Improvements in and connected with Bottle Stoppers and Syphon Bottles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 10th Dec. 1890.
TRUVIDIONAL SEMIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bottle Stoppers and Syphon
Bottles.
We, WILLIAM PRIESSNITZ BONWICK, of 59 Blomfield Road, Paddington, in the
County of Middlesex, Tutor, LEON NAPOLEON LOEB, of 33 Aldermanbury, in the
City of London, Merchant, and MAITLAND LUMLEY of 1 America Square Minories
in the City of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in & connected with bottle stoppers
and syphon bottles.
According to this invention the bottle stopper comprises a valve and a button
or knob (hereinafter called a knob) with an intervening annular groove to receive
a ring of suitable elastic or flexible material such as india rubber that is held
within an internal groove in the neck of the bottle with which the stopper is to
be used. The ring which is approximately of a thickness corresponding to the
width of the groove closely fits the bottom of the groove in the stopper in such
a manner as to normally hold the stopper in the closed position and effectually.
close the discharge channel or channels therein. This channel or channels can be
in the side of the stopper or may extend through the knob from side to side, or
may pass through the centre of the knob, its or their lower end or ends in each
case terminating in the grooved portion of the stopper, but at a point above the valve.
portion thereof. Such a stopper, with a single ring to serve as a valve scat therefor,
whilst applicable to bottles for containing aërated liquid, is especially applicable
to bottles for containing still and fermented liquids because immediately an external
force applied to depress or open the stopper is removed, the elastic ring will raise the
stopper into a position in which it will close the discharge passage or passages
and effectually seal the bottle.
Stoppers according to this invention are applicable to bottles constructed to
discharge their contents through the bottom or through the side..
To adapt a bottle fitted with a stopper and elastic ring (or rings) either according
to the present invention, or according to the invention described in the Specification
of one of us, the said William Priessnitz Bonwick No. 11674 of 1889 to have its
liquid contents discharged by the pressure of gas within the bottle after the manner i
of an ordinary syphon, we adopt the following construction. We provide the
bottle with an internal tube that may, if its wall be notched or perforated, rest at its
lower end upon the bottom of the bottle and extends at its upper end into the bottle
neck where there is provided a ring of suitable material such as india rubber or cork
that tightly fits both the tube and the inner surface of the bottle neck. This ring,
which forms a diaphragm, may be held in place by a shoulder on the tube, or the ring
may be coned or so formed or recessed as to bear upon the tube; or the ring may be
wedged in between the tube and the bottle neck which may with advantage be of
inverted conical form below the stopper. The tube may be provided with a second
ring or washer to steady it in which case the tube need not touch the bottom of the
bottle. The tube may be steadied by arranging its lower end to rest in the angle
between the bottom and side of the bottle.
A form of opener for a bottle such as just described comprises a cylindrical case
adapted to le secured to the bottle neck and provided with a suitably packed
plunger to act upon the stopper, a lever for operating this plunger, and a lateral
discharge spout. The cylindrical case is constructed with a passage that normally
admits air to its interior and so prevents dripping of liquid from the spout after
withdrawing liquid, but this opening is closed when the lever is depressed. The
plunger, lever and spout may be constructed to move as one piece, the plunger
D

page_text: which is then hollow carrying an elastic seat to bear against the bottle mouth when
depressing the stopper. By extending the passage through the plunger to the top
of the opener and dispensing with the lateral spout, the opener is adapted for opening
bottles with internal stoppers that have to be inverted to discharge their contents.
The bottle and the opener in each case may be so formed that the one may be
readily applied to and removed from the other so that one opener may serve for
a number of bottles. For this purpose the bottle neck may be screwed externally
and the opener internally, or the one may be provided with one or more pins or
projections to act against one or more inclined surfaces on the other. The removable
opener when used with the syphon bottle, should be provided with a packing ring to
bear against the bottle mouth.
