A New and Improved Method of Hermetically Closing Jars, Bottles, and other Vessels for the Better Preservation of their Contents.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Method of Hermetically Closing Jars,
Bottles, and other Vessels for the Better Preservation of
their Contents.
We JAMES AUGUSTUS HUCKVALE of 36 Streatley Road, Brondesbury in the
County of London, Provision Merchant and THOMAS ETHERIDGE HARPER
of 56 Mount Ararat Road Richmond in the County of Surrey, Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The utilisation of the weight of the atmosphere as a means of hermetically
closing jars bottles and other vessels so as to preserve their contents.
It is especially applicable to jars and other vessels made of glass or glazed and
impermeable material and we carry it out by creating a vacuum or partial vacuum
within the vessel and excluding the outside air by means of a compressible washer
of rubber or other suitable material between the vessel and its lid cap or stopper.
Dated this 4th day of April 1895.
JAMES AUGUSTUS HUCKVALE.
THOMAS ETHERIDGE HARPER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Method of Hermetically Closing Jars,
Bottles, and other Vessels for the Better Preservation of
their Contents.
We JAMES AUGUSTUS HUCKVALE of Plough Yard Hearne Street in the
County of London Provision Merchant late of 36 Streatley Road Brondesbury
and THOMAS ETHERIDGE HARPER of 26 Church Road late of 56 Mount Ararat
Road Richmond in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The nature of this invention is the utilisation of the weight of the atmosphere
as a means of hermetically closing jars bottles and other vessels so as to preserve
their contents. It is especially applicable to jars and other vessels made of glass
or glazed and impermeable material and we carry it out by creating a vacuum or
partial vacuum within the vessel and excluding the outside air by means of a
compressible washer of rubber or other suitable material between the vessel and its
lid cap or stopper.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we have annexed drawings
in which
Fig. 1. shows a glass bottle.
Fig. 2. the mouth of the same.
Fig. 3 a form of stopper.
Fig. 4 a washer of india rubber.
In order to close the bottle its contents having been inserted we place the
washer (6) so that when the stopper is inserted it rests between the flat edges of

page_text: the bottle (c) and the stopper (d) and over the whole we place an elastic band as
shown in Figure 5 (a) which holds the bottle and stopper together and acts as a
valve until the vacuum is created. We then place the bottle into a vessel
containing water to cover or come level with the stopper and raise the temperature
thereof sufficiently to preserve the meat or other contents of the bottle meanwhile
as the temperature rises the contents of the bottle expand and most of the air in
the bottle is driven out between the edges of the stopper d and the bottle mouth c-
when sufficient heat has been applied for the preservation of the contents the bottle
may be either removed at once from the water or may be left therein until it
cools in either case the pressure of the elastic band (a) prevents the admission to
the bottle of either water or air and may be removed altogether as soon as the
bottle and its contents have sufficiently cooled for the pressure of the atmosphere
to operate the washer (b) should be of sufficient thickness to counteract any
inequalities in the surfaces of the stopper and bottle mouth which however should
be made as smooth as circumstances will admit-two or more washers may be used
where necessary for this purpose-steam may also be used where desired instead of
water for raising the temperature of the bottle and its contents but we have found
boiling or nearly boiling water to answer.
The bottle may also be closed without the use of heat by placing it in the
chamber of an air pump and exhausting the air but in this case it should be
plunged in water immediately after being taken out of the receiver unless the
washer (6) has been sufficiently moistened beforehand as we have found that the
application of moisture to the washer is necessary to create and maintain
the vacuum for any length of time but such application need not be repeated
after perfect closure has taken place which can be ascertained in the course of a
few hours. If properly closed and preserved as above directed the bottle and its
contents will keep closed and sweet for many years.
Various forms of bottles and stoppers may be used and the invention is equally
applicable to vessels of glazed earthenware. Fig. 6 shews a glass vessel with a
flat lid with its contents closed and preserved as above described and Fig. 7 shews
an earthenware pot closed in like manner.
A bottle or vessel such as above described can if the pressure of the atmosphere
cannot be overcome by the hands be at once opened by the insertion of a pin needle
or other sharp instrument between either of the edges and the washer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The improved method of hermetically closing jars bottles and other glazed
vessels hercinbefore described and setforth.
2. Stoppering glass or glazed vessels by means of a rubber washer compressed
between two flat surfaces and moistened substantially as described and setforth.
Dated this 6th dox of Tenu 1906
HARPER & BATTCOCK,
Agents for Applicants.