Improvements in Elastic Covers for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 17th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Covers for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
ROBERT SCOTT BURN Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Oak Lea
Edgely Road near Stockport Cheshire do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object the making or forming of capsules or covers for
closing the orifices of bottles or other vessels containing liquids or semi-fluid
substances of an elastic material such as valcanized india rubber and in such a way
that when passed over the neck of the bottles or jars or other vessels they will grip
or adhere closely to them covering the orifices and preserving more or less completely
the characteristics of the liquid or semi-liquid substances contained in them the grip
or hold due to the natural elasticity of the material of which the capsules or covers are
made being increased by the addition to the body of the capsules or covers of a band
or stricture encircling it, as also by corrugating or roughening the whole or part of
the interior of the capsule or cover so that it will take and keep a better hold of the
bottle or vessel surface over which it is passed.
In the use of liquids of various kinds for domestic and other purposes such for
example as ale, or certain kinds of fluid medicines or medicinal drinks or draughts in
cases where the whole contents of the bottle are not used or emptied at one time-but
a portion greater or less is retained for use at some future period; it is often deemed
desirable to re-close the orifice of the bottle-with a cork so as to retain if possible
certain characteristics of the liquid or fluid substance contained in the bottle. The
disadvantages attendant upon the use of corks of the ordinary kind in general use are
well known and to do away with the necessity of employing them, certain mechanical
devices have been from time to time introduced into practice. Some of these have
been characterized by much ingenuity and have met with a fair amount of practical
approval still the best of them possess certain disadvantages inherent in the nature of
the devices or as being too high in price to receive a very widely extended
adoption.
In order to avoid or get rid of those and other disadvantages and to obtain a simple
and yet effective contrivance adapted to the end or object aimed at as above named,
one also which is little liable to got out of working order, I propose to use as the
material or substance of which the capsule or cover for bottles and vessels made to
containing liquids or semi-liquid substances as hereinbefore named-an elastic
material or substance such as vulcanized india rubber. This is used or adapted to the
purpose in view in form, shape or configuration and with surfaces internal or external
or both varied according to circumstances and to what I consider necessary in order
to attain the object or objects I have in view; and as presently to be described.
The capsule or cover of the elastic material or substance employed is made hollow,
and generally circular in section throughout with one end-the lower when in situ
open and the other-the upper when in situ-closed or solid-and the thickness as
well as size or dimensions varied according to the kind or class of bottle or vessel to
which it is to be applied in use. Although I prefer the circular or round form or
section of the capsale or cover; it might if necessary be so made hexagonal in form
both internally and externally or this externally only while the interior would be
circular in section. The hexagonal form externally might be confined to the lower part
both internally and externally-the upper part being circular in section both internally
and externally.
In all the forms or configurations or shapes of the capsule a stricture or tightening

page_text: ог
or tightened part is given to them-the elastic material being at this point or part of
the capsale of greater thickness than the general or average thickness of the body of
capsale other than at this part. This stricture as I term it-band or tightening part
of the capsale may in external form present either the appearance of a
"bead
convex part or it may present the appearance of a cavetto or hollow or concave part.
Where the head or convex stricture is adopted the extra thickness of the wall of the
capsale or cover is given externally. Where the stricture or band takes the form of
a hollow or concavity the extra thickness to the wall of capsale is given internally.
The object of this stricture as I call it or band, is to give increased tightness or force
to the "grip" or hold which the capsale or cover takes when slipped over the neck
say of a bottle this increased "grip" being taken for the most part at or about the
part of neck say of bottle where a shoulder is formed in the usual way.
Still further to increase the grip between the capsule and the bottle or vessel neck
when the capsule is put in place in the bottle or vessel neck, I propose to provide part
of the interior surface of the capsule with ribs or corrugations or fluted. These ribs
or corrugations or flutes may be made so that in their line of direction they will be at
right angles to the base line.
To aid the grip or hold which the hand will take in putting on or taking off the
capsale from its seat on the bottle or vessel neck, and to add somewhat to the
ornamental appearance of the capsale, I propose to flute or corrugate its external
surface throughout. Where the lower part of the capsale or cover is made externally
with hexagonal sides, the flat sides and corners of the hexagonal planes will afford a
good hand-hold or grip in putting on to or taking off the capsule or cover from its
seat on the bottle neck.
The capsales or covers will be made in different sizes or dimensions to suit various
kinds of bottles, flasks or vessels used for containing liquids or semi-fluid and soft
solid substances or materials. The normal dimensions of my one class or "size" will
be such that the capsales will in their internal diameter be of a little less dimensions
than that of the neck externally of bottles vessels or flasks for which the particular
class or
"size" is made so that in putting on the capsalo or cover to its seat on the
neck of the bottle, vessel, or flask; a little force or manipulation will be required to
pass it on to its seat-the elastic nature of the material of which the capsale or cover
is made admitting easily of the necessary stretch or extension of the material, the
same elasticity aiding the contraction of the capsale when passed on to its seat by
which a grip of the capsale or cover to the neck of the bottle flask or vessel is obtained
-this grip being aided by the extra thickness of the elastic material at the point where
the stricture or band is made. In the taking off of the capsale or cover from its seat
the exercise of a little manipulative force or management will easily and readily
release it, the elasticity of the material of which it is made admitting of the capsale
giving and taking under a pretty wide range of varying circumstances in regard to
the relative dimensions of the capsale or cover on the one hand and the neck of the
bottle flask or vessel on the other.
