Improvements in Self-sealing Bottles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
Improvements in Self-sealing Bottles.
I, WILLIAM AMBROSE MILLER, of 300 Hanover Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, 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 a device for closing the ueck of a liquor bottle so that,
after having been filled and emptied of its original contents, it cannot be refilled
without breaking the bottle or so displacing the parts that such displacement could
be readily detected.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of the neck of my improved bottle, the
body of the bottle being broken off and the valve and casing removed;
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2, 2, Figure 1, showing the valves in
position;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3, 3, Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, illustrating a modifi-
cation; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the bottle inverted and the valve unseated.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of
the drawing.
In the said drawing, A, represents the neck of the bottle, which at its base, or
where it joins the body of the bottle, is slightly contracted, as at a
A glass tube, p, has its upper end slightly expanded forming a valve-seat, z. This
tube is held in a cork ring, d, which is crowded into the contracted portion, a,
of the neck, A.
Covering the mouth or upper end of this tube there is a horizontally arranged
disc of mica or other slightly flexible material which will not corrode in the
liquor.
A ball-valve engages the seat, z, below said disc.
Above the disc the neck is expanded to form preferably two vertically curved
ducts,, at diametrically opposite sides of the neck.
Traversing the upper ends of these ducts there is a horizontally arranged annular
groove or duct, w.
Alternating with the ducts, v, there are similar vertical ducts, a, the lower ends
of which enter the horizontal duct, w.
The inner wall of the duct, w, is formed by a cork ring, h, dropped into an annular
groove, y, in the neck.
A
A glass plug, t, is held in the ring, h, and has a chamber, g in its lower end.
conical follower, f, normally rests on the mica disc, r, and has its apex projecting
into said chamber.
The
In the use of my improvement the bottle is filled in the usual manner.
ring, d, and tube, p, are then inserted and the ball and mica disc and follower are
disposed within the neck as shown, the main portion of the neck being closed by
the plug.
The ring, his preferably first soaked in water and when inserted in the neck, will
expand into the groove, y, holding the parts in position.
The solid plug prevents
it being withdrawn by means of a corkscrew or other implement without destroying
these parts.

page_text: The alternating ducts, v, x, prevent the insertion of a wire for lifting the disc
and valve.
To empty the bottle it is inverted in the usual manner or as shown in Figure 5.
The follower, f, is partially projected into the chamber, g.
The ball, B,
leaves its seat, z, and disengages the disc, r, from the mouth of the tube, p, opening
said tube for the free flow of the liquid from the body of the bottle and which
passes around the ball and into a duct, v, as indicated by the arrows in the
drawing thence through a horizontal portion of the duct, w; thence out through
the adjacent duct, x.
When the bottle is again in vertical position the ball will drop onto its seat and
the follower will drive the disc back onto the mouth of the tube, p, closing the
neck so that liquid cannot be poured into the body of the bottle.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, the contracted portion a forms the valve
seat, m, the ring, d, and tube, p, being dispensed with. The ball, B, engages this
seat as before. This cheapens the cost of manufacture. The disc, r, in this form
seats on the shoulder, s, formed in the neck of the bottle. The operation is the
same as before described.
It is essential that the disc and plunger or follower be employed in order to
render the device absolutely effective for the purposes claimed, as I find that when
they are omitted it is possible to draw the ball from off its seat by means of suction
and permit so much liquid as might be contained in the neck above the valve to
slowly trickle into the body. This is an extremely slow and unprofitable process
and for many ordinary uses the disc may therefore be omitted. When it is
employed, however, this objection is entirely overcome as the greater the pressure
applied by exhaustion or suction, the harder the disc will be forced onto its seat.
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 :-
1st. A self-sealing bottle of the class described, provided interiorly of its neck
with a valve-seat, a valve engaging said seat, a disc normally closing said neck
above the valve, a plug closing the neck above said disc, and an angular duct in
the neck-wall having its ends opening into the neck respectively below and above
the plug.
2nd. In a self-sealing bottle, a valve for closing the bottle-neck, in combination
with a loose sheet of mica or other suitable material normally closing said neck
above said valve, substantially as described.
3rd. In a bottle of the class described, a loose disc of mica or similar material
engaging in the bottle neck whereby said neck is normally closed, in combination
with a ball-valve in said neck below said disc, and an obstruction in. the neck
above the disc arranged to permit the flow of the contents of the bottle and
prevent the insertion of an implement whereby the valves could be opened.
4th. In a self-sealing bottle, a ball-valve, a mica disc closing the neck above said
valve, a plug closing the neck above said disc, an angular duct in the neck opening
above and below said plug, and a follower engaging the upper or outer face of said
dise, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a bottle, a disc of mica or similar suitable material normally closing its
neck, an obstruction in said neck above the disc arranged to permit the flow of the
bottle contents and prevent the insertion of an implement, and a follower on each
side of the disc for operating the same.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.