Improvements in Bottles, and Stoppers therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottles, and Stoppers therefor.
I CHARLES WRIGHT DAVISON, of 31 Highland Avenue, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, United States of America, Publisher, 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 and accompanying
drawings:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle and seal therefor,
which will prevent the use of a bottle after it has once been filled and the contents
removed, thereby preventing the refilling of bottles with spurious articles.
The invention consists generally in a bottle having a cap that is applied thereto
over a suitable cork or stopper, and which is locked to the bottle by an internal
catch or spring so as to be incapable of being removed except by first breaking in
the top of the cap, and thereby destroying it.
I apply a suitable trade-mark to the bottle and a duplicate of such trade-mark
to the cap. When the cap is broken for the purpose of getting at the catch that
holds it in position, this trade-mark is necessarily destroyed, and it is impossible
to use the bottle again, as the bottle itself will contain a notice that its contents
are genuine only when the trade-mark is blown or marked on the cap.
The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following
detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which;
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle and cap embodying my invention, the
neck of the bottle and the cap being shown in section.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cap.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof.
Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cap showing the top thereof broken in, and
showing the application of a hook or tube for removing the wire or lock.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing the cap in position in the neck of the
bottle.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are details showing a slightly modified construction.
Fig. 11 shows the cap arranged on the outside of the neck.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are perspective and sectional views showing a further form
of my seal and the lock therefor, which latter cannot be gotten at except after
breaking the top of the cap.
Fig. 15 shows a cap locked onto and held in by the cork, being a device
expressly adapted for use with non-effervescent liquids.
Fig. 16 is a modification of the seal shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the cap on the line - of Fig. 16.
Fig. 18 illustrates a modified form of the seal shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
Fig. 19 is a section ou the line y-y of Fig. 18.
Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively vertical and horizontal sectional views showing
a seal particularly adapted for use on champagne bottles, where a heavy pressure
is always present on the cork.
In the drawings, 2 represents a bottle, which may be of any ordinary or
preferred size, shape or construction. It is provided in its neck either with two
'I

page_text: +
recesses 3-3 arranged opposite each other and each adapted to receive an end of
a wire; or, if preferred, these recesses may take the form of an annular groove
extending around the bottle, inside the neck thereof. I prefer to place in the
bottle an ordinary stopper 5, which is pushed down into the lower part of the neck
of the bottle. 7 represents a cap formed of any suitable material and having a
hollow centre. This cap is preferably formed of glass, terra cotta, papier mache,
soft metal or similar material, and is provided with a thin top upon which is blown,
impressed or otherwise placed a suitable trade-mark or design corresponding to the
trade-mark or design that is blown or marked upon the bottle. Within this cap is
placed a wire 9, having its ends projecting through openings 11 in the sides of the
cap. The wire is in the form of a spring, preferably having a centrally
horizontally bent portion 13, and the ends of the wire normally project through
the walls of the cap, as shown in Fig. 4. After the stopper 5 is put in position
the ends of the spring 9 are forced back so as to be substantially flush with the
outer surface of the cap, and the cap is then pushed down into the neck of the
bottle until the ends of the spring enter. the recesses or groove 3 in the wall of
the neck of the bottle. As the end of the stopper is preferably convex and down
flush with the top of the bottle the stopper can be gotten at with tools. The
stopper will form a seal for the bottle, and before the cork can be removed the top
of the seal must be broken in, as indicated in Fig. 6, or cut into in a way to destroy
the trade-mark if of other material when the wire or spring 9 can be grasped by a
book or other suitable instrument, as shown in Fig. 6, and drawn out through the
top of the cap. The remaining portion of the cap can then be removed, after
which the stopper 5 may be drawn out in the usual way. I prefer also to form the
cap 7 with grooves 131 which extend in a horizontal direction a short distance
from the inner end of the holes 11, so that when the wire is in place the legs of the
bend 13 will lie in these grooves, as shown in Fig. 4, then, when it is desired to
remove the wire by turning it from a horizontal to a vertical position, as shown in
Fig. 5, the surface above said grooves will act as a cam and will draw the parts of
the spring together and thereby draw the ends of the springs back flush with the
outer surfaces of the cap, as indicated in Fig. 5. I preferably make the cap with
a thin top, as shown throughout the drawings, which thin or panelled top may be
either flat or convex so as to permit the formation or application of the trade-mark
thereto. In some instances I prefer to form the bottle with an enlarged portion
in its neck, at the top thereof, to receive the cap 7, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.
