Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers and Covers for Bottles, Jars, and other Hollow Vessels, and in the Method of their Manufacture.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan.. 1888
Specification Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers and Covers for
Bottles, Jars, and other Hollow Vessels, and in the Method of
their Manufacture.
I, HENRY LOUIS PHILLIPS, of South Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, and accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
A well known description of stopper in use with bottles of the ordinary kind and with
other hollow vessels consists of a body portion or solid plug of wood formed with a
circular solid wood disc or headpiece covered with a disc of thin metal or tinned plate,
the circumferential edge of which thin metal plate is made to embrace the edge of the
said circular wood disc or headpiece and is pressed into it. The said plug of wood is
arranged to enter a central circular cavity or hole previously bored for the greater
part of the length of a cork shive or bung to which it is secured by the aid of glue
and this combination of metal wood, hollow cork and glue is commercially known as
Union" stopper.
a
*
This description of stopper is however imperfect and unsatisfactory in several
respects. Sometimes the said cavity or hole in the cork into which the plug of
wood is inserted is not formed exactly in the centre in which case, when the wood
body portion or plug of the stopper with the cork thereon is placed in the neck or
mouth of the bottle, the headpiece of the stopper exhibits a one-sided appearance.
The said hollow cork cannot be satisfactorily attached to the wood plug by the aid of
glue which often becomes dissolved or softened by the action of the liquid contained
in the bottle and even when there is no liquid in the bottle to act upon and dissolve
the adhesive material used, the cork sometimes fits the mouth or neck of the bottle
so tightly that in attempting to turn the headpiece of the stopper round to assist in
the extraction of the plugged cork from the bottle, the wood plug often gets twisted
or broken off from the headpiece and in either of these contingencies, the utility of
the stopper is destroyed. Moreover, owing to the cork shive or bung being plugged
as described for the greater part of its length with hard or unyielding wood and
glue, and the thickness or volume of cork being thereby materially reduced, its

page_text: elasticity is diminished and consequently the greater force required to drive the said
plugged cork into the mouth or neck of the bottle often results in the destruction of
the bottle or other vessel intended to be stoppered.
My improvements have for their object amongst other things the construction of a
stopper for bottles pots jars and other hollow vessels which shall be free from the
above objections and therefore better adapted for general use.
My improved stopper may, if thought necessary or desirable, be constructed
without either wood, glue or hollow corks. The cork shive or bung may be firmly
secured to my improved cap or headpiece by novel means hereinafter described
without any agglutinative material: it may if desired be solid throughout its length
and therefore be soft and elastic; and the entire stopper may if required be formed
from thin sheet metal or metal plate for the headpiece with cork only for the body
portion thereof. I wish it to be distinctly understood however that in the construc-
tion of my improved stopper I do not restrict or limit myself to the employment of
cork and of sheet metal or metal plate only; for in some cases I may use those and
other materials and substances in combination to form my improved stopper in the
manner and for the purposes hereinafter described.
The
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of my invention and shew methods
of constructing my improved stopper and various modifications in the same.
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
In order to put my invention in operation I form preferably from tinned iron
plate or from tinned steel plate or from any other similar or suitable sufficiently thin
metal plate, sheet metal, or other suitable alloy, material or substance by stamping
with suitable cutting and shaping dies or tools operated in the well known manner by
means of a stamping or die press of adequate power, a disc or otherwise shaped piece
of the size and shape required to form the top or upper portion of my improved cap
or headpiece for stoppers the diameter or size of which disc or piece in order to
provide for a circumferential or other suitably shaped vertical flange being formed.
thereon by turning over the edge thereof to the depth required should be obviously
larger than the diameter of the mouth or opening of the bottle pot jar or other hollow
vessel intended to be covered or stoppered. The said disc or other shaped piece a (as
shewn in figure 1), which for convenience 1 hereinafter describe as the upper disc or
piece, has such circumferential flange b of any suitable depth formed upon it at right
angles or nearly so to the surface of the said disc or piece (when the said surface is
flat); but which surface may if preferred be made instead of flat of a slightly convex
shape (as shewn in figure 1) or of any other desired shape.
The depth of the said flange will be somewhat governed by the size, circumference,
or proportions of the headpiece required to be made by the nature of the material
employed and especially with reference to the particular object for which the said
flange is designed and hereinafter set forth and described. I also form in a similar
manner and preferably from an identical character or quality of sheet metal, metal
plate, or other suitable material or substance (but of somewhat smaller size or
diameter than the above mentioned disc or piece intended to be the said upper disc
or piece of my improved cap or headpiece) a second similarly shaped disc or piece c
(figure 3) and also provided with a similar but somewhat shallower circumferential
flange d formed thereon at right angles to the surface of the same or nearly so.
The
flange formed on the edge of the said second disc or piece is arranged or made to
fit tightly within the flange formed as above described on the edge of the disc or piece
intended to be the upper disc or piece of my said cap or headpiece, in such a manner
that if one of the said two flanged discs or flanged pieces be placed in an inverted
position with reference to the other and fitted or united to it as herein described the iwo
will constitute or form one closed shallow hollow cap or headpiece (as shewn in figure 4).
This second disc or piece c 1 shall for convenience hereinafter describe as the
bottom disc or piece and the lower surface of the same may be formed either flat
convex or concave as desired, and whenever in this Specification I describe my
improved cap or headpiece as a closed hollow cap or headpiece I wish it to be under-
stood that it shall be held to mean a cap or headpiece in which one or more apertures

page_text: may be centrally made to receive or hold the upper portion of a cork or other body
portion.
I preferably make the flange which is to be formed on the edge of the bottom
disc or piece (or as the case may be the disc or piece which is intended to be
inserted within the other disc or piece, as in figure 5, where the upper disc or piece is
shewn inserted into the bottom disc or piece) of somewhat less depth than the depth
of the flange which is formed on the upper or outer disc or piece in order that the
deeper flange formed as above described on the edge of the said upper or outer disc
or piece (after receiving and enclosing the said bottom or inner flanged disc or piece
as described) may enable a small but sufficient portion of its extreme circumferential
edge to be turned under at a convenient angle (as shewn in figure 4), in order to
embrace a sufficient portion of the edge or circumference of the under part of the
said bottom flanged disc or piece, and thus to more effectually enclose, secure or ho d
the said upper and bottom flanged discs or pieces firmly together and by means of
such union make a strong but light closed hollow cap or headpiece which when a
suitable central aperture is made in the bottom disc or piece thereof for holding the
cork bung plug ball or other body portion to be fixed or placed therein as is herein-
after described will constitute my improved cap or headpiece for stoppers for the
mouths of bottles pots jars and other hollow vessels.
I preferably chamfer or recess (as shewn in figure 3) the outer edge of the disc
or piece intended to be the said inner disc or piece of my improved cap or head
piece in order that the inwardly turned edge of the said outer disc or piece may
more conveniently embrace and hold the same and also to add to the appearance of
the said cap or headpiece.
The above described method of securing or holding upper and bottom flanged
discs or pieces together in order to form my improved closed hollow cap or head-
piece may be obviously modified and I give the following method as an illustration
thereof. The said two flanged discs or pieces instead of being placed one in an inverted
position with relation to the other may be so arranged that the flat or upper portion
of the smaller or lower disc or piece (which may be flanged or otherwise) shall be
placed toward, but not touching the under or inner side of the larger or upper
flanged disc or piece (as illustrated in figure 6) one end of the cork shive bung or
plug (indicated in dotted lines at e) of suitable material or substance having been
previously inserted or fixed in a central opening of any desired shape formed
in the said lower disc or piece in the manner hereinafter described or in any other
manner.
The said discs or pieces will be held together or secured by means of the flange
formed on the edge of the outer disc or piece embracing the edge of the inner disc
or piece (flanged or otherwise) as already described and shewn or in any other
suitable manner.
The upper and bottom discs or pieces intended to be employed for the purposes
herein described may also be united or held together to form a suitable cap or head
piece for stoppers (if flanges have not been provided for that purpose) by means of
the edge of either of the said dises or pieces being turned over the edge of the other
disc or piece or of the edges of both the discs or pieces being turned over together
or otherwise in the methods well understood by sheet metal or tin plate workers, in
which case sufficient sheet metal or metal plate or other material will have to be
provided for that purpose when cutting out or forming the said discs or other shaped
pieces. Or only one of the aforesaid discs or pieces may have a flange formned
upon its edge as hereinabove described and the other disc or piece may be formed
without a flange and in that case the disc or piece formed without the flange will
be preferably used for the bottom disc or piece and the edge of the same will be
made to fit tightly within the flange formed on the upper disc or piece. The said
bottom dise or piece will be provided with a suitable central opening to admit the-
end of the cork shive bung or plug as hereinafter described and will be secured or
held in place by means of a sufficient depth of the extreme edge of the flange.
formed upon the said upper disc or piece being turned under and made to embrace

