IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING AND PROTECTING BOTTLES OF AERATED WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE MEANS FOR DRAWING OFF THE CONTAMIN AB PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ferguson, of Ashton Keynes, in the County of
Wilts, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR
CONTAINING AND PROTECTING BOTTLES OF AERATED WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS,
AND IN THE MEANS FOR DRAWING OFF THE CONTAMIN AB
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ferguson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1882.
JOHN FERGUSON of Ashton Keynes in the County of Wilts.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING AND PROTECTING BOTTLES OF
AERATED WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND IN THE MEANS FOR DRAWING OFF THE
CONTENTS OF THE SAID BOTTLES WITHOUT REMOVING THEM FROM THE CASES
OR RECEPTACLES."
My Invention has for its object to prevent the loss by breakage or otherwise of
the bottles in which aërated waters and other liquids are sent out from the
manufacturers by providing a case in which the said bottles are contained and in
which they are locked or secured so that the bottles themselves cannot be removed
whilst the contents thereof can be conveniently withdrawn by apparatus adapted
for the purpose.
According to my said Invention the case may be arranged to contain any
number of bottles in any order of arrangement but for convenience of description
will presume that they are arranged in cases of one dozen bottles each in two rows
of six each. The case body consists preferably of a light frame which may be of
wood and contains six holders preferably of thin sheet metal each holder being
shaped for receiving two bottles. The bottles being placed in these holders the
said holders are drawn together so as to clasp the bottles, so that they cannot be
removed therefrom except by the person possessing the key or means of opening
out the said holders. The means for thus drawing together and opening out the
said holders may consist of two bolts the one passing from one end of the case
[Price 8d1

page_text: through the parts of the holders between the bottles and screwing into a lug at the
opposite end and the other bolt being beneath the first named bolt and similarly
passing from the end of the case through the said parts of the holders and into a
lug the heads of the bolts preferably being at opposite ends of the case. Filling
pieces or blocks are upon these bolts between the holders so that by screwing the
said bolts into their lugs the said blocks compress the holders to cause them to
clasp the bottles so that they cannot be removed until the bolts are unscrewed
from their lugs.
Where the bottles and their holders are arranged in more than two rows side by
Bide corresponding bolts may be used at the parts of the holders between adjacent
bottles. The bolt heads are preferably situated in recesses in the ends of the case
and have heads so shaped as to be capable only of being turned, to release the
bottles, by a key correspondingly formed. In order to withdraw the contents of
the bottles I provide upon a suitable support a hollow bell shaped coverer or cap-
piece for the tops of the bottles adjustable vertically, by means of a screw or
otherwise, upon guides to suit different sized bottles and lined internally with a
yielding material to fit gas tightly upon the mouths of the bottles. Passing into
and fitting tightly this cap piece is a tube carried in guides and capable of being
forced downwards by means of a rack and pinion or other convenient arrangement
through the cap-piece and into the bottle displacing the stopper thereof and
allowing the pressure of the gas to cause the contents to pass through the said
tube into the receptacle placed to receive them. A convenient way of arranging
this apparatus is to mount the cap-piece upon a crosshead sliding upon two guide
rods two other rods connecting the said crosshead to another crosshead also sliding
on these guide rods. These rods connecting the crossheads serve as guides for the
crosshead or block carrying the drawing off pipe and a pinion which gears in a
rack which may be fixed to the first mentioned crossheads or some stationary part
of the apparatus. By means of a screw wheel the cap-piece may be caused to bear
firmly upon the mouth of the bottle and then by rotating the pinion it is caused to
travel on the rack and force the drawing off tube into the bottle as aforosaid. For
convenience in bringing the apparatus over any bottle from which the contents are
to be withdrawn it may be arranged in any suitable way but it is preferred to
mount the case containing the bottles as a drawer in a frame to which the said
apparatus is affixed so that any bottle can be brought under the apparatus as
desired. There may of course be more than one opening apparatus combined with
each case of bottles. The cap piece may have a piece of pipe inside which presses
down the stopper of the bottle the tube through which the contents are withdrawn
being by a second movement, (effected by a lever or otherwise,) forced down
through the cap piece into the bottle till it strikes the bottom or nearly so so as to
place an opening in the upper end of the pipe in communication with the outlet.
According to a modification the case may be invorted (so that the mouths of the
bottles are downwards) and arranged to slide in a frame through the bottom of
which passes a tube which may be solid at the top end to form a stopper but
which is pierced with holes at a short distance below this top. To this tube a
lever is connected for forcing it into the bottle to withdraw the contents through
the said tube the said lever being if necessary jointed by a link motion to allow
it to follow the movement of the tube. There is preferably one of these with-
drawing appliances for each row of bottles in the case so that by drawing out the
case from the frame any bottle of a row may be brought opposite the withdrawing
tube of that row.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Ferguson in the Great Seal Patont Office on the 15th August
1882.
JOHN FERGUSON of Ashton Keynes in the County of Wilts. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CASES OR RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING AND PROTECTING BOTTLES OF
AERATED WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND IN THE MEANS FOR DRAWING OFF
THE CONTENTS OF THE SAID BOTTLES WITHOUT REMOVING THEM FROM THE
CASES OR RECEPTACLES."
My said Invention has for its object to prevent loss by breakage or otherwise of
the bottles in which aerated waters and other liquids are sent out from the
manufacturers by providing a case in which the said bottles are contained and in
which they are locked or secured so that the bottles themselves cannot be removed
whilst the contents thereof can be conveniently withdrawn by apparatus adapted
for the purpose.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents in front elevation (partly in section) a case
constructed according to my Invention for containing one dozen bottles Figure 2
is a plan of the same and Figures 3 and 4 represent the two opposite ends of the
case. Figure 5 is a transverse section of a Case illustrating an arrangement of
apparatus for withdrawing or discharging the contents of the bottles without
removing the said bottles from the case. Figure 6 represents a perspective view
of a modified construction of the case Figure 7 is a transverse section and Figure 8
is a plan of a block from which the said case is formed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A is the case body consisting preferably of a light
frame of wood and containing six holders B preferably of thin sheet metal, each
holder being shaped for receiving two bottles. The bottles C having been placed
in these holders the said holders are drawn together so as to clasp the bottles so
that they cannot be removed therefrom except by the person possessing the key or
means of opening out the said holders. The means for thus drawing together and
opening out the said holders consist of two bolts D and E the one 1) passing from
one end of the case through the holders between the lower or cylindrical parts of
the bottles B and screwing into a lug at the opposite end of the case and the other
bolt E being passed by preference in the opposite direction through the case and
the holders between the necks of the bottles above the bolt D and screwed into a
lug in a similar manner. Filling pieces or blocks F upon these bolts are interposed
between the holders so that by screwing the said bolts into their respective lugs,
the said blocks are caused to compress the holders so as to clasp the bottles, and
thus prevent them from being removed until the bolts are loosened or unscrewed
from their lugs. Where the bottles and their holders are arranged in more than
two rows side by side corresponding bolts are similarly employed at the parts of
the holders between adjacent bottles and the holders B may be made to embrace
three or more bottles. The bolt heads e are preferably situated in recesses in the
ends of the case and are so shaped or provided with wards as to be capable only of
being turned to secure or release the bottles by a key correspondingly formed.
simple arrangement of apparatus for discharging the contents of the bottles without
removing them from the case is illustrated by Figure 5. The case A containing
the bottles C is arranged to slide as a drawer with the mouths of the bottles
downward or in an inverted position in a frame G through the bottom of which
A

