Year: 1889

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to nutmeg graters and consists of a device in which there are
provided rows of projections (constituting the grating surface) parallel to each other
and over which surface the nutmeg is adapted to be drawn diagonally to the said
rows of projections.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the nutmeg grater complete; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal
section and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detached portions of the same hereinafter more
particularly described.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
a is a plate. which in figure 5 is represented as a blank that is to say before it is
turned or bent into the form required in the finished grater. c figure 5, is the part
thereof which forms the handle as shown in figures 1 and 2. 5 is a rib or ridge raised
from the surface of the plate a and r are projections extending upwards from the top
of the rib 5. It will be observed that the longitudinal edges of the plate a are not
parallel with the rib 5 these edges when turned over into the form shown in figure 1
where they are marked-12 forming between them a groove or way running diagonally
above the rib 5.
e is the roughened or grating plate which is shown detached in perspective in figure 3.
fis the roughened surface of the plate e and 6 are upwardly extending ribs or ridges
formed in and parallel to the turned down edges 4 of the plate. This plate e is placed
in relation to the plate a in the manner shown in figures 1 and 2 certain of one row
of the punctures of the plate e resting on the projections formed on the rib 5 and
thereby preventing the plate e shifting its position, the guide or way between the
edges. 12 being diagonal to the rows of punctures f.

page_text: n is a tubular holder externally grooved at 8 so as to slide on the edges 12 as shown
in figure 1. 7 shown in perspective as detached from the holder n in figure 4 is a
plate two of the edges of which are bent up and which is secured to the lower end
of the holder and provided with a central opening for receiving the nutmeg as
hereinafter described.
Above the grater plate is a clearer device 7 (see fig. 4) designed for clearing
or removing particles of nutmeg that may become lodged intermediate the grating
surface. To that end the clearer is provided with downwardly extending projections
17 intermediate the rows of the grater surface. The clearer plate is supported on
ways 66 formed by striking up ribs in the metal of the grater plate. Said ribs
are sufficiently elevated to support the clearer plate above the struck up portions of
the grater surface. The grater surface is formed with parallel rows running in
line with the ribs 6.
The clearer plate is reciprocated along the ribs 6 over the grater surface simul-
taneously with the nutmeg holder n as hereafter described. It is prevented from
cramping by downwardly projecting ribs 17 that engage the ribs 6 of the grater
plate by which construction the projections of the clearer plate are prevented from
coming in contact with the raised portions of the grater surface. Said projections
travel intermediate the rows of the grater surface so as to dislodge particles of
nutmeg lodged therein.
The bottom of said holder sets down upon the clearer plate and the edges of said
clearer plate are upturned so as when the holder n is moved in either direction, it
engages the upturned edge of the clearer plate and carries the clearer plate with it
over the grater surface. The holder n is otherwise independent of the clearer plate
to the end that it may move diagonally over the grater surface along its channel b.
This diagonal movement of the holder brings all parts of the nutmeg into contact with
the grater surface 'during each movement of the holder along its path and thereby
the nutmeg is prevented from being grooved by the grater surface. Above the
nutmeg a plunger m whereby the nutmeg is forced downward into contact with the
grater surface through an opening in the clearer plate. Said plunger has on its
bottom end a perforated thimble 9 whereby the nutmeg is held from turning in the holder.
It has on its top end an enlarged head which coming in contact with the top of the
holder prevents the said thimble from extending down to and engaging the grater
surface when the chamber of the holder is exhausted. Said plunger is provided with
a spring 10 that presses against the surface of the holder chamber and thereby retains
the plunger in connection with the holder whenever the device is thrown about.
In operation the nutmeg is placed in the chamber of the holder n. It is reciprocated
over the grater surface by the operator taking hold of the holder and pressing inward
the plunger so as to cause the nutmeg to bear upon the grater surface simultaneously
with the movement of the holder along the diagonal path b.
The holder and the clearing device are retained within the channel b as shown in
figure 1 by the inturned portions 12, 12, of the enveloping case.
It will be observed that the downwardly projecting portions of the clearer device
operate not alone to dislodge particles of nutmeg from the grater surface but also to
hold small pieces of the nutmeg within the holder until finely grated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a nutmeg grater, an enclosing-case such as a the grater plate within the same
and held above the bottom thereof, having rows of perforations parallel to each other
a passage in the top of the inclosing case formed diagonally to the rows of perforations
in the grater plate by bending the edges of the case inward a nutmeg holder having
grooves in its sides adapted to the inwardly-turned edges of the inclosing case and a
plunger within the holder substantially as described, and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a nutmeg-grater an inclosing case such as a having inwardly turned edges

page_text: forming a diagonal passage a nutmeg-holder having grooves in its sides adapted to
said edges and the grater-plate having downwardly-turned edges adapted to rest on
the bottom of the plate a and grooved to fit corresponding ridges in the sides thereof
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a nutmeg-grater an inclosing-case such as a having inwardly-turned flanges
forming a diagonal passage a nutmeg-holder having grooves fitted to said flanges a
grater-plate supported above the bottom of the inclosing-case and a handle such as c
closing the space beneath the grater-plate at one end said handle having a groove to
support one end of the grater-plate said plate having downwardly-turning edges
resting against the bottom of the plate a substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying, drawings.
4. The combination of a grater-plate such as e a holder such as n movably supported
on ways above the plate and clearers supported in the holder and movable therewith and
having downward projections extending into the corrugations of the grater-plate
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination of a grater-plate such as e a holder such as n supported movably
above the same and clearers supported loosely in the holder and movable therewith
and provided with projections extending into the corrugations of the grater-plate
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination with a grater plate such as e of the inclosing-case such as a
the nutmeg holder such as n and the guards or clearers whereby the pieces are
retained in the holder substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
7. In combination the inclosing case such as a having inwardly-turned flanges a
grater-plate within the same a holder having grooves to receive the inwardly turned
Hanges and means for limiting the movement of the holder and preventing its
displacement substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
8. The complete nutmeg-grater substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of April 1880
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.