Improvements in Capsule Stoppers for Bottles and the like, Applicable also to Capsules or Coverings for Jars and similar Receptacles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application. 6th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Dec., 1888
Improvements in Capsule Stoppers for Bottles and the like,
Applicable also to Capsules or Coverings for Jars and similar
Receptacles.
1 WILLIAM ROCKWELL CLOUGH of the City county and state of New York in the
United States of America at present of the American Exchange 449 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:—
This Invention relates more especially to improvements upon the invention for
which Letters Patent were granted to me No. 15419 dated December 15th 1885,
which consisted of a capsule having a central opening provided with a dependent
plain, dentated, or corrugated flange for embracing the cork and also provided with
a dependent flange on the outside, which passed over the neck of the bottle, for
facilitating the removal of the same. It further relates to improvements in capsules
or coverings for jars and similar receptacles.
The object of my invention is to provide means for attaching the above mentioned
capsule stoppers to bottles and similar receptacles and also for attaching capsules or
Coverings to jars and the like.
The nature of the improvements as constructed according to my invention is as
follows:-
:-
The outer dependent flange of the capsule stopper or capsule is provided at its edge
with internal projections, (I prefer to use two, one on either side) and corresponding
nicks or grooves are made on the exterior of the bottle neck with which said
projections engage when the capsule is pressed down the outer dependent flange
being preferably made flexible or elastic for that purpose or instead of nicks or
grooves in the bottle neck I may employ a continuous annular ridge or projection. In
order to remove the capsule stopper or capsule it is only necessary to turn the same
by means of the outer flange, when the projections will pass out of the nicks or slots
and the capsule is free to be removed. I prefer to make the above mentioned outer
flange slightly larger than the bottle neck and to compress those portions of its

page_text: circumference upon which the internal projections are formed, thus producing an
elliptical shape, so as to cause said projections to grip the bottle neck when applied
and spring into the nicks or grooves, or over the annular ridge when same is employed
the said sides expanding when the capsule is turned for the purpose of removal so that
the projections may ride up the nicks or grooves onto the rounded part of the bottle neck.
Or in lieu of turning the capsule it may be removed by simply compressing those
portions of its circumference farthest removed from the internal projections, thus
causing the outer flange to expand sufficiently to free the projections from the nicks
or grooves, which method of removal would be necessary where an annular ridge or
projection is used instead of the nicks or grooves.
Various modifications of my invention may be employed, for instance instead of
a flange encircling the bottle neck and provided with internal projections, I may
employ two or more dependent clips upon the capsule stopper or capsule provided
with internal projections at their extremities, or instead of nicks in the bottle neck and
projections on the capsule, the flange of the capsule stopper or capsule may be provided
with slots or openings with which engage projections on the bottle neck, said
projections merging into the curve of the bottle neck at their extremities so as to pass
freely in and out of the slots when the capsule is turned. Or horizontal slits may be
made in the outer flange and the portion below the slits bent in so as to engage
with the nicks or grooves in the bottle neck or an annular ridge or projection thereon,
the capsule being in this case first applied to the bottle and the portions below the
slits then bent into the nicks or grooves, or under the annular ridge when same is
employed. To remove the capsule, when the nicks or grooves are employed, a simple
turn is sufficient, but when the bottle neck is provided with an annular rim the bont
in portion must be opened out by any suitable means.
It will be readily understood that the above arrangements may be applied to
capsule stoppers, capsules and covers for all kinds of bottles, jars, boxes and similar
receptacles.
D
1
הר
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Capsule Stoppers for Bottles and the like,
Applicable also to Capsules or Coverings for Jars and similar
Receptacles.
I, WILLIAM ROCKWELL CLOUGH of the City County and State of New York in the
United States of America, at prosent of the American Exchange 449 Strand in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in capsule stoppers for bottles jars and
similar receptacles and consists essentially in providing improved and simple means
whereby such capsule stoppers and capsules may be securely attached to the bottles,
jars and other receptacles to which they are applied and yet readily removed without
being injured when desired.
According to my invention I make the dependent flange of the capsule stopper or
capsule which passes over the outside of the bottle neck (or over the exterior of the
jar or like receptacle as the case may be) elastic, and provide its edge with internally
projecting lugs (by preference two, one on each side). These lugs engage with
corresponding nicks or grooves cut transversely in each side of the bottle neck or
lip, the elastic flange permitting them to spring into such nicks or grooves when the
capsule stopper or capsule is pressed home. Or in lieu of nicks or grooves I may
employ the ordinary ridge or bead which encircles a bottle neck the elasticity of the
flange permitting the internally projecting lugs to spring over such ridge or bead
and engage with its underside. The said elastic dependent flange should be of rather
larger diameter than the bottle neck and those portions of its circumference upon
which the internal lugs are formed should be somewhat compressed thus producing
a slightly elliptical form and causing the lugs to grip the bottle neck or lip when
the capsule stopper or capsule is applied and spring into the nicks or grooves (or over
the annular ridge or bead) when pressed home.
The capsule stopper or capsule may be readily removed by simply compressing
those portions of its circumference farthest removed from the internally projecting
Jugs, when the elastic flange will be caused to expand sufficiently to free the lugs
from the nicks or grooves or from the annular ridge or bead as the case may be.
Or where the lugs engage with nicks or grooves the capsule stopper or capsule may
be removed if desired by giving it a slight turn which will cause the lugs to pass
out of the nicks and ride up on to the round portion of the bottle neck thus leaving
the capsule free to be removed.
Various modifications of my invention may be employed for instance in lieu of
the elastic dependent flange I may provide the capsule stopper or capsule with two
or more (by preference two) dependent elastic clips having internally projecting lugs
at their lower extremities also in lieu of internally projecting lugs on the elastic
flange such flange may be provided with slots or openings formied longitudinally

