Improvements in Stoppering Bottles and Jugs to Prevent them from being Refilled.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering Bottles and Jugs to Prevent them from
being Refilled.
I, ERNEST LUCAS EWBANK, of Hendersonville, County of Henderson, State of
North Carolina, United States of America, Commercial Traveller, 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 improvements in bottles and jugs and means for stop-
pering the same in such a manner that the stopper cannot be removed from the
said bottle or jug after being once fully inserted without so changing the appear-
ance of the vessel as to show that the said stopper has been removed.
The object of my invention is to prevent fraud in refilling the vessels with
spurious liquids and selling the bottles so refilled as genuine, to the injury of the
original manufacturer of the genuine contents.
My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein is represented a central longitudinal section through a bottle-neck fitted
with a stopper constructed according to my invention.
The neck of the bottle or jug is preferably made thick, as seen at A, and at
a point distant from the mouth thereof about equal to half the length of the
stopper is provided with a deep surrounding groove aº, that portion of the neck
of the bottle immediately above such groove being made externally thicker, as
shown at Aº.
That portion of the interior of the neck of the bottle into which the stopper
is to fit is made smooth and of approximately a uniform diameter, although it
may be preferable to have the same enlarged inwardly.
Within the neck of the bottle, in the thickened portion. A thereof, is formed
an annular groove a. This groove is located a short distance from and above
the exterior annular groove aº, so that but a thin portion a', extending around
the neck of the bottle, separates these two grooves. The upper side of this
annular groove a is made flat and lies in a plane at approximately right angles
to the inner surface of the stopper-seat, so as to hold the stopper-lock, hereinafter
described. The stopper used, as shown at 132, is provided with a central axial
opening and is fitted with a central tube 66, which projects slightly from the
upper end of the stopper and is exteriorly screw-threaded to receive a cap 67,
as shown.
The stopper is locked in the neck of the bottle by a locking-cap C. This cap
has a pair of depending legs cc, provided with oppositely-disposed catch-lugs (2
upon their lower or free ends adapted to engage in the annular groove a in the
bottle-neck above referred to. The locking cap C is provided with a central
screw-threaded opening which fits the screw-threaded end of the tube 66 and is
applied to the stopper by being screwed down over the upper end of the said
tube. The screw-threaded end of the said tube is long enough to receive the
cap 67 after the said tube passes through the locking-cap C. The tube 66 is fitted

page_text: with a pluralty of valves 68, which open from opposite sides. The object of these
valves is to cause the bottle to become closed immediately upon being stood
erect upon its bottom and to prevent the bottle being refilled, the cross-pins 69
serving as stops to limit the swing of the valves in opening.
The stopper is forced into the neck of the bottle with the cap C thereon, and
as forced inward the soft material of the stopper will allow the said legs c¹ c¹ to
spring inwardly somewhat; but as soon as the catch-lugs con said legs reach
the interior groove a they spring outwardly and engage in said groove, locking
the stopper securely in the neck of the bottle. The stopper can then only be
removed by breaking the neck of the bottle, which is done by means of some
suitable instrument, such as the back of a knife, the line of strike being indicated
by the arrow marked 1.
The stopper shown is particularly adapted for use with bottles containing
expensive liquids, such as perfumery, where it is desirable to use but a small
portion of the liquid at one time and to avoid evaporation, but is also adapted
for use with condiments-such as sauces, catsup, &c.-which are discharged from
the bottle in small quantities and at varying intervals of time, and the valves
in the central tube prevent the adulteration of the original contents of the bottle
After the bottle-neck is broken it is rendered useless as an original package
for refilling; but the metallic locking-cap C and the stopper may, if desired, be
saved and used upon other bottles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :-
1. In a bottle-stopper, the combination with a yielding plug having a central
axial opening therethrough; a tube fitting said opening and projecting beyond
the upper end of said plug, the projecting end of said tube being externally
screw-threaded; a plurality of outwardly-opening valves in said tube; of a locking
device consisting of a disk having a screw-threaded opening, screwed down over
the screw-threaded portion of said tube upon said plug; and expanding locking-
legs on said disk adapted to engage outwardly into, a groove in the bottle-neck,
substantially as described.
2. In a bottle-stopper, the combination with a yielding plug having a central
axial opening therethrough; a tube fitting said opening and projecting beyond
the upper end of said plug, the projecting end of said tube being externally
screw-threaded; a plurality of outwardly-opening valves in said tube; and means
for limiting the throw of said valves; of a locking device consisting of a disk
having a central screw-threaded opening screwed down over the said screw-
threaded portion of said tube upon said plug; and spring-catches on said disk
adapted to expand into grooves in the bottle-neck, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of June 1899.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.