IMPROVE- MENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Madocks, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon,
Consulting Brewer and Brewer's Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
Sealed the 4th March 1879, and dated the 16th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Madocks at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1878.
JOHN MADOCKS, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, Consulting Brewer and
Brewer's Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in stoppers for bottles, and consists in
attaching one or more discs of pure or cured rubber to the end of a wire or metallic
stem which passes up through a body piece to the upper part where the wire termi-
nates in a ring or a button head by which the wire and disc can be lifted when
desired. The body piece has a narrowed portion to fit, or nearly so, the inside of
the bottle neck and a projection or head to fit upon the bottle mouth. The top
face of the projection or head has a slot into which the ring or button head can
partly descend when the stem is pushed in, which can be done when the bottle
mouth has to be closed. In this action the rubber disc becomes reduced in diameter
by taking into a space formed between the body piece and itself when the stopper
is being pushed in and becomes expanded against the inner walls of the neck to
make a tight fit when the wire is lifted from the outside. When this is done the
ring or the button head is turned a quarter round and impinges upon the top face
of the projection to hold the disc in a raised and expanded condition, the passage in
the neck being hermetically closed thereby and the stoppage held firmly in place by
the nip of the edge of the disc against the bottle neck.

page_text: The narrowed portion of my stopper may have studs at intervals, said studs en-
gaging within annular grooves or recesses formed in the bottle neck by a twist or
turn of the stopper after being passed in, which it can do through the studs passing
down vertical grooves formed in the neck.
The grooves are preferably formed in the thickness of the bottle neck to present
a level surface as not to interfere with the outflow of the liquid.
For bottles containing gaseous or aérated liquids bent wire clip pieces can
be attached to the stem and the lower or free ends be forced under the
shoulder of the neck to secure the stopper in place and to resist the internal
pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Madocks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June
1879.
JOHN MADOCKS, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, Consulting Brewer and
Brewer's Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in stoppers for bottles, and consists in
attaching one or more discs of pure or cured rubber to the end of a wire or metallic
stem which passes up through a body piece to the upper part where the wire termi-
nates in a ring or a button head by which the wire and disc can be lifted when
desired. The body piece has a narrowed portion to fit, or nearly so, the inside
of the bottle neck and a projection or head to fit upon the bottle mouth. The
top face of the projection or head has a slot into which the ring or button
head can partly descend when the stem is pushed in, which can be done when
the bottle mouth has to be closed. In this action the rubber disc becomes
reduced in diameter by taking into a space formed between the body piece and
itself when the stopper is being pushed in, and becomes expanded against the
inner walls of the neck to make a tight fit when the wire is lifted from the out-
side. When this is done the ring or the button head is turned a quarter round
and impinges upon the top face of the projection to hold the disc in a raised and
expanded condition, the passage in the neck being hermetically closed thereby and
the stopper held firmly in place by the nip of the edge of the disc against the bottle
neck.
The narrowed portion of my stopper may have studs at intervals, said studs en-
gaging within annular grooves or recesses formed in the bottle neck by a twist or
turn of the stopper after being passed in, which it can do through the studs passing
down vertical grooves formed in the neck. The grooves are preferably formed in
the thickness of the bottle neck to present a level surface as not to interfere with
the outflow of the liquid.
For bottles containing gaseous or aérated liquids bent wire clip pieces can
be attached to the stem and the lower or free ends be forced under the
shoulder of the neck to secure the stopper in place and to resist the internal
pressure.
My Invention is clearly represented in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1
represents.a stopper composed of a rubber disc A attached to a central stem B of
metal between discs D, E. The metallic stem B is within a central aperture formed
in the body piece which may be of wood or other material and its upper end is
ring shaped that it may be held by the fingers and be drawn up to put the edge
of the rubber disc A into contact with the inner wall of a bottle neck, as in the
view Figure 2, where a bottle neck is shown in section, the neck being that of an
ordinary ale or beer bottle, for which this simple form of stopper is particularly
suited and for which it is intended.
