Improvements in or connected with Stoppering Bottles and other Vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1894-Accepted 9th June, 1894
TRUVIDIUNAL OF BUIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Stoppering Bottles and
other Vessels.
I WILLIAM ROSS HEDGES Chemist and Druggist of 12 Dale End Birmingham
in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in the several modifications hereinafter described forming
and constituting a stopper or cork of novel construction, specially suitable for use in
connection with bottles and other liquid containers wherein is placed poison so
that by the use of my invention any person in the night-time or day-time when
taking hold of a bottle or other receptacle with the intention of taking therefrom
a harmless liquid or compound would not by mistake take up a bottle containing
poison. The improved cork or stopper is also suitable for general use in labelling
the contents of the bottle or other receptacle into which the improved cork or
stopper is put.
One essential and specific characteristic of my invention is such that the stopper
or cork of bottle or other container will be of such a shape that when the bottle is
taken hold of at night, the person taking hold of it would in removing the improved
cork or stopper, discover by the sense of feeling that the stopper was of an entirely
different character to an ordinary cork or stopper, and in the day-time the person
picking up the bottle would immediately perceive the word POISON printed,
tamped or otherwise produced on one or both faces of the stopper or cork.
A second essential part of my invention consists in utilizing such material that a
safety cork or stopper can be produced at an infinitesimal cost and thus my invention
would become immediately indispensable to the general public who would have no
excuse for neglecting to use it.
By the first modification of my invention I utilize what is technically known as
a cork-lifter, namely a piece of wire formed at the end into a cork-screw, and at
the top into a ring, within the ring end of the old style cork-lifter I place and
secure a disc of metal papier-mache, china-ware, glass, or any other material
suitable to receive the word poison or suitable to receive any other descriptive
word; the combination of a disc within the ring of an old-style cork-lifter constitutes
a new combination which I claim as part of my invention; the cork-lifter and label
combined could be stocked in large quantities and screwed into corks, thus
producing a safety-cork or safety-stopper suitable for use with poisons at a nominal
cost, also suitable for use for a variety of purposes other than that of stoppering
bottles of poison, a further advantage of the improved combined label and cork
made as hereinbefore described is, that the removable label part could be used when
the cork was worn out, that is to say, one removable label might outlast six or
more corks.
By a second modification of my invention I pierce from a sheet of metal (or from
any other suitable material) a suitable blank and then by means of suitable tools
produce a circular rim surrounding the blank, the transverse section of the rim may be
round, oval or of other convenient shape; the blank would be so cut from a sheet
as to leave a projection on one side of the blank, and such projection would be
produced into a collar, situated at right angles with the main portion of the flat
dise; the blank may also be so cut as to have below the collar a projecting shank
such projecting shank being provided for the purpose of forming into a cork-screw;
thus this second modification is a means of producing a combined cork-screw and
poison label (or label for use to describe other substance) out of sheet metal; this

page_text: second modification would present an appearance when completed very similar to
the first modification, the difference being only in the method of producing the
article; it will be apparent that this second modification is entirely new for the
purpose described, and is not combined with old parts.
By a third modification I produce the blank and collar as described in the second
modification, but take a separate wire cork-screw and combine the wire cork-screw
with the metal blank.
By a fourth modification I produce the blank and collar somewhat in a similar
manner to that described in the second and third modifications excepting that the
blank part formed into a collar would be several times larger in diameter than the
collar-blank of second and third modifications; the large collar blank would be
next turned over to form a rim, thus producing a cup-shape, ready to receive and
clip a cork or other stopper; in some cases the cup would be partly removed so as
to leave two, three or more arms, and these arms could be turned over at the ends
and could be also pointed, the pointed arms could be pressed into a cork.
Dated this 7th day of March 1894.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or connected with Stoppering Bottles and
other Vessels.
I WILLIAM ROSS HEDGES, Chemist and Druggist, of 12 Dale End Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, 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 :-
This invention consists in the several modifications hereinafter described forming
and constituting a stopper or cork of novel construction specially suitable for use
in connection with bottles and other liquid containers wherein is placed poison so
that by the use of my invention any person in the night-time or day-time when
taking hold of a bottle or other receptacle with the intention of taking therefrom
a harmless liquid or compound would not by mistake take up a bottle containing
poison. The improved cork or stopper is also suitable for general use in labelling
the contents of the bottle or other receptacle into which the improved cork or
stopper is put.
