Improvements in Bottles and similar Vessels.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 19th May, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles and similar Vessels.
We, JOSHUA VAN RENSSALAER VAN NAME, Carpenter, and JOHN ELSWORTII
STEVENS, Engineer, both residing at Mariner Harbor, in the County of Richmond,
and State of New York, United States of America, Carpenter, 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 non-refillable bottles and similar vessels, and has for
its object to provide an improved and measurably more efficient device of this
character which will be essentially practical in its construction, accurate and
reliable in its operation, and which will present many incidental advantages
material in bottles or vessels of this class.
The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts
hereinafter fully described.
The accompanying drawing represents a central longitudinal section of the
upper portion of a bottle embodying our invention, several minor parts being
in elevation the figure showing the bottle in a horizontal position as if about to
be used for decanting the liquid.
In the practice of our invention, we construct the bottle A with an inwardly
directed shoulder a at the lower end of the neck thereof, with an outwardly
directed groove a¹, above the same, in which is seated a cork disk which accord-
ingly rests upon the shoulder a. Mounted within the neck of the bottle
immediately above this cork disk are the liquid-outflow and air-inlet tubes B
and having their lower ends inserted in and projecting through the disk b.
The liquid-outflow tube flares upwardly and outwardly from its lower end B', and
forms (upon what is, in the act of pouring the liquid the lower side thereof), a
chamber C, the lower wall C of which ranges diagonally upwardly with respect
to the mouth of the bottle, and downwardly with respect to the under horizontal
surface thereof. The upper wall C2 of the chamber C is flat, and the remaining.
side thereof is formed with an inwardly directed portion C+, from which
and from the upper wall C2 of the chamber, the upper portion of the tube B
projects, being separated from said wall C by a downwardly projecting shoulder C³.
The upper portion of the tube B is formed into an --shaped trap, the free end B
of which projects above the level of the mouth A¹ of the bottle.
In the lower end of the chamber C is mounted a hollow glass valve E, which is
circular in cross section, and the lower portion thereof is conical in form and
tapers to a point. The upper portion thereof is projected or flared outwardly in
the form of a plurality of curved wings or fingers c, which when the valve is in
seated position as shown in dotted lines in the drawing, will rest upon the down-
wardly tapering faces of the chamber C. The shape of the upper part of the
tube B prevents direct access to the valve E, or to the lower portion of said tube.
In the opposite side of the neck of the bottle the air-inlet tube D is mounted,
with its upper end D' above the level of the mouth of the bottle, and its lower
end D2 projecting through the cork disk b and outwardly flared to form a depres-
sion D, above which is a chamber F which is deflected toward the liquid-outflow
chamber or toward the side of the bottle, which in practice, is undermost when

page_text: .
tilted. The deflected wall F of this chamber F is diagonally inclined, and
between the chamber and the main portion of the tube D, is a shoulder G. In
this chamber F is a valve G, the lower portion G¹ of which is conoidal, and the
upper portion of which is frust O-conical, and widest at the top, the said
valve being sectionally circular throughout.
Immediately above the cork disk b, and extending slightly above the top
wall C2 of the chamber C, is a filling of plaster of Paris H, upon which is laid
a cork disk d, through which pass the tubes B and D). A slight distance below the
top of the bottle is a third cork washer e, above which is another filling of plaster
of Paris H¹, which extends to a level with the mouth of the bottle, and therefore
slightly beneath the level of the ends B2 and D¹ of the respective tubes.
Inserted in this filling H¹ of plaster of Paris, is a sectionally-rectangular post f,
cut out at f¹, so as to be firmly held by the plaster of Paris, after the latter has
hardened; this post being provided with a head f2 upon the top thereof. Mounted
to slide vertically upon the post f is a glass cap or cover I which fits exactly upon
the rectangular post to be thereby prevented from turning, and which is provided
with a countersunk recess g in the top thereof to receive the head therein.
