Improvements in and connected with Bottles and like Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bottles and like Vessels.
I HARVEY ISAAC LEITH of 58 Davis Street, Providence, in the County of
Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Pharmacist, 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 bottle, or similar vessel, from which the
contents may be easily obtained, but into which no liquid can be introduced without
breaking the seal, or changing the appearance of the bottle in such a manner as to
indicate that the bottle had been tampered with. By this invention it is thus possible
to guarantee the genuineness of the contents of any bottle after it has been opened
and some of the contents extracted.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of the device, with a portion of the bottle broken
away, as an unnecessary part of the invention.
Figure 2, is a cross sectional plan of the device, the section being taken at the
line it's in Figure 1. One or two details are in part broken away so as to show as
much as possible in a single view.
Figure 3, is a modification of the means for scaling the cap. It is a vertical
section and only enough is shown to illustrate the difference over the construction
seen in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modification of valve construction which may be
substituted for that shown in Figure 1, without departing from the nature of the
invention.
Figures 5, 6 & 7, are vertical sections of modifications of the means for admitting
air into the bottle.
Figure 8, is a section of a modified valve construction.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of a modification embodying my invention showing
its application to any bottle. A few of the details are not in section.
Figure 10, is a section of the valve provided with the disc for making the same
less flexible.
Figure 11, is a plan of the said valve.
Figure 12, is a side elevation of the means for preventing entrance of liquid
through the air tube.
Figure 13, is an inverted plan of the cap to be sealed upon the bottle.
Figure 14, is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the valve of the air tube.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of a complete device showing a modification of
the means for carrying out my invention. A few of the details are not in section.
Figure 16, is a sectional view of a small portion of the device showing a modification
of the means for automatically closing the air tube.
u, is a bottle, or other vessel, provided as usual with a neck b, and a mouth c;
around the mouth at the upper end of the neck is a circular lip, or flange d, the
face of which forms a valve seat. e is a cap of sheet rubber or other thin material
covering the lip and mouth of the bottle, and forming a valve. It is provided with
holes or perforations f, so placed around its centre that they are located upon the
upper surface of the lip d, by which they are normally closed. An elastic ring 9,
of rubber or other suitable material, surrounds the neck b, below the lip d. h is an
apertured cap placed over the neck and resting on the shoulder of the bottle. This
cap fits tightly over the elastic ring g, by the pressure of which it is held firmly in
place. i, is an outlet, or perforation, in the cap directly above the valve. It is
preferable that the total area of the holes f, in the valve should equal the area of
Price &

page_text: the aperture. A fine tube j. passes through the bottle at any point between the
bottom of the bottle and the valve e. After entering the bottle, the tube is bent
upwards and is provided with an enlarged end in which lies a ball k, which serves
as a valve. A piece of gauze 1, is stretched over the enlarged end of the tube and
encloses the ball in order to retain it within proper limits. m is a porous substance,
as for example blotting paper, inserted in the space between the cap 1, and the
neck. This space it fills in such a manner that on becoming wet it will expand
to such an extent as to render this space practically air tight. This material is
removed from around the mouth of the tube j, so as to leave an empty space
which will prevent it from getting choked up. The blotting paper, or other
porous material, should fit snugly to the top and bottom of the space it occupies
but should fit loosely between the neck of the bottle and the cap. The air can
pass therefore through the pores of the paper, but more easily through the space
around it.
An annular projection n, is located on the shoulder of the bottle and surrounds
the foot of the cap. This projection may be a separate ring fastened to the bottle
or it may be moulded therewith and thus form part of the bottle. The ring and
the foot of the cap are each provided with a flange or projection and d',
respectively. The space between the ring and the foot of the cap is filled with wax,
plaster, malleable metal, or other impressionable substance which may be called the
sealing material e. Upon this material may be stamped "Contents Guaranteed
Genuine" and a date, but any suitable words may be stamped thereon. The main
object of the stamping being to show whether the seal has been tampered with.
tube p, communicates with the outside air and the space filled with the porous
material m, and is located preferably on the opposite side of the neck of the bottle
to the tube j. A protector 7, made of a piece of hard substance or metal is located
on the upper side of the valve e, and is supported by feet r, which rest upon the lipd,
but are not fastened thereto. The shape of the protector is of no consequence,
provided it cover the valve e, so as to protect it from damage by a wire which might
be thrust through the aperture i for this purpose.
