Improvements in and connected with Bottles and similar Vessels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1893—Accepted, 28th Oct., 18º3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bottles and similar Vessels.
I ARTHUR WILLIAM ELLIS of 4 Margaretta Terrace, Chelsea, in the County
of London, Chemical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
:-
This invention relates to improvements in bottles and similar vessels for
containing wines, spirits medicines or other liquids, and has for its object the
provision of improved means whereby the fraudulent refilling of such vessels, or the
adulteration or dilution of their contents, cannot be accomplished without
detection. According to this invention (which is an improvement upon my Patent
No. 1376.-A.D. 1892) I provide the neck of the vessel with a valve seat or valve
seats which may form part of the neck itself or may be affixed or adapted thereto
in any suitable manner; to this valve seat or valve seats I fix a valve or valves of
less specific gravity than the liquid which the vessel is to contain, so arranged that
upon an attempt being made to introduce liquid into the vessel such valve or
valves, or one of them, will close the communication therewith in whatever
position the vessel may be placed, but will permit the free outward passage of
liquid when the vessel is tilted.
I now prefer to employ a valve in the form or approaching the form of a
truncated cone, having its sides inclined at a moderately acute angle, for the reason
that a valve of this description, with the assistance of the weights hereinafter
described, will become set and thus close the opening upon any attempt being made
to introduce liquid into the vessel, by giving to the same a vertical and jerking
movement.
I wish it however to be understood that I do not confine myself to this
particular form of valve, and also that precaution must be taken against the
employment of a valve so acute in form that it may become permanently fixed
by any unavoidable motion to which the vessel may be subject, such for instance
as shaking in transit.
more
Above the valve or valves, or above one of them, I place two or
weights, one of which must be spherical, so arranged that when the vessel is in
a horizontal position, or in a position in which its mouth is slightly depressed
such spherical weight will roll towards, and press against, the valve, which being
floated, or partially floated, upon the entrance of liquid into the neck of the
vessel will be carried and maintained on its seat by the force exerted by such
spherical weight. In conjunction with the valve or valves 1 employ a guard or
shield or guards or shields having a passage or passages through it or them for
the egress of liquid, so arranged that it, or they, will prevent the displacement of
the valve or valves for the purpose of fraudulently introducing liquid.
In the event of employing two valves I may dispense with the use of an
independent guard or shield and so construct the upper valve that it shall act
as a guard to the lower one.
In lieu of fitting the valves, weights, and guard direct to the neck of the
vessel I may enclose them in a casing which may be secured by means of cement or
in some other suitable manner.
Dated this 26th day of November 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bottles and similar Vessels.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM ELLIS, of 4 Margaretta Terrace, Chelsea, in the County
of London, Chemical Engineer 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 :-
This invention is an improvement upon my Patent No. 1376, A.D. 1892, and
relates to improvements in bottles and similar vessels whereby, having once been
emptied or partially emptied, they cannot be fraudulently refilled without detection.
Altho it has been found impossible to introduce liquid into the vessel described in
the Specification of my said Patent, in the ordinary manner when the vessel is in
an upright position, or by means of a vacuum when reversed, or in any other
position except by the employment of difficult and tedious means, yet I have
discovered that in common with all other inventions, having the same object in view,
with which I am acquainted, it is possible to fill the vessel by a jerking movement
if sufficient time be given to the operation. In carrying the present invention into
effect I guard against the possibility of fraudulently introducing liquid, by the
means above indicated, into the vessel (at least in any appreciable quantity) and I
further improve upon the aforesaid Patent in the following manner that is to
say, I provide the neck of the bottle or similar vessel with a valve seat, upon which
is fitted a valve, preferably conical in form, of less specific gravity than the liquid
which the vessel is to contain, and I provide, preferably, two circumferential
grooves, and two weights for the purposes hereinafter described. I arrange these
grooves in such a position with relation to the weights that upon the vessel being
held in an upright position each of the said weights shall engage with its
corresponding groove, and the lower one shall become, as it were, locked therein
thus preventing the lifting of the valve by any jerking movement as hereinbefore
mentioned, and that when on the other hand the vessel is placed in a horizontal
position, the said weights will press against or fall upon the valve, which upon the
introduction of liquid into the neck will be forced onto its seating, and thus close
all communication with the body of the vessel.
