IMPROVED MEANS FOR STOPPERING OR SEALING BOTTLES, JARS AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES."
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Phillips, of 13 Liverpool Street, Walworth, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR
STOPPERING OR SEALING BOTTLES, JARS AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Phillips at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1883.
JOHN PHILLIPS, of 13 Liverpool Street, Walworth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, "IMPROVED MEANS FOR STOPPERING OR SEALING BOTTLES, JARS AND
OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES
"
My invention relates to the class of stoppers (or devices for closing bottles and
other vessels) hitherto constructed of a metallic lid to which is attached a porcelain
body furnished with a caoutchouc packing ring; the said lid being attached to a
wire surrounding the neck of the vessel and secured by means of a hasp mounted
on the same wire. Such stoppers, however, besides being structurally deficient in
strength, are but imperfectly adapted to withstand the strain to which they are
subjected when applied to vessels containing considerable internal fluid pressure.
As ordinarily constructed, a pin is cemented in a recess formed in the upper part of
the porcelain body. This pin passes through the metallic lid and has its upper end
rivetted or burred over. That portion of the porcelain body above the elastic
packing ring and immediately in contact with the metallic lid is formed with a
collar, and this collar is liable to fracture when the requisite power is applied to
close the stopper. Further, the whole body of the stopper is apt to become
detached from the lid in consequence of the cementing of the pin giving way.
With a view to avoiding these defects, I construct a stopper or sealing device in
the following manner. To a lid or cover plate I solder or otherwise attach a body,
by preference of enamelled iron; and, in an annular recess formed between these
two parts, I fit a ring of caoutchouc or other elastic material, for closing the joint
upon the mouth of the bottle, or other orifice to be sealed. Thus the lid performs
the function of the porcelain collar in retaining the elastic ring in position. Upon
the upper side of the lid before referred to, I mount a cover plate or shield in such

page_text: a manner as to leave centrally a clear space between the under side thereof and the
top of the body constituting the core of the stopper. By this means, whilst the
stopper or sealing device remains of light construction, the pressure of the apparatus
employed for closing same against the pressure of the fluid contained in the vessel
is not communicated directly to the core of the stopper, and the liability to fracture
or derange same is thereby averted or greatly modified.
My invention further relates to means for guarding against the stopper or
sealing device being unhasped by an accidental blow during handling or transit of
the bottle, jar or other receptacle. For this purpose, I form the outer plate or
shield with a projection of sufficient height and width to protect the hasp catch
from a blow which might otherwise have the effect of disengaging it from that
portion of the lid intended for its reception.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1883.
JOHN PHILLIPS of 13 Liverpool Street, Walworth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer "IMPROVED MEANS FOR STOPPERING OR SEALING BOTTLES, JARS AND
OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES
"
My Invention relates to the class of Stoppers (or devices for closing bottles and
other Vessels) hitherto constructed of a Metallic lid to which is attached a
porcelain body furnished with a caoutchouc packing ring; the said lid being
attached to a wire surrounding the neck of the Vessel and secured by means
of a hasp mounted on the same wire. Such Stoppers, however, besides being
structurally deficient in strength, are but imperfectly adapted to withstand the
strain to which they are subjected when applied to Vessels containing considerable
internal fluid pressure. As ordinarily constructed, a pin is cemented in a recess
formed in the upper part of the Porcelain body. This pin passes through the
metallic lid and has its upper end rivetted or burred over-That portion of the
porcelain body above the elastic packing ring and immediately in contact with
the metallic lid is formed with a collar, and this collar is liable to fracture when
the requisite power is applied to close the Stopper-and Further, the whole body of
the Stopper is apt to become detached from the lid in consequence of the cementing
of the pin giving way.
With a view to avoiding these defects, I construct a stopper or sealing device in
the manner indicated in Figs 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings; of which
Fig 1 is a vertical Section and Fig 2 a plan view. a represents the outer
extremity of the neck of a bottle provided with the usual circumferential groove
near the orifice-To a lid or cover plate b is soldered or otherwise attached a body o
by preference of enamelled Iron; and in the annular recess formed between these
two parts is arranged a ring or pad d of caoutchouc or other elastic_material
suitable for making an air tight joint upon the mouth of the Vessel-Upon the
upper side of the lid b a cover plate or shield e is mounted in such a manner as to
leave centrally a clear space between the under side thereof and the top of the
body c constituting the core of the Stopper-The Stopper is hinged in the usual
way by means of the link f to the wire ring f¹ and is secured when closed by
means of a catch fa mounted on the opposite side of the wire ring f'-By this
method of manufacture whilst the stopper or sealing device remains of light
construction, the pressure of the Apparatus employed for closing same against the
pressure of the fluid contained in the Vessel is not communicated directly to the
core of the stopper, and thus its liability to fracture or derangement is averted or
greatly modified.
My Invention further relates to means for guarding against the stopper or sealing
device being unhasped by an accidental blow during handling or transit of the
bottle, jar or other receptacle-With this object, I form the cover plate or shield e
with a projection e¹ of sufficient height and width to guard the overlapping end of
the hasp or catch ƒª against a blow which might otherwise have the effect of
disengaging it from the projecting lip of the stopper
In the side elevation Fig 3 and vertical Section Fig 4 is represented an
alternative mode of construction the nature of which will be obvious The letters
of reference indicate parts corresponding with those employed in the construction
shewn in Figs 1 and 2
In the vertical Section Fig 5 is represented a modified construction of stopper

page_text: wherein the cover plate b and body or core c are formed in one piece-this being
furnished with a circumferential groove for the reception of the elastic packing
ring or pad d
According to a further modification, represented in the side elevations Figs 6
and 7 and in the vertical Sections Figs 8 and 9, the space between the lid b
and the cover plate c is occupied by some semi-elastic material, such as wood,
which also forms the body c or core of the Stopper-In this instance the lid b is
dispensed with and may be practically regarded as merged in the body c―The
latter carries the Elastic packing ring d as before, and is attached directly to the
cover plate e by means of Cement or otherwise
Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim :—
First The construction of Stopper or sealing device substantially as described
with reference to Figs 1 to 5 consisting of a body furnished circumferentially with
an elastic packing ring or pad, and of a cover plate or shield; the two parts being
separated centrally by an air space or other elastic medium so that the pressure of
the closing Apparatus is communicated directly to make a tight joint without
distressing the body of the Stopper
Secondly-Forming the lid or superior surface of a stopper or sealing device
with a prominence such as e¹, for guarding the same against accidental unhasping
In witness whereof I the said John Phillips have hereunto set my hand and seal
this eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
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