A NEW AND IMPROVED FASTENING OR ATTACHMENT ADAPTABLE AS STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, FOR UNIONS, COUPLINGS, OR OTHER CONNECTIONS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS, AND ALSO FOR THE APPLICATION OF PARTS THEREOF TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Raoul de Faucheux d'Humy, of 36, Castle
'Street, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "A NEW AND IMPROVED FASTENING OR ATTACHMENT
ADAPTABLE AS STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, FOR UNIONS, COUPLINGS, OR OTHER
CONNECTIONS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS, AND ALSO FOR THE APPLICATION OF PARTS
THEREOF TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 2nd June 1874, and dated the 5th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux
d'Humy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th December 1873.
I, PAUL RAOUL DE FAUCHEUX D'HUMY, of 36, Castle Street, Holborn,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED FASTENING OR ATTACHMENT
ADAPTABLE AS STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, FOR UNIONS, COUPLINGS, OR OTHER CON-
NECTIONS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS, AND ALSO FOR THE APPLICATION OF PARTS THEREOF
TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
.
My Invention relates to a new and improved means of forming a
mechanical connection or junction (hermetically or otherwise) between

page_text: one object and another, and is applicable as stoppers for bottles (either
as simple stoppers or as decanting stoppers), fastenings for doors,
drawers, boxes, and the like, unions or couplings for pipes and other
similar objects, and generally as a means of uniting, connecting, and
securing one object to another without the intervention of screws or
other permanent fixings.
And my Invention consists of a core or plug, upon the grooved end of
which I place a ring or hoop of indian-rubber or other elastic material,
so that when inserted into the mouth of a bottle or into a socket
prepared to receive it it fills the part or socket into which it is forced,
and completely secures the core or plug to the socket or part into which
it is inserted. It therefore thus becomes a means of fastening or
attaching one body or object to another, considerable force being
necessary to separate the two parts of the fastening the one from the
other.
In the case of decanting stoppers a valve of peculiar form and con-
struction is applied to the top or mouth of the core or plug, which is
made hollow for the passage of the liquid from the bottle without with-
drawing the stopper.
In the case of fastenings for doors and the like one part of the
fastening is applied to the door jaumb (or fixed part), and the other to
the door.
When applied as a coupling for pipes, the one or male part of the
fastening is fixed to or forms part of one pipe, and the other or female
part is fixed to or forms part of the other pipe in the manner of ordinary
union screws. And so in all the proposed applications of this fastening
or attachment the elastic ring or hoop when inserted into its corre-
sponding socket is caused to undergo a certain degree of compression,
which produces a corresponding and sufficient pressure against the side
of the socket to effect the firm and when necessary the hermetically
sealing of the junction.
Great facilities are afforded by this Invention for readily attaching
and detaching the several objects (the one from the other) which are
fastened together by it.
Parts of the said Invention are adaptable to the purposes for which
valves are usually employed, as in air and water pumps and vessels
containing liquids and fluids under pressure or otherwise.

page_text: The material employed for the foregoing purposes is rendered when
necessary unsusceptible to the action of acids or other decomposing
chemical agents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Paul Raoul dé Faucheux d'Humy in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 5th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
RAOUL DE FAUCHEUX D'HUMY, of 36, Castle Street, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux d'Humy, Her special
licence that I, the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux d'Humy, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Paul Raoul de
Faucheux d'Humy, my executors, 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 "A NEW AND IMPROVED FASTENING OR ATTACHMENT ADAPTABLE AS STOPPERs for
BOTTLES, FOR UNIONS, COUPLINGS, OR OTHER CONNECTIONS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS, AND
ALSO FOR THE APPLICATION OF PARTS THEREOF TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux
d'Humy, 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.
re
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux d'Humy,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
My Invention has for its object an improved means of forming a
mechanical connection or junction (hermetically or otherwise) between
two independent articles, and is particularly applicable as a convenient
means of closing the mouths of bottles, jars (as a stopper), and also as a
fastening for doors, boxes, drawers, &c., coupling for pipes, and generally
as a means of uniting, connecting, and securing one object to another
' without the intervention of permanent fixings.
Figures 1, 2, 4, in the annexed Drawing represent stoppers for ordinary
bottles, the bodies or plugs of which may be made of hard wood, metal,
porcelain, or other suitable and economical material. Two grooves A, B,
are formed on the surface of the plugs, as shewn. The lower groove A
receives an elastic ring packing, such as india-rubber, vulcanized or
otherwise, which is extended and slipped over the button end C. When
the stopper is inserted in the mouth of the bottle the elastic ring
packing D is forced over the projection E into the upper groove B, where
it remains in close contact with the neck of the bottle. For ordinary
purposes, where it is not required to resist internal pressure, or where
only firm contact is required to prevent the passage of air, the depth of
the grooves may be alike, as in Figure 1, either cones or curves;; but
where the stopper is required to resist considerable internal pressure the
depth of the upper groove B should be less than that of the lower one A,
so that the clastic ring packing when forced over the projection E may
be enlarged, and thus be made to press with greater force against the
neck of the bottle, sealing the joint hermetically.
When it is required to remove the stopper it may be withdrawn by a
moderate force applied with the hand (and without the aid of instru-
ments of any kind) to the knob F, which action at the same time
restores the ring packing to its normal position in the groove A ready
for use, as seen by the dotted lines.
In applying this Invention to wide mouthed bottles or jars, as shewn
in Figure 3, it differs from Figure 1 only in dimensions.
When the stopper is required to resist an unusual degree of pressure,
two or more elastic rings may be employed as may be found desirable and

