US2155290A - Nonrefillable bottle stopper - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. J. H. BALDWIN ET AL NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Dec.,23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sen, Danbury, Conn.,

assignors to Container Fitments, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,396

14 Claims.

This invention relates to non-refillable bottle stoppers and more particularly to the construction and assembly of that type of non-refillable bottle stopper that has a so-called float valve.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a non-refillable bottle stopper construc- -tion which will be of inexpensive manufacture, characterized by facility of assembly, and that will be strong and durable. Another object is to provide a non-refillable bottle stopper of the above-mentioned character in which component parts may be manufactured at low cost and be capable of ease and low cost of assembly. Another object is to provide a stopper and bottle neck construction in which the mounting of the non-refillable stopper with respect to the bottle neck will be simple and inexpensive to accomplish in practice, strong and dependable, dependably resistant to removal, and reliable in actual use.

Another object is to provide an efficient, lasting and dependable closure or seal to negative leakage of the bottle contents during, for example, shipment or transportation, while at the same time avoiding interference with the nonrefillable stopper construction and its intended action. Another object is to provide a bottle neck or like container part and a non-refillable stopper construction with a closure and sealing means by which leakage of the liquid contents is dependably prevented. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which a sealed connection between the stopper construction and the bottle neck or the like is dependably supplemented by a bottle closure and sealing means to insure against loss or leakage of liquid contents.

Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which the pour of liquid out of the bottle or container is smooth, adequately rapid, and neat. Another object is to provide a non-refillable stopper construction in which a long-lasting and dependably acting seal or closure is achieved in order 45 to negative dependably attempts to refill the container or bottle under the production of a pressure differential between the outside and inside of the bottle. Another object is to provide a non-refillable stopper construction that is dependably tamper-proof and yet compact and durable in construction and efiicient in action.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and

the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of our invention:

' Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view through a bottle neck with the stopper and seal or closure;

Figure 2 is a plan view, as seen from the top in Figure 1, with the closure removed, more particularly as seen along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view like that of Figure 1, with the closure or seal removed, the construction being tilted through 90 from the position of Figure 1, to show certain actions that take place;

Figure 3 a view like that of Figure 1 with certain parts omitted or broken away, showing a modified form of closure or seal;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the stopper construction as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the stopper construction as seen along the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View of the stopper construction as seen along the line 6-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the stopper construction as seen along the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a detached isometric view of one of the parts of the stopper construction, and

Figure 9 is a detached isometric view of another part thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawmgs.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, we provide an outer shell or casing I!) generally cylindrical and of a diameter to be snugly received within the bottle neck II and to by-pass a ring-like shoulder I2, shaped as shown, extending about the inner wall of the bottle neck a short distance from the extreme upper end l3 thereof. At its lower end the casing or shell IIJ, made of suitably thin sheet metal, has a bottom l4 provided with a central round hole [5, but the bottom M has a ring-like portion I6 thereof that extends about the hole [5 inclined downwardly, and hence presenting an upwardly exposed face or surface that is substantially frusto-conical.

The substantially horizontal portion of the made of cork. Its outside diameter is commensurate with the inside diameter of the shell I and. it has an opening |8 of a diameter just about equal to that of the hole |5. Normally it rests on the horizontal portion of the bottom wall l4 and it is to coact with a hollow ball valve l9; its inner annular portions overhang the frusto-conical flange or seat l6, as shown in Figure l, and normally its action is analogous to that of a cantilever in so far as it offers support, under normal conditions, to the ball l9 and an overbalanced weight member that coacts with the ball I9.

' Resting above the washer I1 is a thin sheet washer I! in position but with the inner annular portion thereof free to partake of bending or flexing, as will be later described; these two parts thus insure the above-mentioned cantilever type of support for the washer l1 and, if desired, the metal washer 2| may be shaped to be frustoconical or upwardly concaved, as indicated in Figure 1, to allow for greater freedom of flexing downwardly of the inner annular portion of the washer under certain circumstances.

As above pointed out, the shell or casing I0 is preferably cylindrical and at its upper end it is provided with a substantially horizontally outwardly'extending flange 22' whose outside diameter is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the annular shoulder |2 in the bottle neck these parts thus preventing the construction from falling into the bottle; ultimately, and as later explained in detail, the flange 22 and shoulder |2 areto coact with a washer-like gasket 23- to effect a sealed connection between the casing I0 and the bottle neck.

