IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DROP-BOTTLES FOR MEASURING OUT MEDICINAL AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO DROP-BOTTLES FOR MEASURING OUT MEDICINAL AND
OTHER LIQUIDS." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Raoul
Bravais and Company, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DROP-BOTTLES FOR
MEASURING OUT MEDICINAL AND OTHER LIQUIDS." [A communication from
abroad by the Firm of Raoul Bravais and Company, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to tops for drop bottles for measuring out medicinal and
other liquids in small quantities, so arranged as to enable one hand to have perfect
control over the flow of the liquid, which is determined by the mere pressure of the
finger on an indiarubber bulb, the discharge tube being so fixed that the drops of
liquid can be directed where required.
The device is so arranged that the indiarubber bulb is not exposed to contact of
the liquid by which it might be injuriously acted on.
The device is provided with a clearer for removing obstructions permanently
attached to it, so as to be at hand when required without however being in
the way.
This improved top comprises two glass tubes inserted through an ordinary cork
or stopper, one of which, the discharge tube, has its inner end flush with the bottom
end of the cork or stopper to allow of the phial being completely emptied, the
said tube rising from the cork in a straight or curved direction. Each end of this
tube is drawn before the blow pipe so as to reduce the orifice of the bore to a
sınall size.
The inner end of the other tube may be similarly drawn or not, but its outor
end is formed with a bead to retain a small indiarubber bulb which is placed on
the end of this tube. The cork or stopper being fitted in the mouth of the phial,

page_text: this bulb is in communication with the interior of the phial, so that when the latter
is inverted the pressure of the finger on the bulb will force air out of the bulb into
the phial, whereby a portion of the contained liquid will be ejected through the
discharge tube in one or more drops according to the degree of pressure applied to
the bulb. When the desired number of drops have been obtained the pressure is
slightly relieved and the flow instantly ceases; the phial is then turned upwards
and the finger removed from the bulb which then re-expands to its original form,
drawing in air through the discharge tube.
This operation may be repeated until the phial is emptied. When the contact
of the liquid with the indiarubber bulb is to be avoided, it is essential not to
remove the finger from the bulb before turning the phial upwards, otherwise the
liquid would be drawn into the bulb instead of air.
The Invention also comprises a clearer for removing obstructions in the capillary
tubes of such instruments which are so liable to be stopped by the coagulation of
the liquid and other causes. This clearer consists of a very fine steel or iron wire
capable of passing through the capillary tube, the said wire being permanently
attached and arranged in the following way:-
The top of the cork is covered with a metallic capsule, and the tubes above
described traverse both the capsule and cork. The one end of the clearer wire is
inserted alongside of and at same time as the discharge tube so that it is permanently
attached. The metallic capsule serves to strengthen the cork and affords a means
of attaching the end of the wire by hooking it or otherwise in order to more
securely retain it. When not in use the wire is coiled closely round the discharge
tube so as to be quite out of the way, and when required it can be readily uncoiled,
straightened out, passed through the tube, and wound up again.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
June 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO DROP BOTTLES FOR
MEASURING OUT MEDICINAL AND OTHER LIQUIDS." A communication from
abroad by the Firm of Raoul Bravais and Company, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to tops for drop bottles for measuring out medicinal and
other liquids in small quantities, and it consists in a top so arranged as to enable
one hand to have perfect control over the flow of the liquid by the mere pressure
of the finger on an indiarubber bulb, the discharge tube being also so fixed that
the drops of liquid can be directed where required. The arrangement is such that
the indiarubber bulb is not exposed to contact of the liquid by which it might be
injuriously acted on. A clearer for removing obstructions is permanently attached
to the top so as to be at hand when required without however being in the way.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is
a vertical section of the improved drop bottle; Figure 2 shows the same as in use;
Figure 3 shows a separate view of the top or drop measurer proper provided with a
bent discharge tube; Figures 4, 5, and 6 show the different parts detached. The
improved top comprises two glass tubes a, b, inserted through an ordinary cork or
stopper c, one of which, viz., the discharge tube a, has its inner end flush with the
bottom end of the cork or stopper to allow of the phial being completoly emptied,
the said tube rising from the cork in a straight or curved direction as in Figure 3.
Each end of this tube is drawn before the blow pipe so as to reduce the size of the
orifice. The inner end of the other tube b may be similarly drawn or not, but ita
outer end is formed with a bead to retain a small indiarubber bulb d which is
placed on the end of this tube. The cork or stopper c being fitted in the mouth of
the phial F, the bulb is in communication with the interior of the phial, so that
when the latter is inverted the pressure of the finger on the bulb will force air out
of the bulb into the phial, whereby a portion of the contained liquid will be ejected
through the discharge tube in one or more drops according to the degree of pressure
applied to the bulb. When the desired number of drops have been obtained the
pressure is slightly relieved and the flow instantly ceases; the phial is then turned
upwards and the finger removed from the bulb which re-expands to its original
form, drawing in air through the discharge tube. This operation may be repeated
until the phial is emptied. When the contact of the liquid with the indiarubber
bulb is to be avoided, it is essential not to remove the finger from the bulb before
turning the phial upwards, otherwise the liquid would be drawn into the bulb
instead of air.
The Invention also comprises a clearer for removing obstructions in the capillary
tubes of such instruments which are so liable to be stopped by the coagulation of
the liquid and other causes. This clearer consists of a very fine steel or iron wire
capable of passing through the capillary tube, the said wire being permanently
attached and arranged in the following way:-The top of the cork c is covered
with a metallic capsule c', and the tubos a, b, above described traverse both the
capsule and cork. The one end of the clearer wire f is inserted alongside of and at
same time as the discharge tube a so that it is permanently attached. The metallic
capsule serves to strengthen the cork and affords a means of attaching the end of
the wire by hooking it or otherwise in order to more securely retain it. When not
in use the wire is coiled closely round the discharge tube a so as to be quite out
of the way, as shown in Figure 2, and when required it can be readily uncoiled,
straightened out, passed through the tube a, as in Figure 1, and wound up again
after use,

page_text: The following aro the advantages of this improved drop measurer over those in
ordinary use: (1), it may be used with one hand and the discharge of drops arrested
at will without being obliged to turn the bottle upwards; (2), it forms an almost
perfect closure for the bottle as the single capillary discharge tube is insufficient
to allow of the liquid evaporating or of the entrance of foreign matters; (3), all
contact of the liquid with the indiarubber is avoided, which is not the case with
any other drop bottle; (4), it is provided with a clearer for removing obstructions
in the tubes, which clearer is permanently attached and employed in the manner
described.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. In a top for drop bottles, the application and employment of an indiarubber
bulb in combination with an air tube and a discharge tube, substantially as and
for the purpose shown and described.
2nd. The wire clearer attached to the cork or stopper and wound on the discharge
tube, as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.