Improvements in Bottle Stoppers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
Improvements in Bottle Stoppers.
We, JESSE ROSENFELD and SAMUEL WEBSTER MACKEY, both of 102 East
Baltimore Street, Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America,
Manufacturers 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 :-
Our invention relates to that class of bottle stoppers in which the cap for closing
the mouth of the bottle is forced down and held by means of a swing lever.
The objects sought by us in this invention are first, to relieve the strain upon the
cap, or to hold it by more elastic pressure against the glass, and further to render
the opening of the bottle easier, all as hereinafter explained.
Our invention consists of a spring arm in the bail, interposed between the bail
fulcrum on the bottle neck, and the point of connection between the bail and the
arms which connect the bail with the cap.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure shows a bottle provided with our improved stopper in side elevation and
in closed position.
Figure 2 shows the same with the lock released.
Figure 3 shows in side elevation the same form and position in Figure 1, one
quarter turned.
Figures 4, and 5, show side elevations of modified forms of the bail.
The improvement in our said invention lies wholly in the bail. The cap A, of
the bottle B, is or may be of ordinary form in such stoppers. It may be made of
glass, porcelain, or any suitable material, being formed with a cavity fitting over
the mouth of the bottle and provided with suitable lining such as a disc of cork or
other elastic or yielding material, not calculated to impair the flavor of the contents
of the bottle.
Near the ends or at suitable points, are two eyes formed by bends in the wire,
one of which is shown plainly at e.
These eyes receive the ends of the arms which connect the bail to the cap. From
these eyes the bail arms extend in substantially unchanged direction a short distance
and then are turned upward and bent to form pivots, which enter the eyes g, in
the wire or band h, which holds the bail to the bottle. These bent extensions
extending from the bail eyes to the ends of the bail may be made with any form of
bend, either on a gradual curve or at a more defined angle. But the extension is
such as to form an indirect connection between the bail eye and the bail pivot and
this is the part which gives the elastic effect.
In Figure 4 we have shown this extension with a coil shown therein at i, the coil
increasing the elasticity of the extension, and thereby the extension may be made
shorter without decreasing the effect.
The parts are so arranged that when locked with the cap down, the eye of the
bail
passes the vertical line through the pivoted part of the bail and thus locks the
bail in place.
At the same time the spring of the extension prevents any crushing effect on the
glass and permits the bottle to be opened readily and easily, the elasticity of the
extension allowing the eyes of the bail to pass the dead centre line with facility.
The arms k, are connected to the cap and to the bail in the ordinary manner.
The bottle neck has the ordinary shoulder as shown, and we do not confine

page_text: ourselves to the means for pivoting the bail upon the bottle nor to the form of the
stopper.
We prefer to use a cap fitting over the mouth.
As shown in Figure 5, the spring extension may be on the same side of the arms k,
upon which the loop portion d, is situated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
In combination with a bottle cap, the arms k, connected therewith, the bail
having eyes pivoted to the lower ends of the arms k, which extend below the
pivoted points of the bail, and the angular spring extension between the eyes and
the pivotal points of the bail, said angular spring extensions being arranged so that
their arms will be compressed towards each other when the cap is in closing
position substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 28th day of January 1895.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicants.