Improvements in or in connection with Stoppers, to be Used in Combination with Capsules, for Stoppering or Closing Metal Cans or other Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Stoppers, to be Used in
Combination with Capsules, for Stoppering or Closing Metal
Cans or other Vessels.
I, ROBERT INGHAM CLARK of 6, St. Helen's Place (Works-West Ham
Abbey) London, Varnish Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The object of my present invention is to provide an improved stoppering or
means of securely closing and sealing metal cans or other vessels especially
applicable for varnish cans or other liquid-holding cans or vessels.
My present invention is as follows:-
In the mouth spout neck or other outlet of the metal can or other vessel adapted
to be stoppered according to my present invention I insert a cork wood or other
bung or plug or stopper adapted to fit said mouth or outlet tightly but first lay in
a piece of tape or other suitable fabric or material or equivalent or the like the
end or ends of which are then folded or packed down on top of this bung or
stopper in said mouth or outlet and over this end lay a loose plate or washer
advantageously a disc or thin sheet of metal adapted to fit closely or approximately
the said mouth or outlet i.e. of about the same size and shape as the said bung or
stopper.
Over these (stopper, folded in ends of the laid in tape etc., and loose disc or
washer) I now place a capsule to enclose the outlet of the can or vessel this
capsule advantageously consisting of a sheet metal cover which is crimped or
secured or closed on to the aforesaid spout or outlet in any suitable manner so that
an absolutely liquid-tight joint is made by this outside cover or capsule where
same is joined to the spout or outlet.
I would here remark that I find it very advantageous to use a capsule lined on
the inside of the character for which F. J. Tomlinson received the grant of Letters
Patent No. 10573 of 1894 and such capsule may be closed on in any suitable
manner but advantageously this may be expeditiously and very efficiently effected
by means of the capsuling tool for which the said F. J. Tomlinson received Letters
Patent No. 10699 of 1894.
To open the can thus stoppered and capsuled a tin opener knife or other suitable
implement is inserted through the top of the capsule (which latter according to
my present invention I find it advantageous to "dish" upwards in the central part
thereof thus forming a channel or depression all round near the outer edge on top
which greatly facilitates the introduction of the knife or cutting open of this
capsule and also gives same a better appearance and on which any stamping or
advertisement can be displayed) which is thus cut open and the aforesaid loose
washer or disc inside (which may also bear any stamping or advertisement thereon
if desired) is then removed, the loose end or other part of the laid in tape etc. can
then be seized and the bung or stopper readily withdrawn thereby.
This bung or stopper affording a ready means for again closing the can should
it be desired to do so for instance when it is not required to withdraw all the
contents of the can at once whereas with cans such as varnish cans which are
simply closed by a metal capsule when same is cut open there is no means ready at
hand to temporarily close the can again should it be desired to do so as is provided

page_text: according to my present invention, and furthermore the use of the internal stopper
in combination with the capsule according to my present invention affords double
security of the can being closed air tight and liquid tight.
Finally the laid in piece of tape or equivalent besides affording a ready means
of withdrawing the said internal plug or stopper also affords a means of printing
or otherwise displaying thereon any advertisement or other matter as desired.
Dated this 15th day of May 1895.
Improvements in or in connection with Stoppers, to be Used in
Combination with Capsules, for Stoppering or Closing Metal
Cans or other Vessels.
I, ROBERT INGHAM CLARK of 6 St. Helen's Place (Works--West Ham
Abbey) London, Varnish Manufacturer, 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 my present invention is to provide an improved stoppering or
means of securely closing and sealing metal cans or other vessels especially
applicable for varnish cans or other liquid-holding cans or vessels.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed."
Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the centre of a can such as a varnish
can of small size a piece of tape being shown doubled and laid in under the stopper
or bung and the ends of said tape in the position which they assume when pulling
out said bung thereby.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the can shown in Fig. 1 with the ends of the tape folded
down on said bung.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the metal disc or loose plate which is next laid on top of the
folded down tape ends.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the outer metal cover or capsule for the can.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the relative position of the parts when said
metal cap or outer cover has been seamed or closed on to the outlet..
