IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES, JARS, POTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING, STOPPERING, AND COVERING THE SAME
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BETTS, of Smithfield Bars, in the City of London, Distiller, and ALEXANDER
SOUTHWOOD STOCKER, of the same place, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirtieth day of December (One thousand eight hundred
and forty-four), in the eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs
and successors, give and grant unto us, the said William Betts and Alexander
Southwood Stocker, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said William Betts
and Alexander Southwood Stocker, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, and
such others as we, the said William Betts and Alexander Southwood Stocker,
our exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick.
upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES, JARS, POTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN
THE MODE OF MANUFACTURING, STOPPERING, AND COVERING THE SAME;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging us, the said William Betts
[D071

page_text: and Alexander Southwood Stocker, to particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Betts and Alexander Southwood Stocker, do hereby declare the
nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings (which we declare to belong
to and to form part thereof).
Our said Invention relates to certain improvements in bottles, jars, pots, and
similar vessels for the purpose of preserving the contents of such vessels with
greator facility and security than heretofore, and consists in the particular con-
struction of the necks or upper parts of such vessels, and the application of
suitable stoppering and covering thereto.
Drawing No. 1.-The Figure 1 represents the upper portion or neck of a
bottle of compound construction, its uppermost portion A, A, having a male
helical screw B formed upon it, and the portion C, C, next immediately below
the screw B, having its diametral dimension encreased to a diameter about
equal to the diameter of the thread of the screw B; and this lower portion
C, C, is of cylindrical form; and on the cylinder C, C, are formed indented
annular channels D, D, the sectional figure of their indentation being that
shewn at D; but the precise adherence to this form of section is not needful,
so that it be somewhat rounded at the inner termination of its depth, as at d.
We make one, two, or more of such annular indentations in this lower portion
C, C, of the bottle, but the observance of any precise number of them is not
needful. We make the width of such indentations somewhat less than the
distance apart of the threads of the helical screw B, and the depth of the
indentation a small quantity greater than the depth of the helical screw B.
The portion D, E, shews the continued lower part of the bottle; the Figure 2
shews a cap formed in the figure of a truncated cone, closed at its upper
extremity A, and opened at the lower extremity B; the upper extremity of the
cap fits easily on the extreme upper edge of the bottle's mouth, its lower
extremity B is of so much larger diameter as enables it to be easily passed
over the top of the neck of the bottle; the cap is composed of a metal suf-
ficiently flexible and tough to allow the curved sides of the cap to be pressed

page_text: ;
closely into the hollow or sunken parts of the threads of the screw B, Figure 1,
and also into the hollow or sunken parts of the annular channels D, D, and with-
out fracture. The mode of application of the cap A, B, Figure 2, to the closing
orstopping the mouth of the bottle isas follows:-The bottle being corked in the
usual manner, the cap is placed upon and over it, so that its closed extremity
A rests upon the top of the cork, and a cord, of thickness somewhat smaller
than the width of the threads of the screw B, being firmly passed round the
cap helically over the course of the threads of the screw, and also cylindrically,
over the annular channels D, D; the curved sides or surface of the flexible
metal cap is in and through the course of those indentations of the threads of.
the helical screw B, Figure 1, and of the cylindrical annular indentations
D, D, Figure 1, pressed into a firm and mechanically close, fitting thereto
the cord, by the agency of which such fitting in such helical and such annular
indentations is effected, is then unwound from its position and withdrawn, and
the operation is then complete. The practical effect of such aforesaid com-
pound construction and such aforesaid combination of parts is, that the neck
of the bottle being compounded of the helical screw B, formed on the upper.
portion thereof, and the annular indentations on the lower portions, has thus,
by the application of the metal cap and the aforesaid operation thereon,
produced a female screw cap, which applies to the male screw formed
around the neck of the bottle, while the lower portion of the said cap is by
the same operation forced into the cylindrical and annular indentations
D, D, such helical and annular, indentations, being independent of each
other by reason of their annular form, operate as stops to and prevent the
withdrawal of the cap from the bottle, by the natural action of the helical
screw B, and thus the integrity of the closing of the bottle is secured, which
can only be violated by a previous complete separation of the upper and
screwed portion B of the cap from the lower portion C, C, containing the
cylindrical and annular indentations. When it is required to withdraw
the cap B by the action of the screw, an incision must be made through its
entire circumference immediately below the screwed portion B,and above the
cylindrical and annular portion C, C, D, D, such incision being made, the
screwed portion of the cap has then liberty of action on its male screw, and
may be withdrawn.
The Figure 3 shews a modification of our said Invention. A, B, is the
upper portion of a bottle, of which A is the mouth; from that point C, D, is
a portion of somewhat greater thickness than the general thickness of the
bottle, and in such portion are cut cylindrical and annular indentations E, E,.
parallel to each other. In this modification, when the bottle is corked in,

