IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS AND OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR
COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS AND OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1883.
NATHAN THOMPSON [of Brooklyn] of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County
of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS AND
OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES
"
The invention has for its object improvements upon that class of stopper or cover
for bottles, jars and other hollow articles described in the specifications of Letters
Patent granted to me and dated respectively January 22nd 1874 N° 276 and
June 16th 1875 N° 2217.
In the former of such specifications is shown and described a stopper or cover
formed on the top thereof with circular inclines and in combination with this
stopper or cover, a clip or strap is used which passes across the stopper or cover
and is formed with turned in ends or legs which pass under a flange or ring on
the bottle neck, then by turning such clip or strap around the stopper or cover so
as to cause it to mount the inclines, the stopper or cover is pressed firmly on to the
end of the bottle neck.
This arrangement has however the disadvantage that it consists of two separate
disconnected parts thereby involving trouble in use and liability to loss of one or
the other of the said parts in addition to which the cap or stopper and the clip or
strap require to be provided with sockets in the centre thereof to receive an
instrument to facilitate the adjustment and turning of the clip or strap, as other-
wise the said clip or strap is liable on being turned to be forced out of its required
central position.
In the latter of the aforesaid specifications I have endeavoured to obviate the
difficulty above mentioned but in this case in lieu of employing a strap or clip
extending across the stopper or cover an annular clip is employed which is

page_text: expensive to produce, causes considerable friction and is difficult if not impossible
of application in cases where the necks of the bottles somewhat vary in form
from the true circle.
According to my present invention I obviate all the difficulties above described
and produce a cheap and efficient stopper or cover capable of ready application to
bottles or other hollow articles.
For this purpose I employ a cap or stopper formed as described in my aforesaid
specifications with two inclines on the outer edge of the top thereof and such cap
or stopper may be made of glass, earthenware or other solid material or of sheet
metal stamped into the required shape. When the cap or stopper is made of sheet
metal I place in the interior thereof a compression plate and then a disc of cork
or other packing material.
The compression plate is preferably formed with an annular descending rib at
or near the edge thereof and in such position as to come exactly over the end of
the neck of the bottle or other article to which the stopper is to be applied; and
in some cases I secure the cork or other packing material to the compression plate
by turning the edge of the plate over the same.
This compression plate serves to cover the hollows in the interior of the cap or
stopper and to transmit the pressure direct to that part of the cork or other lining
coming between the same and the neck of the bottle or other article whilst the
annular rib also serves to prevent the twisting or bending of the compression plate
out of shape.
In connection with a cap or stopper formed as above described, I employ a clip
.or strap extending across the cap or stopper and provided with downwardly
projecting legs formed with inwardly turned projections to come under a flange
on the neck of the bottle or other article as described in the specification of my
aforesaid patent of 1874 but instead of such clip or strap being separate from the
cap or stopper as shown and described in such specification, I according to my
present invention connect the clip or strap to the cap or stopper by a pin or stud
fixed to the centre of the cap or stopper around which it can be turned and I
make such pin or stud long enough to permit of the clip or strap rising and falling
thereon within certain limits
The cap or stopper may be slidden sideways into position on the bottle neck and
it may be provided with a stop to secure its correct adjustment, or it may be
placed endwise thereon, in which case the clip or strap may be formed with more
than two descending legs; I also form it with a cylindrical part only just long
enough to retain and protect the cork or other packing therein and of diameter
the same as, or slightly smaller than that of the flange on the neck of the bottle
or other article which latter in the former case is formed with a continuous flange
around the neck thereof whilst in the latter case it is formed with two or more 4
openings in the flange to permit of the inwardly turned projections of the legs of
the clip or strap being first passed down such openings and then underneath the
flange and in such case I prefer to form stops on the bottle neck underneath the
flange to limit the rotary motion of the clip or strap.
The clip or strap is preferably corrugated or formed with narrow projecting 4
bearing surfaces to reduce friction as much as possible in turning the saine on
the inclines and around the cylindrical part of the cap or stopper, and the inclines
are slightly roughened or corrugated, or a spring catch is used to prevent the
accidental slipping back of the clip or strap. For large sizes I provide the
horizontal part of the strap or clip with extensible arms capable of being turned 5
or slidden outwards when required so as to obtain greater leverage and thereby
facilitate the forcing of the cap or stopper to its seat after which the said arms
can be retracted when they will lie close to the horizontal part of the clip or
strap.
