Improvements in Salt Dredgers or Sprinklers and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Salt Dredgers or Sprinklers and the like.
I, HENRY BINLEY, of No. 164, West Chelten Avenue, in the City and County
of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Buyer, 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:-
―
My invention relates to salt retaining and distributing devices, and generally
to a particular type of such devices which as heretofore constructed consist of a
receptacle provided with two perforated caps, one, the main cap, applied to the
mouth of the receptacle, and the other, the supplementary cap, applied upon and
adapted for lateral or rotary movement with respect to the said main cap,-the
arrangement being such that when the supplementary cap is in one position its
perforations register with those of the main cap, and when in another position
its imperforate portions cover the perforations of the main cap, with the result
that in the first described position free egress for the contents of the receptacle
is afforded, and in the second position the receptacle is closed and its contents
protected from dampness and contamination by dust.
In practical use the perforations of salt cellars of this type frequently become
clogged by the salt to such an extent as to render them temporarily unserviceable,
and it is the object of my invention to equip a salt cellar of the character referred
to with simple and convenient means by which the perforations may be kept
clear and the usefulness of the structure be correspondingly enhanced.
Generally stated, my invention comprehends the provision of a salt cellar, or
receptacle for holding salt, pepper, spice, or other granular or pulverized sub-
stances, of the foregoing general type in which one of the caps is provided with
spurs arranged to exist permanently within the perforations of the other, which
latter are of sufficient size to permit the slight movement of one cap with respect
to the other, with the result that when the upper cap is reciprocated laterally or
rotated the spurs are caused to move from end to end of the perforations in which
they are entered, and to cut away any salt which may have accumulated in such
perforations.
In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe, a good form of
a convenient embodiment of my invention, as well as modified forms thereof, the
particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional, elevational, view of the caps of a salt cellar
embodying my invention, removed from the salt-retaining receptacle, section
being supposed on the dotted line 1-1 of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan of the caps shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the main cap shown in Figure 1,-the edge wall and
the spurs of the supplementary cap being shown in section, and the section of

page_text: said edge wall which is shown as serrated being assumed to be taken on the dotted
line 3 3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a complete salt cellar embodying a modified
form of my invention.
Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a complete salt cellar embodying another
modified form of my invention.
Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the supplementary cap represented in
Figure 4, removed and shown as inverted.
modified
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating, however, the spurs as
applied to the lower cap.
Figure 7 is al sectional detail of a portion of a cap, illustrating a
application of the spur.
Figure 9 is a view in perspective of a modified form of my invention; and,
Figure 10 is a top plan view of still another modified embodiment of my
invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings,-A is the main cap, the same
being shown as having a neck a, adapted to be applied to the mouth of any suit-
able salt-containing receptacle, and a perforated head a¹ shown as preferably
formed as an integral continuation of the neck, represented as approximately flat
as to its upper surface, and which as represented is of greater diameter than the
neck a, with the result that a bead, flange, or rib, a projects beyond said neck.
a³ are the series of perforations or openings in the upper surface of the main
cap A, preferably of rather larger size than is usual in salt cellars of this class,
preferably shaped as segmentally curved elongated openings of uniform width
from end to end, and arranged in concentric relationship with respect to the axis
of the head, and in such manner that vertical planes coinciding with the ends of
the openings are approximately radial with respect to said axis, the openings
furthermost from said axis being, as shown, longer than those nearest said axis.
B is the supplementary cap, mounted upon said main cap in such manner as
to adapt it for slight rotary oscillation with respect to the same, conveniently,
as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, by providing said supplementary cap with
depending flange 61 which extends around and beneath the bead or rib a² of the
main cap.
The supplementary cap illustrated in section in Figure 3 differs slightly from
that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that, as stated, it is equipped with a serrated or
milled edge ba
The openings in the supplementary cap correspond in number, size, and
distribution, with the openings in the main cap.
The supplementary cap illustrated in the figures referred to, is provided with
a series of spurs 3 located one in the vicinity of each of the perforations b. and
extending each through one of the openings a³.
The spurs are conveniently formed contemporaneously with the openings
by cutting U-shaped incisions in the body of the cap, and bending down the
tongues or flaps thus produced.
When the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the openings
in the respective caps are in registry with each other, and, upon inverting and
shaking the containing receptacle, its contents will emerge through them."
B may
be
Upon the cessation of use of the device, the supplementary cap
turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, with the result that
the imperforate portions of the supplementary cap will be carried over the open-
ings in the main cap, the movement of the supplementary can continuing until
its spurs encounter the distant ends of said openings, in which position said
openings will be completely closed.
When salt accumulates in the openings a³ to such an extent as to clog them,
they may be cleared by turning the supplementary cap backward and forward.
The embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 4 and 6 differs from that