One essential and specific characteristic feature of my invention is that the
stopper or cork of bottle or other container will be of such a shape that when the
bottle is taken hold of at night, the person taking hold of it would in removing
the improved cork or stopper, discover by the sense of feeling that the stopper was
of an entirely different character to an ordinary cork or stopper, and in the
day-time the person picking up the bottle would immediately perceive the word
POISON, printed, stamped, or otherwise produced on one or both faces of the
stopper or cork.
A second essential part of my invention consists in utilizing such material that
a safety cork or stopper can be produced at au infinitesimal cost, and thus my
invention would become immediately indispensable to the general public who would
have no excuse for neglecting to use it.
By the first modification of my invention I utilize what is technically known as
a cork-lifter, namely a piece of wire formed at the end into a cork-screw and at
the top into a ring; within the ring end of the old-style cork-lifter I place and
secure a disc of metal, papier-mache, china-ware, glass, or any other material
suitable to receive the word poison, or suitable to receive any other descriptive

page_text: word; the combination of a disc within the ring of an old-style cork-lifter con-
stitutes a new combination which I claim as part of my invention; the cork-lifter
and label combined could be stocked in large quantities and screwed into corks,
thus producing a safety-cork or safety-stopper suitable for use with poisons at a
nominal cost, also suitable for use for a variety of purposes other than that of
stoppering bottles of poison; a further advantage of the improved combined
label and cork made as hereinbefore described is that the removable label part
could be used when the cork was worn out, that is to say, one removable label
might outlast six or more corks.
By a second modification of my invention I pierce from a sheet of metal (or
other suitable material), a suitable blank, and then by means of suitable tools
produce a circular rim surrounding the blank, the transverse section of the rim
may be round, oval, or of other convenient shape; the blank would be so cut
from a sheet as to leave a projection on one side of the blank, and such projection
would be produced into a collar, situated at right angles with the main portion of
the flat disc; the blank may also be so cut as to have below the collar a projecting
shank, such projecting shank being provided for the purpose of forming into a
cork-screw; thus the second modification is a means of producing a combined
cork-screw and poison-label (or label for use to describe other substance) out
of sheet metal; this second modification would present an appearance when
completed, very
similar to the first modification, the difference being only in the
method of producing the article; it will be apparent that this second modification
is entirely new for the purpose described, and is not combined with old parts.
By a third modification I produce the blank and collar as described in the second
modification, but take a separate wire cork-screw and combine the wire cork-screw
with the metal blank.
By a fourth modification I produce the blank and collar somewhat in a similar
manner to that described in the second and third modifications, excepting that the
blank part formed into a collar would be several times larger in diameter than the
collar-blank of the second and third modifications; the large collar-blank would
be next turned over to form a rim, thus producing a cup-shape ready to receive
and clip a cork or other stopper; in some cases the cup would be partly removed
so as to leave two, three, or more arms, and these arms could be turned over at
the ends and could be also pointed, the pointed arms could be pressed into the
cork.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the manner in which the several modifications of my invention are constructed
and used.
Figure 1 represents an old-style cork-lifter.
Figure 2 represents the cork-lifter similar to Figure 1 on which is secured a disc,
the disc clipping the entire surface of ring.
Figure 3 represents a cork-lifter similar to Figure 1 to which is secured a disc
by means of four arms.
Figure 4 represents an enlarged section of Figure 2 on the line A. B.
Figure 5 represents enlarged cross section of ring wire with double disc
enclosed.
Figure 6 represents the blank of thin sheet metal used for forming disc in
Figure 2.
Figure 7 represents a blank with four ears for attaching to ring used in
Figure 3.
Figure 8 represents disc-rim and cork-screw made all of one piece of metal.
Figure 9, represents enlarged section of rim of Figure 8 on the line CD.
Figure 10 represents disc and collar formed of one piece of metal.
Figure 11 represents enlarged section of Figure 10.
Figure 12 represents enlarged plan of under-side of collar of Figure 8.
Figure 13 represents enlarged plan of under side of collar of Figure 10.
Figure 14 represents blank used to form Figure 8.

page_text: Figure 15 represents Figure 14 with rim bent over.
Figure 16 represents Figure 14 with rim and collar bent over.
Figure 17 represents enlarged sectional elevation of collar of Figure 8 previous
to twisting the shanks into circular shape.
