IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS AND DECOCTIONS FROM COFFEE AND OTHER BERRIES, GRAIN, SEEDS, AND LEAVES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nelson Hutchinson, of Wellesbourne,
near Bideford, in the County of Devon, Lieutenant-General in Her
Majesty's Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS AND DECOCTIONS FROM COFFEE AND OTHER BERRIES,
GRAIN, SEEDS, AND LEAVES."
Sealed the 17th November 1871, and dated the 20th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nelson
Hutchinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
his Petition, on the 20th July 1871.
with
I, WILLIAM NELSON HUTCHINSON, of Wellesbourne, near Bideford,
5 in the County of Devon, Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS AND DECOCTIONS FROM COFFEE AND OTHER
BERRIES, GRAIN, SEEDS, AND LEAVES," to be as follows:-
It is usual when making infusions or decoctions from coffee and other
) berries, grain, seeds, and leaves to pour the water or other liquid upon
them in a close vessel, and after allowing them to stand a short time to

page_text: empty the whole out into another vessel having a strainer to separate
the solid particles from the liquid.
Also in making coffee, for which purpose my Invention is more
especially applicable, it is usual to pour the water upon the ground
coffee in a vessel with a strainer or perforated bottom, through which
the water passes into the outer vessel. This immediate passage of the
water from one vessel to the other prevents the flavor and aroma being
extracted from the grounds to the fullest extent, and consequently the
liquid extract is not so strong as it should be.
Now according to my Invention the water can be kept in contact with 1
the grounds for any length of time, and then be allowed to flow through
the strainer or perforated bottom to separate itself from them. This is
accomplished by employing a cap or cover which fits to and presses
against the perforated bottom. The cap or cover is of plain metal, and
the more effectually to prevent breakage there is india-rubber, or felt, or
other suitable substance between the perforated bottom and the cap or
Without separating the two vessels the cap or cover is capable
of being removed by hand or in other suitable manner from its close
contact with the perforated or other more open bottom to permit of the
liquid flowing through. The advantage of this is that the whole flavor 2
or aroma of the substance is extracted.
cover.
One method of carrying the Invention into effect is represented in
the accompanying Drawing, in which a double vessel, known as a
caffetière, is represented, and in which the improvement is introduced.
a is the lower vessel, into which the infused liquor is permitted to 2
flow after having remained in contact with the substance a sufficient
time in the upper vessel b, which fits into the mouth of the lower vessel
in an air-tight manner, or nearly so. The bottom c of the upper vessel b
is of perforated or metal gauze and is formed with an annular portion d
of plain form, against which the edge or upper face e of a hinged flap fis 3
caused to bear, when the flap is pressed up against it and held by the
catch which takes under it. By this means a solid bottom to the
upper vessel is made by which the contents can be kept above. The
whole of the upper face h or the rim e only of the flap may be covered
or protected with a flexible or an elastic material which becomes com- a
pressed and forms a tight joint to prevent the liquid passing below.
The catch is on the lower end of a wire i, which is carried up to the
top of the vessel b, and is surmounted by a leg or button; by which the
I

