Improvements in Devices for Preventing Fraudulent Refilling of Bottles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application. 8th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Preventing Fraudulent Refilling of
Bottles.
1, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan and Co. of
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C. London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by Robert Edson Gill,
Manufacturer and Frederick William Boltey Railway Agent, both of Cleveland,
Ohio U.S.A. and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing fraudulent
refilling of bottles; and it consists in certain features of construction, and
combinations of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the neck of a bottle provided with an
attachment or device embodying the invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are top plans in horizontal section on line 2-2, and line 3-3
respectively Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the neck of a bottle provided with an
attachment or device embodying the invention, illustrating a preferred construction,
Fig. 5 is a top plan in horizontal section on line 5-5 Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of a portion of the neck of a bottle provided
upon one side and internally, with a laterally-projecting lug, and showing the manner
of introducing the perforated locking discs preferably employed and hereinafter
fully described.
Referring to the drawings, A. designates the neck of the bottle, that upon one side
and internally, is provided with a laterally and inwardly-projecting radially arranged
lag a that is preferably integral with the bottle-neck, as shown. A perforated cap B,
through the lateral perforations b whereof the liquid passes in pouring the contents
or a portion of the contents from the bottle, is suitably supported from the neck of
the bottle.
In Fig 1, cap B has the shape of the upper half of a hollow sphere or globe,
whereas the cap shown in Fig. 4 is cylindrical, and flat on top. The series of lateral
perforations is formed in the sides of the cap and are arranged at suitable intervals
and preferably in the same horizontal plane. A washer C, composed of cork, or
other suitable material or substance that possesses the property of swelling upon
being moistened, and that will not taint the contents of the bottle is interposed
between the lower end of the cap and the neck of the bottle. Cap B, in Fig. 1, is
shown located above the neck of the bottle, and washer C, is interposed between the
cap and upper extremity of the bottle, whereas in Fig. 2 the cap is located within
the neck of the bottle and washer C is interposed between an annular flange bl
formed upon and externally of the lower end of the cap, and an annular shoulder A'
formed upon and internally of the bottle neck. Cap B, at its lower end, is provided
with a laterally and inwardly-projecting annular flange B₁ that at its inner end,
terminates in an upwardly-extending annular or tubular member B that is gradually
reduced toward its upper extremity and extends above perforations as shown.
The cap shown in Fig. 1, at the underside of flange B', is provided with a
downwardly projecting annular member B³ that is somewhat smaller in external
diameter at a point adjacent to and below washer C to accommodate the passage of
the liquid contained in the bottle into contact with said washer upon turning the
037

page_text: bottle down side up, as required to moisten said washer, and thereby cause the latter
to swell for the purpose hereinafter made apparent. Member B³ constitutes a guide
to facilitate the placing of the cap centrally upon the upper end of the neck of the
bottle. A cork or stopper D is adapted to interrupt communication between
holes in the cap and external atmosphere. In the construction shown in Fig. 1
cork or stopper D is ring-shaped and adapted to fit over the perforated sides of the
cap and close perforations as required preparatory to the shipment or transportation
of the bottle, or between the intervals at which liquid is poured from the bottle,
whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 4 there is enough space between the
upper end of cap B and the upper extremity of the bottle neck to accommodate the
introduction of a cork adapted to close the upper end of the passage-way through
said neck and thereby interrupt communication between holes b and external
atmosphere.
An upright rod or stem E arranged centrally within the neck of the bottle extends
upwardly through a hole in the top or cap B and at its upper end outside of the
cap is provided with a head e that is preferably removably secured to the rod or
stem to accommodate the assemblage of the parts and is shown provided with a
screw threaded hole for receiving the upper correspondingly screw-threaded end of
the engaging rod or stem. Three perforated discs E', E, E³ are mounted upon
the lower end of the stem and arranged at suitable intervals. The central disc E'
and the upper disc E' are loosely mounted upon the stem, and the lower disc E³ is
rigidly secured to the stem in any approved manner. A. washer F, that is mounted
upon stem E between discs E' and E³ separates the central disc from the lower
disc, and a washer C mounted upon the stem between the central disc and upper
disc separates the latter from the central disc. A shoulder E with which stem E
is provided above the upper disc constitutes a stop for limiting vertical displacement
of the loose discs upon the supporting stem. Discs E E and E3 are provided
with any suitable number of vertical holes or perforations E³ to accommodate the
passage therethrough of the liquid in pouring the latter from the bottle. Each of
discs E, E, E³, is provided with a radially arranged slot E that is open at its
outer end at the edge of the respective disc and extends inwardly a suitable
distance and the size of the slot E in each dise is such relative to the size of lug a
formed upon and internally of the neck of the bottle, that stem E. and discs thereon,
when the stem is so held that the slot E' in the lower disc shall register with the
aforesaid lug and when the central and upper disc are so airanged upon the stem
that the slots therein shall also register with said lug can readily be lowered into
the neck of the bottle the distance required to bring the upper disc below the
aforesaid lug.
By the construction herein before described it will be observed that when rod or
stem E has been lowered to the position required to bring the discs thercon below
lug a the slot Es in the lower disc upon turning the stem, is moved out of registering
position relative to said lug, and the loose discs upon turning the rod or stem or
jarring the same are readily given a fractional turn in the one direction or the other
as required to bring the slots E therein out of registering relation with the
aforesaid lug in which position of the parts it is impossible to withdraw the discs
and the supporting stem from the bottle and hence the cap is securely locked in
position. When the bottle is turned down side up or laterally, so as to
accommodate the flow of liquid within the bottle into contact with the interposed
cork or washer C and thereby moisten said washer, the latter will immediately
swell, thereby elevating the cap and consequently lifting rod or stem E and the
discs upon it, and thereby cause the upper disc to tightly engage the lower edge of
lug a upon the bottle. Hence, although it is practically impossible to again bring
the discs upon rod or stem E so that the slots therein shall register with lug a the
turning of the rod or stem is impeded by the tight engagement had between the
upper disc and lower edge of lug a.
If, in order to refill the bottle any attempt is made to remove the cap by
removing the head on the upper end of rod or stem E, it follows that said stem and