page_text: the usual manner, the metal cap, as represented at Figure 2, is passed over
the entire portion C, D; and then a cord of the necessary diameter, as before
described as regards the Figure 1, is passed round those portions of the metal
cap which are directly over the cylindrical and annular indentations E, E.
The Figure 4 represents a second modification of our Invention. A, B, is
a portion of the neck of a bottle; on the outer side of the upper extremity A,
and extending downwards to the line c, c, there is formed a male screw a, a,
and on such screwed portion a glass cap C, C, having a female screw formed
on its inner surface, screws upon it and down to the bearing on the shoulder
formed at the line c, c. A small disc x of metal, wood, porcelain, or any
material suitable to form a flat cover to the bottle is placed in a cylindrical
bearing, formed on the upper extremity of the bottle, and the glass capisthen
placed over it, and screwed down to its bearing shoulder at c,c. On the outer
surface of the glass cap C, C, and also on the outer surface of the upper
portion D of the bottle, there are formed cylindrical annular indentations,
of similar form and arrangement to the cylindrical annular indentations
herein-before described in the Figure 1. When the glass cap C, C, is screwed
down, as before described, then an open cylindrical tube Yof flexible and tough
metal, or of any material of sufficient flexibility and firmness to bear its being
forced by pressure into the cylindrical annular channels d, d, d, d, is passed
over the neck of the bottle, being formed of a diameter to fit easily over the
same, and of length to extend from the upper extremity of the neck of the
bottle at the dotted line e, e, to the dotted line c, c. The said cylinder is then
forced into the cylindrical annular channels d, d, d, d, in the manner herein-
before described; and the glass cap c, c, cannot be withdrawn from the bottle
by unscrewing it therefrom, without the fracture of the cylindrical tubular
covering, which, as before described, is forced into the cylindrical annular
indentation d,d,d,d. The disc x, herein-before described, is shewn separately
in profile atx; the open cylindrical tube Y, herein-before described, is shewn
separately at Y, and is shewn in the Figure 4 by red lines.
The Figure 5 represents an external view in elevation of the Figure 4.
The Figure 6 represents the Figure 4 having the glass cap C, C, removed,
and also the open cylinder Y,shewing the upper portion of the bottle without
its covering or stopper.
Figure 7 shews the glass cap C, C, in an inverted position, shewing its
interior or female screw.
The Figure 9 shews a form of neck which we occasionally employ. The
upper part is formed with a projection, the under surface or lower edge of
which is undercut, so as to allow of the flexible metal forming the cap to be