page_text: wire and catch can be turned from the outside to release the flap when:
it is desired to allow the liquid contents of the upper vessel to be.
separated from the solid. The lower vessel is provided with a spout k,..
through which the liquid can be poured as desired, the solid. being.
retained in the upper vessel by a lid if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Nelson Hutchinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NELSON HUTCHINSON, of Wellesbourne, Bideford, in the County of
Devon, Lieutenant-General in Her Majesty's Army, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Nelson Hutchinson, Her special
licence that I, the said William Nelson Hutchinson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Nelson
Hutchinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree 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 APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING INFUSIONS AND DECOCTIONS
FROM COFFEE AND OTHER BERRIES, GRAIN, SEEDS, AND LEAVES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Nelson Hutchinson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Nelson Hutchinson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
It is usual when making infusions or decoctions from coffee and other
berries, grain, seeds, and leaves, to pour the water or other liquid upon
them in a close vessel, and after allowing them to stand for a short time
to empty the whole out into another vessel having a strainer to separate
the solid particles from the liquid; also in making coffee, for which
'purpose my Invention is more especially applicable, it is usual to pour
the water upon the ground coffee into a vessel with a strainer or per-
forated bottom, through which the water passes into the under vessel.
The immediate passage of the water from one vessel to the other
prevents the flavour and aroma being extracted from the grounds to the
fullest extent, and consequently the liquid extract is not so strong as
it should be.
Now according to my Invention the water can be kept in contact
with the grounds for any length of time, and then be allowed to flow
through the strainer or perforated bottom to separate itself from them.
This is accomplished by applying a cap or cover which fits to and
presses against the perforated bottom. The cap or cover is of plain
metal, and the more effectually to prevent leakage there generally is
india-rubber, or felt, or other suitable substance between the perforated
bottom and the cap. Without separating the two vessels the cap or
cover, or part of the cap or cover, is capable of being removed by hand
or in any other suitable manner from its close connection with the per-
forated or other more open bottom, to permit of the liquid flowing
through. The advantage of this is that the whole flavour or aroma of
the substance is extracted.
The manner of carrying my Invention into effect is represented in
the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a coffee pot formed in
two parts a, b. The upper part a is provided with a flat ring to fit into
the neck of the lower b in a water-tight or nearly water-tight manner;
c is the cap or cover, here represented as divided into two parts.
The smaller is soldered to the lower edge of a and forms a fulcrum,
on which the larger part hinges at d, and opens or closes when the
fastener e, released from any of the notches f, g, shown in Figure 2, is
lowered or raised, as any thickness can be given to the edges of the slot
in Figure 2; the notches can be made strong through cut fine, and with

page_text: but little interval between them. The fastener or catch e is swivelled on
a pin at the top of the catch plate i, which pin acts as a guide to the slot
formed at the back of the pot and under the handle so as to be out of
the way. The lower end of the catch plate is so extended that at its
lower end a slotted hole cut in it receives a broad strap attached to the
back end of the cap c. This catch plate travels in a chamber formed
by a lining piece j to prevent the escape of liquid. The hinged part of
the cap or cover c has a conical ring or band k of little or great
diameter secured on its upper face, for an elastic or other ring of soft
material to be stretched or passed over, to act as a cushion to bear
against another elastic or soft cushion m stretched or passed over a
reversed cone, ring, or band n of similar diameter on the bottom of the
upper part a, the meeting of which cushions forms a liquid-tight joint
between the two parts a, b. The reversed cone n has a perforated or
gauze disc o, which in this arrangement forms a bottom to the upper
part of the pot, and serves to retain the solid particles of grounds or
coffee, while it allows the extract to pass through into the lower part b
to be drawn off at pleasure through the spout p. The pin of the hinge
of the cap or cover is made removeable.
Where a piece of circular wire (travelling in a circular hole at the
foot of the plate) is substituted for the broad strap attached to the back
end of the cap or cover, the arm which connects the bottom of the
fastener e with the pin could be, as also the pin, dispensed with. The
button with its two teeth would be firmly attached to the upper part of
the catch plate.
There are many ways in which the cap or cover and its accessories
could be arranged in the upper part of the pot, and by way of example
I have, in Figures 3 to 13, represented several shapes in order to render
the Invention of as clear a character as possible.
Figure 3 shows a thumbscrew q in a shoulder or socket soldered on
the pot, the point of which screw is caused to enter a large aperture in
the upper part of the catch plate when the plate and the cap or cover
are raised by the finger loop r, so as to bring the cushion rings into
close contact.
Figure 4 shows an arrangement in which the thumbscrew q is secured
to the top of the plate i, and slides up and down in the slot formed
at the back of the pot, and the point of it may be made to travel in a
groove in the chamber lining j. By turning the thumbscrew when it

page_text: is raised to the part shown by the dotted lines, the cushion rings are
squeezed into the closest contact. The screw acts well when the coned
part is cut with a flat spiral thread. The aperture in the plate would
then lie in a plane parallel to the general direction of the spiral threads.
In each of the foregoing Figures I have shown what is called a bellied
pot but the pot may be of any other shape, for my Invention is appli-
cable to all shapes and forms.
Here the cap
Figure 5 is a view of the upper part of a " cafetiere."
or cover is secured to a piece or a strip of steel 8, which is loosely hinged
at d on two pins, and instead of employing two cushions, as in the first
mentioned Figures, I secure a strip of material (elastic or flexible) on
to the cone n, which is to be pressed against by the cap or cover c when
the button t is acted upon to shut off communication between the two
parts a, b, of the pot. By careful workmanship the two cones, whether
large or small, might fit so closely together as to render unnecessary
the interposition of any elastic material. The axis of the hinge would
lie in and at right angles to a line taken from the top of the perforated
cone and at right angles to its side. A stop on the broad slot in which
the foot of the catch plate travels prevents its free play being interfered
with by the pressure of the steel spring.
In Figure 6 a small part only of the cap or cover works on a hinge,
as represented. At its circumference it is fitted to and soldered against
the edge of the perforated bottom; the same in Figures 7 and 8.
In the three Figures the aperture in the cap or cover is closed water-
tight whenever required by 7 as shown, I is, as may be judged best, an
elastic or ground stopper, or a valve, or possibly a swivelled valve.
To make the several parts more accessible for cleaning, the strainer
might be attached to a movable cylindrical lining within a.
The end which rests on the circular foot given to the wire catch i
represented in Figure 6 has free play, the slot being open and oblong.
In all three Figures i is circular.
In Figure 9 the cushion / on the hinged cap or cover c is of a flat
character to press direct upon or against the perforated or gauze disc
or bottom o, and thus prevent the passage of the liquid until the catch
is released. The cushion is held in position by a plate and tightening
screw u as represented, or by a surrounding concave metal band as

page_text: shown in Figure 10. The catch may be caught by the spring claw,
which is secured in the chamber ; as represented.
Figure 10 represents another modification of the catch mechanism.
In this the catch is a circular wire. Its head (a lug button) rests on
the top of a thumbscrew w, which on being screwed raises the whole
of the catch, thereby compressing the flat pad or cushion liquid-tight
against the perforated cone.
Figures 11 and 12 are detached views of a cap or cover with the
thumbscrew q arranged below the strainer o, and in which the com-
pression of the pad is effected by the conical shape of the screw point,
which as it is being screwed in lifts the cap gradually into closer contact
with the strainer.
In Figure 13 the cap or cover has a fixed ring or band standing up
upon it to take against the cushion m when the cap or cover c is lifted
by hand a distance sufficient for the catch h to be passed over the flat
projection y. The cap or cover falls by pressing the represented spring z
against the pin x, or without this spring and pin the cap or cover could
be made to fall by turning a say ¼th inch within b, and thus bringing
the represented large lower pin to act against a projection from the
inside of 6 near its handle. In the first case the pin and the pin on
which the catch pivots would lie when the catch rested on the flat pro-
jection y much in the direction of the chord of the cap or cover supposing
it to be circular. In the second case the large lower pin and the pin
on which the catch pivots would lie when the catch rested on the flat
projection in the direction of a radius. The flat projection might be a
spring pressing upwards.
The india-rubber rings, &c. are so elastic that the described junctions
have been found sufficiently liquid-tight without the aid of springs, but
if a constantly acting pressure were considered desirable it could be
imparted by employing one or more springs much as already described.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The employment of a liquid-tight cap or cover in a vessel
in which infusions or decoctions are to be made from substances placed
therein, which cap or cover is fitted to, or when working on a hinge can
be pressed against a perforated or gauze strainer as shown and described.

page_text: Secondly. I claim the employment of an elastic or other cushion, or
pad, or ring, or band in connection with a hinged cap or cover, or in
connection with a cap or cover only a part of which is hinged, and the
employment of an elastic cushion, pad, or valve in connection with an
aperture in an unhinged cap or cover, in such vessels as are herein-before
described and shown, when such cushion, pad, ring, or valve is used for
the purposes set forth, or such close fitting of the cap or cover against
the strainer, or such close fitting of parts of the cap or cover against
parts of the strainer, as shall render unnecessary the interposition of an
clastic substance.
Thirdly. I claim the apparatus herein referred to, by which a hinged
cap or cover can be drawn up and released, or parts of the cap or cover
be drawn up and released, and the apparatus by which the aperture in
the unhinged cap or cover can be closed and opened as described and
shown, and such slight changes of the same, and of the arrangement
of the cap or cover, as are obvious modifications of the same, for it must
be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details and the
method of formation illustrated by the Drawings, and described with
reference thereto, as it must be apparent that the same may be varied
without substantial departure from the nature and character of my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nelson Hutchinson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
W. N. HUTCHINSON. (L.S.) 2
Lieut.-General.