IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS AND BOTTLES FOR CON- TAINING ANY KIND OF LIQUIDS, AERATED WATER, GASEOUS, OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rivers, Auctioneer, 27ª, Finsbury Square, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS AND BOTTLES FOR CON-
TAINING ANY KIND OF LIQUIDS, AERATED WATER, GASEOUS, OR OTHERWISE."
Sealed the 1st November 1878, and dated the 22nd August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rivers at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1878.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOSEPH RIVERS, Auctioneer, 27, Finsbury Square, London.
STOPPERS AND BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING ANY KIND OF LIQUIDS, AERATED
WATER, GASEOUS, OR OTHERWISE."
This Invention has for its object an improved stopper and bottle, whereby any
kind of liquid can be expeditiously bottled and the stopper secured against being
forced out by internal pressure. The stopper can be instantaneously removed by a
turn of the hand without the aid of a corkscrew or any instrument whatever.
In order to carry out my improvements I make the stopper of glass or other
material; a groove is cut vertically into part of the stopper which enters the neck
of the bottle, into which is fixed a spring lever. The whole of that part of the
stopper which enters the neck of the bottle is covered with cork.
The bottle is made as follows:-An indentation is made on one side of the inside
neck of the bottle by a spring tool below the rim in the shape of a semi-cone, which
receives the spring lever attached to the stopper.
To remove the stopper it is only necessary to slightly turn it either way by the
hand, when the spring lever is forced by the indent in the neck of the bottle,
gradually decreasing into the groove in the stopper, thus allowing it to be removed.
[Price 621

page_text: The advantages attending the use of my bottle and stopper are as follows:-
Aerated waters, gascous liquids, beer, ale, wine, &c., can be bottled by one of the
many filling machines now in use, and the stopper inserted and secured without any
wire or tying of any description by one single operation by any inexperience
person, thus saving a deal in time and wages. Also the great economy in cost, one
stopper lasting many years. Also the great desirability of placing before the public
aerated and other liquids which have been in contact with glass and cork only,
thus removing the objection to all kiuds internal stoppers which have india-
rubber seatings, more or less.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Rivers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th February
1879.
JOSEPH RIVERS, Auctioneer, 27*, Finsbury Square, London.
STOPPERS AND BOTTLES
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
FOR CONTAINING ANY KIND OF LIQUIDS, AERATED
WATER, GASEOUS, OR OTHERWISE."
This Invention has for its object an improved stopper and bottle whereby any
kind of liquid can be expeditiously bottled and the stopper secured against being
forced out by internal pressure. The stopper can be instantaneously removed
without the aid of a corkscrew or other instrument.
In order to carry out my improvements I make the stopper of glass or other
suitable material, that part which enters the neck of the bottle being provided with
a vertical groove or recess, in which is inserted and fixed a spring lever or catch,
somewhat similar in shape and action to the spring catch of umbrella sticks.
The stopper may be covered with cork or other yielding material, or instead of
the stopper the neck of the bottle may be lined with such yielding material.
I make the bottle with an indentation or recess round a portion of the inner cir-
cumference of the mouth just below the upper edge or rim of the same, the depth
of such recess gradually decreasing until it disappears in the plane surface of the
remaining portion of the inner circumference. The normal position of the spring
lover or catch fixed at one of its ends in the stopper is with its upper portion or
catch projecting outwards from its stopper, which is its position both when free from
the neck of the bottle and when inserted into such neck, so that it engages in the
indentation or recess referred to.
To remove the stopper it is only necessary to slightly turn it either right or left
by hand, when the spring is forced back within the vertical groove by the pressure
which the decreasing periphery of the indentation in the inner circumference of the
mouth of the bottle exerts against it.
This Invention may be modified in many ways without affecting its principle.
One of such modifications consists in the employment (instead of a single spring
and an indentation or recess round a portion only of the inner circumference of the
mouth of the bottle) of a double or two (or more) springs, the indentation or recess
being continued and equal round the whole of the inner circumference of the mouth
of the bottle just below the rim. In this latter case the spring levers or catches
continue upwards to the upper portion, and to project through circumference of the
knob of the stopper from which it is made (when in its normal or outward position),
and which projecting parts aro pushed in by the hand when it is required to with-
draw the stopper from the bottle.
I do not limit myself to any precise method of fixing the spring levers or catches
within the stoppers, but in practice have found that to have the stopper made
hollow and in two parts, such parts being two orifices, to allow the catches and the
end to project through, then fix the two parts together in the usual manner.
In order to adapt my improvements to ordinary bottles I attach a metal cap,
containing in itself the principle of the Invention, around the exterior of the nock
of the bottle by means of wire or in any suitable manner.
In order that my Invention may be more readily understood I have annexed
hereto a Sheet of Drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 shows a portion of a bottle with my Invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 through the line A, B.
Figure 3 shows a modification of my Invention as described in the lattor portion
of this Specification.
Figure 4 is a section through the line C, D, of Figure 3.

page_text: a is the neck of the bottle; b is the stopper; c is the cork or other kind of
yielding material either fitted on to the stopper or within the neck of the bottle, as
may be preferred; in the Drawing it is shown on the stopper; d is the spring lever
or catch, made preferably of metal.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the method of carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as my Invention
is, the application of a spring lever or catch, or of spring levers or catches, to bottle
stoppers, and the making of bottles and metal caps of the form suitable for the
application of such stoppers, so provided as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rivers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 18th day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOSEPH RIVERS. (L.S.)