Improved Stopper for Bottles Containing Champagne, Mineral Waters, and other Beverages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Stopper for Bottles Containing Champagne, Mineral
Waters, and other Beverages.
I, PAUL MARIE THEODORE IMBAUD of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an Improved Stopper for Bottles Containing Champagne,
Mineral Waters and other Beverages and has for object the prevention of evaporation
of the liquid when required to be drawn from the bottle at various times.
My improved stopper which may be formed of metal, bone, ivory horn or other
suitable material is of a hollow "beak-like" form and is fitted into the neck of the
bottle by means of a conical indiarubber or elastic ring or plug, having on its inner
surface annular grooves tapering towards the 'top for the purpose of rendering the
stopper air-tight when in use.
At the lower end of the neck of this stopper is a conical valve provided with-a
guide for the purpose of regulating the extent of its opening, and upon this valve
at its underside is hinged a supplementary valve or shutter operated by a spring.
Immediately above this supplementary valve and extending through the top of the
stopper is arranged a rod provided at its upper end with a button and having a
central opening or duct extending from its lower end to a side opening formed at
or near the upper end of the rod. The upper portion of the rod extends through a
boss formed within the head of the stopper, and which thus serves as a guide for it.
From this boss extends a small air tube curving in a downward direction to or near
the outer extremity of the beak. Round the rod and within the stopper is arranged
a spiral spring which presses at its upper end against a collar or flange fixed upon
the rod, and at its lower end upon a bearing or guide formed within or attached to
the lower part of the stopper. Round the head of the stopper are arranged three
spring clips furnished with inwardly projecting flanges at their lower ends for the
purpose of securing the stopper in the bottle when in use.
In applying my improved stopper to a bottle of champagne, the cork having
been withdrawn the neck of the stopper is introduced into the neck of the bottle
and pressed down until the spring clips engage beneath the projecting rim or flange
formed on the outside of the neck of the bottle, and thus secure it in position.
On pressure being applied to the button provided at the top of the hollow rod,
the rod is depressed carrying with it the valve at the lower end of the neck which
is thereby forced open, the spiral spring, being compressed by the pressure of the
fixed flange or collar upon the rod.
The liquor is then free to flow out through the valve and out through the
stopper. Upon releasing the pressure upon the button the rod is returned to its
original position by the action of the spiral spring, and the valve closed by the
pressure within the bottle.
In applying my invention to non-aerated liquor, I attach an auxiliary curved
tube to the lower end of the hollow rod so as to extend this down into the body of
the bottle, for the purpose of admitting air into the bottle during the process of
decanting or drawing off its contents. In this case the depression of the button
brings the opening in the side of the hollow rod into communication with the small
curved air tube which extends from the boss within the head of the stopper to the
beak's mouth. When desired I may provide the underside of the beak or outlet of
the stopper with a brush and arrange for a corkscrew to be hung upon the body of
the stopper and beneath the projecting beak.

page_text: In lieu of the spring clips for securing the stopper to the bottle I may provide
one or more projecting studs or buttons upon the stopper and secure the same into
the neck of the bottle by means of the wire employed for securing the ordinary
cork.
Dated this Seventeenth day of June 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Stopper for Bottles Containing Champagne, Mineral
Waters, and other Beverages.
I, PAUL MARIE THEODORE IMBAUD, of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Mechanician, 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 :---
My invention relates to an Improved Stopper for Bottles Containing Champagne
Mineral Waters and other Beverages, and has for object the prevention of the
evaporation of the liquid when required to be drawn from the bottle at various
times.
My improved stopper which may be formed of metal, bone, ivory, horn or other
suitable material, is of a hollow "beak-like" form and is fitted into the neck of the
bottle by means of a conical india-rubber or elastic ring or plug, having on its inner
surface annular grooves tapering towards the top for the purpose of retaining the
stopper air-tight when in use.
In carrying out my invention I adopt the method of construction and arrange-
ment herein described reference being had to the accompanying drawings upon
which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved stopper showing the general
construction thereof in its most simple form.
Figure 2 being a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, and
Figure 4 a back elevation of a stopper arranged to be closed by means of a
spring.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a stopper suitable for gaseous waters shewn
in the closed position.
Figure 6 is a similar section but arranged for drawing off still waters and shewn
in the open position.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a stopper.
Figure 8, a plan showing the general arrangement of the spring clipa; and
Figure 9 shows in detail the curved vent-pipe D.
In the simplest form of my invention shewn in section on Figure 1, and in plan
on Figure 2, the body of the stopper consists of a hollow indiarubber plug B
furnished with such shoulders on its exterior as may be convenient for adapting it
to various sizes of necks of bottles. On the interior of this plug B are formed
annular grooves of increasing sizes to facilitate compression and ensure the
soundness of the joint. Into this is forced a tube E of suitable material provided
towards its upper extremity with a shoulder which butts against the top of the
india rubber plug B. The tube E above the shoulder is screwed and on to it is
screwed the upper part of my stopper. This part consists of a hollow chamber A
provided on one side with a mouth or beak a for the outlet of liquid. Through
the upper part of the chamber A is formed a vertical hole into which is screwed a
stem T furnished at its upper end with a button t for operating it and at its lower
end with a valve arranged to close upon the upper end of the inner tube E.

