other Receptacles for Containing Fluids.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 13th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
other Receptacles for Containing Fluids.
We JAMES ARTHUR SCHOFIELD of No. 41 East Bank Street, Ironmonger, and
JOHN BRIERLY of No. 107 Sefton Street, Coachman, both of Southport in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has reference to, and is based upon that, for which we have obtained
Letters Patent No. 148, dated 5th January 1886, for "Improvements in Stoppered
Bottles," and has also reference to our invention No. 1283, dated 27th January 1887-
for "Improvements in taps for bottles, kegs, or other vessels;" in accordance with
which said above referred to inventions, we make the tap independent of the bottle,
on to the neck of which, the tap is screwed, or otherwise attached; a washer or
cylinder of india rubber, cork or other suitable material, being inserted between the
tap, and neck of the bottle, in order to insure a liquid and air-tight joint. Now,
in accordance with our present invention, we produce an independent tap, which
may be adapted to spigots, used in the bungs of kegs, barrels, jars, filters, as also
to bottles, and other receptacles for containing fluids, in the manner described in the
Specification of our invention above referred to No. 1488.
The plug of the tap, according to our present invention, has formed thereon, a
spherical or flat projection, having channels or grooves formed at each side thereof,
into which presses a flanged tube or sleeve of india rubber, or other suitable material,
which is drawn over the neck of the spigot aforesaid, or the neck of a bottle, when
the plug is inserted into its seat; embracing, at the same time the spherical,
or flat projection above named; said tube or sleeve renders other fastening un-
necessary.
The under surface of the upper part of the barrel of the tap, is recessed, to receive
a washer of any suitable material, ensuring to the tap and plug, a water and air-tight
joint. A washer may also be inserted between the end of the plug, and back of the
barrel, for the purpose of separating the two surfaces, and preventing friction. To
the outer end of the plug, is provided an arm or lever, which extends upwards,

page_text: terminating at its extremity with a cap or cover, which overlaps the mouth of the tap,
and thus prevents the ingress of dust, dirt and the like. Said cap or cover may also,
if desired, be provided with side guards, to cover an opening formed in the side of the
mouth of the tap, as also to prevent the arm being overturned.
In order to limit the movement of the arm above described, lugs or projections are
formed upon the outer end of the body of the tap, against which takes or strikes, a
corresponding projection formed upon the arm.
When it is desired to use the improved tap in connection with spigots, or with
bottles of ordinary construction, we provide a tube or sleeve of india rubber, or other
suitable material, having a screw thread formed upon the exterior, which sleeve upon
being drawn over the outer end of a spigot, or of the neck of a bottle, allows of the
tap being screwed thereon, and prevents the possibility of leakage.
The arm or lever above mentioned, may be of any suitable shape and design, and
may form part, or be independent of the plug; in which latter case, provision is made
for attaching said arm to the plug, by screws, or other suitable and convenient
means.
Dated this 10th day of Santamber 1997
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: We, JAMES ARTHUR SCHOFIELD of No. 41 East Bank Street, Ironmonger, and
JOHN BRIERLEY of No. 107 Sefton Street, Coachman, both of Southport in the
County of Lancaster, 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:-
The object of our invention is to produce an independent tap for use with bottles
and the like, and also in combination with a spigot for kegs, barrels, jars, filters and
other vessels, which shall at the same time possess all the other features indispensably
necessary, and found in taps generally hitherto used in connection with bottles for
containing all kinds of liquids aërated or otherwise.
The device in accordance with our invention comprises a tap A Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings, having an internal screw thread a, bayonet joint or other
suitable fastening, formed in its enlarged lower part to fit a corresponding form of
connection a¹ upon the neck of a bottle, when such is used, or upon the exterior end
of a spigot P Figure 9, such as are used for inserting in the bungs of kegs, barrels,
jars, filters or other vessels; a washer 6 Figure 9 of india-rubber, cork or other
suitable material being interposed, if thought desirable, between the tap and the top of
the bottle or flange of the spigot, to form a perfectly tight joint.
In the top of the interior of the body of the tap is formed a groove or recess E, in
which is inserted a flat washer or seating e for the twofold purpose of separating the
plug from the body of the tap, and ensuring a smooth movement of the plug, at the
same time forming a liquid and gas tight joint. The plug C which may be either
conical or cylindrical, may be ground or otherwise fitted into the seat, and has formed
on one side thereof, a curved or flat projection C¹ Figure 1 against which bears or
presses the end of a short tube or collar D (shown detached at Figure 5) of india-
rubber, cork or other suitable resilient material fitted on to the end of the neck of the
bottle or end of the spigot, see Figures 1 and 9. Said india rubber tube or sleeve D
is formed to fit accurately upon the mouth of the bottle, and has at its upper extremity
a thin narrow flange f upon which presses the projection C upon the plug C in close
proximity to the mouth of the bottle, without actually touching the glass. On
inserting the plug C into its seat, the end of the tube or collar D'above referred to
embraces the projection C¹ formed upon the plug ensuring thereby a liquid and gas
tight joint, at the same time that it holds the plug in its place, and prevents its
accidental withdrawal or removal without necessitating the employment of any screws

page_text: or washers, or if desired, the plug may have a small aperture in the end, having a
screw thread formed therein for the reception of a screw, by which means said plug
may be secured in its seat.
