Improvements in Stoppering Bottles and other Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering Bottles and other Vessels.
I, DANIEL FRANCIS DOODY, Builder and Contractor, a citizen of the United
States, residing at 502 9th Street, Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State
of New York, U.S.A., 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 :—
The object of my invention is to provide a plug or stopper for bottles, jugs,
demijohns &c., which while permitting the free discharge of its contents, prevents
the refilling thereof.
To accomplish this, I provide a plug or stopper to be placed in the neck of the
bottle, sufficiently far below its mouth to allow room for an ordinary cork. The
details of construction and operation of my invention are set forth in the following
description and in the accompanying drawing, of which
Figure 1 is a detailed view of the neck of a bottle or other vessel in section,
showing my improved device secured therein.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through my improved plug or stopper on the
lines x of Figures 1 and 4.
Figure 3 is a detailed view of the plug at right angles to that of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line of Figure 3;
yy
Figure 5 a detailed view of the valve with a.washer.
and
A indicates the neck of the bottle or other vessel having at suitable distance
below or within its mouth, an annular rib a which serves to permanently secure the
plug within the neck of the bottle as hereinafter described. The plug, which is
made of glass or other suitable material, and is provided with a valve that permits
the discharge of the contents of the bottle, but prevents its refilling, may be
constructed substantially as shown and as follows:-
In each
B
It consists of two hollow cylindrical or tapering portions B C according as the
interior of the neck of the bottle is straight or tapering. These two portions are
connected preferably on one side only by a bar D whose outer surface also
conforms to the interior shape of the neck of the bottle. The exterior surface of
the upper portion B is formed with horizontal channels b, and the ridges or
projections between these channels are cut away at intervals as at c.
instance, however, the openings c through the horizontal ribs are each opposite
solid portion d of the adjoining rib, in other words, the openings are arranged in
alternation. Irregularly shaped or tortuous passages are thus formed in the outer
face of the part B. Each of the projections d, below tho upper ones, is centrally
recessed as at d', opposite the openings between the portions d of the adjoining
horizontal ridge next above. All the openings between the parts d of each
borizontal ridge are preferably formed with inclined side walls, the openings being
widest at the top. The upper end of the bar D may, as shown, form the recessed
projection in the lower row on one side. The lower portion C of the stopper is
formed with a valve seat preferably a conical seat, on which is seated the valve E.
The stem above the valve extends up and is provided with three radially projecting
wings e that work in and are guided by the lower portion of the interior bore of the
part B, while stem below the valve is formed with similar projections e' that work
in and are guided by the bore of the lower portion C.
It will now be obvious that if such a stopper be secured in the neck of a bottle,
as indicated in Figure 1, or otherwise, after the bottle has been filled, if the bottle
is inverted the pressure of its contents will unseat the valve and the contents will
enter the space Y from whence it will pass through the irregular tortuous passages
on the exterior of B and be discharged from the mouth of the bottle. Any attempt

page_text: to refill the bottle, however, will fail because any liquid passing down through the
passages in the exterior of B will at once seat the valve and be prevented from
entering the bottle. When the plug has been inserted and secured as presently
described or otherwise, and the bottle filled, the valve is dropped into position and
the bore of the part B is closed by a stopper F, which may be cemented therein by
liquid glass or other suitable cement, so that it may not be removed. To facilitate
the insertion of this stopper, it may have a lug or projection f formed upon it so
that it can be held by a pair of pliers and properly put in position. Instead of the
lug f, it might of course have one or more recesses in its face for the same purpose.
The mouth of the bottle may then be closed by an ordinary shipping cork as
indicated in dotted lines at G Figure 1.
It is obvious that after the contents of the bottle have been discharged as
already described, the bottle cannot be refilled because it is not possible to hold up
the valve. To prevent any one from doing this is the purpose of the peculiar
formation on the exterior part B. It will be noticed that any wire or instrument
which one might attempt to insert through the openings e would be obstructed by
the projections d and the end of the wire would be caught in the recess d¹ and in
any event would be so deflected that it could not be brought into engagement
with the valve. At the same time the contents of the bottle may be freely
discharged.
If the valve E and its seat E' are properly faced, no washer will be necessary,
but I prefer a washer, and by further preference such a one as is indicated in the
detailed view, Figure 5. In this figure the flexible washer H which may be of
rubber or any other suitable material, is cup shaped to conform to the seat and
valve. Its edges are preferably free as shown, and its central portion is secured to
the under face of the valve. I also by preference make the washer the same depth
as the seat, but the valve shorter. Such construction insures a perfectly tight fit
of the valve upon its seat, and even if the valve did not descend properly upon
its seat, should an effort be made to refill the bottle, the pressure of the fluid upon
the loose edge of the washer would close it against the seat.