In some cases I cause the compression plate to act as a spring by forming it so 5
as to bear against the cap or stopper a short distance from its edge thereby leaving
the annular rib and adjacent part free of the stopper.

page_text: This form of compression plate can be used with a cap or stopper formed either
of solid material which may be turned, moulded or otherwise formed of the required
shape, or of sheet metal stamped or otherwise shaped.
In applying the cap or stopper to a bottle or other article it is first placed in
position on the neck of the article, then in order to force it firmly down to its sent
the clip or strap is rotated whilst the cap or stopper is firmly held; by these
means the clip or strap is caused to mount the inclines and thereby force the cap
or stopper firmly down on the bottle neck. And in order to enable my improved
stopper to be applied eud wise to a bottle neck when the latter is made with a
continuous projecting ring or flange around the same I form the strap or clip with
arms extending across or from the centre of the cap or stopper just to the outer edge
of the latter and I form the descending legs and the inwardly turned projections
on slides capable of being moved to and fro upon the said arms. I also provide
the said sliding parts with locking means to enable the same to be locked together
when in their contracted or inward position, or they may be moved to and fro by
cams or other suitable means.
The cap or stopper may also be formed to enter a short distance into the neck
of the bottle and in such case it would be provided with a bead or flange
between which and the top edge of the bottle neck the cork or other packing can
be placed.
In applying the above described modification to a bottle or other article the
sliding parts are first pushed outwards to their extreme position when their
descending legs and inwardly turned projections will be sufficiently separated
from each other to enable them freely to pass the flange on the bottle neck
then when the stopper is in position such sliding parts will be pushed inwards
and locked, their inwardly turned projections being then underneath the said
flange, then by turning the strap or clip around the cap or stopper as above
described the said cap or stopper can be forced firmly down on to the neck of the
bottle or other article.
To facilitate the application of my improved stopper to metal bottles or cans
and to flasks, I form the seat and fittings for the stopper by casting, turning or
stamping and I cement, solder or braze such seat and fittings to the neck of the
bottle, can or flask,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th October
1883.
NATHAN THOMPSON of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER HOLLOW
ARTICLES"
The Invention has for its object improvements upon that class of stopper or
cover for bottles, jars, and other hollow articles described in the Specifications of
Letters Patent granted to me and dated respectively January 22nd 1874 N° 276
and June 16th 1875 No 2217.
In the former of such Specifications is shown and described a stopper or cover
formed on the top thereof with circular inclines and in combination with this
stopper or cover a clip or strap is used which passes across the stopper or cover
and is formed with turned in ends or legs which pass under a flange or ring on the
bottle neck, then by turning such clip or strap around the stopper or cover so as to
cause it to mount the inclines the stopper or cover is pressed firmly on to the end
of the bottle neck. This arrangement has however the disadvantage that it consists
of two separate disconnected parts thereby involving trouble in use and liability
to loss of one or the other of the said parts in addition to which the cap or stopper
and the clip or strap require to be provided with sockets in the centre thereof to
receive an instrument to facilitate the adjustment and turning of the clip or strap
as otherwise the said clip or strap is liable on being turned to be forced out of its
required central position. In the latter of the aforesaid Specifications I have
endeavoured to obviate the difficulty above mentioned but in this case in lieu of
employing a strap or clip extending across the stopper or cover an annular clip is
employed which is expensive to produce causes considerable friction and is difficult
if not impossible of application in cases where the necks of the bottles somewhat
vary in form from the true circle.
According to my present invention I obviate all the difficulties above described
and produce a cheap and efficient stopper or cover having its operating parts
suitably connected and capable of ready application to bottles or other hollow
articles.
For this purpose I employ a cap or stopper formed as described in my aforesaid
Specifications with two inclines on the outer edge of the top thereof and such cap
or stopper may be made of glass earthenware or other solid material or of sheet
metal stamped into the required shape. When the cap or stopper is made of sheet
metal I place in the interior thereof a compression plate and then a disc of cork or
other suitable packing material.
