IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE CASES FOR CONTAINING PROVISIONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PORTABLE CASES FOR CONTAINING PROVISIONS."-A communication
from Alexandre Desiré Eugene Boucher, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Merchant.
Sealed the 6th June 1854, and dated the 9th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th December 1853.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE
CASES FOR CONTAINING PROVISIONS," a communication from Alexandre
Desiré Eugene Boucher, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Mer-
chant, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of a portable holder for
carrying food during long journeys or when hunting. The apparatus is

page_text: composed of three or more chambers or receptacles, formed of metal,
glass, earthenware, or any other clean substance. Two of these
receptacles may be made to contain fluids, and are fitted with stoppers,
which are hollow and perforated laterally, to contain spices, &c., such
condiment being kept in by a cork stopper fitted into the end of the
main hollow stopper. An intermediate space between the two liquid
holders serves to contain solid food. The apparatus opens longitudinally
along this last-mentioned chamber, which will then answer as a plate.
An india-rubber or other band serves to hold the two sides together
when shut up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
ngree 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 PORTABLE CASES FOR CONTAINING PROVISIONS,"
munication from Alexandre Desiré Eugene Boucher, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Merchant, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
The said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction
of a portable holder or case for carrying food during long journoys
or when hunting, and consists of an apparatus composed of three
or more chambers or receptacles, formed of metal, glass, earthen-
ware, or any other convenient material. Two of these receptacles
may be made to contain fluids, and they are fitted with stoppers,
which are hollow and perforated laterally, to contain spices and similar
matters, such condiment being kept in by a cork stopper fitted into
the end of the main hollow stopper. An intermediate space between
the two liquid holders serves to contain solid food. The apparatus
opens longitudinally along this last-mentioned chamber, which will then
answer as a plate. An india-rubber or other band serves to hold the
two sides together when shut up.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a longi-
tudinal section of one arrangement of apparatus of the class herein-beforo
referred to, as fitted with three compartments; and Figure 2 represents
a transverse section of the same, taken along the line 1, 2, in Figure 1.
In this arrangement the two liquid holders A and B, are merely held
together by a band of caoutchouc C, and are made with a plano or
surface joint, as shown in the Drawings. By this means three main
compartments are obtained, the two first of which a and b are par-
ticularly adapted for holding liquids, and the third or central compart-
ment c serves to contain meat or other solid food, and when the two
flasks A and B are separated, the recesses c will serve as plates. This

page_text: third compartment may be divided into two or more compartments, to:
contain different kinds of provisions. Each flask is fitted with a mouth!
picce d and d, the stoppers e and c', of which are ground therein..
These stoppers are made hollow to contain a small quantity of pepper,
salt, or other condiment, and they are perforated with a scries of sniall
holes made at one side. These stoppers are each closed by a cork, or
other secondary stopper, to retain the substances contained therein, and
the whole is covered by a capsule. similar to the one shewn at D, in.
Figure 6, which not only serves to protect the stoppers, but answers.
also as a drinking vessel. Figure 3; represents another. arrangement
of apparatus, with several compartments, shewing how the apparatus.
may be made of various forms. In order to be enabled to carry not
only liquid and solid food, but also to serve as a plato or dish to eat from,.
the holder may be constructed as represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a portable case containing the various 1
articles herein-after enumerated; Figure 5 represents a plan of the
case; shewn open; and Figure 6 is a section of the same, taken along
the line 1, 2.
The two flasks A and B, are contained in a metal case C, which also
contains the knife a, förk b, glass c, and napkin d. The glass-holder e,
may also be fitted with a mustard pot or a small jar of confectionary,
and one or more tooth-picks may be placed between the holders f, f',
which contain tho corks 9, 9', destined to replace, in case of emergency,:
the glass-stoppers before mentioned.
By making the flasks A and B of sheet metal, afterwards tinned or 2
enamelled, and fitting them with hinges, as represented at Figure 7,
the outside covering or case may be dispensed with, and the flasks may:
be kept closed, either by a sliding bolt, as shown at Figure 5, or by any
other convenient fastening, and in order to render the articlo stronger
and less liable to breakage, the glass stoppers may be replaced by metal 8
ones, screwed in as at D'. This apparatus, made in a cheap form, will
be specially useful for workmen and soldiers,' and might be carried
either by a strap or on the knapsack. It may also have a small carpet
bag formed upon it, or it may be introduced in the form of a slide or
drawer into portmanteaux, or other travelling cases..
S

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of
the said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of apparatus to bo
used as portable cases for containing provisions, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing portable
provision cases, wherein the external hinged or opening side sections are
made to contain liquids, whilst the central space enclosed by such
sections forms a receptacle for solid matters.
Third, the application and use in portable provision cases of
chambered stoppers for containing condiments and other matters.
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing portable
provision cases with duplex stoppers, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of June, Onc
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.