IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles William Standish at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
March 1866.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM STANDISH, of Broadhinton Road, Clapham, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in stoppering or closing
bottles of every description by means of a self-acting stopper.
I propose to construct an open ring of flat metal, the open ends being con-
nected by a threaded pin or screw, with a thumb-piece set thereon, in order
that such ring may be opened or closed to fit varying sizes of necks or flanges
of bottles. Attached to the side of the ring is a curvilinear spring extending
over the ring to the centre, where it is fastened to an india-rubber disc, which
is thus pressed upon the orifice or mouth of the bottle, closing the same
effectually. When it is desired to pour out a portion of the contents of the
bottle it is only necessary, when holding the bottle, to press upon an arm or
lever, being a continuation of the spring, the metal being bent back and
extending over and downwards behind the curvilinear spring. The forefinger
can be easily applied to this arm, and the neck of the bottle acts as a check
to the action, merely allowing the stopper or disc to be lifted sufficiently to
enable the contents of the bottle to be poured out. In lieu of india-rubber I
propose to apply a cork with bevelled edges, or for chemical purposes, where
acids or other such liquids are contained in bottles, I propose to use, glass

page_text: stoppers; metal stoppers may also be used when desirable. In order to
strengthen the india-rubber disc I sometimes place a metallic washer on the
surface thereof, and fix the spring to the washer.
By this Invention liquid may be poured in drops merely by the use of one
hand, for by slightly pressing the spring the flow may be regulated to the
greatest nicety, and the bottle need not be agitated by tilting it to and fro, as
is ordinarily the case where the bottle is held in one hand and the cork or
stopper kept partly inserted in the neck with the other hand. So also the
frequent starting of the stoppers of chemical fluids which occurs in hot weather
will by this Invention be obviated; the spring will permit of the escape of
vapour occasioned by evaporation, but will close the bottle immediately after
such escape. Neither can the stopper ever become set tightly in the neck.
For poisons a small padlock may be attached to a ring round the neck
below the stoppering apparatus; the padlock would serve to secure the arm
or lever from being acted upon, 'except by the proper person having the key.
The ring containing the stopper may. be grooved internally to fit some narrow.
flanges of bottle necks. In lieu of a thumbscrew a small square nut may be
employed to be turned by key.
Another method of fastening the stopper is to apply a small length of chain
to the front of the spring on the disc or stopper, and to bring the chain over
the front of the ring on to a threaded plug attached to the ring; then by a
square-beaded nut and key the chain may be secured on the plug.