page_text: forced into it as well as under the projecting ledge. The metal covering for
a vessel so formed may consist of a circular disc sufficiently large to be bent
down and enter the recess in the under side of the projection.
The Figure 8 shews a method of closely covering and stopping vessels of
forms having mouths or openings of wide dimensions. A, A, is the sectional
figure of the vessel; B, its inner space; C, C, a bearing shoulder round its
entire periphery D, D, a metal ring, which lies upon the bearing C, C ;
D, D, D, is a shallow cap or cover which is placed over the mouth of the
vessel, and extends over the entire portion D, D, on which the shoulder is
formed; this cover forms the lid of the vessel, and when it is placed as above
described it is to be pressed into a cylindrical annular indentation d,d, which
is formed around the vessel. This is effected by pressure thereon, as before
described at the Figure 1. The caps which we usually employ are shewn in
Figures 2 and 4; but instead of these, pieces of the same flexible metal, as
shewn in Figure 10, may be employed, the central part A being applied to the
top of the cork or stopper, and the sides B, B, B, B, bent down and pressed
into the grooves or indentations in the neck of the vessel, as already described
The Figure 1 represents the upper portion of the neck of the bottle with
the helical screw B formed upon it alone; this portion is that which is the
first made, the lower portion C, C, Figure 1, is afterwards formed by means
or another and suitable tool or machine, herein-after described. The said first
portion B is made by the tool or apparatus shewn at the Figures in Drawing
No. 2, and this is performed by the following means and in the manner
following:-The Figure 1 shows the shears in known use. A, A, which carries
onits sides A, A, a hollow screw mould I, K, divided into two separate halves,
one of which is attached to each side or limb of the shears, as shewn in the
Figure. The shears carries at its centre the spindle B, ending at its lower
termination in a metal plug C; a sliding tubular piece D has liberty of motion
upon the plug C through the extent of the length of the slots E, by a steadying
bar x, x, which passes through the said slot, and is of sufficient length to pass
also through holes Y, Y, in the sides A*, A*, of the shears (see Figure 3). A
helical spring F, which taking its first bearing at and against the plate G,
acts against the shoulder H formed on the piece D. The shoulder H applies
to the nose or upper extremity of the neck of a bottle in process of forming,
and there, by its fitting and constant pressure, forms the extreme face of the
extremity of the bottle of the desired form, and while the nose of the bottle
is thus pressed against the shoulder H, the metal plug C enters the cavity
or mouth of the neck of the bottle, whilst the action of the helical spring
F holds the shoulder H with an easy pressure against the pressure used

page_text: upon the bottle above described, the limbs A", A*, of the shears are at the
same time pressed inwards, as they are shewn in the Figure 1, and this
produces the external helical screw B of the Figure 1* (in Drawing No 1,
whilst the metal plug C presses into the cavity of the neck and opposes
counter-resistance to the external pressure of the shears on the outer surface.
The Figure 2 represents a view of the bottom or plan view of the screw,
mould I, K.
The Figure 3 exhibits a view of the tool in partial section, shewing the
screw mould in their open position or removed farther from the centre
spindle by the action of the spring of the shears.
Figure 4 is a detached view of the plug C shewing the slot therein.
Figure 5 is a detached view of the sliding tubular piece D, shewing the slot
therein.
The corresponding parts are respectively marked with the same letters of
reference in each Figure of this Drawing No. 2, in as far as such parts can
respectively be seen in each of such Figures. The lower portion C, C, Figure 1
of Drawing No.1, as regards the cylindrical annular indentations formed upor
it, is afterwards formed whilst the glass still remains inastate fit to produce a
full and perfect impression from the moulding tool applied to it, such tocl, for
the said purpose of producing the portion C, C, being the tool commonly known
amongst workers in glass under the denomination of shears or priscillas, having
faces cut upon it to the form and depth required for the form of the cylindrical
annular indentations C, C. The forms of the bottles herein-before described in
the Figures 1, 3, and 4 of Drawing No. 1 are made by the requisite tools as
regards the different forms while the metal is in that stage of its cooling which
allows it to yield sufficiently to external pressure to take the form of the moulds
applied to it. The cavity, as in the case of the hollow necks of the bottles in the
Figures referred to, being supported by a core or centre plug of suitable form
and size, which is applied and used either simply for support against the external
pressure of the outer moulding tool, or for pressure from within and in an
external direction to force the metal with sufficient pressure up to and against
the tool, and these different uses of the core above-mentioned are adopted as the
varying circumstances of the cases, as regards the form of the articles to be
produced, may be found to require.
We apply the disc a on a bearing shoulder, described at Figure 4 of
Drawing No. 1, to the mouths of any of the varieties of bottles herein
described. We also apply the disc x, described at Figure 4 of Drawing No. 1,
to the mouths of bottles of the ordinary descriptions, providing in the mouths
of such bottles a bearing shoulder for their reception. We form any of the

