Improvements in Stoppering Bottles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering Bottles.
I, WILLIAM WATKIN JOSEPH, of Bank Buildings, St. Mary Street, Cardiff, in
the County of Glamorgan, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in stoppering bottles, and consists in the
combination of a special stopper, a wire loop pivotted to the bottle neck and a yoke
connecting loop and stopper.
The stopper is preferably conical, the smaller end being much smaller than the
bottle-neck. It is provided with a ring or a cap of rubber, or equivalent material,
whereby it is adapted to close the neck tightly. The stirrup is joined to the
stopper, preferably by passing it through the head thereof, but any other method
may be adopted, provided that the stopper is pivotted upon the stirrup.
The ends of the yoke are pivotted upon the opposite sides of the loop, the points
of connection being so far from the pivotted ends of the loop, that, when the latter
is pulled down close to the bottle neck, they shall pass the said ends, thereby holding
the stopper down upon its seat.
The stopper is released by pushing the loop away from the neck of the bottle.
Dated this 24th day of February 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering Bottles.
I, WILLIAM WATKIN JOSEPH, of Bank Buildings, St. Mary Street, Cardiff in
the County of Glamorgan, Mining 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in stoppering bottles and consists in the
combination of a special stopper, a wire loop pivotted to the bottle neck and a yoke
connecting the loop and stopper.
The expression "bottle is to be taken as including jugs, jars and analogous
vessels which require to be stoppered.
In order that the invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe it and them in
detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken
as part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing the invention in its operative position.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation corresponding therewith.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating the invention when the stopper is off its
It corresponds with the dotted lines of Fig. 1.
seat.
a is the stopper. It may be made of any suitable material, preferably earthen or
vitreous. In respect of shape, it is shewn as being more conical than stoppers
usually are. The object in making it as conical or taper as shewn is to adapt it to
to fit various sizes of necks.
6 is an elastic washer or packing of rubber or other suitable material. It is held
to the stopper by being made fast to its smaller end so that it shall stand normally
in a convenient position for being pushed up towards and then compressed upon the

page_text: stopper side between the latter and the top of the bottle neck as the stopper is being,
and is, made fast upon its seat.
The figures shew the washer as held to the stopper, by having a central hole
formed in it which allows the hemispherical end a¹ of the stopper to be pushed
through it. a² is an annular groove between the end a¹ and the stopper proper, and
into this groove the distended hole closes. Any other suitable device for holding the
packing to the stopper may be made use of.
c is a yoke. It is connected to the stopper pivotally, so that they can move
about each other. I prefer that this connection should be provided in the
manner shewn, viz.-by passing the wire of which the yoke is made through a
transverse perforation a³ in the head of the stopper.
d is a duplex lever. It is preferably made of wire for the sake of convenience
and economy. It is U shaped in plan so as to lie snugly against the bottle neck
and also to furnish a thumb piece, viz.:-the bend of the U, capable of operating
both portions of the lever.
The outer end of each lever or leg of the U is bent inwards and entered into a
cavity d' on the side of the bottle. These cavities serve as fulcra for their respective
levers, and as they are opposite to each other and the two levers are in one piece,
they hold them, i.e., the duplex lever, to the bottle neck.
Each lever is cranked to about a right angle, and the ends of the yoke are
connected pivotally to the angles respectively. I prefer to do this by forming an
eye d² in the lever and bend the end of the yoke arm c¹ into it. This also provides
for the yoke being held to the lever, and for the stopper being moved away from off
the neck. The respective lengths of an arm c¹ of the yoke and of a lever from its
fulcrum to the pivotal connection, e.g., d², are such that the latter cannot be
pushed past a vertical line from the axis of the yoke down through a fulcrum d¹
without compressing the packing, and the distance of the pivots d² from the bend
of the Usuch that the latter bears upon the bottle neck simultaneously with
the said pivots having passed the said vertical line as far as the present invention
demands.
The invention constructed as described is used as follows:-
When
To stopper the bottle. The stopper is placed on the neck as shewn in Fig. 3 and
by the dotted lines of Fig. 1. The bend of the U is then standing up above the
fulcra d, and the packing is uncompressed. The former is pulled downwards
about the fulcra, and this motion pulls the stopper down towards its seat.
the axis of the yoke, the fulcra d¹ and the pivots d² are aligned, the elastic packing
is compressed beyond the point of packing the stopper tight on its seat. So that
when the bend is pushed up to the neck and the pivots have passed the vertical line
already mentioned, the resilience of the packing keeps them there.
To open a bottle. Push the bend of the U up and rock the stopper off its seat.
The lever above mentioned may be of any convenient pattern or shape. It is
preferably duplex.
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 :-
The combination of stopper pivotted upon a yoke, elastic packing for packing
the stopper to its seat, lever having its fulcra or fulcrum in the bottle or its
equivalent, and yoke, all adapted to cooperate together as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.