IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND STOPPERS AND OTHER ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Southwood Stocker, of Thomas Street,
Horsleydown, in the County of Surrey, Manufacturer, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND STOPPERS AND OTHER ARTICLES
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES, AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF."
Sealed the 16th December 1870, and dated the 18th June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Southwood
Stocker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th June 1870.
I, ALEXANDER SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of Thomas Street, Horsleydown,
in the County of Surrey, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND STOPPERS AND OTHER
ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES, AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF," to be as follows:-
I make the vessels and stoppers according to my Invention by
blowing, pressing, drilling, cutting, or otherwise causing holes, projec-
tions, and indentations to be made thereon or therein for the purpose of

page_text: holding, stopping, and facilitating the egress of their contents in the
manner wished for, and I proceed in the following manner:―
The vessels are made in some instances with one or more additional
holes therein or therethrough; projections and indentations are also
desirable to be made in or upon some, which by preference I accomplish
by blowing or pressing in course of their manufacture while in a plastic
state, or some of such may be effected while rigid. These are so shaped
as to receive some of the stoppers to be made and employed therewith,
according with my Invention, for the purpose of holding more securely,
as well as to facilitate the delivery of their contents in the manner
wished for, some of which consists of metal caps with holes and pro-
jections formed thercon or therein agreeing and to work with the
projections, holes, and indentations formed upon the vessels. These
stoppers to which I refer, as well as some others according to my In-
vention herein-after mentioned, I make out of a soft metal, such as will
yield by pressure in its cold state into the form of stoppers intended to
be produced according with my Invention, and such also as will flow
with freedom for the purpose of casting them, which processes I adopt
for their manufacture. These stoppers are applicable to and may be
used conveniently with ordinary vessels in the same manner as corks are
used, being produced of such character and configuration as will receive
and hold firmly on its shank which enters the bottle a cork barrel or
cylinder. Upon this shank, which is round (or it may be otherwise), by
preference I produce three or more or less feathers or projections for
the purpose of forcing the cork barrel tightly thereon or therein, after
which it is further secured or prevented from turning round and
displacing itself when in use by turning over the extreme end of the
shank of the stopper (which is tubular) upon and tightly embracing
firmly the end of the cork, acting as an additional preventative from
the cork releasing itself by fair and ordinary usage. This stopper has a
shoulder formed thereon to rest upon the top of the bottle, and its upper
part has a round part plain, of desirable length and diameter, for the
reception of a cork-lined cap for the purpose of stopping the contents of
the vessel when not in use, or both may be screwed if necessary.
The process or processes I intend to employ for the manufacture of
these stoppers are in most respects similar to those described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to John Rand on the 29th day of
September, 1842, No. 9480; also casting them by the aid of piece

page_text: moulds, and subsequently renovating them by lathing or otherwise.
Stoppers according to my Invention may also be composed of porcelain-
and metal, or other material or materials, in two or more parts, or they
may be otherwise formed. I also adopt the use and employment with
bottles of elastic rings or bands and other shaped pieces of india-rubber.
or other suitable material; and in some instances I make stoppers
applicable to feeding bottles open at the top, so that the ordinary india-.
rubber disc shall act both as a stopping for the bottle as also to hold a
union for the tube within to be attached thereto, as well as the outside
suction tube; and in some instances I mould the unions and stoppers
by my process with shifting or portable pins or otherwise; and I also.
make the stoppers of feeding bottles with two desirable ends to receive
thereon both the inside and outside tubes as well as the teats, and upon.
these and other stoppers and bottles I place, use, and adapt india-rubber
shields or other pieces in place of bone ones now in general use for the
purpose of affording more comfort to the infant.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Southwood Stocker in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER'
SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of Thomas Street, Horsleydown, in the County.
of Surrey, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Southwood Stocker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully.might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES AND STOPPERS AND OTHER ARTICLES TO BE.
'