The shell or casing I!) will thus be seen to be of a construction capable of easy and inexpensive manufacture; for example, it may be easily drawn into the form described. Preferably, however, and preferably in the course of such forming or drawing operations, the cylindrical side walls of the lower half of the shell II] are given, throughout a suitable number of peripheral intervals, illustratively three, a. slightly smaller radius of curvature as throughout the regions A, B and C of Figures 6 and 7, thereby forming or providing,

throughout the lower half of the shell l0 and upon the inside thereof, a corresponding number of intervening vertically extending channels 24, 25 and 26. -Where three such channels are provided, they are of a peripheral or arcuate extent somewhat less than one-sixth of the circumference of the shell Ill. Preferably they are of a depth commensurate with the thickness of the ceive three sheet metal members 28, 29 and 30,

respectively, and to space them preferably equiit up on its maximum-diametered edge.

distantly about the interior of the shell l0. These members are the same in construction, the details of which are best shown in Figure 8. They are made of sheet metal preferably of the same thickness as that of the shell l0.

Thus, each of these members comprises an upright portion 3| of a vertical dimension slightly less than the inside depth of the shell |B (Figure 1) and curved to have a radius of curvature to match that of the inside surface of the shell l0.

At the two vertical side edges of the upright portion 3| and integrally formed therewith are flanges 32 and 33 extending approximately at right angles to the plane of the portion 3|. These flanges 32, 33 terminate short of the bottom edge 34 of the upright portion 3| so that when the three members 28, 29 and are assembled to the shell l0, these bottom edges 34' contact the shell bottom wall l4 and engage the peripheries of the metal washer 2| (Figures 1 and 7) and of the cork washer l1, while the lower ends of the side flanges 32, 33 of all three members project inwardly over the metal washer 2| (Figure 1), hold the latter against upward displacement, and

thus cause it and the bottom wall M to hold the washer H in. position as already above described.

The flanges 32, 33 (Figure 8) are similarly shaped; thus, each has a lower portion of appropriate radial extent to provide a straight edge face 35 parallel to the axis of the casing ID, each edge face 35' being preferably neatly squared off, as indicated. Accordingly, when the three members 28, 29 and 30 become related to the casing H], as above described, there are thus presented toward the ball valve 9 six parallel straight edge faces 35 substantially equidistantly spaced (see Figure '7) about a circle whose radius is sub-stantially the same as or slightly less than that of the ball member |9 itself. But preferably the flanges 32, 33 of these three members extend each at an angle to the radius drawn from the axis of the casing III or ball I9 to its edge face 35, and hence, as is better shown in Figure 7, the ball |9 engages or is tangent to the line in which the edge face of each flange member intersects with the inside face of the flange itself. In effect, therefore, the

lower flange portions of the members 28, 29 and 30 provide a plurality of parallel knife edges along which the ball valve l9, which is hollow and has a certain degree of buoyancy, may move, insuring not only minimum frictional resistance to movement of the-ball, but also other advantages later has an intermediate portion which provides an edge face 36 which, however, extends at an angle to the axis of the casing I0 (see Figures 1 and 3). These intermediate portions are to coact with the weight 20 (Figures 1 and 3), the weight being given in general a concavo convex shape, substantially as shown. It is of metal and its shape effects such a distribution of weight that it is in unstable equilibrium if it is attempted to stand Toward the latter are presented the inclined edge faces 36, as is better shown in the sectional view of Figure 6, and for reasons that will now be clear, any contact of the outer convex or peripheral surface of the weightlfl'with any of the flange 0r rib portions 36', is a point contact in that the portions 36 present to the weight 20 what is in effect a knife edge.

The upper end of each of the vertical flanges 32, 33 (Figure 8) is notched, as at 31 and 38, thus providing three tongues 39, 40 and 4|. With these tongues and notches certain other parts coact, and among them is a member generally indicated by the reference character 43 in Figure 9 and a member 44 better shown in Figures 1 and 3. Member 44 is generally disk-shaped, is made of sheet metal, and it has a bottom 45 about the periphery of which extends a flange 46 that snugly takes into the notches 31 of the flanges 32, 33 of the members 28, 29 and 30 (see also Figure it thus holds the latter against movement toward the axis of the casing l6 and takes part in insuring that these three members and their parts are held in proper alinement.

The member 44 is imperforate and preferably, at its central portion, is formed to provide an upstanding part 41 in the shape of a truncated cone. By itself it will be seen to be a simple and inexpensive part to manufacture.

The member 43 of Figure 9 is preferably a unitary sheet metal part, has a cylindrical side wall 49 which, from its upper periphery, merges into a curved mouth-like portion 50.

Its cylindrical side wall 49 is of a radius of curvature somewhat less than the radius of curvature of the inside faces of the upright portions 34 of the three inserted members 28, 29 and 36, and in effect is of a radius of curvature intermediate of the radii of curvature of the flange 46 of the member 44 and of the casing l9 itself (see Figures 1 and 5).

Extending vertically from its lower edge (see Figure 9) are pairs of slots-5|--52 spaced apart sufliciently to receive therein the upper end portions of the flanges 32, 33, respectively there being one pair of such slots for each pair of such flanges.

The cylindrical wall 49 of the member 43 (Figure 9) is provided also with suitable apertures. Thus, the wall portions 53 thereof that intervene adjacent pairs of slots are provided with openings 54 and the wall portions 55 that intervene the slots of each pair are provided with holes 56. Additionally, the slots 5|, 52 may terminate in elongated openings 51.

The member 43 is positioned inside of the theoretical cylinder of which the curved upright wall portions 3| of the members 29, 29 and 30 form a part and is supported against displacement in an axial direction by these upright members. Thus, the tongues 4|, 4| of the flanges 32, 33 extend over the horizontal portion (see Figure 1) of the internal spout-forming part 50, while tongues 39, 40 of each flange project inwardly through the vertical slots 5| or 52, as the case may be, of the member 43, the six pairs of tongues 3940 being thus presented interiorly of the cylindrical wall portion 49 (see Figure 5) for the support of the member 44, as above described. The slots 33, 38 (Figure 8) are of a vertical dimension to snugly receive therein so much of the cylindrical Wall portion 49 (Figure 9) as extends between the upper edge of the apertures 51 and the upper edge of the cylindrical wall 49 itself. The resultant relationship of these assembled parts is best shown in Figure 1.

In effecting this assembly, a preferred procedure, again referring to Figure 1, is to position the washers ll and 2| in the bottom of the casing l0, followed by the insertion of the ball valve 49. The upright members 28, 29 and 39 may then be assembled as a sub-unit with respect to the members 43 and 44 and the weight 20, and

this sub-unit is then slid into the casing III, the three upright members entering the channels 24, and 26, respectively (see Figures 6 and '7), and the lowermost edges of the flanges 32, 33 of these three upright members engaging the upper face of the metal washer 2| (Figure 1) to hold it and the gasket-like washer l6 in the relationships already above described.

It will be seen that the three members 28, 29 and terminate above the horizontal portion of the spout or mouth 50, presenting, as better appears in Figure 4, three equidistantly spaced Ushaped parts.

Thereupon, we insert, preferably with a friction fit, a top member, generally indicated by the reference character 60 in Figure 1; this top member 60 has a cylindrical side wall 6| which is snugly, and, as noted, with a friction fit, received into the upper end of the cylindrical shell or casing ID to a depth determined by an outo wardly and horizontally projecting flange 62 which becomes superimposed upon the casing flange 22, and by the engagement of the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 6| with the upwardly exposed U-shaped ends (see Figure 4) of the three upright members 28, 29 and 30; the latter are thus made to bottom against the bottom |4 between which and the part 60 they thus become held against displacement axially of the casing I0.

From the lower end of its cylindrical side wall 6| the member 60 merges, preferably in an upward curve, as at 63, to terminate in an openended cylindrical mouth or pouring spout 64.

As thus assembled, the stopper construction may be inserted into the bottle neck I I after the Washer 23 (Figure 1) has been either related to the shoulder I2 or slid over the casing I0 and up against the under face of the flange 22. The

parts are preferably so proportioned that the plane of the upper-end of the spout 64 substantially coincides with the plane of the upper end l3 of the bottle neck II.

