IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, ALSO IN STOPPING OR COVERING THE SAME, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF THE WHOLE OR PART OF THE ARTICLES TO BE USED
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, APEXANDER
SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of 123, Camden Road Villas, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, send greeting
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer Letters
Patent under the Gicat Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the
ninth year of Hei reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Alexander South-
wood Stocker, my cãois, adiñois, and assigns, Hor especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker,
my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Alexander
Southwood Stocker, my exois, adññiors, or assigns, should at any time agico
with, and no others, fiom time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Butam
and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and also in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and
Man, and in all Her Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, ALSO IN
STOPPING OR COVERING THE SAME, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF
THE WHOLE OR PART OF THE ARTICLES TO BE USED;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso requiring that I, the said Alexander Southwood
Stocker, shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
witing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in Hei

page_text: said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as,
1eference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I. the said
Alexander Southwood Stocker, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by this present Specification and
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, reference being bad to the
several Drawings or Figures hereunto annexed. And in which said several
Drawings similar parts are maiked and referred to by similar letters or
characters (that is to say) -
My said Invention consists,-
Firstly, of improvements in the manufacture of bottles and other similar
vessels, and in the stopping or covering the same. And,
Secondly, of improvements in the manufacture and application of the whole
or part of the articles to be used for the purpose of stopping or covering the
onfices of bottles, and other similar vessels.
The said first part of my said Invention (being improvements in the
manufacture of bottles and other similar vessels, and in the stopping or
covering the same) consists of certain variations in the construction of the
necks or orifices of bottles and similar vessels in which liquids are usually
kept, for the purpose of adapting or rendering the onfices of such bottles and
vessels capable of being more effectually stopped or covered by means of my
improved stopple or stopper and cover herein-after described, and for keeping
such stopple or stopper and cover more effectually fastened down and secured,
in manner also herein-after mentioned.
Figure 1, in the Drawings hereunto annexed, is an oblique view of a bottle
neck made according to this first part of my Invention, and of the orifice of
the neck, shewing also a groove or nick cut in one side of the lip or rim round
the orifice of the bottle neck. I make two of these grooves or nicks in or
across the lip or im round the orifice of every bottle or other similar vessel,
one being made on each side, and so that portions of the wic, twine, or other
similar article used for securing the corks of bottles in the usual way may be
placed in these grooves or nicks, and the fastening be thus more securely kept
in its proper position. Figure 2 is a section of a similar bottle neck, shewing
the annular recess which I make in the orifice or neck of a bottle or other
similar vessel for the purpose of receiving the ring or hoop of cork or other
substance herein-after described, and this recess may be made larger or
smaller according to the size of the 1ng or hoop which is to be introduced

page_text: into the orifice or neck of a bottle or other similar vessel. I have shewn in
this Figure (Figure 2) the shape of recess which I deem to be the best
adapted for receiving and retaining the ring or hoop to be used for stopping
the orifice of a bottle or other vessel in ordinary cases, but the same may be
varied according to the size of the vessel and its orifice, the material of which
the vessel is made, and the purposes for which it is to be used It will
generally be found better to make the lip or rim sound the orifice or neck of
the bottle or other vessel a little thicker and stronger than such lips or mis
are generally made, and that the lips or rims should extend ather further
down the outside of the neck of the bottle or other vessel than the recess
extends down the inside of it, so as the more effectually to secure the bottle or
other similar vessel from being broken or burst by the internal swelling or
pressure of the ring or hoop and plug used in stopping the orifice of such
bottle or other similar vessel The mode of operating by workmen applicable
for the purpose of making the orifices or necks of bottles and other similar
vessels of the shape and according to my Invention are so well known.
that it is unnecessary for me here to describe the sanie. The ofice or neck
of a bottle or other similai vessel made in the manner that I have described
will not only be better adapted for being stopped and covered effectually by
means of my new compound stopple or stoppe and cover herein-after
described, but it will also be more capable of having such stopple or stoppel
and cover effectually fastened down into its place in the orifice of such bottlu
or other similar vessel for the purpose of securing the contents thereof.
The said second part of my said Invention (being improvements in the
manufacture and application of the whole or part of the articles to be used
for the purpose of stopping or covering the orifices of bottles and similar
vessels) consists of a new mode of stopping and covering the onfices of bottles
or other similar vessels by means of my new compound stopple or stopper and
cover, for the purpose of more effectually preventing the escape of the
contents of such bottles and vessels. Although this my new mode of stopping
and covering the orifices of bottles and similar vessels is more especially
applicable to such bottles and vessels as have been made with their necks or
orifices constructed according to the said first part of my said Invention, yet
it must be clearly understood that my said new mode of stopping and
covering the orifices of bottles and similar vessels is also applicable to the
stopping and covering of the orifices of bottles and other vessels which are
constructed in such a manner as to be capable of receiving my compound
stopple or stopper and cover. consisting of a ing or hoop of cork on other fit
partially elastic material, and a hard on igid plug which also acts as a cover,.