The compression plate is preferably formed with an annular descending rib at or
Dear the edge thereof and in such position as to come exactly over the end of the
neck of the bottle or other article to which the stopper is to be applied and in
some cases I secure the cork or other packing material to the compression plate by
turning the edge of the plate over the same.
This compression plate serves to cover the hollows in the interior of the cap or
stopper and to transmit the pressure direct to that part of the cork or other lining
coming between the same and the neck of the bottle or other article whilst the
annular rib also serves to prevent the twisting or bending of the compression plate
out of shape.
In connection with a cap or stopper formed as above described I employ a clip
or strap extending across the cap or stopper and provided with downwardly
projecting legs formed with inwardly turned projections acting as lugs to come

page_text: under a flange on the neck of the bottle or other article as described in the
Specification of my aforesaid Patent of 1874 but instead of such clip or strap being
separate from the cap or stopper as shown and described in such Specification
I according to my present invention connect the clip or strap to the cap or stopper
by a pin or stud fixed to the centre of the cap or stopper around which it can be
turned and I make such pin or stud long enough to permit of the clip or strap
rising and falling thereon within certain limits.
The cap or stopper may be slidden sideways into position on the bottle neck
and it may be provided with a stop to secure its correct adjustment or it may be
placed end wise thereon in which case the clip or strap may be formed with more
than two descending legs 1 also form it with a cylindrical part only just long
enough to retain and protect the cork or other packing therein and of diameter
the same as or slightly smaller than that of the flange on the neck of the bottle.
In the former case the neck of the bottle is formed with a continuous flange around
it whilst in the latter case the flange is provided with two or more openings so as
to permit of the inwardly turned projections of the legs of the clip or strap being
first passed down such openings and then underneath the flange and in such case
I prefer to form stops on the bottle neck underneath the flange to limit the rotary
motion of the clip or strap.
The clip or strap may be corrugated or formed with narrow projecting bearing
surfaces to reduce friction as much as possible in turning the same on the inclines
and around the cylindrical part of the cap or stopper, and the inclines may be
slightly roughened or corrugated or a spring catch may be used to prevent the
accidental slipping back of the clip or strap but it is found unnecessary to do this
For large sizes I provide the horizontal part of the strap or clip with extensible
arms capable of being turned or slidden outwards when required so as to obtain
greater leverage and thereby facilitate the forcing of the cap or stopper to its seat
after which the said arms can be retracted when they will lie close to the horizontal
part of the clip or strap.
In some cases I cause the compression plate to act as a spring by forming it Bo
as to bear against the cap or stopper a short distance from its edge thereby leaving
the annular rib and adjacent part free of the stopper.
This form of compression plate can be used with a cap or stopper formed either
of solid material which may be turned moulded or otherwise formed of the required
shape or of sheet metal stamped or otherwise shaped.
In applying the cap or stopper to a bottle or other article it is first placed in
position on the neck of the article then in order to force it firmly down to its seat
the clip or strap is rotated whilst the cap or stopper is firmly held; by these means
the clip or strap is caused to mount the inclines and thereby force the cap or
stopper firmly down on the bottle neck.
And in order to enable my improved stopper to be applied end wise to a bottle
neck when the latter is made with a continuous projecting ring or flange around
the same I form the strap or clip with arms extending across or from the centre of
the cap or stopper just to the outer edge of the latter and I form the descending
5 legs and the inwardly turned projections on slides capable of being moved to and
fro upon the said arms. I also provide the said sliding parts with locking means
to enable the same to be locked together when in their contracted or inward
position, or they may be moved to and fro by cams or other suitable means.
The cap or stopper may also be formed to enter a short distance into the neck
0 of the bottle and in such case it would be provided with a head or flange
between which and the top edge of the bottle neck the cork or other packing can
be placed.
In applying the above described modification to a bottle or other article the
sliding parts are first pushed outwards to their extreme position when their
5 descending legs and inwardly turned projections will be sufficiently separated from
each other to enable them freely to pass the flange on the bottle neck then when
the stopper is in position such sliding parts will be pushed inwards and locked,

page_text: their inwardly turned projections being then underneath the said flange, then by
turning the strap or clip around the cap or stopper as above described the said
cap or stopper can be forced firmly down on to the neck of the bottle or other
article.
