Improvements in or relating to Bottle Stoppers.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bottle Stoppers.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER, Engineer, of 19, Adam Street, Strand,
PATRICK WILLIAM MORAN, Gentleman, of 19, Adam Street, Strand, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The casing of the stoppers can be made out of vulcanite or suitable material
the thread is cut in the inside of the casing so as to engage itself with the thread
on the outside of the bottle; In this casing the shank of a loose corkscrew passes
through the top and on the shank of the inside is a washer fastened on with a
similar one on the top, which has a cross shape slot cut in of which the cork-
screw shank has a square hole in the end of the shank which is split in four
halves and engages itself in the slot of the top washer when riveted over so as
to keep the corkscrew in its proper position, on the nut or stopper. The cork-
screw has to receive a tapered cork which must be screwed into its proper posi-
tion, & the bottle which is made with a thread on the outside, & a taper hole
with a flange or projection in the inside of the neck so has to receive a cork and
when on its seat the nut or stopper causes the cork to swell out and by this
method a tight joint is the result.
Dated this 20th day of September 1800
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER.
PATRICK WILLIAM MORAN,
Improvements in or relating to Bottle Stoppers.
We, FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER, Engineer, of 19, Adam Street, Strand,
and PATRICK WILLIAM MORAN, Gentleman, of 19, Adam Street, Strand, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a construction of screw stopper or cap adapted to
screw into or onto the neck of a bottle with which is combined a cork or plug
adapted to tightly close the orifice of the bottle and which is so arranged that
the screw stopper or cap can rotate independently of the cork or plug.
In ordinary screw stoppers, where a part of the stopper itself forms the hermetic
closure, great difficulty is experienced in screwing up the stopper to such an
extent as to insure a very tight fit of the plug or closing surface, because as
soon as the plug comes in close contact with its seat in the bottle, the further
Price 877

page_text: rotation of the stopper is greatly resisted by the considerable friction of the plug
in turning with the stopper or cap upon its seat, which frictional resistance
increases the more the stopper is screwed up. By the present invention we
entirely obviate this disadvantage, inasmuch as when the cock or plug of the
screw stopper comes in contact with its seat, it ceases to rotate, while the screw
stopper or cap can continue to be rotated, so that it can exert considerable screw
pressure in forcing the cork or plug against its seat.
By this means also, we are enabled to employ a form of cork or plug that
could not be used with ordinary screw stoppers, namely one of slightly conical or
tapering form fitting into a correspondingly coned orifice of the bottle, owing to
which a very considerable wedging action for tightening and expanding the cork
or plug in its seat by the screw pressure can be obtained:
A further advantage is obtained by our invention in that by powerfully com-
pressing the cork by the screw action, its pores are effectually closed and thus
no leakage of gases or fluid can take place through the cork itself. Another
advantage is afforded by this improved construction in that it enables the stopper
to be effectually secured by a seal against unauthorised opening.
On the accompanying drawings are shewn by way of example various forms of
stoppers constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan of a screw stopper in which the
stopper A has a screw thread adapted to screw into the threaded neck of a
bottle B, and has pivotally connected thereto a stem C with disc D and cork-
screw-like projection E, adapted to receive a tapered plug F of cork or other
suitable material, the corkscrew being suitably notched or barbed in such manner
as to allow of the cork being screwed on to it so as to fit tight against the disc D,
but to be prevented from readily unscrewing therefrom.
The stem C is formed hollow either throughout or at its upper part, and the
upper end being slit, it has the separate parts bent over a tubular piece Gas
shewn, so as to be secured in the stopper A while free to rotate therein, together
with the cork or plug F.
Thus on screwing in the stopper A, the cork F will cease to rotate with it as
soon as it comes in close contact with the correspondingly tapered hole of the
bottle neck. On then continuing to screw in the stopper A, this will force the
cork tighter on to its seat and will also cause it to be compressed and expanded
laterally under the pressure so as to effect a perfectly hermetical closure of the
bottle. The bottle neck may if desired be formed with a projecting shoulder,
as at Fig. 1 serving as a seat against which the lower end of the cork is
pressed. When the stopper has been screwed home, a seal can be applied to the
top thereof, so that if it should be attempted to unscrew the stopper the parts CG
in remaining stationary with the cork F will break the seal, and will thus shew
that the bottle has been tampered with.
The top of the stopper A may be made with a projecting rim for affording
the requisite purchase for screwing it in, but when it is required for bottles con-
taining aerated liquids, we prefer to make the top of the stopper of the same size
as the screwed part and to provide it with two pivotted levers HH which for
screwing in the stopper are turned down into the position shewn in full lines at
Fig. 1 and in dotted lines at Fig. 2 for affording the requisite purchase, but
which are turned up into the dotted position shewn at Fig. 1 and full position
at Fig. 2 so as not to project beyond the screwed part, for passing the stopper
down the tube of the filling machine in the usual manner, and they are also
turned into that position when the stopper has been screwed home.
The sides of the levers are slightly bulged and the slots in the stopper are
correspondingly notched, as shewn at Fig. 2, so as to hold the levers with a
slight spring action when they are in the vertical position.
Instead of arranging the levers H as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 they may be made
as shewn in plan at Fig. 2, where they are formed to fold right down side by
side over the top of the stopper. They are held in that position by forming

page_text: small projections h on their tapered outer ends, which spring into slight recesses
formed near the pivotted ends.
The recess of the stem C is preferably made of a square section in order to
enable a square key to be inserted for holding it stationary for facilitating the
screwing on or off of the cork F. Fig. 3 shews a vertical section and Fig. 4 a
plan of a modification, in which the part A is formed as a screw cap screwing
on to an external thread on the bottle neck. The solid stem C is rivetted over
on to the piece I being left free to rotate in the cap and the disc D has two or
more barbed spikes J which are driven into the cork or plug F. The end of C is
formed square as shewn so as to enable a key to be fitted thereto when required.
The action of the stopper is the same as above described. Fig. 5 shews a section
and Fig. 6 a plan of a modification in which the stem C and disc D are formed
in one with a central barbed spike L on which the cork F is driven.
On the stem C is slid a tubular piece L passing loose through the cap A. The
upper end of C projecting beyond L is threaded and on to it is screwed a nut M
for securing it tightly to the tubular piece L, the end of the stem being prefer-
ably rivetted over the nut as shewn.
In place of a nut a simple washer may be employed over which the end of the
stem is rivetted.
new one.
In all the above constructions the cork or plug F can be readily forcibly
removed from the stopper in the event of its becoming worn and replaced by a
When the screwed part A is formed as a cap as at Figs. 3 and 5, we
prefer to form holes through the top leading into the interior, as shewn at N so
that any solid matter that may accumulate in the annular space can be readily
removed on rincing with water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A bottle stopper consisting of the combination of a part such as A adapted
to be screwed onto or into the threaded neck of a bottle, and a tapered cork or
plug such as F', adapted to fit a corresponding seat in the bottle neck, and
rotatably connected to the part A, so that on screwing on the stopper, the cork
will remain stationary when it comes in contact with its seat, while the part A
continues to be screwed down, substantially as described.
2. In a bottle stopper such as is referred to in the first claim, connecting the
cork or plug F to the screwed part A by a stem C with disc D and barbed attach-
ments E, Jor K, the upper end of the stem being secured to a rotatable washer,
nut or tubular piece, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6.
3. A screwed bottle stopper with rotatable cork, constructed and operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of November 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.