Improvements in Flasks or Bottles to Prevent Them being Refilled.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flasks or Bottles to Prevent Them being Refilled.
I, GEORGE HENRY WILLIAMS, of Los Angeles, in the County of Los Angeles and
State of California, Police Officer, 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 :-
The invention relates to that class of bottles designed for the sale of liquid condi-
ments, special brands of liquors and other liquids; and designed to prevent the re-
filling of the bottles containing such liquids so as to insure to the customer the brand
of liquid intended to be bought and also protect the dealer against unfair competition
and damaging sales of inferior goods under his brand, by preventing others from re-
filling the bottle which bears his mark.
The object of the invention is to provide in a sightly flask superior, satisfactory
and absolutely effective means for affording the designed protection.
This invention comprises a flask having a portion of its neck composed of a plurality
of tubular coils so as to allow a simultaneous outflow of liquid and inflow of air, and
having a liquor intercepting device between the flask-body and the said coils which will
allow the liquor to flow out but will prevent it from entering the flask.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a flask embodying my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-section on line 2-2 Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
Fig. 3 is a vertical mid-section showing the bottle inverted. Line 2-2 Figs. 4, 5
and 6 indicates the line of section.
Fig. 4 is a plan section on line 4-4 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan section on line 5-5 Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a plan section on line 6-6 Fig. 2. In this view the top of the
stopper is seen through the glass which closes the space inside the neck around the
mouths of the coils.
Fig. 7 is a vertical mid-section on line 7-7 Fig. 8, showing a modification.
Fig. 8 is a plan section on line 8-8 Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the stopper.
Fig. 10 is a fragmental detail of the rest and guide for the weight and its
flexible connection.
A indicates the body of the flask. B the coiled neck. The coiled portion of the neck
is composed of two tubular coils bb. The flask A is provided with a nipple a having
a tapering opening a¹ therethrough. Cis a valve-seat bushing to seat in the tapering
opening and provided with a cylindrical passage 1 having a flaring mouth 2 forming a
flaring passage leading from the flask. D is a tapering stopper to fit the flaring
mouth of the valve-seat and having guides within the cylindrical portion of the
passage to hold the stopper true with relation to its seat when the stopper moves in
and out of the seat. E is a weight inside the flask and connected with the stopper by

page_text: a flexible connection F which may be a small chain or a thread of silk, cotton, or other
suitable material, passed through a hole in the stopper at the axis thereof and
fastened by a pin d¹ while the other end is passed through a hole e in the weight and
is fastened by a knot f. G is a guide at the inner end of the valve-seat for the flexible
connection. The neck has a cork-seat b² at one end and a nipple-socket 63 at the
other end, its intermediate portion being formed of two tubular coils, a space 4 being
provided between the valve-seat and the mouths of the coils, when the parts are
assembled, for the play of the stopper so that when the flask is inverted the stopper
can fall out of the flaring or tapering passage or mouth 2 and yet leave a passage
between such mouth and the mouths of the coils; means being provided for prevent-
ing the stopper from closing the outlet through the neck. By preference the said
means consist of the flexible connection F between the stopper and the weight inside
the flask the same being only of sufficient length to allow the stopper to fall far
enough to open a free passage for the liquid, but to hold the stopper suspended above
the mouths of the coils; but any form of construction can be employed which will
allow a free passage for the liquid when the stopper falls out of the seat 2 by reason of
the bottle being inverted. 631 indicates the closed top or cap of the nipple-socket
through which cap the tubes of the coils enter the space 4. 6 indicates the bottom
of the cork-socket into which the tubes of the coils open.
The weight E is preferably a sphere thereby being of such form at the portion
which engages the guide G as to cause the weight to readily roll away from the guide
at the moment the flask is turned on its side, thus to draw the stopper back to seat
in the flaring mouth. The guide G is provided with a slight cavity or recess g' to
hold the weight steady when the flask is inverted for pouring.
The stopper has a short cylindrical extension or portion 5 below the tapering
portion, to fit the cylindrical portion 1 of the passage in the valve-seat so that when
the valve or stopper D has partially seated but the tapering portion is not in engage-
ment with the flaring portion of the seat, there is no opening for the passage of liquid
between the stopper and the cylindrical portion 1 of the valve-seat passage.
Each of the two coils makes one complete turn so that the two coils form two traps
when the flask is horizontal. When the flask is inverted as shown in Fig. 3, (the cork H
being removed) the liquid will flow out through the passage 1, 2, 4 and through the
neck and out at b*. The upper portion of the stopper D is hollow and is the frustum
of a cone and fits the tapering passage. The tapering hollow stopper open at the top
and seated in the passage and arranged to play axially therein is especially adapted to
catch the return liquor when the flask is returned to an upright position, thus assisting
in seating the stopper. The coils effectually prevent the use of any tools to tamper
with the stopper.
The neck may be fastened on the nipple by any suitable means, such as cement at I
Fig. 7. 6 indicates an annular socket around the nipple to seat the lower end of
the nipple-socket 63 and in practice the neck may be fastened on the nipple by cement
or it may be fastened on the nipple by the appliance shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in which
the nipple has a projecting shoulder 7; an elastic packing, such as the cork-jacket 8,
is fitted around the nipple between the shoulder and the body of the flask; the socket
of the neck is provided with an inwardly projecting shoulder 9, and braces 10 are
seated in the packing between the shoulders and extending diagonally through the
packing are seated against the shoulders 7 and 9. As many of these braces may be
provided as may be desired. In process of making, the upper end of the braces are
inserted slanting up through the packing until they engage the shoulder 7; then
when the bottle is filled the socket is pushed down over the packing until the
shoulder 9 passes the lower ends of the braces which then spring out to engage said
shoulder 9 and prevent removal of the neck. The packing prevents leakage.
In practice the flask will be filled while the neck is removed. The flexible
connection F will he passed through the hole g in the brace G and will be fastened at
its opposite ends to the stopper and the weight. Then the weight will be inserted
into the flask through the opening a¹ in the nipple. In case the valve-seat bushing
Cfits the opening a perfectly it may not be necessary to fasten it in place; friction being