A
In Figure
the flange d', rests upon a protruding ring g', which extends around
the neck of the bottle. ' is a piece or ring, of soft metal which is applied around
the flange and the protruding ring gl and is bent over their edges so as to form a
clamp to hold the cap onto the neck of the bottle. Upon this metal may be
stamped a name, date or other words for the purpose mentioned before. Although
the metallic seal, or clamp, be clamped as tightly as possible around the flange and
ring, yet it is evident, that, owing to the difficulty of making such a joint between
glass and metal air tight, enough air could pass through the imperfect joint thus
made, to feed the air tube j, with practically as much rapidity as if the tube opened
into the air. However, to make sure of the entry of an abundant supply of air, in
order to extract the contents rapidly, a hole or space, may be left between the
metal seal o' and the flange d', for the admission of air. In this case, a washer of
rubber or other material may be inserted between the flange d' and the ring g', in
order to make the joint between them hermetical.
As shown in this figure, the air tube j, is replaced by its equivalent j', which
latter is a hole, or perforation, extending through the neck from the exterior to the
interior of the bottle. Moreover, it is evident that the result is the same if instead
of one hole j', there be a number of very fine and practically invisible perforations
or holes extending through the neck of the bottle, provided the number of these
perforations is such that their total area is equal to that of the hole j', which they
replace.
In Figure 4, upon the lip of the bottle around its mouth is cemented a rubber
ring, upon which rests the protector q', which in this case is a ball with a smooth
hard surface.
In Figure 5, the portion of the tube j, inside of the bottle is bent upwards and
extends to such a height that its mouth presses upon the valve e, by which it is
normally closed, thus dispensing with the ball valve k. Instead of bending the tube

page_text: upwards, it may be bent downwards towards the bottom of the bottle and its mouth
left open, but this is not the most preferable construction.
Figure 6, shows an equivalent construction in which the interior mouth of the
tube, is normally closed by the valve e, as in Figure 5, but the tube itself extends
from the interior of the bottle, along a groove in the lip d, and projects above the
valve. A slight variation from this construction consists in bending downwards the
portion of the tube j, within the bottle so that it extends down the neck for a short
distance and leaving its end open.
In Figure 7, the result just described is obtained by having the air tube j, pass
through the centre of the valve e, the valve being thicker at this point so as to hold
the tube firmly.
After the bottle is filled with its liquid contents, the valve e is stretched over the
mouth of the bottle; the protector is put in its place, and the cap is then applied
and sealed fast with the sealing material, upon which some mark or words are
stamped. The projections and d" serve to prevent the sealing material from
being removed or the cap h, from being taken off, without breaking the sealing
material.
Having explained the manner in which the liquid contents are introduced, into
the bottle, the way in which they are extracted will now be described. In order
to get out some of the contents, the bottle is inverted and shaken, when small
quantities will flow out through the aperture i in the cap, while at the same time
air will enter through the air tube j, to replace the ejected liquid.
The mode in which this is accomplished is as follows:-When the bottle is
inverted, the liquid presses the valve e, away from the lip upon which it lies
normally, thus opening the holes f, through which the liquid then passes. This lip
should preferably be very even so that the valve will lie closely upon it. The path
of the air which enters to take the place of the liquid, is through the tube
through or around the porous material m, then through the air tube j, and finally
escaping into the bottle through the valve k. When the bottle is again set right
side up, the valve e, immediately falls into its proper place upon the lip d; but it
should be remarked that some of the liquid will be caught above the valve, this,
however, is an advantage, as it tends to keep the valve closed.
But
It has been found in practice that no liquid will escape through the air tube j,
even if the valve k, be dispensed with, provided the tube be a very fine one.
the advantage of using the valve k is that then the bore of the tube i may be con-
siderably larger and this will allow the liquid to flow out faster so that a wine glass
full may be filled in a few seconds, as from an ordinary bottle.
It is impossible to force a liquid into the bottle through the tube p, for the
following reasons;-In the first place the liquid will enter very slowly on account
of the small diameter of the tube, and will on entering be immediately absorbed by
the porous material m, which will thereby increase in volume and expand so as to
close the passage way and thus make it impossible for the liquid to flow. Moreover,
the discovery of a liquid in this inner chamber would reveal the fact that some one
had tampered with the device with the probable object of defrauding the public.
In this connection it may be stated that the mouth of the tube p, being flush with
the sealing material, no connection could be easily made with it for the purpose of
forcing a liquid to enter the tube. Furthermore, no liquid could be forced into the
tube p, unless the pressure applied for this purpose were very great which is
obviously impracticable.
It is possible that some of the liquid in the bottle might cover the mouth of the
tube and by evaporation leave a salt, or dirt might accumulate there, which would
retard the entry of the air, but this could be obviated by putting directions on the
bottle that the mouth of the hole must be kept free.
