IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVING AND MORE CONVENIENT USE OF UNGUENTS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Murdoch Napier, of the York Road,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVING AND MORE CONVENIENT USE
OF UNGUENTS."
Sealed the 15th May 1868, and dated the 28th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Murdoch Napier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th November 1867.
I, JAMES MURDOCH NAPIER, of the York Road, Lambeth, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVING AND MORE CONVENIENT USE OF
UNGUENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the preservation of unguents or ointments
from the effects of exposure to the atmosphere and from dust and dirt during
their use, and the employment of apparatus by the aid of which such
substances may be more conveniently used than at present. It is well known
that unguents, such as the ointments termed pomades, pomatums, and salves, as
well as other unguents or ointments, are at present placed for use in pots,

page_text: bottles, and boxes, which it is necessary to uncover by removing a lid or
stopper large enough to permit the insertion of the finger or a suitable instru-
ment in order to get out the required quantity. This inconvenient process
and the consequent exposure of the unguents are avoided by my Invention,
which consists of providing vessels for containing unguents with an aperture
or orifice of limited size through which the unguents contained in such vessels
may be forced and presented in a manner convenient for removal by the finger
or otherwise. The force necessary to eject the unguent from the vessel
through the orifice may be applied upon a piston or plunger suited to the
vessel. The direct pressure of the hand upon the piston or plunger may be
used to eject the unguent, and the necessary pressure may be exerted through
the means of a lever, screw, or other mechanical arrangement. A spring
may also be used when preferred, which having been compressed or wound
up may expend its force against the piston or plunger so as to eject or assist
in ejecting the unguent through the orifice, such orifice or the channel leading
thereto being in this case opened and closed at pleasure by means of
a suitable valve. The vessels for containing unguents may be formed
and arranged so as to separate from that part of the apparatus which is used
for forcing the unguent out through the aperture or orifice in the vessel so
that a number of such vessels containing various unguents may successively
be used in conjunction with a forcing apparatus, the vessel being changed
when empty for a full vessel of the same description; the apparatus may also
have its own peculiar vessel, which will not be changed but refilled when
emptied; such a vessel may be made more costly and ornamental than those
which are set aside or changed after they are emptied. The piston or plunger
in the case of separate vessels being employed may form the means of closing
the one end of such vessels, and each vessel will thus be supplied with its own
piston or plunger, which will be forced into it by the means to which I have
already referred when it is desired to eject the unguent. I prefer to make the
vessels cylindrical in form and to place the orifice for the unguent to pass
out of at that end of the vessel which is opposite to the piston and in the
centre; and I so form the orifice and the outer surface which is around it
that the unguent may be easily wiped off for use by the finger. It will thus
be clearly understood that by the use of my Invention unguents are preserved
in closed vessels during use, and are not exposed except at the comparatively
small opening through which they are ejected by the pressure against the
piston or plunger; this opening and the outer surface surrounding it may be
covered when desired. I prefer to make the outer surface which surrounds
the orifice through which the unguent is forced smooth, so that it may be

page_text: easily wiped, and of such a breadth or extent as that the finger may be con-
veniently pressed against it in the act of wiping off the unguent, and also of a
hollow or saucer form, which suiting for wiping with the finger will also serve
to contain the unguent ejected from the vessel should it be free or soft. The
wiping surface surrounding the orifice may form part of the vessel containing
the unguent, or it may be separate from it, the vessel at the orifice being
suited to fit the part which is formed for a wiping surface. This arrangement
will render it unnecessary for each vessel to be formed with a suitable wiping
surface at the orifice they may however be so formed if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Murdoch Napier in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MURDOCH NAPIER, of the York Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Murdoch Napier, Her special licence that I, the said
James Murdoch Napier, my executors, administrators, and assings, or such
others as I, the said James Murdoch Napier, my executors, administrators,
and 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 VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRE-
SERVING AND MORE CONVENIENT USE OF UNGUENTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Murdoch Napier, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
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

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Murdoch Napier, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the preservation of unguents or ointments
from the effects of exposure to the atmosphere, and from dust and dirt during
their use, and the employment of apparatus by the aid of which such
substances may be more conveniently used than at present. It is well known
that unguents, such as the ointments termed pomades, pomatums, and salves,
as well as other unguents or ointments, are at present placed for use in pots,
bottles, and boxes, which it is necessary to uncover by removing a lid or
stopper large enough to permit the insertion of the finger or a suitable instru-
ment in order to get out the required quantity; this inconvenient process and
the consequent exposure of the unguents are avoided by my Invention, which
consists of providing vessels for containing unguents with an aperture or
orifice of limited size through which the unguents contained in such vessels
may be forced and presented in a manner convenient for removal by the
finger or otherwise. The force necessary to eject the unguent from the
vessel through the orifice is applied upon a piston or plunger suited to the
vessel. The direct pressure of the hand upon the piston or plunger may be
used to eject the unguent, and the necessary pressure may be exerted through
the means of a lever, screw, or other mechanical arrangement. The vessels
for containing unguents may be formed and arranged so as to separate from
that part of the apparatus which is used for forcing the unguent out through
the aperture or orifice in the vessel, so that a number of such vessels
containing various unguents may successively be used in conjunction with a
forcing apparatus, the vessel being changed when empty for a full vessel of
the same description. The apparatus may also have its own peculiar vessel,
which will not be changed but refilled when emptied; such a vessel may be
made more costly and ornamental than those which are set aside or changed
after they are emptied. The piston or plunger in the case of separate vessels
being employed may form the means of closing the one end of such vessels,
and each vessel will thus be supplied with its own piston or plunger, which
will be forced into it by the means to which I have already referred when it is
desired to eject the unguent. I prefer to make the vessels cylindrical in form,
and to place the orifice for the unguent to pass out of at that end of the
vessel which is opposite to the piston and in the centre, and I so form the
orifice and the outer surface which is around it that the unguent may be
easily wiped off for use by the finger, or that it may be easily removed by other

