Improved Non-refilling Device for Bottles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Non-refilling Device for Bottles and the like.
I, WILLIAM WILSON, of No. 1809, Grove Street, Oakland, County of Alameda,
State of California, U.S.A., Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in non-refilling devices in bottles
and the like, being means especially designed to prevent the fraudulent refilling
thereof. It consists of, one or more fine screens fixed in the neck of the bottle,
an essentially cylindrical extension exterior to and in line with the neck; means
for opening and closing the end of the neck, a device upon one side of the
extension exterior to the bottle neck through which liquid can be discharged
when the neck has been opened, a means upon the opposite side for allowing
air to enter to take the place of the discharged liquid, a means for closing
the discharge aperture against any introduction of liquid through it and a
means for closing the air inlet passage for a similar purpose.
In carrying out my invention I at present propose to fix one or more suitable
screens across the neck of the bottle, by any suitable means. Around and extend-
ing above the top of the neck I attach a permanent tubular prolongation or
cap fitted with a closed outer end. Through this closed outer end passes a screw
socketed in and connected with a cork fixed in the neck of the bottle above
the aforesaid screen or screens, so that on turning the screw the cork may be
forced into the bottle neck to close it or may be withdrawn to allow liquid to
How out of the bottle.
1
Upon one side of the said extension is a discharge opening having a fine
screen fixed within and across its bore.
Upon the opposite side of the extension is a tubular opening having a per-
forated cap for the admission of air and a screen secured across the bore of said
tube, and intermediate between the perforated cap and the said screen, is a
diaphragm upon which rests a thin film which normally allows air to pass
through the holes in the perforated cap and around its edges so as to replace
any liquid which is discharged or passes out through the opposite passage
aforesaid, after the stopper or cork has been withdrawn and the bottle decanted.
Any attempt to refill the bottle through the discharge opening will be
resisted by the screens in the discharge outlet and under the cork, and any
attempt to fill it through said perforated cap will be checked by the thin
diaphragm which when wet will flatten out and act as a valve to close the
passage in which it rests.
01
T
1000

page_text: I, WILLIAM WILSON, of No. 1809, Grove Street, in the City of Oakland, County
of Alameda, State of California, U.S.A., Watchmaker, 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 to improvements in non-refilling devices for bottles
and the like, being means especially designed to prevent the fraudulent
refilling thereof.
7
It consists of one or more fine screens of any suitable material fixed in the
neck of the bottle, a cylindrical extension exterior to the screens, means for
closing the end or neck of the bottle for packing or transmission, and opening
it to allow the contents of the bottle to be discharged, means for allowing air
to enter and take the place of the discharged liquid, and a device to close the
discharge aperture against the introduction of liquid through it, or the air
passage.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of the bottle neck showing a single screen
with a short tube extending therefrom into the bottle. Fig. 2 shows a similar
arrangement of screen, a cap closing the outer end or extension of the bottle
neck, a rod extending through the cap and screen and carrying a cork or
stopper to close the bottle, showing also the discharge and air inlet tubes.
In carrying out my invention I fit one or more suitable screens into the neck
of the bottle. These screens being made of metal, glass, porcelain, earthen-
ware, or other suitable non-corrosive material, are fixed transversely within
the bottle neck at some distance from the outer end.
The bottle may be made in any suitable manner as shown at A, having
preferably a seat at B upon which the screen C is supported.
As shown in Fig. 1, the outer end or extension of the bottle neck beyond
the screen is adapted to receive a cork or stopper of any description to per-
manently close the bottle for storage, or transportation, and such cork or stopper
is removed when it is desired to discharge the contents of the bottle.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cork or stopper I is located interior to the screen C,
and is closable against a reduced portion J of the bottle neck at that point.
A rod or stem H has one end fixed to the stopper I´and the rod "extends
through the centre of the screen and through the outer cap E which in this
construction permanently closes the end of the neck or extension. This rod H
serves to withdraw the stopper when it is desired to enter the bottle.
As shown in Fig. 2. there is a discharge passage F upon one side of the neck
or extension exterior to the screen C. This may be an open passage or may have
a fine screen fitted across it, said screen being made, as previously described,
of glass, carthenware. or metal but in this construction, the screen may be
disnensed with when the perforations in the screen C are of sufficient fineness.
The tube D projects inwardly from the screen C. As shown in Fig. 1, it
is centrally located. In Fig. 2 it is at one side in order to allow for the passage
of the stopper rod H. but it may be placed at any desired point in, the screen
without altering its operation.
'
The object of this tube is to allow air to enter the bottle when the latter is
inverted to pour, out the liquid, and as, the tube extends inwardly, from the
screen C if the bottle is inverted, the weight of the column of liquid. resting
on the screen. will be greater than that which presses on the inner end of the
tube D by reason of the lesser length of that column which is as much shorter

page_text: then the portion standing on the screen as the length of the tube D. The
liquid will therefore easily pass through the screen while the air will enter
through the tube to take its place.
The discharge opening F, as shown in Fig. 2, is of sufficient size to allow
the liquid to flow out upon one side while the air will enter upon the other
side of the passage and will then pass through the tube D.
When constructed as shown in Fig. 1, the discharge takes place directly
through the mouth of the bottle, and no side passage F is needed, but the
operation of the screen and the tube I will be the same as previously described.
This device will prevent any refilling of the bottle as the surface of the
screen and the outer opening of the tube D being essentially in the same plane,
the pressure from outside upon the screen surface and upon the tube, would
be the same, consequently no liquid could enter the bottle.
As an additional precaution, however, I may fit a thin flexible sheet G of
parchment or fine silk over the tube D in such a manner that it is normally loose
and does not close the end of the tube against the entrance of air when pouring
liquid, but if the bottle be submerged, or any attempt be made to again fill
it after being emptied, the liquid will wet this thin valve, and will cause it to
close against the mouth of the passage and effectually prevent refilling.
It will be understood that a separate passage for the admission of air into
the bottle neck exterior to the screen C could be made opposite the discharge
tube F, but if the tube F be made large enough there would be no occasion
for it as sufficient air can enter through the passage while the liquid is
passing out of it.
J
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:—
1st. A device for preventing the refilling of bottles and the like, consisting
of one or more fine screens tixed across the neck of the bottle interior to the
outer end, a tube extending, through the screen having its outer end flush with
the screen surface and the inner end extending a short distance into the
bottle neck.
i
1
2nd. A device for discharging bottles and the like, and preventing the
refilling of the same, consisting of a fine screen fixed across the bottle neck
at a distance interior to its outer end, said screen having a tube extending
inwardly therefrom with the outer end of the tube flush with the outer surface
of the screen, a loose flexible valve fitting over the tube and closable against
it when wet, and a discharge opening through which the liquid may pass from
the bottle neck after escaping through the screen.
Dated this 20th day of October 1800
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.