Improvements in Bottles, to Prevent them being Refilled.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles, to Prevent them being Refilled.
We, JAMES BROKENSHA, Fishmonger, LAVINGTON GEORGE ROOPE, Brewer,
GEORGE EDWARD TUCKER, Merchant, and WALTER SEARLE, Hotelkeoper, all
of Invercargill, in the Colony of New Zealand, 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 :-
Our invention relates to bottles, designed so as to render them incapable of being
refilled without detection, and has for its object to provide a bottle which shall
accomplish this purpose by simple and inexpensive means.
It is well known to merchants, that bottles used for spirituous liquors, medicines,
and the like, are often refilled with an inferior article and sold as the original
genuine article.
We are aware that bottles have been manufactured with the intention of effecting
the object of our invention, but they have been expensive or defective in operation,
or have had other drawbacks which we have overcome.
In carrying the object of our invention into effect we make the body of the bottle
similar to those at present in use. The interior of the neck of the bottle, however,
is furnished with a flange or flanges, or projections, and with a groove or grooves
for reducing the thickness of the material and weakening the same at such places.
The cork is forced into position when it will be so held by the flanges or
projections that it will be necessary to break the neck of the bottle to set free the
contents of the bottle. The aforesaid grooves by reducing the thickness, render it
an easy matter to break the neck.
In order that our invention may be most easily understood by one skilled in the
art to which it appertains we will now proceed to describe the same, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings on which :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bottle having one flange and one groove.
Figure 2 is a view of the top of the neck broken away at the groove, and the
cork held therein. In this manner the cork may be used as a temporary stopper.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of part of the neck shewing two internal
flanges.
Figure 4 is a plan of the top of Figures 3 or 1.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of part of the neck shewing the projections
instead of flanges.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts.
On the drawing, d is the body of an ordinary bottle for holding liquids. a is the
cork, 6 the flange formed out of the material comprising the neck, and othe
groove.
When the cork a is in position it is securely held by the flange b from being
withdrawn. The groove c which may be on the exterior or interior, or both,
weakens the bottle at such parts making it an easy matter to withdraw the cork
and remove the upper part of the neck as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows a neck provided with two flanges to afford still greater
security.
tters rerer
parts.
On the drawing, d is the body of an ordinary bottle for holding liquids. a is the
cork, 6 the flange formed out of the material comprising the neck, and the
groove.
When the cork a is in position it is securely held by the flange 6 from being
withdrawn. The groove which may be on the exterior or interior, or both,
weakens the bottle at such parts making it an easy matter to withdraw the cork
and remove the upper part of the neck as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows a neck provided with two flanges to afford still greater
security.
Figures & and & show projections & in place of the flange & shown in Figure is
The grooves o are shown in this case below the bottom of the cork.

page_text: The flanges b or projections 6¹ make the use of wires for- holding the corks
unnecessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) The combination in a bottle, of a groove in its neck, an internal flange and
a cork substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
(2) The combination in a bottle, of one or more grooves in its neck.and two or
more internal flanges and a cork, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
herein.
(3) The combination in a bottle, of a groove in its neck, internal projections.and
a cork, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
(4) A bottle, constructed and arranged, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth herein and illustrated on the .accompanying drawing.
Dated this on
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.