AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Becker, of No. 36, Rue de Penthièvre
Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES."
Sealod the 14th April 1870, and dated the 21st October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Becker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st October 1869.
I, JULES BECKER, of No. 36, Rue de Penthièvre, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in applying on the neck of the bottle to be
closed an exterior hermetical closing formed by the compression of a cork
which being flattened and held on the edges of the opening of the neck
[Price 8d.]

page_text: by a metallic capsule prevents escape of liquid or gas. The cork being
placed over the opening of the neck of the bottle and slightly inserted
I strongly compress it by placing above it a flanged capsule, and in
causing the cork to enter I flatten it (in expanding it) between the
capsule and the bottle, so that the cork presses strongly on the exterior
horizontal surface on the top of the neck of the bottle. On this surface
there may be several concentric grooves or not in order that the cork
entering them may form a more hermetical closing, I sometimes also at
this part place between the cork and the glass an india-rubber washer.
When the cork has been sufficiently compressed I adapt on the sides
two halves of a flanged cylinder, the upper flange of which takes on
to the top of the capsule, and the lower flange on the ring of glass which
is at the top of the neck of the bottle, so as to prevent the capsule being
raised by the pressure of the gaseous liquid contained in the bottle and of
the cork itself. To keep the whole in place a ring is passed over and
unites the two halves of the cylinder, which being slightly conical allows
the ring to bite. I can also make use of a single piece consisting of the
capsule, to which I adapt a certain number of hooks, which after the
compression of the cork are turned down and adapted under the ring on
the neck of the bottle.
To uncork the bottle it is only necessary to raise the ring, the hooks are
easily raised if hooks are employed, or the halves of the cylinder separated
if this arrangement is employed, and the capsule being free is easily removed
and the cork starts out freely.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jules Becker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
BECKER, of No. 36, Rue de Penthièvre, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-

page_text: cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Jules Becker, Her special
licence that I, the said Jules Becker, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jules Becker, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Jules Becker, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jules Becker, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
My Invention consists in an improved apparatus or, contrivance for
stoppering bottles, chiefly those containing gaseous liquids, effervescent
wine, beer, and other liquids submitted to strong pressure.
This apparatus or contrivance is represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3
of the accompanying Drawing. B is an ordinary cork inserted a short
distance in the neck of the bottle C, as shewn at Figure 1.
I apply
over it a cap A made of a hard material, such as metal, and by applying
a sufficient pressure on this cap either by means of a corking machine
or of a suitable press I cause the cork to enter the neck and to flatten
down on its rim N, as shewn at B, Figure 2. To keep the cork in its
place I then apply on the sides the two halves of a flanged piece D, the
upper flange of which clasps the cap A, and the lower flange clasps the
projection C¹ of the neck of the bottle. The two halves being thus
brought together and forming a circular surface slightly conical, they
are firmly fixed by passing over them a ring E having internally a

page_text: conical surface, which is applied against the conical surface of the
cylinder and keeps the two halves fast together. The form of the
apparatus is then similar to that shewn in Figure 3. Thus this mode of
closing is external, and is produced by flattening the cork on the upper
part of the neck, as shewn at N, N. No other substances than those of
the cork and the cap are employed, but I sometimes place a washer of
india-rubber or other elastic material, producing a similar effect on the
neck in case it is necessary. This washer is placed between the cork
and the neck.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew a modification of the above, by which the
parts of this contrivance are reduced from four to two in number. It
consists of a cap A provided with several clasps or hooks D, D, D,
Figures 4, 5, and 6, all round. The grips or hooks, the number of which
may vary, are placed at a suitable distance apart, and the cap is placed as
herein-before described on the cork slightly inserted in the neck, as shewn
at Figure 4. Pressure being now applied the grips or hooks are forced
down so as to be passed under the rim E of the neck of the bottle, the
ring K is then placed on and keeps the whole in position. The contrivance
then assumes the form shewn in Figure 6.
Figures 7 and 8 shew the section and plan of the neck of a bottle having
a circular groove F, which may in some cases be made to increase the
efficiency of the joint; the cork or india-rubber washer by the pressure
applied is forced into it and increases the adherence.
For uncorking the bottle it is merely necessary to remove the ring, when
the other parts of the apparatus will come off easily, and the cork set free
will spring up or can be removed with facility.
By this arrangement the employment of string or iron wire is avoided,
and the bottle can be opened instanter by the hand, and the caps being
painted or varnished remain unaffected by wet and can be re-employed
several times.
This contrivance may be applied on all bottles containing solid liquid or
gascous substances subjected or not to interior
pressure.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, what I claim is, the apparatus or con-
trivance for stoppering bottles by which the cork is compressed on the
edges of the neck of the bottle, and consisting of a metallic cap A and
flanged pieces D, D, Figures 2 and 3 (or of a cap A with hooks or

page_text: grips D, D, Figures 4, 5, and 6) retained by a projection on the neck,
and kopt tight by a ring substantially as herein-before described and
represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Becker, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
JULES BECKER.
(L.S.)