page_text: the edge of the said bottom disc or piece in the manner already above described or
otherwise.
Modifications of this method of construction are illustrated in figures 9 and 10.
The projecting upper end of the cork shive bung or plug e wfien inserted in the
centrally formed aperture made in the bottom disc or piece c of my improved cap or
headpiece (which aperture as well as various methods of fixing corks or other body
portions in caps or headpieces are more particularly hereinafter described) will be in
the interior of the said cap or headpiece and in this instance will preferentially be
placed in a recessed portion ( figures 7 and 8) centrally formed in the upper disc
or piece or will press against the inside central portion of the said upper disc or piece,
and thus assist in keeping the said bottom disc or piece in its place. Or the recess
may be outward, as shewn in figure S*; the head of the cork pressing against its
flat under surface.
:
In case it may be preferred to reverse the respective positions of the said two
flanged discs or pieces hereinabove described and to cause the said upper disc or
piece to enter into and fit tightly within the flange formed upon the said bottom dise
or piece (as shewn in figure 5) the same may be done but I prefer that the upper
disc or piece by means of the flange formeil thereon and a part of which is turned
inwardly as described shall enclose and embrace the circumferential edge of the said
bottom disc or piece in the manner hereinbefore described as giving a better appearance
and finish to the said hollow closed disc which constitutes and forms when completed
my improved cap or headpiece for stoppers than if the said alternative method of
placing the two discs or pieces were adopted.
The flanges formed on the said dises or pieces or upon either of them may be
milled grooved or fluted by means of suitable tools or machines in order to assist in
preventing either of the said dises or pieces from moving or turning independently of
the other when using the stopper; or the said two discs or pieces may be otherwise
fixed or arranged to prevent any such turning.
The said milling, grooving or fluting formed on the flange of the outer disc or
piece will also facilitate the manipulation of the cork or body portion of the stopper
when withdrawing it from the mouth of the bottle or other vessel and I find that the
better shape for the flat portions of the said two flanged pieces is any shape other than
a circular shape, as when the said two flanged pieces are formed of any other shape
than a circular shape and are arranged as above described, it is practically impossible
for them to rotate or turn one upon the other.
It will be seen from the above descriptions that my novel method of constructing
the cap or headpiece forming part of my improved stopper for bottles or other hollow
vessels where the said cap or headpiece is formed of two flanged discs or pieces
united or held together by means of circumferential vertical or nearly vertical flanges
formed thereon of considerable depth, one flange being inserted within the other
flange and made to closely fit the same, admits if desired of a considerable, depth of
vertical or nearly vertical metal flange or edge being produced and shewn thereon,
and that the flange or edge (being preferably formed at right angles or nearly so
with the top and bottom of the said cap or headpiece) admits of a bold and effective
milling grooving or fluting being made thereon, and in some cases enables a deep
vertical plain flange or edge to be produced which is very effective in appearance or
utility when my improved headpiece or cap is formed of an octagonal, hexagonal, or
other suitable geometrical or fancy shape (such for instance as that shewn in plan
in figure 11). In cases where it may be thought desirable to temporarily secure or
fasten the stopper to the bottle or other hollow vessel my improved form of cap or
bead piece may be made with a flat or only slightly domed top in order to facilitate
the stopper being crossed by wire or string, to secure the same more efficiently to the
bottle or other vessel, and the said wiring or ticing may be further facilitated by
having nicks or depressions formed on or across the edge or surface of the said upper
disc or piece of the said cap or headpiece described to receive the wire or string
employed to secure the stopper to the bottle or other hollow vessel. In some cases
the angles of the flanges formed upon the edges of the above described discs or pieces

page_text: may be modified and varied and in figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings annexed
hereto and forming part of this specification I give by way of illustration sectional
drawings showing some of such modifications and variations.
In the construction of my hereinabove described closed hollow head-pieces for the
purposes herein set forth my object is not only to produce caps or headpieces which
shall be light strong and accurately made but also to construct stoppers without the
employment of glue. As will be hereinafter seen I prefer to utilize the hollow portion
of my improved cap or headpiece by making it contain or hold the separate parts or
mechanical arrangements by means of which the cork plug or other body portion of
my improved stopper can be efficiently secured to the said headpiece. Novel methods
of efficiently securing the plug or body portion of a stopper. to its cap or headpiece
by such means are hereinafter particularly described.
In order to attach or fix the end portion of, a cork shive or kung (which cork shive
or bung I generally prefer should be solid throughout the length used) or a plug of
any other suitable material substance or composition (constituting the body portion
of the stopper) to a disc or piece which is intended to form part of my improved cap
or headpiece formed as herein described I sometimes make use of the disc or other
shaped piece of metal plate intended to be used as the said bottom disc or piece of
my said cap or headpiece for that purpose in the following manner. I form from
suitable sheet metal or metal plate such as tinned iron or steel plate by means of
suitable cutting and stamping dies or tools operated in the usual well known manner
a disc or piece of the size required and preferably with a flange of the desired depth
formed upon the edge thereof. I then by means of a suitably shaped tool or tools
depress disk or force inwardly the greater portion of the underside or flat part of the
said disc or piece and the said operation will preferably start as close as possible to
the edge of the flat part of the said disk or piece. The said depression if preferred
may be formed simultaneously with the first operation of cutting or stamping out the
metal disk or piece aforesaid and the purpose for which it is required will be hereafter
explained. The said depression is preferably intended to take the form of a short
hollow truncated cone (as shewn in figure 16) the edge or outline of the base of which
should be as close as possible to the edge of the flat portion of the said dise or piece
but I do not restrict myself to the precise form shewn in the said figure 16. I then
by means of a suitable punch or tool stamp or cut out of the truncated or flat portion
of the said hollow cone a central opening (as shewn in figure 17) of the required size
and shape to receive the cylindrical end of the cork intended to be placed therein and
the said central opening may be of a hexagonal or any other desired or suitable
form but preferably hexagonal (as shewn in plan in figure 19) and I make the said
opening somewhat less in diameter or size at its widest part than the diameter or
size of the flat or upper end portion of the said cork shive bung or body portion
intended to be inserted therein. I next force the said upper end portion of the said
cork a sufficient distance through the said hexagonal or other shaped opening in the
said truncated portion of the said hollow cone formed in the said metal disc or piece,
and I then by means of a suitably shaped tool or plunger formed at its lower end.
with a central opening or recess of sufficient size and depth to freely admit the
protruding or upper end portion of the said cork, forcibly press down the short sides
of the said truncated cone formed in the said disc or piece to the original flat position
of the said dise or piece or as nearly so as possible (and for such purpose the
annular solid portion or end of the said hollow plunger should be formed with a flat
face) the said imetal disc or piece being for this operation supported by a suitably
shaped flat metal die or tool formed with a central hole or depression of sufficient
size to admit the longer or outer portion of the said cork the purpose of this flattening
operation being to contract the size or diameter of the central hexagonal or other
shaped opening made in the flat upper part of the coned portion of the said metal
disc or piece in which the end of the said cork has been inserted and consequently
to force the edge of the said opening into the sides of the said cork (as shewn in
figure 18) and also to give a neat appearance to the lower part of my said cap or
headpiece.

page_text: Sometimes a ring of cork or rubber, or other suitable sufficiently elastic material or
substance may be preferred for assisting to cover or close the mouth or opening of the
bottle or other vessel instead of the solid cork or plug already described. In such
cases, the said ring may be used with my improved cap or headpiece in the following
manner which I give by way of illustration. The disc or piece (flanged or otherwise)
which is intended to form the bottom disc or piece of my improved cap or headpiece
instead of having a central aperture made therein to receive and hold the end of the
cork or plug as described, may by means of a suitable shaping or punching die or tool
operated by a die press in the usual well known manner have a circular depressed
body portion of sufficient diameter and depth centrally formed in it (as shewn in
figure 20). This disc or piece will then be fixed or secured in its place in the top
disc a figure 21 as the bottom of the two discs or pieces which form my improved cap
or headpiece as described, with the said depressed body portion projecting downwards
and the said ring g of cork rubber or other suitable sufficiently elastic material or
substance will be sprung or fitted upon it, and if desired vertical ribs or feathers may
be formed upon the sides of the said depressed body portion the better to prevent the
said ring from turning upon the same, and sometimes in order to prevent the said cork or
other ring from becoming separated from the said plug I stamp out in the manner
already described from suitable metal plate or sheet metal a disc or other shaped piece
(h figure 23) and with a shallow circumferential flange formed thereon the lower part
of which is preferably chamfered as aforesaid and with a central opening formed
therein of sufficient size to enclose and grip tightly the upper part of the said cork or
other ringg. The said disc or piece h will be then slipped over the said body portion
and the said cork or other ring 9 thereupon and will be held in place or attached to
the said cap or headpiece by means of the flange formed upon it which will be placed
between the flanges formed upon the other two discs or pieces (when the latter are
being fitted together) as shewn in figure 22, or will be held by the inwardly turned
under portion of the outer flanged disc or piece of the said cap or headpiece as already
herein described. If desired the principal disc or piece with its body portion above
described may be formed from wood or from other suitable substance. Or the said
cork or other ring may be secured in another manner as follows: The disc or piece
which is intended to be the bottom disc or piece of my said cap or headpiece will be
formed with a central circular opening of the diameter required and if desired with a
shallow flange formed on the edge of the said opening the said flange being preferably
turned upwardly and the said ring will be inserted therein. I then make a sufficiently
deep flanged disc or piece of the size required from metal plate in the manner already
described with a central depressed portion of such diameter and depth as will properly
fit the inner circumferential portion of the said ring and force the sides of the same
against the edge (flanged or otherwise) of the central opening in the said disc or piece
intended to be the bottom disc or piece when the said depressed portion is inserted
within the said ring (as illustrated in figure 24). These two last discs or pieces are
then inserted within the deeper flange formed on the disc or piece intended to be the
upper or outer disc or piece of my improved cap or headpiece and the same are
secured, held or locked together in the manner already herein described.
The upper portion of a cork shive bung or plug of other suitable material may also
be attached to the disc or piece intended to be the bottom disc or piece of my improved
cap or headpiece by other methods. One of such methods (illustrated in figure 25) is
to cut out a circular or other shaped opening in the centre of the said disc or piece the
size or diameter of 'which shall be preferably smaller than the diameter of the flat or
upper end portion of the cork or bung intended to be inserted therein and the edge, of
this opening may have if preferred a shallow flange formed upon the edge thereof.
The end of the cork is then forced through the said opening a sufficient distance,
and is secured in place by means of a collar of metal or of wire being placed
thereon and tightened or twisted around the projecting end, or by any other suitable
means.
Another method (illustrated in figure 26) is to throw up by stamping or otherwise
a sufficiently high circular collar or other similarly shaped flanged piece k in the centre