Another opening by which it might be attempted to force a liquid into the bottle
is the aperture i, in the cap, which in practice should be as small as consistent
with the purpose for which the bottle is intended. In order to introduce a liquid
'

page_text: by this opening, it would be necessary to push in the valve e, but were a wire
inserted into the aperture i, for this purpose, it would be deflected by the
protector g, while at the same time the feet, of the protector would prevent the
valve from being torn or burst.
It is thus impossible to introduce a liquid into a bottle constructed according to
my invention, without breaking the seal or in some manner visibly affecting the
bottle so as to indicate that its contents had been tampered with.
An important point to be noted is that relating to the protector 9, which serves
as a valve, whose seat is the inner surface of the cap h, and the hole it is adapted
to close being the aperture i. The proportions are such that this closure will only
occur when the pressure upon the protector is much greater than that due to the
weight of the liquid in the bottle. If anyone should attempt to force liquid into
the bottle by the tube j, the pressure, if great, would close the aperture i, while if
slight the liquid in the chamber above the valve e, would accomplish the same
result. Notwithstanding the impossibility of tampering with the contents, shaking
the bottle when it is inverted will at all times cause the liquid contents to issue at
each shake.
In regard to the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the air tube j, is closed
when the bottle is in an upright position by means of the valve e, which rests upon
the upper end of the tube. When the bottle is inverted, the weight of the liquid
presses the valve away from the mouth of the tube so that the air can enter to
replace the liquid that has been poured out. It would be impossible to force a
liquid into the bottle through the outlet i and the tube j, for the pressure necessary
to accomplish this would press the valve tightly upon the mouth of the tube j, so
that no liquid could enter this way.
The operation of the apparatus when equipped with the construction shown in
Figure 3, is the same as in the case of Figure 1, that is, the air enters the tube j or
its equivalent j', when any portion of the contents is withdrawn.
In the construction shown in Figures 6 & 7, the air passes from the chamber
above the valve e, that is, the valve chamber to the interior of the bottle through
the tube j, and yet no liquid can be introduced through this tube, from the outside
of the bottle, because no connection can be made with the tube, the mouth of which
is within the cap h.
In Figure 8, is shown a valve of a peculiar construction specially applicable to
my invention. It is made of a sheet e', of rubber or other similar material applied
to the flange d, so that it bulges out circularly over the lip. In the bulging
portion are cuts or slits e". Normally, the rubber sheet covers the mouth of the
bottle and the slits are closed, but when the bottle is inverted, the pressure of the
liquid stretches the rubber sheet and opens the slits, so that the liquid can pass
through them. Should an attempt be made to force a liquid into the bottle
through the outlet i, the pressure would close the slits tightly and prevent the
passage of the liquid into the bottle.
Referring to the modification of my device shown in Figure 9 and of which
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 represent details; A is a bottle, Bits neck; C is
a perforated cork fitting in said neck and fastened therein, D is a detachable tube
fitting in said cork and having a flange E, resting upon the top of the cork, and a
second flange F located higher up on the tube. Upon this flange is fastened an
elastic ring G of cork, rubber or similar material. H is a valve provided with
holes I located directly over the upper surface of the tube D, whereby they are
normally closed. A disk J is fastened upon the central portion of the said valve
and is of sufficient diameter to overlap the mouth of the tube D, the upper portion
of this tube having an internal diameter only about one half as great as the lower
portion. The protector K, rests on the valve H and is loose within the cap L
Its shape is of no consequence, but as shown it is provided with lateral ribs which
prevent stoppage of the mouth M, when the bottle is inverted.
L, is a cap having an aperture M, and the lower flange N which is sealed to the

page_text: lip O of the neck B by a collar of soft metal P. The cap is provided with
grooves Q, for the admission of air into its interior. R is the air tube made of
flexible rubber and passing from the interior of the cap L to the interior of the
bottle A, through the tube D; a mass or block of porous material S, fits within
the cap around the end of the tube R in such a manner as to just escape contact
with the cap.
The end of the air tube R, within the bottle is closed and is provided with
longitudinal cuts T, which serve as valve openings. The seal P being metal
against glass, is not air tight and the air can leak between it, through the
grooves into the interior of the cap L, thence through the air tube R and out
by the slots or cuts T into the bottle. Continuous with one of the grooves Qis
an elastic air bulb U, provided with a hole U. By placing one's thumb over
this hole and pressing the bulb, air will be forced into the bottle with greater
rapidity.
The porous material S may be made of any material capable of swelling by the
absorption of a liquid such, for example, as white wood, so that if moistened it
would swell and touch the side of the cap, thereby blocking up the passage and
preventing the entrance of the liquid into the tube K. It would thus be
impossible to force a liquid from the bulb U, into the cap and thence into the
bottle.
