for the Protection of Provisions.
Year: 1886

page_text: for the Protection of Provisions.
I, EDWARD BEARD PEARSE, of Polsloe Road, Exeter, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, 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 an improved method of constructing safes and covers for
the protection of provisions from flies and the like.
In carrying it into effect I construct a folding frame work of wire ribs, capable
of being opened or closed by moving the several ribs round the major axis of the
cover or safe.
The frame is covered with an envelope of gauze or similarly light flexible and
open material,
In order that my invention and the means by which the same may be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to describe it in
detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken
as part of this specification and read therewith, and in which like parts are marked
throughout with the same reference letter.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, elevation, plan and perspective view of a
hanging meat safe constructed according to my invention, shewing it closed as it
would be when in use as a safe.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the frame only of the same safe open and folded back,
as it might be for storage or transit.
One of the ribs, preferably the central one, although any one may be selected,
as e.g., that to the left of the rib marked A in Fig. 1, or that marked A itself in
Fig. 4, for this purpose, is bent upwards at its lower extremity producing a practi-
cable axis a, about which the lower extremities of the other ribs are twisted and
can therefore be rotated. The upper extremities of all the ribs are connected
in any convenient way, preferably by simply bending each one once round an
8 hook B, or other equivalent device, suitable for suspending provisions in the
safe, as well as both safe and its contents from any suitable point of support.
I do not confine myself to a single hook, or other support within the safe, as
more than one may be used if the capacity of the safe renders such an extension
of its internal fittings desirable.
It is shewn in Fig. 4 that the long or vertical parts of the ribs are approximately
equal in length, and move nearly in one cylindrical plane, while the simple method
illustrated in this figure of assembling the ends of the ribs around their respective
axes prevents the parts A² of either top or bottom set moving in exactly the same

page_text: plane. But the two ribs A, A¹, which meet when the safe is closed, are always
joined at the respective top and bottom centres of rotation so that when the safe
is closed they will face nearly together, as shewn in Fig. 2. When neither of these
ribs produces the axis a, their ends connect with the respective axes a and B, one
touching the other, and if I make one of these ribs rather smaller than the other
so that the smaller shall just pass within the larger, they will make a fly-proof
closure when they are brought together.
A convenient fastener for fastening the two ribs is as next described.
C, C are hooks formed upon the rib A or A¹, and D, D are loops formed upon
the other of these two ribs, and respectively opposite the hooks. The loops are
free to be rotated round the rib to which they are connected. The smaller rib is
pushed past the larger, and the loops D passed over the hooks C.
E is the gauze envelope stretched over the frame of the cover, gathered in at the
centres of the top and the bottom respectively, and sewn there as well as along
the ribs A, A. E¹, E¹ are cords coupling up the several ribs.
The above illustrations shew the safe hexagonal in plan, but I do not confine
myself to this shape, although I find it a convenient and useful one combining
capacity with strength and lightness.
Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, plan and elevation illustrating the construction
of a folding dish cover made according to my invention.
The ribs fff, are preferably differentiated to the extent of making the distance
of the crown of the arch of the central one f¹ from the axis of the cover greater
than that of the others, in the case of which the corresponding distance decreases
by pairs of ribs to the outside pair ƒ³, ƒ³.
The two sets of ends of all the ribs are respectively turned round two exten-
sions f,f of the ends of the central rib, upon which I also mount two spiral
springs g,g which, bearing one upon the rib f³, and the other upon the rib f³, help
to keep the cover open. The ends of the extensions terminate in studs f' to
prevent the springs from moving.
Cords h, h are connected to the centre rib f¹ and continued therefrom across
each rib, with which it makes a tight connection, for the sake of preventing the
weight of the ribs on either side of the central one from tearing the gauze or falling
too low.
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 a safe or a cover for the protection of provisions from flies and the like,
the combination of ribs capable of a whole or a half rotation about the long axis
of such safe or cover, with an envelope of gauze or the like flexible and perforated
material, substantially as, and for the purpose described and illustrated.
2. In a folding cover for the protection of provisions, the combination with the
folding ribs and gauze envelope thereof, of a central transverse cord and two end
springs, the latter to facilitate the opening of the cover and the former to prevent
its ribs being opened out too far, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying figures 5 and 6.