page_text: constructions herein described in any of the earthenwares, and also of wood,
with the difference between such constructions and those herein-before
described of subjecting such constructions of earthenware, before the operation
of baking them, to the production of the required forms by the known pro-
cesses and modes of working and fashioning adopted in turning and in the
construction of wood to the production of the required forms by turning alone.
The Figure 11 represents the upper portion of the neck of a bottle in which
vertical channels or indentations A, A, A, A, are formed, and used for the
herein before described purposes, in combination with one or more cylindrical
annular rings, as B.
Figure 12 represents the upper portion of the neck of a bottle in which
oblique channels or indentations C, C, C,C, are formed, and used for the same
herein-before described purposes, in combination with one or more cylindrical
annular rings, as D.
Figures 13 and 14 represent another modification of the herein-before
described method of constructing and closing orstoppering of bottles or other
vessels. Figure 13 shews the neck and upper portion of a bottle at A, A, and
having at its thickened and upper portion B, B, one, two, or more cylindrical
and annular indentations C, C.
Figure 14 shews a stopper, composed of glass, of earthenware, metal, or
any suitable substance, which has its upper termination A projecting beyond
the body B of the stopper, and so forming a bearing flanch, or shoulder
thereon, which, when the body of the stopper is applied to the mouth of the
bottle, as at D, Figure 13, the projecting flanch or shoulder C applies to the
upper edge of the mouth of the bottle, as shewn in that Figure. On the rim
or edge of such projecting flanch or shoulder one or more cylindrical and
annual indentations are formed, and other similar cylindrical and annular
indentations are formed upon the portion B, B, of the neck of the bottle,
when the stopper is inserted in the mouth of the bottle, as shewn in the
Figure. A metal cylindrical cap is applied to the stopper and the bottle
together, and there pressed into the indentations of both the stopper and the
bottle, as shewn in the Figure 13 by the red lines at E in the stopper and
at C in the bottle.
The Drawing No.3 shews the construction and arrangement of machinery,
apparatus, and tools which we use for forming and producing the channels and
indentations on the necks and openings or mouths of bottles and other vessels
to be operated upon for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
Figure 1 is a profile view or side elevation of a machine or apparatus we use
for such purposes; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken through it;

page_text: length; Figure 3 is a view of the same in horizontal plan the same parts
being respectively marked in each Figure with the same letters of reference.
In Figure 1, A, A, is the bottom of a framework in the direction of its
length; B, B, seen in Figures 1, 2, and 3, its bottom framework in the
direction of its breadth. Upon these are fixed vertical pieces C, C, supporting
the working parts of the machine. D, Figures 1 and 2, is a standard, holding
at its upper extremity E a supporting centre F, (Figures 2 and 3), the bottle
or vessel under process of formation being already attached to and held by its
bottom to the rod G, and still in a state sufficiently soft for moulding or com-
pression. The rod G is laid through the vertical framing X, X, (Figures 2
and 3), and pressed forward until its mouth passes over and rests upon the
supporting centre F. In that position and place of the bottle, the glass being
in a state capable of perfect compression, the neck of the bottle is subjected
to the compressing or moulding action of metal plates, seen in end view at
V,V, in Figure 2, and in a separate view in horizontal plan at H, in Figure 3.
The bottle or vessel being so placed, that portion of its neck on which the
required indentations are to be formed is made to receive such indentations
by passing the projecting ribs of the plates V, V, over that portion of the
bottle on which the indentations are required, and performing such passage of
those ribs by a rapid motion and uniform pressure. This motion is effected in
the following manner:-A horizontal toothed wheel I, I, receives an alternate
rectilinear motion by the action of an arm K, which is actuated by manual
labour by the lever L, L. A pinion W, Figure 2, is set upon the spindle of
the centre F, and drives that pinion with its own alternate motion, and
imparting the same motion to the bottle or vessel whose neck is set on the
centre F; the action of the lever L, L, will, therefore, cause the portion of
the bottle or vessel to be operated upon to be passed rapidly on and
against the ribs of the plates V, V; one of the ribbed plates V is attached
to an arm T, which receives an alternate rectilinear motion by the action of an
arm S, which is actuated also by the lever L, L, moving simultaneously wth
the arm K. A second rack M, M, the teeth of which are placed in an inverted
position to those of the rack I, I, moves by the same action as I, I, and drives
a pinion N; this is set on a horizontal spindle q, which carries at its other
extremity a second pinion N*; the pinion N* drives the small wheels O and P,
and by them the pinion a set on the rod G, by which the bottle or vessel is
held, and supported by its bottom. By the motion of the rod G, as above
described, and the motion of the centre F, also as above described, the bottle
or vessel receives an alternate circular and rotary motion on its axis,
corresponding to and simultaneously with the alternate rectilinear motion

