US3150788A - Tamper-proof container device - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1962 Fig.

Sept. 29, 1964 R. BIcHoN TAMPER-PROOF CONTAINER DEVICE l5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1962 United States Patent O M 3,150,788 TAMPER-PRF CONTAINER DEVHCE Ren Bichon, Paris, France, assignor to Societe Pernod,

Montreuil-sous-Bois, Seine, France, a French society of France Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,287 Claims priority, application France .lune 6, 1951 11 Claims. (Cl. 21S-25) This invention relates to devices of the type that are sometimes associated with containers, such as bottles, to prevent tampering with the contents thereof as by adding or substituting an unauthorized substance to the normal contents of the container. Such a device usually comprises Ia recessed support non-withdrawably inserted into the neck of the container, valve means positioned within the support at some distance from the top outlet orifice thereof, and arranged to permit the discharge of the liquid contents of the container through said outlet when the container is held in a normal pouring position, said valve means however preventing the introduction of a substance therethrough when the container is held in a substantially upstanding position, and baiiie means overlying the valve means for preventing the insertion of a tool for lifting the valve means from its seating while still permitting the discharge of said liquid. The valve me-ans usually comprises a ball or other type of valve member arranged to be biased by gravity to a sealing position on its valve seat in the said upstanding position of the container.

Conventional devices of this type have been unsatisfactory in that the presence of the various components of the device including especially the valve member and overlying baflie tends to interfere with the free outflow of the liquid from the container during normal pouring operations. It has not been found possible heretofore, so far as the applicant is aware, to provide such a device that would be both Wholly tamper-proof and yet would allow a free and unimpeded discharge of the liquid. It is a primary object of this invention to provide such a device.

Other objects are to provide an efficient tamper-proofing device for bottles Iand other containers, which it will be practically impossible to remove or disable without breaking the bottle, and will be cheap and readily and economically produced, eg. from moulded plastic and easily assembled in the bottle in such a manner as to prevent subsequent removal of any part thereof.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention an improved tamper-proof device comprises a generally tubular support member adapted for non-withdrawable insertion into the neck of la container, a partition dividing the tubular recess of the support into two longitudinal channels, and a valve and an overlying baie means supported in each said channel so that, with the container held in a pouring position, liquid contents will be discharged from the container through a lower one of said channels, while air can simultaneously enter the container through the other one of said channels to facilitate free discharge of liquid.

Other features and advantages of the invent-ion will be made clear from the ensuing description relating to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section view of the upper part of a bottle provided with a rst embodiment of improved tamper-proof means according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line II-II of FIG. l;

FIG, 3 is a partial vertical section of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

3,l5@,788 Patented Sept. 29, 1964i- ICC FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of a container provided with a tamper-proof device according to the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross sectional views on lines VI-VI, VII-VII and VIH-VIII respectively of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is an overhead view as seen on line IX-IX of FIG. 4.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a tamper-proof device is shown inserted into the neck 12 of a bottle, said device generally comprising a tubular support or body member 1 inserted in an outer sleeve 14 made of compressible material adapted for pressure insertion, in the manner of a cork, into the bottle neck 12, with the top surfaces thereof flush with the top surf-ace of the bottle neck. After insertion, the assembly including the compressible sleeve 14 with the tubular body 1 therein, and the other components of the tamper-proofing unit presently described, is sealed in the bottle by means of an annular capsule 15 preferably made from a tear-resistant sheet material tightly surrounding the outer surfaces of the bottle neck.

Connected to the lower end of tubular body 1 by way of a ange 3 is a cylindrical casing member 2 which underlies the bottom surface of outer sleeve 14. The cylindrical member 2 has a bottom wall 2a formed with two spaced ports 4 and 5.

Extending across a diametric plane of the tubular body 1 and cylindrical casing 2 is a continuous partition member 8 which divides the tubular member 1 into two semicylindrical channels 6 and '7, the arrangement being such that each of the base ports 4 and 5 communicates with a related one of the channels 6 and 7. The ports 4 and 5 define valve seats for a pair of ball shaped valve members 9 and 10. Overlying the balls 9 and 10 and spaced above them, the casing 2. is provided with a horizontal cross wall 11 which may be integral with the partition 8. The cross Wall 11, as will be clear from FlG. 2, extends across only a mid-part of the circular cross section of casing 2, so as to provide relatively wide passages on either side of it for the |`out-flow of liquid. At the same time the cross wall 11 forms a stop that prevents the escape of balls 9 and 10 from the casing when the bottle is turned upside down and also serves to prevent any attempt to lift the balls from their seats by means of bent Wires or the like inserted through the bottle neck. It will also be noted that the tubular body 1 and interior of casing 2 communicate freely through the opening in iiange 3, which opening is preferably oval in shape with respect to the major axis normal to partition 8, so as to cooperate baffle-Wise with cross wall 11.

