AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT USE OF SAME.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Joseph Butler, Medical Doctor, and Robert Cane
Price, Merchant, both of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF BOTTLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT USE OF SAME.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Joseph Butler and
Robert Cane Price at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
August 1879.
NICHOLAS JOSEPH BUTLER, Medical Doctor, and ROBERT CANE PRICE, Merchant,
both of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland. "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
OF BOTTLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT USE OF SAME."
In practice in the trade it is well known that bottles such as those containing
champagne, brandy, and other such liquids upon being sent out by the original
producer or bottler, and bearing the trade mark or registered label of such original
producer or bottler, that these bottles upon being emptied of their contents are
frequently refilled with spurious liquids, and again put on the market as the
genuine article of the original producer or bottler.
The object of our said Invention is to produce a bottle for the purpose of
preventing this fraudulent practice. To this end we construct a bottle of the
ordinary shape and size, and we cause the nozzle or upper part of same to be of
slighter substance than the remaining thickness of the neck, so that where the thick
part of the neck commences a shoulder or projection will be presented all round on
the interior surface of said neck.
The nozzle is provided with a heavy flange to admit of a circular groove
or cavity being formed round the interior of same. When the bottle thus
constructed is filled with liquid in the ordinary manner, a cork is inserted and
forced down with a punch, or by means of an ordinary corking machine, until its
top surface reaches the shoulder or projection on the interior of the neck above
described, an open space is consequently left over the cork in the nozzle, and this

page_text: space we propose to fill with a composition of ordinary cement or other suitable
substance.
When it is desired to extract the liquid from the bottle the nozzle with the
composition which it holds is broken off by a slight tap, the object of the lightness
of the nozzle and shoulder in the neck, as above described, being to render such
breakage easy; the cork is then drawn out in the usual manner. Now it is on
this nozzle that we propose to affix the brand or trade mark of the original
producer or bottler, and it will be obvious that when once this improved bottle is
used as described above it cannot again be refilled and put on the market
in a fraudulent manner; the bottle may nevertheless be used again for ordinary
purposes, as it will be only minus its nozzle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nicholas Joseph Butler and Robert Cane Price in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th February 1880.
NICHOLAS JOSEPH BUTLER, Medical Doctor, and ROBERT CANE PRICE, Merchant,
both of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland. "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
OF BOTTLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT USE OF SAME."
In practice in the trade it is well known that bottles such as those containing
champagne, brandy, and other such liquids upon being sent out by the original
producer or bottler, and bearing the trade mark or registered label of such original
producer or bottler, that such bottles upon being emptied of their contents are
frequently refilled with spurious liquids and again put on the market as the genuine
article of the original producer or bottler. The object of our said Invention is to
produce a bottle for the purpose of preventing this fraudulent practice.
To this end we construct a bottle of the ordinary shape and size, and we cause
the nozzle or upper part of the neck of same to be of greater diameter than the
remaining or lower portion of the neck, so that where the increased diameter
occurs a ledge or interior projection will be presented, while on the exterior surface
a shoulder or projection will also appear; and underneath this shoulder is a ring,
between which and the shoulder a groove or cavity is formed for the purpose
hereinafter described. When the bottle thus constructed is filled with liquid in the
ordinary manner a cork is inserted and forced down with a punch or rammer, or
by means of the ordinary corking machine, until its top surface reaches and is on a
line with the ledge on the interior of the neck above referred to; an open space is
consequently left over the cork in the nozzle, and this space we propose to fill with
a composition of ordinary cement or other suitable substance. When it is desired
to extract the liquid from the bottle the nozzle with the composition which it
holds is broken off by a slight tap administered underneath the projection or
shoulder, the object of the groove or cavity above described being to render such
breakage easy. The cork is then drawn out in the usual manner, or we may
dispense with the use of the cork by placing a light disk of wood or other suitable
material on the ledge or interior projection, and introducing the cement or other
composition upon this disk. Now it is on this nozzle or part to be broken off that
we propose to affix the brand or trade mark, as above set forth, and it will be
obvious that when once this improved bottle is used as described, it cannot be
refilled and put on the market in a fraudulent manner; the bottle may neverthe-
less be used for ordinary purposes, as it will be only minus the nozzle. In order
that our said Invention may be more readily understood, we will describe the
accompanying Figures which illustrate more clearly the nature of the Invention.
In all three views a shows the nozzle or upper part of our improved construction
of bottle. In Figs. 1 and 2 c indicates the filling of cement or other suitable
composition; Figs. 2 and 3 show the cork 6 pressed down to a level with the ledge,
as bereinbefore described. In Fig. 1 the cork is dispensed with, and a disk d
introduced upon which the cement or other composition rests; Fig. 2 shows a
method of securing a capsule p by means of a bent wire inserted in the cement
while the latter is in a liquid or plastic state. Upon this capsule may be impressed
the brand or trade mark of the original producer or bottler, or the brand or mark
may be stamped on the nozzle as may be found most convenient; Fig. 3 shows the
nozzle removed after having received a slight tap in the manner hereinbefore
described, the breakage invariably occurring at the groove or cavity pointed to by
the arrow, and leaving the bottle capable of being used again for ordinary purposes,
but cannot be again put on the market in a fraudulent manner, seeing that the
original trade mark or brand is removed and cannot possibly be restored with a
view to deceive. It is obvious that jars and other receptacles for containing solids

page_text: or liquids may be constructed according to our said Invention, and that bottles,
jars, and such other receptacles may be made of earthenware, porcelain, or other
suitable material.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be applied, we would have it understood that what we claim
is, the construction of bottles, jars, and other receptacles in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as set forth. Secondly. The combination of the cork b with
the seal c, and of the disk d with the seal c, for the purpose of closing bottles, jars,
and other receptacles; also, the method of securing the capsule p to the seal
the manner substantially as herein described.
in
In witness whereof, we, the said Nicholas Joseph Butler and Robert Cane
Price, have hereunto this our Specification set our hands and seals, this
Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
NICHOLAS JOSEPH BUTLER. (L.S.)
ROBERT CANE PRICE.
(L.S.)