page_text: already herein-before described as being given to the ribbed plates V, V, and
thus rendering the operation of the ribbed plate upon the bottle or vessel more
perfect as regards the forms of the required indentations and their degree of
compression. The straight and parallel ribs 1, 2, of the plates V, V, and
which lie at right angles to the line or axis of rotation of the bottle or vessel,
effect the formation of the cylindrical annular indentations herein-before de-
scribed; whilst the parallel ribs 3, 4, which lie obliquely to the line or axis of
rotation of the bottle or vessel, effect the formation of the helical screw
indentations herein-before described.
The Figures 4 and 5, the Figures 6 and 7, and the Figures 8 and 9.repre-
sent varieties of construction of tools which we employ to form the combination,
herein-before described, of the indentations of a helical screw with cylindrical
and annular indentations. Figure 4 is a profile view of a pair of moulds or
priscillas, in which A shews the,handles; B, the jaws; C, the portionby which
the cylindrical and annular indentations are formed; and D, the portion by
which the helical screw indentations are formed. Figure 5 is a front view of
he same. Figure 6 is a profile view of a modification of the same, and
Figure 7,a front view of the same; the several corresponding parts.thereof
are respectively marked with the same letters of reference as in Figures 4
and 5. Figure 8 is a profile view of another modification of the Figures
4 and 5, and 6 and 7, and Figure 9 a front view of the same, in which also
the corresponding parts are respectively marked with the same letters, of
reference.
The Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent implements which we use in pro-
ducing the herein-before described forms of the necks of bottles. Figure 10
is a hollow mandril A, having on its larger extremity shoulders B, B, of forms
suitable to the required forms of the nose or upper edge of the mouth of the
bottle, and fitted to a handle E; this mandril is introduced into the mouth of
the bottle to perfect the blowing of the bottle, and at the same time to preserve
the form and cavity of the neck and the mouth. A hollow passage C, D,
leads from the vertex x of the mandril to the transverse passage D, where the
heated air or gases generated within the cavity of the bottle during its forma-
tion are allowed to escape by a valve F, which is closed by a spring G. At
H, on the opposite side of the transverse passage D, we also, in some cases of
the formation of bottles, insert a metal pipe, as shewn in the Figure 10 at h,
by which we blow or force air or gases into the interior of the bottles during
the process of their blowing to assist their formation. The Figures 11 and 12
are respectively modified forms of mandrils of wood or metal, which we use
under the varying circumstances of the dimensions and forms of the necks and

page_text: mouths of bottles, and which we vary to accommodate them to such varia-
tions.
Having now described the nature and intention of our said Invention, and
also the manner in which the same is to be performed, we now declare that we
claim as of our Invention the application of flexible metallic coverings, in
combination with discs or stoppers for the covering and stoppering of bottles,
jars, pots, and other similar vessels, constructed as above described.
We also claim the manufacture, herein described, of the tops or necks of
bottles, jars, pots, and other similar vessels of the suitable forms and construc-
tions for the application of such flexible metallic covering, and that as we have
herein-before specified, described, and set them forth in this our Specification
and Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Betts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.