Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Dec., 1888
I, RICHARD WILLIAMS THOMAS, of 121 Cheapside, London, E.C., Artist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is a contrivance by which the stopping and unstopping of bottles and
taps is easily effected.
On the outside or the inside of the neck of the bottle or tap a spring or other
contrivance is secured carrying a cork with an orifice through its centre. The cork
fits on or in the opening of the bottle or tap affording a clear exit through the orifice.
Over the cork is pivotted a spherical or approximately spherical body also furnished
with an aperture. When this globe is turned so as to bring its orifice continuous
with that of the cork a clear passage is made for the contents of the bottle or other
vessel. When the globe is turned so as to bring the closed part of its surface tightly
against the cork the outlet is stopped. A lip or other contrivance is provided to
easily turn the globe.
10 of Navamber 1887
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I RICHARD WILLIAMS THOMAS of 121, Cheapside London E.(. Artist 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 :-
My Invention consists of a contrivance whereby the stopping and unstopping of
Bottles and taps is easily effected by means of a round or oval or approximately
round or oval body (hereinafter referred to as "the ball") having a channel or orifice
through it and working upon a circle of cork or other suitable substance made either
to fit in the neck of the bottle and to rest upon a shoulder or excrescence therein or
to fit in a metal or other casing for fixing on the top or mouth of Bottles not specially
made for my invention.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1. is a Bottle to which my invention is applied.
Here the Bottle is shewn closed. The ball A has a channel or orifice through the
centre (B to B) and is kept in position by means of two knobs (C) or other suitable
additions to the ball one at each side of the ball which fit into and work in grooves
made in the neck of the Bottle for the purpose-the ball rests upon a cork D. having
an orifice through the centre (shown by dotted lines) this cork is secured in its place
by the shoulder E in the neck of the bottle-to obtain an outlet for the contents of the
bottle the ball A is turned by means of a lip F so as to bring its orifice or channel in
a line with the orifice in the cork-The Ball can be removed from the bottle by
means of a key which fits into the orifice and by pressing the Ball upon the cork it
can be turned round until the knobs C reach two cavities in the mouth of the Bottle
made for the purpose when the ball can be easily removed.
When my invention is to be applied to ordinary champagne or other Bottles not
made specially for the invention (as is the case in Fig. 1.) I use the contrivance shown
in Fig. 2. In that figure the Ball A is pivotted at G to a metal or other frame H
inside which is fitted a circle of cork or other suitable material with a channel or
orifice as in Fig. 1. upon which the ball revolves, as described with reference to Fig. 1.
Attached to each side of the frame H is a spring J having two forks (K)-To these
springs are attached two half circular shaped metal or other rims (L) one fork of each
spring passing through cavities made at the extremity of each half circle (M)-the
ends of each fork of the springs are formed for screwing into the nuts N which nuts
have milled edges. To bring this contrivance into use the neck of the bottle (after
removal of the ordinary cork) is passed through the two half circles L and the rim
of the bottle is pressed on the cork inside the frame H.-the nuts N. are then screwed
up so that the half circles L lodge firmly on the outer rim of the neck of the Bottle as
shewn in Fig. 3.
The Ball can be made of glass or any other material suitable for the purpose-It is
obvious that my invention can be adapted to taps in either of the modes herein before
described in the same way as to Bottles.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:
1. A ball having an orifice through its centre serving as a stopper for a bottle or
tap as herein before described.
2. The application to Bottles or Taps of the means of stopping and unstopping the
same substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1. of the drawings and for the
purposes set forth.
3. The shoulder or ledge inside the neck of the Bottle or Tap to receive the cork
or other suitable substance upon which the Ball works substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 1. of the drawings and for the purposes set forth.
4. The apparatus forming a stopper for a bottle or tap substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figs. 2. and 3. of the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of August 1888.
WHITE & DE BURIATTE,
Agents for the Applicant.