IM- PROVEMENTS IN JARS, BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR OTHER VESSELS MADE OF GLASS, EARTHENWARE, OR METAL, FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING FRUIT AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and
Birkbeck, Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN JARS, BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR OTHER VESSELS MADE OF GLASS,
EARTHENWARE, OR METAL, FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING FRUIT AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD." A communication from abroad by Alexander
Montgomery, of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1876.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JARS, BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR OTHER VESSELS
MADE OF GLASS, EARTHENWARE, OR METAL, FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING
FRUIT AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD." A communication from abroad by
Alexander Montgomery, of New York, United States of America.
According to this Invention the cover or stopper for any jar for preserving fruit,
vegetables, and other articles of food is made hollow with a small opening at the
bottom into the jar. After the jar is filled with fruit and hot syrup the cover is also
filled with hot syrup and properly applied to the jar. The cooling of the fruit syrup
or other preserving fluid condenses the volume of the heated mixture; in other jars
this condensation leaves the upper portion of the fruit or other articles of food un-
covered and mould gathers thereon, which causes loss.
In this improved jar as the cooling process progresses the inflow of syrup from
the cover furnishes a never failing self-feeding reservoir that keeps the fruit and
other articles of food in the top of the jar always covered with syrup or other
preserving fluid. The contraction leaves a vacuum in the upper interior of the
cover which renders mould or taint absolutely impossible. Fruit or other articles
of food by this means can be kept perfectly fresh and pure in any climate.
According to one method of fastening the hollow cover for securing a perfectly
tight joint the interior of the neck of the jar has three cam surfaces, inclines, or

page_text: projections, blown or formed thereon as a solid part of the jar. That part of the
cover which enters the neck of the jar has three inclines, projections, or grooves
(blown or formed solid with the cover). These inclines, projections, or grooves,
pass underneath the corresponding cam surfaces when the cover is turned.
india-rubber ring is placed on a stationary wedge or incline outside of the neck of
the jar.
The
According to another method the jar is blown with a wedge groove upon the out-
side of the neck to contain the elastic band and has a hollow-blown cover formed
with a corresponding flange, and upon the cover being placed upon the jar the outer
flange overlaps the elastic band upon the outside of the jar in a perfect wedge joint.
It also has the three cam surfaces formed in the neck of the jar and corresponding
inclined grooves upon the lower part of the blown cover, or vice versa.
According to another method the jar has a flat surface upon the outside of the top
of the jar formed to contain the elastic band. The blown hollow reservoir cover has
a corresponding flat flange which fits very securely upon the band to exclude the air
when the cover is placed on. Inclined grooves are formed upon the bottom of this
cover with the corresponding cam surfaces upon the inside neck of the jar. By
placing the cover upon the neck of the jar and turning the same as with the other
jars the inclined grooves pass beneath the cam surface, incline, or projection, drawing
the joint securely together until the fruit or other articles of food cools and a
vacuum is formed.
After placing the cover in position the act of turning it to the right will secure an
absolutely perfect air-tight joint, and one that will remain so for any number of
years, a perfect atmospheric pressure joint being formed. The vacuum in the cover
causes a pressure of the atmosphere on the outside surface of fifteen pounds to the
square inch.
There are therefore combined in each jar two absolutely perfect
methods of obtaining an air-tight joint.
To open the jar admit air into the vacuum by inserting a penknife blade or a
pin between the india-rubber and the cover, when the cover can be turned and
readily removed.
The reservoir cover is advantageously made of blown glass (well worked and
annealed before being blown) and much stronger than pressed glass, flat pressed
glass lids or flat covers being liable to crack as well as warp.
For preserving butter the reservoir cover is filled with a salt brine which cannot
evaporate (glass not being porous) and always keeps the butter well covered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Garret Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
May 1877.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JARS, BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR OTHER VESSELS MADE
OF GLASS, EARTHENWARE, OR METAL, FOR CONTAINING AND PRESERVING FRUIT
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD." A communication from abroad by Alexander
Montgomery, of New York, United States of America.
According to this Invention the cover or stopper for any jar for preserving fruit,
vegetables, and other articles of food is made hollow with a small opening at the
bottom into the jar. After the jar is filled with fruit and hot syrup the hollow
cover or stopper is also filled with hot syrup and properly applied to the jar. The
cooling of the fruit, syrup, or other preserving fluid condenses the volume of the
heated mixture; in other jars this condensation leaves the upper portion of the fruit
or other articles of food uncovered and mould gathers thereon which causes loss.
In this improved jar as the cooling process progresses the inflow of syrup from

