Improved Means of Preventing the Fraudulent Refilling of Bottles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Preventing the Fraudulent Refilling of Bottles.
I, AUGUSTO GUATTARI of 42, Walterton Road, St. Peter's Park, London, W.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means of stoppering bottles having for
especial object to prevent the fraudulent refilling of empty bottles and it consists
in the combination, with a stopper provided with means as hereafter described
whereby when once inserted in the mouth of the bottle it cannot be withdrawn, of
means of automatically closing the thoroughfare through the stopper such that the
same can only be opened from within the bottle and by the act. of inverting it
for the purpose of pouring off its contents so that the refilling of the bottle when
empty becomes practically impossible.
For the purposes of my invention the stopper is provided with spring actuated
lugs, bolts, tangs, or claws adapted to snap into engagement with a circum-
ferential groove moulded in the neck of the bottle so that when once so engaged
the stopper cannot be withdrawn without destroying the said locking devices which
if the groove is internal are within the bottle neck and if external are enclosed
within a cap portion of the stopper so as in either case to be inaccessible to any
person desirous of extracting the stopper.
The stopper has a thoroughfare for the passage of the liquid which is closed by a
spring pressed valve contained within a chamber near the inner end of the stopper
and closing inwardly against its seat, the valve being provided with an inwardly
projecting stem adapted to be acted on by a glass or other ball which is loose within
the bottle and is of sufficient weight to overcome the stress of the spring when it is
caused by inverting the bottle to rest on the inwardly projecting end of the valve
stem and so move the valve from its seat to permit the outflow of the liquid.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Preventing the Fraudulent Refilling of Bottles.
I, AUGUSTO GUATTARI formerly of 42, Walterton Road, St. Peter's Park, London, W.
and now of 40, Craven Park, Harlesden, London, N.W. Engineer, 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 improved means of stoppering bottles with a view to
prevent fraudulent refilling and it consists of a stopper provided with means of
locking it in the bottle neck so that when once inserted it cannot be withdrawn,

page_text: and with a longitudinal thoroughfare through it, closed by a valve which can only
be opened from within the bottle when the latter is inverted for the purpose of
pouring off the contents, so that the refilling of the bottle when empty hecomos
practically impossible.
Two examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
vertical section, the same differing only in the means of locking the stopper in
the bottle neck.
For the purposes of my invention the stopper A is provided with spring-
actuated bolts, tangs, or claws B or B which project. from the side of the stopper
and are adapted to snap into engagement with a circumferential groove c moulded
in the bottle neck so that when once so engaged the stopper cannot ho with-
drawn without such injury as to make the fact apparent and render the stopper
unfit for use again.
As it is not intended that the stopper shall require to be withdrawn for pouring
off the contents, the stopper is provided with a longitudinal pouring thoroughfure D
which is closed by a valve E contained within a chamber near the inner end of
the stopper and closing inwardly, the valve being pressed against its sent by a light.
spring and being provided with an inwardly-projecting guide stem e adapted to
be pressed upon by a glass or porcelain ball F loose within the bottle when the
latter is invertel. The ball is of sufficient weight to overcome the stress of the
springe and so move the valve from its seat as to permit the outflow of the liquid.
The body of the stopper is made in two parts screwed together or otherwise united
in order to admit of enclosing the valve and its spring within it and in order to make
a tight closure of the bottle the stopper is garnished with a cork sheath G and the
thoroughfare D would be stopped by a cork which must be extracted in the usual
way in order to pour off the contents of the bottle.
In Figure 1, B are bolts sliding in radial holes in the stopper and forced outwards
into engagement with groove e by springs behind them.
In Figure 2, B are spring claws attached to a ring encircling the body of
the stopper and retained securely in place by being sprung into a groove therein,
as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described means of preventing the refilling of bottles, consisting in
the combination of a stopper provided with locking bolts or claws engaging a groove
in the bottle neck and with an axial thoroughfare for the liquid controlled by a
spring-pressed valve closing inwardly so as to prevent ingress of liquid, and means
adapted to open said valve only when the bottle is inverted, substantially as specified.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.