US2059012A - Nonrefillable bottle - Google Patents

Description

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed May 19, 1936 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a bottle or similar receptacle and it aims to provide a novel means whereby the bottle cannot be refilled except in the face of evidence positively showing that the bottle has theretofore been filled, used, and emptied.

More specifically it is aimed to provide a novel structure wherein the bottle has a supplemental neck adapted to be engaged by a locking cap, which cap and neck are adapted to be fractured or broken off before the contents of the bottle may be emptied, the line of fracture providing evidence of such emptying.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improvement in substantially central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the parts of Figure 1, a part of the cap being broken away to disclose details;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the same plane as Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, ID designates an ordinary bottle or similar receptacle having a pouring neck as at II which is adapted to be closed in any suitable manner as by means of the usual cork or stopper I2.

In accordance with my invention, such bottle Ill which is preferably of glass, has integral with it a supplemental neck I3 surrounding the neck II and extending above such neck. The supplemental neck I3 is connected to the neck II or body of the bottle by a web I4, much thinner and accordingly much weaker than the necks II and I3 and the body of the bottle. In addition, at the junction of the neck I I and body of the bottle I0, such body is preferably thickened as at I5 to insure fracture of the neck I3 from the bottle, at the web I4 when pressure is applied to the neck I3.

One or more annular ribs or flanges I6 extend outwardly from the neck I3 at spaced locations.

Co-acting with the ribs I6 is a cylindrical cap I1, closed at its upper end and open at its lower end, the latter end having an inwardly extending flange as at I8.

Disposed within the cap I1 is a locking element I9. Such element I9 is initially, for example, a sheet of resilient metal coiled into cylindrical form and permitted to expand, after insertion into the cap I1, into intimate contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of cap I1, abutting the upper end of such cap, and resting on the upper edge or shoulder of the flange I8, the meeting longitudinal edges of such locking member also abutting. Thus the locking member I9 is held in position through its expansive spring action. Prior to insertion of the locking element I9 into the cap, any desired number of locking lugs 20 are struck out angularly therefrom. These lugs may be of any desired shape.

As a result of the invention, a bottle is filled through the neck I I in the absence of the stopper I2 and the cap I1. After lling, the stopper I2 is positioned as shown in Figure 1, following which cap I1 is forced downwardly over the auxiliary neck I3 with the lugs 20 springing past the ribs I6 and into the spaces between such ribs I6 until the closed upper end of the cap I1 rests on the upper end of the auxiliary neck I3, in which position, removal of the cap is impossible since the lugs are disposed with their points in the spaces between the ribsv I6 and engaging the rib above them.

When it is desired to remove the contents of the bottle the cap I1 is rocked or jarred which will be sufficient to sever it from the bottle at the weakened portion or web I4. The fracture at the web will always thereafter be apparent and serve as evidence to future users that the bottle has been emptied of its original contents.

The cap I1 may be made of any desired material, for instance metal or glass.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

A device of the class described comprising a bottle having a neck, an auxiliary neck surrounding the first mentioned neck and extending above it, said auxiliary neck being connected to the bottle integrally at the base of the first mentioned neck by a relatively thin web, said auxiliary neck above the web being spaced outwardly from the rst mentioned neck, outwardly extending ribs on the auxiliary neck in spaced apart relation, a cap disposed over the auxiliary neck, said cap being closed at its upper end and at its lower end having an inwardly extending flange, a longitudinally split expansive cylindrical locking element within the cap resting on the upper edge of said ange and engaging the upper end of the cap, said locking element having the edges thereof at the split in contact, and resilient lugs extending inwardly from the locking element occupying the spa-ces beneath the ribs and engaging the undersurfaces of the latter to prevent removal of the cap without fracture of the auxiliary neck at said web.

EDWARD J. MORIN.

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