Improvements in Baskets or like Receptacles for Containing Food or other Perishable Commodities.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Baskets or like Receptacles for Containing Food
or other Perishable Commodities.
I JAMES CORNWALL, of No. 3, Temperance Terrace, Creek Road, March,
Cambridgeshire, Railway Guard, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in baskets or like receptacles for con-
taining food or other perishable commodities, and has for object to provide baskets
(such as employed by railway servants and other workmen for carrying their
food in), and similar receptacles, with sufficient ventilation in order to the better
preserve the contents.
A further object is to provide means whereby writing materials, papers
and the like can be carried in a convenient manner by such basket or similar
receptacle.
In applying my invention to a basket used by railway servants and others, such
basket consisting of an inner basket formed of rushes or the like covered with a
casing formed of American cloth or similar waterproof material, I provide a space
between the bottom of the basket proper (which is stiffened by means of a strip
of metal or other material) and the bottom of the outer covering by means of
two wooden or other strips or ribs placed laterally at each end of the basket, and
two strips arranged longitudinally between such covering and the bottom of the
basket proper. Perforations are provided in the bottom of the waterproof cover
and also if desirable in the bottom proper. The space between the bottom proper
and the bottom of the cover, before described, is continued up the ends of the
basket, (though in this case the cross-pieces and longitudinal strips aforesaid may
be dispensed with and only the stiffening strips used) so that a free current of air
is allowed to enter through the bottom of the latter and to travel up the ends
and find its way into the basket through perforations in the ends of the basket
proper.
Similar spaces may be provided between the sides of the basket proper and the
sides of the waterproof cover.
Perforations are provided around the upper part of the basket and also in the
lid if desirable.
In order that the said invention may be better understood and carried into
practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheet of illustrative
drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a food-basket such as used by railway servants and
others, constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2. being an underside view of. the lid of the basket, while
Fig. 3 is a like view of the bottom of the basket.
Referring to the drawings, a is a basket formed of rushes, straw chip, or the
like, which is covered with American cloth or other suitable material b.
Perforations c are provided in the bottom parts of the cover b for the purpose
of admitting air to a space or chamber formed by the said cover b and the bottom.
and ends (or sides) of the basket proper.
The waterproof cover b is held off the bottom of the basket a by means of

page_text: longitudinal strips d and transverse end pieces d', while the same object is attained
at the ends (or sides) of the basket by bending over the sides e of the metal
stiffening strips e.
The bottom of the basket a is stiffened by means of a wooden or metal strip a
shaped in accordance with the form of the basket bottom. This stiffening strip a
is not perforated.
In operation the air is allowed to enter through the perforations e at the bottom
of the cover b and to travel up the space between the ends (or sides) of the
basket proper and the ends (or sides) of the cover, the said current of air even-
tually finding its way into the basket through the perforations c¹ in the ends (or
sides) of the latter.
Perforations 2 are provided along the upper part of the basket a, the lid f
also being similarly provided if desirable.
A pocket f is provided in the underside of the lid for the purpose of con-
veniently holding letters or other papers.
In a convenient part of the basket a, preferably in the interior at the side
thereof, I provide a pocket g for containing an ink-bottle g¹ and pen g². The
lid f fits over the top of the basket, the handles h on the latter passing through
the open spaces f2 formed by the side pieces f³ and the sides proper of the lid f.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In baskets, or similar receptacles, for containing food or the like, the air-inlets
at the bottom of the waterproof cover and air-space between the cover, bottom
proper and ends or sides communicating with the interior of the basket or the
like, substantially as and for the purpose specified, and as illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of December 1896.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.