page_text: shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, merely in that the upper or supplementary cap B
is formed as a flat disk of small diameter, preferably provided with a milled edge,
and secured upon and with respect to the main cap by an axial pivot C.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the main cap A is of quadrangular as
opposed to circular plan, and its elongated openings, concealed beneath the sup-
plementary cap, are disposed with their axes in parallelism.
The supplementary cap B is formed as a quadrangular plate, the two end
portions of which are turned down beneath the opposing side edges of the
main cap. The principle of construction illustrated in Figure 5 is essentially
the same as that shown in the figures of the drawings already described, the only
difference being that the supplementary cap of Figure 5 is adapted to be
reciprocated in a right line instead of in a curved line.
In Figure 7 I illustrate a spur 63 which instead of being struck from the body
of the cap B is formed as an independent structure and soldered or otherwise
secured to it.
In each of the figures of the drawings thus far described, I illustrate the
spurs as depending from the supplementary cap and working within the
openings formed in the main cap. Obviously, however, my invention is not
limited to this particular arrangement, but covers equally its reversal which
comprehends a main cap having tongues entered in openings formed in a
supplementary cap.
Figure 8, otherwise a duplicate of Figure 1, represents such an arrangement as
that above mentioned.
D, Figures 4 and 5, represent container bodies of ordinary construction.
In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 9, portions of the upper
cap which are so to speak, idle, are removed, leaving the cap in the form of a
six pointed star. In the embodiment referred to the perforations in the main
cap are disposed in rows radial with respect to the axis of the cap, with the result
that the radially disposed arms 6, in one position of the supplementary cap, cover
said openings. The spurs 63 depend of course from the radial arms 6 and the
operation of the device is of course the same as that of the structures already
described.
My invention would to a degree be present in the structure of Figure 9 even
if the perforations of the main cap were so large that the radial arms b* failed to
cover them, inasmuch as even in such a construction the spurs of the said
supplemental skeleton cap would be present in the perforations, and, in the
rotative oscillation of said supplementary skeleton cap, operative to clean such
perforations.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 10 the upper cap B has spurs 63 which
respectively present through each of the perforations or openings of the lower
main cap, and the lower or main cap likewise has spurs 65 which respectively
present through each of the openings of the upper or supplemental cap with the
result that the perforations of both the upper and lower caps may be simul-
taneously cleared.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:.
-
1. In combination, a main cap embodying perforations, a supplementary cap
structure supported over said main cap free for lateral movement with respect
thereto, and tongues mounted on one of said structures and projecting into the
openings formed in the other, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination to form a top for a salt cellar, of a main cap embodying
elongated openings, a supplementary cap also embodying elongated openings.
means for securing said supplementary cap upon the main cap free for lateral
movement with respect thereto, and spurs mounted upon one of said caps and

page_text: permanently existing within the openings in the other cap, substantially as set
forth.
3.. The combination to form a top for a salt cellar, of a main cap embodying
elongated concentric openings, a supplementary cap also embodying elongated
concentric openings, means for securing said supplementary cap upon the main
cap free for rotary oscillation with respect thereto, and spurs mounted upon said
supplementary cap, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination to form the top of a salt cellar, of a main cap embodying
elongated openings, a supplementary cap in which U-shaped tongues have been
formed and bent down to project through openings of the main cap, and means
for securing said supplementary cap upon the main cap free for rotary oscillation
with respect thereto, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination to form the top of a salt cellar of a main cap formed with
a neck and a head having a projecting rib or bead, a supplementary cap mounted
upon said main cap and having a depending flange bent beneath the rib or bead
of the said main cap, openings in the top of said main cap and in said supplemen-
tary cap, and spurs integral with said supplementary cap and extending through
the openings in the main cap, substantially as set forth.
6. In combination, a main cap embodying perforations, a supplemental struc-
ture supported over said main cap free for lateral movement with respect thereto,
tongues mounted on said supplemental structure and projecting into the per-
forations of the main cap, substantially as set forth.
Dated this un day On November A.D. 1896.
Witnesses:
FREDERIC NORMAN DIXON,
THOMAS KEYS LANCASTER.
HENRY BINLEY.