IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING AERATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS, AND TOOLS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Barrett, of Hampton, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING
AERATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS, AND TOOLS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR.'
"
Sealed the 27th December 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 10th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Barrett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1879.
HENRY BARRETT, of Hampton, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING AERATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS, AND
TOOLS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR
"
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in stoppering that class of bottles
for containing aërated or gaseous liquids, which when filled are closed by means of
an internal ball of glass, porcelain, or similar material held by the pressure within
the bottle against an elastic seat, consisting of a ring of india rubber or other
suitable material placed in a groove in the interior of the neck of the bottle. The
Invention also relates to the construction and employment of tools or appliances for
forming such interior stoppers.
There are many objections to this class of stoppers and bottles as hitherto con-
structed, amongst which may be mentioned that the ball forming the stopper has
to be introduced within the bottle before the manufacture of the bottle is completed,
the mouth of the neck of the bottle being afterwards contracted; the bottle has
then to be annealed, consqeuently the ball formning the stopper has to be formed of
a material, such as glass or porcelain, which will not be affected by the heat of the
annealing process, and as such materials are of a heavy and brittle nature it has
been found necessary to form the lower part of the bottle neck of less diameter
than the ball, and with a chamber or recess to receive the ball when the bottle is
opened to prevent the ball falling to the bottom of the bottle, so as to avoid the
breakage or starring of the bottle or ball, and also to prevent the ball rolling back
to the mouth; and the herein before described contraction of the neck of the bottle
and the forming of the chamber or receptacle in the neck add to the cost of manu-
facture and weaken the bottle, and if the ball break or become starred the bottle
is rendered useless. Further, the hereinbefore described ring being simply sprung

page_text: or placed in the groove provided for it in the neck of the bottle frequently comes
out during the washing of the bottle or otherwise, and is a source of loss and
inconvenience.
Now by my improvements these defects are obviated, and the manufacture of the
bottles and stoppers is simplified and rendered much less costly.
In carrying out my Invention I manufacture the bottle in the ordinary manner,
forming it with an annular groove in the neck, but without any receptacle or
chamber in the neck, and without subsequently contracting the mouth of the neck,
and I then form within the bottle a ball (or other shaped stopper) of such a size
that it cannot fall or be taken out of the bottle without damaging either the ball or
the stopper.
For this purpose I form the ball of a suitable composition or material which
becomes soft under heat, such as ebonite, lionite, or similar substances in the
following manner-I take a portion of this material, and in some cases I first
mould the said material into such a shape as to allow it to pass into the bottle;
or I soften it by heat, and after placing it in the bottle, I then take hold of it by
a suitable tool, such as is hereinafter described, and press and roll the said material
into a ball, and to produce a good finish or surface to the ball the said tool is used
hot or heated; or I mould the material or composition to such shape as to allow
it to enter the bottle and place it in the bottle without softening, that is to say,
while it is hard, and then by means of the said tool I take hold of the moulded
composition, and I am enabled by the fact of the tool being heated to reduce the
moulded composition already inside the bottle, and to mould, press, and roll it into
a round ball of a diameter greater than that of the neck of the bottle, so that the
ball cannot be removed from the bottle without damage to either the ball or the
bottle; or I may form the ball by introducing sufficient of the material into the
bottle, and when the material has been softened by heat by revolving the bottle in
all directions until the ball is formed.
The tool which I have found suitable for forming the ball consists of a tube in
three segments, two of such segments being hinged together so as to allow the tool
to be introduced into the bottle, and afterwards expanded or opened out.
The material to form the ball having been introduced into the bottle, as herein-
before described, the tool is then inserted and the material formed into a ball, in
the manner hereinbefore described.
Or I make a ball (either solid or hollow) of hard india rubber, known as vulcanite
or ebonite, of a diameter larger than the opening of the neck of the bottle, and then
soften the same under the action of heat, and elongate the said ball so as to reduce
its diameter and pass it into the neck of the bottle. After its introduction into the
bottle it is again rendered soft, and in again becoming hard it will retake its
original shape, and will not pass out of the bottle.
My improvements in the elastic seating placed in the groove in the neck of the
bottle are as follows:-
Instead of employing the usual soft rubber ring for fitting into the annular
groove in the neck of the bottle I employ a ring of combined hard and soft rubber,
that is to say, a soft rubber ring, around which is vulcanized a hard rubber ring.
By subjecting this ring to heat the hard portion of the ring becomes soft and
pliable, and allows of it being fitted in the annular groove in the neck of the bottle,
and the outer portion of the ring, namely, that part which is made of hard rubber,
when cold becomes again hard, and is firmly fixed in the groove of the bottle,
and cannot easily come out, as is the case when a ring of soft rubber only is
employed.
Or in case of any irregularity in the groove in the neck of the bottle the above
mentioned ring may be formed of a central portion of hard rubber, and an inner and
outer ring of soft rubber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Barrett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
December 1879.
HENRY BARRETT, of Hampton, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN STOPPERING BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING AËRATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS, AND
TOOLS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR."
