IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
Year: 1854

page_text: 3
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jennings, of Brown Street,. Cork, in the
Kingdom of Ireland, Mineral Water Manufacturer; for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the, said Thomas Jennings at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
February 1854.
I, THOMAS JENNINGS, of Brown Street, Cork, in the Kingdom of Ireland,
Mineral Water Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES " to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of stoppers suitable for securing
various kinds of liquids in bottles. In making these stoppers I prefer to use as
a core a hollow plug of wood, which will yield sufficiently to permit of its taking
the irregular shape of the neck of the bottle in which it may be inserted
When bottling wine which is required to ripen I use this 'hollow plug without
any addition, further than a square head, which is in one piece therewith, and as
the air will permeate through this stopper, the ripening of the wine will pro-
ceed as when contained in a cask. For some other liquids, as where acid is
present, I close the lower end of the hollow plug with an inverted cap of gutta
percha or other analogous gum, and thereby prevent contact between, the wood
and-the liquid: Or, instead of a wooden plug, I use a hollow gutta percha
.

page_text: plug having the like yielding property, and this I secure to a solid head of
wood, slate, or other substance which will admit of the holding-down wires
being inserted therein. When bottling liquids containing an alkali, as soda
water, I find it desirable to prevent contact between the liquid and the gutta
percha or other analogous gum, and to this end I cover so much of the gum
as would otherwise be exposed to the liquid with a thin coating of tin, or an
alloy of tin, or with any other metal or metals not liable to corrosion from
the liquid, and I am thereby able to avail myself of gutta percha or other
analogous gum in situations where, if exposed, it would detract from the
quality of the liquid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Jennings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JENNINGS, of Brown Street, Cork, in the Kingdom of Ireland, Mineral Water
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Jennings, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Jennings,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Jennings, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR
BOTTLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Jennings, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain 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 Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Jennings, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles" relates to he
manufacture of stoppers suitable for securing various kinds of liquids in bottles.
In making my improved stoppers I prefer to use as a core a hollow plug of
wood, which will yield sufficiently to permit of its taking the irregular shape
of the neck of the bottle in which it may be inserted.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn this hollow wooden plug in
section at Fig. 1, and in plan, looking at the under side thereof, at Fig. 2.
When bottling wine which is required to ripen I use this hollow wooden
plug, as shewn in the Drawing, that is, without any addition further than
a square head which forms a part thereof, and as the air will permeate through
this stopper, the ripening of the wine will proceed as when contained in a
cask. For some other liquids, as where acid is present, I close the lower end
of the hollow plug with an inverted cap of gutta percha or other analogous
gum, and thereby prevent contact between the wood and the liquid. This form
of stopper is shewn in section at Fig. 3, and in elevation at Fig. 4. Or, instead
of a wooden plug, I use a hollow gutta percha plug, as shewn in section at
Fig. 5, and having the like yielding property. This may, if required, be
secured to a solid head of wood, slate, or other substance, as shewn in
section and plan at Figures 6 and 7. By this means the head of the stopper
may be provided with holding-down wires, as shewn in Figures 8 and 9.
When the bottles are filled with liquids containing an alkali, as soda water,
I find it desirable to prevent contact between the liquid and the gutta percha
or other analogous gum, and for this purpose I cover so much of the gum as
would otherwise be exposed to the liquid with a thin coating of tin, or an alloy
of tin, or with any other metal or metals not liable to corrosion from the liquid,
as shewn in the sectional view, Fig. 8, and also in the sectional plan and side
views, Figures 10, 11, and 12. In these latter Figures the tin or metal
capsule or covering is made convex, while in Figures 8 and 9 it is shewn
concave. By thus covering the gutta percha I am enabled to avail myself of
this or other analogous gum in situations where, if these substances were
left unprotected from contact with the liquid, they would be liable to be acted
upon thereby, and would consequently deteriorate or spoil the liquid contained
in the bottle.
Having now described my Invention, and the best means with which I am
at present acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would observe, in

page_text: conclusion, that what I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent
as aforesaid is, the mode or modes of manufacturing plugs or stoppers for
stopping bottles as above set forth..
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jennings, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
MICHAEL HURLEY,
Evergreen,
City of Cork.
THOMAS JENNINGS. (L.B.).