IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF THE SAME communicated him
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& C° Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE USE OF THE SAME communicated to him from abroad
by Charles G Hutchinson of Chicago Illinois United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1883.
"
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, 'IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF THE SAME [a com-
munication to him from abroad by Charles G Hutchinson of Chicago Illinois
United States of America]
One part of this invention relates to bottle stoppers of that class which admits
of the bottle being opened and closed without the removal of the stopper from the
interior of the bottle neck and which are usually designated as internal bottle-
stoppers. The object of this part of the said invention is to produce a stopper of
this class which may be constructed with facility, which will be inexpensive and
durable which will be automatically retained in its open and closed positions,
alternately, which will not appreciably interfere with the filling and emptying of
the bottle, which will not injure the contents of the bottle, and which may be
opened and closed with facility.
Another part of the said invention relates to improved means for filling and
closing bottles provided with stoppers of this class.
Another part of the said invention relates to an improved tool or device for
removing the india-rubber discs or valves from the stems of internal bottle
stoppers.
The improved stopper consists essentially of a flexible disc of india-rubber or the
like which is adapted to close the neck of the bottle near its lower end, and is
arranged between two collars on a vertical laterally yielding or spring-like stem.

page_text: This stem I make of wire bent to fit the interior of the bottle neck yieldingly, and
to be engaged at its upper end by a lifting hook. The collars which confine the
india-rubber disc are not alike in diameter, the upper collar being the smaller, so
that the flexible disc may yield to permit the stopper to be inserted into the
bottle, and the lower one the larger so that the stopper after being inserted cannot
accidentally be wholly withdrawn. The said collars are of such form as to give
to the india-rubber discs a slight concavo-convex form, the convex side being
upward.
It may also be stated that the concavo-convex form of the plug, or a convex
upper face, or rounded or bevel edges, all of which features of construction serve
the same purpose, may be given to the india rubber disc itself, independently of a
corresponding form in the metallic discs, and that even a flat disc of india rubber
will assume the same form when drawn up into the neck of the bottle. By bending
the stem approximately in the form of the figure 8, and leaving one end of the
stem free or loose, the said stem is prevented from being too stiff or rigid, and
also easily adapts itself to bottles having necks slightly contracted internally
between the ends thereof, as the lower lateral expansions of the stem would then
make a somewhat positive cliuch above and below the said contraction, thus
holding the stopper more firmly in place, both in its open and closed positions, and
the upper expansion would also more effectually prevent the stopper from falling
into the bottle; but it is not essential that this stem should be bent across itself.
With a stopper constructed substantially in the manner referred to, all the purposes
above set forth may be accomplished. This stopper may be varied somewhat in
details of construction structure, but I deem it best to retain the general structural
plan already referred to.
In carrying one part of the said invention into practice the neck or upper portion
of a bottle is contracted, between its upper or outer end and its lower end or
portion which merges into the body of the bottle.
The stopper may consist, as heretofore, of a disc of india-rubber and is attached
to a laterally yielding spring or stem which extends above the stopper and enters
the contracted portion of the neck of the bottle.
In order that the stopper may be suspended below, or away from, the neck of
the bottle so that the neck will be open, I extend the main spring upward, but
make this upper part sufficiently large to prevent it from falling down through the
neck accidentally, but not so large as to prevent the lower part of the spring from
being pushed through, and far enough below the narrowest part of the neck to
fully open the latter. To admit of the stopper or plug being held up to, or into,
the contracted part of the neck by means of a spring, so as to close the neck, I make
the lower part of the spring sufficiently yielding to pass through, or into, the
contracted part of the neck, and to press upon the same outwardly, thus holding
the stopper in its closed position.
As the spring or stem is laterally yielding some of its parts are at all times in
yielding contact with the contracted neck, the stopper will thus be held by it
either in such a position as to close the neck, or in such a position as to keep it
open, as may be desirable or necessary, and the stopper when open will be held
from contact with the bottle. In other words the friction or pressure of the
spring or stem against the interior wall of the neck holds the stopper either in a
position to close or open the bottle, according as to whether the spring be drawn
up or pushed down.
