IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGED LIDS OR COVERS FOR BOXES, DISHES, PLATES,. BASKETS, AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES, AND IN THE HANDLES AND HINGES THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Meeson, of the Firm of Meeson and Green, of
Sheffield, in the County of York, Electroplate Manufacturers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGED LIDS OR COVERS FOR BOXES, DISHES, PLATES,.
BASKETS, AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES, AND IN THE HANDLES AND HINGES
THEREFOR”
Sealed the 19th March 1880, and dated the 24th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Meeson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1879.
JAMES MEESON, of the Firm of Meeson and Green, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Electroplate Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGED LIDS OR COVERS.
FOR BOXES, DISHES, PLATES, BASKETS, AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES, AND IN THE
HANDLES AND HINGES THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to a mode or modes of combining and arranging the hinged
lids or covers, handles, and hinges of boxes, dishes, plates, baskets, and other like.
receptacles, whereby facility is afforded for opening or closing such lids or covers in
separate halves or segments by the action of the handle, whilst the hinge itself in
some cases serves the purpose of a handle.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I make the cover in two
halves, hinged together in the centre, the hinge itself constituting the handle for
the cover or the receptacle, as the case may be, and being provided or not with short
arms or projections ornamented or otherwise, and so arranged that on pressing the
same either half of the cover will be opened, leaving the other half closed; or a bow
or other shaped handle may be attached to the hinge pin, and be provided with
studs or projections arranged to press against either half of the hinge, and thereby
open either portion of the cover required by merely moving the handle to one side
or the other; or lateral studs or projections may be so combined with a swinging
handle that they will bear against the halves of the lid or cover itself, and open one
or the other, according to the direction in which the handle is moved.
By making the lids or covers in two parts, hinged together and capable of opening
separately, facility is given for placing a partition across the receptacle at the part
where the two halves join, thus dividing the contents of the receptacle. If desired,
the half covers may be opened by simply lifting them from below by hand, suitable
projections being provided on the rim for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Meeson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd March
1880.
JAMES MEESON, of the Firm of Meeson and Green, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Electroplate Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGED LIDS OR COVERS |
FOR BOXES, DISHES, PLATES, BASKETS, AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES, AND IN THE
HANDLES AND HINGES THEREFOR."
My said Invention relates to certain improved modes of combining and arranging
together the handles, hinges, and covers of boxes, baskets, dishes, bowls, and other
receptacles having double or divided hinged lids or covers, whereby means are
afforded for carrying the receptacles and for strengthening the same, also for opening
or closing the lids or covers in separate halves or segments by the action of the
handle, whilst in some cases the hinge itself serves the purpose of a handle for
carrying the receptacle or the cover, as the case may be.
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 several
Figures on the explanatory sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is an elevation partly in section showing one mode of
applying my Invention to vegetable, steak, chop, bacon, butter, and marmalade
dishes, and other like receptacles, one lid being shown fully open; Figure 2 is an
elevation at right angles to Figure 1 showing both lids closed, aud Figure 3 is a
plan of the combined hinge and handle corresponding to Figure 1, and showing the
knuckles of the binge slightly separated for greater clearness.
A is the dish or receptacle; B is a strengthening or bridge piece extending across
the receptacle and secured thereto on opposite sides, as at a, a; C, C, are two lids
or half covers hinged together across the centre. The bridge B carries the uprights
b, b, through which the hinge pin c is passed. To each half cover or lid there is
secured a hinge bearer d, d', on which are formed the hinge knuckles e, e, and e¹, e¹,
corresponding respectively thereto, the bearers d, d', being sufficiently elevated and
so shaped as that the said parts shall form a combined hinge and handle, as shown
more clearly at Figures 1 and 2. The two hinged lids or half covers C, C³, when
closed, meet together underneath the bridge or strengthening piece B, whilst their
outer edges rest upon the rim of the said receptacle. Upon each of the said knuckles
e, e¹, of the hinge there is fitted or formed a lever or suitable handle or knob ƒ ƒ¹,
more or less ornamented according to taste, by turning either of which in one direc-
tion or the other the corresponding lid C or C¹ will be opened or closed. Figure 4
is a slight modification of the arrangement last described, wherein in lieu of the
levers or knobs f,f¹, fixed on the opposite end knuckles of the hinge I have shown a
single central lever or handle f, forming part of a loose knuckle g, mounted on the
hinge pin c, a short arm or projection h being formed on the underside of the said
knuckle so as to lie between the two raised bearers d, d', of the combined hinge and
handle, as shown in end elevation in Figure 5. A plan of this combined hinge and
handle is shown in Figure 6, corresponding to Figure 4. B is the strengthening
bridge piece; b, b, the fixed supports or standards mounted thereon and carrying the
hinge pin c; e, e, and e', e¹, are the hinge knuckles of the two upright bearers d, d¹,
attached to the lids C, C¹. By pressing the knob or lever f backwards or forwards
the projection h will press outwards against one or other of the hinge bearers d, d¹,
and will cause the corresponding lid to be lifted or opened on its hinge.
