IM- PROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, CASKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, AND IN STOPPERS AND TAPS FOR THIS PURPOSE,
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gibson Bussey, of the Museum Works, Rye Lane,
Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, CASKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, AND
IN STOPPERS AND TAPS FOR THIS PURPOSE,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gibson Bussey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September 1876.
GEORGE GIBSON BUSSEY, of the Museum Works, Rye Lane, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturer “IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS,
CASKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, AND IN STOPPERS AND TAPS FOR THIS PURPOSE."
The object of this Invention is to provide an improved method of stopping bottles,
jars, and other receptacles, so as to facilitate, simplify, and regulate the flow there-
from, and is applicable to either the neck of the bottle or a stopper or tap fitting in
the neck of a bottle or hole of a cask.
When this Invention is applied to the bottle itself I close up the usual aperture
at the end of the neck and introduce a hole in the side thereof instead, which hole
I stop by fitting the neck of the bottle with a ring or collar made of metal, india-
rubber, or any other suitable material, which collar either rotates round or slides
up and down the neck of the bottle; in the former case the collar must be per-
forated with a hole to correspond with the hole in the neck.
When the Invention is applied to the stopper or tap I construct them hollow,
and introduce a cross hole at right angles thereto for the outflow, which outflow is
regulated or entirely stopped by the ring or collar above mentioned. This con-
trivance resembles in principle the feed ports of a steam engine cylinder, or what
is sometimes called the hit-and-miss motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Gibson Bussey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd February 1877.
GEORGE GIBSON BUSSEY, of the Museum Works, Rye Lane, Peckham, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS,
CASKS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES, AND IN STOPPERS AND TAPS FOR THIS PURPOSE,"

page_text: The object of this Invention is to provide an improved method of stopping bottles,
jars, casks, and other receptacles so as to facilitate, simplify, and regulate the flow
therefrom, and is applicable to either the neck of the bottle or a stopper or tap
fitting in the neck of a bottle or the hole of the cask.
When this Invention is applied to the bottle itself I close up the usual aperture
at the end of the neck and introduce a hole into the side thereof instead, which
hole I stop by fitting the neck of the bottle with a ring or collar made of metal,
india-rubber, or any other suitable material, which collar either rotates round or
slides up and down the neck of the bottle; in the former case the collar must be
perforated with a hole to correspond with the hole in the neck.
When the Invention is applied to a stopper or tap I construct them hollow, and
introduce a cross hole at right angles therewith for the outflow, which outflow is
regulated or entirely stopped by the ring or collar above mentioned. This con-
trivance resembles in principal the feed ports of a steam engine cylinder, or what is
sometimes called the hit-and-miss motion.
To practically carry out of my Invention I modify the contrivance according to
the purpose for which the bottle is required.
One very simple modification is to cover the hole in the neck with an elastic
band of india-rubber, cork, leather, or any similar material, with a hole therein, so
that when the hole in the band is opposite the hole in the neck the contents will
flow, but is immediately stopped by rotating the band till the holes are not opposite
each other; or if no hole is introduced in the band the same object is effected by
sliding the band up and down the neck; or the band may be used after the manner
of a bandage by pulling it tightly round the neck and fastening the end over a stud
or buckle or screw or similar arrangement.
A more complete modification is to surround the neck by a spring collar made of
.steel, ebonite, or any other suitable material, fitting sufficiently tight to prevent
the outflow, but not so tight as to prevent the collar rotating or sliding up and
down the neck, thus a spring collar, the normal diameter of which is one-eighth
less than the diameter of the neck, will, if properly hardened and tempered, exert
considerable pressure on the hole in the neck, and when a packing of india-rubber,
leather, cork, or other compressible material is introduced between the neck and the
spring collar a most efficient means is provided for regulating or cutting off the
outflow. Sometimes this packing quite surrounds the neck, and sometimes it is
only a pad to stop the hole. This modification is specially suitable for bottles
containing acrated liquids, because it provides an efficient safety valve, and permits
the bottles to be charged at any pressure, the strength of the spring collar being
made according to the internal pressure it is desired to maintain, which when
exceeded will blow off or discharge iiself. For example, a manufacturer desiring
his soda water to remain in the bottle at a maximum pressure of 10 lbs. on the
square inch permits the bottler to charge at any pressure in excess of this; the
excess being at once blown off saves the bottle from breakeage.
When it is desired to maintain the internal pressure beyond the natural power of
the spring collar I draw the two ends together by a clamp, excentric, or screw arrange-
ment, or when desired tie together with wire or string I can further utilize this
plan as a locking cellar as shewn by the Drawings accompanying this Specification,
by which means valuable wines, spirits, poisons, &c., may be placed under lock and
key, and though I have only described one plan of locking the two ends of the
collar together the variations are numerous, and will strike any mechanical
mind.
When a free outflow is desired I introduce a small hole on the opposite side
to the outflow for the inlet of air. The collar modification is also very suitable for
application to tin canisters for all kinds of powders and granular substances.
Another modification of my Invention suitable for smelling bottles I perform by
fixing across the neck of the bottle horizontally a disc perforated with one or more
holes. Against this disc I fit a movable or rotating disc, which latter disc is con-
nected by a central screw with the cap of the bottle, which cap is perforated with

