Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left; 17th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM STEWART, of Brooklyn, New York,
Manufacturer, and ERNEST CARLETON WEBB of Bayonne, New Jersey, Lawyer,
both in the United States of America.]
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to selfacting internal stoppers for bottles containing or
intended to, contain soda-water or other liquids charged with gases; and the objects
are to produce a stopper which can be used in any bottle, which will be buoyant
enough to float on the liquid and light enough to be lifted by the internal pressure to
its seat in the neck of the bottle without requiring a lifting device or the bottle to be
tilted or inverted, and which will not necessitate the use of any special kind of
machine for filling or cleaning the bottles.
Heretofore internal stoppers, usually of a spherical shape, have been employed, and
such stoppers may be divided into two classes, viz :-
-
First
liquid, and
Gravitating stoppers or stoppers of greater specific gravity than the
Second-Floating stoppers or stoppers of less specific gravity than the liquid.
Stoppers of the first class have heretofore consisted of solid glass balls or weighted
hollow balls and in some cases of flat discs of pearl, ivory or glass; and those of the
second class of hollow balls composed of glass, porcelain or sheet metal, and in some
cases flat or nearly flat discs of several layers of cork, or pearl, or cork and india
rubber, or balls composed of elastic material have been employed.
All such stoppers were however objectionable in that they required special manipula-
tion in filling and cleaning them, and further because to bring a stopper to its seat in
the neck of the bottle, after the latter had been filled, it was necessary to use a lifting
device or to tilt the bottle so that the stopper would drop into the neck, thus causing
a waste of liquid or gas.

page_text: By this invention a stopper is produced which will obviate all these objections, and
to this end the said invention consists broadly in a self-acting internal stopper, prefer-
ably composed of hard non-elastic material and which is buoyant enough to float on
the liquid and light enough to be impelled to and seated against the packing
automatically by the gaseous pressure within the bottle without extraneous assistance
or manipulation, as hereinafter particularly pointed out. The invention also comprises
several details of construction hereinafter described.
The stopper is preferably composed of two semi-spherical shells united to form a
hollow ball. When of this construction I prefer to make the stopper of hard
vulcanized india-rubber, as this is the material best adapted to make a hollow ball of
the requisite strength buoyancy and lightness to form a practically useful self-acting
stopper. I have found by careful practical experiments that it is not possible to make
a reliable and practically useful self-acting stopper from glass, porcelain, sheet metal,
or elastic material, and that while cork or wood is light enough for the purpose, that
both are very objectionable, the former because it will rot, and the latter because it
will swell, and in both cases these objections will render the stoppers useless in a short
time. I have also found that a stopper of elastic material as heretofore made is not
light enough to be self-acting to close the bottle when the bottle is in the usual upright
position during the filling process and is too buoyant to roll into the neck to close the
mouth of the bottle, when the bottle is inverted, and hence it is necessary to use a
lifting device to draw the stopper to its seat after the bottle has been filled. Such
stoppers are also objectionable in that unless they are of greater diameter than the
inside diameter of the bottle necks, they are liable to be blown out of the bottles by
the internal pressure. I have also found that stoppers composed of glass, porcelain,
or sheet metal, besides not being self-acting are objectionable because of the liability
of breakage of the bottles or the stoppers during the washing, filling, or emptying of
the bottles, and further because they require bottles of special construction to prevent
the stoppers from rolling back to their seats in the necks when the liquid is being
poured out.
I have also found that a floating stopper composed of a flat or nearly
flat disc is objectionable in that it is difficult to get such a stopper properly seated, as
it requires a special construction of the neck of the bottle to make a gas tight joint.
Experiments have also demonstrated that if it is desired to make the stopper solid
instead of hollow it must be made of a material possessing the desired strength, light-
ness and buoyancy to constitute a self-acting stopper and as the only materials adapted
for the purpose, with which I am acquainted, are more or less injuriously affected by
contact with a gaseous liquid I have found it necessary in order to utilize such
materials to provide them with a thin exterior film or coating not affected by the
liquid. Hence I find that I can make my improved stopper of compressed paper.
light wood, cork or equivalent material, provided the stoppers made from any of these
materials are made with a smooth and practically uniform exterior surface composed
of a thin film or coating of india-rubber, japan, collodion or equivalent material.
Having now fully described the objects and purposes of my invention, and the
advantages of a self-acting internal stopper as compared with other internal stoppers
heretofore known, and having also set forth the materials and niodes of construction
best adapted to carry out my invention I will proceed to describe the practical applica-
tion of the improved stopper to a bottle and the details of its operation, and also the
several connections which may be employed to make a tight joint between the stopper
and the bottle neck.