page_text: the accompanying discs upon it will drop to the bottom of the bottle and the ca
would thereby be rendered free to fall from the bottle upon tipping the bottl
laterally. However rod or stem E and accompanying discs upon it, if they were.
found or seen in the bottom of the bottle, would at once serve for the purpose o:
exposing the fact that the bottle had been fraudulently refilled or used. Refilling
of the bottle through perforations bin the cap is obstructed or interferred with by
member B that, as already indicated extends upwardly above the upper extremities
of said perforations.
The construction illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as the con-
struction shown in Fig. 1 excepting that the former is much preferred for bottles,
to be shipped or transported, because by the construction shown in Fig. 4, the cap
and engaging lock is protected from external injury by the location of the cap and
the means for locking it to the bottle entirely below the upper end of the neck of
the bottle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the neck of a bottle, of a cap arranged transversely
of the passage way through said neck and provided with a series of lateral
perforations, a washer interposed between said cap and the bottle neck, said washer
being composed of a substance or material adapted to swell upon being moistened
means for locking the cap to the bottle neck and a cork or stopper for interrupting
communication between the aforesaid perforations in the cap and the external
atmosphere, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the neck of a bottle of a cap arranged transversely of
the passage way through said neck said cap being provided with a series of
perforations arranged at suitable intervals in the sides of the cap, and being
provided internally with a tubular member, projecting upwardly above said
perforations means for locking the cap in position and a cork or stopper for
interrupting communication between the aforesaid perforations and external
atmosphere substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the bottle neck provided internally with a seat A¹, a
cap supported from said seat said cap being provided with a series of lateral
perforations arranged at suitable intervals in the sides of the cap, and said cap
being provided internally with a tubular member arranged a suitable distance from
the inner surface of the perforated sides and projecting above the aforesaid
perforations, a cork washer interposed between the cap and the aforesaid seat,
means for locking the cap in place and a cork or stopper for interrupting
communication between the perforations in the cap and external atmosphere,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination with the bottle neck provided internally with a laterally
and inwardly projecting lug a, a cap B, arranged a suitable distance above said
lug and transversely of the passage-way through the neck, said cap being provided
with lateral perforations b in the sides thereof, of an upright turnable stem extending
downwardly through the aforesaid cap, said stem at its upper end above the cap
being provided with a removable head e, a vertically perforated disc E³ fixed to
the lower end of the stem, and two other vertically perforated discs E¹ and E'
arranged a suitable distance apart and loosely mounted upon the stem a suitable
distance above the fixed disc, each of said discs being provided with a vertical
slot E that extends from the edge of the disc inwardly and is open at its outer
end, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and for the purpose
specified.
5. The combination with the bottle neck provided internally with a laterally
and inwardly-projecting lug a a suitable distance from the upper extremity of the
neck and a cap supported from the bottle neck and provided with a series of lateral
perforations arranged at suitable intervals, of a washer interposed between said

page_text: cap and the bottle neck, said washer being composed of a substance or material
adapted to swell upon being moistened, an upright turnable stem extending
downwardly through the aforesaid cap, said stem at its upper end, above the cap,
being provided with a head, any suitable number of vertically perforated discs
upon the lower portion of said stem below the aforesaid lug, and each of said
discs being provided with a vertical slot that extends from the edge of the disc
inwardly and is open at its outer end, substantially as shown and for the purpose
specified.
6. The combination with the bottle neck provided internally with a laterally
and inwardly-projecting lug a a suitable distance from the upper extremity of
the neck and provided also internally with an annular seat A₁ located between
the aforesaid lug and upper extremity of the neck, of a cap B located a suitable
distance below the upper extremity of the bottle neck and supported within the
neck from the aforesaid seat said cap being provided with a series of perforations b
arranged at suitable intervals in the sides of the cap a cork washer interposed
between the lower end of the cap and the aforesaid seat, a stem E extending
downwardly through the cap below the aforesaid lug, said stem above the cap
being provided with a removable head discs E' and E' loosely mounted upon the
stem a suitable distance apart another disc E³ fixed upon the stem below said
loose discs and each of said discs being provided with a slot E extending from
the edge of the disc inwardly and open at its outer end means for preventing
vertical displacement of the loose discs, and a cork closing the upper end of the
passage way through the bottle neck, all arranged and operating substantially as
shown for the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of August. 1895
R. HADDAN.