Improvements in or relating to Non-refillable Bottles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1858-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Non-refillable Bottles.
:
A communication from FRANCIS ARMSTRONG WOons, of 801, Atwood Building,
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Civil Engineer.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 more particularly to an improvement in the valve-
mechanism of non-refillable bottles and to the construction of the bottle-neck,:
though the valve-mechanism here shown is believed never to have been used
before, and, therefore, is not to be limited to use in connection with a non-refillable:
bottle.
The object of the invention is to provide a cheaper and more efficient valve and
valve-guard for bottles of this description than has been afforded hitherto, and,,
for the purpose of enabling the ready introduction of these parts, to provide an.
improved construction of the bottle-neck itself, as well as improved means for
attaching the neck to the bottle.
A further object is to provide a construction which prevents the re-use of:
different parts of several bottles to form a new bottle.
Generally stated the invention consists in a bottle having a neck. formed in:
longitudinal sections to permit efficient valve-mechanism and valve-guard to be.
introduced, which sections are joined together by cementing or welding either
before or after said parts are in place; in a hollow conical valve, or the equivalent
thereof, which contains a shifting weight, and the base of which bears upon a.
valve-seat provided in the bottle-neck and is held in place by means of a centrally-
attached spring; in the preferred means for maintaining said valve. in its proper
position in the improved construction of valve-guard shown; and in the im
proved means for attaching the bottle-neck to the body of the bottle, where it is.
deemed desirable to form the neck separately from the body.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is an inner face view of one of the molded or pressed sections from
which the bottle-neck (when this feature of the invention is employed) is formed, "
the junction plane of said neck-sections lying as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 13,.
and a portion of the valve-guard device employed being shown in section as indicated
at line 1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2, an inner face view of a section of said portion of
the valve-guard, the junction plane of said sections lying as indicated at line 2-of
Fig. 3 Fig. 3, a plan view of the united sections of said valve-guard part; ·
Figs. 4 and 5 elevational and bottom plan views respectively, of a hollow tilting:
valve employed; Fig. 6, an elevational view of the valve-guard portion shown in
Fig. 3 with its retaining spring in place; Fig. 7 the retaining spring of said valve-
guard portion; Figs. 8 and 9 elevational and bottom plan views.of a separately
formed valve-seat part employed; Figs. 10 and 11 plan and elevational views:
respectively of a shifting ring-like-lock-device employed in connection with the,
valve; Fig. 12, a broken section of the lower portion of the bottle-neck viewed as
indicated at line 12 of Fig. 13; Fig. 13, a plan section through the bottle-neck
and the shank of the bottle to which said neck is attached, the section being taken:

page_text: at the height indicated at line 13 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 14, a fragmentary view of
the upper portion of the bottle-body showing the shank to which the bottle-neck
is attached and the means for securing said parts together.
A represents the upper portion of the bottle-body which, in the preferred con-
struction, is supplied with a short sleeve or shank B provided with a raised thread t.
Perpendicular to the direction of the threads (Fig. 14) on said shank is a groove #
into which is set a spring-metal piece 2 provided with outward projecting ratchet-
12
engaging prongs 3. C is the bottle-neck which, for convenience in arranging
for the accommodation of the interior parts, may be formed from two longitudinal
sections C1 C2 cemented or welded together. The sections C1 and C2 are separately
formed, preferably by pressing, stamping or molding, during which
operation the neck-sections are given a suitable inner conformation to receive the
internal parts. Near its upper end the neck is provided internally with an
annular shoulder s against which is pressed from below a separably formed valve-
guard part D comprising two half sections D¹ D2, as shown in Fig. 3. Encircling
the valve-guard part D (Fig. 6) within an annular groover is a retaining spring E
provided with downward projections fitting in offsets 2. These downward
projections of the spring normally extend outwardly from the valve-guard D and
when said part is in position within the bottle-neck said projections spring into
recesses on the neck-sections, thus firmly locking the part D to the neck.
The construction of the part D of the valve-guard just described is such as to
permit it to be placed in position within the bottle-neck after the neck-sections
are joined together, or it may be placed in the same manner within an integrally
formed neck. When the neck is formed in sections, as shown in the accompanying
drawing, the sections 11 D2 may be formed integral with the bottle-neck sections,
thus dispensing with the extra parts.
