IMPROVED DEVICES FOR STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Jules Theodore Wild, of Arbuthnot Road, Peckham,
in the County of Surrey for an Invention of "IMPROVED DEVICES FOR
STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR OTHER LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Jules Theodore Wild
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1882.
18
ALBERT JULES THEODORE WILD, of Arbuthnot Road, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, IMPROVED DEVICES FOR STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES CONTAINING
AËRATED OR OTHER LIQUIDS
"
My Invention relates to the stoppering or closing of bottles containing aërated
or other liquids, and is designed to provide improved devices for this purpose
whereby the mouth of a bottle may be closed so as to prevent the access of air to
the interior, the said devices being so constructed and arranged that both the
closing and the opening can be effected very quickly, and with the utmost facility.
It is well known that in most of the arrangements heretofore in use for stoppering
bottles, india-rubber or some compound thereof, has been used either upon the
stopper itself, or at some point in the neck of the bottle with which the stopper
comes in contact, and it is also well known that such material, although advan-
tageous for making an air-tight joint, is highly objectionable when used in
connection with vessels containing liquids intended to be drunk, as the india-rubber
almost invariably imparts an objectionable taste to the liquid.
According to my Invention I am enabled to entirely dispense with the use of
india-rubber or any analogous material, and at the same time to produce a stopper
which will act in quite as efficient a manner for the purpose of excluding air; but
I desire it to be understood that I may, if found desirable, in some cases employ
india-rubber in combination with my improved stopper, although whenever I do
make use thereof it will be in such a manner that the liquid will not come in
contact with the same.
In carrying my Invention into practice, I make the bottle in such a manner that
the internal surface of the neck has several projections, between each two of which

page_text: there is a clear space through which studs, pins, or projections on the stopper are
intended to pass when the latter is inserted or removed, as hereinafter described.
These projections are formed when the bottle is made and consist of protruding
parts of the glass or other material. There may be any suitable number thereof,
but I find in practice that three are sufficient, and they must be situated at equal
distances apart; their position in the neck is about an inch more or less from the
mouth or top of the bottle. I provide a stopper preferably made of the same
material as the bottle, and which has a large flat circular head and a cylindrical
shank, the latter being designed to pass into the neck of the bottle and the former
to rest upon the mouth. The edge of this head may be roughened or milled to
facilitate the manipulation of the same. The said cylindrical shank is made of two
diameters, t is to say, the lower part farthest from the head is of a smaller
diameter than the remainder, and upon this reduced part of the shank there are
projections which correspond in number with the spaces between the neck-
projections, and are of such a size that they will conveniently pass through the
same. These stopper-projections extend from the periphery of the reduced part of
the shank just far enough for their extremity to be flush with the surface or
periphery of the larger part of the said shank, in order that a hollow cylinder
of cork may be readily passed over them onto the said larger part. This cylinder
of cork is made of such dimensions that it will closely fit the larger part of the
shank and entirely surround the same, and I prefer that it shall very slightly
project beyond the lower end thereof over the upper part of the reduced portion,
so that when the stopper is pressed home, and secured, the cork will be somewhat
compressed. The upper part of the cork cylinder extends quite up to the head,
and in some cases an annular channel may be provided in the lower face of the said
head, the cork cylinder entering and filling up this channel. I prefer that the
upper end of the shank shall be made slightly conical or curved so that the portion
thereof next the head is of rather larger diameter than any other portion. The
cork cylinder is firmly cemented to the portion of the shank which it surrounds so
as as to be practically a part thereof.
When it is desired to close the bottle, the said stopper is inserted within the
neck in such a manner that the projections at the end of the said stopper pass
through the spaces between the projections in the neck; then, by manipulating the
head, the stopper is rotated either to the right hand or left hand so that the
projections on the shank will pass under the projections in the neck and
the whole will be firmly held together, the closure being perfectly air-tight by
reason of the cork which is firmly compressed against the inner sides or walls of
the neck, and against the upper parts of the neck-projections, and over, and slightly
into, the spaces or apertures between the same. When it is desired to unclose the
bottle it is simply necessary to rotate the head of the stopper in such a manner
that the projections on the latter will be brought opposite to, or coincide with, the
spaces, whereupon the said stopper may be withdrawn with the utmost facility.