page_text: expedient, as shewn in Figure 4, the same operation but with additional
force producing the desired contact with the neck of the bottle or jar.
When it is required to apply it to bottles or decanters from which it
is desired to draw off portions of its contents at intervals, and to subse-
quently exclude the air to preclude the liquid from becoming vapid, I
make the plug of the stopper hollow, that is, with a passage through it,
as shewn in Figure 5, and I close the external aperture either with an
elastic spherical valve, say of india-rubber, as in Figure 6, or I adapt an
elastic ring seat, as shewn at C, Figure 5, in a groove surrounding the
mouth of the passage, and connect thereto a metal, wood, or porcelain
valve by means of elastic straps or loops, or by metal springs, so that
the valve may be removed easily from its seat by the finger and thumb,
and held sufficiently on one side to allow of the liquid passing out of the
bottle. On the removal of the finger from the valve it replaces itself by
the action of the loops or springs closing the passage, and preventing
the entrance of atmospheric air. This simple mode of attaching a valve
to its seat obviously admits of its application to many useful purposes
for which valves are employed. It may be adapted as a vent peg for
casks under draught, as shewn partly in Figure 6, where the tail is
shewn tapered and screwed to admit of its being screwed into a wood
stave. This form of plug may also be used for ordinary bottles in con-
junction with a cork of elastic material as cork or india-rubber. As a
vent peg the valve is always kept close by the tension of the loops or
springs (shewn in Figures 7 and 8) when not used, but which is held
open to admit air by applying the finger to the valve, but which closes
the moment the finger is withdrawn, this insuring its effective action.
In applying this Invention as a fastening, by means of which any two
articles are connected and held together, the form of coupling must
depend in a degree upon the shape and character of the articles to be
united; for instance, when applied as a door fastening, as in Figure 9, I
use a plate having a socket ring in its centre, into which a plug and
elastic ring is inserted, the one plate being affixed by screws to the door
jaumb, and the other one to the frame of the door. A small amount of
force only is required to close or open the door. Similar arrangements.
of the fastening may be adapted for closing boxes, bags, and a great
variety of articles which do not require to be locked after use.

page_text: As a means of coupling iron pipes, and thereby obviating the necessity
for employing metallic packing, I adapt my improved fastening in the
form shewn in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, videlicet, on the spigot end of a
length of pipe I form (by casting or otherwise) grooves similar to those
adopted for the stoppers of bottles, which receive an elastic ring packing,
and this being inserted into the faucit or socket end of a contiguous
pipe constitutes a perfect joint suitable for gas, water, and other services.
One or more packing rings may be employed, according to the extent of
pressure required.
Figure 12 shews an arrangement whereby any single defective pipe
may be removed from a line of main without the necessity for destroying
contiguous pipes, the double socket which encloses the joint being made
in two halves (as in Figures 12 and 13), and united by bolts and nuts.
The pipes are formed with spigots at both ends, each end being fitted
with an elastic ring or elastic rings, as the necessity may require, thus
affording great facility for repairing gas and water mains. Pipes laid
in this manner afford compensation for the almost unavoidable irregu-
larity of laying, subsidence of the ground, or deviations both of level
and straightness.
Hose pipes may be united by this method with suitable couplings
formed as Figure 14, shewn full size in Figure 15, or where necessary
with several grooves and a corresponding number of elastic rings.
Having now fully and particularly described the at ure of my
improved fastening, and the manner of constructing the same, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise forms or
dimensions herein referred to and shewn in the illustrative Drawings, as
they may be varied or modified to suit particular circumstances without
departing from the principle of my Invention, nor do I claim the use of
india-rubber or other elastic packing, except so far as they are used in
the manner and for the purposes herein set forth, but what I claim is,―
Firstly. The form and configuration of the body of the stopper or
fastening, whereby the elastic packing used therewith is caused to make
an air-tight joint by contact with the interior of the neck of bottles or
jars, whereby they are sealed hermetically or otherwise.
And, Secondly. The use and application of the same, substantially for

page_text: uniting two articles or bodies together, or as a plug or stopper for closing
apertures or openings generally.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Raoul de Faucheux d'Humy,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
АмHT. H. RENTON,
57, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
P. D'HUMY. (L.S.)