Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
1, GEORGE HORATIO JONES, of 57 Great Russell Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to bottle stoppers or means or apparatus for hermetically
closing the mouths or apertures of bottles, jars, and the like.
The object of my invention is to provide a suitable device for closing the mouths of
bottles, jars, or other vessels, either permanently attached to or detachable from same,
and intended to take the place of ordinary corks, and that shall be simpler in con-
struction, cheaper, and at the same time more convenient and efficacious than the
stoppers hitherto in use. Moreover I provide means whereby my said stopper can be
fastened by means of a padlock or other lock if desired.
According to my said invention I provide a suitable metal or other cap or cover
baving a plug or disc or washer of cork or any suitable material either fastened thereto
or interposed between the said cap or cover and the mouth of the bottle or other vessel
to be closed. This cap or cover is hinged at one end to a metal or other strap or
collar, and has upon the other end a projection either attached or hinged to the said
cap or cover, or forming part of the same. This projection is provided with a slot or
aperture through which passes a pin or staple firmly attached to the strap or collar, or
the extremities or ends of the said strap or collar may be so formed as to pass through
the said slot. The projection upon the cap or cover is retained upon the said pin or
staple, or upon the extremities or ends of the strap or collar, by passing a piece of
wire or a padlock through a convenient hole or aperture provided in the same.
Sometimes I form a series of holes or perforations at a suitable distance from each
other in the projecting part or portion of the cap or cover, so arranged that they will
engage with a pin or stud upon the strap or collar, thus providing means for adjusting
the pressure upon the mouth of the bottle or other vessel. This pin or stud can also
be provided with a hole or aperture in any suitable part of same in which a wire
or other means of retaining the said projecting part or portion of the cap or cover in
position upon the same can be inserted.

page_text: Moreover I sometimes form the pin or staple or the projecting extremities or ends
of the said strap or collar sloping upon the underside of the same from the neck of
the bottle outwards so that when the said pin or staple or the projecting extremities
of the strap or collar are passed through the slot or aperture in the projecting part or
portion of the cap or cover, and the said projecting part or portion is pressed inward
a certain amount of leverage is obtained tending to press or tighten the cap or cover
upon the mouth of the bottle or other vessel.
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Figure 5 is a side elevation, and
Figure 6 a front elevation, and
Figures 7 and 8 are side elevations, showing further modifications of my invention.
Figure 9 is a front elevation showing one of my improved devices secured by means
of a padlock.
Figures 10 and 11 are a rear elevation and a side elevation, and
Figures 12 and 13 are a rear elevation and a plan, partly in horizontal section,
illustrating still further modifications of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the bottle. a is a cap or cover of metal or other suitable material which is
formed with a hole or slot b. c is a connecting piece, the upper end of which is
passed through the said hole or slot and is bent or turned over and, if necessary,
rivetted or otherwise secured so as to form a convenient joint or hinge. The lower
end of the connecting piece c is formed with, or attached to a metal strap or collar d,
which secures the said connecting piece to the neck of the bottle. The cap or
cover a is provided with an arm, hasp or extension e, the lower extremity of which
is formed with a hole or slot so that, when the bottle is closed, a staple, stud or
projection g formed on or firmly attached to the said strap or collar will project
through the said hole or slot f. Between the cap or cover a and the mouth of the
bottle is a ring, washer, disc or plug of cork or other suitable material. This ring,
washer or disc h is preferably of such thickness that a considerable degree of force
must be exerted to close the cap or cover a over the same and permit the entrance
of the staple, stud or projection y into the hole or slot f. By thus firmly compressing
the ring, washer or disc h between the mouth of the bottle and the cap or cover a
the bottle is hermetically closed.

