Improvements in Graters for Nutmegs, Cocoanuts, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Graters for Nutmegs, Cocoanuts, and the like.
I, SAMUEL HEY, of 17, Hanover Street, Keighley, in the County of York,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, as communicated
to me from abroad by The Edgar Manufacturing Company, of Harrison Street,
Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
This invention has relation to graters, or devices for grating nutmegs, cocoa-
nuts, and other articles of food, and has for its object to provide improvements
in the same, whereby a larger operative surface may be exposed, and more of
it utilized for grating purposes than heretofore.
Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of devices or
articles of this character, and render them more compact, and at the same time
to increase their efficiency and durability.
To these ends, the invention consists of a grater embodying certain features
of construction and relative arrangement of parts, all as I have illustrated upon
the drawings and shall now proceed to describe and then point out in the
appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of
reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters
designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Of the drawings,
Figure 1 represents, in perspective view, one embodiment of the invention,
in which the grating surface is cylindrical and may be revolved beneath the
holder in which the substance to be grated is placed, and in which the grating
surface may be moved longitudinally beneath the holder.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the end of the
same.
Figure 3 represents a view of the grater, showing a holder suitable for use
in grating chocolate.
Figure 4 represents another embodiment of the invention, in which the grat-
ing surface is semi-cylindrical, the holder for the nutmeg being connected to
two parallel guides, to move longitudinally of the grating plate or surface.
Figure 5 represents an end view of the same.
Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6, Fig. 4.
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the
grating plate a is cylindrical in shape, and is provided with unperforated and
smooth ends el, which form bearings for the rings 6 b. The said rings encircle
the ends, and are held against axial movement by the extremities of the cylin-
drical grating plate being flanged or beaded, as at a³. The rings 6 are con-
nected by two parallel rods or guides cc, soldered or otherwise rigidly secured
to them, whereby the rods are movable transversely of the grating plate.
The holder for the nutmeg or other substance to be grated is indicated at d,
and it is substantially cylindrical in side elevation, being provided with down-

page_text: wardly projecting lips which encircle the guide-rods and form guide-ways
for the same, so that the holder may be moved longitudinally along the grating
plate.
The lower end of the holder is curved to fit snugly around the curved grating
plate or surface, and the nutmeg or other article is held against said surface
by the follower 2 on the end of a spiral spring having its upper end swivelled
in a screw-cap d screwed upon the threaded upper end of the said holder. The
swivelled connection between the spring and the cap is effected by bending the
end of the spring, which lies in the axial line thereof, and passing it through
a cross-bar d soldered in the cap, as shown in Figure 3.
A device for turning the grating plate is attached thereto, and consists of a
bar bent to the shape of a horse-shoe or into U shape, and having its end
soldered inside the end of the grater-plate.
Now it will be seen from the foregoing description, that if the holder be
grasped in one hand, the grater-plate may be revolved therebeneath by means
of the handle extending out from the end thereof, and that in addition to revolv-
ing the cylindrical grating plate beneath the holder, it may be moved axially
of the holder by drawing or pressing against it longitudinally.
Of course it will be understood that, if desired, the grating plate may be
held stationary, and the holder reciprocated axially thereof, or be revolved about
it, or it may be moved angularly across the grating surface.
Various changes may be made in the construction of the grater, without de-
parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, I may prefer
to construct the grater as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this event, the grating
surface is semi-cylindrical, and has its longitudinal edges rigidly secured to
the edges of a flat plate h.
On the under side of the plate is rigidly secured a handle i forced upon a
tine or tang soldered to the plate midway between the ends thereof. The
holder is elliptical in cross-section, and is provided with a closed upper end j¹
through which the rod projects. Longitudinal ribs are formed in the interior
of the holder, to project into grooves in the ends of the follower k, which is
. secured upon the lower end of the rod j, there being a spring surrounding
the rod and having one end abutting against the top of the holder and the
other end bearing against the follower.
A knob or handle j is placed upon the end of the rod 2, whereby assistance
may be given to the spring in forcing the nutmeg against the grating surface.
A flexible metallic band or sleeve / encircles the holder, and is provided with
an aperture adapted to register with an aperture in the holder j. When
the nutmeg has been put in place in the holder, the flexible band may be
revolved so as to close the aperture therein.
To the lower end of the holder is affixed a wire band m, to which are affixed
bent lips or guide-ways jo similar to the guide-ways shown in Figure 1.
Through these guide-ways pass two parallel guide-rods nn, having their entis
bent downward as at n¹ and then inward, as at n², the said inwardly bent por-
tions n² of the rods extending into bearings oo formed on the under side of
the plate h¹, at the ends thereof. The ends of the guide-rods are mounted
loosely in their bearings, so that they are capable of being swung from side to
side, or transversely of the grating plate.
In this last-described embodiment of my invention, the grater is similar to
the one first described in that the holder is supported upon the two parallel guide-
rods, which are outside of and parallel with the grating plate and are secured to
the grating plate by connections having provisions for preventing endwise
movement of the guide-rods independently of the grating plate, and permitting
rotation of the grating plate independently of the guide-rods, so that the grat-
ing plate may be moved longitudinally, transversely, or angularly, relatively
to the holder.
It will be seen that by providing the two parallel guide-rods extending, out-

page_text: side the grating plate, and mounting the holder slidably thereon, I am enabled
to reduce the grater to more compact form than would be possible if the holder
were attached rigidly to a bar which slides with the holder and necessarily
extends beyond the ends of the grating plate. My guide-rods do not extend to
any appreciable extent beyond the ends of the grater-plate, and therefore do
not materially add to the length of the grater.
By the term "curved grating plate" as used in the following claims, I mean
either a cylindrical plate, as shown in Figure 1, or a semi-cylindrical plate, as
shown in Figures 4 and 5.
The improved grater may be used to good advantage in grating chocolate,
in which case the holder may be formed as shown in Figure 3, and adapted to
contain a cake of chocolate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A grater comprising a curved grating plate, parallel guide-rods located
outside the grating plate and extending parallel therewith, connections between
the ends of said rods and the grating plate, said connections having provisions
for preventing endwise movement of the guide-rods and for permitting a rotary
movement of the grating plate, independently of the rods, and a holder for the
substance to be grated, slidably mounted on said guide-rods.
2. A grater comprising a cylindrical grating plate, supporting rings encircling
the ends of said plate and fitted to turn thereon, parallel guide-rods connected
to said rings and extending outside the periphery of the grating plate parallel
with its axis, and a holder for the substance to be grated, slidably mounted on
said guide-rods.
Dated this 13th day of Walmar 1800