Figure 18 represents enlarged sectional elevation of collar of Figure 8 with 5
shanks twisted.
Figure 19 represents enlarged sectional elevation of collar of Figure 8 with
shanks twisted and formed into cork-screw.
Figure 20 represents blank used for. Figure 10.
Figure 21 represents enlarged view of collar and end of cork-screw of 1
Figure 10.
Figure 22 represents front view of clipping method of securing cork-screw to
the disc.
Figure 23 represents a section of Figure 22.
Figure 24 represents front view of cork-screw end for. Figure 22 being bent 1
over.
Figure 25 represents a side view of Figure 24.
Figure 26 represents enlarged front view showing collar, disc, and cork-screw
formed out of one piece of metal.
Figure 27 represents a cross section of upper part of Figure 26 on the 2
line & H.
Figure 28 represents plan of under side of the collar of Figure 26 with flat
shank twisted into a cylindrical form ready for forming into screw.
Figure 29 represents blank used in forming Figure 26.
Figure 30 represents enlarged broken off section of a disc with horizontal 2
corrugations on the surface.
Figure 31 represents plan of under side of collar of Figure 26 with shank
twisted into a circular form and curved to form screw.
Figure 32 represents a broken off portion of disc with points projecting from
the surface.
Figure 33 represents a section of Figure 32.
Figure 34 represents method of attaching disc to cork or stopper other than by
a screw.
3
Figure 35 represents combined disc and wire rim equivalent to Figure 34.
Figure 36 represents a plan of blank suitable for forming into clipping arms 3
under 4th modification.
Figure 37 represents an elevation shewing the blank, Figure 36 converted into
an index label with clipping arms.
Figure 38 represents a plan of blank suitable to form into an index label with
cup-shaped cork-clipper.
Figure 39 represents a sectional plan of Figure 37 on the line I J.
Figure 40 represents a broken sectional elevation of the blank shewn at
Figure 38 converted into an index label with a cup-shaped cork-clipper.
Figure 41 represents an end elevation of cup-shaped cork-clipper viewed in the
direction of the arrow shewn at Figure 40.
Figure 42 represents a sectional plan of Figure 40 on the line K L.
In carrying out the first modification of my invention I provide a cork-lifter as
shewn at Figure 1 ; I next provide a blank as shewn at Figure 6 and place the
blank over the cork-lifter as shewn at a Figure 2; the peripheral edge b of blank a
would be turned over to clip the ring c of cork-lifter, the web of the blank a would
by preference be bent so as to be situated centrally within the ring e as shewn in
enlarged sectional view at a¹ Figure 4. The peripheral edges of the blank a
would be turned over and compressed on to the blank as shewn at b¹ Figure 4 by
means of suitable dies and press tools, thus producing a new article of manufacture
for use to screw into corks or equivalent stoppers to act the double purpose of
removing the stopper and indicating the contents of the bottle or other container
wherein the combined stopper and its lifter would be placed; the blauk a would be
4
4

page_text: marked with the word POISON when used with bottles and other receptacles
containing poison. The combined label and stopper-lifter as hereinbefore described
in relation to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 has been invented and designed more
especially for use as a poison label, nevertheless it will be apparent that the
combined stopper-lifter and label may be also used with any word on the blank a
to indicate the contents of the bottle or container within which it is used; when
using the label a as a poison label I prefer in some cases to corrugate it as shewn
in the enlarged section Figure 30 and in other cases I prefer to produce dagger-
points by punching the web of the blank a in an angular direction and afterwards
forcing out the portion pierced as clearly shewn at d Figures 32 and 33.
Instead of providing a blank of the form shewn at a Figure 6, I in some cases
provide a blank with two, three, four, or more radial ears as shewn at e Figure 7;
such radial ears would then be turned over by means of press tools as hereinbefore
described in relation to Figure 2, the only difference between the completed articles
shewn at Figures 2 and 3 consisting in the ears which clip the ring c as clearly
shewn at el Figure 3.
In other cases I provide a stopper-lifter as shewn at Figure 1 and next provide
a disc as shewn at f in the enlarged view Figure 5, the disc is shewn formed into
a box and in order to insert the disc ƒ within the ring c of Figure the ring would
be unwound (or used before it was wound into the collar g) and lifted in the manner
shewn in dotted lines at h, the disc f would then be placed in position, the wire
part / closed over the concave periphery j and turned round to form the collar g;
in using the boxed disc as shewn at Figure 5 one side might be corrugated as shewn
at Figure 30, or dagger-pointed as shewn at Figures 32 and 33, and the other
side could have the word POISON embossed on its surface or otherwise
produced or provided.
Instead of providing a boxed disc I can provide a single disc formed with the
concave peripheral surface j, the single disc would in such case be bent so as to
be situated centrally within the ring c in a similar manner to the web a' shewn at
Figure 4.
I will now describe the second modification. I'pierce from a sheet of metal a
suitable blank as shewn at Figure 14; I next by means of suitable tools turn over
the peripheral edges k and produce a circular rim surrounding the blank as shewn
at Figure 15; the transverse section of the rim 1 may be round, or of other
convenient shape; the blank would be so cut from a sheet as to leave a projection m
on one of its sides, the projection m would be folded over as shewn at n Figure 16,
and formed into a collar situated at right angles with the main portion of the flat
disc o; the blank may also be cut so as to have below the collar a projecting shank
as shewn at p² Figure 29; I prefer in some cases to pierce the projecting flat stem
or shank p' leaving two separate stems as shewn at p and pl Figures 14, 15, and 16,
such projecting shanks being provided for the purpose of being formed into a
cork-screw.
I produce the cork-screw out of the shanks p and p¹ in the following manner;
Figures 17, 18 and 19 represent enlarged sectional views of the collar of Figure 16
showing the processes of bending and twisting the shank into a cork-screw;
1 represents p¹ bent upwards and outwards; represents p bent upwards and
outwards to meet q, thus bringing the faces of the shanks p and p₁ together;
's represents the two flat shanks twisted into a metal rope-shape; t represents the
rope-shape as it commences to form a spiral coil or cork-screw shape; Figure 8
represents a complete cork-screw and label formed out of the flat blank shewn at
Figure 14. I have not shewn the whole of the cork-screw at Figure 8, but merely
the upper part; Figure 9 represents an enlarged section of the disc part of the
combined label and cork-screw shewn at Figure 8 at a section on the line C D, and
Figure 12 represents a plan of the under side of Figure 17; the method of folding
can be readily understood, Figure 17 being a section of Figure 12 on the line E F.
Instead of piercing the shank end of blank o as shewn at Figure 14, I in some cases
form the rope-shapes out of the flat tang p* of blank as shewn in relation to

page_text: Figures 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31, Figure 26 is an enlarged broken section of the
blank u after the edges k¹ have been turned over to form a rim; the flat shank p
is curled into a cylindrical shape somewhat in a similar manner to the method of
curling paper spills, the flat shank p² is shewn curled at p³ Figure 26; the upper
part of flat shank p² is not curled into a cylindrical shape but is bent at right
angles at then carried horizontally at then returned at x, thus forming a
shoulder situated at right angles to the disc, the cylindrically curled shank p³ as
shewn at Figure 26 and in plan at Figure 28 is next formed into a helical coil or
cork-screw, the commencing coil of which is shewn at y Figure 27 and in plan at
Figure 31.
I will now describe the third modification; I cut from a sheet of metal a blank z
as shewn at Figure 20, the lower portion a a is slit so that it can be folded into
a collar; Figure 21 represents an enlarged broken off portion of the blank z
Figure 20, with the outer edges ³ turned over to form a rim and the slit bottom
part a a turned over to form a collar a a¹; bb represents the upper portion
of a cork-screw which is secured to the disc r by means of a rivet c c;
Figure 11 represents a sectional side view of Figure 21; Figure 10 represents
the complete disc and cork-screw of third modification on a smaller scale, and
Figure 13 represents a plan of the under side of the collar a a¹ Figure 21,
which is of course an enlarged view of a a¹ Figure 10; the disc z of third
modification may be corrugated or dagger-pointed in the manner described in
relation to Figures 30, 32 and 33; under the third modification I also provide the
collar box a a¹ as shewn at Figure 2 and then form the end of cork-screw in a
spatulated shape as shewn at dd, the end d d of cork-screw could then be turned
over as shewn at ee Figures 22 and 23 to clip the collar box.
In some cases I provide a stopper-lifter similar to the stopper-lifter shewn at
Figure 1, excepting that instead of a spiral cork-screw I continue the wire in a
vertical direction as shewn at Figure 35 and spatulate the extreme end into a
dagger-shape by preference, because the dagger will enter the cork or other stopper
and remain fixed therein, the stopper closing over the upper angular surfaces ff;
this stopper-lifter and label combined can be produced in its upper portions by
all the methods illustrated and described in relation to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7.
