IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING AND REMOVING THE SAME WHEN REQUIRED
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of the City of Brooklyn, and
State of New York, in the United States of America, but at present
of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Marine
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS
FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO
BE USED THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING AND REMOVING THE
SAME WHEN REQUIRED.”
Sealed the 3rd July 1874, and dated the 22nd January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd January 1874.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of the City of Brooklyn, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Marine Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER HOLLOW ARTICLES, AND IN

page_text: APPLIANCES TO BE USED THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING AND REMOVING
THE SAME WHEN REQUIRED," to be as follows:-
:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in stoppers or covers
for bottles, jars, and other hollow articles, and in appliances to be used
therewith for the purpose of readily and securely affixing the same to
the bottle, jar, or other hollow article, and for releasing the same there-
from when required. For this purpose I employ, as heretofore, a stopper
or cover to fit the article to which it is to be applied, with which is used
a disc, ring, or washer of cork or other suitable packing to come
between the parts, as is well understood.
In connection with the stopper or cover I employ a clip or strap,
which passes over the top of the stopper or cover and takes a bearing
thereon and against the under side of a flange on the neck or end of the
article to be stopped. And in order that the stopper or cover may be
pressed firmly against the neck or end of the article to be stopped I
employ in connection therewith an incline or inclines, which may be
formed on or fixed to the stopper or cover, or may be in the form of a
wedge, to be driven in between the clip or strap and the top of the
stopper or cover.
When the incline or inclines are formed on or fixed to the stopper or
cover I either make them in the form of curvilinear inclines on the
outer edge of the top of the stopper or cover or I form or fix across the
centre thereof one or two straight inclines, in which latter case I form
the clip or strap with a central raised part to fit on the sides and top of
such incline or inclines to prevent it turning thereon; and I provide
the stopper or cover with a stop or stops to ensure the clip or strap
being put on in the right direction, and to prevent it being pushed too
far. The clip or strap used with straight inclines is also formed narrower
in the centre than at its ends to facilitate application to the stopper or
cover and to the flange on the neck or end of the article to be stopped,
and the central raised portion of this clip or strap has two holes formed
therein, which when the clip is properly applied to the cover or
stopper come in a line with a recess or indent formed across the incline,
so as to permit the application of a wire thereto to prevent the parts
being tampered with.
For the purpose of facilitating the application and removal of the
clip or strap to stoppers or covers with straight inclines I employ an

page_text: instrument formed with two jaws, one of which is formed to fit against
the flange on the neck or end of the article to be stopped, whilst the
other jaw is provided with claws to take on to one or other side of the
clip or strap. Thus by suitably applying the instrument and giving a
downward motion thereto the clip or strap is caused either to mount or
descend the incline or inclines.
If desired when using straight inclines they may be formed double,
and to extend across the stopper or cover with each incline, rising from
the outer edge of the stopper or cover to the centre thereof, so that two
clips or straps can be used therewith, one of which will be passed from
each side of the cover or stopper.
When using circular inclines on the stopper or cover I form a central
hole or indent in the stopper or cover, and a corresponding hole in the
clip or strap; and in connection with such arrangement I employ an
instrument which has a central pin or stud projecting therefrom, and
which is formed with projections to fit on each side of the clip or strap,
by which means when the clip or strap is put over the stopper or cover
and the instrument applied thereto the central pin on such instrument
will pass through the hole in the clip or strap and into the hole or
indent in the stopper or cover, when the clip or strap can be readily
turned centrally of the stopper or cover and caused to mount or descend
the inclines, so as to fasten or release the stopper or cover.
If desired instead of using a single strap or clip extending across the
stopper or cover a separate clip may be employed to act upon each
curvilinear wedge, in which case more than two of such wedges may be
employed.
When using a wedge I form on or fix to the stopper or cover a projec-
tion, and I channel the wedge to fit thereon, whereby the wedge is truly
guided as it is being forced into position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of the City of Brooklyn, and State of New York, in the
United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Marine Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Nathan Thompson, Her
special license that I, the said Nathan Thompson, my executors, admi-
nistrators and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathan Thompson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ircland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS OR COVERS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER HOLLOW
ARTICLES, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED THEREWITH FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SECURING AND REMOVING THE SAME WHEN REQURIED,” upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Nathan Thompson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing, under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathan Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in stoppers or covers
for bottles, jars, and other hollow articles, and in appliances to be used
therewith for the purpose of readily and securely affixing the same to

