US2155291A - Nonrefillable bottle stopper - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. .1A H. BALDWIN Er Al. 2,155,291

lNONREFILLAL-E BOTTLE sToPPER Filed Dec. 23, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATT RNEY April 18, 1939.

J. H. BALDWIN ET Al.

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER 2 2 sheets-Sheet 2 F'iled Dec.

INVENTORS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER si James H.

Baldwin, New Milford, and Knud Knudsen, Danbury, Conn., assignors to Container Fitments, Inc., poration of Maryland New York, N. Y., a cor- Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,397

12 Claims.

This invention relates to non-rellable bottle Stoppers.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical, dependable, and rugged non-rellable bottle stopper construction, capable of inexpensive manufacture, and of dependable and effective action and use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character that will readily lend itself to quantity production. Another object is to provide a stoplper construction of the above-mentioned character made up of component parts which individually are of inexpensive construction and capable of ready and dependable assembly. Another object is to provide a` non-rellable stopper construction that will be strong, rugged, and tamper-proof. Another object isI to provide a construction oi the above-mentioned character that will have high eiciency of action in negativing attempts to refill the bottle or container, that will be compact, and that will be capable oi dependable and eflicient interrelation with a container such as a bottle. Another object is to proivide a non-reiillable stopper construction that will be well adapted to nieet the varying conditions met with in practice. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

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 a preferred one of the various possible embodiments oi our invention,

Figure l is a central vertical sectional view through a bottle neck with the stopper and closure of our invention related thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan View, as seen along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view like that of Figure l but showing the closure removed,

' the construction tilted, and showing also certain changed relationships of certain of the parts;

Figure 3a is a View like that of Figure l, certain parts being omitted, showing a modified form of closure;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line ll of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View, as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line 6 5 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line l-l of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a ydetached isometric View of one of several upright parts of the stopper construction.

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

Referring first to Figure 1, the stopper construction comprises a generally cylindrical casing I0 and illustratively is shown related to a bottle neck II. The casing I9 is of sheet metal having a bottom member I2 provided with a central round hole I3, a band-like portion about the hole I3 being preferably bent or shaped to extend downwardly at an inclination, being in effect frusto-conical in shape.

At its upper end the casing IU has a peripheral laterally extending flange I5. Flange I5 is of an outside diameter commensurate with that of the upper end of the bottle neck, the latter being provided with an annular or ring-shaped shoulder I5; the diameter of the casing I3 is slightly less than the diameter of the effective aperture through the shoulder I6 so that the casing IB, with the parts' assembled therein as later described, may be snugly or freely received into the neck II of the bottle.

The flange I5 prevents the casing I0 from dropping into the bottle and, as later set forth, is to coact with a gasket Il interposed between it and the upper face of the shoulder IE.

The above described preferred configuration of the casing Ill is one which permits of great facility in manufacture and it may easily be spun or drawn into the shape described. At the same time or at any appropriate stage, the lower portion, about one-half or less, of the cylindrical side wall of the casing I0, is pressed or drawn inwardly throughout a suitable number, illustratively three, arcuate regions, as is better shown at A, B and C of Figures 7 and 8, leaving therebetween equiangularly spaced vertically extending channels I8, I9 and 20 of a depth in a radial direction commensurate with the thickness of the sheet metal employed, for a purpose later described.

Resting upon the horizontal portion of the bottom I2 (Figure 1) and overhanging the frusto-conical portion I9 thereof is a washer 2 I, having an aperture 22 therein commensurate with the hole I3 in the bottom I2. With this Washer 2| a hollow ball 23, preferably of sheet metal, is to coact. Washer 2| may be made of any suitable gasket-like material, but preferably is of a material that is per se yieldable and also resiliently flexible or bendable; various materials meeting these preferred characteristics are avallable, such as rubber, cork composition, cork, or the like, and illustratively and preferably, the washer 2| is of cork.

Resting upon the outer annular portion of the Washer 2| is a metal washer 24, preferably shaped as shown in Figure 1, and held against upward movement in a manner later described. The washer 2| is thus held in place but with its inner annular portion overhanging the frusto-oonical portion I4 of the bottom |2.

The peripheries of the washers 2| and 24 are of a radius substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the portions A, B and C (Figures 6 and '7), and hence when bottomed against the bottom |2, these washers leave unobstructed the lower ends of the channels 8, I9 and 28 in the side wall of the casing I0.

Into the casing ||l are then inserted three upright members 25, 26 and 21 (Figure 6) one for each channel and registering therewith. These members are of identical construction and one of them is shown in perspective in Figure 8.