According to one arrangement the bottle is supplied with a metal cap and an india-
rubber or other elastic gasket or washer. The cap is provided with an annular bead,
a central orifice and two arms. The washer has a central orifice to correspond with
the orifice of the cap, and said washer is provided with an annular flange and a
depending tubular wall, the latter extending from the orifice to the wall of the neck
of the bottle. The ball being inserted in a bottle, the washer is placed in position, its
flange resting on top of the bottle neck, and its wall projecting into the bottle neck
and against the wall thereof. The cap then placed into position on top of the bottle
neck with its orifice in line with the orifice in the washer and the cap is then secured
t

page_text: in place by having its arms bent around a suitable fastening wire or band and drawn
tightly to seat the cap firmly against the washer. The bottle is now ready for use and
when filled in the usual way with carbonated or gas-charged liquid, the ball will
instantaneously with the withdrawal of the plunger or filling piece of the filling
machine, be impelled by the gas pressure, so as to jump to its seat against the washer
thus automatically closing the mouth of the bottle and making a gas tight joint.
In fastening the cap to the bottle neck, I sometimes dispense with the arms and
provide the bottle neck with screw-threads, and construct the cap so that it can be run
into position on the neck of the bottle. When the ball is seated against the washer
its contact surface with the metal cap and washer bears such relation to the aperture
that there is no point below the plane of the metal cap which can form a receptacle
for dust or dirt, and consequently the bottle is free from the possibility of dirt enter-
ing therein.
The improved stopper is sometimes arranged in combination with a bottle having
an elastic packing ring set in a groove in the bottle-neck, the ball being seated against
the packing ring to close the bottle. In this construction the metal cap is not
employed. Now when it is desired to open the bottle and empty the contents, the
ball is pushed away from its seat and the bottle inverted when the liquid will run out
freely, the ball rising to and floating upon the liquid at its highest point. In opening
the bottle it is advisable, particularly if opened within a short time after the introduc-
tion of the carbonated or gas-charged liquid, to hold a finger over the orifice in such
a manner as to let a little of the gas escape before the bottle is inverted to discharge
the contents. If this is not done the ball may he again forced up by the gas pressure
and close the mouth of the bottle before the outward flow of liquid can commence.
The cap may be provided with a single raised head at the outer circumference of the
cap, and if desired, in addition thereto, with a raised bead immediately surrounding
the central orifice. The object of the beads is to strengthen the cap and to subserve
the purpose of a guard to protect the protruding surface of the ball valve from
accidental contact with anything which might tend to its untimely displacement from
its seat.
The cap may also be provided with a horizontally projected circumferential rib or
bead in a plane coincident with the underside of disc-portion of said cap, the object
being in this case to provide a recess to receive and form a close gas-tight joint with
the washer when the flange of said washer is laterally distended by the pressure of the
hall when seated properly by the gaseous pressure within the bottle...
גזייוח זהITACI
הזיז
e
IT À CETAT MINE
ITINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Stoppering of Bottles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention relates to self-acting internal stoppers for bottles containing, or
intended to contain, soda-water or other liquids charged with gases, and the objects
are to produce a stopper which can be used in any bottle; which will be buoyant
enough to float on the liquid, and light enough to be lifted by the internal pressure to
its seat in the neck of the bottle without requiring a lifting device or the bottle to be
tilted or inverted; and which will not. necessitate the use of any special kind of
machine for filling or cleaning the bottles.
Heretofore internal stoppers, usually of a spherical shape, have been employed and
such stoppers may be divided into two classes, viz.
and
First Gravitating stoppers or stoppers of greater specific gravity than the liquid,
· Second―Floating stoppers or stoppers of less specific gravity than the liquid.
Stoppers of the first class have heretofore consisted of solid glass balls, or weighted
hollow balls and in some cases of flat discs of pearl, ivory or glass; and those of the
second class of hollow balls composed of glass, porcelain or sheet metal, and in some
cases flat or nearly flat discs of several layers of cork, or pearl, or cork and india rubber,
or balls composed of elastic material have been employed.
All such stoppers were however objectionable in that they required special mani-
pulation in filling and cleaning them, and further because to bring a stopper to its scat
in the neck of the bottle, after the latter had been filled, it was necessary to use a
lifting device or to tilt the bottle so that the stopper would drop into the neck, thus
causing a waste of liquid or gas.
By this invention a stopper is produced which will obviate all these objections, and
to this end the said invention consists broadly in a self-acting internal stopper,
preferably composed of hard non-elastic material and which is buoyant enough to float
on the liquid and light enough to be impelled to and seated against the packing
automatically by the gaseous pressure within the bottle without extraneous assistance
or manipulation, as hereinafter particularly pointed out. The invention also comprises
several details of construction hereinafter.described.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section of a bottle stoppered
according to this invention, the stopper being removed from its seat and the bottle
open.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1, but showing the stopper against its seat.
