GB2088317A - Bottle stopper for preventing illicit refilling - Google Patents

Abstract

A stopper for insertion into the mouth of a bottle has a passage 15, 29, 35, 73, 57 in which a valve member 39 is provided to close the passage when the bottle is upright to prevent illicit refilling. Walls 33, 53 prevent tampering with the member, whilst seal 71 inhibits, and indicates, removal of the stopper. The stopper may be moulded in two or more pieces, and the member may be of spherical, mushroom or other shape. A tubular plug may be inserted in the upper end of the stopper to provide a tighter fit in the mouth of the bottle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in bottle stoppers This invention is directed toward a bottle stopper.

The bottle stopper of the present invention is designed to prevent tampering with the contents of a bottle while permitting the contents to be dispensed when desired.

The stopper is particularly adapted to be used with liquor bottles. While no means common practice, it is known to dilute liquor in a bottle, or to replace expensive liquid in a bottle with cheaper liquor to make more money. The stopper of the present invention is designed to eliminate such practices.

The stopper of the present invention is adapted to be installed by the manufacturer. The stopper is inserted into the mouth of a filled bottle; the stopper and/or a portion of the system is preferably provided with anti-tampering means such as a fragile component or a sealing device.

Thus, if a seal is provided and if the seal is later broken it is an indication that the contents of the bottle may have been tampered with. The stopper is designed to allow the liquid in the bottle to be poured out when needed. The stopper is also designed to prevent any liquid from being poured back into the bottle thereby preventing dilution of the original liquid in the bottle, or replacement of the original liquid in the bottle.

The stopper employs a gravity-actuated, oneway valve member for selectively closing liquid passage means in the stopper. When the bottle is in an upright position, the valve member automatically closes the passage means in direction preventing the flow of liquid down through the passage means into the bottle. When the bottle is tilted for pouring, the valve member moves to open the passage means to allow liquid from within the bottle to flow out.

The stopper is constructed in a manner to prevent manipulation of the valve member whereby the contents of the bottle could be tampered with. If the valve member has been tampered with, visible evidence of this tampering should be apparent. The stopper is provided with non-linear passage means for the liquid thereby making it difficult, if not impossible, to manipulate the valve member which is located adjacent the inner end of the stopper.

In one embodiment, the invention is particularly directed toward a bottle stopper comprising a body member adapted at least in part to fit snugly within the mouth of a bottle. The body member has means for use in sealing the stopper to the bottle while in the bottle. The body member also has passage means for use in conducting liquid between its ends while in the bottle. A movable, gravity actuated valve member is provided in the passage means for use in conducting liquid out of the bottle when the bottle is tilted to pour liquid, and for preventing flow of liquid into the bottle when upright, when the stopper is in the bottle.

Means on the body member normally prevent tampering with the valve member through the passage means from outside the bottle when the stopper is in the bottle.

The body member has an inner part which goes into the bottle first and an outer part which follows the inner part into the bottle. Means join the inner and outer parts together in spaced-apart relation.

The valve member is located in the inner body part.

Preferably, the inner and outer parts and the valve member, are all made separately. Means are provided for joining the inner and outer parts together with the valve member between them.

In a further embodiment, the body member may include one or more components associated therewith for use in indicating if the stopper has been tampered with subsequent to the placement of the stopper in the mouth of the bottle. Thus, for instance, one may employ one or more fragile components which would break if the stopper were tampered with subsequent to insertion in the bottle. Many such means are known to those skilled in the art.

In a stil further embodiment of the invention, the stopper may include an outer body member which is deformable by means of an insert outwardly against the bottle neck to fit snugly within the mouth of the bottle. The inner body member may utilize a valve means which includes upper and lower valve members with the lower valve member serving as the valve seat and the upper valve member including a portion having the valve movable therein.

The invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section view showing the stopper in a bottle; Fig. 2 is a cross-section view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section view of another embodiment of the stopper in a bottle; Fig. 4 is a cross-section view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross-section view illustrating a further embodiment of a stopper in a bottle; Fig. 6 is a cross-section view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross-section view of an alternative sealing arrangement and valve limiting means; Fig. 8 is a view taken along lines A-A of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a cross-section view of a further embodiment of a stopper; Fig. 10 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the stopper;; Fig. 11 is a cross-section view of the stopper shown in Fig. 10 Fig. 12 is a cross-section view taken along line 12--12 of Fig. 1 1; Fig. 13 is a cross-section view taken along line 13-l3ofFig. 1 1; Fig. 14 is a vertical cross sectional view of a further embodiment of a stopper; and Fig. 1 5 is an exploded view of the component parts of the stopper of Fig. 14.