The tendency of any pressure of gas or aeriform fluid passing upwards from the
contents in the interior of the bottle flask or vessel is to press vertically or push
upward the disc or top of the capsale or cover and any extension upwards of the
top of the capsale or cover has the tendency to draw in the side causing it to grip
the material of the bottle, flask or vessel the more firmly. And as the pressure
of gas or of aeriform fluid passing upwards from the interior of the bottle flask or
vessel acts equally over the whole of the interior surface of the disc or plate forming
the top of capsale or cover, the consequence of this pressure is that the part for
side wall of the capsale or cover is drawn in all round making a close joint between
the capsale or cover and the surface of bottle, flask or vessel neck-the greater the
pressure on the inside of capsale or cover at the top the more tightly is the elastic
material drawn all round the neck of bottle, flask, or vessel. And the grip all round
of the capsale or cover enabling it to resist any pressure or force acting internally
L
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page_text: tending to force or blow off the capsale or cover from its seat is aided by the action
of the stricture or band hereinbefore described and also by the general elasticity of
the material of the capsale or cover acting throughout its whole body, this aided at
certain points of it by the curved form given to the lower part of capsule or cover.
As witness my hand this Fifteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and
eighty-nine
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Covers for Bottles, Jars, and the like.
ROBERT SCOTT BURN Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Oak
Lea Edgeley Road near Stockport Cheshire 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 :-
The Invention has for its object the making or forming of capsules or covers for
closing the orifices of bottles jars or other vessels containing liquids or semi-liquid
substances of an elastic material such as vulcanized indiarubber & in such a way that
when passed over the neck of the bottle jar or other vessel they will grip or adhere
closely to it covering the orifice & preserving more or less completely the
characteristics of the liquid or semi-liquid contained in it. The grip or hold due to
the natural elasticity of the material of which the capsules or covers are made being
increased by the addition to the body of the capsule or cover of a band or stricture
encircling it as also by corrugating or roughening the interior of the capsule or
cover so that it will take & keep a better hold of the bottle jar or vessel over which
it is passed.
In the use of liquids of various kinds for domestic and other purposes such for
example as ale, or certain kinds of fluid medicines or medicinal drinks or draughts
in cases where the whole contents of the bottle are not used or emptied at one time-
but a portion greater or loss is retained for use at some future period; it is often
deemed desirable to reclose the orifice of the bottle with a cork so as to retain if
possible certain characteristics of the liquid or fluid substance contained in the
bottle. The disadvantages dependent upon the use of corks of the ordinary kind in
general use are well known and to do away with the necessity of employing them,
certain mechanical devices have been from time to time introduced into practice. Some
of these have been characterized by much ingenuity and have met with a fair amount
of practical approval. Still the best of them possess certain disadvantages inherent
in the nature of the devices or as being too high in price to receive a very widely
extended adoption.
In order to avoid or get rid of those and other disadvantages and to obtain a
simple and yet effective contrivance adapted to the end or object aimed at as abovo
named, one also which is little liable to get out of working order, I propose to use
as the material or substance of which the capsale or cover for bottles and vessels
made to contain liquids or semi liquid substances as herein before named an elastic
material or substance such as vulcanized india rubber. This is used or adapted to
the
purpose in view in form, shape, or configuration and with surfaces internal or
external or both varied according to circumstances and to what I consider necessary
in order to attain the object or objects I have in view, and as presently to he
described and illustrated.
The capsale or cover of the elastic material or substance employed is made hollow,
and generally circular in section throughout with one end, the lower when in situ
open and the other-the upper when in situ-closed or solid and the thickness as well
s size or dimensions varied according to the kind or class of bottle or vessel to
which it is to be applied in use. The general shape form or configuration is shown
n figs. 1, 2 and 3 in the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrate the objects
n full or natural size. Although I prefer the circular or round form or section of
he capsale or cover, it might if necessary be made hexagonal in form both

page_text: internally and externally or this externally only while the interior would be
circular in section. The hexagonal form externally might be confined to the lower
part.
In all the forms, configurations or shapes of the capsale of structure a tightening
or tightened part is given to them the elastic material being at this point or part of
the capsale of greater thickness than the general or average thickness of the body
of capsale other than at this part. The stricture as I term it band or tightening part
"bead
of the capsale may be in external form presenting either the appearance of a
or convex part as at a a in fig. 1 sheet I or it may present the appearance of a
cavetto or hollow or concave part as at dd in fig. 2 in sheet of accompanying
drawings. Where the bead or convex stricture is adopted the extra thickness of
the wall of the capsale or cover is given externally as shown at a in the drawing
or sketch in fig. 5 which is part section of fig. 1 in sheet of accompanying drawings
taken on line u a. Where the stricture or band takes the form of a hollow or con-
cavity as at d d fig. 2, the extra thickness to the wall of capsale is given internally
as shown at a in fig. 4 sheet I. The object of this stricture as I call it or band as
at a a fig. 1 or as at dd in fig. 2, is to give increased tighiness or force to the
grip' or hold which the capsale or cover takes when slipped over the neck say
of a bottle as shown partly in section at side a a, and partly in elevation at side bb b b
in fig. 3 in sheet of accompanying drawings this increased grip being taken for
the most part at or about the part of neck say of bottle where a shoulder as g 9
formed in the usual way.
"
"
is
Still further to increase the grip between the capsule and the bottle or vessel neck
when the capsale is put in place on the bottle or vessel neck, I propose in some
cases to provide part of the interior surface of the capsale with ribs or corrugations
or flutes. These ribs or corrugations or flutes may be made so that in their line of
direction they will be at right angles to the base line or parallel thereto.
To aid the grip or hold which the hand will take in putting on or taking off the
capsale from its seat on the bottle or vessel neck, and to add somewhat to the
ornamental appearance of the capsule I propose in some cases to flute or corrugate its
external surface throughout. Where the lower part of the capsale or cover is made
externally with hexagonal sides the flat sides and corners of the hexagonal planes will
afford a good hand hold or grip in putting on to or the taking off of the capsale or
cover from its seat on the bottle neck.
66
The capsules or covers will be made in different sizes or dimensions to suit various
kinds of bottles, flasks, or vessels used for containing liquids or semi fluid and soft
"> will
solid substances or materials. The normal dimensions of my one class or "size
be such that the capsales will in their internal diameter be of a little less dimensions
than that of the neck externally of bottles, vessels or flasks for which the particular
class or
size" is made, so that in putting on the capsale or cover to its seat on the
neck of the bottle vessel or flask; a little force or manipulation will be required to
puss it on to its seat, the elastic nature of the material of which the capsale or cover
is made admitting easily of the necessary stretch or extensions of the material, the
same elasticity aiding contraction of the capsale when passed on to its seat by which
a grip of the capsale or cover to the neck of the bottle flask or vessel is obtained-
this grip being aided by the extra thickness of the elastic material at the point where
the stricture or band is made as at a a fig. 1 or a fig. 5 or d d fig. 2 all in sheet of
accompanying drawings. In the taking off of the capsale or cover from its seat,
the exercise of a little manipulative force or management will easily and readily
release it, the elasticity of the material of which it is made admitting of the capsale
giving and taking under a pretty wide range of varying circumstances in regard to
the relative dimensions of the capsale or cover on the one hand and the neck of the
bottle, flask or vessel on the other.
The tendency of any pressure of gas or aeriform fluid upwards from the contents
in the interior of the bottle, flask or vessel as in the direction of arrows as d fig. 3
sheet of accompanying Drawings is to press distend or push upwards the disc or top
of the capsale or cover-and any extension upwards of the top of the capsale or cover

page_text: has the tendency to draw in the side as at f fig. 3 causing it to grip the material of
the bottle, flask, or vessel the more firmly. And as the pressure of gas or of
aeriform fluid passing upwards from the interior of the bottle flask or vessel as in the
direction of the arrows as d in fig. 3 in sheet of accompanying drawings acts equally
over the whole of the interior surface of the disc or plate forming the top of capsale
or cover the consequence of this pressure is that the part for side wall of the capsalo
or cover is drawn in all round making a close joint between the capsale or cover
and the surface of bottle flask or vessel neck the greater the pressure on the
inside of capsale or cover at the top as at fab fig. 3 in sheet of accompanying
drawings the more tightly is the elastic material drawn all round the neck of bottle,
flask or vessel. And the grip all round of the capsale or cover enabling it to resist
any pressure or force acting internally tending to force or blow off the capsale or
cover from its seat is aided by the action of the stricture or band herein before
described, and illustrated as at the point g in fig. 3 in sheet of accompanying drawings
and also by the general elasticity of the material of the capsule or cover acting
throughout its whole body, this aided at certain points it as at a a fig. 3 by the
curved form given to the lower part of capsule or cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1) The application for the purposes or objects named or specified of an elastic
naterial to the formation of capsules or covers for bottles jars or other vessels
which will take the forms generally such as illustrated in the accompanying sheet of
drawings or as may be modified or changed according to circumstances making no
claim absolutely for any precise form shape or configuration of the capsules or
covers.
(2) I claim the application of a band or stricture to such capsules or covers
n the way hereinbefore specified and as illustrated in accompanying sheet of
drawings.
(3) And finally I claim in conjunction with the band or stricture hereinbefore
pecified the application of flutes ribs or corrugations to certain parts of the interior
r exterior surfaces of the capsules or covers aforesaid.
As witness my hand this Second day of April One thousand eight hundred and
ninety
ROBERT SCOTT BURN.