IMPROVE. MENTS IN CLOSING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES AND JARS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY WALTER STEVENS of Colchester in the County of Essex, Mineral
Water Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN CLOSING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES AND JARS to be as follows:-
"
:
This Invention has for its object improvements in closing or stoppering bottles
and jars."
For this purpose I form a slot transversely through the head of a bottle or jar
and I close the opening into the bottle or jar by means of a wedge inserted into
this transverse slot. The wedge I divide horizontally into two parts so that the
lower one may rest above the opening whilst the upper part is driven endwise so
as to force the lower part downwards and press it against and cause it to close the
opening.
The opening I make with a slight rim or edge projecting upwards from it so
that the bottom part of the wedge when pressed downwards bears forcibly against
this edge and forms a perfectly tight joint. The two parts into which the wedge
is divided I connect by a joint which allows one part of the wedge to slide endwise
over the other and yet keeps the two parts of the wedge always together. To
close the bottle or jar it is only necessary to insert the wedge into the slot and
with a slight blow drive the upper part of the wedge endwise and similarly. to open
the bottle it is only necessary to drive the upper part of the wedge in the opposite
direction with a slight blow and the wedge can then be withdrawn and the contents
of the bottle or jar poured out or removed.
Through the upper part of the head of the bottle or jar which is above the
transverse horizontal slot I preferably form a vertical slot in a line with the first-
mentioned slot but of somewhat less width so as to leave a portion of the head
projecting over each side of the horizontal slot for the side edges of the upper part
of the wedge to bear against.
By cutting away the upper portion of the head in this way the contents of the
bottle or jar can be better poured out or got at and the bottle or jar can be more
readily cleaned.

page_text: improving Dos and jars.
I HENRY WALTER STEVENS of Colchester in the County of Essex Mineral
Water Manufacturer 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:-
This invention has for its object improvements in closing or stoppering bottles
and jars.
For this purpose I form a slot transversely through the head of a bottle or jar
and I close the opening into the bottle or jar by means of a wedge inserted into
this transverse slot. The wedge I divide horizontally into two parts so that the
lower one may rest above the opening whilst the upper part is driven endwise so
as to force the lower part downwards and press it against and cause it to close the
opening.
The opening I make with a slight rim or edge projecting upwards from it so
that the bottom part of the wedge when pressed downwards bears forcibly against
this edge and forms a perfectly tight joint. The two parts into which the wedge
is divided may be connected by a joint which allows one part of the wedge to slide
end wise over the other and yet keeps the two parts of the wedge always together.
To close the bottle or jar it is only necessary to insert the wedge into the slot and
with a slight blow drive the upper part of the wedge endwise and similarly to
open the bottle it is only necessary to drive the wedge in the opposite direction
with a slight blow and the wedge can then be withdrawn and the contents of the
bottle or jar poured out or removed.
Through the upper part of the head of the bottle or jar which is above the
transverse horizontal slot I preferably form a vertical slot in a line with the first
mentioned slot but of somewhat less width so as to leave a portion of the head
projecting over each side of the horizontal slot in a dovetail form or otherwise for
the side edges of the upper part of the wedge to hear against.
By cutting away the upper portion of the head in this way the contents of the
bottle or jar can be better poured out or got at and the bottle or jar can be more
readily cleaned.
The drawing annexed shews the manner in which I prefer to carry out my
invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the upper part of an earthenware bottle and of
the wedge which closes it. Figure 2 is another vertical section taken at right
angles to the section shown at Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
The top of the head of the bottle has a tapering slot with dovetail sides formed
across it as shown. The divided wedge which is to be pressed into this slot I pre-
ferably form in the manner shewn in these figures. The bottom portion A is
formed of sheet metal with the sides bent upwards as shown to form it into
a tapering wedge with dovetail sides corresponding to the dovetail of the sides of
the slot formed across the head of the bottle. The other portion B may be of wood
and is similarly made with tapering dovetail sides and in addition made somewhat
thicker at its broad than at its narrow end.

page_text: To close the bottle the portion A of the wedge is first passed into the tapering
slot formed across the head of the bottle-the portion B is then driven into the
portion A and so forces it downwards against the edge of the opening into the
interior of the bottle.
If desired a thin strip of soft material might be placed between the underside
of the portion A and this opening.
The broader end of the two portions A and B of the wedge may also if desired
be coupled together by a short cord to prevent them from being separated one from
the other when removed from the bottle.
The bottle can readily be opened by giving a slight endway blow to the wedge
on its smaller end.
In place of the divided wedge being formed as above described the two parts of
the wedge might be formed as shown in section at Figure 4 and be retained together
as shown in a similar manner to that in which the irons of a carpenters plane are
ordinarily retained together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improvements substantially as herein before described in closing or stop-
pering bottles and jars.
2. Forming the head of a bottle or jar with a tapering slot across it, open at the
top and with dovetail or overhanging sides for a wedge to be driven into substan-
tially as described.
3. Forming the stopper of a wedge shape in two parts one to be made to rest
over the opening into the interior of the bottle and the other to be driven over it
to force it downwards against the mouth of the opening substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of September 1885.
CARPMAEL & Co., .
Agents for the Applicant.