•
A simple and inexpensive mode of constructing a spring or stem for the purposes
set forth is to make it of flexible wire, bent so that the spring will approximate
the figure 8 in form, leaving one end free and attaching the other to the stopper.
A small hook may be employed to draw the stopper up into the neck, the top of
the spring serving as a loop to receive the hook. The stopper, however, may be
drawn up by grasping the spring with the fingers; but it is not essential that the
spring should intersect or cross itself, or that it should, except when used in a
contracted neck, approximate the figure 8 in form.
•

page_text: According to a modification of this part of the said invention I render the spring
and plug capable of being removed from the bottle and of being easily detached
from each other after removal; for this purpose I provide a metallic head or knob
on the under or outer face of one of the metallic discs, and a metallic stem
extending upward from the other metallic disc, and having an eye or opening in
its upper end.
In practice the metallic stem and head may be made of one continuous piece of
flexible wire, passing through the discs and headed on its lower end, and bent on
its upper end to form an eye the metallic discs being held in place on the stem in
any suitable manner.
I also provide a laterally yielding spring bent to fit the neck of the bottle, so as
to be adjustable therein vertically and to retain its position after being adjusted
either higher or lower, as may be desirable. I make this spring in one continuous
piece the ends of which are inade to pass or lap over each other, and both of which
are left free or loose, not being connected either to each other or to the plug, and
the overlapping parts of the spring may either be in contact with each other or
they may be slightly apart; but in the latter case the upper part or end of the
open space thus made should be arranged to be sufficiently high in the neck of the
bottle to prevent the spring from being uncoupled from the plug accidentally when
both are in the neck of the bottle as will hereinafter more fully appear.
To couple a spring and plug together when a space exists between the lapping
ends, I pass the upturned end of the spring through the eye, when the plug will be
freely suspended by the spring. To apply these coupled parts to the bottle, the
plug and spring are pushed down through, or into, the neck until the plug is free,
the spring remaining in the neck and by its lateral pressure suspending the plug
away therefrom sufficiently to keep the bottle open.
In order to close the neck it is only necessary to draw the spring upward until
the plug fills the neck when the spring will also hold it in that position.
The upturned end of the spring is high enough to prevent the plug from being
accidentally uncoupled therefrom even when the stopper is in its open position.
To remove this stopper wholly from the bottle, the spring must first be pushed
down into the body when the metallic head may be seized by a pair of nippers and
the stopper entirely withdrawn, being drawn out in the position the reverse of that
necessary for its insertion, the comparatively small disc being then underneath the
india-rubber disc and allowing the latter to be contracted sufficiently to be removed.
After the stopper has been removed it will be very easy to uncouple and couple the
spring and plug, so that a new or repaired part may be substituted for one which
may be worn or injured.
The operations of applying, withdrawing, and uncoupling are the same as above
described when the lapping ends of the spring are in contact with each other
excepting that in disconnecting the spring from the plug, the former should be
expanded laterally until the plug can be released.
The spring though capable of being separated from the plug is a part of the
stopper which consists of both of these parts, and they cannot be uncoupled while
the stopper is in the neck of the bottle and in position for use. A separate and
independent tool as hereinafter described is necessary to withdraw the stopper with
facility, and it is adapted to such a tool by being provided with a part especially
adapted to be seized in its inverted position.
When the ends of the spring are arranged in position it is not essential that they
should overlap each other, as in use they will be held from the eye but they may
be carried thereto when the parts are removed from the bottle by slipping the
spring longitudinally in or through the eye until the spring and plug can be
uncoupled by passing the eye between the ends.
As it is possible to remove the stopper by cutting the india-rubber disc away
sufficiently for that purpose, I do not here intend to be restricted to a plug when
provided with a head, the spring and plug being detachable from each other in the
manner described, whether the head be made or not.

