Improved Method of and Means for Effecting the Hermetic Closure of Bottles and the like with Corks or Stoppers of Porous Material.
Year: 1898

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
Improved Method of and Means for Effecting the Hermetic Closure of
Bottles and the like with Corks or Stoppers of Porous Material.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by
Dr. Walter Nägeli, of Mombach, near Mayence, Germany, Manufacturer of
Preserves,) to be as follows:-
The hermetic closure of bottles and like receptacles, in particular for transport
to tropical climates and for containing aerated liquids, is subject to great diffi-
culties, on account of the fact that even the best kinds of cork are liable to dry
up. In consequence hereof gases escape and the contents of the bottle become
mouldy in consequence of the penetration of air and germs into the same causing
deterioration of the contents through oxidation.
It has been endeavoured to prevent such drying by coating the corks, and
also saturating them, with impervious materials such as paraffin and the like.
The outer coatings, such as sealing wax, are liable to chip off very readily, do
not adhere firmly, and are ineffective against internal pressure. When coating
internally or saturating, as far as this is possible, particles of the material used
always fall into the interior of the bottle on closing, and the liquid contents, in
splashing about also loosen the coating.
According to my present invention I obviate these defects by dividing the cork
into two parts, and introducing between these a layer of material which is itself
impervious, and is caused, either by means of the pressure employed in forcing
in the cork, or by the internal pressure exerted by the contents of the bottle,
and in some cases by the heat employed for sterilising the contents, to penetrate
to such an extent into the pores of the cork, in particular the upper part, as to
render this impermeable to air or gases.
The conditions required for this mode of air tight closure, which can be effected
with comparatively cheap kinds of cork, consist in that the lower part of the
cork must fit sufficiently tight for preventing the impervious compound from
penetrating into the bottle; that the said part must be of sufficient size and
strength to admit of its being driven into the bottle by itself so as to fit tightly
therein, and to be drawn out by a corkscrew. The upper part on the other hand,
must fit sufficiently tight to prevent the intermediate material from being forced
past it, and to afford sufficient protection against external influences.
For the said impervious material may be employed vaseline, paraffin, gutta-
percha, wax, sealing wax, fine grained powder, or mixtures of these.
These materials can be poured in or be introduced in the form of powder.
Those substances that are solid at ordinary temperatures are rendered
sufficiently soft by heating to enable them to penetrate into the pores, so that
even soft metals or alloys can be used.
A practical way of carrying out the invention also consists in introducing a

page_text: disc of paper or linen saturated with the material (such as wax and the like)
between the two parts of the cork.
The choice of the material used, and the arrangement employed must be
determined according to the nature of the bottles or other receptacles to be
closed.
If simply cold liquids, such as wine or beer, are to be enclosed, the impervious
material chosen must be such that it is more or less soft at ordinary temperatures
so as to be capable of being pressed into the pores of the cork. It is advisable
to connect the two parts of the cork by a wire, on the one hand to prevent them
from separating and on the other hand to prevent the lower cork from being
pushed into the bottle on opening by means of a cork screw and also to enable
both parts to be drawn out together.
This connection also enables the two parts of the cork to be pressed against
each other by means of the wire, thereby pressing the intermediate substance
more closely against and into the cork and against the neck of the bottle.
If the contents of the bottles are to be sterilised after the closing, that is to
say, heated, the two parts of the cork can also be connected by wire in order
to prevent them from separating.
By the aid of the new means of closing bottles, aerated liquids can also be
stirilised (Pasteurised) without causing escape of gas. The bottles are wired in
the usual way after closing, or the cork is held in by means of a clamp. On
heating, the lower cork is forced by the increasing gaseous pressure inside the
bottle towards the upper cork, the more so, the greater is the heat applied. In
the same proportion the intermediate material is pressed more firmly against
the cork, into the pores thereof, and against the glass.
With this improved means of hermetic closure, other more porous substances
than cork material may be used for the corks, in particular the upper cork may
be made of wood, linoleum compounds, and the like, which are rendered
impervious by the above described means.
The intermediate layer of material may have an antiseptic medium mixed
with it, or the upper cork can be saturated with such a medium, which would in
that case not affect the flavour of the contents.
Dated this 20th day of June 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Method of and Means for Effecting the Hermetic Closure of
Bottles and the like with Corks or Stoppers of Porous Material.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by
Dr. Walter Nägeli, of Mombach, near Mayence, Germany, Manufacturer of
Preserves,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement; -
The hermetic closure of bottles and like receptacles, in particular for transport
to tropical climates and for containing aerated liquids, is subject to great diffi-
culties, on account of the fact that even the best kinds of cork are liable to dry
up. In consequence hereof gases escape and the contents of the bottle become
mouldy in consequence of the penetration of air and germs into the same causing
deterioration of the contents through oxidation.