page_text: EMPLOYED THEREWITH, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, AND
THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My said improvements relate chiefly to bottles and stoppers, some of
the latter being applicable to the former, as well as to other bottles
now in ordinary use for various purposes, the combination, manufacture,
and accomplishment of my Invention will be readily understood by
the following statement and Sheets of Drawings subjoined hereto.
I will now describe a bottle and stopper compounded and manu-
factured complete, and in accordance with my Invention which will be
seen in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1. The vessel is a glass feeding bottle
of the ordinary kind with one of my improved stoppers, which may be
of glass or porcelain, applied thereto. This stopper by preference I
manufacture by dies and pressure herein-after explained, it has four
projections or feathers a produced thereon (it may be more or less) as
well as a projecting ring 6 round its extreme lower end for the purpose
of together receiving and holding firmly thereon on its shank a ring of
cork c.
It has also a hole made therethrough from end to end for
the purpose of holding the ordinary tube generally in use with feeding
bottles. It also has a smaller hole d in its side meeting the larger one
therein acting as an air passage or valve. An india-rubber ring e is
placed on or over the stopper taking its seat in the recess provided
therein for that purpose. At the bottom of this recess a small annular
groove is made which, as clearly shown in the Drawing, has relation
with both the large and small holes leading into and through the
stopper, and which the elastic ring is intended to cover for the purpose
of keeping the vessel clean and also hermetically liquid-tight, while at
the same time it allows sufficient air to enter the bottle at every action

page_text: gripping of the cork by these means in combination with the use of the
four feathers a or projections will render it to be neatly and very
securely fastened, so that no ordinary usage can possibly disturb its
fixture.
I will now describe Figures 4 and 4* which is a further part of my
Invention. These Figures represent one of my improved stoppers
applied to a feeding bottle with its upper part and valve removed,
all then left is in most respects like that explained as to Figures 1
and 2, Sheet 1, except that the valve is applied to the neck of the bottle
in the same manner and also to act, and perform all its functions in the
same manner as in the instance referred to. The valve hole d is made
and provided in the neck of the bottle simultaneously with the
manufacture thereof. To effect this operation a hole is provided
through the neck of the mould which produces the bottle through
which (the instant the molten glass reaches by blowing the figure of
the mould, a lever pin is acted upon simultaneously and passes through
the glass neck of the bottle into the mould, after which it must be as
speedily withdrawn, so as to prevent chilling or injuring the constitution
of the glass. Shonld some of the holes be imperfectly opened a small
nib will be produced inside the neck of the bottle, a slight tap thereon
will remove it when a desirable hole will have been produced. The
upper part of this stopper has an indentation or recess formed on the
crown thereof, which indentation is produced simultaneously with the
manufacture of the stopper by the plunger employed in such manu-
facture. This indentation is intended for the purpose of receiving
therein a metal label which is to be lettered, named, trade marked, or
otherwise.
Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22 further and more clearly illustrates this
part of my Invention.
Figures 19 and 20 representing a glass cap screwed on to a pomade
.bottle; and Figures 21 and 22, a screwed metal cap intended also
for a pomade bottle. These caps may be cork lined in place of being
screwed.
Figure 5 represents a further part of my Invention, being a modi-
fication of that relating to feeding bottles, inasmuch as that the ordinary
suction tube, the bone shield, the union and glass tube now in general
use are dispensed with, in substition of which I cause the stopper to
be applied thereto (which is of the same kind as that described in

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2), to have an addition made to it at each end,
consisting of 2 unions formed all in one with the stopper for the
purpose of holding for use on the outside of the bottle the ordinary teat
and the flexible shield i as well as the elastic tube within. This arrange-
ment when compounded together will render the bottle very convenient,
strong, and compact, and, so simple in its construction as to be a
vessel above all others now in use for the like purpose, to be thoroughly
and the most easily cleansed, while it is far more inviting to the infant,
especially so when first using a bottle for the supply of food, for the.
reason that it finds those parts which come in contact with its mouth,
tongue, and face, (all of which are most sensitive in its complete
babyhood) to be most comfortable, possessing an agreeable feeling,
and natural temperature, so much so that when offering it to a baby
when first born all those paramount objections will be superseded.
I designate this compound apparatus to be "the infant's first feeder."
I may here remark that the ordinary suction tube, as now in common
usc, the union bone shield, and teat may at any time if considered
expedient be used with this vessel by merely taking from the infant's
first feeder its teat and shield, and placing upon the union added to
the stopper the suction tube with the common union shield and teat now
in general use, when it would become, as it were, in all respects the
common feeding bottle now so universally in use.
Figure 6 describes a further part of my Invention, which is a vessel
carrying with it all the same or like facilities as that herein-before last.
described, the difference being that it has a screw metal cap j in place:
of the stopper last referred. This cap receives holding down. upon.
its seat within an india-rubber washer / with a hole made therethrough
for holding therein a double-ended union b for the purpose of attaching.
thereto the articles explained and fully described as aforesaid in;
Figure 5. In addition to the union herein being. merely made double-
ended it has a provision made for holding firmly thereon or therein the
flexible washer which acts as a stopper for the bottle while it is a
very perfect and secure holder of the union. It will be evident that:
when pressure is exerted upon the screw cap the rubber disc will fit
closely down upon the edge of the orifice or mouth of the bottle, and
cause it to be hermetically liquid-tight. It will be observed that the
bottle now in description as well as that in Figure 5, receives its air

