IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Léon Vallet, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES."
Sealed the 14th March 1876, and dated the 27th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Léon Vallet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1875.
I, LÉON VALLET, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that method of stoppering bottles where the
bottle is stoppered from the inside, and where the valve or stopper itself
is contained inside the bottle or other receptacle.
In stoppering bottles with internal stoppers, according to the usual
present practice, it is necessary and of vital importance to the perfect

page_text: closing of such bottles that their necks or openings should be of regular
guaged size to correspond with the diameter or contour of the stoppers
to be used. In actual practice this regularity of size is very difficult to
attain in glass, consequently much loss is occasioned by unsuitable
bottles; also, most internal stoppers necessitate the manufacture of
bottles expressly suited to such stoppers, hence the ordinary stocks of
bottles become drugs on the hands of the bottlers who intend substi-
tuting internal stoppers for ordinary corks.
My Invention consists in a novel form of cap or cover, which is made
of Britannia metal, tinned metal, or other suitable metál, glass, earthen-
ware, or other suitable material. This cap or cover is made dome-
shaped, convex, or conical, with a flat apex. The cap is provided with
an orifice or aperture in its centre, which serves to admit the head or
upper portion of an internal stopper. The cap is made of size to suit
any bottle, and so as not to necessitate any special form of neck.
Where the cap rests or fits upon the mouth of the bottle it is pro-
vided with an india-rubber, cork, leather, or other suitable packing
ring.
The cap is held on to the neck of the bottle by a female screw thread,
which is formed on the cap and takes on to a corresponding thread on
the bottle neck, or on a washer round the bottle neck; or the cap is pro-
vided with a lug, provision, or hole on each side, through which is
passed a wire, which is then fastened round the bottle neck, the cap
being pressed on to the bottle while fastening. This latter method will
prove the most general and best, as it is applicable to all kinds of bottle
necks.
Where an internal stopper is used that is provided with an elastic
washer, such washer bears against the under side of the cap, the head
of the stopper projecting through the orifice in the cap.
Where an internal stopper is used, such as a glass ball, that is not
provided with any washer or elastic substitute, I carry the india-rubber
or other elastic packing ring of the cap sufficiently up the inside of such
cap to form an elastic seat for the stopper to bear against.
The stoppers that I prefer to use in connection with my improved cap
are those with gravitating heads, such as described in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to me on the 10th day of February 1875,
No. 490.

page_text: I am aware that prior to this my Invention metal caps or nozzles have
been used for retaining internal stoppers, but such metal caps or nozzles
have heretofore been made to fit into the bottle necks, and have a
concave surface, and are fitted with an india-rubber packing ring, which
forms a joint between the bottle neck and the metal nozzle or concavo
cap, likewise forms a scat for the internal stopper. Two great objections
exist to this kind of can namely
I am aware that prior to this my Invention metal caps or nozzles have
been used for retaining internal stoppers, but such metal caps or nozzles
have heretofore been made to fit into the bottle necks, and have a
concave surface, and are fitted with an india-rubber packing ring, which
forms a joint between the bottle neck and the metal nozzle or concavo
cap, likewise forms a seat for the internal stopper. Two great objections
exist to this kind of cap, namely
Firstly. The concave surface forms a recess into which dirt collects,
and necessitates the expense of a second capsulo or cover.
Secondly. The formation of the india-rubber packing ring necessitates
a large surface of india-rubber being exposed to the action of the
contents of the bottle, which in the case of some mineral waters is
highly detrimental.
Where my Invention is applied to bottles for containing gaseous or
aërated liquids the pressure of the gas or fixed air is sufficient to retain
the stoppers in position; but where my Invention is applied to bottles
containing non-aërated liquids, I form a tapered hole or slot in the head
of the stopper, and through this hole or slot I insert a wedge or tapered
pin, which jams the stopper securely against the inside of the cap, thus
forming a joint. The tapered pin or wedge may be attached to the cap
by a cord or chain.
The advantages attendant upon the use of this my Invention are,—
Firstly. The cap being dome-shaped or convex, dirt cannot collect.
Secondly. Little or no surface of the india-rubber or other packing
ring is exposed to the action of the contents of the bottle.
Thirdly. My cap and improved stopper is applicable to aerated and
non-aërated liquids.
Fourthly. My improved cap is applicable to any shape or description

