IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARET JUGS AND OTHER SIMILAR JUGS AND VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Wilkinson, of Birmingham, and George
Wilkinson, of Birmingham, trading as T. Wilkinson & Sons, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARET JUGS AND OTHER SIMILAR JUGS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 14th March 1879, and dated the 20th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Wilkinson
and George Wilkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the.
20th September 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY WILKINSON, of Birmingham, and GEORGE WILKINSON, of
Birmingham, trading as T. Wilkinson & Sons. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARET JUGS
AND OTHER SIMILAR JUGS AND VESSELS."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in claret jugs and other similar
jugs and vessels, and has particular reference to the covers of the same which are
designed to prevent the free admittance of air and dust.
The lids of claret jugs are usually made to cover the spout, and thus the lid has
to be lifted when the liquid is poured out either by hand or by self-acting arrange-
ments which it is very difficult to keep anything like air-tight.
According to our Invention we make the lids to screw tightly into or over the
opening of the jug, so as to close that part absolutely tight against either air or
dust. This lid may project partly over the spout or not according to design. We
make the passage from the spout into the jug tight by means of a ball or
valve which falls into a suitable seat formed in the spout, or inside the jug close by
the spout. When the jug is tilted by hand the ball either rolls down the incline
of the spout, the liquid passing by its sides, or is floated out of its seat by the rising
liquid, thus allowing the liquid to flow freely out. The ball immediately returns
31

page_text: to its seat when the jug is placed in the upright position. Any ordinary valve and
seat will answer the same purpose.
Sometimes we partly cover the spout by a lid hinged under the projecting cover
which keeps the lid closed and the ball from rolling out, thus when the cover is
screwed off this small lid is free to lift, and the ball may then be taken out. This
lid is provided with projecting feathers or guiding wires for directing the ball into
any position, so as to allow the liquid to pass freely out, or other devices may be
used for guarding the ball and guiding it to any desired position while the liquid
is poured out.
We do not claim the use of the ball for the tops of decanters as this has been done
before, but for the mouths of claret and other similar jugs and vessels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Wilkinson and George Wilkinson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th March 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY WILKINSON, of Birmingham, and GEORGE WILKINSON, of
Birmingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARET JUGS AND OTHER SIMILAR JUGS AND
VESSELS."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in claret jugs and other similar
jugs, and other similar, vessels, and has particular reférence to the covers of the
same which are designed to prevent the free admittance of air and of dust.
The lids of claret jugs are usually made to cover the spout, and thus the lid has
to be lifted when the liquid is poured out either by hand or by self-acting arrange-
ments, which it is very difficult to keep anything like air-tight.
According to our Invention we make the lids to screw tightly into or over the
opening of the jug, so as to close that part absolutely tight against either air or
dust, as shown by Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7, at a, a, a, a. This lid may project partly
over the spout or not according to design.
We make the passage from the spout into the jug tight by means of a ball or
valve which falls into a suitable seat formed in the spout, or inside the jug close by
the spout, and air holes are pierced in the lid or other part outside the ball.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a jug fitted with a screwed lid and a ball valve, the
details of which will be more clearly understood by referring to the part sectional
elevation, Figure 2, where 6 is the ball and c the seat. When the jug is tilted by
hand the ball either rolls down the incline of the spout, as shown by its position
in the tilted part section, Figure 3, the liquid passing by its sides as indicated by
the small arrows in Figure 4, which is a section on the line A, B, or the ball may
be hollow, and so arranged as to float out of its seat by the rising liquid, thus
allowing the liquid to flow freely out. The ball immediately returns to its seat
when the jug is placed in the upright position. It will be clearly understood that
any ordinary valve and seat would answer the same purpose.
Sometimes we partly cover the spout by a lid hinged under the projecting cover
as shown by the side elevation, Figure 5, and part sectional elevation, Figure 6,
where d is the projecting cover, and e the hinge of the spout lid, so that when the
cover is screwed down the spout lid cannot lift, thus securing the ball from rolling
out, while by unscrewing the cover the small lid may be lifted and the ball taken
out and cleaned. This spout lid is provided with projecting feathers or guiding
wires f, f, for directing the ball into any desired position, so as to allow the liquid
to pass freely out, as indicated by the position of the ball 6 in Figures 7 and 8, the
the arrows in these two Figures indicating the direction of the liquid; or other
devices may be used for guarding the ball and guiding it to any desired position
while the liquid is poured out; Figure 9 shows a spout with one modification;
Figure 10 is a section of the spout at E, F, showing the groove under the ball
which is narrower than the diameter of the ball, but deeper, thus guiding the ball
and yet allowing the liquid to pass.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and some of the ways
amongst others in which the same may be practically carried out, we would have
it understood that,
We do not claim the use of the ball for the tops of decanters as this has been
done before, but what we do claim by our aforesaid in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
1st. Securing the covers of claret jugs and other similar jugs by a screw thread
or threads, and as shown and described.

page_text: 2nd. Forming a ball or other valve in or near the spout of the jug, and as shown
and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Wilkinson and George
Wilkinson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine.
Witnessed by
GEORGE BARKER,
Patent Agent,
27, Colmore Row,
Birmingham,
WILLIAM HENRY WILKINSON. (L.S.)
GEORGE WILKINSON.
(L.S.)