IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE- ARMS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St.
John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE-
ARMS."
Sealed the 5th July 1864, and dated the 14th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th January 1864.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE-
ARMS," to be as follows:-
In the Provisional Specification of a Patent granted to me on the 9th
September 1863 (No. 2223) was described the constructing a stopper for a
jar, bottle, or other vessel of two discs that could be drawn towards each other
by turning a screw formed with a right-hand thread for a portion of its length,
and a left-hand thread for the other portion, the right-hand thread working in
a nut carried by the centre of one disc, and the left-hand thread in a nut
carried by the centre of the other disc; the two discs when so drawn together
were caused to compress a ring of vulcanized india-rubber that was between
them, and so cause it to protrude out beyond the discs, and fit accurately

page_text: within the mouth of a bottle. Now, according to this Invention, I make both
the discs so that they can both enter freely within the mouth of the bottle or
jar, and I connect the upper end of the screw by which the two discs are
drawn together to the centre of a disc of slightly larger diameter than the
mouth of the bottle or jar, and I, by preference, form the mouth of the bottle
or jar with a recess around its inner edge, so that the disc, may lie within the
recess, and its upper surface be level with the upper surface of the mouth of
the bottle or jar. The disc thus forms a stop, by which the distance the
stopper is allowed to enter the mouth of the bottle or jar is governed. On
the upper surface of the disc is a flap of metal, which is hinged to the centre
of the disc, and the disc is dished inwards so as to form a recess for the flap to
lie in. The flap of metal when turned up at right angles to the disc serves as
a handle by which the disc, and thus the screw carried by it, can be turned,
and after the stopper has been inserted and caused to fit in and close the
mouth of a bottle, the flap is caused to lie down within the recess in the flap,
and a paper label may then be pasted over the disc, by which means the flap
cannot be turned up out of its recess to unscrew the stopper without first
destroying the label. The stopper may, if desired, be further secured from
being opened without destroying the label by a pin being passed down through
the disc that is on the screw and into the upper one of the two discs, by which
the packing ring is compressed; or a sliding bolt may be employed to connect
these two discs together, and so prevent the screw being turned, the sliding
bolt being secured previous to fastening on the label. When the stopper is to
be used for a bottle containing fluids under pressure, I form one or other of the
discs which compress the packing ring with projecting lugs, which are to pass
under lugs on the mouth of the bottle, or the mouth of the bottle
have a
circular groove formed around it for the packing ring to be expanded into.
In order to prevent the discs that compress the packing ring from turning
when the screw is turned I connect a string or wire to the upper disc, and
previously to turning the screw the string or wire is laid in a notch or- passed
through a hole on the top of the bottle, and is there held; or the disc have
may
a pin projecting from it that is caused to enter a notch in the mouth of the
bottle. In place of the disc that is at the upper end of the screw having a
flap hinged to it, as above described, the disc and screw may be formed with
a socket to receive a key, by which the screw may be turned. This arrange-
ment is especially applicable for bottles containing poisons in order to dis-
tinguish them from others; or when the disc is provided with a flap, as above
described, the flap may with the same object be held down by a spring catch,
so that the catch has to be released before the flap can be turned up. In
may

page_text: some descriptions of stoppers the screw by which the two discs that compress
the packing ring are drawn together may be formed hollow, and be formed
both with an internal and external screw thread, the two screw threads
being in opposite directions. The external thread works into a nut carried on.
the under side of the upper disc, and from the under disc a screw projects,
which works in the internal thread. The screw carried by the under disc is
prevented from turning by two of its sides being formed flat and causing the
screw to pass through a plate having a corresponding hole through it. This
plate is fixed to the under side of the nut carried by the upper disc.
In the Provisional Specification of my said former Patent was described the
constructing a stopper for a bottle or jar in such manner that a ring of
vulcanized india-rubber that was around its circumference could be expanded
by two nuts, formed with inclined sides, being drawn towards each other by
means of a screw, the inclined sides of the nut then forcing outwards apart
from each other segments of a ring, by which the nuts were surrounded.
Now, according to this Invention, I place on the head of the screw by which
the nuts are drawn together a disc of slightly larger diameter than the mouth
of the bottle or jar, the disc having hinged to its upper side a flap of metal in
like manner to that above described, so that the disc and screw can be turned
by means of this flap.
In place of the nuts being surrounded by segments they may be surrounded
by a split ring, the edges of the split ring being caused to overlap each other.
The nuts are in this case made circular, but with inclined sides as before, and
on the outer edges of the nuts feathers are formed to enter into notches in the
upper and lower edges of the split or lapped ring to prevent the nuts from
turning. The split or lapped ring is surrounded by a ring of vulcanized
india-rubber.
Stoppers made with segments, as above described, I also construct so that
the segments can be moved outwards from each other by a single nut only in
place of by two nuts, as described in the Provisional Specification of the
before-mentioned Patent. The nut is formed with inclined sides, and the
screw by which it is worked is carried at its lower end by the centre of a disc
or plate in such manner that the screw can turu freely; this disc or plate
forms the bottom of the stopper, and is of such a size as to enter freely the
mouth of the bottle or jar. Above the plate, and ranged around the nut, are
the segments, which are by preference of sheet metal, and above these is a
ring of metal; the ring is connected to the bottom plate by pins passing down
through slots in the segments, the segments can thus slide to and fro between
the ring and the bottom plate. The outer ends of the segments are turned

