IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES, AND IN STOPPERING DEVICES THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1883. Communicated to him
from abroad by Harry Robertson of the City and State of New York, United
States of America
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLES, AND IN STOPPERING
DEVICES THEREFOR [communicated to him from abroad by Harry Robertson of
the City and State of New York, United States of America]
"
This invention relates to bottles and more particularly to that class which is
used for soda water, ginger ale, and other aerated or gaseous liquids, the principal
objects being to provide for the ingress of air through an opening at one end when
the bottle is inverted to permit the escape of its contents through an opening at
the other end, whereby the aerated or gaseous liquid is compelled to flow out
steadily and without loss of gas, and when only a portion of the contents is
withdrawn from the bottle the remaining liquid may be kept in proper condition
for use; to permit the bottle to be corked or stoppered before it is filled, the
resulting advantage of which is that such bottles may be filled with greater
rapidity and with very little if any, waste of gas or water; to permit the bottle
to be washed more thoroughly and with greater facility; and to permit the use of
a much smaller neck or discharge opening adapted to be closed by smaller corks or
stoppers whereby a considerable saving is effected particularly when corks are
employed as the renewal of such corks is a continual item of expense.
To this end the said invention consists essentially in providing a bottle having a
neck at one end which may be of the usual construction and adapted to be closed
by a cork or other stopping device, and having a neck at the other end, or in the
bottom of the bottle containing a stopping device adapted to automatically open
the said neck when the bottle is inverted to be filled through the same or to
permit the escape of its contents through the first mentioned or ordinary neck
whereby the bottle may be filled or charged after it has been corked or stoppered
in the usual manner, and air allowed to enter the bottle when it is uncorked and
inverted to permit the escape of its contents, the said stopping device being also
adapted to automatically close the neck containing it whereby the ingress of air
or escape of gas or liquid is prevented all as hereinafter fully set forth.

page_text: According to one part of the said invention I construct a bottle having a neck
which is of the ordinary or usual construction and provided with a stopping device
which is also of well known construction, I also form a neck in the bottom of the
bottle which may be oblong in shape. This bottom neck is contracted at its
junction with the bottle and is therefore narrower at its point than at its mouth,
and of a greater length than width. A slot is formed in the bottom of the interior
of the bottom neck and a groove or recess is formed in the interior walls of the
neck just below its mouth, a packing ring of india-rubber or other suitable
material being placed in the said groove. Between this packing ring and the slot
is arranged a spherical stopping device which may be of any suitable material and
of a size to permit of its free play between the said parts during the manipulation
of the bottle so that when it is in contact with one it is not in contact with the
other. The said slot is of greater length and less width than the diameter of the
stopping device and the diameter of the orifice in the packing ring is smaller than
the diameter of the said stopping device. Hence it follows than when the bottle is
to be filled the upper neck can be first corked and stoppered and the bottle then
inverted and filled or charged through the bottom neck in any suitable manner, the
stopping devices resting against but only partially closing the slot, as it is of less
diameter than the length of the slot; so, also, when the upper neck is opened and
the bottle inverted to permit the escape of its contents, air will enter the bottom
neck and pass around the stopping device and enter the bottle through the
unclosed portions of the slot thereby causing the aerated or gaseous liquid to flow
out steadily and rapidly and without waste of gas as stated; and when after the
bottle has been corked or stoppered and filled or charged, the pressure within the
same will hold the stopping device firmly against the packing ring, and as the
diameter of the former is greater than the diameter of the orifice in the latter,
the ingress of air or escape of liquid or gas is prevented and the contents of the
bottle are kept in proper condition for use and this is also true of the remaining
contents after a portion has been drawn.
When applied to a bottle having an approximately semi-spherical bottom the
mouth of the bottom neck is within the outer edges of the bottom, and hence does
not prevent the bottle from being stood on end, which is of some importance in
the use of such bottles and in transporting the same.
It is obvious that as the ingress of air through the bottom neck greatly assists
the outward flow of liquid through the upper neck, and as the bottle is to be filled
or charged through the bottom neck, that the upper neck, instead of being of the
usual construction may be made very much smaller than heretofore and be closed
by corks or stoppers of like size.
According to a modification of the said invention the bottle has a bottom neck
provided with a slot, recess, or groove, a packing ring, and a spherical stopping
device, all arranged and operating as hereinabove described. Instead of the
ordinary neck I employ a neck which is provided with a square cut opening and
two exterior lips or projections. This neck is adapted to be closed by a small
square piece of cork which is held in place by a stopping device or bail which
consists of an arc-shaped piece of wire the ends of which are sprung into openings
in the said lips or projections which are arranged on opposite sides of the neck.
I also provide a cam-shaped clamp excentrically hung on the said bail and adapted
to bear against and hold the cork firmly in place.
When the cam is moved the bail and clamp are carried away from the cork and
the latter is released.
By this construction a very considerable saving in corks is effected.