page_text: It has been endeavoured to prevent such drying by coating the corks, and
also saturating them, with impervious materials such as paraffin and the like.
The outer coatings, such as sealing wax, are liable to chip off very readily, do
not adhere firmly, and are ineffective against internal pressure. When coating
internally or saturating, as far as this is possible, particles of the material used
always fall into the interior of the bottle on closing, and the liquid contents, in
splashing about also loosen the coating.
According to my present invention I obviate these defects by dividing the cork
into two parts, and introducing between these a layer of material which is itself
impervious, and is caused, either by means of the pressure employed in forcing
in the cork, or by the internal pressure exerted by the contents of the bottle,
and in some cases by the heat employed for sterilising the contents, to penetrate
to such an extent into the pores of the cork, in particular the upper part, as to
render this impermeable to air or gases.
The conditions required for this mode of air tight closure, which can be effected
with comparatively cheap kinds of cork, consist in that the lower part of the
cork must fit sufficiently tight for preventing the impervious compound from
penetrating into the bottle; that the said part must be of sufficient size and
strength to admit of its being driven into the bottle by itself so as to fit tightly
therein, and to be drawn out by a corkscrew. The upper part on the other hand,
must fit sufficiently tight to prevent the intermediate material from being forced
past it, and to afford sufficient protection against external influences.
For the said impervious material may be employed vaseline, paraffin, gutta-
percha, wax, sealing wax, fine grained powder, or mixtures of these.
These materials can be poured in or be introduced in the form of powder.
Those substances that are solid at ordinary temperatures are rendered
sufficiently soft by heating to enable them to penetrate into the pores, so that
even soft metals or alloys can be used.
A practical way of carrying out the invention also consists in introducing a
disc of paper or linen saturated with the material (such as wax and the like)
between the two parts of the cork.
The choice of the material used, and the arrangement employed must be
determined according to the nature of the bottles or other receptacles to be
closed.
If simply cold liquids, such as wine or beer, are to be enclosed, the impervious
material chosen must be such that it is more or less soft at ordinary temperatures
so as to be capable of being pressed into the pores of the cork. It is advisable
to connect the two parts of the cork by a wire, on the one hand to prevent them
from separating and on the other hand to prevent the lower cork from being
pushed into the bottle on opening by means of a cork screw and also to enable
both parts to be drawn out together.
This connection also enables the two parts of the cork to be pressed against
each other by means of the wire, thereby pressing the intermediate substance
more closely against and into the cork and against the neck of the bottle.
If the contents of the bottles are to be sterilised after the closing, that is to
say, heated, the two parts of the cork can also be connected by wire in order
to prevent them from separating.
By the aid of the new means of closing bottles, aerated liquids can also be
sterilised (Pasteurised) without causing escape of gas. The bottles are wired in
the usual way after closing, or the cork is held in by means of a clamp. On
heating, the lower cork is forced by the increasing gaseous pressure inside the
bottle towards the upper cork, the more so the greater is the heat applied. In
the same proportion the intermediate material is pressed more firmly against
the cork, into the pores thereof, and against the glass.
With this improved means of hermetic closure, other more porous substances
than cork material may be used for the corks, in particular the upper cork may

page_text: be made of wood, linoleum compounds, and the like, which are rendered
impervious by the above described means.
The intermediate layer of material may have an antiseptic medium mixed
with it, or the upper cork can be saturated with such a medium, which would in
that case not affect the flavour of the contents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1. Method of effecting a permanent hermetic closure of bottles and the like.
by the aid of corks and stoppers of porous materials, consisting in the employ-
ment of two separate corks or stoppers between which is introduced a layer of
impervious material which is caused by pressure with or without the application
of heat to penetrate into the pores of the contiguous parts of the corks, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In the method for effecting a hermetic closure referred to in the first claim,
the method of rendering the said intermediate layer antiseptic.
3. In the method of effecting a permanent hermetic closure referred to in the
first claim, connecting the upper and lower corks by means of a wire, substantially
as described.
4. In the method of effecting a permanent hermetic closure referred to in the
first claim the use, as the intermediate layer between the corks of a disc of paper
or other absorbant fabric saturated with the impervious material, substantially as
described.
5. A hermetic closure for bottles and the like consisting of the combination of
two corks or stoppers of porous material, between which is introduced a layer of
impervious material, substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.