New or Improved Means to Prevent the Re-filling of Bottles or other similar Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1898—Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means to Prevent the Re-filling of Bottles or
other similar Vessels.
We, GEORGE JOSEPII WAINWRIGHT and WALTER JAMES WAINWRIGHT, both of
34, Studleigh Road, Forest Gate, London, E., Inventors, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved means to prevent the re-filling of
bottles or other similar vessels (or so-called "non-refillable bottles") and consists
essentially of an appliance for insertion in the neck of the bottle etc. which while
it readily permits the withdrawal of the liquid with which the bottle is originally
filled it will absolutely defy any attempts to re-fill said bottle and tlius prevent
the introduction into said bottle of any liquid after the application to the bottle
of the appliance according to our present invention which is as follows:--
The appliance consists of a cylinder-like case or shell advantageously divided
horizontally about midway of the length thereof these two parts being adapted
to be combined and joined together by dovetail projections on the one engaging
with and sliding under dovetail guideways on the other.
Or this case or shell may be formed in any other suitable number of parts com-
bined and secured together in any convenient and suitable manner-it being an
especial object of our present invention to form this case or shell or parts thereof
of glass and therefore the construction adopted should be of a character suitable
for moulding or forming such parts of glass.
Other suitable material may however be used if desired instead of glass or in
combination therewith.
For the sake of example we will proceed to describe cur invention as carried out
with the aforesaid case or shell divided in two parts horizontally and combined
together by dovetail slides as aforesaid and around the middle portion of said
shell where the two parts are joined we place a ring of cork or other suitable
material of suitable width and depth say extending about or one-third of the
length of the shell.
The interior of this shell carries a valve and the interior formation construc-
tion and arrangement of this shell and the parts therein (as hereinafter described)
forms a very important and essential feature of the present invention.
An aperture is provided in the bottom end of this shell and a valve seating is
provided in a convenient position at or near said aperture-a loose valve being
adapted to rest on said valve seating while said valve is guided by suitable vertical
ribs or corrugations or vice versa the loose valve may carry ribs or corrugations
thereon which serve to guide same against the interior walls of the shell for
instance a cylindrical-shaped valve may be used guided by four vertical ridges*
or ribs on the inside of the lower part of the shell while four vertical channels
or recesses are formed on the inside of said shell which latter when the valve is
raised off its seating permits the liquid to flow past the valve said valve thus
having free. vertical movement while at same time it is prevented from getting
out of place by said guides.

page_text: The upper end of the said loose valve is advantageously conical and terminates
in a point, which point coincides or thereabouts with the longitudinal central
axial line of said shell or appliance.
Moreover according to our present invention we may advantageously make
said loose valve of a material or combination of materials which will just float or
thereabouts in liquid. For instance the lower part of the valve may be made of
glass and the upper conical end of cork or wood suitably combined with and con-
nected to the glass.
Thus when the valve is down no liquid can be forced in while if the bottle is
inverted and it is attempted to force in any liquid thereby the valve will float
up with said liquid and prevent ingress of the latter and in addition to this pre-
caution we provide an automatic means of regulating or holding or pressing said
valve on its seat when the bottle is in certain positions as follows:-
The interior of the upper part of the shell is formed conical with an annular
shoulder (or equivalent) projecting therefrom a little distance above the top of the
loose valve and in the space between the top of the loose valve and the underside
of the top of the shell we introduce a loose glass ball or other suitable device of
a size and shape adapted to rest against the top of the loose valve and by reason
of the conical shape of the latter this loose ball will fall or lie to one side thereof
and then wedge itself automatically between the loose valve and the aforesaid
annular shoulder so that when the appliance is in the vertical or horizontal
position or any positions between same on pressure being applied to the underside
of the loose valve the top of the latter will then wedge the loose ball or locking
device against the aforesaid annular shoulder but on tilting the bottle further
(beyond the horizontal position) the loose ball will drop into the conical chamber
above the annular shoulder and the liquid can then flow out of the bottle past
the loose valve and past the loose ball three or any other suitable number of
apertures being provided at or near the top of said annular chamber through the
side of the shell which latter near the top has a narrowed neck or portion at
the point where these apertures are provided through said shell while the
top of the appliance which is solid and of a size adapted to fit closely
within and around the interior of the neck of the bottle thus over-
hangs the aforesaid narrow part or neck and to permit the liquid
flowing through the appliance to readily escape past such closely fitting
top we provide three or other suitable number of channels around the overhang-
ing top at different points from where the aforesaid apertures are provided so that
no direct communication from the exterior of the bottle or appliance can be had
with the interior of the latter thus for instance any attempt to introduce a wire
to the interior of the appliance would be futile as such wire could only be passed
· down the last-named channels which would guide it away from and not into the
apertures communicating with the interior of the appliance which apertures are
thus thoroughly shielded and protected by the overhanging top end of the shell.