Upon the upper surface of the cap I, are immovably secured two corks or
stoppers hand h¹, which when the cap is depressed, will close the mouths of the
tubes B and D, respectively. The rim or flange I¹ of the cap is provided with
two apertures and, in relative lateral alignment with the tubes B and D, and
constituting means for causing said tubes to communicate with the outside of the
bottle, when the cap is raised. The rim or flange I' closely surrounds the mouth A¹
of the bottle, which is preferably reduced in external diameter thereat, or other-
wise formed with an annular shoulder j, against which the rim or flange I¹ bears,
when the device is closed. The cap 1 is provided with an annular bead k by which
it may be operated. We prefer to secure all these parts within a cylinder J, of
paste-board, cork or other material, which is of a diameter to closely fit the
inside of the bottle neck.
The operation of our invention will be readily understood from the foregoing
description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.
The bottle being tilted to the horizontal position shown in the drawing, or
even beyond the horizontal position, the valve E will move from
its valve seat and fall into the recess or chamber C, whereupon the liquid will
flow freely over the same through the trap-shaped portion of the tube B, and
out through the mouth B2 and through the aperture i in the cap I, which is of
course in the open position shown in the drawing. Air will at the same time flow
through the aperture and the tube D, the valve G of which will fall into the
chamber F the moment the bottle is tilted and thus a free and substantial flow
of the liquid will result.
Should it be attempted to fill the bottle by introducing any liquid through the
liquid-outflow thereinto, it first will be very difficult to get this liquid properly
through the cap, and second, through the trap-shaped portion of the tube B; but
should this be accomplished, then when such liquid enters the chamber C, it will
float the valve E, and the conoidal and tapered portion thereof engaging either the
side C¹ or the side C³, will direct said-valve quickly to its seat before any liquid
can enter the bottle. The wings c offer a substantial surface of resistance to the
liquid, and also serve to prevent the valve from getting lodged in the upper
portion of the tube B, which is also similarly prevented by the shoulders C
and C. Moreover, should it be attempted to introduce any liquid to the bottle
through the air tube D, the valve G will similarly act to close said tube, and will
be equally effective in preventing liquid-inflow, by reason of its general similarity
to the valve E, and it will similarly be prevented from lodging in the upper
portion of the tube by the shoulders D³ and G2.
It will be understood that the device is inserted in a bottle after the same is
filled, and that the plaster of Paris fillings hold the two tubes in proper position,
and that the cork washers prevent disintegration of the said filling or escape

page_text: thereof into the bottle, while they also contribute to the proper retention of the
position of the tubes. When it is desired to close the bottle, the cap I is pressed
downwardly so that the stoppers and h¹ cover or enclose the mouths B and D¹
of the tubes, which stoppers, as well as the apertures and ¹, will always be in
proper alignment with the said tubes, by reason of the cap being prevented from
rotating, in virtue of its connection with the rectangular post f.
The advantages of our invention will be manifest to all skilled in the art to
which the same appertains, since the mechanism can be made entirely of glass,
except for the cork washers, and is therefore to that extent, unobjectionable in
a bottle for holding even the choicest liquors; and it further is practical in con-
struction, and effective in operation, the valves being quick and sensitive in
their action, and the degree to which non-refilling is prevented, being measurably
great. It will be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details
of construction or shape of the various parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A non-refillable bottle having mounted in the neck thereof, liquid-outflow
and air-inlet tubes, both of which are formed with recesses or chambers deflected
towards one side of the bottle, and float-valves mounted in said tubes normally to
close the same, and adapted when the bottle is tilted, to fall into the recesses and
permit the liquid and the air respectively to flow thereover; means for closing the
lower neck of the bottle otherwise than through said tubes; and means tending
to guard or prevent access to the valve of the liquid-outflow tube.
2. In a bottle or similar vessel, a liquid-outflow tube or passage, the upper
portion of which is formed or adapted to prevent direct access to the lower portion
thereof, said lower portion being formed into a chamber deflected towards one
side of the bottle, and provided with a diagonal lower wall; and a float-valve
mounted in said chamber and adapted to close the lower end of the liquid-outflow
tube.
3. In a bottle or similar vessel, a liquid-outflow tube or passage, the upper
portion of which is formed or adapted to prevent direct access to the lower portion
thereof, said lower portion being formed into a chamber deflected towards one
side of the bottle, and provided with a diagonal lower wall; and a float-valve
mounted in said chamber and adapted to close the lower end of the liquid-outflow
tube, said valve being provided upon its upper face with a plurality of outwardly
directed wings, and the lower portion thereof being conoidal.
