IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HOLDERS, OR APPLIANCES, FOR TOASTING BREAD, BACON AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN LEIPER, of Bryn Efa, Rhyddlan, in the County of Flint, Patternmaker,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO HOLDERS, OR APPLIANCES, FOR TOASTING BREAD, BACON AND OTHER ARTICLES
OF FOOD" to be as follows:-
The principal part of this invention consists of a substitute for the old fashioned
toasting fork. But instead of the article being held by the prongs passing through
it, It is held between two clips pressed together by a spring; the spring and clips
turning on a wire across the open end of a horseshoe shaped peice fixed to the wire
which forms the handle with the open end outwards. Which contrivance enables
the person using it, to take hold of the article to be toasted, to turn it over, and to
let go of it, without touching it with the hands. The other part consists of a frame
to hook on to the bar of the grate to hold the apparatus in any position before the
fire, with a plate or saucer to catch dripping &c. Which frame enables it to be
used without being constantly attended to.
To take hold of the article to be toasted, by pressing the upper ends of the Spring
clips together with the finger and thumb when the lower or hooked ends open
which being placed on each side of the article to be toasted and the pressure
removed closes at once and holds it firmly. To turn it over by allowing it to hang
down, and by giving the apparatus a half turn round either way. And to let go
of it, by pressing the upper ends of the spring clips together with the finger and
thumb when the lower ends open and the article at once drops out without being
touched with the fingers. The other part consists of a frame, the body of which
may be made in one peice of square iron the two ends of which peice are formed
into books to hook on to the bar of the grate, at a sufficient distance from the
hooks it is turned at right angles then upwards parrallel to the hooks. On the
lower part of which is placed the plate or saucer. And on the cross part of
the frame opposite to the hooks slides a peice with a spring clip similar to the
other spring clips. When the frame is used it is hooked on to the bar of the grate,
the spring clip is opened by pressing on the upper end of it when the wire forming
the handle of the toasting apparatus is placed under it, the pressure is removed and
it is held before the fire in any position by being moved backwards and forwards
under the clip and by the clip sliding across the frame. The toasting apparatus
may be used with or without the frame.

page_text: I JOHN LEIPER, Bryn Efa, Rhyddlan Flintshire Pattern Maker do hereby declare
the nature of.my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HOLDERS
OR APPLIANCES FOR TOASTING BREAD, BACON, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FOOD and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention has for its object a substitute for the old fashioned toasting fork
capable of holding the food more securely and without breaking it, and of allowing
the article to be toasted to be turned over, and the other side browned without
taking it off the fork and without handling.
It is best described by the aid of the accompanying drawings, which show my
most improved form of fork as actually placed upon the market.. I do not however
bind myself to this exact arrangement, as the wires themselves could be so twisted
as to form both hooks and springs. In practice however I prefer the herein-
described form.
In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 an end
elevation of a toasting fork constructed according to this invention.
In these A is the handle preferably of pot, wood, or other poorly conducting
substance. B bar connecting handle with the fork. C stirrup. D cross bar
secured in stirrup bearings E E by means of bead F and nut G. The nut can be
fixed, if desired, by being drilled, and a pin driven in. In practice however, Ihave
not found so far any necessity for this.-H-H-two small brackets having bearings I
working freely on the bar D, handles J and tongues K, the latter acting as guard
plates to spring L, though they are not absolutely necessary. M M M M are four
hooks screwed into tapped holes in bearings I and serving to hold the material to
be toasted.
The spring L is tempered and shaped so as naturally to hold the hooks in
the position shown, if however the handles J be pressed together by the finger
and thumb, the spring is forcibly distorted or compressed and the hooks take the
position shown in dots in Figure 1, leaving room for the material to be toasted, to
be placed between them. On releasing the pressure, the hooks fly forward and
bite into the material.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The bread being placed in position, the handle is held horizontally and the bread
allowed to hang down vertically from the end, in front of the fire. When one side
is done, the handle is brought nearly to the vertical position, and turned over to
stand out horizontally, the bread swings round and the other side is exposed to the
fire. When the cook desires to toast several pieces or use several of the holding
appliances at one and the same time, a frame or support of iron, wire, or other
material may be provided which may be hung from the bars of the grate or
supported from the hearth, fender or other suitable place. The body of each
support or frame may be made in one piece of square iron, the two ends of which
are formed into hooks to engage with the bars of the grate or provided with feet or

page_text: rests to support it from the ground. One or more spring clips are attached to this
frame by means of which the handle bar or shank of the toasting fork is held. The
cook sets one in position, then another, then perhaps a third, then turns over
the first while the other two are toasting. A stand with clips used in this way
obviates the necessity of the cook holding the fork all the while, and being toasted
his or herself while toasting the bread.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. A toasting apparatus, grasping the bread or other article to be toasted, by
spring actuated grappling hooks or their equivalent, taking hold of the edge at
each side, substantially as described.
2nd. A toasting apparatus in which the attachment to which the article to
be toasted is attached to the article on each side thereof, and is suspended so
as to be capable of swivelling about a centre or turning over relatively to the
handle so that without handling the material or disconnecting it from the apparatus,
it can be turned over and the other side toasted, substantially as described.
3rd. The apparatus for toasting with or without clip supports, substantially
as herein described.