IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPS OR STOPPERS APPLICABLE TO AND THE EMPLOY- MENT OF THEM WITH FEEDING AND OTHER BOTTLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Southwood Stocker and Alexander
Richmond Stocker, Glass Manufacturers, both of Lamb's Conduit
Works, Artillery Street, Horsleydown, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPS OR STOPPERS APPLICABLE TO AND THE EMPLOY-
MENT OF THEM WITH FEEDING AND OTHER BOTTLES."
Sealed the 20th July 1869, and dated the 3rd February 1869.

page_text: with infants' feeding bottles, constructing and compounding them with
the necessary and usual appendages for the supply of food therefrom.
When rigid caps or stoppers are employed india-rubber or other suitable
materials are used for the purpose of rendering them more clean and
unleaky, as well as for admitting free and proper draft into the vessel
when in use.
Another part of our Invention consists in the manufacture, application
to, and employment with bottles of such caps and stoppers as are com-
pounded with cork, india-rubber, or other flexible materials having
passage ways provided thereon, therethrough, or therein for the egress
of the liquid without releasing the cap or stopper from the bottle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Southwood Stocker and Alexander
Richmond Stocker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEXANDER
SOUTHWOOD STOCKER and ALEXANDER RICHMOND STOCKER, both of
Lamb's Conduit Works, Artillery Street, Horsleydown, London, Glass
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker and
Alexander Richmond Stocker, Her special licence that we, the said
Alexander Southwood Stocker and Alexander Richmond Stocker, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Alexander Southwood Stocker and Alexander Richmond Stocker, our.
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, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CAPS OR STOPPERS APPLICABLE TO AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF THEM WITH FEEDING
AND OTHER BOTTLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the

page_text: said Alexander Southwood Stocker and Alexander Richmond Stocker,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our,
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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker
and Alexander Richmond Stocker, do hereby declare the nature of our
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 :-
Our Invention consists, first, in adding to screwed caps or stoppers
to be applied to and employed with infants' feeding bottles necks or
collars therein for the purpose of holding the ordinary india-rubber
feeding bottle, sucking tube, and its appendages, as well as for holding
or partially holding an india-rubber washer intended for and to act as a
valve or passage way round the edge of the centre orifice thereof for
admitting the air around, between, or through the edges of the neck or
collar (which forms part of the cap or stopper) and the edge or edges of
the hole made through the centre of the india-rubber or other ring,
which is held by or partially suspended by such newly added neck or
collar when suction takes place into the vessel. When this cap or
stopper is firmly screwed down on to its seat on to the top of the vessel it
will grip the rubber or other disc on its extreme or outer edge and form
a liquid-tight joint at that part. When metal is used for these caps or
stoppers by preference they are constructed with the necks or collars
therein all in one piece by raising them out of a round disc of sheet
metal in the ordinary manner well known, and we prefer to use for this
purpose those made by the process or processes as described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to Alexander Richmond Stocker and
John Alfred Edgeley, and dated September 8th, 1868, No. 2763, being
the primary cap or stopper (amongst other presently to be noted), to
which we intend more particularly to apply this part of our Invention.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, videlicit:- In some
instances we produce screwed caps or stoppers by combining and placing
within a plain cap a screwed cap or collar, and fixing it therein by soldering,
eyleting, or otherwise. This cap or stopper when complete and affixed to

page_text: the vessel will not have the appearance of a screw on its outside, and
may in some instances for some purposes be considered of a more finished
character and be preferred, while this part of our Invention will possess
all the facilities for receiving the necessary additional adaptations and
will possess all the essential requirements. This improved cap or stopper
is equally convenient to be applied to, used, and employed with various
receptacles other than feeding bottles. In some instances we dispence
with this newly added neck or collar, and cause the india-rubber ring. to
be a fixture into the crown of the cap or stopper (by preference eyleting
it therein). In this case the flexible sucking tube will be threaded
through the eylet, as in the instance of the newly added neck or collar
hercin-before referred to. It will be necessary to provide a hole or holes
in some part or parts of the cap or stopper which we are now noting, so
that the flexible ring or disc shall be reached by the air first passing
through the cap or stopper resting and playing down upon and through
the rubber disc, which is effected by and dependent upon the aid of
such holes, perforations, or air passage ways being first made there-
through, for it is obvious that both have relation with each other,
and that the apparatus when compounded in its complete state in
readiness for use cannot act efficiently without co-operation. We carry
out the principle and the application to and employment with feeding
bottles by producing screwed or other caps or stoppers composed of
other material or materials than metal by turning, moulding, or fashioning
them in any known manner so as to render them capable of receiving
and applying our Invention thereto.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the metal screw cap or stopper,
likewise the bottle and part of its appendages first herein-before men-
tioned; Figure 2, a top view of the crown of such cap or stopper.
A is the bottle; B, the cap or stopper; C, the india-rubber washer; D,
the neck or collar; E, part of the india-rubber sucking tube; F, part of
the ordinary glass tube fitting into the latter; G are the holes or
perforations in the
cap.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a cap or stopper consisting of two
pieces having a screw in its inner perephery and plain on its outside.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, videlict:-Figure 4
is a bottle blown with a screw thereon for the reception of a screw
At the bottom of the screw a neck b is provided for the re-
cap B.
ception of holding in a necessary position for effectual use an india.