The body piece is of two diameters, the portion F being the smaller to fit some-
what loosely within the mouth of the bottle and the other portion G the larger to
rest upon the edge of the mouth, on which it finds a level bearing and acts in con-
junction with the portion F to centralise the rubber disc A that when the stem is
drawn up the disc A securely closes the passage and prevents the escape of the
contents of the bottle in whatever position it may be placed.
The rubber disc A is much larger in diameter than that of the portion F and
when the stopper is being placed in position in the bottle neck the edge of the disc
A is compressed and becomes folded slightly over the upper metal disc D, the central
stem B being then pushed into the position shown in Figure 1 and the ring H
partially within a recess formed in the head G of the body piece as shown. When
the stopper is in position in the bottle neck the rubber disc assumes its normal
condition from its elasticity, the central stem B is then raised by a pull upon the
ring H to bring the rubber disc A close up against the bottom face of the stopper

page_text: body F and the edge of the rubber against the inner wall of the bottle neck with
sufficient pressure to ensure a tight fit. The central stem and the rubber "closer"
disc are then turned a quarter round that the ring H may rest upon the upper face
of the body piece G, the resistance of the rubber disc preventing it turning back or
moving unless an amount of power be employed.
Figures 3 and 4 are views of a stopper for ale or beer bottles in which the central
stem is furnished with two rubber discs A, A'; which are caused to impinge against
two distinct portions of the bottle neck when the head H and the central stem B
are raised and turned a quarter round that the head may rest upon the body portion
G for the purpose before explained.
Figure 5 represents one of my before mentioned stoppers with studs or pins I, I,
projecting from the body portion F that they may engage into grooves or undercuts
J, J, (Figure 6) formed in the neck of a bottle after being passed down vertical
grooves K, K, also formed therein. The grooves vertical and horizontal are shaped
in the neck or mouth of the bottle by a suitable tool or by compression of the
material of which the bottle is made, say of glass or of pottery ware, upon a
suitable die, as would be well understood at glass and pottery works. In the view
Figure 5 only two pins or studs I, I, are shown, but in Figure 7 I have shown a
stopper with three projecting studs I, I, I, on the body piece F of the stopper, three
vertical grooves being necessary in the neck of a bottle to permit of the studs
taking into the grooves J, J, or under the ledges as before explained. Where two
studs are upon the stopper and two vertical grooves in the bottle neck a quarter
turn can be given to the stopper as an additional safeguard to that of the nip of the
rubber against the neck for fixing the stopper in position, but where three studs are
used and three vertical grooves formed only a partial turn of the stopper can be
effected, as would be well understood.
These studded stoppers and grooved neck bottles are more particularly suited for
bottles used for aérated and mineral waters and gaseous liquids to resist the internal
pressure, although they may be used with non gaseous liquids if desired; and as
further security of the stopper being retained in position, especially where air or gas
of high pressure is inserted or is generated within the bottles after being filled,
whether the stopper be plain as in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, or studded, as in Figures 5,
7, and 8, I employ a bent wire clip L, Figures 2 and 8, that its lipped ends M, M,
may catch under the shoulder N of the bottle when pushed under, the upper part of
the wire clip piece L being attached to the stem, ring, or head B, which may be of
any convenient shape.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed
Drawings composed of a rubber disc A on a movable central stem B fitted within a
body F, G, the whole acting as a bottle stopper, as set forth.
Secondly. I claim the apparatus described with reference to Figures 5, 7, and 8 of
the annexed Drawings, especially the studs J, J, on the body G to engage into
grooves in a bottle neck, for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. I claim shaping the inuer portion of a bottle neck with one or more
horizontal grooves and one or more vertical grooves forming part of same, as
described with reference to Figures 6 and 8 of the annexed Drawings, whereby
studded stoppers may be secured in such bottle necks, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Madocks, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
JOHN MADOCKS. (L.S.)