When it is requisite to use the improved tap for ordinary bottles or spigots, not
being provided with the necessary screw thread, we employ a short tube or sleeve
Figure 4 of india rubber or other suitable material, screw threaded on the exterior.
Said tube or sleeve on being drawn over the neck of a bottle or spigot, the body
of the tap is screwed thereon, forming a very perfect gas and liquid tight joint.
We may in some cases form a screw thread or other means of connection upon
the top or mouth piece of the tap, on to which may be screwed or otherwise connected
a cap for the exclusion of dust, or said cap may form part of a spout of any suitable
design, and be bent to any desired angle.
According to our invention, upon the outer end of the plug, and forming a portion
thereof, may be cast, moulded or otherwise formed, an arm F, having at its extremity
an overhanging enlargement G serving as a cap to protect the mouth piece g from
dirt, dust or the like; said arm serving also as a lever for opening and closing the
tap. Upon the body of the tap are cast or otherwise formed lugs h, h', corresponding
to a similar projection or lug ¹¹ upon the arm F, said lugs being devised for the
purpose of limiting the movement of the plug to about one quarter of a revolution,
and in order to prevent the end of the plug from impinging and rubbing against the
plug seating at the end of the tap at k, we may insert between these surfaces a cushion
of cork, india rubber or other suitable material.
The handles or levers F for turning the plug C may be of any desired form and
material, one end of which may have a square or an irregular shaped boss I Figure 6
taking into a recess & in the end of the plug of the tap, the other end being furuished
with a conical projection ', and which moves freely in a corresponding recess ill
formed in the body of the tap, or, the last referred to end of the lever F may have
an eye or a hole formed therein, in order that it may work freely upon a pin or boss j
Figure 7 formed upon the body of the tap, and further, instead of a recess being
formed in the outer end of the plug, said outer end may be extended beyond the body
of the tap as at k¹ Figuro 7, and be made either square or round with a keyway
or channel for the reception of a key in order to allow of the plug being turned by
the aforesaid lever or arm. The caps G upon the levers F above referred to for
protecting tho mouths of bottles from dust, dirt and the like, may be formed of any
suitable shape, and in some cases may be provided with side guards L Figures 2
and 7 to close a corresponding opening in bottles such as may be used by druggests,
and for other purposes. We may however dispense with the levers F above described,
and substitute therefor a handle H a shown upon the spigot Figure 9, or a knob or
button M as illustrated at Figures 8, 10 and 11. In this latter case in order to limit the
movement of the plug C to a quarter of a revolution, the front of the body A of the
tap would have preferably a recess m formed upon its circumference into which takes
a lug or pin n secured to or forming part of the knob or button M aforesaid, the
periphery of which latter would also be preferably corrugated as shown at Figures 8
and 11, milled or otherwise roughened so as to ensure a firm grip of the fingers
thereupon.
In the production of taps as above described in accordance with our invention for
attaching to kegs, barrels, jars, filters or other vessels, we prefer to form them on the
faucit and spigot principle Figure 9, the plug O being a hollow spigot perforated on
one side only. The spigot P or other attachment which is inserted into the bung of a
keg, barrel, jar, filter or other vessel may, if found too large for the body of the tap,
be reduced in size and the short tube or sleeve D Figure 4 with the screw thread
above referred to, be drawn thereon, when the tap may be screwed into its place; or,
in lieu of the spigot, a loose metal tube with or without a flange may be inserted in
the india rubber tube or sleeve Figure 4 so as to prevent the latter collapsing when
inserted in the bung, and thus form the spigot upon which the tap is screwed or
otherwise connected.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First: In an improved tap for kegs, barrels, jars, filters, bottles and other vessels,
for containing all kinds of liquids aërated or otherwise the body of which is provided
with an internal screw and recess E to receive a seating e the combination therewith
of a plug C having a spherical or flat shaped elevation recessed at each side of the
elevation to receive the end of a tube or sleeve D substantially as herein described and
shown.
Second-The combination in a tap of a plug C lever F cap G and side guard L
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third: The mode of and means employed for adapting the improved tap to
ordinary bottles and spigots by means of the sleeve Figure 4 substantially as herein
described and shown.