Improvements in Vacuum Stoppers for Jars, Bottles, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vacuum Stoppers for Jars, Bottles, and the like.
I, FRANK BRACEBRIDGE MILLS, Engineer, of 50, St. George's Avenue, Tufnel
Park, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention for improvements in vacuum stoppers for jars, bottles and the
like relates to that class of stopper which is held in place by the vacuum within
the receptacle to which it is applied.
Usually in this class of stopper the vacuum sucks in the cap or stopper and
causes it to compress between itself and the neck of the receptacle an elastic
medium that makes the air tight joint. Now this invention has for its object
to form the joint between the cap or stopper and the neck of the receptacle by
an elastic medium that is subjected to a bending action, as distinguished from a
simple compression, somewhat in the manner of the elastic ring of the well known
lever stopper in which the two ends of an elastic ring are forced towards one
another to bulge the centre outwards; and in which the vacuum shall act on the
elastic medium itself in such manner as to assist in tightening the joint. This
bending action causes the elastic medium to first adapt itself to the two acting
surfaces.
In one way of carrying out this invention a rubber ring having an oval or
other elongated cross section fits between a shoulder on the cap or stopper and
a shoulder on the neck of the receptacle. As the stopper is drawn in by the
vacuum the oval cross section becomes bent or more bent and makes a firm and
good joint.
To facilitate the removal of the stop or cover it is perforated and the perfora-
tion closed by a softer material such as a piece of rubber cemented thereon. This
material is removed or broken before opening the receptacle and the vacuum
destroyed.
1
10W 1. of T.... 1908
Improvements in Vacuum Stoppers for Jars, Bottles, and the like.
I, FRANK BRACEBRIDGE MILLS, Engineer, of 50, St. George's Avenue, Tufnel
Park, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
Price S1

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
-
This invention for improvements in vacuum stoppers for jars, bottles and the
like relates to that class of stopper which is held in place by the vacuum within
the receptacle to which it is applied.
Usually in this class of stopper the vacuum sucks in the cap or stopper and
causes it to compress between itself and the neck of the receptacle an elastic
medium that makes the air tight joint and is compressed across its shorter sec-
tional dimension. Now this invention has for its object to form the joint
between the cap or stopper and the neck of the receptacle by an elastic medium
that is subjected to a bending action, as distinguished from a simple compression,
somewhat in the manner of the elastic ring of the well known lever stopper in
which two ends of an elastic ring are forced towards one another to bulge the
centre outwards; or in which the elastic medium is compressed across its longer
sectional dimension; and in which the vacuum shall act upon the elastic medium
itself in such manner as to assist in tightening the joint. This bending action
causes the elastic medium to first adapt itself to the two acting surfaces.
In one way of carrying out this invention a rubber ring having an oval or
other elongated cross section fits between a shoulder on the cap or stopper and
a shoulder on the neck of the receptacle. As the stopper is pressed in or drawn
in by the vacuum the oval cross section becomes bent or more bent and makes a
firm and good joint.
To facilitate the removal of the cap or stopper it is perforated and the perfora-
tion closed by a softer material such as a piece of rubber cemented thereon, or
by a plug of soft metal. This material is removed or punctured to destroy the
vacuum and open the receptacle.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical
sections of an internal stopper constructed according to this invention, showing
the elastic medium in its loose and tightened positions respectively. Figs. 3
and 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 showing an external stopper. Figs 5
and 6 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a slightly modified arrangement,
and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a face stopper.
The neck of the bottle is provided with an internal flange or rib e on which
rests a rubber ring c. The cap or stopper bis provided with a flange f fitting
loosely within the bottle neck and bearing against the upper end of the rubber
ring c. As the cap or stopper is pressed down within the neck of the bottle,
the ring is bent as shown in Fig. 2 and makes a tight joint, the cover being
held down by the pressure of the atmosphere.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the flange a is an external flange and the cover b is provided
with a ring fitting over the neck of the bottle. The ring acts in exactly the same
manner as in Figs. 1 and 2.
In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the bending of the rubber ring is
reversed.
In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the face of the neck of the bottle
and the cap or stopper bare each formed with a groove and the stopper is
provided with an extension i fitting within the bottle neck. When the stopper
is drawn down by the vacuum the ring e is drawn inwards being partly compressed
and partly bent.
When the caps or stoppers are of such material that they cannot be readily
perforated to admit air for opening the bottles, the cap is provided with a plug d
of soft metal as shewn in Figs. 125 and 6, or the cap is perforated and the per-
foration stopped by indiarubber or thin sheet metal or similar material solu-
tioned or soldered on.
In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the stopper may be lifted and the
air admitted to the bottle by the insertion of a screw-driver or similar instrument 5
between the stopper and the face of the bottle neck.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a vacuum stopper, a shouldered bottle neck, a shouldered stopper, and
an elastic ring having its external and internal circumferences fitting against the
shoulders formed by the flanges so that the rubber ring is bent and compressed
along its longer sectional dimension.
2. The vacuum stopper consisting of the shouldered bottle neck, the shouldered
cap or stopper and the elastic ring having its external and internal circum-
ferences bearing against the shoulders substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2, or to Figs. 3 and 4, or to Figs. 5 and 6.
3. The vacuum stopper consisting of the grooved bottle neck, the grooved cap
or stopper and the elastic ring having its external and internal circumferences
hearing in the grooves substantially as described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
Dated this 19th day of April 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.