IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bolt, of Halifax, in the County of York, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bolt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th January 1876.
JAMES BOLT, of Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
FOR BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS."
This Invention consists in forming the stopper of metal or other suitable material
in such manner that the same will have a projection extending down into the neck
of the bottle, flask, or jar, in conjunction with other projections outside, and upon
the projection which extends into a portion of the bottle I place a piece of india-
rubber, cork, or other suitable substance, in such manner that the stopper will be
made perfectly air-tight, so that none of the liquid can escape. I make the stopper
perfectly secure by means of wire or other material, which is secured to the neck
of the bottle or other vessel, and which works, or is moved when the same is
required to be made secure or unfastened, in slots or slits of suitable form, which
are made in the outside or other projections before named. This form or construction
of stopper is applicable to all kinds of bottles now in use, but is especially applicable
to beer and porter bottles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Bolt in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 29th June
1876.
JAMES BOLT, of Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS
FOR BOTTLES, FLASKS, OR JARS."
This Invention consists in forming the stopper of metal or other suitable material
in such manner that the same will have a projection extending down into the neck
of the bottle, flask, or jar, in conjunction with other projections outside, and upon
the projection which extends into a portion of the bottle I place a piece of india-
rubber, cork, or other suitable substance in such manner that the stopper will be
[Price Gd.]

page_text: made perfectly air-tight, so that none of the liquid can escape. I make the stopper
perfectly secure by means of wire or other material, which is secured to the neck of
the bottle or other vessel, and which works or is moved when the same is required
to be made secure or unfastened, in slots or slits of suitable form, which are made in
the outside or other projections before named. This form or construction of stopper
is applicable to all kinds of bottles now in use, but is especially applicable to beer
and porter bottles.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have hereunto annexed
one Sheet of Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference, the same letter referring to the corresponding part in the various views
or Figures.
Fig. 1 represents a view of the stopper in its entirety, with the wire which is
fitted around the neck or top of the bottle, flask, or jar.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same as it appears when closed and attached to an
ordinary imperial balf-pint bottle.
Fig. 3 represents the "modus operandi" or method of application to the stopper
on opening or closing the same.
Fig. 4 represents a portion of a bottle neck broken away and the stopper drawn
in section, so that the inward projection, with the cork or india-rubber or other
suitable substance placed thereon, can be distinctly seen.
Fig. 5 shews the position of the stopper when the contents of the bottle are being
discharged, which is the same position as occupied when filling.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottle and stopper when it is closed or inserted in
the neck of the bottle; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same, shewing the stopper
opened or withdrawn from the interior of the neck of the bottle.
A is the projection of the stopper, which extends into the interior of the bottle
neck when it is closed. B is the piece, which I will term india-rubber for con-
venience of description, but I may place cork or any other suitable substance, on
the projection A for the purpose of making the stopper perfectly air-tight. Care
the outward projections or elongations of the stopper, which extend downward on
the outside of the neck of the bottle, and in these I make slots or slits with one
or more horizontal directions diverging from one vertical slot or slit, which
terminates in a somewhat enlarged form at the bottom for the purpose of allowing
the stopper to turn on the wire D into positions shown at Fig. 5 and Fig. 7.
I have in the Drawing shewn but one horizontal slot a diverging from the
vertical slot b, but, as stated, I may employ more, so as to make the stopper
applicable to the different sizes or lengths in the necks of the bottles, which some-
times vary a little from the top to the part whero the wire D is secured.
From the foregoing description and the Drawings the manner or method of
unfastening or withdrawing the stopper and of securing the same will be obvious
to all, the stopper when withdrawn swinging or turning on the wire D, which also
secures it by sliding in the horizontal slot a.
I have shewn the stopper as applied to an ordinary imperial half-pint bottle, but
it is equally applicable to almost any form or size of bottle now in use as also to
flasks or jars. Although applicable to almost any form of bottle now in use the
stopper in its present formn is not practicable for aërated and other effervescent
liquids, because such liquids require more quickly stoppering, and for which suitable
stoppers are now in use; but for stoppering bottles containing ale, porter, and such
beverages, which are not filled or placed in the bottles in the manner aerated liquids
are my Invention is especially applicable. It is of necessity cleanly, and is not
pushed or forced right into the interior of the bottle amongst the contents, but is
placed in and drawn out in the same manner as an ordinary cork, only much more
readily, and without the aid of a corkscrew. As its application renders the aperture
perfectly air-tight, ale or porter stoppered by my Invention must necessarily ripen
Booner than by the old method of using ordinary corks.
If a bottle, flask, or jar should be accidentally broken, the stopper can be expe-
ditiously detached and used for another bottlo or article for which it is applicable.

page_text: "
"
Having now described the nature and particulars of my Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same may be put into practice, I may state I am aware
that stoppers with a flat top have been made, and loose collars employed to fit on
the neck of the bottle with a clasp on each side of the stopper, which has taken
into "
grooves" formed in the aforesaid collars, but such are found extremely.
inconvenient in practice both to fasten or make secure and to unfasten, also in
pouring out the contents, and such stoppers require a special bottle. I am also
aware that internal projections or "nozzles" have been used before, which have
been cemented or permanently fastened in the neck of the bottle, and loose stoppers
or annular rings have filled the space or mouth of the bottle when full. I therefore
would have it understood that what I claim as my Invention and believe to be new
is, the construction, application, and use of stoppers for bottles, flasks, or jars with
an inward projection A, formed in conjunction or combination with outward pro-
jections or clongations C, with slots or slits formed therein, operated in manner and
for purposes substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying Shect of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bolt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
oight hundred and seventy-siv
Witness,
W
WHITEHEAD,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Halifax & Sheffield.
JAMES BOLT. (L.S.)