US1982567A

US1982567A - Capsule for stopping bottles and the like

Info

Publication number: US1982567A
Application number: US575918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Blanchard Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-03-02
Filing date: 1931-11-18
Publication date: 1934-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1951-11-27

Description

NOV. 27, 1934. v R. BLANCHARD 1,982,567

CAPSULE FOR STOPPING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Now). 18, 1931 INVENTOR ROBERT BLANCHARD 6 112.9 atzarvz eys Patented Nov. 27, 1934 CAPSULE FOR STOPIIJIING BOTTLES AND THE Robert Blanchard, London County, England Application November 18, 1931, Serial No. 575,918 In France March 2, 1931 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in capsules of the kind made of soft plastic metal and more especially of a compound of tin and lead plated with tin for use in stopping or corking 5 bottles or the like and has for its object to provide a combined stopper and capsule which effects satisfactory closing of the mouth of the bottle without the need of a separate'cork or stopper and which can be readily detached from the bottle and replaced as required.

The present invention consists in a closure for bottles or the like comprising a capsule of the aforesaid type which may be of varying thickness and one or more sealing discs within the said capsule adapted to seal the mouth of the said bottle or the like.

The upper part and top of the capsule may be made of a thickness of metal two or three times that of the extended part or the metal may be made of a thickness which tapers or decreases from the upper to the lower part in or about the degree indicated, or the capsule may be of the same thickness throughout.

The stopper proper in the head of the capsule is formed done or more discs of cork, cardboard. wood pulp, celluloid, caoutchouc whether vulcanized or not or other suitable impermeable material, any cf which materials may be wrapped with or gummed to a thin liner of tin or other non corrosive substance'and is maintained and compressed in position over the mouth of the bottle or the like in the process of capsuling, the capsuling pressure being relatively weak so that the stopper will notbe torn or deformed, that is to say, the metal is not hardened or strained in the manner resulting from the greater pressure of a rollingor spinning operation. With the disc, or discs of the stopper may be used a fiat or shaped disc of tin or aluminium or other stronger metal or alloy for withstanding abnormal internal pressure, for example in a bottle containing alcohol in'a hot country or effervescent liquids.

In order to facilitate the opening of the bottle or the like, the capsule may be provided at or near the lower end of the thicker portion thereof with a weakened portion caused by making a ring of thin metal at this part or perforating the metal at intervals round the capsule. By turning the thickened part of the capsule with the hand relatively to the lower and thinner part, the weakened portion is readily fractured or broken and-the upperv part of the capsule can then be unscrewed leaving the thinner portion of the capsule in position as a permanent decoration on the bottle neck. Alternatively two such weak lines may be provided having means by which the metal between them can be grasped and torn away prior to the removal of the upper part of the capsule. When sufficient liquor has been withdrawn from the bottle the capsule can be again screwed onto the bottle neck to close the same. The stopper or stoppers may be retained in position in the capsule before being secured onto the bottle by suitable projections extending inwardly in the walls of the capsule or by mucilage to the top of the capsule.

The neck of the bottle may be decorated in any suitable manner by embossing or the like to which embossing the capsule will conform as well as to the screw threads or the like formed on the said bottle neck.

The invention will be hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in whichz-Figure 1 shows in elevation a form of closure with two lines of weakening before being placed on a bottle or the like; Figure 2 shows in elevation a similar closure to that shown in Figure'l after being placed on the bottle or the like; Figures 3.and 4 show an elevation and a section of a closure, with a modified line of weakening, before being placed on a bottle or the like; Figure 5 shows a section of the closure shown in Figures 3 and 4 after being placed on the bottle or the like; Figure 6 shows in section, a closure having a modified line of weakening; Figure 7 shows in section a closure provided with means for retaining the discs in position and Figure 8 shows in section a closure provided with a lining.

Referring to the drawing the capsule proper is indicated by the reference 1 and is constructed in such a manner that it can be readily conformed to the neck of a bottle or jar with the aid of an appropriate 'capsuling machine.

As shown in Figures 1 to 8 theftop 1 of the capsule is provided with a skirt 2, the top portion being of a greater thickness than the lower part of skirt 2 thereof so that its conformity to the shape of the neck of the bottle by an appropriate capsuling machine is assured by the thickness of the metal.

The skirt 2 of the capsule may be sufliciently thin that it may be conformed to any projections or the like 3 on the neck l.

In order to seal the mouth of the bottle a disc or

discs

5 and 6 are inserted in the capsule which discs may be maintained therein by suitable projections 12 (Figure 7) extending'inwardly from the walls of the capsule or by mucilage to the top of the capsule or simply by reason of tightness of fit, the

discs

5 and 6 are also compressed in the process f afiixing and the pressure in capsuling being relatively weak, there will be no fear of tearing the discs or the capsule. With the disc or discs 5 and '6 may be used a thin disc 7 of tin or aluminium or other stronger metal or alloy for withstanding abnormal internal pressure, for example in a bottle containing alcohol in a hot country or eifervescent liquids.

Owing to the plasticity of the metal and the difference of thickness thereof, the capsule can, by a simple pressure between the finger and thumb and by a rotary movement, enable the bottle to be opened, the skirt 2 remaining on the neck of the bottle and the top 1 being removed.