page_text: rubber ring or washer c, down upon which the cap is to be screwed,
causing this part to be an effective preventive of the escape of the liquid
from the vessel, and thereby avoid leakage and want of cleanliness.
The elastic ring or washer is sprung on to the neck, when it will take its
seat down flat upon the surface where it is intended to rest and remain
as a fixture, and it will be seen that the cap will grip the disc in the
middle or centre of its flat part, so that when the screwing pressure is
exerted upon the cap it will produce a certain unfailing effective
stopping. The simplicity of this method renders quite unnecessary
any one single article to be placed inside this cap for the uses of feeding
bottles, being merely a bare screwed back with a hole made therein for
the reception of and to carry the ordinary and usual appendages
employed with feeding bottles. The perforations of course are made in
the cap for admitting the air into the vessel to aid suction, as or in the
manner herein-before described. This method or mode for stopping
bottles is especially applicable to pickle bottles as well as for various
other purposes.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz. :-Figure 5 is
a bayonet-joint action to a bottle and cap or stopper. The bottle is
composed of glass, and the cap or stopper of metal. This method has
been long heretofore known and in every-day use for various purposes.
We take this principle in place of and as an equivalent for a screw, as
herein-before explained, finding all the necessary limbs and fittings
equally applicable to this cap or stopper (that is, when the proper and
necessary alterations have been made thereto and therein), whose action
on the bottle will conduct the india-rubber ring placed therein down on
to the neck of the vessel, and cause a liquid-tight joint at that part.
When this cap or stopper has been altered and it is compounded
complete with its necessary additions, as herein-before described, it will
be found equally applicable to and to be used and employed with
infants' feeding bottles.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz.:-Figures 6
and 7 shew an india-rubber flexible hollow stopper as applied to a
feeding bottle which is complete in itself for use in readiness to receive
the usual appendages without requiring any additions to be made
thereto, with the exception of making air passages therethrough, as
shewn at G. It will be seen that the bottle is blown larger at the
bottom part of its neck for the reception of the hollow flexible stopper,

page_text: which is made of a shape agreeing with such figure, in order that it
may wedge itself in its intended resting place when applied to the
bottle, and thereby hold firmly in place it and all the appendages
generally used with a feeding bottle. This bottle is blown of the
required figure by shaping the mould accordingly, in which there is
nothing particular to effect, and the flexible stopper may be moulded
without difficulty in the manner well known to the trade.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz. :-Figures 8
and 9 shew a feeding bottle with a cap or stopper applied thereto com-
pounded of metal and india-rubber complete in one piece in itself for
use in readiness to receive the usual appendages for a feeding bottle
without requiring any addition to be made thereto, with the exception
of causing air passages G to be made therethrough, as herein-before
mentioned. This cap or stopper is made in the following manner: -
The metal part, as at B¹, is cut out in a round disc of tinned iron or
other sheet metal, and afterwards stamped of a desirable shape, providing,
a hole 'D' therein or therethrough for the reception of and holding the
ordinary flexible india-rubber sucking tube E and the other usual
appendages used with a feeding bottle. An outside rim is then drawn
down of desirable depth, and afterwards partially turned over, in order
to receive an india-rubber ring 'C,' as shewn. This rim by the employ-
ment of a pair of tools (fixed and used in a fly press or otherwise)
similar to those in general use for closing buttons is employed for
pressing tightly and firmly the turned over metal rim upon and
embracing the flexible india-rubber ring. This cap or stopper has
been long heretofore known in its plain and separate state, but we
alter it so as to render it applicable to feeding bottles. This cap or
stopper when compounded according to our Invention in readiness to
be applied to a feeding bottle may be expanded readily over the top
thereof, which must be shaped as shewn at Figure 8, when it will
hold itself firmly thereon and become an effective cap or stopper to
be used with infants' feeding bottles.
Figure 10 is a modification of the cap or stopper last referred to
applied to a scent bottle; it has a disc of india-rubber c first placed
therein, which with a small perforation made therethrough agreeing
with a hole provided in the centre of the metal part "B' of the cap or
stopper through which the liquid passes. The pin a, which may be made
of metal, bone, ivory, or other material, when inserted into the hole