By means of a suitable tool, the parts of which take into the ring-like space between the portions 5| and 64 (Figure 1) of the member 60, the lower portion of the cylindrical wall or band-like part 6| and with it an upper portion of the cylindrical wall of the casing I0, is forced or spun or bent, throughout the entire periphery, outwardly and against the downwardly and outwardly curved or tapering wall 65 of the shoulder I2, this action being accompanied by a drawing downwardly of the entire stopper construction and by a resultant dependable compression of the gasket 23 between the upper face of the shoulder l2 and the double flange 2262.

An effective, durable and strong seal is thus achieved at the junction of the casing l6 with the bottle neck I and, moreover, one that is dependably tamper-proof. For example, while a secure fastening and seal may be achieved by thus spinning the upper portion of the casing l6 alone against the under wall of the shoulder l2, the construction above described in effect mechanically locks this outwardly forced portion of the casing wall in that the substantial mechanical strength and rigidity of the substantially frustoconical portion 63 of the member 60 is interposed to resist such inward movement of the outwardly forced metal of the casing II] as would be necessary to effect upward withdrawal of the casing or stopper from the bottle neck. Furthermore, the outwardly bulging or outwardly forced part of the wall 6| of the member 60 is not only in effect a,ring or band but alsoa ring of angled or curved cross-section, having relatively great resistance to distortion or forced contraction, and by itself serves as a dependable lock.

The stopper construction is, of course, assembled to the bottle neck after the bottle or container has been filled, whereupon we achieve a closure, against spilling, of the bottle in any suitable way but preferably by the arrangement shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, the bottle neck H is provided externally with a thread 66 to receive the thread 61 formed in the side wall of a sheet metal cap 68 under the top wall of which is fitted a gasket 69, such as cork, or the like, with or without a thin sheet metal or foil member 19. The cap 68, when screwed home, brings the gasket 691il, the latter being yieldable, into tight peripheral engagement with not only the top edge or face l3 of the bottleneck H but also the top edge of the spout 64, effecting a dependable seal at both peripheral edges or faces.

The seal achieved at the top edge of the spout 64 stops in the first instance egress of liquid contents as, for example, when the bottle is laid over on its side while the seal achieved at the bottle neck top edge l3 insures against loss of liquid contents in the event that the seal at the gasket 23 or at the spun joint between the parts 60 and I should spring a leak and also against possible leakage at the seal between the cap gasket 69 and the spout 64. Thus, dependable insurance against leakage is achieved However, we might also and particularly in view of the dependable seal and junction achieved, as above described, at the gasket 23 effect a closure by an arrangement shown in Figure 3 In this modification, the spout portion 64 of the member 60 is formed to have threads, as indicated, and a threaded sheet metal cap 19, with a gasket ll therein, may be threaded onto this threaded spout 64, thus effecting a seal at the upper edge of the spout 64.

In the action and operation of the stopper construction many unique advantages and coactions are achieved. For example, in effecting a pouring of the liquid contents out of the bottle, after the closure has been removed, the knife edge engagements with the ball valve l9 and the weight 20 of the flange portions 35 and 36, respectively (Figures 7 and 8) insure an almost frictionless resistance to displacement of the ball and the weight under the pressure of the liquid seeking egress from the container; the ball I9 is thus quickly displaced from its yieldable seat I"! and any resistance to such displacement by the weight 20 likewise overcome. The ball I9 is thus positioned on the knife edge parts of the flanges 32, 33 somewhat to the left of the position shown in Figure 3, and a free flow of liquid through the hole IS in the gasket washer I! and into the casing l6 results, the thin sheet metal flanges 32, 33 occupying but a minimum of volume of the space available for liquid flow.

The liquid then, in effect, divides along two paths of flow, one being through the annular space E (see Figure between the casing wall and the cylindrical wall 49 of the part 43, and another being through the annular space F (Fig- .ure 5) between the cylindrical wall 49 and the flange 46 of the part 44. The former path leads directly to the spout 64 and the latter leads thereto but through the internal spout 50.

At the same time there may take place an interchange or commingling of liquid between these two paths, and that may take place through the apertures 54, 56 and 51 (Figure 9) in the side wall of the member 43, and by way of these apertures a self-seeking distribution of flow between the two paths takes place.

