Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 9th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 9th Sept., 1887.
I THOMAS FOSTER Model Maker, of The Owens College Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
The object of this invention, is, by simply pressing against the side, of the
projecting hollow stem, of the "Stopper," to enable a portion of the contents, to be
drawn from an aerated water bottle, or other vessel, containing liquid under pressure,
without allowing the gas to escape from that portion which still remains.
The bottlos required for this invention are similar to those used for Vallet's and
other well known stoppers. In these bottles, the neck has a sudden contraction, of
about one third its diameter.
The flat ledge, or shoulder, thus produced, forms the valve seat, against which the
indiarubber washer of "the Stopper" rests. From this ledge outwards, the diameter
of the neck may be either constant, or it may enlarge; by preference the latter.
The body of the stopper" with its hollow stem, I construct of white metal or other
suitable material. One end of the hollow stem, (which may be one fourth or three
sixteenths of an inch in diameter) is closed by, and fixed into, the concave side of a
cup shaped cap or valve.
Fitting tightly upon this hollow stem, and about one sixteenth of an inch from the
edge of the cap or valve, is an indiarubber washer. A small collar is also fixed on the
hollow stem, for the purpose of preventing the washer from being pushed further
away from the face of the valve or cup. The length of this hollow stem, may be a
little greater than the internal diameter of the bottle, so that the stopper cannot turn
over inside the bottle, nor fall wrongly to its seat. Between the crown of the valve,
and the indiarubber washer the hollow stem has one or more lateral openings. These
openings may be made by splitting the hollow stem below the indiarubber washer,
into two or more segments; these segments being bent over so as to fit into the
concave side of the cap or valve. This hollow stem may be made from one or more
pieces of tubing, of the same or different diameters, by a process familiar to "metal
stampers
"
The indiarubber washer may be about an eighth of an inch thick, and of such diameter
as to fit the bottle neck immediately below, and close against, the valve seat.

page_text: The outer diameter of the rim of the cap or valve, may be about one sixth less than
the diameter of the indiarubber washer, and one sixth greater than the contracted
part of the bottle neck. "The stopper" without the indiarubber washer, must there-
fore be dropped into the bottle, before the contracted part of the neck is formed: the
indiarubber washer being pushed into the bottle, and placed in its position on the
hollow stem of "the stopper" after the bottle has colled down, in the following or
any other convenient manner. First stretch the washer over the end of a hollow
spindle or tube of any convenient length. The internal diameter of this tube, being
such as to slide easily over the stem of "the stopper," and the external diameter about
equal to that of the collar on the stem. The bottle is now inverted, when the stem of
"the stopper" will project below the mouth of the bottle. The tube with the washer
stretched over one end, is now pushed up over the stem of "the stopper" forcing the
washer into the bottle; it is then pushed off the end of the tube, into its place on the
stem of "the stopper" by another tube sliding over the first one.
The bottle may be charged in an inverted position in the usual manner, when "the
stopper" will fall into its position, the rim of the cup shaped head or valve pressing
the indiarubber washer against the valve seat, thus effectually stoppering the bottle.
To draw off any portion of the liquid, invert the bottle, and tilt the valve, by
pressing the finger or thumb against the portion of the stem which projects beyond
the bottle neck; the liqud then escapes under the tilted edge of the valve, through
the lateral openings into the hollow stem. The whole of the liquid may be thus
decanted; but if it is desired to draw off only a part, it is only necessary that the
finger be removed from the stem of "the stopper," when the internal pressure will
again force the valve back against its seat.