The portion D of the valve-guard comprises simply two half sleeves each pro-
vided on the interior with two raised half rings or annular flanges and extending
flush therewith two longitudinal flanges or bosses p¹ provided with recesses ²³
at opposite sides of the upper ring p. Said portions of the valve-guard (which
may be formed integral with the neck-sections) are supplemented by a portion E¹
comprising a stem n and solid buttons or disks n¹ n² and n³. In the assembling
of the parts the buttons n¹ n² fit interlockingly into the recesses 22 1º in the
flanges. The portion of the valve-guard E last described is of course placed
in position within the portion 1) before the sections of the latter are cemented or
welded together.
F is a sleeve-like valve-seat part provided at its upper end with an annular
flange m, an upward projecting flange m', and interiorly with two longitudinally
extending grooves m². Upon the valve-seat F rests a hollow tilting valve G pro-
vided on its interior with a shifting weight, preferably a leaden ball, G¹. This
valve is seated apex upward, being formed of glass, the base being provided with
a perforation into which fits a cork k to the bottom of which is secured a phosphor
bronze disk, to which in turn is secured a disk of chamois skin or the like 2,
the latter being clampingly held between the disk and a smaller disk B
of phosphor bronze, through all of which disks passes the shank of a hook by
means of which is secured to the center of the valve-piece a delicate spring, the
lower end of which is attached to a cross-bar having upturned ends ki
which move in the slots m² of the part F. The cross-bar is frictionally
held within the slots m² and will remain at any position where it is placed, thereby
enabling the tension of the spring to be suitably adjusted.
Encircling the apex of the valve G is a shifting ring-like lock-device H, which
serves to lock the valve against lateral shaking except when the bottle is in pour-
ing position. The ring H is provided with guide-wings h separated by grooves h¹
permitting free passage of liquid. The lower annular corner of the valve is likewise
provided with grooves 2 permitting passage of liquid.
Confined between the flange m of the valve-seat part F, and the upper end of
the shank B of the body of the bottle, is an annulus of cork I. The bottle-neck is

page_text: provided toward its base on its interior surface with a spiral groove 9 which
engages the raised thread t on the shank of the body of the bottle. The groove g
is provided in its course with ratchet teeth g₁ which engage the projections 311
of the spring 2, and prevent the bottle-neck from being removed from the shank
of the bottle once it is turned down upon the latter. It will be noted that the
downward projecting sleeve-portion of the valve-seat part F fits within the shank B,
while the shank B fits within the base of the bottle-neck, and that the annulus I of
cork is in position to form a liquid tight joint between the several parts. If de-
siders an additional washer of cork or felt f may be employed between the lower
edge of the bottle-neck and the annular shoulder f¹ of the body of the bottle upon
which said bottle-neck rests.
Where the bottle-neck is formed in sections the valve-guard may or may not be
introduced within the bottle-neck before the sections are welded together. The pre-
ferred method of introducing the valve and attendant parts is to do so after the
bottle-neck is completely formed, as this enables the use of delicate parts on the in-
terior without any chance of injury by heat. The manner of securing the longitu-
dinal neck-sections together is to grind the edges to a perfectly plane
surface, paint them with a cement containing a flux and then subject to a welding
heat.
The interior of the valve G contains air, and when an effort. is made to fraudu-
lently refill the bottle by producing a vacuum therein the cork k is forced out by the
air pressure within the valve, thus destroying the valve. The spring is preferably
secured to the cork by a cotton thread d or by a cement susceptible to heat or acid,
but not acted upon by liquors ordinarily contained in bottles of this description.
The result of this arrangement is that when an attempt is made to destroy the
valve-leather by means of a re-agent of this character the valve is loosened from
the spring and the fraud may be detected.
Changes in the details of construction may be made without departure from
this invention, and no limitation is intended by the particular description given
above.
The operation is as follows;
Where the valve-guard part D is separately formed from the bottle-neck the
valve-guard part E' is interlockingly joined to the sections thereof and the sections are
then joined together. Where the neck-sections are separately formed the sections
may be first welded together and the valve-guard, which has been separately
formed, may be introduced from below and locked in position by means of the
spring E. Where the improved valve shown and described herein is employed the
preferred method is to introduce the valve-seat and attendant parts into the bottle-
neck from below after the sections of the neck have been welded together, and so
far as this feature of the invention is concerned the neck may be formed in one
section. As the neck is turned down upon the shank of the bottle.the prongs t
engage each its own ratchet in the groove within which it operates, the prongs
being so arranged as to alternate in their engagement with, the teeth, thus securing
a prong-engagement with but small rotation of the bottle-neck.
When the bottle is in its upright position the valve is held to its seat by means
of the spring, the locking ring H and by the air pressure. The valve is secured
against much longitudinal movement by means of the stem of the valve-guard
projecting down close to the apex of the valve. As soon as the bottle is
sufficiently tilted the ring H slides forward and unlocks the valve, and when the
lower surface of the cone is tilted below a horizontal the ball G1 rolls forward to
the apex of the cone, and acting through this comparatively long leverage, tilts
the cone from its seat in spite of the atmospheric pressure tending to hold it in
place, permitting the liquid to enter the valve-chamber (as the space above the
valve-seat is termed) by what may properly be termed its ingress opening, and, of
course, the egress being unclosed the liquid readily escapes through the circuitous
channel afforded by the valve-guard. The valve being conical may be opened by
tilting the bottle in any direction. If the cone were in the form. of a hollow

page_text: pyramid, (a construction which would be less desirable) it is evident that it would
have to be tilted only in certain directions to secure the best results.
Once the bottle is empty it is impossible to refill it by any means which experts
have been able to devise. The introduction of liquid into the valve-chamber from
the exterior causes the valve, if tilted, to close. If the bottle is completely inverted
the valve remains closed of its own accord. It is possible to introduce a quantity
ef liquid above the valve and by shaking the bottle to introduce a small quantity
beneath the valve; but after a limited quantity has been introduced in this man-
ner, further shaking causes the valve to close and remain closed against any further
introduction of liquid in this manner. If by applying a vacuum, and by centri-
fugal force, it is attempted to fill the bottle, the air within the hollow valve G
forces the cork out and disconnects the valve from its spring, thus ruining the
bottle. Once the valve is disconnected from the valve-leather the latter is drawn
to the valve-seat and will not again reopen.
It is believed to be novel to provide a valve seating at its base upon a valve-seat
and attached centrally to a spring connected with a stationary part of the valve,
seat, said valve being left unattached at the periphery of its base, and being
provided with means for tilting the valve to permit liquid to escape between the
peripheral margin of its base and the valve-seat. Accordingly said improved
valve is not to be limited to its use in connection with a non-refillable bottle.
The device connected with the hollow valve acting as a safeguard against
fraudulently refilling through the agency of a vacuum may be varied without
departure from this invention so long as the feature of providing means in com-
munication with both the interior and the exterior of the valve proper, and
depending for its operation upon a variation of the pressure upon the two surfaces
for changing the normal condition of the valve, is retained.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, & in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1 Valve-mechanism for bottles, comprising a valve-chamber provided with an
ingress and an egress opening and at the ingress opening with a valve-seat, a
hollow tilting valve seating at its base against said valve-seat and operating to
unseal said ingress when tilted, a shifting weight within said valve for tilting
the latter, and means for tiltably holding the valve-base in contact with the valve-
seat, substantially as set forth.
2 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a tapering tilting valve seated at its base against
said valve-seat and operating when tilted to unseal said ingress, and means for
tiltably holding the valve in correct relationship with its seat, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a tapering valve with apex upward seated at its
base against said valve-seat, a spring attached to the under surface of the valve-
base and to the valve-seat, and means for tilting said valve, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
4-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a hollow conical tilting valve seating at its base
against said seat and operating when tilted to unseal the passage at the valve-
seat, a ball within said valve and means for tiltably holding said valve-base in
proper relation with the valve-seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a hollow conical valve seating at its base against said
seat with apex upturned, a ball within said valve, and a spring attached to the
valve-base and to the valve-seat, substantially as set forth.
