Improvements in Stoppering or Sealing Bottles, Jars, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering or Sealing Bottles, Jars, and the like.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LEVIERGE, of 7 Clayton Terrace Archway Road
Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, 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 certain improvements in stoppering or sealing bottles,
jars and the like, and has for its object the attainment of perfect hermeticity with
simplicity in construction, means for venting enclosed gas and also affords a visible
proof of such hermeticity when in use.
In order that my said invention may be the better understood I have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings, the figures of which will be individually
referred to in the appended description. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect, I produce the required hermeticity or
sealing, by means of the external or internal clasping or compression of a band or
ring of india-rubber or other resilient material.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bottle B, with a tapering neck upon which
a fillet or bead b is attached or formed. A resilient band C encircles the neck
above the fillet b. A hollow stopper A, preferably of clear glass is shaped so as to
be pressed upon the ring or band C, and by clasping or compressing it, to perfectly
seal the bottle or the like. When the bottle is inverted as shewn by Figure 7, the
descent of the enclosed liquid effectually closes the neck within the hollow
stopper A as a liquid seal, the air formerly occupying the space a in said stopper
before inversion being compressed and forming a clear bubble or ring of air as
shewn by a Figure 7. If the bottle or the like should leak, the disappearance of
said air bubble affords a visible proof thereof.
The arrangement shewn by Figure 1, and herein described, may be used for
sealing bottles or the like in which the contents are not charged with gas, or are
liable to generate a pressure of gas by decomposition, in which case the stopper
requires some mechanical support other than the compression of the band C.
Figure 2 represents a modification designed to effect this object in which the top of
the neck of the bottle B is provided with a screw thread, and a corresponding
internal thread is formed upon the interior of the stopper. Said thread simply.
performs the function of a mechanical retaining device to resist internal pressure;
and in this, and other cases of adoption, hereinafter to be described, does not effect
the sealing of the bottle or the like, beyond its effect in producing and retaining
the compression of the ring or band C. Said band C may be let into a recess
in the neck of the bottle B as shewn by Figure 2, or may rest upon a fillet as
shewn by Figure 1. In order to afford space for the air bubble when the bottle is
inverted, I may cause the internal or the external screw threads upon the interior
of the stopper and exterior of the neck respectively to be grooved, or provided with
volutes as shewn by the plan view Figure 5. A modification of the foregoing
arrangement is shewn by Figure 3, in which the resilient ring or band C is let into
a recess in the lower part of the stopper A, the action of sealing, however, being
exactly as hereinbefore described. Figure 4 shews an internal stopper with a
resilient ring C let into a recess formed in the lower part of said stopper, and a
screw thread formed upon the interior surface of the neck and the exterior of
the stopper for mechanically retaining the latter in position. Figure 6 shews
a modification in which the band or ring C is let into a recess in the interior
of the neck of the bottle B. In both cases of internal stoppering as described,

page_text: I may dispense with the screw thread in cases where the contents of the bottle or
the like is not under pressure.
I do not confine myself to the use of a screw thread proper, which is in fact a
continuous angular plane, but may use any portion of such angular plane with a
corresponding angular recess to effect the same object:
It is advisable to afford a vent to relieve the internal pressure in bottles or the
like containing fluids or 'matter under pressure or liable to decomposition producing
pressure, therefore I may form a hole or holes covered by the band or ring
internally, shewn by Figures 1, 2 and 4, said hole or holes r, bein either formed
in the external stopper as in Figures 1 and 2, or in the neck of the bottle as shewn
by Figure 4, in all cases being covered by C when the bottle or the like is sealed,
and being uncovered thereby before the entire withdrawal of the stopper. In
Figure 3, where the band C is enclosed by a recess in the external stopper A, the
hole or holes is or are shewn by s in the neck of the bottle, the opening thereof,
however being also effected by the partial withdrawal of the stopper A.
Figure 6 a further modification is shewn by placing the vent hole or holes r above
the band C in the neck of the bottle, the action being exactly similar to that of
those previously described.
In
I wish it to be understood that I may apply each or any of the vent holes r,
shewn in the different figures and herein described, to each or any of the modifi-
cations of stoppers shewn and described, so far as these may be applicable, or 1 may
dispense in any case with said vents altogether.
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,―
First. In a stoppering or sealing device for bottles or the like the construction
and use of a hollow stopper A, with an air space a and resilient band C upon the
neck of the bottle or the like, within a recess thereon or within a recess within the
stopper substantially as herein described and for the purposes stated' with reference
to the drawings.
Second. In a stoppering or scaling device for bottles or the like, the employment
of a continuous or partial inclined plane with corresponding recesses in the stopper
and neck in combination with the stoppers referred to in the preceding claim as and
for the purposes specified.
Third. In a stoppering or sealing device for bottles or the like, the use of a hole
or holes formed in the neck or in the stopper and uncovered by the partial with-
drawal of said stopper substantially as herein described and shewn by the drawings
hereunto appended.
Fourth. The method of and means for providing visible evidence of hermeticity
within a hollow external stopper as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2,
3,5 and 7 of the appended drawings.
Dated this 25th day of July 1891
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.