page_text: of the said disc or piece the diameter or size of which should be somewhat less than
the diameter or size of that portion of the cork shive bung or plug intended to be
inserted therein.
The end of the said cork or bung is then compressed or forced into the said collar
or flanged piece from the intended underside of the said disc or piece and when it has
been inserted a sufficient distance then the said collar or flanged piece may by means
of suitably shaped tools or punches be indented, punctured, grooved, depressed or
contracted in diameter or size as shewn (either wholly or in part) so as to force
portions of the said metal collar or flanged piece into the cork shive hung or plug of
other suitable material. Or sometimes, I prefer to form a cap or headpiece (as shewn
in figure 27) by stamping as aforesaid from suitable sheet metal or metal plate a dise
or other shaped piece having a sufficiently deep flange formed upon the edge thereof
the opening in the interior part being intended to be somewhat less than the diameter
of the end of the cork shive or bung to be inserted therein. I then by means of a
punch or other suitable tool stamp or form one or more punctures or projections Il
upon the surface of the end portion of the said flanged metal disc or cap the said
punctures or projections being pointed towards the interior of the said cap.
upper end of the said cork will then be forced into the said cap and on to the said
projections and. the cork will be thus securely held and be prevented from rotating.
The bottom or edge of the said flange may be pressed into the sides of the said cork or
may be otherwise neatly finished, or sometimes the upper end portion of the said cork
may be inserted in the said cap or headpiece before any projections are made in the
same, and the punctures or projections may be punched through the said surface of the
said flanged metal dise in any part thereof and made to enter the cork contained
therein.
The
or
It will be obvious that corks shives or bungs when inserted in flanged discs, cap
other shaped flanged pieces forming headpieces for stoppers or parts thereof, which are
caps
formed from suitable metal plate or sheet metal may be securely held and be prevented
from rotating or moving in the said caps or headpieces by having suitable sharp
punctures or projections punched in the said metal plate or sheet metal and made to
enter the corks intended to be held in place in the manner above described, and
illustrated in figures 27 and 28.
In addition to forming a suitably shaped central opening in a disc or piece intended
to be a bottom disc or piece c I occasionally form a central opening of suitable shape
in the disc or piece intended to be the upper or outer disc or piece a of my said cap
or headpiece in order that the upper end portion of the cork or other body portion
after being inserted in the opening formed in the said bottom disc or piece and held by
means of the edge thereof may be also forced through the opening and held by means
of the edge formed in the said upper or outer disc or piece. In this manner the cork
can be held in place (as illustrated in figure 29) by means of the plain, serrated or
other shaped edges of the central openings formed in both the upper and lower discs
or pieces forming part of my improved cap or headpiece aforesaid.
There may sometimes be an objection to fix a cork shive bung or other similar body
portion in a central opening made in a disc or piece of sheet metal or metal plate for
the purposes herein described if the edge of such opening be serrated or formed with
teeth or other shaped projections intended to enter the sides of the said cork or body
portion forming part of my improved stopper especially when the said sheet metal and
that part of the cork attached thereto are to be exposed, for after using the stopper
several times, the cork or other body portion fixed in that manner is likely to become
somewhat torn or abraded by the friction which necessarily occurs in forcing it into
and drawing it out of the mouth or neck of the bottle and by the strain or pull upon
the said teeth or projections: the cork may consequently soon become broken and
weakened at and about the place where it joins the sheet metal disc or piece. In
order therefore to improve the appearance of the under portion of my said cap or
headpiece as well as to increase the rigidity and firmness of the cork or other body
portion inserted therein by providing an additional hold or grip upon it, I sometimes
prefer not to form teeth or other projections upon the edge of the said central opening

page_text: formed in the exposed or bottom disc or piece forming part of my improved cap or
headpiece, but I provide an extra disc or piece (shewn at m, figure 30) which for
convenience I herein describe as the holding disc or piece and the same is intended to be
formed in the manner hereinbefore described of any desired shape from suitable sheet
metal or metal plate or other suitable substance having a central opening formed
therein of any desired shape and preferentially formed with a shallow flange on the
outer edge thereof which said holding disc or piece I insert or fix in the hollow space
between the upper and bottom discs or pieces a and c already described as constituting
part of my improved cap or headpiece and in the said central opening formed in the
said holding disc or piece m I preferentially attach or fix the upper end of the said
cork or other body portion and for such purpose the edge of the said central opening
formed in the said holding disc or piece may be serrated or formed with other suitably
shaped projections or may have a shallow flange formed thereupon (as shewn in figure 31)
or the said cork may be attached thereto in any other suitable manner.
I some-
times make use of the said holding disc or piece as follows: I first make a central
opening of any desired shape in the disc or piece c of suitable metal plate or other
suitable substance intended to be the bottom disc or piece of my cap or headpiece and
I sometimes form on the edge of the said opening a shallow flange which may be turned
upwards or downwards but preferably upwards (as shewn in figure 30) or in the
direction of the hollow part of the said intended cap or headpiece, and the said flange
may be formed if desired at nearly right angles to the flat portion of the said disc or
piece or it may be of somewhat less diameter or size at its upper part than at its base,
but in any case it is intended that the widest part of the said opening shall be some-
what less in diameter or size than the diameter of the end of the cork intended to be
inserted therein. The upper end portion of the said cork is first forced the required
distance through the said flanged central opening in the said disc or piece e intended
to be placed at the bottom of the said cap or headpiece, and then it is inserted in the
central opening (of any desired form) previously made in the aforesaid holding disc or
piece m intended to be inserted or fixed between the upper and bottom discs or pieces
forming part of my improved cap or headpiece. The said upper and bottom discs or
pieces may then be attached or secured to each other as shown and as herein previously
described.
In this way the cork shive bung or other body portion may be kept in a vertical
position being held in the said cap or headpiece in two places instead of in one place,
without employing the upper or outer disc for that purpose the use of teeth or other
projections in the central opening of the exposed or bottom disc or piece may be
obviated the strain or pull is distributed over two discs or pieces whilst the
appearance of the stopper is greatly improved, as any tearing or breaking away
of the cork will be hidden in the interior part of my said improved cap or head piece.
The said holding disc or piece m herein described being unseen may be formed if
required from an inferior quality of metal plate, it may be of any suitable shape and
it may be sometimes formed without a flange thereon. Sometimes (as shewn in
figure 32) a disc or piece n of wood or other suitable material or substance of the
shape desired and with a central opening formed therein and otherwise suitably
arranged or formed may be used if preferred as a central, or auxiliary method for
securing the cork or other body portion in my said cap or headpiece and sometimes
downwardly pointed projections or punctures (not shewn in the figures) may be
centrally formed in the surface of the said upper disc or piece as already herein
described the same being intended to enter the upper end of the said cork in order to
prevent the same from rotating or turning in the said cap or head piece.
Another method of securing or fixing the upper end portion of a cork or other
similar body portion in my improved cap or head piece but requiring for such pur-
pose the employment of a holding disc or piece to be inserted as above described
between the upper and bottom discs or pieces forming part of my said hollow cap or
headpiece is as follows, (and as illustrated in figures 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37). I
form from suitable sheet metal or metal plate in the manner already herein described
a disc or piece of the size required for insertion in the said hollow cap or headpiece

page_text: and preferably formed with a shallow circumferential vertical flange upon the edge
thereof as shown and having a central opening therein preferably circular somewhat
less in diameter than the diameter of the head or upper end of the said cork e intended
to be inserted therein.
I then by means of a suitable die or tool operated in the well known manner make
a sufficient number of cuts or slits preferably radial (as shown in figure 33) com-
mencing at the edge of the said central opening and continued across the remaining
portion of the said disc or piece as far or nearly as far as the edge of the flat portion
thereof thus dividing the said annular or other shaped portion into several segmental
parts the free curved edges of which can be depressed for the purpose hereinafter
described and I find that six radial cuts or slits made as described and forming six
segmental divisions or parts are generally speaking a suitable number for the purpose
required but if desired more may be employed. The said segmental parts or the
said free curved edges thereof are then by means of a suitable tool forced downwards
(as shewn in figure 34) into a sufficiently oblique position below the circumferential
flange formed on the said disc or piece in order to increase the diameter or size of the
central circular or other shaped opening to a size greater than the diameter of that part
of the cork e intended to be inserted therein.
The said holding or radially cut disc or piece with the segmental parts thereof
projecting obliquely downwards is then inserted in the disc or piece intended to be
the bottom disc or piece of my improved cap or head piece which has a central opening
made therein in order to admit the upper end of the cork intended to be fixed or
secured in the said cap or headpiece. The said upper portion or head of the said cork e
will then be passed from the under side through the central opening in the said bottom
disc or piece for the distance required and will also enter the enlarged opening in the
inner radially cut disc or piece o. The lower part of the said cork will be then held
firmly by means of a suitable tool and a suitably shaped plunger or tool formed at its
bottom end with a central recess of sufficient size to admit the said upper protruding
portion of the said cork e will be then forced downwards upon the edge of the vertical
circumferential flange of the said inner holding disc or piece o and sometimes also
upon the circumferential flat portion left in the interior of the said disc or piece and
by means of such pressure will flatten the said segmental parts formed in the said
holding disc or piece and cause the free curved edges of the same to enter the
cylindrical portion or sides of the said projecting upper portion or head of the said
cork e or other body portion (as shewn in figures 36 and 37) and thus prevent the
said cork from being moved in the said cap or head piece in a vertical direction. Or
instead of inserting the said radially cut holding disc or piece o in the said bottom
dise or piece I first place the upper portion of the cork intended to be inserted in my
improved cap or headpiece in a suitable and sufficiently recessed holder or tool with
that portion of the said cork intended to be fixed in the interior of the said cap or
headpiece projecting above the surface of the said holder or tool.
aforesaid intended bottom disc or piece of the said cap or
I drop the
headpiece with
the said central opening formed therein over the said projecting end of the
said cork in order that the cork may enter it and with the flanged portion
thereof upwards and 1 then (having already placed the said radially cut holding disc
or piece upon the bottom or recessed end of the suitably shaped plunger or tool
hereinabove mentioned (which for this method of fixing the said cork will be
formed of an exact size to hold it by means of its flange) and with the above described
segmental divisions or parts of the said holding disc or piece previously bent to a
suitable angle or inclination downward as already described), I press the said holding
disc or piece downwards round the end of the cork in such a manner that the free
curved edges of the said segmental divisions or parts shall on account of their afore-
said oblique or inclined direction be easily pressed into a flat position and their said
free edges be thereby caused to enter into the sides of the said projecting part of the
cork and thereby hold it securely.
It will be obvious that sometimes when the said cork is fixed in a holding disc or
piece of somewhat thin substance, which has been segmentally cut as described the