As liquid is thus flowing out of the container, air is entering the latter along similar paths but in reverse directions. Such a nicety of ingress of air and egress of liquid takes place by this construction that the pour is a steady uniform substantially solid stream and the flow is, moreover, very rapid.

Attempts to fill the bottle when inverted are frustrated by the buoyancy of the ball valve l9 which is hollow and which floats upwardly into engagement with its seat, thus closing off entrance to the bottle. If it is attempted to refill the bottle with the latter at an angle to the vertical, such as is indicated in Figure 3, the unbalanced weight 20, having at its peripheral edges the substantially frictionless knife edges of the portions 66, 68 (Figures 8 and 6) for a support, slides and tilts into a position like that shown in Figure 3, the inclination of the portions 36, 36 and the frictionless character of the knife edges insuring dependability of these actions and hence of its action in pushing the ball [9 along its frictionless knife edges into seating position. In this connection, it will be noted that the lowermost tongues 39, 39 of the members 28, 29 and 30 are of sufficient inward extent to form stops for the weight member 20.

The point contacts between the knife edges and the weight or ball also negative adhesion or adherence of the parts as might otherwise be encouraged by the wetness of the parts.

Nor can the bottle be filled by achieving a differential of pressure between its interior and the liquid attempted to be forced into it. In this connection the actions just above described initially seat the ball l9 against the yieldably flexible washer or seat I'I, giving it a position as shown in Figure 1.

The greater the pressure differential, the greater the pressure with which the ball I9 is forced against its seat. The inner annular portion of the washer I'I bends or yields, assuming a dished or generally frusto-conical shape, as is better shown in Figure 3, and thereby a bandlike area of the washer I1 is presented to the ball l9, transforming what, excepting for the in- I herent softness or yieldability of the material of the washer itself, was theoretically a circular line of sealing contact into a band or zone of sealing contact of substantial area. For this purpose the inner annular portion I6 of the bottom l4 (Figures 1 and 3) is bent or curved downwardly or given a generally frusto-conical shape to provide a limiting support for the washer when thus flexed or bent to give the above-described contact surface of substantial area. Continued application of pressure acts still further to enlarge this zone or band of sealing contact, due to the inherent softness or yieldability of the material of the washer.

Thus, attempts to fill the bottle by attempting to force liquid into it under pressure, and this attempt may be made by reducing the pressure in the bottle below atmospheric, are dependably frustrated.

During normal use, however, the washer l1, though yieldably flexible, normally assumes and retains the relationship shown in Figure 1, due to the above-described cantilever action or support, and the engagement therewith of the ball I9 is primarily along a line or circle; this insures that the bottle contents may freely breathe into and out of the spaces within or above the casing ID, particularly during changes in temperature, and hence equalization of vapor pressures on the two sides of the valve seat efiiciently take place without giving rise to a difference of pressure suflicient to cause the valve I 9 to be held and locked against its seat.

Preferably the metal washer 2! has a rela tively sharp downwardly directed lip or edge 2| (Figure 1) which somewhat bites into or becomes embedded in the gasket-like washer ll when the construction is assembled, as earlier above described, the two washers becoming thereby related to each other with substantially perfect concentricity. But features already above described also bring about a like concentricity of relationship between the two washers and other parts, such as the casing itself, the guideway for the valve I9 and for the weight 20, and thus initial assembly achieves coaxial alinement of these various parts. Due, however, to the lip 2| biting into the washer I1, subsequent changes in, for example, the outside diameter of the washer I1, are precluded from allowing such a displacement in the position of the washer l1 taking place as might disturb the concentricity or coaxial alinement between the washer opening l8 and the rest of the parts such as the casing, the guideway for the ball valve [9, and the ball valve itself. The washer I! may undergo certain changes in dimensions due to expanse or contraction caused by various conditions, such as the degree of wetness of the washer; however, the dependable connection between the metal washer 2l, which is dependably centered or maintained coaxial with respect to the easing, guideway, and hence the ball valve, prevents lateral shifting of the washer I! as a whole and causes any contractions or expansions, such as might affect the opening l8 therein, always to take place concentrically with respect to the guideway and hence the ball valve. The latter accordingly always finds the washer opening l8 and itself truly coaxial, and thus permanency of the intended or desired coactions therebetween is assured.

