Improvements in Closing Bottles, Jars and like Vessels to Prevent Fraudulent Refilling or Interference.
Year: 1899

page_text: _Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1900-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Closing Bottles, Jars and like Vessels to Prevent
Fraudulent Refilling or Interference.
I, CAROLINE CARR, Spinster, of 14, Roker Terrace, Sunderland, in the County,
of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the closing of bottles, jars and like vessels to prevent
fraudulent refilling or interference, and has for its object to effect the purpose
in a simple and efficient manner.
The invention consists in furnishing about the top of the neck or equivalent
part of the bottle or vessel bifurcations to jointly receive and retain a lid or
cover in such manner that when once the lid is fitted in cannot be displaced
without damage to itself or the surroundings, thus rendering improper tamper-
ing at once apparent, and in this way obviating unauthorised opening, which
may be further insured by locking the lid in position by a catch device or
devices constructed to be incapable of unfastening after once being fastened.
The lid or cover may constitute the only closing means; or it may be
auxiliary to the ordinary cork or other means, in which event the neck or like
part of the bottle or vessel beyond the cork will be adapted to receive the lid on
cover.
In carrying my invention into practice, according to one way suitable for a
spirit bottle closed also by an ordinary cork, I form an extension of the neck
beyond the usual corking level and about the top of this part I provide within
it at suitable intervals bifurcations to jointly serve as a seat for a lid or cover
closing the extension, the bifurcations being disposed to receive and support the
lid margin which is made of a thickness not much less than the depth of the
space at each bifurcation.
The extension is preferably made of a larger diameter than the neck and
the bifurcations are spaced apart for the purpose of admitting of the free corking
of the bottle, which, of course, is performed before the lid is fitted.
To place the lid in position, one portion of it is inserted in the extension and
manipulated until its margin enters the bifurcations and to render this fitment
easy the lid is reduced in diameter or size at a convenient part and is furnished
with a handle, while to further this end the top or mouth of the extension is
preferably flared which also aids more effective closure.
Instead of the top of the extension being flared all round, it may only be
partially bell-mouthed, or, as it were, spouted, in which event the lid need not
be reduced.
To adequately support the lid, a ledge or ledges may be provided within the
extension for the lid to rest upon.
Thus it will be evident that when once the lid is fitted between the bifurcations
it cannot be removed, since there is no room to admit of it being lifted without

page_text: part of the bottle or vessel, bifurcations to jointly receive and retain a lid or
cover in such manner that, when once the lid is fitted, it cannot be displaced
without damage to itself or the surroundings, thus rendering improper tamper-
ing at once apparent, and in this way obviating unauthorised opening, which
may be further insured by locking the lid in position by a catch device or
devices constructed to be incapable of unfastening after once being fastened.
The lid or cover may constitute the only closing means; or it may be
auxiliary to the ordinary cork or other means, in which event the neck or like
part of the bottle or vessel beyond the cork will be adapted to receive the lid on
cover.
I will now fully describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying draw-
ings whereof Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 a central vertical
section at right angles to Fig. 1, showing one arrangement of the parts compris-
ing my invention as applied to a spirit bottle, primarily closed by a cork in the
ordinary way and Fig. 4 is a central vertical section and Fig. 5 a plan repre-
senting a modification of the said arrangement. Fig. 6 is an elevation, chiefly
in section on the centre line. illustrating the application of the invention to a
jar for preserved fruits and the like, primarily closed the same way as the spirit
bottle. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a plan, a side elevation and a section,
on a larger scale, of the catch device shown in the preceding figures. Figs. 10, 12
and 14 are similar views to Fig. 6 exemplifying three modifications of the
arrangement shown thereby. Fig. 11 is a plan of Fig. 10, Fig. 13 a plan of
Fig. 12, and Fig. 15 a plan of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a detail of a modified form
of the catch illustrated in the two preceding figures. Fig. 17 is a sectional
elevation of a further modification.
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, A is the bottle or jar neck, and B the
usual cork. According to my invention, I form an extension a of the neck A,
beyond the usual corking level, and about the top of this part a I provide within
it, at suitable intervals, bifurcations a, a, a to jointly serve as a seat for a
lid or cover C closing the extension a, the bifurcations being disposed to receive
and support the lid margin, which is made of a thickness not much less than the
depth of the space at each bifurcation, as illustrated clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and G.
The extension a is preferably, as shown, made of a larger diameter than the
neck A, and the bifurcations a¹, a¹, a¹ are spaced apart, for the purpose of
admitting of the free corking of the bottle, which, of course, is performed before
the lid C is fitted.
To place the lid C in position, one portion of it is inserted in the extension a
and manipulated until its margin enters the bifurcations a¹, a¹, a¹; and to render
this fitment easy, the lid is reduced in diameter or size at a convenient part, such
as c Figs. 2 and 3, and is furnished with a handle c¹; while to further this end,
the top or mouth of the extension a is preferably flared, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
which also aids more effective closure.
Instead of the extension a being flared all round, it may only be partially
bell-mouthed, as at 2 in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, or, as it were, spouted, in which
event the lid C need not be reduced in diameter or size because the part c² serves
the same purpose.
In order to adequately support the lid C, a ledge 2 is also provided within the
extension a for the lid to rest upon, as represented in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Only one ledge is indicated; but there may be two or more, the size of the vessel
deciding the number.
Thus it will be evident that when once the lid C is fitted between the bifurca-
tions a¹, a¹, a¹ it cannot be removed. since there is no room to admit of it being
lifted without fracturing either itself or one or more of the bifurcations a¹, a¹, a¹;
hence immunity from fraud accrues, as the attention of a purchaser is at once
drawn to the broken or damaged part or parts.
As an additional preventative against tampering, I secure the lid C in position
by a catch device D passing through a hole c³ in the lid and a hole a³ in the