page_text: said holding disc or piece will require the support of a bottom covering disc or piece
or of a part thereof in order that the aforesaid segmental divisions or parts may by
means of such support be kept in their proper flat position and not be pulled away
from the cork by the inevitable strain consequent upon its employment for which
reason I have herein described the use of the said bottom dise or piece in conjunction
therewith.
Instead of inserting such radially or otherwise cut disc or piece in the interior of
my said hollow cap or head-piece as described or instead of having the disc or piece
also described to be placed under such radially cut disc or piece in order to support
the segmental or other shaped parts I sometimes prefer to make the said radially cut
disc or piece from such sufficiently strong or stout suitable metal, metal plate, or sheet
metal, as will enable the said segmental divisions or parts when inserted in the sides of
the cork in the manner described to retain a rigid horizontal position notwithstanding
vertical strain upon the said cork. I preferably form the said stronger dises or pieces
by the method already herein set forth and I also attach the said cork thereto in the
manner already herein described and the said disc or piece will form the bottom disc
or piece of my improved cap or headpiece and may be formed with a circumferential
flange also as herein described. Instead of forming in discs or pieces the segmental
divisions or parts such as those I have herein enumerated I sometimes form suitably
shaped teeth or prongs upon the edge of the opening formed in the said internal or
external discs or pieces, and the cork will be preferably inserted in such opening when
enlarged as described and the said teeth or prongs will then be adjusted and made to
enter the said cork in a horizontal direction by the methods of adjustment and pressure
already herein described and sometimes when the said disc or piece formed with such
teeth or prongs is intended to be the bottom disc or piece of my cap or headpiece
the teeth or prongs may be formed at right angles to the flat part of the said disc or
piece or nearly so (as illustrated in figure 60), the cork will be then forced the required
distance through the said opening and the free flat sides of the said teeth or prongs
by means of a suitable tool will be compressed into or against the sides of the cork e
and will hold it tightly. A similarly formed disc or piece to hold the upper part of
a cork may be employed sometimes in my said headpiece as an internal holding disc
or piece and the cork will be inserted therein in the same manner before the upper
and bottom discs or pieces of the said hollow cap or headpiece are fitted together. Or
sometimes I insert in the said intended bottom flanged disc or piece which holds or
receives the said upper portion or head of the said cork as herein above described two
or more suitably shaped segmental portions or pieces preferably formed or stamped
from suitable sheet metal or metal plate and of a width greater than the width of the
annular or other shaped space lying between the head of the said cork and the inner
circumferential edge of the said inner flanged disc. The said segmental portions or
pieces will preferably be inserted or laid end to end and will thus fill up the entire
space aforesaid and the shorter sides or edges of the said pieces or those sides or edges
which are next the said cork, will by means of a suitable tool be forced into the
cylindrical sides of the upper portion of the said cork and will keep the cork from
being moved in a vertical direction in the said cap or headpiece. The said segmental
pieces may be formed with or without circumferential flanges.
I also occasionally employ an additional disc or piece formed from suitable metal
plate sheet metal or other suitable substance to be inserted as aforesaid for the
purpose of preventing the cork shive bung or other similar body portion forming
part of my improved stopper from rotating or moving when the said cork or other
body portion is fixed or secured in my improved cap or headpiece or in the said
bottom disc or piece thereof in the manner hereinbefore described or in any other
suitable manner. I preferably form the said disc or piece which for greater con-
venience I call the perforated disc or piece from any suitable sheet metal or metal
plate such as tinned iron or steel plate by means of suitable dies or tools operated
as aforesaid of the required size and shape and with or without a flange formed on
the edge thereof and I form one or more perforations or sufficiently sharp projecting
parts of any suitable shape upon the said disc or piece, and each having the whole

page_text: or part of its edge projecting downward as shewn at p in figure 38 the object being
when the said perforated disc or piece is in place, to force the upper or flat end
portion of the said cork upon the said projections p thus formed upon the said
perforated disc or piece in order to prevent the said cork from rotating or moving
in my improved cap or headpiece.
The above described perforated dises or pieces may be prevented from rotating
in the said cap or headpiece by any suitable means and I give the following
examples by way of illustration of their application.
I form (as shown in figure 39) in the said disc or piece intended to be the said
upper or outer disc or piece (when made from suitable sheet metal or metal plate) a
central preferably flat depression of suitable depth and of any convenient size and
shape, such for instance as is shewn in figure 43, (but not circular its object being to
offer resistance to the rotation or movement of the perforated or punctured piece of
metal or metal plate intended to be fitted thereon). When the said depression is
properly formed it should appear on the inner or underside of the disc or piece
intended to be the aforesaid upper disc or piece as a central projecting flat portion
with vertical or nearly vertical shallow sides. I then stamp out in the manner
herein before described from suitable metal plate or sheet metal a piece of suitable
sizer having a shallow vertical flange formed upon the edge thereof and of a similar
shape to the said flat projecting portion described above but somewhat larger so that
when the said projecting flat portion is forced into the said flanged perforated piece
it will fit the same accurately and hold it and thus prevent it from rotating I punch
or stamp out upon the last mentioned perforated piece r and from the inner to the
outer flat side thereof one or more downwardly pointed projections p, of the kind just
described, of any desired shape and sufficiently sharp to penetrate the upper
of a cork e fixed in the bottom disc or piece of my improved headpiece above
described. When the sides or upper portion of the said cork are properly held or
fixed in the central opening of the bottom disc or piece c forming part of my said cap
or bead piece or are held or fixed in the inner or holding disc or piece o herein above
described and the flat upper end of the said cork is properly penetrated and held by
the pointed projecting portions p formed on the said perforated piece fitted as above
described to the under projecting flat portion formed as described above, the said cork
will be securely held in place in my improved cap or headpiece.
flat end
I occasionally vary the form of the said perforated piece by making it (as shown in
figure 40) in the form of a deeper flanged piece of suitable size and shape with a
depressed preferably flat central portion corresponding in form and depth with the
preferably flat projecting portion formed on the underside of the upper or outer disc
or piece a above described and in the said depressed portion I form the aforesaid pro-
jections or punctures p. It is intended as above described that the said depressed
central portion formed on the said flanged perforated piece shall be fitted to the flat
projecting portion formed on the underside of the said upper or outer disc or piece
and that the deeper flange s formed upon the edge thereof shall receive and hold the
upper end portion of the cork e or body portion forced upon the projections formed in
the bottom thereof.
Another method (illustrated in figure 41) of fixing for the purpose required a
perforated piece to the said upper disc or piece is by forming in the manner heroin-
above described a raised preferably flat central portion of any suitable shape with
vertical sides thereto and of any convenient height on the upper part of the said upper
or outer metal disc or piece a. I then stamp or cut out in the manner hereinbefore
described from suitable metal plate or sheet metal a piece r of the exact size and
shape of the interior or hollow part of the said raised portion and after forming the
suitable sharp pointed projections p thereon in the manner already described I insert
the said perforated piece in the said interior or hollow part of the said raised central
portion with the punctured pieces or projections p downward.
The flat or disc end of the cork e the sides of which have been previously fixed in
the lower disc or piece forming part of my said cap or headpiece or in the inner
holding disc or piece above described will be forcibly pressed against the said

page_text: projections when fixing or uniting the said upper and lower discs or pieces together to
form my improved hollow headpiece or the complete stopper and thus the cork will be
prevented from rotating. I sometimes form a flange on the edge of the above
mentioned perforated or punctured piece of any suitable depth (as shewn at s in
figure 42) in which the end of the said cork will be consequently inserted thus giving
still greater security to the attachment of the cork to the said headpiece and keeping
the sides of the cork from spreading.
In some cases it may be found desirable for the purposes herein described for the
said head or disc end of the cork to be secured to a metal disc or piece having pro-
jections as already described which is not held by or attached to the said upper disc
or piece by any of the above described methods. I therefore sometimes form the said
piece (and with or without a flange formed thereon) from suitable sheet metal or
metal plate in the manner already described and I form the edge of the said disc or
piece with an outline (as shewn in figure 44) corresponding with the interior circum-
ferential shape of the flanged disc or piece which is intended to contain the said piece,
but which circumferential shape or outline must not be circular. I form in the said
piece the downwardly pointed projections above mentioned and the upper or flat end
portion of the said cork will be forced upon the same in the manner already herein
described. The said loose piece will be prevented from rotating by means of its
circumferential edge being made of the same size and shape as that of the inner
portion of the flanged piece in which the said piece is inserted, or in any other con-
venient manner. Sometimes the said piece may be of a domed or cup shape or of any
other suitable shape, as illustrated in figure 44*.
Occasionally I employ other methods for preventing the said cork from rotating or
moving in the said cap or headpiece. One of such methods is to insert the edge of
one or more strips or pieces of suitable sheet metal or metal plate t (figure 45) a
sufficient distance into the disc or flat upper end portion of the said cork e which
stript of sheet metal or metal plate is placed diametrically or otherwise across the
same and preferably in a vertical position the ends (which may be curved or bent as
shewn if desired) being secured in vertical grooves (not shewn) formed on the inside
of the flanged disc or piece which contains the said cork. Another method is to
insert in the circumferential space surrounding the upper end of the cork a suitable
strip of sheet metal or metal plate placed on edge and bent into a waved shape with at
convenient distances sharp pointed pieces projecting inward which enter the upper
portion of the sides of the said cork." And sometimes portions of the flange formed
upon the disc or piece which holds the said cork may be turned inwardly in order
that the sides of the cork may be gripped or punctured in parts, and sometimes also
one or more metal pins may be fixed in or through the upper part of the said cork
and the end or ends thereof may be held by means of grooves inside the flange formed
as aforesaid or in any other convenient manner.
In addition to the hercinabove described upper and bottom discs or pieces forming
part of my improved cap or headpiece and also in addition to the said perforated
internal disc or piece which I employ for preventing the cork from rotating in my
improved cap or headpiece I occasionally employ another internal disc or piece formed
froin suitable sheet metal or metal plate in order to more securely hold the cork in
place in the said cap or head piece (as illustrated in figure 46).. This extra disc or
piece may be inserted in the interior of my improved cap or headpiece in any suitable
inanner but by way of illustration only I give the following method of employing the
same. The cap or headpiece is formed of a combination of the aforesaid discs or
pieces that is to say, of the herein above described upper and bottom discs or
pieces a and c forming my improved cup or headpiece and when fitted together as
described containing within the hollow portion thereof (a) a perforated disc plate
or piece as hereinabove described for preventing the rotation of the cork or other
body portion placed in the said cap or headpiece (6) a disc plate or pieco o with a
central opening formed therein serrated or otherwise as hereinabove described for
holding the said cork and preventing vertical movement and (c) a disc plate or
piece o formed preferably with radial or other cuts or slits as heroinabove described