In conjunction with the floating valve and weights I permanently fix to the
mouth of the vessel, after the same has been filled, a stopper having a passage
through it for the egress of liquid, to which is attached a shield for the purposes
hereinafter described. The upper part of this stopper is adapted to receive an
ordinary cork or other suitable stopper.
I may fit the stopper and shield in such a manner that they can be withdrawn
for the purpose of legitimately filling the vessel, in which case I secure them by
means of a capsule or other suitable contrivance which when intact is a guarantee
that the contents of the bottle are genuine.
I sometimes adapt my improvements to a bottle or similar vessel having an
auxilliary neck or other opening through which the vessel may be filled, such vessel
being afterwards permanently closed, or corked and capsuled in the ordinary
manner.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the neck of a bottle provided with my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the valve.
Figure 3 is a view of the neck of a bottle shewing the position of the valve and
weights when the bottle is in a horizontal position with the valve open.
Figure 4 represents the position of the valve and weights when the bottle is in
a horizontal position with the valve closed.
Figure 5 is a section on the line ac, x.

page_text: Figure 6 is a section on the line y, y with the valve and weights removed.
Figure 7 is a plan of the stopper, supposed to be viewed from the underside.
Figure 8 is a view of the shield in elevation.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the same.
Figures 10 to 26 are views illustrating modifications of the various parts
constituting my invention and hereinafter described.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A indicates the neck of a bottle having two circumferential grooves B, B¹, a
seating C for the valve, and indentation D, D, D, D in order to keep the valve in
central position. E indicates the valve, F, F the weights for pressing the valve
onto its seat, G the stopper and H the shield.
In the case of bottles intended for spirits I construct the valve preferably of
stave oak for the reason that this material is not injurious to the contents. As
however I have found that after an immersion of several months in spirit, a valve of
solid oak becomes of two great a density for the purposes of this invention, I prefer
to employ in conjunction therewith a proportion of cork or other suitable substance
in such quantity that upon floating the valve on a liquid, about two thirds of the
said valve shall be submerged therein.
For this reason I bore or form a hollow space in the upper part of the valve E,
and I insert therein a plug of cork e as shewn in section in Figure 1 and in plan in
Figure 2; the form of the valve here illustrated is the one I prefer to employ, but
it may be modified as hereinafter described.
Upon the valve EI place two weights F, F, the object being that when the
bottle is upright the lower weight F enters the groove B and becomes, so to speak
wedged in position by the upper weight F, thus holding the valve upon its seat
and preventing the free lifting of the same when a fraudulent attempt is made to
introduce liquid by giving to the vessel a series of vertical jerks.
These weights are preferably made of glass and may be, coated with india
rubber.
The stopper G, which is advantageously made of glass, I provide with a passage
way for the egress of liquid and a shoulder a, and I reduce the diameter at its
lower part which is adapted to dip into the cup-like shield H, made of glazed or
enamelled iron or other suitable material.
I provide the shield with bent lugs c, c, c, c (seen more clearly in Figures 8 and 9)
for the purpose of affixing it to the stopper G, which I effect by means of a cork or
india rubber ring d, or by other suitable means, in order to ensure a tight joint
between the stopper and the neck of the bottle. This particular combination of
stopper and shield has the advantage that it not only renders absolutely impossible
the successful application of a wire or instrument wherewith to displace the valve
but it also, in itself, prevents the introduction of a liquid into the bottle in the
ordinary manner when the same is upright and at rest, because upon pouring a
small quantity of liquid into the shield H through the passage f of the stopper the
lower part thereof becomes sealed and egress of air from the bottle, and consequently
ingress of liquid into the same is prevented, while upon tilting the bottle when the
same is filled, the contents pass freely through the annular spaces 9, 9' (seen
more clearly in Figure 5) and thence through the passage f of the stopper G.