page_text: upwards at right angles, and around the portions so turned up is placed a ring
of vulcanized india-rubber, which draws the segments inwards against the nut.
The centre of the bottom plate is recessed in order that the nut may, when
the screw is turned, be moved downwards past the segments, and its inclined
sides so allowed to act upon the segments and force them outwards, so,
expanding the india-rubber ring by which they are surrounded. The screw is
connected at its upper end to the centre of a disc that forms the top of the
stopper, the top and bottom of the stopper are thus connected together by.
the screw, the disc on the upper end of the stopper is furnished with a flap on
its upper surface, in the manner herein-before described, by which flap the
screw can be turned. A split ring of metal may, if desired, be placed between.
the segments and the ring of vulcanized india-rubber.
Stoppers constructed in any of the above described ways are also applicable
for stopping the muzzles of fire-arms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Nathan
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Nathan Thompson, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO STOPPING THE MUZZLES OF FIRE-
ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathan Thompson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or

page_text: their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Nathan Thompson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:--
In the Specification of a Patent granted to me on the 9th of September
1863 (No. 2223) was described the constructing a stopper for a jar, bottle,
or other vessel of two discs that could be drawn towards each other by turning
a screw formed with a right-handed thread for a portion of its length, and a
left-handed thread for the other portion, the right-handed thread working in a
nut carried by the centre of one disc, and the left-handed thread in a nut
carried by the centre of the other disc; the two dises when so drawn together
were caused to compress a ring of vulcanized india-rubber that was between
them and so cause it to protrude out beyond the discs, and fit accurately within
the mouth of the bottle. Now, according to this Invention, I make the discs
so that they can both enter freely within the mouth of the bottle or jar, and I
connect the upper end of the screw by which the two dises are drawn together
to the centre of a disc of slightly larger diameter than the mouth of the
bottle or jar, and I by preference form the mouth of the bottle or jar with a
recess around its inner edge so that the disc may lie within the recess and its
upper surface be level with the upper surface of the mouth of the bottle or
jar. The disc thus forms a stop by which the distance the stopper is allowed
to enter the mouth of the bottle or jar is governed. On the upper surface of
the disc is a flap of metal which is hinged to the centre of the disc, and the
disc is dished inwards so as to form a recess for the flap to lie in. The flap
of metal when turned up at right angles to the disc serves as a handle by
which the disc, and thus the screw carried by it, can be turned in after the
stopper has been inserted and caused to fit in and close the mouth of a bottle,
the flap is caused to lie down within the recess in the disc, and a paper label
may then be pasted over the disc, and the flap cannot then be turned up out
of its recess to unscrew the stopper without first destroying the label.
order to prevent the discs that compress the packing ring from turning, when
the screw is turned, I connect a string or wire to the upper disc, and previously
to turning the screw the string or wire is laid in a notch or passed through a
hole on the top of the bottle and is there held.
In

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a plan, of a jar, or it may be
a bottle or other vessel having stopping apparatus constructed in this manner
applied to it. a is a dise having on its under side a short tube al projecting
therefrom; bis another disc having on its upper side a short tube b¹ fitting
within the tube a' on the disc or cover a, both the discs a and b are of suel
a size as to enter freely the mouth of the bottle or vessel, the tube a¹ has
pins a fixed in it, which, projecting through slots in the tube 6, prevent the
dises a and b turning independently the one of the other; a² is a nut fixed on
the under side of the disc a, and 6 is a similar nut fixed on the upper side
of the disc b; one of these nuts is formed with a right-handed and the other
with a left-handed thread in order that the screw c (one part of which is
provided with a right-handed and the other with a left-handed thread, corres-
ponding with the nuts a and b), may, when turned in one or the other
direction, cause the discs a and b to approach towards or recede from each
other; d is a disc, to the centre of which the screw c is rivetted, this disc d
lies, as is shown, within a recess formed around the inner edge of the mouth
of the bottle, jar, or vessel, so that the upper surface of this disc may be level
with the upper surface of the mouth of the vessel, the disc thus forms a stop
by which the distance the stopper is allowed to enter the mouth of the bottle
or vessel is governed. To the centre of the disc d is binged a flap of metal e,
and the disc is dished or recessed, as shown, for the flap e to lie in. As will
be seen at each side of the recess small holes are formed, and these receive
lugs projecting from the flap e, and thus the parts are jointed together. When
the flap is turned up at right angles to the disc d, it serves as a handle by
which the disc and the screw c carried by it can be turned; f is a vulcanized
india-rubber ring passed around the short tube a', it is of such a diameter as
when unexpanded to fit loosely the mouth of the bottle. When the screw c
is turned so as to cause the discs a and b to approach each other, the ring fis
compressed between them, and thereby expanded so as to fit tightly the mouth
of the jar or vessel. In order to prevent the discs a and 6 turning with the
screw, a string or wire g is attached to the disc a, this wire g is caused to lie
in a notch or recess formed in the mouth of the bottle or jar, and is there held
whilst the screw is being turned; or the dise may have a pin projecting from
it that is caused to enter a notch in the mouth of the bottle. The stopper
may, if desired, be further secured from being opened without destroying the
label by a pin being passed down through the disc that is on the screw, and
into the upper one of the two discs by which the packing ring is compressed;
or a sliding bolt may be employed to connect these two discs together and so
prèvent the screw being turned, the sliding bolt being secured previous to

page_text: fastening on the label. When the stopper is to be used for a bottle containing
fluids under pressure I form one or other of the discs which compress the
packing ring with projecting lugs which are to pass under lugs on the mouth
of the bottle, or the mouth of the bottle may have a circular groove formed
around it for the packing ring to be expanded into. In place of the disc
that is at the upper end of the screw having a flap hinged to it as above
described, the disc d and screw c may be formed with a socket d' as shown
in Figure 3 to receive a key, by which the screw. may be turned. This
arrangement is especially applicable for bottles containing poisons in order
to. distinguish them from others, or when the disc is provided with a flap e,
as above described, the flap may with the same object be held down by a
spring catch d², as is shown in Figure 4, so that the catch has to be released
before the flap can be turned up.
Another part of my Invention consists in constructing the disc d (Figure 1)
with a hollow screw fixed upon it, such screw being formed both with an
internal and external screw thread, the two screw threads being in opposite
directions. The external thread works into a nut carried on the under side
of the upper disc, and from the under disc a screw projects which works in
the internal thread. The screw carried by the under dise is prevented from
turning by two of its sides being formed flat, and causing the screw to pass
through a plate having a corresponding hole through it, this plate is fixed to
the under side of the nut carried by the upper disc.
In this case the lower
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a jar or other vessel having stopping appa-
ratus constructed in this manner applied to it. The parts which in this
Drawing are similar to parts already described, are marked with letters of
reference corresponding to those previously employed.
disc carries a screw 6*, taking into the internal thread formed in the
screw e*, carried by the disc d, and the disc a carries a nut a* taking into a
thread formed on the exterior of the screw.e*. The screw e* may be turned
by means of a key acting within the hole de formed .in. the disc d as shown,
or the disc d may be provided with a hinged flap as previously described, the
screw * is formed with flat sides, and passes through a hole of similar form
in the disc a* carried by the nut a*, by which means the screw 6* is prevented
from turning with the screw e*.
Another part of my Invention relates to stoppers for bottles or jars, in
which a ring of vulcanized india-rubber around the circumference of the
stopper is expanded by two nuts formed with inclined sides, and drawn towards
each other by means of a screw, the inclined sides of the nut then forcing
outwards, apart from each other, segments of a ring by which the nuts are

