Improvements in Bottles and Stoppers therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: te of Application, 23rd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles and Stoppers therefor.
I, FRANK HILLS MOYER, Real Estate Dealer, of 16, East Eagle Street, in the
City of Buffalo, in the County of Erie and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOTTLES AND STOPPERS THEREFOR," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to that class of bottles and jars which have stoppers that can
be easily placed in position in the neck of the bottle or removed, and which when in
position, form, with an interposed washer, a hermetic seal, making the bottle or jar
on this account particularly suitable for holding aerated waters, beer, and other
liquids or fermentable matter, as a portion of the contents may be drawn off and the
rest kept for future use without injury.
My invention consists of certain improvements in existing forms of bottles &c.,
and I will now proceed to definitely describe the manner in which I propose to carry
out my invention.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, represents an elevation of my improved bottle sealed.
Figure 2, represents a vertical section thereof on the line a-a of figure 1.
Figure 3, represents an elevation, partly in section, of the neck of my improved
bottle.
Figure 4, represents the neck in elevation.
Figures 5 & 6 represent sectional elevations of my improved cap taken on different.
planes.
Figure 7, represents a side elevation of my improved stopper with the washer in
position.
Figure 8, represents a sectional view of said stopper minus the washer.
Experience has demonstrated that where the stoppers of bottles, jars and the like
have been formed of glass and with a locking button or lug thereon to engage with
or frictionally bear against a recess or locking projection in the glass bottle serious
objections arise. For instance, where aerated or gaseous liquids are contained within
the bottle and where it is desired to preserve the contents of a bottle or jar in an
air-tight condition it becomes necessary in securing the secure sealing of the bottle
to exert such an amount of pressure and force upon the stopper that the amount of
friction exerted upon the stopper-locking devices sometimes causes the glass to chip
from the bearing surfaces and pieces to fall into the liquid; furthermore it has been
found that the grinding of glass against glass results in the wearing away of the
bearing surfaces and the consequent loosening and impairment of the locking property
of the stopper.
Referring now to the drawings,
1, represents the body of a bottle constructed according to my present improvements.
2, represents the neck which, as shown, has formed thereon a thread or rib 3
extending in a single curved line, around the neck the respective ends of said thread
or rib being in substantially the same vertical plane the one above the other a
sufficient space being left between the respective ends of the thread or rib to permit,
as hereinafter described, of the ready disengagement of the cap when desired.
Extending circumferentially around the outer edge of the mouth of the bottle is an
upwardly-extending flange or rib 4 forming an inner groove or recess 5 within which,
as represented in figure 2, the bottom of the elastic washer 6 rests when the stopper
is in position. 7, represents the shank and 8 the head of the stopper. Depending
from the outer edge of the head 8 of the stopper is a circumferential flange 9 which,

page_text: in conjunction with the a ljacent upper portion of the shank 7, forms a circumferential
groove or recess 10 within which the elastic washer is contained said washer, as
shown in figure 2, depending below the flange 9 so that when the stopper is in position
within the bottle the lower portion of said washer will rest within the recess 5 in the
bottle mouth. The object of this construction of bottle mouth and stopper in con-
junction with the washer described is to positively secure, upon a sufficient amount.
of clamping pressure being brought to bear upon the stopper to force it into position,
the hermetic sealing of the bottle. When the stopper as thus constructed is forced
into its seat, which may be done in a variety of ways such for instance as that
represented in figure 2 where my novel form of stopper-clamping cap engaging with
a thread on the bottle neck is shown, or in case of bottles or jars of ordinary con-
struction where such thread on the neck is omittel or when present it may be desired
not to use the same, such stopper may be clamped in its seat by any known method
as, for instance, by a wire, a lever or analogous means.
When the stopper shown is clamped in its seat by whatever means employed to
accomplish that result the elastic washer will be forcibly compressed vertically
within the grooves or recesses 5 and 10, the flanges 4 and 9 preventing any lateral
expansion of the washer, the inner edge of said flanges biting slightly into the
washer in the act of compression. I prefer to construct the washer of cork as that
material possesses some advantages in this connection over rubber though, of course,
I do not limit myself to the precise material of which such washer shall be con-
structed so long as it is capable of compression. Where cork is used the pores
thereof will be entirely closed under compression and will not affect the flavor of the
liquid in the bottle or jar.
When the threaded cap shown in the drawings is employed the stopper is formed
with an upwardly-extending swell or projection 11 on the top face of its head against
which the under face of the top of the cap bears so that when said cap is screwed over
the stopper and bottle neck it, by bearing upon said swell 11, will exert a uniform
and regular pressure upon the stopper throughout its area and cause the same to
approach its seat in a straight line. While such swell 11 would manifestly be
desirable whitever form of stopper-clamping device were employed, still it could be
made without such swell without departing from the other features of my invention
though better results would be secured where the stopper is formed with such swell
and where the clamping pressure is exertel upon such central swell.
I will now proceed to describe the form of stopper-clamping cap shown in the
drawings. This cap is substantially cup shaped though not of uniform diameter.
The upper portion 13 is preferably of about the same circumference as the head of the
stopper so that the two may bind together though the cap may fit loosely over said
head if desired; 14, represents an inwardly-projecting bead which serves as a support
to the stopper head to retain the stopper within the cap; this bead may if desired
extend a sufficient distance inward to hear against the neck of the bottle to prevent
any possibility of oscillatory movement of the upper part of the cap. From this
bead 14, downwardly the cap is increased in circumference and has formed therein
near its lower end, a thread or rib 15 of corresponding shape to the shape of the rib
or thread 3 on the bottle neck, and with which it engages. 16 represents a lip
depending from the bottom of the cap with which through the medium of either a
hole 17 therein or any other suitable device, as for instance a hook, is engaged one
end of a wire 18 encircled around the neck of the bottle so as to permanently connect
the cap to the bottle when said cap is not in use. 18 represents a lug or projection
on the outer surface of the bottle for the purpose of indicating, in connection with the
lip 16. when the cap has been turned around sufficiently to effectively lock the stopper
in position and also for indicating how far to turn said cap to secure its removal.
It will be noticed on reference to figure 2 that the neck of the bottle is of
gradually increasing thickness upwardly. By thus constructing the neck it is
materially strengthened, affords a firmer bearing surface for the stopper-clamping
device and reduces the possibility of the breakage of the neck in use and rough
handling to a minimum.