This appliance may be arranged and mounted and secured inside the neck of
the bottle in any suitable or desired manner so that same is permanently and
absolutely immovable therein or therefrom for instance according to our present
invention the bottle neck may be specially prepared and adapted to receive
same viz. by forming a slight annulus or depression in the interior of the neck
of the bottle at a suitable distance from the lip or mouth of said neck such annulus
or set back being advantageously a little longer than the length of the cork ring
aforesaid around the middle portion of the appliance so that after the bottle has
been filled in the ordinary or any suitable manner with the desired liquid our
appliance is then inserted in the neck of the bottle until the aforesaid cork or the
like ring (on the exterior of said appliance and which is compressed as it is forced
in the mouth of the bottle neck) reaches the aforesaid enlargement within the
neck of the bottle whereupon same will swell out or expand into said enlarged
portion of the neck and the lower shoulder of said annulus or enlargement will
thereby prevent the said appliance from being forced right into the bottle or any

page_text: further down the neck of same while on the other hand the upper shoulder of
said enlargement will prevent any attempt to withdraw said appliance out of the
neck of the bottle again.
Thus when the bottle is tilted the liquid in the bottle can readily flow out
therefrom while on the other hand by this invention it is absolutely impossible
to ever introduce any further liquid into the bottle again.
If desired the appliance may be mounted at such a distance below the mouth
of the bottle as will permit the latter to be corked or stoppered capsuled or sealed
in any well-known or suitable manner.
The aforesaid cork or other ring on the exterior of said appliance may be
attached fixed or secured thereon and thereto in any suitable manner for instance
a thread may be formed on the appliance and the cork ring or ferrule screwed
tightly on said thread or we may form ridges or corrugations or an annular
recess or depression may be provided on said appliance in which the cork ring or
ferrule would lie or same may be mounted and held between two circular rings
or ribs on said appliance.
Also the bottom of the aforesaid loose valve may advantageously be formed with
a lip or flange thereon adapted to fit over a corresponding upwardly extending lip
or flange on the valve seat; or the valve and seating may be of any other desired
form or construction.
Dated this 11th day of
11th day of May 1897.
New or Improved Means to Prevent the Re-filling of Bottles or
other similar Vessels.
We, GEORGE JOSEPH WAINWRIGHT and WALTER JAMES WAINWRIGHT, both of
34, Studleigh Road, Forest Gate, London, E., Inventors, 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:-
This invention relates to a new or improved means to prevent the re-filling of
bottles or other similar vessels (or so-called "non-refillable bottles") and con-
sists essentially of an appliance for insertion in the neck of the bottle etc. which
while it readily permits the withdrawal of the liquid with which the bottle is
originally filled will absolutely defy any attempts to re-fill said bottle and thus
prevent the introduction into said bottle of any liquid after the application to the
bottle of the appliance according to our present invention as follows:-
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
-
-
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view on line 1-1 Fig. of our appliance (to pre-
vent the re-filling of a bottle) shown in position in the neck of such bottle.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional view only showing the bottle and appliance
inverted.
Fig. 3 is an exterior view (in side elevation) of the appliance separate from the
bottle said appliance being shown in two parts separated.