page_text: An
According to another modification the discs are connected to each other by a
neck passing centrally through the india-rubber disc or by means of a wire to
which the metallic discs may be either moulded or otherwise attached.
elongated eye or loop of wire is applied to the said metallic discs and arranged
transversely with relation to them so as to project into the neck, a spring wire is
centrally bent upon itself, the lower parts or ends of which stand apart from each
other a distance about equal to the length of the loop, and which ends are bent
around the cross bar of the said loop so as to enclose the same loosely enough to
allow the said ends to move freely to and fro on the said bar without danger of
being detached therefrom.
The loop formed by the spring is centrally contracted, so that it conforms to the
contracted part of the neck of the bottle to a greater or less extent.
It will be perceived from the foregoing description that an upper and lower
enlargement are thus formed in the spring or loop and that the upper enlargement
will suspend the spring and india-rubber disc in an open position and that the
lower enlargement will then hold the said disc approximately in a central position
below the neck, and also suspend and hold the said disc in its closed position when
the said spring or loop is drawn up it being understood that the spring by being
connected to the loop or eye in the manner described, is capable of lateral
contraction and expansion while being moved up and down in the neck for the
purpose of closing and opening the bottle.
both the lower ends of the spring or loop may move laterally on the cross-bar
of the eye, the said bar being long enough to admit of this movement and of the
expansion of the lower enlarged part of the spring or loop against the interior of
the neck, as, and for the purposes, described, but not too long to allow the india-
rubber disc to be raised to its closed position.
The upper enlargement of the spring or loop enters the neck of the bottle, when
the india-rubber disc is in its open position, and the lower enlargement is in the
neck when the said disc is in its closed position, and the said disc is at all times
held in its various positions by means of the lateral expansion of the spring or
loop against the interior of the neck.
According to another modification in the construction, the spring or lateral
spring arms are rigidly attached to a central vertical arm passing through the
discs.
Another part of the said invention has for its object to provide mechanical
means for filling and closing with facility bottles having internal stoppers provided
with upwardly-projecting stems for suspending the stoppers properly with relation
to the necks, and which stems have a loop or eye at their upper ends to facilitate
the closing or tightening of the stopper.
To this end I provide a disc or bottle support on the upper end of a rod or bar
passing up through a bench. A treadle or lever is pivotted to the lower part of
the bench or other suitable support.
The lower end of the said rod is pivotted or otherwise jointed to the treadle in
such a manner that the vibration of the latter will move the bottle support up and
down alternately.
A bracket or support is applied to the bench or to some suitable fixture. A
hollow cylinder is supported by the said bracket in such a manner that the lower
or open end of the cylinder shall be directly over the disc and has an annular
cushion in its lower end; an induction tube enters the said cylinder and is
provided with a cock for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
I provide a stuffing box, in which the upper end of the cylinder terminates, a
lever is pivotted at one end to an arm extending from the bracket and a plunger
is pivotted to the said lever and passes down through the stuffing-box and cylinder
and is made hook-shaped at its lower end.
The length of the plunger is such that it may extend sufficiently below the
cylinder to be hooked into the upper end of the stem of the stopper when

page_text: the bottle and stopper are arranged in position that is to say, in their lowest
positions.
To use the filler and closer above described I proceed as follows, that is to say,
the bottle to be filled is placed on the disc or bottle support the stopper being first
depressed or pushed down to its open position where it will be suspended
approximately in a central position with relation to the neck of the bottle. The
hook-shaped plunger is then inserted into the loop of the stem of the stopper or
the stein may be hooked upon the hook by being inserted into the lower end of
the cylinder and moved until the proper connection with the hook is made.
Usually the act of placing the bottle on its support and of hooking the stopper-
stem to the plunger may be performed at about the same time. I then depress the
treadle, by which means the bottle will be held up firmly against a cushion. The
liquor may now be allowed to enter through a pipe and as soon as the bottle is
filled the lever should be raised enough to draw the stopper to its closed position.