page_text: also for the purpose of preventing a vertical movement of the cork e inserted in my
said cap or headpiece.
Instead of inserting in my improved closed hollow cap or headpiece one disc or
piece as above described to prevent the cork from rotating, and a second disc or piece
also as above described to prevent the said cork from moving in a vertical direction or
from becoming detached from the said cap or headpiece, I sometimes insert therein,
one disc or piece which shall include in itself, the objects for which the aforesaid two
discs or pieces were designed and I give the following example (as illustrated in
figures 47, 48, and 49) of such combined disc or piece by way of illustration only.
I form from suitable sheet metal or metal plate in the manner already described a dise
or piece of the size required (shewn separately in figure 48) having a central sufficiently
raised portion therein, preferably circular the interior diameter of which shall be
somewhat smaller than the diameter of the upper end of the cork e to be inserted
therein. On the flat part of the said raised portion I punch or otherwise form down-
wardly pointed sharp projections or perforations (as shown at p) such as have been
already herein described and the said end of the cork e is then inserted in the said
raised portion in order that the said projections p may properly enter it, and I then
when the cork is inserted punch or otherwise forin with a suitably shaped tool similar
pointed perforations (such as those already described) in the vertical sides of the
said raised portion, so that they will enter the sides of the said cork and thus prevent
it from being moved or detached from the said disc. The longer part of the said
cork e will then be forced through the central opening in the disc or piece c intended
for the bottom disc of the said cap or headpiece and the upper and bottom discs or
pieces a and c will be then brought together and closed in the manner first described
to form the headpiece. I sometimes dispense with the use of the said bottom disc or
piece and in that case the edge, of the flange formed upon the said upper dise or piece
will be made to embrace the edge of the aforesaid combined or perforated disc or
piece.
A cap or headpiece may be made by forming from the same or a similar description
of sheet metal or metal plate and in a similar manner a disc or piece having a raised
central portion of any suitable height therein in the upper flat part of which the above
described perforations will be similarly formed. The cork will be inserted as above
described in the said raised portion and perforations in the sides of the said raised
portion will be then formed as already described but the circuinferential or edge
portion of the disc or piece is preferably made sufficiently wide to enable a part of the
said edge to be turned over or under in order to give a greater amount of rigidity to the
circumferential portion of the said cap or headpiece (as illustrated in figure 59).
And I sometimes make an equally simple form of stopper (as illustrated in figure 50)
by forming in the manner herein described from suitable sheet metal or metal plate a
disc having a sufficiently deep vertical or nearly vertical flange formed upon its edge
thus forming a cap or headpiece the opening of which is preferably somewhat smaller
than the end of a cork e to be therein inserted. After inserting the upper end of the
cork into the said opening the distance required, I form by means of a suitable tool or
tools one or more depressed portions v round the lower part of the said cap which
pressing into the said cork will hold it in place. Or, if preferred the said depressed
portions may be made before the end of the cork is inserted in the cap and the cork
afterwards forced into it.
I occasionally form also one or more sharp projections or punctures such as I have
already herein described in any part of the said flanged disc in order to enter the
said cork either at the flat end or cylindrical sides thereof and sometimes I omit this
depressed portion & altogether and only employ the said sharp projections formed as
described.
Instead of employing separate internally placed discs or pieces as above described,
I sometimes form in the centre of the flat portion of the upper or outer disc or piece
intended to form part of my improved cap or headpiece a circular or other suitably
shaped raised portion preferably with shallow circumferential vertical sides thereto the
diameter or size of which raised portion is intended to be somewhat smaller than the

page_text: diameter of the end of the cork first inserted in the said bottom disc or piece already
described and the upper end of which cork is then to be also forced into the said
circular or other shaped raised portion above described, the object being to keep the
said cork in a vertical position in my improved cap or headpiece. And in some cases
(as illustrated in figure 50*) in order the more effectually to secure the said cork
in position and to prevent it from rotating or moving in my said cap or headpiece
when using a twisting, screwing or unscrewing motion to the stopper I sometimes
(and before the said upper and lower discs or pieces are fitted together) punch or
otherwise form with a suitable tool one or more of the already described pointed or
angular projections on the central raised portion of the said upper or outer disc
or piece forming part of my improved cap in a downward direction so that the said
projections may enter into the disc or upper end of the cork for the purpose desired.
Projections may also be formed upon the sides of the said central raised portion of the
said upper or outer disc or piece, after the cork has been inserted. Or, sometimes
instead of forming on the said upper disc or piece a a raised central portion as above
described I form (as shewn in figure 51) a depressed central portion therein and
preferably with shallow vertical sides thereto which said central portion may be either
circular or of any other suitable shape and which will act if desired as a stop to
prevent the cork or other body portion inserted in the opening in the bottom part of
my said cap or headpiece from rising therein and in this central depression may be
formed or punched if required the pointed or angular projections p in a downward
direction arranged to enter the upper end of the said cork as above described.
sometimes the said downwardly pointed angular projections or punctures p may be
formed on the plain or flat surface of the said upper or outer disc or piece a forming
part of my improved cap or headpiece for the purposes herein described.
And
Sometimes instead of using a bottom disc or piece of sheet metal to form part of
my said cap or headpiece as hereinabove described I use in place thereof a disc or
other shaped piece of wood or other suitable substance or composition of the required
size and shape as shewn at n figure 51ª and preferably without a flange thereto, which
is inserted in the said flanged sheet metal upper disc or piece a and the lower part of
the flange formed thereon will be turned inward and made to engage with and embrace
the bottom circumferential edge portion of the said wood or other disc or piece in the
manner already herein described. An opening of any suitable shape will be previously
made in the centre of the said bottom disc or piece the said opening being preferentially
somewhat smaller (either wholly or in part) than the diameter of the upper end of the
cork, to be inserted therein, and the said cork may be further secured to the said wood
disc by means of glue or cement or by other suitable means. I preferably form the
said central opening through the said wood or other disc or piece of a somewhat conical
or taper form as shewn, the widest part of the said taper opening being on that side of
the said disc intended to be placed in the inner side of the said cap or headpiece. I
then force the cork or other body portion through the said opening from its widest
part the required distance and I complete the construction of the said stopper in the
manner above described. The hereinbefore described downward perforations or
projections may be formed in the said upper disc or piece and caused to enter the
end of the cork to prevent it from rotating or the aforesaid internal perforated piece
may be placed between the said wood disc or piece and the said upper disc or piece and
be used for that purpose.
In some cases also (as illustrated in figure 52) the aforesaid upper disc or piece
formed from sheet metal or metal plate and forming part of my improved cap or head-
piece may be replaced by a disc or other shaped piece formed from wood or from other
suitable substance or composition and the bottom disc or piece be formed (with a
sufficiently deep circumferential flange thereon) from suitable sheet metal or metal
plate as herein already described, in which case the edge of the said circumferential
flange will embrace the edge of the said upper disc or piece of wood or other suitable
substance employed in the manner hereinabove described and for better appearance a
paper or other label or cover may be attached to the surface thereof. The upper end
of the cork will be sometimes first fixed or inserted as previously herein described in

page_text: a central opening formed in the said bottom disc or piece and then in a central opening
formed in the said wood disc or piece, and preferentially both the said openings may
be made somewhat smaller than the end of the cork which is intended to be inserted
therein. Or the greater portion of the cork may be first inserted in and through a
central aperture of suitable shape made in the upper wood or other disc or piece (and
in that case I prefer that the said aperture shall be somewhat taper as above described
with the widest part of the said taper hole on the upper side of the said disc in order
that the cork may better resist the strain upon it) and then inserted in the opening in
the bottom disc or piece.
The upper end of the said cork may be secured to the wood or other disc or piece
by means of glue or cement or otherwise.
I sometimes form a headpiece for stoppers in the following manner. I form a disc
or piece of the required size with a somewhat shallow flange thereon at right angles
to the surface thereof or nearly so from suitable metal plate, or sheet metal in the
manner already herein described and in the shallow hollow cap thus formed I place
any suitable adhesive composition, cement material or substance in the centre of which
the upper end of a cork, shive, bung, or plug may be set or inserted. A central circular
or other suitably shaped portion of the said disc or piece may be raised or punched up on
the surface of the said headpiece forming a recessed portion to receive the upper end
of the said cork or plug and to assist in holding the cork or plug in a vertical position
and the cement or composition used may be placed round it." A rubber or cork ring
may be placed round the upper portion of the said cork or plug and this may be also
secured in place by means of the cement or composition employed.
The inner part of the said disc or piece may be made rough if desired the better
to retain the cement employed. The use of cement or of other adhesive material or
substance, as well as of a bottom disc or piece to form a suitable cap or headpiece for
stoppers, may in some cases however be obviated in the following manner.
I cut or
form from suitable sheet metal or from suitable metal plate in the manner already
described a disc with a flange formed thereon as hereinabove described, and the hollow
cap thus formed I attach or fix to the cylindrical end of a cork shive or bung pre-
ferably in the following manner. I form the flat or upper part of the said cap of a
diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the end of the cork shive or bung to
be secured thereby and with a sufficiently deep flange for the purpose hereinafter
described, and after placing the cylindrical end of the cork shive or bung therein I
force by means of suitable dies or tools operated in the usual manner the lower part
of the free edge of the flange into the cylindrical portion or sides of the cork therein
contained in a similar manner to the method hereinabove described, so that the
bottom part or edge of the flange may be forced or embedded in the cylindrical part
of the cork. With this form of cap I sometimes use the annular raised portion
hereinbefore described in order to better retain or hold the end of the cork as already
explained and also form downwardly projecting portions thereon as already above
described. An improved appearance to this description of cap or headpiece may be
obtained by forming a still deeper flange and by pressing the upper part of the same
back to a horizontal position by which means a circumferential Hange will be formed
(such as may be seen on an ordinary saucepan lid) and leaving a sufficient depth of
vertical flange for the lower part thereof to engage with the cork shive or bung as
hereinbefore described.
Sonie of these forms of stoppers are illustrated in figures 53, 54, and 55.
My improved form of closed hollow cap or headpiece for stoppers with iny herein
described novel method of connecting and securing the body portion of cork or other
substance thereto without the aid of either glue or cement constitutes my improved
stopper and when the said stopper is intended to be used with bottles containing
liquids a mechanical locking or fastening arrangement applied thereto may be found
desirable. As one method of attaching a suitable locking arrangement to my improved
cap or headpiece I will give by way of illustration an invention described in the
Specification of John William Hall numbered 776 and dated the 18th day of January

