IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING STOPPERS IN BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Donald McBane, of Forest Road, Dalston, in the
County of Middlesex, Cellarman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SECURING STOPPERS IN BOTTLES AND OTHER SIMILAR RECEPTACLES."
Sealed the 1st February 1878, and dated the 2nd August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Donald McBane at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1877.
JOHN DONALD MOBANE, of Forest Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
Cellarman. " IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING STOPPERS IN BOTTLES AND OTHER
SIMILAR RECEPTACLES."
My Invention relates more particularly to securing cork or other stoppers in
ale and beer bottles, but is also applicable to securing the stopper of other
bottles and similar receptacles, without the use for that purpose as at present of
string, wire, or other similar material, and it consists in the application and use of a
spring clip, cap, or cover, placed over the cork or other stopper, and engaging with
the rim or lip formed on the exterior of the neck of the bottle. This spring clip,
cap, or cover, which may be made of thin steel, brass, or of other suitable flexible
material, consists of a number of arms formed in one with or connected to a disc;
which should correspond in size with the mouth of the bottle or other receptacle to
which it is to be applied, the arms being bent in such a manner as to form with the
disc a cap or cover to the mouth of the receptacle to which it is fitted.
The ends of the arms are provided with or are turned up so as to form projections
thereon, which engage with the rim or lip formed on the neck of the bottle, and
thereby prevent the cap and also the stopper which it covers from being
accidentally removed from the bottle.
The arms and also the disc which connects them may be stamped or otherwise
ornamented with any desired design, trade mark, or device, whereby an improved
appearance may be imparted to the bottle, and the cap or cover may be removed
from and replaced upon the bottle as often as required without destroying or injuring
[Price 6d1

page_text: the cap, it being simply necessary for the purpose of removing it to disengage one or
more of the arms from the rim or lip of the bottle, and to replace it by applying
sufficient pressure upon the top of the cap to cause the ends of the arms to spring
over the said rim or lip,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Donald McBane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
February 1878..
JOHN DONALD MCBANE, of Forest Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
Cellarman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING STOPPERS IN BOTTLES AND OTHER
SIMILAR RECEPTACLES.'
My said Invention relates to an improved means of securing a cork or similar stoppers
în ale, beer, and other bottles and receptacles, and it consists in the employment in
substitution for string, wire, or other like material ordinarily employed for that
purpose, of a spring clip, cap, or cover, formed of a disc or crown which covers the
stopper, and of a number of arms which engage with the rim or lip provided on the
exterior of the neck of the bottle, or with a similar projection on any other like
receptacle to which the clip, cap, or cover may be applied.
My said Invention is adapted for use with stoppers of various descriptions.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which I shall now proceed to describe,
I have shewn by way of examples the application of the Invention to stoppers of
two different constructions.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents an elevation of a portion of a beer bottle
fitted with the spring clip, cap, or cover for securing an ordinary cork stopper;
Figure 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a similar view to
Figure 1, but with the spring clip, cap, or cover, shewn in section; Figure 4 is a
sectional elevation illustrating the application of the spring clip, cap, or cover in
conjuuction with a stopper or closing disc of india-rubber; and Figure 5 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 4.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A is the spring clip, cap, or cover, composed of
tin, brass, or other suitable material, and consisting of a disc or crown a which
corresponds in size with the mouth B of the bottle C, and covers the ordinary cork
stopper D, and of a number of vertical arms b made in one with the crown a, the
engage with
ends of the arms being bent inwards so as to form projections c which
the rim or lip & formed on the neck of the bottle, and thereby securely retain the
cap A, and consequently the stopper D in its place.
In applying the cap A to the bottle it is simply necessary, after having inserted
the stopper D, to place the cap over the same, and apply a slight pressure; the
spring arms b then yield in order to allow the cap to advance and resume their
normal condition when the cap is in its place; the projections c in this position of
the cap engaging with the rim or lip d, so as to prevent the accidental removal or
displacement of the cap and the stopper. When it is required to open the bottle,
the operator laying hold of one of the arms b disengages it from the rim or lip d, as
shewn by dotted lines in Figure 3; the cap may then be withdrawn, and the cork
be subsequently extracted in the usual manner.

page_text: According to the modification illustrated by Figures 4 and 5, I dispense with the
ordinary cork stoppers, and substitute therefor a disc D of india-rubber which I
apply in combination with the spring cap A in the following manner :-
I place the disc or stopper D inside the cap A, the crown a of which is made with a
slight depression on the top so as to form a bulge or projection a¹ on which the disc
D rests.
The bottle C having been filled, the cap A containing the disc D is then sprung over
the mouth B in the manner herein-before described with reference to the arrangement
illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3, whereby the disc D is caused to partially enter
the mouth of the bottle, and the projections c to engage with the rim or lip d, and
the bottle is securely stoppered or closed.
It will be observed that the spring cap A with its disc D constructed according
to this modification forms an equivalent for a cork wire and capsule in combi-
nation; it consequently posseses important advantages both to the bottler and
consumer; to the bottler, a saving is effected by reason of corks, bottling
machines, skilled labor (corkers and servers), wire and pliers, wirers, capsulers
and capsuling machines being dispensed with, and of the breakage which attends
the corking, wiring, and capsuling, and the alternate moving of the bottles
being obviated, whilst the combined capsule and stopper is cheap in first cost, may
be applied without the aid of skilled labor, and is capable of being again and again
utilized for an almost unlimited period. To the consumer it possesses advantages
both in point of convenience and economy, as in addition to the diminution in the
liability to the breakage of bottles, the expenditure of time and trouble necessary
for removing the ordinary capsule and extracting the cork, as also the risk of cutting
and injuring the hands, and of particles of cork becoming mingled with the contents
of the bottle are entirely obviated. This combined capsule and stopper is not only
applicable to effervescing liquid, such, for example, as ale, stout, champagne, or mineral
waters, but it is a perfect and cleanly stopper for any still fluid, such as sherry,
vinegar, or draught ale.
In the case of effervescing liquids it is particularly advantageous, since any
desired quantity of the liquid may be drawn off and the stopper instantaneously
replaced, thereby retaining the remainder with its strength unimpaired as long as
may be required.
The spring cap may be stamped, printed, or embossed with any desired trade mark,
device, or design, after the manner of ordinary capsules.
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 herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
The employment of a spring clip, cap, or cover, constructed and applied
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Donald McBane, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TATYT
JOHN DONALD MODANE. (L.S.)