Improvements in Closing or Stoppering Bottles
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Closing or Stoppering Bottles
I, HENRI CLAUDE GONDIN of 21 Boulevard Poissonnierè, Paris, France,
Mechanician, 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 improvements in closing or stoppering bottles.
The improved system of closing the object of this invention applies to bottles and
prevents their refilling by retailers or consumers, it is therefore proposed to term
such bottles " Irrefillable."
This closing therefore prevents the introduction of any foreign liquid to that
contained in the bottle.
The liquid may issue therefrom but cannot be introduced. Thus the merchant is
assured that his product reaches the consumers in proper order and the latter have
the certainty of tasting products with a certainty of their origin.
All the parts of the closing being of glass, there can be no fear of any adulteration
of liquids.
This closure does not bring about any change in the body of the bottle, the neck
alone is slightly modified. To leave no doubt as to its formation and working the
following description refers to the accompanying drawing :
DESCRIPTION.
:-
Figure 1 of this drawing is a vertical section of a bottle provided with my system
of closure.
Figures 2. 3 & 4 represent detached each of the constituent parts of this closure.
The closure is composed of three pieces, namely:-A solid ground glass stopper
provided with longitudinal grooves a, a' arranged alternating and separated by an
annular groove or recess a²; the lowest part of this stopper is hollowed out in the
form of a cone a B, solid glass ball termed "hammer" and intended to support and
regulate the float C, hollow glass float provided with ribs c and having at its lower
part, made in form of a truncated cone, a point c¹.
The float C is entered into the neck G of the bottle Y and rests by its conical
part upon the contracted part 9 forming the seat of the float C acting as a clack
valve.
The ball B is placed on the float.
The stopper A is then entered and kept in position in the neck simply by its
contraction.
For further security I may add if necessary, a little glass cement.
The engagement of this stopper is such that the ball B may freely play between
it and the float. In any case it cannot be removed without breaking the bottle.
The final closing is effected by an ordinary cork D. The putting into position of
the constitutive parts A, B, and C takes place directly the bottle is filled.
To pour out the liquid it is only necessary, the cork D having been removed, to
incline the bottle in the ordinary manner.
In this case the ball B lodges in the cavity of the stopper A, and, under
the pressure of the liquid, the float C follows the ball as shown Figure 5.
The liquid passes by the contraction g of the neck, runs on each side of the float
and traverses the channels a, a' of the stopper A.
I will now proceed to the question of illicit refilling.
In the vertical position (Figure 1) the float ground upon its seat is kept there by
the solid glass ball which resists floating. There is therefore impossibility of
Alling it

page_text: In the horizontal position the dead point is met by the weight of the ball which
rolls into the conical cavity of the stopper-that is to say, should the float be at
rest against the inner face of the stopper, the weight of the ball will cause it to
roll down the inclined face of the cone and press against the float, and thus drive it
from its position.. As soon as this occurs the inflow of the liquor will carry it on to
its seat and so prevent the entrance of any liquor into the bottle.—Impossibility of
refilling.
In the reversed vertical position (Figure 6) directly it is attempted to introduce
a liquid, the float leaves the ball, and effects closure, as in the other cases-
Impossibility of refilling.
It is evident that the introduction of a liquid is rendered impossible. Even a
wire may not be inserted to hold the float, the grooves or channels a, a¹ being
arranged alternating.
My arrangement being wholly composed of glass opposes the use of acid to
unfasten the pieces; the only acid which might be used would be cobalt acid but
this would attack the glass and leave traces of its use.
Having now 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. A system of closure entirely of glass rendering bottles or other flasks
irrefillable and ensuring to the consumers the identity of the liquid tasted, the said
system being characterised by the combination of a glass stopper A. having grooves
or channels fixed to the neck G, of a solid glass ball B, and a hollow glass float C.
The whole arranged and working substantially in the manner and with the object
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
2. In this system of closure opposing the refilling of the bottles as above
specified
(a) The arrangement of the stopper A with grooves or channels alternating a, a¹
separated by an annular groove or recess a² and with a conical cavity a³ at
its lower part.
(b) The arrangement of the float C having ribs c a truncated cone at its lower
part and a point c'; the said float resting freely on a seat g formed by a
contraction of the neck G of the bottle.
Dated this 16th day of May 1893.