IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 90, Cannon
Street, London, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE
STOPPERS." A communication from James Wills, of New York, United States
of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1881.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chausséċ d'Antin, Paris, France, and 90, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE-STOPPERS." A communica-
tion by James Wills, of New York, United States of America.
The Invention relates to a bottle-stopper of that class which are commonly used
on bottles containing aerated liquids, and which are known by the term "syphons."
In bottles of this class it is of great importance that the liquid contained in said
bottles should not come in contact with any metallic part or parts, and for this
reason, the said stopper has been constructed of a metallic shell, a lining of glass or
other vitreous material fitted into said metallic shell, a valve made of glass or other
vitreous material, which is seated and guided in the glass lining, a suitable spring
acting on the valve stem, and having a tendency to retain the valve in its seat, and
a suitable lever or other mechanism for depressing the valve against the action of
its spring. The spout which extends from the side of the metallic shell is also
lined with glass.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which shows a
vertical central section of the stopper. In this Drawing the letter A designates a
shell, which is cast of tin or any other suitable metal or alloy, and which is provided
with a bellshaped end and with a screw socket a, by means of which it can be
secured to the bottle or syphon B in the manner usually practised in this class of
vessels. This shell is provided with a lining C of glass or other equivalent vitreous
material, which is provided in its bottom surface with a circular recess b to fit over
the top flange of the pipe D, through which the liquid rises from the bottle B.

page_text: When the shell A is screwed on the neck of the bottle the top-flange of the pipe D
is depressed upon a rubber gasket c, which is placed upon the mouth of the bottle.
The vitreous lining C forms the guide and seat for a valve E, which is drawn up
into its seat by a spring d applied to its stem above the upper end of the lining C,
said spring being by preference made of a ring of rubber which is supported by the
lining C, and bears up against the head or cap e secured to the upper end of the
valve stem, so that it has a tendency to retain the valve in its seat.
From one side of the shell A extends the spout F, which is composed of a metallic
shell and of a vitreous lining, and which communicates with the interior of the
vitreous lining C by a channel f. Opposite to this channel a recess g is formed in
the stem of the valve E, so that when said valve is depressed the liquid from the
bottle or syphon B can discharge freely through the spout F.
For the purpose of depressing the valve E any suitable mechanism may be used,
such for instance as a lever G, which is secured to the metallic shell A. by a pivot h,
and which bears upon the head e of the valve stem. When this lever is pressed
downward the valve is opened, and at the same time the rubber ring d is com-
pressed, so that it closes up tight against the upper surface of the lining and round
the valve stem, and leakage of the liquid round the valve stem is prevented. The
inner surface of the shell A may be provided with spurs or ribs to retain the
vitreous lining in position. The ascension pipe D, together with its top-flange, is
also made of glass.
If desired the valve E may be provided with a groove to receive a packing ring
of rubber or other equivalent, material, or such a packing ring may be inserted into
the valve seat.
Having thus described the nature of the said improvements, and the manner of
carrying them into effect, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-
1°. The combination in a bottle-stopper of a metallic shell A, a vitreous lining C,
a valve E made of vitreous material, and seated and guided in said lining, a spring d
placed upon the top edge of the lining C, and embracing the stem of the valve E, a
head e secured to the valve stem, and bearing upon the spring d, and a lever or
other equivalent mechanism for depressing the valve, all constructed to operate
substantially as shown and described.
2°. The combination with the metallic shell A, vitreous lining C, vitreous valve E,
spring d, head e, and lever G, of a spout F secured to the shell A, and provided
with a vitreous lining, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.