AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR RAISING THE LIDS OF BOXES, DISHES, AND OTHER COVERED RECEPTACLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Wilson, of Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR RAISING THE
LIDS OF BOXES, DISHES, AND OTHER COVERED RECEPTACLES."
Sealed the 8th February 1878, and dated the 13th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1877.
FREDERICK WILSON, of Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex. "AN
IMPROVED DEVICE FOR RAISING THE LIDS OF BOXES, DISHES, AND OTHER COVERED
RECEPTACLES."
My Invention consists in a device designed to serve as a handle for and at same
time raise the lids of biscuit and other boxes, entrée, vegetable, and other table
dishes having covers, and other covered receptacles, so that the box, dish, or other
vessel may be handed about, and the lids at the same time raised to give access to
the contents without occupying more than one hand.
The device consists of a handle of any suitable design fixed to a single or double
stem, fitted to slide through a hole or holes in the cross bar at the top of the box,
dish, or other receptacle to which the two lids are hinged at either side.
To the lower end of the stem or stems is attached a cross head having upwardly
inclined arms furnished with friction rollers at their extremities, which, when the
handle is raised, press against the under side of and raise the lids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th April
1878.
" AN
FREDERICK WILSON, of Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVED DEVICE FOR RAISING THE LIDS OF BOXES, DISHES, AND OTHER COVERED
RECEPTACLES."
My Invention consists in a device designed to serve both as a handle for biscuit
and other boxes of metal, wood, leather, or other material, entrée, vegetable, and
other table dishes having covers, and other covered receptacles, and as a means for
raising the lids, so that the box, dish, or other vessel may be handed round, and the
lids at the same time raised automatically to uncover the contents without employing
more than one hand.
The device consists of a handle of any suitable design fixed to a single or double
stem fitted to slide through a hole or holes in the cross bar or other fixed part of
the top of the box, dish, or other receptacle, to which cross bar or part the two lids
are hinged, one at either side thereof.
To the lower end of the stem or stems is attached a cross head having upwardly
inclined arms furnished with friction rollers at their extremities, which rollers when
the handle is raised press against the under side of the lids, and raise the same.
The handle, on being released, when the box or other receptacle is set down, allows
the lids to fall and close the box."
Instead of employing a single or double stem, as above mentioned, I may for
large boxes have two separate stems, one at either end of the handle, carrying arms
furnished with friction rollers, and acting in the same way as above described.
In applying the device to shell-shaped boxes the arms would be hinged together
upon the same hinge pin as the two halves of the box, the handle being likewise
connected to the same axis, so that when the box is lifted by the handle the two
halves of the box will open and close again when the box is set down.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I have shown various views
of the device in the accompanying Drawings, in which the same letters of reference
indicate like parts.
Figure 1 shows a biscuit box with the device applied, the box being represented
in the open position it assumes when lifted by the handle.
Figure 2 is a front view of the device applied to a handle with a single stem.
Figures 3 and 4 are front and end views of a handle with a double stem, the two
lids of the box being also shown in the latter Figure.
And Figure 5 is a front view of a long handle for a large size dish or box having
two separate stems, one at each end.
a is the handle of any ornamental design, furnished with one or two stems b,
fitted to slide through holes in the cross bar or fixed part c of the top of the box, to
either side of which the covers d, Figures 1 and 3, are hinged in the usual way.
e, e, are eross arms fixed to the lower end of each stem b, and inclined upwardly, so
as to come against the covers d, and furnished with friction rollers f at their
extremities to facilitate the action of opening the lids or covers, the said friction
rollers being either between two arms, as in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, or mounted in
forked extremities of the arms, as in Figure 5. is a bar or plate forming part of
the handle, which, when the handle is released, rests upon the top of the box.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination with a biscuit or
other box, entrée dish, or other receptacle having hinged lids, as herein described, of
n device consisting of a pair or pairs of arms attached to a stem or stems fitted to
slide through the top of the box, and connected to a handle on the top of the box,
the whole being so arranged that the arms will act on and raise or open the hinged

page_text: lids of the box when the box is lifted by the handle, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FRED. WILSON. (L.S.)