page_text: passage by the arrangement herein-before explained by holes d made in
the necks thereof and the application of the elastic rings / thereto.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, is an ordinary bottle with a cork ring a therein, to
which I lay no claim. The stopper 6, however, which I prefer to make
in glass or porcelain is a further part of my Invention, as also the
manufacture thereof, and I mould it by pressure by the process herein-
before referred to in the Specification of Alexander Richmond Stocker.
This stopper, which may be made of glass or porcelain will be seen to
have a passage way c for the liquid to pass out, through which will be
effected at one operation in the same manner as described, and is an
essential part of my Invention. The opening of the stopper for the
egress of the liquid is shewn in the Drawing in a raised position to allow
of the liquid to pass out by agitating the bottle, and when required to be
closed the stopper is pressed down upon the shoulder thereof.
Figure 8 is a stopper made according with a further part of my
Invention. It has a cork ring thereon fitting into a bottle neck; also
a hole therethrough from end to end for the liquid to pass out. And
as this kind of stopper can be compounded and manufactured in many
and various ways according with my Invention I will describe what
will be necessary so as to be readily understood. The stopper in this
Figure contains two pieces of metal a and b, and two of cork, the
stopper holding on its shank, which is metal, one cork ring, and the
cap, also metal, the other cork ring, this stopper will be preferred by
having four or more or less projections or feathers provided upon its
shank for the purpose of fixing the cork ring thereon to carry out the same
results as attained and described as to Figure 3, Sheet 1. This stopper I
prefer to cast in metal, such as tin or tin and lead, or other metal 'that
will flow readily. In casting, by preference I construct the moulds
for producing these stoppers upon the same principle as the toy casters
used, which is well known, and needs no further description, and no å
claim is made thereto. They are cast with the flanch (which is now
curved) in a straight or flat state, after which it is placed in a shaped
pair of dies or tools to be further operated upon, the tools or dies being
shaped, engraved, lettered, trade marked, or otherwise, in the manner
wished for, may be placed in a fly press or otherwise, for the purpose of 3
receiving a blow, causing the stopper to appear as in the Drawing. The
end of the stopper being turned, tooled, or burnished over the end of
the cork embracing the latter, with the co-operative usefulness of the

