IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES FOR AËRATED AND EFFERVESCENT LIQUIDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Claxton, the elder, and Charles Claxton, the
younger, of Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Aerated Water Manufacturers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES FOR AËRATED
AND EFFERVESCENT LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 20th June 1876, and dated the 22nd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Claxton and Charles
Claxton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February
1876.
CHARLES CLAXTON, the elder, and CHARLES CLAXTON, the younger, of Lincoln, in
the County of Lincoln, Aërated Water Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
FOR BOTTLES FOR AËRATED AND EFFERVESCENT LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in stoppers for bottles, and it has
for its object the constructing stoppers of such a shape and form that they shall
always (when in use) remain in the neck of the bottle, that is to say, they never
go wholly within the bottle, nor come out even when the liquid contents thereof
are being emptied out or drawn off. Stoppers constructed according to this Inven-
tion are more especially adapted for use in bottles used for containing aërated or
effervescent liquids, as they afford an effective and gas-tight closure at the mouth
of the bottle and are most easily manipulated and pressed inwards of the bottle
when the contents thereof are required to be emptied out.
The improvements constituting this Invention consist in forming or making
the stopper with an elongated spindle of a length exceeding, to a slight degree,
that of the neck of the kind of bottle to which it is intended to be applied, and
the top or upper part of which spindle is made or formed with a semicircular
enlargement flattened out to a width slightly exceeding that of the outermost
opening of the mouth of the bottle. This part is made semicircular (or of any
other portion of a circle, but not a complete circle) for the purpose subsequently
mentioned, and it is enlarged to the extent specified, so that it shall not be able to
enter the neck of the bottle, and to allow of a sufficient space for the pressure of
one or two fingers to be exerted thereon with ease.
The spindle above mentioned is also made of the length specified to allow of the
stopper having a certain degree of movement up and down in the neck of the
bottle for the purpose herein-after mentioned. The spindle is also made or formed

page_text: with three or more radiating and longitudinal guides, vanes, or feathers of a
uniform width, and these guides or feathers are provided, some for the purpose of
keeping the stopper centrally within the neck of the bottle at all times, and others
also for the purpose of guiding the contents of the bottle (when the stopper is
pressed inwards to allow of the escape thereof) towards the blank half or part of
the above-mentioned flattened top, so that they may escape therefrom freely and
not meet with any impediment or obstruction likely to cause spilling or a waste
thereof. The lower end of the spindle is also made or formed with two circular
flanges parallel to each other, and the top one of which is made of a diameter
less than that of the bottom one. Between these flanges is placed a circular flat
disc or washer of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material, and this washer
is placed in this position by being stretched over the bottom flange. Theso
flanges are thus made of different diameters, and as described, to allow of the
ready introduction of the stopper (as thus made or formed) into the bottle as
the rubber washer then folds readily around and above the smaller flange, and
resumes its normal shape when fully in its place in the neck of the bottle, and to
offer a considerable resistance to being forced out by the gaseous pressure within
the bottle as the rubber washer is then pressed by the inner periphery of the neck
of the bottle tightly around the larger and lowermost washer and firmly wedged
between such parts, thus forming a most effective and gas-tight closure to the
necks of bottles containing such liquids.
When it is required to withdraw the contents of the bottle, all that it is necessary
to do is to press with the finger upon the flattened top or part of the stopper, when
(the bottle being reversed in position) the gaseous pressure within will cause the
contents to flow out between the above-described guides or vanes.
This improved stopper may be made of any suitable material, but we prefer to
make it by casting it in one piece of a mixture of spelter and tin, its colour is then
constant and not effected by the contents of the bottle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Claxton and Charles Claxton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd August 1876.
CHARLES CLAXTON, the elder, and CHARLES CLAXTON, the younger, of Lincoln,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
in the County of Lincoln, Aerated Water Manufacturers.
STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES FOR AERATED AND EFFERVESCENT LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in stoppers for bottles, and it has
for its object the constructing stoppers of such a shape and form that they shall
always (when in use) remain in the neck of the bottle; that is to say, they neither
go wholly within the bottle nor come out even when the liquid contents thereof
are being emptied or drawn off. Stoppers constructed according to this Inven-
tion are more especially adapted for use in bottles used for containing aërated or
effervescent liquids, as they afford an effective and gas-tight closure at the mouth
of the bottle and are most easily manipulated and pressed inwards of the bottle
when the contents thereof are required to be emptied.
The improvements constituting this Invention are illustrated on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and they consist in forming or making the stopper
with an elongated spindle 1 (Figures 1 to 3) of a length exceeding to a slight
degree that of the neck of the kind of bottle 2 (Figure 2) to which it is intended to
be applied, and the top or upper part of which spindle is made or formed with
a semicircular enlargement 3 (Figures 1 to 4) flattened out to a width slightly
exceeding that of the outermost opening of the mouth of the bottle. This part 3
is made semicircular (or of any other portion of a circle but not a complete circle)
for the purpose subsequently mentioned, and it is enlarged to the extent specified, so

page_text: that it shall not enter the neck of the bottle, and to afford sufficient space for
pressure to be exerted thereon with ease by one or two fingers.
The spindle 1 is also made of the length specified to allow of the stopper having
a certain degree of movement up and down in the neck of the bottle for the purpose
herein-after mentioned. The spindle is also made or formed with three or more radi-
ating and longitudinal guides, vanes, or feathers 4 (of various shapes, see Figures 5
to 7) which are provided, some for the purpose of keeping the stopper centrally within
the neck of the bottle at all times, and others also for the purpose of guiding the
contents of the bottle (when the stopper is pressed inwards to allow of the escape
thereof) towards the blank half or part of the flattened top 3, so that they may
escape therefrom freely and not meet with any impediment or obstruction likely to
cause spilling or a waste thereof. The lower end of the spindle 1 is also made or
formed with two circular flanges 5, 6, parallel to each other, and the top one 5 of
which is made of a diameter less than that of the bottom one 6. Between these
flanges is placed a circular flat disc or washer 7 of india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material, and this washer is placed in this position by being stretched over
the flange 6.
These flanges are made of different diameters, and as described, to
allow of the ready introduction of the stopper into the bottle, as the washer 7 then
folds readily around and above the flange 5, and resumes its normal shape when
fully in its place in the neck of the bottle, and to offer a considerable resistance
to being forced out by the gaseous pressure within the bottle, as the washer 7
is then pressed by the inner periphery of the neck of the bottle tightly around
the larger flange 6 and firmly wedged between such parts, thus forming a most
effective and gas-tight closure to the necks of bottles containing such liquids.
When it is required to withdraw the contents of the bottle all that it is necessary
to do is to press with the finger upon the part 3 of the stopper (when, the bottle
being reversed in position), the gaseous pressure within will cause the contents to
flow out between the guides or vanes 4.
This improved stopper may be made of any suitable material, but we prefer to
make it by casting it in one piece of a mixture of spelter and tin, its colour is then
constant and not affected by the contents of the bottle.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Stoppers for Bottles for Aërated and Effervescent Liquids," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect,
we would remark in conclusion that we clain as our Invention, constructing
stoppers which shall (when in use) remain at all times in the neck of the bottle,
substantially as herein-above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Claxton, the younger, on behalf of the
said Charles Claxton, the elder, and myself, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-six.
CHARLES CLAXTON, THE YONGER. (L.S.)