IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS
Year: 1885

page_text: I BENJAMIN HARRISON of 62. Oxford Street Oldham in the County of Lancaster
Ale and Porter Merchant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR VESSELS to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to stoppers for bottles and similar vessels and these
Improvements have for their object to enable the bottles or other vessels to be
securely closed or stoppered and to be opened with great facility.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a bush or tube externally shaped to the
approximate form of the interior of the neck or orifice of the vessel and of such
a diameter that it may be passed within the neck or part to be closed. The lower
part of the bush or tube has two or more longitudinal slits formed in it so as to
permit it to expand or contract as hereinafter described. The interior of the bush
or tube may be plain or tapped with a screw thread. If the interior of the bush
is screwed the screwed part may be made parallel or tapering with the smaller
diameter at the lower end. When the bush is at its lower end of a somewhat
larger diameter than the smallest diameter of the neck or opening through which
it passes the parallel hole may be used, as the bush will then be compressed to
permit it to pass into the neck, when it will reopen to its normal size. The stem
being then screwed into the bush its compression is prevented and the bush is
thereby locked in position. If the bush has a tapered hole the stem on being
screwed into the bush will be expanded and similarly locked in position. If the
interior of the bush is plain I make the hole through it tapering with its larger
diameter at the lower end. Through the centre of the bush or tube there passes
a stem which may be screwed or plain or partly screwed and partly plain and be
provided at its upper end with a fast head or with a nut capable of working upon
the screwed upper part of the stem.
When a screwed bush or tube is used I employ therewith a stem with a fast
head the stem being screwed to fit the thread in the bush. The stem is screwed
into the bush to about the upper part of the slits, the combination is then inserted
into the neck of the vessel and the stem is screwed home when the bush will act
as a nut held in position by the conformation of the neck of the vessel and the
head of the stem will make a joint with the top of the vessel. The joint between
the stem head and the top of the vessel is made tight by a compressible or similar
D. 037

page_text: ring round the neck of the stem. This combination is suitable for continuous use
with the same vessel or with vessels of similar dimensions.
For use with different vessels of approximately the same kind and dimensions
I may use the plain tube or bush. In this case the stem may have an enlargement
at its lower end formed to enter and expand the bush when it is entered therein
from below or it may carry a loose sleeve at its lower end similarly shaped to the
hereinbefore described enlargement and for a similar purpose. The loose sleeve is
held upon the stem by a pin passing through the stem or by equivalent means.
The stem may be provided with a fast head or with a nut. If with a fast head
the lower portion of the stem is threaded to screw into a tapped sleeve. If with
a nut the upper part of the stem is threaded to screw therein and the lower part is
provided with the enlargement or equivalent sleeve. The upper part of the bush
and the neck of the stem are provided with elastic or compressible washers or rings
to ensure tight joints. When the combination is inserted into the neck of the
vessel and the head or nut is turned the bush is expanded by the entering sleeve
or enlargement at the lower end of the stem so as to engage with the inside of
the neck and hold the stopper securely in position.

page_text: Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles and similar Vessels.
I BENJAMIN HARRISON of 62 Oxford Street Oldham in the County of Lancaster
Ale and Porter Merchant do hereby declare the nature of 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 and similar vessels and these
improvements have for their object to enable the bottles or other vessels to be
securely closed or stoppered and to be opened with great facility.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a bush or tube externally shaped to
the approximate form of the interior of the neck or orifice of the vessel and of
such a diameter that it may be passed within the neck or part to be closed. The
lower part of the bush or tube has two or more longitudinal slits formed in it so
as to permit it to expand or contract as hereinafter described. Through the centre
of the bush or tube there passes a stem which may be screwed or partly screwed
and partly plain and be provided at its upper end with a fast head or with a nut
capable of working upon the screwed upper part of the stem.
The joint between the stem head and the top of the vessel is made tight by an
elastic compressible or similar ring round the neck of the stem as hereinafter more
particularly described.
For use with different vessels of approximately the same kind and dimensions
the stem may have an enlargement at its lower end formed to enter and expand
the bush when it is entered therein from below or it may carry a loose sleeve at
its lower end similarly shaped to the herein before described enlargement and for a
similar purpose. The loose sleeve is held upon the stem by a pin passing through
the stem or by equivalent means. The stem may be provided with a fast head or
with a tapped nut taking the place of the head. If with a fast head the lower
portion of the stem is threaded to screw into a tapped sleeve. If with a nut the
upper part of the stem is threaded to screw therein and the lower part is provided
with the enlargement or equivalent sleeve. The upper part of the bush and the
neck of the stem are provided with one or more elastic or compressible washers or
rings to ensure tight joints. When the combination is inserted into the neck of
the vessel and the head or nut is turned the bush is expanded by the entering
sleeve or enlargement at the lower end of the stem so as to engage with the inside
of the neck and hold the stopper securely in position and at the same time the
elastic ring is compressed making a tight joint.
.
And in order that this my said Invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings reference
being hereinafter had thereto and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, Fig. 2 a side elevation and Fig. 3 an end view of one
form of a stopper constructed according to these Improvements. The details of
construction may be modified as herein before indicated.
A, is the head or disc into which the stem B is screwed or otherwise secured. The
lower portion of the stem B is of larger diameter and is screwed as shown at C.
Upon the stem, before it is screwed into or secured in the head or disc A, there are

page_text: mounted, the conical nut D, the slit bush or sleeve E, the indiarubber ring F and
the loose collar G. The whole of the components of the stopper with the exception
of the ring F, may be constructed of vulcanite or of hard wood or analogous
material or partly of such material or materials and partly of metal or porcelain
but I prefer in all cases to employ vulcanite or similar material for the bush E.
This bush is slit from the bottom in two or more places as indicated in Figs. 2
and 3. Upon inserting the stopper into the neck or opening in a bottle or other
vessel the slit part of the bush E is compressed upon D, the head A and con-
sequently the screw C being then rotated, the bush E is expanded until it firmly
fits the interior of the neck or opening in which it is inserted. Further rotation
of the head then forces the screw down through D and consequently compresses
the ring F between A and E. The enlarged diameter of the indiarubber ring thus
produced seals the outlet from the bottle or other vessel and the stopper cannot
then be withdrawn except by rotation of the screw in the reverse direction.
In order to prevent the nut D leaving the stem B,
may stop the thread of the
screw C before it reaches the end of the stem or I may pass a pin through B,
below D.
I would have it understood that I do not claim the separate parts constituting
stoppers constructed according to these Improvements but only the combinations
which I believe to be new as set forth in the claims at the end of this Specification.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) As a stopper for bottles and other vessels the combination of the head A
having a screwed stem secured thereto, with the conical nut, the slit bush, and the
compressible ring or washer, substantially as herein before set forth and described
and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
(2.) As a stopper for bottles and other vessels the combination of a screwed stem
having a fast or nut head and a sleeve or equivalent enlargement, with a plain slit
bush and a compressible ring or washer so arranged or constructed that by rotation
of the nut or head in one direction the slit bush is expanded by the sleeve or
enlargement and the elastic ring is compressed between the slit bush and the head
thereby closing or sealing the bottle or other vessel, and by rotation in the opposite
direction the bottle or other vessel may be opened, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth and described.
T 1006
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.