page_text: surrounded, such a stopper is described in the Specification of my Patent
before referred to. To stoppers of this description also I, according to my
present Invention, apply on the head of the screw, by which the nuts are
drawn together, a disc of slightly larger diameter then the mouth of the bottle
or jar, the disc 'having hinged to its upper side a flap of metal in like manner
to that above described, so that the disc and screw can be turned by means
¡of this flap.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a jar having stopping apparatus so arranged
applied to it. The ring a of vulcanized india-rubber, somewhat smaller in
diameter than the mouth of the jar, is placed around the outer edge of a
disc b, this disc b is divided into three, or it may be other number of parts
radially, and it has a triangular hole formed through its centre, the sides 6¹, b³,
of which are inclined in opposite directions; within this hole fit two nuts
c and d, the edges of which are inclined to correspond with the sides b¹, 63,
of the hole in the disc b; these nuts c and d have the one a right-handed
:thread, and the other a left-handed thread formed in them in order that when
the screw e is turned in one direction the nuts c and d may be. caused to
approach the one to the other, and, by their sides acting on the inclined
sides b', 63, of the hole in the disc b, the several parts of the disc b are caused
to recede from each other, and thereby expand the ring a of vulcanized india-
<rubber, causing it to fit tightly the mouth of the jar. The screw e is rivetted
to a disc f, which lies in a recess formed around the inner edge of the mouth
of the jar to the centre of this disc f is hinged a flap f, which when turned
.up acts as a handle by which to rotate the screw e, and when turned down it
lies, within a recess formed in the disc f as previously described.
Another part of my Invention relates to stoppers made with segments as
above described, and consists in constructing them so that the segments can be
moved outwards from each other by a single nut only in place of by two nuts.
The nut is formed with inclined sides, and the screw by which it is worked
is carried at its lower end by the centre of a disc or plate in such manner
that the screw can turn freely, this disc or plate forms the bottom of the
stopper, and is of such a size as to enter freely the mouth of the bottle or jar.
Above the plate, and ranged around the nut, are the segments, which are
by preference of sheet metal, and above these is a ring of metal. The ring is
.connected to the bottom plate by pins passing down through slots in the
segments, the segments can thus slide to and fro between the ring and the
.bottom plate, the outer ends of the segments are turned upwards at right
angles, and around the portions so turned up is placed a ring of vulcanized
india-rubber which draws the segments inwards against the nut. The centre

page_text: of the bottom plate is recessed in order that the nut may, when the screw is
turned, be moved downwards past the segments, and its inclined sides so
allowed to act upon the segments and force them outwards, so expanding the
india-rubber ring by which they are surrounded. The screw is connected at
its upper end to the centre of a disc that forms the top of the stopper, the top
and bottom of the stopper are thus connected by the screw; the disc on the
upper end of the stopper is furnished with a flap on its upper surface, in the
manner herein-before described, by which flap the screw can be turned. A
split ring of metal may, if desired, be placed between the segments and the
ring of vulcanized india-rubber.
Figure 7 shows a vertical section of a jar or vessel having stopping
apparatus constructed according to this part of my Invention applied thereto.
a is a ring of vulcanized india-rubber placed around the disc b, which is
made up of three, or it may be other number of segments or parts of sheet
metal, through this disc a hole is formed having inclined sides, within this hole
a nut c is placed, and d is a disc having a screw e fixed thereto, but so as to
be able to turn without turning the disc d. The upper end of the screw e is
firmly rivetted to the disc g, and has a flap g' hinged thereto, acting as a
handle whereby to turn the screw e as described in respect to other parts of
my Invention. Above the segments of the disc b is a ring of metal h, this ring
is connected to the plate or disc d by pins passing down through slots in the
segments of the disc b, the segments can thus slide to and fro between the ring
h and plate or disc d, the outer ends of the segments are turned upwards at
right angles to receive the ring of vulcanized india-rubber a which draws the
segments inwards against the nut c. The plate or disc d is recessed as shown
in order that when the screw e is turned in one direction the nut c may move
downwards past the segments of the disc b, and thereby force them outwards
and so expand the ring of india-rubber a.
Stoppers constructed in any of the above described ways are also applicable
for stooping the muzzles of fire-arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 8th day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)