page_text: provided in the india-rubber will cause it to be at once liquid-tight,
and so remain after it has been continually used for a considerable
period. This cap or stopper is sprung over the top of the bottle equally
convenient and in the same manner as described in reference to Figure 8.
Our Invention consists in compounding this cap or stopper with its
necessary accompaniments and the application to and employment of it
with scent or other bottles.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz. :-Figure 11 is
a glass stopper fitted into a barrel of cork inserted into the neck of the
bottle. A hole is made in this stopper, through which the liquid passes.
A flexible pin a, which may be used in like manner to that last described,
is intended to prevent the egress of the liquid except at will. The
bottle is blown and made in the ordinary manner, as also the stopper,
the hole through which may be produced by drilling or otherwise.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz. :-Figure 12 is
an ordinary scent bottle with an ordinary cork placed therein as a
fixture, through which the liquid is intended to pass out of the bottle.
This cork receives upon that part of it seen in the Drawing above
the top of the bottle a plain cap or stopper B thereon, which is
intended to be taken on and off when the bottle is in use. In this
cap or stopper an india-rubber disc C is placed, through which a hole
is made agreeing with a hole to be provided in the cap or stopper; a
pin a is inserted therein for the same purpose, and is in use in like
manner to that herein-before described.
Another part-of our Invention consists as follows, viz.:-Figure 13 is
an ordinary scent bottle, with the exception that it has a hollow pro-
jection on the side of its neck, produced by blowing it thereon, and
having a cork barrel therein, as in Figure 11 before mentioned. The
mould is produced with a desirable indent therein for the purpose of
being filled up with glass when blowing the bottle in the ordinary
manner. The top or extreme end of this projection is provided with a
hole therethrough leading into the vessel, so as to cause a passage way
for the egress of the liquid at that part. The stopper we make (by pre-
ference) of glass with a slot or vacancy provided on the side of its stem
or shank agreeing with the liquid passage way, which may be shut on
and off by turning round the stopper to a given point, which is provided
thereon by moulding or cutting it as a guide for that purpose. The pro-

page_text: jection at the side of this vessel, as herein-before referred to, may be
exaggerated or differently shaped as requirements may necessitate.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz :-Figure 14
is a bottle in every respect fitted like that of Figure 16 in the Speci-
fication of Stocker and Edgeley's Patent hercin-before referred to, with
the exception that it has a solid cork e forced into the hollow tubular
stem or shank of the stopper. Between the top of the upper part of this
cork and the inside of its crown or stopper we place a disc of india-
rubber C, through which and the cork we make desirable holes for the
reception of a similar pin a to be used in like manner and for the like
purpose as herein-before described. We improve this tube to which we
now refer by causing one or more flats or grooves to be made thereon.
laterally from the holes downwards towards and ending with the end of
the tube. The holes will be dispensed with, and the stopper in this case
will be solid, which, by preference, we make of glass for the purpose of
avoiding the contents with which the bottle may be filled being con-
taminated, which we have found in some instances to be the case.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz :-Figure 15
is, a screwed cap or stopper of the same kind as represented in Figure 14
of Stocker and Edgeley Patent herein-before referred to. It has a
disc C of india-rubber placed in its crown with a hole provided there-
through, as well as in the centre of the crown of the cap, after which
it is screwed down firmly on to the top or extreme end of the bottle,
when the pin a, as herein-before described, is applied thereto for the like
purpose, also as herein-before described.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz.:-Figure 16 is
a bottle precisely of the same character as that shewn at Figure 5 in
the Sheet of Drawings hereto annexed, with the exception that it has
a hole in the crown of the cap or stopper for the purpose of agreeing
with a hole to be made in an india-rubber disc C to be inserted into the
cap or stopper for the reception of a pin a¹ intended to be applied to
and used with it in like manner and for the like purpose as that last
explained and described.
Another part of our Invention consists as follows, viz. :-Figure 17 is
a plain unscrewed cap or stopper lined with cork, and fitted on to a plain
neck bottle. This cap or stopper has rivetted, screwed, or otherwise fixed
on to its top surface or crown a moveable piece of metal f (which by
preference we make of a springy character C intended to be moved

page_text: sideways off the hole provided in the centre of the cap for the egress of
the liquid. Stops g are struck upon the crown of the cap or stopper in
course of its manufacture so as to cause the moveable piece f to travel
either way only to desirable or given distances. This cap or stopper
may be screwed on to the neck of the vessel in lieu of the manner
shewn, provision being first made therein for its reception, and other
changes or modifications might be resorted to without altering or
deviating from our Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexander Southwood Stocker and
Alexander Richmond Stocker, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ALXR. S. STOCKER.
(L.S.)
ALEX. R. STOCKER. (L.S.)