IMPROVEMENTS IN FLASKS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Wise, of the Office for Patents, Chandos
Chambers, Adelphi, in the City of Westminster, Consulting Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLASKS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
RECEPTACLES."-A communication from abroad by William Thomas Fry,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th January 1866.
I, FRANCIS WISE, of the Office for Patents, Chandos Chambers, Adelphi,
in the City of Westminster, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLASKS, BOTTLES AND
OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in flasks, bottles, and other
similar receptacles, and consists, firstly, in so constructing the necks of flasks,
bottles, or other similar receptacles, and the metal screw caps attached to
such necks for the reception of the usual metal screw stoppers, that the con-
tents of the flasks or other receptacles are prevented from gaining access to
and acting injuriously on the cement by which the caps are secured to the
necks.
Secondly, of a device or contrivance whereby air can be admitted to the
flask or other receptacle to facilitate the withdrawal of its contents.
[Poise 8d 1

page_text: In order that this Invention may be readily understood it will be well to
describe the usual manner of forming an ordinary flask and the construction
of the ordinary cap for the reception of the screw stopper.
The cap consists of a metal ferrule with screw threads on the outside and a
flange at the top on the inside, which flange rests upon or is situated above
the upper edge of the neck or mouth of the flask, the ferrule as well as the
flange being cemented to the neck of the flask. The stopper is screwed on
to the cap, the internal elastic material with which the stopper is provided
bearing on the top of the flange of the cap, so that the cement at the joint of
the under side of the flange with the upper edge of the neck or mouth of the
flask must be continually exposed to the contents of the latter.
Now it is well known to those familiar with the manufacture and sale of
this class of flasks or bottles that there is great difficulty in maintaining the
cap tight on the neck, owing to the action of the contents of the bottle on the
cement. The difficulty of obtaining a cement capable of resisting the fluid
contents of the bottle is also well known, as a cement which would resist the
action of water is dissolved by alcohol, while one which would resist the
action of alcohol is dissolved by essential oils. In the ordinary flasks also
the discharge of the contents is retarded by the air, the latter being admitted
through the neck which is obstructed by the fluid issuing from the vessel. In
order to obviate the first of these difficulties the end of the neck of the flask
or other receptacle is reduced in diameter in such manner as to form an
annular projection and a shoulder. The metal cap is cemented to the neck
as usual, but its flange is cemented to the shoulder, so that the upper part or
projection of the neck of the flask or other receptacle extends above the said
flange, and against the end of such upper part or projection bears the elastic
material, which is secured to the inside of the stopper, the latter being screwed
on to the cap. This simple improvement effectually prevents the contents of
the flask from gaining access to and affecting the cement by means of which
the cap is secured to the neck of the vessel.
It will be evident that the improvement is applicable to portable flasks for
containing liquors, to inkstands, vessels for the toilet table, druggists' bottles,
and other similar receptacles, and that the cap and stopper may be made of
any suitable material.
In order that the contents of the flask or other receptacle may be readily
discharged therefrom a hollow projection is formed on its neck, and round this
projection is secured a ferrule with screw threads on the outside, adapted to
internal threads in a screw stopper,in which stopper is a disc of elastic material,
and in the side of the stopper below the said disc is or are one or more

page_text: openings, the object of which will be rendered apparent hereafter. When the
contents are to be removed from the flask or other receptacle the screw
stopper is turned until the air can gain access through the opening or openings
in the side of the stopper and along the inside of the hollow projection to
the interior of the flask or receptacle, when the liquor may be freely dis-
charged through the neck of the latter. After the desired quantity of liquor
has been withdrawn from the flask or receptacle the screw stopper of the
hollowprojection is turned so as to bring its opening or openings below the top
of the screwed ferrule, the elastic disc being thereby brought against the top of
the ferrule in such manner that the access of air to the flask or other receptacle
or escape of the contents at this point is prevented. As the air can be fully
admitted to the flask or receptacle without removing the cap or stopper from
the hollow projection there is little danger of its (the cap or stopper) being
lost or mislaid. A valve of any suitable construction may be substituted for
the perforated cap or stopper without departing from the main features of the
Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WISE, of the Office for Patents, Chandos Chambers, Adelphi, in the City of
Westminster, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Francis Wise, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Wise,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Francis Wise, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLASKS,
BOTTLES, AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Francis Wise, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should

page_text: particularly describe and ascertain 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 Francis Wise, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in flasks, bottles, and other
similar receptacles, and consists, firstly, in so constructing the necks of flasks,
bottles, or other similar receptacles, and the metal screw caps attached to such
necks for the reception of the usual metal screw stoppers, that the contents of
the flasks or other receptacles are prevented from gaining access to and
acting injuriously on the cement by which the caps are secured to the necks.
Secondly, of a device or contrivance whereby air can be admitted to the
flask or other receptacle to facilitate the withdrawal of its contents.
In order that this Invention may be readily understood it will be well to
describe the usual manner of forming an ordinary flask and the construction
of the ordinary cap for the reception of the screw stopper.
The cap consists of a metal ferrule with screw threads on the outside and
a flange at the top on the inside, which flange rests upon or is situated above
the upper edge of the neck or mouth of the flask, the ferrule as well as the
flange being cemented to the neck of the flask. The stopper is screwed on
to the cap, the internal elastic material with which the stopper is provided
bearing on the top of the flange of the cap, so that the cement at the joint of
the under side of the flange with the upper edge of the neck or mouth of the
flask must be continually exposed to the contents of the latter.
Now it is well known to those familiar with the manufacture and sale of
this class of flasks or bottles that there is great difficulty in maintaining the
cap tight on the neck, owing to the action of the contents of the bottle on the
cement. The difficulty of obtaining a cement capable of resisting the fluid
contents of the bottle is also well known, as a cement which would resist the
action of water is dissolved by alcohol, while one which would resist the action
of alcohol is dissolved by essential oils. In the ordinary flasks also the dis-
charge of the contents is retarded by the air, the latter being admitted through
the neck, which is obstructed by the fluid issuing from the vessel. In
order to obviate the first of these difficulties the end of the neck of the
flask or other receptacle is reduced in diameter in such manner as to form an
annular projection and a shoulder. The metal cap is cemented to the neck

