IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR STOP- PERING BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1872

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to SAMUEL RUSSELL,
late of 46, Arundel Gardens, Bayswater, now of Gothic Villa,
Shepherd's Bush, both in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR STOP-
PERING BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS," bearing
date the Sixteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two, No. 1485.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION as proposed to
be filed by Samuel Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office with the
Specification to which the same relates according to the Statute in
that case made and provided.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of May
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth

page_text: times" at page 4, line 31, by inserting at page 4, line 32, after the word
"it" the words "The indentations in the ball A, Figure 1, are caused
by the pressure of the elastic substance of the ball against the mouth
"of the bottle;" by inserting at page 8, line 14, after the word "that"
the words "I do not claim generally the use of ball stoppers constructed
"of india-rubber or other elastic material such as herein-before described,
" but;" by inserting at page 8, line 17, after the word "mouth” the
words "weighted as herein-before mentioned," and at line 19 after the
word "bottle" the words "the bottle being formed."
And in order that the effect of the said alterations may be fully under-
Bet out
stood I proceed to act on the said Specification as it will read with my
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alterations inserted therein.
This Invention has for its object improvements in means and
apparatus for hermetically stoppering in bottles aerated and other
liquids. For this purpose I force a ball A, Figure 1, of india-rubber
or other elastic material into a bottle, the mouth C, C, of which, as
shewn in the Drawing, is of smaller diameter than the ball, by which
means the ball acts as a plug or valve on the inside of the mouth by the
pressure of the gas or aerated liquid. The valve may be opened by
pressing externally on the ball. I increase the weight of the ball by
placing a shot within it. The indentations in the ball A, Figure 1, are
caused by the pressure of the elastic substance of the ball against the
mouth of the bottle.
I prefer making the bottle with a cup-shaped rim round the mouth,
as shewn in the Drawing, to protect the ball from accidental pressure.
This method is for liquids which are aerated or effervescing at the time
of bottling. The bottle being filled with the mouth downwards the ball
drops into its place.
I will now describe another method suitable for aerated or other
liquids, and which enables a portion of aerated liquid to be taken from
the bottle without loss of gas, or nearly so, from the portion left in the
bottle.
I have a bottle made with a hollow spherical head B, B, B, Figure 2,
the mouth C being on one side of this head, and a small hole through
the opposite side. A tube of india-rubber or other elastic material
A, A, the external diameter of which is larger than the mouth C, is

page_text: placed inside, extending from the mouth to the small hole opposite,
and before it is put in its place should measure rather more than this
distance. A metal rod D is then passed through the elastic tube and
the openings in the bottle; the end of the rod next the mouth is pro-
vided with a cone-shaped button E, the point of the cone being
outwards, and the base resting against the end of the elastic tube,
the cone being small enough to pass through the mouth of the bottle.
The other end of the rod is furnished with a head F which rests against
the exterior of the bottle, the length of the rod being sufficient to
allow the base of the cone to enter slightly into the mouth of the bottle.
The elastic tube A, A, will thus close the mouth C and the small hole
opposite. When the head of the rod is pulled the elastic tube is drawn
away from the mouth; when the rod is released it again closes.
I sometimes have a flange or washer at each end of the tube, and
sometimes instead of the elastic tube I have a spiral spring round the
rod pressing against the washer at the mouth, and the washer at
the small hole opposite. The rod should be somewhat smaller than the
internal diameter of the elastic tube, and a washer of india-rubber or
other suitable material placed round it between the head F and the
bottle. The mouth of the bottle should project as far as or a little
beyond the point of the cone E, as shewn in the Drawing, to protect it
from accidental pressure. The tube or washer when closing on the
mouth is directed to its proper position by the cone E.
When the bottle is held in a horizontal position with the mouth
downwards any portion of aerated liquid may be drawn off without the
escape from the bottle of any free gas.
A modification of this arrangement by which the rod is pushed
inwards instead of being pulled outwards for the purpose of opening
the bottle is shewn at Figure 3.
The bottle is made as last described, with the exception of the small
hole, which in this case is in the top of the spherical head; through
this hole E a rod D passes, the lower end of which is furnished with a
cone-shaped button A, just small enough to pass through the neck K, K,
formed at the junction of the head with the body of the bottle. Round
the circumference of this cone-shaped button and near its base is a sunk
groove; in this groove is placed a washer P, P, of india-rubber or other
suitable material of larger diameter than the opening of the neck K, K.

page_text: Above the cone, and at a little distance from it, the rod D is furnished
with a collar R, R, beyond which the rod cannot pass upward through
the small hole E in the head of the bottle. The distance of the collar
from the washer P, P, is so adjusted that when the collar touches
the head of the bottle the washer will touch the lower part of the
neck K, K, against which and the groove in the button A when the
bottle is filled it is pressed by the liquid or gas. The top of the rod D
projects about half an inch above the top of the bottle and is provided
with a head F, by pressing on which the valve formed at the neck K, K,
is opened. On the under side of the head F is a washer H, H, of india-
rubber, or any suitable material, which will ease the concussion of the
head F when pressed down against the bottle and close the hole E,
through which the rod passes. When this arrangement is used for
liquids not aerated at the time of bottling I place a spiral spring round
the rod between its head F and the top of the bottle to press the rod
upwards.
0
Figure 4 shews a method which is more especially adapted for liquids
which are not aerated or effervescing at the time of bottling, but which
may become so whilst in the bottle. I have a bottle made with an
internal projecting rim or flange C, C, at its mouth. I then have a
stopper A, A, of india-rubber or other elastic material of a hollow cylin-
drical form and slightly tapering, closed at the small end and open at the
other end, round its external circumference and within a short distance
of the open end is a sunk grove D, D. To stopper the bottle the closed
end of the stopper is inserted in the mouth and pressed down till the
groove D, D, corresponds with the internal flange C, C, in the mouth of
the bottle. The small end of a tapered plug E is then inserted at the
open end of the stopper and pressed firmly down, by this means the
elastic stopper is caused to expand until the flange C, C, of the bottle
is firmly embedded in the groove of the stopper, as shewn in the
Drawing.
The diameter of the elastic stopper just below the groove D, D, before
expanded may be rather more than the diameter of the mouth of the
bottle, and the depth of the groove D, D, may vary according to the
pressure the stopper may be required to resist, but where the pressure is
not very great I sometimes dispense with the groove.
The plug E may be made of glass, metal, or any suitable material,
and it is desirable it should have a small hole lengthwise through its

page_text: centre, as indicated by the dotted lines in the Drawing, for the
air when pressed down.
escape of
I sometimes increase the diameter of the stopper above the groove,
and have a hollow plug of metal or other suitable material, which turns
over and completely covers all that part of the stopper above the groove,
as shewn at Figure 4A, and sometime also, to avoid the separation of
the plug from the stopper when drawn out of the bottle I have them
made as at Figure 4 B, that part of the plug which does not enter the
mouth of the bottle being reduced in size so as to form a shoulder L, L,
at about the level of the top of the bottle, and the elastic stopper above
the sunk groove being formed with a hollow spreading head P, P, having
the opening through which the plug passes the size only of the reduced
part of the plug prevents its passing out of the stopper beyond the
shoulder L, L.
Figure 5. In this case the bottle may be as last described, or with
the neck B, B, decreasing in diameter as it approaches the mouth. The
stopper is made of india-rubber or other elastic material, and somewhat
similar in form to a short bottle with a flat bottom, this flat bottom E
being much thinner than the sides A, A. In the interior of this stopper
is placed a ball C of any hard material, and of rather less diameter than
the mouth of the bottle.
To stopper the bottle a rod D is inserted at the open end of the
stopper, by which the ball C is pressed down until surrounded only by
the thin substance of the bottom E of the stopper, as shewn at Figure 5 A.
It will then enter the mouth of the bottle; the rod being withdrawn the
ball is forced upwards by the elastic bottom into the thicker part of the
stopper, which is thus fixed in the neck of the bottle.
Sometimes I have the rod D and the ball C made in one piece, and in
this case I prefer to have the elastic stopper when unstretched of the
form of the one I have just described when in a state of tension, and
shewn at Figure 5 A, the ball being pulled up into the thick part of the.
stopper by the rod.
Figure 6 shews a modification of Figure 4 already described, by which
it is made applicable to bottles having their necks decreasing in diameter
towards their mouths, as ordinary wine bottles. The stopper A, A, is a
made of india-rubber or other elastic material, and is of cylindrical form

