IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR STOPPERS FOR CLOSING BOTTLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Foster, of 23, Forston Street, Shepherdess Walk,
Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CAPSULES OR STOPPERS FOR CLOSING BOTTLES."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 29th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Foster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1877. .
J
FREDERICK FOSTER, of 23, Forston Street, Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR STOPPERS FOR CLOSING
BOTTLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in capsules or stoppers for closing
bottles. For this purpose I form a capsule or stopper from a disc or plate of metal,
carrying on its under side a short tube of vulcanized india-rubber, which is to
enter and fit within the mouth of the bottle to be closed: This construction of.
stopper is applicable not only for closing bottles containing still liquids but also for
fermenting or artificially aërated liquids. In the latter cases a perfectly air-tight
closing of the bottle is obtained by reason of the pressure within the bottle
expanding the vulcanized india-rubber tube of the stopper, and causing it to fit
tightly against the interior of the mouth of the bottle.
1
To secure the vulcanized india-rubber tubes to the under side of the disc or plate
a circular hollow or depression is made in the centre of the disc to receive a short
metal tube which is secured by a soldering; the end of the vulcanized india-rubber
tube is introduced into the tube, and another tube or cap is forced down through down
the vulcanized india-rubber tube and up the disc. The vulcanized india-rubber tube
is then griped between the two tubes, the edge of the outer tube is also slightly
set or bent inwards. By these means the end of the vulcanized india-rubber tube
is held securely. Stoppers or capsules formed in this manner may either be used
simply as loose stoppers, or they may be coupled by hinge connections with wires
secured around the neck of a bottle, and a clasp jointed to the disc may be caused to
lock over a projection from the wire embracing the neck,
1

page_text: The projection may be formed by twisting together the ends of the wire, or
by forming a twist and small loop at an intermediate point of the length of the
wire.
When the bottle has been filled and closed a wire may be passed through the loop
and secured by a seal, or otherwise secured. Other means may also be adopted for
connecting the capsule or stopper to a bottle.
A passage may also be formed through the centre of the disc and be closed by a
valve opening inwards, so as to allow of the bottle being filled with aerated liquid
through this valve, and I form the valve in such a way as not to interfere with the
interior of the india-rubber tube of the stopper being exposed to the pressure
within the bottle so as to secure a tight joint.
If the stopper is not provided with a valve in this manner the bottle may be filled
with aerated liquid in the ordinary manner, as when filling bottles with aërated
liquid to be closed or stoppered by hand. And when the bottle is full and is drawn
away from the filling nozzle it may be quickly closed by inserting the stopper into
the mouth and securing it by its clasp or fastening.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Foster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November 1877.
FREDERICK FOSTER, of 23, Forston Street, Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR STOPPERS FOR CLOSING
BOTTLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in capsules or stoppers for closing
bottles. For this purpose I form a capsule or stopper from a dise or plate of metal,
carrying on its under side a short tube of vulcanized india-rubber, which is to enter
and fit within the mouth of the bottle to be closed. This construction of stopper is
applicable not only for closing bottles containing still liquids but also for fermenting
or artificially aerated liquids. In the latter case a perfectly air-tight closing of the
bottle is obtained by reason of the pressure within the bottle expanding the
vulcanized india-rubber tube of the stopper, and causing it to fit tightly against the
interior of the mouth of the bottle.
To secure the vulcanized india-rubber tubes to the under side of the disc or plate
a circular hollow or depression is made in the centre of the disc to receive a short
metal tube, which is secured by soldering. The end of the vulcanized india-rubber
tube is introduced into this tube, and another tube or cap is forced down through
the vulcanized india-rubber tube and up to the disc. The vulcanized india-rubber
tube is then gripped between the two tubes, the edge of the outer tube is also
slightly set or bent inwards. By these means the end of the vulcanized india-
rubber tube is held securely. Stoppers or capsules formed in this manner may
either be used simply as loose stoppers, or they may be coupled by hinge connections
with wires secured around the neck of a bottle, and a clasp jointed to the disc may
be caused to lock over a projection from the wire embracing the neck.
The projection may be formed by twisting together the ends of the wire, or
by forming a twist and small loop at an intermediate point of the length of the
wire.

page_text: When the bottle has been filled and closed a wire may be passed through the
loop and secured by a seal, or otherwise secured. Other means may also be adopted
for connecting the capsule or stopper to a bottle.
A passage may also be formed through the centre of the disc and be closed by a
valve opening inwards, so as to allow of the bottle being filled with aërated liquid
through this valve, and I form the valve in such a way as not to interfere with the
interior of the india-rubber tube of the stopper being exposed to the pressure
within the bottle so as to secure a tight joint.
If the stopper is not provided with a valve in this manner the bottle may be
filled with aerated liquid in the ordinary manner, as when filling bottles with
aerated liquid to be closed or stoppered by hand. And when the bottle is full and
is drawn away from the filling nozzle it may be quickly closed by inserting the
stopper into the mouth and securing it by its clasp or fastening.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect. I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
carried into effect. will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Figure 1 is a section, and Figure 2 is a plan of a capsule or stopper constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 3 is a plan of a similar stopper having combined
with it parts by which it is to be secured to the neck of a bottle, and Figure 4 shows
in section such a stopper attached to the bottle.
Figure 5 is a side view, and Figure 6 is an end view of a tool which I employ in
fixing the stoppers to the bottles.
A is a plate or disc of metal, which is stamped to form with a hollow or
depression on its under side. This hollow or depression receives the short metallic
tube B, which is securely soldered in its place; C is a tube of vulcanized india-
rubber; it is inserted at one end into the metal tube B, and is fastened by driving
in a plug D. This plug may be of metal in the form of a ring, or a plug made of
wood serves the purposes very efficiently. The lower end of the tubo B is turned
somewhat inwards in order that a more secure hold of the india-rubber C may be
obtained.
I prefer in all cases that the stopper should be attached to the neck of the bottle,
and for this purpose the plate or disc A is formed with lugs A¹, A¹, to receive the
links E, and F. Through the lower eye of the link E the wire G is passed, and
this wire is tied around the neck of the bottle which is made with a groove to
receive it. The link F serves as a latch; it has an elongated hole punched in it,
and when the latch is turned down the loop G¹ formed by twisting the wire G
passes through the hole in the latch, and so the stopper is kept down, and for
further security a pin or string may be passed through the loop G. Before the
wire G is placed around the neck of the bottle one end of it is bent up, as is
indicated in Figure 3, and the ends are crossed.
The tool shown at Figures 5 and 6 is used in the following manner:- -The wire
having been placed loosely around the neck, the tool is applied to the end of the wire,
which has been bent so as to project outwards, and the same is made to enter the
hole which is bored up the axis of the tool, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 5. At the same time the other end of the wire lies along in the groove in
the end of the tool which radiates outwards from the centre, as is clearly seen in
Figure 6, and the projecting extremity of the wire is bent up so that it enters the
small notch, seen at H in Figure 5, then by tnrning the tool a few turns a secure
twist is made and the superfluous wire is cut off.
When the stoppers are intended to be used in bottling aërated water I sometimes
form holes in the plate or disc A, through which needles may be introduced to hold
the india-rubber C out of contact with the neck of the bottle whilst the stopper is
in its place, and the bottle is filled through the apertures so provided. Or, in some
cases I perforate the top of the plate or disc A within the circle of the tube B, and
cover these perforations on the inner side with a piece of sheet india-rubber also

page_text: perforated, but with holes which do not correspond to those in the plate A, and so I
form a valve which will open to admit the liquid, but closes to a pressure in the
contrary direction.
When forming a valve in this manner I use a ring plug D, and this serves also to
retain the perforated piece of india-rubber in its place.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. The combination to form a capsule or stopper of the plate or disc A, the
metal tube B, the india-rubber tube C, and the plug D, substantially as described.'"
Second. The combination with the parts A, B, C, and D, of the other parts E, F, G,
and G', substantially as described.
Third. The combination with the parts A, B, C, and D, of parts forming a valve
opening inwards within the circuit of the india-rubber tube C, substantially as
described.
+
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Foster, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
FREDERICK FOSTER. (LS.)