Improvements in Toast and like Racks,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toast and like Racks,
I, JOHN CHARLES KIRBY, of 25, Pine Street, New York, United States of
America, Public Accountant, 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:—
My invention relates to table utensils for the purposes of containing or hold-
ing food and more particularly to that class of those devices designed to hold
bread or toast when placed upon a table for use.
My device consists of a holder or rack made of metal, designed to hold slices of
toast in an upright position and separate from each other, and is constructed with
a collapsible base, with the upright posts mounted thereon, and handle or carrier
to aid in the carriage of the device.
The objects of my invention are as follows:-
1. To provide a device to hold slices of toast separate from each other and in
an upright position..
2. To provide a device when not in use may be collapsed and occupy as small a
place as possible.
3. To provide an article, convenient and practical for the handling of toast,
as well as being an ornamental object upon the breakfast table.
I have illustrated my device in the following drawings in which like letters
refer to like parts throughout the various figures.
Fig. 1, is a side view of my device holding pieces of toast.
Fig. 2, is a plan view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is a side view of my device when collapsed.
Referring to the figures.
A, is a system of lazy tongs, pivoted at a¹, the center of the different
sections 100, while at the sides of the sections, where they cross opposite
sections the upright posts, a³, a³, are mounted pivotally. The ends of the
sections a, a, a, a, are extended to a², a², a², a², and upon which are mounted
pivotally where they cross each other, the posts or uprights a, a; connecting
these posts is cross bar 6, this cross bar is made of -two pieces one sliding upon
the other, and upon the lower piece is the small stud a', and in the upper, the
slit or way object being to allow a longitudinal motion in the cross bar,
necessitated by the action of the lazy tongs when they are expanded or collapsed.
Underneath the base are provided the standards or legs aa. The lazy tongs
base is designed to allow an expansion sufficient to provide a space between the
upright posts, to permit the easy introduction of slices of toast or bread between
them, as shown in Fig. 1.
The operation of my device is as follows:-
When not in use the ends of the base are pressed towards each other, the base
collapses, and when closed takes a compact and close formation as shown in
Fig. 3.
When required for use, the ends are pulled-apart-sufficiently to allow
the introduction of the slices between the uprights. The slices are put between

page_text: them and the holder, ready for use, is carried to the table, and passed around as
the occasion may require.
The construction of the holder may be varied as to its precise form and size,
and the number of pieces to be held, and may be used for other articles besides
toast or bread. It may be cheaply constructed of brass, plated, or may be made
of solid metal such as silver, engraved or otherwise decorated to give it an orna-
mental as well as a practical use upon a table.
It is evident that toast placed upon a table in such a holder is more attractive
and tasteful than when laid upon an ordinary plate.
A rack or holder of the nature described is always a cumbersome article to a
house-wife, or servants, first on account of the room taken up by them and the
inconvenience rendered by the upright posts projecting: second where there
are many holders used, the inability to pack them away conveniently, and so as
not to occupy too much room.
The construction of my device enables me to obviate all of these difficulties,
and to obtain a neat ornamental toast holder when in use and a compact, small
article conveniently stored away, occupying a very little space when not in use.
This is a material advantage and even where only a single holder may be used,
it becomes a benefit of considerable importance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is :-
I. A toast holder consisting of a base, upright posts and handle for carrying
said holder.
II. A toast holder consisting of an adjustable base, upright posts mounted
thereon, for the purposes described.
III. A toast holder consisting of a base, means for adjusting the space between
the upright posts, and upright posts mounted on said base, together with a handle
for carrying said holder.
IV. A toast holder consisting of a base, and means for extending and con-
tracting said base, upright posts mounted pivotally upon said base for the pur-
poses described.
V. A toast holder consisting of a lazy tongs base, upright posts mounted
pivotally upon the ends of the levers and a handle, substantially as described.
VI. A toast holder consisting of a lazy tongs base, extending both sides of the
handle, upright posts mounted pivotally on said base, and a handle thereto, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.