IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Bovenschen, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING
BOTTLES." A communication from abroad by Hermann Ludwig Langgaard,
of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
caled the 10th November 1876, and dated the 15th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Bovenschen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1876.
CHARLES BOVENSCHEN, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London. "IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR. STOPPERING BOTTLES." A communication from abroad
by Hermann Ludwig Langgaard, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
+ I
This Invention relates to the construction of certain improved apparatus for
stoppering or closing bottles, and is especially (although not exclusively) applicable
to bottles employed to contain effervescing or aerated liquids.
The apparatus consists essentially in the combination and arrangement of
certain parts, that is to say, a ring by which the apparatus is secured to the neck
of the bottle, a frame on which is mounted the disc by which the mouth of the
bottle is stopped, the disc itself, and a lever by means of which the disc is:
actuated. The ring is formed of any suitablo metal, and consists of two semi-,
circular parts, one end of each of which parts is provided with a projection having
a hole or aperture therein, and through which respectively a pin or pivot is
passed and secured so as to form a hinge upon which the separate semicircular
parts of the ring can turn. The opposite ends of the semicircular parts of the:
ring are formed with projections provided with apertures having a screw thread
therein for the reception of a screw by means of which the two parts of the ring
are held in position. On opposite sides of the ring are placed projections, with
apertures therein for the reception of the ends of the vertical portion of the frame
before inentioned, and, which is formed of steel or other suitable wire, one portion
thereof constituting a cross bar, the two ends being bent at right angles thereto,
thus forming arms, the extremities of which work in the before-mentioned apertures,
in the ring. The disc, which consists of a metallic plate having a pad of india-
rubber or other suitable clastic material firmly attached to its lower face, is mounted
on the arns of the frame by means of lugs having apertures thercin so that the

page_text: On the cross bar of the frame is
mounted the lever, which is of a curved form, and at the portion through which
the cross bar passes is of a cam-like shape, and by means of which the mouth of
the bottle is closed by the disc or uncovered, as may be desired.
disc can work freely up and down the arms.
The apparatus is applied as follows:-The ring is opened by removing the screw
and turning the respective portions of the ring on the hinge. The ring is then
placed under the collar at the top of the neck of the bottle and closed, and the
parts connected by the screw being again inserted, the ring is thus held in a firm
position, and is kept steady by the before-mentioned projections thereon, in which
the arms of the frame are inserted, and the inner faces of which projections press
against the neck of the bottle. When the bottle is empty and the mouth open
the frame with the disc and lever hang over one side of the neck, and when it is
desired to close the mouth of the bottle the frame is brought into a vertical
position, and the lever mised and rotated on the cross bar, and the point of the
curved end brought down to the neck of the bottle. In this operation the cam-like
portion of the lever impinges upon the upper face of the metallic disc and presses
the same together with the elastic pad downwards when the elastic pad effectually
closes the mouth of the bottle, in which position the disc is held until the lever is
again raised, when the disc is freed from the pressure previously exerted upon it by
the cain-like portion of the lever, and the mouth of the bottle is uncovered so that
the liquid contained in the latter can be poured out.
By means of this Invention many important advantages are obtained. The
apparatus is simple and economical in construction, effectual in its operation for
the purpose of stoppering or closing the mouths of bottles or preventing the
emission of liquid therefrom, the expense of corks (and of wire in the case of
acrated liquids) is entirely saved, whilst the apparatus can be so quickly actuated
that all loss of carbonic acid gas when the former is used in connection with
nerated liquids is entirely avoided. An additional advantage is that the stopper
can readily be removed from one bottle to another.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Bovenschen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
November 1876.
"IM-
CHARLES BOVENSCHEN, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London.
PROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPERING BOTTLES." A communication from abroad
by Hermann Ludwig Langgaard, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
My said Invention relates to the construction of certain improved apparatus for
stoppering or closing bottles, and is especially (although not exclusively) applicable
to bottles employed to contain effervescing or aerated liquids.
The apparatus consists essentially in the combination and arrangement of certain
parts, that is to say, a ring by which the apparatus is secured to the neck of the
bottle, a frame on which is mounted the disc by which the mouth of the bottle is
stopped, the disc itself, and a lever by means of which the disc is actuated. The
ring is formed of any suitable metal, and consists of two semicircular parts, one
end of each of which parts is provided with a projection having a hole or aperture
therein, and through which respectively a pin or pivot is passed and secured so as
to form a hinge, upon which the separate semicircular parts of the ring can turn.
The opposite ends of the semicircular parts of the ring are formed with projections
provided with apertures having a screw thread therein for the reception of a screw
by means of which the two parts of the ring are held in position. On opposite
sides of the ring are placed projections with apertures therein for the reception of
the ends of the vertical portion of the frame before mentioned, and which is formed
of steel or other suitable wire, one portion thereof constituting a cross bar, the

page_text: "
two ends being bent at right angles thereto, thus forming arms, the extremities of
which work in the before-mentioned apertures in the ring. The disc, which
consis's of a metallic plate having a pad of india-rubber or other suitable clastic
material firmly attached to its lower face, is mounted on the arms of the frame by
means of lugs having apertures therein, so that the disc can work freely up and
down the arms. On the cross bar of the frame is mounted the lever, which is of a
curved form, and at the portion through which the cross bar passes is of a cam-
like shape, and by means of which the mouth of the bottle is closed by the disc or
uncovered, as may be desired.
The apparatus is applied as follows:-The ring is opened by removing the screw
and turning the respective portions of the ring on the hinge. The ring is then
placed under the collar at the top of the neck of the bottle and closed, and the
parts connected by the screw being again inserted, the ring is thus held in a firm
position, and is kept steady by the before-mentioned projections thereon, in which
the arms of the frame are inserted, and the inner faces of which projections press
against the neck of the bottle. When the bottle is empty and the mouth open the
frame with the disc and lever hang over one side of the neck, and when it is
desired to close the mouth of the bottle the frame is brought into a vertical position,
and the lover raised and rotated on the cross bar, and the point of the curved end
brought down to the neck of the bottle. In this operation the cam-like portion of
the lever impinges upon the upper face of the metallic disc and presses the same
together with the elastic pad downwards, when the elastic pad effectually closes the
mouth of the bottle, in which position the disc is held until the lever is again
raised, when the disc is freed from the pressure previously exerted upon it by the
cam-like portion of the lever, and the mouth of the bottle is uncovered so that tho
liquid contained in the latter can be poured out.
By means of my said Invention many important advantages are obtained. The
apparatus is simple and economical in construction, effectual in its operation for the
purpose of stoppering or closing the mouths of bottles or preventing the omission
of liquid therefrom, the expense of corks (and of wire in the case of nerated
liquids) is entirely saved, whilst the apparatus can be so quickly actuated that all
loss of carbonic acid gas when the former is used in connection with. nërated
liquids is entirely avoided. An additional advantage is that the stopper can readily
be removed from one bottle to another.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved apparatus for
stoppering bottles, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and
described or any mere inodification thereof.
In witness whercof, I, the said Charles Bovenschen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
C. BOVENSCHEN. (L.S.)