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of upper part of Fig. 3 i.e. looking in the direction of
the arrow 5 Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is plan of the upper part inverted i.e. Fig. 6 is a view of the said upper
part looking in the direction of the arrow 6 Fig. 3.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a separate view of the ferrule or collar of cork or other suitable material
by which the two parts of the appliance are surrounded at their joint and whereby
lateral motion of one said part with respect to the other is controlled the primary
object of this collar or ferrule being to serve as means to secure the appliance
permanently in the neck of the bottle.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
The appliance consists of a cylinder-like case or shell advantageously divided
horizontally about midway of the length thereof these two parts a and b being
adapted to be combined and joined together by dovetail projections 6* on the one
engaging with and sliding under dovetail guideways a on the other.
Or this case or shell may be formed in any other suitable number of parts com-
bined and secured together in any convenient and suitable manner-it being an
especial object of our present invention to form this case or shell or parts a b
thereof of glass, china, or porcelain and therefore, the construction adopted should
be of a character suitable for moulding or forming such parts of glass, china, or
porcelain.
Other suitable material may however be used if desired instead of glass or in
combination therewith.
For the sake of example we will proceed to describe our invention as carried
out with the aforesaid case or shell divided in two parts a and b see Fig. 3 and
combined together by dovetail slides as aforesaid--and around the middle portion
of said shell where the two parts a and b are joined we place a ferrule or ring c
of cork or other suitable material of suitable width and depth say extending
about or one-third of the length of the shell.
The interior of this shell carries a valve and the interior formation construc-
tion and arrangement of this shell and the parts therein (as hereinafter described)
forms a very important and essential feature of the present invention.
An aperture 6 is provided in the bottom end of the lower part b of this shell
and a valve seating 62 is provided in a convenient position at or near said aperture
a loose valve & being adapted to rest on said valve seating 62 while said valve d
is guided by suitable vertical ribs or corrugations 3 or vice versa the loose valve d
may carry vertical ribs thereon which serve to guide same against the interior
walls of the shell for instance a cylindrical-shaped valve d may be used guided
by four vertical ridges or ribs on the interior wall of the lower part of the
shell while four vertical channels or recesses are formed on the inside of said
part 6 which latter when the valve d is raised off its seating 62 permits the liquid
to flow past the valve-said valve thus having free vertical movement while at
same time it is prevented from getting out of place by said guides b³.
The upper end of the said loose valve d is advantageously conical and terminates
in a point which point coincides or thereabouts with the longitudinal central
axial line of said shell or appliance.
Moreover according to our present invention we may advantageously make
said loose valve d of a material or combination of materials which will just float
or thereabouts in liquid. For instance_the_lower part of the valve may be made
of glass and the upper conical end ** of cork or wood suitably combined with
and connected to the glass and the bottom end of the latter has a downwardly
projecting flange 2 adapted to fit.over the valve seating b².
Thus when the valve d is down no liquid can be forced in while if the bottle
is inverted as in Fig. and it is attempted to force in any liquid while in such
inverted position thereby the valve d will float up (into its seating 62) with said
liquid and prevent ingress of the latter and in addition to this precaution we
provide an automatic means of regulating or holding or pressing said valve on
its seat when the bottle is in other positions as follows:-
The interior of the upper part a of the shell is formed conical (i.e. a conical
interior chamber) with an annular shoulder a¹ (or equivalent) projecting there-
from a little distance above the top of the loose valve d. and in the space between
the top of the loose valve d and the underside of the top part a of the shell we

page_text: introduce a loose ball e of glass or other suitable material or equivalent device
of a size and shape adapted to rest against the top of the loose valve d and by
reason of the conical shape of the latter this loose ball e will fall or lie to one side
thereof and then wedge itself automatically between the loose valve and the
aforesaid annular shoulder a¹ so that when the appliance is in the vertical or
horizontal position or any positions between same on pressure being applied to
the underside of the loose valve the top of the latter will then wedge the loose
ball or locking device e against the aforesaid annular shoulder a¹ but on tilting
the bottle further (beyond the horizontal position) the loose ball e will drop into
the conical chamber above the annular shoulder and the liquid can then flow
out of the bottle past the loose valve d and past the loose ball e-three or any
other suitable number of apertures a being provided through the wall of the
upper part a at or near the top thereof which part a near the top has a narrowed
neck or portion at the point where these apertures a² are provided through
said shell while the top of the appliance which is solid and of a size adapted to
fit closely the interior of the neck of the bottle thus overhangs the aforesaid
narrow part or neck a³ and to permit the liquid flowing through the appliance
to readily escape past such closely fitting top we provide three or other suitable
number of channels at around the overhanging top at different points from where
the aforesaid apertures a² are provided so that no direct communication from the
exterior of the bottle or appliance can be had with the interior of the latter thus
for instance any attempt to introduce a wire to the interior of the appliance
would be futile as such wire could only be passed down the last-named channels a
which would guide it away from and not into the apertures a communicating
with the interior of the appliance which apertures are thus thoroughly shielded
and protected by the overhanging top end of the part. a.