page_text: sufficient to hold it; but if desired it may be cemented in place or fastened by the lugs 11
projecting inward from the neck as indicated in Fig. 7. After the valve-seat busbing
with its stopper is thus in place, the neck is brought into place with its socket over
the nipple, cement being first applied if the form shown in Fig. 7 is used; or if the
form shown in Fig. 2 is used, the elastic packing and the springs 10 are depended
upon for preventing leakage and preventing the removal of the neck without breakage.
Then the cork H is inserted in the socket b' and the flask is ready for the trade.
When it is desired to pour liquid out of the flask the cork H is removed, the flask is
inverted and the liquid allowed to flow out through the neck. If the valve sticks it
may be loosened by a slight shake. The liquid after it has started will flow out
through the neck until the flask is emptied or turned from the vertical. When turned
from the vertical, the weight E falls away from the guide and draws upon the flexible
connection F and immediately draws the valve back to close the passage 1, and, when
fully seated, the flaring mouth 2.
The guides for the stopper may be legs 3 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or the inner
end of the stopper D may be ribbed or corrugated as at 31 Figs. 7 and 8.
The purpose of using a bushing C at the valve-seat is to allow the use of a large
round weight so that the weight can be a ball of glass and yet be heavy enough to
seat the stopper readily. If a weight having a diameter less than the smallest
diameter of the stopper is used, the separate bushing can be dispensed with,
because the weight can then be inserted through the hole in which the stopper
seats.
The hollow glass stopper is light so that it will yield readily to the weight of
the liquid when the flask is inverted.
When the bushing C is seated in the nipple it practically constitutes a portion of
the nipple and the passage through the valve-seat is therefore a passage through
the nipple.
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. A flask having a portion of its neck composed of two tubular coils and having a
liquor-intercepting device between the flask body and the said coils, substantially as
set forth.
2. The combination of the flask provided with a nipple having an outwardly
projecting annular shoulder; an elastic packing around the nipple between the
shoulder and the body of the flask; a neck provided with a socket fitted upon
the nipple and provided with the inwardly projecting shoulder; and the brace seated
in the packing between the shoulders and extending diagonally through the packing
and seated against the shoulders.
3. The combination of the flask body with tapering passage leading therefrom; a
tapering stopper seated in the passage and arranged to play axially therein; the
neck comprising two tubular coils leading from the tapering passage; and a
weight inside the flask body and connected with the stopper by a flexible
connection.
4. The combination of the flask body with a nipple having a tapering opening
therethrough; a valve-seat to seat in the tapering opening and provided with a
cylindrical passage having a flaring mouth; a tapering stopper to fit the flaring
mouth and having guides within the cylindrical portion of the passage; a weight
inside the flask and connected with the stopper by a flexible connection; a guide at
the inner end of the valve-seat for the flexible connection; and a neck comprising
the tubular coils leading from the tapering passage.
5. The neck with a stopper-seat at one end; a nipple-socket at the other end and
an intermediate portion formed of two tubular coils.
6. The combination of the flask having a nipple with flaring opening therein;
a valve-seat having a cylindrical passage with flaring mouth and seated in the
flaring opening; a neck having a stopper-seat at one end; a nipple-socket in

page_text: the other end to fit the nipple; an intermediate portion formed of two tubular
coils, and within the socket, lugs to fit upon the valve-seat and a space between the
valve-seat and the mouths of the coils for the play of the stopper; a weight inside
the flask; a flexible connection connecting the weight with the stopper; and a
support for said connection and to retain the weight in the flask.
Dated this 17th day of March 1898.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.