IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens,
St. John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER
VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES
OF FIRE-ARMS."
Sealed the 18th November 1864, and dated the 9th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th September 1863.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER
VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES
OF FIRE-ARMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping
bottles, jars, and other vessels, which improvements are also applicable to
stopping the muzzles of fire-arms. For these purposes I construct a stopper
of two discs or parts that are connected together at their centres by a screw,
the thread of the screw that screws into one part is right handed, and into
the other left handed, so that by turning the screw the two parts can be moved
to or from each other as the two parts are prevented from turning with the
screw by one part having pins projecting from it, which pass through holes in
the other part, or the parts may be otherwise prevented from turning. The

page_text: two parts as they are drawn towards each other are caused to compress, and
so expand a ring of vulcanized india-rubber placed between them, and make
it fit tightly within the mouth of the bottle, the upper part of the stopper I
by preference form of a disc of larger diameter than the mouth of the bottle,
this disc has projecting from its under side a short tube, the exterior diameter
of which is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the mouth of the
bottle, the lower part is composed of a disc that enters. freely the mouth of
the bottle, and that has projecting from its upper side a tube that fits
within the tube on the upper part, each disc is also provided at its centre with
a nut, or portion with a screw thread cut in it, into which the right and left
handed screw screws, around the tube projecting from the lower disc is placed
a ring of vulcanized india-rubber of such diameter as to fit the mouth of the
bottle, when however the two parts are by the screw being turned drawn towards
each other, the ring will be compressed between the lower disc and the bottom
of the tube of the upper disc, and thus caused to expand and fit tightly within
the mouth of the bottle. In place of the upper disc having projecting from
it a tube that nearly fits within the mouth of the bottle, this tube may be
carried by the lower disc, and the upper disc will then be provided with a tube
that can enter the tube on the lower disc. The nut or part of the upper disc
into which the screw screws is by preference on the under side of the disc, and
the head of the screw which is formed to receive a key may be received in a
recess in the nut, the screw may however, if preferred, be provided with a
knob or head above the disc. The under side of the bottom disc is covered
with a disc of cork, or other suitable material attached to it by cement. The
packing ring of vulcanized india-rubber I by preference form with transverse
corrugations on its outer circumference, in order that when the ring is not
expanded the stopper may be readily introduced into and withdrawn from
the mouth of a bottle, jar, or other vessel, as the air will then be able to pass
readily, (through the passages formed by the corrugations) from one side
of the stopper to the other. A stopper may also be made in such manner
that it can be caused to fit within the mouth of the bottle by expanding a ring
of vulcanized india-rubber in the following manner:-The ring of vulcanized
india-rubber, which is slightly less in diameter than the interior of the mouth.
of the bottle, is placed around a disc of any suitable material, this disc has a
hole formed through its centre, through which a right and left handed screw
passes, the right-handed portion of the screw screws into a nut on one side of
the disc, and the left-handed portion into a nut on the other side of the disc,
the disc is by preference divided radially into three parts, it may, however, be
divided into any other suitable number of parts, and the nuts on the top and