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the closed can.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
In the mouth spout neck or other outlet A of the metal can or other vessel B
adapted to be stoppered according to my present invention I insert a wood cork or
other bung or plug or stopper C adapted to fit within said mouth or outlet A
tightly, but first lay in a piece of tape D or other suitable fabric or material or
equivalent or the like the end or ends D¹ D' of which are then folded or packed
down on top of this bung C or stopper (see Fig. 2) which latter is inserted far
enough to allow said tape ends D' to lie within said mouth or outlet (see Figs. 1
and 3) and over these ends D' I lay or place a loose plate or washer advantageously
a disc or thin sheet of metal E see Fig. 3 adapted to fit closely or approximately
the said mouth or outlet A (see Fig. 5) i.e. of about the same size and shape as
the said bung or stopper C.
Over these (stopper C, folded-in ends of the laid in tape etc. D, and loose disc or
washer E) I now place a capsule or outer cap or cover F to enclose the mouth of
the can or vessel this capsule advantageously consisting of a sheet metal cover F

page_text: which is crimped or secured or closed on to the aforesaid spout or outlet A in any
suitable manner and advantageously so that an absolutely liquid-tight joint is made
by this outside cover or capsule F where same is joined to the spout or outlet A.
I would here remark that I find it very advantageous to use a capsule-lined on
the inside of the character for which F. J. Tomlinson received the grant of
Letters Patent No. 10573 of 1894 and such capsule may be closed on in any
suitable manner but advantageously this may be expeditiously and very efficiently
effected by means of the capsuling tool for which the said F. J. Tomlinson received
Letters Patent No. 10699 of 1894.
To open the can thus stoppered and capsuled a tin opener knife or other
suitable implement is inserted through the top of the capsule F (which latter
according to my present invention I find it advantageous to "dish" upwards in
the central part thereof-see Figs. 4 to 6-thus forming a channel or depression all
round near the outer edge on top which greatly facilitates the introduction of the
knife or cutting open of this capsule F and also gives same a better appearance
and on which any stamping or advertisement can be displayed) which is thus cut
open and the aforesaid loose washer or disc E (which serves to protect the tape etc. D
from cutting or injury and may also bear any stamping or advertisement
thereon if desired) is then removed, the tape etc. D can then be seized and the
bung or stopper C readily withdrawn thereby.
This bung or stopper Ċ being thus provided uninjured affords a ready means for
again closing the can should it be desired to do so for instance when it is not
required to withdraw all the contents of the can at once whereas with cans such as
varnish cans which are simply closed by a metal capsule when same is cut open
there is no means ready at hand to temporarily close the can again should it be
desired to do so as is provided according to my present invention, and furthermore
the use of the internal stopper in combination with the capsule according to my
present invention affords double security of the can being closed air tight and
liquid tight.
Finally the laid-in piece of tape D or equivalent besides affording a ready means
of withdrawing the said internal plug or stopper C also affords a means of printing
or otherwise displaying thereon any advertisement or other matter as desired.
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. In stoppering or closing metal cans or other vessels adapted to be closed in
this manner the combination with the spout or outlet of said vessel of a bung or
stopper adapted to fit tightly within said outlet, a tape or its equivalent laid in
under said bung or stopper, a loose disc laid on said bung over the folded end or
ends of said tape and over all an outer cover or capsule adapted to be seamed or
soldered or otherwise suitably and permanently secured to the lip or edge of said
spout or outlet substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. A capsule or cover such as F secured on the rim of the spout or outlet such
as A of a metal can or vessel in combination and acting in conjunction with an
internal stopper or plug such as C and a piece of tape or the like laid in under
said stopper substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 15th dow
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.