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in stoppering that class of bottles
for containing aërated or gaseous liquids, which when filled are closed by means of
an internal ball of glass, porcelain, or similar material held by the pressure within
the bottle against an elastic seat, consisting of a ring of india rubber or other
suitable material placed in a groove in the interior of the neck of the bottle.
Invention also relates to the construction and employment of tools or appliances for
forming such interior stoppers.
The
There are many objections to this class of stoppers and bottles as hitherto con-
structed, amongst which may be mentioned that the ball forming the stopper has
to be introduced within the bottle before the manufacture of the bottle is completed,
the mouth of the neck of the bottle being afterwards contracted; the bottle has
then to be annealed, consequently the ball forming the stopper has to be formed
of a material, such as glass or porcelain, which will not be affected by the heat of
the annealing process, and as such materials are of a heavy and brittle nature it has
been found necessary to form the lower part of the bottle neck of less diameter
than the ball, and with a chamber or recess to receive the ball when the bottle is
opened to prevent the ball falling to the bottom of the bottle, so as to avoid the
breaking or starring of the bottle or ball, and also to prevent the ball rolling back
to the mouth, and the hereinbefore described contraction of the neck of the bottle
and the forming of the chamber or receptacle in the neck add to the cost of manu-
facture and weaken the bottle, and if the ball break or become starred the bottle is
rendered useless. Further, the herein before described ring being simply sprung or
placed in the groove provided for it in the neck of the bottle frequently comes out
during the washing of the bottle or otherwise, and is a source of loss and incon-
venience. Now by my improvements these defects are obviated, and the manu-
facture of the bottles and stoppers is simplified and rendered much less costly.
In carrying out my Invention I manufacture the bottle in the ordinary manner,
forming it with an annular groove in the neck, but without any receptacle or
chamber in the neck, and without subsequently contracting the mouth of the neck,
and I then form within the bottle a ball (or other shaped stopper) of such a size
that it cannot fall or be taken out of the bottle without damaging either the bottle
or the stopper.
For this purpose I form the ball of a suitable composition or material which
becomes soft under heat, such as ebonite, lionite, or similar substances, in the
following manner :-I take a portion of this material and, in some cases, I first
mould the said material into such a shape as to allow it to pass into the bottle, or I
soften it by heat, and after placing it in the bottle I then take hold of it by a
suitable tool, such as is hereinafter described, and press and roll the said material
into a ball, and to produce a good finish or surface to the ball the said tool is used
hot or heated. Or I mould the material or composition to such shape as to allow it
to enter the bottle and place it in the bottle without softening, that is to say, while
it is hard, and then by means of the said tool I take hold of the moulded compo-
sition, and I am enabled, by the fact of the tool being heated, to reduce the moulded
composition already inside the bottle and to mould, press, and roll it into a round
ball of a diameter greater than that of the neck of the bottle, so that the ball cannot
be removed from the bottle without damage to either the ball or the bottle; or I
may form the ball by introducing sufficient of the material into the bottle, and when

page_text: the material has been softened by heat by revolving the bottle in all directions
until the ball is formed.
The tool which I have found suitable for forming the ball consists of a tube in
three-segments, two of such segments being hinged together so as to allow the tool
to be introduced into the bottle and afterwards expanded or opened out. The
material to form the ball having been introduced into the bottle, as herein before
described, the tool is then inserted and the material formed into a ball in the
manner hereinbefore described. Or I make a ball (either solid or hollow) of hard
india rubber, known as vulcanite or ebonite, of a diameter larger than the opening
of the neck of the bottle and then soften the same under the action of heat, and
elongate the said ball so as to reduce its diameter and pass it into the neck of the
bottle. After its introduction into the bottle it is again rendered soft, and in again
becoming hard it will retake its original shape and will not pass out of the bottle.
My improvements in the elastic seating placed in the groove in the neck of the
bottle are as follows:-
Instead of employing the usual soft rubber ring for fitting into the annular
groove in the neck of the bottle I employ a ring of combined hard and soft rubber,
that is to say, a soft rubber ring around which is vulcanized a hard rubber ring.
By subjecting this ring to heat the hard portion of the ring becomes soft and pliable
and allows of it being fitted in the annular groove in the neck of the bottle, and
the outer portion of the ring, namely, that part which is made of hard rubber, when
cold, becomes again hard and is firmly fixed in the groove of the bottle, and cannot
easily come out, as is the case when a ring of soft rubber only is employed. Or in
case of any irregularity in the groove in the neck of the bottle the above mentioned
ring may be formed of a central portion of hard rubber and an inner and outer
ring of soft rubber.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional
elevation of a bottle closed by means of an internal ball of greater diameter than
that of the opening of the neck of the bottle according to my Invention; Figure 2:
is a sectional elevation shewing the method of forming the ball within the bottle;
Figure 3, cross section of the tool I employ for forming the ball within the bottle;
Figure 4, section, and Figure 5 an elevation shewing one part of the tool closed up.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
A, A, is the bottle of the ordinary form, but made with an annular groove a in
the neck, and 6 is the ball formed within the bottle, and having a greater diameter
than the opening of the neck of the bottle. To form this ball I employ the tool
shewn in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. This tool is constructed of a tube formed in four
segments c, c', and d, d', the two segments c, c', being hinged together at e, and the
two segments d, d', being hinged together at f; the upper parts of the tubes are 4
formed with handles g, g. The tool thus consists of two parts, each of which can
be closed on its hinges, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, so as to allow of its being
introduced into the bottle, and it can then be expanded or opened out, as shewn in
Figure 2; or the tool may be formed in three segments only, two of these being
hinged, as shewn in Figure 6. The interior diameter of the tool must be the same 4
as the diameter of the ball to be formed.