I prefer that the projections in the neck shall be so made that their two ends or
edges shall be inclined in such a manner that the projections on the end of the
stopper will not pass straight through the spaces but will pass at an angle
necessitating a slight rotation of the stopper as they travel, and thus providing a
screw action which will facilitate the tightening of the stopper when being pressed
into its position for closing the bottle.
In some cases I may, if found desirable, provide an annular rib or flange below
the projections and spaces in the neck, upon which the projections on the stopper
will slide and rest.
If found desirable in any case, may provide an india-rubber ring between the
under face of the head, and the unner edge or month of the bottle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Albert Jules Theodore Wild in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th March 1883.
ALBERT JULES THEODORE WILD, of Arbuthnot Road, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey "IMPROVED DEVICES FOR STOPPERING OR CLOSING BOTTLES CONTAINING
AERATED OR OTHER LIQUIDS'
"
My Invention relates to the stoppering or closing of bottles containing äerated
or other liquids and is designed to provide improved devices for this purpose
whereby the mouth of a bottle may be closed so as to prevent the access of air to
the interior, the said devices being so constructed and arranged that both the
closing and the opening can be effected very quickly and with the utmost facility.
It is well known that in most of the arrangements heretofore in use for stop-
pering bottles india-rubber or some compound thereof has been used for ensuring
an air-tight closing of the bottle; the india-rubber being placed either upon the
stopper itself or in some part of the neck of the bottle with which the stopper
comes in contact; it is also well known that such material although advantageous
for making an air-tight joint, is highly objectionable when used in connection
with vessels containing liquids intended to be drunk as the india-rubber, is exposed
to contact with the liquid and almost invariably imparts an objectionable taste to
the same.
According to my Invention I, in some cases, dispense with the use of india-rubber
or any analogous material and at the same time produce a stopper which will act
in quite as efficient a manner for the purpose of excluding air; and in other cases
I employ india-rubber in combination with my improved stopper in such a manner
that the liquid will not come in contact with the saine.
In carrying my Invention into practice I construct the bottle and stopper in
either of the forms illustrated in the drawing in which.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bottle with the stopper fitted therein.
Figure 1 is a section on the line x x Figure 1.
Figure 2 is an elevation and
Figure 3 a plan of the stopper separate from the bottle.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of another form or modification of my improved
bottle and stopper.
Figure 5 is a similar view of another modification of the same.
&
Figure 6 is a plan or top view of Figure 5.
Figure 6 is a section on the line y y Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the same.
Figures 8, 9 10 shew a top view side view and section of a modified form, of
stopper.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The bottle shewn in Figure 1 has inside its neck projections or ribs a; through
the space b between the seribs, studs, pins, or projections on the stopper care intended
to pass when the latter is inserted or removed as herein after described; these
projections a are formed in the manufacture of the bottle and consist of protruding
parts of the glass or other material of which the stopper is formed. There may be
any suitable number thereof, but I find in practice that two are sufficient. If there
are more than two they should be situated at equal distances apart. The stopper c
is preferably made of the same material as the bottle and has a flat circular head c¹
and a cylindrical shank or stem c², the latter being designed to pass into the neck
of this bottle and the former to rest upon the mouth. The edge of this head c¹
Stopper.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The bottle shewn in Figure 1 has inside its neck projections or ribs a; through
the space b between the seribs, studs, pins, or projections on the stopper care intended
to pass when the latter is inserted or removed as herein after described; these
projections a are formed in the manufacture of the bottle and consist of protruding
parts of the glass or other material of which the stopper is formed. There may be
any suitable number thereof, but I find in practice that two are sufficient. If there
are more than two they should be situated at equal distances apart. The stopper c
is preferably made of the same material as the bottle and has a flat circular head c
and a cylindrical shank or stem c², the latter being designed to pass into the neck
of this bottle and the former to rest upon the mouth. The edge of this head c¹

page_text: may be roughened or milled to facilitate the manipulation of the same. The said
cylindrical shank c² has on it the aforesaid projections which are shewn at c³ and
are of such a size that they will conveniently pass through the space b. These
stopper projections care of such extent that their outer surfaces are flush, or
nearly so, with the surface or periphery of the part of the said shank so that a
hollow cylinder or ring d of cork which is fitted tightly on this part c may be
readily passed over the said projections c³ onto the said part c'. I prefer that the
said cork ring shall very slightly project beyond the lower end of the part c¹ so
that when the stopper is pressed home and secured in the bottle the cork will be
somewhat compressed by and against the shoulder e formed in the neck and will
thus be caused to fit tightly in and all around the neck above this shoulder. The
upper surface of the said cork ring or cylinder & bears against the under surface
of the head c¹, and in some cases an annular groove or channel may be provided
therein for the reception of the cork. I prefer that the upper part of the shank c²
shall be made with a slight taper or curve to ensure its fitting tightly at this part
in the neck. The said cork ring or cylinder is firmly cemented to the portion of
the shank which it surrounds so as to be practically a part thereof. The projections
of the neck and stopper may be formed at an angle or inclination instead of being
parallel to the axis of the same as shewn.