page_text: 1886. In the said Specification a locking arrangement is described as applying to
the heads of stoppers and a description is given therein of a method of securing the
said locking arrangement to headpieces of stoppers when the said headpieces are
formed from metal, the same being accomplished by means of a single slot made in
the central upper part or surface of the said head of the stopper and by rivets or
pins passing through one piece of metal to another piece of metal on the underside
of the said slot and which is more particularly described in the said Specification and
in figure 10 (and to some extent also in figures 7 and 8) of the drawings attached
thereto and forming part thereof. It will be thereby seen that no provision or claim
has been inserted in the said specification for the working of the tail piece forming
part of the said locking arrangement therein described on a metal cap without the
use and intervention of pins or rivets or their equivalents. I find however that the
said locking arrangement can be attached to my improved cap or headpiece (as
illustrated in figure 56 by forming two parallel slots, a, in the centre of the said upper
or outer disc or piece a forming part of my improved cap or headpiece, of suitable
length and width and at such distance from each other as to admit of the turned over
edges of the said tail piece y, being passed through the said slots and then being bent
inwardly underneath the central portion of the said upper disc or piece a or bent
outwardly underneath the other portions of the same. When I form the said two
slots I do not remove the piece of metal plate entirely from the said slots, c, I
only cut the metal plate at the outer side as shewn and at the ends of each slot
and I then turn down the resulting strip of metal thus formed at convenient angles
to the surface of the said upper disc or piece a and I employ the same for the
purpose of attaching the said turned in ends of the tail piece y forming part of
the said locking arrangement to the said cap. or headpiece and the said two slots
will have on the underside of the said disc an angled or trough shaped piece
between them as shewn which I employ to receive the one ог more upwardly
turned projecting pieces formed on the surface of the perforated disc or piece
described below as inserted in the said cap or headpiece for the purpose of pre-
venting the rotation of the cork or other body portion.
To prevent the upper end of the cork when fixed in the bottom or inner disc
or piece herein above described and inserted in the interior of my improved cap
or headpiece from being abraded or torn by the movement of the said turned in
portions of the said locking arrangement as well as to give a better finish to the
stopper I preferably insert a disc y* of thin metal plate in the said interior part
and over the end of the said cork in order that it may be protected. I prefer
that the said internal disc or piece shall be formed with a suitable shallow flange
formed on the edge thereof and that the same shall be inserted in the interior of the
said cap or headpiece with the flanged part uppermost in order that a clear space may
be kept for the working of the tail piece above described and to prevent the cork from
pressing against it and thus interfering with its free action. The said inner disc or
piece will be also centrally formed, or punched with one or more downwardly pointed
teeth or sharp projecting portions as already described arranged to enter the flat end
portion of the said cork or other body portion inserted in the said cap or headpiece
in order to prevent its rotation and the said inner disc or piece will be also formed
with one or more upward projecting portions or studs z (preferably square) which I
insert between the two inwardly turned parallel strips of metal plate above described
for the purpose of preventing the rotation of the said perforated disc or piece in the
said hollow headpiece..
In some cases I take an ordinary glass stopper of the well known description con-
sisting of a headpiece and body portion of glass and used in connection with a ring
of cork fitted into a circular recess formed in the inside of the mouth of the bottle
and to the said glass headpiece thereof I fit a flanged disc or cap of sheet metal or
metal plate such as that already herein described and formed in a similar manner the
edge of which flange is turned under so as to embrace the under circumferential
portion of the said glass headpiece and in this disc or cap may be made if desired the

page_text: two central parallel slots as hereinabove described in which the said fastening or lock-
ing arrangement hereinabove referred to may be fitted or if preferred any other
suitable method of fastening may be attached thereto.
I sometimes take stoppers which are made from vulcanite or from other substance or
composition and which stoppers are sometimes formed with screw threads upon the plug or
body portion thereof and in order to greatly improve the appearance of such stoppers I
cover the upper portion or headpiece thereof with a flanged disc or piece of suitable
size formed from suitable metal plate or sheet metal stamped out in the manner already
herein described and with a suitable flange (preferably milled) formed on the edge
thereof, the lower edge portion of which I turn under in the manner also herein
described. In addition to improving the appearance of the said composition stopper
the said metal disc or piece may be utilized if desired for stamping thereon names
addresses figures words and devices. If necessary these stoppers may be fitted with
locking or fastening arrangements such as that lastly herein described. Sometimes I
enclose the said glass or composition headpiece entirely or partly within my improved
hollow cap or headpiece, allowing the body portion of the said glass or composition
stopper to project through the aforesaid central opening formed in the bottom disc or
piece thereof and sometimes in order to properly secure a ring of rubber or cork to
the plug or body portion of a stopper formed from glass or suitable composition or
suitable substance I form as herein described from suitable sheet metal or metal plate
a disc or piece of the required size and with a circumferential flange thereon and
with a suitable central opening therein of the size required and I force the said plug
or body portion with the said rubber ring upon it through the said opening (the edge
of the said opening being made to fit tightly round the said ring in order to hold it
securely) and the circumferential edge of the said flange will tightly embrace the
lower circumferential edge of the said glass or composition headpiece of the stopper
in the manner alreadly above described.
A further application of my improved closed hollow cap or headpiece intended more
particularly to hold suitable balls or plugs to be employed for closing or covering the
mouths of bottles containing aërated or gaseous liquids and to be preferably used in
connection with any suitable means for locking or securing the same to the neck or
mouth of the bottle (such for instance as the locking or fastening arrangement
patented by the said John William Hall already herein given by way of illustration)
is as follows (see figure 57).
1 stamp from suitable sheet metal or metal plate, discs or pieces in the manner
hereinbefore described and of the required size and I form circumferential flanges as
already described on the discs or pieces intended to be the upper and bottom dises or
pieces of my improved hollow cap or headpiece and of such depth (when the said two
discs or pieces are properly joined as already described) as will enable the larger
portion of a ball e formed from glass, stone, hardwood, gutta percha, india rubber,
cork or other suitable material substance or composition of the size required, to be
contained in the central portion of the hollow space formed in my said improved cap
or headpiece when the said flanged dises or pieces are properly fastened or joined
together. A central circular opening will be formed in the disc or piece c intended to
be the bottom disc or piece of my said cap or headpiece the edge of which circular
opening may be slightly turned up thus forming a shallow flange thereto. The
diameter of this circular opening should be just large enough to admit of rather less
than half of the ball e intended to be used as a stopper from projecting below the said
bottom disc or piece.
This smaller portion of the said ball is intended to partially or sufficiently enter the
opening or mouth of a bottle in the interior of which opening and as near to the
surface thereof as is necessary is inserted a ring of rubber or other suitable substance
held or secured in the said mouth in the manner commonly adopted and so placed
therein that the inner portion of the said circumferential upper part of the ring may
be brought in contact with the aforesaid lower part of the said ball. When a suitable
locking or fastening arrangement (such as that herein above referred to and given
only by way of illustration) is attached to my improved cap or headpiece with the
0

page_text: said ball properly inserted therein and is brought into the fastening position the
lower or projecting part of the said ball will be forced against the interior edge of
the upper part of the said ring inserted in the mouth of the bottle and
will make a sufficiently tight joint. If preferred a plug of cork or of hardwood
or of any other of the above named substances or of other suitable sub-
stance of suitable shape and size instead of the said ball may be used, and the said
plug when the upper portion thereof is properly secured in my said cap or headpiece
may be allowed to move somewhat freely in the said opening formed in the said
bottom disc or piece as described, or it may be attached to the said bottom and inner
discs or pieces forming part of my said cap or headpiece as already described herein,
or it may be fixed in any other convenient manner to the said improved cap or headpiece.
In order to give if desired some additional elasticity to the pressure of the ball or
loose plug above mentioned upon the said ring of rubber fixed as herein described,
or with the view of making a better joint 1 sometimes place or fix a small metallic
spring or a cushion or piece of cork, india rubber, or other sufficiently elastic or
other substance (A, figures 57 and 58) in the centre of the hollow part of the said cap
or headpiece behind the space occupied by the said ball or loose plug and immediately
over the same and sometimes (as illustrated in figure 58) I encircle part of the said
ball or plug e with a ring or sleeve of india rubber or of other sufficiently elastic
suitable substance which may be attached to or held by means of the said bottom disc
or piece e by being placed in the central opening formed therein as described with the
said ball or plug e placed in the interior part thereof, in order that the said ball or
plug when pressing with sufficient tightness against the said elastic interior portion
will force the outer part of the said ring or sleeve g against the edge of the central
opening formed in the said bottom disc or piece. The said ring 7 of india rubber or
other elastic substance may be of any required suitable thickness and length and may if
preferred be also made sufficiently long for the lower circumferential portion thereof
to enter the mouth of the bottle a sufficient distance so that the lower part of the said
ball or plug may press against the interior of that portion of the said ring which is so
inserted and in that case it may sometimes be found possible to dispense with the
india rubber ring intended to he inserted or fixed in the mouth or opening of the
bottle. Or the said india rubber or other ring may be fixed in any other suitable
manner and it may be formed or moulded in any shape necessary for the purpose
required.
The aforesaid bottom disc or piece wherein part of the said ball or plug is intended
to be placed may be constructed of wood or of any other suitable material or sub-
stance instead of the aforesaid metal plate and the same may be secured to the upper
disc or piece by one of the methods already herein described or in any other convenient
or suitable manner. Sometimes instead of a ball or plug I employ one or more
sufficiently thick washers pads or cushions of india rubber, cork or of other sufficiently
elastic or soft suitable material or substance a central part of which may be suitably
shaped and made to partly enter the mouth or opening of the bottle in which case I
sometimes attach the said elastic washer or cushion to my improved cap or headpiece
by, securing it in a sufficiently large central opening formed in the said bottom disc or
piece or by otherwise attaching it thereto and in that case the ring of india rubber
intended to be placed or fixed in the mouth or opening of the bottle aforesaid may
sometimes be altogether omitted.
In some instances where it may be required to make stoppers for the purpose
herein mentioned of any considerable size instead of fixing a large and consequently
expensive solid cork shive or bung in the said bottom disc or piece forming a part of
my improved cap or headpiece in the manner herein described I place a strip of cork
of the width, thickness and length required and I bend it to the shape of the edge of
the central opening of any suitable shape formed in the said bottom disc or piece
which edge may be a serrated edge such as that already described by me.
order to fix or press the said strip of cork firmly against the said edge in
the opening mentioned and to keep the same securely in place I fill up the
hollow space or centre formed by the said strip of cork with a plug or disc of
2
In

