Improvements in or connected with Cups and Saucers, Tumblers. Bowls, and such like Articles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cups and Saucers, Tumblers.
Bowls, and such like Articles.
I, MARY ELIZA WIDDICOMBE, of 16 Thornhill Crescent, Barnsbury, in the
County of London, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention refers to the construction and arrangement of cups and saucers,
tumblers, and glasses generally, bowls, and such like articles, whereby the cup or
tumbler and its contents are prevented from being upset by, for example, the
movement out of the horizontal position of the table or support on which they are
placed. Heretofore much difficulty has been experienced, for example, on shipboard,
when the vessel is rolling or pitching, in maintaining articles containing liquids in
such position that the article shall not be upset and the contents thrown out. There
has not been so much difficulty attendant on keeping plates in position, because
cords known as "fiddles" are used to hold them, but as applied to a cup, these have
not been to any great extent available. Now by my invention I provide means for
keeping a cup and saucer, for example, in position, with its contents, as easily as a
plate is now held, and I will describe my invention as applied to a cup and saucer.
The base of the cup is provided with a projection or projections on a rim, which fits
or fit into a recess or recesses formed in a corresponding aperture in the base of the
saucer, so that by inserting the base of the cup with the projections referred to into
the aperture in the saucer, and turning the cup, or vice versa, the projection or pro-
jections on the base thereof come under the rim of the aperture in the saucer,
whereby the two, viz., the cup and the saucer, or a glass and its stand, or other
articles, are locked together; thus when used on board ship, the saucer is held by
the ordinary "fiddle," and the locking appliance above described holds the cup and
saucer firmly together, while the cup can be detached from the saucer with the
utmost facility when required for use or otherwise.
In the top rim of the saucer there is an aperture just large enough to admit the
tapered handle of the spoon, which being inserted therein and drawn along the
aperture or turned, comes under a projecting lip on the said rim, (and sometimes
the lip is not necessary) whereby the spoon also is held in position.
Similar locking and holding devices may be applied to tumblers, bowls, and such
like articles.
Dated this 15th dex of Fahruary 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cups and Saucers, Tumblers,
Bowls, and such like Articles.
1, MARY ELIZA WIDDICOMBE, of 16 Thornhill Crescent, Barnsbury, in the
County of London, Widow, 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 refers to the constructions and arrangements in or connected with

page_text: cups and saucers tumblers and glasses generally, bowls, and such like articles,
whereby the cup, tumbler, or the like, and its contents are prevented from being
upset by, for example, the movement out of the horizontal position of the table or
support on which they are placed.
"
Heretofore much difficulty has been experienced, on shipboard when the vessel is
rolling or pitching, in maintaining articles containing liquids in such position, that
the article shall not be upset and the contents thrown out. There has not been so
much difficulty attendant on keeping plates in position, because cords known as
$5 fiddles are used to hold them but as applied to, say, a cup, these have not been,
to any great extent available. By my invention I provide means for keeping a cup
and saucer, tumbler, bowl, or such like article, with its contents, in position, as
easily as a plate is now held, and I will now describe my invention with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 show in vertical section, articles as before named, fitted or
formed with means for retaining same in position, and Figures 3 and 4 show in
perspective a cup, saucer and spoon with locking and fixing device according to my
invention.
Figure 5 shows in vertical section a tumbler with my improved means applied
for retaining same in position Figure 6 being a perspective view of the tumbler
removed from the retaining device.
Figure 7 shows in vertical section and Figure 8 in perspective an example
of an application of retaining devices to a tumbler or article of ordinary form
Figure 9 being a sectional view of a modified form.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the base of the article A is provided with a pro-
jection B forming a continuous ring thereon. The saucer, dish or tray C Fig. 2 is
formed with a recess D corresponding to the projecting part B, so that when the
article A is placed in position the projection B takes into the recess D and the
article A is securely held. The projection or recess may be slightly wedge-
shaped or tapered so as to secure a firm fit. In some cases the projection may be
on the dish or tray C and the recess on part A.
When greater fixity is required I form a cup A as shown at Fig 3 with
projections E on a rim B which rim B fits into a recess D formed in the base of
the saucer with corresponding apertures F to receive the parts E, so that by
inserting the base of the cup with the projections E referred to into the apertures F
in the saucer and slightly turning the cup or vice versa the projection or projections
on the base thereof come under the edge of the aperture F in the saucer, whereby
the two, viz., the cup and the saucer or a glass and its stand, table, shelf or other
articles, are locked together; thus when used on board ship the saucer is held by
the ordinary fiddle and the fixing or locking appliances above described hold
the cup and saucer firmly together, while the cup can be detached from the saucer
with the utmost facility when required for use or otherwise.
"
In the top edge or rim of the saucer, Fig. 4, there is an aperture just large
enough to admit the tapered handle of the spoon G which being inserted therein
and drawn along the aperture or turned, comes under a projecting lip on the said
rim, and sometimes the lip is not necessary whereby the spoon also is held in
position.
It will be obvious as aforesaid that similar locking and holding devices may be
aplied to tumblers drinking glasses or vessels, bowls soup and sauce tureens and
such like articles, and I have shown examples of drinking glasses so fitted (at
Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) from which it will be clear that such devices with minor
modifications as would readily suggest themselves after a perusal of this Specification,
are applicable to tin-ware, and other articles.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 I fix clips H of metal, wood, or other material to the
table, stand, or other place and I form the glass or tumbler with a lower rim J
having a notch or slot J' as at Fig. 6, the rim J is passed under one clip H and
the other clip passes through the slot, the tumbler is then turned slightly and
becomes firmly held. Tumblers of ordinary construction may be held as at Figs. 7

page_text: and 8 by clips H mounted on pivots H whereby the clips may be folded down into
recesses or cavities D* made in the table or stand D'.
Springs H' may be provided to act on the squared pivotted bosses of the clips H
for retaining the latter in either the raised or folded positions. The clips H may
be made of bent wire as shown, or of metal plate, nickel plated or otherwise, or
may be made of other suitable material.
When folded the clips H lie flush or nearly so with the surface of the stand and
when raised come against the side of the tumbler or other article and sufficiently
support same. At Figs. 7 and 8 the clips H are adapted to fold outwards, in
opposite directions but such clips H may obviously be arranged to fold inwards as
at Figure 9, so as to overlay each other when so folded.
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 or connected with cups and saucers, tumblers, bowls, and such like articles,
the devices, such as projections or recesses formed in or upon the articles to be
held, in combination with recesses, projections, slots, or clips formed in, upon, or
connected to, saucers, stands tables, or the like, upon which the said articles are to
be supported, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In securing cups and saucers, bowls or other articles to stands, tables, shelves
or other places, the projections or projecting rims B on one part, taking in to
corresponding recesses or grooves D of the other part, or vice versa, with or
without the locking projections E and slots F, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. The means for securing tumblers and other articles to stands, tables, or
shelves, or other places, all substantially as and for the purposes described with
particular reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of November 1893.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.