Improvements in and connected with Stoppering Bottles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Stoppering Bottles.
I, FRANCIS SCHENKER, a citizen of the United States of America and a
resident of Vincennes in the County of Knox and State of Indiana, Manufacturing
Jeweller, 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 :-
My invention relates to bottle stoppers in general and more particularly to that
class in which when the stopper is removed, such manipulation of the bottle is
necessary as will show conclusively that the bottle has been opene l aul thus the
deception of refilling the bottle with a bogus substance is prevented.
In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in which like letters.
of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of a bottle constructed in.
accordance with my invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the neck of a bottle when closed;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the neck of a bottle with the slide drawn ;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the neck of the bottle with the slide removed;
Fig. 5 is a view showing the under side of the slide;
Fig. 6 is a top view of the slide;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the slide, and
Fig. 8 is a view showing the spring pin and its parts.
Referring now to the drawings, in constructing a device in accordance with my
invention I employ a bottle having a neck provided with an annular flange bat.
its top somewhat broader than is customary, though this is not absolutely
necessary.
Transversely of the neck and within the flange b, is formed a slot the opposite.
walls c of which converge upwardly.
In the lower floor e of this slot (see Fig. 4) is formed a depression d'adapted
to receive a spring pin f, (Figs. 1 and 8), comprising a shell g provided with a
helical spring extending therefrom, the outer end of said spring resting upon
the bottom of the depression and adapted to hold the pin normally protruding
therefrom, said depression being of sufficient depth to receive the pin entirely.
When sealing a bottle, after the contents have been placed therein, the usual
cork or other stopper i is forced into the neck, after which a slide k whose
sides are slanted to correspond with the walls c and d of the slot in the slot in
the neck, is slid into the slot. The front edge of the slide k is slanted somewhat in
order that upon engagement with the pin f, it may ride over and depress the latter,
said pin being somewhat rounded on top to facilitate this action.
In the underside of this slide k, and in the path of the pin g is formed a
groove m the front edge of which is formed rather deep, said slot growing
gradually shallower to a point near the opposite end of the slide where a.
depression o is formed to receive permanently the pin g.
In entering the slide in the slot, the slanted end should be first inserted and
at that end of the slot furtherest from the depression d' so that when the slide
is pushed bome as shown in Fig. 2, the pin g will rest in the front end of the slot n
whereby said slide cannot be withdrawn.
It being now desired to remove the stopper i and the contents of the bottle,

page_text: the slide k is pushed on through the slot until the pin rises in the depression o,
when said slide can be moved no further, nor can it be returned to its former
position.
When the slide has been thus manipulated, the stopper i may be readily
withdrawn, the rear edge m of the slide being cut away for this purpose.
Should the bottle be refilled, the slide could not be moved to cover the stopper
placed in the neck and thus will be shown conclusively that the bottle has been
opened.
Arranged on the top of the bottle, partly on the flange 6 and partly on the
slide k, is the advertisement of the firm to whom the original contents of the bottle
belong and when the slide is withdrawn as above indicated the continuity of the
lettering is destroyed.
It will be readily understood that I may dispense with the locking device shown
and that the slide may be employed in substitution of the ordinary wiring which
is applied to a bottle containing effervescent liquid to prevent the cork
blowing out. It will be readily seen that when the slide is pushed over the cork
displacement of the latter is effectively prevented.
Also if desired I may change the shape of the slot in the slide to a double
incline terminating in a recess at each end so that the spring. latch will hold
the slide against accidental displacement but at the same time will not lock it
permanently.
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. The combination with a bottle having an opening of a slot adjacent said
opening, a slide adapted to move in the slot to cover and uncover the opening,
an inclined slot in the slide terminating in a depression and a pin adapted to play
in the slot in the slide and enter the depression of the latter to retain the slide in a
fixed position.
2. The combination with a bottle having an opening of a slot adjacent said
opening, a slide adapted to move in said slot to cover the opening and means for
locking the slide in the unopened position.
3. The combination with a bottle having an opening, of a slot adjacent the
opening, a slide adapted to move in the slot to cover and to uncover the opening
and a spring catch adapted to hold the slide in an uncovered position.
4. The combination with a bottle having an opening surrounded by a flange, of
a transverse slot formed in the flange, a spring arranged in said slot, a slide adapted
to move in the slot in engagement with the pin and a depression in the slide adapted
to receive the pin to lock the slide.
Dated this 16th day of March 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.