Preferably the capsule is provided with a circular line of less resistance constituted by a number of perforations 8 as shown in Figures 3,-4, 5 and '7 or by a diminishing in thickness of the metal as shown at 9 in Figures 6 and 8, so that by the aforesaid rotary movement the upper part of the capsule will be detached from the skirt at the'line of weakening and afford evidence of uncorking. When the desired amount of liquor has been removed from the bottle the upper part of the capsule can again be replaced. Alternatively two lines of weakening 9a, 9b (Figures 1 and 2) may be provided, having a slot 90 out between them in such manner that the metal 911 between the said lines may be grasped and torn away prior to the removal of the upper portion of the capsule. The metal thus torn will fracture at the weak lines and leave the upper and lower portions of the capsule undisturbed upon the bottle or the like, the said upper and lower portions being separated,

thereby proving that the bottle has been unsealed. Following upon-this operation the upper portion of the capsulemay be removed without further fracture of its substance. When the capsule is used on a bottle containing food products, alcohol or the like it is desirable to prevent the said contents from coming into contact with the capsule proper. To carry this into efiect we provide a lining 11 (Fig. 8) of pure tin, aluminiumor other non-corrosive substance which may be separate from or integral with the capsule proper. If desired the varying thickness of the capsule hereinbefore referred to may be obtained by inserting a short lining, preferably the lining 11 the thickness of the material forming the upper part of the capsule being reduced by an amount equal to the thickness of the lining so that when the lining is in position in the capsule the over-all thickness will be equal to that shown in the figures having a solid capsule. If desired a disc 14 of pure tin, aluminium or other non-corrosive substance may be secured to the lower part of the disc 6 to prevent the contents of the bottle or jar from coming into contact with the said disc 6.

As hereinbefore stated the disc '7. may be plain as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 or may be shaped as shown in Figures 4 and 5 so that when the capsule is pressed on to the neck of the bottle or the like in the capsuling machine the dished portion 7a of the disc '7 will force the cork or the like disc 6 into the mouth of the bottle.

The head of the capsule may be provided with a knurled or milled edge to facilitate the removal thereof from the bottle.

It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to jars or flasks as to a bottle.

Having now particularly described and ascer- I What I claim is:-- D 1. The combination of a bottle or the like hav ing screw threads on the neck thereof adjacent the mouth, a. relatively smooth annular portion below said screw threads, and a portion therebelow having an anchoring and'fraud preventing projection thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsule having an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and conforming to said bottle neck screw threads and being of sufficient thickness to retain its shape after removal, an intermediate weakened tearable portion. engaging and conforming to said relatively smooth portion of said bottle neck, and a skirt portion of less thickness than said cap portion whereby it is capable of taking fine embossing, said skirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lower portion of said bottle neck having said anchoring and fraud preventing projection, said capsule comprising a single, integral, cup-like member of soft, plastic metal, having an originally substantially straight sided surface of revolution afterwards conformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck by relatively weak pressure in a capsuling machine without relative rotation of said cap and bottle, whereby upon rupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains in engagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projection and displays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed and replaced as a temporary closure.

2. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on the neck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portion below said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from a surface of revolution to provide anchoring and fraud preventing projections thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsule having an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and conforming to said bottle neck screw threads, an intermediate )weakened tearable portion engaging and conforming to said relatively smooth portion of said bottle neck, and a skirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lower portion of said bottle neck having said anchoring and fraud preventing projections, said capsule comprising a single, integral, cup-:like member of soft, plastic metal, having an originally substantially straight sided surface of revolution afterwards conformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck by relatively weak pressure in a capsuling machine without relative rotation of said cap and bottle, whereby upon rupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains in engagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projections and displays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed and replaced as a temporary closure.

3. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on the neck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portion below said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from a surface of revolution to provide an anchoring and fraud preventing projection thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsule having an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and conforming to said bottle neck screw threads and of a thickness sufficient to retain itsshape after removal, an intermediate weakened tearable portion engaging and conforming to said relatively smooth portion of said bottle neck, and a skirt portion of less thickness than said cap portion whereby it is capable of taking fine embossing, said skirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lower portion of having an originally substantially straight sided surface of revolution afterwards conformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck byrelatively' weak pressure in a capsuling machine without relative rotation of said cap and bottle, whereby said sealing member is compressed, and whereby upon rupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains in engagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projection and displays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed and replaced as a temporary closure.

4. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on the neck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portion below said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from a surface of revolution to provide anchoring and fraud preventing portions thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsule having an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and. conforming to saidv bottle neck screw threads, an intermediate weakened tearable portion engaging said bottle neck, and a skirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lower portion of said bottle'neck having said anchoring and fraud preventing projections,

said capsule comprising a single, integral, cuplike member of plastic metalconformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck, whereby upon rupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains in engagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projections and displays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed and replaced as a temporary closure.

5. The combination with a receptacle equipped with thread formations adjacent its mouth portion to engage a sealing cap, and equipped below said thread formations with meansfor preventing rotation of a sealing cap, of a sealing cap equipped at its open end portion with means for engaging the last mentioned means on the bottle and equipped with threads for cooperation with said thread formations, said interengaging threads and means cooperating to prevent allmovement of the cap relatively to the receptacle,

saidcap equippedbetween said means and threads thereof with annularly arranged weakening formations rendering said cap severable between its ends upon effecting rotation of the threaded end portion thereof relatively to the other end portion thereof and said threads constituting a means for applying sufiicient tension upon the weakening formations to effect severance of said cap.

ROBERT BLANCHARD.