page_text: bottom of the disc are made three-sided, the sides of the nuts are also made
inclined so that when they are drawn towards each other by the screw being
turned, each inclined side will press on one of the parts of the disc, and press
it outwards, thus expanding the ring of vulcanized india-rubber. The disc,
divided as above described, is, by preference, of such a thickness that the nuts
above and below it may be received and lie in recesses formed in it, the sides
of the hole being made inclined to correspond with the inclined sides of the
nuts, the bottom of the disc I also cover with bladder or other suitable
material, which material I also by preference carry up around the sides of the
disc, and outside the india-rubber ring, the india-rubber ring may also be
formed in one piece with a disc of india-rubber that is to cover the bottom of
the disc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said
Nathan Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others.
as I, the said Nathan Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,.
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM--
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER. VESSELS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE--
ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathan Thompson
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was.
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathan Thompson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping
bottles, jars, and other vessels, which improvements are also applicable to
.stopping the muzzles of fire-arms, and consists, firstly, in constructing a stopper
of two discs or parts that are connected together at their, centres by a screw;
the thread of the screw that screws into one part is right handed, and into the
other left handed, so that by turning the screw the two parts can be moved to
or from each other as the two parts are prevented from turning with the screw
by one part having pins projecting from it, which pass through holes in the
other part, or the parts may be otherwise prevented from turning. The two
parts as they are drawn towards each other are caused to compress and so expand
a ring of vulcanized india-rubber placed between them, and make it fit tightly
within the mouth of the bottle; the upper part of the stopper I, by preference,
form of a disc of larger diameter than the mouth of the bottle; this disc has
projecting from its under side a short tube, the exterior diameter of which is
slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the mouth of the bottle, the lower
part is composed of a disc that enters freely the mouth of the bottle, and that
has projecting from its upper side a tube that fits within the tube on the upper
part; each disc is also provided at its centre with a nut, or portion with a
screw thread cut in it, into which the right and left handed screw screws.
Around the tube projecting from the lower disc is placed a ring of vulcanized
india-rubber of such diameter as to fit the mouth of the bottle. When, however,
the two parts are by the screw being turned drawn towards each other the ring
will be compressed between the lower disc and the bottom of the tube of the
upper disc, and thus caused to expand and fit tightly within the mouth of the
bottle. In place of the upper disc having projecting from it a tube that
nearly fits within the mouth of the bottle, this tube may be carried by the
lower disc, and the upper disc will then be provided with a tube that can
enter the tube on the lower disc. The nut or part of the upper disc into
which the screw screws is, by preference, on the under side of the disc, and
the head of the screw which is formed to receive a key may be received in a
recess in the nut; the screw may, however, if preferred, be provided with a
knob or head above the disc. The under side of the bottom disc is covered
with a disc of cork or other suitable material attached to it by cement. The
.

page_text: packing ring of vulcanized india-rubber I, by preference, form with transverse
corrugations on its outer circumference. In order that when the ring is not
expanded the stopper may be readily introduced into and withdrawn from the
mouth of a bottle, jar, or other vessel as the air will then be able to pass readily
(through the passages formed by the corrugations) from one side of the stopper
to the other.
Secondly, my Invention consists in constructing a stopper in such manner
that it can be caused to fit within the mouth of the bottle by expanding a ring
of vulcanized india-rubber in the following manner:-The ring of vulcanized
india-rubber, which is slightly less in diameter than the interior of the mouth
of the bottle, is placed around a disc of any suitable material; this disc has a
hole formed through its centre, through which a right and left handed screw
passes, the right-handed portion of the screw screws into a nut on one side of
the disc, and the left-handed portion into a nut on the other side of the disc. The
disc is by preference divided radially into three parts, it may however be
divided into any other suitable number of parts, and the nuts on the top and
bottom of the disc are made three-sided, the sides of the nuts are also made
inclined so that when they are drawn towards each other by the screw being
turned, each inclined side will press on one of the parts of the disc and press
it outwards, thus expanding the ring of vulcanized india-rubber. The disc,
divided as above described, is by preference of such a thickness that the nuts
above and below it may be received and lie in recesses formed in it, the sides
of the hole being made inclined to correspond with the inclined sides of the
nuts. The bottom of the disc I also cover with bladder or other suitable
material, which material I also by preference carry up around the sides of
the disc and outside the india-rubber ring; the india-rubber ring may also
be formed in one piece with a disc of india-rubber that is to cover the bottom
of the disc.
And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to explain the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a section of a jar (or it may be other vessel) having stopping
apparatus, constructed according to the first part of my Invention, applied
thereto. a is a disc or cover, by preference, of sheet iron, having on its under
side a short tube a¹ projecting therefrom, the outer circumference of which is
slightly smaller than the mouth of the jar; b is another disc which enters
freely the mouth of the jar. From the upper side of this disc projects a short
tube 6' fitting within the tube a¹ on the disc or cover a, or the tube may be

page_text: made to fit the mouth of the jar, and the tube a¹ made to fit within it. a³ is
a nut fixed on the under side of the disc or cover a, and 6 is a similar nut
fixed on the upper side of the disc b; the thread, however, in the one nut
being right-handed and that in the other left-handed, in order that when the
screw c, by means of a key passing into the hole or recess c¹ is turned in one
or the other direction, the discs a and b may be caused to approach or
recede from each other; d is a vulcanized india-rubber ring placed around the
short tube 6'; this ring d is of such diameter as to fit the mouth of the
bottle. When the screw c is turned so as to cause the discs a and b to
approach each other, the ring d is compressed between the lower edge of the
short tube a¹ and the upper side of the disc b, and thereby expanded so as to
fit tightly the mouth of the jar or other vessel. And in order that the ring d
when not expanded may pass freely within the mouth of the jar I prefer to
form it with transverse corrugations, as shewn at Figure 2, by which means
the air will be able to pass freely from one side of the stopper to the other.
a³ are pins projecting from the tube a¹, and passing into slots or openings in
the tube 6', in order that when the screw c is turned, the discs a and b may
be prevented turning with it; other suitable means may, however, be employed
for preventing the discs a and b turning with the screw c. e is a disc of cork
or other suitable material attached by cement to the disc b. Instead of the
screw c being turned by a key entering the recess c¹ it may be turned by a
knob or head provided for that purpose projecting above the disc a, as shewn
by red lines at Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a slight modification of this part of my Invention; the
same letters.refer to like parts described with reference to Figure 1. In this
case the short tubes a¹ and b¹ are somewhat smaller than those previously
referred to, and the ring of vulcanized india-rubber d is larger and of different
sectional form, and instead of being placed around the tube b, and compressed
between the lower edge of the tube a¹ and the disc b, it is passed around the
tube a¹ and compressed between the discs a and b.
I would here remark that I am aware that it has before been proposed to con-
struct a stopper in such manner that a ring of vulcanized india-rubber placed
around its circumference may be expanded by two portions of the stopper
being drawn towards each other by means of a screw; I do not, therefore,
claim the same, but what I claim is the drawing the two parts of the stopper
towards each other by a right and left handed screw, as herein described.
I also claim the covering the bottom of stoppers of this description with a disc
of cork or other material suitable for preserving the metal portions of the
stopper from being acted on by the material contained in the jar or vessel; I

page_text: also claim the forming the packing ring with transverse corrugations on its
outer circumference as herein described.
Figures 4 and 5 shew respectively a section and a plan of a jar with
stopping apparatus applied thereto constructed according to the second part
of my Invention. The ring a of vulcanized india-rubber, somewhat smaller in
diameter than the mouth of the jar or other vessel, is placed around the outer
edge of a disc b of earthenware or other suitable material; this disc b, it will
be seen by reference to Figure 5, is divided into three, or it may be other
number of parts radially, and it has a triangular hole formed through its
centre, the sides b', 63, of which are inclined in opposite directions. Within
this hole fit two nuts c and d, the edges of which are inclined to fit the
sides 61, 6, of the hole in the disc b; these nuts c and d have the one a right-
handed and the other a left-handed thread formed therein, in order that when
the screw e is turned in one direction, the several parts of the disc b may be
caused to recede from each other, and thereby expand the ring of vulcanized
india-rubber a, causing it to fit closely the mouth of the jar or other vessel.
The screw e is supported by and capable of turning in the disc or cover f; it
is shewn provided with a reces e, into which a suitable key acts to fix or
release the stopper. A bladder or other suitable material, as shewn by the
red lines g, is passed around the parts forming the stopper, in order that no air
may pass into the jar through the openings in the stopper.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)