IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William North, of Sheepridge, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR
BOTTLES."
Sealed the 13th June 1878, and dated the 14th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William North at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1877.
WILLIAM NORTH, of Sheepridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES.”
This Invention relates to bottle stoppers which are secured to the neck of the
bottle by an external fastener, and which consist generally of a cap having a soft
pad or plug of india-rubber or other material which closes the orifice of the
bottle.
My improvements consists in constructing such stoppers, so that the pressure of
the gases contained in the bottle shall cause the india-rubber or flexible plug to
expand, so that the greater the pressure the more completely the mouth of the bottle
is closed by the expansion of the plug.
The stopper is constructed as follows:-The upper portion or cap of the stopper
is formed with a short tube or socket in the centre, this tube or socket being on
the under side of the cap, and capable of receiving a smaller tube, having an enlarged
end, the two tubes forming a sliding socket joint, over which is placed an india-
rubber ring or short piece of stout india-rubber tubing, which fills the space
between the cap and the enlarged end of the inner tube, and forms a plug which
enters the bottle neck when the stopper is secured thereon.
The pressure of gas within the bottle acting on the enlarged end of the lower
tube forces it into the upper one, and by reducing the space between the two the
india-rubber tube or washer is compressed and caused to expand laterally against
the side of the bottle neck.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William North in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
June 1878.
WILLIAM NORTH, of Sheepridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York.
“ IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES.”
This Invention relates to bottle stoppers which are secured to the neck of the
bottle by an external fastener, and which consist generally of a cap having a soft
pad or plug of india-rubber, or other material, which closes the orifice of the
bottle.
My improvements consist in constructing such stoppers, so that the pressure of
the gases contained in the bottle shall cause the india-rubber or flexible plug to
expand, so that the greater the pressure the more complotoly the mouth of the
bottle is closed by the expansion of the plug.
The stopper is constructed as follows:-The upper portion or cap of the stopper
is formed with a short tube or socket in the centre; this tube or socket being on
the under side of the cap, and capable of receiving a smaller tube having an enlarged
end, the two tubes forming a sliding socket joint, over which is placed an india-
rubber ring or short piece of stout india-rubber tubing, which fills the space between
the cap and the enlarged end of the inner tube, and forms a plug which enters the
bottle neck when the stopper is secured thereon.
The pressure of gas within the bottle acting on the enlarged end of the lower
tube forces it into the upper one, and by reducing the space between the two the
india-rubber tube or washer is compressed and caused to expand laterally against
the side of the bottle neck.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of bottle, with stopper applied; Fig. 2 is vertical section
of same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of stopper seen from the under side.
The upper portion or cap A of the stopper is formed with a short tube or socket
Bin the centre, this tube or socket being on the under side of the cap, and capable
of receiving a smaller tube, C having an enlarged end o, the two tubes forming a
sliding socket joint, over which is placed an india-rubber ring or short piece of stout
india-rubber tubing D, which fills the space between the cap and the enlarged end
of the inner tube, and forms a plug which enters the bottle neck when the stopper
is secured thereon.
The pressure of the gas within the bottle acting on the enlarged end c of the lower
tube forces it into the upper one, and by reducing the space between the two tho
india-rubber tubing or washer is compressed and caused to expand laterally against
the insides of the bottle neck.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, neither do I limit
the adaptation of my Invention to any particular form of stopper, but what I claim
as my Invention, and consider to be new, is the use of the india-rubber ring or
washer D, in combination with the compressing device B and O, or any modification
thereof, substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William North have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.