To facilitate the application of my improved stopper to metal bottles or cans and
to flasks I form the seat and fittings for the stopper by casting turning or stamping
and I cement solder or braze such seat and fittings to the neck of the bottle, can
or flask.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings more fully
to describe the same
men inwardly turned projections being then underneath the said flange, then by
turning the strap or clip around the cap or stopper as above described the said
cap or stopper can be forced firmly down on to the neck of the bottle or other
article.
To facilitate the application of my improved stopper to metal bottles or cans and
to flasks I form the seat and fittings for the stopper by casting turning or stamping
and I cement solder or braze such seat and fittings to the neck of the bottle, can
or flask.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings more fully
to describe the same
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a vertical section, Figure 2 is a side view and Figure 3 is a plan of
one form of my improved stopper or cover as applied to a large mouthed bottle and
Figure 4 is a side view and Figure 5 is a section showing slight modifications in
the construction of the stopper or cover.
Figure 6 is a vertical section, Figure 7 is a side elevation and Figure 8 is a plan
showing my improved stopper or cover applied to a narrow necked bottle.
Figure 9 is a vertical section, Figure 10 is a side elevation and Figure 11 is a
plan shewing my improved stopper or cover applied to a metal can with a narrow
mouth.
Figure 12 is a side elevation partly in section and Figure 13 is a plan showing
my improved stopper applied to a metal vessel with a wide mouth.
Figure 14 is a side elevation partly in section and Figure 15 is a plan showing
my improved stopper applied to an earthenware pot into which it slightly enters
and to which it is applied endwise.
Figure 16 is a side elevation partly in section, Figure 17 is a plan and Figure 18
is a cross section of a clip with three arms which are provided with extensible parts
in order to obtain greater leaverage and Figure 19 is a side elevation partly in
section Figure 20 is a plan and Figure 21 is a cross section of a clip with three
extensible arms to enable it to be applied to a bottle or other vessel with a
continuous flange around the neck thereof. In all the Figures like parts are
marked with similar letters of reference.
a is a cap or cover which as represented at Figures 1 to 11 is made of sheet
metal stamped into the required shape but as shown at Figures 12 to 15 it is mado
of inetal, earthenware or other solid material capable of being cast turned moulded
or otherwise formed into the required shape.
The cap or cover a has two or more inclines a' formed on the outer edge of the
top thereof and when made of sheet metal I place in the interior thereof a com-
pression plate b and a disc c of cork or other packing material which disc o may be
held in place by tightly fitting the interior of the cap or cover a as shown at
Figures 1,6 and 9 or it may be secured to the compression plate b by the edge of
the latter being turned over the same as shown at Figure 5.
The compression plate b is preferably formed with an annular descending rib b¹
at or near the edge thereof in such position as to come exactly over the end of the
neck of the bottle or other article d to which the stopper is to be applied. This
compression plate b serves to cover the hollows in the interior of the cap or
stopper a and to transmit the pressure direct to that part of the cork or other
lining coming between the same and the neck of the bottle or other article d whilst
the annular rib b¹ also serves to prevent the twisting or bending of the compression &
plate 6 out of shape.
e is a clip or strap which according to the arrangements shown at Figures 1 to 15
extends across the cap or stopper a and is provided with downwardly projecting
legs e¹ formed with inwardly turned projections e² to come under a flange d¹ on the
дeck of the bottle or other article d and according to my present invention I &

page_text: connect the clip or strap e to the cap or stopper a by a pin or stud f which as
shown at Figures 1 to 11 may be fixed to the cap or stopper a in which case the
clip or strap e in addition to turning around the same will move up and down
thereon as, when being turned, it is caused to ascend or descend the inclines a¹, or
as shown in the arrangement represented at Figures 12 to 21 the said pin or
stud f may be fixed to the clip or strap e and work up and down in a socket or
recess a³ formed in the cap or stopper a.