page_text: The chamber A is perforated at any convenient place on the side opposite the
mouth piece a with a small hole 6 to allow access of air and is provided externally with
a forked nipple g on one side and with a stud h on the other side to permit, in the
case of effervescent water that the wire originally used for retaining the cork may,.
after it has been cut, be conveniently twisted round the nipple g and stud / and so-
retain the stopper in position.
In lieu of making the stopper as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, I may make it as
shewn in section in Figure 3 and in back elevation in Figure 4. In this case the-
body of the stopper is formed in two parts A, A' screwed or otherwise joined
together, the upper portion being furnished with a beak or mouthpiece a, and
through which extends the rod T provided with a button t on its upper end, and
with a valve at its lower end, arranged to be operated by means of a spiral
spring as shewn. The valve t is preferably furnished with a washer of india
rubber for the purpose of ensuring a tight joint when the valve is closed, and upon
the outside of the lower portion A¹ are secured the forked nipple g and stud / for
the purpose of securing the same in the mouth of the bottle.
To
Or, I may alternatively form the inner tube E in one piece with the upper
chamber A and mouth piece of my stopper, as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7 & 8.
In such case I make a plain hole in the upper part of the chamber A and slip
through it the stem T which in that case I make hollow. This stem T is supported.
by a spiral spring arranged round it resting at its lower end on a ring
attached to or formed upon the interior of the tube E and pressing at its upper-
end against a shoulder e provided at any convenient place on the outside of the
stem T. The stem T passes through and is guided by the lower ring e¹.
the lower end of the stem and immediately below the lower end of the inner
tube E the valve is rigidly attached, rotation being prevented by means of a pin
engaging with a suitable guide formed within the inner tube E as shewn. On the
lower surface of the valve t³ is hinged a small spring flap v which is held firmly
by a spring either immediately below the lower and open end of the stem T which
it closes, or entirely away in the open position as shewn on Figure 6, according as
the stopper is being used for effervescent or still liquids. The valve is retained
in the closed position by the action of the spiral spring r.
Within the mouth or beak a is inserted a tube open at one end to the air and
at the other butting against the stem T. In the stem T is formed, slightly above
the point where it is met by the tube an opening t2 which when the stem T is
depressed comes opposite the opening of the tube b¹.
Instead of employing the forked nipple g and stud /, the stopper may be secured
to the bottle by means of three clips C, C1, C2 hinged to the top of the stopper
near the button t and having at their lower ends hook shaped returns to clip the
underside of the shoulder of the neck of the bottle and almost surround it. These
clips C are provided with springs f which normally keep them pressed against the
body of the stopper, or the clips may themselves form a spring and in such case be
rigidly attached to the stopper instead of being hinged.
The operation in the case of effervescent liquids is as follows:- -When the bottle
has been opened the stopper is immediately introduced into the neck by pressing
upon it until the lower ends of the clips C, C', C' engage on the underside of the
neck of the bottle. In order to withdraw liquid the bottle is inclined and at the
same time the button t is pressed with the thumb. In this way the valve t' is
depressed and the liquid escapes through the chamber A. and mouth-piece a.
In the case of still-waters the spring flap is turned in the open position as
shewn in Figure 6 and the curved tube D, Figure 9, is screwed on to the stem T
so that its curved extremity is on the side opposite to the mouth piece a. In this
case it will be seen that when the button t is depressed the external air passes
through the tube 6 through the opening in the stem T down into the body of
the bottle in such a way as to provide the requisite air pressure for permitting the
outflow of liquid.

page_text: When desired I may provide the underside of the beak or outlet a of the stopper
with a brush I and arrange for a corkscrew K to be hung upon a stud k upon
the body of the stopper and beneath the projecting beak a as shewn on Figure 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A stopper for bottles consisting of a hollow india-rubber plug B provided on
its inner surface with annular grooves of increasing sizes and distended by the
insertion of a tube E shouldered and screwed at its upper end on to which is
screwed a hollow chamber A provided on one side with a beak a and on the
other with an air hole 6 and carrying through a hole in its upper face a screwed
stem T worked by a button t and operating a valve the outer face of such
chamber being provided with a forked nipple 9 and stud has shewn on Figures 1
and 2, combined and arranged for the purposes aud substantially as shewn and
described.
2. A stopper for bottles consisting of a hollow india-rubber plug B into which is
forced a tube E surmounted by a hollow chamber A' into which is screwed a hollow
chamber A containing a stem T carrying at its lower end a valve t' retained in
position by the action of a spiral spring operating on the upper outer surface
of the chamber A and a button t fixed on the stem T; the chamber A being
furnished with a beak or mouth-piece a and an air-hole b, constructed combined
and arranged substantially as shewn and described.
3. In stoppers for bottles the use of a hollow india-rubber plug B furnished on
the outside with shoulders of different diameters and on its inside with annular
grooves of increasing sizes for the purposes and substantially as described.
4. A stopper for bottles consisting of a body A and tube E inserted in a
hollow plug B and provided with a valve t³ to close the lower end of the body
and retained in position by a spiral spring r, the valve being furnished
with a hinged spring flap v capable of closing or opening an orifice formed in
the valve the operation of the valve being effected through a hollow stem T
by means of a button t and the body furnished with a tube b¹ in its beak or
mouth a, the whole stopper being held in position by three clips C, C, C
constructed combined and arranged for the purposes and substantially as shewn
and described in Figures 5 to 8.
5. The use in combination with a stopper for bottles as above described of the
curved tube D Figure 9, for the purpose and substantially as described.
Dated this Seventeenth day of March 1894.