Lateral movement of balls 9 and 1@ in their respective compartment defined in the casing 2 are restricted by the provision of retainer bars 13 (see FIGS. l and 2) which may be integral with walls 11 and/or 2a.

As shown, a removable screw cap 16 is engaged with the threaded upper end of the tubular body 1 and is received in an upper end enlargement of the inner bore of compressible sleeve 14. The cap 16 projects a slight amount above the common top plane of the bottle neck 12;, compressible outer sleeve 14 and inner tubular member 1, such projection being suicient to enable the screw cap 15 to be grasped around the periphery of its projecting upper part, which periphery is preferably knurled, for unscrewing the cap 16. As delivered to the user, the projecting part of screw cap 16 is covered by a tearable capsule 17 having its sides inserted between the top surface of bottle neck 12 and the under surface of annular capsule or jacket 1S. A seal may be provided upon the capsule 17 to discourage unauthorized removal thereof.

In order to dispense the contents of the bottle, it is first necessary to tear off the top capsule 17, then unscrew the screw cap 16. For sealing the bottle between pourings, the cap 16 is screwed into position.

In operation, it will be understood that when the bottle is tilted to the normal pouring position, the balls 9 and 10 are unseated and uncover both seats 9 and 10, while being prevented from moving beyond the cross wall 11. Preferably the bottle is grasped in such a position that one of the channels 6, 7 say channel 5, is somewhat below the other of the channels. Under these conditions, liquid in the bottle will flow through the port 4, the related compartment of casing 2, the side passages defined on each side of cross wall 11, and through channel 6 out of the bottle, while at the same time air will follow a generally similar but reverse path through the other channel 7. Thus, a steady and tree discharge of liquid is obtained from the bottle, substantially similar to that obtained in the absence of any tamper-proofing device. When on the other hand the bottle is stood or held in a substantially vertical upstanding position and it is attempted to add a foreign substance, e.g. diluting Water or a liquid resembling the normal contents of the bottle but from some different source, then gravity, augmented by the pressure of the liquid poured in, seats the balls 9 and 10 to seal the ports and 5 and prevent the addition. Further, the flange 3 with its oval opening cooperates with the cross wall 11 to prevent the insertion of a tool for the purpose of lifting the balls oif their seats.

It will be noted that the tamper-proofing assembly del scribed is practically impossible to extract from the bottle without breaking the latter, chieiiy due to the provision of the tubular body 1 connected with the larger-diameter casing 2 abuttingly engaging the under surface of the cornpressible outer sleeve 14, forcibly inserted between the body 1 and the inner surface of the bottle neck. The tear-resistant seal 15 is a further precaution which however may in many cases be dispensed with. Furthermore, the cross wall 11, preferably made integral with the partition S, prevents extraction of said partition due to the larger diameter of cross wall 11 compared to that of the opening in flange 3.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the balls 9 and 10 are retained by an overlying cross wall 18 formed with two sockets 18a and 1811 in its under surface adapted partly to receive the balls and 1@ therein when the bottle is tilted for pouring. The dimensioning is such that the space between the bottom of the balls 9 and 10 when seated in the sockets 18a and 18h, and the upper surface of bottom wall 2a, is smaller than the diameter oi the balls, whereby the balls are effectively guided and will not tend to jam.

To prevent any fraudulent attempt at iilling the bottle by the expedient of immersing the inverted bottle into a body of liquid, the part 18 is formed with narrow side passages 18c and 18d opening into the sockets, 13a and 18h. Liquid from the body in which the inverted bottle is dipped will enter through said passages and will lift the balls 9 and 10 against their seating ports 4 and 5. Preferably the passages 18C and 13d extend at an angle as shown to prevent insertion of wires through them.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-9, the tamperproof device comprises a tubular body, member 1 adapted for direct insertion into the neck 12 of a bottle, and formed with an upper outer llemge 32 adapted to engage the top surface of the bottle neck 12. Further said member 3l has a circular groove formed in its top surface into which is insertable the skirt 16 of a removable sealing capsule 34 adapted for ready removal by means of a peripheral flange thereof.

