IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER RECEPTACLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Warren Bird, junior, of St. Sampson's, Guernsey,
Shipbroker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES."
Sealed the 30th January 1880, and dated the 1st August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Warren Bird at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1879.
WILLIAM WARREN BIRD, junior, of St. Sampson's, Guernsey, Shipbroker.
PROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER RECEPTACLES.*
"IM-
This Invention, which relates to the means of stoppering or closing bottles and
other receptacles which require a similar closure of their contents, comprises various
modifications, some of which are only applicable to bottles of a special construction,
and others of which are applicable to bottles of ordinary makes; whilst others have
especial reference to improvements upon certain modifications (illustrated. in
Figures 1, 2, 2, 3, and 5 of the Drawings accompanying the Specification) of the
Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to Nicholas Domaille and Peter
Collas on the 10th day of October, A.D. 1870, No. 2679, with the object of
rendering the stoppers, comprised within such modifications more serviceable and
more suitable for general use with either aërated or non-aörated waters, or other>
gaseous or non-gaseous liquids.
In constructing stoppers according to the modifications firstly hereinbefore
referred to, they are formed in such a manner as that they require to be gently
pushed down within the neck of the bottle and then turned partly round in order
to be firmly held by inner projecting segments or parts within the neck of the
bottle; these segments admitting of the stopper being pressed down within the
neck as far as is necessary or desirable previous to its being turned, but preventing
the-stopper being withdrawn or forced out by-the-gaseous one
bottle after it has been thus turned or until it is turned back
position as will allow of it being withdrawn from between the said segments.
a
To allow of this being done the head of the stopper (that is, the part thereof
which projects beyond the mouth of the bottle when the stopper is in position in
the neck thereof) is formed of a broad flattened or other suitable shape, which will

page_text: allow of its being readily taken hold of. for the purposes of placing, turning, and
removing the stopper as above referred to, the lower part of the head being enlarged
or formed so as to fit over or rest on the neck of the bottle. Below this enlarged
part or rim the body of the stopper (that is, the part thereof which is inserted into
the mouth of the bottle) is made preferably of a slightly tapering or conical shape
and of a much less diameter, and around this conical part is placed a washer of
india rubber, cork, or other suitable material. The body of the stopper extends
below the washer, and at its extremity is formed club-shaped or with projections
at opposite sides, so that one diameter of this part is less than another at right
angles thereto. . It will thus be seen that this allows of the stopper, when held in a
certain position with 'respect to the segments within the neck of the bottle, being
inserted into and withdrawn from the neck of a bottle formed, as above referred to,
with opposite inner projecting segments or parts which narrow the neck in one
diameter but not in another, whilst it prevents the stopper being removed or forced
out after it has been turned.so as to bring the projections of its body under the
projections within the neck of the bottle.
According to another method of carrying the same principle into effect (and
which is preferred to that just described, in which the stopper is made in one piece)
the stopper is formed of two parts, one of which turns within the other, the turning
part being provided with the broad flattened or other suitably shaped holding part
at the top and with the club-shaped or projecting and retaining parts at the bottom,
and-being provided with a washer to prevent any escape of gas from within the
bottle between the two parts of which the stopper is formed; and the other of
which is provided with the enlarged part or rim which rests on the neck of the
bottle and with the washer which fits' against 'the neck of the bottle, and below
which washer it projects and is formed so as to fit between the said inner projecting
segments or parts within the neck of the bottle, which hold this part of the stopper
in position whilst the inner part is being turned by hand to the position which
-will-prevent-its-withdrawal or its being forced out as above described.
The stoppers comprised within the modifications just described may be secured
to the bottle by means of a chain or otherwise, as hereinafter.described.
In constructing, stoppers according to the modifications secondly hereinafter
referred to they are made of a slightly tapering or conical form, the head being
made of any suitable shape which will allow of a good hold being taken of it both
in placing it in or removing it from the neck of, the, bottle, and the body being
formed with one or more surrounding recesses, in which a washer or washers, of
india rubber, cork, or other suitable material is or are placed, and which, when
pressed firmly into the neck of the bottle, effectually prevents the escape of the
liquid or contents from within the latter.. Stoppers thus formed have such a firm
hold that any necessity for the use of a wire for securing the stopper in the neck of
the bottle is dispensed with.
As mentioned with respect to the previously described modifications these
stoppers may also be secured to the bottle, by means of a chain or otherwise, as.
hereinafter described.