By reference to Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that the shield is arranged
at such a distance from the valve and weights that their lift is limited, and that
unless the mouth of the vessel be considerably depressed (in which case no liquid
could enter) the action of the weights has at all times a tendency to force the valve
onto its seat. The weights should have their centres of gravity in such positions
that when the bottle is horizontal, and the valve is opened to its extreme limit, as
in Figure 3, vertical lines through the centres of gravity will pass inside the
grooves respectively, and thus the weights have a tendency to drop into their
respective grooves immediately the frictional resistance of the valve is overcome by
the entrance of liquid into the neck of the bottle; I use the term "drop
"
in

page_text: contradistinction to "roll" as I have found that the sudden application of force by
this means, when applied to a bottle constructed according to this invention, is more
certain and rapid in its action than the force obtained by the roll of the weights
down a gradual incline. I therefore so arrange the size and form of the grooves
that, when the bottle is in a horizontal position, contact with them and the weights
shall only take place at the points h, and not at the opposite points h², '.
.
When the valve E is closed the weights F, F1 should still exert a thrusting force
upon it, see Figure 4. In Figure 10 I have shewn a modified construction of valve
having a spindle i at its upper part upon which is fitted the perforated cork e,
and in Figure 11 I have shewn a valve substantially the same as in Figure 10, but
with its conical part reduced in diameter in order to admit of a hollow cone j of
india rubber or other suitable material being fitted thereto, so that the valve may
the more readily adapt itself to its seating.
In some cases, and preferably, I grind the valve seating in order to ensure the
more perfect fit of the valve.
The method of applying my invention is as follows:-that is to say, having
filled the bottle to the desired height, I drop into the neck thereof the valve E, and
then the weights F, F. The shield H having been fitted to the stopper G, I close
the opening by means of an ordinary cork or other suitable stopper, I then coat
the upper part of the stopper G with cement and press the same into the neck of the
bottle which, when the cement has become set, may be capsuled in the ordinary
manner.
In the modification of my invention shewn in Figure 13, of which Figure 14 is a
section on the line x, x, with the springs removed, I have represented the neck of a
bottle having only one circumferential groove B into which the lower weight F
enters and is held in place by the upper weight F. I however provide the neck
with a second and smaller groove corresponding in position to the lower part of
the shield H. This groove is for the purpose of forming a passage g for liquid
between the circumference of the shield and the neck of the bottle, thus enabling
the shield to be increased in diameter and the passage way f of the stopper to be
enlarged. Above the second groove I form a still smaller angular groove / into
which the springs m, m may enter when the stopper is in place. I may also form
in the neck of the bottle a recess adapted to receive an india rubber ring n in order
to prevent the use of a solvent with the object of destroying the springs. In this
arrangement I provide the stopper with recesses 1, 1, 1, 1 for the purpose of
receiving the springs and I may furnish the same with a short mouth piece o in
order to facilitate a more regular flow of liquid when the contents of the bottle are
poured out. In using this form of stopper I may dispense with the use of cement
and proceed as follows:-that is to say, having affixed the shield to the stopper by
means of a cork or india rubber ring d in such a manner that an absolutely tight
joint between the stopper and the neck of the bottle is ensured, I insert the springs
into the recesses 1, 1, 1, 1. I then place the india rubber ring n into the recess
formed in the mouth of the bottle; this being done the stopper is inserted into the
neck of the bottle, and upon being pressed into position the springs will open and
enter the groove 4, and thus prevent the withdrawal of the stopper.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 15 I have shewn a stopper and shield
consisting of a tube o reduced in diameter at its lower part, thus forming a slight
shoulder a, the neck of the bottle being provided with a small shallow groove p.
Having fitted the..shield to the stopper by means of a ring of cork or other
suitable, material d, I press the stopper into the neck of the bottle until the cork or
other ring. reaches the underside of the groove p.
I now fill the vacant space above the said ring with sealing wax or other
suitable material and impress the same with some distinctive seal. This: being
done, the stopper cannot, be removed without breaking or damaging the seal
which, so long as it remains intact, is a guarantee that the contents of the bottle are
genuine.

page_text: Figure 16 illustrates a method of securing the stopper by means of a screw
thread and cement, the neck of the bottle being provided with a corresponding
female thread.
In Figure 17 the arrangement for securing the stopper is the same as in
Figure 16 but in this case the shield is shewn attached to the stopper by means of
a screw thread and is provided with a disc (shewn in plan in Figure 18) of glass
or other suitable material, in order to prevent the piercing of the shield by some
sharp instrument. I have only shewn the disc adapted to the shield in Figure 17,
but I may use it in conjunction therewith in all cases.
