An Improved Combined Stopper and Measuring Apparatus for Bottles and like Receptacles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Stopper and Measuring Apparatus for
Bottles and like Receptacles.
I, CORNELIUS EMERICK WYCKOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing
at No. 365 State Street, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New.
York, U.S.A., Clergyman,. 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 valve stoppers and measuring devices in connection
therewith, for bottles or like receptacles for containing liquids, medicinal preparations,
or toilet powders, and the object of the invention is to provide a valve stopper
adapted to prevent the refilling of a bottle after the same shall have been emptied
of its original contents; and further to discharge, the contents in measured
quantities.
I will describe a device embodying my invention, and then point out the novel'
features in the appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a top view of a bottle embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same showing the bottle in an upright
position;
Figure 3 shows part of a bottle in section as inverted to discharge material' into
the measuring device preparatory to its final discharge;
Figure 4 shows the position of the parts as the measured material is finally
discharged;
Figure 5 shows a modification of the valve mechanism, so constructed that there
may be a continuous discharge of material from the bottle when. the same is
inverted as shown in Figure 3; and
Figure 6 shows another modification of a portion of the valve.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the neck or outlet of a bottle, and A¹ is
a cap piece secured thereon in any desired manner, such for instance as by
cementing it after the bottle shall have been filled. This cap piece A¹ has a
contracted outlet a in its upper central portion. The interior wall of the cap, piece
is substantially hemispherical, and the outer wall may be of substantially the same
contour, but of course it may be of any other design without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
The upper end of the neck portion A is provided with an annular groove or
recess a¹, forming a seat for the downwardly extended annular flange a² of a plate
valve A2 shown as concaved in its upper side.
Within the cap piece A' is a spherical body A 3, consisting of any suitable
material. This spherical body A 3 serves both as a valve for the contracted
outlet a, and also as a locking or retaining device for the plate valve A 2; that is,
when the bottle is inverted as shown in Figure 3 the spherical body will engage in a
valve seat a 3 at the inner end of the contracted outlet a, allowing the plate valve to

page_text: fall sufficiently away from its seat to form a passage for the discharge of material
from the bottle to the interior of the cap A', which forms a measuring device as
well as the valve casing, and as the spherical body A 3 is in contact with the
seat a 3, the material cannot discharge through the contracted outlet a until the
bottle is tilted substantially to the position shown in Figure 4, and then the spherical
body will roll to the lower side and force the plate valve A 2 to its seat, thus
preventing a further discharge of material from the body to the interior of the cap
piece, but the material already discharged into the cap piece may be poured out of
the outlet a.
It will be seen that the spherical body A 3 is of sufficient size to engage a
portion of the upper interior wall of the cap piece, and also engages the raised
annular top portion a 4 of the plate valve A 2.
It may be desired to provide for a continuous flow of liquid or other material
from the bottle through the contracted outlet a when the bottle is inverted. To
provide for this I employ a spherical body A 4, having a series of unconnected
interstices a 5 formed in its surface. These interstices, as shown in Figure 5, are
of irregular or longitudinally curved formation. In Figure 6, however, they are
shown as substantially hemispherical depressions a 6. It is obvious in this con-
struction that when a bottle is inverted as shown in Figure 5, the spherical body A 4
will engage with the valve seat a 3, allowing the plate valve A 2 to fall away from
its seat and the contents of the bottle may then discharge through the interstices
of the spherical body and through the contracted outlet a.
I prefer the unconnected interstices, as the same do not materially alter the
spherical contour of the body A 4, as would be the case were continuous channels
or depressions formed therein, and continuous channels or depressions would allow
the insertion of a wire or similar instrument to engage with the plate valve.
In the construction shown and described it will be seen that it is impracticable to
insert an instrument beneath the plate valve A 2, for the purpose of holding the
same away from its seat and allow the refilling of the bottle by means of a pressure
pump or similar means.
The example of my improvement as first described is adapted more essentially
for powders, medicinal compounds or liquids which it is desired to measure in
certain quantities, and the example of my improvement shown in Figure 5 is
designed essentially for bottles or the like from which it is desired to discharge a.
liquid or other material directly from the bottle to a receiver.
It is obvious that slight changes may be made in the construction of this device.
without departing from the spirit of my invention; that is for instance, the annular
groove or channel a' may be omitted and the end of the bottle outlet made flat and
the lower side of the plate valve adapted to engage thereon. It is also apparent
that the cap piece A¹ may be made of any desired size or extended laterally, as it
is only necessary in the operation of the device that the space between the top inner
wall and the top surface of the plate valve shall be equal to the diameter of the
spherical body A 3 or A 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A bottle or receptacle, having an annular channel in the upper end of its
outlet, forming a valve seat, a plate valve having an annular flange adapted to
engage in said annular valve seat, a cap piece secured to the outlet of the bottle or
receptacle and having a contracted outlet in its upper central portion, and a
spherical body in said casing having a diameter substantially equal to the distance
between the upper inner surface of the cap piece and the highest top portion of
the valve, whereby when said bottle or receptacle is inclined, the spherical body
may roll laterally and serve as a lock for the valve, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the neck or outlet of a bottle or the like, of a cap piece

page_text: ecured thereon and having a contracted outlet, a plate valve within the cap piece
ad adapted to engage the upper end of the package outlet, and a spherical body
said cap piece having interstices in its surface, substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of March 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.