Year: 1886

page_text: 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 the 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 stoppers for bottles, cans and other receptacles, and
consists in a novel attachment applied through a vertical aperture in the cork of
the receptacle, which attachment, when rotated or moved vertically a definite
distance in one direction, will operate to close the mouth of the receptacle, and
when thus actuated in the opposite direction, will form an outlet through which
the contents may be discharged.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a stopper in its open position, and
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same in its closed position.
Figure 3 is a side elevation and
Figure 4 a top view of the stopper shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 5 to 16 inclusive, show various forms of stoppers which will be herein-
after specifically described, all of said Figures being central vertical sectional
views, and part of them illustrating the stoppers in closed position and the others
in position to permit the discharge of the contents of the bottles or receptacles, the
lower portions of which are broken away.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12, B designates the cork of
suitable material inserted within the mouth of the bottle X, and having a central
vertical aperture Yin which is inserted the tube E forming the lower part of
the metallic movable attachment A. The cork B has a recess F cut in one side
of its bottom surface of sufficient depth to register, at the proper time, with the

page_text: aperture H formed in the side of the tube E, the lower end of the latter being
closed and terminating in close relation to the bottom surface of the cork. The
tube E has a vertical outlet passage D through it, and this will extend a suitable
distance above the cork according to the character of receptacle to which the
stopper is to be applied. The tube E has formed with 'it a disc G which suitably
covers the cork and may be of any appropriate configuration. The disc G affords
a means by which the tube E may be turned by hand and preferably carries an
indicating character, such as an arrow or index, as shown in Figure 4, the said
character being pointed in the line of the aperture H and serving to aid the
person employing the invention in bringing the said aperture into register with
the recess F cut in the cork.
In some instances where the stopper is used in a non-transparent receptacle, or
where a label has been pasted around the neck thereof, a mark of some description
denoting the position of the recess F will be placed on the outside of the receptacle
or said label, and when the arrow or index above referred to is brought into line
with the said mark it will be a sure indication that the outlet passage Ď is open, it
being equally sure, when the arrow is pointed in the opposite direction, that the
said outlet is closed.
The stopper is shown in its open position in Figure 1, and in its closed position
in Figure 2, the latter being effected by simply giving the tube E half a revolution
without removing it, thereby bringing the aperture H against a solid portion of
the cork B. When the stopper is in the position shown in Figure 1 the liquid
contents of the bottle may be shaken out in drops, as will be readily understood
from an inspection of the drawings.
If it should be desired to lock the tube E within the cork, its lower end will be
cast with the circular flange a, shown in Figure 5, which, after the tube has been
inserted through the cork, will be spread outward laterally, as shown in Figure 6,
in which condition it will prevent the tube from being drawn upward from
the cork.
In Figure 8 a stopper is shown in which the outlet passage D terminates at one
side of the disc G and is in communication with an air. vent d, passing from the
opposite side of the disc. The air vent facilitates the flow of the liquid.
The stopper shown in Figure 9 has the lower portion of its tube E secured to the
upper portion by a screw thread, a small ball b, which acts as a valve, being intro-
duced into the tube before the parts are connected. The edges of the disc G in
this stopper are turned downward over the outwardly projecting rim of the mouth
of the bottle, as shown, where they serve to lock the stopper in position without
interfering with its being rotated for the purpose of opening. or closing the outlet
passage D.
Whenever it may be desired to employ a piece of sponge or analogous material
in the upper end of the tube E the same may be done, a space being formed to
hold the sponge e as shown in Figure 12. This construction of stopper may be
found desirable for certain medicinal purposes or for mucilage bottles.
Figure 7 is introduced to illustrate a method of holding the cork B in the mouth
of a tin-can or analogous receptacle, the cork being shown as resting upon a
flange and there held by a.bead g.
In Figures 10 and 11 the stopper shown requires simply a vertical movement for
the purpose of opening or closing the outlet passage D through its tube E without
employing the recess in the lower surface of the cork. When the bottles employing
this stopper are in condition for shipment the tube E.will be elevated so as to
bring its side aperture or apertures H within the body of the cork, as shown, and
a layer or layers of straw board h or similar substance will be placed between the
disc G and the cork, after which a label i may be attached around the neck of the
bottle, the straw board and stopper, as shown in Figure 10. Upon the bottle
reaching the consumer the said label and straw board will be removed and the
tube depressed until the disc G rests, upon the cork, at which time the outlet
passage D will be open and the contents of the bottle may be discharged. The

page_text: stopper shown in Figure 10 hás a horizontal discharge opening and employs an air
vent ;, while that illustrated in figure 11 has simply a vertical outlet passage.
The stoppers shown in Figures 13 to 16 inclusive are adapted to be opened and
closed by a vertical movement, those in Figures 13, 14, and 16 being provided with
screw threads by which the vertical movement may be imparted to the tube E,
while that shown in Figure 15 is held in its closed or upward position by a spring m
and is opened by merely pressing it downward until its side aperture H passes below
the cork B.
In Figure 13 the upper end of the cork B is covered by a cap n, which has a
threaded aperture o to admit the tube E which is also threaded for a portion of its
length, said cap being provided also with a vertical internally threaded flange t to
receive and retain the upper end of the cork B and with a horizontal bead or
flange which rests upon the edges of the mouth of the receptacle; the tube E
which has the usual discharge passage through it and an aperture H on its side,
has, in addition, the hood J which passes downward upon the outer face of the
said vertical flange t and serves not only as an ornament to the stopper, but also as
a means by which the tube may be readily turned. Upon the tube being screwed
upward the outlet passage D will be closed and downward said passage will be
opened, which is the condition in which it is illustrated in Figure 13.
In Figure 14 the tube E is enclosed in an internally and externally threaded
sleeve L fitting the aperture in the cork and carrying the disc G on its upper end,
and said tube is provided above disc G with a shoulder M. The stopper shown in
Figure 15 is similar to that illustrated in Figure 14 except that it has no screw
threads and employs a spring m, as mentioned above. In Figure 16 the tube E
has a screw thread directly engaging the cork B and the latter is covered at its
upper end by a cap N. In each of the stoppers shown in Figures 13 to 16 inclusive,
the metal at the lower end of the tube E is spread outward laterally in the manner
and for the purpose herein before explained with regard to the stopper shown in
Figures 5 and 6, and in the stoppers illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 the lower
edges of the sleeve L are likewise spread outward laterally for the purpose of
locking them in position.
In the foregoing description the principal embodiments of the invention have
been explained, but it will appear obvious that the invention may be adapted to
various purposes not described or shown, and hence it must be understood that the
right is reserved to modify the form of the stopper and to adapt it for special uses,
according to the circumstances of its employment, and the nature of the receptacle.
to which it is to be attached.
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 cork having a vertical aperture, and a recess cut in its lower surface,
combined with the tube having the disc above the cork, a closed lower end and an
aperture on its side communicating with the outlet passage; substantially as shown
and described.
Second. The cork baving a vertical aperture and a recess cut in its lower surface,
combined with the tube having the disc above the cork, a closed lower end, and an
aperture on its side communicating with the outlet passage, the lower end of the
tube being locked in position by an outwardly turned flange; substantially as
shown and described.
Third. The cork having a vertical aperture and a recess cut in its lower surface,
combined with the tube containing a ball and having the disc above the cork locked
on the edges of the bottle and having also an outlet passage and an aperture on its
side; substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The tube passing downward through the cork and having an outlet
passage through it, an aperture on its side, a disc above the cork and an air vent ;
substantially as shown and described.

page_text: Fifth. The tube passing downward through the cork and having a disc G, outlet
passage D and aperture H on its side, with or without the straw board h and label i;
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The tube passing downward through the cork or a sleeve therein and
having an aperture on its side communicating with the outlet passage combined
with screw threads for operating the tube or a spring for holding it in its elevated
position; substantially as shown and as set forth.
Seventh. The vertically adjustable tube passing downward through a sleeve
in the cork, and having an aperture on its side communicating with the outlet
passage, the lower edges of said sleeve and said tube being turned outward
laterally and the upper end of the sleeve carrying a disc; substantially as set forth.