Improvements in or connected with Stoppers for Bottles, Jars, and other Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Stoppers for Bottles, Jars, and
other Vessels.
We, MATTHEW SMITH of 7 Laburnum Grove, Litherland, Railway Signalman,
and JOSEPH EDWARD FREEMAN of Ampton Place, Canal Street, Bootle, Fire-
wood Manufacturer, both in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved stopper device whereby a
bottle, jar or other vessel may be conveniently and tightly closed and be readily
opened when required.
The invention consists essentially in loosely linking the stopper to a loop or
stirrup whose ends are sprung onto or otherwise so attached to the neck or adjacent
part of the vessel as to allow of the stirrup, and therewith the stopper, being
swung or oscillated over the mouth of the vessel, the stopper being secured when
depressed into its closed position by pressing the stirrup or loop over it so as to
engage in a groove provided for the purpose in the top of the stopper.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show, in side elevations, the
invention as applied to a bottle, the stopper being in position for closing and closed
respectively, whilst Figure 1 also shows, in dotted lines, the stopper in its fully
open position;
Figure 3 is a front elevation partly in section showing the stopper in its closed
position.
A loop or stirrup A preferably of metal is connected to the bottle near the
neck by its ends being hooked and sprung into holes or depressions B formed
diametrically opposite each other in the bottle, and to this stirrup A. the stopper C
which may be of any suitable form and material is loosely linked by means of a
link D. This latter is preferably formed of wire passed through a transverse
perforation in the stopper with its ends looped round the stirrup A and again
passed through the perforation. The stopper C which is preferably provided with
a washer or india rubber ring E to produce a tight joint, is formed with a
groove Facross its top end adapted to receive the top of the stirrup A when
the latter is pressed over it to securely close the stopper, and the upper edges of
the latter are bevelled on opposite sides of the groove to give clearance to the
stirrup.
When it is desired to close the bottle, the stopper C, which in its open position,
hangs down the side of the bottle as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, is lifted up
and placed in the mouth of the bottle, the stirrup A and link C assuming the
position shown in full lines in Figure 1. The stopper is then pressed firmly into
the mouth thus compressing the washer E, and the stirrup A is pushed vertically
over the stopper until it snaps into the groove F, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. To
open the bottle, when required, it is only necessary to press the stopper and again
push off the stirrup.
Whilst we have described the invention as applied to bottles, it is obvious that
it may be equally well applied to jars and other vessels. It will also be readily
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the given details of construction of
the parts, as given the one form, various modifications will suggest themselves, all
within the spirit of the invention. For instance, the link and stirrup may be
made of wire or of stamped metal and their attachment to the stopper and bottle

page_text: respectively may be effected in any suitable manner to obtain the herein described
link movement.
The connection of the stirrup to the vessel by springing its hooked ends into
holes or depressions in the vessel affords a ready means of taking the whole device
off the vessel when it is desired to cleanse the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. The improvement in or connected with stoppers for bottles, jars and other
vessels, which consists in loosely linking the stopper to a loop or stirrup having its
ends so connected to the vessel as to permit of it being swung over the month of
the vessel whereby the closing and opening of the vessel may be effected
substantially in the manner herein before described.
2. An improved stopper device for bottles, jars and other vessels, comprising a
stirrup having its ends adapted to be sprung into holes or depressions in opposite
sides of the vessel so that it may swing over the mouth of the vessel, a link loosely
connected to said stirrup, and a stopper carried by said link and having its top
grooved and preferably bevelled on opposite sides of the groove, substantially as
described.
3. In a stopper device for bottles, jars and other vessels, the means for securing
the stopper when closed, consisting of a stirrup so connected to the vessel as to
permit of its being swung over the stopper when closed to engage in a groove
formed for the purpose across the top of the stopper, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.