Improvements in connection with Attaching Milk Cans to House Doors, combining therewith an Indicating Device.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Attaching Milk Cans to House
Doors, combining therewith an Indicating Device.
I, HENRY WILLIAM TOWNSEND of 75, Commercial Street, Newport, Mon,
Ironmonger 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 a device to be employed in connection with milk cans by
means of which they can be secured to house doors, gates or the like, working upon
hinges, pivots, or sliding in and out of position, an indicating device being also
supplied by which the quantity of milk required can be indicated.
I provide on the door, gate, or other article a locking arrangement consisting of
a recessed plate secured by means of a screw and nut or other suitable device.
The door and plate are furnished with a hole preferably of square form to receive
a projection or stud on the milk can.
At one side of the plate an opening is made behind which indicating numbers can
appear showing the quantity of milk required.
According to a suitable arrangement the indicator consists of a square plate with
rounded corners, pivoted at the centre. On this plate numbers are marked at
each side so that as the plate is turned different numbers can appear behind
the opening. Projections are also formed close to each corner which extend
beyond the edge of the cover plate and enable the indicator to be turned by a
finger.
This indicating plate engages with a drop bolt or latch, one end of which can
fall behind the square perforation. On turning the indicating plate one of the
projections causes the latch to be lifted out of the way releasing it again on further
turning.
The milk can is provided with a projection or stud extending from its face
and adapted to enter the square hole in the plate. This projection is formed
with a notch or groove on its upper side into which the edge of the latch can drop,
thus securing the can to the door.
Two small studs may also be furnished one at the front of the lid and the
other below the main projection. These studs enter into small perforations in
the plate and prevent the lid being raised. The indicator cannot be turned
when the door is closed, the side of indicating plate fitting against the post or
jamb, the projecting portion being hidden behind the rebate of the door frame
or jamb which operates the indicator and locks the whole in position.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of a door fitted with my improvement, Fig. 1^ is a cross
section of part of the same,
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are respectively a front view, a side elevation, and a vertical
section of the locking arrangement,
Figs. 5 to 9 are detail views of portions of the locking device and
Fig. 10 is a view of a milk can.
On the front of the door A the plate B is fitted at such a distance from the edge
of the door upon the hinge side, that when the door is closed the side of plate Band
indicating plate C fits or rests closely against the door frame a. The plate is
furnished with a hollow boss b at the back extending into the recess in the door.

page_text: To secure the plate in position a screw 6' is employed projecting through the
door to the back and furnished with a nut 6 screwing the parts firmly in place.
The plate is furnished with the holes or perforations 6 and the former being of
square shape and opening into the hollow boss. The perforation 64 serves for
indicating purposes, the indicating plate C being situated behind it. This plate is
of square form and is pivoted centrally at e to the plate B, the numbers being
arranged around the sides. Thus on turning it around its centre the numbers may
be brought successively behind the perforation 6* indicating the number of pints or
quarts of milk required to be left.
On one side of this indicator the latch plate D is carried supported by the pin d
passing through the slot d', the latter allowing of a vertical motion. This latch is
furnished with the square notch d² the upper edge of which can project through a
slot in the boss b.
The
The latch is raised out of operative position by means of the indicating plate, the
latter being furnished with projections c which can engage with the latch at one
end. The extremity of the latch after the plate has been turned retains the latter
in the proper position as shown in Fig. 2 bearing upon it at the upper corner.
projections c¹ on the indicating plate extend beyond the side so that the plate can be
turned by the finger. These projections are covered by the rebate of the door
frame a which is furnished with a small recess a¹ to receive the projections as shown
in Fig. 1. The milk can E is furnished with the projection F of square form
adapted to enter the hole 63. This projection is formed with the notch or groove
on its upper surface into which the edge of the latch can drop. Thus on pressing
the projection into the recess, it will be at once locked in position, the hollow boss
fitting it closely and preventing the can shaking. The lid is also furnished with
the small stud f1 and a small stud / may be placed on the can, these studs entering
into holes or perforations 65 in the plate B. The lid cannot be raised after the can
has been placed in position owing to the stud f1.
When no milk is required the indicator may be turned so as to present a cypher
behind the opening and a small bolt G may also be employed adapted to fit into
the recess and secured by means of the groove g and the latch. This bolt prevents
a can being secured and may also have the word "No" marked upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) Improvements in attaching milk cans to doors and the like, consisting of a
grooved stud on the can, a latch on the door, adapted to engage the stud secured
on closing the door, and an indicating device giving the quantity of milk
required, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(2) In means for attaching milk cans to doors and the like, the combination with
a grooved stud on the can, of a plate fitted to the door, furnished with a hole to
receive the stud, a latch adapted to engage the said stud secured ou closing the
door, and an indicating plate adapted to raise the latch and release the can,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) In means for securing milk cans to doors and the like, the combination with
a grooved stud on the can, of a plate fitted to the door and carrying a locking
mechanism, recess to receive the stud, a latch adapted to engage with the same, and
an indicating plate serving to raise the latch and furnished with projecting portions
by which it is operated adapted to be concealed in a recess in the rebate of the door
frame when the door is closed, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(4) In a means for securing milk cans to doors and the like, the combination
with a locking device on the door provided with suitable recesses in the door
frame, of a grooved projection on the can and a small stud on the latch retained in
the said recesses, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(5) The improved appliances for securing milk caus to doors and the like,

page_text: constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 14th day of February 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.