page_text: with a projecting shoulder E, E, at the top end; a hole runs lengthwise
through its centre tapering towards the lower end, as shewn at
Figure 6 A. Through this hole a rod C, Figure 6, is forced down so as
to cause the lower part of the stopper to expand to the larger part of
the neck B, B, of the bottle; or the hole through the stopper may be of
uniform size throughout its length, and the stopper made to taper from
the lower end towards the shoulder, as shewn at Figures 6 B.
through its centre tapering towards the lower end, as shewn at
Figure 6 A. Through this hole a rod C, Figure 6, is forced down so as
to cause the lower part of the stopper to expand to the larger part of
the neck B, B, of the bottle; or the hole through the stopper may be of
uniform size throughout its length, and the stopper made to taper from
the lower end towards the shoulder, as shewn at Figures 6 B.
The bottoms of the stoppers may be open or closed.
I am aware that stoppers have been made in which a hollow cone has
been made to press by the action of a screw an elastic material against
the sides of the neck of the bottle, but such an arrangement I consider
objectionable.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim
generally the use of ball stoppers constructed of india-rubber or other
elastic material, such as herein-before described, but what I claim
is,-
First. Stoppering a bottle containing aerated liquid by placing within
it an elastic ball of larger diameter than its mouth, weighted as herein-
before mentioned, so that the ball being driven by the pressure of the
liquid or gas against the mouth forms an internal valve which her-
metically stoppers the bottle, the bottle being formed as herein-before
described and shewn at Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangements of apparatus herein-before described and
shewn at Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawing, for the
purposes herein-before explained.
Third. The apparatus or contrivance by which an elastic hollow
stopper having a groove round its external circumference is expanded
by the insertion of a plug against an internal projecting flange in the
mouth of the bottle, which flange fits into the groove in the stopper, as
herein-before described and shewn at Figure 4 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourth. Stoppering a bottle by means of a hollow elastic stopper
having the bottom thinner than the sides and containing a ball within
it, as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 5 and 5 A of the
accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Fifth. The apparatus or contrivance by which a hollow cylindrical
elastic stopper, whose sides increase in thickness towards the lower end,
is expanded in the neck of a bottle by the insertion of a rod or plug, as
herein-before described and shewn at Figures 6, 6 A, and 6 B, of the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Russell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
nerein-before described and shewn at Figures 6, 6A, and 6 B, of the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Russell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Dated this Seventh day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.
JOHN HOLKER,
Attorney-General.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Russell, of No. 40, Arundel Gardens,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES CONTAINING
AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 13th August 1872, and dated the 16th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th May 1872.
I, SAMUEL RUSSELL, of No. 40, Arundel Gardens, Bayswater, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES
CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
First Method.-I force a ball of india-rubber or other elastic material
into a bottle the mouth of which is of smaller diameter than the ball, by
which means the ball acts as a plug or valve on the inside of the mouth
by the pressure of the gas or aerated liquid. The valve may be opened