4. In a bottle or similar vessel, the combination with a liquid-outflow tube or
passage, of a hollow float valve sectionally circular, and having the lower portion
thereof conoidal and tapered, and the upper portion thereof formed with outwardly
projected curved wings.
5. In a bottle or similar vessel, a liquid-outflow tube, the upper portion of
which is formed or adapted to prevent direct access to its lower portion, said
lower portion being formed into a chamber or recess deflected towards one side of
5 the bottle, and downwardly flaring toward the lower mouth of said tube, and a
valve within said chamber or recess and adapted to close the lower end of said
tube, said valve being sectionally circular in form, and having its lower end
conoidal and tapered and provided at its upper end with a plurality of outwardly
directed curved wings offering a resisting surface to inflowing liquids, and
0 tending to prevent the valve from lodging in the upper portion of the tube; and
shoulders formed between said upper portion of said tube and the recess.
6. The combination with a bottle or similar vessel, having a liquid-outflow tube
and an air-inlet tube, of a cap slidably mounted upon the mouth of the vessel and
carrying means to close each of said tubes when said cap is depressed, and having
5 apertures in alignment with said tubes; and means for preventing rotation of said
cap.

page_text: 7. The combination with a bottle or similar vessel having a liquid-outflow
and an air-inlet tube, of a cap slidably mounted upon and surrounding the mouth
of the vessel having apertures in the rim or vertical portion thereof in alignment
with said tubes, which apertures are open when the cap is raised and closed when
it is depressed; stoppers mounted upon the under surface of the cap in alignment
with each of the tubes and means for preventing rotation of said cap.
.8. The combination with a bottle or similar vessel, having a liquid-outflow tube
and an air-inlet tube, of a sectionally rectangular post having the lower end
thereof secured immovably between said tubes, and a head upon the upper
end;
a cap slidably mounted upon said post and apertured to receive said head;
stoppers upon the under surface of said cap above said tubes, and a rim depending
from said cap and surrounding the mouth of the bottle, and having apertures
therein in alignment with said tubes.
9. In a bottle or similar vessel, a liquid-outflow tube, the upper portion of
which is formed into an S-shaped trap to prevent direct access to its lower portion
said lower portion being formed into a chamber or recess deflected towards one
side of the bottle and having a downwardly inclined side on which said valve rests
when opened, and a flat upper wall, between which and the tube is a downwardly
projecting shoulder; the opposite side of said chamber being tapered or curved
and provided with an inwardly ranging shoulder, and the end of said chamber
terminating in a tubular valve seat; and a valve within said chamber or recess and
adapted to close the lower end of said tube, said valve being hollow and air-filled,
whereby it floats, and being sectionally circular in form, the lower portion thereof
being conoidal and tapered, and provided at its upper end with a plurality of
outwardly directed curved wings and an air-inlet tube mounted within the
bottle adjacent to the liquid-outflow tube, and provided with a valve in the lower
portion thereof.
10. A non-refillable bottle having mounted in the neck thereof, liquid-outflow
and air-inlet tubes, both of which are formed with recesses or chambers deflected
toward the same side of the bottle, valves mounted in said tubes normally to close
the same, and adapted when the bottle is tilted to fall into their respective recesses,
and permit the liquid and the air respectively to flow thereover; and a washer or
disk mounted in the lower portion of the neck of the bottle and holding said
tubes.
11. A non-refillable bottle having mounted in the neck thereof, a disk firmly
secured in position, liquid-outflow and air-inlet tubes mounted in said disk and
having their lower ends projecting therethrough, chambers projecting to one side
of said tubes, valves mounted therein, a disk mounted above said chambers. a
filling between said disks and surrounding said tubes, a disk below the top of the
bottle through which the liquid-outflow and air-inlet tubes pass, said liquid out-
flow tube being formed into an S-shaped trap in the intervening space, a filling
above the top disk, a post inserted in said filling and provided with means to
prevent rotation thereof, said post being sectionally rectangular and provided
with a head, and a cap slidably mounted upon said post having a recess in which
said head works, and a depending rim surrounding the mouth of the bottle, and
provided with apertures in lateral alignment with the liquid-outflow and air
inlet tubes; said cap carrying stoppers upon its under surface to close the
respective tubes.
Dated this 4th day of December 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,