Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
I, FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER of Hill Side Park Hill Kenilworth Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce, what is commonly known in the trade
as a lever stopper, but my methods of producing it, are such an improvement, that
the stopper can be made, and sold, at a very much cheaper rate, than up to the
present it is possible to do.
To do this I cut out of sheet metal two round blanks, one forming the lower,
or bottom of the stopper, and the other forming the upper portion, or top
covering.
These two blanks are now shaped as follows.
The bottom blank I stamp in the shape of an inverted dome in its centre, for the
purpose of strength when pulling upwards, and I also form at the same time a set
edge on the outer periphery upon which the rubber band rests for compression, and
I close in the edge for finish.
I next take the top blank, and press down a deep rim near its outer edge, the
outer edge of this rim being the diameter of the inside of the neck of the bottle,
and the inner edge of this rim forming a guide or recess, for the set edge of the
bottom blank to engage and travel in, the base of this rim pressing on the upper
side, of the rubber band before mentioned, I sink the centre of this blank also like
an inverted dome for strength, but not so deeply as in the bottom blank, and I now
further pierce two oblong slot holes on each side of this inverted dome, and roll
round and close the outer edge for finish.
I now cut out a narrow strip of metal of much stronger gauge with rounded ends
and I pierce a round in each end of this blauk, and turn the ends up at right angles
for the purpose hereinafter described. I lastly cut out a lever, having a base on
it which is turned up at right angles to the arm itself, and having two ears or lugs
on, upon which it revolves. I now put the stopper together as follows. The
blank having its ends turned up with holes in, is placed centrally in the hollow side
of the dome of the base of the stopper, and soldered, or riveted thereto firmly.
I next place the top blank in position over the bottom one, by passing these ends
that are soldered on, through the slot holes in it above described, and I connect
the lever to them by pushing the arms into the holes in the ends, and closing
them up.
The rubber band is now stretched over the periphery of the bottom blank, and
lies in the recess formed by the configuration of the two blanks coming together,
and on the lever being shut down, the band is pressed out, forming the air-tight
joint. To make this stopper impervious to acids, I can coat with grease, wax,
stearine, or other like substance, prior to inserting it in the bottle, or I can use
shaped capsules of parchment, or other prepared paper inside, and passing around
the rubber to protect the same from: acid. I am aware of other lever stoppers
being made, in several parts with plates inside for receiving the pressure of the
lever, but by reason of the configuration of my top and bottom pressure plates, they
are sufficiently strong in themselves to withstand the pressure required to force out

page_text: the rubber, and consequently I require only two blanks, a small strip and lever,
thus very much reducing the cost.
Dated Oatcher 10th 1000
Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles.
I, FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER of Hill Side, Park Hill, Kenilworth Mechanical
Engineer, 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 and with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed in which
similar letters denote similar parts in the figures:-
The object of my invention is to produce what is commonly known in the trade
as a lever stopper but my methods of producing the same are an improvement in
the method or methods hitherto adopted and whereby the stopper can be made and
sold at a very much cheaper rate than up to the present has been possible.
I proceed to describe my improvements with the aid of the drawings in which
Figure 1 represents in cross section the upper portion or top covering of the
stopper.
Figure 2 represents in cross section the lower portion or base plate of the
stopper.
Figures 3 & 4 represent a narrow strip of metal in connection with the lever
hereinafter referred to.
Figures 5 and 6 are views of the lever.
Figures 7 and 8 represent top and bottom plan views of the stopper, and
Figure 9 side elevation of same.
To effect my purpose I cut out of sheet metal two round blanks or discs, one
forming the lower or bottom of the stopper and the other forming the upper portion
or top covering, these two blanks are now shaped thus, the bottom blank I stamp
in the shape of an inverted dome or concave recess A in its centre for the purpose
of strength and I also form at the same time a set edge B on the outer periphery
of same upon which a rubber band C rests for compression, and I close in edge D of
the shaped blank for finish.
The top blank or disc I form by pressing down a deep rim E near to its outer
edge, the outer edge F of this rim being of the diameter of the neck of the bottle,
and the inner edge of this rim forming a guide or recess for the set edge B to
engage and travel in, and the base of this rin E 1 pressing on the upper side of the
rubber band C before mentioned see Figure 9. I sink the centre of the upper
blank also like an inverted dome or concave recess G for strength but not so
deeply as in the aforesaid bottom blank, I further pierce two oblong slot holes H. H.
on each side of this concave recess G. and roll round and close the outer edge for
tinish. I now cut out a narrow strip of metal I of much stronger gauge with
rounded ends and I pierce apertures J. J. in each end of this metal strip, and turn
the ends up J 1. J 1. at right angles for the purpose hereinafter described. Lastly
I cut out a lever K having a turned down base K 1 at right angles to the said lever
and having two ears or lugs K2 K2 upon which it revolves.
The parts forming the stopper are put together as follows. The narrow strip I.
having its ends turned up JI J 1 is placed centrally in the concave recess of the
dome A of the base of the stopper and soldered or riveted thereto firmly. I next
place the top blank or disc in position over the bottom one, by passing the two
ends J1 J1 through the slot holes H. H. and I connect the lever K to said ends
by pressing the ears or lugs K 2 K 2 into the apertures J. J. and closing them up.

page_text: The rubber band C is now stretched over the periphery of the bottom blank and
lies in the recess formed by the configuration of the two blanks or discs coming
together, and on the lever K being shut down, the band C, is pressed out against
the inner diameter of the neck of the bottle so forming a perfectly air tight
stopper. In order to make the stopper impervious to the action of acids as regards.
the rubber band I can coat with grease, wax, stearine, or other substance that will
counteract the effect prior to inserting the stopper in the bottle or I can use shaped
capsules of parchment or prepared paper or other material inside and passing
around the rubber to protect the same from said acids.
It will be obvious from the above description that the action of pressing down
the lever, the right angular projection thereon bears upon the concave recess G of
the upper plate and thus compresses the upper and lower portions of the stopper so
that the rubber band C is forced firmly against the interior of the neck of the
bottle, and by reason of the concave recessed centre portion being of a smaller
diameter than that of the upper plate or part of the stopper and the aforesaid
ears J1 J1 rising through it an even degree of pressure is exerted around the
stopper. I am aware that other lever stoppers have been made in several parts
with plates inside for receiving the pressure of the lever and an extra top cover but
by reason of the special configuration of my top and bottom pressure plates they
are sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure required to force out the rubber
and consequently 1 require only two blanks or discs and a small metal strip to form
the fulcrum for the lever and the extra top cover is displaced with thus very much
reducing the cost of production as will be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
Firstly. In connection with what are known as lever stoppers for bottles the
principle and method of constructing said stoppers out of single top and bottom.
metallic blanks or discs respectively by forming said blanks with special concave
recessed or inverted dome like centres as and for the purpose herein described and
illustrated.
Secondly. Constructing lever stoppers with top and bottom plates having recessed
centres in combination with a strong angular sided strip of metal soldered riveted
or otherwise attached to said bottom plate, said angular sides forming a fulcrum for
the lever as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The combination with a lever stopper having a rubber band around the
periphery of same, of a parchment or other capsule, or preparing the said stopper
in such a manner as to withstand the effect of acids upon said rubber band as and
for the purpose described.
Fourthly. The general improvements in combination with lever stoppers for
bottles and the method of carrying said improvements into practical effect all
operating in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth.
Deted this 4th day of December 1906
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.