page_text: by pressing externally on the ball. I sometimes increase the weight of
the ball by placing a shot in it.
Second Method.-I have a bottle made with a hollow spherical head,
the mouth being on one side of this head and a small hole through the
opposite side. A tube of india-rubber or other elastic material of larger
diameter than the mouth is placed inside extending from the mouth
to the small hole opposite, a metal rod is then passed through the
elastic tube and the openings in the bottle, the end of the rod next the
mouth is provided with a cone-shaped button, the point of the cone
being outwards and the base resting against the elastic tube, the cone
being small enough to pass through the mouth of the bottle; the other
end of the rod is furnished with a head which rests against the exterior
of the bottle, the elastic tube will thus close the mouth and the small
hole opposite. When the head of the rod is pulled the elastic tube is
drawn away from the mouth, when the rod is released it again closes.
I sometimes have a flange or detached washer at each end of the tube,
and sometimes instead of the elastic tube I have a spiral spring round
the rod pressing against the washer at the mouth and the washer at the
small hole opposite.
Third Method.-The bottle being made as last described with the
exception of the small hole, which in this case is in the top of the
spherical head, through this hole a metal rod is passed extending down-
wards past the narrow neck formed at the junction of the head with the
body of the bottle. The lower end of this rod is provided with a washer
or button of india-rubber or other elastic material of larger diameter
than the internal diameter of the neck, thus forming a valve opening
inwards which closes with the pressure of the gas or aerated liquid
within, and may be opened by pressing down the rod projecting through
the small hole at the top of the bottle, this end of the rod being pro-
vided with a head and a washer of india-rubber or other material
between the head and the bottle, which serves the double purpose of
easing the concussion on the bottle when the rod is pressed down and
closing the hole through which the rod passes. When this method is
used for other than aerated liquids a spiral spring is placed between the
head of the rod and the bottle so as to press the rod upwards and close
the valve.
Fourth Method.-I have a bottle made with an internal projecting
rim or flange at its mouth, I then have a stopper of india-rubber or

page_text: other elastic material of a hollow cylindrical form and slightly tapering,
closed at the small end and open at the other end; round its external
circumference and within a short distance of the open end is a sunk
groove. To stopper the bottle the closed end of the stopper is inserted
in the mouth and pressed down till the sunk groove corresponds with
the flange in the mouth of the bottle, the small end of a tapered plug is
then inserted at the open end of the stopper and pressed firmly down,
by this means the stopper is caused to expand until the flange of the
bottle is firmly embedded in the groove of the stopper.
Fifth Method. -In this case the bottle may be as last described or
with a neck decreasing in diameter as it approaches the mouth. The
stopper is of india-rubber or other elastic material and somewhat similar
in form to a short bottle with a flat bottom and a projecting rim at its
mouth, this flat bottom being much thinner than the sides. In the
interior of this stopper a ball of any hard material is placed. To stopper
the bottle a rod is inserted in the stopper by which the ball is pressed
down until surrounded only by the thin substance of the bottom of the
stopper, it will then enter the mouth of the bottle, the rod being with
drawn the ball is forced upwards into the thicker part of the stopper,
which is thus fixed in the neck of the bottle. Sometimes I have the ball
and rod made in one piece.
Sixth Method. In this case the bottle may be as last described, the
stopper of elastic material and cylindrical form with a projecting
shoulder at the top end, a hole runs lengthwise through its centre
tapering towards the lower end; through this hole a rod is forced down
so as to cause the lower part of the stopper to expand to the larger
part of the neck of the bottle. To unstopper the bottle the rod is
withdrawn.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th November 1872.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Samuel Russell, Her special licence that
I, the said Samuel Russell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Samuel Russell, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Russell,
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 Samuel Russell, 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 :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in means and appa-
ratus for hermetically stoppering in bottles aerated and other liquids.
For this purpose I force a ball A, Figure 1, of india-rubber or other
elastic material into a bottle, the mouth C, C, of which is of smaller
diameter than the ball, by which means the ball acts as a plug or valve
on the inside of the mouth by the pressure of the gas or aerated liquid.
The valve may be opened by pressing externally on the ball. I some-
times increase the weight of the ball by placing a shot within it.
I prefer making the bottle with a cup-shaped rim round the mouth,
as shewn in the Drawing, to protect the ball from accidental pressure.
This method is for liquids which are aerated or effervescing at the time
of bottling. The bottle being filled with the mouth downwards the ball
drops into its place.