page_text: as usual, but its flange is cemented to the shoulder, so that the upper part or
projection of the neck of the flask or other receptacle extends above the said
flange, and against the end of such upper part or projection bears the elastic
material, which is secured to the inside of the stopper, the latter being screwed
on to the cap. This simple improvement effectually prevents the contents of
the flask from gaining access to and affecting the cement by means of which
the cap is secured to the neck of the vessel.
It will be evident that the improvement is applicable to portable flasks for
containing liquors, to inkstands, vessels for the toilet table,druggists' bottles,
and other similar receptacles, and that the cap and stopper may be made of
any suitable material.
In order that the contents of the flask or other receptacle may be readily
discharged therefrom a hollow projection is formed on its neck, andround
this projection is secured a ferrule with screw threads on the outside, adapted
to internal threads in a screw stopper, in which stopper is a disc of elastic
material, and in the side of the stopper below the said disc is or are one or
more openings, the object of which will be rendered apparent hereafter.
When the contents are to be removed from the flask or other receptacle the
screw stopper is turned until the air can gain access through the opening or
openings in the side of the stopper and along the inside of the hollow projec-
tion to the interior of the flask or receptacle, when the liquor may be freely
discharged through the neck of the latter. After the desired quantity of
liquor has been withdrawn from the flask or receptacle the screw stopper of
the hollow projection is turned so as to bring its opening or openings below
the top of the screwed ferrule, the elastic disc being thereby brought against
the top of the ferrule in such manner that the access of air to the flask or
other receptacle or escape of the contents at this point is prevented. As the
air can be fully admitted to the flask or receptacle without removing the cap
or stopper from the hollow projection there is little danger of its (the cap or
stopper) being lost or mislaid. A valve of any suitable construction may be
substituted for the perforated cap or stopper without departing from the main
features of the Invention.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawing which forms
a part of this Specification.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved flask; Fig. 2, the same with
the stopper removed; and Fig. 3, a detached sectional view, shewing the
manner in which flasks are usually constructed.
In Fig. 3, A¹ represents the neck of an ordinary flask; B', a portion of the

page_text: leather covering; and C", the metal cap for receiving the screw stopper E¹.
This cap consists of a metal ferrule, with screw threads on the outside and a
flange a¹ at the top on the inside the ferrule as well as the flange being
cemented to the neck of the flask. The stopper E' is screwed on to the capC,
the internal elastic material D' bearing on the top of the flange al, so that
the cement at x, x, must be continuously exposed to the contents of the
flask. In order to obviate this the upper end of the neck A is reduced in
diameter, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 ; an annular projection band a shoulder"y"
being thus formed. The metal cap C is cemented to the neck as usual, but
the flange a is cemented to the shoulder "y" so that the projection "b" extends
above the said flange; and against the end of the projection bears the elastic
material D, which is secured to the inside of the stopper E, the latter being
screwed on to the cap. It will be evident that this simple improvement
effectually prevents the contentsoftheflask fromgainingaccessto and affecting
the cement by means of which the cap is secured to the neck of the vessel.
In order that the contents may be readily discharged from the flask as herein-
before explained a hollow projection I is formed on the neck of the latter,
and round this projection is secured a ferrule G with screw threads on the
outside adapted to internal threads in a screw stopper H in which is a disc i
of elastic material, and in the side of the stopper below the said disc are one or
more openings e, the object of which will be rendered apparent hereafter.
When the contents are to be removed from the flask the screw stopper H is
turned until the air can gain access through the opening e and projection I to
the interior of the vessel, when the liquor may be freely discharged through
the neck. After the desired quantity of liquor has been withdrawn the screw
stopper H is turned so as to bring the opening e below the top of the ferrule G
and the disc i against the top of such ferrule, when the access of air to the flask
or escape of the contents at this point is prevented. As the air can be freely
admitted to the flask without removing the cap H there is little danger of the
latter being lost or mislaid. It will be apparent also that a valve of any
suitable construction may be substituted for the perforated capas herein-before
mentioned.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be conveniently carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is,-
Firstly, the neck A of the bottle or receptacle and the cap C constructed,
adapted, and cemented to each other, and arranged for the reception of the
screw cap E, all substantially as set forth.
Secondly, the combination with a bottle or flask of a sleeve G and per-

page_text: forated cap H, or equivalent devices, whereby air can be admitted to or shut
off from the said bottle or flask for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
FRANCIS WISE. (L.B.)
Witness,
W. LLOYD Wise.