IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lyon, Thomas Lyon, and Elias Lyon, all of Prescot,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
Sealed the 20th February 1877, and dated the 20th December 1876
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lyon, Thomas Lyon,
and Elias Lyon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
December 1876.
JAMES LYON, THOMAS LYON, and ELIAS LYON, all of Prescot, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAnufacture of STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES.'
Internal stoppers for bottles in which pottery is used are very apt to crack or
break the bottles; most stoppers require the india-rubber washers to be fixed after
the insertion of the stopper, and in the case of those stoppers in which the washer
is held in a groove, the washer is very liable to become loose and fall off the stopper.
It is to remedy these evils that this our Invention is designed.
In carrying out our Invention we construct a cylindrical plug of earthenware
with a longitudinal hole through it, and having a broad shallow annular recess or
hollow formed a little below the centre of the plug, so that the recess may be
nearer one end than the other, partly for the purpose of making one end heavier
than the other. At the lighter end is placed a large india-rubber washer secured
by a disc of block tin (or other metal not liable to be affected by carbonic acid) a
little smaller than the internal diameter of the bottle neck.
At the other end of the plug we place another rubber washer a very little larger
in diameter than the earthenware plug, and held in its place by a disc of block tin
(or other metal not liable to corrosion), and smaller in diameter than the con-
tiguous washer. The two discs at each end of the plug are secured by a pin or
bolt passing through them, the washers, and the plug, and rivetted or otherwise
secured to each outer disc. The stopper is inserted into the neck, the large
washer being downward. The recess in the plug allows of the large washer
being squeezed into it, and thus permitting the passage of the stopper through
the neck.
The bottles are of course filled bottom upward in the ordinary way. The heavier
part of the plug falling into the neck brings the large washer against the bottom of

page_text: the neck or shoulder of the bottlo, and which washer is firmly expanded against
said shoulder by the pressure of the gas.
For porter or other liquids where the strength of gas is not great enough to
ensure a firm pressure, or for non-aerated liquids, I place a rectangular metal stud
with bevelled ends on a shank on the heavier end of the stopper, preferably the
bolt holding the various parts together. I also provide a thin metal or other plate
larger than the diameter of the bottle neck, and having a slot cut in it a little larger
than the stud on the stopper. The stopper falling into the neck is grasped, and
the stud pulled above the bottle mouth (say by means of a wire.) The slot in the
disc or plate is then passed over the stud, and the stopper being turned round so as
to bring the projecting ends of the stud across the top of the slot, the stopper is
firmly locked to the top of the bottle, and prevented from falling back therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Lyon, Thomas Lyon, and Elias Lyon in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th June 1877.
JAMES LYON, THOMAS LYON, and ELIAS LYON, all of Prescot, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
Figure 1 represents a plan; Figure 2, an elevation of stopper as arranged for
non-rerated_liquids; Figure 3, a plan; Figure 4, an elevation of same for ærated
purposes; Figure 5, a section of same; and Figure 6, a section of the stopper for
non-rated liquors in the bottle neck; Figure 7, a still simpler form.
Internal stoppers for bottles in which pottery is used are very apt to cruck or
break the bottles; most stoppers require the india-rubber washer to be fixed after
the insertion of the stopper, and in the case of those stoppers in which the washer
is held in a groove the washer is very liable to become loose and fall off the stopper.
It is to remedy these evils that this our Invention is designed.
In carrying out our Invention we construct a cylindrical plug A, Figure 1, of
earthenware, nickel, plated metal, or other hard incorrodable material heavier than
water with a longitudinal hole through it, and having a broad hollow annular
recess or hollow B formed a little below the centre of the plug, so that the recess
may be nearer one end than the other, partly for the purpose of making one ond
heavier than the other. At the lighter end is placed a large india-rubber washer C
secured by a disc a little smaller than the internal diameter of the bottle neck, and
composed of block tin D, or other metal not liable to be affected by carbonic acid,
water, citric acid, or other flavouring likely to be used.
At the other end of the plug we place another rubber washer E, usually a very
little larger in diameter than the earthenware plug, and held in its place by a disc
of block tin F (or other metal not liable to corrosion), and smaller in diameter than
the contiguous washer. The two discs at each end of the plug are secured by a
pin or bolt G passing through them, the washers, and the plug, and rivetted or
otherwise secured to each outer disc. We, however, prefer to attach the pin to the
lower disc, and make the other disc loose, so that when the parts are put together
the pin can be rivetted or otherwise fastened on the smaller disc. The stopper is
inserted into the neck, the larger washer being downward. The recess in the plug
allows of the large washer being squeezed into it, and thus permitting the passage
of the stopper through the neck.
The bottles are of course filled bottom upward in the ordinary way. The heavier
part of the plug falling into the neck brings the large washer against the bottom of
the neck or shoulder of the bottle, and which washer is firmly expanded against
said shoulder by the pressure of the gas.
For porter or other liquids where the strength of the gas is not great enough to
ensure a firm pressure, or for non-ærated liquids, I place a rectangular metal stud H,

page_text: Figures 4, 5, and 6, on a shank on the heavier end of the stopper, preferably
the bolt holding the various parts together. I also provide a thin metal or other
plate I larger than the diameter of the bottle neck, and having a slot cut in it a
little larger than the stud on the stopper. The stopper falling into the neck is
grasped, and the stud pulled above the bottle mouth (say by means of a wire).
The slot in the disc or plate is then passed over the stud, and it or the stopper
being turned round, so as to bring the projecting end of the stud across the top of
the slot, the stopper is firmly locked to the top of the bottle, and prevented from
falling back therein.
Having now described our Invention, and the best modes known to us of
carrying it into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not claim the use
of bottle stoppers having one end heavier than the other; but what we believe to
be new and desire to protect under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,—
1. Placing the disc or washer for holding the stopper in the bottle at or close to
one end, and protecting the other end of the hard part of the stopper with another
smaller india-rubber washer or pad at or close to the said other end, so as to prevent
it to a great extent from scratching or breaking the bottle.
2. Constructing a stopper of earthenware and india-rubber held together by a
rivet or screw and terminal washers or heads, or either of them, for the purposes
described.
3. The arrangement for and the mode of locking internal stopper in position,
substantially as described.
4. The combination of the plug A having recess B with the pin G, washers C, E,
dises D, F, for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, we, Thomas Lyon and James Lyon, for and on behalf of
ourselves and the said Elias Lyon, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
FINRA THA
Witness,
JOHN HAYES,
Apprentice to W. P. Thompson, C.E.,
British and Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
JAMES LION.
(L.S.)
THOMAS LYON. (L.S.)