While raising the bottle-support the said lever may also be raised to an equal
extent without closing the bottle; but it is not necessary that this should be
done, for the hook will find its connection with the stopper stein if the hand lever
be raised after the bottle is forced up against the cushion, provided the connection
is first made in the manner already described. The raising of the hook in the
manner described closes the bottle, and after it is closed the treadle and the hand-
lever should be released, when the bottle will descend to a position which will
admit of its being easily removed; but before releasing the bottle the flow through
the pipe should be shut off, it being understood that the cock therein was opened
after the bottle was raised to its cushion.
The most common use to which this machine will be applied, probably, will be
the bottling of aerated liquors and when so used the cylinder should be provided
with an air vent to prevent the gas from interfering with the filling of the bottle.
But as such a vent is not absolutely essential, oven when the liquors are
effervescent, though a vent is then preferable, and as no vent is required for non-
offervescent liquors, I have not described such a vent, as the construction
application and operation of such a vent is well known.
It may also be here stated that the filler and closer above described may be used
in connection with a syrup gauge in any well known or suitable way when
aerated liquors are to be bottled.
It is obvious from the foregoing description, that the cylinder may be moved
downward upon the bottle instead of moving the bottle upward to the cylinder,
and that in the former case the bottle may be supported directly upon a fixed
table or support, and I would therefore regard a movable cylinder, instead of the
fixed cylinder as a mere modification of my invention.
In a modified construction of the hooked plunger I provide a pivotted dog on
the lower end of the said plunger, which tilts up as the plunger moves down,
and falls under the loop of the stopper by the time the plunger is raised; the dog
tilts up when it strikes the stopper loop, and the latter is disconnected from the
dog by turning the bottle around after being filled.
According to another modification I provide a guide arm or finger to carry the
loop of the stopper over the hook, so that the engagement will be certain and
prevent the hook from pushing the loop too far away for engagement, the said
finger in such case returning the loop over the hook. This finger may also be
used with a pivotted dog.
The object of another part of the said invention is to provide an improved tool
for removing the rubber discs or valves from the stems of the internal bottle
stoppers. These india-rubber discs or valves frequently become worn or injured,
while the remaining part of the stopper continues perfect, and hence it is often
desirable to remove the old india-rubber disc or valve and apply a new one.
when the india-rubber disc or valve is removed the stopper may be easily drawn
out of the neck of the bottle without being first wholly thrust into the bottle and
then turned over or reversed for that purpose. In carrying this part of the said
Also

page_text: invention into practice I attach to the stock or handle of the tool a shank or
slender metallic bar made hook-shaped on its lower end, the extreme end having
thereon by preference small spurs. A slining bar is applied to the shank and
carries on its upper end or portion a projection. The lower end of the sliding bar
is set out slightly from the shank and may also be spurred.
In order to use this tool for the purpose for which it is intended, I insert it into
the neck of a bottle and arrange the end of the hook against the under side of the
disc or valve and then push the sliding bar down firmly against the upper side of
the said disc. The sliding bar may be very easily manipulated and controlled
while the tool is held in the hand. When the tool is thus applied to the disc or
valve the latter will, be very firmly grasped or seized near its edge, and a quick or
sudden jerk or twitch will draw the disc or valve from between the metallic discs
on the stem. The valve may then be entirely withdrawn with ease, after which
the remaining part of the stopper may be drawn up out of the neck of the bottle
with facility.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE-STOPPERS AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF THE SAME "
A com-
munication to me from abroad by Charles G Hutchinson, of Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America
This invention relates to bottle-stoppers, and to machinery or apparatus for
facilitating the use of the same
The improvements in bottle stoppers relate to that class of internal stoppers
wherein laterally yielding springs or arms, applied to the stopper, are employed
for the purpose of retaining the stopper in its open or closed position This part
of the said invention comprises certain novel features of construction as hereinafter
described.
The improvements in the machinery or apparatus for facilitating the use of the
said stopper relate to the hook for drawing the stopper to its seat, and which will
be hereinafter described
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the upper part of a bottle containing a
stopper constructed according to this invention, showing the position of the stopper
for closing the neck;
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the bottle opened, and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hook, for drawing the stopper to its seat
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A indicates the bottle and B the valve or stopper proper.
The said valve as shown in the drawing consists of an india-rubber disc a
arranged between two metallic discs a³, a", the latter being larger than the disc a',
but not so large as the disc a.