Figure 19, of which Figure 20 is a section on the line, x, illustrates a
modification in the arrangement of the stopper and shield shewn in Figure 15. In
this case attach the shield H to the tube o (representing in other cases the lower
part of the stopper) by means of the short lugs c, c, c, c, seen 'more clearly in
Figure 20. I encase this shield and part of the tube in the cylindrical box v in
such a manner that it forms therewith the annular spaces g, g.
9.
To the bottom of the said box I fit a short piece of tubing b¹, rounded at its
lower part and having perforations q for the egress of liquid. This stopper and
shield, which may be made of aluminium or other suitable material can be fitted to
the neck of a bottle by means of the cork or india rubber ring d, and may be
secured to the said neck by means of the capsule r, perforated at its upper part in
order that it may pass over the tube », or by other suitable means.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 21, of which Figure 21 is a section on
the line, with the valve removed (and also in Figures 22 to 24), the
indentations D, D, D, D in the neck of the bottle illustrated in Figures 1, 3, +
and 6 are dispensed with, and in the case of Figures 21 and 22 the valve, shewn in
plan in Figure 25, is kept in a central position by means of the projections d', d'; d', d'
fitted to the valve itself.
.In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figure 22, of which Figure 224
is a section on the line x, x with the valve removed, the valve seating C is shewn as
forming a distinct part of the bottle neck, and is affixed thereto by means of cement
or other suitable material.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 23, of which Figure 23 is a section on the
line, with the valve removed, the valve seating is shewn fitted to the neck of the
bottle in a similar manner to that illustrated in Figure 22 but the scating itself is of
different construction. In this case I form upon or affix to the valve seat a short
neck or raised piece s which is preferably ground or otherwise made true at its
upper surface. The valve consists of a short cylinder closed at its upper end and
forms a seal with the neck s formed upon the valve seat.
This valve may be constructed of a short cylindrical piece of aluminium or other
suitable tubing t into which is fitted a plug of cork e having an even surface at its
lower end with which to engage with the top of the valve seating and so make a
joint when in contact therewith. The lugs or projections d' of the valve, shewn in
plan in Figure 26 may, if the valve is made of metal, be advantageously formed by
cutting short slots in the tubing itself and then bending the intermediate portions
of metal outwards.
Figure 24, of which Figure 24 is a section on the line x, x with the valve and
weights removed, illustrates a valve in the shape of a sphere which may when
desirable be coated with india rubber by any of the well known processes.
When the valve is made of oak or of a material that swells irregularly.upon
immersion in a liquid, it is necessary to turn the valve when the material is in
a damp state. I have found that with rods of oak of an inch in diameter, an
immersion in cold water for a period of one month answers well, but the length of
time required will vary according to the character of the material employed.
In carrying out my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the particular material of which the several parts of the vessel are made,
they must necessarily vary and be adapted to the particular characteristics of the
liquid which the vessel is to contain.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
I. The improved stoppering device for bottles and similar vessels, consisting in
the employment, in conjunction with the neck of a bottle or similar vessel having a
valve seat C, the circumferential groove B or circumferential grooves B, B¹ and
the indentations D, D, D, D, of a valve E, the weight For the weights F, F',
and the stopper G and shield H, the said parts being arranged substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described.
II. The combination with the neck of a bottle or similar vessel, of the valve E,
the valve seating C and the indentations D, D, D, D substantially as and for the
purposes described and shewn in the drawings Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 and 12.
III. The combination with the neck of a bottle or similar vessel, of the
stopper G having a passage through it for the egress of liquid and the shield H, as
illustrated in Figures 1, 5, 7, 8, and 9 substantially as and for the purposes
described.
IV. The combination with the neck of a bottle or similar vessel, of the
stopper G and shield H as illustrated in Figures 13 to 20 substantially as and for
the purposes described.
V. The combination with the neck of a bottle or similar vessel, of the valve, and
valve seating shewn in Figures 23, 234 and 26, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
VI. In a bottle or similar vessel the arrangements for preventing the fraudulent
refilling of the bottle or vessel, substantially as described and illustrated by reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Sentember 1802
ARTHUR W. ELLIS.