As already described, the range of rolling movement of the ball l9 along the knife edges provided by the flange edges 35, 35, etc., is limited not to exceed the length of the latter, and, as better appears in Figure 1, the flanges 32, 33 of the upright members hold the ball, and also the weight 20, for that matter, a substantial distance away from the inside cylindrical walls of any of the parts. These relationships, including the knife edge contacts with the ball and weight, also make virtually impossible any substantial adherence or adhesion of the ball or weight to the parts that they contact, by reason of the parts being wet by the liquid, or foreign substances that might be injected in the attempt to anchor these parts in a position to negative any of the abovedescribed actions in preventing refilling. Also, the ball [9 and weight 20 are dependably protected against access thereto by means of an implement, instrument, or the like.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a stopper construction in which the various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. The construction is thoroughly dependable and durable, and may be inexpensively and expeditiously manufactured, particularly where the parts are made of sheet metal; however, it will be apparent, in view of the foregoing, that many of the features and advantages of our invention may be realized in practice where materials other than metal are employed. Thus, for example, non-metallic materials may be employed, including so-called moldable materials, plastics, ceramics, or the like. Moreover, the construction is well adapted to meet the peculiar and varied conditions of practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a sheet metal shell having an annular bottom supporting, in overhanging relationship to the opening therein, a yieldably flexible washer, said washer having an inner peripheral portion overhanging the inner periphery of said annular bottom whereby the former portion may yieldably flex with respect to said inner bottom periphery, said casing having a plurality of channels formed in its side walls, a ball float valve for coaction with said washer and movable into engagement with the inner peripheral portion of sented inwardly toward said float valve and weight member and having portions respectively received in said casing channels, said parts overlying said washer to hold it in place, and bafile means adjacent the other end of said casing and secured thereto for closing off the guideway formed by said plurality of parts and for holding the latter in their respective channels.

2. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a sheet metal shell having an annular bottom supporting, in overhanging relationship to the opening therein, a yieldably flexible washer, said casing having a plurality of channels formed in its side walls, a ball float valve for coaction with said washer, an unbalanced weight member for coaction with said valve, guide means for said ball valve and said weight member comprising a plurality of parts having portions extending longitudinally of said casing and presented inwardly toward said float valve and Weight member and having portions respectively received in said casing channels, said parts overlying said washer to hold it in place, and a plurality of members interfltted with the upper ends of said plurality of parts for holding the latter in their respective channels and forming bafilelike means with circuitous passages to prevent access to said weight member and float valve while permitting flow of liquid through said passages.

3. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a sheet metal shell having an annular bottom supporting, in overhanging relationship to the opening therein, a yieldably flexible washer, said casing having a plurality of channels formed in its side walls, a ball float valve for coaction with said Washer, an unbalanced weight member for coaction with said valve, guide me ins for said ball valve and said weight member comprising a plurality of parts having portions extending longitudinally of said casing and presented inwardly toward said float valve and weight member and having portions respectively received in said casing channels, said parts overlying said washer to hold it in place, baffle means adjacent the upper ends of said parts and mechanically interengaged therewith, said casing having an upper portion capable of being outwardly expanded as against a shoulder of a part to which said stopper construction is to be secured, and a spoutforming member of sheet metal seated within said upper casing portion and against the upper ends of said plurality of parts and capable of being also outwardly expanded and thus to be seated in the outwardly expanded upper casing portion.

4. A construction of the character described comprising, in combination, a bottle neck having an inwardly extending shoulder with a gasket resting against its upper face, a non-refillable stopper construction having its upper sheet metal end annularly conformed to be outwardly concave and to envelop said gasket and shoulder, and a sheet metal member having a band-like portion received within said upper end and substantially conformed thereto to lock said annular outwardly concave sheet metal end against forced distortion or disengagement from said shoulder and gasket.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said sheet metal member has an upward spout-forming extension, and means for releasably sealing said spout-forming extension.

6.'A construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said sheet metal member has an extension to form a pouring spout whose mouth terminates in substantially the same plane as the mouth of said bottle neck, a gasket extending across the bottle neck mouth and engaging both the latter and the mouth of said pouring spout, and means for releasably holding said gasket in sealing relationship to both of said mouths.