page_text: the bottle, jar, or other hollow article, and for releasing the same there-
from when required. For this purpose I employ, as heretofore, a stopper
or cover to fit the article to which it is to be applied, with which is
used a disc, ring, or washer of cork or other suitable packing to come
between the parts, as is well understood.
In connection with the stopper or cover I employ a clip or strap,
which passes over the top of the stopper or cover and takes a bearing
thereon and against the under side of a flange on the neck or end of the
article to be stopped. And in order that the stopper or cover may be
pressed firmly against the neck or end of the article to be stopped I
employ in connection therewith an incline or inclines, which may be
formed on or fixed to the stopper or cover, or may be in the form of a
wedge, to be driven in between the clip or strap and the top of the
stopper or cover.
When the incline or inclines are formed on or fixed to the stopper or
cover I either make them in the form of curvilinear inclines on the
outer edge of the top of the stopper or cover or I form or fix across the
centre thereof one or two straight inclines, in which latter case I form
the clip or strap with a central raised part to fit on the sides and top of
such incline or inclines to prevent it turning thereon; and I provide the
stopper or cover with a stop or stops to ensure the clip or strap being
put on in the right direction, and to prevent it being pushed too far.
The clip or strap used with straight inclines is also formed narrower in
the centre than at its ends to facilitate application to the stopper or cover
and to the flange on the neck or end of the article to be stopped, and
the central raised portion of this clip or strap has two holes formed
therein, which when the clip is properly applied to the cover or stopper
come in a line with a recess or indent formed across the incline,
so as to permit the application of a wire thereto to prevent the parts,
being tampered with.
For the purpose of facilitating the application and removal of the clip.
or strap to stoppers or covers with straight inclines I employ an instru-
ment formed with two jaws, one of which is formed to fit against the
flange on the neck or end of the article to be stopped, whilst the other
jaw is provided with claws to take on to one or other side of the clip or
strap. Thus by suitably applying the instrument and giving a down-
ward motion thereto the clip or strap. is caused either to mount or
descend the incline or inclines.

page_text: When using circular inclines on the stopper or cover I form a central
hole or indent in the stopper or cover and a corresponding hole in the
clip or strap, and in connection with such arrangement I employ an
instrument which has a central pin or stud projecting therefrom, and
which is formed with projections to fit on each side of the clip or strap,
by which means when the clip or strap is put over the stopper or cover
and the instrument applied thereto the central pin on such instrument
will pass through the hole in the clip or strap and into the hole or indent
in the stopper or cover, when the clip or strap can be readily turned
centrally of the stopper or cover and caused to mount or descend the
inclines so as to fasten or relcase the stopper or cover.
If desired instead of using a single strap or clip extending across the
stopper or cover a separate clip may be employed to act upon each
curvilinear incline, in which case more than two of such inclines may be
employed.
When using a wedge I form on or fix to the stopper or cover a projec-
tion, and I channel the wedge to fit thereon, whereby the wedge is truly
guided as it is being forced into position.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
in the various Figures of which similar parts are marked with similar
letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a plan; and Figure 2 is a side view; showing the applica-
tion of my Invention to a jar or other vessel, and showing the
application of a straight incline to the cap or cover.
Figure 3 is a plan, and Figure 4 is a side view of the cap or cover
separately.
Figure 5 is a plan, and Figure 6 is an edge view of the clip or strap
to act therewith.
And Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 is a side view of an instrument
to be employed in applying and removing the strap or clip.
a is a jar or bottle, which is formed with a lip or flange a¹; 6 is the
cap or cover, in the interior of which is a disc of cork 61 or other suitable