page_text: projections or feathers cast upon the shank will cause it to be very firmly
fixed, becoming as it were part and parcel of a solid and effective stopper.
This stopper may be made of two pieces, and joining them together,
as shown in Figure 8, a piece of tube a of a suitable inner and outer
diameter may be cut into suitable lengths. The flanches 6 also may
be cut round out of sheet metal of desirable thickness and diameter
placed in a proper position on the tube and soldered thereto, after which.
they may be struck and shaped in the same pair of tools as described
with reference to the stopper shown in Figure 8, when it will come out
as the cast one except that the projections or feathers will be absent, but
in order to produce them thereon they may have a mandril inserted
within the orifice of the now partly formed stoppers, and placed in or
under a properly shaped pair of tools for the purpose of squeezing out of
the solid metal the projections or feathers for holding the cork, the end
of the stopper being turned, tooled, or burnished over in like manner to
that of the cast one herein-before explained, or I form also according to
my Invention stoppers of this description from round discs of soft metal
of the same kind, and by a similar process, as that mentioned in the
Specification of a Patent granted to John Rand on the 29th day of
September 1842, No. 9480, and I adopt, use, and claim the employment
of such process to the manufacture of this part of my Invention. I
prefer after such disc of metal has been cut out of its suitable thickness
and diameter for the stopper intended to be produced by it to partially
shape in preparatory tools or dies before the further raising of the
stopper to its intended or desired final figure. This method is resorted
to for the purpose of raising with more facility the neck of the stopper
as well as its shank, which from its indispensable and necessary
smallness in diameter and required length for usefulness could not be
so easily effected in the absence of this provision. The raising or
forming upon its shank the projections or feathers for the purpose of
holding the cork thereon may be accomplished in the same manner by
squeezing, as herein-before explained, when an effective stopper similar
to the two already explained will have been produced. The cork may
be applied to this said stopper and the end of its tube below turned over
to embrace the cork, as in the instance herein-before set forth.
Figure 9 illustrates a further part of my Invention by showing in
such Figure a stopper consisting of porcelain, metal, cement, and cork,
a metal tube similar in construction to that shown in Sheet 1, Figure 3
and 3* is placed up through a round hole provided for that purpose in

page_text: the domed piece of porcelain a which has a square recess left therein,
with some play or space left round and at the bottom of the metal
square, so that some plaster of Paris or other cement shall be applied
thereto as the method used for fixing it therein or thereto. The crown
or upper surface of the porcelain may or may not be printed, named,
trade marked, or otherwise, in course of its manufacture in the same
manner as pottery goods are ordinarily finished; or a piece of metal may
be raised by the aid of tools fixed in a press and shaped to agree with
the dome or configuration of that part of the porcelain it is intended to
cover, which also may have devices stamped or otherwise formed
thereon. The metal c which has a desirable sized hole made there-
through, is placed over the end of the metal tube b, taking its resting
place down upon the porcelain a, and close over upon and embrace firmly
the porcelain, which operation made be effected by the ordinary closing
tools (a process well known and in every day use with button manu-
facturers) fixed in a fly press, or toold or burnished over as in the
manner now in daily use, hence this compound stopper according with
my Invention will become strong and useful for the purpose intended.
Figure 10 is a stopper made and compounded according with my
Invention by so constructing it that its inner configuration consists of
porcelain in its entiety, the upper part of which may be left plain, and
printed or not, as the case may be, or a metal top may be applied thereto
and treated as last explained.
Figure 11 is a stopper made in its entirety according to my Invention
in metal, consisting in three pieces, viz., from the bottom of the shank
which holds the cork ring up to the top upon which the cap is fitted
consists of two pieces a and b, and the cap c itself constitutes the third
picce; these pieces are cut from a sheet of metal of desirable thickness
into round blanks which are afterwards raised to their desired shapes,
after which they are operated upon by tools for the purpose of closing
both together in the same manner as buttons are manufactured, and as
thesc processes are well known and in every day use it will require no
further detail or explanation.
Figure 12 constitutes another part of my Invention. This bottle has
a piece of drawn glass tube a (or porcelain or other suitably made
material be employed if made in an efficient manner to carry out the
same or the like beneficial results) of desirable inner or outer diameter, :
provided with a shoulder 6 on its outside fitting down on to a loose..

