Improvements in and relating to Stoppers for Bottles, Milk Cans, and other Receptacles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan.. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Stoppers for Bottles, Milk Cans,
and other Receptacles.
1 LOUIS CONTANT, of 20 Boulevard Barbès, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention relates to a stopper which is applicable to bottles, decanters and
generally to receptacles of the same kind, but more especially to cans in which milk
is transported and delivered.
This improved stopper is essentially characterized by the arrangement of an
adjustable pressing collar designed to ensure a tight joint despite the irregularities
of the neck on which this collar is mounted and. to correct the wear of the disc
which constitutes the garniture.
In stoppers of this kind as heretofore employed the pressing device is fixed in
the material of the receptacle, consequently it is not removable, and as the pressure
upon the india-rubber joint cannot be regulated the tightness becomes illusory.
For remedying this inconvenience it is needful to employ a taper ring of indiarubber
which enters the neck and which is therefore rapidly torn.
In case the stopper is carried by a ring the latter can act only when it finds a
point of support upon the flange of the neck and as the lever is rigid its pressure is
entirely dependent on the manufacture of the receptacle, that is to say it is very
irregular.
My improved stopper is designed to remedy all these inconveniences. It will be
readily understood from the following description which refers to the accompanying
drawing showing a stopper constructed according to my invention.
Figure 1 of this drawing represents an elevation of the collar forming part of my
improved stopper.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a front elevation, side elevation and vertical
section, showing the application of the stopper to the neck of any receptacle.
Figure 6 is a section and plan showing a modification of the mode of connecting
the india-rubber disc with the stopper.
The pressing device is the well-known lever system applied to beer bottles. In my
arrangement it is carried by a collar a preferably made of elastic metal such as
steel. The journals of the lever system being mounted in sleeves 6 which are
secured to or form one piece with the collar. This collar is open at one point
where it presents two lugs e pierced to receive a pressing part which may be of any
kind but. which in principle is constituted by a bolt d passing through the two
lugs c and one extremity of which bears by means of a shoulder upon one of the
lugs while the other extremity receives either a pressing screw or a
piece e whose
face adjacent to the lug is formed with an inclined plane for ensuring the approach
of the two lugs and consequently the tightening of the collar a by a slight rotary
movement. This movement may be given either by a square key or by a simple
point introduced into the holes pierced for this purpose as is well known.
The piece e which is adapted to be easily removed and replaced can be retained
upon the bolt d either by a simple pin or by a snug.
To ensure the adjustment of the position of the collar a upon the neck g of the
receptacle I give to this neck as far as possible a slightly taper form, the widest.
part being near the flange on the neck of the receptacle.
This adjustable mounting of the lever mechanism i, which is well known and

page_text: which is clearly shown in the drawing, enables me to employ a simple disc k of
india-rubber or other supple material upon which the lever i acts through the
medium of the stopper provided with a shoulder 1. This pressure upon the
horizontal surface of the orifice of the receptacle affords the best security for a
tight joint.
The stopper may be a round disc n, provided at its upper part with lugs through
which passes the stirrup m and an india-rubber disc k held by a bolt P the nut q of
which is preferably made in the form of a star and constitutes an ornament at the
top of the stopper, as represented in section and plan Figure 6.
It is sufficient for this purpose to tighten the collar a so that the stirrup m which
bears upon the stopper exerts upon the same a strong pressure when the articulated
lever is in the position indicated in Figure 3. As this pressure can be effected at
any point of the neck the pressure upon the disc k will always be ensured irrespective
of wear or differences of thickness.
A tight joint being obtained as above set forth it will be evident that in the case
of receptacles containing milk any number of these receptacles may be placed in
metallic baskets, and the whole immersed in water heated to the desired temperature
so as to destroy the injurious germs which the milk may contain before it is
delivered for consumption.
Dated this 14th day of February 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Stoppers for Bottles, Milk Cans,
and other Receptacles.
I, LOUIS CONTANT, of 20 Boulevard Barbès, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to a stopper which is applicable to bottles, decanters and
generally to receptacles of the same kind, but more especially to cans in which
milk is transported and delivered.
This improved stopper is essentially characterized by the arrangement of an
adjustable tightening collar designed to ensure a tight joint despite the irregularities
of the neck on which this collar is mounted and to compensate for the wear of the
disc which constitutes the garniture.
In stoppers of this kind as heretofore employed, the tightening device is fixed in
the material of the receptacle, consequently it is not removable, and as the pressure
the indiarubber joint cannot be regulated the tightness becomes ineffective.
To remedy this inconvenience it is necessary to employ a taper ring of indiarubber
which enters the neck and which is therefore rapidly torn.
upon
In case the stopper is carried by a ring, the latter can act only when it finds a
point of support upon the flange of the neck and as the lever is rigid its pressure
is entirely dependent on the manufacture of the receptacle, that is to say it is very
irregular.
My improved stopper is designed to remedy all these inconveniences and it will
be readily understood from the following description.
In the drawing left with my Provisional and in the drawing filed herewith I have
shown a stopper constructed according to my invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the collar forming part of my improved
stopper

