Bottles and jars – Nonrefillable – Guard or valve type
Patent
1997-02-18
1999-10-26
Weaver, Sue A.
Bottles and jars
Nonrefillable
Guard or valve type
215 18, 215 22, B65D 4904
Patent
active
059711795
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to non-refilling devices adapted to be secured within the outlet of a container for liquid, for example as an insert in the neck of a bottle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART
Devices to prevent refilling of bottles, particularly bottles intended to contain spirits, are well known but although such devices may make it extremely difficult to introduce replacement liquid into the bottle, the manufacture and design of such devices may be complicated and therefore the devices, however desirable, may be expensive to produce.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is effective in use and avoids an excessive cost penalty.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that may be applied to a container neck in a combined condition and in a single operational step, thus to improve the speed of operation and the efficiency and versatility of the container filling and closing line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a non-refilling device for insertion within a neck portion of a container for liquids, the device comprising a tubular assembly adapted to be received at least substantially within said neck portion and having engagement means provided on an external surface thereof adapted for firm engagement with an internal surface of said neck portion, said assembly including a sleeve means a lower end portion of which is directed in use towards the interior of said container, said sleeve means being provided with a valve seat surface, there being provided a valve member adapted to seat against said seat surface in a closed position, said assembly further comprising a pouring member received in a force- or interference-fit within an upper, open end portion of said sleeve means and provided with an annular pouring lip, the device being further provided with a container closure means including an annular sealing surface adapted in use to be in sealing engagement with said container neck portion, said annular sealing surface surrounding an annularly arranged projecting means adapted to engage removably with engagement means provided on the tubular assembly when the device is in a fully assembled condition, the construction and arrangement being such that, prior to use, the device is self-maintaining in said fully assembled condition in which each component thereof is engaged with an adjacent component prior to and during the application of the device to a container neck portion.
Advantageously, said closure means may comprise a cap and an insert secured within the cap, said sealing surface and said annularly arranged projecting means being provided on said insert.
Preferably, said annularly arranged projecting means engages removably with the annular pouring lip of said pouring member.
Conveniently, said pouring member may be provided with a centrally disposed recessed inner portion adapted to receive and locate said valve member, said recessed inner portion being itself received in removable engagement with a second annularly arranged projection means on said closure means.
Advantageously, said valve member may be provided with an axially extending stem portion adapted to be received within a recess provided in the pouring member.
Preferably, said pouring member may comprise at least one zone of weakness in its construction, said zone being arranged to fracture on the application of abnormal pressure associated with tampering prior to an unauthorised attempt to refill the container.
Advantageously, the sleeve means may be provided with a plurality of annular, substantially radially extending, flanges adapted to be deformed when the sleeve inserted into the container neck, to provide a wedging effect rendering the insertion effectively permanent. Conveniently, the flanges may be spaced apart by differing distances therebetween. Advantageously, one or more flanges, preferably including the uppermost of the flanges, may be of larger diameter than the remainder.
Conveniently, t
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patent: 2064002 (1936-12-01), Herzog
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patent: 3073470 (1963-01-01), Greene
patent: 3329294 (1967-07-01), Bichon
patent: 4217988 (1980-08-01), Mills et al.
patent: 4258854 (1981-03-01), Wright
patent: 4449637 (1984-05-01), Snedker
patent: 4497415 (1985-02-01), Delonghi
patent: 5419446 (1995-05-01), Cox et al.
Bell Robert
Blair Andrew Robert
Christmas Paul Michael
Daniel Montgomery & Son Limited
Weaver Sue A.
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