Figure 3 is a vertical section illustrating a modification of the said invention.
Figure 4 is a plan of the stopper shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an elevation showing the position of the stopper when liquid is
withdrawn therefrom.

page_text: Figure 6 shows detail views of the stopper.
Figures 7 and 8 are views of the cap and washer hereinafter described.
Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating another modification.
Figures 10 and 11 show modified forms of the metal cap.
The stopper a shown in Figure 6 is preferably composed of two semi-spherical shells
b united to form a hollow ball. When of this construction I prefer to make the stopper
of hard vulcanised india rubber, as this is the material best adapted to make a hollow
ball of the requisite strength, buoyancy and lightness to form a practically useful self-
acting stopper. I have found by careful practical experiments that it is not possible
to make a reliable and practically useful self-acting stopper from glass, porcelain, sheet
metal, or elastic material and that while cork or wood is light enough for the purpose,
that both are very objectionable, the former because it will rot, and the latter because
it will swell, and in both cases these objections will render the stoppers useless in a
short time I have also found that a stopper of elastic material as heretofore made is
not light enough to be self-acting to close the bottle when the bottle is in the usual
upright position during the filling process, and is too buoyant to roll into the neck to
close the mouth of the bottle, when the bottle is inverted; and hence it is necessary
to use a lifting device to draw the stopper to its seat after the bottle has been filled.
Such stoppers are also objectionable in that unless they are of greater diameter than
the inside diameter of the bottle necks they are liable to be blown out of the bottles by
the internal pressure. I have also found that stoppers composed of glass, porcelain
or sheet metal, besides not being self-acting, are objectionable because of the liability
of breakage of the bottles or the stoppers during the washing, filling, or emptying of
the bottles and further because they require bottles of special construction to prevent
the stoppers from rolling back to their seats, in the neck when the liquid is being
poured out. I have also found that a floating stopper composed of a flat or nearly flat
disc is objectionable, in that it is difficult to get such a stopper properly seated, as it
requires a special construction of the neck of the bottle to make a gas tight joint."
Experiments have also demonstrated that if it is desired to make the stopper solid
instead of hollow it must be made of a material possessing the desired strength,
lightness and buoyancy to constitute a self-acting stopper, and as the only materials
adapted for the purpose, with which I am acquainted are more or less injuriously
affected by contact with a gaseous liquid I have found it necessary, in order to
utilize such materials, to provide them with a thin exterior film or coating not affected
by the liquid. Hence I find I can make my improved stopper of compressed paper,
light, wood, cork, or equivalent material, provided the stoppers made from any of these
materials are made with a smooth and practically uniform exterior surface composed of
a thin film or coating of india rubber, japan, collodion or equivalent material.
Having now fully described the objects and purposes of my invention, and the
advantages of a self acting internal stopper as compared with other internal stoppers
heretofore known, and having also set forth the materials and modes of construction
best adapted to carry out my invention, I will proceed to describe, the practical
application of the improved stopper to a bottle and the details of its operation, and also
the several connections which may be employed to make a tight joint between the
stopper and the bottle neck.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing I have shown the stopper in connection with a
bottle supplied with a metal cap and an india rubber or other elastic gasket or washer.
The cap is shown in detail (Figure 7) and the washer in detail (Figure 8). The cap
e is provided with an annular bead d, a central orifice i, and two arius è. The
washer has a central orifice to correspond with the orifice of the cap, and said washer
is provided with an annular flange g, and a depending tubular wall h the latter
extending from the orifice to the wall of the neck of the bottle. The ball a being
inserted in a bottle A (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) the washer is placed in position, its
flange g resting on top of the bottle neck, and its wall h projecting into the bottle neck and
against the wall thereof. The cap c (Figures 1 and 2) is then placed into position on
top of the bottle neck, with its orifice i in line with the orifice in the washer and the
cap is then secured in place by having its armis e bent around a suitable fastening

page_text: wire or band and drawn tightly to seat the cap firmly against the washer. The bottle
is now ready for use and when filled in the usual way with carbonated or gas-charged
liquid, the ball a, will instantaneously with the withdrawal of the plunger or filling piece
of the filling machine, be impelled by the gas pressure, so as to jump to its seat against
the washer (see figures 2 and 3) thus automatically closing the mouth of the bottle
and making a gas tight joint. The cap Figures 3 and 4 differs from the cap o
of Figures 1 and 2, only in the method of fastening it to the bottle neck and this
difference consists in dispensing with the arms e, e and providing the bottle neck with
scrow-threads and constructing the cap so that it can be run into position on the neck
of the bottle With this exception the arrangement and operation of the cap, washer
and ball is the same in both cases.
