Improvements in the Manufacture of Stoppers for Bottles and other Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Stoppers for Bottles and other
Vessels.
1, CHARLES FROST FOSTER of 60 Bonham Road, Brixton Hill, in the County of
Surrey Barrister-at-Law 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of stoppers for bottles and other vessels.
My improved stopper is chiefly intended for use with machine-made bottles, it
may, however, be used with other bottles or vessels.
The bottles or other vessels with which my improved stoppers are to be used are
provided on the exterior of the neck with two or more projections or studs which
are intended to fit into recesses or grooves formed in the interior of the stopper as
hereinafter described.
In making my improved stoppers, 1 form a composition or pulp of rags, paper,
wood-fibre, Esparto grass or the like, or two or more of such substances combined.
This pulp I pass between a succession of rollers and finally coil it around a roller so
as to form a tube, I then cut the said composition and remove it from the roller, and
afterwards subject it to sufficient pressure to form it into hard and compact sheets of
uniform thickness. 1 then cut the said sheets into pieces of convenient size for
forming stoppers, and by stamping, pressing, moulding or turning, I give to each
piece the form of a finished stopper.
According to another method of manufacturing my improved stopper of the com-
position herein before described, I sometimes form the said composition into a tube of
the required diameter of the stoppers. I then cut from the said tube pieces of con-
venient length and in one end of each piece I firmly secure by screw-threads or other-
wise a disc of the same material in such a manner as to make a tight joint between
the tubular part of the stopper and the disc or top part thereof. If desired I apply
to the circumference of the disc suitable material such as marine glue for the purpose
of making the joint air and water tight.
I provide each, stopper on the inside with the required number of recesses or
grooves to receive the projections or studs formed on the outside of the neck of the
bottle or other vessel and I further treat the stopper with paraffin-wax or other
waterproofing material to improve its quality as a stopper. I line the inside of the
stopper at the top with a thin piece of cork or other suitable material to make a tight
joint between the mouth of the bottle and the stopper, which lining will be tightly
squeezed between the bottle and the stopper when the latter is in its closed position,
the recesses or grooves being slightly inclined so that, by a partial revolution of the
stopper when the projections or studs have entered the said recesses or grooves, the
stopper will be drawn firmly down upon the bottle.
Stoppers made of the composition herein before mentioned can be highly polished
and ornamented and can be produced at very small cost as compared with bottle-
stoppers as usually made. Furthermore when machine-made or other truly formed
bottles are used, the stoppers may be interchanged without in any way affecting the
air-tight qualities of the stopper.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that 1 claim :-
The above described improved manufacture of stoppers for bottles and other
vessels.
1st day of June foOD.
CHARLES F. FOSTER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.