page_text: packing. On the top of the cap or cover I form or fix an incline 6,
which in this case is straight, and is fixed centrally of the cap or cover b.
I also form or fix on the cap or cover a stop or stops 6³ to ensure the
clip or strap c being put on in the right direction, and to prevent it
being pushed too far. This clip or strap c is formed with a central raised
part c¹ to fit on the top and sides of the incline 6³ to prevent it turning
thereon. The part c¹ is also formed narrower than the other parts of
the clip or strap c to facilitate its application to the stopper or cover
and to the flange a². The part c¹ has two holes c³ formed therein, which
when the clip is properly applied to the cover or stopper 6 come in a
line with a recess or indent 64 formed across the incline b³, so as to permit
the application of a wire thereto to prevent the parts being tampered
with. The strap or clip c is formed with parts c³ to act on the under
side of the flange or lip a¹ on the bottle. Thus the clip or strap c is
enabled to take a bearing on the top of the cap or cover 6 and on the
under side of the lip or flange a² on the bottle, and thereby when forced
into position to hold the cap or cover 6 securely on the neck of the
bottle or other hollow article.
For the purpose of facilitating the application and removal of the clip
or strap c I employ an instrument, such as that shown at Figures 7
and 8, formed with two jaws d, e, the jaw d being formed to fit against
the flange or lip a¹ on the end or neck or the article to be stopped or
against the stopper b, whilst the jaw e is provided with claws ɑ to take
on to one or other side of the clip or strap c. Thus by suitably applying
this instrument and giving a downward motion thereto the clip or
strap c is caused to ascend or descend the incline b².
If desired when using straight inclines they may be formed double
and to extend across the stopper or cover with each incline rising from
the outer edge of the stopper or cover to the centre thereof, so that two
clips or straps can be used therewith, one of which will be passed from
each side of the cover or stopper.
Figure 9 is a plan, and Figure 10 is a side view showing one mode in
which I employ circular inclines in connection with my Invention; and
Figure 11 is a side view, and Figure 12 is an end view of an instrument
to be employed to facilitate the application and removal of the clip or
strap c. In this case I form a central hole or indent 65 in the stopper
or cover b, and a corresponding hole c' in the clip or strap c; and in

page_text: connection with such arrangement I employ an instrument, such as that
shown at Figures 11 and 12, having a central pin or stud f projecting
therefrom, and being formed with projections f¹ to fit on each side of
the clip or strap c, by which means when the clip or strap is put over
the stopper or cover b and the instrument applied thereto the central pin
or stud fwill pass through the hole c* in the clip or strap and into the
hole or indent 65 in the stopper or cover b, when the clip or strap can
be readily turned centrally of the stopper or cover and caused to mount
or descend the inclines 63, so as to fasten or release the stopper or
cover b.
Figure 13 is a plan; Figure 14 is a section on the line 1, 1, of
Figure 13, and Figure 15 is a side view, showing a modification of the
arrangement shown at Figures 9 and 10, in which curvilinear inclines
are used on the cap or cover b³.
Figure 16 is a plan; Figure 17 is an edge view; and Figure 18 is a
section on the line 2, 2, of Figure 16, showing the clips used with this last
arrangement; and Figure 19 is a plan, and Figure 20 is a side view of
the cap or stopper separately.
In this last arrangement it will be seen that the cap or cover 6 is
somewhat differently formed to that shown at Figures 9 and 10, the
inclines & being formed by turning up the metal at the edge of a flange b',
thereby facilitating and cheapening the manufacture of the cap or
cover b, which can be produced by stamping. In this cap or cover 6 I
fix a cork or other packing 61, as in the other arrangements; but in-
addition thereto I also employ a ring of india-rubber 67 to come between
the flange 6 and the end or neck of the article to be stopped, and the
clips c instead of being connected together by a piece passing over and
bearing upon the top of the cap or cover 6 are connected together by
means of a strap c³ fitting around a part of the cap or cover b and the
neck or end of the article to be stopped, whilst the clips c are also
formed with pieces c to assist in keeping them in position on the
inclines bº.
This last-mentioned arrangement also facilitates the stopping of large
articles by simply increasing the number of inclines 6 and employing
a separate clip c to each incline.
Having thus described the nature of my my said Invention, and the
mode in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is,—

page_text: First. The employment in combination with caps or covers for
stopping bottles, jars, and other hollow articles, of straight inclines b³ and
stops fixed to the cap or cover, and of a strap or clip c constructed
and applied in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
Secondly. I claim the employment of an instrument, substantially as
herein shown and described with respect to Figures 7 and 8, for the pur-
pose of facilitating the application and removal of the strap or clip c from
the stopper provided with a straight incline.
Thirdly. I claim the employment in combination with caps or covers b
of curvilinear inclines 62 and of clips or straps c, constructed and applied
in manner substantially as herein shown and described in respect to
Figures 9 and 10.
Fourthly. I claim the employment of an instrument, substantially as
herein shown and described with respect to Figures 11 and 12, in com-
bination with a hole or indent 65 in the cap or cover b, and with a hole c*
in the clip or strap c, for the purpose of facilitating the application and
removal of the clip or strap c used in the arrangement shown at Figures
9 and 10.
And, Fifthly. I claim the employment of stoppers or covers with
curvilinear inclines, constructed in manner substantially as herein shown
and described in respect to Figures 13, 14, 15, 19, and 20; and I claim
in combination therewith the employment of clips c, constructed and
applied in manner substantially as hercin shown and described with
respect to Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
NAMUTANT THOMPSON