12
With respect to the stoppers comprised within the modifications thirdly herein-
before referred to the following improvements have been designed with the objects
of rendering the stoppers comprised within the above mentioned inodifications of
the said Letters Patent..more serviceable, and more suitable for general use, a
and
more easily, and securely, fastened to the necks of the bottles to prevent them being
mislaid or lost, and with the especial object of enabling them to be made of glass,
which greatly simplifies, and reduces the cost of, manufacture, and of which in the
forms as at present made it has not been considered advantageous to make them
"
it's
In constructing stoppers according to these inodifications the head of the stopper
is formed of a more approximately semi-spherical form than those illustrated, in
the said Drawings, with the objects of affording a safer resting surface, for the wire
which serves to secure the stopper in position in the neck of the bottle, and of,
dispensing with the score or notch and the spring at the top of the stopper, and so
19

page_text: as to allow of the stopper being more readily removed from the bottle. And the
body of the stopper is formed of a conical shape or with a surrounding conical
recess instead of a cylindrical shape as such stoppers have heretofore been made,
the conical body or recess being fitted with a washer of india-rubber, cork, or other
suitable material, with the objects of ensuring a tighter fit in the neck of the bottle
and a better closure of the contents, and of dispensing-with-the-two-washers (one
of which, formed of cork, entered within the neck of the bottle, and the other of
which rested upon the neck thereof) with which such stoppers have been heretofore
provided.
In order to secure such stoppers (and others, such as those herein before described)
to the necks of bottles to prevent them from being mislaid or lost a slight inden-
tation is formed around the head of the stopper, or it is formed with one or more
recesses, holes, or projections which will allow of a wire band or chain being
inserted therein or fastened thereto and formed with an eyelet or slot in lieu of the
eyeletted wire pin running through the stopper, as described in the said Speci-
fication, and through which is passed or to which is connected the chain, wire, or
other means by which the stopper is secured to the metallic ring under the outer
shoulder with which the bottle is provided.
All the above stoppers may be used for or in bottling with ordinary knee or rack
machines; in the one case the stopper has to be detached from the bottle, and in
the other it remains as secured.
All the above stoppers may be made of glass, or of lignum-vitæ, or any other
wood, or of china, ebonite, earthenware, stone, metal, or any other suitable material,
and either glazed, polished, enamelled, or otherwise prepared or finished,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Warren Bird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
January 1880.
WILLIAM WARREN BIRD, junior, of St. Sampson's, Guernsey, Shipbroker.
PROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER RECEPTACLES."
"IM-
This Invention, which relates to the means of stoppering or closing bottles and other
receptacles which require a similar closure of their contents,, comprises, various
modifications, some of which are only applicable to bottles of a special construction,
and others of which are especially applicable to jars, being also applicable to bottles
of ordinary makes; whilst another has especial reference to improvements upon
certain modifications; illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 22, 3, and 5 of the Drawings
accompanying the Specification of the Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to Nicholas Domaille and Peter Collas on the 10th day of October, A.D.
1870, No. 2679, with the object of rendering the stoppers comprised within such
modifications more serviceable and more suitable for general use with either aerated
or non-aërated waters or other gaseous or non gaseous liquids.
The modifications to which reference is firstly herein before made are illustrated
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings in Figures 1 to 5, of which Figures 1 to 4
represent sectional elevations of the bottles with the stoppers in position, Figure 5
representing a plan view of the mouth end or neck of the bottle.
In constructing stoppers according to these modifications they are formed in such
a manner as that they require to be gently pushed down within the neck of the
bottle and then turned partly around in order to be firmly held by inner projecting
segments or parts within the neck of the bottle, these segments admitting of the
-stopper-being-pressed down within the neck as far as is necessary or desirable
previous to its being turned, but preventing the stopper from being withdrawn or
forced out by the gaseous pressure within the bottle after it has been thus turned
back or onward to such a position as will allow of it being withdrawn from between
the said segments.
To allow of this being done, reference now being had to Figures 1 and 2, the
upper part 1 of the head of the stopper (that is, the part thereof which projects
beyond the mouth of the bottle when the stopper is in position in the neck thereof)
is formed of a broad, flattened, or other suitable shape, which will allow of its being
readily taken hold of for the purposes of placing, turning, and removing the stopper,
as above referred to, the lower part 2 of the head being enlarged or formed so as
to fit over or rest on the top edge 3 of the neck of the bottle. Below this enlarged
part or rim 2 the upper part 4 of the body of the stopper (that is, the part of the
latter which is inserted into the mouth of the bottle) is made preferably of a
slightly tapering or conical shape and of a much less diameter than the rim 2, and
around this conical part is placed a washer 5, preferably of india-rubber. The
extension 6 of the body of the stopper below the washer 5 is formed at its
extremity 7 club-shaped or with projections at opposite sides, so that one
diameter at this part is less than another at right angles thereto, as will be seen on.
comparing Figures 1 and 2 together. It will thus be seen that this allows of the
stopper when held in a certain position with respect to the peculiarly formed mouth
of the bottle, as indicated in Figure 2, being inserted into and withdrawn from the
neck of a bottle formed, as above referred to, with opposite inner projecting seg-
ments or parts 8, which, as indicated in Figure 5, narrow the neck in one diameter
but not in another, whilst it prevents the stopper from being removed or forced out
after it has been turned so as to bring its projections 7 under the projections 8 of
the bottle.
According to another method of carrying the same principle into effect, reference
now being had to Figures 3 and 4, and which I consider more advantageous in its
."