A flange V, on the interior of the cap L presses tightly upon the elastic ring G,
thereby dividing the interior of the cap into two compartments which are liquid
and air tight from each other. Therefore no liquid in the upper or valve
compartment can reach the porous material in the lower compartiment.
The slots T which serve as valves, consist simply of longitudinal cuts in the soft
rubber tube R. When some of the contents are withdrawn from the bottle, a
partial vacuum is formed in the interior and the consequent pressure of the air in
None of the
the tube R opens the slots and allows the exterior air to enter.
contents of the bottle can pass into the tube R because the pressure necessary to
cause this would close the slots firmly.
A modification, embodying the principle of my invention is represented in
Figure 15 and consists of the combination of a bottle A having a threaded neck B
and a month C'; an apertured cap L clamped to the bottle by a threaded collar 5,
bent over a flange N and sealed to the bottle by a plastic cement 6 and by com-
pressing the collar 7 into the indentations 8 in the neck of the bottle; a metallic
washer 9 and a yielding or cork washer 10, between the cap and the neck and
respectively against the cap and the neck; a tube 11 passing through the washers
and extending from the interior of the bottle to the upper portion of the cap, which
is divided into two compartments by a washer 12, located between an inward
projection V of the cap and a flange 13 of the said tube; a valve H over the upper
end of the tube 11, carrying a small metal plate J and a protector K; the said
valve, plate and protector being located in the upper compartment; the aperture M
of the cap affords communication between the upper compartment and the exterior
of the cap; a small flexible tube R, extending from the interior of the bottle
through the tube 11 and into the lower compartment of the cap; blocks of porous
material S, fitted into the lower compartment upon opposite sides of the tube R;
and pieces of chemically prepared paper, located within the lower compartment.
These papers are saturated respectively with red litmus, blue litmus, cobaltic
chloride and a mercuric compound, so that they will change color according as to
whether an alkali, an acid or water is introduced into the compartment and in
addition the color of the mercuric compound is changed by heat. For example,
if the bottle were heated to destroy the valve H the change in color of the mercury
salt would indicate it. Thus should the bottle be heated, or should an attempt be
made to introduce alkaline, acid or neutral liquids into the bottle between the
collar 5 and the cap, one or more of the papers will change color and thereby be a
visible indication that some one had tampered with the bottle.

page_text: When some of the contents of the bottle have been extracted in the manner
already explained, the air to replace the liquid that has been poured out, will
enter all around the cap between its flange and the collar, along the radial
grooves in the bottom of the cap, around the blocks S, through the tube R into
the bottle. From this explanation, it is evident that the purpose of the metal
washer 9, is to prevent the small grooves Q from getting choked up, which would
probably occur if the cork washer pressed directly thereon. The cork 10 serves to
close the mouth of the bottle outside of the tube 11.
It is preferable in some cases to insert a yielding washer between the flange N
and the collar 5, as shown by 15 in Figure 16. In such a case the soft metal
collar 5, would be turned down under the threaded lip of the bottle, as indicated
at w, where air could enter into the lower compartment which is lettered X'. In
this figure is showu a modified arrangement for the automatic air tube stopper.
A groove X is made around the enlarged lipy of the bottle, and a block S',
similar to the porous material S, is inserted in said groove between the end of the
tube R and the cap 5 when it becomes wet it swells and covers tightly the opening
of the tube R'.
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-Tbe combination of a bottle, a valve upon and closing the mouth thereof,
an apertured cap over the mouth and valve and fastened to the exterior of
the bottle, and an air tube connecting the interior of the bottle with the out-
side air.
2-The combination of a bottle, a valve upon and closing the mouth thereof, an
apertured cap over the mouth and valve, sealing material, as for example wax,
connecting the cap to the bottle, and an air tube connecting the interior of the
bottle with the outside atmosphere.
3-The combination of a bottle, a valve upon and closing the mouth thereof, an
apertured cap over the mouth and valve and sealed to the bottle, and a capillary
tube connecting the interior of the bottle with the outside atmosphere.
4-The combination with the neck of a bottle of a cap fitting over the mouth
thereof and provided with an aperture, a valve over the mouth and opening into
the cap, and a capillary tube connecting the interior of the bottle with the interior
of the cap.