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Léon Vallet in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, LÉON
VALLET, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Leon Vallet, Her special
licence, that I, the said Leon Vallet, my executors, administrators, and
assigus, or such others as I, the said Leon Vallet, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
iime to time and at all times thereafter during the term 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 AND APPLICABLE TO
STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Leon Vallet, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly 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 Léon Vallet, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to that method of stoppering bottles where the
bottle is stoppered from the inside, and where the valve or stopper itself
is contained inside the bottle or other receptacle.
In stoppering bottles with internal stoppers according to the usual
prescut practice it is necessary and of vital importance to the perfect
closing of such bottles that their necks or openings should be of regular
guaged size to correspond with the diameter or contour of the stoppers

page_text: to be used. In actual practice this regularity of size is very difficult to
attain in glass, consequently much loss is occasioned by unsuitable
bottles; also, most internal stoppers necessitate the manufacture of
bottles expressly suited to such stoppers, hence the ordinary stocks of
bottles become drugs on the hands of the bottlers who intend substi-
tuting internal stoppers for ordinary corks.
My Invention consists in a novel form of cap or cover, which is
made of Britannia metal, tinned metal, or other suitable metal, glass,
earthenware, or other suitable material. This cap or cover is made
dome-shaped, convex, or conical, with a flat apex. The cap is provided
with an orifice or aperture in its centre, which serves to admit the head
or upper portion of an internal stopper. The cap is made of size to suit
any bottle, and so as not to necessitate any special form of neck.
Where the cap rests or fits upon the mouth of the bottle it is pro-
vided with an india-rubber, cork, leather, or other suitable packing
ring.
The cap is held on to the neck of the bottle by a female screw thread,
which is formed on the cap and takes on to a corresponding thread on
the bottle neck, or on a washer being a split ring round the bottle neck;
or the cap is provided with a lug, provision, or hole on each side,
through which is passed a wire, which is then fastened round the bottle
neck, the cap being pressed on to the bottle neck while fastening. This
latter method will prove the most general and best, as it is applicable
to all kinds of bottle necks.
Where an internal stopper is used that is provided with an elastic
washer, such washer bears against the under side of the cap, the head
of the stopper projecting through the orifice in the cap.
Where au internal stopper is used, such as a ball of wood, glass, or
other material, that is not provided with any washer or elastic sub-
stitute, I carry the india-rubber or other elastic packing ring of the cap
sufficiently up the inside of such cap to form an elastic seat for the
stopper to bear against.
The stoppers that I prefer to use in connection with my improved cap
are those with gravitating heads, such as described in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to me on the 10th day of February 1875,
No. 490.

page_text: I am aware that prior to this my Invention metal caps or nozzles have
been used for retaining internal stoppers, but such metal caps or nozzles
have heretofore been made to fit into the bottle necks and have a
concave surface, and are fitted with an india-rubber packing ring, which
forms a joint between the bottle neck, and the metal nozzle or concave
cap likewise forms a seat for the internal stopper. Two great objections
exist to this kind of cap, namely—
I am aware that prior to this my Invention metal caps or nozzles have
been used for retaining internal stoppers, but such metal caps or nozzles
have heretofore been made to fit into the bottle necks and have a
concave surface, and are fitted with an india-rubber packing ring, which
forms a joint between the bottle neck, and the metal nozzle or concave
cap likewise forms
seat for the internal stopper. Two great objections
exist to this kind of cap, namely—
Firstly. The concave surface forms a recess into which dirt collects,
and necessitates the expense of a second capsule or cover.
Secondly. The formation of the india-rubber packing ring necessitates
a large surface of india-rubber being exposed to the action of the
contents of the bottle, which in the case of some mineral waters is
highly detrimental.
Where my Invention is applied to bottles for containing gaseous or
aërated liquids, the pressure of the gas or fixed air is sufficient to retain
the stoppers in position; but where my Invention is applied to bottles
containing non-aërated liquids I form a tapered hole or slot in the head
of the stopper, and through this hole or slot I insert a wedge or tapered
pin, which jams the stopper securely against the inside of the cap, thus
forming a joint. The tapered pin or wedge may be attached to the cap
by a cord or chain.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of my Inven-
tion, I will now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be
carried out into practical operation, and for that purpose I have here-
unto attached a Sheet of Drawings marked with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation. Like
letters denote similar parts in the various views.
Figure 1 is a section showing my improved cap applied to a bottle
neck by screwing on to a split washer or ring.
Figure 2 is a section showing my improved cap screwed on to the
bottle neck.
Figure 3 is a section showing a modification of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section showing my improved cap attached to bottle
neck by a wire or cord.
t
Figure 5 is a modification of Figure 4.

page_text: before described and such as shown at Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixthly. The peculiar construction of cap for bottles stoppered with
an internal stopper, and containing aërated or gascous liquids, as herein-
before described and such as shown at Figure 6 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventhly. The peculiar construction of cap for bottles stoppered with
an internal stopper, and containing aërated or gaseous liquids, as herein-
before described and such as shown at Figure 7 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Eighthly. The peculiar construction of cap for bottles stoppered with
an internal stopper for containing liquids, as herein-before described
and such as shown at Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Leon Vallet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.