As here shown the cap rests upon a shoulder 15, and a wire or spring 11 rests in a
groove 17 formed in the surface of said cap. The ends of this spring are made
with the bends or loops 19, as shown in Fig. 9, and they are adapted to spring into
the recesses 3 in the neck of the bottle. The opening in the cap is, in this
instance, of the same diameter as the opening in the neck of the bottle, so that
after the top of the cap is broken off the cork may be drawn out through the
cylindrical portion of the cap. A cork screw 21 may be put into the cork when it
is inserted and it will remain there in position to be taken hold of to draw out the
cork after the cap is broken through.
To show that the glass or like fragile cap having an easily breakable top, can
be placed on the outside of the neck, I have illustrated such a seal in Fig. 11.
The ends of the spring pass through the glass neck but can only be gotten out
after the top of the cap is shattered to permit access to the inside of the neck.
This form I do not approve of, as holes are made in the neck, through which holes
some of the liquid would spill.
A better form or modification of this device, Fig. 11, is shown in Figs. 18 and 19.
Here the hollow cap is provided with an exterior groove 23 extending partially or
wholly around the same; 25 represents downwardly extending recesses in the sides
of the cap. The groove carries in it a semi-circular wire spring, the downwardly
turned ends of which are accommodated in the recesses 25 and are provided with the
'hooked ends 26. The recesses will accommodate the hooks upon the ends of the
spring, while the cap is being forced down into the neck of the bottle, and when

page_text: the hooks arrive before the grooves or hollow points in the neck of the bottle, the
hooks or outwardly turned points will snap into the same and thus lock the cap
firmly in the bottle and hold the cork. This cap may be employed for bottles
containing effervescing liquids, as the cap is positively hooked in place and will
hold the cork. This cap or seal is only removable after the top is broken, after
which a hook may be inserted and enough force used to draw out the cap and the .
spring. Another means for locking the cap is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the
same being a modification of Fig. 11.
This device is provided with an interior thread 28, while the neck of the bottle
has a raised thread 29 to enter the same. Inside of the cap is a vertical recess 30
to admit the metal lock or sliver 31 which stands on the bottom of the thread with
its side or edge against the upper end of the thread. When the cap is screwed on
the sliver will stand between the same and the neck of the bottle, while the vertical
recess in the cap comes opposite to the lock or sliver whereupon an offset cap 32
in the sliver 31 snaps into the recess, thus locking the cap against backward
rotation. The upper end of the sliver or lack falls down in the top of the cap and
can be grasped when the cap is broken and thus drawn out; whereupon the cap
may be turned over the bottle.
A still further modification is shown in Fig. 15; the thin-topped cap being there
provided with an interior or inner ledge or shoulder 35, to be engaged by the
upwardly extending springs or locks 36 which are fastened to the top of the cap.
As a means of fastening the same I may employ a common small cork-screw, which
will assist in drawing the cork after the cap is broken and the locks disengage.l
from the shoulder 35. In place of this construction wherein the cap is secured to
The same is
the cork, I may employ that construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17.
a modification of Fig. and is shown to illustrate the fact that the cap may be
locked by an interior spring without having the ends of the spring pass through the
sides of the cap.
As shown in Figs. 16 and 17 the hollow cap is provided with two
or more lugs 37 upon its inner sides, a space being left between the tops thereof.
and the top of the cap. The spring here employed comprises the semi-circular
portion 38, which being compressed is snapped over the tops of the lugs 37..
The downwardly extending parts 39 of the spring terminate in the outwardly
projecting points 40, which catch in the holes or grooves 3 in the neck of the bottle
and beneath the lower edge of the cap. The cork of the bottle will press upwardly
against the parts 40 of the spring, so that the cork is locked in the bottle while the
spring itself holds the cap down in the neck of the bottle and, as shown, preferably
below the top of the neck, so that the cap cannot be reached and removed without
first breaking it.
When
The cork is positively locked in the neck of the bottle, and at the same time the
locking means serves to bear the locking device for the seal, which glass seal is or
may be identical with that shown in Fig. 15. As shown in Figs. 20 and 21, there
are two plates 45 which, when moved together edge to edge, will drop down into
the opening in the neck. These have curved slots 46, which are adapted to receive
This cross-bar
the downwardly turned points 47 on the short cross-bar 48.
mounted on the stem 49 which has a handle 50 by which it may be turned.
so turned the plates 45 are easily distended or drawn together, and when they are
distended their edges will enter the grooves or recesses 3 in the neck of the bottle.
The lock for the glass cap is identical with that shown in Fig. 15, but may be
altered to any extent desired. It is obvious that the cork cannot be lo sened until
the glass cap has been so broken that the handle 50 may be turned to free the
plates, whereupon the plates and the cork will be forced out by the pressure of gas
within the bottle.
From the foregoing it will be seen that any means or device which is accessible
or removable only after breaking the top of the cap may be employed to secure the
cap or any of the modificatious thereof. I do not confine myself to any particular
construction, shape or material for the cap or seal of the bottle, nor to any particular
shape of the bottle or its neck; it is only necessary that the cap be hollow and

page_text: have a thin, easily accessible or removable top, and that a suitable spring or dog,
preferably independent from the cap in its formation, be provided to secure the cap
in or upon the neck of the bottle; all to the end that the top of the cap which
bears the designating mark or design must be destroyed before access can be had to
remove either the spring or the cork of the bottle.
By blowing a suitable trade-mark or design upon the bottle. itself, and a
corresponding design or trade-mark upon the top of the cap, it is made impossible.
for any person, after a bottle has once been opened, to fill it again without leaving
it in an imperfect condition; that is, lacking a cap, with a trade-mark corre-
sponding to that on the bottle, so that it will be apparent that it is not the original
bottle and genuine contents.
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;
1. The combination, with a suitable bottle, of a cap for the neck thereof, said
cap having a thin or panelled top adapted to be easily broken or shattered, and a
lock for said cap within the cap and accessible and removable only when or after
the said thin or panelled top of the cap is broken or removed, substantially as
described.
2. The combination, with a suitable bottle, of a cap for the neck thereof, said.
cap having a thin or panelled top, means connecting the cap and the neck of
the bottle to lock the cap, whereby the cork of the bottle is also locked, said
lock or means connecting the cap and the neck of the bottle being accessible
only when or after the top of said cap is broken or removed, substantially as
described.
I
3. The combination, with a suitable bottle, of a cap for the neck thereof, said
cap having a thin or panelled top, means for locking said cap to the neck of the
bottle, said means being accessible and removable only from within the cap and
only when or after said thin or panelled top thereof is broken or removed,
substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a suitable bottle provided with a groove or recess in
the inner surface of its neck, of a cap fitting into said neck and provided with a
spring or dog arranged to enter said recess and lock the cap in the neck, said cap
being provided with a thin or panelled top, whereby upon breaking said top access
may be had to said spring or dog for the purpose of removing said cap from the
neck of the bottle.
5. The combination, with a suitable bottle provided with a groove or recess in
the inner surface of its neck, of a cap fitting in said neck and provided with a
thin or panelled top and with a spring or dog arranged to engage said recess and
also the cap, access to said spring or dog being possible only when said top of the
cap is broken or removed, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with a suitable bottle having a groove or recess in the
interior surface of its neck, of the cap 7 having a thin or fragile top, a spring
arranged within said cap in position to engage the groove or recess in the neck of
said bottle, whereby on breaking said cap access may be had to said spring for the
purpose of removing the same and permitting the removal of said cap, substantially
as described.
7. The combination, with a bottle having the groove or recess in the interior
surface of its neck, of a cork arranged in the neck of said bottle below said groove
or recess, the cap having a thin or panelled top and provided with a spring
engaging in said groove or recess, whereby access may be had to draw said cork
only by breaking said thin or panelled top of the cap and thereafter withdrawing
the said spring.
8. The combination, with the bottle having a suitable recess in the interior
surface of its neck, of the cap 7 having a thin or panelled top and having the
hole 11, the spring 9 having the bend 13 and arranged with its end extending

page_text: through said hole 11 and adapted to enter the recess in the neck of said bottle, for
the purpose set forth.
9. The combination, with the bottle having the recess in the interior surface of
its neck, of the cap 7 having the opening 11 and the horizontal groove 13, the
spring 9 arranged in said cap and having its end projecting through said opening 11,
and a portion of said spring resting in said groove 13 whereby when the top of the
cap is broken the end of the wire may be withdrawn from the recess in the neck
of the bottle by turning said wire up into a substantially vertical position, for the
purpose set forth.
10. The combination, with the bottle having a suitable design or trade-mark
blown or marked thereon, of a cap for the neck of the bottle, said cap having a
thin or panelied top provided with a similar design or trade-mark, locking means
for securing said cap in position, and said locking means being removable or
accessible only when or after the thin or panelled top of the cap which is provided
with said design or trade-mark is broken or removed, substantially as described.
11. The combination, with a suitable bottle, of a cap for the neck thereof, a locking
device secured in said cap and adapted to engage the neck of the bottle, said
locking device being accessible and removable only when or after the top of
said cap is broken or removed, whereupon the locking device may be released
and the cap removed, substantially as described.
12. The combination, with a suitable bottle, of a cap to enter the neck thereof,
said cap being hollow and provided with a thin or panelled top and also provided
with projections or lugs extending inwardly from its sides, the neck of the bottle
provided with a groove or recesses, and a spring or dog locked in said cap by the
projections or lugs therein and having ends to enter said grooves or recesses in the
neck of the bottle, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated the 4th day of January 1897.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.