page_text: holes to permit perfume to pass, and is in shape, size, and appearance much the
same as the usual metal caps fitted on smelling bottles. It will now be apparent
that when the cap rotates or is pressed down it carries the moveable disc with it,
and a passage is formed between the body of the bottle and the perforated cap,
through which perfume may pass; and that the said passage can be closed by
rotating the cap or removing the pressure therefrom. To produce an air-tight fit I
introduce a spring which presses the movable disc against the fixed disc sufficiently
tight to practically make an air-tight joint. A convenient way of fixing the
stationary disc is to attach it to a suitable tube exactly fitting the inside of the
neck, which tube is slit at the sides and throws out springs which engage in recesses
formed in the inside of the neck, and thus forms a fixture in the neck of the
bottle.
When I apply the Invention to inkstands I fit a sliding or rotating lid on to the
top of the stand with holes corresponding to the number of bottles in the stand,
thus the bottles for black, red, blue, and copying ink may be in one stand, either
in a row or in a circle. When the holes in the lid are in correspondence with the
apertures in the bottle the pen can pass through and be replenished with ink, but
when the position of the lid is altered the apertures of the bottles are covered and
the ink protected from dust. To make an air-tight joint I introduce packing
between the under side of the lid and the bottles.
It will be easily understood from the foregoing description that this Invention
admits of the introduction of any almost endless variety of forms and ornamentation,
according to the purpose to which the Invention is to be applied, and also that the
same description is applicable to a bottle or to a stopper, to fit into or outside the
neck of a bottle or a tap or a vent peg, to fit a cask or other receptacle, either for
the inlet of air or outflow of fluids and granular substances, the only difference
being that in the former case the Invention is applied to the bottle itself, and in
the latter to a movable stopper, tap, or a vent peg.
When required for aerated liquids a strong plain tinned, galvanized, or plated
collar is introduced; when required for perfume or smelling bottles the collars or
caps are made ornamental, and perforated with small holes for the escape of the
perfume. When required for decanters the tops are made of very elegant designs.
When required for medical purposes the stoppers and collars must be made of such
material as will not be affected chemically by the contents, as glass, ebonite, nickel,
plated being suitable. When required for homoeopathic doses and exact measure-
ments the Invention must be carried out with great accuracy, so that the outflow
can be regulated by drops.
For stoppers, taps, and vent pegs I prefer to use non-corosive metals or the
articles plated therewith.
To make my Invention still better understood I affix Drawings of a variety of
forms in which it is applied, but by no means confine myself to these only, as the
same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention.
No. 1. A is an elevation of a neck of a bottle with this Invention applied,
equally suitable for a homeopathic phial or a ten-gallon bottle; the cap forms a
part of the bottle, the larger hole being the outflow and the smaller the air vent ;
B is a sectional view of the collar, which fits on the neck of A, the shaded parts
being the packing; C is a side view of a collar with the locking attachment, the
upper plate being removed to shew the working; D is a stud with under cut head
fixed to the opposite side of the collar; E is a rotating disc working in a recessed
bed, with an inclined plane running from F, its thin side to G, its thick side with
slotted hole in the centre for the key, the turning of which causes the disc to rotate,
and to engage with the under cut of the stud D, drawing together the opposite
sides of the collar as it rotates towards its thick side at G, which operation results
in the collar gripping the neck sufficiently tight to prevent rotation, and con-
sequently the hole in the collar cannot come opposite the hole in the neck, and thus
the contents of the bottle are secured. The disc E also provides a tightening
arrangement without the use of any key, of a projection, or thumb piece formed

page_text: thereon. In this case the disc rotates on a pivot and is not covered by any plate.
H is a front view of a perforated collar to be used as a sprinkler for per-
fumes, &c.; T, V, W, X, Y, Z, show in plan a variety of modifications which I
adopt in the formation of the spring collars, and the means by which I tighten them
beyond the natural grip of tempered steel; the indents shown in V hold the collar
to the packing.
No. 2 shews in elevation complete internal and external movable bottle stoppers
made according to this Patent, the taper part fitting inside the neck of a bottle,
the dotted line from N to O being a piece of perforated metal, which acts as a
strainer. When required as an external stopper the taper part is abandoned, and 1
the stopper is fixed to the outside of the neck by cement or by any convenient
mechanical means, the rest cannot fail to be understood by the previous description
in this Specification.
No.
is a sectional elevation of the Invention as applied to smelling bottles.
The outer line represents a cap fitting outside the neck, and free to move thereon;
the inner lines represent a tube which fits the inside of the neck, with slits cut so
as to throw out springs, which engage in recesses cut inside the neck to hold the
tube in position. The disc Q shewn in plan being fixed at the bottom, the central
screw passing from the under side of the cap through the spiral spring, also through
the disc Q, is fixed to the movable disc R, also shewn in plan; it will be now
evident that either the rotation or pressing down of the cap carries the movable
disc R with it, the effect being to open and close the aperture in disc Q, the spiral
spring effecting the necessary piessure to forin an air-tight joint.
No. 4 is a sectional elevation of the Invention as applied to a decanter, the
shaded parts shewing where I introduce the packing.
No 5 represents in longitudinal sectional elevation a small inkstand for four
bottles made according to this Patent, shewing the hole in the lid in position for
dipping the pen, but when it is desired to protect the ink from air and dust the lid
is made to slide to K
When a round stand is desired the bottles are placed in a circle, and the lid made
to rotate instead of sliding parallel.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the best means known to
me of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details herein described and illustrated, which may
be varied without departing from the principal of my Invention.
First. I claim the combinations of parts forming respectively my improved means
of stopping and regulating the flow of liquids and granular substances from vessels,
substantially as herein described.
Second. I also claim the respective modifications of my improved means of stop-
ping the flow from vessels shown respectively in the Figures accompanying this
Specification.
Third. I also claim the means of locking or fixing my improved means of stop-
ping the flow from vessels, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Gibson Bussey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.