IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDING BOTTLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas, of Canterbury Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, Merchant, for an Invention of." IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDING BOTTLES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1881.
JOHN THOMAS, of Canterbury Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDING BOTTLES."
"
As at present manufactured feeding bottles provided with india rubber tubes
are fitted with a stopper of wood, glass, or earthenware, which stopper is perforated
centrally for the passage of the flexible tube, and a packing of cork or its equivalent
is provided for the purpose of preventing leakage. This mode of construction is
objectionable by reason of the cost of manufacture and the difficulties experienced
both in removing and replacing the flexible tube, and in properly cleansing the
central perforation in the stopper. The bottle is also liable to be rendered useless
by the cork packing or its equivalent becoming impaired or destroyed as frequently
happens by use.
To remedy these defects I support the flexible tube in position by slightly
pressing it between the cork and the neck of the bottle, and to enable me to do
this without preventing the proper flow of the liquid through the flexible tube I
preferably construct the neck of the bottle with a groove or fluting within which
to place the tube.
By this construction of the neck of the bottle I am enabled to use a cork of
the ordinary circular form which may be easily renewed when required. On
removing the cork the tube may be slipped out of the protecting groove within
which it lies, which groove may be readily and thoroughly cleansed.
By means of this improved principle of construction I am enabled to dispense
with the use of thin circular packings of cork or its equivalent, and perforated
stoppers as now constructed. The flexible tube or its equivalent may be held in
place between a glass or other stopper and the neck of the bottle, but I preferably.
employ a cork of ordinary form for this purpose.
It will be seen that there is no necessity for dragging the tube through. a
perforation when it is desired to remove it, but that it may be slipped with facility.
out of the groove formed to receive it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
November 1881.
JOHN THOMAS, of Canterbury Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
⚫ Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDING BOTTLES."
As at present manufactured feeding bottles provided with india rubber tubes
are fitted with a stopper of wood, glass, or earthenware, which stopper is perforated
centrally for the passage of the flexible tubes, and a packing of cork or its
equivalent is provided for the purpose of preventing leakage. This mode of con-
struction is objectionable by reason of the cost of manufacture, and the difficulties
experienced both in removing and replacing the flexible tube and in properly
cleansing the central perforation in the stopper. The bottle is also liable to be
rendered useless by the cork packing or its equivalent becoming impaired or
destroyed, as frequently happens by use. To remedy these defects I support the
flexible tube in position by slightly pressing it between the cork and the neck of
the bottle, and to enable me to do this without preventing the proper flow of the
liquid through the flexible tube I preferably construct the neck of the bottle with
a groove or fluting within which to place the tube. By this construction of the
neck of the bottle I am enabled to use a cork of the ordinary circular form which
may be easily renewed when required. On removing the cork the tube may be
slipped out of the protecting groove within which it lies, which groove may be
readily and thoroughly cleansed. By means of this improved principle of con-
struction I am enabled to dispense with the use of thin circular packings of cork
or its equivalent and perforated stoppers as now constructed. The flexible tube or
its equivalent may be held in place between a glass 'or other stopper and the neck
of the bottle, but I preferably employ a cork of ordinary form for this purpose.
It will be seen that there is no necessity for dragging the tube through a perforation
when it is desired to remove it, but that it may be slipped with facility out of the
groove formed to receive it.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood, I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Fig: I snews an elevation of a feeding bottle constructed according to my, said
Invention.
Fig. 2 shews section through line a, a, at Fig. 1.
A is the bottle; B, cork or stopper; C, flexible tube; D, flute in neck of bottle
to hold the flexible tube.
It is obvious that the same effect might be produced by having the flute in the
cork or stopper instead of in the neck of the bottle, but I prefer having it in the
neck, as in this case any ordinary cork or stopper would do.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, and the
means for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion
that what I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is, constructing a feeding bottle or the cork or stopper
thereof with a flute (or its equivalent) therein, so that the suction tube may be

page_text: supported between the neck of the bottle and the cork or stopper thereof,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN THOMAS. (LS)