'7. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, an unbalanced weight member coacting with said valve, a sub-assembly structure comprising a plurality of substantially circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending parts forming a guideway for said valve and weight member and having passage-forming baffle means closing off said guideway and when inserted into said casing closing off the upper end thereof, and means holding said sub-assembly in assembled relation to said casing, said baiile-forming means comprising a member extending transversely adjacent the upper ends of said guideway-forming parts, the latter having inward extensions to prevent contact between said weight member and said baflie member.

8. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, an unbalanced weight member coacting with said valve, a sub-assembly structure comprising a plurality of substantially circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending parts forming a guideway for said valve and weight member and having passage-forming baflie means closing off said guideway and when inserted into said casing closing off the upper end thereof, and means holding said sub-assembly in assembled relation to said casing, said guideway-forming parts being of sheet metal and having inwardly open notches adjacent their upper ends, said baflle means including a baffle member having its marginal portions seated within said notches.

9. A non-refillable bottle stopper, construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, an unbalanced weight member coacting with said valve, a sub-assembly structure comprising a plurality of substantially circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending parts forming a guideway for said valve and weight member and. having passage-forming bafile means closing off said guideway and when inserted into said casing closing off the upper end thereof, and means holding said sub-assembly in'assembled relation to said casing, said guideway-forming parts being of sheet metal and having inwardly open notches adjacent their upper ends, said bafile means including a baffle member having its marginal portions seated within said notches, and a second bafile member having a substantially central mouth portion and a skirt-like portion of a substantial downward extent and slotted to interfit with upper end portions of said guideway-forming parts.

10. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, an unbalanced weight member coacting with said valve, a sub-assembly structure comprising a plurality of substantially circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending parts forming a guideway for said valve and weight member and having passage-forming baflie means closing off said guideway and when inserted into said casing closing off the upper end thereof, and means holding said sub-assembly in assembled relation to said casing, the means holding said sub-assembly in. assembled relation to said casing comprisingmeans secured to said casing adjacent its upper end and forming a stop against movement of said sub-assembly out of said casing.

11. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, an unbalanced weight member coacting with said valve, a sub-assembly structure comprising a plurality of substantially circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending parts forming a guideway for said valve and weight member and having passage-forming baflie means closing off said guideway and when inserted into said casing closing off the upper end thereof, and means holding said sub-assembly in assembled relation to said casing, the means holding said sub-assembly in assembled relation to said casing comprising a member secured to the casing adjacent the upper end thereof and having a pouring opening therein.

12. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve seat and a movable valve member coacting therewith, an unbalanced member in said casing for coaction with said valve member, said unbalanced member being unbalanced so that, when the stopper construction is tilted, the unbalanced member is tiltable in a direction to move said valve member toward its valve seat, and means forming a guideway for holding said unbalanced member Within said casing and in coacting relationship to said valve member and comprising aplurality of individual parts spaced about the interior of said casing and each presenting to said unbalanced member a relatively sharply defined edge,

to hold said unbalanced member spaced from the Walls of said casing and to guide it in its movement relative to said valve member, and means holding said individual parts in assembled relationship to said casing to form said guideway.

13. A construction of the character described comprising, in combination, a bottle neck having an inwardly extending shoulder, a non-refillable stopper construction in said bottle neck and comprising a casing whose upper end is annularly conformed to be outwardly concave and to envelop said shoulder, and valve means and baffle means in said casing, and means for holding said valve means and baflie means from movement outwardly of said casing and comprising a band-like member received within the upper end of said casing and substantially conformed thereto to lock said annular outwardly concave end against forced distortion or disengagement from said shoulder and whereby said band-like member is itself anchored in position, said band-like member having means blocking movement of said baffle means upwardly out of said casing.

14. A construction of the character described comprising, in combination, a bottle neck having an inwardly extending shoulder, a non-refillable stopper construction in said bottle neck and comprising a casing whose upper end is annularly conformed to be outwardly concave and to envelop said shoulder and valve means and valveguiding means in said casing, and means for holding said valve means and valve-guiding means from movement outwardly of said casing and comprising a band-like member received within the upper end of said casing and substantially conformed thereto to lock said annular outwardly concave end against forced distortion or disengagement from said shoulder and whereby said band-like member is itself anchored in position, said band-like member having means blocking movement of said valve-guiding means upwardly out of said casing.

JAMES H. BALDWIN. KN'UD KNUDSEN.

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