An Improved Method of Stopping Bottles to Contain Effervescing or Aerated Liquids.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1886.
Complete Left, 22nd Nov., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 25th Jan., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Stopping Bottles to Contain Effervescing
or Aerated Liquids.
I THOMAS ETHERIDGE HARPER of Pilgrim House South Weald in the County of
Essex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
I propose to insert in the mouths or necks of bottles intended to contain effervescing
or aerated liquids a tube or rim of glass metal or other suitable substance connected
at its lower end with a tube rim or disc of rubber cork or other expansive material so
constructed that when the upper tube is fastened in the bottle which may be done
either by a screw a stud or other convenient means the pressure of the gas or air will
cause the lower tube rim or disc of rubber cork or other material to expand and thus
form an air tight joint one method of effecting the above object is to construct a
hollow tube or rim of glass or metal with two or more external studs to fit in slots
made to receive them in the mouth of the bottle and to connect this metal tube or rim
with a similar tube or rim of rubber or cork by means of a rod or piston of glass metal
wood or other suitable substance so shaped that when pressed upwards by the gas it
shall assist in the expansion of the lower tube or rim and capable of being pressed
downwards from the outside to release the gas and facilitate the extraction of the
stopper the slots in the bottle should be so shaped that the stopper when pressed
upwards from within cannot escape without external assistance.

page_text: An Improved Method of Stopping Bottles to Contain Effervescing
or Aerated Liquids.
I THOMAS ETHERIDGE HARPER of Pilgrim House South Weald in the County of
Essex Gentleman 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 :-
I propose to insert in the mouths or necks of bottles requiring a gas tight joint a
tube or rim of glass metal or other suitable substance connected at its lower end with
a tube rim or disc of rubber cork or other expansive material so constructed that
when the upper tube is fastened in the bottle which may be done either by a screw a
stud or other convenient means the pressure of the gas or air will cause the lower tube
rim or disc of rubber cork or other material to expand and thus aid in forming an air.
tight joint. One method of effecting the above object is to construct a hollow tube or
rim of glass or metal with two or more external studs to fit in slots made to receive
them in the mouth of the bottle and to connect this metal tube or rim with a similar
tube or rim of rubber or cork by means of a rod or piston of glass metal wood or
suitable substance so shaped that when pressed upwards by the gas it shall assist in
the expansion of the lower tube or rim and be capable of being pressed downwards
from the outside to release the gas and facilitate the extraction of the stopper.
The slots in the bottle should be so shaped that the stopper when pressed upwards
from within cannot escape without external assistance.
The arrangement may be modified by placing the retaining slots upon the exterior
of the neck of the bottle in place of within it; the gas tight joint within the neck
being still formed by means of a disc or cylinder of rubber, cork or other material and
a rod or piston of glass, metal, wood or other suitable substance which when pressed
upwards by the gas expands the said elastic disc or cylinder.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents the neck of a bottle, and a, a, are angular grooves or slots
formed within the neck.
Figure 2 shows a metal tube or rim adapted to fit into the neck; it has upon it
studs b, b, corresponding to the grooves a, a, the tube or rim is to be inserted into the
neck and turned partly round; the studs then serve to retain the tube or rim in the
neck of the bottle.
Figure 3 shows a tube or cylinder of cork india rubber or other elastic material of
suitable size to enter the neck of the bottle. It is inserted into the neck of the bottle
together with the rim shown by Figure 2 and the lower end of the rim serves to
support it.
In place of a single elastic tube or cylinder two or more rings may be employed.

page_text: Figure 4 shows a rod or piston preferably of glass which passes through the elastic
cylinder shown by Figure 3, and also through the tube or rim Figure 2; it receives
at its upper end a cross pin to prevent it from falling out when the stopper is removed
from the bottle.
Figure 5 shows the completed stopper, and
Figure 6 shows the same in place within the neck of the bottle.
It will be seen that the upward pressure of the gas tends to force the rod or piston
Figure 4 upwards into the elastic tube or cylinder Figure 3. In so doing it expands
the said tube or cylinder and so causes it to bear harder against the interior of the
neck of the bottle whilst the rod or piston itself bears in such manner as to form a gas
tight joint.
In opening the hottle the rim or tube Figure 2 is turned disengaging the studs b
from the grooves or slots a. a.
The following figures show a modification of the preceding arrangement.
Figure 7 shows the neck of a bottle having angular grooves a. a. upon its exterior.
Figure 8 shows a metal rim to fit over the neck, it has lugs b. b upon it which
engage with the angular slots a. a.
Figure 9 shows a cylinder of cork india rubber or other elastic material
corresponding to that shown by Figure 3.
Figure 10 shows the rod or piston which may be made in two parts, the lower part
is preferably of glass or earthenware and the upper part a of metal; the parts are
connected together by cement, this rod or piston may be considerably increased or
diminished in thickness a corresponding alteration being in such case made in the
cylinder shown by Figure 9.
Figure 11 shows a section of the completed stopper.
Figure 12 is a section of another similar stopper but provided with a valve which
will allow gas to escape from the bottle when it exceeds a certain pressure and is able
to overcome the spring e by which the valve is held to its seat. The valve marked f
may consist of a small disc of vulcanized india rubber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
-
1. A stopper consisting of a tube, rim or part engaging with grooves in or upon
the neck of the bottle and carrying one or more elastic rims or cylinders of rubber,
cork or other elastic material, and a rod or piston of glass or other rigid material, the
whole so arranged that the pressure of the gas within the bottle upon the said rod or
piston expands the elastic cylinder and so aids in forming a gas tight joint..
2. Apparatus for stoppering bottles substantially as described and represented in the
annexed drawings.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.