IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND JARS FOR PRESERVING FRUIT AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Aaron White Cook Williams, of Bridgeport,
Connecticut, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND JARS FOR PRESERVING
FRUIT AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 2nd October 1869, and dated the 15th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Aaron White Cook
Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th April 1869.
I, AARON WHITE COOK WILLIAMS, of Bridgeport, Connecticut,
United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND JARS POR
PRESERVING FRUIT AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME,"
to be as follows:-
-
The main object of the said Invention is to provide a bottle or jar
for containing fruit, vegetables, meat, pickles, and other substances,

page_text: with means whereby it may be hermetically sealed and secured so as to
effectually preserve its contents for any desired length of time.
The bottle or jar is constructed with an exterior flange or shoulder
surrounding the aperture, and within this flange is a vertical rim or
collar. Around or over this collar I place a flat ring of india-rubber or
other elastic material, which lies upon the flange, and immediately
under the latter is a groove or channel. The said groove is formed to
receive a metal ring, which is made in two halves to allow it to be
placed in this groove around the neck of the bottle or jar. The two
halves of the metal ring are provided with studs which when the said
two halves are united upon the bottle form the means whereby they
are secured together. The object of this ring with its projecting studs
is to furnish the pivot or fulcrum for an adjustable yoke which extends
across the mouth of the bottle to secure the stopper or cover thereon,
and the said yoke is fitted to turn upon the studs of the ring, so that it
may be conveniently adjusted to secure or release the stopper. The
latter, which may be formed of porcelain, glass, or metal, has a rim
which projects over the rim at the top of the bottle, and rests upon the
elastic ring surrounding the same. On the top of the stopper or cover,
and extending nearly across the same, I form a projecting piece over
which when the stopper is to be secured the yoke is turned. The said
projection is of a convenient form to be taken hold of, and forms
the means for adjusting or removing the stopper. Though I prefer to
use the divided metal ring for holding the yoke, the latter may be con-
nected to the bottle by any convenient means which will allow it to be
adjusted to secure and release the stopper. When the bottle or jar has
been properly filled with the fruit, pickles, or other substance to be
preserved a little clear water, syrup, or other liquid is added, and the
stopper is placed loosely on the top, with its rim or edge resting upon
the elastic ring. The bottle is then placed in a boiler or other vessel
containing water, which is heated gradually (care being taken to
prevent the contact of the bottom of the bottle with the bottom of the
boiler), and by the heat communicated from the boiler the air, or the
greater portion thereof, is expelled from the bottle, the stopper allowing
it to escape, but preventing the return of any air into the bottle. The
bottle is then removed from the vessel containing the hot water, and
allowed to cool, and if proper care has been taken the stopper will be
securely held on the bottle by the external atmospheric pressure. In
practice it is better to let the bottle stand for some hours, so that if

page_text: through any imperfections in the bottle or stopper, or through want of
care in conducting the operation, the bottle should not have been made
properly air-tight it may be immediately detected, and without injury
to the fruit or other contents of the bottle or jar the same may be again
heated and properly secured. When there remains no doubt with regard
to the perfect closing or sealing of the bottle or jar the yoke is turned
up over the projection on the stopper which is slightly inclined to allow
the yoke to be more conveniently adjusted. By this means all liability
of the accidental displacement of the stopper is prevented, and its
security is rendered practically perfect; the yoke also forms a convenient
handle for the bottle or jar. When it is desired to open the bottle
or jar the yoke is turned down away from the stopper, and by
simply pulling one side of the elastic ring from between the stopper
and flange air is admitted to the bottle or jar, and the stopper is
released. The said elastic ring is preferably widened on one side to
project beyond the flange, so that it may be conveniently pulled from
between the same and the stopper, as above described. Though I prefer
to use bottles or jars constructed with an exterior flange as herein-
before described, yet if desired my improved stopper may be applied to
bottles or jars formed with a flange on the inside of the mouth of the
same, a portion of the elastic ring being then allowed to project through
an aperture at the side of the flange.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Aaron White Cook Williams in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AARON
WHITE COOK WILLIAMS, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of
America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Aaron White Cook Williams, Her special
licence that I, the said Aaron White Cook Williams, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Aaron White
Cook Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND JARS FOR PRESERVING FRUIT AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Aaron White Cook Williams, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Aaron White Cook Williams, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The main object of the said Invention is to provide a bottle, jar, or
other vessel for containing fruit, vegetables, meat, pickles, and other
substances with means whereby it may be hermetically sealed and
secured so as to effectually preserve its contents for any desired length

