AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOUTHS OF BOTTLES FOR HOLDING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS, IN THE STOPPERS THEREOF, AND IN THE RETAINING OR HOLDING OF SUCH STOPPERS TO CONFINE THE SAID LIQUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wood, of Portobello, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE MOUTHS OF BOTTLES FOR HOLDING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER
LIQUIDS, IN THE STOPPERS THEREOF, AND IN THE RETAINING OR HOLDING OF
SUCH STOPPERS TO CONFINE THE SAID LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 20th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1879.
THOMAS WOOD, of Portobello, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOUTHS OF BOTTLES FOR
HOLDING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS, IN THE STOPPERS THEREOF,
AND IN THE RETAINING OR HOLDING OF SUCH STOPPERS TO CONFINE THE SAID
LIQUIDS."
This Invention, which relates to bottles for containing aerated and other liquids,
to the construction of the stoppers thereof, and to the means for retaining or
releasing such stoppers when it is required either to confine the contents thereof or
discharge the same, consists in constructing the mouth of the bottle with a conical
or sloping upper or inside part, the largest diameter of this conical or sloping portion
being at the extreme end or top of the mouth of the bottle. A stopper constructed
of glass, earthenware, wood, or other hard material, and having a projection or
button on its underside, on which projection or button is a groove for holding a
ring of elastic material, such as vulcanite, is attached by a hinged link and wires to
the outer side of the neck of the bottle. To the same wire which attaches this
hinged link there is also attached a snap or retaining catch piece, which is so
formed that when the stopper with its elastic ring is pressed by hand on or into the
conical upper part of the bottle herein before described; this retaining catch holds
the stopper in the closed position, the stopper being formed with a projecting piece
over which the retaining notch of the snap or catch piece passes, and in which
position it remains until withdrawn for the purpose of discharging the contents of
the bottle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th November
1879.
THOMAS WOOD, of Portobello, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOUTHS OF BOTTLES FOR
HOLDING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS, IN THE STOPPERS THEREOF,
AND IN THE RETAINING OR HOLDING OF SUCH STOPPERS TO CONFINE THE SAID
LIQUIDS."
My said Invention relates to bottles for containing aërated and other liquids, to
the construction of the stoppers thereof, and to the means for retaining or releasing
such stoppers when it is required either to confine or to discharge the contents
thereof.
According to my said Invention the mouth of the bottle is constructed conical or
sloping at the mouth or upper part of the inside, the largest diameter of this conical
or sloping part being at the extreme end or top of the mouth of the bottle.
Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical sections of a portion of a bottle A shewing
this improvement in the mouth thereof, the conical or sloping part constituting the
improvement being marked a. In the said Figures is also shown a stopper B
constructed according to my Invention, and respectively in the open and closed
positions. The said stopper is made of glass, earthenware, wood, or other hard
material, and has a button b on its underside, above which is a groove c, as shewn
in Figure 5, which represents the said stopper separately. The said stopper also
has at its upper part a groove d for receiving a wire e, by which one end of a link f
is attached to the stopper, the other end of the said link f being similarly attached
to the neck of the bottle A by a wire g held in a groove in the said neck. The
link constitutes a hinge upon which the stopper B can be turned over the mouth
of the bottle or away therefrom. To this wire g is also fastened one end of a snap
or retaining catch piece h which is formed at its upper part, as shewn in the
Drawings. A ring i of elastic material, such as india rubber or vulcanite, is held
in the groove c, as shewn in Figure 1. The said ring i is shewn separately in
Figure 6. To close the bottle the stopper B, with its elastic ring i, is pressed on or
into the conical upper part a of the bottle, and the snap or catch piece / is pressed
over a projection k upon the stopper, as shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the said
Figures 3 and 4 representing respectively a front elevation and plan of the upper
part of the bottle and stopper B. The said stopper B is thus held in position by
the said snap or catch piece h, the elastic ring i being wedged firmly into the
conical part a of the mouth of the bottle above the smallest part thereof, as shewn
in Figure 2, and securely closing the said bottle, the button part b, by filling (or
nearly filling) the lower portion of the conical part a, preventing or in a great
measure preventing the liquid contained in the bottle from coming into contact
with the elastic ring i, so that the said liquid is not tainted thereby. To release
the stopper B the snap or catch piece his pressed back by bearing on its upper
part and the stopper thereby released, when the contents of the bottle may be
emptied therefrom, or if part only of the contents be withdrawn the bottle may
readily be restoppered.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction of the mouths of bottles for holding aërated waters or
other liquids with a conical, or wedge shaped, or sloping portion a.

page_text: Second. The construction of stoppers for bottles illustrated in Figure 5, that is to
say, forming the said stoppers with a button (b) and a groove (c) for the purposes
described.
Third. The fastening hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings for holding in a closed position, and for readily liberating and readily
reclosing the stoppers of bottles for containing aërated waters and other liquids.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of parts as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, that is to say,
the hereinbefore described stopper and elastic ring, and the fastening in combination
with the bottle mouth of the construction or formation described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
THOMAS WOOD. (L.S.)