It has an upstanding main wall portion 21 dimensioned to be snugly receivable into a channel of the casing I0 and two vertically extending flanges 28 and 29 which, however, terminate short of the lower edge 3|) of the portion 21, the anges leaving shoulders 3|, 32 extending substantially horizontally away from the part 21. These shoulders 3|, 32 of the three upright members extend over the metal washer 24 (see Figure 1) the free or unflanged edge portion 30 (Figure 8) of each upright member bottoming, each in its own channel, against the bottom |2 of the casing I8.

The flanges 28, 29 of each of the three members have straight or squared-off edge faces 33, 33 (see Figure 8) which, as is better shown in Figure 1, extend parallel to the axis of the casing Hl, and these portions of the flanges are of such dimensions that the edge faces 33 fall equidistantly spaced about a circle whose diameter is approximately that of the ball 23, as is better shown in Figure 7. Since, however, the flanges 28, 29 extend preferably at an angle to a radius, each ange presents to the ball 23 what is in effect a knife edge, being formed by the line of intersection of the edge face 33 with the plane of the inner face of its vertical liange. tratively, therefore, there is provided a vertical guideway for the ball 23 formed by six parallel knife edges which coincide with a cylinder whose radius is, excepting for a slight play, equal to that of the ball 23.

With the upright members 25, 26 and 21 thus inserted in the casing I8, the ball 23 may next be dropped into place, in this guideway, and then a weight member 34 (Figure 1) is next put in place above the ball.

Weight member 34 is generally concavo convex in shape, is preferably of metal, and an illustrative specific shape is shown in Figure 1. It is accordingly unbalanced or in unstable equilibrium with respect `to its convex side portion as a base.

Weight 34, circular in a horizontal cross-section through Figure 1, is confined between inclined edge faces 35, 35 (see Figures 8 and 1) formed in the flanges 28, 29 of the upright members, and here again, for reasons that will now be clear, the flanges 28, 29 present knife edges for contact therewith by the curved faces of the Weight 34.

Flanges 28, 29 (Figure 8) of the upright members are notched adjacent their upper ends, as

Illusat 36, 36, and where three such U-shaped and hence two-flanged upright members are employed, six such right-angled notches 36 are presented toward the axis of the casing I8 and all equally spaced therefrom. Into these circularly alined notches 36 is then seated a generally disk-like member generally indicated at 31 in Figure 1, having its circular plate-like portion 38 terminating in an upwardly directed peripheral ange 39 Whose upper edge is flush with the upper edges of the three upright members 25, 26 and 21.

Member 31 thus holds these three upright members against movement inwardly toward the axis and hence coacts with the lower metal washer 24 in holding these three members snugly against the cylindrical walls of the casing I0. Member 31 also closes over the upper end, as viewed in Figure 1, of the upwardly tapered guideway formed by the knife edges of the edge faces 35 and thus acts to confine the weight member v34. The plate-like base portion of the member 31 is, at suitable intervals, provided with downwardly pressed but narrow and preferably sharply dened radial ribs 40, illustratively six in number, as shown in Figure 6. 'I'hese ribs face downwardly and hence are exposed to the Weight34 and they are suiicient in number to insure that, in any tilted position of the Weight, the latter engages one or more ribs and does not engage the plane under-surface of the plate portion 38.

The member 31, however, is of lesser diameter than that of the shell or casing ||l (see Figure 7), thus leaving an annular space or channel E between its flange 39 and the casing wall, this channel being available for the flow of liquid and being otherwise unobstructed excepting for the presence of the thin flanges 23, 29 of the upright members.

Accordingly, we provide an annular or ringlike sheet metal member 4| (see Figures 1 and 5) whose outside diameter is but slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing ID so as to be somewhat slightly loose in the latter and whose inside diameter is materially less than that of the flange 39 of the member 31; ring member 4| is next inserted into the casing and by its own weight it is brought to rest upon the upper end edge faces of the three upright members 25, 26 and 21 and of the upstanding peripheral ange 39 of the member 31 (see Fig-ure 1), thus substantially closing the annular channel or passageway E (Figure 6).

At a suitable number of points, illustratively three, and preferably equidistantly spaced about its inner periphery, the member 4| has upstanding therefrom and preferably integrally formed therewith ears 42, shaped as is better shown in Figure l.

Extending centrally and upwardly from the member 4| is a post-like stud 43 (Figure 1), secured to the member 31 in any suitable way. Thus, member 31 may be centrally apertured and by appropriate conformation of the lower end of the stud 43, the lower end may be riveted over as at 44. The vertical dimension of the stud 43 is about twice that of the upstanding ears 42 of member 4|.

