IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING AND FILLING OF BOTTLES, AND DRAWING OFF CONTENTS OF SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Baron Michell, of Truro, in the County of
Cornwall, Jeweller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO
STOPPERING AND FILLING OF BOTTLES, AND DRAWING OFF CONTENTS OF
SAME"
Sealed the 20th June 1876, and dated the 7th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Baron Michell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1876.
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL, of Truro, in the County of Cornwall, Jeweller.
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING AND FILLING OF BOTTLES, AND
DRAWING OFF CONTENTS OF SAME."
These improvements have for their object enabling more effectually bottles,
especially those containing aerated and effervescing liquids to be filled and quickly
stopped or closed, and to have their contents drawn off with facility even when a
small portion at a time is desired to be drawn off, and with little if any detriment
to the qualities of the liquids therein.
Means whereby my Invention may be effectuated are mainly as follows:-An
aperture is formed in the bottle in or near the lower part of the neck, at which
point the bottle should have a suitable slant to correspond to the stopper and enable
it to work with facility. This stopper is a plug of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, which is pushed into the mouth of the bottle similarly to an ordinary cork,
and at its lower end is provided with a piece or washer of india-rubber, shaped so as
to cover the aperture in or under the neck when closed, or to leave it exposed and
open when moved reversely.
Sometimes I use a plug, hollow except at the top, which is closed or solid, and
surround same with rubber and cork, making in said hollow plug an aperture which
corresponds with the aperture in the bottle. In this case the bottle would have a
shoulder above and one beneath the cork, the upper one to keep it in, and the lower
one to prevent its going in too far. The rubber however may be dispensed with, if
desired.
The top of the stopper or plug rises above the mouth of the bottle, and is
provided with a cross piece or handle, by turning which the aperture is opened or
closed in consequence of the construction and action of the plug or stopper being as
above stated.

page_text: The bottle is filled as well as discharged through the aperture above named,
and thus the stopper being in its place the bottle may be closed the instant it is
filled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Baron Michell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
September 1876.
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL, of Truro, in the County of Cornwall, Jeweller.
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO STOPPERING AND FILLING OF BOTTLES, AND
DRAWING OFF CONTENTS OF SAME."
My Invention consists in a bottle and stopper for aërated waters, champagne, and
other gaseous liquids, and is so constructed as to form a kind of tap, whereby such
liquids can be drawn off cleanly and expeditiously in whatever portion is required
without injury to the part remaining. It requires neither the drawing out or the
pressing in of the plug or stopper, nor the great strain on the hand to press it down
against the internal gas that the liquid may find vent, which is usual.
And in order to show the manner in which I effectuate this my Invention I will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the Drawings.
Figure 2, plan of stopper.
Figure 3, section of stopper on line A, B, Fig. 2.
Figure 4, section of champagne bottle, with a modified form of stopper adapted
thereto.
Figure 5, section of stopper used for champagnes and other effervescing liquids.
Figure 6 is modified form of stopper shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
The bottle a has a hole b immediately under the neck, in addition to the ordinary
mouth of the bottle. Into the latter I insert a plug c, through which a cross piece d
is inserted across the top of the neck to form a handle for the purpose of turning
the stopper round. On the lower part of the plug c, fitted in a groove e cut for its
reception, is a band of rubber f.so constructed as to completely cover the hole b
under the neck, except in one particular part f¹, which is formed either as shewn,
or a hole or opening is left in the india-rubber, so that on its coming in a direct
line with the hole under the neck an aperture is formed, through which the gas
forces the liquid.
For champagne or any drinks that may be injured by contact with india-rubber
a modified form of my tap stopper is used (as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5), which
consists in making in the stopper a hole or opening g, about half way up through
the cork g (which hole may be strengthened by a tube fitted therein). The said
opening g¹ communicates with a horizontal opening g³ made in the cork above the
neck of bottle, into which horizontal opening is inserted a spigot or plug / partially
hollow, which hollow part ¹ communicates with a hole , which when the said
plug or spigot is inserted in the cork comes in a direct line with its perpendicular
opening when turned on for discharge, but shall be brought against the solid cork
when turned in the opposite direction. This form of stopper is turned by a cross
bar or handle d, but is discharged through the tube at the top of the neck of
bottle a.
I
My improved stopper may be made of either wood, glass, metal, earthenware, or
any other suitable material, but if manufactured of any substance specially liable to
breakage the rubber should be formed so as to fit on and cover the bottom of the
plug, as shewn in Fig. 6, where the rubber i is formed with a hollow in the
centre, which fits the plug c, said plug being recessed or hollowed out at the parţ

page_text: Immediately above the rubber, so as to enable the stopper, with the rubber fitted
thereon, to be forced into the bottle (the rubber also serving as a protection against
breaking the bottle when same comes against the bottom thereof). In this Figure
a knob or ornamental top may be cast of earthenware or glass, which will serve in
place of the cross bar. In washing my bottle the cross bar is removed, when the
stopper falls into the bottle, which is cleaned in the usual way.
"
The filling the bottles may be performed either through the hole intended for the
discharge, or at the top of the neck if the cross bar is placed near the upper end of the
stopper, so as to allow of the rubber flattening out for that purpose when it should
be inserted in an air-tight or nearly air-tight chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, I
hereby declare that I claim, the Invention of "Improvements Applicable to Stop-
pering and Filling of Bottles, and Drawing off Contents of same," substantially as
the same is herein-before set forth and described, wherein the following are impor-
tant points, videlicet:-A revolving or tap stopper in combination with a hole
immediately under the neck of the bottle, which is covered with rubber when pro-
tected, but is opened by being brought in contact with a slit hole, opening, or
aperture therein for discharge.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Baron Michell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six,
Witness,
JOHN MICHELL,
28, Boscawen St.,
Truro.
FREDERICK BARON MICHELL. (L.S.)