5-The combination of a bottle having a neck provided with the usual mouth,
an apertured cap placed over the mouth and resting upon the shoulder of the bottle,
a ring surrounding the foot of the cap and secured to the bottle, a sealing material
applied to the bottle between the said ring and the said cap, a perforated membrane
stretched over the mouth of the bottle, the perforations being directly over the lip
in such a manner as to be closed thereby, a tube extending from the interior of the
bottle to the interior of the cap and terminating against said membrane, a deflector,
consisting for example of a cone secured to the upper side of said membrane and
located below the aperture in the cap and provided with feet resting upon the lip
of the bottle.
6 The combination of a bottle, an apertured cap over the mouth thereof and
sealed thereto, and an elastic ring compressed in between said bottle and the said
сар.
7-The combination of a bottle, a valve upon and closing the mouth thereof, a
cap located over the neck and mouth of the bottle and sealed to the bottle, and
provided with an aperture and an air conduit extending from the interior of the
bottle to the interior of the cap and terminating with its end against the said valve
within the bottle.
8 The combination of a bottle, an apertured cap covering the mouth thereof
and sealed thereto, a membraneous valve, such for example as thin sheet rubber,

page_text: covering the mouth of the bottle and a protector over the membrane and resting
upon the neck of the bottle.
9-The combination with the neck of a bottle and with a cork fitting therein, of
a detachable tube, an immovable cap enclosing the valve and located over the said
tube, a seal connecting the cap to the bottle and a tube or air passage connecting
the interior of the bottle with the outside atmosphere.
10 The combination with the neck of a bottle of a perforated cork fitting
tightly therein, a detachable tube fitting in said cork and normally closed by a
valve, an apertured cap over the valve and sealed to the said bottle, and an air
bulb having air communications with the interior of the bottle.
11 The combination with the neck of a bottle and with a perforated cork fitting
therein, of a detachable tube, a valve upon and closing the outer end thereof, a cap
over the valve, a seal connecting the cap to the bottle, and air tube having slots
within the interior of the bottle and extending through and beyond said tube, a
porous mass fitted on the end of said tube and against the neck of the bottle, and
all but touching the said cap, and means for closing hermetically that portion of the
interior of the cap containing the valve from that portion containing the porous
material.
12 The combination with a bottle, of a valve closing the mouth thereof and
consisting of a flexible perforated sheet, a disk fastened upon the sheet and over-
lapping the edge of said mouth, an apertured cap over the valve and containing a _
protector which normally rests upon said disk.
13 The combination with a bottle, of a perforated cork C, fastened in the neck
thereof, a detachable tube D, fitting in said ring, a tapering cap having a mouth M
at the upper or smaller portion and a flange N at the larger end, having grooves Q,
and resting against the flange O on the neck B, of the bottle, a flange F on the
upper end of the tube D, a seal P_connecting the flange O to the cap non-
hermetically a tube R having slots T closed at one end within the bottle, and
extending through the tube D, into that portion of the interior of the cap
the flange F a porous substance surrounding the extremity of the tube R and all but
in contact with the inner surface of the cap, and an air bulb U connecting with the
interior of the bottle through the grooves Q and tube R.
below
14-The combination of a bottle having a threaded lip or neck, a perforated cap
located over the mouth of the bottle and having radial grooves in the lower part
thereof and between itself and the bottle, a metallic or similar hard washer and a
yielding washer located between the cap and the bottle, a flange upon the end of
the cap opposite to the end containing the perforation, a threaded collar screwed
upon the said lip and bent over the said flange, a seal connecting the collar to the
bottle, the collar being compressed into an indentation in the said lip, the cap being
divided into upper and lower compartments, a tube connecting the interior of the
bottle with the upper compartment, from which it is separated by a valve, a tube
passing partially through the first named tube from the interior of the bottle to
the lower compartment and blocks of a substance expansible by liquids fitting in
the lower compartment and pressing upon opposite sides of the last named tube.
15—The combination with the neck of a bottle of a yielding washer, placed over
the mouth thereof, an apertured cap upon the washer, a tube passing through the
washer and connecting the interior of the bottle with the interior of the cap, and a
seal connecting the cap to the bottle.
16 The combination with a bottle of a cap covering the mouth thereof, and
divided into two compartments, a tube connecting the upper compartment with the
neck of the interior of the bottle, an air tube connecting the interior of the bottle
with the lower compartment which is open to the atmosphere, and chemically
prepared substances, changeable in appearance under the influence of liquids or
heat, located in the air conduit.
17 The combination with the neck of a bottle of a perforated cap over the
mouth thereof, and provided with a flange, a collar turned over the flange, a seal
connecting the collar to the bottle, an air conduit, or passage, leading from the

page_text: outside atmosphere to the interior of the bottle, chemically prepared substances
changeable under the influence of liquid or heat, located in the air conduit.
Dated this 17th day of January 1893.
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.