page_text: therein with which slots engage projections or lugs formed on the bottle neck such
projections or lugs preferably merging into the curve of the neck at their extremities
-so-as to pass freely in and out of the slots in the elastic flange should it be desired
to remove the capsule by turning. The internally projecting lugs upon the dependent
flange may be formed in any convenient manner such as by bending inwards small
tongues formed on the edge of the elastic flange but I prefer to form such lugs by
cutting horizontal slits in the dependent flange and then forcing inwards the portions
immediately below such slits.
In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a capsule stopper having my improved elastic
dependent outer flange provided with internally projecting lugs.
Figure 2 is a plan of the underside thereof.
Figure 3 illustrates the application of the above to a bottle the neck of which is
provided with nicks or grooves.
Figure 4 illustrates the application thereof to a bottle the neck of which is provided
with a continuous annular ridge or bead.
Figure 5 illustrates a capsule stopper living dependent elastic or flexible clips
provided with internally projecting lugs.
Figure 6 illustrates the application of my invention to an ordinary capsule.
Figure 7 is a plan thereof.
Figure 8 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the dependent elastic flange is
provided with slots in lieu of internally projecting lugs.
Figure 9 illustrates the above mentioned modification applied to a bottle neck.
Figure 10 is a plan of the bottle neck with the capsule removed shewing more
clearly the projecting lugs formed thereon.
Referring to figures 1 2 3 and 4 A is the dependent olastic flange which passes over
the outside of the bottle neck B. CC are the internally projecting lngs formed on
the flange A (here shewn as formed by bending over and inwards tongues formed
upon the edge of such flange). D D are nicks or grooves cut transversely in the
neck of the bottle into which the projections C spring when the capsule is pressed
hone (see figure 3). E (figure 4) is the continuous annular ridge or bead formed
around the neck of a bottle (the nicks or grooves being dispensed with) over which
bead, the lugs C C spring and engage with the underside. Figure 2 clearly shews
the elliptical shape of the dependent elastic flange produced by slightly compressing
those portions of its circumference upon which the internal lugs C are formed as
before mentioned.
In the modification figure 5, the dependent elastic flange A is dispensed with and
elastic or flexible clips A substituted therefor the internally projecting lugs (being
formed on the lower extremity of such clips.
In the modification Figure 8 the lugs C are dispensed with and longitudinal
slots C¹ substituted therefor, with which sluts engage the lugs or projections D
(figures 9 and 10) formed on the exterior of the bottle neck the extremities of which
lugs merge into the curve of the neck so as to pass readily in and out of the slots
should the capsule be removed by turning as shewn clearly in figure 10.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an improved form of lug produced by cutting
horizontal slits F in the sides of the dependent flange the portions immediately below
such slits being forced inwards thus forming the lugs C
It will be readily understood that although in my drawings I have only shewn the
improved capsules and capsule stoppers as applied to bottles yet they may be equally
well applied to jars and like receptacles in the same manner.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not claim broadly the application of
internally projecting lugs to the dependent flanges of capsules since I aware it
has been proposed to employ such lugs for the purpose of securing capsules to bottles
and other receptacles, but the dependent flanges heretofore employed being non elastic
it was necessary either to destroy the capsule when removing it or else to provide
right angled slots or grooves in the bottle neck (when the lugs engaged in grooves)

page_text: or to flatten or notch the ridge or bead encircling the neck (when the lugs engaged
with the underside of the ridge or bead) thus entailing extra labour and expense in
adapting bottles to receive such capsules, whilst by my improved arrangement of
elastic flange provided with internally projecting lugs it is only necessary to make a
simple nick with a file or grindstone on each side of the bottle neck, or if preferred
the lugs may engage with the underside of the annular ridge or bead around the neck
without any alteration being required.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A capsule stopper or capsule in which the dependent flange A which encircles
the bottle neck is made elastic and provided with internally projecting lugs C
substantially as and for the purpose specified and illustrated.
2. A capsule stopper or capsule in which the dependent flange A which encircles
the bottle neck is made elastic and of slightly elliptical form and provided with
internally projecting lugs C substantially as and for the purpose specified and
illustrated.
3. A capsule stopper or capsule in which the dependent flange A which encircles
the bottle neck is made elastic and provided with slots or openings C¹ substantially
as and for the purpose specified and illustrated.
4. A capsule stopper or capsule in which the dependent flange A which encircles
the bottle neck is made elastic and of slightly elliptical form and provided with slots
or openings O substantially as and for the purpose specified and illustrated.
5. A capsule stopper or capsule having elastic or flexible clips A provided with
internally projecting lugs substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In capsule stoppers or capsules the use in combination with the dependent
flange encircling the bottle neck of internally projecting lugs C" when constructed
and arranged substantially as described and illustrated by figures 11 and 12 of my
drawings.
Dath: 1000