page_text: frame the discharge tube L³ passes and to this tube is centred one end of a lever L
by means of which the tube L² is forced into the bottle to withdraw the contents
through the said tube, the said lever being connected to the guide G', by a link 1,
to allow it to follow the movements of the tube. The operation of this apparatus
will be clearly understood by referring to the Drawing without further description
the discharging apparatus on the right hand side of the Figure being represented
in action the tube L having been inserted and displaced the internal stopper a
from its seat whilst the apparatus illustrated on the left hand side of the Figure is
out of action. I prefer to employ one of these withdrawing appliances for each
row of bottles in the case so that by drawing out the case from the frame any
bottle of a row may be brought opposite the withdrawing tube. If desired the
end of the tube L³ may be made solid so as to form a stopper, the tube being
pierced with holes a short distance up to allow the liquid to pass through.
Figure 6 is a perspective view and Figure 7 a transverse section of a simple and
cheap case to contain one dozen bottles, which case is constructed in the following
manner. I take a block of wood B Figure 8 of the requisite dimensions (according
to the number and size of bottles the case is intended to contain) say for example
18 to 20 inches long, 9 inches deep, and 32 inches thick. I first bore the block in
the direction of its depth and to within say half an inch from the bottom, with a
number of holes corresponding to the number and size of the bottles, the case is
intended to contain. The block thus bored is then divided vertically through the
centre so as to form two blocks B* Figure 6 each containing semicircular recesses b².
I then connect these blocks together at their ends at a distance apart equal to
rather more than the diameter of a bottle by pieces C and complete the case by
fixing between the two rows of recesses a central wedge shaped partition D which
is fitted to slide in grooves in the ends C. The bottles are secured in the recesses 6ª
by the wedge shaped partition D which is inserted in its grooves with its thick
end uppermost and secured in position by bolts or otherwise. The partition D as
it is being inserted presses the bottles, placed in the recesses b*, against the interior
thereof and prevents them from shaking about or coming into contact with each
other, and also secures them from being accidentally or otherwise removed from the
case without first releasing or removing the partition D.
The apparatus described with reference to Figure 5 for withdrawing or dis-
charging the contents of the bottles may also be employed with cases constructed as
described with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is.
First. The cases or receptacles for bottles of aërated waters or other liquids in
which cases or receptacles the said bottles may be locked or secured so that they
cannot be removed therefrom except by means of a key provided for the purpose
whilst the contents of the bottles may be withdrawn without removing the bottles
from the case substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated by
my drawings.
Second. The means for securing bottles in cases consisting of holders compressed
by means of a bolt or bolts and blocks arranged and operated for securing or
releasing the bottles substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 of my drawings.
Third.-Constructing cases for containing and securing bottles so as to preserve
them from injury and loss substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of my Drawings.
Fourth. In combination with the cases and holders claimed by the preceding
claiming clauses the means for the withdrawing or discharging the contents of the
bottles without removing the same from the case containing them substantially in
the manner horeinbefore described and illustrated by my drawings.

page_text: Fifth-The general construction and arrangement of apparatus for discharging or
withdrawing aërated water and other liquids from bottles substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by Figure 5 of my drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Ferguson have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of August One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
JOHN FERGUSON. (L.S.)