Improvements in Appliances for Opening Bottles, Jars, and the like Vessels which are Closed with Screw Stoppers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Opening Bottles, Jars, and the like
Vessels which are Closed with Screw Stoppers.
:
I, WILLIAM BODEN of Nos. 8 and 9, Corn Exchange Buildings, Sheffield, in
the County of York, Brewers Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:
1.
Screw stoppers with or without milled edges are used for a variety of purposes
and perhaps the largest application of this class of stopper is for bottles containing
beer, porter, aerated water and the like liquids under pressure, and in such cases an
india-rubber ring or washer is generally employed under the head of the stopper to
ensure an air and gas-tight joint being made. Where such stoppers are employed
considerable force is sometimes required to release or unscrew the same, and where
india-rubber washers are employed a vertical pressure as well as a twisting force has to
be employed which generally is an inconvenient and sometimes painful operation when
it has to be performed by use of the fingers alone and especially so when the operation
has to be repeated with many bottles in succession as is the case with attendants at
refreshments stalls, bar-keepers and others.
My-present invention is intended to overcome the inconvenience above described
and consists of an appliance, which may be called an opener, of any suitable form,
which will give more leverage in turning screw stoppers of the description herein
given.
The appliance I make in metal, glass, porcelain, pot, stone, hardwood, vulcanite,
or any other suitable material, composition or substance and provide a conical
cavity or recess assimilated to the shape of the stopper on either or both sides of
the same.
The walls of such cavity or recess may have either indentations or
vertical grooves or may be roughed or jagged so that when the appliance is placed
with its cone formed cavity over the stopper a better grip and leverage can be
obtained in turning the same.
The appliance may be made circular, square, oblong, oval, cruciform, star or
other convenient shape. Where the circular form is employed the edges of the
appliance may likewise be roughed or milled so that a better grip may be
obtained.
When an appliance is made with cavities on both sides, such cavities may either
be the same on both sides, or, of different surfaces and sizes and the appliance itself
I sometimes employ as an advertising medium by displaying on its surface any
words, illustrations or designs suitable for the purpose.
Dated this 12th day of January 1893..
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Opening Bottles, Jars, and the like
Vessels which are Closed with Screw Stoppers.
I WILLIAM BODEN of No. 8 and 9, Corn Exchange Buildings, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Brewers Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Screw stoppers with or without milled edges are used for a variety of purposes
and perhaps the largest application of this class of stopper is for bottles containing
beer, porter, aerated water and the like liquids under pressure, and in such cases an
[Price St

page_text: india-rubber ring or washer is generally employed under the head of the stopper to
ensure an air and gas-tight joint being made. Where such stoppers are employed
considerable force is sometimes required to release or unscrew the same, and where
india-rubber washers are employed a vertical pressure as well as a twisting force
has to be employed which generally is an inconvenient and sometimes painful
operation when it has to be performed by use of the fingers alone, and especially so
when the operation has to be repeated with many bottles in succession as is the
case with attendants at refreshment stalls, bar keepers and others.
My present invention is intended to overcome the inconvenience above described
and consists of an appliance, which may be called an opener of any suitable form,
which will give more leverage in turning screw stoppers of the description herein
given.
The appliance I make in metal, glass, porcelain, pot, stone, hard wood, vulcanite,
or any other suitable material, composition or substance and provide a conical
cavity or recess assimilated to the shape of the stopper on either or both sides of the
same. The walls of such cavity or recess may have either indentations or vertical
grooves ribs or projections or they may be roughed or jagged so that when the
appliance is placed with its cone formed cavity over the stopper a better grip and
leverage can be obtained in turning the same.
The appliance may be made circular, square, oblong, oval, cruciform, star, or other
convenient shape. Where the circular form is employed the edges of the appliance
may likewise be roughed or milled so that a better grip may be obtained.
When an appliance is made with cavities on both sides, such cavities may either
be the same on both sides, or, of different surfaces and sizes and the appliance
itself I sometimes employ as an advertising medium by displaying on its surface
or upon a pad secured to the flange any words, illustrations or designs suitable for
the purpose.
In some cases I employ the appliance herein described as a fixture and provide
holes in the flange by which it may be screwed to the underside of the counter or
to a bracket or other convenient position so that instead of the attendant handling
the appliance, the stopper of the bottle is inserted into the cavity and the bottle
turned round thereby releasing the stopper and in cases of bottling this arrangement
may be employed for screwing and securing the stoppers in the bottles.
In some cases where the appliance has to be employed continuously for any
length of time by hand I provide it with a pad of leather or any other suitable
substance and a strap, such strap being arranged to pass over the back of the hand
of the operator.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which,
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, represent respectively a plan elevation and section of one of
my improved opening appliances for use by hand.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, represent respectively a plan elevation and section of one of my
improved opening appliances for use when fixed to a counter or bracket.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
a, is the conical cavity or recess which is placed over the head of the stopper or
into which the head of the stopper is inserted.
b, b, are ribs or projections formed on the walls of the cavity, a.
c, is the flange.
d, d, are the holes by which the hand appliance is rivetted or otherwise secured
to the pad of leather or other suitable substance.
e, e, are the holes by which the appliance when used as a fixture is screwed or
otherwise secured to a counter, bracket, or other suitable place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1.) In appliances for opening bottles, jars and the like vessels which are closed
with screw stoppers, an improved form of opening appliance provided with a ribbed

page_text: or indented conical hole, cavity or recess which is placed. over the head of the
stopper or into which the head of the stopper is inserted in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2.) In appliances for opening and closing bottles, jars and the like vessels
which are closed with screw stoppers, an improved form of opening and closing
appliance provided with a ribbed or indented conical hole, cavity or recess which is
placed over the head of the stopper or into which the head of the stopper is.
inserted in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Dad his auth tow of Amil 1002
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.