page_text: as Leem-after described. Figure 3 in the said Drawings hereunto annexed
is an oblique view of a ring or hoop of coh, or other suitable material.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the same 1ng on hoop, showing the orifice thereof,
and Figure 5 is a view of the same ing or hoop in section
The ring or
hoop is shewn in these Figures of the form or shape which I deem to be best
adapted for stopping the orifice of a bottle such as that shewn in Figures
1, 2, 9, and 10, in the said Drawings, but the size and shape of the ring o
hoop must of couiso be varied according to the size and shape of the onlice
of the bottle or other similar vessel into which it is to be inscited. This ing
on hoop may be made either of cork, caoutchouc, gutta percha, or any other
suitable material which possesses a similar degree of elasticity, and which is
impervious to water or air, and will not communicate any unpleasant taste bi
smell to the liquid in the bottle or similar vessel in the stopping of which such
ing or hoop is intended to be used. It caoutchouc, gutta pcicha, or jintawan is
intended to be used, it will be found better that the articles should be vulcanized
Of all the
or prepared in such a way as to render it permanently clastic.
articles I have mentioned I deem gutta percha to be the best fitted for making
these rings or hoops, because of the great facility with which that article when
in a plastic state may be moulded into almost any shape which may be
required. Cork will answer perfectly well for the construction of such lings
or hoops as are to be used in stopping wine bottles, beer bottles, and other
bottles and similar vessels, in the stopping of which corks are usually used o
appled. Rings or hoops may be made of cork, caoutchouc, or gutta percha,
by means of cutting, punching, moulding, or other wise operating upon the
aw material in any of the modes well known to workmen who are in the
habit of operating upon these materials respectively. Figure 6 is an oblique
view of a plug and cover made of glass, earthenware, or any other suitable
material Figure 7 is a view of the same plug and cover in section, taken
across the slot in the head or cap at the top of the plug; and Figure 8 is a
view of the same plug in section taken through or along the muddle of the
sand last-mentioned slot. The head or top of this plug and cover is to be
made sufficiently wide to cover the top or end of the bottle or other similar
vessel to which it is to be intended to be introduced, and there is to be
formed across and on each side of this head or cover a groove on a mich for
the purpose of receiving the wire, twine, or other article which may be used
for tying down and securing the plug in the oufice to which it may be
introduced The shank or plug which is to be inscited within the ring o
loop, and in the oufice of the bottle or similai vessel, should be made tapering
In order to facilitate the introduction of it into the orifice into which it is to

page_text: be forced, and it must be made somewhat less than the orifice of the bottle o
other similar vossel into which it is to be introduced for the purpose of
stopping, and so that there may be a sufficient space for the elastic ring or
hoop, which is to be interposed between the plug and the neck of the bottle or
simular vessel. This plug may be made of glass, earthenware, or any other
haid or firm substance fit for the purpose, by any of the ordinary modes of
working such materials respectively, taking care that the plug is not made of
such a matcual as will be acted upon by any fluid in the vessel into which it
is to be inserted, or as will impart any disagi ceable smell or taste to the liquid
in which it is to be inserted. In using or applying one of my rings and plugs
for the purpose of stopping and covering the orifice of a bottle or other similar
vessel, I, in the first place, insert a ring or hoop of the proper size and shape
into the orifice, and press it down until the outer edge of the hoop or ling is
flush with the edge of the orifice. The hoop must be sufficiently large to fit
the orifice tightly, but not so large as to be put out of shape by the pressure
upon it of the neck of the bottle or other vessel in which it may be placed
The plug is then to be inserted in the orifice of the 1ng or hoop, and the plug
must be of such a size that when forced down into its place it will piess the
surrounding ing or hoop between it and the sides of the bottle or other
Similar vessel, or the orifice thereof, in such a way as to prevent the escape of
the contents of the bottle or vessel. The plug must be pushed or forced down
into the orifico until the head or shoulder thorcof comes in contact with the
edge of it, as shewn in Figure 9, and then the whole of the compound stopple
or stopper and cover, before described, is to be fastened down in its place by a
piece of wine, twme, or other proper article tied or fastened 1ound the rim of
the orifice or neck of the bottle or other similar vessel, and over the top of the
cover o plug, in any of the usual ways of tying or fastening the wite, twine, oi
other proper article used for fastening, the compound stopple or stopper and
cover being laid or placed in the groove o nick in the top of the cover or
plug, and the whole will then present an appearance similar to that shown by
Figure 10 in the sand Drawings Although I deem it to be generally better
to insert the ning or hoop into the orifice of a bottle or other similar vessel
before inserting the plug, the same object may be attained by pushing a ling
on hoop of the proper shape and size upon a plug up to the head or shoulder
thereof, and then forcing the plug with the ring on hoop upon it into the
ofice of the bottle or vessel until the shoulder of the plug comes in contact
with the edge of the office. The compound stopple or stopper and cover
are then to be fastened down, as hercin-before mentioned The groove made
in the top of the cover or plug will be needful not only for the purpose of
laying or placing in it the wire, twine, or other proper article used for

page_text: fastening down the compound stopple or stopper and cover, as before described,
but also for the purpose of enabling a person desiring to force a plug into or
withdraw it from the orifice of a bottle or similar vessel to insert a screw driver,
the back of a knife, or any other convenient article for cnabling him to twist
the plug round in the act of forcing it into or withdrawing it from the orifice
of the bottle or vessel.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which it is to be performed, it must be understood that what I claim as of
my said Invention mentioned in the said Letters Patent is,-
Fustly, the mode herein-before described of constructing the necks, mouths,
or orifices of bottles and other similar vessels, so that the same shall be better
adapted for being stopped or closed and covered by meaus of my compound
stopple or stopper and cover herein-before described, and for having such
compound stopple or stopper and cover fastened down in its place in manner
herein-before described.
And, secondly, the application of such ring or hoop of cork or other
material, as aforesaid, and the manufacture and application of such plug and
cover of hard or rigid-material, as aforesaid, for the purpose of togethei
forming a compound stopple or stopper and cover for stopping and covering
the orifices of bottles and other similar vessels, in manner hercin-betoic
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, havo
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November,
in the you of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.