page_text: means.
It will thus be clearly understood that by the use of my Invention
unguents are preserved in closed vessels during use, and are not exposed
except at the comparatively small opening through which they are ejected by
the pressure against the piston or plunger; this opening and the outer surface
surrounding it may be covered when desired. I prefer to make the outer
surface which surrounds the orifice through which the unguent is forced
smooth, so that it may be easily wiped, and of such a breadth or extent as that
the finger may be conveniently pressed against it in the act of wiping off the
unguent, and it may be of a hollow or saucer form, which suiting for wiping
with the finger will also serve to contain the unguent ejected from the vessel
should it be free or soft. The wiping surface surrounding the orifice may
form part of the vessel containing the unguent, or it may be separate from it,
the vessel at the orifice being suited to fit into or against the part which is
formed for a wiping surface. This arrangement will render it unnecessary for
each vessel to be formed with a suitable wiping surface at the orifice, they
may however be so formed if desired.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
of
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The accompanying Drawing will serve to illustrate some of the arrangements
my Invention to which I have referred.
Figure 1 is a section of the apparatus. A is the vessel to contain the
unguent; B, a cover which may be removed at pleasure; C, a ring hinged or
jointed to the lower stand D at a, and held down by the screw fastening at 6;
this ring it will be seen keeps in its place the containing vessel A. E is a
piston or plunger which fits into the vessel A. The piston E is forced into
the vessel A by means of the screw F, which has a pressure piece c fitted to
it. At its lower end the screw is furnished with a head piece having projec-
tions which slide in the grooves d, d, in the tube e; upon this tube the bevil
wheel G is fixed, which is turned through the pinion H by the button I.
When the tube is turned round it thus turns the screw F which fits into
the base at f, and so the piston may be forced into the vessel A, the contents
of the vessel being at the same time ejected through the orifice g into the cup
or basin h.
In Figure 2 the general arrangements are the same as those explained
in reference to Figure 1, except that the holding down ring C is fixed to the
lower stand D, and is cut away in segments, as shown in plan, Figure 8, the

page_text: projecting rim of the vessel A being also suitably cut away, so that when
placed in and turned one-quarter round it will become fast held by the
. remaining portions of the ring C, that is, by the portions of the ring C which
are not cut away.
Figure 4 shows an arrangement by which the pressure piece c is actuated
through a rack and pinion. The spindle upon which the pinion is fixed may
project from the base, and may be furnished with a button or other means for
turning by hand. The vessel A in this Figure is shewn separate from the
cup piece or wiping surface h, which is screwed to the outer case, and may be
considered to be permanent, while the vessel A may be changed when empty.
At the orifice 9 the vessel A projects and fits into the piece h.
In cases
where it is desired to withdraw the piston from the containing vessel after the
unguent is ejected, so that the vessel may be refilled and the piston again used,
the piston should be attached to the pressure piece. Figure 5 shows a milled
head attached to the tube e, by which it may be turned round, as in
Figures 1 and 2, but without the wheel and pinion; the apparatus will in this
case [be lifted with one hand, while the milled head is turned by the other.
In this Figure there is also shown a complete upper case C to contain the
vessel A hinged to the lower stand D at a, and fastened by a screw when closed
at b.
The top
Figure 6 shews in section the application of a tangent wheel and screw for
raising the pressure piece c, and so forcing the piston E into the vessel A.
The tube e has a nut at f fitted to the screw F, and slides in the guide at j, a
projecting feather keeping it from turning round in the guide. The pressure
piece c is carried on the top end of the tube, and as the screw F turns is
forced upwards. k is the worm wheel; 1, the tangent screw, the spindle of
which may pass out and be actuated on the outside of the stand D.
or wiping surface of the vessel A is shewn flat in this Figure.
Figure 7 shows in section another mode of actuating the piston and
piece by wheel and pinion, which will be readily understood without special
explanation. Or in place of the arrangements above described a spring may
also be used when preferred, which having been compressed or wound up may
expend its force against the piston or plunger so as to eject or assist in
ejecting the unguent through the orifice, such orifice or the channel lending
thereto being in this case opened and closed at pleasure by means of a suit-
able valve.
pressure
Figure 8 shows the containing vessel A with a detached cup or wiping
head A' against which it fits. m is a piece of cork or other material to make
the joint or contact perfect; C is the containing case, as shown in Figure 5.

page_text: Figure 9 repeats the upper part of Figure 4, with the difference that the
wiping cup head A¹ projects into the containing vessel A.
Figure 10 shews a section of the containing vessel A with a convex w ping
surface. The containing vessels and the wiping surfaces may be made of glass,
china, earthenware, or other suitable material, and the pistons may be of cork,
wood, or other suitable material.
What I claim is, the arranging vessels for the preserving and more con-
venient use of unguents with a piston-like cover and with an orifice with a
wiping surface around it.
And I also claim the combining with such vessels either permanently or
when required for use apparatus by means of which the piston-like cover
may be progressively forced into such vessel so as to expel the unguent through
the orifice as it is required for use.
I also claim the general arrangements of the vessels and apparatus, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Murdoch Napier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JAMES M. NAPIER. (L.s.)