page_text: To prevent accidental removal of the arm, hasp or extension e from the staple,
stud or projection g, I sometimes form in the latter a hole gland pass through the
said hole a piece of wire, a pin or the like; or, in cases where it is desired to prevent
any one except authorized persons from opening the bottle, I employ a padlock the
bow of which is passed through the hole g, as in Figure 9; or I use any other
suitable lock for securing the said arm or extension e to the strap or collar d. The
ring, washer or disc may either be of such diameter that it will fit between the
connecting piece e and the arm or extension e, or it may be of larger diameter and
formed with grooves or recesses to admit the connecting piece e and the arm or
extension e.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the connecting
piece e is formed with the strap or collar d. The extremities of the said strap or
collar d are arranged to form a projection g, the underside of which is preferably
inclined and provided with a notch so that the arm or extension e may engage
therewith. Between the cap a and the washer or disc I provide another disc or
pad of India-rubber or other elastic material; or I substitute for this disc a spiral
or other spring, either attached to the cap or cover a or to the washer or disc h, or
to both, or separate from and interposed between them.
In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, the strap or collar d is provided
with a pin or study and the arm or extension é has a series of holes through
either of which the pin or study will project when the bottle is closed.
Figure 7 shows a modification in which the arm, hasp or extension e is connected
with the cap or cover a by a hinge-joint, that is to say, the upper end of the said arm
or extension is passed through a hole or slot in the cap or cover a and is bent to
form a loop . The staple or catch is provided with a projection or hook g³, and
is arranged to turn or swivel in the strap or collar d, in such a manner that it can be
turned around after the arm or extension has been placed over it, so that the hook or
projection will engage with the arm or extension e and retain the same in the
closed position.
Figure 8 shows a modification of my invention in which I form the arm or
extension e with a bowed or curved portion el which forms a spring, and by pressing
upon which the fastener e will be elongated so that it may be caused to engage with
or disengaged from the staple, stud or projection g.
I sometimes make the aforesaid cap or cover without the joint or hinge and form
the connecting piece with the cap or cover, so that it can be sprung or bent, when
the said cap or cover is turned back to open the bottle. The two ends of the strap or
collar are, in some instances, left free (that is to say, they are not permanently
fastened together) so that the said strap or collar can be sprung, or passed over or
around the neck of the bottle, and can be easily transferred from one bottle to another.
The ends of the said strap or collar are, in this case, held together by being inserted
into the hole or slot in the arm or extension e. In other instances I form holes in the
extremities of the said strap or collar and pass a piece of wire through the same so as
to secure the strap or collar upon the neck of the bottle.
The strap or collar d and the connecting piece c are sometimes made of wire and
connected as shown in Figures 10 and 11.
If desired, the strap or collar d is made in two parts. In this case the connecting
piece e is sometimes provided with a hook at its lower end adapted to pass through
holes in projecting portions on the rear extremities of the two parts of the strap or
collar. Or the lower end of the connecting piece is formed with a slot k, Figures 12
and 13, and the strap or collar d is binged thereto so that it can be opened and
closed to remove it from and replace it upon the bottle. I am thus enabled to dispense
with the necessity of employing rivets in any part of the device.
My improved device can be employed either with a ring, washer or disc as above
described or it can be used for securing or retaining ordinary corks, glass stoppers
or the like in bottles or other vessels. My said device is very advantageous in cases
where it is desired to close and lock or secure a bottle or other vessel in such a
manner that it cannot be opened by an unauthorized person. It is applicable to

page_text: existing bottles without any alteration in the same. In some instances I form upon
the top of the mouth or aperture of the bottle, by grinding or otherwise, a flat surface
with or without one or more circular grooves or channels, so as to afford a better
seating for the disc, washer or the like. This is not, however, necessary in order to
ensure a tight joint.
I sometimes provide the cover a with a hole or a tube closed by a screw-cap or
provided with an atomizer or other device to adapt it for scent-bottles, or with a
perforated top or screw-cap to adapt it for pepper-casters or the like. Or I provide
the cover with one or more holes and with a revolving or sliding disc or plate for
closing the same. Or I provide it with a suitable tap or siphon or with other devices
according to the purpose for which the bottle or other vessel is required.
To prevent fraudulent opening of the bottle, I sometimes place upon the cover a
a block of wood or other suitable material provided with a projection which will hold
down the arm or extension e and prevent its disengagement from the staple, stud or
projection g until the said block is removed; and I firmly secure the said block to
the bottle by means of wire, string or otherwise, and, if desired, cover it with a
capsule or the like or with scaling wax. The said block may, if required, be branded
with the name of the maker of the contents of a bottle, or with any other mark.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim —
First. A device for closing bottles and similar vessels, comprising a cap or cover
(with or without a ring, washer, disc or plug) connected with a strap or collar which
surrounds the neck of the bottle or other vessel and provided with an arm, hasp or
extension adapted to engage with a staple, stud or projection on the said strap or
collar, for the purposes above specified.
Second. The improved device consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifications shown
in the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
cou 1000