page_text: lifting the lid C out with the point of a knife or the like, though, of course,
opening may be effected as described in regard to Fig. 6.
In Figs. 14 and 15 another form of catch is shown designated by D³. It con-
sists of a metal strip of rectangular or other appropriate section furnished at
one end with a knob or head and at its other end with resilient tongues, d³
normally occupying the position shown. The shank of the catch D² is cut away
at its lower end to permit of the tongues &, folding inwardly while the
catch 12 is being fitted in position.
Holes are provided in the lid C and in the ledge a² of the same shape as the
shank of the catch D2 and after the lid has been fitted in place as above described,
the catch D is forced down through the said holes-the tongues d³, being
caused to fold inwardly during the operation--and when in place the tongues d³, d³
are free to take their normal positions again and engage under the ledge a²,
permanently locking the lid C in position. The vessel is opened in the manner
already described.
In Fig. 16 another form of the catch 12 is shown in which only one tongue d³
is used. In this case the head d is preferably provided with a long and a short
arm so that when in position the tongue & must of necessity be facing the
adjacent wall of the vessel; as can be readily seen on examination of the figure.
In Fig. 17 the lid C is fitted into the bifurcations a¹, a' in the manner already
described and is secured in position by means of the catch D². This catch D
is similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 16 but has an inclined head, in
consequence of the surface of the extension a being in this case conical. The
lid C is provided with a projection on its underside in which is formed, a hole
adapted to receive the catch D2 and when the lid C is fitted in place this hole
comes opposite a corresponding hole in the extension a. The catch D2 is then
inserted through the two holes and the tongue d securely locks the lid in place.
The vessel shown in Fig. 17 can be opened by removing or breaking off the
extension a, or by forcing up the bifurcations a¹, a¹, or by other suitable means.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 17 is specially intended for use with tins or
like vessels for containing tea, coffee and other articles which require to be kept
air and watertight and also to be capable of being closed for ordinary use after
the preliminary opening. An inner lid B2, is therefore used, and provided with a
knob 2 for convenience. This lid B2 is intended to make an airtight connec-
tion. Preferably, an outer lid 133, is also employed as a further preventive against
the entrance of air and water, and to enhance the appearance of the vessel.
If desired, the space intervening between the top of the lid C and the top of
extension a may be filled with a suitable cement, which not only adds to the
security, but also serves to maintain tightness.
As will be understood, the number of bifurcations a¹, a' will be determined
by the size of the vessel, and likewise the number of the catches. When once
a catch of the kind lettered D is fastened, it cannot be unfastened without de-
stroying one or both of its parts thereby making it useless or defective, for subse-
quent use. In the case of the catches D1 and D2 they cannot be unfastened
(without being damaged) until the vessel has been opened in the prescribed
manner, and they then remain intact, and can therefore be used again.
As will be obvious, when the ordinary closing means are not adopted, then
the extension a replaces or may replace the neck A or, in other words, the
latter is fashioned after the manner of the former, the whole being arranged
and adapted for use as will be readily understood without the aid of specific
illustration and description.
It will of course be understood that although I have described particular
fastening devices in conjunction with particular arrangements of other parts,
I am at liberty to interchange them as desired without departing from this inven-
tion, and I ain not restricted to the combinations illustrated and described in
each example.

page_text: and adapted for use, substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figs. 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
12. The combination of parts constituting the improvements in closing bottles,
jars and like vessels to prevent fraudulent refilling or interference, all arranged
and adapted for use, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Fig. 16 of the accompanying drawings.
13. The combination of parts constituting the improvements in closing bottles,
jars and like vessels to prevent fraudulent refilling or interference, all arranged
and adapted for use, substantially as herein before described with reference to
Fig. 17 of the accompanying drawings.
14. In closing bottles, jars and like vessels to prevent fraudulent refilling or
interference, the use in combination with the lid or cover C, of a catch or
catches, such as D, as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
15. In closing bottles, jars and like vessels to prevent fraudulent refilling or
interference, the use in combination with the lid or cover C, of a catch or
catches, such as D¹, as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
16. In closing bottles, jars and like vessels to prevent fraudulent refilling or
interference, the use in combination with the lid or cover C, of a catch or
catches, such as 12 in one or other of the forms shown, as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1900
For the Applicant,
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.