To fashion or shape the ball I take a portion of a composition or material, such
as that known as lionite, and in some cases I first mould the said material into such
a shape as to allow it to pass into the bottle; or I soften it by heat, and after
placing it within the bottle I introduce the hereinbefore described tool, and take 5
hold of the said material with the tool, and by sliding the two parts of the tool
one on the other I press and roll the composition or material into a ball between
the two parts of the tool; and to produce a good finish or surface to the ball the
said tool is used hot or heated. The diameter of the ball thus formed will be that
of the interior diameter of the tool, and consequently greater than the diameter of
the neck of the bottle. In Figure 2 only one part of the tool is shewn in the
bottle, the other part having been removed, the ball b being completed.
5

page_text: Or I mould the material or composition to such shape as to allow it to enter the
bottle, and place it in the bottle without softening, that is to say, while it is hard,
and then by means of the said too! I take hold of the moulded composition, and I
am enabled, by the fact of the tool being heated, to reduce the moulded composition
already inside the bottle, and to mould, press, and roll it into a round ball of a
diameter greater than that of the neck of the bottle, as herein before described, so
that the ball cannot be removed from the bottle without damage to either the ball
or the bottle.
Or I may form the ball by introducing sufficient of the material
into the bottle, and when the material has been softened by heat, by revolving the
bottle in all directions until the ball is formed.
The ball b having been thus formed, I then introduce the ring which forms the
seating into the annular groove a in the neck of the bottle. This ring is formed of
combined hard and soft rubber, that is to say, a soft rubber ring i, around which is
vulcanized a hard rubber ring i, as shewn in Figure 7, which is a plan of one of
these rings. By subjecting this ring to heat the hard portion i' of the ring becomes
soft and pliable, and allows of its being fitted in the annular groove a in the neck
of the bottle, and the outer portion of the ring, namely, the part 2, which is made
of hard rubber, when cold will become again hard, and will be firmly fixed in the
groove a in the bottle, and cannot easily come out, as is the case when a ring of
soft rubber only is employed.
Or in case of any irregularity in the groove in the neck of the bottle, the above
mentioned ring may be formed of a central portion of hard rubber , and an inner
ring i, and an outer ring 2, both of soft rubber, as shewn in Figure 8.
The bottle thus stoppered is filled in the usual well known manner, and opened
by the stopper being pressed down, as is well understood.
Instead of forming the ball within the bottle and of lionite, as hereinbefore
described, sometimes make a ball of hard india rubber, known as vulcanite or
ebonite, of a diameter larger than the opening of the neck of the bottle, and then
soften the same under the action of heat, and elongate the said ball so as to reduce
its diameter, and pass it into the neck of the bottle. After its introduction into
the bottle it is again rendered soft, and in again becoming hard it will retake its
original shape and will not pass out of the bottle.
But when employing such a inaterial as vulcanite to form the ball I prefer to
form it hollow, as shewn in Figure 9, with a shot or weight j within it to render it
of greater specific gravity than water. By thus making the ball hollow it is more
easily softened and elongated to allow of its being passed into the bottle.
I would here remark that although I have described and shewn the ball b of a
greater diameter than the neck of the bottle, yet this is not necessary. I reserve
the right to employ in combination with the seating of hard and soft rubber a ball
of less diameter than the neck, placing such ball within the bottle before the ring
is placed in its groove. I also reserve the right to use the ordinary soft elastic
seating in combination with an internal stopper formed within or introduced into
the bottle, as hereinbefore described, and having a greater diameter than that of the
neck of the bottle.
It will also be understood that a stopper other than that of a spherical shape may
be employed.
Having thus described my said Invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shown in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention, but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The mode of stoppering bottles for containing aërated or gaseous liquids
by means of an internal stopper of greater diameter than the opening of the neck,
and formed within or introduced into the bottle, in combination with an elastic
seating in the neck of the bottle, as heroinbefore described.
Secondly. The use and employment, as hereinbefore described, of a ring of

page_text: combined hard and soft rubber for forming a seating in the necks of bottles stoppered
by means of an internal stopper.
Thirdly. The improved tools for forming within a bottle a spherical stopper
having a greater diameter than the neck of the bottle, as and for the purposes
herein before described, and represented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawing
hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Barrett, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
T DADDAR