When it is desired to close the bottle the said stopper is inserted within the
neck in such a manner that the projections c³ of the said stopper pass through the
space b between the projections a in the neck; then the stopper is rotated either
to the right or left hand so that the projections c³ on the shank will pass under
projections a in the neck; the stopper will thus be securely held in place, the
closure being perfectly air tight by reason of the cork which is firmly compressed
against the inner surface of the neck and against the flange e and neck-projections,
and over,
and slightly into, the spaces or apertures between the same. When it is
desired to open the bottle it is simply necessary to rotate the stopper in such a
manner that the projections c³ on the latter will be brought opposite to, or coincide
with, the space b; the said stopper is thereby released and will come freely out of
the bottle.
In Figure 4 I have shewn a modification of my Invention wherein the stopper
is arranged to drop within the bottle instead of being taken out of it in opening
the same and wherein the bottle neck and stopper are united by means of spiral,
instead of straight, projections and grooves or spaces.
In this case the head, c¹
projects downward in the bottle neck and a ring or cylinder of india-rubber or the
like is fitted and secured on the stopper in such a manner that in closing the bottle
it will be drawn tight against the conical portion f of the neck and compressed
between the same and the head. It will be seen that the said ring will not be
exposed to contact with the liquid.
In the modification shewn in Figure 5 the stopper is also arranged to drop
within the bottle in opening the same; in this case the neck has the projections a
and space b at its top or outer end. When the bottle is closed the projections c³ of
the stopper are turned to coincide with, and rest upon, the projections a; to open
the bottle the said projections c³ are turned to coincide with the space band will
then pass through the latter as above described. The elastic ring d is arranged in
close proximity to the head c¹ and when the bottle is closed is compressed
between the surfaces of the stopper and the neck. The stopper shewn in
Figures 8 9 10 (which may be used with the bottles shewn in Figures 4
and 5) has a recess in the head for the insertion of a key to facilitate its
manipulation.
I provide for retaining the stopper (when the bottle is opened) in the lower part
of the neck by forming the bottle as shewn in Figures 4, 5. or 7, that is to say, I
form on two opposite sides of the neck internal projections as shewn at g, and at
the lower end of these projections the space or opening is contracted by a circular
rib or flange as shewn at h so that the stopper, when it falls from its place, will be
retained by, and rest on, this contracted portion but without closing the aperture

page_text: thereat so that the bottle may be readily refilled and the stopper restored to its
place to close the bottle.
Having thus fully described iny said Invention and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that I
do not claim generally, or otherwise than as part of the specific and particular
combinations above described, the use of cork or other elastic material applied to
the stopper or neck of a bottle, or the employment of a stopper arranged to drop
into the bottle and be retained in the neck or part adjacent to the same but
1 claim
First. The stoppering device consisting of a stopper provided with cork or other
suitable material (other than india-rubber or its compounds), and formed with
projections arranged to act in combination with the projections and space in the
neck of the bottle in opening and closing the same, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Second. The modification in the form of the stopper and neck substantially as
described with reference to Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the Drawings whereby the
stopper is arranged to drop within the bottle substantially as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Third. In combination with the stopper and neck, shewn in Figure 5 the ring of
india-rabber or the like arranged to ensure the air-tight closing of the bottle
without being exposed to contact with its contents as above set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the stoppering devices illustrated wherein the
stopper is arranged to drop within the bottle, the provision for retaining the
said stopper in or near the neck when the bottle is open, substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Albert Jules Theodore Wild have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Tenth day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
חזוד
ALBERT, JULES, THEODORE WILD
(4.S.)