The body member 1 has an open lower end and is adapted to receive therein a unitary assembly hereafter called the insert member, clearly visible in the lower part of the exploded view of FIG. 4, which is a complex moulding of plastic material including: a circular base wall 20 formed with a pair of juxtaposed ports 4 and 5; a diametric partition wall 21 extending upwardly from the base wall 2t); and three vertically spaced baille elements 22, 23, 24, element 24 being the lowest and serving as an abutment for a pair of balls 9 and 10 which in use are movably positioned on top of the ports 4 and 5. The baiiie elements are so shaped as to permit the free iiow of liquid across them while preventing the insertion of a tool to unseat the balls. The insert member just described is adapted to be inserted into the lower part, of sleeve member 1 with the base wall 20 thereof being forcibly engaged in an inner peripheral groove 31 of body member 1. The partition element 21 does not extend to the top of the member 1; instead, the vmember 1 has a supplemental partition element 25 integral with its inner surface and projecting inwardly therefrom to serve as an extension completing the partition element 21 for locating the proper relative angular position of the insert member within body member 1 with the partition elements 21 and 25 lying in a common diametrc plane, there are provided a pair of opposite longitudinal ribs 26 molded in the inner surface of member 1 and engageable with aligned notches 27, 28 formed in opposite sides of the bafe elements 2.2 and 24. The insert can only be engaged into the body member 1 only if the ribs and recesses are aligned, at which time the elements 21 and 2S are also aligned. Guiding means for the balls 9 and 10 are provided in the form of ribs or projections 30 moulded integrally with base wall 20, partition element 21 and baffle element 24, and further the positioning ribs 26 which are diametrically opposed to the respective ribs 36.

It will be understood that engagement of the insert member into the body member 1 with the base tlange 2t) of the insert forcibly engaging the groove 31 in the body member, is possible owing to resilient deformation of the sleeve member, provided the notches 27 and 28 are aligned with ribs 26. The operation of this embodiment is generally the same as that of the embodiment first described. It Will be noted that the provision of the longitudinal partition in the form of two separate alignable partition elements 21 and 25 the lower one of which is integral with the insert and the upper one 25 integral with the outer body member, serves to prevent extraction of the insert from outside the bottle as with pliers or the like. Further, the upper baffle, element 22 limits the upper end of the insert. Should suicient force be applied to the sides of the bafiie element 22 on both opposite sides of the upper partition element 25, conceivably the entire insert may be pushed out of the body member 1 and into the lower part of the bottle. After this has been done the bottle can be lled. However it is impossible to re-position the insert within the body member 1, so that the fraudulent manipulation will remain revealed.

It will be apparent that in all of the embodiments shown and described, the provision of the two separate channels 6 and 7 each with its own valve means and overlying bme means, facilitates a smooth steady discharge of liquid from the bottle owing to the possibility of a steady ingress of air, such discharge being substantially the same as in the absence of the tamper-proofing device, even though the flow passage for the liquid has been substantially restricted. In fact, it is found that the improved device makes it possible to provide a steady outflow of liquid even when the bottle is held inverted in a near vertical position, as with a conventional pouring nozzle. This a valuable feature especially when using a metering device attached to the neck of a bottle supported in upside down position. At the same time, the device is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce e.g. from moulded plastic materials, while the balls 9 and 10 may be made of metal, glass or other materials.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the details illustrated and described without exceeding the scope of the invention. Thus the valve members may assume forms other than balls. The bale means may be of varied shapes, and the top sealing means may also take on any of a variety of forms.

What I claim is:

1. A plug for a container permitting emptying of the contents therefrom but preventing subsequent filling of the container, said plug comprising a hollow cylindrical body element; and an insert element inserted into said body, said insert element comprising, a ilat partition which eX- tends diametrically across said body element for its entire length so as to divide said body element into two separate and independent channels, each of said channels being defined by one face of said partition and one half of said body element, valve means supported in each of said channels and closing said channels for one position of the container and opening the channels for other positions of the container the valve means for one of said channels being completely separate and independent from the Valve means for the other of said channels, baille means in said channels located adjacent said valve means and to one side thereof for preventing accessibility to said valve means from said one side thereof at locations beyond the bathe means, said partition being symmetrically located in said body whereby said channels are equal, said baille means including bailles which are supported on said partition and extend perpendicularly to the channels.

