US2013470A - Nonrefillable bottle - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1935. s. LAZARUS NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed Jan. 26,. 1935 gwmnto'c J/mon Lazarus wgidmwg Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STT 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved means for rendering bottles, jars and similar receptacles non-refillable. It has particular application to the distillery trade wherein the distinctive bottles employed by various distillers would be reused by bootleggers to sell inferior products unless such bottles were rendered unfit for further usage.

However, as the description proceeds it will become apparent that my invention is by no means limited to any particular use, but on the contrary may be used in widely varying fields, wherever a receptacle after having served its requisite function must be rendered unfit for further use.

As a result of the need for a practical means serving this purpose, a large number of devices have been developed. So far as is known, however, all such devices have certain inherent disadvantages which have prevented their widespread adoption. Therefore, it is a prime object of this invention to provide a means of this nature which will be inexpensive, reliable and suitable for diiTerent uses.

A second object is to provide a means which has a positive locking action with the neck ofa bottle and which is both simple to install and nondetachable after having been installed.

A third object is to provide a means which will permit a free flow of liquid from the bottle but which will provide an instant and complete check to the inflow of any liquid into the bottle.

" Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds 35 when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing of which Figure 1 is a partial elevation view showing the improved device installed in a receptacle and occupying its closed position.

4 Figure 2 is a partial elevation view showing the device installed in a receptacle and occupying its open position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device in its closed position drawn to a larger scale.

45 Figure 4 is an elevation view of the thimble prior to assembly and installation.

' Figure 5 is an elevation view of the valve means prior to its assembly and installation.

' Figure 6 is a plan view of the thimble shown in Figure 4 while Figure 7 is a broken away elevation view of one of the perforations of the thimble shown on a larger scale. 7

As illustrated in this drawing, the bottle or other receptacle I has a restricted outlet or neck 2* intowhich my improved device is insertable for the purpose of making the receptacle nonrefillable. The neck 2 is formed with an interior recess 3 which may extend entirely around the inner periphery of the neck or may be made in a series of small individual recesses depending upon the manufacturing process employed. The location of such recess on the neck of the receptacle will depend largely upon the particular shape of receptacle used. As shown in Figure 1, a cork or stopper Q is inserted into the open end of the neck and provides a barrier to evaporation or accidental spilling of the contents. It is to be noted that such cork extends downwardly and terminates above the upper edge of the insertable member so that no leakage can take place around the insertable member as would be the case if the cork fitted within such member. Furthermore, the cork will at no time tend to bind upon the member as is the case in certain other constructions. It is obvious that a screw top may be provided for the receptacle in lieu of a cork, if such a construction appears to be more desirable.

As best shown in Figure 3, the insertable member comprises a thimble element It having a cylindrical upper portion H with a periphery adapted to fit closely within the neck of the receptacle. The lower end of the thimble comprises a curved cylindrical'portion l2 forming a valve seat and terminating in an open bottom. It is contemplated that the thimble will be constructed of such metallic material as will be impervious to the contents of the recepacle although in certain usages this requirement may not be necessary. However, in the event that the device is used in a receptacle containing alcoholic beverages it is desirable that the thimble be constructed of a metallic material such as copper or aluminum.

At the upper cylindrical portion of the thimble a series of perforations l4 are cut into the metal and are adapted to be expanded into locking positions with the recess 3 in a manner more completely explained hereinafter. A hollow valve element l5 comprising a solid bottom and thin sides I6 is formed with an outer curvature corresponding to the inner surface of the lower end I2 of the thimble and is adapted to seat securely upon the thimble whenever the receptacle is held in a substantially upright position. Due to the curvature of valve and valve seat the device is self-seating and will automatically adjust itself so that a close fit is established at all times.

Bored through sides i t of the valve element is a series of holes ll whichprovide a readyoutlet for the contents of the receptacle when the valve is displaced outwardly. These holes are located a substantial distance above the lower edge of the thimble surface so that communication between the interior of the receptacle and the interior of the thimble can be established only when the valve is displaced outwardly as by inverting the receptacle. In this way it is impossible to refill the receptacle since the valve is always seated when the structure is in upright position which in turn is the only position in which any material could be poured into such receptacle.

As shown in Figure 2, the contents of the receptacle may discharge both around the sides It of the valve and through the holes I! of the valve, thus insuring a steady and uninterrupted flow.

In order to limit the outward movement of the valve an anchor means IB is securely affixed to the solid bottom of such valve and in its expanded position shown in Figures 2 and 3 will engage with the lower end of the open thimble I2 to prevent the valve dropping out of the receptacle.

In Figure 5 the valve is shown prior to assembly and the anchor means l8 as shown therein comprises two prongs partially separated. It is contemplated that in manufacture the anchor means will be formed by splitting the single rod attached to the fottom of the valve. After assembling the valve and thimble such anchor ends will be bent further into the position shown in Figure 3 wherein only a limited movement between valve and thimble will be possible.

'As best shown in Figure '7 the perforations of the upper thimble portion comprise a set of five slots cut at divergent angles and so arranged that when the metal is expanded, as by the insertion of an expanding member, a set of four teeth Ma, Mb, I40, and Md will be forced outwardly into contact with the recess 3. Such teeth will give a sturdy frictional resistance with the surface of the recess and having their open ends bent outwardly will render impossible any subsequent detachment from the receptacle.

