IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE LIDS OR COVERS OF TEAPOTS, Jugs, AND OTHER LIKE VESSELS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bates, of Dale Hall, Burslem, in the
County of Stafford, Pottery Ware Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE LIDS OR COVERS OF TEAPOTS, Jugs,
AND OTHER LIKE VESSELS."
Sealed the 3rd June 1873, and dated the 8th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bates at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April 1873.
I, WILLIAM BATES, of Dale Hall, Burslem, in the County of Stafford,
Pottery Ware Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE LIDS OR COVERS OF TEAPOTS, JUGS,
AND OTHER LIKE VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of the loose covers of teapots, jugs, and other like vessels of earthen-
ware, china, pewter, silver, and other material, with a view to preventing
such covers from falling off when the vessel is inclined, as in the act of
pouring out its contents.

page_text: According to this Invention I make an annular groove in the pro-
jecting part of the lid or cover which enters the mouth or opening
of the vessel, the lower rim or flange of such annular groove being
just large enough to pass or enter the said mouth of the vessel. This
mouth or opening is flanged internally, such flange entering the groove
in the front part and sides of the lid when the vessel is tilted sufficiently
to cause the lid to slide, and thereby preventing the lid from falling off.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Bates in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BATES, of Dale Hall, Burslem, in the County of Stafford, Pottery Ware
Manufacturer, send greeting.
Eighth day of April, in the year
hundred and seventy-three, in the
Herself, Her heirs and successors,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the
of our Lord One thousand eight
36th year of Her reign, did, for
give and grant unto me, the said William Bates, Her special license
that I, the said William Bates, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Bates, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SECURING THE LIDS OB COVERS of Teapots, Jugs, and OTHER LIKE VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Bates,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
AR
TATE
17

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of the loose covers of teapots, jugs, and other like vessels of earthen-
ware, china, pewter, silver, and other material, with a view to preventing
such covers from falling off when the vessel is inclined, as in the act of
pouring out its contents.
According to this Invention I make an annular groove in the lid
or cover, which groove enters into or fits over the mouth or opening
of the vessel, the lower rim or flange of such annular groove when
inserted into the mouth of the vessel being just large enough to pass
or enter the said mouth. This mouth or opening is flanged internally
or externally, according as the groove in the lid is placed inside or
outside the mouth, such flange entering the groove in the lid when the
vessel is tilted sufficiently to cause the lid to slide, and thereby preventing
the lid from falling off.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
Figure 1 of which represents a sectional perspective view of so much
of a teapot and its lid as is necessary to illustrate one form of my present
Invention.
a is the body of a teapot or other like vessel; 6 is the loose lid or
cover; c is the annular groove made in the projecting part thereof,
and d is the flange forming the bottom side of such groove; e is the
internal flange or projection made in the interior of the mouth of the
vessel, and of a thickness to admit of its readily entering the annular
groove c in the projecting part of the lid. The size of the mouth or
opening of the vessel should be just sufficient to permit of the flange d
of the lid passing easily through it when putting on the lid or cover.
On tilting the vessel in the act of pouring the lid will slide forward
slightly, and its groove c will engage with the internal flange or pro-
jection e, thereby locking the lid and preventing it from falling off.
If desired the flange or projection e need only extend round the
front part of the mouth or opening, in lieu of extending entirely

page_text: round, as shewn in my Drawings, and should the lid be of an oval
shape the groove c need only be formed on its front end to lock
with the projection e; or in lieu of a continuous groove one or more
snugs or projections might be formed on the front or other part of the
lid, so as to slide under the flange or projection when tilted, thereby
locking the lid or cover in its place for the time being.
Figure 2 shews a modified arrangement wherein the groove c in the
lid is made to fit outside the mouth of the vessel, which is formed with
an external flange e. The flange d of the lid should be so made as to
pass easily over the flange e on the vessel when putting on or removing
the lid. On tilting the vessel the lid will slide forward slightly, and
will be locked at the higher side of the mouth with the flange e.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the com-
bination of a groove or its equivalent in the loose lid of a teapot,
jug, or other similar vessel, with an internal or external flange or
projection in or on the mouth of the said vessel when arranged to
operate together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bates, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
B. M. GREENWOOD,
17, Bleak St.,
Burslem.
Wч. BATES. (L.S.)