Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
ill be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the
I, GUSTAV VODICKA, of 412 East 50th Street, New York, in the County of
New York, and State of New York U.S.A. Loan Broker 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 bottle stoppers; the objects thereof
being to supply a durable and inexpensive article of this character for attachment
to the neck of any common bottle, which is not liable to accidental displacement
and which can be readily operated for opening the bottle with one hand in either
of two directions.
The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the
annexed claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the neck of a bottle having my improved
stopper attached thereto.
Figure 2 is a similar view, taken from another direction.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the device removed from the bottle.
Figure 4 is a perspective view, illustrating the mode of operating the invention
when uncorking the bottle; and
Figure 5 is a side view, showing a modification.
In the practice of my invention, I provide primarily, a split collar, A, of resilient
metal, whereby the same can be forced over the neck of a bottle to engage under
the flange thereof.
Projecting from one side of this said collar is a pin, a, and from the opposite
side is a lug, a', which has apertures a leading therethrough. Mounted upon this
collar is a spring, B, which is secured to the pin a by means of a loop, b, and to
the lug a' by means of inwardly projecting arms 61. This spring is further
provided upon each side thereof with loops, 2, which engage with arms c of an
approximately U-shaped bow, C.
This said bow has mounted thereon a flexible ball, D, which acts as a stopper
for closing the bottle and the ball is preferably supplied with a tubular bearing, d,
which engages with the horizontal portion c¹ of the bow, C.
The two side portions 1 of the spring B are normally depressed or looped
downwardly, whereby the ball or stopper D is maintained in tight engagement
within the neck of the bottle, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
To open the bottle, it is simply necessary to push against the ball D, as illustrated
in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This action will draw the spring upwardly for the
purpose of releasing the ball, and after the same passes beyond the edge of
the neck of the bottle, it will drop down and bear loosely against the side
thereof.
The operation of closing the bottle is accomplished in a similar manner, that is,
by forcing the ball beyond the outer edge of the neck, whereby, because of the
resilient action of the spring B, it will be automatically forced within the neck of
the bottle, thus forming a secure closure.
In the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the split collar, A, is omitted
and the spring B comprises two sections B1 and B2 formed with bowed ends and
coils 63 and 4, which are held together by means of links b³.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. A bottle stopper, comprising a split collar for engagement with the neck of a
bottle and a circular spring mounted upon said collar and a bow connected to said
spring and a revoluble ball mounted upon said bow, said ball adapted to close the
neck of the bottle, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a bottle stopper, the combination of a split collar having a resilient ring
mounted thereon, said ring having loops forming part thereof which carry a
swinging bow and a ball pivotally attached to the said bow for closing the neck of
the bottle, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination of the split collar having the pin and lug projected from
opposite sides thereof and the circular spring mounted thereon; with the bow
which engages with loops of the said spring and the ball of flexible material
which is mounted on the horizontal portion of the bow, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 12th day of Anril 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.