PROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Clark at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1877.
"IM-
GEORGE CLARK, of No. 93, York Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey.
PROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE STOPPERS."
My Invention relates especially to improvements in the construction or formation
of stoppers for closing bottles containing aërated or effervescent liquids, by means
of the pressure upon the stopper of the compressed air or elastic gas within the
bottle.
The object of my improvements is to provide a mode. of construction whereby
such stoppers may be made to suit any of the ordinary forms of bottles, which will
also permit the ready extraction of the stopper for the purpose of cleaning the bottle,
and its being replaced in the bottle with the greatest facility in such a manner as
to ensure a perfect closing in the filling of the bottle.
I propose to make a plug of wood, cork, or metallic tubing, or any suitable
material, preferably of a cylindrical shape, of a length exceeding that of the neck of
the bottle from collar, to mouth, by, say, from half an inch to one inch, and of a
diameter which will permit the plug to pass freely into the bottle, this diameter
being decreased near one end to form a recess into which the india-rubber disc
herein-after mentioned may collapse, so as to allow the stopper being pushed into
and through the neck into the inside of the bottle.
I propose to fasten a disc of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material of, say,
about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, and of a diameter exceeding the inner
diameter of the neck of the bottle to whatever degree of compression the india-rubber
may be subjected; that is to say, of such diameter that it will not permit the stopper
to be pushed in or pulled out of the bottle except as herein-after explained.
I propose to fix the india-rubber disc to the smaller end of the plug by means of
a pin passing centrally first through a plate or nut, then through the india-rubber
disc, and longitudinally through the plug; the plate or nut at the lower end of this
pin being made to tighten the india-rubber disc against the plate or nut by means
of a nut at the other or upper end of the pin, or I may dispense with this pin, and
otherwise secure the india-rubber disc at the lower end or lesser diameter forming
the recess in the plug. Under the bottom plate, the aforesaid fastening pin is formed

page_text: into a loop or eyelet, or 1 otherwise fix a loop to this end or the stopper for the
purpose of extracting it.
The application and action of this stopper will be as follows:-The stopper must
be introduced into the neck of the empty bottle with the india-rubber disc below
the recessed part or decreased diameter of the plug, so that as the stopper is pushed
into the bottle, this india-rubber disc folds over or collapses on to the said decreased
diameter, thereby permitting the stopper to pass into and fall to the bottom of the
bottle. The bottle being then taken to an ordinary filling machine, and the aërated
or gaseous liquid introduced, the stopper which is in its aggregate composition of
less specific gravity than water will float and rise with it, and in pouring out, will
by reason of its specific gravity float away from the mouth of the bottle, and allow
the liquid to be poured out when the bottle is unclosed.
When the bottle is as full as is desired, the tap of the filling machine will be
turned off, and the pressure of the compressed air or gas will. drive the stopper into
the neck of the bottle in such a position that the edges of the india-rubber disc
pressing against the sides of the neck will hermetically close the bottle, the top end
of the plug rising slightly above the mouth, or the upper end of the stopper might
only rise in the neck so far as to be easily reached by the finger or an instrument,
as may be found most desirable.
To open a bottle thus closed, it is only necessary to press upon the top or
protruding end of the stopper to cause the india-rubber disc to leave the sides of the
neck; and as the liquid is poured out the stopper will float away from the opening.
The bottle may then be many times, emptied and refilled, as the stopper in the
refilling will always present itself to the neck in such wise that the india-rubber
disc cannot fold over or collapse, and so be driven out of the bottle, but must press
against the sides of the neck under the pressure of the air or gas within the bottle.
For the purpose of extracting the stopper from the bottle, the stopper is made
slightly less in length than the internal diameter of the bottle at or about its centre
longitudinally, so that the stopper may, when the bottle is empty, be turned upside
down, and that the eyelet hook or loop affixed to the bottom of the nut or head
under the disc be offered to the mouth of the bottle, from which it may then be
easily extracted by means of pliers or a hook, as the edge of the disc will fold over
or collapse into the before-mentioned recess or decreased diameter at the bottom
of the plug.
"
I may make my improved bottle stoppers of greater specific gravity than water,
but in filling bottles provided with these heavier stoppers, the bottles will have to
be turned upside down, so as to bring the top of the plug into, the neck of the
bottle either after filling or when filling, in which latter case the nozzle of the tap
of the filling machine must be turned upwards.
Bottle stoppers made in the manner above described may be applied to bottles
containing non-aërated or non-gaseous liquid by some slight variations of construc-
tion, admitting either of the stopper being pushed into the bottle for the purpose of
unclosing it, or by so enlarging the top of the stopper that it cannot be pushed in,
but may be drawn out.