Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Fraudulent Refilling of Bottles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by NATHAN SCHWAB, Real Estate Agent, of
100 East 60th Street, and GARSON JACOB NEWWITTER, Silk Manufacturer,
of Hotel Lorenz, 72nd Street and Lexington Avenue, both of New York, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Fraudulent Refilling
of Bottles.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in bottles, and particularly to that class
of bottles which are intended to contain liquor, and which have devices to prevent
then from being fraudulently refilled. The object of the invention is to produce
a very simple non-refilling device which is located in the neck of the bottle, which
does not add materially to the cost of the bottle, which permits liquor to flow
freely out, but which prevents any liquor from being forced in, and thus provides
a simple means for preventing bottles from being filled with spurious materials.
To these ends the invention consists of certain features of construction and
combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of the bottle showing the improvements, the
neck and parts therein being shown in longitudinal section,
Figure 2 is an inverted end view of the plug in the bottle neck,
Figure 3 is a broken side elevation of the said plug, showing the upper part
thereof,
Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the washer which is used in connection with
the plug,
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of the plug,
Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 6,
Figure 7 is a broken side elevation with the neck and stopper in longitudinal
section, of a modified form of the bottle and stopper showing the improvements,
Figure 8 is a detail vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7,
Figure 9 is a sectional plan on the line 9-10 of Figure 7 of the improved
stopper,
Figure 10 is an inverted plan on the line 9-10 of Figure 7 of the improved
stopper,
Figure. 11 is a plan view of the improved stopper,
Figure 12 is a vertical section on the line 12-12 of Figure 18, of another
modified form of the stopper showing it applied to a bottle neck,
Figure 18 is a detail side elevation of the modified form of stopper just
referred to,
Figure 14 is a sectional plan on the line 14-14 of Figure 13,
Figure 15 is a broken side elevation, with tho neck in longitudinal section, of
another modification of the bottle showing the improvements,
[Prine 8d.1

page_text: VOI CON YIO of the ping used in the bottle neck Own
Figure 15,
Figure 17 is a side elevation of the said plug,
Figure 18 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another modification of
the plug,
Figure 19 is an end view of the plug shown in Figure 18,
Figure 20 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the plug when provided
, with a peculiar means of fastening,
Figure 21 is a detail sectional view showing a preferred form of bottle neck for
use in connection with the improvements, and
Figure 22 is a longitudinal seotion through the bottle neck and valve, and
shows another modification of the device in which the valve seat and plug are united.
The bottle 10 may be of any approved kind, and it has in its neck 11 a shoulder
on which rests the washer 12, which as illustrated is open at the middle to permit
the passage of liquor through it, aud which serves as a valve seat, the washer
being preferably of cork, although it can be made of glass, rubber or any suitable
material. The washer is preferably separable from the neck and plug, as
illustrated and described, but it will be seen that the valve seat or washer may
be made a fixture in the neck if desired.
Above the washer 12 and resting firmly thereon is a hollow plug 13, which is
reduced at the top and which fits snugly in the bottle neck, being preferably
ground in, although it can be fastened in in auy suitable manner. The plug 13 is
provided with internal ribs 14 which form channels 15 between them running the
whole length of the plug from top to bottom, as shown in Figure 2, through which
channels the liquor can run freely when the bottle is tipped, as hereinafter
described, and the ribs serve as guides for the valve and ball, to be presently
referred to.
The plug discharges near the top through the side porta 16, above which is a
frangible shield 17 which prevents anything from being inserted in the plug, and
the shield is formed integral with the plug 13, the parts 18 being left to support
the shield when the ports 16 are made. The frangible shield 17 is larger in
diameter than the reduced top portion of the plug 13, and so if an attempt is made
to force a wire into the plug to tamper with the valve, the wire is deflected by the
shield upon the reduced or tapering upper part of the plug and so prevented from
entering the latter. If the above result does not take place the fraugible shield is
almost certain to be broken, and this will show that the valve has heen tampered
with and that the liquor in the bottle is probably spurious. The plug by having this
reduced upper portion can be inserted casily by means of a small wedge or suitable
tool, but if an attempt is made to remove the plug the reduced or inclined top
portion causes the tool to slip from it and so the plug cannot be removed, and the
shield 17 is broken.
Within the plug and moving freely up and down is a valve 10, which is prefer-
ably convex on top and is hollowed out on the bottom, as shown at 20, this
construction giving to the valve a comparatively sharp annular lower edge which
is adapted to fit closely against the washer or valve seat 12. By having the valve
concave on the uuder side, as illustrated, the outflowing liquor is sure to strike the
valve so as to remove it from its seat, and by having the top convex the ball 31
above it is surer to act on it and force the valve to its seat. The valve 19 should
be made of cork or other light material, but anything suitable may be used, and
the ball 21, which is held above the valve and rolls freely in the plug, should be
Heavier than the valve so that when the bottle is inclined the action of tho ball
will force the valve to its scat. To further facilitate this action the plug is tapered
towards the top on its inner side, as shown at 22, and hence when the bottle is
held in a nearly horizontal position with just inclination enough to slightly raise
the neck the ball will roll against the valve and place it against the seat, thus
preventing the bottle from being filled by first laying it on its side and attempting
to work the liquor gently into it.

page_text: The tapering part 22 of the plug extends from the top to a point a little below
the center of the plug and the plug is absolutely straight from this point to the
bottom, and so if the bottle is level, or even has the top alightly below its center
the ball 21 will still run downward when an attempt is made to fill the bottle and
force the valve 19 to its seat.
When the bottle has been filled with liquor the device to prevent the refilling is
fastened in the neck after which the ordinary stopper may be placed in the neck,
and when the bottle is to be emptied, the stopper is removed and the bottle used.in
the ordinary way, when the outflowing liquor displaces the valve 19 and passes out
through the channels 15 and porte 16 of the plug. As the liquor passes out the
ball 21 fills the top part of the plug 13 and the liquor passes out through the
channels from between the ribs 14. When, however, an attempt is made to refill
the bottle, the inflowing liquor acting on the valve 19 forces the latter to its seat
and so closes the bottle neck, this action being facilitated by the pressure of the
ball 21 against the valve, and if it is attempted to float the liquor in slowly by
laying the hottle on its side the ball 21 runs down the inclino 22 of the plug and
strikes the valve so as to push the latter to its sent.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the plug 13 is provided with an annular groove 28
on the outside, which connects by means of the channels 24 with ports 16" in the
upper part of the plug, the latter being closed at the top, and from the groove 23
extend channels 24 to the top of the plug, and hence liquor can pass out through
the ports 16, the channels 24, the groove 23 and the channels 24, while a wire
cannot be inserted, because if extended down the chanuels 24 it will engage the
groove 23 and cannot pass up through either channel 24. Internally the plug
shown in Figures 5 and 6 is exactly like that already described.
The modification shown in Figures 7 to 11 inclusive has a plug formed of two
parts 25 and 26, which before being inserted in the bottle neck are fastened firmly
together, and may be made in one piece if desired. The lower portion 25 of the
plug is hollow and straight and has a bottom opening 27, in which the ball or
valve 28 is seated, and ou the inner wall of the part 25 are channels 29 through
which liquor may pass around the valve when the bottle is inverted. The ball 28
fits snugly in the lower portion of the plug and is thus sensitivo to the action of the
liquor, which to pass the ball must run through the channels 29.
The top portion 26 of the plug is provided with a longitudinal bore 30, which
has a sharp bend 31 therein in the middle to prevent a wire or other instrument
from being inserted in the stopper to work the valve. But it will be understood
that the sinuosity of the bore may not be confined to the one sharp bend. The
bore is oblong at the bottom, as shown at 32 in Figure 10, so that when the
bottle is inverted the ball or valve 28 cannot close the bore but leaves openings át
the ends, as shown in the said figure, through which the liquor may pass.
Figures 12 to 14 show a modification having a sinuous bore of another character,
in which the top portion 26 of the plug has a vertical bore 33 which is squared at
the bottom, and which at the top delivers through transverse ports 34 extending
through the side walls of the upper part of the plug. The ports 34 are covered by
a shield 35 which is securely fastened to and practically forms a part of the plug
and prevents a wire or other instrument from being inserted in the ports 34 and
bore 33.
It will be seen that in the modification shown in Figures 7 to 14 the liquor cah
pass freely out by the ball 28 and through the ports of the plug, but that if an
attempt is made to fill the bottle the ball seats itself in the bottom opening 27 and
prevents such refilling.
