Improvements in Stoppers for Aerated Water Bottles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Aerated Water Bottles.
I JOHN HUMPHREYS of 67 Mytton Street, Hulme, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mould Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates to the internally applied stoppers of bottles used to contain
soda water lemonade and other aerated waters as is well understood. Such stoppers
are applied inside the bottles and act to close the mouths of the same by being
pressed outward by the elastic force of the gas with which the contained fluid is
aerated. In order that the contents of such a bottle may be withdrawn it is
necessary to push inward the stopper and this requires the exertion of a com-
paratively large degree of force. The object of my Invention to facilitate the
opening of the bottle by reducing the amount of force necessary. To this end I
provide the stopper with a small valve which can be easily pushed open thereby
liberating the gas and reducing the pressure so that the stopper falls inward. The
said valve is provided with a stem which passes through a central hole in the stopper
and is free to slide therein to a limited extent the outer end of the said stem being
provided with a button or head upon which the finger can be pressed to relieve the
gas pressure. The said button is made heavier than the valve head at the other end
of the stem so that the stopper shall tend to fall into place with such button down-
ward that is to say outward with relation to the bottle at the same time tending to close
A ring
the valve. If preferred the valve stem may have a valve head at each end.
of vulcanised caoutchouc or other suitable elastic material is provided either as a
seating for the valve or as a facing for the valve. I prefer to form the valve seating
or the valve face as the case may be with a raised ring shaped edge to form a tight
joint with the elastic material. The forms of the stoppers are modified to suit the
application of the valves as for example in one form of stopper I use in place of the
ordinary glass marble or sphere a stopper having two flat or nearly flat sides and a
spherically formed circumference the said flat sides being recessed to receive the valve
head or the elastic facing. In another formation the stopper has an annular
circumferential groove to receive an elastic ring which closes the mouth of the bottle
when the stopper is forced into the neck. The formation of the stopper may however
be greatly varied so long as the small valve is provided.
Dated this 2nd dare of Inno 1800
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppers for Aerated Water Bottles.
I JOHN HUMPHREYS of 67, Mytton Street, Hulme, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mould 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 stateinent and accompanying drawings:-
-
My Invention relates to the internally applied stoppers of bottles used to contain
soda water lemonade and other aerated waters as is well understood. Such stoppers
are applied inside the bottles and act to close the mouths of the same by being pressed
outward by the elastic force of the gas with which the contained fluid is aerated. In
order that the contents of such a bottle may be withdrawn it is necessary to push
inward the stopper and this requires the exertion of a comparatively large degree of
force. The object of my Invention is to facilitate the opening of the bottle by
-

page_text: reducing the amount of force necessary. To this end I provide the stopper with a
small valve which can be easily pushed open thereby liberating the gas and reducing
the pressure so that the stopper falls inward.
My Invention will be best understood when described with reference to the drawings
hereto which illustrate three formations of stoppers drawn about three times the size
of the examples selected for illustration.
In the said drawings Fig. 1. partly in section represents a stopper suitable for use
in bottles of the "Codd" Type in which the stopper makes a joint with an elastic
washer fixed in the mouth of the bottle.
Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the said stopper.
Fig. 3 represents a stopper adapted for use in bottles which are not provided with
the elastic washer at the mouth.
In all cases a is the stopper and b is the valve. The stopper a may be made of
glass, earthenware, metal, hard wood, or any suitable material. In Fig. 1 the upper
part of the stopper is adapted in form to fit into and against the washer in the mouth
of the bottle to which it is to be applied. In the base of the stopper is formed a recess
to receive the valve b and through the centre of the stopper is formed a gas passage a
raised valve seat being formed around this passage. The valve consists of a washer
of vulcanised caoutchouc which is carried by a spindle c and bears upon a collar c
upon the spindle which is preferably made of a suitable metal or alloy or the said
washer may be sprung into a groove between two collars on the spindle. The upper
and outer end of this spindle is provided with a button or head which in the example
is threaded on the end of the spindle and secured by soldering. If the passage
through the stopper were large enough for the collar c to pass through the button c²
might be cast or formed in one piece with the spindle but I do not recommend the
forming of so large a passage as this would require. It will be seen that the button c³
is comparatively large. The reason for this is that when the bottle is inverted and
is being filled the heavy button ensures the stopper falling into place with the button
downward so that it is in the right position for closing the mouth. When the bottle
is removed from the filling machine the contained pressure forces the valve tightly
against its seating as in the drawing and prevents the escape of gas. When it is
desirable to empty the bottle the passage is opened by pressing upon the button c³ so
as to force the valve away from its seat whereby the pressure is relieved and the
stopper falls inward. I may dispense with the raised valve seating and I may provide
an elastic seating for the valve in accordance with Figs. 2 or 3. In Fig. 2 the
stopper is made nearly of a marble shape and is provided with an elastic seating dat
each of two opposite sides. The valve spindle is formed with a valve b at each end
in order that the stopper may be at liberty to fall into position with either of the
valves upward the valve which is inward serving the purpose of the button c³. In
Fig. 3. the stopper is provided with an elastic washer e which is sprung into a groove
on the stopper and serves to close the mouth of the bottle. An elastic sealing
washer d is forced into a recess in the stopper or is cemented or fixed therein.
The lower end of the spindle is formed with a valve head c³ which may be of any
suitable form. Other modifications may be made in the formation of the parts
without departing from the nature and intent of my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The internal stoppers for ærated water bottles provided with gas discharge valves
substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
2. A stopper for introduction into an ærated water bottle having a central gas
passage closed by means of a valve which is upon a spindle which passes through the
stopper so that it can be pushed down to liberate the gas pressure substantially as
set forth and indicated.
3. In a stopper for internally stoppered ærated water bottles an elastic valve pressed
against a valve seating by the gas pressure and a valve spindle passing through an

page_text: aperture in the stopper and provided with a button which can be acted upon to open
the valve substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a stopper for internally stoppered æerated water bottles a valve spindle passing
through a gas escape passage in the stopper and provided at one end or at each end
with a valve head which closes against an elastic seating when under gas pressure
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1890.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.