Stud 43 serves in part as a spacer to limit the downward approach toward the member 31 of the disk-like portion 45 of a sheet metal member generally indicated at 46, the latter having a cylindrical side wall 41 joined to the portion 45 by a suitable number, illustratively three, of upwardly and inwardly inclined lugs 48 (Figures 1 and 4),

whereby the plane of the disk-like portion 45 is upwardly displaced from that of the lower edge of the cylindrical wall portion 4T. The latter has an outside diameter substantially matching the inside diameter of the casing I0 so that the member 46 may be inserted into the casing ID with a snug or friction fit.

If desired, the disk portion 45 of the member 46 may be secured to the upper end of the stud 4.3 so that the parts 31, 43, 4l and 46 may be inserted as a unit.

The diameter of the disk portion 45 of member 46 (Figure 1) is somewhat greater than the diameter of the circle about which are spaced the upstanding ears 42 of the member 4! so that, when the latter moves along the axis of the casing l0 toward the discharge end of the bottle, members 42 contact the inner face of the disk portion 45 and avoid entry into the channels or apertures F, G and H (Figure 4) which intervene the spaced lugs 48, 48, 48.

Member 46 having been inserted, there is now inserted into the upper end of the casing I a member generally indicated by the reference character 50, having a cylindrical side wall 5l, terminating at its upper end in an outwardly extending peripheral flange 52 and having extending inwardly and upwardly from its lower edge an annular wall portion 53 that terminates in a cylindrical open-ended pouring spout 54.

Cylindrical wall portion 5l is of a diameter to be snugly or with a friction fit received into the upper end of the casing l0 and is of a length such that when it engages the upper edge of the cylindrical wall portion 41 of member 45 upon which it is thus superimposed, its flange 52 becomes superimposed upon the casing flange l5. Thereby, the assembly of the parts is completed and the stopper construction may now be related to the bottle neck l l.

In so doing, a gasket ll is first related to the upper face of the shoulder I6 or to the under face of the double flange l5-52 and the stopper construction inserted into the bottle neck Il so that the washer l1 is interposed between this double ange and the upper face of the shoulder I6. Thereupon, a suitable tool or instrument, having parts that enter into the annular space between the cylindrical portions 5l and 54, is applied to spin or force or press the metal of the upper portion of the casing l0 and the lower portion of the cylindrical wall 5| outwardly against the downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 55 of the shoulder I6, an action which brings about a downward drawing of the stopper construction with resultant secure compression of the gasket l1 between the shoulder I6 and the double flange I5-52.

The spout portion 54 is thus brought with the plane of its upper edge in substantial coincidence with the plane of the upper edge of the bottle neck Il, an arrangement preferred where we apply a closure in the form of a sheet metal cap 55 having a thread 5T formed thereon for coaction with an external thread 58 on the bottle neck; in such case the gasket 59 in the cap 55 effects a sealed closure not only-with respect to the bottle neck Il itself but also with respect to the pouring spout 54. Or the spout 54 may have threads formed on it to receive a threaded cap 60 with a basket 6|, as shown in Figure 3a.

In effecting pouring of liquid from the bottle or container, after removal of the closure, the bottle is, of course, appropriately tilted and the pressure of the liquid in seeking an exit forces the ball 23 away from its seat and thereby maintains an appropriate tilted position of the Weight 34 to negative the normal action of the latter. Flow may take place through the annular channel El of Figure 6, ring member 4 I, theretofore acting like a mechanical valve, being forced by the flowing liquid or by its own Weight out of closing position with respect to this channel E, but the ears 42 (Figures l and 3) limit the movement of the member 4| toward the disk portion 45 of the member 46, holding it spaced away from the latter so that the liquid, after emerging from the annular channel Ev (Figure 6) may now pass through the central hole 62 (Figures 3 and 5) in the member 4i and thence radially outwardly and upwardly through the channels or apertures F, G and H (Figures l, 3 and 4) in the member 46, thus reaching the pouring spout 54. At the same time an ingress of air takes place through a substantially similar path but in reverse direction. The iiow is uniform, steady and rapid.

Attempts to refill the bottle are successfully frustrated. T'he ball 23Y and Weight 34 are mechanically inaccessible by way of an implement or instrument. For example, member 4l functions as a mechanical valve normally closing off the annular channel El (Figure 6) through which an instrument would have to be inserted in the effort to reach the ball or the weight. The member 4l itself is virtually incapableof manipulation by way of an implement applied through the spout 54; not only is the path to reach 'it circuitous but also its proportions with respect to the proportions of the annular channel E are such that the higher that the member 4I is raised the more circuitous and difcult does any path become by which the channel E` has to be approached'. Also, raising the member 4l from the position shown in Figure 1 brings it closer toward a position closing the peripheral channels or openings F, G and I-I in the member 45.

If attempt is made to refill the bottle, by upending it, the buoyancy of the hollow ball 23 brings the latter into seating relationship to the yieldably flexible washer El, thus closing off ingress. If the bottle is tilted, illustratively to the horizontal position of Figure 3, the overbalanced weight member 34 tilts against the ball and moves it to closing position; in this connection, the inclined knife edge guides of the flange portions 35, 35 of the members 25, 2S, 2l insure a substantially frictionless sliding movement of the weight 34 into a position like that shown in Figure 3 where it forces the ball into closing position.

The knife edge guideways for both the ball and the weight insure certaintyand quickness of action and also insure such true point contact that adhesion or adherence of he ball or weight to their respective guide members, as by an intentionally applied foreign substance, is dependably precluded.

If attempt is made to refill the bottle or container by establishing a pressure differential between the liquid and the interior of the bottle, the ball 23 is forced against the yielding material of the washer 2|, transforming what was theretofore substantially a line contact into a band-like surface or area of contact, an area which is increased as the pressure differential increases inasmuch as the Washer 2i begins to yield or flex as a whole, its inner annular portion flexing downwardly, as viewed in Figure l, or to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, to an extent permitted by the frusto-conical portion I4 o-f the bottom l2. Thus, the effectiveness of the sealing of the hole I3 is made to increase with increase in the pressure differential.

Furthermore, the normal substantially line or circle of contact with the parts in the position shown in Figure l, between the washer 2l and the ball 23, permits adequate freedom of breathing in both directions, and thus, under normal usage, a locking of the ball 23 in closing position is precluded.

inasmuch as this application and our cepending application Serial No, 117,396 led of even date herewith, contain certain subject matter common to both and since such common subject matter is claimed in the said co-pending application, we do not herein make claim thereto.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention non-reiillable stopper construction in which the. various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the individual parts of the construction are capable of easy and inexpensive iabrication, lending themselves td ready drawing or stamping, for example, where made out 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 achieved if materials other than sheet metal are employed; thus, for example, various of the parts may be made of non-metallic materials and illustratively may be readily made of, for example, mol'dable materials, plastics, or the like. It will also be seen that the assembly of these parts to make up the completed stopper may be simply, efficiently and inexpensively carried out. Furthermore, the construction is dependably tamperproof and is well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard 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 hereinbeiore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:-

l. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a yieldably flexible washer with its inner annular part overhanging said valve opening, a ball float valve for coaction with said washer, an unbalanced weight member for coaction with said valve, a plurality of guide parts spaced about the interior of said casing and forming a guideway for said valve and weight memberl and overlying said washer to hold it in place, said guideway being mechanically closed off and said parts being held in spaced relationship by passage-forming bafe means that comprises two plate-like members with means holding them in spaced relationship, the lower of said plate-like members having connection with said guide parts to hold them against inward and upward movement and leaving unobstructed passageways between said spaced guide parts, said casing and said one plate-like member, and the other plate-like member having apertures therebaffle that blocks straight-line access from said apertures to said passageways.

3. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said other platelike member has its apertures adjacent the outer margin thereof, there being interposed between said two spaced plate-like members a ring-like baie member freely movable therebetween and held by its Weight, when said stopper construction is in normal position, in a position substantially closing off said passageways, thereby to block mechanical access to said valve or weight member.

4. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said other platelike member has its apertures adjacent the outer margin thereof, there being interposed between said two spaced plate-like members a ring-like baffle member freely movable therebetween and held by its weight, when said stopper` construction is in normal position, in a position substantially closing oir said passageways, thereby to block mechanical access to said valve or weight member, said baflle member being movable un- K der its own weight or under the pressure of flow of liquid, when said stopper is in tilted position, away from said upper passageway and toward said other plate-like member, there being means to limit said last-mentioned movement of said baffie member to prevent it from closing ofi said apertures.

5. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction as claimed in claim l in which the means for holding said other plate-like member, and hence said guide parts and washer, against removal from said casing comprises a spout-forming member closing olf the upper end of said casing, secured to the latter, and having means engaging said other plate-like member to hold it against upward movement.

6. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, a weight member coacting with said valve and passage-forming baffle means for blocking mechanical access to said weight member and valve while permitting flow of liquid through its passages and comprising two parts spaced axially of said casing and substantially closing oil the latter excepting for means forming passages adjacent the peripheries of said parts, with bafiie means between said two parts of an extent to prevent substantially straight-line access through the passages in said two parts to the space occupied by said weight member and valve, said baliie means being freely movable in the space between said two spaced parts whereby under the action of its own weight on the pressure of liquid flowing through said passages it moves toward one part or the other depending upon the tilting of the stopper construction, there being means for preventing said baiile means from closing 01T the passages in the outer of said spaced parts when the tilt of the stopper construction is such as to permit flow of liquid 4in a direction outward of said valve opening.

7. A non-relllable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, a weight member coacting with said valve and passage-forming baffle means for blocking mechanical access to said weight member and valve while permitting flow of liquid through its passages and comprising two parts spaced axially of said casing and substantially closing oi the latter excepting for means forming passages adjacent the peripheries of said parts, with bale means between said two parts of an extent to prevent substantially straight-line access through the passages in said two parts to the space occupied by said weight member and valve, said two spaced parts being held in spaced relationship by spacer means engaging them adjacent their central portions and said baliie means cornprising a ring-like member extending about but spaced from said spacer means to form a passageway therebetween, said ring-like member being movable axially of said casing and between said two spaced parts and occupying, by its own weight, when said stopper construction is in normal position, a position to substantially close off the passages associated with the lower of said spaced parts.

8. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and a valve coacting therewith, a weight member coacting with said valve and passage-forming baie means for blocking mechanical access to said weight member and valve while permitting iiow of liquid through its passages and comprising two parts spaced axially of said casing and substantially closing 01T the latter excepting for means forming passages adjacent the peripheries of said parts, with baffle means between said two parts of an extent to prevent substantially straight-line access through the passages in said two parts to the space occupied by said weight member and valve, said two spaced parts being held in spaced relationship by spacer means engaging them adjacent their central portions and said baffle means comprising a ring-like member extending about but spaced from said spacer means to form a passageway therebetween, said ring-like member being movable axially of said casing and between said two spaced parts and occupying, by its own weight, when said stopper construction is in normal position, a position to substantially close oli the passages associated with the lower of said spaced parts, and means preventing said ringlike member, when said stopper construction is tilted to pouring position, from moving toward the upper of said spaced parts suioiently to close off the passages associated therewith.

9. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said casing having projecting inwardly thereabout a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending parts forming passageways therebetween and confining said valve means against certain lateral movement, and passage-forming baille means closing off said casing and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced members with means engaging them substantially centrally for holdingthem in spaced relation, said means providing passages for the flow of liquid therethrough from said passageways, said construction having interposed between two of said spaced members a movable baffle member which by its weight, when said construction is in normal position, blocks off said first-mentioned passages.

10. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said casing having projecting inwardly thereabout a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending parts forming passageways therebetween and conning said valve means against certain lateral movement, and passage-forming baille means closing off said casing and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced members with means engaging them substantially centrally for holding them in spaced relation, said means providing passages for the flow of liquid therethrough from said passageways, said plurality of parts being separate from said casing and adjacent their upper ends being provided with seats, the lower of said longitudinally spaced members extending into said seats.

l1. A non-refillable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said casing having projecting inwardly thereabout a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending parts forming passageways therebetween and confining said valve means against certain lateral movement, and passage-forming baille means closing ofi said casing and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced members with means engaging them substantially centrally for holding them in spaced relation, said means providing passages for the flow of liquid therethrough from said passageways, said plurality of parts being separate from said casing, the latter having means at its lower end for holding the lower ends of said parts against inward Inovement and said parts being engaged at their upper ends by said baffle-forming means to hold said parts at their upper ends against inward movement.

12. A non-rellable bottle stopper construction comprising a casing having a valve opening in its bottom and valve means coacting therewith, said casing having projecting inwardly thereabout a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending parts forming passageways therebetween and confining said valve means against certain lateral movement, and passage-forming baffle means closing off said casing and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced members with means engaging them substantially centrally for holding them in spaced relation, said means providing passages for the flow of liquid therethrough from said passageways, said plurality of parts being separate from said casing and the latter has in its sidewalls a plurality of longitudinally extending channels into which Said plurality of parts are respectively received, said baffle-forming means and said plurality of parts being interengaged at the upper ends of the latter to hold them against movement out of their respective channels.

JAMES I-I. BALDWIN. KNUD KN'UDSEN.

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