Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers for Bottles and similar Vessels.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers for Bottles and
similar Vessels.
1, MATTHEW LINDEN MACAULEY, of 28 West Bank Terrace, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Warehouseman, do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to provide an improved stoppering device or
combination for bottles and similar vessels; and in carrying it out I combine a new
or improved construction of stopper, with an internal construction or conformation
of the neck of the bottle of the kind described in my Patent Specification No. 13813
of 1885, and which conformation is easily produced in making glass bottles with
the aid of a tool of the kind also described in my said Specification. A similar
conformation can also be easily produced in making earthenware bottles or similar
vessels.
A bottle neck made in the manner referred to is of the ordinary internal cylindrical
or nearly-cylindrical form, excepting that at a short distance inwards from the outer
end the passage is constructed to an oval form by two diametrically opposite ribs
projecting from the sides. The under or inner sides of the ribs constitute the parts
for holding in the stopper and are in a plane at right angles to the axis of the
passage.
The body of the improved stopper may be made of wood, or vulcanite, or glass, or
earthenware, or other suitable material. It is formed with a button or head at its
outer end, and with its inner end of an oval form corresponding to and capable of
entering through the contracted part of the bottle neck. The projecting parts of the
oval inner end of the stopper body extend only a short distance from the inner end,
and are formed with inclined or screw-like surfaces which bear up against the ribs in
the bottle neck when the stopper is turned round after being inserted, the inclined

page_text: form of the surfaces causing the stopper to be drawn inwards. Between the locking
projections (as they may be termed) on the stopper body and the head a groove or
indentation is formed round the stopper body to receive and hold a flat ring or washer
of vulcanised rubber or analogous material; and this washer is compressed into the
end of the bottle neck by the action which draws in the stopper. The washer bears
on the outer parts of the ribs in the bottle neck and being close to the higher parts of
the inclined surfaces of the locking projections prevents the stopper from being
turned too far round which would cause the locking projections to get clear of the
ribs again.
Dated this Twenty-third day of September 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers for Bottles and
similar Vessels.
I, MATTHEW LINDEN MACAULEY, of 28 West Bank Terrace, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Warehouseman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to provide an improved stoppering device or
combination for bottles and similar vessels; and in carrying it out I combine a new
or improved construction of stopper, with an internal construction or conformation of
the neck of the bottle of the kind described in my Patent Specification No. 13813
of 1885, and which conformation is easily produced in making glass bottles with
the aid of a tool of the kind also described in my said Specification. A similar
conformation can also be easily produced in making earthenware bottles or similar
vessels.
On an accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings figure, 1, is a sectional elevation
showing the neck of a glass bottle and the acting parts of the special tool employed
for shaping the exterior and interior of the end of the bottle neck. Figure, 2, is a
vertical section of a glass bottle with my improved stopper in position. Figure, 3, is
a sectional elevation of the stopper, figure, 4, an elevation as at right angles to
figure, 3, and figure, 5, an inverted plan. Figures, 6, to 9, show modifications of the
internal conformation of the bottle neck.
A bottle neck as made for my improved stopper, is at and near its end of the
ordinary internal cylindrical or nearly cylindrical form, excepting that at a short
distance inwards from the outer end the passage is contracted to an oval or equivalent
form by two diametrically opposite ribs, I, projecting inwards from the sides. Tho
tool as shown in figure, 1, is somewhat simplified as compared with what is shown in
my earlier Specification. The spindle, S, of the mandril, M, which enters the neck of
the bottle has loose on it a neck piece, N, held and guided by a plate, P, fixed by
arms to the spindle; and this neck piece has recesses formed at diametrically opposite
sides of it to shape the ribs, R. The outside of the bottle neck is shaped by the usual
blocks, B, on the ends of spring arms, A; and when the mandril, M, has been
inserted and the arms, A, grasped and closed on the bottle neck, the plastic glass is
pressed into the recesses of the neck piece, N. Then when the bottle is turned in the
tool, the neck piece, N, does not change its position in the bottle neck, and the ribs, R,
remain where first formed whilst the turning action shapes the rest of the end of the
bottle neck. The part of the mandril, M, beyond the neck piece, N, is made with
diametrically opposite sides flattened or otherwise shaped so that the mandril can be
withdrawn between the ribs, R, when turned into the proper position. An index, I,
is fixed on the spindle, S, and when the spindle is turned to make this index
coincide with either of two projections, J, on the neck piece, N, the tool can be
withdrawn.

page_text: The under or inner sides of the ribs, R, formed in the bottle neck constitute the
parts for holding the stopper, K, and are in a plane at right angles to the passage.
The body of the improved stopper, K, may be made of wood, or vulcanite, or glass,
or earthenware, or other suitable material. It is formed with a button or head at its
outer end, and with its inner end of an oval or equivalent form corresponding to
and capable of entering through the contracted part of the bottle neck. The projecting
parts, D, of the oval inner end of the stopper body extend only a short distance from
the inner end, and are formed with inclined or screw-like surfaces which bear up
against the ribs, K, in the bottle neck when the stopper is turned round after being
inserted. Between the locking projections, D, (as they may be termned) and the head
of the stopper a groove or indentation, G, is formed round the stopper body to receive
and hold a ring or washer, W, of vulcanised rubber or analogous material; and this
washer is compressed into the end of the bottle neck by the action which draws in the
stopper. The washer, W, bears on the outer or upper parts of the ribs, R, in the
bottle neck, and being close to the higher parts of the inclined surfaces of the locking
projections, D, prevents the stopper from being turned too far round, which would
cause the locking projections to get clear of the ribs again. The described arrange-
ment of the rubber washer, W, relatively to the locking, projections, D, also serves
to prevent the ribs, R, from being injured should the stopper be thrust in or turned
violently.
The internal projections or ribs, R, in the bottle neck may be of any of the forms
shown in figures, 6, to 9, or of any suitable analogous form.
The stopper, K, may be formed with a groove under the head or button as indicated
by a dotted line in figure, 4, for applying a wire or cord for further securing the
stopper.
As a stopper of my improved kind can be used over and over again, it is desirable
to have it always at hand in connection with the bottle, and with this view I form
the bottom of the bottle with a suitably shaped indent or recess. H, figure, 2, in which
the stopper can be placed as indicated by dotted lines, when not inserted in the
bottle neck.
When applying my improvements in the case of earthenware bottles or vessels I
form the internal ribs with a tool similar to the one used for glass bottles, but I find
it best to apply the tool after the earthenware bottle or vessel has been long enough
in the kiln or has been heated and dried otherwise sufficiently to withstand the action
of the tool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the samo is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The improved stoppering device or combination for bottles and similar vessels and
consisting of ribs or projections formed in the neck and a stopper made with
projections to enter between and engage under the neck ribs or projections, the
stopper being provided with a washer or ring of rubber or other suitable compressible
material substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-second day of June 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.