This appliance may be arranged and mounted and secured inside the neck of
the bottle in any suitable or desired manner so that same is permanently and
absolutely immovable therein or therefrom for instance according to our present
invention the bottle neck may be specially prepared and adapted to receive same
viz. by forming a slight annulus or depression y in the interior of the neck of
the bottle at a suitable distance from the lip or mouth of said neck such
annulus or set back y being advantageously a little longer than the length of
the cork ring c aforesaid around the middle portion of the appliance so that after
the bottle has been filled in the ordinary or any suitable manner with the desired
liquid our appliance is then inserted in the neck of the bottle until the aforesaid
cork or the like ring c (on the exterior of said appliance and which is compressed
as it is forced in the mouth of the bottle neck ) reaches the aforesaid enlarge-
ment y within the neck of the bottle; whereupon said ring c will swell out or
expand into said enlarged portion y of the neck and the lower shoulder of said
annulus or enlargement will thereby prevent the said appliance from being forced
right into the bottle or any-further-down-the neck of same (or we may form four
or other number of insets w lower down in the neck to prevent the appliance
passing too far down the neck of the bottle) while on the other hand the upper
shoulder y of said enlargement y will prevent any attempt to withdraw said
appliance out of the neck of the bottle again.
Thus when the bottle is tilted the liquid in the bottle can readily flow out there-
from while on the other hand by this invention it is absclutely impossible to ever
introduce any further liquid into the bottle again.
If desired the appliance may be mounted in the neck at such a distance below
the mouth thereof as will permit the latter to be corked or stoppered capsuled
or sealed in the ordinary well-known or any other suitable manner.
The aforesaid cork or other ring e on the exterior of said appliance may be
attached fixed or secured thereon and thereto in any suitable manner for instance
a series of parallel rings ridges or shoulders z may be formed on the appliance and
the cork ring or ferrule is tightly held on same and thereby the withdrawal of the
appliance out of the neck of the bottle is prevented or an annular recess or depres-

page_text: .
sion may be provided on said appliance in which the cork ring or ferrule e would
lie or same may be mounted and held between two circular rings or ribs on said
appliance.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. For preventing the re-filling of bottles or other similar vessels-the com-
bination with the neck of a bottle etc. of an appliance consisting of a shell divided
in two parts the lower part being provided with a vertical passage-way there-
through controlled by a non-return valve therein, a channel around the exterior
of the upper part an interior chamber in said upper part apertures through the
side wall of said upper part forming passages from the interior chamber to said
exterior channel vertical grooves on the exterior wall of said upper part forming
passages from said channel past the top end of the appliance a valve locking
device loose in the said interior chamber of said upper part and adapted to wedge
itself between the aforesaid valve and an annular shoulder in the said chamber
and thereby lock and hold said valve on its seating until the appliance is inverted
and means to hold said appliance in the neck of the bottle etc. and prevent its
withdrawal therefrom: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination with the neck of a bottle, etc., of an appliance to permit the
emptying and prevent the re-filling of said bottle etc. such appliance being located
at a distance below the mouth of said neck and an ordinary cork stopper or other
suitable stoppering applied thereover in said neck substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. The combination with the neck of a bottle etc. of an appliance adapted to
fit tightly within said neck and at a distance below the mouth thereof a passage-
way through said appliance and a self-acting valve in said passage-way such
valve being adapted to permit only egress of liquid from but absolutely prevent
any ingress of liquid into the bottle etc. and a cork or other usual stoppering over
said appliance in the neck of the bottle etc. substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
4. The new or improved means to prevent the re-filling of bottles or other
similar vessels substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed."
TAT CONTRA
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.