US642739A - Bottle-seal. - Google Patents

Description

No. 642,739. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

E. E. DAUGHERTY. I

BOTTLE SEAL.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER E. DAUGI-IERTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,739, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed March 29, 1899. Serial No. 710,870. (No model.)

The invention consists of a cap of thin, but

strong, metal placed over the mouth of the bottle, with the skirt or lower margin turned inwardly, by an action similar to spinning, to strongly engage below the usual shoulder on the bottle-neck and securely inclose the mouth of the bottle and protect its closure. The cap is made with an annular joint dividing it into two independent portions joined by soldering a strip of thin metal to the adjacent edges of each and adapted to be easily and neatly removed by engaging a free end in a suitable key and by turning the latter wind the strip from the cap to the key, and thus break the bond, allow the cap to separate, and present the bottle-mouth in condition for the easy removal of the cork or other closure.

The seal is efficient, neat and attractive in appearance, and easily and cheaply manufactured and applied.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as I have carried it out.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the cap alone before its application to the bottle. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the cap in position and locked. The dotted lines indicate means for curling the metal below the shoulder. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a face view of the key used in breaking the seal. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a bottle-neck sealed by a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing another modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, A is a cap of thin sheet metal, preferably soft iron coated with tin, formed, by stamping or drawing in suitable dies, in two parts A A the former being closed at the top A and of such size at the open end as to match to the lower tubular portion A These parts are secured together to form a whole by a narrow strip B of thin metal applied on the adjacent edges of both and extending completely around and lapped upon itself, leaving the end free and extendingoutwardly. Thejointismadewith weak solder and covers the annular opening a in a manner practically the same as that so well known and generally used in the canning of meats and other articles and performs a somewhat similar function. The cap thus constructed is placed upon the head M of a closed bottle and the skirt or lower margin A is curled under the shoulder M and upon a portion of the neck M, to form an inwardlyprojecting flange A by a process resembling, in effect, spinning, performed by suitable tools operated by hand or machinery. The junction thus produced is strong and reliable, additional stiffness being secured by the portion A encircling the neck. I have indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 a series of rollers N, adapted to be revolved about the stationary bottle and by slowly approaching the latter gradually force the metal to assume approximately the form shown. Thus sealed the bottle cannot be opened without removing the strip B or by cutting or otherwise forcibly removing the cap. In either case the condition of the seal will plainly show it has been tampered with and the acceptance of the bottle may be refused.

To break the seal and remove the cap, the key 0, accompanying each bottle, made, as usual, preferably of strong stiff wire, having a thumb-piece O and slot 0 for the reception of the free end B of the strip, is engaged upon such end and by a twisting movement the solder is gradually broken and the strip wound upon the key, leaving the joint a open, so that the portion A of the cap maybe removed, or, in some cases, carrying away this portion still attached to the strip. The mouth of the bottle is thus exposed, allowing the removal of the cork or other closure, as usual, the portion A of the cap still remaining on the bottle-neck and serving no further purpose except that of indicating by its presence or by its color or other distinguishing feature the brand or quality of the contents of the bottle. Its engagement below the shoulder holds it against slipping forward on the neck, and thereby interfering with the flow from the bottle-mouth, aad usually its close contact with the surface will prevent its movement in the opposite direction.

I have shown the top A of the cap as provided with a swell or dome A, which is intended to receive the name of the manufacturer or other distinguishing mark and also to give an attractive finish. It adds to the appearance of the seal, but may be omitted, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In these figures the portion A of the skirt is also omitted, the edge being curled under sufficiently to reliably engage the shoulder. Less metal is required for this form and it is sufliciently strong to serve successfully in ordinary cases. Fig. (ialso shows a' plain cylindrical cap instead of the tapered or coned form of the preceding figures.

Further modifications may be made in the forms and proportions and in the materials employed, as may be found necessary or desirable in adapting the invention to various styles and forms of bottles.

Although I have shown and described the invention as applied to ordinary bottles, it Will be understood that it will serve with other analogous vessels or containers.

I claim- The cap of strong sheet metal comprising the closed upper portion A and open lower portion A arranged at a distance apart and joined together by an annular strip B removably attached to the adjacent edges of the portions and having a free end serving to aid in its removal, the skirt A on said lower portion curled inwardly to form the flange A in combination with each other and with a bottle-neck having the shoulder M thereon below the mouth, adapted to be engaged by said flange and hold the cap against removal, all substantially as and for the purposesherein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER E. DAUGI'IERTY.

Witnesses:

W. R. NIVAST,

A. L. PIERCE.

Images