It is obvious that other shapes and configurations may be given to these teeth without departing from the scope of the invention and that the number of sets of perforations may vary according to the particular application.

In the practice of my invention the following procedure would be followed. The receptacle is first filled with its contents and maintained in an upright position. The valve element is inserted in the thimble member and the prongs of the valve anchor are then bent into the position shown in Figure 3. The thimble and valve are then inserted into the neck of the receptacle and positioned with perforations I4 in line with recess 3. A removable expanding means is then inserted into the thimble and is operated to separate the slotted thimble material and to push the various teeth Ma, Mb, I40, and Mid into frictional engagement with the recess. Thereupon the expanding means is removed and the cork is applied to the neck 2.

When it is desired to empty the receptacle it is turned into the position shown in Figure 2 and. the valve falls by gravity and by the pressure of the contents into the outward position. A ready discharge then takes place around the walls of the valve and through the holes I! in those walls. Whenever the structure is returned. to substantially upright position the valve falls back into its original position and reseats itself by virtue of its curved construction. In so reseating itself the holes I! are closed off by the inner surface of the thimble and it then becomes impossible to pour the contents back into the receptacle.

When the receptacle has once been emptied it becomes unfit for further use and must be discarded. Any tampering with the valve and thimble means would result in disfiguration of the same and would clearly show that the receptacle was being used in an unwarranted manner.

By reason of this fact the present invention provides an assurance to any party using a distinctive bottle or the like that such bottle can not be later used for unauthorized purposes without being subject to instant detection.

Having thus disclosed the invention it is obvious that variations of the same may be employed without departing from the scope of the same and it is my intention to cover by the appended claims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottle neck having an interior recess, a hollow open-ended thimble member insertable in the neck, a series of perforations adjacent the upper edge of the thimble whereby portions of said thimble may be expanded into non-detachable union with the recess, an open concave lower end of the thimble forming a valve seat, a one way valve member curved to conform to the surface of the valve seat and having a series of holes bored therethrough above the bottom of the valve seat and means affixed to the lower portion of the valve to limit its outward movement.

2. In combination, a non-refillable bottle having a neck provided with an interior recess, a thimble insertable within the neck and having a periphery closely fitted to the inner periphery of the neck, a series of perforations adjacent the upper end of the thimble, each perforation comprising a plurality of slots cut at diverging angles whereby portions of the thimble may be expanded into non-detachable union with the recess of the bottle neck, a curved open lower end of the thimble forming a valve seat, a self-seating valve adapted to seat on the lower end of the thimble whenever the bottle is held in upright position, means to limit the outward movement of the valve when the bottle is tipped over and holes bored in the valve above its lower surface whereby the contents may discharge from the bottle both around and through the valve whenever the valve is unseated.

3. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottle neck, a hollow open-ended thimble member insertable in the neck, said member having a diameter at its'upper end substantially equal to the inner diameter of the bottle neck and tapering to a substantially smaller diameter at its lower end, means to join the said member to the bottle neck in non-detachable, locking union, a valve member comprising a solid base and an upturned perforated side and. adapted to seat normally on the lower end of the thimble member and-anchor means aflixed to the solid base of the valve to limit the movement of the valve into the thimble member when said valve is unseated, whereby the solid base of the valve may form a barrier to the refilling of the bottle when the valve is seated in its normal position.

4. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottle neck, a hollow open-ended thimble member insertable in the neck, means to lock the member in non-detachable union with the bottle neck, said member having a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the bottle neck at its upper end and tapering to a smaller diameter at its lower end, a valve having a solid base and a perforated upturned side adapted to seat normally on the lower end of the thimble with the thimble covering the perforations in the side of the valve in such normal position, the valve being adapted to move into the thimble member when the bottle is tipped over, means to limit the movement of the valve into the thimble member, whereby the contents of the bottle may discharge outwardly around the upturned side of such displaced valve and through the perforation in the sides of such valve.

5. In combination, a bottle neck, an openended tapered thimble member insertable in the neck, means locking the thimble to the neck in non-detachable union, a movable valve having a solid base and a perforated upturned side normally seated on the lower end of the thimble member with the perforated side covered by the thimble member, means to limit the movement of the valve into the thimble member when the bottle is tipped over, whereby the contents of said bottle may discharge around and through the valve in such position and the solid base of the valve may prevent the refilling of such bottle when the same is held in normal upright position.

6. In combination, a bottle neck, an open-ended tapered thimble member insertable in the neck, means locking the thimble to the neck in nondetachable union, said thimble member termi-- mating in an open concave valve seat at its lower end, a convex shaped valve having a solid base and an upturned perforated side, said valve normally seating on the concave valve seat with the perforated side of the valve covered by the sides of the tapered thimble member, means to limit the movement of the valve into the thimble member when the bottle is tipped over, whereby the contents of said bottle may discharge around and through the valve in such position and the solid base of the valve may prevent the refilling of such bottle when the same is held in normal upright position.

SIMON LAZARUS.

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