In order to secure the stopper within the neck of the bottle, the following
construction may be adopted, though of course it might be cemented in or secured
in any other suitable manner. The exterior face of the part C is tapered from its
lower end inwardly to a shoulder 1. The annular space thus formed may be filled
with a suitable cement and then when the stopper is forced into its place the
annular rib a on the neck of the bottle, will force the cement I', which is
indicated by the black shade in Figure 1, around and below the rib a upon which
the shoulder I then rests. As soon as the cement has set, the stopper will be
tightly secured in the neck of the bottle and cannot be removed. Instead of
cement an elastic ring of any suitable material may be used in connection either
with the rib a or an annular channel within the neck of the bottle into which the
elastic material would expand and lock the stopper.
For convenience in making the stopper and securing it in the bottle, I prefer to
form the upper and lower parts separately, the connecting arm D being formed
integral with one portion, for instance the lower one, as shown, and cement the
parts together as at y. Of course the parts might not be connected and could be
each independently secured in the neck of the bottle. For the same reason I
prefer to form the upper part B in two longitudinal halves and cement them
together as indicated by the line Z in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A stopper for preventing the refilling of bottles, consisting of upper and
lower portions adapted to be seated in the neck of a bottle, the upper portion
having horizontal channels connected by transverse openings alternately arranged,
and a stopper for closing its bore and the lower portion being provided with an

page_text: automatically acting valve that permits the discharge of the contents of the bottle,
but is closed when liquid is poured into the bottle.
2. A bottle stopper consisting of two tubular portions having between them a
fluid space (Y), the upper portion having exterior tortuous passages formed by
horizontal channels connected by alternately arranged openings, in combination
with a plug or stopper for the bore of the upper portion and a valve seated in the
lower portion, and the radial arms projecting from the valve stem on each side of
the valve, and lying in and guided by the bores of the upper and lower portions,
substantially as set forth.
3. A bottle stopper consisting of upper and lower portions, the upper portion
being formed with tortuous passages on its exterior face, and having a stopper for
closing its bore, in combination with a valve seated in the lower portion and having
a washer secured upon its face, but free at its edges.
4. The combination of the bottle stopper, substantially such as herein described
having its lower portion tapered, a filling of cement or binding material sur-
rounding said tapered portions, and a bottle or other vessel having within its
neck an annular rib or locking surface with which the cement or binding
material engages.
5. A bottle stopper, substantially of the character herein described, having upon
its exterior face a series of projections (d) formed by horizontal channels connected
by transverse openings, the face of each projection lying opposite one of said
openings, being recessed for the purpose described.
6. A bottle stopper consisting of upper and lower portions, and an intermediate
fluid space (Y), the upper portiou having tortuous passages in its exterior face, and
a plug for closing its bore having upon its outer end means by which it may be
held while being inserted into place, and an automatically operating valve seated
in the lower portion.
7. A bottle stopper of the character described consisting of upper and lower
portions separately formed and cemented together, the upper portion being also
formed in two longitudinal halves which are cemented together.
8. A bottle stopper, to prevent refilling of the bottle, constructed and operating
substantially as described.
9. A bottle stopper consisting of a lower portion having a valve seat, a spindle
valve seated thereon and having its spindle guided above and below the valve,
and an upper portion that covers and protects the valve and has passages for the
discharge of the contents of the bottle.."
10. A bottle stopper consisting of upper and lower portions adapted to be
secured in the neck of a bottle with a fluid space between them, the upper portion
having tortuous passages for the discharge of the liquid, and the lower portion
having a valve seat and a spindle valve seated thereon.
11. In a bottle stopper a discharge valve comprising a seat, a valve and a
flexible valve washer attached to the valve at its middle and free at its edges.
12. A valve comprising a conical seat, a valve of less depth than the seat and a
flexible conical valve washer attached to the valve at its middle and free at its
edges and of a greater depth than the valve.
13. A bottle stopper comprising an upper portion having a filling bore or
opening and discharge passages, a plug for closing the filling opening, a lower
portion and an automatic valve seated therein.
14. A bottle stopper to prevent refilling having discharge passages, a seat for a
valve, and a bore or opening leading to said seat whereby after the bottle is filled
the valve may be placed in position, and a plug for then permanently closing
the bore.
Dated this 20th day of April 1893.
DANIEL FRANCIS DOODY.