page_text: I
allow it to be placed in this groove around the neck of the bottle or
jar. The two halves of the metal ring fare provided with studs f',
which when the said two halves are united upon the bottle form the
means whereby they are secured together. The object of this ring f
with its projecting studs f' is to furnish the bottle with a pivot or
fulcrum for an adjustable yoke g which extends across the mouth of the
bottle to secure the lid or cover thereon, and the said yoke is fitted to
turnupon the studs f¹ of the ring f, so that it may be conveniently
adjusted to secure or release the cover h. The latter, which may be
formed of porcelain, glass, or metal, has a rim /' which projects over
the rim c at the top of the bottle and rests upon the elastic ring d
surrounding the same. On the top of the lid or cover h, and extending
nearly across the same, I form flat projecting piece ³, over which
when the stopper is to be secured the yoke g is turned, as shown in
Figure 1. The said projection is of a convenient size and shape to be
taken hold of, and forms the means for adjusting or removing the
stopper. Though I prefer to use the divided metal ring f for holding
the yoke g the latter may be connected to the bottle a by any convenient
means which will allow it to be adjusted to secure and release the
cover h.
When the bottle or jar has been properly filled with the fruit,
pickles, or other substance to be preserved a little clear water, syrup,
or other liquid is added, and the cover placed loosely on the top with its
rim or edge resting upon the elastic ring d. The bottle is then
placed in a boiler or other vessel containing water, which is gradually
heated (care being taken to prevent the contact of the bottom of the
bottle with the bottom of the boiler), and by the heat communicated
from the water in the boiler the air, or the greater portion thereof, is
expelled from the bottle, the cover allowing it to escape, but pre-
venting the return of any air into the bottle. The bottle is then removed
from the vessel containing the hot water, and allowed to cool, and if
proper care has been taken the cover will be securely held on the
bottle by the external atmospheric pressure. In practice it is better to
let the bottle stand for some hours, so that if through any imperfections
in the bottle or stopper, or through want of care in conducting the
operation, the bottle should not have been made properly air-tight, the
fault may be immediately detected, and without injury to the fruit or
other contents of the bottle or jar the same may be again heated and
properly secured.
When there remains no doubt with regard to the

page_text: perfect closing or sealing of the bottle or jar the yoke g is turned up
over the projection 2 on the cover h, which is slightly inclined to allow
the yoke to be more conveniently adjusted. By this means all liability
of the accidental displacement of the stopper is prevented, and its
security is rendered practically perfect; the yoke also forms a convenient
handle for the bottle or jar. When it is desired to open the bottle or
jar the yoke g is turned down away from the stopper, as in Figure 2, and
by simply pulling one side of the elastic ring d from between the cover />
and flange b air is admitted to the bottle or jar, and the cover is
rcleased. The said elastic ring is preferably widened on one side, as
shown, to project beyond the flange, so that it may be conveniently
pulled from between the same and the cover, as above described. Though
I prefer to use bottles or jars constructed with an exterior flange, as
herein-before described, yet if desired my improved stopper may be
applied to bottles or jars formed with a flange inside the mouth of the
same, a portion of the elastic ring being then allowed to project through
an aperture at the side of the flange.
My improved stopper may be applied to cans and other vessels made
of tin or other metal as well as to glass and earthenware jars and
bottles.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I
claim,
First. Constructing a jar or bottle a with a flat shoulder 6 outside of
the vertical rim or collar c which surrounds the mouth or aperture,
and with a groove or channel e, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Second. The jar or bottle a, the cover h, clastic ring d, metal ring f
made in two parts, and adjustable yoke g fitted on the pivots f¹, con-
structed and combined together substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The lid or cover with the projecting rim and projecting
piece applied to the mouth of a jar or bottle or other vessel which
has a rim or flange to receive a ring of india-rubber or other material
suitable to form an air-tight seat for the said flange, and which jar or

page_text: bottle is also provided with means for holding the said cover down upon
its seat, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Aaron White Cook Williams, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
AARON W. C. WILLIAMS. (L.S.)