Improvements in Bottle Stoppering Devices.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
Improvements in Bottle Stoppering Devices.
We, FRANCIS GILLIS STUART, of Torresdale, Inventor, and ALEXANDER HAZARD,
of 1243, South Broad Street, Physician, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and.ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists of a bottle-stopper provided with means for causing the
plug or stopper proper to seat itself firmly and uniformly on the mouth of a
bottle regardless of inequalities in the latter.
It also consists in providing the stopper with a lock of novel construction, as
will be hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figures 1 and 2 represent views of opposite sides of a bottle-stopper embodying
our invention.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section taken on line x-x Figure 1.
A designates a neck of a bottle of ordinary construction.
B designates a band which encircles said neck below the shoulder C thereof
and has rising therefrom the arms D and E.
F designates the cap of the stopper, the same being connected with the arm E
by the knuckle F1, whereby said cap is hinged to said arm.
G designates a plug or stopper proper, formed of cork or other suitable material,
which is connected with the plate H, the latter being attached to the cap F by
means of the headed pin J, whose lower end is secured to said plate H and whose
upper end is secured to said cap, the opening in the latter being sufficiently large
to permit said pin to roll therein.
K designates springs through whose crowns or centres passes the pin J, the
ends of said springs bearing against the plate H, it now being seen that the
plug G is permitted to oscillate on the cap F and so conform to any inequality or
irregularity in the mouth of the bottle, whereby it will be firmly or properly
seated on said mouth, forming a tight joint, it being noticed that as the pin J
is movable in its connection with the cap F', the plug is permitted to oscillate
and so adjust itself to said mouth. As a convenient means of connecting the
plug G with the plate H, I employ the spurs L, which are punched out down-
wardly from said plate and driven in said plug, as most clearly shown in Figure 3.
Connected with the upper end of the arm D) is the casing of a lockwork M,
the bolt N, of which is adapted to be thrown back by the action of a suitable
key, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.
P designates a dog having serrations on its sides for engagement with the nose
of the bolt N, said dog being pivotally connected with the cap F, as at Q, and
depends therefrom, it being noticed that the upper wall of the lock-casing has
an opening R therein, whereby said dog may enter said casing.
In order to cause the automatic opening of the stopper, I employ the spring S,
which is connected with the axis of the hinge of the cap and bears against the
adjacent portions or leaves of the same, so as to elevate said cap when released,
as shown in Figure 3.
The operation of my improved device is as follows:

page_text: In order to close and lock the bottle, the cap is depressed to full extent and
the dog D enters the lock-casing and its nose engages with the bolt N, as shown
in Figure 1, it being evident that the bottle is now closed and cannot be opened
unless by the employment of the key. When however, it is desired to open the
bottle, the key is applied, whereby the bolt is withdrawn from the dog, and as
the cap is no longer controlled by the lock, but is subjected to the action of the
spring S, it immediately flies open and the contents of the bottle may be poured
out, as usual.
When the cap is restored to its normal position, it is again locked
by the action of the bolt N, and the dog D, as in the previous case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
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1st. A bottle-stopper consisting of a cap, a plug and means for connecting said
plug with said cap to permit oscillation of said plug, said means consisting of a
plate to which said plug is attached, a pin secured to said plate and freely con-
nected with said cap, and a spring interposed between said cap and plate and
pressing downwardly on the latter.
2nd. In a bottle-stopper, a cap, and an oscillating plug thereon, the latter
being connected with the former by a rolling pin which is attached to said plug
and cap and a spring which is interposed between said cap and plug and mounted
on said pin and adapted to exert a downward pressure on the latter.
3rd. In a bottle-stopper consisting of a stopper member proper and a member
for connecting the same with a bottle, a lockwork attachable to one member,
means on the other member adapted to be engaged by said lockwork and a spring
bearing against said stopper member for throwing up the same when said lock-
work is operated to release said means.
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4th. A band connectible with a bottle, arms rising therefrom, a cap pivoted
to one arm, a lock having its'case secured to the other arm, and a plug and a dog
pendant from said cap, said case having an opening adapted to receive said' dog
and also a keyhole.
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5th. A band connectible with a bottle, arms rising therefrom, a 'cap pivoted to
one arm, a lock having its case secured to the other arm, and a stopper and a dog
pendent from said cap, said case having an opening adapted to receive said dog
and also a keyhole, and a spring bearing against said cap for 'throwing up. the
same when said dog is unlocked.
!:
Gth. In a bottle-stopper, a cap, an oscillating plug connected therewith, a'spring
interposed between said cap and plug and bearing downwardly on the latter, a
band connectible with the bottle, arms rising from said band, a lock having its
case secured to one of said arms, the other arm having said cap'hinged to it, and
a dog pendent from said cap, the case of said lock having an opening therein to
receive said dog, and also a keyhole.
7th. In a bottle-stopper, a cap, an oscillating plug connected therewith, a
spring interposed between said cap and plug and bearing downwardly on the
latter, a band connectible with the. bottle, arms rising from said band, a lock
having its case secured to one of said arms, the other arm having said cap hinged
to it, a dog pendent from said cap, the case of said lock having an opening therein
to receive said dog and also a keyhole, and a spring connected with said cap bear-
ing upwardly to elevate the same and said plug when said dog is unlocked.
.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the applicants.