US2772014A

US2772014A - Tamper-proof seal for bottle closure

Info

Publication number: US2772014A
Application number: US456715A
Authority: US
Inventors: Preston F Clark
Original assignee: PAN AMERICAN PIPE LINE Co
Current assignee: PAN AMERICAN PIPE LINE Co
Priority date: 1954-09-17
Filing date: 1954-09-17
Publication date: 1956-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1973-11-27

Description

Nov. 27, 1956 P. F. CLARK TAMPER-PROOF SEAL FOR BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 17, 1954 Fig. 1

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ATTORNEY United States Patent TAMPER-PROQF SEAL FOR BOTTLE CLOSURE Preston F. Clark, Texas City, Tex, assignor to Pan American Pipe Line Company, Houston, Tex a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1954, Serial No. 456,715

3 Claims. (Cl. 215- 22) This invention relates to a bottle closure and, in particular, to a tamper-proof seal for use on narrow-necked, corked bottles.

In connection with the taking and analyzing of petroleum samples, it is desired to employ inexpensive and manually operable closures on sample bottles. On the other hand, it is important that there be no substitution of one sample for another and it is with respect to pre venting such substitution that this invention relates.

Other devices for this purpose are objectionable for a number of reasons. For example, when wire or the like is used to bind a cork, the cork and bottle neck may be damaged and the seal cannot be reused since the wire must be broken, cut or opened in such a manner that the seal cannot be used again.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-proof seal for containers or bottles having a narrow neck and a removable closure or cork. A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, effective and reusable tamper-proof seal. Another object of the invention is to provide a tamper-proof seal which is adjustable and universal in its application to narrow necked containers. A further object is to provide a tamper-proof seal which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture and maintain. Likewise, it is an object to provide such a seal that can easily be applied by hand without any special tools. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

According to the present invention, the seal when applied assures ample security against tarnpering of the closure to be protected thereby, while at the same time a portion of the seal may be repeatedly used.

In brief, the seal embodies two co-operating members, one of Which is adapted to encircle the bottle neck and overlie the cap. This is the reusable portion. The other member is expendable and encircles the bottle neck to secure the seal in place. Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the seal member;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the formed and shaped seal of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating the tamperproof seal securing a stoppered container; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the assembled seal of Figure 3.

In the manufacture of my new seal, I may form the keeper element of Figures 1 and 2 from metal sheet such as 30 gauge tin-plated steel sheeting. The band or shackle for securing the tamper-proof seal, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, may also be of deformable metal but may be of tough fibrous or plastic material since it is expendable.

In applying the seal to a sample bottle, the strap portions 11 and 12 of the seal are formed in a generally circular configuration, as shown in Figure 2. A pair of projecting tabs 13 and 14 are formed at the ends of the straps 11 and 12. Within the tabs 13 and 14 are transverse slots 15 and 16, the function of which will be described below. The keeper 17 of the seal 10 is bent forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Figure 2.

The cork 18 is placed in the bottle 19 and the straps 2,772,014 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 11 and 12 are arranged around the throat 20 of the bottle 19 and the tabs 13 and 14 are placed in back to back position with the slots 15 and 16 in alignment. The keeper 17 is pulled forwardly and downwardly over the top of the cork 18, and tabs 13 and 14 arranged back to back are passed through the longitudinal slot 21 in the keeper 17.

The latch band 22, which is expendable, is Wrapped about the throat or neck 20 of the bottle 19 passing through the slots 15 and 16 in tabs 13 and 14 and secured at its end by ball lock member 23. This serves to retain the keeper 17 over the cork 18 so as it cannot be removed without first removing the band 22 and then lifting the keeper 17 thereby rendering the seal tamperproof.

To accommodate corks of different height and to apply the tamper-proof seal to closures of substantially flat configuration, I provide an additional slot 21a in keeper 17 to receive the tabs 13 and 14 which likewise may have additional slots 15a and 16a. Otherwise, the operation is the same as described above.

Although I have described my invention with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A tamper-proof seal for a container having a narrow throat which comprises a strap member having transverse slots adjacent the ends thereof, an elongated deformable keeper member integral with said strap and extending transversely to an edge thereof, a longitudinal slot in said keeper member adapted to receive the slotted ends of said strap, and an expendable latch band overlying said strap and passing through said transverse slots to retain said ends within said longitudinal slot carried by said keeper when said strap member is arranged about the throat of said container.

2. A tamper-proof seal for a stoppered container having a narrow throat the combination which comprises a keeper element including a generally T-shaped body, the arms of said T comprising throat-encircling straps and the leg of said T providing a keeper strap adapted to overlie the mouth of said container, a longitudinal slot adjacent the end of said keeper, out-turned tabs at the ends of each of said arms adapted to enter said slot, a transverse slot in each of said tabs, and an expendable band overlying a substantial portion of said strap and a slotted portion of said keeper and passing through said transverse slots in said strap to retain said keeper.

3. A tamper-proof seal for use on containers having a narrow neck and a removable closure which comprises a conformable strap member adapted to encircle said neck, a transverse slot adjacent each end of said strap member, a keeper element integral with said strap and extending normal from an edge thereof, said keeper element being adapted to overlie the closure when said strap encircles said neck, a longitudinal slot in said keeper element adjacent the free end thereof, the ends of said strap being extendable through said slot, an expendable latching band adapted to overlie said strap and pass through said transverse slots, and locking means for said band to prevent its removal from said slots without mutilating the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,042 De Mars Oct. 2, 1906 1,577,372 Seline et al. Mar. 16, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,077 Italy Feb. 27, 193.5