As shown in Figures 15 to 22, the bottle lins a slightly flaring month, and, as
illustrated in Figure 15, has in the neck a shoulder 36 against which rests the
lower edge of the hollow or cup shaped plug 37 which fits snugly in the neck, and
is preferably wedged in. The plug is provided with exterior channels 38 running
from top to bottom and connecting with ports 39 at the lower edge of the plug,
and the liquor passes out through the ports and channels. Justead; however, of

page_text: making the ports at the extreme lower edge ports 29 may be produced in the plug
and extended through the walls to connect with the channels 38.
The plug has numerous air passages 40 in its inner wall which extend from the
lower edge to a point above the ball 41, which is held within the plug and fits
against the collar or shoulder 36. These air passages form au important feature of
the invention, as if they are not used a certain amount of liquor is retained in the
plug and a partial vacuum formed which has a tendency to hold the hall up in the
plug so that liquor can be forced into the bottle especially if the latter is laid on
its side, but the passages permit a free supply of air to enter behind the ball and
so the latter is very sensitive and seats itself as soon as any attempt is made to
force liquor inward through the ports 38.
The plug can be fastened in in any convenient way, but if cement is used small
plugs 42 (see Figure 20) of cork rubber or other yielding material may be inserted
in the wall of the plug, and these little plugs get a good grip on the cement and so
Assist in holding the main plug in place. If preferred, the shoulder 36 of the
bottle can be made with a groove 36" (see Figuro 21) in which the lower end of the
plug 37 rests, and this groove or concavity serves as a trap to engage the end of
the wire in case an attempt is made to tamper with the valve and prevents the said
wire from coming in contact with the ball or valve 41.
In Figure 22 is shown another modification of the device, in which a collar 43 is
fastened directly to the plug 37, and the collar serves as a seat for the ball or
valve 41. The collar is highest at its inner edge to prevent the insertion of
a wire.
When the bottle is tipped up the liquor flows out by the valvo 41, through the
ports 39 and channels 38, the ball rolling to the top of the plug 37, but if an
attempt is made to refill the bottle the valve seats itself and prevents such action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the bottle neck, of the plug fastened therein, the plug
being open at each end and having a reduced or inclined top portion and a
longitudinal bore adapted to contain a valve with internal side channels extending
the full length of the bore, the said bore being tapered from a point near the center
to the top of the plug and being straight in its lower part, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the plug shaped to fit a bottle neck with a longitudinal
bore extending completely through it and having a reduced top portion, the plug
being adapted to contain a valve, of the frangible top or shield formed integral
with the plug and supported slightly above the bore, the edges of the shield
projecting alightly outward beyond the sides of the bore, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the bottle, of the plug open at each end and shaped to
fit a bottle neck and provided with an externally reduced top, a longitudinal bore
tapering from a point near the center to the top, side channels extending the full
length of the plug in the walls of the bore and a seat in the bottom of the plug, a
frangible shield held slightly abovo the top and extending across the bore, a valve
fitting closely in the bottom part of the plug, and a ball riding on the valve and
adapted to fit in the tapering top, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the bottle having a shoulder in its neck, of the washer
on the shoulder forming a valve seat, a hollow plug open at each end and held in
the neck above the washer and provided with a longitudinal boro having channels
in the walls thereof extending the full length of the plug, said bore being tapered
from a point near the center to the top and straight in the lower part, a trangible
shield held slightly above the top and extending across the bore, a valve fitting
closely in the lower part of the plug, and a ball riding on the valve, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with the bottle, of a plug held in the neck thereof and

page_text: provided with a bottom opening having a valve seat therein and with circuitous
ports leading from the interior of the plug through the upper exterior part thereof,
and a ball or valve seat within the plug, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the bottle having a seat for a valve in the neck, of a
plug, closed at the top and open at the bottom, set above the shoulder and provided
with transverse ports and longitudinal exterior channels, also with interior air
passages extending upward from its lower edge, and a ball or valve held within the
plug, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the bottle, of a non-refilling device having its several
parts constructed and arranged substantially as shown in the accompanying
drawings and described in the foregoing specification.
Dated this 25th day of August 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.