Our arrangement of a tube with a ring or rings at its upper end is intended to be
substituted for the glass tube with metal holder employed in ordinary syphon bottles
and thereby obviate liability of the liquid within such bottles being contaminated by
contact with the metal. To convert syphon bottles of the usual construction into
syphon bottles according to this invention we substitute for the ordinary tube and
other parts the above mentioned tube and packing ring or rings and provide a tubular
cap adapted to be screwed to the split tube that is usually fitted to ordinary syphons
and to which the syphon head is ordinarily screwed. Between the mouth of the
bottle and the tubular cap is a packing ring that may also serve as the ring to carry
a stopper of either of the kinds herein before referred to in the manner set forth. Or
a separate ring may be used for this purpose arranged within a groove formed
between the bottle mouth and the tubular cap by the packing ring. The stopper may,
by the use of the removable cap, have its lower or valve portion made larger than the
discharge hole in the cap so as to obviate all liability of the stopper being forced
through such hole. The cap is screw threaded externally to receive an opener that
may be of the kind herein before described and made removable, or the ordinary
syphon head may be used, the valve, or the valve rod lengthened, serving as a plunger
to depress the stopper when necessary. Bottles of various shapes can thus be adapted
for holding our improved stoppers and be converted into syphon bottles.
Dated this Oth dow of December 1880
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bottle Stoppers and Syphon
Bottles.
We, WILLIAM PRIESSNITZ BONWICK, of 59 Blomfield Road, Paddington, in the County
of Middlesex, Tutor, LEON NAPOLEON LOEB, of 33 Aldermanbury, in the City of
London, Merchant and MAITLAND LUMLEY, of 1, America Square, Minories in the
City of London, Merchant, 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 :-
This invention has reference to improvements in and connected bottle stoppers
and syphon bottles. And in order that the nature of this invention may be clearly
understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the neck of a bottle fitted with a stopper according to
this invention, the stopper being shown closed.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the bottle neck inverted, and the
stopper moved inward to the open position by an opener resting upon the rim of a
tumbler, which, as well as the opener, is indicated in dotted lines.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of the stopper and ring
removed from the bottle neck.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the stopper alone.

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 9th day of December, 1890, amended
under Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883,
by the insertion of the following names as Co-applicants :-
LÉON NAPOLEON LOEB, of 33, Aldermanbury, in the City of London,
Merchant, and MAITLAND LUMLEY. of 1. America Square. Minories.

page_text: The bottle stopper can be made in one piece of suitable material; usually we
make it of glass. It comprises a lower part 1 forming a valve; an upper part 2
constituting a knob; a part constituting a connecting stem 3; two groove-like
external channels 4, 4, formed at opposite sides of the stopper, and each made partly
in the, knob and partly in the stem; and an annular groove 5 formed by and between
the valve and knob and stem. The channels 4 according to this invention each
terminate at a point 4ª a short distance above the lower side of the groove 5. 6 is
an elastic seat or ring (hereinafter called a ring) of suitable material, such as india
rubber; it is arranged partly within the annular groove 5 in the stopper, and partly
within an internal annular groove 7 formed in the bottle neck. This ring 6,
according to this invention, is made of a thickness corresponding approximately to
the width of the groove 5 in the stopper and its internal diameter is such as to
closely fit the connecting stem 3 as shown. By this construction the ring normally
holds the stopper in the closed position and effectually closes the discharge channel
or channels 4 therein when the stopper is in its normal or closed position. Such a
stopper when applied to a bottle containing aërated liquid and fitted with a ring 6
as in Fig. 1 will be forced upward by the pressure of the gas aided by the action of
the ring so that its valve part 1 will normally bear against the ring 6 which forms a
seat for it, as shewn in Fig. 1, and will thus hermetically close the bottle. If the
bottle be inverted and the stopper be pressed inward by any suitable opener, as for
example by that shewn in dotted lines at A in Fig. 2, the inner portion of the ring 6
will be moved inward by the knob, and the valve 1 will be caused to leave the ring
so that the channels 4 will be partly uncovered as shewn and liquid will flow out
through these passages-into a glass or tumbler B below, and if the stopper be
released, the valve will be again returned to its seat by the pressure of the gas aided
by the action of the ring, thus closing the bottle until the stopper is again pressed
inward. Such a stopper with elastic ring 6 whilst applicable to a bottle containing
aërated liquid as just described, is especially applicable to bottles for containing
fermented or still liquid because immediately an external force such as an opener,
applied to open the stopper as shown in Fig. 2, is removed, the elastic ring will itself
raise the stopper into a position in which it will close the discharge channels 4 and
effectually seal the bottle. When such a stopper is applied to a bottle containing
still liquid and the stopper is open, liquid will flow out by one of the channels and
air will enter the bottle by the other.
