IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING AND OTHER FLASKS, DECANTERS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER NECKED VESSELS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Francis Richard Brindley, of 2, Leonard
Square, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING AND OTHER FLASKS, DECANTERS, BOTTLES,
AND OTHER NECKED VESSELS."
Sealed the 81st October 1862, and dated the 5th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Francis Richard
Brindley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th May 1862.
I, THOMAS FRANCIS RICHARD BRINDLEY, of 2, Leonard Square, Finsbury,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING AND OTHER FLASKS, DECANTERS,
BOTTLES, AND OTHER NECKED VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in substituting for the screwed caps or covers of
travelling flasks, or for corks or stoppers as at present employed for closing or
stoppering the orifices or mouths of the same, a plate or cap of metal or other
material, having upon its under surface a plug or stopper of the form or shape
of a cone or half sphere, so as to fit closely into the orifice or mouth of the
flask, the said plug being attached to the herein-before mentioned plate or cap
by a spindle passing through the said plug. The plate or cap is hinged to
the neck of the flask, to, which is also attached beneath the hinge a spring of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable elastic substance, which passing

page_text: around the hinge is attached at its upper end to the plate or cap. Upon the
pivot of the hinge is also hinged a tongue of metal, which passes vertically
from the hinge and then horizontally over the plate or cap upon which it
rests. Those parts of this tongue where hinged are provided at one portion of
their surface with catches or projecting pieces. When it is desired to open
the flask or other vessel, the tongue must be raised till the part which before
lay horizontally upon the plate or cap assumes a vertical position, when the
catches or projecting pieces come in contact with the under side of the plate
or cap, which (upon the tongue being pressed further from the mouth or
orifice of the flask) it raises, and thereby opens or unstoppers the flask. While
the tongue is pulled back to its full extent, the spring before mentioned is
extended, and upon the tongue being released the spring returns the plate or
cap with plug or stopper to its original position, thereby stoppering the flask.
My improvements further consist in substituting for the present drinking
vessel or cup of the flask, a vessel or cup hinged to the neck of the flask,
which vessel or cup when not required for use forms a cover over the above-
described stoppering arrangement, being held in its position there by a spring
catch, fitting into a recess in its inner surface. By placing the forefinger of
the hand upon the metal tongue, with the flask held firmly between the
remaining fingers and the ball of the thumb, the wrist inclining the flask,
while the thumb itself adjusts the position of the drinking vessel or cup, the
contents of the flask may be poured into the cup by the movement of the fore-
finger pressing back the tongue.
I have herein described my Invention as applied to a flask such as is used
in travelling, but I apply my improvements wholly or in part also to other
necked receptacles, such as flasks for powder and shot, decanters, bottles,
phials, and other necked vessels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Francis Richard Brindley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FRANCIS RICHARD BRINDLEY, of 2, Leonard Square, Finsbury, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
3
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord 3

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Francis Richard Brindley, Her special licence, that I, tlie said
Thomas Francis Richard Brindley, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
5 or such others as I, the said Thomas Francis Richard Brindley, my execu-
tors, 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 TRAVELLING AND OTHER
FLASKS, DECANTERS, BOTTLES, AND OTHER NECKED VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Francis Richard Brindley, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 Thomas Francis. Richard Brindley,
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 ands
by the following statement, that is to say:-
My improvements consist in substituting for the screwed caps or covers of.
travelling flasks, or for corks or stoppers as at present employed for closing or
stopping the orifices or mouths of the same, a plate or cap of metal or other:
material, having upon its under surface a plug or stopper of the shape of a
cone or half sphere, so as to fit closely into the orifice or mouth of the flask,.
the said plug being attached to the herein-before mentioned plate or cap by a
spindle passing through the said plug. The plate or cap is hinged to the neck.
of the flask, to which is also attached beneath the hinge a spring of vulcanized
india-rubber or other suitable elastic substance, which passing around the
hinge; is attached at its upper end to the plate or cap. Upon the pivot of the
hinge is also hinged a tongue of metal, which passes vertically from the hinge,.
and then horizontally over the plate or cap upon which it rests.
Those parts.
of this tongue where hinged are provided at one portion of their surface with
catches or projecting pieces. When it is desired to open the flask or other:
vessel, the tongue must be raised till the part which before lay horizontally.
upon the plate or cap assumes a vertical position, when the catches or projecting.
pieces come in contact with the under side of the plate or cap, which (upon

page_text: the tongue being pressed further from the mouth or orifice of the flask) it
raises, and thereby opens or unstoppers the flask. While the tongue is pulled
back to its full extent the spring before mentioned is extended, and upon the
tongue being released the spring returns the plate or cap with its plug or
stopper to their original position, thereby stopping the. flask.
My improvements further consist in substituting for the present drinking
vessel or cup of flasks, or vessel or cup hinged to the neck of the flask, which
vessel or cup when not required for use forms a cover over the above described
stoppering arrangement, being held in its position there by a spring catch
fitting into a recess in its inner surface; by placing the forefinger of the hand
upon the metal tongue, with the flask held firmly between the remaining
fingers and the ball of the thumb, the wrist inclining the flask, while the
thumb itself adjusts the position of the drinking vessel or cup, the contents of
the flask may be poured into the cup by the movement of the forefinger
pressing back the tongue.
In order that the nature of my Invention and the means by which I propose
to effect the same may be distinctly explained and understood, I, to this Speci-
fication, append a Sheet of Drawings having figures and letters of reference
marked thereupon.
In these Drawings Figure 1 is a view of a travelling flask constructed with
my improvements, the improved parts being shown in section. A is the plate
or cap, having upon its under side the semi-spherical or conical plug B,
attached in the manner shown by the spindle, nut, and washer, the plug being
allowed a certain amount of play so as to find its own bearing in the circular
orifice at C and fit therein, securely stoppering the same. The plate or cap A
is hinged at D; E is the spring of vulcanized rubber attached in the manner
at F, F; G is the tongue of metal herein-before described, but is here shown
upon a separate or independent hinge; at I, I, is shown the drinking cup or
vessel in its position for use when required for drinking; at J, J, is shown in
dotted lines its position as a cover for the flask, where it is retained by a
spring catch as herein-before described passing around the neck of flask; at
K is a catch for the purpose of retaining in position the tongue G when the
cup is in the position J, J.
I have herein-before described my Invention as applied to a flask, such as
is used when travelling, but I apply my improvements wholly or in part also
to other necked receptacles, such as flasks for powder or shot, to decanters,
bottles, phials, and other necked vessels. In the Drawing to this Specification
appended, Figures 2 and 3 show my improvements applied to a decanter, of
the upper part or neck of which, Figure 2, is a view partly in section, and

page_text: Figure 3 an outside view. A is the plate or cap with semi-spherical or conical
plug B fitting the orifice at C; E is the vulcanized india-rubber or other
spring secured at F, F'; L, L, is a spring provided with a projecting piece or
catch so as to retain the upper or stoppering piece of decanter open when
desired; the Figures 2 and 3 will show the nature of the application of my
improvements to necked vessels other than travelling flasks, though the exact
details of such application may be modified by circumstances.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that what I claim as of my Invention is the arrangement, disposition,
and combination of the parts of the stoppering contrivance in this Specification
and Drawings described or shown.
I also claim the hinged cup or drinking vessel and the hinged tongue herein
described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Francis Richard Brindley,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
THOMAS FRANCIS RICHARD BRINDLEY. (L.S.)