IN- PROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theophilus Coad, of Park Cottage, St. Clements,
near Truro, in the County of Cornwall, for the Invention of "IN-
PROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR GASEOUS
LIQUIDS."
Scaled the 23rd October 1874, and dated the 16th July 1874..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theophilus Coad at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th July 1874.
I, THEOPHILUS COAD, of Park Cottage, St. Clements, near Truro, in
the County of Cornwall, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR
GASEOUS LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object the providing a simple, cheap,
effective, and cleanly contrivance for stoppering or closing bottles
containing acrated or gaseous liquids; such contrivance also admitting
of the discharge of any required portion of the contents of the bottle

page_text: without detriment to the remainder, which may be kept till required for
further use.
My improved stopper, which also combines within itself the properties
of a discharge cock, consists of a hollow stem, composed by preference
of wood, hard india-rubber, porcelain, or glass, such stem being by
preference closed at both ends, and having two lateral apertures made in
it communicating with each end respectively of the hollow part or
longitudinal passage inside the stem. This stem carries a loose washer
or disc of india-rubber or other suitable material which is caused by the
internal pressure of the gas in the bottle to be forcibly and tightly
pressed against the internal shoulder of the bottle neck, thus effectually
closing the bottle from the inside. When in its closed position the end
of the stem with its lateral discharge aperture projects beyond or outside
the rim of the bottle neck; whilst the other lateral aperture inside the
bottle is effectually closed by the before-mentioned india-rubber washer
or disc which surrounds it.
Should it be required to draw off the contents of the bottle this may
be readily accomplished by simply pressing inwards to a very slight
extent the projecting stem, whereupon the inner lateral aperture
becomes exposed and the liquid and gas escape together into the glass
or other receptacle through the outer lateral aperture or through the
end of the stem, the stopper in such case serving as a discharge cock.
On removing the external pressure from the end of the stem the inner
lateral aperture is instantly closed again by the pressure of the gas, and
the remaining contents of the bottle may be preserved for future use.
"
In no case is it. necessary to force my improved stopper completely
into the bottle as is the case with most internal stoppers, and consequently
the objectionable fact of a dirty stopper that has probably been repeatedly
handled floating about in the beverage itself during the time of its dis-
charge is altogether obviated, whilst the additional advantage is afforded
of being able to draw off no more of the contents than is actually
required for use at the time.

page_text: filed by the said Theophilus Coad in the Great Seal Patent. Office on
the 15th January 1875.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEOPHILUS
COAD, of Park Cottage, St. Clement's, near Truro, in the County of
Cornwall, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said Theophilus Coad, Her special licence
that I, the said Theophilus Coad, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Theophilus Coad, 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
STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES CONTAINING AERATED OR GASEOUS LIQUIDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Theophilus Coad, my
exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under, 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 Theophilus Coad, 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 :-
0.22
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of internal
stoppers for bottles for gaseous or aërated liquids, consisting of a
cylindrical stem provided with an india-rubber washer,

page_text: The object of my improvements is to allow of the discharge of any
required portion of the contents of the bottle without affecting the
remainder, which may be kept till required for use. And as it is not
necessary to force my improved stopper completely into the bottle to
open it it need not necessarily be made of greater specific gravity than
water, as is the case with most internal stoppers; I am thus enabled to
avoid the objection of having a dirty stopper that may have been
repeatedly handled moving about in the beverage itself while it is being
discharged. My improved stopper thus serves also as a discharge cock.
In carrying out my improvements I make the cylindrical stem of the
stopper hollow and of hard wood, hard india-rubber, porcelain, or glass,
but not necessarily of a material having a greater specific gravity than
water. The stem is closed at both ends, by preference, and has lateral
apertures or openings made in it communicating with each end
respectively of the hollow part or longitudinal passage inside the stem.
This stem is provided preferably with an india-rubber washer of the
form of a hollow truncated cone; or a plain flat washer or disc may be
employed. When the bottle is filled the internal pressure of the gas
will press the outer or upper surface of the washer against the internal
shoulder of the bottle neck as usual, whilst the under surface of the
washer will be pressed over the lower part of the stem so as to cover
the lower lateral aperture or apertures and prevent escape of the contents
of the bottle.
Should it be required to draw off the contents of the bottle or a part
thereof this may be readily effected by simply pressing inwards to a
slight extent the projecting stem, whereupon the lower lateral aperture
or apertures will become exposed and allow of the escape of the contents
into a glass or other receptacle provided for that purpose through the
said lateral apertures or openings up the hollow stem and out by the
upper lateral aperture or opening. On removing the external pressure
the stopper will be forced into its normal position and the discharge be
⚫stopped.
To make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1
is a plan, Figure 2 a front elevation, Figure 3 a side elevation, and
Figure 4 a section of my improved hollow stopper for bottles containing
aërated or gaseous liquids; Figure 5, plan of the washer preferably
employed therewith.

page_text: Figure 8, plan of the washer.
Figure 9, sectional elevation shewing a bottle closed with my improved
stopper; and Figure 10, a similar view showing the stopper slightly
depressed to allow of the discharge of the contents of the bottle.
Similar letters are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
.
a is the hollow stem of the stopper closed at both ends; b, the lateral
apertures or passages communicating with the lower end of the hollow
part or longitudinal passage c inside the stem a; and d is the upper
lateral or discharge aperture or passage communicating with the upper
end of the longitudinal passage c'; e is the washer of vulcanized india-
rubber, and made in the form of a hollow truncated cone, as shewn in
Figures 2, 3, and 4, whereby a greater bearing surface is obtained
against the internal shoulder of the bottle neck, and also a larger surface
is exposed to the pressure of the gases; I can also employ a plain or flat
disc or washer f, as shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8, but prefer the conical
washer e.. A stopper of this construction being applied to a bottle and
the bottle filled with aërated or gaseous liquid by suitable known means
the bottle will be closed, as shewn in Figure 9, the outer side of the india-
rubber washer e being pressed against the internal shoulder of the bottlo
neck, as is usual in this class of internal stoppers, while the inner side
of the washer will be pressed against the lower part of the stem a so as
to cover the lower lateral passage or passages band prevent escape of the
contents of the bottle.
To draw off the contents or a part of the contents of the bottle it is
simply necessary to press inwards to a slight extent the projecting stem a,
as shewn in Figure 10, whereupon the lower lateral passage or passages b
will become exposed, as shewn in dotted lines, Figure 10, and the liquid
and gas will escape or pass out together through the lower lateral
passage or passages b, longitudinal passage c, and through the upper
lateral or discharge passage d into a glass or other receptacle, the stopper
thus serving as a discharge cock. A portion of the contents of the
bottle having been discharged if the external pressure be removed from
the end of the stem the lower lateral passage or passages 6 will be closed
by the internal pressure of the gas forcing the stopper back into its

page_text: normal position, shewn in Figure 9, and the remainder of the contents
of the bottle may be retained for future use, and Be discharged in a
similar manner to that herein-before described...
When the whole of the contents have been discharged the stopper will
fall to the bottom of the bottle ready to be again used when the bottle
is refilled.
The improved washer e, herein-before described, is applicable to other
internal stoppers where a plain disc is now employed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best
means with which I am acquainted for. carrying the same into effect,
what I claim is,-
t
Firstly. The improvements, herein-before described, in internal
stoppers for bottles containing aërated or gaseous liquids, whereby such
stoppers are also made to answer the purpose of a discharge cock so as
to allow portions of the contents of a bottle being drawn off as may be
required, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The improved washer for internal stoppers for bottles, as
herein-before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10
of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theophilus Coad, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
THEOPHILUS COAD. (L.S.)