page_text: I will now describe another method suitable for aerated or other
liquids, and which enables a portion of aerated liquid to be taken from
the bottle without loss of gas or nearly so from the portion left in the
bottle. I have a bottle made with a hollow spherical head B, B, B,
Figure 2, the mouth C being on one side of this head and a small
hole through the opposite side. A tube of india-rubber or other elastic
material A, A, the external diameter of which is larger than the mouth C
is placed inside extending from the mouth to the small hole opposite,
and before it is put in its place should measure rather more than this
distance. A metal rod D is then passed through the elastic tube and
the openings in the bottle, the end of the rod next the mouth is provided
with a cone-shaped button E, the point of the cone being outwards and
the base resting against the end of the elastic tube, the cone being
small enough to pass through the mouth of the bottle. The other end
of the rod is furnished with a head F which rests against the exterior
of the bottle, the length of the rod being sufficient to allow the base
of the cone to enter slightly into the mouth of the bottle. The elastic
tube A, A, will thus close the mouth C and the small hole opposite.
When the head of the rod is pulled the elastic tube is drawn away from
the mouth, when the rod is released it again closes. I sometimes have
a flange or washer at each end of the tube, and sometimes instead of
the elastic tube I have a spiral spring round the rod pressing against
the washer at the mouth and the washer at the small hole opposite.
The rod should be somewhat smaller than the internal diameter
of the elastic tube, and a washer of india-rubber or other suitable
material placed round it between the head F and the bottle. The
mouth of the bottle should project as far as or a little beyond the point
of the cone E, as shewn in the Drawing, to protect it from accidental
pressure. The tube or washer when closing on the mouth is directed
to its proper position by the cone E. When the bottle is held in a
horizontal position with the mouth downwards any portion of aerated
liquid may be drawn off without the escape from the bottle of
gas.
any
free
A modification of this arrangement by which the rod is pushed
inwards instead of being pulled outwards for the purpose of opening the
bottle is shewn at Figure 3. The bottle is made as last described with

page_text: which is furnished with a cone-shaped button A just small enough to
pass through the neck K, K, formed at the junction of the head with
the body of the bottle. Round the circumference of this cone-shaped
button and near its base is a sunk groove; in this groove is placed a
washer P, P, of india-rubber or other suitable material of larger diameter
than the opening of the neck K, K. Above the cone and at a little
distance from it the rod D is furnished with a collar R, R, beyond
which the rod cannot pass upward through the small hole E in the
head of the bottle. The distance of the collar from the washer P, P, is
so adjusted that when the collar touches the head of the bottle the
washer will touch the lower part of the neck K, K, against which and
the groove in the button A when the bottle is filled it is pressed by the
liquid or gas. The top of the rod D projects about half an inch above
the top of the bottle, and is provided with a head F, by pressing on
which the valve formed at the neck K, K, is opened. On the under
side of the head F is a washer H, H, of india-rubber or any suitable
material, which will ease the concussion of the head F when pressed
down against the bottle and close the hole E through which the rod
passes. When this arrangement is used for liquids not aerated at the
time of bottling I place a spiral spring around the rod between its head F
and the top of the bottle to press the rod upwards.
e
Figure 4 shews a method which is more especially adapted for liquids
which are not aerated or effervescing at the time of bottling, but which
may become so whilst in bottle. I have a bottle made with an internal
projecting rim or flange C, C, at its mouth. I then have a stopper A, A,
of india-rubber or other elastic material of a hollow cylindrical form
and slightly tapering, closed at the small end and open at the other end;
round its external circumference and within a short distance of the open
end is a sunk groove D, D. To stopper the bottle the closed end of
the stopper is inserted in the mouth and pressed down till the groove
D, D, corresponds with the internal flange C, C, in the mouth of the
bottle. The small end of a tapered plug E is then inserted at the open
end of the stopper and pressed firmly down, by this means the elastic
stopper is caused to expand until the flange C, C, of the bottle is firmly
embedded in the groove of the stopper, as shewn in the Drawing. The
diameter of the elastic stopper just below the groove D, D, before
expanded may be rather more than the diameter of the mouth of the
bottle, and the depth of the groove D, D, may vary according to the

