How the Crown Cork Bottle Cap Changed Soda and Beer
William Painter's 1892 invention of the crown cork bottle cap, a simple metal disc with a crimped edge that provided an airtight, disposable seal for carbonated beverages.
Original patent title: “Bottle-sealing device”
William Painter's 1892 invention of the crown cork bottle cap, a simple metal disc with a crimped edge that provided an airtight, disposable seal for carbonated beverages. Granted to William Painter in 1892 with 19 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device functions by using a metal cap with a corrugated or crimped edge that is pressed over the rim of a glass bottle. A small gasket inside the cap creates a hermetic seal against the bottle's lip. This design allows the cap to withstand the internal pressure of carbonated drinks like beer or soda without leaking or popping off prematurely. It is designed to be easily removed using a separate opener, rendering the cap single-use.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover screw-top bottle closures.
- Does not cover cork-based stoppers that rely on friction inside the bottle neck.
- Does not cover re-sealable caps or flip-top mechanisms.
- Does not cover the glass bottle design itself.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The genius lies in the crimping process; by deforming the metal edge to lock under the bottle's rim, Painter created a secure, low-cost seal that could be applied at high speed on an assembly line.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Standard glass beer bottles
Traditional glass soda bottles
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Before this invention, bottles were sealed with expensive, difficult-to-remove, and often leaky corks. The crown cork allowed for mass-produced, shelf-stable carbonated beverages, effectively launching the modern soft drink and beer bottling industries.
Granted
February 2, 1892
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Crown Cork and Seal Company, founded by William Painter, became a global giant in packaging. Today, the technology remains the industry standard for glass-bottled beverages worldwide, with companies like Amcor and various global packaging firms continuing to refine the materials and application machinery.
Market impact
This invention enabled the global distribution of carbonated drinks by making bottling cheap, reliable, and fast. It effectively standardized the packaging for the entire beverage industry, creating a massive secondary market for bottle openers and high-speed filling machinery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device functions by using a metal cap with a corrugated or crimped edge that is pressed over the rim of a glass bottle. A small gasket inside the cap creates a hermetic seal against the bottle's lip. This design allows the cap to withstand the internal pressure of carbonated drinks like beer or soda without leaking or popping off prematurely. It is designed to be easily removed using a separate opener, rendering the cap single-use.
The clever bit
The genius lies in the crimping process; by deforming the metal edge to lock under the bottle's rim, Painter created a secure, low-cost seal that could be applied at high speed on an assembly line.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover screw-top bottle closures.
- Does not cover cork-based stoppers that rely on friction inside the bottle neck.
- Does not cover re-sealable caps or flip-top mechanisms.
- Does not cover the glass bottle design itself.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$8K – $26K
Midpoint $16K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
(1892). How the Crown Cork Bottle Cap Changed Soda and Beer (U.S. Patent No. 468,226). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/468226/bottle-cap-crown-cork-painter
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Crown Cork Bottle Cap Changed Soda and Beer cover?
William Painter's 1892 invention of the crown cork bottle cap, a simple metal disc with a crimped edge that provided an airtight, disposable seal for carbonated beverages.
Who owns patent US 468226?
William Painter owns this patent, granted in 1892.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 468226 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 19 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Before this invention, bottles were sealed with expensive, difficult-to-remove, and often leaky corks. The crown cork allowed for mass-produced, shelf-stable carbonated beverages, effectively launching the modern soft drink and beer bottling industries.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover screw-top bottle closures.
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