According to the arrangements represented at Figures 1 to 13 the improved
stopper is slidden sideways into position on the bottle neck and it is sometimes as
shown at Figure 4 provided with a stop a³ to secure its correct adjustment. I also
form the cap or stopper a with its cylindrical part only just long enough to retain
and protect the cork or other packing c therein and of diameter the same as or
slightly smaller than that of the flange d' on the bottle or other article & which
flange d in the arrangements represented at Figures 1 to 13 is formed continuous
around the neck of the bottle or other article but in the arrangement represented
at Figures 14 and 15 in which the stopper is applied endwise to the bottle the
flanged is formed with two or it might be more openings d³ to permit of the
inwardly turned projections e² of the legs e¹ of the clip or strap e, being passed down
such openings d' and then underneath the flange d' and in such case I prefer to form
stops d³ on the bottle neck underneath the flange to limit the rotary motion of
the clip or strap e.
For large sizes I provide the arms of the clip or strap e as shown at Figures 16,
17 and 18 with extensible parts es capable of being slidden, or it might be
turned, outwards, when required so as to obtain greater leverage and thereby.
facilitate the forcing of the cap or stopper a to its seat after which the said arins e³
can be retracted or turned back when they will lie close to the arms of the clip or
strap e.
In some cases I cause the compression plate b to act as a spring by forming it so
as to bear against the cap or stopper a, a short distance from its edge as shown
in the drawings thereby leaving the annular rib b¹ and adjacent part free of the
stopper a.
This form of compression plate b can be used with a cap or stopper formed either
of solid material turned moulded or otherwise formed of the required shape or of
sheet metal stamped or otherwise shaped.
In applying the cap or stopper represented at Figures 1 to 13 to a bottle or
other article it is first placed in position on the neck of the article then in order to
force it firmly down to its seat the clip or strap e is rotated whilst the cap or
stopper a is firmly held; by these means the clip or strap c is caused to mount
the inclines a¹ and thereby force the cap or stopper a firmly down on to the bottle
neck.
And in order to enable my improved stopper to be applied endwise to a bottle
neck when the latter is made with a continuous projecting ring or flange d', around
the same, I form the strap or clip e as represented at Figures 19, 20 and 21 with
arins e extending across or from the centre of the cap or stopper a just to the
outer edge of the latter and I form the descending legs e and the inwardly turned
projections e on slides e capable of being moved to and fro upon the said arms e*
and I employ a rotating cam plate e or other suitable means to give such motion
simultaneously to all of such slides e legs e¹ and projections e² and to retain such
parts in their extended or retracted position; other suitable locking means may
however be employed for the latter purpose.
The cap or stopper a may also as shown at Figure 14 be formed to enter a
short distance into the neck of the bottle and in such case it is provided with a
head or flange at between which and the edge of the bottle neck the cork or other
packing c is placed.
In applying the modification shown at Figures 19, 20 and 21 to a bottle or other
article the sliding parts e³ are first pushed outwards to their extreme position when
their descending legs e¹ and inwardly turned projections e³ will be sufficiently

page_text: extended to enable them freely to pass the flange on the bottle neck then when
the stopper a is in position such sliding parts will be retracted, their inwardly
turned projections es being then underneath the said flange d' then by turning the
clip or strap e around the cap or stopper a as above described the said cap or
stopper a can be forced firmly down on to the neck of the bottle or other
article.
To facilitate the application of my improved stopper to metal bottles or cans
and to flasks I form the seat d' and fittings for the stopper separately by casting
turning or stamping and I cement solder or braze such seat and fittings to the neck
of the bottle, can or flask as represented at Figures 9, 10 and 11.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is :-
First. The combination of parts forming my improved stopper and consisting
of a cap such as a and clip or strap such as e with a stud or pin such as f
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Second. The combination of parts forming my improved stopper and consisting
of a cap such as a and clip or strap such as e with a stud or pin such as f and a
compression plate such as b substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
Third. Constructing the arms of the clip or strap e with extensible parts such
as e substantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 16, 17
and 18 and for the purpose stated.
Fourth. Constructing the arms of the clip or strap e with extensible arms such
as e carrying legs such as e¹ and inwardly turned projections such as c² substantially
as herein shewn and described with respect to Figures 19, 20 and 21 and for the
purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said Nathan Thompson have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
NATHAN THOMPSON (L.S.)