AN IMPROVED SHUTTER FOR MILK BOX
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emile Tètard, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, at Paris,
.
Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SHUTTER FOR MILK BOX."
Sealed the 31st January 1879, and dated the 19th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emile Tètard at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1878.
EMILE TETARD, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, at Paris, Gentleman. "AN
IMPROVED SHUTTER FOR MILK BOX."
This Invention relates to means of closing under seal vessels containing milk or
other liquids, so as to prevent their contents from being adulterated or otherwise
tampered with, or to detect such tampering.
According to this Invention a vessel, such as an earthenware jar, is fitted with an
earthenware cover, having a washer of caoutchouc or other soft packing material to
make a tight joint at its edge. The top of the jar has a lip, under which is secured
a metal ring having two projecting side eyes, to which is hooked the bow or handle
for carrying the vessel. The ring has also an eye projecting upwards on the one
side, and a staple projecting forwards on the opposite side. A metal bar extending
across the cover is hooked at the one end to the said eye, and has at its other end
hooked to it a loop, which engages on the staple.
Between the cross bar and the cover of the jar is a helical spring on a pin which
projects upwards from the cover, and has a collar at the top to retain th helical
spring, for which a blade spring might be substituted.
When the vessel has been charged, the cover is put in its place; the cross bar is
then pressed down till its loop engages on the staple, and the pressure is transferred
elastically through the spring to the cover, making tight its joint to the vessel. A
short piece of cord is then passed through the eye of the staple, and its ends are
sealed together by lead or wax, and thus, unless the seal be broken, all access to the
interior of the vessel is prevented.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Emile Tètard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1879.
EMILE TETARD, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23, at Paris, Gentleman.
IMPROVED SHUTTER FOR MILK BOX."
ff 'AN
This Invention relates to means of closing under seal vessels containing milk or
other liquids, so as to prevent their contents from being adulterated or otherwise
tampered with, or to detect such tampering.
According to this Invention a vessel, such as an earthenware jar, is fitted with an
earthenware cover, having a washer of caoutchouc or other soft packing material to
make a tight joint to its edge. The top of the jar has a lip, under which is secured
a metal ring having two projecting side eyes, to which is hooked the bow or handle
for carrying the vessel. The ring has also an eye projecting upwards on the one
side, and a staple projecting forwards on the opposite side. A metal bar extending
across the cover is hooked at the one end to the said eye, and has at its other end
hooked to it a loop, which engages on the staple.
Between the cross bar and the cover of the jar is a helical spring on a pin, which
projects upwards from the cover, and has a collar at the top to retain the helical
spring, for which a blade spring might be substituted.
When the vessel has been charged, the cover is put in its place; the cross bar is
then pressed down till its loop engages on the staple, and the pressure is transferred
elastically through the spring to the cover, making tight its joint to the vessel. A
short piece of cord is then passed through the eye of the staple, and its ends are
sealed together by lead or wax, and thus, unless the seal be broken, all access to the
interior of the vessel is prevented.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is partly an elevation, and partly a vertical section of a vessel provided
with the before-described means of closing the same.
Fig. 2 is a plan; and Fig. 3 is a front view, shewing the loop and staple with the
sealed cord.
The vessel a is generally made of earthenware, and is of the usual shape, with
only its upper part modified. It terminates as usual with a projecting lip, below
which I fit a ring b of tin plate soldered. This ring has two eyes b', 6', to which
is hooked the bow handle c; it has also the eye e and staple f; these four appendages
are cast or soldered on the ring.
The earthenware disc d, which forms the lid or cover, is provided with a central
rod p, carrying the helical spring g, which is kept on by the collar at the end of the
P. A flat blade spring might be substituted for the helical spring, the function
in either case being to render elastic the pressure exerted by the locking bar h..
rod
The bar h, of cast or malleable iron, has in its middle a hole o for the passage of
the head of the rod p, and bears directly on the spring. Its ends are bent to the
form of rings, the one i jointing with the eye e, projecting from the ring b, and the
other j jointing with the end of the loop k. The latter by its hole / engages on the
staple projecting from the ring b.
The various pieces combined, as shewn, act as follows in the opening or closing of
the vessel For closing it the lid d is put on the mouth of the vessel along with
the bar h, which is connected to the lid. By pressing down the bar the spring is
sufficiently compressed to permit the loop k to engage on the staple f. It then only
remains to pass the cord through the eye r of the staple, and to join its two ends by
the lead, as shewn.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use for closing milk jars of a stopper or cover, connected by a pin to a

page_text: cross bar or plate that is hinged at one end to an eye on a metal ring secured to the
neck of the jar, and is provided at its other end with a looped link, which is passed
over a staple on the said ring, and is secured thereon, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. In the appliance for closing milk jars, set forth in the preceding claim,
arranging the pin of the stopper to slide loosely on the cross bar, and providing a
spring between the stopper and cross bar, whereby the former is pressed down on
its seat with an elastic pressure, substantially as herein described.
Third. The use for securing the stopper and cross bar referred to in the preceding
claims, of a metal ring secured to the neck of the jar, and having at opposite sides
respectively an eye and a staple for securing the cross bar, and also other opposite
eyes for securing a handle, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emile Tètard, have hereunto set my band and
seal, this Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
JULES ARMENGAUD, jeune,
Of Paris,
Boulevard de Strasbourg,
Civil Engineer.
EMILE TETARD. (L.S.)