Untitled record

Application filed October 27,1890. Serial No, 369,409. (No model,)

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William C. King, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the count}⁷ of Alleghenyand State of 5 Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Locks, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to to certain improvements in locks for bottlestoppers, and has for its object a construction capable of automatically locking itself on the bottle, and wherein the locking mechanism is so entirely protected as to prevent 15 its being disengaged, except by a properlyconstructed key.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction and combination of mechanical devices or elements, all as more fully 20 hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved lock-stopper applied to a bottle. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the .25 top plate being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cap, the lacking devices being removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide-box for the locking devices. Fig. 0 is a similar view of one of the catches.. Fig. 6 30 is a perspective view of the key. Figs. 7, 8, 10,11, and 12 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and G of a modified structure; and Fig. 0 is a sectional view on the line x x, Fig. 7.

The locking mechanism is arranged on and 35 partially inclosed by a shell 1, constructed to fit over the top of the bottle, its lower edge resting on a shoulder 2, formed on the neck of the bottle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. In the top of the shell are formed openings 3, 40 through which project the arms 4 of the locking-plates. The arms 5 of said plates, beingbent to an angle to the arms 4, project radially toward each other and lie approximately parallel with the top of the shell, as 45 shown in Fig^-. 1.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, trunnions G are formed at the junction of the arms 4 and 5, said trunnions being journaled in the holes 7, formed in the 50 sides of the box 8, fitting over the arms 0 and secured to the top of the shell by means of pins 9, fitting in suitable holes 10 in the top of the shell, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At their ends the arms 4 are provided with inwardly-projecting hooks 11, adapted to en- 55 gage a peripheral shoulder 12, formed on the neck of the bottle. The locking-plates are normally held in such position that the hooks 11 will engage the shoulder 12, when the shell is placed on the bottle, by a spring 13, se- 60 cured at its middle point to the top of the, shell and having its ends bent upwardly and bearing against the under side of the arms 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In order to release’the shell, a key 14, provided with later- 65 ally-projecting lugs 15 and with an opening in its stem, is passed down through a slot 16 in the box-8, and then rotated on the centering-pin 17. The lugs 15, which are slightly beveled on their under sides, engage the cor- 70 respondingly beveled or inclined surfaces 18at the inner ends of the arms 5, thereby depressing such ends and shifting the hooks out of engagement with the shoulder 12.

In lieu of pivoting the locking-plates, as 75 described, they may be made to slide radially in and out, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. In such a construction the arms 5 of the locking-plates rest upon the top of the shell and are held and guided by the ends of the box 80 8, said ends being notched, as shown in Fig. 10, to fit upon and around the arms 5. The plates are moved inwardly, so that the hooks 11 may engage the shoulder 12 by springs 13, as shown in Fig. 9. These springs have one 85 of their ends attached to pins 20, while the other ends bear against pins 21, and the cen- . ter portions bear against toes 22, formed on the inner ends of the arms 5. When employing such a construction, the lugs on the 90 key bear against the toes 22, thereby forcing the plates outwardly against the tension of the springs 13.

In order to prevent the key from turning so far as to move out of engagement with the 95 ends of the arms 5, thereby permitting the hooks 11 to again engage the shoulder 12., a portion of the top of the box is forced inwardly, thereby forming a stop 23 in the line of movement of the key. 100

A cap 24 is secured on the top of the shell, entirely inclosing the portions of the locking

445,755 mechanism projecting above the shell. In the cap is formed a slot 25 for the passage of the key, said slot being similar to the slot 16 in the box 8. If desired, the cap 24 may be so 5 constructed that its top shall stand at a distance from the top of the box equal to the width of the lugs 15 of the key, and in such case the slots 16 and 25 may be arranged at an angle to each other, so that the key after ro passing through the slot 25 must be given a partial rotation before it can pass through the slot 16.

A stopper 26, formed of rubber or any other suitable material, may be secured within the 15 shell, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The stopper may be secured to a downward extension of the centering-pin 17, such extension being provided with a head or enlargement, as shown.