The bottle closure of the present invention has a body member 3 which is, at least in part, adapted to fit snugly within the mouth 5 of a narrow-neck bottle 7 as shown in Fig. 1. The body member 3 preferably has an inner body part 9 which is adapted to enter the bottle first, and an outer body part 11 which follows the inner body part 9 into the bottle. The two body parts 9, 11 are held together in spaced-apart relation as will be described.

The inner body part 9 has a cylindrical base 13 with a first axial opening 1 5 extending through it.

The first opening 1 5 is defined by a large diameter cylindrical surface 1 7 adjacent its outer end face 19 and a small diameter cylindrical surface 21 adjacent its inner end face 23. A truncated conical surface 25 joins the two cylindrical surfaces 17, 21 together.

The opening 1 5 opens into an enclosure 29 projecting axially outwardly from the outer end face 1 9 of base 13. The enclosure 29 is defined by a cylindrical side wall 31, concentric with opening 15, and a circular, unbroken end wall 33, closing the side wall 31 which end wall 33 is parallel with end face 19. The cylindrical side wall 31 has an outer diameter D1 smaller than the diameter D2 of the cylindrical base 1 3. The inner diameter of side wall 31 is equal to the diameter of the cylindrical surface 17 of opening 1 5. A plurality of second openings 35 are provided in side wall 31. The second openings 35 preferably have a quadrangular shape.

A valve member 39 is provided within the enclosure 29 for normally closing the opening 1 5 when the bottle is upright. The valve member 39 has an inner cylindrical portion 41 and an outer cylindrical portion 43. The outer cylindrical portion 43 has a diameter less than the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface 1 7 of the first opening 1 5.

The inner cylindrical portion 41 is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the inner cylindrical surface 21 of opening 15. A truncated conical portion 45 joins the two cylindrical portions 41, 43 of valve member 39. The conical portion 45 is shaped to have its surface sit flush on the conical surface 25 of opening 1 5 when valve member 39 closes opening 1 5. When the valve member 39 moves up into the enclosure 29, as when the bottle is tilted for pouring, the opening 1 5 is opened.

The outer body part 11 of the body 3 has a generally cylindrical side wall 51 and a circular end wall 53 closing the inner end of side wall 51.

A flange 55 is provided on the side wall 51, about midway between its ends, and projecting outwardly. One or more third openings 57 are provided in the end wall 53. Two such openings 57 can be provided, each being generally semicircular in shape, as shown in Fig. 2. Flange 55, as previously discussed, is provided on side wall 51.

In one embodiment, flange 55 may be relatively thin and thus serve as a positioner or guide for insertion of the device to the right depth. Also, flange 55 may be employed to provide sealing properties to the stopper.

The outer body part 11 is joined to the inner body part 9 by suitable connecting means. These can comprise a cylindrical post 61 extending axially between the center of end wall 53 of outer body part 11, and the center of the end wall 33 of the enclosure 29 on the inner body part 9. It will be noted that the outer radius R3 of the openings 57 in the outer body part 11 is less than half the diameter D1 of the end wall 33 of the enclosure 29. It will also be noted that the outer diameter D4 of the side wall 51 of the upper body part 11 equals the diameter D2 of the base 13 of the lower body part 9. The outer surface of base 13, and the outer surface of side wall 51, beneath flange 55, can be provided with suitable sealing means.These sealing means can comprise a set of sealing flanges 63 integral with both the base 1 3 and side wall 51. Other types of sealing means can, however, be employed. The outer surface of the side wall 51, above flange 55, is provided with a screw thread 65 to receive a closure cap (not shown) for the bottle.

The bottle closure is used by inserting it into the mouth 5 of a filled bottle 7 at a factory until the flange 55 abuts the lip 69 of the bottle at the mouth 5 of the bottle. A circular seal 71 can then be fastened about both the flange 55 and lip 69.

The seal 71 is of the type that the closure cannot be removed from the bottle 7 without damaging the seal. With the bottle 7 in an upright position, the valve member 39, through gravity, closes opening 1 5 and prevents anyone from pouring liquid into the bottle 7. Liquid originally in the bottle 7 can be poured out by turning the bottle over so that the valve member 39 slides into the enclosure 29 thereby separating sealing surfaces 25, 45. The liquid then flows through first opening 1 5 into enclosure 29, out of enclosure 29 through second openings 35, and around the enclosure 29 to third openings 57 and out. The opening 15, the enclosure 29, the openings 35, the space 73 surrounding the enclosure 29 and the openings 57 form non-linear passage means for the liquid to flow out of the bottle.When the bottle is repositioned in an erect or upright position, the valve member 39 slides down to have the sealing surfaces 25, 45 contact thereby closing the passage means and thus preventing anyone from adding any kind of liquid to the bottle.

It will be noted that the end wall 33 of the enclosure 29 acts as a shield for the valve member 39. The end wall 33 prevents anyone from tampering or raising the valve member 39 through the openings 57. It is further noted that even if a person were able to slide a wire or pin down through opening 57, around end wall 33 and through openings 35 into the enclosure 29, it would still be difficult to raise the valve member 39 since it lies below the openings 35 in the enclosure side wall 31. Any tampering of the valve member 39 through the end wall 33, or through the body parts 9. 11 would normally be visible.

The closure, except for the valve member 39, could be molded in one piece, with the valve member 39 then forced through opening 15 into the enclosure 29. It is preferred, however, to mold the closure 1 in two pieces with the closure 1 divided along a plane 75 passing through the base 13 and the large diameter portion 1 7 of the opening 15. After the valve member 39 is inserted into the enclosure 29, the two pieces of the closure are joined along plane 75 by adhesive, or by other suitable means.

If desired, the valve member 39 could be hollowed out from its upper face 77 downwardly.

The hollowed out space, defined by a dotted line 79 in Fig. 1, would fill with liquid, if an attempt were made to pass liquid into the bottle through the closure thereby pressing the sealing surfaces 25, 45 more tightly together.

Whiler one form of the valve member in the closure has been described, it could also have other forms. As shown in Fig. 3, the valve member could comprise a sphere 81 within the enclosure 29. The lower portion 83 of the opening is curved to provide a seal for the sphere 81 to close the opening 1 5 when the bottle is upright. As before, the base 13 could be divided along a plane 75 to permit insertion of the sphere 81 with enclosure 29.

The means connecting the two body portions together could also be modified to comprise a number of thin connecting members arranged in a circle about the end wall 33 of the enclosure 29 near its edge. Four such members 87, equally spaced apart, could be used, as shown in Fig. 4, to replace the central post 61 shown in Fig. 1. If the connecting members 87 are employed, the semicircular holes 57 in the end wall 53 of the upper body part 11 could be replaced by a single large circular hole 89 as shown in Fig. 4. The hole 89 will however still have a diameter less than the diameter of the end wall 33 to prevent direct tampering with the valve member.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, similar reference numbers are employed to indicate similar components as described in the previous figures.

As will be seen, stopper 3, in this instance, is not provided with a flange that extends outwardly beyond the neck of the bottle 7. Further, the entire stopper or body member is adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle and in association with this, anti-tampering means may be provided. As previously mentioned, such anti-tampering means are known in the art and may include the use of fragile components or the like.

As shown in Fig. 7, the movement of valve member 39 may be limited through use of an integral stop member 40 molded to enclosure 29. The particular form of stop member shown may be varied according to conventional practice.

Furthermore, as will be seen in Fig. 7, valve member 39 may be formed in different configurations in order to seat on base 13. Thus, in view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, valve member 39 may simply seat in a conventional manner on base 13.

Also, as shown in Figure 7, bottle 7 may include a flange member 60; corresponding flange 55 of the stopper is adapted to seat thereon and seal 71 is then applied thereto. Thus, in this embodiment, the bottle neck may be adapted to screw threadingly receive a closure member.

Referring to Fig. 9, an embodiment similar to Fig. 7 is illustrated. In this embodiment, an end wall similar to end wall 53 of Fig. 1 is provided in conjunction with the teachings of other embodiments.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. to 13, the bottle closure 101 has a body member made in two separate parts to both facilitate manufacture of the closure, and installation of the valve member in the body member. To this end, the body member comprises an inner body part 103, and an outer body part 105, made separately from the inner body part 103. The inner body part 103 comprises a capshaped member having a flat, circular base 107 and a flange 109 projecting upwardly from the outer edge of base 107. The flange 109 has a set of equally spaced-apart V-shaped slots 111 extending down from its upper free edge 113, toward base 107.The slots 111 divide the flange 109 into a set of resilient fingers 11 5. The inner surface of each finger 11 5 is undercut between the base 107 and a line generally half-way up the finger to provide a shoulder 11 7. A central opening 11 9 is provided in the base 107 with the wall 121 of the opening sloping inwardly from the flange side of the base.

The outer body part 105 comprises a generally cylindrical member having a first central bore 125 extending inwardly from the inner end 1 27 of the member, and a second central bore 1 29 extending inwardly from the outer end 1 31 of the member.

