Improvements in Bottles and other Vessels to Prevent them being Refilled.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept,, 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct.,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles and other Vessels to Prevent them being
Refilled.
I JOHN CREAST of 22 Chapel Court High Street Borough Southwark
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in Bottles and other vessels constructed
with attachments in such manner as to preclude the refilling of the Bottle after
its contents have been once poured out.
I apply my attachments adjacent to and within the Bottle-mouth. They con-
sist of a hollow screw-plug of glass or other material fitting into a corresponding
screw within the Bottle-neck, and by the use of an adamantine cement the plug
is made to rigidly adhere. The hollow screw plug is formed with an orifice
through it which enlarges from the nozzle downward into the form of an elon-
gated slot at the base, in which the ball may run, and through which the fluid
passes out of the Bottle. Within the bottle neck I form a circular base or
shoulder to hold a ring of cork or rubber, so as to form a seating.
Upon the seating I repose a disc of glass or other material, the upper side of
the disc being concave, and the under side either flat or with a cone like projec-
tion. Upon the upper side of the disc I repose a ball of glass or other material.
The disc and ball may be either separate or made in one piece, and either solid
or hollow. For the purpose of more effectually securing my object (as to some
fluids) I place between the glass disc and the seating, another thin disc of any
pliable material, such as cloth, silk or mica.
The Bottle (being fitted with the seating) is filled with the desired fluid. The
disc is then reposed upon the seating (with or without the pliable disc beneath it
as the case may require). The ball is next reposed upon the disc, and the screw-
plug (anointed with the cement) is then screwed into the bottle-mouth, and the
nozzle of the plug is corked or stoppered in the usual way.
It is evident (this cork or stopper being withdrawn and the bottle tilted) that
the contents will flow through the ring or seating, passing by the disc or dises
and ball, and through the orifice in the screw plug, and so flow out of the Bottle.
I so proportionate the said internal attachments as to allow no more than suffi-
cient play or scope for outletting the contents, and it is evident that any attempt
to re-pass fluid into the bottle will force the discs back upon the seating and
throttle the bottle. The rigid attachment of the screw-plug, and the other attach-
ments, act as an effectual barrier against tampering with the bottles-contents,
or refilling the bottle, which can only be effected by fracturing the vessel and
disclosing the fraud.

page_text: the plug may be provided with a number of projections to prevent the ball from
closing the orifice. The ball also serves to prevent the liquid flowing from the
bottle from carrying the disc forward and closing the bottle neck. The disc i has
a diameter which is only slightly less than the internal diameter of the bottle
neck; as, however, this disc would tend to throttle to some extent the flow of liquid
from the bottle I make the said disc with a tapering or inclined edge whereby
when the bottle is tipped to discharge the contents the said disc will lie more or
less at an angle in the neck and so afford sufficient space for the free passage of
the liquid.
With this construction it will be evident that any attempt to introduce fluid
into the bottle will force the disc back upon the seating the disc then forming a
valve which will practically prevent the bottle being refilled once it has been
emptied.
It will be obvious that the filling of bottles provided with my improvements
must take place before the several parts (except the seating) are placed in posi-
tion. The bottle having been filled, the disc and ball are introduced and the plug
cemented or otherwise irremovably fixed into the mouth of the bottle. The
orifice f is closed in the usual manner by a cork or other suitable form of stopper.
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. In a non-refillable bottle the combination with a seating formed inside the
bottle neck, of a ball and a disc of glass or other suitable material which act as
a valve to allow the flow of liquid from the bottle but to prevent the introduction
of liquid into the bottle, and a plug designed to be irremovably fixed in the mouth
of the bottle and provided with an aperture for the discharge of the contents of
the same, substantially as described.
2. In a non-refillable bottle wherein a disc acted upon by a ball or weight to
press it against a seating is employed, forming the said disc with inclined or
tapering edges, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
3. In a non-refillable bottle having a ball or disc arranged as described and a
screw plug for closing the mouth of the bottle and provided with a hole for the
discharge of the contents, forming the inner end of the said hole with an elon-
gated recess, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
4. The manufacture and use of non-refillable bottles, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1000
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G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.