2. A plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes a lower enlarged portion accommodating said valve means and said baille means, at least one of said bailles of said baille means lying immediately adjacent the valve means to limit movement thereof while delining permanently free peripheral passageways with the body.

3. A plug as claimed in claim l, wherein said insert element includes valve seats for said valve means, said valve seats being located in facing relation with the said one baille at an end of the body, and guide means supported on said partition extending between the valve seats and the said one baffle for guiding the valve means between open and closed positions.

4. A plug as claimed in claim 1, comprising means on both said elements including lugs and corresponding recesses for permitting insertion of said other element into said cylindrical element only for one preestablished relative angular orientation of said elements.

5. A plug as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one baille is provided with at least one oblique orice which is open when the valve means is closed and is closed by the valve means when the valve means is open.

6. A plug as claimed in claim 4, wherein said partition is discontinuous, one portion being located in one of the elements, the other portion being located in the other of the elements, said portions being in alignment and extending continuously through the plug with the elements of the plug intertted.

7. A plug as claimed in claim 1, comprising a longitudinally extending lug protruding radially inwards in said cylindrical element, said bailles on said other element of the plug having aligned recesses which accommodate said lug and thereby permit insertion of said other element of the plug into the cylindrical portion only for a particular angular orientation of said elements in which the lug is aligned with the recesses, said partition including separate portions on each element of the plug which are in alignment with said lug accommodated in the corresponding recesses.

8. A plug as claimed in claim 7, wherein an enlarged portion of the plug is provided by an enlarged bore in the cylindrical body which defines a shoulder against which the other of the elements of the plug abuts for maximum insertion of said other element into the cylindrical element.

9. A plug as claimed in claim 7 comprising a pair of lugs including the iirst mentioned lug, each lug cooperating with a respective valve means and being located with respect thereto to guide the respective valve means in passage thereof between the open and closed positions thereof.

10. A plug as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of said bailles is located in the said other of the elements of the plug at an end thereof remote from the valve means to close the opening in the cylindrical element of the plug with the elements interlitted to thereby prevent access with the valve means through the opening in the cylindrical element.

11. A plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said valve means is a ball of spherical shape, said bailles each being of flat shape.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,301 Turrell Nov. 23, 1897 877,249 Spryszynski Ian. 21, 1908 1,029,348 Dryfoos June l1, 1912 1,103,895 Staples July 14, 1914 1,176,281 Enochty Mar. 21, 1916 1,291,093 Olive Jan. 14, 1919 2,517,911 Moore Aug. 8, 1950

Claims (1)

1. A PLUG FOR A CONTAINER PERMITTING EMPTYING OF THE CONTENTS THEREFROM BUT PREVENTING SUBSEQUENT FILLING OF THE CONTAINER, SAID PLUG COMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BODY ELEMENT; AND AN INSERT ELEMENT INSERTED INTO SAID BODY, SAID INSERT ELEMENT COMPRISING, A FLAT PARTITION WHICH EXTENDS DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS SAID BODY ELEMENT FOR ITS ENTIRE LENGTH SO AS TO DIVIDE SAID BODY ELEMENT INTO TWO SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT CHANNELS, EACH OF SAID CHANNELS BEING DEFINED BY ONE FACE OF SAID PARTITION AND ONE HALF OF SAID BODY ELEMENT, VALVE MEANS SUPPORTED IN EACH OF SAID CHANNELS AND CLOSING SAID CHANNELS FOR ONE POSITION OF THE CONTAINER AND OPENING THE CHANNELS FOR OTHER POSITIONS OF THE CONTAINER THE VALVE MEANS FOR ONE OF SAID CHANNELS BEING COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM THE VALVE MEANS FOR THE OTHER OF SAID CHANNELS, BAFFLE MEANS IN SAID CHANNELS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID VALVE MEANS AND TO ONE SIDE THEREOF FOR PREVENTING ACCESSIBILITY TO SAID VALVE MEANS FROM SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF AT LOCATIONS BEYOND THE BAFFLE MEANS, SAID PARTITION BEING SYMMETRICALLY LOCATED IN SAID BODY WHEREBY SAID CHANNELS ARE EQUAL, SAID BAFFLE MEANS INCLUDING BAFFLES WHICH ARE SUPPORTED ON SAID PARTITION AND EXTEND PERPENDICULARLY TO THE CHANNELS.

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