page_text: application than that just described, in which the stopper is made in one piece,,the
stopper is made or formed of, two parts, one of which turns within the other, the
turning part being provided with the broad, flattened, or other suitably shaped
holding part 1.at the top, and with the club-shaped, or projecting and retaining
parts, 7 at the bottom, and being provided with a washer, 9 to prevent any escape
of gas from within the bottle between the two parts of which the stopper is formed;
and the other of which is provided-with the enlarged part or rim 2..which rests on
the top edge 3 of the neck of the bottle, and, with the washer 5 which fits against
the neck of the bottle, and below which washer it projects and is formed as indicated
at 10, so as to fit between the segments 8.of the bottle, so as to be thus held whilst
the inner, part is being turned by hand to the position indicated most clearly in
Figure 3, which will prevent its withdrawal or its being forced, out as above
described.
1
The stoppers comprised within the modifications just described may be secured
to the, bottle by means of a chain, or, otherwise, as, hereinafter described with
reference to Figure.9.
In constructing stoppers according to the modifications, secondly hereinbefore
referred to, and which are illustrated in elevation in Figures 6, to 8, they are made
of a, slightly tapering or conical form, the head 1 being made of any, suitable, shape
which will allow of a good hold being taken of it both in placing it in or removing
it from the neck of the bottle, and the body 4 being formed with one or more
surrounding recesses 11, in which a washer or washers 5 of india rubber, cork,. or
other. suitable material is or are placed, and which; when pressed firmly, into the
neck of the jar or bottle, effectually prevents the escape of the liquid or, contents
from within the latter.
Stoppers, thus formed have such a firm hold that any necessity for, the use of
wire for securing them in the neck of the jar or bottle is dispensed with.
.As, mentioned with reference to the, previously described modifications.these
stoppers may also be secured to the jars, or bottles by means of a chain or otherwise,
as hereinafter described with reference to Figure 9.
With reference to the stopper comprised.,within the modification thirdly herein-
before referred to the following improvements have been designed with the objects
of rendering the stoppers comprised within the above mentioned modifications of
the said Letters Patent more serviceable and more suitable for general use, and
more easily and securely fastened to the necks of the bottles to prevent them from
being mislaid or lost, and with the especial object of enabling them to be made of
glass, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacture, and of which,
in the forms illustrated in the above mentioned Figures of the said Drawings, as
at present made it has not been considered advantageous to make them.
In constructing stoppers according to this modification, which is illustrated in
the sectional elevations, Figures 9 and 10; the head 1 of the stopper is form of a more
approximately semi-spherical form than those illustrated in the said Drawings, with
the objects of affording a safer resting surface for the wire 12, which serves to secure
the stopper in position in the neck of the bottle, and of dispensing with the score or
notch and the spring at the top of the stopper, and so as to allow of the stopper
being more readily removed from the bottle; and the body 4 of the stopper is
formed of a conical shape, or with a surrounding conical recess 11, instead of of a
cylindrical shape, as such stoppers have been heretofore made, the conical body or
recess 11 being fitted with a washer 5 of india-rubber, cork, or other suitable
material, with the objects of ensuring a tighter fit in the neck of the bottle and a
better closure of the contents, and of dispensing with the two washers (one of which,
formed of cork, entered within, and the other of which rested upon the neck of the
bottle) with which such stoppers have been heretofore provided:
In order to secure such stoppers (and others, such as those herein before described)
to the necks of bottles to prevent them from being mislaid or lost a slight inden-
tation or groove 13 is formed around the head of the stopper, or it is formed with
one or more equivalent recesses, holes, or projections, which will allow of a band,

page_text: chain, or wire 14 being inserted therein or fastened thereto, and formed with an
eyelet 15 or slot in lieu of the eyeleted wire-pin running through the stopper, as
described in the said Specification, and through which is passed or to which is
connected the chain 16, wire, or other means by which the stopper is secured to
the usual metallic ring 17 under the outer shoulder 18 with which the bottle is
¡provided.
All the above stoppers may be used for or in bottling with ordinary knee or rack
machines: in the one case the stopper has to be detached from the bottle, and in
the other.it remains as secured.
All the above stoppers may be made of glass or of lignum-vitæ, or of other
suitable wood, or of china, ebonite, earthenware, stone, or any other suitable
material, either glazed, polished, enamelled, or otherwise prepared or finished.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,
1. Constructing and applying stoppers for bottles and other receptacles in such a
way as that they require to be gently pushed down within the neck of the bottle
and then turned partly around in order to be firmly held by inner projecting
segments or parts formed within the neck of the bottle, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
2. Constructing and applying stoppers for jars, bottles, and other receptacles of
a slightly tapering or conical form, having surrounding recesses fitted with washers,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
•
3. Constructing and applying stoppers (for bottles and other receptacles) of the
kind illustrated in the above referred to Figures of the Drawings accompanying
the Specification of the above named Letters Patent, No. 2679/70, with the improve-
ments herein before-described-with-reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Warren Bird, junior, have hereunto,
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty