An Improved Appliance for Bottle Stoppers for Facilitating the Withdrawal thereof.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Bottle Stoppers for Facilitating the
Withdrawal thereof.
I, JOHN LUCAS BALFOUR, of Millfield House, Tamworth, Staffordshire,
Colliery Owner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates more particularly to stoppers of the kind known as
"Roberts's" stoppers, for certain constructions of which Patents 2089 15,01585
and 1973 have been obtained.
In such stoppers as now generally constructed, there is an ordinary cork to the
upper end of which is fixed an annular metal cap into the central hole of which
the cork fits so as to be flush with the upper surface, the cap having claws that
enter the sides of the cork so as to grip it firmly, while on the outer edge of
the cap is a downward projecting rim that projects down over the mouth of the
bottle. With such stoppers it has been found that the purchase afforded the fingers
by the flange of the cap is frequently insufficient to enable a tightly fitting stopper
to be withdrawn.
According to my present invention I obviate this disadvantage by attaching to
the stopper a loop of cord, wire, or other suitable material into which the fingers
can be inserted and thus a sufficient purchase be afforded for drawing out the
stopper. For this purpose I pierce two diametrically opposite holes in the cap
just outside the cork, and through these holes I pass the ends of a loop of cord &c,
on which has by preference been previously threaded a short tube of wood or
other material.
The ends of the cord passed through the cap are tied or secured firmly together,
and by preference a portion of the closed loop thus formed is then coiled round
the part of the cork within the cap so that when the part of the loop outside
the cap is drawn tight, the coil firmly grasps the cork and at the same time
encircles the claws of the cap, so as to prevent these from getting loose when a
pull is put upon the outer part of the loop for withdrawing the stopper.
The part of the loop coiled round the cork also acts as a washer between the
mouth of the bottle and the inner surface of the metal cap.
Although my present invention is more particularly applicable to the stoppers
of the kind herein referred to, yet it may also be employed with advantage to
other stoppers consisting of a cork to which a cap is fixed.
Dated this 9th day of August 1892.
ABEL & IMRA 1,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Bottle Stoppers for Facilitating the
Withdrawal thereof.
I, JOHN LUCAS BALFOUR, of Millfield House, Tamworth, Staffordshire,
Colliery Owner, 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 :-
"Roberts"
My invention relates to corks or stoppers of the kind known as
stoppers for certain constructions of which Patents Nos. 2089 of 1885, 15015 of
1885. and 1973 of 1888 have been obtained.

page_text: In such stoppers, as now generally constructed, there is an ordinary cork to the
upper end of which is fixed an annular metal cap into the central hole of which the
cork is driven, the cap having claws that enter the sides of the cork so as to grip
it firmly, while on the outer edge of the cap is a rim that projects down over the
mouth of the bottle. With such stoppers it has been found that the purchase
afforded to the fingers by the flange of the cap is frequently insufficient to enable a
tightly fitting stopper to be withdrawn.
According to my present invention, I obviate this disadvantage by attaching to
the cap of the cork or stopper a loop of cord, wire or other suitable material into
which the fingers can be inserted and thus a sufficient purchase can be afforded for
drawing out the stopper. For this purpose, I pierce two diametrically opposite
holes in the cap just outside the central hole which receives the cork, and through
these holes I pass the ends of a loop of cord or the like on which may be threaded
a short tube of wood or other material.
The ends of the cord passed through the cap are tied or secured firmly together,
and a portion of the closed loop thus formed is then coiled round the inwardly
projecting serrated rim of the cap to which it is secured by bending over one or
more of the teeth. Thus when the part of the loop outside the cap is drawn tight,
the coil firmly grasps the cap and the cork which had been driven in and by
encircling the claws prevents these from releasing the cork when a pull is put upon
the outer part of the loop for withdrawing the stopper.
The part of the loop coiled round the serrated rim enclosing the cork also acts
as a washer between the mouth of the bottle and the inner surface of the
metal cap.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn the mode of attaching the said loops to
the metal caps and their corks or stoppers.
Fig. 1 shews a perspective view partly in section of a metal cap A with the loop
of cord B attached thereto, Fig. 2 shews a cross section thereof and Fig. 3 shews
the cap and its loop with the cork driven into the cap.
The cap A is of sheet metal stamped into the annular form shewn, with an
internal serrated rim a the teeth or claws of which take hold of the cork C after it
has been driven into the central hole.
A length of cord, wire or other suitable material B is laid as a coil, as shewn in
Fig. 2, round the serrated rim a of the cap, and two opposite teeth of these a¹ by
preference made longer than the others, are bent over so as to secure the coil in
the position shewn, and the ends of the cord having been passed through the
holes a they are tied together in a knot. The cap is placed on the mouth of the
bottle and the cork is then driven through its central hole.
If desired a tube D of wood or other material may be threaded on the cord
before tying the ends together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The combination, with a metal cap such as A for corks or stoppers, of a loop
such as B of cord, wire or other suitable material, which passed through holes in
the cap and is coiled round the serrated rim a of the cap, to which the loop is
secured, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1893
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.