In some cases I provide a stopper-lifter and label combined made out of a flat
blank, such flat blank being so cut as to be suitable to fold over into the rimmed
disc gg on the base of which would be formed the bent collar hh from which
would project the stem or shank jj terminating with the spatulated diamond-
shaped end fƒ'.
r
I will now describe the fourth modification; I cut from a sheet of metal a blank
as shewn at Figure 38, the blank would then have its edges k k turned over to form
a rim as shewn in enlarged broken section at Figure 40, the lower collar blank 11
would be compressed into a cup-shape m m and the connecting strip rr would be
folded as shewn at Figure 40, 72 Figure 41 and Figure 42, thus producing
from the flat blank shewn at Figure 38 a combined indicating disc and cup; in some
cases the cup blank 11 would be partly removed as shewn at Figure 36, so as to leave
two, three, four, or more arms n n, the connecting strip gg would be folded as shewn
at qq' and q qand the four arms would be turned over as shewn at ss, the ends could be
pointed and turned over as shewn ato o Figures 36 and 39, or the ends could be turned
over and not pointed, the pointed ends o o would be suitable to press into the cork
or other stopper and where pointed ends are not provided the turned over ends t t
could be used to clip the under side of cork or stopper.
The rims of all the labels hereinbefore described under the four modifications
can be serrated, corrugated, jagged, or otherwise pointed in addition to pointing the
label; when the word POISON is embossed, painted, or otherwise produced on
the label the points will be required over the whole surface of the label and over
the lettering also where such is practical; the points are provided on the label and
on the rim of label for the purpose of indicating to any person who takes hold of

page_text: the label in the night-time, the nature of such label, so that when my improved label
and stopper-lifter is used in a bottle or other receptacle containing poison, any
person removing the stopper in the dark would learn by the sense of feeling that.
he was removing the stopper from a receptacle containing poison. With such
knowledge accidents would be prevented.
The term cork-lifter hereinbetore used is intended to signify a stopper-lifter, the
stopper part being cork or any material equivalent to a cork and suitable for
plugging or stopping the mouth of a bottle or other vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is :-
1st. The combination of a stopper-lifter with a disc of metal, papier-mache,.
china-ware, or other suitable material, as illustrated and described in relation to.
Figures 1, 4 and 5 of the first modification of my invention.
2nd. The combination of a stopper-lifter with a metal blank to form a combined
label and stopper-lifter, as illustrated and described in relation to Figures 2, 3, 4, 6.
and 7 of the first modification of my invention.
3rd. The making of a combined stopper-lifter and label out of one piece of sheet.
metal or material, folded, bent, and twisted into the required shape, as illustrated
and described in relation to Figures 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.
4th. The making of the cork-screw part of a combined label and stopper-lifter
out of one flat tang, as illustrated and described in relation to Figures 26, 27, 28, 29.
and 31.
5th. The combination of a separate label and a separate stopper-lifter, as illus-
trated and described in relation to Figures 10, 11, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, to.
form and forming a combined label and stopper-lifter.
6th. The combination of a wire rim carrying a collar and spatulated end, with a.
disc illustrated and described in relation to Figure 35, to form and forming a.
combined label and stopper-lifter.
7th. The making of a combined label and spatulated stopper-lifter, out of
one piece of metal or material, as illustrated and described in relation to.
Figure 34.
8th. The making of a combined label and cup-shaped stopper-lifter out of a.
flat blank, as illustrated and described in relation to Figures 38, 40, 41, and 42.
9th. The making of a combined label and stopper-lifter, out of a flat blank, as.
illustrated and described in relation to Figures 36, 37 and 39.
10th. In the making of a combined label and stopper-lifter the corrugating of
the material forming the label, in the manner described in relation to Figure 30.
11th. In the making of a combined label and stopper-lifter, the jagging, serrating,.
or otherwise producing projecting points on the material forming a label, as
illustrated and described in relation to Figure 32.
12th. In the making of a combined label and stopper-lifter, the jagging,.
serrating, or otherwise forming projecting points, on the rim of the label.
Dated this 17th day of April 1894.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, Corporation Street, Birmingham,.
Agent for the Applicant.