NEW OR IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Carter and James Edward Carter, both of 13,
Clarence Street, Halifax, in the County of York, for the Invention of " NEW
OR IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS,"
Sealed the 8th February 1878, and dated the 9th Angust 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Carter and James
Edward Carter at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
August 1877.
JOHN CARTER and JAMES EDWARD CARTER, both of 13, Clarence Street, Halifax,
in the County of York. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES,
FLASKS, OR JARS."
The object of our Invention is to provide a suitable and effectual method of and
appliance for the stoppering and unstoppering of bottles, flasks, or jars at economical
cost in the first application of same, and as the stopper and appliance will be as
durable as the article to which it is applied no cost of maintainence is required.
The cost of corks heretofore usually employed for the purpose is entirely dispensed
with, and as it is a well-known fact that in all cases where corks are employed the
cost of such is very considerable, and also a great amount of trouble is required to
extract same as a rule.
Now we construct and arrange our appliance or appliances in the following
manner, viz. -Into or upon the top portion of the stopper proper, which may be
made of wood or other suitable substance or material, and which is made to project
a sufficient distance into the aperture of the bottle or other article, and upon which
is fitted or placed a ring of india-rubber, as in most ordinary stoppers, we affix in
suitable manner a piece of wire or other metallic substance, which is passed through
a hole in a lever at its bottom or opposite end to that in which it is connected to
the stopper; the fulcrum of the aforesaid lever is obtained by working on a pin
which is rivetted or fixed in any suitable way to one or more side plates or supports
(two of which we employ by preference), which are secured in permanent
position by means of wire securely fastened to the neck of the bottle, flask, or jar.

page_text: Upon the lever being actuated it either operates the wire or other metallic sub-
stance which is connected with the stopper to open or close the same, as the case
may be, bringing to bear upon the stopper when closing the bottle or other article a
great amount of pressure, so as to keep the same perfectly air-tight; and upon
opening, by operating the lever in a contrary direction, it causes the stopper to be
released therefrom.
The whole appliance is compact, neat, and not liable to be knocked loose by
contact; is simple in its operation, and for the purpose of stoppering bottles con-
taining ale, porter, and other similar beverages, is very valuable indeed. It is also
applicable to bottles, flasks, or jars now in use, so that no specialities in these is 1
required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Carter and James Edward Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th February 1878.
JOHN CARTER and JAMES EDWARD CARTER, both of 13, Clarence Street, Halifax,
in the County of York. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES,
FLASKS, OR JARS."
The object of our Invention is to provide a suitable and effectual method of and
appliance for the stoppering and unstoppering of bottles, flasks, or jars at economical
cost in the first application of same, and as the stopper and appliance will be as
durable as the article to which it is applied no cost of maintenance is required.
The cost of corks heretofore usually employed for the purpose is entirely dispensed
with, and it is a well-known fact that in all cases where corks are employed the
cost of such is very considerable, and also a great amount of trouble is required to
extract same as a rule.
Now we construct and arrange our appliance or appliances in the following
manuer, viz.Into or upon the top portion of the stopper proper, which may be
made of wood or other suitable substance or material, and which is made to project
a sufficient distance into the aperture of the bottle or other article, and upon which
is fitted or placed a ring of india-rubber, as in most ordinary stoppers, we affix in
suitable manner a piece of wire or other metallic substance, which is passed through
a hole in a lever at its bottom or opposite end to that in which it is connected to
the stopper; the fulcrum of the aforesaid lever is obtained by working on a pin
which is revitted or fixed in any suitable way to one or more side plates or supports
(two of which we employ by preference), which are secured in permanent position
by means of wire securely fastened to the neck of the bottle, flask, or jar. Upon
the lever being actuated it either operates the wire or other metallic substance
which is connected with the stopper to open or close the same, as the case may be,
bringing to bear upon the stopper when closing the bottle or other article a great
amount of pressure, so as to keep the same perfectly air-tight; and upon opening,
by operating the lever in the contrary direction, it causes the stopper to be released
therefrom.
In order that our Invention may be more clearly understood we have hereunto

page_text: annexed one Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the same, and have marked it with
figures and letters of reference, the same letter referring to the corresponding part in
the various views or Figs.
Fig. 1 is a view of portion, of a bottleshewing front of our improved appliance as
secured with wire thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same; in both cases however
with the stopper closed in the bottle.
Fig. 3 is also portion of bottle shewing a side elevation of our appliance as fitted
around the neck with metal clasps.
Fig. 4 is view of same shewing stopper released from the bottle.
Fig. 5 is plan view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of stopper placed in bottle neck without other
attachments.
A is the stopper, which fits into the neck or aperture of the bottle, flask, or other
article required to be "stopped" or closed, and we make the same by preference
with two lugs or bearers B, which are placed slightly out of the centre, into which
the wire C is placed, and operates in conjunction with the lever D, through which it
passes, or is attached to the said lever D, working or moving upon the small pin b,
which is secured by revit or any other suitable manner to side plates E, which are
fastened firmly to the bottle by means of wire, as shewn in Figs. 1 & 2; or the
said lever D may be operated upon the pin b when fastened by metal clasps a, as
shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, either of which modes however are suitable. a shews
india-rubber or cork, which is fitted as ordinarily upon stoppers.
Upon the lever D being moved into the position shewn in Fig. 4, the stopper is
simultaneously released with a spring-like action, which leaves the opening perfectly
free for the outlet of the contents; and the pressure which is brought to bear upon
the stopper when the leaver passes the fulcrum or centre upon the closing action is
sufficient not only to entirely close the opening, but also to prevent its being
knocked loose, the lever requiring to be lifted before release can take place.
The whole appliance is compact, neat, and as we have said is not liable to be
knocked loose by contact; is simple in its operation, and for the purpose of stop-
pering bottles containing ale, porter, and other similar beverages, is very valuable.
Another feature is that it is also applicable to bottles, flasks, or jars now in use, so
that no specialities in these are required.
Having thus described our Invention, and shewn by Drawings how it may be
performed or put into practice, we would have it understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details of construction as herein shewn and described, as
modifications may be made; but what we claim and believe to be new is, the.com-
bination and use to "stoppers" of the lever D and wire C, with the side plates E or
metal clasps a secured on one side of the bottle or other article, in manner and for
purposes substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof we, the said John Carter and James Edward Carter, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within-named John Carter
and James Edward Carter in the
presence of
JOHN HEUGH SMITH.
JOHN CARTER.
(L.S.)
JAMES EDWARD CARTER. (L.S.)