page_text: 1 & prau of the same.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a front elevation, side elevation and
vertical section, showing the application of the stopper to the neck of any
receptacle.
Figure 6 is a section and plan showing a modification of the mode of connecting
the indiarubber disc with the stopper.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are a side elevation, front elevation and plan showing a device
for holding the stopper above the neck before the tightening is effected by the
movement of the lever.
The tightening device is the well-known lever system applied to beer bottles..
In my arrangement it is carried by a collar a preferably made of elastic metal such
as steel. The journals of the lever system being mounted in sleeves b which are
secured to or form one piece with the collar. This collar which is split is provided
with two lugs c pierced to receive a tightening device which may be of any kind,
but which in principle is constituted by a bolt d passing through the two lugs c,.
one extremity of which provided with a head bears against one of the lugs while
the other extremity of the said bolt receives a clamping piece e whose face adjacent
to the lug is formed with an inclined plane to ensure the approach of the two lugs
together and consequently the tightening of the collar a by a slight rotary
movement of the said clamping piece. This movement may be given either by a
box key or by a simple point introduced into holes drilled in the clamping piece
for this purpose as is well known.
The clamping piece e which is adapted to be easily removed and replaced can be
retained upon the bolt d either by a pin or by a snug.
To ensure the adjustment of the position of the collar a upon the neck g of the
receptacle I give to this neck as far as possible a slightly taper form, the widest.
part being near the flange on the neck of the receptacle.
This adjustable mounting of the lever mechanism which is well known and
which is clearly shown in the drawing enables me to employ a simple disc k of
indiarubber or other supple material upon which the lever i and stirrup m act
through the medium of the stopper l. This pressure upon the horizontal surface of
the orifice of the receptacle affords the best means for a tight joint.
In the modification shown in section and plan Figure 6 the stopper may be a.
round disc l, provided at its upper part with lugs n through which passes the
stirrup m, and an indiarubber disc k held by a bolt p the nut of which is preferably
made in the form of a star and constitutes an ornament at the top of the stopper.
It is sufficient for this purpose to tighten the collar a so that the stirrup m which.
bears upon the stopper exerts upon the same a strong pressure when the articulated
lever i is in the position indicated in Figure 3. As this pressure can be effected at.
any point of the neck the pressure upon the disc will always be ensured
irrespective of wear or differences of thickness.
It will be evident that in the case of receptacles containing milk any number of
these receptacles may be placed in metallic baskets, and the whole immersed in.
water heated to the desired temperature so as to destroy the injurious germs which.
the milk may contain before it is delivered for consumption.
9.
During this operation the stopper and disc k is simply placed upon the neck
of the bottles or other receptacles; when it is supposed that all the germs are
destroyed the bottles or other receptacles are withdrawn, and the lever i is brought.
to the position as represented in Figures 3 and 4. In order that the stopper may
not be displaced and thus partly uncover the bottle during this operation, I place
upon the said stopper a special device which carries two forked stems s, one of
the branches of the forked stem being placed on either side of the lugs c on the
collar a; as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. The device is arranged in such a
manner that the stirrup m passes through the loopt provided for this purpose.
The said devicer is thus prevented from slipping off sideways by the lugs c on the
collar a and by the stirrup of the stopper and is thus opposed to any displacement.
of this stopper.

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, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The hereindescribed improvements in stoppers, chiefly characterized by
the special mounting of the same with a lever, upon a collar providing for adjustable
pressure, rendering it movable and enabling the tightness of the joint to be ensured
by means of a simple flat washer, whatever may be the irregularities resulting from
the form of the neck or the receptacle or from the wear of the washer.
Second. A device for preventing any displacement of the stopper above
mentioned, when the latter rests only upon the neck of the bottle or receptacle
before the lever is caused to move, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Third. The herein before described stoppers, constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings, and for the purpose
specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.