page_text: Improvements in Internal Decanting Bottle Stoppers.
I THOMAS FOSTER Model Maker, of The Owens College Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 :-
The object of this invention, is, by simply pressing against the side, of the pro-
jecting hollow stem of the stopper, to enable a portion of the contents, to be drawn
from an aërated water bottle, or other vessel containing liquid under pressure, without
allowing the gas to escape from.that portion which still remains.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a partially
filled bottle, in an inverted position, fitted with my improved stopper. Fig. 2
shows the method of using the stopper for decanting and Fig. 3 the shape of
the bottle neck required. Figs. 4, 5 & 6 illustrate the details of construction of the
stopper, and Fig. 7 an alternative method; whilst Figs. 8, 9 & 10 show the method
of putting on the indiarubber washer, when the metallic part of the stopper is already
inside the bottle. The drawings on sheet No. 2" are to an enlarged scale.
"
In the bottles required for this invention, the neck has a sudden contraction of
about its diameter, as shown in Fig. 3 and the flat part or shoulder thus produced,
forms the valve seat A against which the indiarubber washer C of the stopper rests.
The head and stem of the stopper Figs. 4 & 5 may be made of "white metal or
any other convenient incorrodible material. The head may be cup or dome shaped,
having a central boss B cast in one piece with, and connected to the shell by, three or
four webs D. The stem Fig. 5 is a tube about of an inch in diameter with a
collar E upon it; which collar, is for the purpose of keeping the indiarubber washer C
Fig. 6 in its place. This tube may be either soldered, screwed, or otherwise fixed
into the boss B as shown in Fig. 6; or the boss b may be cast directly to the under
side of the dome as in Fig. 7. in which case the hollow stem must have one or more
holes in the side at F. The length of the stem measured from the top of the dome 1
prefer to make slightly larger than the internal diameter of the bottle, in order to
prevent its getting turned the wrong end about.
Cis an indiarubber washer about of an inch thick, fitting tightly over the stem; and
of such a diameter as to fit the bottle neck immediately above the valve face or
ledge A Fig. 3 as also shown in Fig.‘1.
The outer diameter of the dome shaped head of the stopper, may be about midway
between that of the indiarubber washer C and the contracted part of the bottle neck,
that is, about less than the indiarubber washer, and about greater than the
narrowest part of the bottle neck. This diameter of the head of the stopper necessi-
tates that the metallic portion shall be dropped into the bottle before the contracted
part of the neck is fully formed; the indiarubber washer being pushed into the
bottle, and placed in its position. on the hollow stem of the stopper, after the bottle
has cooled down; in the following or any other convenient manner. First stretch
•

page_text: the indiarubber washer Cover the end of a hollow spindle H Fig. 9, the internal
diameter of this spindle being such that the stem of the stopper slides easily into it,
whilst the external diameter must be about equal to that of the collar E: this. spindle
may now be dropped into a second hollow spindle or tube K, fixed upon a foot in an
upright position Fig. 10, the indiarubber washer resting upon the top of tube K.
The bottle with the metallic portion of the stopper inside, may now be taken as
shown in Fig. 8, and the stem of the stopper lowered into the hollow spindle H
Fig. 9. The contracted part of the bottle neck is now forced over the indiarubber
washer C and the bottle further lowered until the bottom touches the dome of the
stopper; a little pressure is now sufficient to force the collar E through the india-
rubber washer into its position as shown in Fig. 6. The inner tube H which held the
indiarubber washer will now be released, and rest upon the short end of the lever M.
After the bottle has been removed, a blow on the outer end of the lever, will send the
inner tube H out of K.
The bottle with the stopper inside is now complete, and may be charged with
aërated liquid in an inverted position in the usual manner, when the stopper will fall
into its position as shown in Fig. 1.
When it is required to draw out any portion of the liquid, the bottle must be held
in an inverted, or inclined position as in Fig. 2, and the stopper tilted by pressing
with the first finger (of the hand holding the bottle) against the side of the hollow
stem at S; the liqud will then escape under the tilted edge of the dome, and along
the tube as indicated by the arrows. If only a portion of the liquid is to be drawn
off, it is only necessary to cease pressing against the stem of the stopper, and the
pressure inside the bottle will instantly force the dome or valve to its seat again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The construction of a bottle stopper, substantially as herein described, having a
hollow projecting stem, by the tilting of which, when the bottle is held in an inverted
position, the liquid will escape along the said hollow stem.
Dated thin 6th day at Around 1007