IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Sinnatt, Francis Sinnalt, and Thomas
William Lingard, all of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, AND IN THE METHOD
OF AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 6th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Siunatt,
Francis Sinnatt, and Thomas William Lingard at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents on the 6th April 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY SINNATT, FRANCIS SINNATT, and THOMAS WILLIAM LINGARD,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR
all of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
BOTTLES, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME."
Our Invention relates principally to the closing of bottles containing aerated
waters and malt liquors, but is also applicable to bottles employed in the holding
or conveyance of other liquids or substances.
The object of our Invention is to close or secure the openings of bottles in an
air-tight or gas-tight manner by means of stoppers which can be readily applied
and removed, and which may be attached to or permanently connected with the
bottles. To this end we employ a stopper, or plug, or valve, which is fitted or
forined with an elastic or semi-elastic packing, and is held in position to close the
opening of the bottle by means of a bridle, which can be turned into position to
secure the stopper.
In what we now consider to be a suitable arrangement the stopper is formed of
metal, glass, earthenware, wood, or other suitable material, and is fitted with a ring
or packing of vulcanised caoutchouc which is adapted to fit into the mouth of the
bottle. The Eaid bridle passes through a slot in the stopper, and is hinged to a
metal collar which is clasped around the neck of the bottle under the flanch.
When the stopper
groove is formed in the top of the stopper within the said slot.
A
is forced tightly into the mouth of the bottle the said bridle is drawn over until
it rests in the said groove; the stopper will now be firmly held in position. When
the bridle is moved out of the said groove the stopper can be withdrawn, the said
slot giving the stopper the requisite freedom at the same time the connection
between the stopper and the bottle is maintained. The said bridle and collar may
for cheapness and convenience be made of wire with loops, by means of which they
are hinged together.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Henry Sinnatt, Francis Sinnatt, and Thomas William Lingard
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th October 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY SINNATT, FRANCIS SINNATT, and THOMAS WILLIAM LINGARD,
all of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR
BOTTLES, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME."
Our Invention relates principally to the closing of bottles containing acrated
waters and malt liquors, but is also applicable to bottles employed in the holding
or conveyance of other liquids or substances.
The object of our Invention is to close or secure the openings of bottles in an
air-tight or gas-tight manner by means of stoppers which can be readily applied
and removed, and which may be attached to or connected with the bottles. To
this end we employ a stopper, plug, or valve, which is fitted or formed with an
elastic or semi-elastic packing, and is held in position to close the opening of the
bottle by means of a bridle, which can be turned into position to secure the stopper.
A groove is formed in the top of the stopper within the said slot. When the
stopper is forced tightly into the mouth of the bottle the said bridle is drawn over
until it rests in the said groove; the stopper will thereby be firmly held in position.
When the bridle is moved out of the said groove the stopper can be withdrawn, the
said slot giving the stopper the requisite freedom, at the same time the connection
between the stopper and the bottle is maintained.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, corresponding
letters indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
Referring to the said Drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent the neck of a bottle
fitted with our improved stopper, the two views being taken on planes at right
angles to each other. In the said Figures, a is the said stopper, and b is the said
bridle. The iuelastic portion of the said stopper is formed of metal, glass, earthen-
ware, wood, or other suitable material. We consider earthenware to be a suitable
material when the stopper is made sufficiently strong, but if it is considered to be
too fragile a material for the purpose the said stopper may be cast in metal. The
part of the stopper which enters the opening in the neck of the bottle is surrounded
by a cylindrical ring of vulcanised caoutchouc, as indicated in Fig. 5, wherein c
represents the said ring in section. The upper part of the stopper is formed with
a projecting head, in which is formed a C-shaped slot d. The said slot is so shaped
as to form a groove or depression in the part of the stopper which forms the inner
boundary of the said slot, as seen immediately above the letter a in Fig. 3, which
represents the stopper in position as when unfastened and withdrawn from the
opening in the bottle. The bridle b may be made of wire bent into the form seen
in Fig. 2. Holes or depressions are formed in the substance of the bottle neck and
extending partly through the said substance. These are formed when the glass is
in a softened condition, or are formed by drilling, as preferred, the formation of the
said holes being no part of our Invention. The said bridle is passed into the said
slot, and the ends of the bridle are sprung into the said holes in the neck of the
bottle, whereby the stopper becomes attached to the bottle, as indicated in Fig. 3.
When the bottle is to be closed the stopper is raised, and the end, which is provided
with the caoutchouc ring, is pressed firmly into the opening in the bottle, and is
held until the bridle has been passed into the aforesaid groove or depression. The
parts will now be in the positions as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and if the parts
be suitably proportioned the bottle will be tightly closed.
Fig. 4 represents a modification in the arrangement. In this example each end
of the said bridle is formed to hook into eyes or loops in the wire collar or ring e,
which is made of wire twisted to form the said eyes, and secured upon the bottle
by twisting together the ends of the wire ring. If preferred, the ends of the said
bridle may be connected with a split metal collar clasped upon the bottle, and
connected at the split part by means of solder, or a collar formed in two parts may

page_text: be completed by means of soldering when in position on the bottle neck. A bridle
of the form indicated in Fig. 2 may be arranged to engage with loops formed in a
wire ring, or with holes in a metal collar.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate modifications which can be made in the form of the
stopper. In Fig. 5 the form of the slot in the projecting head a of the stopper is
varied. In Fig. 6 two horns ff, are substituted for the said head, a slot being
forined in each horn. In Fig. 7 a cup-shaped valve of vulcanised caoutchouc is
employed in place of the aforesaid cylindrical ring. If considerad to be desirable,
the parts marked a and g may be separately formed, and the part y soldered or
secured to the part a, so as to leave the aforesaid slot; but we prefer to cast, mould,
or form the parts together in one piece. The form of the said bridle may be varied
to some extent so long as its action in keeping the stopper in position is retained,
and the said bridle may be stamped out of sheet metal or be otherwise formed than
from bent wire, as found or considered to be most suitable.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
means whereby the same may be carried into effect, we would have it to be under-
stood in conclusion that we claim-
First. The stopper connected with the bottle by means of a "bridle," substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before set forth and indicated.
Secondly. The forms of stoppers, substantially as set forth and indicated herein-
before and in the accompanying Drawings.
And lastly. The form, arrangement, and action of the parts as herein-before set
forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Sinnatt, Francis Sinnatt, and
Thomas William Lingard have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six
WILLIAM HENRY SINNATT.
(L.S.)
F. SINNATT.
(L.S.)
THOMAS WILLIAM LINGARD. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the said
William Henry Sinmatt, Francis
Sinnatt, and Thomas William
Lingard, in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.