Improvements in Stoppering Bottles to Prevent them being Refilled.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stoppering Bottles to Prevent them being Refilled.
We, WALTER ERNEST HALL, Dentist, WILLIAM EDWARD Woods, Chemist, and
GEORGE WILLIAM SHAILER, Settler, all of 54 Lambton Quay, in the City of
Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, 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 object of the invention is to provide a bottle and stopper which cannot be
refilled with liquid after its original contents have been extracted.
It is well known in several trades that fraud is practised to a considerable
extent with the bottles and stopper at present in use, and that they are refilled with
an inferior liquid which is passed off as the genuine article, and corresponding
with the old brand left upon the bottle. The present invention prevents such
frauds in a simple and inexpensive manner.
.
The object of the invention is carried into effect by moulding the bottle with a
neck, having its lower part of greater diameter than the upper, and by moulding
a shoulder at the bottom of the neck whereon a washer preferably of cork may
rest. Into the interior of this washer is forced a stopper having external and
annular corrugations to grip into the washer, into the hollow interior of which
is fixed another similar washer which acts as a valve seat for a valve. The valve
is hollow and hermetically sealed so as to be of slightly lower specific gravity than
the liquid contained in the bottle. The top of the valve is recessed conically to
receive a ball and a similar recess is formed in the bottom of a weight which rests
upon and holds the valve down to its seat. The upper surface of the weight is also
recessed conically to receive another ball, and another conical recess is made in
the solid top of the stopper. Around the head of the washer, apertures are left
through which liquid may pass.
"
For purpose
of a full description in detail the invention is illustrated upon the
accompanying drawings, to which reference will now be made,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the neck and upper part of the bottle with
the stopper in position.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the stopper.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line A--B Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross section on line (D) Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a section of the washer, shewing the position of the weight, valve,
and balls when in a horizontal position.
Similar letters refer to similar parts.
Referring to the drawings, the neck (a) of bottle (a) Figure 1, has its internal
diameter increased at its lower part, and is moulded with a shoulder (a²) whereon
the washer () may rest The stopper (c) is forced into washer (b), either in the
act of corking the bottle with the ordinary cork (d) or before such corking, and
it grips into the washer by means of the annular corrugations (c), so that should
an attempt be made to extract the stopper, the washer will be withdrawn with the
same, but only so far as the narrowing portion (3) of the neck (a), where the
whole will be effectually held and further withdrawal rendered impossible.

page_text: Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the internal washer (f) fits within the
stopper (c) which is recessed for the purpose, and it rests upon the shoulder (a²).
This washer (f) forms a valve seat for valve (g), the top of which has a conical
recesss (g) for ball (92). Feathers (93) guide the valve as it rises and falls and
also leave spaces for the passage of liquid. The upper ends of the feathers are
produced as shewn to prevent any jamming which might arise by the valve turning
slightly to one side. The valve weight (g) is recessed at the top and bottom to
receive balls (92) and (g) and its diameter is so small as to provide abundant
play within the stopper.
The solid top of the stopper is recessed for ball (95) and is cored out to leave 1
apertures (9) through which liquid may pass as shewn by the arrows. The
surface of the stopper has ribs (g) to prevent a sucker being applied to withdraw
upper
the same.
The stepper may be made of glass, pewter, or other suitable material, and
washers (b) and (f) may be made of cork, lampwick, vulcanite, india rubber, felt
and the like.
To pour out the liquid it is best to turn the neck of the bottle downwards with a
somewhat quick movement to give a slight jerk to the weight (g) and release
the valve.
The weight (g) will keep the valve upon its seat when the bottle is turned to a
horizontal position as shewn on Figure 5, and even to an angle considerably
beyond the horizontal. When thus turned over, the weight (g) falls by rolling
upon the balls (92) and (g) and presses the valve upon its seat as shewn on
Figure 5. Should an attempt be made to fill the bottle when turned upside
down, such action would be frustrated by the valve (g) being made so light that 2
it would be carried up by the flow of the fluid and close upon its seat.
Points or mbs (9) are formed upon the weight (g) to frustrate an attempt
made to pour gum or the like into the stopper to stick the valve to the weight
in order to trauquently fill the bottle when turned upside down.
With this pro-
vision the valve will stick upon its seat and the points giving so little surface for
contact will leave the valve upon its seat with the aperture of the bottle closed.
It must be understood that it is not desired to confine the invention to the
details hereinbefore set forth as these may be varied in several ways by a skilled
person without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is,―
1. In a bottle, a neck having its lower part of larger diameter than the upper
to receive, and provided with a shoulder to hold, a washer into which a stopper is
forced and gripped by corrugations, said stopper being provided with a valve
actuated by a weight and balls and having orifices for the passage of liquid and
made of a diameter slightly less than the smaller diameter of the neck, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3
3
4
2. In a bottle, in combination, a neck having its lower part of increased
diameter and provided with a shoulder, a washer fitting the same, a stopper having 4
its exterior corrugated, and a top ribbed on its upper surface and having a diameter
slightly less than the narrow part of the neck, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth herein.
3. In a bottle stopper, in combination, a valve seat, a valve, a weight moveable
upon balls running in conical recesses and apertures through the sides of the 5
stopper, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
4. In a bottle stopper, in combination, a valve seat, a valve, a weight moveable
upon balls running in conical recesses, apertures through the sides of the stopper
and ribs upon the upper surface of the same, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth herein.
5. In a bottle stopper, in combination, a valve seat, a valve, a weight moveable
5

page_text: upon balls running in conical recesses and having points to give small surfaces
of contact, and apertures through the sides of the stopper, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth herein.
6. An improved non-refillable bottle and stopper consisting of parts constructed,
arranged and operating, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
Dated this 20th day of May 1897.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.