page_text: round piece of metal c fitting on to the mouth of the bottle, through
which piece of metal and down upon it the tube rests in readiness to
receive the cap, which fits and takes its lodgment upon the round disc,
which may be embossed, named, trade marked, or otherwise; or in lieu of
this piece of metal a capsule may be placed over the mouth of the bottle
and be fixed thereto, covering the unsightliness of the cork ring now used
with bottles; a hole may be made through such cap for the tube to pass
through it and taking its resting place on the shoulder thereof and into
the cork ring, and I claim the combination, employment, and application
of such a contrivance for the purpose of governing the desirable
quantities of liquid to be delivered out of the vessel, and especially the
employment of glass or other drawn tube or other cylindrical piece of
material, with bottles for and whereby the contents of the vessel may
deliver its contents thereout with more certain accuracy, and in a
manner as wished for.
Figure 13 represents another form of stopper, constructed according
with my Invention. A ring or groove is blown round the neck of the
bottle through which a hole is made. (This hole is made in the same way
as that described with reference to Figure 1, Sheet 1, of desirable size
for the purposes intended; round and into this annular groove a vul-
canized india-rubber ring 6 is sprung, covering and uncovering the hole
when desired, and by its clasticity it may with great quickness and
facility be removed; for a supply of its contents a piece of cork is placed
into the orifice of and cut-off flush with the top of the bottle, when a
lable is placed thereon as a finish.
Figure 14 and 15 illustrates another part of my Invention. This
bottle has a L slot a made thereon or therein by blowing during its
manufacture, into which slot a pin or projection 6 formed in the cap to
be applied thereto works with the view of governing the distance. The
latter shall travel backwards and forwards for the purpose of opening
and stopping the fluid passage way of the vessel. The cap is raised or
otherwise manufactured in any suitable manner with the pin b therein,
and a hole or passage way c. By turning the cap which is cork lined in
one direction backwards the egress aperture will be hermetically closed,
but when turned to its full extent in the reverse direction the aperture
will be opened and a supply of the contents of the vessel may be
obtained.
Figure 16 is a further part of my Invention. I fix at the bottom end

page_text: .
of an ordinary mould used for the purpose of blowing bottles a pair of
screw dies and blow the end (the usual or top or corking end I mean)
of the bottle downwards which will produce the bottle at that end with
a perfect and desirable screw thereon, upon which a cap is intended to
be screwed for the purpose of securing the contents of the bottle which
will be holeless at that end when blown, but the same means are resorted
to to procure a hole therethrough, as described and herein-before set
forth in reference to the valve holes for feeding bottles. This bottle will
be blown as in the ordinary manner of bottle blowing, and when it
comes out of the mould will be what is techanically known in the trade
as a "blow
or "burst-off," and immediately the bottle has been blown it
is held in the usual manner and reheated, to be what is technically called
made," that is, to be finished at its other end ready for corking. The
Drawing shews a finished bottle with a cork placed therein. A bottle
so constructed requires for its purpose but one cap instead of two, and
at the same time presents a very neat appearance, added to which this
method of construction will carry with it several advantages as to its
manufacture and especially as to economy.
"
A further part of my Invention consists of Figure 17, which is a
fancy-shaped ended bottle, to produce which a pair of suitable dies are
placed and fixed at the bottom of the ordinary mould; or, if desired, the
dies may be cut and sunk out of the mould itself to produce the orna-
mental end a. The top or cap end 6 of the bottle has a screw blown
thereon simultaneously with the bottle. It has also a foot c blown upon
it for the purpose of effecting a solid standing for its round figure in
lieu of the fancy end a, a screw may be blown thereon by the aid of
screw dies placed and used as herein-before set forth. Hence it will
become a double-ended screw neck bottle. This combination and
method of working is novel and constitutes a part of my Invention.
Figure 18 represents two separate and distinct bottles with screw
necks blown thereon, desirably shaped at the bottoms, for the purpose
of placing and holding them together by the aid of a ring a, and plaster
of Paris or other cement. These are a pair of blow or burst-off screw
neck bottles, which when firmly united together constitutes two com-
partments for the purpose of holding therein two different articles.
Bottles for the latter purpose are now very largely sold, but made in a
manner diametrically opposite to the method now illustrated which
constitutes a further part of my Invention.

page_text: In conclusion I would observe that some of the glass, porcelain, or
other stoppers may be made of other material, and some of them may
have their tops left solid and of desirable figure, all holes being absent,
but one of the chief characters of my Invention will be left. In further
illustration of my meaning in reference hereto Figure 24 will explain it.
This stopper, out of which it is made, is a solid mass in its entirety, which
also will be applicable to various kinds of bottles, or it may merely have
a hole provided therethrough when it will be applicable to feeding bottles.
These stoppers I mould by dies and pressure by any ordinary method of
moulding now in use. They may be also printed, embossed, or covered
with metal, which may be named, trade marked, or carry with it dis-
tinctive devices which is of much moment commercially, and many other
alterations and modifications may be resorted to without deviating from
my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
ALEXANDER SOUTHWOOD STOCKER. (L.S.)