IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN TOOLS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's
Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN TOOLS
"
Sealed the 19th May 1863, and dated the 19th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th February 1863.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND IN TOOLS FOR PRODUCING PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping
bottles, jars, and other vessels, and in tools for producing parts of such
apparatus.
For the purpose of stopping bottles, jars, and other vessels, I employ a modifi-
cation of the apparatus described in my former Provisional Specification, dated
the 18th November 1862 (No. 3100); as before, a plate or disc is by a screw
forced down on to the top of the neck of the bottle, jar, or vessel; this plate and
its screw is carried by a metal cap, which when in its place covers the mouth
of the vessel; this cap on one side (or for half of its circumference) has a rim

page_text: projecting downwards, so as to cover the neck, and this rim at its lower edge
has a flange turned inwards, which when the cap is in its place enters a groove
in the neck, the other half of the circumference of the neck of the bottle or
vessel is also surrounded by a piece corresponding in form with the rim and
flange above mentioned; so far the arrangement is that of the Provisional
Specification before mentioned; but according to my present Invention this
last-mentioned piece is not attached to the neck of the bottle as before, but is
at one end hinged to the flanged rim of the cap; when the cap is in its place
the lower flange of the hinged piece enters the groove in the neck of the bottle,
and a similar flange which it has on its upper edge comes over the edge of the
upper or top plate of the cap, and so prevents its rising from the upward
pressure of the screw. The cap is readily removed when the screw is slacked,
the hinged piece being first turned outwards on its joint. The plate or disc
which closes the mouth of the bottle, I make of wood, with a thin plate of
metal at the back, and a packing ring of vulcanized india-rubber or cork on
its bearing surface. These plates or discs of wood I make by means of a tool
consisting of a steel cylinder, the interior diameter of which is equal to the
diameter of the plates or discs to be cut; this cylinder has teeth at its end,
and is kept in rapid rotation; within this cylinder is another circle of teeth
wider than the first, and within this circle again there is a piston or rod, which
is pressed outwards constantly by means of a spring. When a thin plank of
wood is presented to this tool, the teeth of the outer cylinder cut from it a
circular piece, while at the same time the inner circle of teeth prepares a
recess or shoulder to receive the packing ring; when the pressure on the wood
is relieved, the spring, piston, or rod ejects from, the tool the disc which has
been cut; the outer toothed cylinder is adjustable as respects the inner circle
of teeth, so that the recess or shoulder may be cut to any required. depth.
Before using these discs of wood, I saturate them with a composition to render
them impervious to moisture. I use for this purpose a mixture of wax and
lard. In place of discs of, wood, discs of glass or pottery may be employed, as
may also discs of iron stamped to a suitable form and enamelled.. In some
cases, in place of mounting on the cap the screw employed for forcing down
the plate or disc on to the neck of the bottle, I employ for this purpose a
separate screw, and I make the cap in two parts, each part having fixed to it
a rim projecting downwards, and at its lower edge a flange turning inwards;
these parts of the cap are both hinged to the plate or disc. In securing the
cap on to the bottle or vessel; the separate screw is made to press upon the
plate or disc and compress the packing ring around it until the two parts of
the cap can be turned inwards, their flange, entering the groove in the neck.

page_text: When the pressure of the screw is withdrawn, the elasticity of the packing
ring tends to raise the plate or disc, but is unable to do so to any considerable
extent as the plate or disc comes against the top of the cap and the cap is
kept down by its flanges. The top of the plate or disc and also the top of the
cap are corrugated, so that when the two are pressed together they will not
slide the one on the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of 15, Abbey Gardens, Saint John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Nathan
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Nathan Thompson, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN TOOLS
FOR PRODUCING PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others).
that I, the said Nathan Thompson, my executors or administrators, 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 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 Nathan Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for stopping