The stopper shewn in Figs. 1 to 4 instead of being formed with two independent
lateral channels 4, may be formed with one channel only but we consider it better
to use two as they can then be made smaller than if one only be used, and the
liability of the ring being forced upward from its seat through the one channel
when used with bottles containing liquid charged at a high pressure is obviated. The
two lateral channels can be merged into one that may extend through the knob 2
and stem 3 from one side to the other as shewn at 4 in Figs. 6 and 7.
Stoppers with elastic rings according to this invention are applicable to bottles
constructed to discharge their contents through the bottom or through the side.
To adapt the bottle fitted with a stopper and elastic ring according to the present
invention, or with a stopper and one or two rings according to the invention described
in the Specification of one of us, the said William Priessnitz Bonwick No. 11674
of 1889, to have its liquid contents discharged by the pressure of gas within the
bottle after the manner of an ordinary syphon, we adopt the construction shown in
vertical section in Fig. 8. In this construction the stopper is of the kind described
in the said former Specification for use with one elastic ring 6, and 19 is an internal
discharge tube, the lower end of which is notched as at 19b, and rests at this end
upon the bottom of the bottle. This tube extends at its upper end into the bottle
neck 9* as shown, where there is provided a ring 19ª of suitable material such as
india rubber or cork, that tightly fits both the tube and the inner surface of the
bottle neck. This ring, which forms a diaphragm may be held in place by a shoulder
on the tube, or the inner surface of the ring may be coned, or so formed or recessed
as to bear upon the tube; or the ring may be wedged in between the tube and the

page_text: bottle neck which may with advantage be of inverted conical form below the stopper
as in the arrangement shewn, which we consider the best.
A form of opener suitable for syphon bottle such as just described comprises a
head, cap or case 20 (hereinafter called a case) adapted to be screwed or otherwise
secured to the bottle neck with an intervening packing ring 21 of elastic material as
shewn in Fig. 8. This case is provided with a plunger 22 arranged to act upon .the
head 2 of the stopper, a lever 10" pivoted at 15 and capable of depressing the
plunger, a lateral discharge spout 23 and a packing ring 24 that rests upon a
shoulder 25 and fits the plunger. The case 22 may be constructed with a passage 26
that normally admits air to its interior and s prevents dripping of liquid from the
spout after withdrawing liquid, but this opening when the lever is depressed, is closed
by the washer 24 which is then forced downward as indicated by dotted lines.
By forming the neck of each bottle and the opener with a screw thread as shewn,
the opener can be readily applied to and removed from the bottle so that one opener
will serve for a number of bottles. Instead of forming the bottle neck with an
external screw, and the opener with an internal screw, the reverse arrangement can
be adopted; or the one may be provided with one or more pins or projections to act
against one or more inclined surfaces on the other. The removable opener should
always be provided with a packing ring to bear against the bottle neck when in use.
