IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOPPERS FOR CLOSING THE NECKS OF BOTTLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hampson, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOPPERS
FOR CLOSING THE NECKS OF BOTTLES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hampson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1877.
HENRY HAMPSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOPPERS FOR CLOSING THE NECKS OF BOTTLES."
The Invention relates to the construction of internal stoppers for bottles used for
effervescing or aerated liquids. I use a metal or other tube weighted at one end by
soldering or otherwise fixing a metal or other weight. This tube is closed at both
ends, and made air or water tight. It is then coated with india-rubber or other
elastic substance, the opposite end to the weight being formed somewhat in the
shape of a mushroom head or bulb, and larger than the mouth of the bottle. This
stopper may be forced into the bottle by mechanical pressure after the bottle is
made, or it may be placed therein before the mouth is finally reduced to its finished
size in the process of manufacture.
The stopper is kept pressed in its place in the neck of the bottle by the gases
therein, and is opened by forcing in the elongated stopper in the usual way.
The stopper being completely covered with india-rubber is not so liable to break
the bottle in cleaning as those in general use, and by being weighted at one end
will always be kept in an upright position, and readily falls into the mouth of the
bottle when required.
It will be evident that the stopper may be made conical in form, and that a
wooden peg or plug may be used instead of the tube.
i

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Hampson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th December
1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS
HENRY HAMPSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOPPERS FOR CLOSING THE NECKS OF BOTTLES."
This Invention relates to the construction of internal stoppers for bottles used for
effervescing or aerated liquids. I use a metal or other tube weighted at one end by
soldering or otherwise fixing a metal or other weight. This tube is closed at both
ends, and made air or water-tight. It may then (if made of metal) be coated with
india-rubber or other elastic substance, the opposite end to the weight being formed
somewhat in the shape of a mushroom head or bulb, and larger than the mouth of
the bottle. If made of wood, it is formed with a groove at the end, not weighted,
to hold a washer of india-rubber or other suitable elastic substance. This stopper
may be forced into the bottle by mechanical pressure after the bottle is made, or it
may be placed therein before the mouth is finally reduced to its finished size in the
process of manufacture.
The stopper is kept pressed in its place in the neck of the bottle by the gases
therein, and is opened by forcing in the elongated stopper in the usual way.
The stopper is not so liable to break the bottle in cleaning as those in general use,
and by being weighted at one end will always be kept in an upright position, and
readily falls into the mouth of the bottle when required.
1
It will be evident that the stopper may be made conical in form, and that a
wooden peg or plug, weighted at one end, may be used instead of the tube...
In the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1 is a section of a bottle closed with my improved
stopper; Fig. 2 is a side view and Fig. 3, a section of one form of my improved
stopper which I have found to answer well in practise; and Fig. 4 is a section of a
conical form coated with-india-rubber-
The body a, a, of the stopper may be made in either of the forms shown, or in a
variety of other forms externally, and of any suitable, material. The stopper is
made hollow or tubular inside, and weighted at the upper end by soldering or
fixing therein a solid weight b, b, and the aperture is then plugged up and mado
water-tight.
The object of making the upper end of the stopper heavy and the reverse. end
light is that when the bottle is reversed, as in filling, the stopper always falls at
once into its proper position for closing the mouth of the bottle.
In Figs. 2 and 3, c, c, is the india-rubber washer; and d, d, in Fig. 4, is the coating
or covering of india-rubber.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carred into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention making such stoppers
hollow or tubular, and weighting one end thereof, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described; or making such stoppers of a solid sub-
stance of a less specific gravity than water, and weighting one end as before
described. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hampson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY HAMPSON. (L.S.)