page_text: wood or of other suitable material or substance of the required size and preferably
somewhat taper in form. I prefer to form the said plug from metal plate in which
case I proceed as follows. I form in the manner already herein described from
suitable sheet metal or metal plate a disc or piece of the required size. In the central
part of the said disc I form a circular depressed portion nearly corresponding in
diameter with the diameter of the opening in which it is to be inserted. The said
disc or piece may be formed with a circumferential flange thereon and the said disc or
piece will be inserted in my improved cap or headpiece with the said depressed portion
fitting tightly in the opening formed in the said bottom disc or piece. The diameter
or size of the said depressed central portion of the said disc or piece will be adjusted
so as to give the requisite pressure to the inner side of the cork strip in order to hold
it securely. If desired the form of the said depressed central portion may be made
somewhat taper.
The discs or pieces herein described when made from suitable sheet metal or metal
plates are preferably formed by the means of suitably shaped tools dies or punches
operated by the means of stamping or die presses of the usual description worked by
sufficient power of any kind.
In some instances when fixing the ends of corks or plugs forming body portions
of my improved stoppers or when inserting rings of india rubber or cork for the
purposes described herein, I sometimes fill up the hollow part of the caps, flanged discs
or other flanged pieces or headpieces described herein with suitable cement or com-
position in order to more effectually fix, hold or secure the said corks, plugs, and rings
to my improved headpieces for stoppers.
The various figures and drawings annexed hereto and which form a part of this
specification are only given by way of illustration generally of my invention and I do
not necessarily bind myself to the adoption of the precise forms given therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The method of constructing stoppers and covers for bottles jars and other
hollow vessels from suitable sheet metal or metal plate in combination with cork or
other sufficiently soft and elastic material substantially in the manner herein
described.
2. In the construction of stoppers and covers for bottles jars and other hollow
vessels the closed hollow cap or closed hollow head piece consisting of the upper flanged
disc or piece and the bottom flanged disc or piece fitted together and united
substantially in the manner herein described and shown in the drawings.
3. The method of attaching the upper disc or piece to the bottom disc or piece by
means of the turned in edge of the flange of the outer of such discs or pieces,
substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
4. The method of attaching the upper disc or piece to the bottom disc or piece by
means of a recess or chamfer made on the outer edge of the inner disc or piece in
order to receive the turned in edge of the flange of the outer disc or piece substantially
as described and shewn.
5. In the hollow cap or headpiece composed of the upper and bottom discs or
pieces (one or both of which is flanged) the central aperture in the bottom disc or
piece to receive the cork bung plug ball or ring substantially as described.
6. The method of uniting the upper and bottom discs or pieces when the flanges of
both are turned in the same direction, by turning the edge of one flange over the
edge of the other or by turning both over together, substantially as described and
shewn in figure 6.
7. The construction of closed hollow caps or head pieces by means of the combina-
tion of an outer flangel disc with an inner disc or of an outer flanged other shaped
piece with an inner other shaped piece the said disc or piece being inserted in the
outer flanged dise or outer flanged piece and therein preferably held or united by
means of the edge of the outer flanged disc or piece being turned inwardly and made

page_text: to
engage with the edge or flat portion of the inner disc or inner piece in such manner
as to form a closed hollow headpiece and that which is the bottom disc or piece
thereof having a central opening to admit or hold the end of a cork or other
similar body portion substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shown.
8. In the construction of caps or headpieces for stoppers the central recess in the
upper disc or piece to receive the upper flat end of the cork bung or other body
portion of the stopper which passes through the central aperture in the bottom dise
or piece substantially as described and shewn in figures 7 and 8.
9. The milling grooving or fluting of the flanges upon two discs or pieces one being
inserted in the other in order to prevent either from moving or turning independently
of the other substantially as described.
10. The formation of the flat portions a, c, of the upper and bottom discs of a shape
other than circular in order to prevent independent movement or rotation substantially
as described.
11. In the construction of stoppers the attachment of corks or other suitable body
portions thereto by inserting suitably shaped edge portions of central openings formed
in discs or pieces of 'suitable metal metal plate or sheet metal into the sides of corks
bungs or other similar body portions at right angles or nearly so to the sides of the
said body portions by means of the herein described methods of contracting the
sizes of such central openings after the corks are inserted therein substantially as
described.
12. The method of holding the cork or other material forming the body portion of
the stopper in the bottom disc or piece by first depressing dishing or forcing inwardly
the greater portion of the flat part of such bottom disc or piece to form a short hollow
truncated cone then forming a central opening of the required size and shape in the
flat portion of the said cone to receive the cylindrical end of the cork or other
material such central opening being of any suitable shape but preferably hexagonal
by then forcing the upper end portion of the cork or other material for a sufficient
distance through the opening and by then forcibly pressing down the short sides of
the truncated cone to their original flat position or nearly so in order that the size of
the central opening may be contracted and its edge forced into the sides of the
cork or other material substantially as described and 'illustrated in figures 16, 17,
18, and 19.
13. The use in combination with the upper and bottom discs or pieces of a ring of
cork india rubber or other suitable elastic material substantially as herein described
and illustrated in figures 22 and 24.
14. The method of holding such ring of cork india rubber or other clastic substance
upon the depressed portion of the bottom disc or piece by means of a separate disc or
piece (flanged. or not) having a central opening and the edge thereof gripping tightly
the upper part of the said ring of cork or other material the flange of such separate
disc or piece fitting between and being held by the upper disc or piece and the
bottom disc or piece, or the outer edge being held by the turned in edge of the
outer disc or piece substantially as described and illustrated in figures 20, 21,
22 and 23.
15. The method of holding such ring of cork india rubber or other clastic material
upon the depressed portion of the upper disc or piece by means of a central opening
flanged or not in the bottom dise or piece such central opening gripping the ring of
cork or other elastic material substantially as described and shewn in figure 24.
16. The method of securing the cork or other material forming the body portion of
the stopper in the bottom disc or piece by means of a collar of metal or a wire placed
upon the cork and tightened or twisted round its projecting end substantially as
described and shown in figure 25.
17. The method of securing the cork or other material forming the body portion
of the stopper in the bottom disc or piece by forming a sufficiently high collar or
flange round the central opening in such bottom piece the end of the cork or other

page_text: material being forced into the said collar or flange and the latter being then indented
grooved depressed or contracted (or having sharp projections thereon) in order to
force portions of it into the cork or other material substantiatly as described and
illustrated in figure 26.
18. The method of holding the cork or other material forming the body portion
of the stopper by inserting its end into a flanged metal disc or cap having one or
more sharp or other projections formed upon the surface of the end portion of the
said cap and pointed towards its interior and sometimes having similar sharp projec-
tions formed on the sides thereof the edge of the flange being left plain or pressed
into the sides of the cork or other material substantially in the manner described and
illustrated in figures 27 and 28.
19. The method of holding the cork or other material forming the body portion of
the stopper by means of a central opening in the upper disc or piece as well as in
the lower disc or piece the cork or other material being inserted and held in both
openings substantially as described and illustrated in figure 29.
20. In the construction of stoppers the method of attaching corks bungs or
similar body portions to central openings formed in discs or pieces of suitable
metal metal plate or sheet metal by means of the continuous or nearly continuous
edge of the said central openings being inserted at right angles or nearly so in the
sides of the cork held in such openings in the manner substantially herein described
and shewn in the drawings.
21. In the construction of stoppers the utilization of hollow caps or hollow
headpieces for the purpose of placing therein one or more discs or pieces to which
are attached or held corks or other similar body portions some of the said discs or
pieces being suitably designed and arranged either for the purpose of preventing the
rotation, or, of preventing the vertical movement of the said corks in the said hollow caps
or headpieces or for the purpose of preventing both rotary and vertical movement
of corks placed therein, substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn.
21. The combination of the upper and bottom discs or pieces forming the hollow
cap or headpiece of the stopper already described with a disc or piece arranged to hold
the cork or other body portion inserted in the said cap or headpiece substantially as
described.
21. The combination of the upper and bottom dises or pieces forming the hollow
cap or headpiece of the stopper already described with a disc or piece inserted in the
said cap or headpiece and provided with suitable projections arranged to enter the
cork or other similar body portion for the purpose of preventing the rotation of
the cork therein substantially as described.
22. The use of a separate holding disc or piece to be inserted in the closed hollow
headpiece for the purpose of holding the cork or other material forming the body
portion of the stopper substantially as described and shewn in figures 30 and 31.
23. The combination with the upper and bottom discs or pieces already described
and claimed of such holding disc or piece forined of sheet metal with or without a
flange on its outer edge and having a central aperture serrated or having projections
on a shallow flange by which the cork or other material is held substantially as
described.
24. The use of shallow flanges formed on the edges of central openings in bottom
dises or plates in which corks or other suitable body portions are intended to be
inserted substantially as described and illustrated in figures 30 and 31.
25. The combination of the said separate holding disc or piece having a central
opening in which the cork or other material is held and of the upper disc or piece
and the lower disc or piece with or without a shallow flange round its central opening
substantially as described and shown in figures 30 and 31.
26. The method of holding the cork or other material forming the body portion of
the stopper by means of the upper and bottom discs or pieces enclosing between thein
a disc or piece of wood or other suitable material having a central opening therein and
the cork or other material passing through and being held both by the bottom disc, or

page_text: piece and by such disc or piece of wood or other material substantially as described
and illustrated in figure 32.
27. The method of holding the cork or other material forming the body portion of
the stopper and preventing it from turning in the cap or headpiece by means of one
or more sharp downwardly pointed projections formed in the central portion of the
surface of the upper disc or piece and entering the flat end of the cork substantially
as described.
27. The combination of the upper and bottom discs or pieces forming the hollow
cap or headpiece of the stopper already described with a disc or piece having a central
opening to admit the upper end of the cork or other body portion such disc or piece
being preferably segmentally cut or slit as described and inserted in the said cap or
beadpiece.
28. In the construction of stoppers the method of holding a cork or similar body
portion in a disc or piece of suitable sheet metal intended to form an internal part of
such stopper such disc or piece (herein described as a holding disc or piece) having a
central opening the diameter of which is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the
end of the cork to be therein inserted. The said opening in order to freely admit the
cork being capable of enlargement by the metal immediately surrounding it being
divided into a sufficient number of segmental portions or parts by cuts or slits
preferably radial which parts are then pressed downward the said cork being then
inserted and held in the said disc or piece by the re-flattening of the said segmental
portions and the insertion of their free curved edges in the cylindrical portion of the
cork in a horizontal direction owing to the contraction of the said opening consequent
upon such segmental portions resuming their flat position, substantially as described
and shewn in figures 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37.
29. In the construction of stoppers the combination of an internal segmentally
divided holding disc or piece such as that described in the last claim with a covering
disc or piece of sheet metal or other suitable substance formed with a central opening
therein and held below the said segmentally divided disc or piece in order to prevent
the segmental portions or parts from being downwardly pulled or separated and
thereby releasing the cork, substantially as described.
30. In the construction of stoppers the method of attaching a cork to a disc or piece
of sufficiently strong or stout suitable metal metal plate or sheet metal which is intended
to form the bottom disc or piece of the cap or headpiece of the stopper, such disc_or
piece having a central opening therein the diameter of which is somewhat smaller
than the diameter of the end of the cork to be therein inserted the said opening being
capable of enlargement in the manner and by the means described for the purpose
either of inserting the segmental portions or radially or otherwise cut parts therein
described in the sides of the said cork horizontally or for the purpose of inserting in
the cylindrical sides of the said cork in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction
suitably shaped teeth or prongs formed on the edge of the above described central
opening substantially as described.
31. The method of attaching a cork or other suitable body portion to an internal
separate holding disc or piece the central opening of which has teeth or prongs formed
on the edge thereof instead of the nearly continuous or unbroken edge suggested by
the use of segmental portions or parts such as those above described, the cork being
fixed in the said serrated disc or piece in the same manner as that described in
claim 28 relating to the method of fixing the cork in the separate segmentally cut
holding disc or piece substantially as herein described.
32. The combination of such serrated disc or piece with a covering disc or piece of
sheet metal (having a central opening therein) similar to that described in claim 29
substantially as described.
33. The method of attaching a cork or other suitable body portion to an internal
separate holding disc or piece, or to a bottom disc or piece the central opening of
which has teeth prongs or similar free edge portions formed thereon and intended to
be placed 'at right angles thereto or nearly so: 'the' flat end portion of 'the cork being

page_text: inserted therein the required distance and the free edge portions being compressed
into or against the sides of the cork substantially as herein described and shewa in
figure 60.
34. The method of holding the upper part of a cork by means of two or more
suitably shaped segmental portions or pieces the inner edges of which are forced into
the cork, such segmental pieces being formed with or without flanges, substantially as
herein described.
35. The use of an internally placed separate perforated disc or piece having one or
more sufficiently sharp inwardly pointed projections thereon arranged to enter the
upper part of the cork or other suitable material for the purpose of preventing the
said cork forming the body portion of the stopper from rotating substantially as
described and illustrated in figure 38.
35. The method of making such perforated disc or piece of a separate plate with or
without an outer flange fitting into a suitably shaped recess (other than circular) in
the upper disc or piece and having sharp projections pointing downward and entering
the upper end of the cork or other material formning the body portion of the stopper
substantially as described and illustrated in figure 4.1.
36. As a modification of the arrangement last claimed a central projection of any
suitable shape other than circular upon the inner surface of the upper disc or piece
over which projection a corresponding flange upon the perforated dise or piece is fitted
substantially as described and illustrated in figure 39.
37. In combination with the perforated disc or piece claimed in the last two claims
the sufficiently deep flange upon it to receive the upper end of the cork or other
material forming the body portion of the stopper substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 40 and 42.
38. The method of making or arranging the perforated piece either flat shaped
dome shaped cup shaped or of any other suitable shape substantially as described and
illustrated in figure 44*.
39. The method of preventing the cork or other suitable material forming the body
portion of the stopper from rotating consisting of one or more transverse strips
inserted in the flat upper end of the cork or other material as illustrated in figure 45
and having their ends secured in vertical grooves in the upper or bottom flanged disc
or piece of the stopper substantially as described.
40. The method of preventing the cork or other material forming the body portion
of the stoppers from rotating consisting of a strip of metal placed on edge in the space
surrounding the upper end of the cork and bent into a waved shape to prevent its
rotation in the cap or headpiece and having sharp pointed pieces projecting into the
upper portion of the sides of the cork or other material substantially as described.
41. The method of holding the cork or other suitable material forming the body
portion of the stopper consisting of turning inwardly portions of the flange which
holds the said cork or other material so that the sides of the cork may be gripped or
punctured in parts; or of using one or more metal pins fixed in or through the upper
part of the cork or other suitable material the end or ends of such pins being either
left free or being held by grooves inside the flange substantially as described.
42. The combination with the upper and bottom discs or pieces forming the closed
hollow cap or headpiece of the herein described internal perforated disc or piece, of a
second internal disc or piece for the purpose of holding the cork or other suitable
material forming the body portion of the stopper and of the radially cut or other
holding disc or piece also herein described substantially as described and illustrated in
figure 46.
43. In order to prevent the vertical movement of the cork or other suitable material
forming the body portion of the stopper and at the same time to prevent the latter
from rotating in the cap or headpiece the combination of upper and bottom discs or
pieces forming the cap or headpiece with a separate internal disc or piece having a
central raised portion into which the upper end of the cork or other material is
inserted such raised portion having downwardly pointed sharp projections from its flat

page_text: surface and similar pointed projections or perforations in its vertical sides the latter
being formed after the insertion of the cork substantially as described herein and
illustrated in figures 47, 48, and 49.
44. As a modification of the method of construction in the last claim, the
combination of the upper disc or piece with the disc or piece having the raised
perforated portion only, the lower disc or piece being omitted substantially as
described.
45. The cap or headpiece consisting of a disc having a somewhat deep flange
formed on its edge into which the cork or other suitable body portion is placed one or
more suitable depressions being then made on the lower part of the said flange in
order to compress the sides of the cork and thus hold it in the said cap or headpiece
and the latter having if desired sharp pointed projections made therein to enter the
said cork, substantially as described herein and illustrated in figure 50.
46. The cap or headpiece consisting of a disc or piece having a depressed central
portion of circular or other suitable shape acting as a stop to prevent the cork or
other body portion inserted in the opening in the bottom part of the said cap or head-
piece from rising therein and with or without pointed or angular projections p in a
downward direction arranged to enter the upper end of the said cork, substantially as
herein described and illustrated in figure 51.
46. The cap or headpiece consisting of an upper disc or piece having downwardly
pointed angular projections formed on the plain or flat surface thereof in a downward
direction arranged to enter the upper end of the cork or other body portion inserted
in the opening in the bottom part of the said cap, or headpiece, substantially as herein
described.
46. The cap or headpiece consisting of a bottom disc or other shaped piece of
wood or other suitable substance inserted in the flanged sheet metal upper disc or
piece, an opening preferably conical or taper having been made in the said bottom
disc or piece through which the cork or other body portion is forced, with or without
glue, cement, or other suitable means to secure the said cork, and with or without
downwardly pointed angular projections from the upper disc or piece arranged to
euter the upper end of the said cork or other body portion, substantially as herein
described and illustrated in figure 51".
a
46°. The cap or headpiece consisting of an upper disc or piece of wood or other
suitable substance, and a bottom disc or piece of sheet metal or metal plate having
flange the upper edge of which embraces the edge of the said upper disc or piece, the
latter being if desired covered with a paper or other label or cover, and the cork or
other body portion being held in a central opening preferably conical or tapering in
the upper disc or piece with or without glue, cement, or other suitable means of
attachment, and also in some cases in a central opening formed in the bottom disc or
piece, substantially as herein described and illustrated in figure 52.
46. The cap or headpiece consisting of a disc or piece having a central raised
portion perforated with sharp projections at its top and sides to hold the cork or other
material the outer edge of the disc or piece being turned over or under substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in figure 59.
47. The method of holding in the cap or head piece the upper end of the cork or
other suitable material forming the body portion of the stopper consisting of a raised
central portion of the upper disc or piece into which raised portion the upper end of
the cork or other material is forced such raised portion being with or without inwardly
projecting sharp pointed projections substantially as described.
48. As a modification of the method claimed in the last claim, the depressed central
portion of the upper disc or piece provided if required with angular pointed pro-
jections on its lower that surface substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in figure 51.
. 49. As a further modification of the device claimed in claim 47 the angular pointed
projections on the sides of the said central raised portion of the upper disc or piece
substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 50: The construction of caps or headpieces by the combination of discs or pieces of
wood or other substance with discs or pieces of suitable sheet metal or metal plate the
said wood disc or piece being sometimes placed below and sometimes above the metal
dise or piece; but in any case being held by means of the edge of the metal being
turned over and embracing it, and a central opening being inade through the said
wood disc to admit and hold the end of a cork or other suitable body portion which
opening is preferably larger on that side which is the upper side of the said wood disc
and when the metal disc is below the wood disc a central opening being also formed
therein I claim the central opening in the wood disc being formed through it and
conically shaped as described (but not necessarily a circular opening) and the method
of fixing the cork therein. But I do not claim the combination of a wood disc with a
sheet metal disc only.
51. The headpiece consisting of a flanged disc or piece, of suitable metal plate or
sheet metal, in the centre of which the upper end of a cork, shive, bung, or plug, is
set or inserted, the centre of the disc or piece being in some cases raised to form a
recessed portion to receive the upper end of the said cork, and suitable 'cement
or composition being placed round the said cork in the headpiece, substantially as
herein described.
52. The methods of constructing stoppers substantially as described and shewn in
figures 53, 54, and 55.
53. The method of attaching a locking arrangement for the heads of stoppers and
caps to my improved cap or headpiece by means of parallel slots in the upper disc or
piece, the inner sides of the metal strips cut out to form the slots being left attached
to the said upper disc or piece and being bent inward so as to form an angular trough
shaped piece over which fit and slide the ends of the tail piece by which the locking
arrangement is operated whilst into the space between the sides of the said angular
trough-shaped piece project upward one or more projections from the upper surface
of a perforated disc or piece, by which the latter is prevented from rotating in the cap
or headpiece, angular projections from the lower side of the perforated disc or piece
entering the upper end of the cork or other body portion, substantially as herein
described and illustrated in figure 56.
54. The combination with a glass or composition stopper consisting of a headpiece
and body portion of a flanged metal disc or cap having its lower edge turned under
the edge of the glass or composition headpiece with or without the two parallel slots
for attaching a locking arrangement substantially as described.
55. The method of securing a ring of cork or india rubber or other substance to
the plug or body portion of a glass or composition stopper consisting of a flanged
metal disc or piece having a central opening into which the said plug or body portion
with the ring upon it is forced, the flange of the disc enclosing and being turned over
the edge of the headpiece of the stoppers substantially as described.
56. The combination of the upper and bottom dises or pieces with the ball or plug
of glass or other suitable material, substantially as and for the purposes described and
illustrated in figures 57 and 58.
57. The combination with the upper and bottom discs or pieces and the ball or
plug of the ring or sleeve of india rubber or other suitable material held in the opening
in the bottom disc or piece substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn
in figure 58.
58. The combination with the upper and bottom discs or pieces and the ball or plug
of the spring or cushion of elastic substance substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in figures 57 and 58.
59. The employment of a disc or piece of wood or other suitable substance with a
suitable opening therein as the bottom dise or piece of the cap or headpiece in
combination with a moveable plug or ball inserted in the said opening.
60. The employment of a cushion or pad of india rubber cork or other suitable
elastic material in combination with and attached to the bottom disc or piece of the
cap or headpiece substantially as described.

page_text: 61. In the construction of stoppers the fixing of a strip of cork or other suitable
material or substance round the edge of a central opening formed on the bottom disc
or piece of the cap or headpiece the remainder of the said opening being filled up from
the inside of the said disc with a plug piece or disc of wood or of metal and preferably
formed with a flange in order to better retain its proper position in the said opening
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Datod thi 15th are of Tone1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor.