AN IMPROVED CORK, STOPPER, OR PLUG
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gilbert Stanton Fleming, of 148, Drury Lane,
in the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields, London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED CORK, STOPPER, OR PLUG."
Sealed the 22nd November 1870, and dated the 17th June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th June 1870.
I, GILBERT STANTON FLEMING, of 148, Drury Lane, in the Parish
of St. Giles in the Fields, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CORK, STOPPER, OR PLUG," to be as
follows:
=
The compression of an elastic substance between two hard substances
by means of a screw or bolt and nut causing the said elastic substance
to expand in an outward direction, effectually closing up the aperture
to be filled in a secure and air-tight manner, which is accomplished by
the following means:-A screw or bolt of the required length and
thickness, made of metal suitable for the purpose, is passed through

page_text: three separate pieces of material of a diameter to fit easily the aperture
to be filled, the centre piece being of india-rubber or other elastic
substance, and the upper and lower pieces of wood or other hard
substance, the nut is then placed on the screw or bolt, confining the
whole together, and making the article complete.
The mode of action is as follows:-The cork, stopper, or plug to he
placed in the aperture required to be filled by then screwing the nut
down tightly, the upper and lower parts are brought closer together,
causing the elastic material in the centre to expand outwardly, thus
effectually closing up the space required to be filled.
By loosening the nut the elastic substance will return to its original
dimensions allowing the cork, stopper, or plug to be easily withdrawn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GILBERT
STANTON FLEMING, of 148, Drury Lane, in the Parish of St. Giles in
the Fields, London, send grecting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo
and grant unto me, the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming, Her special
licence that I, the said Gilbert. Stanton Fleming, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Gilbert Stanton
Fleming, my 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
" AN IMPROVED CORK, STOPPER, OR PLUG," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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

page_text: performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing herc-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
My Invention of “ An Improved Cork, Stopper, or Plug," has reference
to a cork, stopper, or plug in which the compression of an elastic substance
between two hard substances by means of a screw or bolt and nut is
used to cause the said elastic substance to expand in an outward direction
and thereby fit tightly against the interior of the neck of the bottle or
vessel required to be stopped or rendered fluid-tight.
And my Invention consists of an internal spindle with a collar of
metal or other hard substance fixed to it at one end to serve as a stop,
the other end having a screw thread of suitable extent formed upon it.
On the spindle is placed two collars or washers of vulcanized india-
rubber which rest against the said fixed collar, and a sliding plug of wood
or other suitable hard material rests against one of the india-rubber
collars or washers. The diameters of the said wooden stopper or plug,
and of the elastic collars or washers are such as to enable them to pass
easily into the neck of the bottle or vessel. A nut is applied to the
screwed end of the spindle and on being turned thereon forces the said
wooden plug forward and compresses the india-rubber collars or washers,.
which are thereby caused to expand circumferentially and fit tightly
against the interior of the neck of the bottle or vessel.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed
by the aid of the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a
stopper or plug complete with the sliding plug screwed down and the
elastic collars or washers compressed and expanded circumferentially;
Fig. 2 shews the same with the sliding plug raised and the elastic collars
liberated from pressure; Fig. 3 shews the internal spindle with its fixed
rigid collar or stop and the elastic collars or washers detached; Fig. 4,
represents a plug or stopper with a key to tighten or loosen the same;
Fig. 5 is a plan or horizontal view of the same; Fig. 6 is an underneath

page_text: plan view of the key. In these several Figures the same letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts; a is the internal spindle with a
screw formed on it; b is the rigid collar or stop fixed thereon; c, c, are
the elastic collars or washers; d is the sliding plug; e is the nut; fis a
knob or button to give a finish to the whole stopper; 9 is a key to fit
on to the nut in Fig. 4, which nut is enclosed in a cup or socket h.
The cork, stopper, or plug is inserted in the neck of the bottle or vessel,
with the parts in the positions shewn in Fig. 2, the nut e is then screwed
down so as to cause the sliding plug d to approach the collar or stop b
and compress between them the elastic collars or washers c, c, which 1
are thereby caused to expand circumferentially and form a fluid-tight
stopper in the next of the bottle or vessel.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is, a cork, stopper, or plug in which are combined a 1
central screwed spindle with a stop on it, one or more elastic collars or
washers, a sliding plug, and a nut as herein-before described.
I also claim a cork, stopper, or plug fitted with a key, as represented
I also claim & Cork, stopper, or plug nitted with a key, as represented
n Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gilbert Stanton Fleming, have 2
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
GILBERT STANTON FLEMING. (L.S.)
December 16, 1870.