Bottle lock

Abstract

A device, consisting of a plurality of plate, disk, ball, gate or other types of valves, or switches, or apertures, or like passageways; all grouped, or stacked or ganged in series to form a single working unit, and configurable in such a manner that each acts as a physical block or nonconductive environment for any chosen material, sound, light, or other transmittable or transportable media, until manipulated into an indexed position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to mechanical locks for containers, such as a secure lid or stopper for a jar or bottle, requiring no key or tool to open or close the device. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that this device need not be limited to use as a lock for containers, but can also be employed, with many obvious modifications in pipes, conduit, electrical conductors and mechanical linkages, among numerous other applications.

[0003] 2. Prior art

[0004] It would be advantageous to provide a secure means of sealing a container, such as a bottle, for obvious reasons including safety, security and convenience. Previous attempts at designing locking systems for containers fall short of convenience or practicality, or else provide very limited protection, as in the case of the child resistant bottle cap.

[0005] There has been some interest in safer ways to lock bottles, such as liquor bottles, medicine bottles, chemical containers to name a few. The problems with a locking bottle cap include complexity, such as the need for some key or other tool to operate, the time, effort and concentration needed to operate such devices, and the relative lack of security against unauthorized intrusion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Briefly described, in one preferred form, an object of this invention is a device permitting the user to easily seal or open a container by manipulating any of the moveable parts of the device either into alignment or out of alignment. Because any number of moving parts can be incorporated into the device, the total number of possible combinations of positions is virtually infinite.

[0007] Because it is necessary to properly align every moving part of the device in a predetermined position to allow access to the interior of the container through the device, only a person with prior knowledge of the proper combination of positions will likely be able to manipulate the device into it's open state, thereby allowing access to the interior of the container.

[0008] The concept is somewhat similar to the prior art commonly known as a combination lock, where knowledge of the proper positioning of each of the moveable parts of the device is necessary in order to open the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates the neck of a bottle, into which is inserted a stopper 1, formed to fit tightly within the opening of the bottle. Projecting from the top of stopper 1 is a pin 2, attached to the center of the upper surface of stopper 1. A series of disks 3, each with a hole through its center to accommodate pin 2, are stacked above stopper 1. Each disk is free to rotate around the central axis formed by pin B.

[0010] A hole 4, is formed, parallel to pin 2, and somewhere between the imaginary axis described by pin 2, and the outer edge of the disks. This hole passes through all of the disks, and through the stopper, allowing passage of the contents of the bottle. An additional hole 5, may exist to allow air to displace liquid poured from the bottle.

[0011] A top cap 6, including a screen, baffle, and/or spout, may be secured to the end of pin 2 causing the disks and the stopper to remain in close contact, while allowing rotational movement of the rings. The screen, baffle, or spout will serve to discourage easy visual or physical probing of the hole or aperture.

[0012] An indexing mark or label 7, is located on the outer surface of each disk, and on the side of the base or stopper, at the closest proximity to the hole or aperture 4, along with additional markings around the entire exterior surface of each moveable disk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] One embodiment of this device would be use as a bottle lock, formed integral with, or otherwise attached to the open end of a bottle, jar or similar container, that would only allow access to the interior of the container when all manipulable disks or valves integrated in the device are properly aligned. When one or more of the manipulable parts of this device is moved out of position, this device serves to seal the container.

[0014] Because it is necessary to have prior knowledge of the proper positioning of each of the manipulable parts of the device in order to allow access to the interior of the container, and because the total number of disks or valves is virtually unlimited, the present invention serves to secure the contents, or the interior of the container from unauthorized access.

[0015] While the present invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bottle lock, comprising:

a. a lid or stopper, adaptable to insert or otherwise attach to the open end of a bottle or jar or similar container;

b. the lid or stopper having a hole passing through it, located at a given point somewhere between the central axis and the outer edge, and serving as an aperture or passage between the interior and exterior of the container;

c. the lid or stopper having an indexing mark somewhere on it's outer edge in closest proximity to the hole or aperture;

d. the lid or stopper having a pin attached to the center of the top surface, extending away from the lid or stopper some distance along the central axis of the lid or stopper

2. the lid or stopper as in 1, with any number of disks stacked atop it's upper surface;

a. each disk having a hole through it's central axis, to accommodate the pin described in 1c, allowing the disk to rotate around the fixed pin;

b. each disk having an additional hole passing through it, located somewhere between it's center point and it's outer edge, positioned so that it will line up with the hole or aperture in 1b;

c. each disk marked or labeled on it's outer edge in closest proximity to the hole in the disk;

d. each disk marked or labeled along it's entire outer edge with any number of indications each different and distinctive;

3. a screen or baffle;

a. attached to the end of the pin passing through the central axis of the disks;

b. the screen or baffle securing the disks to the fixed part of the device, while allowing the disks to rotate while without losing contact with each other or with the upper surface of the lid or stopper;

c. the screen or baffle allowing passage of the contents of the jar or bottle, while denying visual and physical access to the interior of the device from the outside.