AN IMPROVED CASE OR TUBE FOR HOLDING PAINT, OIL, CONDENSED MILK, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED CASE OR TUBE FOR HOLDING PAINT, OIL, CONDENSED MILK,
OR SIMILAR MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Frank Root
Grout, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED CASE OR TUBE FOR HOLDING
PAINT, OIL, CONDENSED MILK OR SIMILAR MATERIALS." [A communication from
abroad by Frank Root Grout, of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.]
The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and serviceable case or
tube for holding paint, oil, ointment, cosmetics, condensed milk or other materials
but is more especially designed for paint of which small portions are required for
use from time to time, while the remainder is preferably kept enclosed, the said
case or tubo being so constructed that when it is discharged as set forth, it may be
refilled and further used in the manner hereinafter described.
It is well known that the cases, and tubes in common use, are thrown away as
worthless when their contents are removed. Not only are the cases themselves
necessarily lost, but, when the contents are not immediately used, they become
wasted or impaired by dust and atmospheric contact.
By the use of my improved case, I am enabled to use such portion of the
contents as may be required from time to time, and preserve the remainder intact,
until the entire contents are exhausted when the case or tube may be refilled an
indefinite number of times.
The said Invention consists in a cylindrical tube or case formed from metal,
porcelain, glass, china, or other suitable material, but preferably of sheet metal
having a screw thread cut, pressed, or otherwise suitably formed upon its surface,
preferably throughout the entire length of the same, the bottom consisting

page_text: preferably of cork, screwed into the lower end of the tube and fitting closely into
the screw threads and forming a follower, which, upon being turned, as hereinafter
described, forces the contents of the case or tubo upward through the orifice or
outlet thereof in proportion as the follower is moved.
The follower is preferably made of cork or other elastic substance and con-
structed of sufficient thickness to give it the necessary strength and provided with
a metallic cap having a central slot cut therein and secured to the cork by prongs,
by screws, or by other suitable fastenings. The said follower is inserted in the
lower end of the tube, and the latter being filled with paint or other such
substance, a driver may be inserted in the slot whereby the follower may be forced
inward as far as may be desired thus expelling any part or all of its contents.
Instead of the slot a thumb piece or a projection for insertion into the socket of a
socket-wrench may be used but I prefer the slot as being suited to any screw-
driver. In place of the cap any other suitable device for engagement with the
follower may be adopted.
The case may have a stationary removable cap at the bottom calculated to hold
the end from collapsing and having a central aperture through which the follower
may be reached by means of a driver.
The follower instead of being made of cork, may be a short cylinder of wood
with a screw-thread turned around its side; and, if preferred, a packing of felt or
other suitable material may be used in connection therewith. This, or some other
such variation may be used to advantage in cases of large diameter. In such case,
a follower or bottom may be made with a projection or slot therein; thus avoiding
the necessity for the use of the metal plate or cap.
In constructing the top of cases for ordinary purposes I attach a nipple with any
suitable cap or other arrangement for closing the same. Instead of the nipple and
cap a nozzle may be attached; in which case the tube or case may be used in
place of the ordinary oil-can; its advantages being that a fixed amount of oil may
be discharged; thus preventing a waste of oil and securing a more uniform and
certain lubrication of machinery where it is used.
When the body of the case is formed from wood, glass, porcelain, earthen or
stone ware, or other such material, if preferred the screw-thread may be formed
wholly within the interior of the cylinder; leaving the exterior thereof plain or in
any form desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED CASE OR TUBE FOR HOLDING
PAINT, OIL CONDENSED MILK OR SIMILAR MATERIALS A communication from
abroad by Frank Root Grout of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
"
The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and serviceable, case or
tube for holding paint, oil, ointment, cosmetics, condensed milk, and the like, but it
is more especially designed for paint, of which small portions are required for use
from time to time while the remainder is preferably kept enclosed. The said case or
tube is so constructed that, when discharged as set forth, it may be refilled and
again used in the manner hereinafter described.
As is well known, the cases and tubes in common use are thrown away as worth-
less when their contents are exhausted, and not only are the tubes themselves useless,
but, when the contents are not immediately used, they become wasted or impaired
by dust and atmospheric contact.
By the use of my improved case or tube I am enabled to use such portions of
the contents as may be required from time to time and preserve the remainder
intact until the entire contents use exhausted, when the case or tube may be
refilled.
The said invention consists essentially in a cylindrical tube or case of metal,
porcelain, glass, china or other suitable materal, but preferably of sheet metal, having
a screw thread cut, pressed, or otherwise formed upon its internal surface, preferably
throughout the entire length of the same; the bottom consisting preferably of
cork, is screwed into the lower end of the tube, and fitting closely into the screw-
threads forms a follower, which, upon being turned, as hereinafter described, forces
the contents of the case or tube through the orifice or outlet thereof in proportion
to the distance it is moved.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an clevation of an improved case or tube constructed according to
this invention a portion being broken away to show the follower.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the follower
Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of a cap which is applied to the follower
to engage the latter with a suitable device or key.
In carrying this invention into practice I provide a case or tube A made of sheet
metal or other suitable material and having the screw threads a formed therein. I
also provide a follower B, preferably made of cork or other elastic substance and
constructed of sufficient thickness to give it the necessary strength; the said follower
is provided with a metallic cap C having a central slot c cut therein, and is secured
to the follower by prongs d, d, screws, or other suitable fastenings. The follower B
is inserted into the lower end of the case or tube, the latter being filled with paint
or other such substance; a driver is inserted into the slot c whereby the said follower
may be screwed inward as far as desired, thus expelling any portion, or the whole,
of the contents of the said tube. Instead of the slot c, a thumb-piece, or a projec
tion for insertion into the socket of a socket-wrench, may be used as indicated in
figure 4 but I prefer the slot o as being suited to receive an ordinary screw-driver.
In place of the cap C any other suitable device for engagement with the follower
may be adopted.
The case or tube may have a removable cap at the bottom calculated to prevent

page_text: the end from collapsing and having a central aperture through which the follower
may be moved by means of a driver.
The follower B, instead of being made of cork may be a short cylinder of wood
with a screw-thread cut upon it, and, if preferred, a packing of felt or other suitable
material may be used in connection therewith. This, or some other similar variation
may be used with advantage in cases or tubes of large diameter. When the follower
is made from wood the bottom may be formed with a projection or slot, thus
avoiding the use of the metal cap C.
In constructing the tops of cases or tubes for ordinary purposes, I attach a
nipple D with any suitable cap or other arrangement for closing the same. Instead
of the nipple and cap, a nozzle may be attached; in which case the tube or case
may be used in place of the ordinary oil-can; its advantages being that a fixed
amount of oil may be discharged; thus preventing a waste of the same and securing
a more uniform and certain lubrication of machinery where it is used.
When the body of the case is formed from wood, glass, porcelain, earthen or stone
ware, or other similar materials, if preferred the screw spiral or thread may be
formed wholly within the interior of the cylinder leaving the exterior thereof plain
or in any form desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim-
.
A case or tube provided in the body thereof with an internal screw-thread
into which is fitted a bottom or follower provided with means for engaging a
driver or other device, whereby the said follower may be moved forward and the
contents of the tube discharged, substantially as described, and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof 1 the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one