US1763129A - Process of making stoppers - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1930.

Filed Jan. 12, 1928 mwzrv TOR. JeanBroad/zurst ATTORNEY.

Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEAN BROADHURST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO STANLEY J. STANLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF MAKING STOPPERS Application filed January 12, 1928. Serial No. 246,285.

This invention relates to a process of making stoppers having particular reference to stoppers for use in connection with test tubes, bottles or other containers used particularly in laboratories and hospitals.

In common practice, use is generally made of raw cotton as a stopper or plug for test tubes, bottles and other containers, such stoppers or plugs usually being fitted to the containers at the time of making. In so making these stoppers, a quantity of raw cotton appropriate to the size of tube or bottle is obtained and is twisted or rolled by hand to such size as to properly fit within the mouth 13 or neck of the container. It is very obvious that this practice has a great many objections, chief among which is that the stopper must be of approximately the same size as the mouth or opening of the tube or container 29 with which it is used requiring the exercise of skill in selecting the requisite amount of material in making and shaping the stopper. Should too greata quantity be used, the stopper will be of such size as to necessitate discarding it entirely or to involve remaking and reshaping it, or to compress too tightly or compactly the material thereof when being forced into the tube or bottle, whereby the latter is too completely sealed to allow the tree passage of air, steam or vapor necessary in many of the routine procedures for which such plugs or stoppers are used, such as the cultivation of bacteria and the heating and sterilizing of containers and culture media. On the other hand, should the quantity of material taken be too small, a stopper of insufficient size will result and will. drop into the bottle or tube. Furthermore, the time required in this cumbersome practice renders the samehighly objectionable.

It is the primary object of the present in-' vention to provide a stopper of such character as to be adaptable to tubes or bottle mouths of various sizes, which will effectively seal the container with which it is used against the ingress of bacteria, dust or other foreign bodies, yet which will possess a degree of perviousness such as will permit air, steam or vapors to pass therethrough. Stoppers possessing these characteristics are adapted particularly for use in connection withbottles, flasks, tubes or the like wherein there are contamed liquids, chemicals, culture media or other matter of like nature for making dilucapable of withstanding flaming Without detracting from the efficiency of the stopper or affecting the degree of porosity of the latter.

A still further object is to provide a stopper and process by means of which the stoppers may beproduced by extremely simple operations, at low costand at great saving of material, and wherein the stoppers so produced retain their shape and effectiveness notwithstanding repeated or continuous usage.

', In the drawings forming part of this speck fication Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a blanktrom which the stoppers of my invention may he made,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the blanks l prior to the treatment in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the blank shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through blanks shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the first stop in my improved process,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a form or mold for carrying out the shaping recess, I Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing tlie plug T3 or stopperat the completion of the process, and

F ig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the application of my improved stopper'to the neck of a bottle or test tube.

In the accomplishment of the objects set forth, use is made of paper, wood, or fiber pulp formed or rolled substantially cylindrical in shape, the fibers of which may be matted in the several layers and may be disposed parallel or otherwise to the axis of the roll. The blank thus formed is out transversely entirely through at such places as will produce a plug or stopper of the desired length, such plugs being represented at 8 in the drawings. In their initial form as thus cut, the plugs are truly cylindrical, and in order that the stoppers be adaptable to bottle necks or tubes within a varied, though limited range of sizes, the plugs are shaped to a taper toward one end. This is accomplished by subjecting one end of the cylindrical fiber stopper or blank to moisture. The application of moisture to the stopper end may be accomplished by subjecting the same to a body of liquid, permitting a drop or more of liquid to engage the stopper end, or the process may be effectively carried out by subjecting the stopper end to a jet or spray of steam, vapor or moist air, while, again, the reduced end of a mold for shaping the stopper may be moistened in any preferred manner so that the stopper end will be subjected to moisture upon being applied to the form.

The blank with its end thus moistened is placed or slightly forced into a form 9 of substantially frusto-conical shape and remains so positioned until properly shaped. The drying of such shaped plugs may be carried out naturally, or, if desired, more rapid drying may be effected by subjecting the forms containing the stoppers to the action of heat or a blast of warm air, or by applying warm air to the shaped but incompletely dried stoppers. The drawings illustrate the application of moisture to the plug and by dipping or touching the plug end to aliquid contained in a pan or trays 10, but it will be understood that the moistening process may be carried out in other ways as above suggested. The mold 9 shown in the drawings is of conventional form, and it will be understood that apparatus for shaping the stoppers may take forms other than that de scribed and illustrated.

The moistening of one end of the blank saturates all fibers immediately adjacent to that end, and pressure brought about by compressing the end as by applying the mold or form, slightly mats or compacts the moistened portion, the compression, however, is insufiicient to destroy porosity of the moistened port-ion, nor does it seal or render the treated end thereof impervious.

When dry, the stopper or plug will be found to retain the substantially trusto-conical shape, as the moistening and drying operations have permitted the plug end to become set, and the plug thus becomes permanently shaped in accordance with the form to which it has been subjected.

In practice, it will be found that plugs or stoppers constructed in accordance with the foregoing description will prove highly effective in the associations with which its uses are adapted. The plugs are extremely easy to handle or manipulate both in the applying and withdrawing operations, and when placed in the neck or mouth of the bottle or tube will effectively close the same against dust, bacteria or other contamination from outside sources, yet permits steam, vapors or air to pass through to the extent desirable in laboratory and hospital practices.

By forming the plugs in substantially the manner shown, plugs of a few given sizes are adaptable to tubes or bottles having necks or openings varying in diameters.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The process of making stoppers, consisting of subjecting an end of a cylindrical porous body to moisture and tapering of body toward the moistened end.

2. The process of making stoppers, consisting of subjecting an end of porous roll to moisture and tapering the roll toward the moistened end.

3. The process of making stoppers, consisting of subjecting an end of a porous pulp body to moisture and tapering the body toward the moistened end.

4. The process of making stoppers, consisting of subjecting an end of a. porous body to moisture and compressing the same in a tapered mold until shaped or set.

5. The process of making stoppers, consisting of rolling a porous sheet into cylindrical form, moistening one end of the cylim der and inserting the moistened end into a form or mold of smaller diameter than the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JEAN BROADHURS'I".

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