IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME INDICATE THAT THEY CONTAIN PO
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bird, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist and Druggist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME TO
Sealed the 9th May 1862, and dated the 13th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bird at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th November
1861.
I, HENRY BIRD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist and
Druggist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN STOPPERS FOR
THE SAME TO INDICATE THAT THEY CONTAIN POISON," to be as follows (that is tó
say):
The objects of this Invention are to prevent the accidental use of or in-
advertently withdrawing of poison contained in bottles or other vessels to
which the Invention is applied, and consist in forming or applying to the tops
of corks or other stoppers a number of horizontal sharp points radiating from
and beyond the upper edge of the cork or other stopper, so that the cork or
other stopper cannot be casually withdrawn from the bottle or other vessel in
which it is fixed by hand without the operator feeling one or more of the
sharp points.
The top of the cork or other stopper may consist of a device resembling a

page_text: star or other radiating pointed figure (the points of which project beyond the
body of the stopper), and may be marked "poison."
And in constructing bottles and other vessels for containing poison, having
on their external surface a number of sharp angular points, so placed that the
bottle or other vessel to which they are applied cannot be casually grasped by
the hand without the hand being brought into contact with one or more of the
points; and in some cases as an additional security it is also preferred to
surround the outer edge of the mouth of the vessel with a row or rows of
angular pointed projections.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BIRD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist and Druggist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant.
unto me, the said Henry Bird, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Bird, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Bird, my executors, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN STOPPERS FOR THE SAME.
TO INDICATE THAT THEY CONTAIN POISON," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Bird, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 Henry Bird, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to .be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement (that is to say):-
The objects of this my said Invention are to prevent the accidental use of, or
inadvertently withdrawing of poison contained in bottles or other vessels to
which the Invention is applied, and consist in forming or applying to the tops
of corks or other stoppers a number of horizontal sharp points radiating from
and beyond the upper edge of the cork or other stopper, so that the cork or other
stopper cannot be casually withdrawn from the bottle or other vessel in which
it is fixed by hand without the operator feeling one or more of the sharp
points.
The top of the cork or other stopper may consist of a device resembling a
star or other radiating pointed figure (the points of which project beyond the
body of the stopper), and may be marked " poison."
And in constructing bottles and other vessels for containing poison, having
on their external surface a number of sharp angular points, so placed that the
bottle or other vessel to which they are applied cannot be casually grasped by
the hand without the hand being brought into contact with one or more of the
points; and in some cases as an additional security I also prefer to surround
the outer edge of the mouth of the vessel with a row or rows of angular
pointed projections.
. That the practical application of this my said Invention may be the more
readily seen and understood, I have hereunto annexed Drawings in illustration
of several designs of my improved poison stoppers; also the side elevation of
one of my improved bottles for containing poison, which are so constructed
that they cannot be handled even in the dark without some of the points
coming in contact with the hand of the operator, and giving a warning as to
the dangerous contents of the vessels to which the Invention is applied. Like
letters an figures marked thereon are used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved safety bottles for con-
taining poison, seen stoppered with one of my improved safety corks constructed
with a metallic top struck from sheet metal, of a form seen at Figures 2 and 3 ;
Figure 2 shows the plan of a metallic top for a cork or other stopper struck
from sheet metal, with the points for attaching it to the top of a cork or other
stopper, made of any material into which the points can penetrate; Figure 3
shows the same applied to a cork stopper, to do which the pointed arms are
first bent down to a right angle across the outer row of dotted lines, and then
placed on the cork and again bent down to the side of the cork across the
second or inner row of dotted lines; the points of the arms taking into the
side of the cork effectually secures it thereto, but as an additional security a

page_text: wire may be twisted round them, and which wire may also be used to attach
the stopper to the bottle, as seen at Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top view, and Figure 5. is a side elevation of another of my
improved stoppers, the top of which may be formed of wood or any other
suitable material, and the lower portion or body of cork or any other suitable
material, and cemented together by strong glue, or they may be attached to
each other in any other convenient way, or the top and body of the stopper
may be formed from one piece.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of another form of my improved safety stoppers
which consists of a ring or collar surrounding the cork or other stopper, the
ring having a number of horizontal projecting points springing therefrom.
Figure 7 shows a side elevation of another form of my improved safety cork
with a semispherical head and an octagonal base.
Figure 8 is the top view or plan of another modification of one of my
improved safety stoppers, and
Figure 9 is the plan of another design for one of my improved safety
stoppers for vessels containing poison.
A, a bottle formed with B, projecting points, so arranged around the
exterior of the bottle that it cannot be grasped without the hand coming in
contact with some portion of the points; C, head of stopper; D, stopper
shank or body; E, a collar or zone, from which spring a number of horizontal
points surrounding the head of a cork or other stopper; F, pointed projections
springing from the stopper head; G (Figures 1, 2, and 3), are tangs for
connecting the sheet metal top to the shank or body of the cork or other
suitable substance; H (Figure 1), is a wire used to connect the stopper to the
bottle, and also as an additional security against the possibility of drawing out
the tangs (G).
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how I believe the same may be best carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details or relative dimensions, proportions, or forms, as it will be readily seen
that the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Inven-
tion; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly, the construction of bottles and other vessels used for containing
poison with pointed projections so arranged on the external surface thereof
that they cannot be casually grasped by hand, without some portion of the
projections coming into contact with the hand, substantially and in the manner
herein-before described, or any mere modification of the same.
And, lastly, the peculiar construction and use of the improved safety stopper

page_text: for bottles and other vessels used to contain poison, substantially and in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any
mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bird, have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
HENRY (L.S.) BIRD.