IMPROVEMENTS IN INTERNAL STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I LEÓN VALLET of 49 Everton Road, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Patent Bottle Stopper and Glass Bottle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN INTERNAL STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists of certain improvements hereinafter particularly set forth
in internal stoppers for bottles used for, or containing mineral waters, or other
gaseous liquids.
This Invention relates to that type of internal stoppers which are formed wholly,
or partly, of cylindrical form and which may or may not have a rounded head as
the case may require. The head of the body or stem of the type of stopper is
made of size just sufficiently large to enter the neck of the bottle. The neck is
provided with an inverted seat for the rubber with which the stoppers are provided
(which may be in any of the ordinary known ways) to bear against and make a
joint with when the bottles are filled. The material of which the stoppers are
formed may be of any known, or suitable kind of greater specific gravity than
water, such for instance as lignum vitæ, china, glass, ebonite, or any other compound
impervious to such liquids. This type of stopper is inserted into the bottle through
the neck when finished in contra-distinction to those types which are placed into
the interior of the bottle prior to its complete manufacture.
In the year 1875 Letters Patent N° 490 were granted to me for certain improve-
ments in the same type of stoppers as that above set forth. In the Specification
of this Patent No 490 A.D. 1875 certain stoppers are shown which may be termed
gravitating and having their stem hollowed, which allows the india rubber to lie
in the hollow during the insertion and passage of the stopper through the neck
of the bottle. This kind of stopper is now extensively used by mineral water
manufacturers. This india rubber used in connection with both the stoppers
mentioned in Letters Patent No 490 AD. 1875 sometimes in inserting is forced
out of position, namely from its groove and it is sometimes displaced by the
pressure within the bottle when opening the bottle, whilst in the type of stopper
before described the india rubber washer has to be applied to the stem of the
stopper after it has been inserted. This is effected by suitable tools. In the first
case it takes a great length of time in comparison to the value of the bottle and
stopper to replace the india rubber so much so that the bottle is sometimes put on

page_text: one side by mineral water manufacturers as worthless and in the latter case it is a
more expensive method of inserting the stopper than the former.
To enable stoppers without a hollow to be inserted with the rubber in position
directly into the bottle and to obviate the displacement of the india rubber as above
described when inserting the stopper, I provide a small circumferential projection
upon the stem of the stopper just above the india rubber ring By this means the
rubber when inserting from the outside is prevented when fairly inserted into the
bottle from becoming displaced. The stem of the stopper above the projection is
slightly diminished to allow a certain amount of space around the stem for the
stretched india rubber during the process of inserting. So soon as the stopper is
passed the contracted portions of and about the neck of the bottle it expands to
its correct and normal condition and position. Should the rubber washer become
detached by wear, breakage, or other cause from its groove it will readily from off
the stopper stem owing to the shape of such stem. In such a case both the stopper
body and rubber washer can.
n. readily be removed from the bottle. In the case of
double ended stoppers I form the circumferential projection on each side of the
rubber washer.

page_text: improvements in Internal stoppers IOT DOTHES.
I, LEON VALLET, of 49 Everton Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Patent Bottle Stopper, and Glass Bottle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
,
My invention consists of certain improvements hereinafter particularly set
forth in internal stoppers for bottles used for or containing mineral waters, or other:
gaseous liquids.
This invention relates to that type of internal stoppers which are formed wholly
or partly of cylindrical form and which may or may not have a rounded head as
the case may require. The head of the body or stem of this type of stopper is:
made of size to easily enter the neck of the bottle. The neck is provided with an
inverted seat for the rubber with which the stoppers are provided (which may be.
in any of the ordinary known ways) to bear against and make a joint with, when
the bottles are filled with gaseous liquid. The material of which the stoppers are
formed may be of any known or suitable kind, of greater specific gravity than
water (and the head constructed of greater specific gravity than the base to
ensure the head falling foremost into the bottles mouth when stoppering), such
for instance as lignum vitae, china, glass, ebonite, or any other compound
impervious to such liquids. When made of wood or ebonite a piece of metal
may be inserted into the head of the stem to ensure more accuracy in stoppering
and more speed in filling the bottle, as is well known in the trade. In the case of
weightier material such as glass or porcelain I may insert in the base a piece of
cork to lighten this part and give more power to the head to fall foremost in the
bottles mouth for stoppering. This type of stopper is inserted into the bottle
through the neck when finished in contradistinction to those types which are
placed into the interior of the bottle prior to their complete manufacture, such as
those which have to have their rubber washer applied to the stem in the interior
of the bottle by suitable instruments, the parts being passed through the neck
separately.
In the year 1875 Letters Patent N° 490 were granted to me for certain improve-
ments in the same type of stoppers as above set forth. In the specification of this
Patent N° 490. A.D. 1875 certain stoppers are shown which may be termed
gravitating and having their stem hollowed which allows the india rubber to lie
in the hollow during the insertion and passage of the stopper through the neck of
the bottle. These stoppers are illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings hereto
annexed. a shows the hollowed portion in which the rubber lies when being
inserted. This kind of stopper is now extensively used by mineral water
manufacturers. The india rubber washer used in connection with the stoppers
mentioned in Letters Patent N° 490. A.D. 1875 herein shown at Figure 1 some-
times in inserting is forced out of position, namely from its groove into the hollow
part a and when in this position cannot be removed without difficulty, whilst in
the stopper shown at Figure 2 the india rubber washer has to be applied to the
stem of the stopper after it has been inserted. This is effected by suitable tools,

page_text: In the first case it takes a great length of time in comparison to the value of the
bottle and stopper to replace the india rubber, so much so that the bottle is some-
times put on one side by mineral water manufacturers as worthless; and also the
hollow part in the stem is objectionable as it holds dirt; and in the case of the
stopper where the washer is positioned after insertion it is a more expensive
method of inserting the stopper than the former.
To enable stoppers without a hollow stem to be inserted with the rubber in
position directly into the bottle and to obviate as much as possible the displace-
ment of the india rubber as above described when inserting the stopper, I provide
a small circumferential projection upon the stem of the stopper just above the
india rubber ring. A stopper provided with this projection is shown at Figures 3
and 4. b is the stem of the stopper and o is the circumferential projection. dis
the heel and is the rubber washer. By this means the rubber when inserting
from the outside (the rubber first having been moistened) is prevented when being
fairly inserted into the bottle from becoming displaced from its position. The stem
of the stopper above the projection is slightly diminished above the washer to
allow a certain amount of space around the stein for the stretched india rubber
during the process of inserting. The heel d is made of such a size as to suit the
neck of the bottle. So soon as the stopper is past the contracted portions of and
about the neck of the bottle the india rubber washer expands to its correct and
normal condition and position. Should the rubber washer become detached by
wear, breakage; or otlier cause from its groove, for instance by faulty insertion, it
will readily fall from off the stopper stem owing to the shape of such stem. In
such a case both the stopper body and rubber washer can readily be removed from
the bottle and replaced by a new stopper. In the case of double ended stoppers
I form the circumferential projection on each side of the rubber washer. This
type of stopper with my improvements applied thereto is shown at Figure 4 of the
drawings.
The drawings are marked with figures and letters of reference, like letters and
figures being used to denote like, or corresponding parts throughout the various
views and figures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
First. Internal stoppers for bottles of the type herein described, which are
completed before being inserted into such bottles, constructed, and having a
circumferential projection substantially. as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The stopper substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 3 of the
drawings, consisting of a reduced stem 6 circumferential projection c, washer e and
heel d.
;