Our arrangement of internal tube 19 with ring 19" at its upper end, is intended
to be substituted for the glass tube with metal holder employed in ordinary syphon
bottles and thereby to obviate liability of the liquid within such bottles being con-
taminated by contact with metal. To convert syphon bottles of the usual construction
into syphon bottles according to this invention we substitute for the ordinary tube
and other part, the above mentioned tube 19 and packing ring 19" and provide a
tubular cap or case adapted to be screwed to the split tube that is usually fitted to
ordinary syphons and to which the syphon head is ordinarily screwed. Between the
mouth of the bottle and the tubular cap or case is a packing ring that may also serve
as the ring to carry a stopper of either of the kinds hereinbefore referred to in the
manner set forth. Or a separate ring may be used for this purpose arranged
within a groove formed between the bottle mouth and the tubular cap by the
packing ring.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section shewing this construction, 20 is a removable case;
21ª the split tube made in two parts as well understood, and to which the case 20 is
screwed; 21 the packing ring between the bottle neck and case, and 6 the elastic
ring for carrying a stopper preferably such as shewn in Fig. 8 and with which it
normally forms a gas tight joint. This ring 6 is arranged within a groove formed
between the bottle mouth and case by the packing ring 21 which is compressed
between them. The lower part of the case 20 may be used alone and be screw
threaded externally to receive a removable opener that may be of the kind herein-
before described with reference to Fig. 8 and made removable, but we prefer to use
the ordinary syphon head, removing the valve and part of its rod and cutting away
the ordinary valve seat to form the chamber 20º.
The rod 22 which passes tightly through the packing ring 24 is depressed by the
lever 10 for opening the stopper, and raised by the spring 22ª to allow the stopper
to close when the lever is released.
Fig. 10 is a vertical section illustrating another modification in which the stopper
is provided with two elastic seats or rings, one of which, viz. 6, is held between the
case 20 and the neck of the bottle whilst the other, viz. 8, rests upon a shoulder 25
formed within the case. The action of this stopper is similar to the stoppers
provided with two elastic seats or rings described in the said former Specification
27 is a screw arranged to work through the top of the case and by which the
stopper can be depressed to open the bottle. 28 is a pin or set screw to prevent the
screw opener 27 being entirely withdrawn and lost. A screw opener such as 27 may
be used for depressing the plunger 22 shown in Fig. 8, in lieu of the lever 10 th
case 20 being then modified to receive the screw opener. The case 20 is removably
screwed to the bottle neck as in Fig. 9.

page_text: Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 10, but in which the screw 27 is replaced by a
lever 10".
By our invention bottles of various shapes can thus be adapted to be closed by
our improved stoppers and be converted into syphon bottles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a bottle stopper comprising a lower part forming a valve 1, a knob 2, a
connecting stem 3, and a groove 5 formed by and between said knob, valve, and stem,
one or more exit channels formed partly in said knob and partly in said stem and
the lower end of each of which terminates in the said groove at a point below the
top side of said groove, and a short distance above the bottom side thereof,
substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 3, 4,
and 5, and in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings annexed for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of parts constructed, arranged and operating as shewn in and
hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed, and
comprising a stopper of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, and an elastic
ring arranged partly within the groove in the stopper and partly within an annular
groove formed in the bottle neck, the said ring being made to closely fit the
stem 3 of the stopper and being of a thickness corresponding or approximately so
to the width of the groove in the stopper as herein set forth for the purpose
specified.
3. A syphon bottle constructed with a stopper or closure such as herein referred to
and with an internal discharge tube 19 notched at its lower end and provided with a
ring 19 fitting tightly between the upper end of the tube and the interior of the
bottle neck as herein before described with reference to and shown in Fig. 8 of the
drawings annexed for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with a syphon bottle of the kind referred to in the preceding
claim, of a head comprising a case 20 adapted to be secured to the bottle neck and
provided with a spout 23, a plunger 22, packing ring 24, and a lever 10ª for
operating the said plunger substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 8
of the drawings annexed, or modified by the substitution of a screw such as 27
(Fig. 10) for the lever 10ª and with or without an air passage 26 for the purpose
specified.
5. The improved syphon bottle and syphon head constructed as hereinbefore
described, with reference to and shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings annexed.
6. For a syphon bottle, the combination with a stopper for use with two elastic
rings, of a head comprising a case 20 adapted to be secured to the bottle neck and
formed with a shoulder 25 for the upper ring 8 and with a spout 23, and means
such as a screw 27 or a lever 10° for depressing the stopper, the lower ring 6 of the
stopper being arranged to enter a groove formed by and between the head and
the bottle neck when the two are secured together substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 10th dex of Santamber 1890.
WM. P. BONWICK.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Applicants' Agent.