page_text: the cover furnishes a never failing self-feeding reservoir that keeps the fruit or other
articles of food in the top of the jar always covered with syrup or other preserving
fluid. The contraction leaves a vacuum in the upper interior of the cover which
renders mould or taint absolutely impossible. Fruit or other articles of food can by
this means be kept perfectly fresh and pure in any climate.
According to one method of fastening the hollow cover or stopper for securing a
perfectly tight joint the interior of the neck of the jar has two, three, or more
cam surfaces, inclines, or projections blown or formed thereon as a solid part of the
jar. That part of the cover which enters the neck of the jar has two, three, or more.
inclines, projections, or grooves corresponding in number with those on the jar
(blown or formed solid with the cover). These inclines, projections, or grooves pass
underneath the corresponding cam surfaces when the cover is turned. An india-
rubber ring is placed on a stationary wedge or incline outside of the neck of the jar.
According to another method the jar is blown with a wedge groove upon the out-
side of the neck to contain the elastic band and has a hollow blown cover or stopper
formed with a corresponding flange, and upon the cover or stopper being placed
upon the jar the outer flange overlaps the elastic band upon the outside of the jar in
a perfect wedge joint. It also has the cam surfaces or projections formed in the
neck of the jar, and corresponding inclined grooves upon the lower part of the
blown cover, or vice versa.
According to another method the jar has a flat surface upon the outside of the
top of the jar formed to contain the elastic band. The blown hollow reservoir cover
or stopper has a corresponding flat flange which fits very securely upon the band to
exclude the air when the cover is placed on. Inclined grooves are formed upon the
bottom of this cover with the corresponding cam surfaces upon the inside neck of
the jar. By placing the cover upon the neck of the jar and turning the same as
with the other jars previously described, the inclined grooves pass beneath the cam
surfaces, inclines, or projections, drawing the joint securely together until the fruit
or other articles of food cools and a vacuum is formed.
After placing the cover or stopper in position the act of turning it to the right
will secure an absolutely perfect air-tight joint and one that will remain so for any
number of years, a perfect atmospheric pressure joint being formed. The vacuum
in the cover causes a pressure of the atmosphere on the outside surface of fifteen
pounds to the square inch. There are therefore combined in each jar two absolutely
secure methods of obtaining an air-tight joint.
And in order that the Invention may be clearly understood, and readily per-
formed or carried into practice, I will describe one form of jar arranged and con-
structed in accordance with this Invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section; Figure 2, a plan of the jar with the cover or stopper
removed; Figure 3, an under side view of the hollow cover or stopper; and Figure 4
a side view of the same.
a is a jar for containing preserved fruit, vegetables, or other articles of food; bis
the hollow cover or stopper; and c is an india-rubber ring interposed between the
two for the purpose of forming an air-tight joint as previously described; a³, a¹, are
projections or inclines formed in the inner circumference of the neck of the jar a, and
6', 6', are projections or inclines formed on the outer circumference of the lower part
of the hollow stopper, so formed as to pass down between the projections a¹, a¹, and
then by turning the hollow stopper partly round the projections 61, 61, pass under the
projections a¹, a³, to secure the stopper firmly in the neck of the jar, the india-rubber
ring c being thus nipped between the neck of the jar and the stopper to make an
air-tight joint.
The form of the neck of the jar and stopper may be varied as previously described.
without departing from the true character of this Invention.

page_text: In order to open the jar air is admitted into the vacuum by inserting a penknife
blade or a pin between the india-rubber and the glass, when the cover can be turned
and readily removed.
The reservoir cover is advantageously made of blown glass (well worked and
annealed before, being blown) being much stronger than pressed glass, flat pressed
glass lids or flat covers being liable to crack as well as warp.
For preserving butter the reservoir cover or stopper is filled with a salt brine
which cannot evaporate (glass not being porous) and always keeps the butter well
covered.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, what I claim under the above in part recited
.Letters Patent is the improved formation, arrangement, and construction of jars for
containing and preserving fruit, vegetables, and other articles of food, combined
.with hollow stoppers for containing a supply of syrup, brine, or other fluid, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.S.)