IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING LIDS FOR CLARET AND OTHER JUGS AND VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jolin and Benjamin Adkins, of the Firm of Adkins &
Sons, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Electro-plate Manufacturers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING LIDS FOR CLARET AND
OTHER JUGS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th June 1878, and dated the 17th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John and Benjamin Adkins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
JOHN and BENJAMIN ADKINS, of the Firm of Adkins & Sons, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Electro-plate Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING LIDS FOR CLARET AND OTHER JUGS AND VESSELS."
The object of this Invention is to make the lids of claret and hot water jugs and
other vessels requiring lids or covers open when the vessel is slightly tilted, or by
the action of one hand without even tilting the vessel. This we accomplish in the
following ways: We hang the handle to the top of the jug or other vessel on a
strong hinge or pivot, which allows the handle to move quite freely, the distance
travelled being controlled by a guard fixed under the pivot or at any other suitable:
position. A little above this pivot the lid of the vessel is hinged by two pins, one
passing into the hinge from each side, really forming two small hinges in a line;
with each other, or one pin passed through both sides. From the upper part of the
handle is a projection fitting between these two hinges or over the single pin, and
so formed as to bear when slightly turned against the edge of the lid below its.
centre, and by this means any movement of the handle or the body of the vessel,
lifts the lid up so as to allow the contents to come out.
In other cases we hang the lid on the same pivot as the handle, and arrange the;
projection on the handle to bear against a corresponding one fixed in any convenient.
position, but under the lid by preference, and thus the lid is opened by the slightest.
movement of the vessel or handle.
In some cases we form or attach to the handle a finger projecting above the lid,
and which comes in contact with a corresponding piece on the lid, causing it to open

page_text: by the before-mentioned movement of the handle; and in other cases a separate
lever would be attached to move instead of the handle, and in such cases the lid
could be lifted by squeezing the lever and handle together without tilting the jug.
It will be thus seen that by hinging the handle a simple movement is obtained,
which we apply in various ways, as those before described and other modifications,
for the purpose of lifting the lid by the action of tilting the jug or squeezing.or
moving the handle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John and Benjamin Adkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1878.
JOHN and BENJAMIN ADKINS, of the Firm of Henry Adkins and Sons, of Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, Electro-plate Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SELF-ACTING LIDS FOR CLARET AND OTHER JUGS AND VESSELS."
The object of this Invention is to make the lids of claret and hot water jugs and
other vessels requiring lids or covers open when the vessel is slightly tilted, or by
the action of one hand without even tilting the vessel. This we accomplish in the
following ways: We hang the handle to the top of the jug or other vessel on a
strong hinge or pivot, which allows the handle to move quite freely, the distance
travelled being controlled by a guard fixed under the pivot or at any other suitable
position. A little above this pivot the lid of the vessel is hinged by two pins, one
passing into the hinge from each side, really forming two small hinges in a line.
with each other, or one pin passed through both sides. From the upper part of the
handle is a projection fitting between these two hinges or over. the single pin, and
so formed as to bear when slightly turned against the edge of the lid below its
centre, and by this means any movement of the handle or the body of the vessel
lifts the lid up so as to allow the contents to come out.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a jug in its
upright position with the lid closed, while. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the same jug.
tilted, showing the positions the handle and the lid take while the liquid is being.
poured out.
The letter A shows the lid hinge, and B the centre on which the handle is.
bung. The guard for controlling the travel of the handle is seen at c, c, c, c. The
section through A, B, shows the pin A in two lengths, thus allowing the projection
on the handle to work between the two ends of the lid hinge.
In some cases we accomplish the same object by hanging the handle on the lid
pivot, as shown by Figure 6, the projection on the handle and the lid meeting at d..
A little liberty vertically is left in the pivot hole through the handle, which allows
a slight upward movement and freedom for the lifting of the lid. This Figure 6,
also illustrates another kind of guard for controlling the travel of the handle,
which is effected by soldering or otherwise forming a box e, the bottom part meeting
.

page_text: the under side of the handle when the lid is sufficiently open. It will be seen that
the lid is opened by the slightest movement of the vessel or handle. This guard
may be attached to any of the other designs.
In other cases the lid is lifted and controlled by projecting pieces, as shown by
Figure 7, where f is the projection above the lid for confining the movement of the
handle, and g the projection under the lid, corresponding with another on the handle
for lifting the lid.
Where preferred a separate lever could be hinged to the handle, the handle being
stationary.
Figure 8 illustrates a jug with a fast handle, and a loose lever h hinged to the
handle by the pivot i, so that by squeezing the lever to the handle the lid would be
lifted even before the jug is tilted.
Figure 5 shows a jug with the handle hinged nearer its centre, for the purpose of
illustrating the facility with which the hinge may be accommodated to the design
of various vessels.
It will be thus seen that by hingeing the handle a simple movement is obtained,
which we apply in various ways, as those before described and other modifications,
for the purpose of lifting the lid by the action of tilting the jug or squeezing or
moving the handle.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not limit ourselves
to the details herein described, and illustrated, as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of our Invention, but we do claim as our Invention of
"Improvements in Self-acting Lids of Claret and other Jugs and Vessels," lifting
the lids of vessels by means of a movement obtained by hingeing the handle on a
pivot, and as shown.
In witness whereof, we, the said John and Benjamin Adkins, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Witnessed by
THOMAS HIPWOOD,
Clerk to George Barker,
Patent Agent,
27, Colmore Row,
Birmingham.
JOHN ADKINS.
(L.S.)
BENJAMIN ADKINS. (L.S.)