The central bores 125,129 extend toward each other and are separated from each other in the middle of the member by a dividing wall 133. The first central bore 125 has a counterbore 135 for about half its length thereby enlarging the outer end of bore 125. The outer end of second bore 125 could also be flared outwardly as shown at 137 if desired.

The member 105 has a wide, shallow groove 141 encircling it in its central region. A first set of encircling ports 143 extend through the wall of the member 105 joining the bottom end portion of the first bore 125 with the inner portion of groove 141. A second set of encircling ports 145 extends through the wall of the member 105 joining the bottom end portion of the second bore 1 29 with the groove 141. A second narrow, shallow groove 147 encircles member 105 near its inner end 127 forming an encircling rib 149 adjacent inner end 127. The rib 149 may be reduced slightly in outer diameter. A guide pin 1 51 projects axially from the center of wall 1 33 into bore 125 and part way into counterbore 135.

A valve member 1 55 is provided having a plugshaped head 1 57 and a stem 1 59 projecting axially up from the center of the head. A guide bore 161 extends axially down through stem 159 from its free end 1 63 and part way into head 1 57.

The head 1 57 has a sidewall 1 65 that siopes inwardly from the side of the head from which stem 159 projects.

The valve member 1 55 and the body parts 103, 105 can all be easily manufactured separately. To form the bottle closure the stem 1 59 of the valve member 1 55 is slidably mounted on the guide pin 1 51 in bore 125. The inner body part 103 is then joined to the outer body part 105 by sliding its fingers 11 5 over rib 149 until the shoulders 117 on the fingers snap into groove 147 and lock with the rib 149 to prevent separation of the body parts.

The assembled closure 101 can now be mounted in a bottle, inner body part 103 first, and sealed thereto by suitable means similar to those previously described. With the bottle in a vertical position, the valve member 1 55 closes the bottle with its head 1 57 snugly sittiing in opening 11 9, its sloping sidewall 1 65 mating with the sloping wall 121 defining opening 119. Thus no liquid could be added to the bottle, and wall 133 prevents tampering with the valve member 1 55 in its closed position. When the bottle is tilted to pour out liquor, the valve member 1 55 slides away from opening 119 into counterbore 135, guided by pin 151 on which stem 1 59 slides.

Liquor then flows out of the bottle through opening 119, counterbore 135 and first bore 125, first ports 143, groove 141, second ports 145 and second bore 129. The size of the opening 119 is generally equal to the size of counterbore 1 35 less the largest size of head 1 57 of valve member 11 5.

If desired, encirculing sealing ribs 1 67 can be provided on both body parts 103, 105 to enable the assembled closure to more tightly fit in the bottle.

Referring to the embodiment of Fig. 14--16, the stopper includes an outer generally cylindrical body part generally designated by reference numeral 205. Outer body part 205 has a cylindrical bore 207 extending therethrough. At its upper end, there is provided a flange 209 while a recess 208 is provided interiorly thereof. As may be seen in Fig. 14, a central portion 211 of part 205 is relatively thick-walled compared to the remainder of the portion. A radially extending groove 213 is provided above middle portion 211 while part 205 also has a plurality of vertical grooves 215 in the exterior surface. A plurality of innercuts or recessed portions 217 is provided at spaced apart locations at the base of other body part 205.

An inner body part generally designated by reference numeral 225 includes an upper valve member 227 having a lower cylindrical portion 231 and a top portion 229 of a circular outline with tabs 230 extending outwardly therefrom.

Cylindrical portion 231 has a bore 233 therein; an aperture 235 in the wall of portion 231 provides fluid communication between the exterior and bore 233.

Lower valve member 237 includes a valve seat 239 and a flange 241 extending inwardly from the main body portion. A plurality of innercuts 242 are provided in the upper portion of the wall of lower valve member 237. Within lower member 237 is valve 243 which includes an upper portion 225 of a cylindrical configuration adapted to slidingly fit within bore 233 of upper valve member 227 while lower portion 247 seats on valve seat 239.

A plurality of legs generally designated by reference numeral 251 function as joining means for inner body part 225 and outer body part 205.

As may be seen from Fig. 16, legs 251 include an upper portion 253 adapted to seat within innercuts 217 and a lower portion 255 adapted to seat within innercuts 242 on lower valve portion 237. Intermediate upper portion 253 and lower portion 257 there is provided an annular groove 257 adapted to receive tabs 230 of top portion 229 of upper valve member 227.

Finally, the stopper includes a sealing plug or insert generally designated by reference numeral 261 and which sealing plug has an upper flange portion 263 adapted to seat in recess 208 of outer body part 205. A sealing portion 265 has a relatively thick wall per reasons apparent hereinafter. Preferably, a sealing fin (not shown) is provided exteriorly of lower valve member 237.