It will be noticed that when the ball a Figures 2 and 3, is seated against the washer
f, its contact surface with the metal cap and washer bears such relation to the aperture
in both that there is no point below the plane of the metal cap which can form a
receptacle for dust or dirt, and consequently the bottle is free from the possibility of
dirt entering therein.
In Figure 9, of the drawing I have shewn the improved stopper a in combination
with a bottle having an elastic packing ring set in a groove in the bottle-neck, the
ball a being seated against the packing ring to close the bottle. In this construction
the metal cap is not employed. When it is desired to open the bottle and empty the
contents, the ball a is pushed away from its seat (Figures 2, 3, and 9) and the bottle
inverted (Figure 5) when the liquid will run out freely, the ball a rising to the surface
of and floating upon the liquid at its highest point. In opening the bottle it is
advisable, particularly if opened within a short time after the introduction of the
carbonated or gas-charged liquid, to hold a finger over the orifice in such a manner
as to let a little of the gas escape before the bottle is inverted to discharge the contents.
If this is not done the ball may be again forced up by the gas pressure and close the
mouth of the bottle before the outward flow of liquid can commence.
The cap shewn in Figure 4 is provided with a single raised bead d at the outer
circumference of the cap, while in the modification shewn in Figure 10 the cap is
provided with a similar bead d and in addition thereto with a raised bead I, immediately
surrounding the central orifice i. The object of the beads d and is to strengthen the
cap and to subserve the purpose of a guard to protect the protruding surface of the
ball valve from accidental contact with anything which might tend to its untimely
displacement from its seat.
In Figure 11, the cap is provided with a horizontally projected circumferential riḥ
or bead m, in a plane coincident with the underside of disc-portion of said сар, the
object being in this case to provide a recess to receive and form a close gas-tight joint
with the washer when the flange g of said washer is laterally distended by the
pressure of the ball a when seated properly by the gaseous pressure within the bottle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is.
First. The self-acting internal bottle stopper composed of hard india-rubber or
equivalent non-elastic material, and which is buoyant enough to float on the liquid and
light enough to be impelled and seated against the packing ring or washer
automatically by the gaseous pressure within the bottle without extraneous assistance
or manipulation.
Second. The combination with a bottle for gaseous liquids, of the internal stopper
composed of hard india-rubber, or equivalent non-elastic material, and which is light
and buoyant and a packing ring of soft material arranged in the neck of the said
bottle, the said stopper being seated against said packing ring automatically by the
gaseous pressure, within the bottle without extraneous assistance or manipulation,
substantially as specified.
Third. The two semi-spherical shells of hard vulcanized india-rubber united
substantially as set forth and constituting when applied inside of a bottle containing
gaseous liquid, a light, buoyant, self-acting stopper, as described.

page_text: Fourth. A ball valve for internal bottle stoppers composed of compressed paper,
light wood, cork, or equivalent material having a smooth and practically uniform
exterior surface, composed of a thin film or coating of india-rubber, japan, collodion or
equivalent material, substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with the bottle A, the metal cap e, the interposed packing
formed with a depending inwardly flared valve-seat, and the ball-stopper a, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The elastic packing gasket or washer f, having an annular flange g and
provided with a central orifice and a depending inwardly flared tubular wall h, the
latter extending from the orifice to the wall of the neck of the bottle to guide the
ball valve to its seat and form a gas tight joint between the ball valve and the wall of
the bottle neck, substantially as described.
Seventh. In an elastic packing gasket or washer provided with the lateral flange
g, and tubular inwardly flared wall surrounding a central orifice giving to said
orifice such a diameter with reference to the diameter of the ball-valve that, when the
latter has properly seated itself, its interior surface shall be in contact with the wall
of the orifice in a plane coincident with the top horizontal surface of said packing
ring.
Eighth. The combination with the metallic cap e provided with the bead d and
central orifice, of the packing gasket or washer having an annular flange g and
depending tubular wall and the ball valve a substantially as described.
Ninth. A sheet metal cap of the class described, for use with a bottle, and an
interposed packing gasket or washer, said cap being formed with an annular upwardly
projecting hollow rib or bead 7, immediately surrounding the orifice i, substantially as
described.
Tenth. A sheet metal cap of the class described, for use with a bottle and an
interposed packing gasket or washer said cap being provided with a circumferential
horizontally projected hollow bead or rim m, forming a recess for the lateral distention
of the elastic packing gasket or washer when under pressure, to form a gas-tight joint
with the bottle, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.