page_text: pressure the stopper may be required to resist, but where the pressure is
not very great I sometimes dispense with the groove.
The plug E may
be made of glass, metal, or any suitable material, and it is desirable
it should have a small hole lengthwise through its centre, as indicated
by the dotted lines in the Drawing, for the escape of air when pressed
down. I sometimes increase the diameter of the stopper above the groove
and have a hollow plug of metal or other suitable material which turns
over and completely covers all that part of the stopper above the groove,
as shewn at the Figure 4A. And sometime also to avoid the separation
of the plug from the stopper when drawn out of the bottle I have them
made as at at Figure 4B, that part of the plug which does not enter the
mouth of the bottle being reduced in size so as to form a shoulder L, L,
at about the level of the top of the bottle, and the elastic stopper
above the sunk groove being formed with a hollow spreading head P, P,
having the opening through which the plug passes the size only of the
reduced part of the plug prevents its passing out of the stopper beyond
the shoulder L, L.
In the interior of this stopper
Figure 5, in this case the bottle may be as last described or with the
neck B, B, decreasing in diameter as it approaches the mouth. The
stopper is made of india-rubber or other elastic material, and somewhat
similar in form to a short bottle with a flat bottom, this flat bottom E
being much thinner than the sides A, A.
is placed a ball C of any hard material and of rather less diameter than
the mouth of the bottle. To stopper the bottle a rod D is inserted at
the
open end of the stopper, by which the ball C is pressed down until
surrounded only by the thin substance of the bottom E of the stopper,
as shewn at Figure 5A. It will then enter the mouth of the bottle, the
rod being withdrawn the ball is forced upwards by the elastic bottom
into the thicker part of the stopper, which is thus fixed in the neck
of the bottle. Sometimes I have the rod D and the ball C made in
one piece, and in this case I prefer to have the elastic stopper when
unstretched of the form of the one I have just described when in a
state of tension and shewn at Figure 5A, the ball being pulled up into
the thick part of the stopper by the rod.
Figure 6 shews a modification of Figure 4 already described, by which
it is made applicable to bottles having their necks decreasing in diameter
towards their mouths as ordinary wine bottles. The stopper A, A, is
made of india-rubber or other elastic material, and is of cylindrical form

page_text: with a projecting shoulder E, E, at the top end; a hole runs lengthwise
through its centre tapering towards the lower end, as shewn at Figure 6A.
Through this hole a rod C, Figure 6, is forced down so as to cause the
lower part of the stopper to expand to the larger part of the neck B, B,
of the bottle; or the hole through the stopper may be of uniform size
throughout its length and the stopper made to taper from the lower
end towards the shoulder, as shewn at Figure 6B. The bottoms of the
stoppers may be open or closed.
I am aware that stoppers have been made in which a hollow cone has
been made to press by the action of a screw an elastic material against
the sides of the neck of the bottle; but such an arrangement I consider
objectionable.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
is,-
First. Stoppering a bottle containing aerated liquid by placing within
it an elastic ball of larger diameter than its mouth, so that the ball
being driven by the pressure of the liquid or gas against the mouth
forms an internal valve which hermetically stoppers the bottle, as
herein-before described and shewn at Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Second. The arrangements of apparatus herein-before described and
shewn at Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawing for the purposes
herein-before explained.
Third. The apparatus or contrivance by which an elastic hollow
stopper having a groove round its external circumference is expanded
by the insertion of a plug against an internal projecting flange in the
mouth of a bottle, which flange fits into the groove in the stopper, as
herein-before described and shewn at Figure 4 of the accompanying
Drawing.
Fourth. Stoppering a bottle by means of a hollow elastic stopper
having the bottom thinner than the sides, and containing a ball within
it, as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 5 and 5A of the
accompanying Drawing.
Fifth. The apparatus or contrivance by which a hollow cylindrical
elastic stopper whose sides increase in thickness towards the lower end

page_text: is expanded in the neck of a bottle by the insertion of a rod or plug,
as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 6, 6A, and 6B of the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Russell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.