AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SECURING STOPPERS OR COVERS IN OR UPON BOTTLES, OR OTHER LIKE VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Ollice
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1882. A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Renauld and Marshall Bellinger Stafford both
of the City and State of New York United States of America.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SECURING STOPPERS
OR COVERS IN OR UPON BOTTLES, OR OTHER LIKE VESSELS A communication
from abroad by Charles Renauld and Marshall Bellinger Stafford both of the City
and State of New York United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved fastener for the stoppers or covers of
bottles or other vessels. It is especially applicable for use in closing the mouths
of bottles containing sparkling wines or effervescent waters.
The object of the said Invention is to obviate, in a neat and economical manner,
the necessity for securing corks in bottles and other vessels, by means of string,
wire, and the like.
For this purpose I provide a cap or cover of a size adapted to pass over the
cork and mouth of the bottle; this cap is enclosed at its upper end, and has at
opposite sides, two slots extending vertically upward from the bottom of the cap a
short distance, and then horizontally; the purpose of the cap and slots will be
explained hereinafter.
Upon the neck of a bottle, near its upper end, is usually provided a collar or
shoulder and this collar, I utilize for effecting the object of my Invention. Below
the collar I prefer to attach to, or mould with, the bottle, another collar or shoulder
forming a plain projection extending around the neck of the bottle.
Between these collars I place a ring which is made in two sections having inter-
meshing ends and provided with lugs. By means of the sections having
intermeshing ends the ring may be formed around the neck of bottles varying in
size, without the use of mechanical appliances, and without delay. It is well known
that in the manufacture of bottles the proportions of the necks and other parts
vary in some respects, and to readily adapt the ring to these varying proportious
is the purpose of constructing it in sections baving ends which intermesh. The
sections are of such size that when placed upon the neck of a bottle, they will form
a ring which will snugly fit the article, but at the same time be capable of an easy

page_text: revolving novement thereon. When the ring is formed, the lugs project outward
at right angles on each side thereof.
In the employment of my improved fastener upon a champagne bottle, after the
bottle has been filled, the cork is inserted in the usual manner and the ring applied;
after which the plunger of the bottling machine (if a machine is used) is raised
from the cork and the cap or cover before described placed over the mouth of the
bottle and pressure again applied; the slots in the lower edge of the cap slipping
down over the lugs. The cap is locked in this position by turning the ring so
that its lugs will enter the horizontal portions of the slots. When the parts are
in this position the pressure of the gas within the bottle forces the cork against
the cap, which, by drawing on the lugs, prevents the ring from turning easily and
thus the whole is locked in place. The bottle may be opened by simply turning
the ring until its lugs come opposite to the slots when the cap may be removed by
hand or will be blown away by the gas contained in the wine.
It should be particularly noted that is securing the cap upon the bottle. The
ring, not at that time having any strain upon it, may be turned by the thumb and
finger easily and without force. Thus the cork may be fastened without loss of
time and without unusual effort.