Improvements in Bottles and Stoppers therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles and Stoppers therefor.
I, CLINTON LEE CRAWFORD of Baltimore City, State of Maryland, United
States of America, Merchant, 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:-
ET
This invention relates to certain improvements in bottles and stoppers therefor.
The object of the invention is to provide improved means, whereby the stopper
after having once been placed in the bottle cannot be removed therefrom without
breaking the bottle or destroying its usefulness, thereby preventing bottles made
for and having the name and containing the product of a manufacturer being
fraudulently, or otherwise, refilled with other goods.
These objects are accomplished by and this invention consists in certain novel
features of construction, and in combinations of parts more fully described herein-
after and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings ;-
Figure 1 is a section of the upper portion of a bottle showing the stopper
therein.
Figure 2 is a detail longitudinal section of the stopper.
Figure 3 is a detail cross section of the stopper.
Figure 4 is a detail perspective showing the cork or stopper proper and the
discharging tube separated.
In the drawings, the reference letter a, indicates a bottle having the neck b. A
chamber is formed in this neck or upper part of the bottle by the lower inwardly
extending annular flange or shoulder c, through which the liquid passes by.
aperture d; and by the upper substantially similar and corresponding flange or
shoulder e, forming discharge aperture f.
The stopper is permanently located in the chamber thus formed and consists of
the stopper y, formed to fit snugly in and completely fill said chamber, and this
stopper (or cork) is preferably, composed of cork or some equivalent substance
capable of being contracted and then expanding. The stopper is provided with a
longitudinal aperture or bore in which the small discharge tube h, is snugly fitted
and from the ends of which it extends outwardly. This tube has collars i i',
formed integral therewith to fit and bear against opposite ends of the stopper g, as
clearly shown to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube in the stopper and
also to prevent leakage through the bore of the stopper around the tube. As shown
the ends of the tube project through the apertures d and f.
In order to place the tube within the stopper, the stopper is provided with the
radial slit, through which the tube is passed into the bore of the stopper, as is
clearly obvious.
Before placing the stopper within the bottle it can be and is usually treated to
a bath of suitable chemicals so that it can be forced into the chamber and will
then expand. A suitable machine, (or other means) are employed which forces
the stopper through the aperture f, into the chamber between the shoulders, and
as soon as the stopper completely enters said chamber it expands and snugly fills
the same.
Of course the liquid which the bottle contains is placed therein before
the stopper is forced into place, and this liquid keeps the stopper expanded to
tightly fill its chamber.
The liquid can be discharged from the bottle in desired quantities through the
tube h, by reversing the bottle and shaking it, and after all of the liquid has been
extracted it will be readily seen that the stopper cannot be removed without
breaking the bottle, and a manufacturer can place his goods upon the market
without fear of having his bottles refilled and used by other persons.

page_text: For certain purposes the upper end of the discharge tube can be permanently
closed and provided with several sinall apertures as shown in Figure 4.
The extreme simplicity, and cheapness, and great utility of this device are
obvious. It can be cheaply and quickly manufactured and rapidly and easily
placed in the bottles.
It is obvious that various slight changes might be made in the form and
arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of
my invention hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction herein
set forth.
What I claim is ;-
1st. A bottle stopper consisting of the split stopper proper formed of material
capable of swelling or expanding, and the discharge tube extending through the
bore thereof and inserted therein through said split, substantially as described.
2nd. A bottle stopper consisting of the cylindrical cork having a longitudinal
bore and a radial split from the periphery to said bore and the discharge tube
extending through said bore and having the collars integral therewith and bearing
against the ends of said cork.
3rd. A bottle having a contracted discharge opening and a chamber beneath
and larger than said opening, in combination with a permanent stopper in
said chamber, expanded therein, and having a discharge tube, substantially as
described.
4th. A bottle having a contracted discharge opening and a chamber beneath and
larger than said opening, in combination with a permaent stopper expanded in
said chamber and consisting of the stopper proper formed of material capable of
expanding and filling said chamber, and the metal discharge tube extending
through said stopper, substantially as described.
5th. A bottle having a cylindrical chamber in its neck contracted at both ends,
in combination with the permanent stopper consisting of the cylindrical stopper
proper larger than said chamber and composed of prepared cork forced into said
chamber and permanently expanded therein, and the open tube extending longi-
tudinally through said cork and provided with collars bearing on the same,
substantially as described.
6th. A bottle having a chamber beneath its contracted discharge opening, in
combination with a stopper permanently expanded in said chamber, and consisting
of the stopper proper filling said chamber and provided with the longitudinal bore
and radial split thereinto, and the tube extending through said bore and provided
with collars bearing on opposite ends of said stopper proper.
7th. The herein described permanent bottle stopper.
001
CLINTON LEE
CRAWFORD.
By L. W., per J. G. S.