. By making the lids or covers in two parts hinged together across the centre of

page_text: the receptacle, and capable of opening separately, facility is afforded for placing a
partition across the receptacle at the part where the two lids join, so as to divide
the contents of the said receptacle. If desired, the half covers may be opened by
simply lifting them by hand, suitable projections being in such case provided on the
rim of each cover for that purpose; but I do not claim this separately as part of my
Invention.
In some cases I secure to the ends of a swinging handle G disposed outside the
receptacle two end knuckles g,g, each carrying studs or projections h (see Figure 7),
and forming, for the sake of neatness of appearance, a continuation of the knuckles
of the hinge itself. The said studs or projections h are disposed between the two
bearers d, d', so that on moving the handle G backwards or forwards upon the hinge
pin the projections will, by pressing against either of the bearers, cause the
corresponding lid to open.
Figure 8 is an end elevation and partial section showing the application of another
modification of my Invention to a biscuit caddie, the same being equally applicable
to fruit baskets, butter dishes, ladies' work boxes and baskets, coal scuttles, and the
like; Figure 9 is a corresponding side elevation, and Figure 10 is a plan of the
same, the handle being cut away to show the hinges more clearly. A is the box or
receptacle; B, the strengthening bridge piece attached at a, a, to the ends of the
same, and having formed upon its upper edge the fixed portion or knuckle b of the
hinge for the reception of the hinge pin c; e, e, and e', e¹, are the moveable knuckles
of the hinge attached respectively to the two lids C, C. Attached to the ends of
the swinging handle G, which are situate outside the receptacle, are two end knuckles
9, g, passing through the ends of the receptacle itself, and provided inside with
projecting arms or studs h which fit close underneath the bearers of the hinges, in
this case attached beneath the covers or lids. The handle G, being entirely outside
the receptacle, is free to be pressed backwards or forwards for the purpose of
opening or closing either of the lids or covers, as indicated by the dotted lines
in Figure 8, without the necessity for providing slots or openings in the said
lids to permit of the free movement of the handle. I would here observe that I do
not claim generally the use of studs or projections in connection with a swinging
handle for the purpose of opening the lids of receptacles, as I am aware that the
double or divided hinged lids of fancy pin baskets have been opened by means of a
moveable handle in connection with studs or projections acting against the said lids,
but in the arrangement referred to it was necessary to provide slots or openings in
the lids to allow the handle to work through them, which are unsightly and not
suitable for the purposes of my Invention, and I therefore dispense with the same.
I am also aware that it has been proposed to make a coal-scuttle or box with a
single lid opening and closing by the action of a swinging handle, but in neither of
these cases is there any independent support for the hinge and receptacle similar to
or in substitution for the bridge or strengthening piece in my arrangements.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, 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 hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination with dishes, plates, baskets, and other like receptacles
provided with double or divided hinged covers of raised hinges constituting handles
with a bridge or strengthening piece attached to the said receptacle, and with or
without arms or projections for opening or closing either of the lids at will, substan-
tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 6
of my Drawings.
Second. The peculiar combination and arrangement of hinge and bridge or
strengthening piece with outside swinging handles carrying studs or projections for
opening or closing the lids in connection with dishes, boxes, baskets, and other like

page_text: receptacles provided with double or divided hinged lids or covers, as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 7 to 10 of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Meeson, have hereunto set my hand and
.seal, this Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
JAMES MEESON. (L.S.)