page_text: bottles, jars, and other vessels, and in tools for producing parts of such
apparatus.
For the purpose of stopping bottles, jars, and other vessels, I employ a
modification of the apparatus described in my former Provisional Specification,
dated the 18th November 1862 (No. 3100); as before, a plate or disc is by
a screw forced down on to the top of the neck of the bottle, jar, or vessel; this
plate and its screw is carried by a metal cap, which when in its place covers
the mouth of the vessel; this cap on one side (or for half of its circumference)
has a rim projecting downward, so as to cover the neck, and this rim at its
lower edge has a flange turned inwards, which when the cap is in its place
enters a groove in the neck, the other half of the circumference of the neck of
the bottle or vessel is also surrounded by a piece corresponding in form with
the rim and flange above mentioned; so far the arrangement is that of the
Provisional Specification before mentioned, but according to my present
Invention, this last-mentioned piece is not attached to the neck of the bottle as
before, but is at one end hinged to the flanged rim of the cap; when the cap
is in its place, the lower flange of the hinged piece enters the groove in the
neck of the bottle, and a similar flange which it has on its upper edge comes
over the edge of the upper or top plate of the cap, and so prevents its rising
from the upward pressure of the screw. The cap is readily removed when the
screw is slacked, the hinged piece being first turned outwards on its joint.
According to my Invention for stopping bottles and jars and other vessels,
the neck of the vessel is made with a groove around it a short distance below
the mouth, and the stopping apparatus (no part of which is permanently
attached to the vessel) consists of a ring of sheet metal with flanges projecting
inwards from its upper and lower edges; this ring is divided into two
parts, each of a semicircular form, which are hinged together on one side. To
the upper flange of one of the half rings a circular plate of the same diameter
as the interior of the ring is soldered or attached, and in the centre of this
plate is a hole, and immediately below it a screw nut is fixed; this receives a
short screw, to the lower end of which a plate is connected, in such a manner,
however, that the screw can turn independently of the plate. A disc or
packing of cork or similar material is attached to the plate, and the top of the
screw is made with a recess to receive a key by which it may be turned.
When the stopping apparatus is placed on the neck of the vessel, and the two
'half rings closed together, the flange at the lower edge of the ring enters the
groove in the neck of the vessel all round; at the same time the plate at the
lower end of the screw comes immediately over the mouth of the vessel, and
the upper flange of the part of the ring which is not attached to the top plate

page_text: comes over the edge of the plate, so as to hold it down to the neck of the vessel;
then by turning the screw the plate at its lower end with the packing upon it
is forced down on to the top of the neck, and so closes fluid-tight the mouth of
the vessel.
Figure A is a side view of the upper part of the neck of a bottle, together
with stopping apparatus, arranged as above described, the stopping apparatus
being placed on the neck of the bottle, but not closed thereon.
Figure B is a plan of the stopping apparatus as it appears when open ;
Figure C and Figure D are side views of the same, as it appears when closed;
Figure E is a plan of the same, and Figure F is a vertical section of the
stopping apparatus, together with a small portion of the neck of the bottle.
In these Figures a is the neck of the bottle, and a¹ the groove therein i
6 and b', the two parts of the divided ring, these parts have on their upper and
lower edges flanges projecting inwards as before mentioned; these parts are
hinged together at 6*; c is a circular plate, which is raised or arched up in the
centre; this plate is soldered to the upper flange of the part 6 of the divided
ring. d is a screw nut soldered to the plate c at the centre thereof, and
immediately beneath a hole therein; e is a screw working in this screw nut,
and having a square recess or socket e¹ at its centre; f is a plate rivetted to
the lower end of the screw e, but so that it can turn freely thereon; this plate
is raised in the centre, so that the end of the screw e may not come in contact
with the thin sheet of tin plate g; this covers the bottom of the plate f, and is
turned up around its edges, so as to secure it; h is a packing piece, by
preference of cork, it is cemented with shellac or other cement to the plate g.
Figures G shew the key which is employed for turning the screw e to force
the cork against the top of the neck of the bottle; when the cork is thus
forced down the parts of the ring 6 cannot be opened out to remove the
apparatus, but after slacking the screw this may readily be done.
Figure H is a side view of a bottle and stopping apparatus of a slightly
different construction, and Figure I is a similar view, but with the stopping
apparatus in section. This apparatus differs from that just described in that
the recess e' in the top of the screw e is dispensed with, and a head e³ is sub-
stituted therefor, which can be turned by the fingers without a key, The plate
or disc which closes the mouth of the bottle I sometimes make of wood, with
a thin plate of metal at the back, and a packing ring of vulcanized india-rubber
or cork on its bearing surface. These plates or dises of wood I make by means
of a tool consisting of a steel cylinder, the interior diameter of which is equal
to the diameter of the plates or discs to be cut; this cylinder has teeth at its
end, and is kept in rapid rotation; within this cylinder is another circle of

page_text: teeth, wider than the first, and within this circle again there is a piston or rod,
which is pressed outwards constantly by means of a spring. When a thin
plank of wood is presented to this tool, the teeth of the outer cylinder cut from
it a circular piece, while at the same time the inner circle of teeth prepares a
recess or shoulder to receive the packing ring. When the pressure on the
wood is.relieved, the spring, piston, or rod ejects from the tool the disc which
has been cut. The outer toothed cylinder is adjustable as respects the inner
circle of teeth, so that the recess or shoulder may be cut to any required
depth.
Before using these discs of wood I saturate them with a composition to
render them impervious to moisture. I use for this purpose a mixture of wax
and lard. In place of discs of wood, discs of glass or pottery may be employed,
as may also discs of iron stamped to a suitable form and enamelled.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)