The diameter of the disc a" should be small enough to permit the stopper to be
pushed down through the neck into the bottle, but prevent the same from being
drawn therefrom when the edges of the disc a are between the disc a¹¹ and the
neck of the bottle as shown in Figure 1, it being understood that the diameter of
the disc a is large enough for this purpose.
The disc a¹, by having a diameter much less than that of the disc a, permits
the edge of the latter to be raised so that the valve may be thrust below its seat
I am aware that the bottle and valve berein shown and described have
heretofore been combined so as to operate together in the manner now set forth,
but the essential features of the present invention are those which relate to the
means employed for controlling the position of the valve and which I will now
proceed to describe
C indicates a stem projecting vertically above the valve B and passing centrally
through it, being thereby rigidly attached to the said valve. D. Ď indicate
laterally yielding arms consisting of a centrally bent piece of spring wire, attached
rigidly, by soldering or otherwise, to the upper end of the stem C, the ends of the
said arms being bent downward and left free, as shown
It will be perceived by referring to the drawing, that the construction and
arrangement of the arms D. D are such as to hold the valve up against its seat
or in its closed position; that they will suspend it in its open position or prevent
it from falling to the bottom of the bottle; and also that they will prevent the
valve from being carried to its seat by the outpouring of the contents. It is also
obvious that the stopper may be drawn to its closed position with facility by

page_text: means of a small hook, and that it may be easily opened by pushing it downward
sufficiently for that purpose. While I deem it best to connect the stem C rigidly
to the valve, these parts may be jointed or hinged to each other.
The discs a' and a¹¹ are preferably cast upon the stem C. I apply the disc a,
which has an opening in its centre, by passing it down upon the stem C, and
stretching it over the upper metallic disc, it being understood that the arms are to
be applied afterwards
Stoppers of this class are commonly employed for the purpose of bottling aerated
liquids. The stopper is drawn to its seat in such cases mechanically by means of
a plunger having a hook-shaped lower end adapted to engage the loop of the
stopper-stem. These hooks are liable to push the stopper stem so far laterally that
the hook, on being raised, would fail to engage with the loop and raise the stopper.
These hooked plungers have been employed in connection with a filling-head
adapted to fit upon the mouth of the bottle. Also, the hook in order that it might
engage the stopper with certainty, has been made of such a size that it was liable,
in its descent, to strike the rim of the bottle-neck, and break or injure the bottle;
on this account the machine would fail in some instances to perform its work. To
obviate these objections, I employ, in combination with a stopper-raiser, a finger
or guide adapted and arranged to carry the stopper loop laterally back over the
hook whenever the loop might otherwise be pushed too far laterally to be caught
by the ascending hook
In Figure 3 E indicates the plunger and F the finger or guide referred to, and
employed for the purpose of ensuring the engagement of the hook with the stopper-
stem or loop. This finger or guide is inclined and extends to a point a little
laterally from, and above, the upper point of the lifting hook, as shown
As the hook descends and enters the neck of the bottle on one side of the stopper-
loop, the finger or guide will also meet the stopper loop and push it over the
engaging face of the hook, so that the hook, on being drawn up, will draw up the
stopper with certainty to its seat, so as to close the bottle.
By employing the finger or guide in this manner the hook may be made much
smaller, lighter and cheaper than heretofore.
If desired, the hook instead of being adapted to engage on one side of the
vertical stem of the loop, may be made to engage upon both sides. In this case
the hook would be made slightly broader and bifurcated to form a notch into which
the stem would enter.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the saine, I wish it understood
that I Claim.
First An internal bottle-stopper consisting essentially of a stem C attached to
the valve or disc of the stopper and extending upwardly therefrom, the said stem
being provided at its upper end with a bow-shaped spring-wire forming laterally-
yielding arms D D, having free or loose lower ends, all constructed substantially as
shown and described, for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination, with a hooked stopper-raiser, of the finger or guide F
attached thereto and arranged with relation to the hook substantially as shown
and described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three