page_text: By constructing the cap of greater circumference than that of the bottle neck a
chamber 19 is formed there within which the foam escaping from the bottle on opening
the same will enter, thereby preventing such foam coming in contact with the person
opening the bottle.
The operation of the device is very simple. The bottle or jar having been filled with
the liquid it is to contain, the cap with the stopper therein is placed over the bottle
neck and the thread or rib 15 placed in engagement with the thread or rib 3 on the
bottle neck. The cap is then turned around until the open end of the thread on the
cap reaches a point adjacent to the open end of the thread on the bottle neck which
position will be indicated when the indicator lip 16 reaches a point nearly adjacent to
the lug 18. When the lip 16 has reached that position the user knows that the bottle
is sealed. To open the bottle the cap is turned around, in the same direction as when
screwing it down, until the lip 16 registers with the lug 18 whereupon the open ends
of the threads on the neck and cap are brought into register and the tension on the
stopper being thereby loosened, the tendency of the gaseous liquid within the bottle
will be to raise the stopper and draw the cap up; the open ends of the respective
threads having thus been brought into registry the cap is turned to screw it down
whereby the thread on the cap will ride up the thread on the bottle neck and unseal
the bottle and permit of the cap being removed from the bottle neck; when so
removed the cap will drop down to the side of the bottle where it is held by the wire 18
in readiness for re-use.
In lieu of forming the thread 3 integral with the bottle neck it is manifest that a
collar with such thread thereon may be applied to the bottle neck without departing
from my invention.
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:
1. A bottle stopper having a circumferential depending flange at its outer edge
and an elastic washer having bearing between said flange and the shank of the
stopper.
2. In combination, a bottle having a circumferential upwardly-extending flange
around its mouth, a stopper having a depending circumferential flange in its head and
an elastic washer carried by said stopper and contained within the space therein
between the shank and the depending flange said washer depending below said flange
to adapt it to engage with the flange and recess on the bottle mouth.
3. In combination; a bottle having a circumferential upwardly-extending flange
around its mouth, a stopper having a depending circumferential flange in its head and
an elastic washer carried by said stopper and contained within the space therein
between the shank and the depending flange said washer depending below said flange
to adapt it to engage with the flange on the bottle mouth, and a clamp for connecting
said stopper and bottle and forcing the former into engagement with the latter, and
compressing the washer in its seats.
4. In a bottle, the combination with the neck provided with a disconnected screw
thread as described, of a stopper and a cap provided with a thread to engage the
thread on the bottle neck.
5. In a bottle the combination with the neck provided with a disconnected screw
thread, a stopper having a swell or projection in its top, and a cap provided with a
disconnected screw thread to engage the similar screw thread on the bottle neck
and adapted to bear against the projection on the stopper and force said stopper
in its seat.
6. In combination, a bottle having a circumferential groove or recess in its mouth,
a stopper having a circumferential groove or recess in the under surface of its bead,
an elastic washer contained within the recess in the head and adapted to fit and, upon
the stoppering of the bottle, be compressed within the grooves in the bottle neck and
the stopper head and a stopper securing device, as a cap, adapted to bear upon the
stopper and grip the bottle."

page_text: 7. In combination a bottle having at the upper edge of its mouth an upwardly-
extending circumferential flange or rib, a stopper having a depending circumferential
flange or rib on its outer edge, an elastic washer seated between the flanged and
adjacent portions of the stopper and bottle mouth respectively and a stopper-securing
device, as a cap, for clamping said stopper and bottle together and compressing the
elastic washer between the retaining flanges in the stopper and bottle.
8. The combination with a bottle of a cap having a depending portion and a wire
connecting such depending portion and the bottle neck.
9. In combination with a bottle, a stopper having a central swell or projection on
its upper face and a cap adapted to engage said swell or projection and grip the neck
of the bottle substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In combination, a bottle having around its neck an outwardly-extending open-
ended thread or rib, a stopper and a cap having an inwardly-extending thread or rib
corresponding with the thread or rib on the bottle neck and adapted as explained to
engage therewith and draw the stopper down to seal the bottle and also to secure
the ready release of the stopper when desired substantially as and for the purpose
get forth.
Dated this 23rd dox of Navambar 1000
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.