1
6 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve;
seat toward the base thereof, a hollow tapering valve seating at its base against said

page_text: valve-seat, a shifting weight within the valve, and a shifting ring-like lock-device
encircling the tapering portion of said valve, substantially as set forth...
7-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-seat
toward the base thereof, a hollow tapering valve seating at its base against said
valve-seat and operating when tilted to unseal the passage at the valve-seat, .a
shifting weight within the valve, means for tiltably holding the valve in contact
with the valve-seat, and a guard device located with a small clearance above said
valve and serving to limit its longitudinal movement, substantially as set forth.
8-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a hollow conical valve seating at its base against said
valve-seat, means for maintaining the valve in correct relation with its seat, à
shifting weight within the valve, a valve-guard above said valve, and means con
nected with the valve and in communication with the interior of
the valve to be acted upon by the air from within to change the
normal condition of the valve when the air pressure on the exterior of the valve is
reduced by an effort to refill the bottle through the creation of a vacuum, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1
9-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a hollow tilting valve seated at its base against said
valve-seat, a spring for tiltably holding the valve against its seat, means for
attaching said spring to said valve-base in communication with the interior of
the valve and capable of being acted upon by a change in the relation of the
exterior to the interior air pressure, and means for tilting said valve, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
10 A non-refillable-bottle neck, comprising two or more longitudinal sections
welded together and forming a valve-chamber, the junction surfaces being non-
concentric with relation to the outer surface of the bottle-neck, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
11 The combination of a non-refillable bottle neck comprising two or more
longitudinal sections welded together and forming a valve-chamber, the junction-
surfaces being non-concentric with relation to the outer surface of the bottle-neck,
and valve-mechanism within said chamber, substantially as described.
12-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a neck comprising longitudinal
sections welded together and having junction surfaces non-concentric with re-
lation to the outer surface of the bottle-neck, valve-mechanism within the neck,
and a valve-guard above the valve-mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
13-In a non-refillable bottle neck, the combination of two or more permanently
joined longitudinal neck-sections provided on their inner surfaces with integrally
formed raised valve-guard portions, and a separately formed valve-guard device
interlockingly joined to said integrally formed portions, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
14 In a non-refillable bottle neck, the combination of two permanently joined
longitudinal neck-sections each provided on its inner surface with an integrally
formed half annular flange and longitudinal bosses flanking said flange provided
with recesses, and a separately formed guard-device, comprising a stem provided
with disks fitting the recesses in said flanges, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
15 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck of a valve.
seat toward the base thereof, a tilting valve seating at its base against said valve-seat
and left unattached at its periphery, a spring attached to the center of the under
surface of the valve-base and to a part connected with the valve-seat, and means
for tilting said valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
16 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
guard part D having an annular flange and longitudinal bosses flanking said
flange provided with recesses, and a separately formed guard device, comprising a

page_text: stem provided with disks fitting said recesses, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
17-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a sleeve-
like valve-guard.D formed integrally with or attached to the bottle-neck and
provided on its interior with the raised surfaces described, and a valve-guard
part E interlockingly joined to said part D, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
18 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a
separately formed valve-guard part 1), the interlockingly held part E¹ inclosed
therein, and a spring E for holding the guard against removal, substantially as
described.
19 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a bottle-body having a shank
provided with a thread, a bottle-neck provided with a co-acting thread, one of said
parts being provided with a ratchet, and a spring carried by one part and provided
with means for engaging said ratchet, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
20 In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with the bottle-neck, of a valve-
seat toward the base thereof, a tiltable valve resting at its base upon said seat, a
spring attached to the valve-base centrally thereof, means connecting the spring
adjustably to the valve-base, and means for tilting the valve, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
21-In a non-refillable bottle, the combination of a body-portion, a neck attached
thereto provided with a valve-chamber and toward its base with a valve-seat, a
valve within said chamber, valve-leather for the valve-base, and a spring attached
to the valve-base by means destructible by the action of heat or acid, said spring
being connected with the valve-seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
Dated this 13th day of October 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.