Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
I ROWLAND DOUGLAS TODD of Graham House, Icknield Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 for improvements in stoppers for bottles, jars and the like relates
to that class of stopper in which a cork is secured in or to a metallic head, and has
for its object to fix the cork in the head by such means that any head having a
larger diameter than the cork can be fixed on to the cork, and that any cork having
a less diameter than the head can be fixed in the head, and without the use of glue
or other cement. The principal advantages of this stopper are that the diameter
of the head can be made as much larger than that of the cork as is desired, that
the head and cork are firmly secured together whether the cork be straight or taper,
and that this fixing is not affected by heat, acids, or other causes.
In a stopper constructed according to this invention the heads are first stamped
or otherwise formed out of sheet metal, and of a circular shape, with a projecting
corrugated rim all round. A strip of metal having a breadth somewhat less than
the depth of the projecting rim of the head is crimped or bent in zig-zag fashion
and is then bent round to a circular shape and inserted within the rim of the head
as a lining. The end of the cork is then inserted within the lining, and the outer
edge of the rim of the cap turned over the lining, which causes the projecting parts
of the lining to be forced into the cork so as to firmly hold it. Holes may be
punched in the projecting parts of the lining before or after the crimping so as to
form a roughened edge to more securely hold the cork. The lining may also have
its bottom edge turned inwards so as to bite into the cork, and may be made in one
or more pieces.
The length of the crimps or folds of the lining are so adjusted to the difference
of the diameters of the head and cork that the projecting parts are forced into the
cork to hold it, consequently, by varying this length the relative diameters of the
head and cork can also be varied.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and elevation of the head as first formed from sheet
metal.
Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and elevation of the crimped or zig-zag lining.
Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and section of the head as first formed from sheet metal
showing the lining inserted in place, and
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan and elevation and sectional elevation of the complete
stopper constructed according to this invention.
The head A of the stopper is first formed out of sheet metal to the shape shown
in Figs. 1 and 2. A strip or ribbon of metal B is crimped or bent to the shape
shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is then bent to a circular shape and inserted in the
head A as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The cork C is then inserted in the centre of
the lining and the edge a of the head A. is turned over as shown in Figs. 7, 8
and 9 so as to force the lining inwards, and so that its projecting parts enter the
body of the cork. The strip B may be punched with small holes so as to form
a roughened surface at the part that enters the cork, or may have its bottom edge
turned inwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1 Securing a cork to a metallic head by a corrugated lining inserted between

page_text: the turned up edge of the head and the cork and forced into the cork and
secured in the head by turning over the said edge of the head substantially as
described.
2. A stopper for bottles jars and the like substantially as described with reference
to the drowing
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents..