IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS AD BOTTLE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Barrett of Charterhouse Buildings, in the
county of Middlesex for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
AD BOTTLE "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Barrett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1882.
HENRY BARRETT of Charterhouse Buildings, in the county of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
"
This invention relates to further improvements in that class of stoppers known
as screw stoppers and for which Letters Patent were granted to me No. 4184
dated the sixteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine
and No. 5154 dated the twenty fifth day of November one thousand eight hundred
and eighty one respectively; the present improvements having for object to cheapen
and simplify the manufacture of such stoppers, and also to render them more
applicable for use in stoppering bottles containing aërated or gaseous liquids.
The first part of the invention relates to those stoppers made of a hard material
such as glass, and which according to the specification of my said former Letters
Patent No. 5154, were formed with thread of a softer material than glass;
according to the present improvements I dispense with the said screw thread, and
in place thereof I provide the stopper with two or more suitably placed projections
which fit into the screw thread of the bottle and guide the stopper to and from its
seat.
•
The second part of my invention consists in providing screw stoppers generally
with a suitable valve, so arranged as to allow of the bottle being filled through the
said valve after the stoppers have been screwed into their seats in the necks of the
bottles so as to render them applicable to stoppering bottles for containing aërated
or gaseous liquids, or the like by allowing the air in the bottle to escape during
the filling of the bottle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Barrett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th September
1882.
HENRY BARRETT of Charterhouse Buildings, in the county of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
"
This invention relates to further improvements in that class of stoppers known
as screw stoppers, and for which Letters Patent were granted to me No. 4184
dated the sixteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine
and No. 5154 dated the twenty fifth day of November one thousand eight hundred
and eighty one respectively; the present improvements having for object to
cheapen and simplify the manufacture of such stoppers, and also to render them
more applicable for use in stoppering bottles containing aërated or gaseous liquids.
The first part of the invention relates to those stoppers made of a hard material
such as glass, and which according to the specification of my said former Letters
Patent No. 5154, were formed with a thread of a softer material than glass;
according to the present improvements I dispense with the said screw thread, and
in place thereof I provide the stopper with two or more suitably placed projections
which fit into the screw thread of the bottle and guide the stopper to and from its
seat.
The second part of my invention consists in providing screw stoppers generally
with a suitable valve, so arranged as to allow of the bottle being filled through the
said valve after the stoppers have been screwed into their seats in the necks of the
bottles so as to render them applicable to stoppering bottles for containing aërated
or gaseous liquids, or the like, by allowing the air in the bottle to escape during
the filling of the bottle.
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,
represents a section of a bottle neck provided with a stopper constructed according
to the first part of my invention; figure 2, elevation of the stopper shewing the
slot in which are placed the projections; figure 3, is a section of a screw stopper
provided with a valve according to the second part of my invention.
I will first describe the stopper shewn in figures 1 and 2; a, represents a bottle
neck, the interior of the mouth of which is formed with a screw thread; b is the
stopper formed of glass, porcelain or like hard material; the stem or body c, of the
stopper being made of a cylindrical form and of a diameter such that it will pass
into the neck of the bottle clear of the screw thread; d, is a transverse slot in the
stem c, of the stopper, the depth of the slot being such as to cover one or more of
the threads in the neck of the bottle; into the said slot d, I then fit two or more
projections of suitable material such as ebonite, bone, hard wood, or metal which
will work smoothly in the thread of the bottle and in practice I have found ebonite
to answer well. When I employ ebonite for forming the said projections I take a
piece of this material somewhat larger than the area of the slot d; I soften the
piece of ebonite by means of heat and compress it to such a size that it will pass
into the said slot; I then allow it to cool and the ebonite will remain in the com-
pressed condition; it is now placed in the slot d, of the stopper and heat being
applied the ebonite will expand and will become firmly fixed in the slot. The
portion of the ebonite projecting on either side of the stopper is then reduced to
the shape shewn at e, e, so as to form two projections which will work in the screw
thread in the neck of the bottle and will guide the stopper to and from its seat in
a similar manner as would be the case if the stopper were formed with a screw
thread.

page_text: Instead of employing ebonite or other similar composition other suitable hard
material may be employed to form the projections and be wedged or otherwise
fixed in position; or where metal is used the projections may be cast in the slot d,
or the material for forming the projections may be moulded in the glass forming
the body of the stopper; f, is the usual india rubber ring on the stopper.
The stopper shewn in figure 3, is a screw stopper of the ordinary construction
except that it is formed with a central hole g, passing entirely through the stopper
and adapted to receive a suitable valve h; the lower end of the hole g, is closed by
means of the plug i, having a suitable number of perforations j.
A stopper of this construction being screwed into the neck of a bottle the bottle
may then be filled with an aërated or gaseous liquid through the holes g, and j, j,
the said holes also allowing the air in the bottle to escape. When the bottle is
full the interior pressure of the liquid will close the valve.
Stoppers of this construction will also allow of bottles containing liquids being
charged with gas.
Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim
is:-
Firstly. The manufacture and use with bottles having screw necks, of stoppers
made of glass or like hard material provided with two or more projections of
suitable material substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and represented in figures 1, and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The manufacture and use of screw stoppers provided with a suitable
valve as and for the purposes described and represented in figure 3, of the
accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Barrett have hereto set my hand and
seal this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
H. BARRETT. (L.S.)