Improvements in Bottle Stoppers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Communicated from abroad by LOUIS DREVON, of Pont de Beauvoisin (Savoie), in
the Republic of France, Bonder.
Improvements in Bottle Stoppers.
1, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a novel stopper enabling the bottling of aërated
drinks, without loss of either the gas or the liquid, whilst at the same time pre-
venting, owing to the rapidity with which it may be closed, the considerable loss
of gas which at present takes place at each unstoppering.
The improved stopper consists of a principal portion or stopper proper of metal,
glass, china or any other substance of great strength, provided at its lower
Fortion with a washer of india rubber forming a perfect joint with the neck of
the bottle. The stopper is hollow, and fitted with an internal rod the upper part
of which forms a perforated washer, whilst its lower portion is screw-threaded for
the reception of a base upon which rests an india rubber washer forming a valve,
which bears constantly against the lower orifice of the stopper, being acted upon
by the spring.
This assemblage of parts is connected with the neck of the bottle by the
ordinary galvanized-iron wire device, in the same manner as the stoppers hitherto
employed for stoppering beer bottles.
The connecting device hereinafter described may however be advantageously
employed, as with this it is not necessary to perforate the stopper. With this
object, this latter is provided at its upper portion with a groove around which
passes an iron wire bent at two of its diametrically opposite extremities so as to
form a twist or ring in which engages the ordinary pivoted lever.
In order to fill the bottle, the filling appliance is caused to bear upon the washer
of the rod and by a suitable pressure this rod is caused to descend so that its base
no longer blocks the lower aperture of the stopper. This valve being opened in
this manner, the liquid flows into the bottle.
When the bottle has been filled, the supply pipe for the liquid is no longer
caused to bear against the washer thus enabling the spring to contract and
effect hermetic sealing of the bottle.
It should be noticed that when the bottle has been filled, the internal pressure of
the gases still further increases the efficacy of the spring to produce the closing.
In order to pour out the liquid, it is only necessary to cause the stopper to
swing back in the manner ordinarily employed with beer bottles closed on the
lever principle. Closing is rapidly effected by a reversal of the operation.
The principal advantages of this form of stopper are essentially as follows:-
1. A great reduction in the number of employees required for filling.

page_text: 2. Considerable economy in the cost of the stoppering; the corks hitherto
employed being capable of serving once only, whilst my improved stopper may
be used indefinitely.
3. Complete retention of the gases within the bottles even when these latter
have been opened.
4. The facility with which un-stoppering and re-stoppering may be effected.
This stopper is applicable to the draught of all kinds of gaseous or aerated
beverages, and also to beers which it is desired to draw under pressure.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Bottle Stoppers.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to a novel stopper enabling the bottling of aerated
drinks to be effected without loss of either the gas or the liquid, whilst at the same
time preventing, owing to the rapidity with which it may be closed, the consider-
able loss of gas which at present takes place at each unstoppering.
The novel stopper by means of which these defects are obviated is represented
in the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections through the stopper in position on the neck
of a bottle, and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same.
The improved stopper consists of a principal portion or stopper proper com-
posed of metal, glass, china or any other substance of great strength, provided at
its lower portion with a washer B of india rubber forming a perfect joint with
the neck or the bottle. The part A is hollow, as shewn, and is fitted with an
internal rod C the upper part I) of which forms a perforated washer, whilst its
lower portion is screw-threaded for the reception of a nut E upon which rests
an india rubber washer forming a valve, which bears constantly against the
lower orifice of the part A, being acted upon by the spring G.
This assemblage of parts is connected with the neck L of the bottle by the
ordinary galvanised-iron wire device H, in the same manner as the stoppers
hitherto employed for stoppering beer bottles.
The connecting device represented in Figure 3 may advantageously be
employed, as with this it is not necessary to perforate the stopper. With this
object, this latter is provided at its upper portion with a groove K around which
passes an iron wire M bent at two of its diametrically opposite extremities 80
as to form a twist or ring in which engages the ordinary pivoted lever.
In order to fill the bottle, the device occupying the position represented in
Figure 1, the filling appliance is caused to bear upon the washer D of the rod C
and by a suitable pressure this rod C is caused to descend so that its base no
longer blocks the lower aperture of the stopper. This valve being thus opened,
the liquid flows into the bottle along the path indicated by the arrows Figure 2.
When the bottle has been filled the supply pipe for the liquid is no longer
caused to bear against the washer D, thus enabling the spring G to expand and
effect hermetic sealing of the bottle.
E

page_text: It should be noticed that when the bottle has been filled, the internal pressure of
the gases still further increases the effect of the spring in producing the closing
of the joint.
In order to pour out the liquid, it is only necessary to cause the stopper to
swing back in the manner ordinarily employed with beer bottles closed on the
lever principle, closing is rapidly etected by a reversal of the operation.
The principal advantages of this form of stopper are essentially as follows:-
1. A great reduction in the number of employees required for filling.
2. Considerable economy in the cost of the stoppering; the corks hitherto
employed being capable of serving once only, whilst my improved stopper may
be used indefinitely.
3. Complete retention of the gases within the bottles even when these latter
have been opened.
4. The facility with which un-stoppering and re-stoppering may be effected.
This stopper is applicable to the draught of all kinds of gaseous or aerated
beverages, and also to beers which it is desired to draw under pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
The stopper for gaseous or aerated beverages described and illustrated, formed
by a principal part of any suitable resisting material provided with an external
washer intended to form a joint; this principal part being traversed vertically by
a rod surrounded by a closing spring and its upper portion forming a perforated
washer whilst the lower portion forms a valve; the said stopper being manu-
factured in the ordinary manner by means of a lever which is attached to it,
either in the manner hitherto employed passing through the body of the stopper,
or by means of an iron wire provided with bends at its extremities which is
arranged in a circular groove formed at the top of the stopper.
Dated this 21st day of March 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.