As may be seen from Fig. 14, the stopper comprising outer body part 205 and inner body part 225 may be inserted into a conventional bottle with flange 209 seating flush on a recess provided on the bottle. The fit is a relatively tight one and frictional engagement is provided between the inner wall of the bottle neck and central portion 211 of outer body part 205.

Subsequently, sealing plug 261 will be inserted with sealing portion 265 engaging middle portion 211 and forcing the same outwardly to provide and extremely tight fit between the bottle neck and stopper. In operation, as is self evident, valve 243 is free to move to provide fluid communication between the contents of the bottle and the exterior. However, a non-linear passable of the fluid is provided in a manner such that valve 243 may not be tampered with. Even if the bottle were to be subjected to to continuous vibration, apature 235 will prevent the movement of valve 243.

It will be understood that the above-described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus a stopper may be manufactured employing a combination of features shown in the different embodiment described herein. In actual manufacture, several of the component parts may be molded as a single piece.

Claims (15)

1. A bottle stopper comprising a body member adapted at least in part to fit snugly within the mouth of a bottle; the body member having means for use in sealing the stopper to the bottle while in the bottle; the body member having passage means for use in conducting liquid between its ends while in the bottle; a movable valve member in the passage means for use in conducting liquid out of the bottle when the bottle is tilted to pour liquid, and for preventing the flow of liquid into the bottle when upright, when the body member is in the bottle; and means on the body member for normally preventing tampering with the valve member through the passage means from outside the bottle when the body member is in the bottle.

2. A bottle stopper as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body member has an inner part which goes into the bottle first, and an outer part which goes into the bottle after the inner part; means joining the inner and outer body part together in spaced apart relation; the valve member located in the inner body part.

3. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner body part includes a base, an enclosure projecting from the base toward the upper body part; a first opening in the base, forming part of the passage means, opening into the enclosure, second openings forming part of the passage means in the enclosure, the valve member mounted within the enclosure to close the opening in the base, when the bottle is upright.

4. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upper body part has at least one centrally-located, third opening, forming part of the passage means, the enclosure spaced from the upper body part to provide access to the third opening.

5. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 4 wherein the enclosure has an unbroken wall adjacent the third opening to provide the contact preventing means.

6. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the valve member comprises a first cylindrical portion; a second cylindrical portion, larger in diameter than the first portion; and a truncated conical portion joining the first and second cylindrical portions; the first opening having a conical sealing surface facing into the enclosure, the conical portion of the valve member seating on the conical sealing surfacing to close the opening when the bottle is upright.

7. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 6 wherein the valve member is hollowed out from the free end of second cylindrical portion toward its first cylindrical portion.

8. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 3 wherein the valve member is a sphere and the first opening has a part spherical sealing surface facing into the enclosure to sealing seat the sphere to close the opening when the bottle is upright.

9. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 5 wherein the third opening comprises a single central opening and the means joining the inner and outer body parts together comprises spacedapart support members extending between the end wall of the enclosure and the outer body part adjacent the third Opening.

10. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 5 wherein the third opening comprises two generally semi-circular openings and the means joining the inner and outer body parts together comprises a central post extending between the center of the end wall of the enclosure and the center of the outer body part between the third openings.

11. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for use in sealing the stopper to the bottle comprises a flange projecting outwardly from the outer body part.

12. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 11 wherein the flange is located midway between the ends of the outer body part, the outer surface of the outer body part between the flange and the outer end being threaded to receive a closure cap.

13. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body member has an inner body part which enters the bottle first, a separate outer body part, and means on both body parts for connecting them together with the valve member between them.

14. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 1 3 wherein the inner body part has a set of resilient fingers, and the outer body part has a groove adjacent its inner end for receiving the fingers to hold the two parts together.

15. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 14 wherein the outer body part has a first bore extending in from its inner end, and a second bore extending in from its outer end, a dividing wall separating the two bores, and passage means connecting the two bores.

1 6. A bottle stopper as claimed in Claim 15 wherein said passage means comprises an encircling groove on the outer body part intermediate its ends, first port means connecting the first bore to the groove, and second port means connecting the groove to the second bore.

1 7. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 1 5 including a guide pin extending axially from the dividing wall into the first bore to slidably receive the valve member and guide it in its movement.

1 8. A bottle stopper as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer body part includes a portion deformabie outwardly, means for deforming said portion outwardly, said lower body part including upper and lower valve members, the upper valve member forming a guiding means for the valve while the lower body member provides a valve seat.