
galvanized sheet metal or out of varnished or lacquered, or coloured iron or steel
plate or other metal plate (tinned or not) as and for the purposes herein set forth.
11. In external stoppers or covers, the making of the cylinder or ring to be
inserted in the cap or cover (in or upon which cylinder, a screwthread or parts

page_text: thereof or studs or projections or slots openings or recesses have been formed) out of
sheet zinc as and for the purposes herein described.
12. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a packing therefor by the
employment of paper pulp paper felt cedar felt or feltine or other similar or suitable
felted material or substance with waxed paper or other waxed material or fabric (or
such material or fabric treated or coated with a mixture of wax and stearino or other
fatty substance in suitable proportions or with stearine alone) in combination with
vegetable parchment or parchment paper arranged as and for the purposes herein set.
forth.
13. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a packing therefor by the
employment of paper pulp, paper felt, cedar felt or feltine or other similar or suitable
felted material or substance in combination with vegetable parchment or parchment
paper arranged as and for the purposes herein set forth.
14. In external stoppers or covers the method of making the packing therefor by
the combination of vegetable parchment or parchment paper with sufficiently soft
paper or other soft material or substance arranged as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
15. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a packing therefor by the
employment of cork in combination with vegetable parchment or parchment paper as
and for the purposes heroin set forth.
16. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a packing therefor by the
employment of vegetable parchment in combination with gutta percha tissue, or thin
gutta percha, or india rubber or with paper linen or other material fabric or substance
having a coating or a solution of india rubber thereon as and for the purposes
described.
17. In external stoppers or covers the method of making a packing therefor
consisting of vegetable parchment or parchment paper in combination with waxed
paper or other waxed material or fabric (or paper or other material or fabric treated
or coated with a mixture of wax and stearine or other fatty substance in suitable
proportions or with suitable fatty substance or with stearine alone) as and for the
purposes set forth.
18. In external stoppers or covers the combination of the flanged ring with the
inner cylindrical strip formed with screw threads or parts thereof or studs projections
slots openings or recesses in the manner herein set forth and with the hollow cap or
cover and packing as and for the purposes herein described.
Dated this
this 14th day of November 1980.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Patentee. .
100H100 fon ET Q